Sinology & Chinese Management

Growing Importance of Understanding Chinese Culture

With the growth of China's economy and its increasing influence on the world, Chinese Management, philosophies, and culture come into greater attention worldwide. Many people agree with a British Historian who said that 19th century belonged to the British, the 20th century belonged to the US and the 21st century would belong to China.

The culture and philosophies have much influence over the management. In the last two to three decades, there were many academic studies and research comparing the management and thinking of East and West. There is an increasing number of books that cover such topics.

Objectives of Understanding East and West Cultures
For most of us who are outside the PRC and Taiwan regions, we are educated and influenced mostly by Western mindsets. Why do we want to learn about Eastern or Chinese culture and thinking?

1. Understanding each other - the East and West. 
2. Learning the best things from each other.
3. Attending to personal and corporate success, and harmony with others.
1. Understand how we think like we do.
2. Understand our Biases
• understand our own thinking biases, stereotypes, blind spots that are formed through our cultural background
3. Enlightened to Openness
• See things in a new light, break free, to be more innovative, inclusive, and understanding of others.
4. Un-distorted Original Wisdom.
• See the Chinese Classical Wisdom in its original forms, freed from distortion for political and selfish objectives through the centuries, and gain the real wisdom. 

The Model of Philosophies' Influence on Management

Uniquely Chinese:

• The ancient Chinese philosophies and wisdom are covered in  Ancient Chinese Wisdom.
• The Essence of Sinology, Chinese Mindset is at The Essence of Sinology or Chinese Mindset - The Values & Methods for 21st Century.
• Understanding the Chinese Mindset of Personal Relationships and Face
• The unique Chinese Language is covered in Chinese Words Make You Smarter.

A quick way of understanding East or West is by comparison. 

One of the best in the lifestyle and behavior of East vs West in picture forms is the work of Yang Liu on "East Meets West". Do a Google search for "East meets West by Yang Liu".

But you have to watch out that no one person fully embraces the full set of philosophies and values of their heritage. For each person, we still need to find out exactly what is his/hers.

The best way to study and compare East vs West or any culture is to follow the above model proposed.

In this series, I want to do more on item 2, "learning the best" from the Chinese Culture, Values, Philosophies, and Management.

I shall cover the following main topics in this series of posts.

1. The Sayings of Modern Sinology Masters.

1. Year End Reflection & 10 Keys for Success from Zeng Shi Qiang.
2. Learning from Sinology Master Zhai HongSheng 1 Success Formula
3. Learning from Sinology Master Zhai HongSheng 2 The Dao of Business.

2. The Successful Chinese Enterprises.

1. TBA.

3. The Sayings of Modern Successful Chinese Entrepreneurs.

1. The Secrets of Truly Successful Chinese Businessmen
2. Success Principles from Li Ka Shing Quotes
3. Learning Entrepreneurship from Jack Ma
4. What Make Great Businesses? Learning from Jack Ma
5. Learning the Winners Mindset from Terry Guo Tai Ming
6. Leadership and HRM of Terry Guo Tai Ming of Foxconn

4. Fusion of East & West Thinking:

A fusion of East and West Mindset can be read at East West Fusion Mindset as a Key and as Simple as ABC.

Lim Liat (c) 22 Feb 2013