My Turn

Molson Case 4

2012-01-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

Molson case 4 was a "live" or real-life business case presented by executives of a Canadian IT firm, CGI, to the 36 competitor teams simultaneously.

CGI provides a wide range of IT out-sourcing services to customers in various of industries. The company asked the teams for their ideas and recommendations on how CGI could continue to grow its global business.

TeamMaine developed and presented an aggressive growth strategy focused on the U.S. market, specifically the government and health care sectors. In a close contest, TeamMaine won the case against the Aalto University School of Economics (Finland).

In an interesting twist of fate, Aalto last year denied Maine a slot in the semi-finals by winning a face-to-face contest by one point. Today, TeamMaine appears to have turned the tables on Aalto!

While the competition draws many students and businesspeople from Montreal as observers, TeamMaine performed today in front of Maine Business School Dean Dr. Ivan Manev and MBA student Joseph Kellner, a member of the 2011 UMaine Molson team. Thanks to both of driving here to support the team.

Molson Cases 2 & 3

2012-01-06T07:50:00.001-08:00

Thursday was a long and exhausting day for Modson competitors with two complex cases to consider. TeamMaine ended the day with two close decisions in favor of competitors St. Mary's University and the University of Pittsburgh.

The second case was "Technology Plus: Moving Forward" focused on finance. The firm, Technology Plus, had experienced great growth through strategic acquisitions and the teams were asked to make a recommendation as to how far and how fast Technology Plus should expand, and where to obtain the necessary financing to ensure success. The fact that the three owner-executives of the firm did not get along well together added much to the complexity of the case.

Case 3 was "ABC Bank". Known in the competition as the "short" case, these cases are traditionally either crisis and/or "think-on-your-feet" in nature. The case this year concerned the structure and donation policy of a U.S. bank in the aftermath of the recent financial crisis. With only 1 hour and 45 minutes to prepare, participants were asked to present a comprehensive philanthropy plan to the ABC Bank's board.

Molson 2012 - Case 1

2012-01-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

Team Maine had a disappointing start in the first case against the team from the Asper School of Business (Manitoba). Asper was awarded a 8-3 win. Those familiar with the competition will recognize that the judging score is not the best way to evaluate either the value of the experience or the level of presentation performance.

The first case, "Sell or Stay", presented the situation of a 23 year old recent MBA graduate and son of a 50% owner of a private eastern European firm dealing with the unfortunate death of the father. The questions of business strategy and personal decision were the focus of the case.

Teams have three hours to analysis the case and prepare their presentation, 25 minutes to present, and 15 minutes of a Q&A session with either a 5 or 3 panel of judges comprised of Montreal businesspeople.

At 7:30AM this morning, after spending last night at a Montreal Canadians hockey game, Team Maine gathered for another three hour preparation session on Case 2, "Technology Plus, Inc.: Moving Onward".

Jason and I were pleased with the team's 11:00AM Case 2 presentation and Q&A performance. More later on the judge's opinion and the Case 3 experience scheduled for this afternoon.

Let the Competition Begin

2012-01-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

The Maine Business School (MBS) team arrived safely in a very cold Montreal on Monday, January 2 and is preparing for the Molson International MBA Case Competition to begin this afternoon.

Yesterday was spent getting acclimated to the environment, a detailed case study practice session and the opening ceremonies with the team division "draw". The UMaine team is in a division with Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary); the Katz Graduate School of Business - University of Pittsburgh (USA); the Aalto University School of Economics (Finland); the Asper School of Business - University of Manitoba (Canada); and the Sobey School of Business - Saint Mary's University (Nova Scotia, Canada).

Members of the UMaine MBS 2012 Molson team are Ian Burns, Caitlin Clark, Richmond Dickey and Frederick Kaiser. Timothy Stormann is the team alternate. The team is co-coached by myself and Jason Harkins.

Tim will however be competing as a member of "Team Global", a special team organized by the Molson event to take the place of a team from Nigeria that could not participate due to visa issues. If an illness or other unforeseen event creates a problem for Team Maine, Tim would be allowed to rejoin his colleagues. His service also does not impact his expected participation at the 2013 event.

I hope you will follow the team's performance through this blog. Your support is greatly appreciated by the team. Go Black Bears!

Home Again

2011-06-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

Keiko and I arrived back in Orono Maine yesterday at 7:35PM ...... 24 hours after we departed Osaka Japan. Taro jumped into our arms when we arrived at the apartment. Such unconditional love and loyalty explains why we missed him on the trip.

We needed a quick trip to Woodman's for a beer, wings and a meal to feel right at home. Colleagues Nicole Gogan and Jason Harkins where kind to join us.

A welcomed night's sleep and I feel refreshed and ready for the day. After years of long distance travel my body still appears to adapt quite well to distance and time changes.

Heading Home

2011-06-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

Keiko and I are staying at an airport hotel in Osaka and in 12 hours time will begin our journey back to Orono Maine, arriving about 7:30PM on Saturday June 4. 24 hours of travel time.

My thanks to those who have followed our trip. Look for some reflection posts over the coming days.

Final Tokyo Meals

2011-06-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

As regular followers of this blog know, when we travel to Japan Keiko plans many of our activities around what we will eat! Today was no exception.

Lunch was a welcome interlude from our final shopping tasks. We found a small and inexpensive udon noodle shop that was a real treat. It proves again that while Tokyo is one of the most expensive places in the world to live or visit, you can eat quite modestly and enjoy a very wide diversity of foods.

Dinner was another family affair and the event was held at a Chinese restaurant of some renown. The chief has a Japan TV show. The meal was authentic Chinese (compared to the "Chinese" fare we get in the US) that prompted culinary memories of my days in China. Quite a treat and great way to end the day.

Tomorrow we pack and head off on another bullet train ride. Due to the nature and type of tickets we purchased for the MBA trip (and a cancelled CED trip that was to follow) we are flying to Bangor from Osaka (via Tokyo's Narita and Detroit). Paying $700.00 in change fees seemed excessive so we will see Osaka (Japan's second largest city) and prepare for the journey home from there. Spending the 5 hour layover at Tokyo's Narita Airport will be made comfortable through access to the All Nippon Airline lounge –– another example of Japanese quality in product and service.

Customer Service Experience

2011-06-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

Japan's "rainy season" doesn't disappoint. A constant drizzle characterized our last day of outings over the Tokyo landscape.

Much of the morning was spent at the Ginza Apple store where we had a memorable customer service experience. As those who know me well will attest, I am an Apple fan. Japan also defines customer service at a level not generally experienced elsewhere in the world. So I approached our coming encounter at the Apple store with high expectations. But even I was taken aback by the extraordinary positive experience.

First, I did make a purchase .... but not for me ;-(.

Keiko and I purchased an iPad2 for her parents to thank them for the generous hospitality and care we have received on our many visits to Japan. Without question, her mother will almost exclusively use the device. We made the decision after seeing how mush she enjoyed using my iPad during the visit. Clearly, older Japanese (as American) consumers are a primary target for the device. (As I write this, Keiko and her Mom are taking the iPad on a test drive and using Skype for face-to-face conversations. I suspect it will bring great joy to them both when we return home.)

Now back to customer service point. Since Keiko would need to explain everything to her Mom in Japanese and she does not have an iPad of her own, we asked if someone could give her some assistance. We were escorted upstairs and over two hours later she had been helped in getting the device activated and set up, learned how to use every standard application and feature (and a few from the App Store) as well as a host of useful techniques. In observing the other Apple reps and customers in the room, I realized we were not getting "special" treatment. Whatever the product, each customer was offered an unbelievable amount of time and assistance.

I often tell my marketing and international business students about customer service in Japan. The customer is not the "king", they are a "god". The Apple encounter, while extraordinary in some respects, is replicated, with very rare exception, in almost every consumer experience.

A powerful marketing story.

The rest of the story? I am planning to get Keiko an iPad2 for her coming birthday!

Tokyo Update (5/31-6/1)

2011-06-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

Relaxing in Tokyo can be tiring. We have walked countless miles as we connect with many old and new friends, trek to a favorite eating spot, hunt for gifts and pickup personal items we cherish from Japan.

Yesterday we visited with someone I had not seen in 8 years ..... and it seemed like only yesterday. Mark Uno had served as President of Avaya-Japan when I secured the company's FIFA World Cup sponsorship for Japan-Korea in 2002. We developed a strong professional and personal relationship. It was good to see him after so many years.

Next year marks the 10 year anniversary of that landmark event and I am hoping we can arrange a Tokyo reunion gathering. I'd really be excited to see that team together again.

