IT 398/599 Topics in Global IT -- CDM Japan
Assignment #2 (due Sunday, Nov 23)

Overview:

For this assignment, you prepare a few well thought and researched questions to ask during the company visits in Japan, for the purpose of making each company visit as productive as possible.  Then you will bring your questions and actually ask during the company visits.

Specifics:

1. This is an individual assignment.  Everyone prepares his/her own questions.
2. Formulate a total of 3 questions.  And the questions must include both on gaming and animation -- thus,
   • 2 questions on gaming + 1 question on animation, or
   • 1 question on gaming + 2 questions on animation
3. A question may be targeted to one company or several companies. 
   In either case, a question should include things that are specific to the target company, for example their products, corporate strategies, etc.
4. Each question must be accompanied by one or more paragraphs explaining/elaborating the question further.  Simply saying "because I'm curios" or "because I thought it's a good question to ask" will NOT do.  You should also include some facts or references in the explanation. 

   As for ideas for questions,

   • Your question may come from the background research you did for the first assignment -- you have read some opinions on a certain issue during your research, and you want to know what the company would respond regarding the issue.
   • Or your question may come from the presentations made by other groups in our 2nd meeting -- you might have been intrigued by a point raised in a presentation.
   • Or your question may come from other topics/things you 'always wanted to know' about the company or the industry as a whole.

   IMPORTANT: Be sure to use common sense and discretion -- Do NOT include anything that may be taken offensive or rude, or anything that may raise their 'alarm' toward us (e.g. by asking company 'secrets').

Some Notes:

1. The companies we will be visiting are below.  For 4-8 (Telecom, Grasshopper, Arc, Production I.G. and Assemblent), you can also see the company signup page for more information.
   1. Namco Bandai Games (http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/)
   2. Microsoft Xbox Japan
   3. Toei Animation (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/)
   4. Telecom Animation Film (http://www.telecom-anime.com/)
   5. Grasshopper manufacture (http://www.grasshopper.co.jp/)
   6. Arc System Works (http://www.arcsystemworks.jp/)
   7. Production I.G. (http://www.production-ig.co.jp/)
   8. Assemblent (Mr. Koichi Abe, http://www.assemblent.co.jp/ -- Mr. Abe's profile in English is found in the company signup page)
2. You might like to ask a question to a specific group of people in the company (e.g. the development team of a specific game title), but we might not be able to meet with them during our visit (i.e.., we may meet with other development groups).  I will try to obtain the specifics of our visit schedule/menu from the company before the due date of this assignment.  But in case I didn't get the information in time, you should think of relatively high-level, general questions.
3. Remember, the companies are taking the time out of their busy work to give you the maximum educational opportunity.  Be grateful to their generosity, and show your deepest appreciation during and after the visits.

Deliverables:

A document which contains your questions, to be posted on COLWEB.  The document must have:

• Course number (IT 398/599), Assignment number (#2), and Date
• Your name

Grading:

This assignment is worth 10 points. Complete and well-thought questions will receive at least 7 points. More credit will go to those that provide in-depth explanations of the questions.