The total is not the sum of its parts.

At the beginning in China, I look everything as a chaos: the city was dirty, a lot of people, the traffic, people pushing and pushing… I didn’t like it at all.

But this perception has changed over time. When I look China (Shanghai) as a total, I don`t like it, but when I look each part… it is different.

The traffic: It is true that bus master the car, the car master motorbike, the motorbike master the bike, and, finally the bike master the pedestrian. So you have to be careful. Doesn`t matter the color of the traffic light, and if you know it, there is no problem. The first day I thought that I wouldn’t survive, but here I am, still alive! And for me, it is curious how Chinese people know this powerful system in traffic; they don`t get angry, and they don`t yell as Spanish drivers do.

The people: They are very friendly!! When I looked Chinese people I thought they were actually strange, but when I talk with each person it’s not like that. Even when they don’t speak English, and obviously I don`t speak Chinese, they make any effort to communicate with you. And also when you talk with them you see that young people is no so different, and we laugh with the same things.

On this trip I learnt the need to look beyond appearances.

Comentarios desactivados en The total is not the sum of its parts. / 01 Mar 2013 por Lucia Garcia Rodriguez
MBAftmad /

Chinese differences

There are many differences between China and western countries.

Some of this differences has an easy answer; for example webs in China has a lot of words and pictures really small, on the contrary our web sites has huge images, and a lot of links. It is because their internet connection is so slowly and if they make web sites like ours, they could take a lot of loading time.

Chinese people are different also in workplace.

They believe westerners always talk and say too much, and Chinese think that if you don’t say anything you cannot make a mistake. You must make the right question if you want found an answer.

What are the rules? For them, if the law does not make sense the law is wrong, and consequently if the law is broken too many times the law will be challenge.

Finally, there is another thing that the speaker showed as a difference: “not having plan is common in China”, but I am not sure that in this case, China and Spain are so different in this.

Comentarios desactivados en Chinese differences / 01 Mar 2013 por Lucia Garcia Rodriguez
MBAftmad /

Fourth workday: mouth open all journey

Today was a hard day, we need more hours per day Mr Earth!!

In the morning we had a presentation related to the Chinese consumer segments, very well documented, by Ramiro García, a nice businessman that showed us lots of things during the day (he comes with us also during the company visits). The pont:260 millions of rich people in China, apart of more classes with different needs!!

Next, Lin Dai instructed about Chinese demography, customs, trends and ways of think, according to their culture and situations, she knows very well the differences with Westerns thanks to her experience

After lunch, we traveled to Ningbo, were private investors are creating a very complex and complete city only for businesses, thinking in Chinese development, high technology and the environment around the river they designed the city

And for last, we visited the European park inside this complex, with some visits to the facilities and talks from the Spaniards who rule there, pretty important questions were answered!!

Also we has a question time with Mr Chu, one of the founders of the European Park, that speak Spanish very well.

See you!!

Comentarios desactivados en Fourth workday: mouth open all journey / 28 Feb 2013 por Gonzalo Ramos de la Cruz
MBAftmad /

China

Today we started early, we had a conference about: ¨Expatriation to China: contractual aspects, tax and social security liabilities¨ with Mr. Diego D´Alma. He explained to us some general terms of this issue, but must important he told us about the labor rights that the workers have in China and also the tax system of this country.
After the conference, we had a lecture on: ¨Entrepreneurship in China¨ with Mr. Jason Inch, who talked about the must importants milestones in the history of China with the objective to understand their culture and obtain another perspective of how to do business here. Also we saw the geograhical effects of where to start a business and the ¨goverment policy concerning¨. He also said that if someone is thinking in enter to this market, the objectives have to be in a long term because the competence here is hard and you can not see any results in a short term.

We had to more lessons, with Mr. Guan Shang Yi, who offer a clear iew of the matters tha he works and offer us his help if we are thinking in make a business here.

To finish, we were recommended to go to Hong Kong to start an activity there, because is a fast and easy way to begin.

Comentarios desactivados en China / 28 Feb 2013 por Carolina Marianela Giannoni Melosevich
MBAftmad /

In the middle of the trip

Ni hao again!
It’s passed five days since we arrived to China and I’ve learnt a lot of things about China, in our classes and visiting the city, as culture, style of life or how to do business here.

Yesterday, we went to Baosteel, a company which make steel and we saw how they produce it. I liked it very much!

Today, we’ve visited Ningbo European Industrial Park with a lot Spanish companies. To arrive there we’ve crossed the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, the third longest bridge in the world.

I’m happy because I’m living a new experience but I’m little tired and hungry!

