On November 29, Professor Yang Guiju and Associate Professor Liu Hongli from the Business School of ECUST led their action learning practice team to Shanghai Diyang Chemical Import & Export Co., Ltd. for a company research visit. Our Chairman, Mr. Zhao Yang, and General Manager, Mr. Pan Li, warmly received the visiting faculty and students.

During the morning exchange session, General Manager Pan Li first gave the research team a detailed overview of our company's development history and current operations. At present, as a distributor of BASF catalysts in China, the company generates annual sales revenue of RMB 300 million, employs nearly 30 staff members, and operates under a flat management structure. The primary objective of this action learning project is to explore more effective ways to recruit, deploy, cultivate, and retain talent. In the subsequent interactive segment, the faculty and students actively raised questions and engaged in in-depth discussions with our management team on topics including business structure, organizational setup, job functions at various positions, and management details. Under the professional guidance of Associate Professor Liu Hongli and Professor Yang Guiju, both sides jointly identified the key issues that need to be prioritized for this project.

After a morning of intense and productive discussions, our company and the action learning team have gained a much clearer understanding of the project’s key issues, their root causes, as well as their urgency and significance. Going forward, the team will conduct multiple rounds of in-depth group discussions to develop tailored and effective solutions for our company.

Our management stated that this action learning research activity has been of great benefit to the company—offering not only fresh management perspectives but also valuable insights for building our talent system. We sincerely look forward to future exchanges with the faculty and students of ECUST Business School, and to jointly fostering even more fruitful outcomes through our university-industry cooperation.