37 Comments Add your own

• 1. China Law Blog  |  May 1st, 2008 at 9:55 pm

  Youth.

  Just about everything I have ever learned on just about every topic (from baseball, to sushi, to China, to Philosophy, to chemistry, to poitics, to fashion, to plastics manufacturing, to photography, to….) has helped me in some way in my job.

• 2. Sin-Yaw Wang  |  May 2nd, 2008 at 1:55 am

  Yes, youth. If an adult makes such statement, I will simply shrug, smile, and move on. I don’t really care if someone wishes to waste his/her life away.

  You cannot name any significant enough business, industry, or job in the world without involvement with globalization, or more specifically, China. (Make that a homework, Carr.) So, students, how many years you would like to work before reaching that level of “significance.” If the answer is “forever,” then please move on and leave this trip only in your scrapbook. Since in a few years, you won’t matter anyway.

• 3. Ryan Moore  |  May 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 pm

  If you are not interested in the opportunity to travel to China, meet industry executives, and learn first hand how International business is being done in our world today, then you are not truly interested in business at all. If you are not truly interested in business, then why are you putting yourself through a graduate business program in the first place? The opportunity to view China (and India) at this time in history, meet with industry insiders, and gain the perspective and insight that we will be receiving is an experience that will not only increase your personal understanding of the world we all live in, but will make you more valuable to ANY perspective employer at ANY job, ANYWHERE in the world. Do you get it?

• 4. David Dougherty  |  June 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

  When first enrolling in the program, I was of the few that were uninterested in this trip. This was not because I didn’t see its relevance, but simply because I am stubborn and didn’t want to go. Since then, my views have drastically changed. Through all of the assignments and speakers this year, I now see just how important this piece will be in my life. I am very excited for all of the opportunities and first hand experiences this trip will provide. I now hope to one day be the person that my boss comes to and says jump on the red eyes overseas, and I think this trip will increase the likelihood of that happening.

• 5. Patrick Johansing  |  January 21st, 2009 at 7:55 pm

  I’m not planning on working abroad, and I don’t know that I’ll ever even need to off-shore any sort of work. But I know that this sort of activity is a big issue in the business world. It makes sense for this sort of course to be taught to MBA students. It also makes sense that you should see the culture you are studying–other people’s descriptions can only go so far. Besides, it’s way more fun this way.

• 6. Mark Wegemer  |  February 17th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

  It’s amazing but I haven’t even gone on the trip yet and a simi valley company was interested in hiring me when I came back. They wanted to know exactly what day I was back so that I could tell them about the trip. This company deals with a lot of outsourcing their design jobs to China and the President of the company, who I was able to talk to for a bit, conveyed the importance of global relations with other companies. He had visited China a few times and was immediately interested in my opportunity to go and travel there. A job offer because of a trip I haven’t even taken yet? Wow, if this is the start of something big then I’m all aboard!! I’m all ears.

• 7. Xiaofei Song  |  February 21st, 2009 at 10:20 pm

  This is a very interesting post I have ever seen. If this is a Chinese School and if Dr. Carrs is a Chinese professor, I don’t think this topic will ever be brought on the table. Travel is always fun, no matter where to go, what to see, for me it is very attractive. I am glad Dr. Carrs add India into this trip, so that I am not only going to see my home country. I actually had experience with former MBA students from this program while they were in China. I liked to join them since I want to learn what is the stand of American MBA student to see China, how they live while traveling in China, and what they teach in this program about China. This is very fun for me to read all the posts and discussion online and this is the part of the reason I choose this program.

• 8. Jessica Shayler  |  January 6th, 2011 at 9:46 pm

  Humility. That is what struck me most in this post. I feel that true humility takes great courage. Too often I meet people who pass judgement (on small and large items alike) before they have any information or experience. “I’ve never tried that, but I know I don’t like it.” “I hadn’t thought of that, but it won’t work” Why? “It just won’t.” These people are bound by their fear of the unknown or of change. They want to appear strong, like they have their life in control. So they don’t ask questions. They don’t accept any challenge to their worldview. And they are hindered because of it.

  It may look weak to ask questions and admit your own ignorance, but it is the only way to grow. People respond to humility. People respect humility. Thus it opens opportunities those bound by fear will never have. Passing hasty judgement means passing opportunities because people will be unwilling to help you. Embrace humility and you embrace wisdom.

  Humility is one of my character goals for myself. I don’t often succeed, but I try.

• 9. Dan N  |  January 8th, 2011 at 5:30 pm

  I agree with Jessica’s opinion that humility is a key ingredient to personal growth. But I also think that fear can be a barrier to our embracing this opportunity. We Americans are like the “popular” kid at school that all of the other kids want to admire. We’re used to the other kids wanting to dress, walk, and talk like us in order to be “in our club”.