Another great dining experience as well. Keiko found a small "yakitori" bar where we met with Sachiko to thank her for her help on the MBA trip. The selection of grilled meats and veggies plus a bottle of wine was fabulous (the pork, brussel sprouts and white asparagus were my favorites). BTW, Groupon in Tokyo works great.

Today we toured Tokyo and then visited with friends at Itochu. The photo with this post is the future leadership of this powerful Japanese trading company. The young professionals pictured here represent the firm's global business in electronics, food (fish and meats) and chemicals as well as the corporate finance and IT functions.

We ended our day at a family-style sushi restaurant with Keiko's parents.

Japan Loves Dogs

2011-06-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

The other day I mentioned that the Lake Town mall was a very pet-friendly environment. The Japanese love their dogs.

Keiko and returned to Lake Town to purchase a suit case (did I mention we were shopping?) and took some photos of the pet spa and dog run. The sunglasses .... for your dog, of course!

We miss our Taro.

Lazy Day in Tokyo

2011-05-30T03:42:00.000-07:00

Keiko and I decided that today would be a day of rest and no touring activity. We awoke late and spent time doing a budget and expense reconciliation of the MBA Japan trip, answering e-mails and catching up on reading.

I ventured out on a Japanese grocery shopping trip selecting items for a romantic Japanese steak dinner :-). Keiko was proud that I didn't get lost. Her parents are working late today and we plan on preparing a meal for them on their return later this evening.

Tomorrow we are off to Tokyo to see some more old friends and have a thank you dinner with Sachiko. Drinks in the afternoon with Mark Uno, the former President of Avaya-Japan will be a special date. We have not seen each other in many years and I appreciate that our good friend Junko is bringing us together again.

Shopping and the Spa

2011-05-29T03:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday we witnessed the first signs of the potential typhoon

heading our way; a rainy and windy day. Perfect for the planned day of shopping and the spa.

After a very un-Japanese breakfast (bagels, smoked salmon, etc), we visited both a discount outlet mall and then the largest indoor mall in Japan., AEON Lake Town Center.

Aeon is billed as Japan’s biggest “eco shopping center.” At 220,000 square meters (and with five times the number of shops as the Tokyo Dome) it is certainly is large, but attempting to minimize its footprint through a concept labeled "Hito to Shizen ni Kokochi Ii", a term that roughly translates as “people and nature feeling good together”.

The Center features landscaped lawns and numerous planters, but also uses solar panels and a hybrid gas eco system (the first of its kind in Japan). The combined efforts of these various eco-friendly systems results in an estimated 20% reduction in carbon emissions.

Two points of interest I have not seen or heard of at US malls:

Lake Town also features Japan’s first consumer-ready charging station for electric vehicles. 30 minutes charging (presumably while they’re shopping) is good for 120 kilometers (75 miles) on an 80% charge.
A very pet-friendly environment complete with an elaborate dog spa and a dog run for visiting customers.

I also returned to a large Uniqlo store to complete my personal clothes shopping, selecting a number of brightly colored items for the summer and fall season. Cannot help being a bit of a fashionista' in Japan!

You need to be a fan of Bill Murray and "Lost in Translation" to understand my spa experience later in the day. While I am most familiar with the cultural customs and traditions associated with the bathing experience, I never fail to be amused by my "illusion of similarity" and produce a smile from my companions.

Today I feel asleep while laying outdoors on a slap of granite, slightly titled and flowing with hot spring water (create an image in your mind!) in the rain. When the rain turned from drizzle to downpour, a stranger woke and rescued me.

A refreshing experience and then it was "Suntory Time".

A Family Day with COSTCO and Tempura!

2011-05-28T04:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday was another relaxing day, beginning with a trip to Uniqlo to take advantage of a hugh sale. Needless to say, Keiko and I are doing our best to help the Japanese economy.

The Japan rainy season (generally June) has started earlier than usual and the day featured a light, steady drizzle. Speaking of the weather, a typhoon may be heading our way on the 31st. It is expected to clear on Saturday, June 4, as we are scheduled to depart for the USA.

The ultimate consumers, we journeyed to COSTCO with Keiko's parents for an awesome experience. I could not believe the many hundreds of Japanese people in the store buying a wide array of products from around the world.

Lunch? .... a 200Yen foot long all-pork hotdog with all the trimmings (soda included) for all along with an unbelievable number of other Japanese with the same idea!

A Fujikawa family gathering and early dinner at a great tempura restaurant was the final feature of the day. Keiko and I enjoyed being with the family, particularly our 2 nieces (Mai and Hana) and nephew (Yudai).

Tomorrow we take on a discount outlet mall and a hot springs spa in the countryside.

Tokyo R&R

2011-05-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

Arriving back in Tokyo Thursday evening, we were greeted by family members and two 4.1 earthquakes.

On Friday, our first day back in Tokyo, Keiko and I slept late and relaxed at her parent's home. We then headed off for a day of shopping in Akihabara–I in the search of a hobby shop to feed my remote control model habit. Found both the shop and the model, an F1 Ferarri! Now, will Keiko buy me an early Christmas gift??

We had fun looking at all the latest various home and personal electric and digital gadgets in the largest store in the district.

We then went to Akasaka for a dinner with old friends from Avaya and our FIFA World Cup team. It was a wonderful time and I am humbled by their friendship and kindness.

We had quite a conversation on the future of Japan and I was impressed with the views and opinions of these capable young professionals. Interestingly, three are now working for different technology companies including one at CISCO and another who is CEO of a start-up enterprise. All great contacts for a future MBA visit.

On the way home, I stopped, on the recommendation of colleague Jason Harkins, to have my ears cleaned and "picked"–a most interesting process. The de-waxing was??––the massage of the ears, nose, eyes and face was quite refreshing.

Brief Japan MBA Reflection

2011-05-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

Our students departed for Bangor on Thursday, May 26. Keiko and I are back in Tokyo and looking forward to some days of R&R.

The trip was great from our perspective but demanding in terms of time and energy. Perhaps for myself, getting old makes keeping up with a group of twenty-somethings both a challenge and opportunity! It was a great trip.

If you have had the time to follow some of the student's blogs, you will know that they were deeply engaged in the trip. They were well received in Japan on a professional and personal level. Keiko and I were quite proud to be with them.

Keiko and I will remain in Japan through June 4 visiting with family and friends and making some business appointments. My business appointments relate to helping some of the Maine companies I work with to potentially seek opportunities in the Japan market.

Paul's Bar & Grill

2011-05-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

Wherever I travel I seem to find a bar, grill or other eating or refreshment establishment using my "brand".

Here is a photo of a very fine restaurant in Kyoto's famed Gion district. Unfortunately the prices were so high, we could not sample the fare!

Perhaps I am in the wrong line of work?

Japan Photos II

2011-05-26T19:37:00.001-07:00

Japan Photos I

2011-05-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

While my photography suffers in comparison to the fabulous images created by Tony, I offer a few photos that will be part of my personal memories of the trip.

I expect that Tony and others will be making a selection of photographs available on their return to Orono. Enjoy.

Japan Birthday Celebration

2011-05-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Two other points worth noting.

While in Kyoto, the faculty surprised Russ with two glorious birthday cakes on his 27th birthday. Thank you Keiko for finding such a great bakery! Japanese pastry and whip cream with fruits are a very special treat. It added to the exciting and memorable "food" experience for all the students. "Coolish"!

And, Keiko visited her aunt Akemi in Kyoto and returned with baskets of fresh Japanese pastries and snacks. They were Akemi's gifts offered as a sign of appreciation for the student's visit to Japan. This was a near universal comment made by most Japanese we encountered during the visit.

The impact of the March 11 events and aftermath have hit tourism, a major economic factor, quite hard. Some hotels and inns have a cancelation rate of 98%, greatly impacting many people and businesses. Beyond the economic aspect, however, was a deep sense of appreciation for the support and comfort provided by being present among the people.

Kyoto Experience II

2011-05-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Our final days in Kyoto were filled with cultural experiences made more enjoyable by being together with such a wonderful group of people. From my personal perspective, this was a most rewarding and exciting trip. I regret that circumstances prevented many others who wanted to visit Japan could not be with us.

I have posted a few photos of events on the final two days in Kyoto. They include a trip to the sake brewery, a few photos of our final 9 course group dinner (including a taste of the famous Japanese blowfish) and our departure from Three Sisters Inn.

Kay Yamada and her staff at the Inn provided a fantastic level of service most appreciated by the students and faculty. The parting gift provided to each guest was a special recognition and thank you for visiting Japan after the March 11 events.

