I nostri corsi: Lingua Giapponese e Lingua Cinese - Our courses in Italy, Japanese and Chinese language

ASG’s courses in Italy: Japanese and Chinese languages

 

Following the successful activity of teaching and training of Chinese and Japanese languages and cultures in the 2007/2008 year, Asian Studies Group is pleased to introduce a new plan of professional courses and linguistic programs for the year 2008/2009, starting in September-October. 

Japanese Language -日本語講座 

• Regular Program: quarterly course, 20 hours with weekly lessons, groups of max 5 students - evening classes for worker and students - Applications must be sent by September / January / April.

• Intensive Program: 2 weeks course, starting every month, 20 hours with daily lessons of 2 hours (from Monday to Friday) - Flexible time table, in accordance with the staff (last class 5-7pm) - Applications must be sent by the day 15th of the previous month.

• Customize Program: private course in our centre, at your home, at your company or a direct training during work activity - minimum 10 hours - class time in accordance with staff’s availability.

• Linguistic Travel Program: 3-4 weeks course, 3 hours per day, in Tokyo at certified and qualified institute in partnership with our association - In the program is included a preparatory concentrated course at our centre, a written and oral level test and the free assistance to organize flight, insurance, accommodation and possible accompaniment service. We recommend to apply for it at least 2 months in advance.

• JLPT Program: preparation course to pass the JLPT exams - from 4^th to 2^nd level. For the 1^st level is recommended an individual study program followed by an examination with our mother tongue staff or by an intensive six-month course in Japan for a direct achievement of JLPT 2 or 1. The access to JLPT program is subjected to our staff’s valuation.

 

ACTIVATED LEVELS: Asian Studies Group offers 4-5 groups for quarterly courses in Japanese languages for 5 levels: first step level, beginner level, intermediate level (for students with JLPT 4), advanced level (for students with JLPT 3). 
 

Chinese Language - 汉语课程

• Regular Program: quarterly course, 20 hours with weekly lessons, groups of max 5 students - evening classes for worker and students - Applications must be sent by September / January / April.

• Intensive Program: 2 weeks course, starting every month, 20 hours with daily lessons of 2 hours (from Monday to Friday) - Flexible time table, in accordance with the staff (last class 5-7pm) - Applications must be sent by the day 15th of the previous month.

• Customize Program: private course in our centre, at your home, at your company or a direct training during work activity - minimum 10 hours - class time in accordance with staff’s availability.

• Linguistic Travel Program: 3-4 weeks course, 4 hours per day, in Shanghai at Fudan Fondation, in partnership with our association. In the program is included a preparatory concentrated course at our centre, a written and oral level test and the free assistance to organize flight, insurance, accommodation and possible accompaniment service. We recommend to apply for it at least 2 months in advance.

• HSK Program: preparation course to pass the HSK exams (basic level 1-2-3). The access to JLPT program is subjected to our staff’s valuation.

• Quick Hanzi Program: monthly course structured specifically to improve the rapid storage of Chinese characters. Selection and juxtaposition of characters based on search criteria useful for passing HSK exam and reading newspapers. This program is accessible to HSK Program’s participants, but also selectable separately. Materials and flash cards will be provided by the association.

 

ACTIVATED LEVELS: For Chinese language, ASG offers the access to 2 groups of study for these quarterly courses: first step level and beginners level. There are also available other levels: beginner level (in groups), elementary level, intermediate level and advanced level for Customize Program and Linguistic Travel Program. 

ASIAN STUDIES GROUP CENTRES:

Headquarters in MILANO - branch centres in BOLOGNA and ROME 

The courses are already available in Milan and from October 2008 are going to start also in Bologna and Rome. For further information please do not hesitate to contact us.  

 

 

 Asian Studies Group is a multidisciplinary social association dealing with language training, high level cultural mediation and consulting fields concerning projects in the East Asia. 

Association’s professional activity, the consulting and training projects are aimed to the social promotion and aggregation. 

For further information about our association and our activity please visit the section Group Information.____________________________________________________________________________________

Italian Version

Dopo il successo dell'attività didattica e formativa sui panorami linguistici e culturali di Cina e Giappone per l'anno associativo 2007 / 2008,  Asian Studies Group è lieta di introdurre un nuovo piano di informazioni sui corsi e programmi di aggiornamento linguistico e professionale per l'anno associativo 2008 / 2009 a partire da settembre - ottobre

Lingua Giapponese  日本語講座

• Programma Regolare: moduli trimestrali, in gruppo (max 5 studenti) - 20 ore di classe con frequenza settimanale - orario serale per lavoratori e studenti - Accesso ai moduli trimestrali da confermare entro 
  settembre / gennaio / aprile.                                   
  
