for amanda smith due in 50 hours
suranfss
2-VIU6-May-2018Demographics.pptx
Dan Krassenstein
6-May-2018
Demographics & Business Cultural in China’s 2nd/3rd Tier Cities
Dan Krassenstein
6-May-2018
Tiers refer to key characteristics:
Economic Development
Provincial GDP
Advanced Transportation Systems/Infrastructure
Historical and Cultural Significance
Dan Krassenstein
6-May-2018
China’s first-tier cities (“The Big 4”):
Beijing
Shanghai
Guangzhou
Shenzhen
These cities are known for being important political, cultural, industrial and financial centers in China, as well as key hubs for the greater East-Asia region.
Dan Krassenstein
6-May-2018
China’s second-tier cities:
Tianjin
Chongqing
Chengdu
Wuhan
Xiamen
And capital cities of each province
Labor costs are cheaper than Tier 1 cities.
Rapid increase in consumer spending/demand
Dan Krassenstein
6-May-2018
China’s third-tier cities:
Each have populations in the millions
Hundreds of county-level cities in China (3rd tier)
Zhongshan
Shantou
Xining
Baoding
Traditional Chinese Cultural Assumptions
Chinese Proverbs
“Know where the water comes from.”
(Relationship Focus/Long-Term Relationship - Guanxi)
“The first bird that peeps its head out gets shot.”
(Individual initiative discouraged; group conformity)
Ego
Traditional Chinese Worldview
Hierarchical
Identification with Authority
Observance of Rites and Social Rituals (Li)
Group Orientation
Group Stability
Cooperation
Relationship Focused
Tolerance for Ambiguity
Loose application of rules
Leadership
Life Style
Traditional Chinese Worldview
Filial Piety
Family Stability, Material Success
Surface Calm
Sense of Cultural Superiority
Self-Cultivation, Education
Perseverance
Fluid Time
Face & Avoiding Shame (Mianzi)
Reciprocation (Guanxi)
Senior Life
Children
Time Sense
THE IMPORTANCE OF "FACE” (MIAN ZI)
Face is a very important and complex feature of daily life.
Rough translation of “face”: “honor”, “good reputation” or “pride”
Three aspects of 'face':
1) Lose face (Diu-mian-zi/yao-mian-zi): when your actions or deeds have been exposed to people, you suffer disgrace, humiliation, or embarrassment
2) Give face (Gei-mian-zi): involves the giving of face to others through showing respect.
3) Save face(Liu-mian-zi): which we understand simply to mean not being disrespectful to others in public, or taking preventive actions so that we will not appear to lose face in the eyes of others.
It is critical you avoid losing face or causing the loss of face at all times.
Try to give face as often as possible—it will be appreciated.
GUANXI (CONNECTION OR RELATIONSHIPS)
“Guanxi” Is the basic dynamic in personalized networks of influence and is an important central concept in Chinese society
Guanxi describes
a personal connection between individuals.
also a broader network of contacts, which an individual can call upon when something needs to be done, and through which he or she can exert influence on behalf of another.
Guanxi is a way of life
Everyone uses it and depends upon it to get anything they need or want.
Apparent in all aspects of life in China, from buying hard-to-come by train tickets, to obtaining a foreign exit visa.
Not bribery or corruption—
The reality of how the system works, in a country of such an impossibly dense population.
The system of Guanxi is the way to get by in China
Remember that it works in two directions – just like Face
West Versus East Differences
Transportation
Time To Shower
Meals
Traditional Chinese Cultural Assumptions
Communication Styles
Indirect
Imply/suggest what is meant. You need to read between the lines.
High Context
Background information assumed depending on nature of relationship.
Formal
Sensitivity to hierarchy/face saving very important.
Restrained
Emotional displays avoided.
Opinion
Human Relationships
Parties/Social Gatherings
Communicating with the Chinese
Focus on how something is said – relational meanings often outweigh literal meanings.
Learn to read paralinguistic cues, such as facial expressions, body movements, gestures and pauses.
Develop a belief that words can be inadequate and insufficient.
