I will try to get you to a port facility in China (in Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Shanghai). Visiting such a facility is important because it will help you see the scope of what China exports, especially to California. Also, this is an important part of the supply chain that you need to see, feel and smell as an MBA student — goods just don’t magically appear on the shelf at Wal-Mart, Target and RiteAid.

Click HERE where you can view an image to get a feel for how many port facilities China has, both inland and along it’s eastern border and coast.  Unlike the US, water transport is still a big deal and huge industry in China.

Professor Carr Update: See this related article in the Wall Street Journal, Global Shippers Play Catch-Up In The Information Age. Much in this article relates to what you study in your MIS class, and, you will all study in your Operations course.

Again, I will try go get you into a port facility in China.   Seeing one of those super-sized cargo ships up close alone makes a visit to a port worth the time and effort.