Gevolgde seminaries - week "International Days"

1. International Days
Joni Van Handenhoven – 2ION04

2. Sourcing beyond China - Paul
Melkebeke (1)
• Works for Samsonite
2.4 pieces produced every second
• Constant travelling (every 2 months) -> constant jetlag/troubles/… ->
moved to Hong Kong
• => challenge…
• Survival of the fittest
• Asia will be close to 40 percent of total business in the near future
• Europe called: the old continent
• -> Own manufacturing important -> own R&D -> own testlab -> don’t
know real costs

3. •Center of gravity is moving to the east
• Competitive advantage of China
• Times are changing
• Pollution
• Careful not to become too dependent
• Move towards west in China
• Looking for near sourcing (EU/US)

4. Conclusion
• Small world!
• Experience (thinking out of the box)
• Travel!
• Languages (Mandarin)
• Need to have a strength (fierce competition)
• Work hard and long
• No work loyalty

5. Personal link?
• Interesting to compare with United States

6. International Meeting Skills - Frederic De
Jaegher
• Frederic De Jaegher while studying:
• How can I go abroad as fast as possible?”
• The importance of social skills
• 6 Dimensions of Hofstede

7. International Meeting Skills
1) welcome fase 2) exploring fase
3) Action points
CONCLUSION
4) BYE fase

8. Own experience?
• Question: did you come across any problems in a foreign country which
made you feel awkward/uncomfortable?
• My answer: the first time I was in the USA, while sitting in a bar, I didn’t
know how much to tip exactly and when to tip. Do I give a tip after each
drink or at the end and how much to get good service? Should I ask
change, do I use my credit card?...
• I was glad that I wasn’t alone when the speaker answered with a story
about how he had a comparable situation in South Africa.
That is why it is important to train social skills too in our curriculum. Like I
said before, social skills are very important. Even more when working with
different cultures and across borders.

9. Overall conclusion
Being informed is the key to success when experiencing new
cultures