of Guanxi The trip far exceeded my expectations and was the most significant learning experience of the entire MSEM program.” “My experience visiting and studying China could help me get nominated for an expatriate assignment,” said Jason Anibas ’09, a senior project engineer for Pierce Manufacturing Inc. Anibas earned his master’s degree in engineering management in November. “Experiencing firsthand the business potential and challenges China has to offer is both amazing and frightening for an employee of a U.S. manufacturing company. China will continue to develop and grow in the foreseeable future. Americans need to call upon their entrepreneurial spirit and creativity to leverage undiscovered domestic and world markets.” Through discussions with business partners and cultural tours, the students learned how culture, history, politics and religion are woven together to influence leadership, organizational behavior, human resource management and ethics in China.“The students learned that China is moving from being the ‘factory of the world’ to becoming an innovation leader. They also came to understand that operations in China are needed to reach an increasingly large customer base – the Chinese middle class,” said Ottman. “Learning the various business and cultural concepts is excellent; however, seeing firsthand how people and business operate on a daily basis truly brings everything together,” said Sieglaff. “Westerners need patience when doing business in China. They need to establish guanxi with people and it will take them far.”
Dr. Kelly Ottman, who planned and organized the trip, enjoyed an excursion to the Great Wall of China.
MSOE will be offering the “Doing Business in China” program again in Spring Quarter 2010. For more information, please visit www.msoe.edu/business/china.
As part of the trip, students were building their own guanxi with business leaders.
Dimensions Fall/Winter 2009-10
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