Who Will Eat The Apple?

Orienteering, Team building, and Cooperating: Who Will Eat The Apple?
Steve Jobs is gone and Apple’s share price is down, but now is the time for a new challenger to Eat the Apple and stand atop the world’s mountain of companies. Can it be you?

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Our first challenge presents a seemingly simple, but complex case of “Who will Eat the Apple?” Participants will split into different “companies”: Pear, Sisung, Yeskia, GSB, Huabei, Husan, Soelbow—fierce competitors in the mobile consumer electronics game who sometimes do cooperate and other times crush each other. Each participant will be given a random role in the company: CEO, CFO, marketing, R&D, receptionist. Each will be given an identical starting “budget” with the goal of deciding how much to spend on product development on up to five new products. The right to develop each product will be decided at an auction, and the winning team will be the one who picks the best product mix based on the secret future value of each product.

Before the event, each participant will be given some information based on their assigned role. Furthermore, each team will receive some more information along with general industry information. The challenge will be to use the two hours allotted to apply orienteering skills taught in the morning workshop to find as many clues—hidden around Maluanshan—as possible to increase the individual and the team’s knowledge and then use this knowledge to come up with a winning strategy to use in the technology auction after lunch. Only basic tools will be allowed--a map, a compass, and walkie-talkies. (cell phones?) along with the information you are given, that which you find, trade, buy, or steal—to devise your strategy to become number one.

Can your team find and interpret the clues? Can you bid effectively? Can you buy from your competitors? Will you form alliances? Will you betray your team for a better offer from a competitor? Will you beat Steve Jobs and the legacy of apple? Are you up to the challenge? A debrief after the event will be held along with a roundtable and metrics on performance.

Workshop Takeaways

• Each participant will receive and individual and team scores on each of these dimensions from a 360 degree feedback perspective
• Teams will be randomly filmed throughout the event for playback review
• A final debrief will allow all participants to compare, contrast, and learn from each others’ performance.

Schedule:
8:50 AM Meet at Zen Quest Maluanshan Headquarters
9:00 AM-9:30 AM Case Briefing
9:30 AM-10:00 AM Orienteering briefing
10:00 AM-10:30 AM Team Breakouts (1)
10:30 AM- 12:30 PM Orienteering Clue Hunt
12:30 PM-1:30 PM Lunch and Team Strategy Breakouts (2)
1:30 PM-2:00 PM Auction
2:00 PM- 2:45 PM Case debrief
3:00 PM Return to Shenzhen

Hope to see you there on June 16th and happy hunting, the Zen Quest Team.

About Us:

Jack Marr, Business Content and Training Director

Jack Marr is an advisor and trainer on business and leadership issues in South China and teaches MBA at as a Senior Lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management MBA program in Chicago, The University of Ballarat in Hong Kong, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Webster MBA throughout China, and at CIEE. He previously served as Adjunct Professor of Business and founding Director of NYU's Stern School in Shanghai. Jack is an avid and accomplished mountaineer, climber, skier, mountain biker, trail runner, and open water swimmer and has been exploring the wild outdoors around the world since age 6. In the past, Jack was an associate consultant for McKinsey & Company in Greater China and served at the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai. Jack holds an M.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.A. University of Illinois, and completed McKinsey’s intensive MBA. Jack is fluent in Mandarin and Japanese and a proud father.

Li Wei, Chief Program Director

Li Wei, a graduate of the Guangzhou school pf physical education, was a Chinese football star in the 80s. In the 90s he began exploring the outdoors. In 2005 after 7 years of training, Li Wei became the first group of graduates from the Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) Higher level instructor course.  In 2009, he received the "best outdoor facilitator" award issued by the CMA.
As one of the leading figures of the Chinese outdoors movement, Li has been working to set up outdoor education curriculum for Beijing Normal University and Shantou University. Li has also served in the capacity of CHO in one of the leading online gaming firms in Shenzhen. The combination of his outdoor knowledge, affable teaching style and executive level corporate management, distinguishes Li, making him a favourite speaker and trainer for corporate and government personnel training events.

Eben Farnworth, Technical Director

Eben's interests and skills are spread across a wide range of areas from Canoeing and rock climbing to web design and the study of Chinese. Eben is from the UK and graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2005 with an Honours degree in Outdoor Leadership.

Mai Rui Nan Senior instructor
Mai is a Chinese Mountaineering Association instructor. An avid outdoors-men, Mai have been living the outdoor life since the 80s. Having led over 200 expeditions, Mai knows the Chinese outdoors like the back of his hands. His footsteps has taken him all over China and South East Asia.

