As we recently passed the one year anniversary of the Mumbai attacks, it is interesting to look at how things have evolved both on the international scene and on the ground locally.

On November 26, 2008, 15-20 individuals, carrying automatic machine guns and arriving by boat killed 173 people and injured over 300 as they attacked two hotels, a restaurant, a train station, a Jewish cultural center and a hospital.

Early investigation has shown that the attack was planned and executed out of Pakistan, complicating an already tense relationship between the two neighboring countries. Since then, Islamabad has pledged to hold their own investigation and help catch anyone who had their hand in the attack. However, on November 23^rd, during a visit in Washington, Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh accused Pakistan of dragging its feet regarding the investigation. Meanwhile, Italy recently arrested two suspects and the United States arrested David Headley, an American of Pakistani decent who is also suspected to have been involved in the attacks.

Locally, the Indian police have also been revamping their operations to better address terrorist threats. The Quick Response Team (QRT), a unit that was created to deal with such situations, proved completely ineffective during the attacks. They were ill-equipped, out-gunned, and had poor leadership. A more complex issue for the Indian police to resolve is its internal divisions. These were once religion based but recently there has been rivalry between different ethnic groups. This has significantly hampered the progress of the investigation as competition has replaced cooperation between the different factions that make up the Indian police.

On the bright side, there have been some concrete steps in the right direction. The Indian police have been modernizing and reorganizing themselves to better address these threats. Teams of six very well trained and equipped men are now posted in every other police station in Mumbai, on call, 24 hours a day. An order of nineteen amphibian vehicles was also placed with Canada. In August 2009, new weapons arrived including Smith and Wesson handguns, Heckler & Koch machine guns, and Colt grenade launchers.

India is yet another country that, faced with this new kind of threat, has had to adapt the way it looks at, and deals with internal security. Welcome to the 21^st century!

-Michael Harroch

We have returned to the USA!

Six cities, over 16 firms, several universities, and numerous cultural excursions in 18 days.

Below you can read about Days 1-17 of our journey. Overall the firm visits this year were excellent.

I view the trip and course as a success, but I define “success” differently than perhaps most would.

First, let me note that this was an excellent group. Collectively, the “got it”. I appreciated their effort, maturity and professionalism on the trip, including their willingness to put self aside for the greater interests of the group.  They collectively worked hard, bucked up when travel bumps appeared, they rolled up their sleeves and were proactive in their learning and the questions they asked. This group was much more active than past groups in practicing some of the simple things of business like the exchange of business cards, networking, and starting to cultivate relationships with people they met abroad. This was great to witness, as it was one of the learning goals for the course.  Collectively, they were outstanding ambassadors for our country, college and university.  I am very proud of them and their efforts.  In many instances, because of the professional way they conducted themselves, they changed the perceptions of Chinese and Indians about Americans in a positive, productive way.  I felt honored to witness such an exchange and it made me feel optimistic about the future.

Some students found they really liked China and/or India. Some discovered they did not. Some students came to see China mainly as the factory of the world; others concluded it’s a market and/or both. I think many came to realize that with respect to India, nice roads and trains do not necessarily make a country — it is the people that make a country. As an example, during their off-the-clock free time, a number of the students went to a nice night club and witnessed Hindi, Punjabi and English music and songs being seamlessly played and connected, as the crowd danced with delight. For me, this is a true symbol and metaphor of India and its strength — the Indians adapt and are self sufficient, lack of infrastructure and all, and they make it happen and succeed, and all while not making a big deal out of their success. We just don’t see this happening as much, in my view, in the West.

Some of the innovators in our student group spotted tremendous business opportunities amidst the chaos of China and India; while some of the traditionalists in the group seemed flustered, stressed and/or intimidated by the chaos one finds in China and India. This trip was a great testing ground for for both subsets.

Sometimes students found that on a trip like this the plane or bus is on time and comfortable; other times not. Some tolerated the food and some even liked it (particularly in India!). Some discovered they could thrive in the difficult physical circumstances that China and India and international business presents; others found that mountain hard to climb.

There is no doubt that throughout this trip we saw ample anecdotal evidence to support Fareed Zakaria’s hypothesis and argument in his excellent, thoughtful, and recently published best selling book, The Post American World; to wit, that it’s not that the USA is in decline so everybody needs to sit back down and stop stressing out about that myth; it’s just that other countries like China and India are on their way up and we need to learn how to deal with it and partner with them.

The health of most held up, but some did become physically ill due to a cold, fever or the food.  I was very thankful nobody was quarantined as we entered mainland China.

All seemed to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices that overseas employees and their families make when a firm sends them to make headway into a new market and the unique business opportunities that can be found for a forward leaning business thinker in a place like China and India in relation to the West.

We caught a break with the weather in China - it was not as hot as usual and the pollution was not nearly as bad as usual in Beijing. In India, it was fairly hot and humid, and it pushed each of us. We were also lucky in that in Bombay (Mumbai) it did not rain that much, even though it was/is monsoon season there.

