Failure Afoot for Unprepared Managers in China?

Culture Clash: The practices managers use in the U.S. could ensure their failure if they take on assignments in China, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Consultant Erik Duerring, director of consulting services in Asia for Development Dimensions International Inc., near Pittsburgh, told the newspaper that American business managers coming to China “often get smacked right in the face” with huge cultural differences. For example, Chinese employees expect to routinely interact with their managers and colleagues in social settings after hours—including attending family weddings and perhaps even making a speech. Feedback is another issue: Chinese workers are loath to volunteer information, forcing managers to “ask them about details,” Duerring says. It’s also important for managers to recognize that asking for help is considered a sign of weakness in the Chinese culture, compounding the difficulty of figuring out whether an employee is struggling.