  A new kid shows up in class one day and he/she does everything different from us. All of the other kids are starting to whisper things like, “I like the way that new kid dresses,” and “did you see how cool that new kid’s backpack is?” We feel our power waning.

  Now Professor Carr comes along and says to us, “you need to learn to be like the new kid and become friends with him/her. If you don’t then one day you’ll wake up and realize that you are: a) no longer in charge of “the club”, and; b) not even in “the club”. It’s 8th grade all over again.

  Of course Professor Carr is right, but the 8th grader in us doesn’t want to admit it. We keep looking for an alternative reality, one in which the “new kid” gets hit by a bus or all of the other kids change their mind and say, “What were we thinking? The Chinese kid is lame and Dan is still the coolest guy in class.” We want things to go back to the way they were.

  I believe that our nation’s self image has come to depend on the admiration of others. It is easier for us to pretend like China’s rise is overstated or irrelevant then it is for us to accept it and the changes that it represents for us. Can we accept a diminished role in the world? What will China’s arrival mean in terms of the cars we drive, the vacations we take, and the salaries we earn? We want to put off asking ourselves these questions as long as possible. We want to put off redefining our self worth.

  We feel that we have more to lose then we have to gain if the status quo shifts.

• 10. David Hart  |  January 10th, 2011 at 1:45 pm

  It is important to maintain a thirst for knowledge throughout life. This China trip will give us knowlege and experiences that will be of benefit to us in our personal and professional lives. In addition to the great reasons noted in the above blog and articles, China is relevant to us because (in my opinion) it is fascinating. We can expand our worldview and better understand what is happening with globalization when we understand the political, social, business, and economic aspects of countries such as China.

  Businesses all across the US are affected by China. So many of the products we use are manufactured there. We must evolve with the times, and a significant player in the future is China. We are all affected by it one way or another.

  I found the “Ten Reasons China Matters to You” article to hit on some of the topics I have wondered about. For example, the author discusses China’s one child policy. Within our lifetimes, we will begin to see the effects of this policy on China. He speaks also of the implications of having more males than females. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. One interesting thought from the author is that ” Aging populations are not aggressive populations.” China’s aging population will certainly have an economic effect as well.

  In a variety of business-related professions, one can never know when he or she will be have opportunities abroad. The architects in the Mongolia article had to choose quickly to take advantage of an opportunity in a foreign land. The more knowledge we have about foreign countries, the more doors of opportunity will be open to us in the future. We will always be able to draw on this experience to help us better understand the world around us.

• 11. Katie Moeller  |  January 10th, 2011 at 4:49 pm

  People that are close-minded are probably going to believe that they don’t think they’re work is going to include an international element. Many American companies have started international relationships and this is only the beginning. I enjoyed the article that showed that even architecture firms are traveling internationally to pitch a new idea. I believe the more cash-strapped American companies are becoming, they are going to need to look to other countries to sell to or help with their business. The possibilities are endless.

  In the last few months I have told more people about this opportunity we have to travel to China. Most people react with a surprised look. But, they realize how much benefit can be derived from it. When I was home for Christmas break, I talked about this trip to my family and friends and it started a chain reaction. My Mom cut out newspaper articles every single day that mentioned China. My Grandpa was telling stories on his perspective of China. One of my friends told me about spending seven months in China for Best Buy. The more I talk about China, the more I realize how many people have been impacted by the country. These are just personal examples. I can only imagine the professional benefits the trip will provide.

• 12. Chris Bruns  |  January 16th, 2011 at 10:19 am

  I can honestly say that I have no desire to travel abroad constantly. In my previous job I put around 40,000 frequent flier miles on my account in a year, and spent roughly one week out of the month sleeping in hotel rooms. In the other 3 weeks of the month I spent driving business to business, between 500 and 1000 miles a week. I am aware of all of the sacrifices that need to be made to constantly travel, and I can honestly say I am not made for it.

  But the thing is, I wouldn’t know that about myself had I not thrown myself out there and experienced it first hand. I also have lived and worked full time in Australia, having never been there or met a single person there before my arrival. Living the expat lifestyle is much more fitting for me and I hope this trip to China will give me more direction into which part of the world I want to do business. As with previous jobs and experiences, while it might or might not be pleasant, it will serve as a guide to help me get to where I ultimately want to be.

• 13. Cassie Bettencourt  |  January 23rd, 2011 at 1:34 pm

  Expat - short for expatriate - meaning a person who lives outside of their native country. Before reading this post, I was unfamiliar with the term “expat.” This is probably because I have never really considered living outside of the United States. Although I see myself residing and doing business in America for the long term, I believe that people who say that they are not going to work international are being naive. I think that some MBA students, especially ones that have not yet spent much time in the real business world, say this because they feel like if they are not going to physically be in China or other places internationally, then learning/experiencing them is irrelevant. The evidence in the linked articles and in current events is clearly to the contrary. The world is more interrelated and interdependent than ever with the Internet and other technology making this possible. In fact, these technologies make it impossible to ignore international influence.

