This document discusses the Chinese business concept of guanxi. It defines guanxi as personal relationships and connections between people that can be leveraged. Guanxi is deeply rooted in Confucian principles and emphasizes hierarchy and reciprocity of favors. For Western businesses, guanxi differs from networking in its personal nature and focus on cultivating relationships between individuals rather than organizations. The document suggests guanxi can help Western businesses gain market entry in China and achieve long-term success through political connections, information gathering, and relationship building.
This document proposes a new theory for international relations called "needs theory" that argues states act based on their genuine needs rather than the constraints of international structure or complex interdependence. It critiques realism and liberalism for not fully explaining state behavior. As a case study, it analyzes US interests and trade relationships to argue the US acts according to its needs rather than for survival or power balancing reasons. It suggests needs theory could provide a new foundation and analytical tool for understanding international relations in an emerging "epoch of realization" where states' true capabilities reflect their domestic needs and resource endowments.
This document provides a literature review and analysis of trafficking in persons (TIP) with a focus on examining demand-side factors in destination countries. It notes that while most research focuses on supply factors in origin countries, understanding demand is also important to inform effective policies. The paper aims to analyze the economic, social and psychological motivations behind demand for trafficked services by end-users in destination countries, using the United Kingdom as a case study. It will examine components of demand for both sex and labor trafficking. The document contains a thorough review of existing literature on TIP and identifies gaps in research on understanding demand perspectives.
This course introduces students to globalization through examining its economic, social, political, and technological transformations that have increased global interconnectedness. Over 18 weeks, students will analyze different aspects of globalization like the global economy, population movements, and sustainability issues. Students will complete assessments like quizzes, presentations, and a final research paper on a topic related to globalization.
In this thesis, leadership is tested by looking at the influence from cultural dimensions. This cultural influence is on the preference of leadership and the managing of conflicts.
Making Rights Matter – Feminized Migration and Political Transnationalism by ...NIAS
This document discusses feminized migration and political transnationalism. It notes that while migration is often feminized, the term itself is a misnomer. Many countries now see large percentages of female migrants, especially in sectors like manufacturing and care work. Migrant labor is transforming labor relations as non-profits fill institutional gaps in organizing female and migrant workers. Temporary migration policies can politicize workers and foster "political remittances" between origin and destination countries. Collective activism across borders aims to make migrant rights portable and matter in practice through transnational networks. Future research on gender and rights could analyze these networks from the perspectives of participating individuals.
This document summarizes a literature review of articles on culture published in the Engineering Management Journal between 1989 and 2014. It finds that while over 575 articles were published, few addressed cultural issues. Those that did often focused on understanding how globalization and multicultural teams impact engineering management. The review aims to help engineering managers enhance their cultural knowledge and leadership skills for diverse, global environments. It provides background on definitions of culture from anthropology and discusses some of the major researchers in the field of organizational culture.
Hanna Nyqvist-Bachelor's Thesis-Management Approaches and Labour Conditions i...Hanna Nyqvist
This document provides a summary of a student paper that explores differences in labour conditions between Chinese state-owned firms and private firms. The paper uses Wang and Chee's theory that state-owned firms employ a "humane" management approach based on Confucian values, while private firms use a "legalist" approach focused on rules and regulations. Through analyzing quantitative data on employment statistics and qualitative data from case studies and labour law contracts, the student paper aims to determine if there are differences in labour conditions between the two types of firms, and to what extent Wang and Chee's theory is validated. The student conducted this research to better understand how economic reforms in China since the 1980s have impacted labour outcomes.
This document provides an overview and introduction to the concepts discussed in the book "The Third Era" about rethinking models of constitutional governance. It discusses how governance systems have historically evolved in response to challenges of their time, and how today's systems face new 21st century issues. The document outlines three main sections of the book: 1) Understanding the present political landscape and trends, 2) Anticipating types of future political change, and 3) Rethinking models of governance and spurring adaptation to challenges. The overall aim is to start conversations around reconceptualizing governance approaches to better address complex modern problems.
This document proposes a new theory for international relations called "needs theory" that argues states act based on their genuine needs rather than the constraints of international structure or complex interdependence. It critiques realism and liberalism for not fully explaining state behavior. As a case study, it analyzes US interests and trade relationships to argue the US acts according to its needs rather than for survival or power balancing reasons. It suggests needs theory could provide a new foundation and analytical tool for understanding international relations in an emerging "epoch of realization" where states' true capabilities reflect their domestic needs and resource endowments.
This document provides a literature review and analysis of trafficking in persons (TIP) with a focus on examining demand-side factors in destination countries. It notes that while most research focuses on supply factors in origin countries, understanding demand is also important to inform effective policies. The paper aims to analyze the economic, social and psychological motivations behind demand for trafficked services by end-users in destination countries, using the United Kingdom as a case study. It will examine components of demand for both sex and labor trafficking. The document contains a thorough review of existing literature on TIP and identifies gaps in research on understanding demand perspectives.
This course introduces students to globalization through examining its economic, social, political, and technological transformations that have increased global interconnectedness. Over 18 weeks, students will analyze different aspects of globalization like the global economy, population movements, and sustainability issues. Students will complete assessments like quizzes, presentations, and a final research paper on a topic related to globalization.
In this thesis, leadership is tested by looking at the influence from cultural dimensions. This cultural influence is on the preference of leadership and the managing of conflicts.
