Owen China Project Course

What is this course? Students work on China related projects for a U.S. company Form teams (4 students) Organize the trip to gather relevant information about the project Key destination: Shanghai, March 1 - March 7, 2009 (Some have a day or two for visits in Beijing before this week) While in Shanghai Students create own schedule based on project Typically make about 10 site visits during the week to… Government offices (e.g., how to bid for municipal contracts) Related companies (e.g., U.S. or Chinese, similar industry, potential clients, suppliers) Consulting and research firms Provide report to company in the U.S. by April Usually a PowerPoint presentation, with a written report May take 1-2 hours to present, face-to-face, or by phone

Students work on China related projects for a U.S. company

Form teams (4 students)

Organize the trip to gather relevant information about the project

Key destination: Shanghai, March 1 - March 7, 2009

(Some have a day or two for visits in Beijing before this week)

While in Shanghai

Students create own schedule based on project

Typically make about 10 site visits during the week to…

Government offices (e.g., how to bid for municipal contracts)

Related companies (e.g., U.S. or Chinese, similar industry, potential clients, suppliers)

Consulting and research firms

Provide report to company in the U.S. by April

Usually a PowerPoint presentation, with a written report

May take 1-2 hours to present, face-to-face, or by phone

Examples from past projects Hennessey (Tire Changer Manufacturer) Assess structure of tire repair market in Shanghai, and reputation of Hennessey Juno Lighting Assess benefits of sourcing steel from China, or fabricating there The Home Depot Project #1: Assess Corporate Social Responsibility of Suppliers Project #2: Study how to improve innovation of suppliers in China Avankia Assess whether China is a good place to source IT design eBay Assess eBay market share in China, and branding through podcasts and blogs Organon Pharmaceutical Assess who makes drug selection for Chinese IVF clinics, to improve marketing Insituform Assess feasibility of entering China market for sewage pipe construction Coors Assess beer distribution system in China Major clothes retailer Assess potential for internet sales in China

Hennessey (Tire Changer Manufacturer)

Assess structure of tire repair market in Shanghai, and reputation of Hennessey

Juno Lighting

Assess benefits of sourcing steel from China, or fabricating there

The Home Depot

Project #1: Assess Corporate Social Responsibility of Suppliers

Project #2: Study how to improve innovation of suppliers in China

Avankia

Assess whether China is a good place to source IT design

eBay

Assess eBay market share in China, and branding through podcasts and blogs

Organon Pharmaceutical

Assess who makes drug selection for Chinese IVF clinics, to improve marketing

Insituform

Assess feasibility of entering China market for sewage pipe construction

Coors

Assess beer distribution system in China

Major clothes retailer

Assess potential for internet sales in China

Timing Summer - begin search for projects Early fall – nail down projects, develop groups Late fall – students take Doing Business in China (an academic course to provide more background on business in China) and begin collecting data related to project (from libraries, internet) Early spring – set up interviews in China Spring break – travel, interview contacts in China Typically can cover 8-10 site visits Late spring – give report to company

Summer - begin search for projects

Early fall – nail down projects, develop groups

Late fall – students take Doing Business in China (an academic course to provide more background on business in China) and begin collecting data related to project (from libraries, internet)

Early spring – set up interviews in China

Spring break – travel, interview contacts in China

Typically can cover 8-10 site visits

Late spring – give report to company

Time Commitment by Company Have a manager assigned to project Define scope, monitor progress, respond to student requests for information Apr. 1-2 hours a week on average; more at start May want to host students for front-end meeting at company to establish goals How much time is needed depends on the project The more “operational” the project the more time it will take E.g., helping improve innovation at a company’s Chinese suppliers Company had to define exactly what the current process was Company had to set up for students to visit its suppliers; student access depends on company Many companies have more general questions like, “is there a market for our projects in China” or “how would we enter”? This takes less time for the company, since students have to search broadly Company is not in a position to set up interviews in China; students do that

Have a manager assigned to project

Define scope, monitor progress, respond to student requests for information

Apr. 1-2 hours a week on average; more at start

May want to host students for front-end meeting at company to establish goals

How much time is needed depends on the project

The more “operational” the project the more time it will take

E.g., helping improve innovation at a company’s Chinese suppliers

Company had to define exactly what the current process was

Company had to set up for students to visit its suppliers; student access depends on company

Many companies have more general questions like, “is there a market for our projects in China” or “how would we enter”?

This takes less time for the company, since students have to search broadly

Company is not in a position to set up interviews in China; students do that

Expenses for Company Company expected to cover some out of pocket costs Phone calls, taxis in China, copying, etc. This is typically under $500 If appropriate, companies may cover some or all of student travel costs

Company expected to cover some out of pocket costs

Phone calls, taxis in China, copying, etc.

This is typically under $500

If appropriate, companies may cover some or all of student travel costs

Questions? Contact Professor Ray Friedman [email_address] 615 322-3992

Contact Professor Ray Friedman

[email_address]

615 322-3992