Taiwan study abroad day 7 summary by Laura Rollinger

Today we ate breakfast at the hotel then we took a bus to Jinguashi. We were accompanied by a group of NTNU students the whole day. During our ride our tour guide explained the geography of Taiwan as we traveled over a few of the 250 mountains of Taiwan. There were breathtaking views that would have been a lot better if it was not as cloudy. We first toured the Gold Ecological Park where we saw the beautiful gardens of the Prince’s Chalet. Next, we all were given hard hats and sent in to the mine where we saw how the gold was original mined. The final stop in the Gold Ecological Park was the museum. There was old mining equipment on display and more history to read about. The highlight of the museum was being able to touch the 220 kg gold nugget.

Following the gold park tour we took the bus to Jiufen Old Town, which was like the night market. The narrow passage ways were filled with people as we walked to the restaurant for lunch. Everyone was served either a veggie hot pot, curry chicken or chicken with oyster sauces. After lunch everyone was free to roam the town and shop for about an hour.

From there we were back on the bus for a long ride to Shifen. In Shifen everyone was able to create their own sky lantern by painting their wishes on all 4 sides then lighting them to let them go. The sky lantern experience was an awesome experience and extremely fun. Where we let the lanterns go is actually on train tracks. About every 20 minutes whistles would blow indicating that a train was coming and everyone would have to move to the side. After lighting the lanterns we explored the small city then headed back to our hotel by bus.

 

Taiwan study abroad day 6 summary by Danielle Adams

Today started out as another hot and muggy day here in the capital city of Taipei. If nothing else, at least we can count on the weather cooling down and the humidity decreasing as the day goes on. We began at Tamkang University and met new students who are all Accounting majors. We were given a tour of campus that included the tennis courts, business building, library, the university’s maritime museum, and the school cafeteria. We had a lecture by Jen Wang, an English news editor at Public Television Service and an MIT alumnus, in cross cultural communication. We played language games and a version of ‘telephone’ that allowed the Chinese-speaking and English-speaking students to interact. We were broken up into groups of all UM-Flint students, all TKU students, and mixed groups from both universities. It was interesting to see how the sentence ended up once it had made its way through seven members, and while there was a small language-barrier, that truly didn’t make a difference in the outcome.

After this class we made our way to lunch where our students were partnered with TKU students and treated to lunch. Lunch consisted of potstickers or dumplings, corn and fish soup, buffets, and vegetarian dishes…wherever the students preferred. Following lunch, we had one of our group discussions to come back together and take about the previous days and our impressions.

Following the university we made our way around the campus visiting different historical sites such as an old missionary hospital, fort santa domingo, and down by the harbor. We got ice cream cones that were anywhere from 6-12 inches high depending on how much we paid. At each historical site, the TKU students gave presentations telling us the history and importance of each site. It was really fun and interesting to interact with the students and learn more about their daily lives and about Taiwan itself.

Taiwan Study Abroad Day 5 Summary by Ryan Riddle

We began the day listening in the lecture hall inside NTNU with a case study on eHarmony. The lecture was about brand management and how eHarmony has been a leader in the industry through their expertise in relationships guided by Dr. Neil Warren Clark. Their business model already adjusts knowing that the two parties will sooner or later quit, which is an interesting fact.

The next stop on our agenda was the Taiwan Stock Exchange. It really seemed that the business model of the Taiwan Stock Exchange will be the future of stock exchanges. I like the fact that they are trying to attract companies that are 100% foreign owned. This aspect alone is foreign to US markets where there are sometimes strict requirements to get listen under the NASDAQ or DIJA. Furthermore, the exchange is only open for 4.5 hours due to the fact that most of the population trading stocks are the housewives and the house work must get done by 1:30, which is when they close. Keeping the stock exchange open for longer is a sensitive and political issue to the Taiwanese people. 40% of Taiwan’s population are active in the markets trading. Day trading is actually encouraged, as a negative view back at home is expressed towards day traders. More over all companies we have been visiting like KPMG, ASUS, HOTC and ect are all young companies that don’t seem to have much experience like US corporate businesses which have been along for a very long time. The all seem to have learned from the mistakes of other businesses which keeps them competing in the global market.

