Asian Business
Environment
M-W 2 - 3:15
Cornell 134
Singapore
Shanghai
tlairson@rollins.edu
407 646 2166
CSS 214
OH M and W 3:30 - 5
Links
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Asian Business Environment M-W 2 - 3:15 Cornell 134 |
Singapore |
|
Shanghai |
tlairson@rollins.edu 407 646 2166 CSS 214 OH M and W 3:30 - 5 Links |
Even with the global economic crisis, Asia remains the most dynamic and fastest growing region in the world. It also has some of the world's most distinctive cultures and business systems. Students of international business need a detailed understanding of these societies and businesses, both for the opportunities offered and to appreciate the competitive potential from Asian firms.
This course is designed to develop a basic understanding of some of the variety of business systems in Asia and the opportunities and pitfalls from operating a business in one or more of these societies. The focus of the course is the "Chinese Business Area" (China, Singapore and Vietnam) along with two of the most important business areas in Asia: Japan and Korea.
Studying the business environment of Asia includes learning about the history, culture, and political systems of these societies and how this affects the operations of firms. Understanding the business environment of a nation is essential to business success. This is because there are quite different forms of capitalism around the world; indeed, there are very different forms of capitalism across Asia. American-style capitalism. Learning about the differences is essential to any success.
The main goal of this course is for students to develop a sophisticated understanding of nature of the business environment of several of the most important Asian nations. To this end, we will consider each of the main Asian nations in turn, developing a basic background in its history and culture and then consider how the business system there operates. This investigation includes the major domestic business firms and the most important business sectors, the role of transnational firms, the role of state-owned firms, important business issues and problems, and evaluations of the competitive position of firms and the nation in the global economy.
Because Asian business systems vary so widely, comparison for purposes of understanding and analysis is essential. We will focus on three major comparisons: the Chinese business area, Japan, and Korea. The purpose is to identify important differences and similarities and use these to understand some of the major business issues in these nations. The main issues include: government business relations and the problem of corruption and "crony capitalism," political stability, global and regional production networks, the rise of China and economic competition in Asia, global manufacturing and business process outsourcing, high technology production in Asia, and the development of e-business in Asia.
Goals of the Course:
Required Text:
Oded Shenkar, The Chinese Century,Wharton School Press,2006.
Course Grade:
Two exams |
40% |
Wiki on Chinese Firms |
20% |
Participation/Blog |
20% |
Take Home Final Exam |
20% |
Unannounced Exams |
20% |
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Grade for the Course: There is no curve for the grade in this course; that is, you must meet an absolute standard set by me to succeed in the course. This means everyone can obtain an "A" but everyone can also receive an "F." There is no extra credit in this course. Each student is expected to come prepared to every class and ready to make a contribution to the class period: asking informed questions, offering thoughtful comments, and answering questions posed to the class. |
Participation/Blog
The participation grade for this course is composed of two parts, in class and outside of class.
The classroom part involves coming prepared to every class and being ready to make a contribution to the class period: asking informed questions, offering thoughtful comments, and answering questions posed to the class.Participation outside of class involves contributing to the class blog. This is a website devoted to expressing your ideas about the material in the class and related to the class. I expect each student to make a minimum of 10 posts with a minimum of 1000 words. The posts must be spread out over the entire semester. The blog entries should be related to the topics of this course. The blogs will be evaluated as follows: The best post adds information to class material. For example, a blog could provide a link to a relevant web site plus your analysis of the web site. Or it could describe a relevant book or an article in a newspaper, journal or magazine. It could simply provide an insightful discussion of the topic. The poorest post is perfunctory and done just because you have to, showing little thought and/or a superficial understanding of the topic. This is an opportunity to show an understanding of the material and even to be creative in discussing it. Use it wisely.
The blog for our class is closed to outsiders. It is found at:
http://asiabusenvironment.blogspot.com/
Two sites to begin for information about Asian business are:
Wiki on Chinese firm
Students will be divided into groups to do the wiki. The purpose is to develop a detailed
wiki relating to an important Asian firm. The firm must be from China, Korea, Vietnam,
Taiwan or Singapore.At a minimum, the wiki needs to provide the following information:
Comparative financial data
Historical background on the firm
Products/Services
Relationship to the government
Ownership of the firm
Competitive environment of the firm
Future prospectsDue: December 4 by 5pm
Expectations:
Attendance: You are expected to be in class for each scheduled session, and you must be on time. Class attendance will taken every day. Anyone who misses more than three classes will be penalized by one-twelfth of their FINAL grade for each absence over three. Thus, a student who misses eight classes (equal to one-third of the classes in this course) and who otherwise earns a "C" will in fact receive an "F" for the course.
