field notes

Selected writing tied directly to the work.

Field Notes is GroupMAV's record of what we've seen, heard, and concluded across two decades of China-related work. Sample reports, observations from the field, and short arguments on decisions that come up repeatedly. Everything here comes out of actual engagements.

Featured

FIELD NOTE

More money would not have saved it.

FIELD NOTE

A China software business kept raising capital to fix a problem capital could not fix. By the time the investors looked closely, the company was already gone. A Post-Mortem review of why the business failed.

FIELD NOTE

The business was not running. It was being carried.

FIELD NOTE

A China industrial business looked stable after a hostile JV separation. The recovery was being held together by one operator. A Mid-Mortem review of leadership transition readiness.

FIELD NOTE

No market to enter.

FIELD NOTE

A China market entry plan assumed high and growing demand. Fieldwork found the product solved the wrong problem. A Pre-Mortem review of market entry risk.

FIELD NOTE

Boaz Rottenberg 5/1/26 Boaz Rottenberg 5/1/26

No market to enter.

A China market entry plan assumed high and growing demand. Fieldwork found the product solved the wrong problem. A Pre-Mortem review of market entry risk.