This weekend we’re going to visit Shanghai and Hangzhou!! I’ll tell you this in a few days!!!

Comentarios desactivados en In the middle of the trip / 28 Feb 2013 por Natividad Prieto Loreto
MBAftmad /

VISIT TO BAOSTEEL

In this day, I was liked the visit that we have had to a large company BAOSTEEL. This company is dedicated to the manufactur of iron and steel conglomerates.

Baosteel is one of the most profitable steel enterprises in the world enjoying international competence, and its annual production is about 20 million tons.We have seen much of the manufacturing process, and it seemed fantastic. Never seen anything like it in person.

Also we laughed a lot during the visit, because we have a worker helmets. We were very funny with this!

Comentarios desactivados en VISIT TO BAOSTEEL / 27 Feb 2013 por Maria del Pilar Jimenez Castilla
MBAftmad /

OUR TRIP CONTINUES….

Today we have started with a conference about the expatriation to China. As any other country, China has its own contractual aspects, taxes and social security liabilities. Labor law is very protective in China. Dependent workers have to pay social security as well as in Spain and they do not have the concept of independent workers as we have here. Foreign people also contribute to social security.

Later we have had another conference about entrepreneurship. History, demography and geography of this country make it easy to understand its global position around the world. Government has developed the 12th Chinese five-year plan to make the economy go faster. Government is making an effort on industry plans. For instance, they are trying to rebalance the industry in the west part of the country by policies like low taxes, low land costs and easy transportation.

The main growth engines are trade, investment and consumption. The priority given to exports and investments has to be readjusted in order to increase domestic consumption. There is a desire to succeed by Chinese population therefore China is eventually investing money abroad with an increased around 3,000 % in the last 10 years. It is what they call reverse globalization.

After lessons and to enjoy the city, we have been to an amazing fake market. I cannot describe with words the experience. Thus I highly recommend it to anyone who likes shopping and want to come across bargains everywhere.

I hope to have enough energy to enjoy the rest of the plans for this week!

Comentarios desactivados en OUR TRIP CONTINUES…. / 27 Feb 2013 por Ángela Pérez Báscones
MBAftmad /

Ni hao Ni hao!!!!

Good night everyone!

According to what i told you yesterday, in the evening we went to a place to take a look at the sights of the skyline of the city, and it was even better than i expected.
Later, we walked around People’s Square, which is an amazing place too. There were lots of people, neons and lights… I loved it!

Today has been an interesting day too. In the morning, we have had a class about managing people in China with Diego D’Alma, who works in Garrigues Company.
He talked to us about many contractual aspects in China. Later, we had lunch at the canteen in the Jiao Tong University, and in the afternoon we have had a conference with Mr. Guan Shang Yi (The Deputy Director).

In the evening, we went to the Fake Market and i felt like the protagonist of the “Pretty Woman” movie. But, for the moment, i won’t tell you more details

Comentarios desactivados en Ni hao Ni hao!!!! / 27 Feb 2013 por Paula Tejero Lafuente
MBAftmad /

Ni Hao

Hello again from Shanghai. Yesterday evening my colleagues from the MBA went to People’s Square. My first impression of this place was very good. It seems a little like Time’s Square in New York. We walk until the river and saw the amazing buildings there. It was really very impressive.
Today, second day of classes, we had a conference about expatriation to China. It was given by Diego D’alma who is the Head of Garrigues Shanghai.
Personally, I liked it and I have learn many things in this hour about labor laws in China. The labor laws in China are not the same as in Spain. The main difference is that the China’s laws are more stricter than the Spanish one.
After the conference we attend a lecture with Jason Ich about entrepreneurship in China.

I will keep you informed tomorrow with another post in my blog.

Comentarios desactivados en Ni Hao / 27 Feb 2013 por Cristina Fernandez Arciniega
MBAftmad /

Hello followers!

Today it’s my second day in this amazing city! I said amazing because last night we went to People’s Square and we saw the famous road which is full of lights and restaurants.

Later, we went to see the river and the skyline of Shanghai, you can see it on the picture. It’s was kind of foggy but it still beautiful.

Today we had a conference about managing people in China, it was so interesting because Diego D’Alma who works in Garrigues Company talked us about contractual aspects, tax and Social Security liabilities.

At 13:30 we went to a conference with Mr. Guan ShangYi who talked about to do business in China.

In the afternoon we went to the fake market to go shopping, it was huge!!! I bought lots of souvenirs to bring with me.

Now, I think I need to sleep… I had a really busy day!

If you want to know more, read my next post