After we had lunch in downtown Taipei, we headed to Franz to sit in on a discussion of how their business model allows them to stay competitive in their niche market. Franz makes porcelain pottery and it gets very creative. The company was founded with German roots. Franz is a very interesting company that doesn’t use TV advertising to get their product out. Another aspect I found very efficient is that a team of employees directly talks to the President, Vice president or ect instead of management to management transfer. They call this the round table management and it is very effective. This idea is more efficient and will be adopted by most businesses in the future.

After the Franz visit, we left to go to McDonalds to host an appreciation dinner. Our Taiwan friends joined us for this occasion as we honored them for their hospitality and thank them for everything they’ve done for us thus far. My Taiwan friend spent a lot of time on my gifts which made me feel thankful and honored that someone could be such a great host to a foreign culture. I was speechless at the way we’ve been treated. From time to time there are cultural disconnects, but the overall experience is priceless. I thank everyone that I have spent time with and conversed with as I will never forget any of the people I met this week.

Management class at NTNU

Taiwan/Japan Study Abroad: Day 4 Summary by Matt Tanyi

Pose @ HTC headquarter’s lobby

Acupuncture, NTNU Campus Tour, HTC, and the World’s Fastest Elevator!

Our day started at the National Taiwan Normal University, to attend a class in Chinese medicine. As we waited for the professor, we had fun practicing Mandarin tongue twisters – and even taught the assistant teacher an English tongue twister. As the class began, we learned a lot about the effects of various foods on the body and how particular foods can heal ailments. The professor was very knowledgeable in natural medicine and demonstrated his meditation and acupuncture techniques. Each student in our group got an acupuncture needle placed into their hand, which felt odd, but perhaps thanks to this we all left the class in a great mood.

Afterwards, two polite students from the National Taiwan Normal University gave us a tour of the campus. It is very beautiful, with several modern buildings and art that is symbolic to the school. For instance, different “hats” don the doorways, which symbolize graduation, and some of the roofs represent the wings of birds, “protecting” the students and encouraging them to soar. Seeing students study in the elegant library and the student council passing out fliers outside, you get the sense that college life is not much different in Taiwan than in America.

Our major visit today was at HTC, the smart phone company. Walking into the business, we were in awe – the building is very modern, to the point of being futuristic. It was designed to be spacious, with bright white floors and sculptures in the lobby. The workers were very hospitable and showed us around the facility. There was a workout room, complete with punching bags and a boxing ring. Workers are allowed to come work out at any time, or enjoy free food at the cafeteria. Next, we were given an impressive demonstration about HTC smart phones and found out how the company got to be so large and profitable in just 16 years – through innovation and a focus on “quiet brilliance”, which was described as doing great things in a humble way. The company was so impressive, we were even awarded small gifts on our way out!

Our day ended at Taipei 101, the third tallest building in the world. We rode the world’s fastest elevator to the observation deck on the 89th floor. The view is awe-inspiring. With all of the buildings lit up against the night sky, we could see the entire city of Taipei. It is such a large city, with some incredible architecture. There is a giant steel ball suspended at the top of the tower to keep it from swaying the wind. This was the perfect way to end our busy day. After eating dinner at the Taipei 101 food court, we came home, tired but excited for another fun day tomorrow!

Taiwan study abroad day 3 summary by Carol Gao

In order to get around in Taiwan, it’s best to know the language. Today, we had a Chinese lesson class at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) where we learned greeting manners and basics like numbers, saying of University of Michigan, as well as ways to remember the words learned. The students had a great time learning the language and many had nearly perfect pronunciations. The teacher did a tremendous job of having an entertaining lecture.

Afterwards, we played games with NTNU students at their school. The games were unfamiliar to UM-Flint students, but everyone had a competitive time with their teams and loved the prizes. With some of NTNU students, we went to KPMG (an accounting firm) where we learned how the majority of Taiwan and international businesses’ are handled by the firm. We were able to go to their floors from the 62th to 68th at the most famous landmark in Taiwan – Taipei 101.

