Dear MEL School’s
Topic Readers,
What it takes to
succeed in China?
Face-saving and
relationships seem to be some of the most significant cultural characteristics you
need to understand when it comes to establishing a new business in China.
For example, “Mei
Wenti”, no problem in English, is a phrase often heard when you raise a problematic
issue or concern to a Chinese counterpart. When you hear this, you may want to
suspect something is wrong in the issue or process. Even so, you’d better not regard
the person insincere or dishonest. It is better not to directly dig the issue
at the moment but to keep it in your mind and deal with it later or in a
different occasion. You’ve got to save his or her face.
Another issue you
may want to understand and respect is Gunaxi, the basic dynamic in personalized
networks of influence, relation and connection in Chinese society. It is
essential to respect your Chinese counterpart persons and try your best to establish
good relation with them. It’ll take some time, meals and drinks and even songs
to build such relationship but once it is built, it could be more assuring and
valuable than contracts or agreement on the paper.
Sounds complicating,
doesn’t it? Enjoy reading and learning what it would take to start a business
relationship in China.
No comments:
Post a Comment