Location: Maluan Mountain

About Maluan Mountain: sourse - Shenzhen Daily November 10, 2004, from

"Maluan Mountain is not the most famous mountain in the Shenzhen area, even among the city's long-term residents.
However, it is extremely popular among avid hikers because it's easy, safe, beautiful and varied with clear streams, lush woods, Chinese plum blossoms and one of the area's largest waterfalls.
The mountain's paths aren't surfaced, yet the climb is not strenuous, as the summit is only half the height of Shenzhen's highest peak, Wutong Mountain.
Lan Chou Gu, a veteran member of Shenzhen's largest online outdoor pursuits club, Mofang, once wrote: "It's hard to say how many Shenzheners have fallen in love with hiking when climbing Maluan Mountain, but who, if they love hiking, has not climbed Maluan Mountain."
Expeditions to Maluan Mountain usually start at Diecuihu Reservoir, 15 minutes from Xiaomeisha beach, and end at Dameisha beach.
The summit is accessible from various routes, but the most attractive one is along a stream.
The stream is less than half-a-meter deep, with boulders forming natural steps for hikers. Jumping from one boulder to another is a real test of balance, as some boulders are pointed and far apart from each other. In other places, the boulders are so large and close together that you have to scramble over, squeeze between and slide down them.
In nice weather, falling into the water is not the end of the world, although you have to be careful because your shoes become wet and slippery. However, after heavy rain, the water can run very fast and the rapids can carry you downstream.
Despite the challenges, trekking up the stream is quite refreshing.
Even on the hottest summer days, you will not feel it because much of the stream is under tree cover. The sounds of water splashing add to the tranquility and coolness of the mountain. Looking down, a continuous mountain chain extends in front of you, completely separating you from the city.
When a section of the waterway is too difficult to pass, a nearby mountain trail is a good alternative. Cool, damp, lush and with the sound of rushing water, the trail passes through what seems like a temperate forest.
Maluan Waterfalls is one of the largest in the Shenzhen area, about 16 meters high. There are also some smaller falls. While many leisurely hikers just enjoy watching the thundering waterfalls or bathing in the cool water, rock-climbers practice their skills on the cliffs beside the waterfalls.
The mountain is best known for its plum blossom trees, which bloom in January. The Plum Blossom Pavilion at the summit offers an excellent view of the blue sea and the red and white plum blossoms in January.
If you start your expedition at about 10 AM, you will arrive at the Plum Blossom Pavilion by midday, in time for a relaxing lunch at the small village about 30 minutes walk from the pavilion.
You can buy some farm produce from the villagers and cook at their houses. If you are lucky, you can get a chicken raised by farmers for 50 yuan (US$6). But don't expect to recharge your mobile phones here because most of the village houses have no electricity.
If you want to climb Maluan Mountain, you'd better be quick. The mountain may soon lose part of its natural beauty because a golf course is being built on it."
 

Travel tips

It's easy to get lost on Maluan Mountain because it has several peaks, so bring a guide on your first visit.

Dameisha beach can be reached by bus No. 103.
It takes about five hours to complete the route from Xiaomeisha beach to Maluan Mountain and back to Dameisha beach. You are advised to take water and food with you.


Meeting Place: Shenzhen Xiaomeisha Seaside Park Main Gate beneath the flagpole.
Map: http://map.sz.bendibao.com/
Meeting Time: June 2nd 2013, 8:45 AM

Required Gear: 
Personal Gear


1. Light, comfortable walking clothes or track-suit.


2. Hat (for sun)

3. Water for hydration (1 litter or 2 small bottles) and light portable snacks (fruit, crackers, nuts)


4. Small backpack/book bag and change of clothes in case of sweat or rain (1-2 sets)

Important Matters: 


1. Please respect the team spirit. During activities, please follow the instructions and plans of the trainers and team activities. Please do not leave the team for non-event activities or wander off.

2. Please bring your own complete set of the required gear listed above. If you forget something, it is your responsibility to borrow or purchase one as necessary. Please respect other people’s gear.  


3. When hiking, please pay attention to your personal physical condition or any discomfort, and if there is a problem immediately inform a trainer or an experienced team member. Please do not hesitate to let others know there is an issue! Hiding a problem will only make it worse.

4. Please be responsible for bringing any specialised personal medicines.

5. Be aware of your limits. Try to carry only essential items in order to minimise pack weight. 


6. In the event of unforeseen difficulties, trainers reserve the right to cancel the event for the safety of all participants.

7. As Maluanshan is located near the seacoast, winds can be strong so we recommend carrying a waterproof windbreaker.

8. Please leave a bit of empty space in your packs to help with carrying any team equipment.

9. Please be realistic in assessing your outdoor abilities so you do not find yourself in a position that exceeds your comfort zone. If you have troubles, please ask for a trainer or teammate’s help.  


10. We encourage everyone to work to leverage each other’s strengths and skills and ensure the event’s safety. 


11. Please be aware of your condition on the day of the activity.

12. Enjoy the experience, as many strong and enduring friendships grow out of working together in the mountains!

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