• Programma Intensivo: corsi della durata di 2 settimane, avviati ogni mese,  20 ore di classe con frequenza giornaliera (2 ore al giorno) - dal lunedì al venerdì. Orario giornaliero flessibile da organizzare con lo staff (ultima lezione disponibile dalle  ore 17.oo - 19.00).  L'accesso al programma intensivo è da confermare entro il 15 del mese precedente all'inizio del corso -
• Programma Personalizzato: corsi privati in sede o a domicilio (in azienda o in training diretto sul luogo di lavoro) - minimo 10 ore - su libera organizzazione previa disponibilità dello staff docenti.
• Programma Soggiorno Linguistico: corso della durata di 3/4 settimane, 3 ore al giorno, a Tokyo presso struttura certificata e qualificata in partnership con la nostra associazione - Nel programma è incluso un corso preparativo accellerato presso la sede ASG, un level check scritto e orale e l'assistenza e organizzazione totalmente gratuita di volo, assicurazione, alloggio ed eventuale servizio di accompagnamento.  Si consiglia di avviare la procedura di registrazione, prenotazione e accesso almeno 2 mesi prima.
• Programma JLPT: corsi di preparazione al superamento del JLPT test - dal 4° al 2° livello. Per il 1° Livello JLPT viene consigliato un programma di studio personale a cui seguirà check con personale madrelingua  o diversamente un corso intensivo semestrale in Giappone per l'acquisizione diretta del JLPT 2 o 1 - L'accesso ai programmi JLPT va concordato anticipatamente con lo staff

LIVELLI ATTIVI:  Asian Studies Group propone ben 4 /5 gruppi per i moduli trimestrali di lingua giapponese per un totale di 5 livelli (principianti assoluti / liv. beginner / liv. elementare -JLPT 4 acquisito / liv intermedio -JLPT 3 acquisito/ liv. avanzato )

________________________________________________________________

Lingua Cinese  汉语课程

• Programma Regolare: moduli trimestrali, in gruppo (max 5 studenti) - 20 ore di classe con frequenza settimanale - orario serale per lavoratori e studenti - Accesso ai moduli trimestrali da confermare entro settembre / gennaio / aprile.
  
• Programma Intensivo: corsi della durata di 2 settimane, avviati ogni mese,  20 ore di classe con frequenza giornaliera (2 ore al giorno) - dal lunedì al venerdì. Orario giornaliero flessibile da organizzare con lo staff (ultima lezione disponibile dalle  ore 17.oo - 19.00).  L'accesso al programma intensivo è da confermare entro il 15 del mese precedente all'inizio del corso -
• Programma Personalizzato: corsi privati in sede o a domicilio (in azienda o in training diretto sul luogo di lavoro) - minimo 10 ore - su libera organizzazione previa disponibilità dello staff docenti.
• Programma Soggiorno Linguistico: corso della durata di 3/4 settimane, 4 ore al giorno, a Shanghai presso la Fudan University, in partnership con la nostra associazione - Nel programma è incluso un corso preparativo accellerato presso la sede ASG, un level check scritto e orale e l'assistenza e organizzazione totalmente gratuita di volo, assicurazione, alloggio ed eventuale servizio di accompagnamento.  Si consiglia di avviare la procedura di registrazione, prenotazione e accesso almeno 2 mesi prima.
• Programma HSK: corsi di preparazione al superamento dell'HSK test livello basic (1-2-3)- L'accesso ai programmi HSK va concordato anticipatamente con lo staff - 
• Programma Quick Hanzi: modulo mensile strutturato specificatamente per implementare la memorizzazione rapida dei caratteri cinesi. Selezione e accostamento di caratteri strutturata secondo criteri di ricerca funzionali al superamento dell'HSK e della lettura dei quotidiani. Il programma è accessibile per chi sostiene il programma HSK o selezionabile separatamente - materiali e flash cards verranno fornite dall'associazione

LIVELLI ATTIVI: Per la lingua cinese, ASG propone l'accesso a 2 gruppi di studio per i moduli trimestrali: gruppo principianti assoluti e gruppo beginners. Sono però disponibili livelli didattici differenziati: principianti / liv beginner  (in gruppo) e liv. elementary / liv. intermediate / liv. advanced per programma personalizzato e soggiorno linguistico.