The students also picked up several best business practices from the Chinese and Indians that they can bring back with them to the West (e.g., in China and India, the guest, client, etc. are king and attention to them matters; in India, they even have a saying relating to this point - “the guest in your house is a god”). They also caught a good glimpse of the type of people they need to hire who they can send and who can thrive in the markets of China and India, particularly if/when they conclude getting on said plane ride is not for them.

Most students appeared to be humbled and impressed by China and India and their people and talent; while some may return home skeptical; and a very small minority might even return home with a mistaken Western ethnocentric belief they are somehow smarter, better looking/prettier, or superior to the average Chinese or Indian national or manager who speaks broken English (and man, oh man, is this latter minority in for a wake up call someday).  All seemed to reach a deeper understanding of why China and India and the US need to work together to solve future geopolitical, business, societal and environmental problems. Should we elect to not partner with these countries and their peoples to solve the challenges of today and tomorrow, we do so at our peril.

Some students saw China and/or India as needing the USA for some time; while others concluded that China and/or India will in time throw down its crutches of needing the US, begin to walk on its own and in time run and be true contenders on the world stage, possibly even surpassing the US in the economic and geopolitical spotlight. Others described what they found in China, a communist country, as being full of pure, raw, unfettered capitalism at its best (and sometimes its worst); while others saw more of a mixture of a system made up of government monopolies that protects certain players and industries. Comparing “communist” China with hyper-democracy India was an outstanding learning experience. Most seemed to develop an appreciation that whether one likes China and/or India or not, an educated MBA and MS in Industrial Technology needs to better understand how they fit into the global value and supply chain.

In other words, everybody who made the effort had the opportunity to test their talents, beliefs, values, biases, egos and professionalism in some way, shape or form, and the trip was a microcosm of the real world that no textbook, case study or professor in a classroom can teach.

Most of the above are also some of the very types of issues, questions and items we had hoped students would grapple and struggle with when we started to plan this trip a year ago, and I do not believe for a minute that one can teach these types of lessons sitting and staying within the confines of comfortable Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo, California or even the United States for that matter.

I also encourage the readers of this blog to check out the reflective post-trip journal entries that I require each student to make, as over the next few weeks they will load that document onto their personal trip blogs you can/will find on the right hand column of this blog. Good managers and leaders take time to reflect on what they have learned, where they have been, and where they are going. Click and read away as their post trip reflections come in. Having said that, I have learned on this trip that the true power of their learning experience will likely not fully hit them for another year, maybe two or three.

These 32 Orfalea College of Business graduate students were provided with an on-the-ground opportunity to see, ask questions, experience and witness first hand some of the pros and cons of: (1) China — the world’s biggest start-up and turnaround; and (2) India — the tiger struggling to break free from its leash and at the same time finding that it is the very leash holding the proverbial tiger back.

We also had the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of what globalization is all about and some of the challenges that will face the business firms and governments of tomorrow. Each of us was able to confirm and test some of our preconceived notions about business, capitalism, communism, China, hyper-democratic India, and themselves, and debunk others. These students should also now have the ability to understand and analyze, at a sophisticated and nuanced level, the next front page article they read about China and India and business that appears in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, New York Times, Business Week, The Economist, et al. and be able to understand why it’s a front page story and be able to separate fact from global legend and urban lore. This ability to do so will set these students apart from the average American and businessperson, and even most of our politicians, who blather on and on about China or India when they know nothing about it, they have never even been there to see these places for themselves, and/or they could not find said places on the map if their lives depended on it.

Of course, how, when and whether this group of future business leaders leverage the knowledge and experience gained through this trip during the next phase of their lives is up to them. At the Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business, I can represent we have done our best in this regard. I am confident they will make the best of it. This is a talented group of young men and women. They give me great hope for the future.

A big, big shout out and thank you to all who helped us on this trip. THANK YOU! Again, our firm visits this year were top notch and incredibly engaging.

As for me, I am bone tired and jet lagged. But a nice thing about this trip for me is that I always feel a deeper love for home — meaning the USA, SLO and my house and family — each time I return.  Traveling abroad for such a long period of time also, as the saying goes, “helps me remember who I sometimes forget to be”, and I am thankful for such a crash review and reminder course.  The next few weeks I plan to get away from work and spend time with my family. I also plan to take a break from China and India and blogging for the next month and I don’t plan to make many (possibly any!) posts during that time.

Until then, thanks again to this wonderful group of 32 students.  They made us proud at Cal Poly.  And they were a lot of fun to travel with.

Team Five:

Our team arose early in the morning and left New Delhi for Mumbai. We took a picture with our bus driver and Sanjeev, his helper. It was sad to leave them, but everyone was pretty grateful to leave the hustle and bustle of New Delhi in search of a new place to conquer. Jimmy was sick and had issues with food poisoning the night before we left and had some further stomach issues during the flight. We will spare you the details, but let’s just say it was a quick flight and Jimmy threw up. Some aspects of the New Delhi airport to remember were: we were allowed to bring water bottles, we had buses drive us out to the planes, our carryon bag needed a special tag, and we needed text messaging capabilities to gain access to the Internet. Upon landing we gathered our bags at the carousel and were greeted as we walked out the door with a small monsoon. Welcome to Mumbai.