Makeup exams: No makeup exams are given "after the fact," that is, after the exam has occurred unless I have been contacted before the exam. If you miss the exam and have not contacted me before the exam, you will not be able to take a makeup.
Classroom behavior: There are several forms of inappropriate behavior in this class. You may not sleep in this class; you may not have extended private conversations in this class; you may not bring food to this class; and you may not get up and leave this class unless you are ill.
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THE ACADEMIC HONOR CODE Membership in the student body of Rollins College carries with it an obligation, and requires a commitment, to act with honor in all things. Because academic integrity is fundamental to the pursuit of knowledge and truth and is the heart of the academic life of Rollins College, it is the responsibility of all members of the College community to practice it and to report apparent violations. The following pledge is a binding commitment by the students of Rollins College: The development of the virtues of Honor and Integrity are integral to a Rollins College education and to membership in the Rollins College community. Therefore, I, a student of Rollins College, pledge to show my commitment to these virtues by abstaining from any lying, cheating, or plagiarism in my academic endeavors and by behaving responsibly, respectfully and honorably in my social life and in my relationships with others. This pledge is reinforced every
time a student submits work for academic credit as his/her own.
Students shall add to all papers, quizzes, tests, lab reports,
etc., the following handwritten abbreviated pledge followed by
their signature: Rollins College is committed to equal access and does not discriminate unlawfully against persons with disabilities in its policies, procedures, programs or employment processes. The College recognizes its obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to provide an environment that does not discriminate against persons with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability on this campus and anticipate needing any type of academic accommodations in order to participate in your classes, please make timely arrangements by disclosing this disability in writing to the Disability Services Office at (box 2613) - Thomas P. Johnson Student Resource Center, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park, FL, 37289 or call 407-646-2354 for an appointment. FINAL EXAMINATIONS The 15th week of classes in the fall and spring terms is reserved for final examinations. All courses include a final examination, with possible exceptions for performance, writing, independent study, or seminar courses where other means of evaluation are more appropriate. The final examination must be offered in the time period scheduled in the examination matrix prepared by the Office of Student Records, unless the Dean of the Faculty has approved a change. An alternative period for unusual examination procedures, such as an oral examination, may be used provided the students involved do not thereby encounter conflicts with other scheduled examinations. Tests or examinations may be offered through the 13th week (penultimate) of classes but must not be employed in lieu of a final examination. Final papers, research reports and other similar assignments, except those in lieu of a final examination, should be due before examinations begin to help students avoid conflicts. If a student has more than
two final examinations scheduled in one day, s/he has the right
to reschedule one examination to an open date within the final
examination period. Arrangements will be made through the Dean
of Students or program Dean in consultation with the faculty
members involved. |
Schedule of Activities:
August
24 Introduction to the course (pretest)
Chinese Business Environment
26 Basics of Chinese Society
Shenkar, 1-23
Additional background material
UNCTAD, China in a Globalizing World
The Economist I, II, III, IV
audio interview with author (Real Player)
China Takes Off
Predictions for the Future
Lester Thurow on Chinese Economy31 Background on China
Shenkar, 25-40
September
2 Asian Economic Growth
Shenkar, 41-58
9 Economic Regions in China
Shanghai
Iain McDaniels and Sophie Zhao, "Shanghai Snapshot"
William Overholt, "Hong Kong or Shanghai?"Additional Material
An American Entrepreneur in Shanghai
Shanghai Rising in a Globalizing World
A Cauldron of Free Enterprise
Out of Shanghai's Shadow: Why Hong Kong Is Becoming China's New Financial Services Center
Hong Kong/Guangzhou/ShenzhenMichael Enright, et al. The Greater Pearl River Delta and the Rise of China, Wiley, pp. 15-66.