SPORTELLI DIDATTICI ASIAN STUDIES GROUP: Sede didattica principale MILANO - sportelli distaccati Bologna e Roma

I corsi sono già totalmente attivi su Milano e in avvio su Bologna e Roma. Per maggiori informazioni non esitate a contattarci

Asian Studies Group opera come associazione di promozione sociale finalizzata alla formazione linguistica e culturale d'alto livello in correlazione a progetti di networking sull'East Asia -

L'attività professionale dell'associazione, la consulenza e i progetti didattici sono svolti ai fini di promozione e di aggregazione sociale. 

Per ulteriori informazioni sul nostro gruppo e sulla nostra attività visita la sezione Group Information

Dr. Paolo Cacciato

Coordinatore ASG

Bonsai Art: Crespi Cup 2008, international cultural event closer to Milan

Asian Studies Group, multidisciplinary association focused on language and inter-cultural mediation with eastern Asia is pleased to introduce Crespi Bonsai's international event for autumn 2008. 

Crespi Bonsai, leading company in Europe, organizes for the year 2008 the 8th 

International Bonsai and Suiseki Meeting, from 12th to 21st September, an event already very expected. 

Conceived in 1995 by Crespi Bonsai has soon become an event of great importance in Europe, thanks to the wealth of its contents, quality and organization. 

For this occasion the Enthusiasts' Exhibition (amateurs' bonsai trees) is planned in the first week-end, from 12th to 14th September, while the exhibitions Crespi Bonsai Cup and Crespi Shohin Cup (professionals' and collectors' bonsai trees) will be held in the week-end from 19th to 21st September. From 12th to 21st September the following competitions will be planned: the competitionsCrespi Suiseki Cup, for all suiseki collectors, and theCrespi Pot Cup, dedicated to bonsai pot collectors and pot masters.

The meeting will welcome bonsai trees, suiseki and pots from very important European collections, asserting itself as a reference point for all those who join in the fascinating world of miniature trees and landscape stones.

Lessons, demonstrations, lectures on bonsai and suiseki (landscape stones)will offer to the visitor a direct contact with the nature and its elements, to establish with them a dynamic balance. 

Lesson of Japanese Cooking, by Michiko Murakami, a good opportunity for all the enthusiasts of a healthy but refined cooking; they will try the preparation and tasting of exquisite dishes and of the famous sushi.

Tasting of Sakè, an alcoholic drink, typically Japanese, from the rice fermentation. 

Tea Ceremony, a simple but attractive ritual, to find “the peace in a cup of tea”.

Kimono Painting (Yuzen) and Chinese Calligraphy, between history and legend you can approach and try yourself these antique and fascinating Oriental arts.Workshops: Raku and Washi Paper, Japanese techniques for the working of clay and paper, which exalt the harmony in small things, the beauty of simplicity and naturalness of shapes. 

Introduction to Bonsai Art and Workshop of Origami for children.

Qi Gong and Tai Chi Ch'uan to regain your own life energy and tune in your own inner nature.

TuiNa, an important technique of the traditional Chinese medicine, to regain and maintain your own physical and psychical well-being. 

A path among meditation and bonsai, to find your own psychophysical harmony, between history and legend, to approach and try yourself the most attractive ancient Oriental arts.

Program available on the following linkhttp://www.crespieditori.com/CEStoreB2C/Cup2008A/ENG/EventProgramma.asp

Confindustria prepara lo sbarco a Chongqing: tappe strategiche nella tre giorni Roma - Pisa - Torino

Invitare ufficialmente gli industriali italiani in Cina e sondare il terreno

per nuove alleanze strategiche. Questi gli obiettivi della missione

organizzata da Confindustria e Abi in collaborazione con Go West China,

primo gruppo italiano di consulenza strategica e di mercato presente a

Chongqing che con l'occasione riceverà il riconoscimento come primo partner

italiano dell'Ufficio Cooperazione Internazionale di Chongqing.

Ad accogliere la delegazione composta da 70 imprenditori e funzionari

orientali, il 28 luglio in viale dell'Astronomia a Roma, ci saranno il

Presidente delle Piccole imprese e il Direttore degli affari internazionali

di Confindustria, rispettivamente Giuseppe Morandini e Daniel Kraus. A

consegnare l'invito ufficiale che aprirà alle imprese italiane le porte del

mercato Ovest della Cina sarà direttamente il sindaco di Chongqing

(municipalità più popolosa del mondo e asse strategico per lo sviluppo

dell'economia dell'intera zona sudoccidentale).

