In September, students in the work-integrated Master of Science in Management program took part in a field trip to Tokyo. In addition to meetings with the German Embassy, the Chamber of Commerce, and the ARD correspondent for East Asia, the focus was on company visits. The students engaged in in-depth discussions with the CEOs of the Japanese subsidiaries of BASF, Bosch, and Zeiss, with a focus on transformation strategies and cross-cultural management topics.
Insights into Japanese Corporate Culture
Particular highlights included a visit to Nishikawa, a medium-sized company over 450 years old that holds a leading position in the bedding sector, and to SMC Corporation, a global player in pneumatics, control and automation technology with annual revenue of nearly 6 billion euros and 23,000 employees. During the discussions, participants not only learned more about the perspective on the German market but also gained valuable insights into the work culture in Japanese companies.
Cultural Discoveries
Of course, the week also offered a variety of cultural highlights. The week concluded on Friday afternoon with a visit to the Suntory Group’s brewery and a film premiere party on a rooftop terrace in Tokyo featuring Japanese J-Pop.
A fascinating week in a cultural and economic region that is quite different from Europe.