Making Rights Matter – Feminized Migration and Political Transnationalism by ...NIAS
This document discusses feminized migration and political transnationalism. It notes that while migration is often feminized, the term itself is a misnomer. Many countries now see large percentages of female migrants, especially in sectors like manufacturing and care work. Migrant labor is transforming labor relations as non-profits fill institutional gaps in organizing female and migrant workers. Temporary migration policies can politicize workers and foster "political remittances" between origin and destination countries. Collective activism across borders aims to make migrant rights portable and matter in practice through transnational networks. Future research on gender and rights could analyze these networks from the perspectives of participating individuals.
This document summarizes a literature review of articles on culture published in the Engineering Management Journal between 1989 and 2014. It finds that while over 575 articles were published, few addressed cultural issues. Those that did often focused on understanding how globalization and multicultural teams impact engineering management. The review aims to help engineering managers enhance their cultural knowledge and leadership skills for diverse, global environments. It provides background on definitions of culture from anthropology and discusses some of the major researchers in the field of organizational culture.
Hanna Nyqvist-Bachelor's Thesis-Management Approaches and Labour Conditions i...Hanna Nyqvist
This document provides a summary of a student paper that explores differences in labour conditions between Chinese state-owned firms and private firms. The paper uses Wang and Chee's theory that state-owned firms employ a "humane" management approach based on Confucian values, while private firms use a "legalist" approach focused on rules and regulations. Through analyzing quantitative data on employment statistics and qualitative data from case studies and labour law contracts, the student paper aims to determine if there are differences in labour conditions between the two types of firms, and to what extent Wang and Chee's theory is validated. The student conducted this research to better understand how economic reforms in China since the 1980s have impacted labour outcomes.
This document provides an overview and introduction to the concepts discussed in the book "The Third Era" about rethinking models of constitutional governance. It discusses how governance systems have historically evolved in response to challenges of their time, and how today's systems face new 21st century issues. The document outlines three main sections of the book: 1) Understanding the present political landscape and trends, 2) Anticipating types of future political change, and 3) Rethinking models of governance and spurring adaptation to challenges. The overall aim is to start conversations around reconceptualizing governance approaches to better address complex modern problems.
The document discusses the concept of guanxi in Chinese culture. Guanxi refers to relationships and obligations between parties built through reciprocal social exchanges and favors over time. It represents the system of social networks and influential relationships that facilitate business dealings in China. The document provides the example of how McDonald's lost its largest restaurant location in Beijing to make way for a development by Li Ka-shing due to lacking the strong guanxi, or relationships, that he enjoyed. By taking officials to court over the decision, McDonald's further reduced their guanxi instead of accepting the ruling and moving on.
Guanxi refers to personal connections and networks used to get things done in business in China. Guanxi Connections Ltd is a marketing and PR agency that offers exceptional concierge services with creative solutions. They help clients by understanding their needs, developing event concepts, sourcing venues and materials, producing marketing content, and handling logistics to deliver satisfied clients.
The document discusses the concept of "Guanxi" in China and its strengths and weaknesses for foreign businesses. Some key strengths of Guanxi include establishing strong business networks, facilitating long-term relationships, helping with government and employee relationships, and gaining larger market share. However, some weaknesses from a Western perspective are that Guanxi takes time to develop relationships, requires personal connections rather than just business deals, and could enable corruption. Understanding Guanxi is important for foreign companies to succeed in China's business environment.
Chinese business culture creates potential ethical and legal challenges for US businesses. Imperative to understand and navigate the ethical minefield in China for all doing business there.
Guanxi: What is it and Why is it a Chinese Business Essential?Startup China
Thriving in China's economy goes beyond the simplicity of taking an international flight from one continent to the next or clicking a few buttons to orchestrate a global conference call. It’s dependent on the implications of proper “networking,” or guanxi, based on the cultural and social expectations found in China.
Master's Thesis public defense presentation @ IPAM February 2015Ricardo Moreira 李卡多
My master's thesis public defense presentation on: ‘GUANXI’(关系) AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AS MEANS TO FIGHT COUNTERFEITING, EDUCATE CONSUMERS AND SUPPORT GROWTH IN CHINA’S ‘PÚTÁOJIŬ’(葡萄酒) / WINE MARKET'
This document discusses how to establish and run a successful business in China. It outlines the 5 steps to set up a foreign-invested enterprise, including applying for approval and registering with authorities. Minimum registered capital requirements vary by business type, from $12,500 USD for technology consulting to $62,500 USD for production. Invoices are required for taxation and "guanxi", the network of business relationships, is important for trust and cooperation. Overall success requires thorough market research and adherence to a sound long-term business plan.
Presentation strategies for china business- nes(a)Uwé Tan
Guangxi refers to networking and relationships, which are important in Chinese business culture. It is based on concepts like reciprocity and developing long-term relationships through mutual support and courtesy. While gift-giving can help build guanxi, solely expecting favors in return could be considered bribery. There are also differences between a company's ethics and a country's business norms that must be navigated carefully. Overall, understanding local cultural contexts is important for success in China or other markets with differing standards.
China presents opportunities for foreign investment and business growth. However, entering the Chinese market requires careful planning to navigate the country's complex regulatory environment and significant regional differences. Foreign companies should consider establishing operations in lower-cost tier 2 cities to tap emerging middle class consumers. Development zones offer tax incentives for certain industries but companies must understand China's foreign investment catalog to identify permitted business activities. Choosing the right legal entity like a WFOE, JV, or representative office also requires navigating China's investment restrictions and regulations.
Abstract Of Guanxi 9000km Away J Van Ormondtjvanormondt
This thesis provides a human resources policy for a Dutch company setting up a purchasing division company, called a cohong, in China. It advises adopting a team-oriented organizational design that fits Chinese culture best. Specifically, it recommends dividing employees into low- and high-educated groups and focusing on retaining the scarce high-educated employees. The suggested approach is a clan structure where internalizing company goals is most important. The proposed HR policy includes socialization for new employees and a long-term appraisal system linked to the clan structure, while also stimulating some short-term goals through output measurement.