The students boarded a van for the Osaka airport and our nearing a return to Bangor as I write this post. Keiko and I returned to Tokyo by Shinkansan. We will remain in Japan until June 4, visiting with family and friends as well as attending to some professional business appointments.

I hope you have enjoyed these brief reports of our MBA 2011 Japan trip experience. Please check out our student blogs and photographs.

I will continue to make posts of our remaining time in Japan. For now, a day of much needed rest.

Kyoto Experience

2011-05-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

The Kyoto portion of the trip has been devoted exclusively to gaining an understanding and appreciation of Japanese history, traditions and culture. Two highlights of the visit were a traditional tea ceremony where participants learned the art of making and drinking green tea, and a visit to a sake brewery.

Students have been very engaged in all activities and took the initiative to develop their personalized touring experiences. Staying at the Three Sisters Inn Annex, a typical Japanese inn or Ryokan, has been a special element of the Kyoto experience.

While I have posted a few photos relative to the Kyoto visit, I encourage you to visit Tony's blog. His creative photographic evidence of the beauty of Kyoto is spectacular.

The Shinkansan "Bullet" Train

2011-05-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a rocket fast train ride to start off the second week in Japan. All boarded the Nazomi 700 Shinkansan (fastest in the Japan Railway fleet) for the 2.5 hour trip to Kyoto.

Time Out!

2011-05-22T23:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a day for complete rest and relaxation. The cool and rainy day was a perfect counterpoint to the earlier heat and fast pace of the prior days.

The students purchased tickets for a Tokyo Giants baseball game played in the indoor Tokyo dome.

Keiko, Jason and I got a late start to the day and spent our time shopping. Keiko led us to her favorite Tokyo discount shopping places well off the tourist path.

Sing, Sing, Sing …..

2011-05-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

Upon our return to Tokyo, it was time for another favorite Japanese evening entertainment experience –– Karaoke.

Through the generosity of the Fujikawa family, a VIP karaoke room was secured and dinner provided. Everyone participated and demonstrated their musical talent. We all enjoyed in the fun.

Hit of the evening was my 6-year-old niece Mai who has a wonderful voice and sparkling personality. She has already announced that she would like to attend the University of Maine!

Kakegawa Castle

2011-05-22T23:00:00.001-07:00

Tea Farm Experience

2011-05-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Departing Mt. Fuji we headed to the Shizoka prefecture, heart of the Japan green tea growing and processing industry. While most attention is focused on Japan's automotive and electronic industries, the production of tea is a major component of its agricultural sector.

Courtesy of Sachiko Narasawa, we toured her family's tea farm accompanied by Takayuki Suzuki, owner of the farm, and Uemura Satoshi, manager of the processing facility. It was a facsenating learning experience, ending with a visit to a tea room at the Kakegawa Castle.

Fuji-san

2011-05-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

Our final weekend in Tokyo began with a trip to the picturesque Mt. Fuji. The bus trip allowed for a welcome rest from the miles of subway and walking we did during a very busy week of appointments and activities.

Members of the Fujikawa family (Keiko's mom and dad, her sister, husband and daughter, and a brother) joined the students for the experience.

"Old" and "New" Tokyo

2011-05-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

Friday afternoon and evening offered free time for touring and visiting various Tokyo "must see" sites.

The itinerary included a visit to the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the Aksaksua district (a view of "old" Tokyo) and a trip to the Odaiba district for a glimpse of the "new" Tokyo. The photo view of the Tokyo tower and the "Statue of Liberty" are from Odaiba.

American Express

2011-05-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

After a return to the hotel for a welcome rest, the final Friday Tokyo business visit was a late morning appointment with executives of American Express.

Arranged through the professional assistance of Ayako Ikehara, we were treated to an executive level presentation of the AMEX business strategy in the Japan market by Gregory Stoops, Marketing Manager for International Consumer and Small Business Services. Greg was supported by a team of three colleagues from his marketing team.

Greg offered a detailed and insightful review of the Japanese consumer and specifically focused on the attitude and behavior relative to the credit card and financial services industry, presenting significant data and studies to support the marketing approaches American Express has deployed to be successful in a very competitive market. Of particular interest were the number of adaptations required to address the needs, wants and demands of the Japanese market. His comments also highlighted the generational issues, challenges and opportunities with Japan's aging population and changing behaviors.

As a marketing professor, I was thrilled with the depth and scope of the presentations and the student's questions and response. Wow!

A special feature of the presentation was a view of the future that tied together with yesterday's DoCoMo visit. The marketing future is the mobile experience! In fact, Greg indicated that they take their visiting New York headquarters executives on the very same tour our students experienced.

Tsukiji Fish Market

2011-05-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Day 4 began at 4:30AM with a visit to Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market, the largest such operation in the world.

Generally a major tourist attraction, the famed tuna auction has been cancelled and access to the market area restricted due to the March 11 events. Fully aware of the possible limited ability to experience the facility, everyone was up and ready for the visit.

The highlight of the morning was a sushi breakfast at local shop right in the market. Except for Keiko and myself, no one had ever experienced the wide array of freshly caught fish and other seafood in the preparation of sushi ... and in one case, a student had sushi for the very first time.

Personally, a featured offering of oysters was a very special treat.

The experience is worth getting up at 4:30AM!

The Shibuya Experience

2011-05-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

After another busy day of business appointments, we visited the Shibuya district known as one of the fashion centers of Japan and a heralded nightlife area, particularly for young people. It is one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations and gives the general appearance of New York City's Times Square on New Year's Eve ..... but on a daily basis!

Once orienting the students to the Shibuya area, Keiko, Jason and I went off to tour the area and have a "quiet" meal.

I will let the student's blogs and photography provide interested followers with a description of the "Shibuya experience."

Sogo Shosha

2011-05-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

Our final business visit of the day was to Itochu, a Japanese general trading concern and Fortune 500 company. It ranks as one of the largest sogo shosha, or Japanese general trading concerns. Itochu gradually evolved from a pure buying and selling firm to a diverse global manufacturing, supplying, exporting, and investment organization. It is now among the world's largest companies with more than 700 subsidiaries.

The UMaine students were briefed by two Itochu representatives: Mamie Ogawa of the electronics device department and Shinya Nishimaki of the fresh food business division. Both Mamie and Shinya recently spent a semester at the University of Southern Maine. Itochu regularly sends new employees (called "freshmen" in their 5th year of employment) to USM to study english and conduct research. Mamie, for example, studied the Maine lobster industry.

Mamie and Shinya provided both a business and personal perspective of life in Japan as a new entrant in a very traditional Japanese company, ranging from their hours of work, office conditions and management styles. They were 2 of just 135 people selected by Itochu from a pool of over 35,000 applicants for the positions available.

Entrepreneurship in Japan

2011-05-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

Our next visit focused on entrepreneurship in Japan as presented by Mike Alfant, Chairman/CEO of Fusion Systems who also serves a President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ).

Mike, a 20+ year resident of Japan, has successfully founded and operated a number of high-tech businesses in Japan and led a 2 1/2 hour diverse discussion of issues posed by student questions and his reflections and a wide array of points on Japanese culture, the entrepreneurial environment and business climate, the post-March 11 recovery, and future policy choices and debates.

Mike also offered students his personal perception of what it takes for a non-Japanese to successfully live and work in the country.

Tokyo Day 3 - Return to the Classroom

2011-05-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

Day 3 began with a visit to Tokyo's Chuo University and a 2 hour lecture seminar with Dr. Kazunori (Icko) Suzuki, Professor of Finance. Dr. Suzuki offered a stimulating talk and discussion of the "Economic Environment and Post-Tsunami Recovery Issues of Japan."

The session provided the students with a overview of the Japanese economy and a penetrating analysis of the post-Tsunami issues. Dr. Suzuki's candid assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the Japanese economy, and the policy challenges confronting the citizens, businesses and government prompted a lively and enlightening discussion.

UMaine readers may remember the 2010 visit by Dr. Suzuki to the Orono campus at the invitation of Dr. Richard Borgman. Keiko and I had the pleasure to get to know Icko on a personal level and are deeply appreciative of his friendship. His lecture was one of the highlights of the current MBA trip.

"Electric Town"

2011-05-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

No trip to Tokyo is complete without a visit to the fabled "Electric Town", Akihabara, a major shopping area for electronic, computer, cameras, radio controlled models, games and arcades of all types, personal robots and robotics, and a wide collection of anime. The internet cafes and maids are sprinkled throughout the area.

For the technical-minded, a myriad of computer and electrical parts for building any imaginable device can be found in the dedicated stalls in the back streets of the district.