We then had a grand welcoming by one of the most famous upcoming computer producer, Asus. In Asus, we saw a presentation of the company’s work flow and how they do business with other countries. We were able to walk around the company and saw how the employees have fabulous benefits like a swimming pool and workout area.

Taiwan study abroad group discussion 2 summary

Group 1

Why was HTC so successful?

From the discussion, it appeared the overall impression was that HTC has been successful due to their consistent company culture and their focus on putting customers first. Everything in their business, from their presentations, to their business cards, to the layout of their building, was reflected in their products. This is the type of business atmosphere that really inspires employees to do their best, put in the extra effort and go the extra mile for the customer.

The green initiatives put in place by HTC were also brought up as a key to their success. This led to a further discussion of the role of corporate responsibility and whether or not companies use green as a genuine way to give back to the environment or as another method to boost profitability through positive PR.

What marketing techniques you’ve seen have had the biggest influence on you so far?

The main point mentioned for this topic was that multiple languages were used on products and in the subway stations. From a business standpoint, an important lesson here is how important it is to know who your audience is and how best to communicate with them.

What is your favorite visit so far and why?

Surprisingly, there was no consensus favorite visit. Franz seemed to have a slight advantage for many different reasons. The tour was particularly impressive and the group really seemed to enjoy the showroom, seeing the artists at work, and (of course) the 3D printer. HTC came in 2nd place due to their gym, open layout, and getting the chance to play with their newest technology. Thirdly, the group seemed to enjoy the stock exchange visit. It was interesting to see how their stock exchange works and how it differs from the NYSE.

Finally, mentioned only once, but definitely the highlight for the majority of us has been spending time with the Taiwanese students. Truly interacting with those who are native to a different area is the best way to experience a new culture. This has been an eye-opening experience for many of us, and not something we will soon forget.

Group 2

At today’s group discussion, we talked about the strategies that have made HTC and other companies successful in such a short amount of time. HTC implements continuous improvements on their products, finding ways to enhance the future of smart phones and their features, such as the built in camera. It was debated whether their focus on being environmentally friendly is genuine or a calculated part of the company’s image – whatever the case, HTC seems to represent corporate responsibility. Everything they do seems to live up to their slogan of “quiet brilliance”.

We also discussed differences in marketing. Many students agree that Franz’s choice to not budget advertising is interesting – and no one could argue that it has hurt the brand. We talked about the other ways that Franz creates value for its products – through events, winning awards, and hosting guests like ourselves at their company. Many people said this was their favorite company visit so far, because of the ways that “old meets new” at this company and the creative discipline we got to see.

Group 3

1. What was your favorite company visit?
My favorite company visit was HTC because I liked the big corporate business setting and I liked it that HTC is a company that is really taking the cell phone industry by storm. I also liked the Taiwan stock exchange because I am interesting in the finance position of the country and how is currently working.

2. What was your favorite marketing aspect?

I personally am still liking the way that many products is marketing here in Taiwan because it is just very different from what I am used to seeing in the US.

3. What has HTC been done to be so successful?

First, they listen ot their customers when developing their products and service. Second, they have taken technology that many others use or developed and they alter it to their customers requests. Third, they help their employees become more productive by creating a health environment in the form of a gym and a workout center. They believe that if thy have health employees, they’ll have  health company.

Group discussion at TKU library

Taiwan study abroad group discussion 1 summaries

The first group discussion in Taiwan was conducted by group 1 (Charles, Laura, Ray & Tiffany).

Here are summaries by each group:

Group 1:

As the facilitators for the group discussion, we were really pleased with the quality of responses we received from our class today. Each group was really well represented with regards to participation and the answers felt really thought out. It was also nice to hear from some of the other members of the group that haven’t been quite as vocal on the trip thus far.

I think one of the more interesting points that came from the discussion was in terms of cultural marketing. The cultural differences with regards to marketing between the US and Taiwan are evident immediately. Bright colors, bold signs and large character fonts are a staple on billboards and newspapers. By comparison, the trend in US marketing seems geared toward clean, simple, and concise.