Basic information of Chinese Business Culture.
An asignment in the course "Marketing, Business Relations" Företagsekonomi inr marknadsföring 21-40 poäng (business and management studies)
This document summarizes key topics in international business ethics, including:
1) The field of business ethics approaches issues from both normative and descriptive perspectives.
2) Globalization has increased interest in business ethics due to issues like outsourcing and supply chain management.
3) Multinational companies face challenges in determining ethical standards when home and host country standards differ. Guidelines focus on respecting human rights, welfare, and justice.
4) Other issues discussed include exploiting workers through low wages, foreign bribery, and addressing cultural differences in business practices.
This document appears to be notes from a presentation about the Guanxi Project and the Guanxi Shibb Kit (GSK). It discusses the Guanxi Project's goals of implementing Shibboleth specifications, extending attribute authority functions, and creating Shibboleth federations. It also covers what integration means for an identity provider, how the GSK works with Sakai to enable single sign-on, and how attributes are mapped when backend systems don't support the attributes needed.
This study examines how relationships between employees and supervisors in Chinese organizations can impact employees' organizational-based self-esteem and job performance. The researchers collected data from 219 employee-supervisor pairs at a Chinese bank. Their analysis found that high-quality relationships involving both work and personal domains between employees and supervisors were positively related to employees' organizational-based self-esteem. Additionally, career mentoring from supervisors moderated the relationship between organizational-based self-esteem and job performance.
The document summarizes key aspects of Chinese culture that influence behavior, such as Confucian values of harmony, guanxi (relationships), and mianzi (face). It discusses how these values are embodied in concepts like the I Ching and zhongyong. The document also reviews research on how Chinese culture guides behavior in various contexts like philosophy, business, management, and cross-cultural situations.
The document summarizes key aspects of Chinese culture, including Confucianism, harmony, guanxi (relationships), mianzi (face), and change according to the I Ching. It discusses how these cultural values guide Chinese behavior in areas like conflict resolution, business, and applying Chinese culture in cross-cultural situations. Research on how these cultural factors influence areas like negotiation, reward allocation, and network relationships are also summarized.
This document summarizes a study on Chinese business people's views regarding engaging in business partnerships with foreign firms, particularly Australian firms. The study was conducted in two phases, with phase one involving in-depth interviews of 6 Chinese business people in managerial positions. Phase two surveyed 49 additional Chinese business people to further understand social, cultural, and institutional factors that may influence their decisions to engage in international business partnerships. Key factors examined included the importance of relationships and trust between partners, as well as differences between more impersonal Western styles of business versus more personal and long-term relationship-focused business in China.
This document summarizes the historical background of Confucian entrepreneurs in China and examines how contemporary Confucian entrepreneurs reconcile moral values with material goals in business. It defines Confucian entrepreneurs as business owners who adhere to Confucian moral principles. The document outlines the Confucian debate around righteousness versus profitability and how some scholars during the Ming Dynasty began to see them as compatible. It aims to study how modern Confucian entrepreneurs make moral choices when their principles conflict with profit motives through interviews.
AN ANALYSIS OF ETHNOCENTRISM IN A GLOBALIZED BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTDarian Pruitt
This document summarizes a research article about overcoming ethnocentrism in intercultural business communication. The research article explores how globalization has increased diversity in workplaces but also challenges like ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism can negatively impact business relationships and understanding between cultures if not addressed. The research aims to provide a model for overcoming ethnocentrism in multicultural work environments. It reviews literature on how ethnocentrism affects communication between cultures and discusses challenges of unifying diverse cultures in business.
This document summarizes earlier research on the relationship between NGOs and the United Nations, and the role of NGOs in global governance. Scholars have found that NGOs are increasingly influential international actors, but theories of international relations traditionally focus only on states. Research also shows that effective global governance requires cooperation between states and non-state actors like NGOs. While NGOs are omnipresent in UN processes, their influence is still limited within the UN which is primarily a conglomerate of nation-states. The document examines ways to enhance NGO participation and influence in UN decision-making.
The document discusses the concept of guanxi in Chinese culture. Guanxi refers to relationships and obligations between parties built through reciprocal social exchanges and favors over time. It represents the system of social networks and influential relationships that facilitate business dealings in China. The document provides the example of how McDonald's lost its largest restaurant location in Beijing to make way for a development by Li Ka-shing due to lacking the strong guanxi, or relationships, that he enjoyed. By taking officials to court over the decision, McDonald's further reduced their guanxi instead of accepting the ruling and moving on.
Guanxi refers to personal connections and networks used to get things done in business in China. Guanxi Connections Ltd is a marketing and PR agency that offers exceptional concierge services with creative solutions. They help clients by understanding their needs, developing event concepts, sourcing venues and materials, producing marketing content, and handling logistics to deliver satisfied clients.
The document discusses the concept of "Guanxi" in China and its strengths and weaknesses for foreign businesses. Some key strengths of Guanxi include establishing strong business networks, facilitating long-term relationships, helping with government and employee relationships, and gaining larger market share. However, some weaknesses from a Western perspective are that Guanxi takes time to develop relationships, requires personal connections rather than just business deals, and could enable corruption. Understanding Guanxi is important for foreign companies to succeed in China's business environment.
Chinese business culture creates potential ethical and legal challenges for US businesses. Imperative to understand and navigate the ethical minefield in China for all doing business there.
Guanxi: What is it and Why is it a Chinese Business Essential?Startup China
Thriving in China's economy goes beyond the simplicity of taking an international flight from one continent to the next or clicking a few buttons to orchestrate a global conference call. It’s dependent on the implications of proper “networking,” or guanxi, based on the cultural and social expectations found in China.
