Teaching day three - student presentations

Tonight was very interesting. Just two days ago I gave the students their assignments to prepare a PowerPoint presentation about their respective issue. They didn't need to make any conclusions yet (that is for the paper due two weeks after I leave), just introduce the company or the issue to the rest of the class. The first two (of seven) teams went tonight.

Team 1 is tasked to help Barnes & Noble enter the Chinese market, both where (location) and how (build a store, buy a store, e-commerce only). Given how little time they had, the team did well. The English was completely understandable and the ideas showed they are on the right track. Some uniquely Chinese issues came up in their analysis - the store will complete against the state-owned powerhouse, so maybe the government will try to make B&N's life miserable. Also, the government must approve all foreign books to make sure they don't contain "harmful" information or images.

Team 2 is tasked to help the city of Shanghai increase residential recycling. The team focused on the power of the government to force changes in behavior. Later we discussed the difference between "carrots" and "sticks" and the students seemed interested in incentive management. The team also recommended "punishing" companies that use excessive solid waste in packaging - a pre-emptive strike. Good idea.

This was the first evening class (Sat and Sun were all day). Class started at 6:30 pm. Only half the students were there by 6:45 pm. Traffic and work schedules make evening courses difficult.

The discussion tonight focused on "success" in business. Virtually all of the students said they would choose less money in exchange for less stress and more stability (read: job security). Working for a foreign firm is the best money, but comes with lots of stress. They also fear that no matter how hard they work, the foreign firm will bring in Hong Kongers or Singaporeans to run it after the American or European management staff leaves.

We also talked about Shaomin Li's theory of traffic policemen vs. traffic lights as a metaphor for the migration from China being a relationship-based culture to a law-based culture. The students seemed to agree.

Wed and Thurs will be the other five teams and continued discussions.