Ma l'incontro sarà anche l'occasione per gettare nuove basi per il futuro.

Ad affiancare le associazioni guidate da Corrado Faissola ed Emma

Marcegaglia ci saranno infatti Simest, società italiana per le imprese

all'estero, e numerose aziende interessate all'esportazione del made in

Italy nel mondo e ad avviare joint venture con partner orientali nel

chimico, elettronico e meccanico.

La tre giorni italiana (Roma/Pisa/Torino) sarà anche caratterizzata dalla

firma di importanti accordi commerciali con Finmeccanica, Piaggio e Fiat nei

settori del trasporto e della sicurezza.

Retail Market in China: always rising. Top fields - Electronics and Fashion - Luxury Brands

The following analysys has been published on Business Week and arranged  by Shuan Rein.

We'd want to suggest focusing attention on this particular topic because it's interesting to notice the continous tendency of chinese market to the attractive business direction showed by Dr. Rein.

The optimistic atmosphere that characterized chinese market in 2007, seems to be particulary in favour of retail market. And we have to admit that for the first part of this year too, it has been true.  We can find clear demonstrations of such tendency looking for exemple on these field:

• Electronics retailers (boom consumption of LCD TV and mobile phone)
• Digital market (entertainment and shopping services on web)
• Fashion and Luxury Brands

So, it will be very important for companies that want to arrange the best marketing strategy consider these channel of communication: Internet and digital market focused on payment with credit card (in China paying with card looks so attractive that bank services are challenging to offer the best offer  and give off a lot of new version's credit cards)

For companies to be successful targeting young Chinese, they should focus marketing efforts where their consumers are. Males often play online games from Netease (NTES) or Shanda (SNDA), and buy DVDs and electronics on Alibaba’s consumer-to-consumer site Taobao. Females navigate to blogs on Sina (SINA) orTencent’s portal QQ to track their favorite celebrities.

Dr. Paolo Cacciato

Business Mediator for japanese and chinese market

ASG Network

For further information or access to our researches

CHINA RISING RETAIL MARKETS: MULTINATIONALS MUST THINKING YOUNG 

The subprime debacle has rattled retail sales in the U.S., forcing many companies to downgrade sales estimates as consumers shy away from checkout counters. Luxury retailers and credit-card companies in the U.S. have recently reported bearish projections for the coming quarters.

China, however, is a retail market on the rise. In 2007 China posted 17% growth in retail spending. Electronics retailers Guomei and Suning posted record numbers, and both paint positive pictures for the future as Chinese consumers continue to buy LCD TVs from LG Electronics and mobile phones from Nokia (NOK).

Much of this continued growth is fueled by Chinese under the age of 32. My firm, the China Market Research Group (CMR), conducted in-depth interviews with 500 Chinese between the ages of 22 and 32 in 10 cities to gauge whether fears of a global slowdown would influence their shopping habits. The answer was a resounding no. A full 90% of interviewees said they expected to “spend considerably more” in 2008 than they did in 2007, and the vast majority was “very optimistic” about salary potential in the next two years, with the majority expecting salary increases of 10% to 25% in next year.

No More Lazy Localization

As selling to Chinese consumers becomes more important to multinationals’ bottom lines, the key to winning in China is to understand the needs and motivations of Chinese youth. Many multinationals find their core target market in China is much younger than in other countries. Companies, therefore, need to rethink the products they introduce to China, the sales channels they use, and the marketing-communication strategies they employ. It is no longer acceptable to take what worked elsewhere and transfer it here. China is too important a market for such lazy localization.

Companies must develop winning strategies that capture the hearts, minds, and wallets of Chinese youth. Our interviews suggest they are influenced by different advertising media than older generations. While older generations are still influenced by TV ads more than any other medium, Chinese young people turn more and more to the Internet to learn about products and to shop.

More than 70% of the young people we interviewed said they use search engines such as Baidu (BIDU) to find out more about products. They are also more likely to trust product recommendations on a stranger’s blog than from salespeople in stores or traditional advertising. As one 23-year-old in Wuhan told us, “I like to first read blogs of people who post about items I want to buy. If they give a thumbs up, I am more willing to buy. I do not trust salespeople because they push the brands they represent and get a commission on a sale. They will say and do anything to get me to buy something.”

