Comments on: MBAs Who Understand the PRC

By: Ashley Tyra

Ashley Tyra — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:39:29 +0000

It seems to me that the world is realizing how important China is. The need for MBAs who understand China is great – the question is, where will those MBAs come from? China seems to be doing a good job of producing their own educated MBAs faster than any other country can. As stated in the Business Week article, “Thirty Chinese universities are now authorized by Beijing to provide executive MBA programs.” Even though countries like Britain are recognizing this need and establishing B-Schools in China, lack of familiarity with the country puts them at a disadvantage.

Whether B-Schools in China or America are succeeding at graduating the most students faster, we are all signed up for the right trip. Traveling to China with the MBA program this summer will open the door China and leave us with experiences that will set us on the right track to understanding the PRC.

By: Keith Cody

Keith Cody — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:22:57 +0000

The BusinessWeek article is beginning to be dated, talking about a prolong slump in applications to B-Schools, brought on by the strong US economy. That ended 4 years ago, and schools are now awash in applicants. I wonder how China’s B-Schools and the number of applicants has changed since 2006. When I attended grad school at UCSB, over 50% of the students where Chinese nationals.

Reading between the lines, in all these articles, one can find that China carries on the tradition of copying, but not innovating in western thought and actions. These business schools are mirrors of western institutions but missed their soul. There maybe be Harvard styles MBA schools in China now, but there is no equivalent of HBS, the publishing arm used by nearly every business school in America.

If you have a business mind, the BW article points out that ther are “a dearth of Chinese cases [forcing] most faculty to use those prepared by Harvard Business School, which students say are of little use to people planning to pursue careers in China.” The lack of local case studies is an opportunity for a Chinese school to innovate.

I find this quote funny: “[In] China’s not-too-distant past, it wasn’t unheard of for management classes to include the teachings of Mao Zedong, while the teachings of Milton Friedman and Max Weber were nowhere to be found.” Here at CalPoly MBA program, the teaching of Milton Friedman and Max Weber are nowhere to be found, either. Of course Milton Friedman is a bit of a jackass, frequently misquoted and misunderstood.

By: Fred S.

Fred S. — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:15:21 +0000

I imagine it is a difficult choice for many Chinese students graduating from there undergraduate degrees – Do I go make money now at all the booming jobs and opportunities in China or do I spend more money to get an MBA because there is a growing need for management? The students in china have the ability to learn about the industry of China first hand, by working in the industry. One of the articles even said that many graduating MBA students in China are being put in entry-level positions anyway, and that what matter most is your work ethic and performance on the job.

Here in America, the job opportunities after college are not as robust as they once were. So, it seems more appealing to go to an MBA program as an American and learn/get connected to where opportunities do exist. Many of these opportunities exist in other parts of the world like China, India, Russia, or Brazil, so, it is great that an MBA program like Cal Poly’s has an international study program such as this.

By: Jeffrey Brown

Jeffrey Brown — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:38:19 +0000

Looking at past students’ responses to these articles, I agree with Randy Camat on the importance of this trip. At first I saw it as a good opportunity to gain some good knowledge of international business, but now I see how truly important China is to our nation’s future.

The people of China recognize America as a critical element to their future and even try to copy us in many ways. Unfortunately, the properties of one’s education tie greatly into one’s own culture. If a Chinese student is not on the same page as his instructor and curriculum, there is no possibility of success. While many components of the American MBA program can be duplicated in China, it is not a simple turnkey operation. As American institutions have discovered, only the Chinese can successfully design and implement a program that may be based off of what we do in America.

By: Charles Dornbush

Charles Dornbush — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:41:54 +0000

It seems odd that firms and universities are estimating 75,000 new Chinese MBAs while the current programs are closing up. The last article runs contrary to the previous ones. I think that the need exists in China for well-trained managers exist, I think many foreign universities are going about it the wrong way.

One key correction to “China: Why Western B-Schools Are Leaving” was that CEIBS’ Beijing program had been suspended. It turns out that only the English-language program was cut. I think this highlights a bigger problem: Chinese students want programs that teach them to manage in China not in America. This means Chinese language, cases and professors; something that is currently lacking. For the most part Chinese B-schools have just copied the American model. But from the last article it’s clear to see there is higher demand for a more ‘Chinese’ curriculum and experience.

