doing business in china: expect the unexpected? six challenges and tactics
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Earlier this week I spoke at a China Unbound event in the unique setting of the first class lounge at London's King's Cross station. Visit the (China Unbound group for more at http://linkd.in/1hA4GHR ). I made six major points about how to work effectively with managers and businesses from China:- 1. Aim for long-term success 2. Harmony, or hell 3. Relationships are the true capital 4. Partners aren’t agents 5. Look forward 6. Win-win networking. I've written more on the topics at http://duncanchapple.com/2014/03/02/doing-business-with-china-expect-the-unexpected/ Visit the China Unbound group for more at http://linkd.in/1hA4GHR.TRANSCRIPT
My Experiences of Doing Business with China
Expect the unexpected? Challenges and tactics
Duncan Chapple Managing Director Kea Company
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Highlights15 years experience of working with business people from Greater China
DeloitteEAST WEST PR/
Brodeur Worldwide
Lighthouse True HeartLondon
Business School
Kea Company
Global DDT marketing &
communication team
Establish international
analyst relations practice
Marketing communication for international
high tech brands
Trustee of charity serving
Chinese in Britain
Member of international
advisory council
Helping Greater China firms to
export and partner in
Europe
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Aim for long-term success
❖ Be modest, patient and polite
❖ Leave the jokes at home
❖ Be formal and respectful
❖ Be focussed and attentive
❖ “Quick wins” can be quick losses
❖ Bureaucracy
❖ Integrity
❖ Case study: Cut and Paste
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Harmony, or hell
❖ Saving face
❖ “No” isn’t heard, or said
❖ Under consideration
❖ ‘British’ avoidance
❖ Confucian ideal is harmonious
❖ Duty, loyalty, respectful
❖ Lack of harmony can provoke the maximum resistance
❖ War story: role plays
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Relationships are the true capital
❖ Cultivating successful relationships is a vital, long-term activity.
❖ People want to know you, not just your product, before they trade
❖ Gaunxi - connections want mutually-beneficial business and socialising
❖ War stories: case studies
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Partners aren’t agents
❖ Major tangible and intangible investments into partners
❖ Extensive hospitality
❖ “Homelandish" gifts
❖ Do their favoured activity
❖ Deals made socialising
❖ Time, knowledge
❖ War story: Door opening
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Look forward
❖ Getting paid can be tricky
❖ SAFE controls foreign exchange
❖ Be very clear up front about when you need purchase orders and payments
❖ A good bank can advise you on security of payment
❖ War story: still not paid
❖ War story: cash on delivery
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Win-win networking
❖ Huge, growing opportunities expanding with your network
❖ Invest in your partners
❖ Look for how you can facilitate, think “win-win” not just “sell”
❖ Create value for others
❖ Focus
❖ Regions
❖ Small numbers of partners
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Summary
China: Expect the unexpected?❖ Aim for long-term success
❖ Harmony, or hell
❖ Relationships are the true capital
❖ Partners aren’t agents
❖ Look forward
❖ Win-win networking
❖ More: http://bit.ly/DuncanChina
My Experiences of Doing Business with China
Expect the unexpected? Challenges and tactics
Duncan Chapple Managing Director Kea Company
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