  The article “Top Ten Reasons Why China Matters to You” illustrates this codependence eloquently. China affects us in so many ways including economically, politically, and militarily. Two other points in the article I found interesting was the fact that China will get old before it gets rich and the fact that China is dependent on resources drawn from unstable regions. Both of these points I had not thought of before, and helped me put Chinas strength and future into perspective.

  Overall, I believe Cal Poly’s required trip to China is an amazing opportunity. Students should be open minded enough and well-educated enough to realize the value of such a trip in today’s business world. The doors being familiar with China will open do not just reach doors abroad, but also can help open doors and set you apart domestically.

• 14. Brady Haug  |  February 2nd, 2011 at 8:05 pm

  I would fully agree that this trip is highly important for all of our future careers. One point you made that I hadn’t considered much was that, “To better understand how, even if you/your firm elects to focus inward and continue to emphasize only California or US markets, there is a high probability your competition will use and leverage China and/or India against you. Thus, if you remain on the sideline, in time, your competition will kick your butt, there, or here.” I previously worked for a medical device manufacturing company, where virtually everything was manufactured in house. The company prides itself on this point. Presumably such large competitors as Johnson and Johnson, have been utilizing outsourcing to gain a pricing advantage. Whether or not some of us decided to be an expatriate or not is only a fraction of the reason for making this trip. To further expand on your point, this trip to China will aide us in understanding blunt differences in lifestyles. China doesn’t only represent our manufacturing floor, but they are also a massive sales market. In expanding into global sales, I think someone who has taken a trip, such as ours, to China would be a huge asset.

  Rather than validating our trip, I felt that the article “Ten Reasons Why China Matters to You” served to expand upon our relationship with China. The article expanded on multiple points, such that we should not be afraid of China because they are following in our footsteps and that manufacturing could very easily shift to other countries as business conditions change. It also highlighted some frailties in our relationship with China, such that, “As the Chinese become increasingly dependent on resources drawn from unstable regions-by 2020, roughly 70 percent of China’s oil imports will be from the Middle East-the country must continue leveraging U.S. military power.” Lastly, it is important for us to take interest in China for being such a global phenomenon. China is an ever growing superpower and just as the article stated, “America should take advantage of this new group’s eagerness to play an actively constructive role in international affairs.”

• 15. Jessie Wilkie  |  February 5th, 2011 at 5:22 pm

  I think the most important opportunity for enlightenment from the trip will come from our raw responses to being there. This will depend on how sheltered our experience is–the restaurants we eat at, the hotels we stay in, the sites we see, etc. An analogy that I’d use would be the morning time sleepy head–when you wake up in the morning it’s all too easy to stay in bed longer and be unaware of your full potential whereas if you just got up and got out you’d start to wake up naturally. The secret here is to get all the sleepyheads out of bed. Because although some might not like the experience they will still be “awakened”.

  All of the extra readings help us understand the theory behind China. But it’s kind of like riding a bike, you can read all about the different parts and the history and mechanics behind them but until you experience it you really have no idea. When you do experience it’s likely to knock you on your butt too! Until you gain more experience and you just sort of understand how it works and this is realized in motion. For China we can read articles, like the one by Mr. Barnett, and it’s like reading about how to ride a bike. Sure it tells us about the Chinese economy, modernization, globalization etc., but what does it all mean?! (Also, on a side note, I’d like to say that I found some of the pundit’s words very insulting. “So if you think we’ve added quite a few Hispanics in the last couple of decades…”)

  The main blog post, however, brings up some valid points. It is very important to realize how interconnected the world is. Even people who have never left the US and/or been to China get excited when I tell them that I’m going to China. Often times that sparks a deeper conversation about how China is important and what they know from their understanding of China–which is similar to what I know.

• 16. Sarah Weinzapfel  |  February 12th, 2011 at 11:25 pm

  Honestly, there is no one someone really believes that China doesn’t affect them in some way, shape, or form. When I was told this trip was part of this program, there was no one I could pass it up. This is where the future of business is and has already started. And this post couldn’t be more right; if you refuse to operate internationally in some aspect, your competition will and consequently pass you by. Even if there’s no possible way someone would work there physically, I guarantee something they use everyday has something to do with another county. Business people, especially, that say they won’t work internationally I think are just scared.

