INTRODUCTION:

This award winning case presents the story of Michael Faye, Senior Vice President, Salvetec(Europe) and his company. It is presented in comic strip format which keeps the reader engaged throughout the case. Michael graduated from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1967 and worked with pharma giants like Pfizer and Squibb before joining Salvetec, a leading pharmaceutical company operating in over 100 countries.He has been assigned the task to run his company’s operations in China which he thinks can be done by knowing more about the country. He anticipates the prospective threats for the company’s smooth operation in China. His boss relies on him for his influential skills and international experience. His main concern is that how to go about this assignment in an effective and efficient manner and how to overcome his shortcomings.

OBJECTIVES: * To understand the importance of networking in business world. * To understand the importance of individual learning and its impact on organizational learning. * To understand the importance idea hunting and how it is linked with past experiences.
AGENDA:
* How would you characterize his idea-hunting style? * What are the likes & dislikes about his hunt? What would we have done differently taking it as our challenge? * What has allowed Faye to get the most out of this approach to hunting new ideas?

BACKGROUND:

Michael has been described as an opportunist and open to new ideas but lacks in proper planning. He meets his ex-colleagues in Shanghai and discusses about Squibb’s JV with the Chinese. They help him with advice and contacts in China. He then proceeds to a stent manufacturer, who convinces him to buy the company because their investment banker is the strongest in China. Then he visits his competitor’s investment banker in Shandong There, his