Master's Thesis public defense presentation @ IPAM February 2015Ricardo Moreira 李卡多
My master's thesis public defense presentation on: ‘GUANXI’(关系) AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AS MEANS TO FIGHT COUNTERFEITING, EDUCATE CONSUMERS AND SUPPORT GROWTH IN CHINA’S ‘PÚTÁOJIŬ’(葡萄酒) / WINE MARKET'
This document discusses how to establish and run a successful business in China. It outlines the 5 steps to set up a foreign-invested enterprise, including applying for approval and registering with authorities. Minimum registered capital requirements vary by business type, from $12,500 USD for technology consulting to $62,500 USD for production. Invoices are required for taxation and "guanxi", the network of business relationships, is important for trust and cooperation. Overall success requires thorough market research and adherence to a sound long-term business plan.
Presentation strategies for china business- nes(a)Uwé Tan
Guangxi refers to networking and relationships, which are important in Chinese business culture. It is based on concepts like reciprocity and developing long-term relationships through mutual support and courtesy. While gift-giving can help build guanxi, solely expecting favors in return could be considered bribery. There are also differences between a company's ethics and a country's business norms that must be navigated carefully. Overall, understanding local cultural contexts is important for success in China or other markets with differing standards.
China presents opportunities for foreign investment and business growth. However, entering the Chinese market requires careful planning to navigate the country's complex regulatory environment and significant regional differences. Foreign companies should consider establishing operations in lower-cost tier 2 cities to tap emerging middle class consumers. Development zones offer tax incentives for certain industries but companies must understand China's foreign investment catalog to identify permitted business activities. Choosing the right legal entity like a WFOE, JV, or representative office also requires navigating China's investment restrictions and regulations.
Abstract Of Guanxi 9000km Away J Van Ormondtjvanormondt
This thesis provides a human resources policy for a Dutch company setting up a purchasing division company, called a cohong, in China. It advises adopting a team-oriented organizational design that fits Chinese culture best. Specifically, it recommends dividing employees into low- and high-educated groups and focusing on retaining the scarce high-educated employees. The suggested approach is a clan structure where internalizing company goals is most important. The proposed HR policy includes socialization for new employees and a long-term appraisal system linked to the clan structure, while also stimulating some short-term goals through output measurement.
Basic information of Chinese Business Culture.
An asignment in the course "Marketing, Business Relations" Företagsekonomi inr marknadsföring 21-40 poäng (business and management studies)
This document summarizes key topics in international business ethics, including:
1) The field of business ethics approaches issues from both normative and descriptive perspectives.
2) Globalization has increased interest in business ethics due to issues like outsourcing and supply chain management.
3) Multinational companies face challenges in determining ethical standards when home and host country standards differ. Guidelines focus on respecting human rights, welfare, and justice.
4) Other issues discussed include exploiting workers through low wages, foreign bribery, and addressing cultural differences in business practices.
This document appears to be notes from a presentation about the Guanxi Project and the Guanxi Shibb Kit (GSK). It discusses the Guanxi Project's goals of implementing Shibboleth specifications, extending attribute authority functions, and creating Shibboleth federations. It also covers what integration means for an identity provider, how the GSK works with Sakai to enable single sign-on, and how attributes are mapped when backend systems don't support the attributes needed.
This study examines how relationships between employees and supervisors in Chinese organizations can impact employees' organizational-based self-esteem and job performance. The researchers collected data from 219 employee-supervisor pairs at a Chinese bank. Their analysis found that high-quality relationships involving both work and personal domains between employees and supervisors were positively related to employees' organizational-based self-esteem. Additionally, career mentoring from supervisors moderated the relationship between organizational-based self-esteem and job performance.
The document summarizes key aspects of Chinese culture that influence behavior, such as Confucian values of harmony, guanxi (relationships), and mianzi (face). It discusses how these values are embodied in concepts like the I Ching and zhongyong. The document also reviews research on how Chinese culture guides behavior in various contexts like philosophy, business, management, and cross-cultural situations.
The document summarizes key aspects of Chinese culture, including Confucianism, harmony, guanxi (relationships), mianzi (face), and change according to the I Ching. It discusses how these cultural values guide Chinese behavior in areas like conflict resolution, business, and applying Chinese culture in cross-cultural situations. Research on how these cultural factors influence areas like negotiation, reward allocation, and network relationships are also summarized.
This document summarizes a study on Chinese business people's views regarding engaging in business partnerships with foreign firms, particularly Australian firms. The study was conducted in two phases, with phase one involving in-depth interviews of 6 Chinese business people in managerial positions. Phase two surveyed 49 additional Chinese business people to further understand social, cultural, and institutional factors that may influence their decisions to engage in international business partnerships. Key factors examined included the importance of relationships and trust between partners, as well as differences between more impersonal Western styles of business versus more personal and long-term relationship-focused business in China.
This document summarizes the historical background of Confucian entrepreneurs in China and examines how contemporary Confucian entrepreneurs reconcile moral values with material goals in business. It defines Confucian entrepreneurs as business owners who adhere to Confucian moral principles. The document outlines the Confucian debate around righteousness versus profitability and how some scholars during the Ming Dynasty began to see them as compatible. It aims to study how modern Confucian entrepreneurs make moral choices when their principles conflict with profit motives through interviews.