Back At Last

2011-05-21T16:42:00.001-07:00

For those following my blog, my apologies for the posting delay. We have just completed our first week in Tokyo and, frankly, I was so tired at the end of the day I simply fell asleep on our return to the hotel!

I hope you will enjoy reading the following brief accounts of our journey and trust you have found the blog posts of the students who have far more energy than myself.

By all accounts, the trip has been a rewarding adventure.

DoCoMo

2011-05-18T15:21:00.000-07:00

The final business visit for day 2 was to the Customer Service and Solution Center for DoCoMo, the leading provider of mobile telephone service in Japan. Students were provided with a presentations and demonstrations of both the current advanced services available in Japan and an insight into DoCoMo's vision of the futur

A hands-on experience of potential 3D image-based services expected to be delivered over a next generation mobile data network added to the experience.

In addition to the followup discussion of the technology and business models the visit generated, the conversation also included a discussion of the impressive architectural character of the DoCoMo headquarters building.

Avaya

2011-05-18T15:05:00.000-07:00

The next visit was to Avaya-Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of the US-based multinational provider of voice and data business communication hardware and software. (Disclosure: I served as Chief Marketing Officer and senior management executive for the firm from 1999-2002.) The students were briefed by Takeshi Kase, Director of Marketing for Japan and Korea, and Gary Garner, the regional sales leader for Multinational Account Sales. In addition to his regional managerial responsibilities, Gary handles the Asian accounts for GE, Citibank, Wal-Mart and Volkswagen.

Kase and Gary focused their presentation on the critical meaning of "quality" and "customer service" in the demanding and highly competitive Japanese communications market. Students gained valuable insights into the significant differences encountered in Japan relative to other markets and how companies deal with the challenges and opportunities of the marketplace.

Intralink

2011-05-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

Our second day in Tokyo began with a visit with Jeremy Shaw, President of Intralink-Japan, a market access and business development firm focused on assisting small and medium size high-tech firms enter the Japanese market. Students and faculty engaged in a stimulating discussion. In particular, gaining a perspective that differed from the government views expressed the first morning by JETRO executives was most interesting. The conversation helped set the tone for the followup discussions that are part of the seminar approach being used for the trip. It also provided a framework for understanding the subsequent business visits later in the trip.

Additional Japan Blogs

2011-05-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

Two additional student blogs are being posted. Find Jeremy Curran at http://jeremyjapanjourney.blogspot.com/ and Ian Burns at Http://japanmba.blogspot.com/

Dinner with Japanese Guests

2011-05-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

The final activity of the group's first full day in Japan was dinner joined by friends of Keiko and myself, including UMaine alumnus Sacihko Narnasaw.

Students learned the finer

points of Japanese dinning and conversation.

A good time was had by all!

Imperial Palace Visit

2011-05-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

After JETRO and a quick lunch, we toured the impressive Imperial Palace grounds, home of the Emperor of Japan since 1868.

Following the tour, we walked through Hibiya Park, the landmark Imperial Hotel (headquarters of General MacArthur after WW II) and then onto the famous Ginza district.

JETRO Visit

2011-05-17T13:01:00.000-07:00

Our first business visit was with JETRO – the Japan External Trade Organization – a governmental agency charged with expanding Japan's efforts to boost trade, investment and global economic cooperation. We were greeted and briefed by Mikihiko Shimizu, Director of the Invest Japan promotion division, and his associate Takeshi Watanabe.

The focus of the briefing was on JETRO's efforts to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) in Japan, seen as a critical element of the government's efforts to revitalize the county's economy. In addition to the attractiveness of the Japanese market, JETRO positions Japan as a vital gateway to emerging Asian markets, including China and South Korea, specifically in high value-added industries involving the environment and high-tech sectors. Two key points were (1) that while many global companies manufacture in China to take advantage of low costs, significant and innovative components are researched and developed in Japan, and (2) the sophisticated character of Japanese consumers with purchasing power and discerning tastes enables companies to successfully take ideas from Japan and apply them to other markets.

Additional attention by the presenter's and student questions was placed on the key requirements and barriers related to a foreign company entering the Japanese market. JETRO provides consulting services in marketing, legal and regulatory issues, taxation and accounting questions, employment and labor issues and incorporation procedures. Currently some 1,000 companies, large and small, are taking advantage of these services, including the provision of free temporary office space in Tokyo.

As a professor teaching international business, I was impressed with the depth and candor of the JETRO presentation and response to excellent student questions. In particular, the response to the last question of the session hit on a fundamental global business principle. When asked what was the most important thing a foreign company must do to be successful in Japan, the response noted that an "understanding and adaptation" to the Japanese consumer was critical.

Harkins Japan Blog

2011-05-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Jason has also created a blog for the Japan trip. Join him at jasonaharkins@blogspot.com.

First Japan Meal

2011-05-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

Members of Keiko's family greeted us after our arrival at the hotel and we walked to the nearby restaurant district. Jane (a vegetarian) joined the Fujikawa family at a soba noodle/tempura place while Jason, Tony, Joe, Russ, Jeremy, and Ian joined me at a favorite ramen noodle shop.

Arrival in Tokyo, Japan

2011-05-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

Crossing the International Dateline puts our arrival at Narita Airport in Japan at 4:30 PM on Monday, May 16. As the photo of the group suggests, everyone is tired, but energized by the experience of finally being back to earth in the Land of the Rising Sun. Clearing Customs has taken some time (Delta neglected to put Keiko's suitcase on the plane!) but our chartered van was ready to transport the crew to our downtown Tokyo hotel. The weather is overcast with a temperature of 70F so the 1 hour ride offered everyone an opportunity to see the transition of the diverse Japanese landscape changing from lush country-side views to the vibrant urban environment of Tokyo, home to 13+ million people, the most populated city in the world.

Keiko has selected a business budget apartment hotel called the Weekly Mansion for our 7 day stay in Tokyo. Located in the busy central Akasaka district of the city, (http://www.wmt.co.jp/en/location/akasaka/index.html). The hotel has all the comforts and amenities of a furnished apartment, but most importantly, the hotel is in the heart of it all. It is ideally located in a vibrant area of the city with many diverse eating and refreshment options and easy access to a train station. Our UMaine students will enjoy here the traditional culture of Japan and rub shoulders with the people.

After checking in, faculty and students briefly toured the surrounding area, selected a nearby restaurant for their first Japanese meal, and sat in a relaxing environment to reflect on the travel adventure, share expectations about the coming days, discuss tomorrow’s first business appointment and cultural events–––and prepare for a well deserved experience of laying down and sleeping on a comfortable, albeit smaller than American standard, bed!

The Longest Day … Travel to the Land of the Rising Sun

2011-05-16T10:29:00.000-07:00

The 23 hour journey to Tokyo Japan from Maine began with a 5:00AM pre-flight check-in at Bangor International Airport for the first leg of thre trip, a one hour flight to New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Despite some rain and heavy clouds the Delta flight was quick and uneventful. A short 15 minute charter van ride to John F. Kennedy International Airport and checking into Delta’s non-stop New York-Tokyo flight #173. Being 5 hours early on a quiet Sunday morning meant no stress or long delayed ticketing and security screening at one of the world’s busiest airport.

The UMaine crew was in high spirits and used the waiting hours to eat, relax and become better acquainted with one another. The time went by much faster than anyone imagined. At 1:30PM we joined the 500 hundred other passengers boarding a stretch Boeing 747 jet aircraft bound for Tokyo Japan with continuing service to Manila.

What to do as you fly the famed Artic Circle route expected to take a mere 12-13 hours from take-off to touch down is quite a challenge. Everyone seemed well prepared and at ease. As I write this part of the blog posting approaching midnight, I am the only one awake. Having made this trip on more occasions than I can remember, I transitioned to Tokyo time (+13 hours) over the days before departure. With roughly four hours remaining in the flight, and feeling well rested from three solid hours of sleep, I am pretty much adjusted to it being early afternoon at our destination. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the crew adapts to the longest day journey.

2011 MBA Japan Trip

2011-05-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

After months of planning and uncertainty, tomorrow is departure day for the 2011 Maine Business School MBA trip to Japan. Since the unfortunate events of March 11 and the difficult circumstances caused by the failure of the nuclear facility, the questions of travel to Japan caused great stress and concern for everyone involved. Patience, perseverance and dedication prevailed and we are off tomorrow with six MBA students on an exciting cultural and educational journey to Tokyo and Kyoto.

I will be posting daily reports and expect the students to also offer their insights and observations.

