- ISBN13: 9781591393276
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
“A guide for anyone who wants to engage the Chinese in cooperative endeavor.” -Foreign Affairs Ming-Jer Chen takes readers Inside Chinese Business to reveal the social and cultural values that underpin Chinese business practices and influence day-to-day corporate decisions. Drawing from his intimate knowledge of Chinese culture and history and from his extensive managerial work and international experience, Chen provides an unrivaled insider’s perspective on how… More >>
This books takes a difficult topic and brilliantly describes in detail the cultural and social values that shape Chinese business. Written by a native of Taiwan, Inside Chinese Business is packed with historical data, tips for future dealings with Chinese business leaders, and lists of further reading on this topic. A must read for global business executives who are looking to enter into the Chinese marketplace!
Rating: 5 / 5
Full Title: Inside Chinese Business: A Guide for Managers Worldwide
by Ming-Jer Chen
Published: 2001
Taiwan born Dr. Ming-Jer Chen discusses the social and cultural values behind Chinese business practices. Dr. Chen is currently a EMBA Professor at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, and formerly was a Director at The Wharton School of Business. Dr. Chen uses his expertise to link Chinese history and philosophy to China’s modern business practices.
Inside Chinese Business even discusses Lenovo during the early days stating, “This asymemetry in competitive perception between Legend and Western firms gave Legend room to focus on important areas of the value chain (distribution, personal selling, and so on).” The book also stresses that business operations require managers with knowledge of Western culture and a global set of standard business practices. Key chapters include roles and rules in Chinese society, communicating with Chinese, and concludes with doing business in the PRC. This book provides useful insights for Western managers seeking to create sustainable professional relations across global Chinese business communities.
Rating: 3 / 5
I agree with some of the reviewers below — this book presents a complex topic in a very simplistic fashion. The concepts covered are very basic and almost naive.
Rating: 1 / 5
The philosophical paradigm of this book is that culture determines the way people value and behave in the business world.
This book is relevant to readers who are new to the Chinese business world. Professor Chen from Darden Business School defines `Chinese business world’ to encompass Chinese in the mainland and overseas. As the Chinese business world is very culturally-determined, he concludes that traditional cultural values govern how people undertake and organise their businesses in various aspects. Salient cultural values include family-oriented, guanxi and networking, the middle way, and patience.
Professor Chen concludes that Chinese culture and business practices are diametrically different from the West. If readers are quite familar with the Chinese world, they will find a bit frustrated because there are too many management studies that have fallen on this subject. Another limitation of this book is that Professor Chen assumes that cultural values and business practices of Mainland and Overseas Chinese are analogous. He fails to understand that the way to conduct business is different between mainland and overseas Chinese. For example, entrepreneurs from Mainland China tend to be more speculative or opportunistic and less ethical than other Chinese entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Rating: 2 / 5
I see that several readers have panned this one… it may very well be some old info, as pointed out by some apparently “old China hands”… but don’t rush to judgement… there are many of us who are just getting started there.
I picked up the book in the Hong Kong airport on my way into China for the first time, on business.
It was a treasure on that trip. First of all, it is not too heavy. Much more importantly, readers can get a great overview of what they might be facing. Mir-Ching Jen grew up and studied in China, including classic Confucius and other studies. This may make him almost unique in the ranks of “about China” books. some of his insight is very helpful… the book reads well the 2nd and third time.
If you are looking for a first pass intro, get this book. Then, as we all have and will, continue to get and read more. There is no one (or two) books that will cover it all for any of us. This is a great start.
Rating: 4 / 5