eBooks

Love Is Blind, Greed Is Insatiable: The Classic Case of a China Business Venture - by Prof Alan Barrell and Dr Wei Wang

Abstract

An MBA graduate, originally from China, joined a multi-billion pound sterling British multinational in the late 1990s to assist its senior executives to make multi-million dollar investments in China. He had been involved in the whole decision-making process, consisting of assessing business opportunities and potential partners in China through to establishing and operating a US$ 25 million pharmaceutical joint venture business.

With vivid accounts of what he had experienced, he reveals that it is human intuition - including the pain and the joy as well as the misery and the hope - that makes up the very fabric of business. In the end, it is a story that shows why business conducted on the basis of partner attraction and for the sole purpose of making money is self-defeating, and why successful business is done not only through people but also for people.

Learning Objectives

The principal objective is to help students understand the nature of business, in particular with reference to doing business in China. The other objective is to help them develop an appreciation of how business school-taught concepts and tools might be applied to the messy reality of business.

Subjects Covered

Networking, market research, business alliance, negotiation, business case, management, leadership, business strategy and worldview

Setting

Late 1990s; China, the UK, and the starch industry

Teaching Notes

The case can be used in two ways. One is for classroom discussion, aimed at developing an understanding of the key issues involved in doing business in China. First, students are given time to read the case on their own. Then, they are asked to talk about the issues they have identified. Finally, the teacher summarises the key issues for the class.

The other is to use the case as part of an individual/group project. First, students are asked to read the case and identify the issues involved. Second, they are recommended the book The China Executive, from which they are required to put the identified issues into context and develop more effective actions were they in the MBA graduate’s position. Finally, they are required to write a project report and/or make a presentation. 

To download the eBook: go to the website of 2W Publishing.