Don't judge a country by its label: Made in China

Visiting the Coalface of Production

We all hear about China and its significance to global business in trade, manufacturing and e-commerce; but when I saw these themes in action when I recently visited China as part of my undergraduate studies in business it changed my understanding of business.

During the China Future of Business Study Tour, I had a rare opportunity to explore the theoretical and practical aspects of Chinese business. This was most evident when as I visited KingClean, the largest vacuum cleaner manufacturer in the world.

The first China Future of Business Study Tour group

This was a cathartic moment for me, because I was able to see factory workers at the coalface of production as they quickly screwed individual bolts into mechanical items piece-by-piece, assembling vacuum cleaners, and at various stations throughout the factory. My reactions were mixed. At times I admired the hard-working employees working in the factory’s hot conditions but I also felt gratitude as I reflected on my fortunate position as an undergraduate student living in Australia who benefits from all this consumerism. Often, we are separated from the process that goes into making a product, but when we get to view the whole process from idea to market, a fuller understanding occurs; from the individuals who are responsible to being a consumer who uses such appliances.

Designing the Future of Business

Not only did I learn from observing my environment, but also from my fellow colleagues’s reactions to what they were seeing. For instance, the study tour had a couple of first-year students who were completing the same program as me. First-year commerce student Aileen Hou emphasised the importance of encouraging future first-years to participate in such learning experiences:

“It’s a perfect opportunity for the time when you’re unsure about what majors to choose and what to do with your life! It’s perfect for discovering what you never knew about the business environment and for rediscovering what you’ve always loved about it.”

It was the first time the Business School ran this program in China. The study tour was a pilot, and so it was not without its own challenges. What was exciting for me and my peers who were learning about the future of business in China was that we were able to contribute to the design and improvement of the program with our Unit Coordinator, an important step for the next time the program is to be delivered. As the Unit Coordinator of the study tour Associate Professor Rachael Hains-Wesson said, “this program needs to be created for, with and by students, as students are the main players in this learning game and are experts in knowing what might work better for future cohorts.”

Listening to a presentation at ORIZA Holdings

The program was co-delivered by the Suzhou Centre, which is a relatively new centre that the University of Sydney has set up to increase the working relationship between China and Australia in the area of innovation and research. As one of the Suzhou facilitators suggested, “it was a learning process for me, to offer better experienced programs in the future” and the Executive Director of the Centre in China in Suzhou, Cathryn Hlavka further explained: “This program has been designed to help Business students explore contemporary China and witness the enormous developments that are taking place across first, second and third tier cities in China.” She also went on to say that with the movement towards internationalisation of business, the China Business Study Tour, “helps students experience the Chinese culture and language while they are based in Suzhou and consolidate their learning through industry and business visits.”

Cathryn Hlavka delivers a welcome speech

Shattering Expectations

From visiting China’s corporate businesses and manufacturers to getting hands-on experience with the latest technology in urban planning and surveillance, the China Future of Business Study Tour over the past winter break has shattered my preconceived expectations and assumptions about doing business in China. Students on this study tour, including myself, the Business School and the Suzhou Centre will continue to work together to encourage more students to participate in China programs to improve students learning experiences about the future of business in China.

In summary, it is extremely humbling to be a part of this experience with my peers who will also be the next generation of professionals that will seek to make a positive global impact. What proved so valuable in the end for us is to not assume what China is about, but to question, investigate and reflect to uncover a greater understanding of what China means to each of us and therefore reevaluate what "Made in China" really means for the future of business.

Written by Andrew Trinh