Secretary of State Clinton with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang
China is a nation that values tradition. Of the many aspects of tradition, the concept of gu?nxi is a deep-seated ideal that still holds a place in the daily lives of the Chinese, whether in business, marriage or even making friends.
Interesting, while guanxi is an eastern philosophy, it is also increasing being adapted by American business models as opportunities in China continue to grow in number and magnitude.? The U.S.?s tango with the concept of guanxi is detailed in Luo?s Guanxi and Business.
What is guanxi?
Guanxi roughly translates as ?relationship?. The actual definition is much more complicated, truly hinting at the ability for Chinese to condense a wealth of meaning into a few number of characters. Guanxi involves any interaction between two or more people and the complex dynamic of emotion, the maintenance of the relationship, and the mutual ?face? (mi?n), or respect, provided to all parties involved in the relationship.
As an example, young college graduates looking for a job after graduation will sometimes turn to their parents or relatives to go through the parents contacts to help them obtain a job.? For the Chinese, ?good parents? are defined as those who have an extended network of contacts that they can reach out to when tackling a problem.? Moreover, finding a job for their child is a top priority all things considered, and Chinese parents often play a huge role in the job-hunting process.? The maintenance of contacts is thus very important.
When a favor is done for someone, the party receiving the favor will reciprocate by performing a favor or by giving a gift. Contacts will also dine together for a meal, in which one person treats the whole party present, of which is believed to generate good feelings and preserve guanxi relations.
While the Chinese generally believe that guanxi is inherently good and put it to use in their daily lives, critics of guanxi say that it promotes nepotism and cronyism. From the American perspective, merit is often the main assessment criterion for hiring (a huge contrast to the tenets of guanxi).? That said, coming from a business school like Baruch, it is hoped that we can embrace the advantages of both types of thinking in the business setting.
That?s all for now!? See you soon! ??!
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