Understand that Chinese selves are often embedded in plural pronouns, and learn to differentiate personal opinions from those of the group.
Be aware that impersonal language can be used with outsiders and that insiders and outsiders are treated differently.
Understand that modesty is a Chinese virtue and that understating and discrediting oneself is expected.
Accept that Chinese value indirect talk and that requests are often implied. However, many young people are “trying out” more direct communication which may seem surprisingly direct to outsiders expecting indirectness.
Recognize that definitive responses are rarely given in Chinese culture and that the word “yes” may have multiple meanings.
Accept that Chinese tend to keep opinions to themselves and may be uncomfortable in engaging in social talk with strangers.
Westerners are from low-context cultures (they place more importance of what is said, than what is not said) and that the Chinese are from a high-context culture
Social Distance
The distance you keep when you talk to others is conditioned by your culture
Social distance
Westerners like to keep 2-4 feet as the personal zone when they talk in earnest about something.
Asians are accustomed to talking to others from a closer distance.
It is very common to see two persons of the same gender walking and talking together with one's arm on another's shoulder, or two women talking hand in hand
Generally speaking , for Asians, same gender public social distance is closer than that of different genders
Table Manners
Usually, the person who will pay for the table orders most of the dishes.
The courses ordered will be cold dishes and hot ones.
Normally the last course served is soup.
Fruit served last will be regarded as dessert.
The Chinese host will use their chopsticks to put food in your bowl or plate as a sign of politeness
If you feel uncomfortable with this, you can just say a polite thank you and leave the food there.
Table Manners
When they entertain guests,
Chinese tend to eat out
The meal usually begins with a toast by the host, take your turn during the meal offering toasts to honor of the host and the other guests.
Toasts are in order of rank
Express thanks
‘Gan bei’, literally means ‘drain your glass.’
It is OK to ask for knife and fork
Chicken and fish is usually served as whole on the table
You'd can pick up the food with chopsticks and eat around the bone, or pick up the meat to eat, if its off the bone
Never stick your chopsticks upright in the rice bowl, lay them on your dish.
Socializing and Entertainment
At the round table
The host sits in the position directly facing the door and pays the bill
The honored guest sits to the host’s right side
Dishes are not served course by course as in western countries, but are all presented at the table, and everybody shares them from the common plates.
Pace yourself, you cannot be sure how many courses there are
Try everything, be polite and tolerant
Traditionally, the host or the hostess will keep putting food to your plate as soon as you finish yours.
To the Chinese is impolite to leave the guest not fully filled, while to a westerner not finishing the food on his/her plate is impolite
This misunderstanding will always cause you to overeat
Sometimes, even if the table is full of dishes the hostess will apologize in advance, according to the Chinese courtesy, for the “ill-prepared” meal about to be served
Socializing and Entertainment
Because, Chinese prefer to entertain in public places rather than in their homes, if you are invited to their house, consider it a great honor
If you must turn down such an honor, it is considered polite to explain the conflict in your schedule so that your actions are not taken as a slight.
Normally the Chinese will invite the guests to dinner at home by word of mouth.
Bring a gift as a token for respect - Fruit, sweets, wine or some local specialties you brought from your hometown or from a trip
Generally, the Chinese will arrive earlier either to give a helping hand to the hostess or to have a casual chat with hostess before other guests arrive
Gift Giving Etiquette
In general, gifts are given at Chinese New Year, weddings, births and more recently (because of marketing), birthdays.
Chinese like food and a nice food basket will make a great gift.
Four is an unlucky number so do not give four of anything.
Eight is the luckiest number, so giving eight of something brings luck to the recipient.
Always present gifts with two hands.
Gifts are not opened when received.
Gifts may be refused three times before they are accepted.
Some taboos in gift giving:
Sending the clock sounds like "song zhong“ in Chinese, which means attending a funeral
Don't send pears to your friends, especially at a wedding ceremony, because pears sound like "li" in Chinese, which means separating.
Gifts of scissors, knives or other cutting utensils indicate the severing of the relationship.
