|
Societal
and Institutional Differences |
|
Aspects |
China |
United States |
|
Ethnic Culture |
Centered around "relationships"
"Reclusive", each minding his/her own
business (especially with "strangers" and people outside of the
relationship network) |
Centered around "individuals"
"Messianic": "let's save the world" |
|
Source of
Trust |
Trust those around you;
don't "lose face" and credibility by failing to live up to written or oral
agreements |
Trust the contract;
don't get into legal hassles by not fulfilling the agreement |
|
Business Culture |
Quiet and reserved; deeper
communication |
Outspoken; eloquent;
clearer
communicators |
|
Negotiation
Style |
Group decision; final
say by the "boss" |
More individual
authority and distributed
decision
making |
|
Dealing with Business Counterparts |
Indirect; courteous;
take things personally; long memory for both favors and humiliations |
Direct; more
matter-of-factly; memory for conflict superceded by business objective |
|
Ability to Make Immediate Response |
Weak |
Strong |
|
Value
Differences |
|
Aspects |
China |
United States |
|
Interpersonal |
"Relationship"
comes first |
"Economics" comes first |
|
On
"Humility" |
"Humility" viewed as a
virtue |
"Humility" is a sign of
weakness; there is every reason for the able to be proud |
|
Time Horizon |
Accountable by the
generation (~30 years) |
Accountable by the
quarter (~3 months) |
|
What Commands Respect |
Respect for seniority,
wisdom, ability |
Respect for
success,
achievement,
wealth |
|
On
"Family" |
Children should learn
to respect the elder, love the young, and rely on the "extended family" |
Children should learn
to be independent |
|
On
"the Strong" and "the Weak" |
It is not righteous to
bully |
It is an honor to
win; business is all a
competition;
it is only natural that the weak is preyed on by the strong |
|
Discipline
(in
following procedures and schedules) |
Strong |
Depends on the
individual |
|
Tolerance of Diversity / Openness to Alternative
(possibly opposing)
Ideas |
Openly – very
receptive; but actually, less so |
More open |
|
Shame or Humiliation |
Long memory; need and
urge to exonerate |
Tends to be superceded
by business priorities |
|
Priorities |
Mixed: business,
individual, factional, nationalistic, and political |
Almost strictly
business |