UMaine"White" Deer

2011-05-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

The elusive UMaine "white" (albino?) deer has been making more frequent visits on campus recently. Here are two photos I took on my way home one afternoon this week,

Molson Update - Friday January 7

2011-01-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

The final case for UMaine ended in an essential draw. Up against the Aalto School of Economics of Finland, a three judge panel awarded the tie-breaking 6-5 win to Aalto. As a result Maine failed in its strong bid to make the semi-finals of this extremely difficult competition.

The UMaine team needed a win and was one of four match-ups than ended in the 6-5 circumstance. The scoring means that the judge panel split 2-1.

It was unfortunate that a regular five judge panel was not available to hear the case. Both teams had strong recommendations and presentations and based on the very positive feedback from the judges it was clear that the decision was difficult.

Maine received excellent ratings in 3 of the 7 categories (analysis, solution and Q&A) with very positive comments on the other 4, particularly presentation effectiveness. The judges comments were consistent with the feedback from other cases. Illustrative were "very good and consistent justification and recommendations; good implementation plan; very strong teamwork; good time management and communication skills; good use of slides and graphs."

In the end, the judges' decision hinged on a perceived level of greater detail presented by Aalto. While one could have a differing perception, such is the nature of the competition. Had Maine been on the prevailing side, it would have qualified (along with Aalto) to be one of nine teams that compete in the semi-finals.

Whatever the final score, the UMaine team finished with the university's best record in its nine years of being represented at this international business school competition.

UMaine with a 3 win-2 loss record and 120 points, placed 2nd in its division (behind Aalto) and finished in 14th place in the competition overall.

As the team coach, I am extremely pleased that the capabilities and skills of this talented UMaine team were recognized and rewarded in the competition. They have worked long hours in preparation, retained a positive attitude under stressful circumstances, and performed at a very high level. They have well represented themselves as individuals and as outstanding examples of the quality of students from the University of Maine Business School.

To the team I add a direct and simple "thank you" for a job well done. You have earned the respect and admiration of all those from UMaine who have followed and supported your efforts.

In closing, I want to recognize and thank my colleagues, Jason Harkins and John Mahon, for their significant efforts in helping to train, prepare and guide the team. I also want to thank Jon Sorenson, Chairperson of the Maine Business School Board of Advisors, for his time and engagement with the team's preparation.

It has truly been a team effort and I am proud to be a member of the UMaine team.

Molson Update - Interesting Fact

2011-01-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

Of the top 11 schools in this year's competition, 3 are from Canada, 3 from the US, 2 from Germany, 1 from Finland, 1 from Sweden and 1 from Portugal. Except for 1 school, a win or loss on Friday (with 30 points at stake) separates making the semi-finals from sitting in the audience!

The US schools are South Carolina, Pepperdine (CA) and UMaine.

UMaine Wins Case 4 - In the Semi-Finals?

2011-01-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

In a major victory on Thursday, 1/6, the UMaine team has moved into 2nd place in its division. Maine earned a significant 8-3 win over the Paris School to place 11th overall in the competition with just a few points separating the top teams. At this point, only one team is assured a place in the semi-final round.

Since 9 teams make the semi-final round, Maine is now in a strong position to be one of those teams based on the performance of the teams in the last case tomorrow.

If Maine wins against the divisional leader (Aalto of Finland), we should earn a spot. Aalto has lost to a team Maine has already bested in an earlier case.

In addition to our performance however, other factors that may decide the final result ...... primarily the fact that in addition to Maine, a number of the other top 11 teams are facing off against each other in the last case.

So, you can see that Friday, 1/7 will be an exciting and dramatic day in Montreal.

Molson Update - Wednesday, January 5

2011-01-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Wednesday is called "moving day" at the competition since there are two cases ... a an already very intense and competitive environment.

The UMaine team won its first case (6-5) in a close decision against Asper. The case was an international marketing case involving a German company in France competing in the lighting industry when CFL lights were mandated by the EU. Both teams had made similar analyses and recommendations. The judges' decision to favor Maine was based on its "well presented, direct" recommendations and its ability to answer questions. Overall the feedback said the team "spoke well" and exhibited "good teamwork."

Maine lost the afternoon case - another international business case - with a 7-4 decision to LUMS. Frankly, we were all disappointed in the result and somewhat confused by the judges' comments regarding a "lack of creative alternatives" that appeared to be the deciding factor. Both John and I felt the team had been impressive with both content and its presentation. Relative to the other team, we thought our team had won the case convincingly.

The case was modeled on Rio Tinto and concerned "best practices" in winning contracts in developing markets in the mining industry. Despite the result, the judges' comments were consistent with other feedback Maine has been receiving .... such as "good clear presentation with effective time management" and the ability to defend "their position consistently well."

Notwithstanding the loss, overall the UMaine team remains in a strong competitive position, placed third in its division in a very tight point race (3 teams with 2-1 records) and 15th overall in the total competition.

Today's "live case," just now beginning, concerns Canada's global commercial strategy .... indeed the firm is the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. It should be a most demanding case with Maine up against the Paris School.

Given other competitive lineups, at the end of the day Maine to greatly improve its competitive position in both the division and overall with another strong performance. Go Black Bears!

Victory in Case 1

2011-01-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

The UMaine team won their first case today with a clear 7-4 victory against a polished Laurier team. They earn a total of 37 points for the win and are placed second in the division after round one.

The case involved an Indian-Japanese (Honda) joint venture in India's scooter/motorcycle market. The judges' feedback was extremely positive citing the UMaine team as "confident presenters" with an analysis that provided a "clear evaluation of the market and direction of the business." The judges also said the team was excellent at handling questions and noted their "ability to defend and build on their recommendation."

John, Jason and I are proud of the team's hard work and accomplishment today.

Tomorrow the team will compete in two cases. The morning case against Asper is another 3 hour preparation with a 25 minute presentation and 15 minutes of questioning. The afternoon case, against Paris, is a "short" case likely requiring the team to advise a business on an emerging crisis situation.

Molson Update - Monday Jan 3

2011-01-04T09:07:00.000-08:00

The competition draw places UMaine in the Bombardier Division along with Aalto University School of Economics (Finland), LUMS - Lahore University Suleman Dawood School of Business (Pakistan), Paris School of Business (France), University of Manitoba Asper School of Business (Canada), and Laurier University School of Business and Economics (Canada).

The UMaine first case is Tuesday afternoon against Laurier. Let the competition begin!

Molson Competition 2011 - Montreal

2011-01-03T07:25:00.000-08:00

The team has arrived safely in Montreal and is preparing for another intense and exciting experience. Although this is my fifth opportunity to be a part of the international event, I still feel a sense of excitment.

I am pleased that John Mahon agreed to join us as a coach this year. Today is an orientation day and the competition "draw." The first case of the competition is scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday (1/4).

Go Maine! Go BlackBears!

The Shinkansen

2010-03-10T19:55:00.000-08:00

I love trains and a ride on the famous Japanese "bullet train (The Shinkansen) is a special treat no matter how many times I have taken the train. On this trip to Kyoto we were about a N700 series and the fastest of the scheduled trains between Tokyo and Kyoto -- the Nazomi -- zipping along the countryside at speeds up to about 300KM per hour.

You will note the crew arrives like an airliner and each car is inspected and cleaned in Tokyo by an assigned staff member prior to the departure from Tokyo.

The Joy of Kyoto - March 8-9, 2010

2010-03-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

A visit to Kyoto is always an inspirational experience, rich in the history and culture of Japan. On this trip, taken to visit Keiko's aunt whose husband had passed on, we did not have a great deal of time for touring. Our choice was a visit to the Imperial Palace, built when Kyoto served as the capitol of Japan. Despite the rain, the grounds, gardens and buildings offered a wonderful journey into the past. I'll let some of the many architectural study photographs I took speak for themselves.

More Sushi!

2010-03-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

For our final night dinner, Keiko's parents invited us to join them at a local sushi restaurant. As you can see from the pictures, the fish is very fresh ... and at this establishment, priced according to the color plate it is served on off a conveyor belt. Great fun .... and great sushi at an unbeatable price. The photo of my niece, Mai, provides amble testimony to the evening's dinning success!

Sushi Anyone?

2010-03-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

SUSHI

While in Kyoto on Monday March 8, Keiko and I visited her aunt Akemi. She had prepared sushi for us to eat .... and insisted we should be able to consume the offering presented for five people! We did our best and finished the meal for breakfast on Tuesday morning. It was quite a treat.

We are off for our final day in Tokyo (Wednesday, March 10). I will post additional photos from Seoul and commentary on our journey to Kyoto later in the day.