We loaded the bus and made our way to the hotel—an extremely nice five-star hotel which would be considered nice by western standards. Jimmy S. and David C. stayed back at the hotel while we made our fist visit to a global multimedia and telecom company. James M. missed the bus, but using his good communication skills and the direction of a few very helpful motorists he was able to direct the taxi driver to the right location and make it to the meeting on time. The bus arrived late, but our hosts were gracious.

A top manager from HR gave us an overview of its parent business and its multiple lines of business throughout the world. More specifically, she spoke to us about HR hiring, training and retention practices. She reinforced the importance of initially getting the right people on the bus to ensure a successful company and smooth operations. We then received a strong SWOT analysis, including short-term and long-term goals, most of which were pretty aggressive. We received key insight into how important their soft skills are. Finally, she spoke extensively about the large amounts of work involved with training employees to communicate with the customers whom are on the other side of the line and half-way around the world.

The second speaker, a senior manager over call-center operations, spoke about the importance of leadership, listening to employees, gaining their trust, and setting realistic goals and expectations. He talked about coordinating the operations of thousands of people, everything from making sure they come to work on time and keeping them well rounded physically, mentally and emotionally. In addition, the manager spoke a lot about the metrics involved with measuring call center employees (customer service, success rate, etc) and how they are used to consistently improve their ability to help the customer that is calling.

After the company visit, we headed to a large mall which had an interactive dinning experience that reflected many of the cultural aspects and activities through out India. This restaurant had pottery making, palm readers, musicians, dancers, and henna tattooist. The food was very diverse along with the intricate decorations. Beyond the delight and fun we experience with all the food, activities and dancing we took away a lot of insight into the ever changing cultural diversity of India. During the day we were joined by two local Indian University students—Kamal and Rits. They were a lot of fun. It was great to get opinions and information from students our own age regarding the global economy and learn of their different worldviews.

Team Six:

Our team may be biased, but we believe that Day 8 was the best of our days here in India. The slums of Dharavi, an impromptu game of soccer on a sandy beach of the Arabian Sea, a waterlogged game of cricket, a hospitable lunch, and a tour of MET (one of the premier business schools in India), were just a few of the memories that will be added to the heap that we have accumulated thus far.

The day started out at our incredible hotel buffet; croissants, muffins, omelets, and hash browns were a familiar respite from our adventurous forays into the native cuisine of India. After drinking the last bits of watermelon juice and finishing the final nibbles of fruit, the group began to gather, fresh-faced and chattering, in the hotel lobby. As with most of the days on our trip, Dr. Carr began with a health check-up. Those who were on the mend discussed their recovery while we all worried a moment for those who were still in bed, unable to make the adventures for the day. With the conversation coming to a close, we charged into the bus, finding seats next to the familiar faces of our classmates.

The first stop for the day was the slums of Dharavi, made famous by the movie “Slumdog Millionaire.” The ingenuity of the slum dwellers was immediately evident upon arrival. As Professor Singh explained what we were seeing, several conclusions became palpable; perhaps the most shocking was that many of the individuals choose to live in the slums in order to save money and to maintain their freedom from the government. The slums are made up of both white collar workers and blue collar workers, many of them living in 12’X12’ rooms, making a decent living, and paying virtually nothing for utilities. The politicians find the slums rife with potential voters and choose to propagandize, rather than to bulldoze. Everywhere one looks there are giant posters for local politicians saying “we are on your side.” On one hand, it’s common to feel sorry for the those people living in such poor conditions; on the other, one learns that many people are living in the slums by choice (rather than in apartments), and are doing very well for themselves…this is definitely a country filled with dualities.

Upon leaving the slums, we toured the city a bit more and stopped by a beach on the Arabian Sea. By chance, we came across a group of teenagers playing soccer. In true Indian fashion, they readily agreed to a game with us. Although we only had fifteen minutes, many of us jumped at the opportunity to engage with the locals and we began a friendly, mixed game. Even though it was impossible to tell who your teammates were or what the score was, we had a great time. It’s those unplanned moments where we are immersed in the Indian culture that have made this trip so life-changing, memorable, and educational.

After taking a group picture and brushing the sand off, we piled back into the bus and headed for a large local retail outlet. In line with the tradition of Indian hospitality, the store opened early just for us to look around. We encountered many surprises, including narrow aisles and piles of unfamiliar products. We were also startled to see all of the produce sitting in the heat, unpacked and unrefrigerated. Apparently, the produce there has a very high turnover rate; furthermore, Indian shoppers will only buy produce if it is ungroomed and unwashed; this is rooted in the perception that no amount of commercial sanitation will live up to the rigorous hygienic standards of the common Indian kitchen. Many of us were also stunned to see a Garnier product designed to lighten a person’s skin. This has been popular with Indian women for some time, but it is now catching on for men as well. Apparently, lighter skin is a vain desire in India, similar to the Californian’s yearning for an unhealthy tan. We recognized several of the brands of snack food and soft drinks, but there were still many that looked unfamiliar. We were also introduced to a soda called “Thumbs Up,” a native cola drink. Coca Cola tried for years to beat Thumbs Up in the Indian market, but eventually resigned to defeat and acquired the company. Overall, the store appeared to be a bit untidy in its stocking of the shelves and bins, a concept that is actually an attempt to relate to the Indian consumer, rather than a result of poor management or cramped space. Trying to adjust the Indian market to modern retail requires a similarity to the street vendor style to which the locals are familiar.

