Improving Sales Via Industry Analysis In China
E-Learning | Certificate Course
In eight weeks, you will learn the skills and insights required to perform an in-depth analysis of an industry of your interest in China and compose a report that can be presented to senior management and serve as the basis for developing strategic planning for the desired Chinese market.
You will develop a better understanding of how to define China’s dynamic industry environment, identify current and expected future industry developments, and master tools, techniques, and best practices to perform industry analysis. You will develop a deeper understanding of the interconnectivity of the competitive forces that influence the industry competitiveness, attractiveness, and business profitability.
To successfully complete this course, you are expected to be “hands-on” and proactively performing industry analysis. At the beginning of the course, you will indicate in which market and industry you have an interest to develop a better understanding. Using a predefined structured template, you will create an overview of the knowledge and understanding related to the respective industry you currently possess. This overview serves the starting point for performing the industry analysis. This document is a “living document” which you will update and substantiate on a weekly basis throughout the course. Upon completion of the course, you have performed comprehensive industry analysis and an assessment of the attractiveness of the industry.
Your new skills and insights can be directly implemented in your professional work environment where you can support the design of future business strategies related to your industry in China.
Target audience
Sales and Business Development Managers, Strategists, Coporate Analysis and Executives from all industries who have an interest in understanding how foreign investment into China is structured.
100% Online delivery
The course is designed to be completed fully online enabling students to continue working during the course.
Literature
The course covers all literature and materials essential to performing in-depth industry analysis in China.
Duration
The standard duration of the course is 8 weeks based on an average time commitment of 8 to 10 hours per week.
Course Objectives
- Learn the skills and insights to perform an in-depth industry analysis.
- Become able to assess the competitive forces that influence the industry environment and determine its attractiveness.
- Obtain access to major information platforms and sources providing information on China’s market and industry environments.
- New gained knowledge and insights are directly applicable in your professional environment.
- Learn to navigate information from sources including but not limited to International Organizations, PRC Organizations, Sino-Foreign Business Advocacy Organizations, Industry Associations, Research Institutes, Business Schools and Management Consultants.
Unit 1: Introduction
The first unit provides an orientation to the course and the online learning environment. The unit does not carry credits. You are encouraged to go through the materials at their own pace to get accustomed to the online medium.
Unit 2: Essential skills to perform industry research
Industry research can be performed in multiple ways which include but are not limited to desk research utilizing academic, quasi-academic and business literature, conducting surveys, expert interviews, and others. These means of research require a varied skillset. This course focuses on performing in-depth and extensive desk research.
In this unit focus goes out to the Competitive Forces model that will be used to structure the market research, in combination with the determination whether the factor can be considered a short-, medium- or long-term opportunity, threat or at the time of research cannot yet be decided.
Unit 3: International organizations
In this unit you will explore the analysis, views and recommendations made by globally leading international organizations on China’s economic development and underlying markets.
You will collect, structure, assess the publications by international organizations for relevancy, and analyze the found information to create a broad understanding of the respective market of your interest.
Unit 4: Sino-foreign business advocacy organizations
Chamber of Commerce are organizations established with the purpose to support the promotion and protection of the interests of its members. In mainland China multiple international Chambers of Commerce have been established supporting the foreign business community. In this unit the background of International Chambers of Commerce operating in mainland China is discussed, the business communities it aims to support, international recognition as well as the support activities provided.
In this unit you will explore the held views on China’s economic development and recommendations made by International Chambers of Commerce operating in mainland China. You will collect, structure, assess for relevancy and analyze the found information to create a broad understanding of the respective market of your interest.
Unit 5: PRC organizations
In order to support better informed decisions, in-depth insights into the development of China’s national and regional markets and industries are a prerequisite. A valuable source of information are China’s government websites as these provide information on the current situation, as well as the planned future development of China’s national, regional, and local markets and industries within these markets. In this unit the structure of China’s administrative division is discussed, followed by an exploration of the information made publicly available.
Unit 6: Think tanks
Think tanks are institutes, corporations, or groups organized for interdisciplinary research with the objective of providing advice on a diverse range of policy issues and products through the use of specialized knowledge and the activation of networks. Think tanks are distinct from government, and many are nonprofit organizations, but their work may be conducted for governmental as well as commercial clients. Projects for government clients often involve planning social policy and national defense. Commercial projects include developing and testing new technologies and new products.
In this unit you will explore the publications made by Chinese and foreign Think Tanks to support your market research. You will collect, structure, assess for relevancy and analyze the found information to create a broad understanding of the respective market of your interest.
Unit 7: Miscellaneous data sources
In the past weeks you have explored publications from major information sources International Organizations, Sino-Foreign Business Advocacy Organizations, PRC Organizations and Think Tanks to support your market analysis.
This unit is the last unit which primarily focuses on data collection and information gathering. In this unit you will explore further sources of information which include but are not limited to leading management consultancy firms, management journals, business school journals, open access journal databases and the Digital Commons Network.
Unit 8: First indication of attractiveness
In the past weeks you have been collecting information on the past, current, and expected future developments from publications by International Organizations, PRC Organizations, Sino-foreign Business Advocacy Organizations, Think Tanks, Management Consultancy Firms and other sources regarding the Chinese industry of your interest.
When assessing substantial amounts of information, patterns will emerge. Contrary to common believe, due to its immense size and diversity, there is not a single “China market”. As you have experienced when researching the literature and reading materials material produced by the various sources, China has been structured in regions. Each of these regions (and at a hierarchical lower level the major municipalities located in these regions) each have their own specific economic focus and are often developing multiple pillar industries, hereby shaping their market environments.
As you have identified relevant trends and developments related to your industry of interest, in this lesson you will readdress the materials to determine which locations are interesting or promising for your business.
Unit 9: Capstone assignment
The Capstone assignment of this course includes the composition of an Industry Analysis report that can be presented to the senior management of your company. The Industry Analysis report should be written at such a quality level that your company can develop strategic planning for developing the desired Chinese market.
Admission
No specific prior education or knowledge about industry analysis related to China is required to be admitted to this course.
Assessment
Assessment is carried out through a series of written assignments to be completed at the end of each unit.
Certificate of Completion
A course certificate is issued upon the successful completion of the course.
Tuition fee
Tuition fee for the entire course is EUR 899 to be paid in advance.
The tuition fee includes all necessary literature and study materials, guidance and support during your studies, free extension of the study duration (if required), and 1:1 contact with your course professor.
Start date
Open enrollment applies to this course. You can start this course at any time of your convenience.
How we deliver value
Program Completion Benefits
Certificate
Upon successful completion of the course, you will earn a digital certificate of completion from the Institute of China Studies.
Note: After successful completion of the online program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Institute of China Studies.
Contact us
Would you like more information about the course and the admission requirements? Then request a free study consultation. Of course, free of charge and without obligation. This way you will learn more about the content of the course, the teaching materials, and the online learning environment.
Enroll today
Enroll today and develop essential skills and insights for improving sales result in China via industry analysis, which can be directly applied in your professional work environment.