Tokyo Weather Update

2010-03-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

Am I in Maine!!!????

We arrived back from Kyoto last night in a snowstorm! Snow, hail, high winds, rain .... unbelievable for Tokyo in March. Since homes are not built for this type of weather, sleeping was like camping out.

Seoul Update

2010-03-05T03:35:00.000-08:00

A productive day in Seoul exploring cultural sites and other venues for a possible UMaine Business School MBA student trip. Developed valuable insights and useful information for planning purposes through a detailed reconnaissance mission and in meetings with Korean contacts. We will finish the exercise tomorrow before departing for Japan and our final week of vacation. Looking forward to our return to Kyoto.

Korean Dumplings and Noodles

2010-03-04T03:24:00.000-08:00

After a busy day of meetings, Keiko and I took the time this evening to tour one of Seoul's primary shopping districst and scout out another local place to eat.

On tonight's radar was a dumpling restaurant of some fame in the bustling Myengdong district and we were not disappointed. With only four menu items (2 dumpling dishes and 2 noodle items), the service was fast and simple. With local crowds lined up for tables, it was not a place to idle after dinner. The food was most enjoyable and ice water was the only beverage available ... a very welcomed drink if you overindulged in the Korean hot sauces.

Tomorrow will be spent on a further scouting mission for the potential MBA trip (with some private and public sector meetings; hotel visits, and related items) and then off to the Namdaemum Market and Itaewon shopping area - obvious must see sites for the MBA trip.

Tomorrow's dinning adventure is in the process of negotiation. Actually, I would like to head back to the barbeque alley!

Sogang University Visit - Seoul, South Korea

2010-03-04T02:59:00.000-08:00

Today was spent with administrators and faculty from Sogang University discussing a potential student exchange relationship with UMaine and Maine Business School. Based on my visit, I am most confident that UMaine students would have a great experience at Sogang.

Dr. Young Song, the school's Vice President for International Affairs, and Jin ok Ahn, responsible for relations with US schools, outlined a very flexible approach that should meet UMaine requirements.

I also meet with the Dean of the Sogang Business School, Dr. Kyung-Kyu Park, and Associate Dean Gwangheon Hong. They are very interested in having the business school lead the way in developing a cooperative relationship at both under-graduate and graduate levels. Sogang Business School recently received AACSB accreditation and offers 33% of its courses in English. Their new US$10 million building was very impressive!

Also on the agenda was a discussion of potential support for a UMaine MBS MBA international trip to Korea. Without question, Sogang resources could provide valuable assistance in the planning and implementation of a trip, ranging from local business contacts, logistical support, student-faculty engagement, and other critical in-country resources. Based on my outline of a possible May 2011 trip, Dr. Song and Ms. Ahn agreed that they could support my work in the development of the trip.

An additional issue raised during the meetings was a possible opportunity for me to offer a course during either a regular or summer semester. I plan to pursue this matter i the coming months.

Korean Bar-B-Q

2010-03-03T05:16:00.000-08:00

Keiko strikes again in the food department. Across the street from our hotel is one of the oldest and most famous Korean barbeque establishments in the city. Finding the small back alley entrance was part of the fun. Joining a very local crowd (no tourists in sight), we feasted on great pork dishes and required refreshments. I suspect it may take weeks for the smoke and garlic to vent itself from my system!

Seoul, Korea - March 3

2010-03-03T05:06:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Seoul this afternoon and I am looking forward to meeting with representative of Sogang University tomorrow and also devoting time to planning a potential MBS-MBA (and/or under-graduate trip) with appointments on Friday and Saturday before returning to Tokyo.

Seoul is a great city and I have fond memories from my time here in 2002 during the FIFA World Cup. There is no doubt that a business and cultural trip to Korea would be a valuable experience. On my list are company visits would be Hyundai, Samsung, LG, FILA, the SK Group and the Shinhan Bank. Positive feedback on all counts thus far. Of course, coming this far it would seem to make sense to also include a visit to Japan. Perhaps by the time the date rolls around, the US$ will be stronger and allow for the experience to fit into our plans, or the Japan leg could be incremental for those who could afford the experience.

Tokyo Ramen

2010-03-03T04:54:00.000-08:00

Keiko found a very special Ramen noodle shop when she worked nearby 15 years ago. It was still there. She said it was special and it was an unbelievable experience (only about 10 counter seats). You will need to pay for the name and directions.

I seriously think my idea of opening such a shop in Orono is critical to help Maine truly realize the vision of the "way life should be!"

Tokyo - Ramen Noodle Time

2010-03-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

With the marathon now history, Keiko and I have rested and will be off touring the city and visiting with family and friends. High on the to-do list is eating at some of our favorite places.

Today is dedicated to ramen noodles! As noted in a recent NY Times article:

Still unclear? Well, combine New Yorkers’ love of pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers, throw in some Southern barbecue mania, and you’ve still only begun to approximate Tokyo’s obsession with ramen.

Check out one of the many ramen blogs for my insights (for example, Ramenate!) Happy noodle slurping!!

Tokyo Marathon Update

2010-03-01T16:44:00.000-08:00

Lost by some in all the excitement of the marathon experience was Keiko's performance in the 10K race run simultaneously with the marathon. Congratulations Keiko on a personal best time of 59:29! A great run in the difficult weather conditions.

Tokyo Marathon - February 28, 2010

2010-03-01T02:11:00.000-08:00

I did it!

The Tokyo Marathon was a fantastic experience. Without question, the most unique and exciting way to tour the fabulous city of Tokyo Japan.

My unofficial time was 5:10:09 under very extreme cold and wet conditions. In fact the hardest part of the race was standing in the rain for one and a-half hours before the race started; the sun appeared about mile 16. Getting 32,500 runners organized and to the start required a massive organization and logistical effort.

My Garmin GPS watch displayed an average pace of 11:50/mile, just 20 seconds off my race plan. My fastest mile was #1 (9:34 - I was so cold I ran very fast to get warm!). The slowest mile was #12 (13:00); the final mile pace was 12:14. I believe better conditions would have yielded better results ... I really wanted to break 5 hours ... but I have no regrets. At mile 21 I decided to alter my race plan (I actually walked very little of the time this race, all in just about 3 miles) and be sure I finished the race in good health with a still respectable time. I had crossed the start line about 18 minutes after the gun and passed the 5:30:00 pace setters at mile 21, so I knew I was within range of my personal goal. I sprinted the last kilometer. Keiko found the Marathon's web site video of my finish and it was fun to watch the morning after.

The event itself, despite the weather, was an unbelievable experience. The number of people and their support was beyond imagination, cheering crowds, bands and other musical performers every step of the way. The marathon volunteers and support staff were fantastic.

Keiko and her family were there at four stops along the way to cheer me on. The most memorable image I have of the race was the long approach to the "Thunder Gate," an iconic Tokyo landmark in the Asakusa district (mile 18), with Japanese drums providing a mystical cadence as we ran. As I turned the corner at the gate there was Keiko and her family with signs, UMaine pom-poms and a hugh American flag to send me on my way to the finish.

A sincere thank you to everyone who wished me well and supported my quest. I carried photos of my family on the journey. The thoughts and confidence of my daughters Jodi, Jessica and Alissa were a very special part of this extraordinary experience.

Tokyo Update - February 24, 2010

2010-03-01T01:48:00.000-08:00

Keiko and I had a wonderful trip to Japan. The good feelings about the trip started when we arrived at New York's JFK airport. Delta had changed equipment and our previously selected bulkhead seats disappeared. At the gate I asked the agent if it might be possible to correct the situation. She did get us reassigned and asked why we were traveling to Japan. I mentioned a family visit and running the Tokyo Marathon. When we went to board the aircraft another agent said we had been upgraded to Business First .... with good luck on my run! It was an absolutely fabulous beginning to our journey.

We spent Thursday evening, Friday and Saturday relaxing and visiting with family and friends. A special treat was being with some dear friends, former colleagues from Avaya Japan. The photo shows some members of what we call "The Kamakura Gang", members of my Avaya FIFA World Cup team who introduced me to the pleasures and excitement of Japan. They have remained good friends and we never visit Japan without seeing them. Thank you Kase, Chiho and Miki.

7 Days to Tokyo Marathon

2010-02-21T18:11:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday (2/24) we depart for Tokyo with the marathon set for Sunday (2/28). It has been a long, cold winter of training and I am looking forward to running in the more temperate weather predicted for Japan. My goal is to finish the event in good health in 5 hours or less. How much less will depend on the weather and, like any athletic competition, what I bring to the party that morning. If I am able to build on my 11:30 training pace, a time between 4:30 and 5:00 is possible. But 26.2 miles (42.1 kilo) is a long way and many factors can impact my performance.