After purchasing Pringles and chocolate, Coke and power bars, the tour of the retail outlet came to an end and we began the trip to MET, an “A++ B School”—or premier business school—in India. Earlier this year, we prepared to play Cricket against the students at MET, and today was our chance to show what we were made of. We ended up splitting up the different students into mixed teams so that one side (i.e. our side) didn’t get dominated too badly. The game went as expected, with the MET students doing quite well; we simply tried to remember to run in a straight line without throwing the bat. On the sidelines, Indian and American students mingled, sharing jokes and jeers at the other team. The Indians taught us a heckling phrase, meaning “catch the chicken,” while we taught them who Alex Rodriguez is. The game was going well until we switched sides and the fielding team came up to bat. At this point, the sky opened up and an infamous Mumbai monsoon began. If one has never experienced a monsoon, it is difficult to explain how it feels. It was basically like having someone with pitchers of water standing above you pouring constantly—very different from the gentle showers of the Central coast. Despite the downpour, we were not to be discouraged and continued with the game anyway. Unfortunately, soon thereafter the speaker for the day arrived and the game had to be discontinued. As the Indian students and American students washed the clay of the field off their clothes together, the Indian students admitted that they had never played cricket in the rain. Apparently, it was a day of firsts for us both.

After getting everyone changed into clean clothes, we were fed another excellent Indian meal. Sitting at round tables, there were at least two individuals standing around us, available for our every need. In fact, it wasn’t until the second or third time that extra bowls of our favorite dishes appeared at our table that we realized they were listening to our conversation and reacting to our likes and dislikes. Being treated like royalty was not something we expected when we came to India. Moreover, this incredible welcoming hospitality was one of the largest takeaways of the day: we will each ask ourselves how we can emulate this type of service in the United States when guests come to our school. We will also reflect on the shortcomings that Americans have in this respect.

Lunch ended and we sat down to listen to the speaker from the local retail outlet we visited earlier. He was very entertaining, and seemed to have a lot of interesting insights into the mind of the Indian consumer. Perhaps the most interesting thing he mentioned was the “butt brush factor,” which suggests that Americans won’t shop at places where their butts are brushed a certain number of times by people or objects (indicating a crowded store). Contrary to this western viewpoint, Indians appreciate a higher “butt brush factor,” as it indicates that the store is more popular—most likely because of better deals. He mentioned the early “failure” to recognize that Indians do not want to shop in a non-traditional Wal-Mart style retail outlet. The stores were changed to increase the “butt brush factor”, bins were overfilled, and the stores were given a feel of the traditional open air markets. As a result, the stores became a success and have grown tremendously. The presenter gave us a very upbeat opinion of the retail sector in India and shared his belief that his retail outlet is focused on promoting the category in an effort to succeed without stepping on other retailers. It is hard to believe that retail accounts for only four percent of India’s GDP. Like so much in India, there are tremendous opportunities to expand this category. This particular retailer gives us an excellent model of adapting a modern retail sector to the Indian culture.

We then listened to the Director General of the college speak about how the curriculum for MET had been designed and what the students were doing abroad. He discussed the foreign programs MET has, in particular the programs in China and the ECOSOC Council with the UN in the U.S. He discussed the requirements of each student to volunteer with underprivileged individuals in the community. We thought it was interesting that when asked about teaching ethics, the director replied that this was typically the job of a student’s parents. Also, rather than developing a course about ethics, it is expected that the student will live an ethical life by giving back to the community. The director also briefly outlined his history in the agriculture business before his tenure with MET. He mentioned the long presence of the Indian entrepreneurial spirit, which we have seen many times over the past days. Lastly, before leaving, we had a tour of the college and got to see the students in a more natural environment. The facilities were vastly different from what we have come to enjoy at Cal Poly. Each floor of the multi story building was home to a separate portion of the school. Throughout the building, the students had many rooms dedicated to rest, study, and entertainment, including a game room and a music listening room. While on the tour, we had a chance to discuss some of the finer aspects of the education with administrators. It was refreshing to see the familiar “learn by doing” atmosphere where students were provided real life problems to solve. It also posed the question of whether providing environments for fun and socializing, like our own Resource Center, aid in the educational process, or are superfluous.

On the trip back to the hotel, Kamal and Riddhi talked to us about how much they were going to miss our group and how much they have learned about Americans that were contrary to the commonly accepted stereotypes, such as being quiet and uninviting. They were happy to say that this is by no stretch of the imagination a description of our group. Finally, they invited us to share the microphone around the bus and give them a comment, good or bad. I was taken aback by this request; it is rare that an American asks for feedback among a group of peers. We were happy to share our adoration of the two ambassadors, and not a single person had something negative to say. Moreover, it was very refreshing to have that openly reflective period with our group and with two of our Indian peers in the middle of our trip. We closed with a song dedicated to our local guides and an evening to ourselves.

