China today is debatably the largest economy in the world. Chinese business is shaped by the culture of the nation. A key element of this culture is the role of history. As a civilization that has existed over 3000 years history shapes its actions today in ways that are key to understand if you are to do business there. Thus, we first establish a clear historical understanding of the county and how it evolved to where it is today.

The future going forward will be central that the nation moves up the value chain. We want to understand why this is the case and what the future appears to be for such innovation. The key question we wish to answer by the end of three sessions is whether you believe the nation will be able to move up the value chain to escape the middle income trap.

The goal of the course is to deepen and enhance the knowledge of students about innovation specifically in the context of China & Business. The course has three main learning objectives:

• providing students with opportunities to understand key aspects of the environment surrounding business in China
• understanding the role of innovation and how Chinese system may vary 
• explaining historical structures and their implications on China's current economic situation

After completing this course, students have the ability to:

• critically reflect on ‘innovation’ and its strategic implications
• understand the relationship between history and business
• consider strategic aspects of moving up the value chain
• deploy case-studies and scientific paper and present them professionally

In addition, students will:

• get insights into a current topic in world economy
• enhance their professional collaboration and communication skills

The course design employs various learning formats:

• case study work in teams
• individual reading of literature
• student presentation
• preparation of a paper

Students are required to read the literature upfront

You will need to read all the readings prepared for you and discuss them in class. The two cases we will conduct will be provided to you and you need to be able to discuss these cases in class.

From your readings and our class discussions you are then to prepare a paper. This paper is to be in English, a properly cited research paper that answers the question: Will China be able to move up the value chain and create its own streams of innovation in the future or not? This paper should be approximately 15 pages double spaced including citations and other related materials. This paper is due two weeks after the last class.

The assessment is based on continuous class participation, case-study work as well as the assignment.

• 20% case-study 1 (group work)
• 20% case-study 2 (group work)
• 60% paper (individual assignment)

The following students may apply for this course:

• Students of the major (SBWL) "Entrepreneurship and Innovation"
• Exchange students

Please note that your application to this course is binding. If you register for our course, this is regarded as a clear commitment from your side. It is not possible to unsubscribe ex post or switch courses subsequently. Such behavior is unfair towards your colleagues (who would not have got a place in their preferred courses as you blocked it).

Only if all parallel courses are fully filled, we will offer additional places in our course.

kathrin.reinsberger@wu.ac.at