Doing Business in China

Contents:

The aim of the course is to provide a general overview of factors influencing business operations in People's Republic of China (history, political, legal and economic systems, culture), in particular the operations of foreign companies.

Learning goals:

After the course you are expected to have a basic understanding of China’s political economy, banking and FDI, HRM in China, foreign trade legislation, differences between Eastern and Western thinking as well as consumer behavior and negotiations in China

Instructor:

Pia Polsa, Assistant Professor , Department of Marketing at the Swedish School of Economics, Helsinki, e-mail: ., homepage: http://www.hanken.fi/staff/polsa/

Status:

Advanced level. Participants are expected to have a basic knowledge of marketing or international business or China studies.

Instruction: 20 h instruction in English.

Requirements: Active class participation, project report, and project presentation.

Grading:

Class participation: 25%

Project presentation: 10%

Project report (jointly by two students): 65%

Practical issues:

The course itself is free of charge but only open for Nordic Centre member university students.

Students will be asked to contribute with 500 RMB/CNY to cover extra curricular activities (mainly meals) and course material.

Accommodation:

The Nordic Centre will help to book accommodation during the course close to the Nordic Centre. The price is 158 RMB/CNY for 1 night in a double room with two beds and bathroom, or 158 RMB/CNY for 1 night in a single room with bathroom.

Application date:

Digital application has to be received at the latest 12 May 2008.

Final participation notification will be sent by 19 May 2008.

Travel arrangements should be made by students themselves, but we recommend that you start preparations as early as possible. We will need final dates for accommodation very soon after you have received participation notification from us.


Pre-schedule

Changes might occur and more details will be added.

Sunday 29 June

18.00 / Pick-up at Joy Inn by Nordic Centre assistant.
18.30 / Welcome dinner at Zhengda restaurant

Monday 30 June 2008

09.00-10.00 / Opening of the course
Introduction to the Nordic Centre, Programme Director Tone Helene Aarvik
Introduction about the course, the course curriculum and the course evaluation, Pia Polsa, Hanken
10.15-12.00 / China’s political economy, banking, and FDI in China
Professor Zhou Dunren, Fudan University, Nordic Centre Research Fellow
13.30-15.30 / Doing business in China – hands on experience
Company or innovation centre representative, name to be announced later.
15.45-16.30 / Team-building, groups, projects.
Pia Polsa, Hanken

Tuesday 1 July 2008

09.00-10.30 / Chinese Consumer Behavior
Pia Polsa, Hanken
10.45-12.15 / Norwegian Companies in China, challenges and HRM topics Sissel Hammerstrøm, Director of Studies, China Programmes, BI
14.00-15.30 / Chinese Business Laws concerning Foreign Trade
Professor Gao Lingyun, Law School, Fudan University

Wednesday 2 July 2008

08.30 / Departure
09:00-12:30 / Company visits, to be announced later
Afternoon Self-study and/or group work
19:00 / Mid-term dinner

Thursday 3 July 2008

9.00-10.30 / Negotiating with the Chinese Pia Polsa, Hanken
10.45-12.00 / East vs. West Thinking
13.30-15.30 / Chinese contemporary consumers
Pia Polsa, Hanken

Friday 4 July 2008

09.30-11.00 / Summing up, future of the Chinese economy
Professor Zhou Dunren, Fudan University, Nordic Centre Research Fellow
13.00-17.00 / Project presentations
End of the course