Sergeant and Frenkel (1998)

Management > Comparative Management > Lectures > Independent Research > Sergeant and Frenkel > Culture clash

Culture clash

There are a number of things an expatriate manager needs to be aware of when dealing with people in China.

Hofstede argues that "face" is essential for collectivist cultures, so expatriate managers need to recognise this feature and act accordingly. For example, if a manager loses his temper and shows it openly, he loses "face", but it can be gained through displays of public recognition.

Chen discusses guanxi, a relationship network based on favours. If you get straight down to business, without building up a relationship first, then you will not be trusted. However, there is also a lack of official rules and laws, so combined with guanxi, bribery and corruption are prevalent.

Trompenaars looks at the concept of time, where the Chinese view time as synchronic, abundant in supply and subordinate to relationships. This clashes with the Western, sequential view of time, where schedules are a priority and time is in short supply.

This means that western expatriates may get frustrated at the apparent slowness of Chinese workers, while the workers may see the expatriate as being too hasty.

Recruitment and training

Performance management

Expatriate management relations