  I recently worked for an architecture firm that specializes in education in health care design as well as government/civic projects. I think it’s pretty obvious that business over the past few years has declined drastically in these areas. They are in the midst of multiple projects in China and other countries as well. Although they are not struggling, expanding internationally isn’t a question.

  http://hmcarchitects.com/work/international/hongkong

  http://hmcarchitects.com/work/international/kaohsiung

  http://hmcarchitects.com/work/healthcare/first_peoples_hospital

  These links are well worth visiting and point that even in my field of interior design, “going international” is relative. You just really never know. And by not having an open mind about our trip and international business, you’re only shutting doors.

• 17. Jason Jay Sharma  |  February 14th, 2011 at 2:48 am

  I’m probably a few years… decades behind, but if I wanted to be an expat, it would be somewhere in the UK. To this day London is the one city outside of America I would truly love to work in. Unbeknownst to me, I actually missed an opportunity to do so when I decided to enter the MBA program. If I had known what was going to happen, if I went back in time, I would probably be working in London at this very moment. On the bright side, I’m very happy with where I now, the people I’ve met in the program, and where we are going. I might have no desire to reside in China for a long period of time, but I am looking forward to experiencing and making a final decision AFTER the fact, not before.

  The “Ten Reasons Why China Matters to You” post was very interesting and insightful–there were many reasons presented that I have never truly thought when analyzing China and its future with the U.S.

  What I really enjoyed about the post were some points some readers might consider insignificant, but gave me an “A ha!” moment. “China will get very old before it gets truly rich.” While I’ve heard this applied to Japan numerous times, I never thought of applying it to a growing nation. “China’s fifth-generation leaders-in-waiting step into senior positions of power. Starting in the late 1970s, many of them were educated right here in the United States-the birthplace of today’s market-driven globalization.” My first thought after reading this was that the fireworks haven’t even started yet!

  For anyone that believes they can live their lives without some sort of relationship with China, the need to realize it’s already too late. From the professional aspect, visiting China is an amazing educational opportunity in business. From the personal aspect, visiting China will be a great culturally driven and humanizing experience. This is what I believe Neville Isdell means by his advice in his quote above.

• 18. Robbin Forsyth  |  February 14th, 2011 at 10:00 pm

  Hmmm
  I have to admit that I feel a bit brow beaten at this point in the process with this posting. As usual Professor Carr you have picked relevant, poignant and engaging articles. But after 30 some odd postings about the various aspects of this trip the tone of your intro turns me off.
  Double Hmmm
  I agree with you that it is imperative to make an effort to better understand how world business, economic, political and social dynamics all fall into place in our age of globalization. I get it. Can we actually get on with the trip now?
  The architecture article has the most personal relevance to me. As a designer I am aware of that I will be working with or in China after Cal Poly. The simple fact that China is both the largest manufacturing economy, (number of products made) and the fastest growing market for consumer products dictates this. I am excited about both aspects of this opportunity.
  Thomas Barnett’s article strikes a couple of new chords. The one that intrigues me the most is the correlation between China’s one child policy and its impact on China’s near future economic velocity. If China’s population really reaches 20%+ over the age of 65 in less than 20 years, it could impact resurgent western economies that have finally learned to work with China. I believe it will take our Economy 10-20 years to truly adjust to the realities of the hyper growth of the current China. How do we plan for a contracting Chinese economy?

• 19. Tim Easton  |  February 15th, 2011 at 10:42 pm

  This trip is going to have an impact on everyone’s future. Even if you do not plan to work internationally; this post and others have shown the importance of understanding business in China. With the interconnectedness of the world we are all going to be dealing with China in one way or another while we are working. The first way that this trip will have an impact on our future is that it will broaden our horizons and change our perspective on China, especially if you have not been there. The second way it will impact our future is through the business tours. We have the rare opportunity to see how business is done, and can hopefully take away some important lessons. As long as you have any open mind you are bound to get something out of the trip that will impact your future.

  Just like Jessie and Katie said, whenever I tell people about our trip it sparks their interest and they get excited about this opportunity. My parents have gotten a hold of old friends that live in China, and my Aunts and Uncles always tell me about their opinion of China whenever I see them. They all understand the value of this trip and want me to make the most of this opportunity.

• 20. Will Moeller  |  February 17th, 2011 at 1:44 pm

  I thought Dr. Carr comments were more pertinent, insightful, and concise than Barnett’s opinions. While Mr. Barnett makes some valid points, his article seems to cover a little of everything and a whole lot of nothing. Give me the opinions based on facts and let me prospect. If I wanted a broad overview of Chinese culture and its effect on America, I re-read Susan Shirk’s book.

  Particularly insightful, I think, is the comment, “all the products you buy are made in America and there is no value in seeing where the products we buy are made, right? Or the investment funds your stock broker dumps your money into will have no cross-border asset investments tied to China or India, right?”

