Diary of a traveler in China

At last! The trip is going to start only in a week and everybody is looking forward to arriving to Shanghai. My family and friends have asked me a lot of questions and I have had to answer them in a not very enthusiastic way, I think.

• (Friends) ‘Were not you doing an MBA?’ (Me) ‘Yes, I was!’.
• (Dad) ‘But, Is it a leisure and pleasure trip or what are you going to do there?’ (Me) ‘I’m going to continue with my MBA’s studies’ Dad.
• (Mum) ‘Are not you afraid? China is so far away and you are the treasure of my life!’ (Me) ‘No, I am not, don’t worry Mum’.
• (Brother, sister, girlfriend) ‘Will you buy me many gifts?’ (Me) ‘Yes, I will’.

But this morning, I woke up looking forward solving all these questions better because the “day” is coming!

We are 80 young students from the EOI Business School. All of us are not studying the same program, there are people from Full Time MBA (for example, me), Global MBA, Master of Quality, Master of Management of Water and Master of Renewable Energies. This people come from Madrid and Seville -EOI has some of these programs in both cities- and we are going to be together during the travel, so I think it’s a good opportunity to meet the Sevillian guys and girls.

There, in Shanghai, we are going to have classes at Tongji Business School all days in English -of course- in order to know and learn how to do business in China, how the Chinese businesses work and how we can deal with Chinese companies. But I also could learn others useful lessons for adding to my repertory of soft skills like getting an international perspective in order to do businesses or knowing which is the main factor to succeed negotiating in China.

In the afternoons, we are going to visit some huge factories such as Lenovo (computers) or Volkswagen (automotive), so we will not have too much time to be bored.

Obviously, in the weekend, we will have free time to do whatever we want, so some people says we could visit Beijing to see the Big Wall and the Forbidden City, but I’m not sure if it will be possible. Don’t worry family! I will try to spend some time shopping as well, because I have a big list of many things which my family and friends would want.

Eventually, I want to make you a promise: I will write every day in my blog, telling you this unique experience daily in detail.

See you from Shanghai! 再见!

Comentarios desactivados en Diary of a traveler in China / 16 Feb 2013 por Agustin Agudo Garcia
MBAftmad /

Ready, Steady, GO!

What I think of China?

 

Well, it’s a huge country (9596/505= 19 times Spain), with very huge population (1344/47= 29 times Spanish) and so much history (Chinese/Spanish=¿?), among other variables.

The image in my mind is a land which we have to learn a lot, specially in terms of way of life. Learn is not take.

Anyway, in spite of the productivity and social consitions, the extensive work model in China works. That’s why businesses today are focused there.

 

 

What I expect of the trip?

I have to sign two tasks:

• One, and most important, look, listen and take notes about production, manufacturing and distribution in China. How to do business and adaptations of market models. What is the full cost of the industrial takeoff to the first world, from the second one.

• Two, as an added attractive, let take photos of awesome old and new places in Shanghai, try to speak (in English I suspect) with locals, eat some strange stuff and buy lots of fakes and fake gifts. Also I want to do something unexpected!! Surely will have great experiences.

 

There will be news, so don’t worry!!

Comentarios desactivados en Ready, Steady, GO! / 15 Feb 2013 por Gonzalo Ramos de la Cruz
MBAftmad /

Leaving to China

Well, we all had planned this study trip these last 3 months, and finally we are leaving next Saturday!!!

Don´t forget your cameras guys, because I’m sure this is going to be an awesome experience for all of us!

We are going to get to know the University of Tongji which is one of the leading universities directly under the State Ministry of Education in China. It offers degree programs both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Also, we are going to visit Chinese companies to learn how to do business in China, I´m sure we all are going to learn so much, and maybe one of us work in China some day!!

Comentarios desactivados en Leaving to China / 14 Feb 2013 por Elvira Martinez Rodriguez
MBAftmad /

Next Stop: Shanghai

Saturday is the day. All students from the MBA are going to  spend 10 days in Shanghai and also students from other programs.

In my opinion, this trip will be one of the best experiences ever. I have never been to China and I’m looking forward to visit it.

In the last few years China has became one of the most important economies around the world. So that’s the reason why we have to learn how to do business in China.

I would like to know some things also: how is to do business with them, knowing better their culture, to understand how they live…because who knows, maybe in a future I could have a job offer to work there.