Focus Marketing on the Right Sites

The Chinese youth we interviewed say they’re less influenced by TV. Respondents said they watch “very little” TV. Instead, they watch pirated DVDs or surf the Web. Chinese youth in cities like Shanghai and Beijing spend almost 20 hours a week online, while American young people spend only about 12 hours.Digital marketing plays a critical role in China and most companies should allocate more than the 5% to 10% they do in the U.S. Right now, most foreign companies’ efforts have focused on Internet advertising. In the near future, mobile-phone advertising will become critical as the number of mobile-phone users in China grows to 600 million by the end of 2008, well over 50% of the world total.

The Razr Phenomenon

Another key to winning the hearts and wallets of Chinese youth is launching marketing campaigns to which they can relate. Due to its popularity, the mobile-phone market should be a great one for global players like Motorola (MOT). However, Motorola made the mistake of failing to relate well to Chinese youth in its marketing messages and have thus lost ground to rivals such as Samsung Electronics.

When the popular Razr was first released in China, it was an instant hit, helping to revive a brand image that in recent years had become stale and identified with old people. The Razr’s sleek design was pivotal in recapturing the coveted Chinese youth market where consumers change cell phones every nine to 12 months, as opposed to consumers in other countries who upgrade every 18 to 24 months.

Chinese youth switch phones so often in part due to the weight placed on the mobile phone as a status symbol. For young Chinese who cannot afford to purchase a house or a car, a fashionable cell phone is the next best opportunity to showcase one’s status. Motorola created an opportunity by offering a sleek phone that Chinese youth considered an aspiration buy.

Better Basic Service

Consumers want to be able to touch products and compare different brands directly rather than being limited to looking at products from behind a counter. The stores that have benefited the most from this are foreign retailers such asCarrefour that have come in and not only specialized based on Chinese needs and preferences, but also adopted a higher level of basic service than what can be found in typical big-box retail stores.

Chinese youth are playing a critical role in the fortunes of multinationals, not just in China, but globally. This trend will continue as Chinese youth get wealthier and wealthier. In order to succeed in China and develop winning strategies, foreign companies must understand the motivations, wants, and behaviors of Chinese youth.
 
 
Shaun Rein is the founder and managing director of the China Market Research Group (CMR), a market intelligence firm that helps companies make smarter decisions in China.

More information and sections of this paper on the following link

http://www.chinasuccessstories.com/2008/04/09/chinese-youth-consumers/

Global Sourcing and R&D in China: a new synchrony for creating value

From around 15 years the global sourcing activity in the mostly boundless Chinese supply market matches the FDI (foreigner direct investment) flow invested in The People's Republic of China. Sometimes it has been introductory to the development of market and local rules understanding. “Made in China” are flooding the world market and the employ of components bought in China to be assembled and sold in final markets is common as well. China growing development resulting in being “the world’s factory” is equivalent to the self-evident axiom that China is the biggest buying market place in the world. 

The traditional way to practice sourcing in China has been and still is (above all concerning components) copying and producing on site goods bought elsewhere resulting in a saving equal to the difference of buying prices (net of logistics costs). One of crucial points of this process is transferring know how from the purchaser to the supplier which is fundamental to obtain the expected technical and quality performance . Mostly rightly this critical point has stirred up the fairness of how unstable is the intellectual property in a potentially everlasting involved in duplication producing system. For those operating outsourcing in China “Copy” is the threat. This threat has result in keeping separate sourcing (in China) and R&D activities (at head offices level and never de-localized). 

This flow chart concept of manufacturing in China having the R&D activities elsewhere represents a limit that sometimes cause the failure of the accomplishment of the whole process. Namely the return time of this process is not compressible and local competence are not exploited because, in this flow chart, it is easier to replicate previous standard than starting from the ones available on the local market, reserving the expected quality level. The final consequence is that the hoped saving is obtained later or never because meanwhile final market differently oriented needs made old the scouting object. 

What should we do? This hard question can be solved aiming to an evolution of the organizational structure related to the sourcing process - separation of purchasing department operating in china and the R&D function operating elsewhere far from the market – that have to result in a sole and synergic function (gathering different but complementary competences) located in the same place where suppliers are: China. This choice cannot be delayed moreover considering the present market phases where the inflationary pressure on costs and final prices make time a significant value. Last but not least sourcing challenge is not exactly looking for new supplying market (referring to offer size, technological competences and infrastructure network there no place like China) but getting global and transversal completing with R&D function. A new, a different organizational structure may assure as a final result a sum which is more then proportional to the single addends: a synchronous machine following one direction involves a decrease in the whole process time and costs assuring the expected mark up (saving) and the demanded flexibility to grant competitiveness and leadership on the market.