  Both comments pique my interest. First, my New Year’s resolution, as I’ve stated previously is to not buy Chinese goods. The purpose is not to stifle China economically, rather, it’s to become aware of how much I, an American consumer, rely on China.

  Second, having spent a previous life in the investment world, you’d better believe that I’m a believer in getting exposure to emerging market equities. From a portfolio construction standpoint, there are obvious benefits - diversification, return enhancement. Thus, even if you’re an American worker with a 401k, 403b, pension, or IRA, you are tied to the emerging markets - China included.

• 21. Kristine Spencer  |  February 21st, 2011 at 1:11 am

  I agree with previous posts that the article “Ten reasons why China matters to you” had little new information that we haven’t already read. I did find a couple of fun facts riddled throughout this long article. For example, according to the article, corruption consumes more than 5 percent of China’s GDP, China’s population will dramatically age, while China’s youth is “brewing a sexual revolution.” I appreciated Coca-Cola’s CEO’s short interview which complimented previous things I have heard about what employers are looking for and what attributes are the most sought after. Written and oral communication, the ability to work effectively in teams, and work well with and understand people from different cultures is becoming increasingly important. From my experience, working with people from other cultures is usually easy when they are similar to my own age. This is due to globalization, similar interests, familiarity with music, TV shows, sports, and even unexpectedly similar lives. When I studied abroad in Denmark, I lived with a bunch of people from India, and I was really shocked at how much we had in common. They all loved the TV show “How I Met Your Mother” and couldn’t believe that I hadn’t watched it, and they listened to all the popular club music that I was familiar with (they were obsessed with the Black Eyed Peas when Boom Boom Pow came out!). But the understanding of other people is extremely important when one is doing business in other cultures and with people of different ages. This is where things get more complicated, a deeper understanding is necessary, and this understanding becomes more of a priority. In today’s globalized society, as Professor Carr explains how China and other countries affect us all, it is no longer acceptable to not be able to do business with people from other cultures merely because they are different from you.

• 22. Ashley Ogden  |  February 24th, 2011 at 10:19 am

  Yeah, Carr…I definitely think this trip has many benefits. Even if I don’t end up in China (which I am not planning on) I understand the importance of knowing what exactly is going on over there. I think for most people, China is a big, mysterious thing that just sends over lots of “junk”. Perhaps for me, some of that mystery will fade after our little field trip.

  I liked the article attached to this post. It is interesting to think that in just two decades, 20% of China’s population will be over the age of 65 and that China will grow old before it ever gets rich. Another interesting point the author makes is that American businesses will have to decide whether or not they will “dive into China’s dynamic market” in the near future. He points out some good reasons why they should and what they would be missing if they don’t. This was a very interesting article and backs up my thought that we have much to learn on our field trip.

  The article about Ordos is very interesting and follows up on the quality of life discussion. These American architects could stay in America and try to wade out the recession. Instead, they are seizing the Chinese opportunity and getting to live like “stars” while designing a dream-town, Ordos 100. There seems like there is plenty of opportunities in China, especially if you can find someone like Mr. Cai.

• 23. j hurley  |  February 26th, 2011 at 4:28 pm

  Professor Carr hits some obvious but very important facts on the head regarding why it is important to travel and see how the world operates outside the U.S. from my limited travels so far, I have seen that America acts in much different ways than the rest of the world. It is important to go outside your common zone and become aware, if not comfortable with different operations outside the U.S.
  Due to globalization, interaction and knowledge of other countries operations are vital. Even if you don’t think you will use the experience directly, as Carr points out, there is no way of not experiencing it indirectly. This could be through competitors, your suppliers or your suppliers suppliers. Being familiar can only help.

• 24. Anthony Kallioinen  |  February 27th, 2011 at 11:03 am

  At the beginning of this course I would have fit into this category; my thought process was something like this: ‘I understand the reasons for this course, but I still don’t see myself learning mandarin or facilitating any huge deals in China in the near future. This is the sixth year of my higher education and I guess I am ready to get the job I was promised at the beginning of my college career.’ To some degree I still feel this way because I still cannot see myself doing these things, but when you outline the goals for this course, I realize that although China is the subject, the real message is to get out of this American bubble we live in and realize that there are other countries doing work and maybe we could learn a thing or two from them. I really like the quote from the CEO of Coca-Cola. The fact that this is the company with the highest brand value in the world adds some authority to her statement.