Additional Material:
Acquisition of technology capability through special economic zones (SEZs): The case of Shenzhen SEZ
In Chinese Boomtown, Middle Class Pushes Back
At the Beating Heart of an Export Machine
Knowledge@Wharton, "Sales and Distribution in Today's China"
Leo Goodstadt, "Hong Kong's Long March to Democracy"
Fu-Lai Tony Yu, "Technological Strategies of Hong Kong Firms"14 Chinese Business Culture
Kenneth DeWoskin and Ian Stones, "Facing the China Corruption Challenge"
16 and 21 The Chinese Government and Chinese Capitalism
Minxin Pei, "China's Governance Crisis"
“The Perils and Promise of Chinese Banking,” McKinsey Quarterly, 2006
Scott Kennedy, “The Extent of the Government’s Control of China’s Economy, and Implications for the United States” Testimony Before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, May 2007.
Yasheng Huang, "Just How Capitalist is China?"
World Bank, Doing Business in China, 200823
First Exam
28 Business in China
Shenkar, 59-99
30 Chinese Firms/TNCs in China
Knowledge@Wharton, "The Emerging Chinese Company"
Mary Teagarden and Dong Hong Cai, "China's Global Companies"
October
5 and 7 High Technology in China
Knowledge@Wharton, "Alibaba.com"
Culture.com Hong Kong: Building an alternative to Wintel IT systems in Greater China
14 Chinese Auto Firms
JIanxi Luo, "Chinese Independent Auto Firms"
19 China's Impact on the World
Shenkar, 121 - 176
21 Changes in China's Competitive Environment
Christoff Bliss, et al. "China's Shifting Competitive Equation,"
Jimmy Hexter and Jonathan Woetzel, "Bringing Best Practice to China
26 and 28 How China Competes on Global Energy
Reference: Joanne Guth and Melissa Ginsberg, "Energy Use in China: Trends in Oil Demand and Imports"
Daniel Yergin and Scott Roberts, "Riding the Tiger"
Martin Jones, et al. "China's Green Opportunity"
Knowledge@Wharton "The Dragon Turns Green: China's Manufacturers Adapt
to a New Era"Hongyi Harry Lai, "China's Oil Diplomacy: Is it a Global Security Threat?"
Knowledge@Wharton, "Renewable Energy in China: A Necessity, Not an Alternative"
June Dreyer, "Sino-American Energy Cooperation"
Knowledge@ Wharton, "The Race for Energy: What wil it Mean for Western Firms?"
November
2 and 4 Trade, Finance and Economic Crisis in US-China Relations
Mark Lander, "Dollar Shift: Chinese Pockets Filled as Americans' Emptied"
Michael Wines and Keith Bradsher, "China's Leader Says He Is 'Worried' Over U.S. Treasuries,"
Keith Bradsher, "China Losing Taste for Debt From US"
Keith Bradsher, "China Grows More Picky About Debt"
Yashung Huang, "Global Imbalances and China"
Eric Altbach and Michael Cognato," Understanding China's Sovereign Wealth Fund"
McKinsey Global Institute, "The New Power Brokers: Gaining Clout in
Turbulent Markets"Bibo Liang, "The Political Economy of US Trade Policy Toward China"
9 Second Exam
Japan
11 and 16 Japanese Business System
The Economist, Business in Japan
The ‘Toyota Way’ Is Translated for a New Generation of Foreign Managers
Korea
18 The Evolution of Korean High Technology
Does Korea Still Matter in the Chinese Century?
Korean Prosperity in the China Century
Yung Chul Park, "Development Lessons from Asia: The Role of Government in South Korea and Taiwan"
23 Issues in Korean Competitiveness
Korea at nightSingapore
30 The Singapore Model
T. C. Chang, "Tourism in a Borderless World: The Singapore Experience"
Gary Rodan, "Lion City Baits Mousy Opposition"
Wong Po-Kam and Ho Yuen-ping, "E-Commerce in Singapore"
Economic Development in Singapore
A Silicon Island of the East: Creating a Semiconductor Industry in Singapore
Gorvindan Parayil, "From 'Silicon Island' to Biopolis of Asia"
SINGAPORE: Engaging the U.S. With Trade
Singapore waterfront
December
Vietnam
2
Vietnam: Plenty to smile about
Additional material:
Chua Hung, near Hanoi
10
Take Home Final Exam Due @ 1pm
