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Examples of Cross-Cultural Differences Societal, Institutional, and Value Differences between Chinese and Americans |
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Adapted from "Bridging US-China" Cross-Cultural Differences Using Internet and Groupware Technologies", Zhouying Jin, Robert M. Mason, and Peter P. Yum, 1998
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Societal and Institutional Differences |
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Aspects |
China |
US |
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Ethnic Culture |
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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 |
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Business Culture |
Quiet and reserved; clumsy communicators |
Outspoken; eloquent; effective communicators |
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Negotiation Style |
Group decision; final say by the "boss" |
More individual authority and distributed decision making |
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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Direct; more matter-of-factly; memory for conflict superceded by business objective |
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Ability to Make Immediate Response |
Weak |
Strong |
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Value Differences |
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Aspects |
China |
US |
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Interpersonal |
"Relationship" comes first |
"Economics" comes first |
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On "Humility" |
"Humility" viewed as a virtue |
"Humility" is a sign of weakness; there is every reason for the abled to be proud |
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Time Horizon |
Accountable by the generation (~30 years) |
Accountable by the quarter (~3 months) |
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What Commands Respect |
Respect for seniority, wisdom, ability |
Respect for success, achievement, wealth |
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On "Family" |
Children should learn to respect the elder, love the young, and rely on the "extended family" |
Children should learn to be independent |
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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 |
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Discipline (in following procedures and schedules) |
Strong |
Depends on the individual |
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Tolerance of Diversity / Openness to Alternative (possibly opposing) Ideas |
Openly - very receptive; but actually, less so |
More open |
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Shame or Humiliation |
Long memory; need and urge to exonerate |
Tends to be superceded by business priorities |
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Priorities |
Mixed: business, individual, factional, nationalistic, and political |
Almost strictly business |