  I have a couple things to say about the architecture article. First, with the housing bubble, it means that no one is building (in the US at least), especially if they already see architecture as a superfluous profession of ego-driven designers making strange looking dwellings. This means that architects must look internationally for work, and the competition for commissions is going to be fierce. Second, I liked the part of the article where Lyn Rice spoke about the three wishes of an architect: “If I were approached by a genie and told, you’ve got three wishes, they would be, one, for a project that moves along fast; two, that I don’t need to do construction documents; and three, that I have a client who doesn’t worry too much about what I do.” Although most architects can relate to this sentiment, he is also right to say that it is the problems, obstacles, and general constraints of the project that really make the design better. These are what shape the project and give it character. There is nothing worse for me than looking at a blank site and creating whatever I want with no means to defend it other than my taste. Third, I’m glad that the ‘money quote’ of the article mentioned the propensity for architects to wear black; it is a little joke among students in the architecture community.

• 25. Tyler Sereno  |  February 27th, 2011 at 9:32 pm

  This trip is going to be a great experience for each of us and will have an effect on our futures in some way. The post, Top Ten Reasons Why China Matters to You, does a good job of explaining the benefits of doing business with China. I never thought I would be someone who did a lot of business internationally, but I have learned to keep an open mind and stay flexible. This trip will be an amazing learning experience. I am looking forward to absorbing as much as possible about Chinese culture when we go on the trip. Having the opportunity to be exposed to business in China will be very beneficial when seeking future employment. So much business is done in China and I am excited to observe their culture. There are so many products that are made in China that we rely on and it will be great to see where they come from.

• 26. Tara Millard  |  February 28th, 2011 at 10:43 pm

  I really enjoyed this blog post, as I personally have gotten all of these questions from friends and family who are……. Well uncultured to say the least. I have struggled to defend myself against such judgmental comments from a group of people who neither engage in business decisions nor choose to acknowledge that the majority of what we use in this country is made in CHINA.

  I personally have no desire to become an ex-pat, but I also never expected to be applying to Law School in the midst of my MBA education. What I’m trying to say is, I take life as it comes, and if China presents an opportunity of a lifetime, I only live once, and I will most likely take it. Regardless of whether or not I become an ex-pat, I already see the value of visiting and learning about the culture and world of business in China.

  If I ever want to be successful, it is unrealistic to stop my education and awareness at the U.S Border. Business has grown to have no borders, so how can we expect the up and coming business person to compete in a global world when they can’t see past their own countries borders.

  This issue is very personal for me as I am a first generation college student and come from a background of relatives that have never moved from Reno, Nevada in their entire lives. Some have never even seen the ocean. I constantly struggle to emphasize the importance of global thinking and understanding. I’m glad I’m not alone.

• 27. Randy Camat  |  March 4th, 2011 at 3:11 pm

  The related articles are a great summary of what we’ve been learning about China. They highlight the importance of its emerging economy and the vast opportunities that many seek to capitalize on. The American economy is contracting while the Chinese economy is greatly expanding. It makes sense to visit China to see the competitive nature of their business environment and compare it to our own/ US businesses. Maybe we can use what we gain from this trip as experience that will help us in our future jobs, whether it involve relocating to China or not.

  I really like the quote from Coca-Cola’s CEO, “If students don’t listen to and understand other people’s points of view, it creates misinterpretation and confrontation. It certainly will cause them to lose business opportunities.” Communication is a big part of business and in most cases it’s the deal-breaker to many business opportunities. As the emerging economic giant, China will play a key role in the future of many businesses and US businesses for that matter. As one that hopes to make a difference in a company, I hope to gain some valuable lessons from this trip that will better allow me to make wise decisions in the future.

• 28. Ben Raymond  |  March 5th, 2011 at 8:52 pm

  With the presence China is making in the global economy, we are already experiencing the business implications, so there is no way one can go through life ignoring the impacts of China. Whether or not we take advantage of the opportunity, or let it take advantage of us, is our choice. I personally enjoy learning as much as possible about other cultures and how they function. I am intrigued by China’s booming economy and how their new found economic freedoms will influence their desire for political freedoms.

  Professor Carr presented some very valuable points about the importance of global education and awareness. There is a ton of potential for business opportunity in China and by keeping up with whats going on over there we can place ourselves in a position to reap some of the benefits if we choose to. Even if I don’t choose to live in China, I know I will be greatly influenced by China’s global presence so it is to my benefit to learn as much as possible about China and its up and coming developments.

• 29. Amanda Podesta  |  March 5th, 2011 at 9:50 pm

  I really don’t know if I have anything to add value to this post. I don’t think it is my job to tell anyone what they’ll get out of going to China and why China is important— because I don’t think that I can if they can’t already see it. I’ve met people that have been disappointed by what I thought was brilliant; got no value from something that had a huge impact on me (I’m still trying to swallow the bitter pill that was “Inception.”) … and vice versa. It’s a two-way street. How we experience the world is different for everyone. If you don’t think you’ll get anything out of going to China, maybe you won’t. I’ve stopped trying to impose. At the same time, if you live every day as an opportunity to learn something – about yourself, other people, the world, opportunities – I don’t think you can go wrong. To be fair, I’m going to be dealing directly with Chinese firms as early as this fall so maybe it’s easier for me to “buy in” to how “Ten Reasons why China Matters to You.”

