MANAGEMENT

AND LEADERSHIP
IN CHINA
Music and dance
Traditional instruments
Martial art in China
Festival in china
Traditional cuisine
Ethnics
Traditional clothes
 CHINA BACKGROUND

China is known as mainland China or Zhōngguó ( 中國 )

China covers about 9,596,960 square kilometers. China is the
fourth largest country in the world Main Language - Mandarin
Chinese
China has the largest population of any country in the world.
The population of China is about 1,321,851,000 (as of July,
2007).
A country with many ethnic groups and a colorful cultural
heritage.
the culture has been molded by three philosophical
traditions--Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
Confucianism deals with human relationship.
Taoism deals with life in harmony with nature.
Buddhism deals with people’s immoral world.
Understanding Chinese business strategies, management
Ch ara ct eri sti cs of C hi na i n Mana geme nt
and L eade rship
Face
(Mian-Zi)

Good Connections
(Guanxi)

Personal Obligations
(Renqing)

Five Cardinal Virtues

(Filial piety, Loyalty, seniority, Subservience, Mutual Trust)

Source: Richard M. Steers and Luciara Nardon, Managing in the Global

Economy, (2006) p.127
 Management
“The act of getting people together to
accomplish desired goals and
objectives. Management comprises
planning, organizing, staffing, leading or
directing, facilitating and controlling or
manipulating an organization (a group
of one or more people or entities) or
effort for the purpose of accomplishing a
goal.”
-
Management Style (Hofstede’s Theory)

High power distance

Moderately high uncertainty avoidance
High collectivism
Moderate masculinity
High long-term orientation
 High power distance
Less powerful members of institution
and organization accept that power is
distributed unequally
Tend to be centralized
Have tall organization structure
Moderately high uncertainty avoidance

People feel threatened by ambiguous

situation
Tend to have high need for security
and certainty
 High collectivism
People pride themselves on being
members of a group
Pay much attention on close personal
relationship
 Moderate masculinity
From another aspect, femininity also
place importance on cooperation, a
friendly atmosphere, and employment
security.
 High long-term orientation

Trust base, personal relationship and

networks linking the members of
different owning families
 Leadership
“Process of social influence in which one
person can enlist the aid and support of
others in the accomplishment of a
common task”
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership
 Leadership style in china
Authoritarian
- Leader assign their employee based on
what they want without seeking for any
consultation or advise from their followers.
- High possibilities in power abusing
unprofessional.
Paternalistic
- Manager give more attention to the
social needs and views of their workers.
- Authority needs to undertake the supply
of needs of those under its control in matters
affecting them involving relationship and
authority.
 Do’s and Dont’s in China
The traditional Chinese “handshake” consists of
interlocking the fingers, waving them up and down
several times.
Chinese names are “reversed” from Western
names. The surname is said first and then the given
name. (eg : Bruce Lee’s name in Cantonese is Lee
Siu Lung.)
Business cards are routinely exchanged at the first
meeting.
Color symbolism is very important in China.
- Red is considered lucky
- Yellow is associated with prosperity, and gold is
especially appropriate.
- White is symbolic of death
 Cont’s…
The Chinese will often avoid eye contact
during conversations, especially when
talking to the opposite sex or to
strangers.
Six, eight and nine are considered lucky
numbers, since their homophones have
auspicious meanings.
(http://www.chinasuccessstories.com)
 Conclusion
Management Style (Hofstede’s Theory)
- High Power Distance
- Moderately high uncertainty avoidance
- High collectivism
- Moderate Masculinity
- High long-term orientation
Leadership Style
- Authoritarian
- Paternalistic