AN ANALYSIS OF ETHNOCENTRISM IN A GLOBALIZED BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTDarian Pruitt
This document summarizes a research article about overcoming ethnocentrism in intercultural business communication. The research article explores how globalization has increased diversity in workplaces but also challenges like ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism can negatively impact business relationships and understanding between cultures if not addressed. The research aims to provide a model for overcoming ethnocentrism in multicultural work environments. It reviews literature on how ethnocentrism affects communication between cultures and discusses challenges of unifying diverse cultures in business.
This document summarizes earlier research on the relationship between NGOs and the United Nations, and the role of NGOs in global governance. Scholars have found that NGOs are increasingly influential international actors, but theories of international relations traditionally focus only on states. Research also shows that effective global governance requires cooperation between states and non-state actors like NGOs. While NGOs are omnipresent in UN processes, their influence is still limited within the UN which is primarily a conglomerate of nation-states. The document examines ways to enhance NGO participation and influence in UN decision-making.
Response with 250 words each. Response 1Intergovernmenta.docxzmark3
Response with 250 words each.
Response 1:
Intergovernmental organizations were created for the nations to follow rules, norms but mostly to keep the peace amongst the world of course I believe the IGOs were created for the nations to meet at a common ground. Implying that the nations have to be functional on their own and keep evolving with the rest of the powerful nations. The authors have an optimistic view and tried to explain the institutional independence is important for the nations, more or less independent institutions may be more or less effective at promoting various objectives, such as reducing conflict or facilitating trade (Yoram, Thompson, 270). From a different scope the nations have to see all of the issues they have to be aware of if they are going to be independent from the rest of the nations like security, human rights, environment among others.
Intergovernmental Organizations have to play nice with each other and interact often in order to successfully attain mutual interests. In other words, socialization is not only a process but also an outcome (Kent,344). This is proof that cooperation is possible when negativity is set aside. Existing patterns of behavior within the nations show that coercion does not work effectively when trying to work together to bring peace and security within nations. There are consequences for every action regardless what a nation contributes as a whole, everyone can suffer negative consequences as a result of the bad actions.
China as a growing power country has been enhanced and working with the international organizations has facilitated the participation in globalization and modernization. It doesn’t seem like China is going to stop any time soon, China still has considerable goals to surpass the other great nations but meanwhile they have to play nice with the other nations. Participation has had the effect of protecting and extending China’s sovereignty, protecting and enhancing its international status, maintaining its strategic independence, preserving an external environment conducive to its own developmental goals, and promoting internal development aims through foreign investment, expanded trade, technology transfer, and development assistance (Kent, 348).
Globalization amongst business expansions are rapidly increasing but I don’t agree that power is used and abused as the authors Grant and Keohane claim. The authors are expressing their thoughts through their conventional standpoint. There are standards yes but when it comes to accountability the nations have to be responsible and held accountable for keeping in touch with the rest of the leaders. There might be some communication problems with a few of the international organizations but don’t blame the rest of the organizations. Checks and balances are mechanisms designed to prevent action that oversteps legitimate boundaries by requiring the cooperation of actors with different institutional interests to produ.
Global leadership a new framework for a changing worldKaungHtetZawSMU
This document proposes a new framework called the Global Leadership Model (GLM) for developing global leaders. The GLM has four key aspects:
1) It identifies four domains of leadership - transactional, transformational, conscious, and transpersonal - moving beyond prior frameworks focused on tasks and relationships.
2) It incorporates six levels of leadership intelligence beyond just cognitive and emotional intelligence.
3) It connects the four leadership domains to the six levels of intelligence to create a comprehensive framework.
4) It aims to help organizations identify and develop global leaders to succeed in today's complex, interconnected world.
This honors thesis examines why there are many women working in the public relations industry in Hong Kong. The student, Tiffany Wan, conducted surveys and interviewed an expert in the field. Through a literature review, Wan found three main factors that could explain the trend: communication skills, gender ratio, and education. However, the survey results did not strongly support the idea that women have better communication skills. Gender ratio, with more women migrating to Hong Kong, seemed to be a more significant factor. And in education, communication programs have more female than male students. The thesis provides insight into the "feminization" of the public relations industry in Hong Kong through quantitative and qualitative research methods.
The document proposes an organization development intervention for the Peace Corps using the Institute for Cultural Affairs' Strategic Planning Process. The 50-year old Peace Corps faces challenges including increased scrutiny, budget constraints, and ensuring volunteer safety. A 7-day engagement with a representative microcosm of stakeholders would define issues, create a vision, analyze obstacles, brainstorm solutions, and develop an implementation plan to better align the agency's policies and activities with its mission of promoting global peace.
Ontology as a Hidden Driver of Politics: Commoning and Relational Approaches ...Zack Walsh
This report offers a synthesis of findings from 18 experts who, at a three-day workshop, discussed how shifting the ontological premises of political and economic thought toward process-relational ontology could transform society. The workshop, called “Onto-seeding Societal Transformation,” was co-hosted by the Commons Strategies Group and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, in Neudenau, Germany, between September 9-12, 2019. It consisted of three successive sessions focused on process-relational approaches to ontology, design patterns, and politics. A final, fourth session focused on the integration of ontology, patterns, and politics in concrete case studies. This report concludes with new questions and next steps for strategically advancing relational approaches to governance and the commons.
Lay psychology of globalization and its social impactJimmy Valderrama
This document summarizes two studies examining lay perceptions of globalization across different regions. The studies found that despite regional differences in experiences with globalization, there were cross-regional similarities in how people:
1) Perceived globalization as related to but distinct from concepts like modernization, Westernization, and Americanization.
2) Categorized globalization-related issues along the dimensions of international trade vs. technology and globalized consumption vs. global consequences.
3) Viewed globalization as having a stronger positive impact on people's competence rather than warmth.