• 30. Matt Streiter  |  March 11th, 2011 at 2:26 pm

  I know that this trip will be a milestone in my education being that I have never traveled outside of the country with the purpose of learning about business customs and opportunities in mind. Being that many family members do business overseas or across the border (mexico), I hear first hand accounts of the opportunities outside of the American borders. Through the years I have come to realize that doing business in the U.S. is just a stepping stone in the bigger picture and learning about international business is going to/or already is the expectation of students entering into the work force.

  I like how the article compares and contrasts the timelines of American and Chinese history. China is experiencing many of the same changes that America did (i.e., industrial evolution, investment and construction boom, space exploration) they just took the later train. The real test is if China’s political system and economy is going to be able to survive the downside’s that the American system was able to pull through. Right now China is in a “honey moon” phase where they are experiencing great growth and haven’t yet been hit with a huge set back. With a paranoid government and citizens who are known to congregate for a purpose, the CCP may be fighting for their control again as they did in Tiananmin.

  Regardless, seeing what is to come and the uncertainty is going to leave us at the edge of our seats. The possibilities and predictions of what is going to happen are numerous. I feel as China’s becomes older that they are going to hit a new set of problems and will depend up on the prosperity of today to bring them through the tough times when this young generation gets old.

• 31. Kyle R.  |  March 11th, 2011 at 7:24 pm

  I completely agree with Professor Carr and Thomas Barnett, the booming business in China is only going to increase with time. We have two options, sit back and miss out, or take advantage of the potential opportunities that exist in China. I also feel that it is not very intelligent to say, “I’m not going to work international.” How can anyone be certain of this? Just a few years ago, I never would have expected to be in the MBA program at Cal Poly. Currently, I don’t plan on working internationally, but I may someday. The China trip is a great opportunity to see the Chinese culture, history, policy, and business in action. How can somebody not value this opportunity?

  I think that having an understanding of the Chinese business landscape is crucial. It serves as a firsthand look at how the Chinese work. Americans can view Chinese businesses with the intention of learning from or joining them. If I ever venture into an industry that can utilize the resources that China has to offer, I will not hesitate. It is only a matter of time until it is necessary for Americans to do this, in order to stay competitive.

• 32. J Vail  |  March 14th, 2011 at 12:35 pm

  As many of the blogs have taught us, the most important way we can learn is through the perspective of others. I can understand the moral of this post, but I think we are also fortunate in that everyone going on the trip seems genuinely excited for the experience, and I think we will have a great time. The readings we do in preparation cover a lot of bases and expand our minds to be ready to understand everything going around us when we are actually in China. I know personally from my father that this sort of preparation will put us far ahead of the older business generations – he essentially was the example in point 4 when, without knowing anything about China had to start taking monthly trips to Tianjin.

  The Barnett article was very detailed and expanded upon the 10 extremely well. One thing that I had not considered earlier was the “more profound legacy of the one child policy” in that the whole population is going to move upwards collectively in age until that generation is phased out. With the favor towards the male population, perhaps there will be an even sharper decline in population growth moving into the future. He also ends the section with a good anecdote “aging populations are not aggressive populations”.

• 33. Chris F.  |  March 17th, 2011 at 1:23 pm

  I never thought to myself if I could be an expatriate of this country living and doing business in some foreign land. Even though I have travel experience to over a dozen foreign countries, I still have those moments when I disembark from the airplane in the United States and think “It’s great to be home!” But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider working overseas; if the right opportunity comes my way, I’ll probably take it. I’m still (relatively) young and can afford to uproot myself for overseas life. I’m not one of those people who think this trip is supposed to brainwash me into becoming an expat, but I am one who believes this is a great opportunity to see a country that is key to many U.S. corporate operations.

  To say that you will have no interaction with China (or any place in the global market) once you start your careers is just being naïve about the world. An analogy would be our own American isolationism during the early part of the 20th century: We cut ourselves off from the issues going around the world thinking it didn’t involve us but we got dragged into two world wars as a result. The lesson - whether we like it or not, we are all part of this globalized economy. As Professor Carr states, we probably own something that has, at one point or another, originated from China. If one stays complacent about where they are now (as a business) and a competitor who comes in with Chinese business leverage, I can bet the Chinese partnered competitor will be a pain to deal with and might close you down in the long term. It’s a Darwinist business world out there - survival of the fittest. Better know how things are run in this global economy.