For those who are around next Saturday evening or can't sleep, you can visit the Tokyo Marathon web site and check my 5K splits. The starting time of 9:10AM Sunday Tokyo time means a 7:10PM Saturday time on the USA east coast.

Winter Marathon Training!?

2010-01-17T18:46:00.000-08:00

The Tokyo Marathon is 42 days from today. Training through the Maine winter for this event is proving to be likely more of a challenge than finishing in the event itself!

With six weeks out, my training program called for an 18 miler today .... 24F, 5-10 mph winds and a hilly course. The 13:28 splits were consistent with my plan to break 5 hours in Japan. I am hoping that the weather will remain cooperative so I can do the 40-50 miles per week outdoors instead of the treadmill or indoor track. I tried the treadmill in Montreal––boring. I did a 15 miler on the UMaine indoor track two weeks ago and thought they would need to unscrew me from the floor!

Spring Semester 2010

2010-01-17T18:27:00.000-08:00

The first week of the new semester went much better than I had expected given the short preparation time I had due to the Montreal excursion. A few observations worth noting.

First, the students in my three courses seem far more engaged and responsive. I focused the first week on student engagement and employed some new techniques shared with me at a gathering of marketing professors hosted by McGraw-Hill. The "What Do You Know?" quizzes appeared to be most successful.

Second, the contribution of an energetic, committed teaching assistant is invaluable. This academic year is the first time I have been offered a TA and Nicole Gogan has exceeded my expectations.

Finally, I have deployed some new technology and learning support systems to provide my students with greater access and support for course content, self-learning and assessment tools, lecture podcasts and other techniques. Since I have been tasked with developing some on-line courses, I am hoping the use of these systems will both enhance the in-class experience and assist in the development of the on-line or hybrid courses for the future.

Molson Update

2010-01-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

I regret the delay in my Molson updates. Once the competition began, I discovered that finding the time to blog was far more difficult than anticipated.

Without question, the current team is the best prepared and most competitive team the University of Maine has sent to this competition. However disappointing the results may prove to some from a win-loss perspective, the UMaine team has done very well in this very competitive environment. I have no doubt that they will leave Montreal stronger and more confident.

Visit the Molson case competition website for complete results and details– (http://www.mbacasecomp.com/)

This afternoon we were honored by a visit from Dean John Mahon and Professor Harold Daniel. Their presence boosted the spirits of the team as they prepare to take on the final case of the competition tomorrow morning.

Molson Case Competition - Day 1

2010-01-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

Hello from Montreal.

Yesterday was a challenging 10 hour drive from Orono to Montreal. The roads were extremely difficult in the mountain pass from SugarLoaf in Maine to Sherbrooke in Canada. We then experienced the tail end of a windy snow storm on Rt. 10 East to Montreal. Although slow going, everyone was in high spirits and very supportive when we arrived and enjoyed a quiet dinner at Boccacino's -- a perfect ending to the long day.

Our first day in Montreal was filled with registration, a team adventure activity, the opening ceremonies, a fine cocktail party at a private Montreal business club, and a team dinner at the Keg.

I personally enjoyed seeing old friends, other coaches from past years, particularly Gerd Rainer Wagner from the Heinrich-Heine-Universitat Dusseldorf (Germany). It was also great to see our team step out to meet their competitors from around the world. The University of Maine Business School is well represented and I was very proud of their approach. Whatever the final results, I am confident that our team is as well prepared and as competent as any other entrant in this prestigious international event.

Tomorrow the case competition begins. Our division consists of the University of Porto Business School (Portugal), University of Kaiserslautern (Germany), Asper Business School-University of Manatoba (Canada), and John Molson Business School-Concordia University (Canada). Stay tuned.

On a personal note, I continue my Tokyo marathon training in the Fairmont Hotel's health club. 17 miles was scheduled for yesterday or today. I did handle 11 miles on a treadmill today and plan to do multiple workouts each day between the case presentations and other competition activities to stay on top of my training schedule.

New Year's Day 2010

2010-01-01T14:22:00.000-08:00

A new year, a new beginning.

I recently received a phone call from an old friend. We had not seen or spoken in many years. Sadly, I have often thought of him but never took the initiative to try and contact him. I was excited when his name was displayed on my iPhone. I resolved that I must make a renewed effort to re-establish contact and stay in touch with the many men and women who have been such an important part of my life.

This, of course, includes my daughters and their family. A painful circumstance that I hope I can correct in the new year.

It is my intention to make regular contributions to my blog in the hope that those who use it to stay in touch with me will find it informative, perhaps entertaining. I'll also use it to express my opinion and views on a variety of issues.

I am also working to update my personal web site.

That's all for now. Inspired by the "Julie and Julia" movie, I am preparing Boeuf Bourguignon for our dinner this evening!

With best wishes for the new year, Paul

Sushi Night 2009

2009-12-20T07:04:00.000-08:00

Keiko and I enjoy having friends and students over for traditional Japanese meals. A sushi night appears the most popular. Enjoy the photos from our 2nd annual holiday event. I'd write more about the evening but the less said the better!

Keiko is very proud of her culture and worked much of the day preparing for the evening feast. Fueled by an ample supply of sake, the gift exchange was one of the many highlights of the evening.

Updates

2009-12-20T06:49:00.000-08:00

With the end of the semester crush I have been remiss in keeping up with my blog. I have posted some photos that generally tell the story without much commentary.

Many thanks to jason for helping me "tarp" the cottage roof and become true "Mainers".

We also enjoyed Thanksgiving with the Harkins family, experiencing our first "fried" turkey. Yum!

Tokyo Marathon 2010

2009-10-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

"Congratulations! You have been selected to run the 2010 Tokyo Marathon." So read the organizing committee's October 13, 2009 e-mail!

The Tokyo Marathon will be held on February 28, 2010.

Fortunately the race falls during the UMaine spring break. Ten days in Japan will be a welcome venue for a winter vacation.

June 6 - A Day in the Dirt

2009-06-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

A hard day's labor is good for the body and the soul, helps to clear the mind and get you grounded in reality.

Helping our good friend Nic prepare for the construction of a sauna on his property, I spent the better part of the day with other guys playing in the dirt. It was a true male bonding experience as well.

Of course, in retrospect, I did spend time pondering the question: how many PhD's does it take to dig and refill a 9x12x2 foot hole?

June 5 - Golf Day

2009-06-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

I have finally recovered from the trip to Japan and have settled into the relaxed pace of the coming sumer season. What to do for three months?

Teaching a small class (11 students) international business through June 19 is a rewarding experience. After that, since I doubt a second course I offered to teach will have sufficient enrollment, will allow me time to relax, reflect and prepare for the fall semester.

The weather appears to have warmed and yesterday presented the first opportunity to play some golf. I joined good friends for a nine hole outing at a jewel of a course in Searsport. It was the first test of a new set of custom-made irons (fitted with Rifle Project X lightweight metal shafts). Perhaps it was just an early season accident, but a two-over round (with one birdie) was a real confidence builder. My goal for the summer is to make a serious effort to improve my ball-striking and scoring consistency.

May 31 - A Day with the Cruiser!

2009-05-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

It was quite a week recovering from the trip to Japan, scrambling to prepare for a summer course (beginning tomorrow) I had expected was canceled, chairing an honors thesis defense, and just dealing with a host of other matters .... so today I relaxed by spending the day with my '72 Toyota LandCruiser. "Together after all these years", the Cruiser is ageless, consistent, and dedicated performance. Taro and I cleaner her inside and out a went took her through out for a few runs. Here are a few photos. To see more, visit paulmyer.com. Enjoy!

May 27

2009-05-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

The transition from a trip to Japan to Orono Maine involves much more than dealing with "jet lag", although I find that I now pay a greater toll due to the physical demands of travel than earlier in my life.

For myself, the more serious issues are psychological and emotional. While both Keiko and I are happy to return to the University of Maine community, we are often conflicted in our feelings as we make the transition.

Perhaps they are stronger in this instance as this was a very different visit for us. Taking on many of the planning and implementation tasks of the MBA trip and sharing our time with 20 other travelers was both a challenging and rewarding experience. While we did get to see family and some friends, and enjoy some new experiences we arranged for the trip, the nature of the trip put us in the odd position of being tourists.

May 24 - Home Again

2009-05-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

After some 30 hours of bus and air travel, with many hours spent waiting in terminals, we arrived back in Bangor to be greeted by family and friends. I can't wait to see a sample of the thousands of photographs taken and reading the required journals the students penned during the trip.