We think as we continue our trip, it’ll be even more interesting to compare marketing and advertising in Japan. Since Japan is traditionally known for being a calm and more conservative, we predict it will reflect more of the US style of marketing with more tempered signage and advertisements that are less in your face.

It also stood out to us how willing the group was to try new food. We think over the next few days, it would be good to help encourage people to try new foods and get the most out of their time in Taiwan.

Finally, the group seems to be in agreement that the Lantern Festival is the most-looked forward to event in Taiwan. We’re all very much hoping for no rain and a nice, peaceful evening. This seems to be a once in a lifetime opportunity and will really conclude our time here in Taipei on the high note it deserves.

Group 2

What’s your major? What’s one aspect of the last few days that directly relates to your major?

For accounting majors, visiting KPMG is useful for potential public accountants. KPMG operates in the US so it is nice to not only see a potential employer, but also one that is in another country and how things may differ.

With marketing majors, it is useful to see the different kinds of ads and ways of advertising products and services. The sales people in Taiwan are very friendly and knowledgeable about their product and push their product, unlike the United States where sales people may tend to stay behind the cash register and not converse with their customers. Brands use mascots or catchy logos to present their product and keep that logo to reinforce brand recognition with their customers.

Finance majors haven’t had a real opportunity to associate their majors with experiences on this trip. The stock exchange visit tomorrow will greatly enhance their encounters in Taiwan. Although we did see Asus split their company in two with the downturn in the economy to separate the manufacturing and R&D segments of the business.

Employees in Taiwan are both friendly and efficient when interacting with their customers. From an international business perspective, watching the wait staff in restaurants and other customer service industries, people are very customer-oriented and worried about making the customer happy so they come back in the future. The language barrier is hard, but the people here make it seem like a very small issue. They are able to understand us and get their points across to do business.

What’s the most shocking thing you’ve learned so far?

The minimal amount of health regulations and inspections is shocking in comparison to those in the United States. The culture barrier truly doesn’t affect business in any sort of a negative way. Being such a large city and so heavily populated, it is surprisingly easy to maneuver around the city and things work efficiently. People in customer service truly care about their customers and want to make sure their product lives up to the customers’ expectations.

What are you still looking forward to the most?

The sky lantern experience on Saturday seems to be the most popular with students on the trip. Visiting the Franz pottery is another activity everyone is looking forward too. Finally, meeting the students from the other university.

Group 3

It was pretty unanimous that our entire group has just found the trip so far to be amazing. We could also tell by the one word description of the trip so far that our classmates used that they have found the trip to be amazing as well. Not only does it appear that everyone has been enjoying the cultural aspects of the trip, but the business visits as well. From the different marketing strategies to companies like KPMG making sure they follow accounting laws in different countries, everyone has found something that somehow relates to their own majors. There have also been a few different surprises on the trip as well. Most of the class seemed to find it surprising how easily a lot of the Taiwanese people are able to switch between Mandarin and English. It really shows that, instead of expecting everyone should learn English, just how easy it could be to learn other languages in order to make communication easier with other cultures. Also, just how friendly the culture is and the level of service you receive when going to restaurants and other businesses is not something many of us are used to. There are still many things, like the sky lanterns, that the class wants to experience. However, everything we have experienced so far has been completely mind-blowing and eye-opening for everyone on this trip.

Group 4

For Group 4, we found the trip eye-opening, challenging and had numerous unpredictable memories. Since we are marketing, IB, and accounting students, we found that shotgun marketing appeals to a vast group of audience. There are several variety of items from several different company. Instead of a conglomerate or an MNC owning most companies, we noticed that there must be lower barriers to enter a market. The most shocking thing that we’ve learned so far was that Taiwanese put plants on the wall around the perimeter during constructions to promote green initiative. The next most shocking aspect of Taiwan to us was the weather. We found that it was completely different from MI and that many of us got sick due to the weather. Furthermore, most of us found that the high food standards were culturally surprising. We are all looking forward to the lantern light festival. Also, we can’t wait to have a free day to explore the surroundings on our own!