Introduction

Business Travel Study (BTS) is a program developed by TargetChinese, a division of New Oriental, China’s leading provider of private educational services. BTS is for international business students and executives with the aim to understand and experience in person China’s culture and history and how they affect business decision-making, strategic thinking and management style of Chinese corporations. All the BTS programs have flexible length, lectures can be customized, and students are able to tour their own respective industries.

Why Come to China?

As the Chinese economy develops, China's political, economic and cultural influence becomes greater.

China is the world's most populous country, as well as an important trading and investing partner to many countries.

Key features

Noted speakers on contemporary Chinese economic and management issues of both Chinese and foreign businesses in China.

Lectures highlighting Chinese cultural and historical legacies.  A combination of lectures, visits, panels and roundtables.  Tailor made programs for each client

Lecture series

Package I: Introduction on Chinese Economics and Doing Business in China

China's economic transitions and current economic policies.  Is the high speed of China’s economic growth sustainable? What is the underpinning guidance for China’s reforms within two decades?  What is the trend of China's economic development? And what are the key components of China’s comparative and competitive advantages? Besides, what are the bases for Chinese political stability and policy directions in the days ahead? Prize-winning economists and members of think-tank of China developments would provide insightful lectures on these topics.  External environment and challenges of foreign business in China.

What are the opportunities and pitfalls of foreign business in China? How do the rule of law, non-tariff barrier and national trade agreement affect foreign business in China? How is the situation of intellectual property rights in China? And what are the key success factors of doing business in China?  Think globally, act locally---multinational corporations' practices in China  What are the main cross-cultural challenges for MNC firms in China? How do MNC firms develop their strategies to compete against local enterprises? What are the key differences on and approaches to human capital from western and Asian perspectives in China?

Samples of other topics available:

Banking and monetary system and reforms in China  An overview of the characteristic of the Chinese Market  China’s economic growth after entry into WTO  Implications of Chinese RMB appreciation for local and MNC firms in China

Package II: Understanding current business issues and Chinese mindset from historical/cultural perspectives

 Historical impact on Chinese society and mindset.

To understand why we are here, you need to know where we have come from. The past glory and the humiliation in the last few centuries shaped the mentality of Chinese people today. The huge social changes in the last three decades, in particular, exerted a strong impact on the mindset of Chinese people.  Confucianism and business practices in China

Regarded as the dominant ideology in China, ideas of Confucianism can be traced in many aspects of life including business etiquette and behavior. Things that foreign businessmen see as confusing and challenging, such as guanxi (relationship) and mianzi (face), usually are related to the thoughts of Confucianism. To understand the basic concepts of Confucianism is like breaking the codes underpinning cross-cultural communication.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu and strategic thinking in China

As the earliest masterpiece of war strategy, The Art of War crystallizes the essence of strategy, and reflects the typical Chinese thinking style. Comparative analysis between eastern and western strategic thinking also adds insight in understanding key aspects of Chinese mind.  The Qin unification of China and its social-political legacy

As the creator of the Great Wall and huge number of terra-cotta warriors, the Qin dynasty also exerts its influence on modern China in terms of the political system and administrative style. The Legalist School, which was contemporary with the Confucian School 2,000 years ago, plays a role in current society as well.

Cross-cultural communication in Chinese business settings

With special features of Chinese culture, business communication in China is the first and foremost challenges for any foreign businessman. This lecture will help the Chinese business beginners to navigate through complex social and cultural environment with specific suggestions and tools to take away with.

Company visits

With over 100,000 alumni working in diversified professional fields, the company visits can be deliberately designed, or co-designed, to help visitors/students acquire valuable first-hand experience on business operation in China. Basically, there are three main types of companies to visit: state- owned enterprises (SOEs), private companies, and multi-nationals. A typical company visit is usually composed of field visit, introduction and Q & A session. To enhance the effect of learning through field visits, specific questions and requests can be delivered to the group beforehand.

Samples:

VANKE

Vanke was a leading private real estate developer in China, and one of the first groups of companies that enlisted in the national stock market. Enjoying a high market growth rate as well as a national image across China, Vanke provides and creates a new living concept for the Chinese people.

 CARREFOUR

Bringing lifestyle and business ideas from France, Carrefour China has been outdoing other international and domestic retailers in the highly competitive Chinese market. Executives of the company will introduce to the visitors key cross-cultural issues and different strategies adopted by Carrefour China.

Yuqiao Garbage Power Plant

Shanghai has built China’s first refuse-derived processing power plant in order to treat over 1,000 tons of the cities garbage -- 1/14 of the daily amount produced by Shanghai’s urban and rural households.