Confucianism and Legalism were the two main political philosophies that influenced dynasties in ancient China. While Confucianism focused on virtue-based rule and strong social hierarchies, Legalism advocated for a strong centralized government and rule of law. Over time, Legalism proved more persuasive to rulers seeking to consolidate power and control the population, while Confucianism's emphasis on virtue over law made it less effective at governing large empires.
The document discusses how national culture influences organizational management in a globalized economy. It defines national culture and examines factors that shape national culture like language, legal systems, values, education, and religion. It also discusses Hofstede's model of national cultural dimensions, which identifies power distance, individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity vs. femininity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation as key aspects of national culture that impact how organizations are managed across borders. National culture was found to significantly influence behaviors and practices within highly regulated industries like aviation, so managing a multicultural workforce and accounting for national cultural differences is important for organizations operating globally.
Theorising the relationship between television programmes and promotion of en...Alexander Decker
This document discusses a study that examined the relationship between television programs and the promotion of entrepreneurial culture among university students in Kenya. The study found a significant positive relationship, indicating that TV programs can help promote entrepreneurial culture in Kenya. Some key points:
- The study used a sample of 320 final year university students from 10 public and private universities in Nairobi, Kenya.
- A survey questionnaire was used to collect data on the relationship between different types of TV programs (news, reality shows, documentaries, talk shows, interviews) and entrepreneurial culture.
- A significant positive relationship was found between aggregate TV programs and the promotion of entrepreneurial culture in Kenya.
This document discusses the changing state of communication studies due to technological advances and globalization. Georgette Wang argues that the existing communication paradigm no longer adequately guides the field due to changes like increased mobile phone and internet use worldwide. As media consumption patterns shift globally, with growth in Asia, Africa and Latin America replacing declines in North America and Europe, the existing Western-focused paradigm must also shift to remain relevant on a global scale. The document examines calls from Wang and others for new theoretical frameworks and a paradigm shift to decentralize communication research and better incorporate diverse cultural perspectives from around the world.
This document discusses defining the voluntary/non-profit sector in India. It notes that while voluntary action has a long history in India, driven by religious and social traditions, the sector remains poorly understood. It examines various terms used to describe organizations in the sector, such as voluntary organizations, NGOs, charities, but notes these terms have limitations and do not adequately capture the full diversity of organizations. The document aims to generate clarity and common understanding around defining the sector in India.
Chapter ElevenIntercultural Communication and the Organi.docx
Guanxi: What Is It, And What Should Western Businesses Do With It
1. Guanxi 1
Running head: GUANXI
Guanxi: What Is It, and What Should Western Businesses Do With It
Jeff Burkhardt
University of Houston-Victoria
MGT6353
Fall 2005
October 25, 2005
2. Guanxi 2
Guanxi: What Is It, and What Should Western Businesses Do With It
“China possesses the weight and dynamism to transform the 21st-century global economy”
(Engardino, 2005, p. 118). Those were the words BusinessWeek used to describe the growing
importance of doing business in China. For the past two decades, China has been growing at an
astounding 9.5 percent a year. Furthermore, most economists figure China maintains the
fundamentals to keep growing in the 7 percent to 8 percent range for decades to come. In fact, by
mid-century, China should overtake the United States as the world’s number-one economy
(Engardino, 2005). In summary of China’s potential, Engardino (2005, p. 119) states, “The U.S.
and other established powers will have to learn to make room for China.” China is also a country
steeped in tradition and culture.
Overview
One such cultural tradition is the practice of guanxi (pronounced gwan-shee, with the emphasis
on the second syllable). Definitions of guanxi, however, are as plentiful as the Chinese people
who practice it. The Chinese word guanxi is not a term which can adequately be expressed by
and English-language equivalent of one word since the concept is too culture-specific. The term
guanxi commonly refers to relationships among people. It is comprised of dyadic, personal
relations between people who can make demands on each other. The stronger the guanxi, the
more demands can be imposed (Tung and Worm, 2001). The denotation and connotations for the
term do include, but also transcend the conventional translations of ‘connections’ or
‘relationships’ (Parnell, 2005). In fact, the Chinese phase “guanxi” consists of two characters.
The character “guan” means a gate or hurdle, and “xi” means to tie or connect (Lee, 2005).
Therefore, a literal definition could be construed as, “go through the gate and get connected”.
Today, there are even terms that clarify different guanxi functions:
3. Guanxi 3
La guanxi means “pull guanxi”, and implies that you are getting on the good side of
someone who is more powerful. Guanxi quo giang means that the relationship has gone
bad. Li shun guanxi means to make the relationship right. Guanxi wang is the noun
describing the guanxi network. (Glenn and Hammod, 2004, p. 26)
Regardless of its meaning, Guanxi is as a cultural and social product of the Chinese society,
“something sanctified over a period of two millennia by the theory and practice of
Confucianism” (Parnell, 2005, p. 31). The uniqueness of guanxi is deeply rooted in Confucius’
three principles. Li provides social resources, structure and status for guanxi to take roots. Ren
and xiao cultivate people’s positive attitudes toward each other, creating an environment for
guanxi to develop (Dong and Hackley, 2001). Confucianism also stress the social structure of the
society, based on a hierarchical order according to Confucianism, personal relationships are all in
hierarchical pairs (Dong and Hackley, 2004). “This basic tentet of Confucianism stresses the
importance of an individual’s place in the hierarchy of social relationships. Individuals are part
of a system of interdependent relationships, not isolated entities” (Tung and Yeung). The system
includes five basic relationships: ruler-subject, father-son, husband-wife, brother-brother, and
friend-friend. In each social structure everyone has an assigned place. Some are at the higher
level of the hierarchy, while others are deemed to be lower (Dong and Hackley, 2001).