Pinche aquí para ver el vídeo

 

Comentarios desactivados en Next Stop: Shanghai / 14 Feb 2013 por Cristina Fernandez Arciniega
MBAftmad /

Las ciudades con el “cost of living” más alto

La semana pasada, la BBC publicó un estudio elaborado por la EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) sobre las ciudades más baratas y más caras para vivir del mundo. El estudio, llamado “Worldwide Cost of Living” realiza una comparativa de precios de más de 500 productos y servicios comunes a 130 ciudades del mundo. El análisis se ha realizado sobre una serie de productos clasificados de la siguiente manera:

• Comida: 25%
• Transporte: 19,5%
• Ocio y entretenimiento: 18%
• Ropa: 13%
• Servicios públicos y electricidad: 6.5%
• Artículos del hogar: 4,5%
• Cuidado personal: 4%
• Bebidas alcohólicas: 3,5%
• Ayuda doméstica: 3,5%
• Tabaco: 2,5%

Como es lógico, el estudio indica que las ciudades más caras del mundo, pertenecen al mundo desarrollado, aunque también podemos ver ciudades como Caracas en las posiciones “top” del ranking.

En principio, esta recopilación de datos puede parecer interesante para comentarlo en cualquier sobremesa o con los compañeros de máster entre una clase y otra, con el fin de sacar una conversación amena y curiosa, pero realmente puede tener, y estoy seguro que tiene, mucha más importancia para empresas y futuros inversores que buscan donde invertir para hacer crecer sus negocios.

Los análisis de este tipo, ayudan a establecer precios de vivienda, de escuela y de viajes y les sirven a las empresas que tienen trabajadores en diferentes países y que quieren ser competitivos en sus políticas de compensación, a mantener en su compañía al mejor talento.

Comentarios desactivados en Las ciudades con el “cost of living” más alto / 14 Feb 2013 por Agustin Agudo Garcia
MBAftmad /

Quiénes somos I: Quiénes somos, desde lejos

 

Como siempre, la lectura de este ladrillo lleva unos minutos. Empieza a leer sólo si te ves capaz de terminarlo;)

 

Hay veces que debemos mirar hacia arriba. Con unas nociones básicas de astronomía, o en su defecto una deducción de unos minutos, llegamos a la conclusión de que la información que está en el cielo no corresponde a la actualidad.

Cualquier luz proveniente del espacio ha tardado un tiempo en cruzar el espacio hasta nuestra retina. Por tanto, lo que veamos ahora es el pasado. Por ejemplo, si el Sol se apagara, tardaríamos 8 minutos en darnos cuenta, pues eso tarda la luz en viajar 150 millones de kilómetros.

De hecho, no sabemos el tamaño del universo porque la explosión del Big Bang nos hace hoy en día ver un muro en constante expansión, y no podemos ver si hay algo más detrás de él. Esta es una razón intuitiva de por qué espacio y tiempo son lo mismo, aunque no lo entendamos así desde nuestra silla.

 

Toda esta parafernalia es para decir que el universo nos recuerda quiénes somos.

Quizá este vídeo deje más huella que los párrafos que acabas de leer: (es mucho mejor verlo a pantalla completa).

 

La realidad es que somos insignificantes.

No importa lo que hagamos, sea bueno o malo.

Nadie se acordará de ti.

 

 

 

A largo plazo da igual que nos carguemos el planeta:

Andrómeda y la Via Láctea se acercan y colisionarán, fusionándose en una sola galaxia. El destino del Sistema Solar es incierto.

Y aunque quedara intacto, el Sol se acabará, con una explosión final que engullirá a Mercurio y Venus y arrasará la Tierra, dejándola inerte.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pero en vez de volver la cabeza podemos enfrentar el futuro. Aún nos queda muuuucho tiempo y muchas cosas que hacer antes de abandonar este planeta, que es la solución más factible.

 

Por último va el segundo vídeo, que también nos recuerda el pasado, pero con otra perspectiva:

 

 

Fin de la transmisión, ¿qué os ha parecido?

 

Comentarios desactivados en Quiénes somos I: Quiénes somos, desde lejos / 11 Feb 2013 por Gonzalo Ramos de la Cruz
MBAftmad /

ERP: ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING

ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning is a management system used by a large number of businesses nowadays. In general terms the ERP is a system by which a company manages and integrates different parts, internal and external, of the entire organization. It automates this activity with and integrated software application that covers the common functional areas of the company by different modules. These modules can be implemented in stages and can be customized.