Getting to know two Indian students made India become a real place: full of heart and bursting with spirit. By this point, I believe many of us had fallen in love with India, more so than we ever thought we would. With its zooming rickshaws, dirty sidewalks, colorful dress, and foiled lifestyle, India has carved a place into our hearts through two incredible individuals, one hospitable school, the game of cricket, several entrepreneurial businesses, and a million other things and people. I believe we all will savor our last days in this remarkable country.

Team One:

It was our last day in Mumbai, India. In the morning, there was an optional cooking experience which most of us opted to participate in. We organized ourselves in groups of three into auto rickshaws to take us to the cooking complex. Auto rickshaw rides are an adventure. They feel very similar to the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland; just before you are about to hit something, you miraculously swerve. Part of the auto rickshaw experience unfortunately is pollution. There is no barrier between your body and other cars and sometimes the tailpipes from surrounding vehicles shoot directly at the rickshaw. Breath holding and baby wipes were essential in coping with the rickshaw rides, although they may have been one of the most exciting experiences in India. Of course, stepping out of the rickshaw usually meant avoiding some type of stinky mud, feces or otherwise.

The location turned out to be a mall-type facility with several different shops and restaurants. The main restaurant, Mocha was our hub for the day. We were immediately greeted with beer, lemonade and big smiles. The agenda for the day included a cooking experience at four different restaurants, a sampling of our creations and lunch afterwards. We broke off into teams of four and then cycled through the restaurants. Our tasks included making panini sandwiches, stuffing dumplings and making meat skewers. Some of the chefs were overly welcoming, some of the chefs were a little unwelcoming until prompted by the organizers. There was a bit of disappointment among participants in that the type of food we were cooking was not Indian food. During our days in India, most of us fell in love with Indian food and spices and were looking forward to and expecting to make native food. This experience was not what we were expecting yet still an interesting time. After we made each dish we sampled it, maybe too much so as most of us were full for lunch, not really understanding that lunch was additional to the sampling.

Before lunch, we smoked a little hookah and had a brief explanation of how to participate in the hookah ceremony. Next we went on a treasure hunt, helping us to explore the area we were in. We were given a list of questions and the stores where we could find the answers. The market was filled with crazy Americans literally running around asking questions. That was funny. We met back at Mocha where the winner was awarded a prize. Then we had a lassie-making contest, an Indian yogurt drink which is phenomenal. Its ingredients are yogurt cultures, sugar syrup and water… yum. Each team was given one minute to make the best lassie and then our drinks judged by a team of lassie experts.

Because this event was optional, there were many people who chose to go their own way; Oscar met a writer he idolized, Jimmy bargained his butt off and got a free calendar, Cece got a massage. We all met back in the hotel around 5PM to debrief our India experience after we checked out. As a group, we reflected on our experiences in India, the good, the bad, and very little ugly. Most, if not all of us had amazing experiences.

Then we went to get ready for our farewell dinner… the girls went up to a room where Jason was trying to relax and regain his health before further travel. We had assistance putting on saris, which are amazingly beautiful, long sheets of fabric wrapped systematically into a dress. We were ready to go in about an hour, feeling very Indian, especially after we put our bindis on (3rd eyes). We went into the foyer and took group pictures, shortly after we were greeted by the boys, who looked sharp themselves.

Dinner was amazing, as always in India. The hospitality is amazing, unlike anything known to us. Food, drink, refills, assistance, etc. was brought before we knew what we needed. The food was amazing, dessert was amazing, live music was amazing. There is so much love in India for guests and such a loving feel of hospitality. The two students from MET who hosted us, Kamal and Riddhi joined us, which was great. They have since become friends with us on Facebook and closely followed our journey to China.

Many of the principles of yoga are embodied by the Indian people as a way of life. The ego is less than Americans, the heart is more pronounced. It was great to experience. We then hung out for a few hours before heading off to a very cold, long airport transition, on our way to Shanghai.

Note:  To see/read Day 11-17, click on the ‘Previous Posts’ link below and keep reading.

Team Three:

Back on the road again after an eventful time in India. India was quite interesting, but I am glad to be moving on. The country was a whirl of energy, life, and color. Chaos embodied. It seemed to me on leaving that some things really haven’t progressed much from colonial times, with white foreigners coming to pillage cheap labor this time instead of silver and jewels. Still, according to many Indians foreign investment seems to have brought a better quality of life to many people. The British however used this excuse and in reality there are many, many more people who are desperately poor and don’t seem to be on the receiving end of India’s growth spurt. However as with many things this is a multifaceted issue… the perception of progress is in the eye of the beholder.