• 34. JP Salazar  |  March 18th, 2011 at 12:10 am

  To borrow the catch phrase from one of my favorite current SNL segments:
  Really!?!
  I understand that before I entered this program I did not have much of a clue about the real impact the change in places like China and India would have on my future. But now that I am about to pass the halfway point for my MBA I can say that I have had a lot of exposure to the subject. We get to see the effects of globalization and the shift of the global economy in many aspects of this program, especially in this class (kind of the point). Come on, we are in the process of finishing our 40+ blog posts on just this topic alone.
  I mean Really!?!
  I don’t see how anyone in our program at this point could say they do not see the importance of understanding international business. We are all in this program because we want to invest in our future and become more skilled at conducting business. We want to learn how to be more effective. We are all smart young students and we are very capable of picking up on the central theme of this course. I think we deserve a little credit. We get it. Really.
  Overall, though, I did like how the second article conveyed its top 10 reasons why China is important to us. It was another example of why we should be concerned with international issues, even if we do not plan to work outside of the US. While it did not reveal may new insights, it did help to reinforce the idea that the world is changing and to be effective, we have to learn how to change along with it.

• 35. Omar Pradhan  |  March 18th, 2011 at 2:19 pm

  I have no doubts about this trip and the potential it will have to make me more marketable and enhance my deep awareness for the challenges and opportunities that exist in China. Having traveled abroad many times before, I would say that at some point you just get hooked on the experience…especially when your travels connect you to the larger purposes of your life (i.e. traveling to an all-inclusive resort in a foreign country and never leaving the private beach doesn’t count). This trip to China will be meaningful to me because I hope to work in either the consulting or high tech industry. To the extent that my clients or company needs me to have an informed opinion on China…this trip will certainly go a long way toward providing a powerful set of data points from which to draw upon in formulating and articulating my opinion. Moreover, this class has been highly intellectually stimulating and rewarding. I certainly feel as though my understanding of China has grown by leaps and bounds just by connecting with your blog recommendations and reading two of the three books. I especially found the “10 Reasons Why China Matters to You” article to be a nice recap on some of the themes covered in previous articles & books. Moreover, I hope to explore the extent to which the article’s claim that China is equivalent to a “rising America circa 1880-absent democracy”…the point about their regulatory system being about where ours was prior to the 1929 crash is a scary thought given our financial interdependence. Looking forward to learning more in the run up to and throughout our trip!

• 36. Kevin K.  |  January 15th, 2012 at 7:41 pm

  One of the great things that both the top ten list and the architecture article presents, in regards to China, is both the notions of opportunity and innovation. For so long we’ve viewed China as the place to go for cheap, mass-produced and recreated items, and of course the Great Wall. Two archaic modes of thinking that are quickly becoming dissolved as China — although still “the world’s factory” — modernizes its infrastructure and expands its economic reach to its villages and billion-plus citizens. Yes the Great Wall still stands, but what is growing around it is what should interest us MBA students the most. Opportunities like the one China is experiencing — unprecedented economic growth regardless of if its bubble is heading towards a historical collapse — don’t happen that often, especially for young entrepreneurs. One of the most compelling items on the top ten list was this one: “American businesses face a key decision: dive into China’s dynamic markets or risk missing out on their coming wave of innovation.” Opportunity and innovation tied together: it’s a great thing.

  I know San Luis Obispo offers a warm blanket for its citizens, but this trip to China is a great opportunity to leave that blanket, one that we shouldn’t be questioning as we prepare to dive into it headfirst.

• 37. Vladimir  |  January 28th, 2012 at 8:46 pm

  I think a reason some people don’t think China will affect their professional future much is because “Must understand China” isn’t listed as a requirement in many job descriptions. But limiting one’s preparation to what’s on the job ads is a mistake. Companies, large and small, will depend on China as both a business partner and a consumer. When I think of China I tend to think of manufacturing, but the role of China will expand - I read an article a few days ago in The Wall Street Journal about the US shifting many R&D jobs to China as well. Understanding Chinese business practices will help managers in America work with those outside the country more effectively, while ignoring China will put them at a competitive disadvantage. It’s better to prepare earlier for the shift rather than later. Ignoring China will mean ignoring opportunities for cost savings and penetration of a huge consumer market. I read that the China tablet PC market, for example, is expected to witness phenomenal growth in the near future. At first I thought Thomas Barnett’s statement that China will have four times as many cars in 20 years was significant. It is, but I just found that China has only one twentieth as many cars per capita as the United States. I don’t expect China to match the US in Cars per capita in the next few decades, but that’s quite a car market over there. A market it pays to understand.

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The posts, comments and/or views expressed on this trip blog, whether by a Cal Poly student or faculty or an outside guest to the blog, do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of Cal Poly, the Orfalea College of Business (OCOB), any of the OCOB's graduate programs and/or other students who participate in the trip.