It requires a process in which the company has to invest money and time. So it is important to have a clear idea about the system, its advantages and drawbacks and it can help the company with its goals.

The system leads to more accessible information across the organization and a considerable improvement in productivity and efficiency. If the information is shared and the changes are synchronized it enables the company to forecast future problems and make proper decisions beforehand. Moreover, if the business internal process runs rightly we have a great level of satisfaction on our clients.

In addition to all the ERP allows the company to be focused on how to run the business and it makes it easier to develop a new product. It is also relatively quick to implement.

On the other hand we find several disadvantages. The costs of implementation are high and the company has to adapt their system to the standard processes of the ERP. The employees have to be trained to use the system efficiently and it takes the company time and money.

In conclusion, before implementing a new ERP in a company we have to evaluate what our business really need and the costs of adapting an ERP system to its structure. We should think about our business strategy and how can the ERP help the organization to reach the objectives.

 

Comentarios desactivados en ERP: ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING / 06 Feb 2013 por Ángela Pérez Báscones
MBAftmad /

What is Enterprise Resource Planning?

Enterprise Resource planning, or ERP, manages a company´s resources via software system. ERP is designed to promote smoother, more efficient work flow among all parties, both internal and external, of a given corporation.

The main advantage is to increase productivity by using this system has access to information in a simple and time invested in analyzing situations and seek solutions. Provides complete visibility into all the important processes across various departments of an organization.

There are various modules in an ERP system like Finance, Human Resource Management, Manufacturing, Sales, Supply Chain… thus allowing adapt it to different organizations depending on their size and needs.

But to obtain those benefits should be noted that the cost of ERP, planning, customization, configuration, testing, implementation, etc may be very high. Also,  the ERP deployment can take 1-3 years to get completed and fully functional.

In my opinion, although ERP provides many advantages, their implementation is a strategic decision that should not be taken lightly, as it involves significant resources (financial and human) . Therefore I believe that making the decision to implement a or not a ERP requires a thorough evaluation process of the company a and commitment from all levels.

Comentarios desactivados en What is Enterprise Resource Planning? / 06 Feb 2013 por Maria de las Mercedes Perez
MBAftmad /

What is Enterprise Resource Planning?

Enterprise Resource planning, or ERP, manages a company´s resources via software system. ERP is designed to promote smoother, more efficient work flow among all parties, both internal and external, of a given corporation.

The main advantage is to increase productivity by using this system has access to information in a simple and time invested in analyzing situations and seek solutions. Provides complete visibility into all the important processes across various departments of an organization.

There are various modules in an ERP system like Finance, Human Resource Management, Manufacturing, Sales, Supply Chain… thus allowing adapt it to different organizations depending on their size and needs.

But to obtain those benefits should be noted that the cost of ERP, planning, customization, configuration, testing, implementation, etc may be very high. Also,  the ERP deployment can take 1-3 years to get completed and fully functional.

In my opinion, although ERP provides many advantages, their implementation is a strategic decision that should not be taken lightly, as it involves significant resources (financial and human) . Therefore I believe that making the decision to implement a or not a ERP requires a thorough evaluation process of the company a and commitment from all levels.

Comentarios desactivados en What is Enterprise Resource Planning? / 06 Feb 2013 por Maria de las Mercedes Perez
MBAftmad /

The ERP dilemma

Do you want to save time at your work? For take decisions? For your personal life? Join to our ERP system!!

If you are a businessman, maybe this advert had come to your mail…

The offer is true but, what about the costs, in money, time and efforts?

 

The principal issues with this wonderful software are the prices, the dependence and the adaptation of the work-how until now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other important decisions about this are: which provider? Are you willing to uncover your secrets? What level of coverage?

In big terms, we have some pros & cons BEYOND the explicit ones:

• The software dependant forever: your company should pay for the maintenance and technical support, and wait for the software adaptations and solutions, for the rest of the business life
• Not every business needs to spend lots of bills in ERPs. There are sectors and sizes where we have all the information and cost saving without it. Also, we can choose only a pair of modules of an ERP
• In the other hand, we have to notice some added ups, is not only cost saving. Also involves time saving, capacity to focus on the business and not on their tools, dynamic work, complete and consolidated information

 

After reading this, the dilemma is…

Is it worth for your company? It is an opportunity we have to cacth? ANALYZE IT!!

 

 

 

 

Comentarios desactivados en The ERP dilemma / 06 Feb 2013 por Gonzalo Ramos de la Cruz
MBAftmad /