The Chinese Way

As business becomes increasingly globalized and China establishes its growing role in the international business environment, developing an understanding of the complex culture is important to anyone acting in the global arena. This book offers readers a thorough and nuanced resource to that end, describing the ever-evolving Chinese way of life circa 2014, based on extensive primary and secondary data. Taking an anthropological approach to achieve a well-rounded representation, the book covers 51 topics that would have been studied if China were a newly discovered civilization. It explores the culture through its examination of the nine core concepts that best represent the Chinese way of life. While the book is a rigorous treatment of the Chinese way of life, it is also filled with personal stories and perspectives from close to 1000 successful Chinese from academia, business, and government. The Chinese Way equips international business students, scholars, and practitioners with a deep understanding of a society that is a major player in global business today and offers a foundation for successful business interactions with Chinese companies, organizations, and people.

Min Ding is the Smeal Professor of Marketing and Innovation at Pennsylvania State University, USA and Advisory Professor of Marketing and Director of Institute for Sustainable Innovation and Growth (iSIG) at Fudan University, China. Jie Xu is a Research Associate at Institute for Sustainable Innovation and Growth (iSIG), Fudan University, China.

Preface 1. The Chinese Way of Life, Version 2014 Part I: Customs and Traditions 2. Face: The Three-Tiered Chinese Version of Honor 3. From a Nation of Etiquette to a Society of Gifting 4. Presumption of Untrustworthiness (Guilt) 5. Unwritten rules 6. Promises 7. Pursuit of Quick Success and Instant Benefits (PQSIB) 8. Drinking Culture Part II: Social Structure 9. Harmonious Society 10. Subcultures 11. Social Circles 12. Employment Equality 13. The Status of Women 14. Migrant Workers Part III: Marriage and Family 15. Families 16. Ideal Spouse and Child 17. Extramarital Relationship 18. Divorce and Divorcees 19. Leftover Women Part IV: Needs, Value and Aspiration 20. Life Objectives and the Chinese Dream 21. Role Models 22. The Generations 23. The Nouveau Riche 24. Environmentalism Part V: World View 25. Attitude towards Foreign Nations 26. Cultural Identity 27. Faux emigrants Part VI: Religion and Belief 28. Religion and Faith 29. Superstition Part VII: Arts and Entertainment 30. Nine Traditional Skills of the Cultured Chinese 31. Duanzi 32. Cuisine 33. Nightlife Part VIII: Governing System 34. Political System: Governing as Partners 35. Legislative System: People's Congresses 36. Administrative System 37. Legal System 38. Corruption 39. Social Thoughts Part IX: Economic System 40. The Three Types of Chinese Companies 41. Business to Business 42. Business to Consumer Market 43. Brands 44. Pursuit of Expensive Products Part X: Education System 45. K-12 and Beyond 46. Studying Abroad 47. Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) 48. Professor and Scholarships Part XI: Communication System 49. Unidirectional Communication 50. Bidirectional Communication 51. Open Circle Communication 52. Closed Circle Communication