The Mumbai airport is slightly more polished than the one in Delhi, still there is much to be desired from the likes of a Hong Kong or Shanghai… no worse than LAX however. The flight is a turnaround and it is late. This means that it has not had much time to be cleaned and by the time we are nearing Hong Kong it is absolutely filthy. I was really impressed by the quality of the Indian domestic airline, Indigo, as opposed to an international carrier like Cathay Pacific, though for some reason Cathay enjoys quite a good reputation abroad. Unsure of why their flights to and from India are of a lower standard than the other routes.

We zipped through Hong Kong and somehow made our flight. I am really indebted to the strength of the small women who tirelessly struggle to push my wheel chair up and down so many ramps and through so many security checkpoints.

The flight to Shanghai was short and sweet. On arrival we were greeted by something out of Michael Crichton novel. A crew of technicians in full biohazard gear swept the plane, scanning each person with an infrared thermometer as they went. I feel the gods must have been pleased with us as somehow we passed the check even with the people in our group that were sick. After the initial screen, security and customs were a breeze, with everyone breathing a sigh of relief as we went. Shanghai airport rivals Hong Kong… I was really impressed. That and the 300km/hr MAGLEV train from the airport confirmed in my mind that China is the future. Shanghai makes LA look like an Omaha or Boise. The amount of lights and skyscrapers are amazing. We went for a tourist jaunt up to the 100th floor of the Financial Center from where we could see the glittering beauty of the city in all directions. I am happy to be in China, and my stomach is even happier. We ended the night with food from Sichuan, not extremely spicy Sichuan food, as everyone’s stomach was still a bit tender, however it tasted great nonetheless. The hotel is first class and bed after 30 plus hours on the road is an indescribable heaven.

Note:  To see/read Day 11-17, click on the ‘Previous Posts’ link below and keep reading.

Submitted by: Raquel Rusing

Body: Few of you may know that I have danced the dances and sang the songs of Bollywood… right here at Cal Poly!

Each year a group of students organize a Student Spring Dance Show to promote Cal Poly’s under-recognized dance department. Those in charge of organizing the event also serve as choreographers who teach routines to voluntary students for the duration of the quarter. The routines are a wide variety of styles aimed to educate about the diversification that exists in dance.

For the last five years, I’ve taught a hip-hop class, but have also chosen to participate in a colleague’s Bollywood number. I was initially very skeptical because of its cheesy nature and awkward movements, but through some miraculous leap of faith, I joined nonetheless and fell in love with the energy and colors of Bollywood. Now, after Dr. Singh’s discussion of India at our last Chindia meeting, I have no choice but to share more!

Obviously when someone hears Bollywood, they think Hollywood. And they should because the name is derived from the combination of Bombay (the former name of Mumbai and the central hub for this genre of film) and Hollywood. As Alex Van Dalen said in our meeting, these films are purposely unrealistic, similar to Western musicals during the World Wars, because they serve as a form of escapism. They incorporate catchy song-and-dance numbers, less than logical transitions between everyday sets to extravagant and exotic locations, extended melodramatic moments and formulaic storylines. However, despite that these types of film have only become increasingly popular within the last decade overseas, Bollywood has been around since the American Great Depression.

The shift of popularity to the Western world is mainly attributed to Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film Moulin Rouge!, which was directly influenced by the Bollywood style. The play within the film follows the storyline of an ancient Sanskrit drama, The Little Clay Cart, and Nicole Kidman leads a Bollywood-styled dance sequence to the famous song Chamma Chamma from a 1998 Bollywood film, China Gate.

The China Gate version can be accessed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKtdZDE_orw

The Moulin Rouge! version can be accessed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thbqyJxP0ok

The music is probably what makes or breaks an experience for a member of the audience. If you don’t catch onto the tune… you might as well not watch the films. The music itself is called filmi (meaning “of films” in Hindi) and although the actors and actresses are dancing, none are singing. The entire film is lip-synced and the majority of the actors and actresses don’t even record in the studio. They enlist professional playback singers. Does this remind anyone of the Chinese incident during the Olympics – the young cute girl performs to the voice of a hidden and less attractive, but vocally gifted young girl? I thought it might until I found out that most of the playback singers are featured with pride during the opening credits and have their own fan base. Furthermore, to promote interest in the movie, the soundtracks are often released prior to the movie itself.

By the by, if you’re a male thinking that you’re not interested in these chick flicks, let me inform you of a couple of reasons for why you should think about watching them.

Item #1: Snoop Dogg. That’s right. Last year D-O-double-G signed up for a guest appearance on the title track of Singh is Kinng.

Here are the words of Mr. Snoop himself from a NY Times article:

“I really dig how much music is infused with the movies in Bollywood… Lots of hip-hop tracks sample Indian music, and a lot of their music sounds like it was influenced by hip-hop. Snoop Dogg’s got love for everybody. I like how the Punjabis get down; the way they dress is fresh and they got a real appreciation for music. Watch out y’all. I’m coming to take over Bollywood… this is just the beginning.”

Check out the music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1BgMwyZhtU

Item #2: Have you seen the ladies?! As Dr. Singh would agree, let me show you some of these beauties.