By: Daniel Fleek

Daniel Fleek — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:30:03 +0000

I am glad to hear that the trend has shifted from MBA’s taking jobs in traditional finance and investment jobs to nontraditional jobs in the private sector such as real estate or private equity. I think this is because as the economy starts to bounce back, people are more inclined to find a job that they really want instead of just taking any job that pays well enough. I also agree with Kim from the CNBC’s statement that MBA’s today are looking for more than personal wealth and that society’s impact through their jobs is also a big part of the decision process in finding a job. I could easily see how these considerations would bring someone to want to want to be in the middle of the economic boom in China. If that feeling is strong enough, then I would agree that getting a MBA from a Chinese school would be extremely beneficial since they would be learning based on case studies from Chinese businesses. However, I still think that even though China is having an economic boom, I would still rather stay in California and the USA for my own personal reasons. I can see how someone could make a bunch of money and be successful in China. However, I value my day to day life here so much that I would not want to live in China although I know everyone, including myself, does have a price that would change my mind.

By: Georgia

Georgia — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:08:55 +0000

The CNN article made me think that the British and Americans have become lazy from being at the top of business market for so long. We expect others to come to us and follow our rules. But there is no longer a given monopoly and we need to stop acting ignorantly. Picture American and Chinese businessmen having a discussion, the American probably has a translator attached to his hip while it is likely that the Chinese businessman speaks fluent English. To me, it seems almost disrespectful that one side spent time to make the other comfortable and one took the easy way out. Now in saying this I am not bilingual by any means, but I wish I was. With all the research that shows language is picked up earlier the younger you start it is important for Mandarin to be taught in elementary schools, just as they have started with Spanish.

In response to “China’s B-School Boom,” I think that if you want to conduct business in China it would be important to get the best understanding for their culture as possible. But it sounds like choosing a school with qualified professors is a bit more challenging than in the United States (some might disagree). I think that when deciding on where and what further education to get, it always depends on the individual and there is no one answer for everyone.

By: Grant

Grant — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:25:22 +0000

It is not surprising that the western English-speaking schools were not able to succeed when the Mandarin ones were. The 2008 article quoted an administrator of a program and said that the market is incredibly small, and that only 230 graduated in a year. I guess it goes to show that just because there are 1.3 billion people in China, that doesn’t necessarily translate into a big market for a niche.
It sounded like the fundamental difference between failure and success is in which language the program is offered. I am curious as to why that was not discovered during the due diligence phase of setting up a program in China to begin with. Is it due to western arrogance, assuming people would flock to an English-speaking program? Perhaps. But to me the take-away is that the market in China, while still growing, is maturing at the same time. It is beginning to fill in its own gaps and lackings, making an outsider, like myself, wonder where he or she may fit in.

By: Kevin K.

Kevin K. — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:15:49 +0000

I remember way back in 2006 as an undergrad I was fulfilling my foreign language requirement by taking a few quarters of Spanish. I was interning in the Athletic Dept. at UCSB and one of the directors told me I was wasting my time, and should be taking Mandarin. At the time I thought he was crazy — whereas I thought it was more important to learn how to order a cerveza in Mexico in full Spanish… I now understand how prescient that statement turned out to be, especially with the reinforcement from the CNN and Business Week articles present.

However, judging by the addendum posted, it appears the China may become saturated with MBAs — as the article states “Thirty Chinese universities are now authorized by Beijing to provide executive MBA programs.” Nevertheless, stateside it is still in our best interests — as MBA students — to be well versed in China. Not to mention the great differentiation and worldly knowledge this China trip offers experientially and for one’s resume.

By: Vladimir

Vladimir — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:11:10 +0000

Looks like a tradeoff for American students planning to work in China after earning their MBAs. Top American MBA programs are two to four times as expensive as those in China. But a degree from Stanford, Harvard, or Wharton will be recognized worldwide. An American school would be better for students who are uncertain if they will take off to China after graduation. If a China module is included in the program, or if the student spends a semester studying in China, he or she would graduate with a more prestigious MBA and enough China exposure to do business there. On the other hand, a student who is set on working in China may want to attend a Chinese program that was the product of a partnership with a top American school. The advantages include a focus on Chinese case studies and more exposure to the Chinese business and culture. I would not recommend an American student apply only to a Chinese MBA program because he or she could apply to only one program at a time. There are only 12 AACSB accredited business schools in China, there are almost 500 in the US, so the opportunity to attend a MBA program in China is currently only worthwhile to students who get accepted by the top Chinese schools.