Master of Science in Business Administration

Doing Business in China: Course info

1) Entry modes and entry barriers in the Chinese Market
2) Developing a Competitive Strategy in China: Doing Marketing Research in China: Data Sources and Main Issues; Segmentation of the Chinese Market and Positioning; the purchase attitude.
3) Looking for a Partner and Developing Alliances in China; going it alone in China.
4) Distribution, outsourcing, joint ventures;
5) HR Management in China and the cross cultural management factor
6) Exit barriers and way outs

Topic seminars:

1) HR Management in China and the cross cultural management factor
2) China Banking and financial system
3) China legal system and main issues

The course wants to give basic skills for seeking and use better organizational tools in order to satisfying customers in a challenging market environment. This course provides an overview of marketing distribution, entry modes and management issues principles and gives students the opportunity to apply the concepts they will learn to practical business situations.

 Download Program & Time Schedule

Course Lecturer

Prof. Cristiana Barbatelli

The course is taught by Professor Cristiana Barbatelli. Mrs Barbatelli was professor of Marketing Management at the Institute of Economics and Finance University ' Shanghai Normal. She is the only foreign Independent Counselor at the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and Founding Faculty Member of BIC (Business in China).

 Cristiana Barbatelli on Linkedin

Calendar

9.00 - 11.00

Lesson by: M. Barezzani & M. Accinni

Lesson by: R. Cavalieri

MadeInChina 2025: impact, challenges, evolution and perspectives for the future business in China
Lesson by: G. Giacconi

NB: More Lessons will be added soon

Learning Objectives 

• To learn basic business concepts applied to the most challenging business environment of the world.
• To use and familiarize business tools and analysis methods in order to have the capacity of grasping the P.R.C market business conditioning factors.
• Develop your skills in planning strategies to tackle China market most common features enhance your problem solving and decision making abilities from business perspectives and insights.
• To improve awareness of current challenges and issues in the actual China business environment.

Nature of the Class

The course is composed by 5 modules of 4 hours each, and 2 modules of 2 hours, for a total of 24 hours .

The course will host 3 speeches on peculiar topics ( HR , banking system and Legal system of China) given by guest speakers (with a duration of 4 hours each) .

Prerequisite

A background in Economics is helpful, but not required. The course is held in English Language therefore English language skills must be at course level.

Recommended  Texts
• Nick Dallas (2007) How to Do Business in China: 24 Lessons in Engaging the Dragon ,Mc Graw and Hill
• Robert Collins Carson Block, (2007) Doing Business in China For Dummies
• Kotler, Philip – Kevin Lane Keller –Taihong Lu  , (2009) Marketing Management in China , Prentice Hall
• Johan Bjorksten , Anders Hagglund ,(2010) How to Manage a Successful Business in China , World Scientific
• Liu, Warren (2008) KFC in China , Secret Recipe for Success ,Wiley and Sons
• Maria Weber , Cristiana Barbatelli ,(2006) La Cina non e’ per tutti, Edizioni Olivares
• Cristian Barbatelli, Renzo Cavalieri (2015) la Cina non e’ ancora per tutti

Other recommended readings will be assigned during the course.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment will consist of one final exams 60% each, one case analyses (30% each), and class participation (10%). The exams will assess your understanding of key course concepts. The case analyses will assess your ability to apply course concepts to what customers and companies do. Participation includes in-class discussion of cases, readings, exercises, and current marketing challenges.

Exams

The Course will use case history methodology.
The exam will be held in class at the conclusion of the courses. It will cover assigned reading material and class discussions.  Questions will primarily be in a multiple choice and short answer format.

Case Analysis

One case analysis will be used to assess your analytical and written communication skills.  I will provide you with the case.  The case questions will require you to apply your understanding of course principles to the situations described in the cases.  The specific questions and assessment criteria will be provided to the class.  The analyses should not exceed 5 pages in length.

Case study will be used from the beginning to the end. The cases facilitate the discussion of marketing problems in real situations whereby you may after careful studies, provide constructive input as the session works together to address the issues raised in the cases. Real learning takes place when you see how others address a problem about which you have thought carefully. It has to be pointed out that only through good preparations will you acquire a thorough understanding.

Class Participation

Student participation is an important component of the course.  Students are expected to come to class prepared, and willing to discuss the readings, cases, videos, and other class exercises. You are expected to defend your ideas and opinions and to demonstrate them to the class.

Personal Integrity

Using information from other sources and not citing the source is plagiarism, a form of cheating.  If you are working with other students, please remember that failing to contribute adequately to the project but taking full credit for others’ efforts is cheating and will be punished appropriately.

Changes

This course syllabus and schedule are preliminary, and are subject to change pending notification in class.