Mallika Sherawat

Priyanka Chopra

Aishwarya Rai

Item #3: Business opportunities. Yep. I read a Time Magazine Article called Ring, Ring, Bollywood Calling! and the mentioned company by the name of Saavn (acronym for South Asian Audio/Visual Network) is profiting significantly thanks to Bollywood.

According to the article, “[Saavn] controls global distribution rights, outside India, to a massive number of Bollywood films, songs, albums and music videos, all downloadable to iPods, MP3 players, cell phones and computers. And if consumers in America are captivated by the song-and-dance… Saavn believes its offerings will be attractive marketing tools for U.S. companies. [They] have already conducted a brand-marketing campaign for Verizon. Half a dozen major U.S. companies are now in discussion to use Saavn’s content to pursue the same market. The wealth and education level of South Asian consumers in the U.S. make [Saavn] a desirable target.”

This makes me think of William Chillingworth’s discussion about owning exclusive rights to Western commodities overseas. Is there a possibility for a profitable reverse – exclusive rights to Indian commodities in the U.S.? Will Saavn continue to grow as the popularity of Bollywood rises in the West or is this another passing fad? What do you think of the Bollywood craze? Will it be as successful as Hollywood? Domestically? Globally? What are some other business opportunities available through this industry both directly and indirectly?

Submitted by: Andrea Muntzel

You can imagine my surprise when I turned on the TV Tuesday morning only to see Good Morning America doing a segment on Mumbai.  The show is doing a new reporting stint on the “biggest” things in the world.  Why were they in Mumbai?  It is because the city is the most populous in the world, with the potential to dwarf the total population of the entire Australian continent in just a few years.  Although the initial draw of the city was its colossal population, the segment didn’t dwell on that.  Instead, they attempted to show a snapshot of the many faces of Mumbai.  Those who chose to read the Khanna book Billions of Entrepreneurs will surely remember the portion dedicated to India’s “soft power.”  Khanna quotes Joseph Nye, a member of the Clinton administration, when describing soft power as “the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments.  It arises from the attractiveness of a country’s culture, political ideals, and policies.”  Contrast this with China’s hard power which is gauged by how well the country can “coerce and get its way through military power and economic weight.” 

Since we are in business school, it would make sense that we often fall into focusing on that “economic weight” portion of hard power.  It seems clear though, that India lacks the hard power of China but is still finding success economically.  Something must be said for the magnetism that emanates from India’s soft power.  I’m not sure how long GMA keeps its videos up, but I hope you get the chance to see them.  It’s a series of five short video segments on things as diverse as the slums of Dharavi to Bollywood to our favorite game, cricket. 

GMA Video Link

Just to keep in mind when you watch, notice how many times the words ‘spirit’ and ‘determination’ are mentioned.  Observe the ‘electrifying energy’ that surrounds Mumbai and ‘binds the spirit of the people.’  Finally, how does soft power ultimately affect business in India?  How does it affect the people drawn to doing business in these countries?  According to Khanna, China lost a lot of its soft power during the Cultural Revolution.  We all know there’s something to be said for efficiency, but how important of a factor is culture in business? 

From the videos, we can see that Mumbai’s chaotic, bustling, and energy-rich culture has given birth to at least one interesting business prospect: Tiffinwallas.  Essentially delivery men, these individuals pick up business people’s homemade lunches at their house and then deliver them to their work, making so few mistakes and resulting in such incredible efficiency that Mumbai’s tiffinwallas have a 6-sigma rating!  We’ll have to talk to Professor Olsen about that one next quarter…

In my opinion, soft power is inextricably related to business power.  Regardless, though, even during dead week, these videos can put a smile on your face.

Prepared and Submitted by Morgan O’Hara:

Can you see it? Us in Mumbai, a beautiful summer’s day, playing cricket with a group of Indian MBAs, drinking chai, talking life, making those important connections. That’s business for you, Cal Poly international style. And not only is it going to happen in a few months, but we are going to be prepared.

On the morning of Feb 28th, we have a cricket ‘friendly’ with the Indian Student Association at Isley Park located on Tank Farm Road in SLO (let me know if you need directions). Start time is ten sharp (10:00 am), and we’ll end early afternoon, around one o’clock (1:00 pm), after burgers have been served. Though my authority is uncertain, I’m requiring attendance. Even so, RSVP by shooting me an email at mdohara AT calpoly DOT edu. We need to know how much eats to order.

On the evening of the 27th starting at 8:00 pm sharp, ten to twelve of us will have the privilege to crowd into Dr. Carr’s living room after that week’s hob nob ends at his house, and watch an Indian movie (Lagaan — and Oscar nominated cricket themed Bollywood production) on cricket’s nascence. (He notes 10-12 people is about all his living room can comfortably hold and he will supply the pillows, popcorn and sodas to said first come first served 10-12 people). I’ve been told that this movie serves as a good intro to the sport, and there will be someone knowledgeable on hand to answer any questions we may have.

For everyone, especially those who can’t make it on the evening of the 27th at Dr. Carr’s house, here are some quick youtube videos which go over some cricket basics.

