IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

This course aims at deepening our understandings of retail and distribution system in Japan. At the end of this course, you’ll have acquired hands-on knowledge on (1) the social roles of the distribution system, (2) idiosyncrasies and historical development of the Japanese retailing and distribution system and (3) some of the critical and contemporary issues surrounding retailing and distribution trades in Japan today.

Through participating in this course, students are expected to acquire fundamental knowledge on various types of distribution channels as well as the social roles that the distribution system plays in a given socio-cultural and economic setting. Students are also given opportunities to compare the distribution system in his / her own country with its Japanese counterpart, making use of related statistics and other secondary sources, together with some fieldworks and case-based discussions. Course assignments are designed in a way that students can develop their interests in those retailers that represent the Japanese distribution today.

英語 / English

This course consists of a combination of lectures, in-class case-based discussions, student-led presentations, guest talks and site visits.

あり / Yes

あり / Yes

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1：Course guidance & introduction

-Course guidance: Scope of the course and course requirements
-Icebreak session
-Introduction: Why do we study retailing and distribution system?

2：Retailing & distribution system and its social roles (1)

-What is retailing and distribution (system) anyway?
-Why do we need merchants’ intermediaries between production and consumption?
-What does retail and distribution system deliver to us?

3：Retailing & distribution system and its social roles (2)

-The functions of retail and distribution system
-Who perform the functions and activities in the retail and distribution system?
-Who pay the costs of distribution? (The concept of distribution costs)

4：Retailing in Japan: Its structure and social roles

-What is retailing?
-Who perform the roles of retailing?
-Social roles expected to retailing
-Factor affecting retail change (task environment and constraining environment)
-Structure of Japanese retailing

5：Retail formats and retail types (1)

-Retail formats and retail types
-Structure of Japanese retailing from the perspective retail types
-Principal retail types

6：Retail formats and retail types (2)

Retail Business Model (RBM) innovations: Principal cases in Japanese retailing

7：Guest Lecture (1) : centering around RBM

A retail practitioner / executive will be invited for a guest talk and in-class discussion.

8：Follow up lecture of the Guest Lecture (1) and in-class discussions.

- What you'd have learned through the Guest Lecture (1) will be explained and discussed from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

9：Internationalisation of retailing (1)

-The notion of internationalisation in retailing
-Retailers’ motivations to internationalise their operations

10：Internationalisation of retailing (2)

-Multiple case studies of Japanese retailers’ internationalisation processes are to be presented.
- We'll also discuss the issues surrounding
those internatinal retailers attempt to set fooot on the Japanese market.

11：Site Visit (Fieldwork)

A class field trip to a disignated retail site.

12：Guest Lecture (2) : centering around retail internationalisation

A retail practitioner / executive will be invited for a guest talk and in-class discussion.

13：Follow up lecture of the Guest Lecture (2) and in-class discussions.

Some of the key issues introduced in the Guest Lecture (2) will be further discussed with both practical and theoretical implications.

14：Term-summary

The contents dealt with in the semester will be reviewed for a systemic understanding.

Students are expected to familiarise themselves with the phenomena pertaining to retailing and distribution trades, including retail marketing activities among Japanese firms, throughout the semester. It will help them better understand what they look at in this course. * Stundents are to spend approvimately a couple of hours for the preparation and review of each class.

There is no specific course textbook. Learning materials are to be distributed prior to each lecture.

Fernie,J,Fernie,S, and Moore,C. (2015) Principles of Retailing 2nd Edition,Routledge, ISBN(978-1138791954)

Goworek,H, and McGoldrick,P. (2015) Retail Marketing Management : Principles & Practice, Pearson Education, ISBN(978-0273758747)

(1)Weekly assignment (50%)

(2)In-class contributions through discussions (20%)

(2)End-of-term assessment (short essay) (30%)

Having shared with students their ideas for the future course disign of this subject, the structure of the course is made more towards a mixed-method one with a combination of conceptural / theoretical lectures, case studies / case discussions, guest lectures, and site visit.

Students are occasionally required to bring in their own PC.

Although it is not mandatory, it is desirable to have taken a set of introductory courses in the related fields (e.g. Intoroduction to; organisational / strategic management, accounting, finance, marketing, and organisational management and etc.) upon registering on this class.

Please note that the teaching approach may vary according to which threat level we are at: at level 1, this course will be held on campus, though at level 2, it will be held online.