At the core of guanxi are two, consensus, fundamental dimensions, although as many as seven
dimensions have been identified. The first is personal relationships. This is further segmented by
relationships among insiders and with outsiders. Zi ji ren are insiders and are highly trusted
because they are required to give accurate information. These are primarily comprised of family,
colleagues, and classmates. On the other hands, outsiders, called wan ren, are less trustworthy,
and are granted an entirely different status (Glenn and Hammond, 2004). The second dimension
4. Guanxi 4
is reciprocity, called bao or huibao. Reciprocal favor, called renqing, “is a strong social norm and
is morally binding for Chinese people, and those who do not repay favors are considered to have
‘no credibility,’ to have ‘no conscience,’ and to be ‘mean,’ and they loose face, reputation, and
ultimately personal relationships” (Lee, 2005, p. 32). In Chinese there is a common saying about
ren(qing): If one does you a favor, you’ll repay him or her ten times in return (Dong and
Hackley, 2001).
Characteristics of Guanxi in Business
Guanxi, which also plays a role in business in China, is often loosely compared to Western
networking. However, there are a few critical distinctions which must be made. First of all, both
guanxi and Western networking involve social interaction and social exchange, but, as identified
earlier, Guanxi is penetrated by Confucius’ principles, whereas Western networking is based on
socialization environments, such as cocktail parties, and is guided by professional standards
(Vanhonacker, 2004, May/June). It is this difference in social structure and cultural values that
most separates guanxi and Western networking. In Chinese culture, any behavior against the
hierarchical order is considered abnormal. This is in contrast to Western society, where social
interaction is based on equality, and respect is earned by individuals, not given by the social
structure (Dong and Hackley, 2001). Ironically, the second distinction is that guanxi is cultivated
among individuals, instead of among organizations, as is the case in the vast majority of business
relationships (Tung and Worm, 2001). In fact, each individual in Chinese society has his or her
own network. The primary reason for this is revealed by the third distinction between guanxi and
western networking. According to Yu (2002, p. 12), “(Guanxi) is more personal and often entails
an escalating reciprocity of favors and acts.” Kipnis (1997) points out that the production of
guanxi simultaneously creates human feeling and material obligation. Guanxi unifies what
5. Guanxi 5
Western bourgeois relationships separate, namely, material exchange and affectionate feelings.
In the United States, “business is business” (Lee, 2005). This is why it is said that in the United
States, relationships grow out of deals, and in China, deals grow out of relationships
(Vanhonacker, 2004).
Given these distinctions, Westerners doing business in China and with Chinese firms must be
aware of the potential implications that guanxi poses to their operations. Guanxi can be utilized
as an asset, or must be accounted for as a liability depending on the companies’ knowledge of,
and involvement in guanxi relationships. Two basic premises for the utilization of guanxi in
business operations are market entry and long-term success. According to a survey of the 50
largest European companies doing business in China, “most believed that it is extremely
important to have the right guanxi to gain market entry to China”, exhibiting a mean score of 4.1
on a 5-point scale (Tung and Worm, 2001). More specifically, there is one are where guanxi can
be particularly helpful in gaining market entry to China. “As you might expect, being a country
where the government recently controlled everything, China still has a lot of government and a
lot of regulations. Those regulations are not always applied evenly, and guanxi can help you get
favorable treatment” (Joseph, 2002, p. 45). According to one survey respondent (I-Man-AM),
“Politics is supremely important in building guanxi. They are the most important people to make
contact with…in China. It is said that there are 10 classes. The first is political officials and the
second is business men” (Hutchings and Murray, 2002). To a lesser extent, gathering information
related to market entry is also a useful byproduct of guanxi in business operations. Several
respondents indicated that, without guanxi, it is impossible to obtain accurate information (Tung
and Worm, 2001). The second premise for utilization of guanxi in business operations is long-
term success. Survey respondents also regarded guanxi as very important in attaining long-term
6. Guanxi 6
business success, resulting in a mean score of 4.0 on a 5-point scale (Tung and Worm, 2001).
Thus, guanxi was not only perceived as an important requisite to entering the China market, but
it was also considered as imperative for long-term success in that country. This sentiment is
proven by an analysis of sales performance among European firms operating in China from 1993
to 1995 relative to those of another Confucian society, Hong Kong:
In 1993, 33 percent of the European companies included in this study experienced sales
growth in excess of 20 percent and another 33 percent reported growth in excess of 10
percent. In 1995, 38 percent of the companies reported sales growth of more than 20
percent and 28 percent had experienced sales growth in excess of 10 percent. Despite
impressive gains in annual sales during these years, the fact remains that the growth for
large European multinationals lagged behind that attained by Hong Kong firms.
Furthermore, throughout the 1990’s China experienced the fastest rate of economic
growth in the world, reaching 40 percent growth per annum in some of the southern
provinces. These statistics suggest that the large European companies included in this
study may barely have kept pace with the growth of the Chinese economy. (Tung and
Worm, 2001, p. 526)
The flip-side is that Western businesses involved in guanxi must also account for potential
liabilities. The first is when one of the core dimensions of guanxi, reciprocity, runs amuck.
Over time, as reciprocity escalates:
The party with which a company maintains guanxi with may make unreasonable
demands on the company. If a company is no longer able to tolerate these unreasonable
requests, it should learn to say no. After all, the Chinese are understanding people, as
7. Guanxi 7
long as the rejection is phrased n a tactful way, and does not make them loose face. A
helpful rule is: Never turn down a request in front of other peoples. (Tsang, 1998, p.66).