Kyoto Highlights

2009-05-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

After the intense business focus of the Tokyo phase of the trip everyone looked forward to the Kyoto portion of the trip ..... and I can say without fear of contradiction that they were not disappointed in the Kyoto experience.

The hotel was a traditional Japanese inn, the Three Sisters Annex, where students shared rooms, sleeping on tatami mats and observing other Japanese lifestyle activities.

The sites and experiences of Kyoto are a complex composite of visual, intellectual and emotional connections.

One highlight was participating in a traditional tea ceremony where students not only observed the process but were taught how to make a drink the special tea by a tea master and her assistants.

Another interesting stop was a tour of a sake brewery located in an area identified as "old Japan". Many may have thought they walked onto a movie set.

A final night tofu dinner offered everyone a taste of Japan not often found in Japanese restaurants outside of Japan.

May 24 - On Our Way

2009-05-24T00:17:00.000-07:00

The UMaine MBA trip participants are on their way back to Orono. The students are in high spirits. We departed Kyoto at 7AM on Sunday 5/24 (6PM Saturday 5/23 in Maine) and will not arrive in Bangor until 12:30PM 5/25 (11:30PM Sunday 5/24 in Maine) ... about 30 hours of travel!

Everyone is now relaxing at the Tokyo/Narita Airport after a 2 hour bus ride to the Osaka airport and a short flight to Tokyo. ETD for Detroit is 6:50PM Tokyo time.

May 22-23 | Kyoto

2009-05-23T06:31:00.000-07:00

Too much to say with little time to say it right now. The past two days have been filled with group and individual activities enjoying the culture and history of Japan as we toured and experienced the wonders of Kyoto. Tomorrow we begin our journey back to Orono.

Please return to my blog on Monday as I will post my comments and some photos highlighting the Kyoto "experience". You will see us learning the fine art of the tea ceremony and the brewing of sake. Shrines, temples, gardens, and the serenity of the "Philosopher's Walk" will be among the featured elements of an intense, rewarding and memorable educational and cultural experience.

I have also posted some selected photos to the MBS MBA PhotoBucket site. Expect to see it soon populated with hundreds of photos from the students on the trip.

From Kyoto, goodbye for now.

May 21

2009-05-21T05:51:00.000-07:00

On Thursday morning we concluded our stay in Tokyo and boarded the famed Japanese Shinkansen "bullet train" as we headed to Kyoto, the "soul of Japan," with an intermediate stop in Toyota City to tour the Toyota Motor Company factory.

Both events were exciting elements and added to the value of the trip.

We arrived in Kyoto and introduced everyone to their first very traditional Japanese inn experience! The arrival signals a shift from three very intensive days of business related activities to a more focused attention on Japanese history and culture.

Company Meeting - May 20

2009-05-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

On our final day in Tokyo two company meetings were held. The morning session was a visit with State Street, a global leader in providing financial services to institutional investors. Joining Japan's Managing Director, Sakuaki Yasuda, and Vice President Matthew Thomas, via a teleconference from Boston was State Street's senior executive Dan Bouchard, a UMaine alumni and MBS Advisory Board member.

In the afternoon, we visited with executives from Itochu, one of the largest Japanese trading companies responsible for extensive exporting and importing activities. Yuya Hirano and Masayuki Amano presented their specific business activities regarding the production and sale of canned tuna around the world. As two young executives, who studied English at USM, Yuya and Massayuki offered our students insights not only about global and Japanese business but also about how their personal views of work and life in Japan. A most interesting and lively session.

UMaine Japan Alumni Dinner

2009-05-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

One highlight of the trip was an opportunity to meet with a group of UMaine alumni from Japan. Five graduates of UMaine joined faculty and students for an evening of sharing memories and personal conversations that greatly expanded the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture and business practices.

May 19 - Company Meetings

2009-05-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

Following the return from the Tsukiji, the students were joined by four senior executives of Dentsu, the largest advertising and marketing communications agency in Japan. The firm represents many significant Japanese companies (such as Toyota and Sony) on a global basis as well as the interests of firms such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola in the Japanese market. Koichi Fukumoto presented a detailed view of Dentsu's business, including a strategic assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. Fukumoto-san also shared three significant client case studies concerning US firms in Japan (Coke) and a Japanese firm in the US (Canon), presenting and analyzing examples of Dentsu's awarding winning creative work.

The afternoon was spent with Keiichirou Wada, R&D Officer of Tomorgawa, a traditional Japanese firm with roots in the pulp and paper industry. Wada-san reviewed the firm's transition to a technology-based business strategy that had special relevance for Maine companies in that sector.

The final briefing was a visit with Noriyuki Yachi, store manager of one of Maine's LL Bean's stores in Japan.

The day concluded with a trip to Tokyo's fabled Akihabara district, also known as "Electric City", where you can experience and purchase some of the most advanced electric and digital products manufactured.

Tuesday, May 19 - Tsukiji

2009-05-19T05:38:00.000-07:00

UMaine's MBA students began Tuesday, May 19 with a 5:30 AM visit to the Tsukiji Market, the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. The trip to Tsukiji required a 4:45AM start in order to be present at the famous tuna auction. The morning ended with a fabulous sushi breakfast.

Monday, May 18 - Company Meetings

2009-05-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

We began three days of intensive visits to business firms in Tokyo today with a meeting with Mr. Stephen Doi, Managing Partner of global law firm Squire Sanders. The firm has 32 offices in 15 countries. Mr. Doi provided a candid view of some critical legal and business issues faced by foreign firms seeking to do business in Japan.

Our next appointment was at the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

A visit with Katsumi Fujii, President of Avaya-Japan, addressed issues of product adaptation and quality as well as customer service standards in the Japanese market. Fujii-san was joined by Takeshi Kase (Director, Marketing) and Atsushi Hirano (Manager, Solutions Marketing) to present Avaya's strategy and challenges in the Japan IP telecommunications industry sector.

Touring Tokyo - May 17

2009-05-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

The weather cleared and we began our day of touring Tokyo with a 3 mile walk to the Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park district through Nihombashi; many interesting stops in route. What

would a trip to Tokyo be without a video game experience?

The first group photo was taken at the Imperial Palace.

Our next stop was the Asakusa district where many thousands of Japanese gathered for the annual Meiji Shrine Spring festival. Called the "hottest" festival in Japan, it includes a compendium of traditional cultural events, performances and food. It is said that "time has stopped" here in Asakusa since the Edo Period and our students enjoyed a

an afternoon of entertainment, shopping and eating.

The day concluded with a visit to the Odaiba district via a boat tour of Tokyo Harbor. Odaiba is a huge amusement zone where student's enjoyed shopping (the 100 Yen shops was a ig hit!), delicious food and various entertainment on Tokyo Bay. Keiko's family members joined the students for much of the day.

Tomorrow we begin three days of company visits.

May 17 - Tokyo

2009-05-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

A rainy day in Tokyo but the weather promises to improve. My 2 mile run through the Kayabacho district was wet but super fun .... I had a mind picture of doing the Tokyo 2010 Marathon. Great to be in a big city environment again.

We will be holding a meeting this morning to organize for the day's touring activities. On the schedule is Hibiya Park, Ginza and the the Imperial Palace area, Asakusa (where a major festival is being held), and the Odaiba district. More later ...

Tokyo Sci-Fi!

2009-05-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

I want to amend my earlier post about an "uneventful" journey. On our arrival at Narita Airport in Japan we were greeted by a medical inspection team due to the current Swine Flu scare. The Japanese our very concerned and take the threat seriously. It was a minor inconvenience and added a touch of excitement for our students!

Japan - May 15-16

2009-05-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Our MBA trip from Bangor to Tokyo Japan was a long but uneventful journey -- roughly 24 hours door-to-door. We were greeted at out hotel by a very friendly staff and Fujikawa family members were also there to say hello. A quiet dinner at a local restaurant and everyone turned in for a good night's rest.

John Molson Case Competition

2008-01-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

I am currently in Montreal Canada with a team of University of Maine MBA students participating in an international case competition. My colleague, Harold Daniel, and I are serving as "coaches". It is a very intense week-long experience.

Our team has gained valuable experience and it is interesting to see how they have gained and applied new skills and techniques to become a more effective as individuals and a team.

2008-01-04T17:20:00.000-08:00

How often to do feel good about a customer service engagement?

Congratulations to Apple customer service. My iPhone died ... and within 24 hours of sending it to Apple, a replacement phone is on the way back to me.