MBA Study Tour Archive: 2014
Welcome to the 2014 MBA Study Tour blog site. Here you can follow our intrepid MBA students as they travel from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, investigating New Zealand’s place with respect to trade, culture, connectedness and foreign opportunities along the Pearl River Delta, in one of China’s Special Economic Zones. Read on and enjoy.
Professor Leslie Young - 1
by Team A (Keith, Lucy, Juan, Alexi)
China's economic and political system needs to be understood in its historical context, which makes its situation unique according to Professor Leslie Young.Sessions with Professor Leslie Young
by Team B (Mathew, Kyle, Dorothy, Emily)
As New Zealand is gradually but increasingly building economic relationships with China, it is useful for us to understand the historical and cultural evolution of Chinese economic power as we look towards the future.
Sessions with Professor Young - 3
by Team C (Simon, Hugh, Jeremy, David)
One of the overarching themes when discussing the business context of China is the complexity in which it operates from western perspective.Sessions with Professor Young - 4
by Team D (David, Claire, Fleur, Julie, Jared)
There is a recipe for success in industrialisation, and whether the change occurred in Victorian England or 21st Century China, the elements remain the same.
Sessions with Professor Young - 5
by Team E (Anton, Mike, Sarah, Zac)
There is a consensus that the Chinese are busy trying to attain global resource through strategic partnerships, which in their own right provide mutual benefit.
Sessions with Professor Young - 6
by Team F (Darryl, Meshantha, Urwashi, Maribeth, Marilyn)
China has moved from just assembling consumer items to making everything involved in the supply chain (reinvesting money back into the industry).Sessions with Professor Young - 7
by Team G (Margaret, Isha, Srikar, Faith, Martina)
A critical avenue for economic growth in New Zealand would be to find niches or competencies that could solve China's problems.
Sessions with Professor Young - 8
by Team H (Shiffy, Sophary, James, Guy, Jade)
In Africa, China’s economic influence is moving ahead of the World Bank and other international development organisations.Strategy challenge: Diffusion or confusion?
by Team A (Keith, Lucy, Juan, Alexi)
Standing in the middle of the CBD in Guangzhou surrounded by sky-high buildings showing all the big brands, we wondered -- 'are we really in China?'The Amazing Race – Guangzhou-style
by Team B (Mathew, Kyle, Dorothy, Emily)
We received our challenge to head to Dongxiaonan and, like all good MBA students, decided a planning session would be in order.
Strategy challenge – Kiwi Dragons
by Team C (Simon, Hugh, Jeremy, David)
Overall, while the experience was bewildering at times, the strategy challenge provided our group an incentive to experience suburban China.Guangzhou challenge – Team aMBAssadors
by Team D (David, Claire, Fleur, Julie, Jared)
KFC, leveraging their globally recognised menu with some local customisations, garnered more custom by locating themselves on a busy street corner.
Strategy challenge – Group Zansim
by Team E (Anton, Mike, Sarah, Zac)
Our initial task was to locate a food outlet, order lunch and then analyse the restaurant in regards to their competition locally.Strategy Challenge – Darryl & Team
by Team F (Darryl, Meshantha, Urwashi, Maribeth, Marilyn)
We implemented strategies that made our journey easier, and the new things we learned that will benefit future forays into foreign localities.Strategy challenge – Team Srikars Angels
by Team G (Margaret, Isha, Srikar, Faith, Martina)
We identified gaps in market for the implementation of New Zealand sustainability and environmental practices.Strategy challenge: The westernisation of Guangzhuo
by Team H (Shiffy, Sophary, James, Guy, Jade)
While China is perceived to be taking over the world in manufacturing and exports, the west is actually taking over with its retail and food influences.
Defond visit – Juan's team
by Team A (Juan, Keith, Lucy, Alexi)
Defond? You probably never heard of it, but you would have used their products one way or the other.
Site tour: Defond Electrical
by Team B (Mathew, Kyle, Dorothy, Emily)
Defond Electrical was an eye-opening experience, showing how Chinese manufacturers have moved up the value chain to deliver high-quality solutions.
Site tour: Techtorinc Industries
by Team C (Simon, Hugh, Jeremy, David)
Techtorinc Industries is a company that designs and manufactures power tools and consumer appliances for the home improvement and construction industries.
In a world of efficiency Defond stands out through 'Quality'
by Team D (David, Claire, Fleur, Julie, Jared)
With rising labour costs and growing adoption of LEAN manufacturing how can any business differentiate itself?Vigoss visit – Zengcheng District
by Team E (Anton, Mike, Sarah, Zac)
A visit to Vigoss, which is a clothing manufacturer located in Zengcheng, part of the economic golden corridor of eastern Guangzhou.Shedding the light, a Thorn to be reckoned with
by Team F (Darryl, Meshantha, Urwashi, Maribeth, Marilyn)
We flicked switches in the Thorn showroom and proceeded to tour their factory floor, where there were already some bright ideas.
Haojin motorcycle factory tour
by Team G (Margaret, Isha, Srikar, Faith, Martina)
Fancy a ride on a scooter or a motorcycle? So did the founder of Haojin, who started the company in the 1990s because he loved motorcycles.
The Asian Century
by Team H (Shiffy, Sophary, James, Guy, Jade)
It is hard to dispute the view that this is the Asian century. Every company on the planet seems to be fighting for position in China, and banks are no different.