Others advocate avoiding guanxi altogether:
In China, using guanxi is often a mistake. Asking and accepting favors from officials may
help you achieve a short-term advantage, but inevitably those same officials will one day
ask for a return favor you may not wish to grant. If you refuse, the same officials who
assisted you will very likely turn against you and look for ways to punish your business.
(China, 2002, p. 6)
Even if reciprocity is not targeted directly at the company, it can still present adverse effects.
Since guanxi is based on relationships among individuals and not among organizations, as
identified earlier, Chinese employees will often seek favorable credit terms for clients, share
proprietary information, or sell competing products on the side, which obviously conflicts with
company interests, as a way of making good on outstanding obligations to the rest of their
network (Vanhonacker, 2004, April). Another, and potentially more harmful liability, is
corruption. Defenders would argue that guanxi is not the same as corruption because guanxi is
relation-focused where as corruption is transaction-focused (Vanhonacker, 2004, May/June).
Furthermore, it is said that corrupt practices challenge moral integrity, which is an essential
element of a true guanxi relationship. There is however, basis for this cautionary detail. In 1998,
China scored in the bottom half (58 out of 99) of the most corrupt countries in the world (Tung
and Worm, 2001). Given the current social climate in China, a perception of unethical behavior
in guanxi relationships exist because they are often used to hide corrupt practices. People with a
close relationship will be less likely to reveal corrupt practices because the relationship
supersedes the corrupt transaction (Vanhonacker, 2004, May/June). Even when there is no illegal
8. Guanxi 8
intent, the line between bribery and gift giving, for example, can be very fine indeed (Cheng et
al., 2002). Because of rampant corruption in the present Chinese economy, some Western
businessmen think that giving bribes is a legitimate way to establish guanxi (Tsag, 1998).
Finally, there is the cost or expense of guanxi, both a figurative and literal liability for
companies. “Guanxi…doesn’t exclude American manufactures from the Chinese market, but it
does produce a new set of costs that companies are not necessarily accustomed to in other
markets” (McClenahen, 2004, p. 40). Before establishing guanxi, a cost-benefit analysis should
be constructed.
Once a firm has carefully considered the cost-benefit of guanxi, and determine that it is in their
best interest, they must develop their network. To effectively do so requires four steps: planning,
building, maintaining, and auditing. Given the significance of this process, Thomas B. Gold
coined the term “guanxixue” (relationology) to describe the art of establishing and maintaining
guranxi. Naturally, planning initiates the process. “Guanxi can aid a distinctive strategic
positioning in China’s competitive environment, and thus it can become an important ingredient
in business strategy. But it requires a careful strategy and implementation plan of its own that
needs to be aligned with the firm’s business strategy” (Vanhonacker, 2004, May/June, p. 51).
First, this strategy will pinpoint short- and long-term guanxi targets and needs, and second, it
forces the company to think about how it will cope with the indebtedness created by guanxi:
Coping strategies can involve deniability, neutralization, complementarity, and face.
Deniability involves the ability to hide or to put distance in a relationship through, for
example the use of trusted intermediaries. Neutralization refers to the ability to balance
debts and obligations. Complementarity involves multiple parallel relations to guarantee
achieving the instrumental objective. The concept of face comes into play here in the
9. Guanxi 9
sense that, in building a network, you have to be careful not to create liabilities for the
guanxi target…, and to think about how you will offer a way out. (Vanhonacker, 2004,
May/June, p. 51)
Once plans are complete, construction begins. There are basically only two ways to facilitate
guanxi: through group identification or altercasting. Group identification, more specifically, can
be ascribed or achieved. Ascribed guanxi is based on kinship and locality. Kinship refers to
members of a person’s immediate and extended families, whereas, locality refers to the person’s
ancestral village or province (Tung and Yeung, 1996). “Many overseas Chinese, who may not
have visited their ancestral village, still feel a strong affinity to others whose forefathers are also
from that locality” (Tung and Yeung, 1996, p. 59). Achieved guanxi, on the other hand, is based
on common or shared experiences, such as going to the same school, or working for the same
organization (Tung and Yeung, 1996). For those that do not share one of these bonds,
altercasting serves as a suitable alternative. Altercasting is defined as rearranging the targeted
person’s network in such a way as to involve the individual who wishes to be included in it
(Tung and Worm, 2001). Such rearrangements can best be accomplished by the use of
intermediaries. One executive offered the following example of altercasting: “A way to establish
guanxi is to hire the children of people you are trying to target” (Tung and Worm, 2001). Next in
the process is maintenance. The high cost of building guanxi networks leads Chinese merchants
to strive to maintain such personal networks through favoritism, loyalty, and mutual obligation
(Hwang, 1987). Given the instrumental nature of guanxi, on way to establish relations is to offer
immediate rewards. “When a gift has been received, or a request for a favor has been granted,
there is a symbolic breaking down of the boundaries between persons” (Tung and Worm, 2001,
p. 531). The final step is auditing. Since guanxi is a crucial company resource, it is worthwhile
10. Guanxi 10
for management to audit their company’s guanxi with its outside stakeholders, such as
customers, suppliers, and government bodies. A guanxi audit also enables management to
analyze the progress that the company has made in playing the guanxi game and to identify the
strengths and weaknesses of the current guanxi network.
Conclusion
In conclusion, China is an emerging, new economy, with a foothold in the past through time-
honored traditions and cultural values. Companies that embrace such cultural values as guanxi,
and learn how to use it to their benefit, will not only be welcomed with open arms, but also stand
to gain from what is expected to be one of the greatest economic expansions of the 21st-century.
To the timid, guanxi will never amount to more than costly, and unnecessary favor swapping. To
those who truly understand guanxi, it will serve as a valuable business partner when conducting
operations in China.
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