Basics Video: CLICK HERE

How to Bat: CLICK HERE

How to Bowl: CLICK HERE

How to Field: CLICK HERE

India Team Highlights: CLICK HERE

Three important things you need to know, copied straight from Wikipedia:

Test cricket is played between two teams of eleven players over a period of up to a maximum of five days - although matches are sometimes completed early when one side wins well within the time allotted (i.e. in three or four days). On each day there are usually three two-hour sessions with a forty minute break for “lunch” and a twenty minute break for “tea.”

One Day International (ODI) is a form of cricket, in which 50 overs are played per side between two national cricket teams. The Cricket World Cup is played in this format. One Day International matches are also called “Limited Overs Internationals (LOI)”, because they are limited overs cricket matches between national sides, and if the weather interferes they are not always completed in one day. Important one-day matches, international and domestic, often have two days set aside, the second day being a “reserve” day to allow more chance of the game being completed if a result is not possible on the first day (for instance if play is prevented or interrupted by rain).

Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in the United Kingdom for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each have a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. The game is completed in about two and half hours, with each inning lasting around 75 minutes, thus bringing the game closer to the timespan of other popular team sports such as football. It was introduced to create a lively form of the game which would be attractive to spectators at the ground and viewers on television and as such it has been very successful. The ECB did not intend that Twenty20 would replace other forms of cricket and these have continued alongside it.

See you all on February 28th at 10 am. If any questions, please contact me. As for the sparkly white uniform, we’ll have no dress code, but keep in mind, in India we’ll be sporting pants. Also, this is important, playing is NOT mandatory. You can come by, soak in the sun, enjoy the camaraderie, laugh at us fumbling all over the place, and get first dibs on the food.

Submitted by: James McMillan

Professor Carr Addendum and Intro to James’ Post: This is a post I asked James to make as a follow up to his earlier post, It’s Called Days Inn in China But It’s Nothing Like It, and For Good Reason (see also the comment thread). (Thank you James, for doing so and for taking the time.) As the below shows, we have found that finding a hotel in India that can accommodate a group of our size is a challenge. Rates are very high, which in turns impacts the price you pay for the trip. Moreover, the current hotel market there tends to be very high end (we can’t afford) or very low end (you will not want to stay there), with not much in between to choose from (our challenge to find and compete to get). Step back and think of this — a country of 1.3 billion plus people, with a hotel room supply of roughly only 105,000. My memory is that China has roughly 1.1 million hotel rooms in the country (see below for James’ US figures — roughly 4.4 million; we are a developed economy with money for fun and travel, while China and India are developing economies and emerging markets with much less money). Please be aware of this planning and business issue and constraint, and, business opportunity, as James touches on below. By the way, there are some very good and understandable macro reasons for this hotel market and supply condition in India and my memory is that your Khana book, Billions of Entrepreneurs, also has a nice chapter (Chapter 4 as I remember — “Fiat and Fairness”) re: how and why real estate development projects can be a challenge to launch, complete and make any money on in India. Be sure to read and think of this post and business environment issue as you read that chapter and as we travel in India and China. Also keep in mind that one (not the only) reason China has more rooms is that it has boatloads of peasants looking for work from rural villages who will work for cheap (in comparison to US wages, that is). The CCP in China is also operating more from a “build and they will come” mindset on the hotel issue. One model is not better than the other, they are just both different.

James’ Post:

>Did you know there are only about 105,000 hotel rooms in all of India while the US has about 4.4 million? If that’s not shocking enough consider that New York alone has about 110,000 rooms and Shanghai has about 135,000. Is it any shock to you that the prices for basic rooms in India are through the roof? With India having almost 4 times our population, why do you think such a disparity exists and why are the business men in India not capitalizing on such obvious demand?

According to some hotel executives, the blame can be placed on the government for not revising decades-old laws that limit the amount of land for sale which obviously drives up the prices. The Indian Railways has vast land holdings that could easily be converted into track-side hotels but at the moment they are just not willing to give these up. According to the Taj group of hotels, a chain with 7,000 rooms in India, the price of purchasing land at an auction is often just too high to make building a hotel financially viable.

For comparison purposes, a similar quality room in Delhi cost on average $187 versus $122 in Beijing. With India already struggling with infrastructure problems it?s no wonder that hotel room shortages and high prices are at the root of India?s lagging tourism industry. In 2005, New York attracted 6.8 million foreign tourists while India only had 3.9 million. This resulted in $22.8 billion for New York and only $6.7 billion for India. To put these numbers in perspective that translates into about $2,850 per New York resident as compared to $6 per India resident.

Fortunately, there seems to be some progress for the hotel business in India but they definitely have their work cut out for them. It is expected that there will be about $6.5 billion invested in hotel building which will allow for approximately 140,000 new hotel rooms to be built by 2010. Some of the hotels expanding into India are some of the worlds best know names (Hilton, Wyndam, Pan Pacific, etc.) that are all recognizing the huge potential.

So before these big corporate hotel companies come in and dominate the market, who?s down to take on the Indian government and start building some hotel chains? It sounds like if the political front could be worked properly, sky’s the limit!