So often in a university setting (and in blog land) we fall into the trap of arguing about where we should travel to for a study tour like this, why, whether one place is “better” than the other, etc. I myself sometimes fall into that trap. Much of this is silliness, and the recent Wall Street Journal article How to Get China and India Right, shows why.

It gives some good nuts and bolts ideas for how good companies leverage the complementary strengths of both of these emerging markets. A very good and informative article. And sure enough, two days after I read this article I was discussing with an executive from Microsoft whether they are hedging their bets more toward India or China, and he said, in effect, “we play it smart and safe and focus on both and will continue to do so.”

Having typed the above, clearly, there are some markets that make sense and some that do not for a business school with limited resources (i.e., us) to focus on. We simply can’t/don’t have the resources to put together a tour to every place on the planet that folks (faculty and students) may want to go. So places like China and India — yes.   Chile, Botswana, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Italy?  Don’t think so.

Don’t laugh at such latter options … I have run into some folks who argue that we need to have an educational and business presence in these latter countries. Clearly, they don’t read pubs like the Wall Street Journal to see where the action is nor have they ever taken an MBA strategy course; and I really don’t think the “puck” of business will be moving to or stopping in such countries anytime soon (and yes, in my view that includes Russia although I recognize I may have to one day eat crow on that prediction and I have no problem at all if you disagree, as time may prove you right and me wrong on Russia).

By the way, I, like you, pay taxes and I hate it, hate it, hate it when I see taxpayer dollars being wasted. When I put my taxpayer hat on, I feel strongly that California universities need to link with and visit places that are important from a US and California trade perspective. Having said that, the ten biggest US partners in terms of total trade turnover (imports plus exports) are (in descending order): Canada, China, Mexico, Japan, Germany, UK, Korea, Taiwan, France, and Malaysia. Collectively, the US exports twice as much to the three European countries on the list as it does to China. Together, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan are clearly major players with the US. India is a “comer,” while Brazil and Russia are unlikely to reach these same types of trade levels soon.

Prof Carr February 4, 2009 addendum:  If you can access it, here is a must read article that recently appeared in the Financial Times [free subscription/sign up may be required] by an operations professor at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School re: how companies should think about leveraging operations in China and India during the downturn.