Italian Version

Global Sourcing e R&D in Cina: una nuova sincronia per creare valore 

Intervento per Asian Studies Group a cura del Dr. Valentino  Blasone

Profilo personale: Natuzzi spa - china corporate manager // osservatorio asia - comitato scientifico. vb è in natuzzi dal 1991, vive e lavora a shanghai.  Speaker in numerose conferenze sul tema global sourcing, è stato professore a contratto nel 2005/06 alla università LUM di bari (storia ed economia della cina), è coautore del libro "cina: la conoscenza fattore di successo" di Osservatorio Asia, edito da Il Mulino novembre 2007.

L’attività di global sourcing nell’approssimativamente infinito mercato delle forniture cinesi è da ormai oltre tre lustri parallela al corposo flusso di FDI (foreigner direct investment) impiegati nel Paese di Mezzo. In taluni casi è stata propedeutica alla formazione della conoscenza del mercato e delle regole locali. I mercati di tutto il mondo sono inondati da prodotti made in China ed è altrettanto diffuso l’impiego di componentistica acquistata in Cina ed assemblata e venduta sui mercati finali. Il progressivo sviluppo e primato della Cina come fabbrica del mondo ha come corrispettivo l’assioma (lapalissiano) che la Cina è il buying market place più grande al mondo. 

 Il modo tradizionale di praticare il sourcing in Cina è stato ed è tuttora (soprattutto per la componentistica) replicare e produrre in loco oggetti in precedenza acquistati altrove conseguendo il saving pari alla differenza dei prezzi d’acquisto (al netto dei costi logistici). Uno degli aspetti critici del processo è il trasferimento di know how dal committente al fornitore necessario all’ottenimento delle specifiche tecniche e qualitative attese. Tale criticità ha alimentato (molte volte a ragion veduta) il timore della precarietà della proprietà intellettuale in un sistema produttivo che potenzialmente replica all’infinito. La copia è la minaccia incombente per chi pratica il sourcing in Cina (ma non solo in questo mercato è vero ciò). Tale minaccia ha avuto come effetto il tenere ben distinte le attività di sourcing (in Cina) da quelle di R&D (ancorate presso la casa madre, e mai delocalizzate). 

Questo schema organizzativo della ricerca e sviluppo altrove e della replica e produzione in Cina ha comunque dei limiti che talvolta inficiano la riuscita stessa dell’intero processo. In particolare, da un lato il tempo di realizzo di tale procedimento non è comprimibile oltre certi livelli, dall’altro non si sfruttano a pieno le potenzialità locali in quanto si tende ogni volta a replicare standard definiti in precedenza, piuttosto che partire da quelli reperibili sul mercato locale, ovviamente fatto salvo il livello qualitativo atteso. La conseguenza ultima di ciò è che i benefici di saving auspicati o si realizzano con ritardo, ovvero, non si concretizzano addirittura perché le esigenza del mercato finale hanno preso nel frattempo direttrici diverse rendendo obsoleto l’oggetto dello scouting. 

Dunque che fare? Il quesito, seppur arduo da risolvere, si supera accelerando nella direzione di una evoluzione della struttura organizzativa sin qui tipica del processo di sourcing (la separazione della funzione acquisti localizzata in Cina da quella di R&D che opera altrove e lontana dal mercato) che deve necessariamente approdare ad una funzione unica e sinergica (che unisca cioè competenze differenti ma complementari) localizzata lì dove esiste il mercato delle forniture, ovvero in Cina. Questa scelta è improcrastinabile (se non ora quando?) soprattutto durante le fasi di mercato come quelle attuali dove le spinte inflazionistiche sul lato dei costi e quindi dei prezzi finali d’acquisto rendono il fattore tempo un valore assolutamente non trascurabile. La nuova ultima (in ordine di tempo) sfida del sourcing non è tanto quella di ricercare nuovi mercati di approvvigionamento (un’altra Cina per dimensione dell’offerta, capacità tecnologica e network di infrastrutture ancora non esiste) ma quella di divenire globale e trasversale integrandosi con la funzione di ricerca e sviluppo. Una struttura organizzativa nuova e diversa può garantire in termini di risultati finali una somma più che proporzionale rispetto ai singoli addendi: una macchina sincrona che si muove in una direzione univoca riduce sensibilmente i tempi e i costi dell’intero processo dando il mark up atteso (saving) e la flessibilità richiesta per rimanere competitivi e vincenti sui mercati finali. 

Valentino Blasone