Book Review
For my book I read China, Inc by Roderick Macleod. The author begins the book by stating how one can merely gaze upon the surface of Chinese tradition in business and non-business scenarios and think he/she may know the in's and out's, wrongs and rights about the cultural norms in a foreign country. But these subtle differences do not even begin to scratch the surface of the cultural variances between such contrasting-in-context cultures. Macleod tends to focus on why we, as humans, act the way we do. When I say humans I mean a specific culture, I mean every human who inhabits this earth. The author looks at various facets to cross-cultural relationships and communications such as ethnocentrism, judgments, norms, ethics, and stereotypes. This book carries a lot of valuable information with it that would be vitally important in starting your own international business, more specifically with branches in China. The gem that the author throws your way in this book is that if you get passed over-analyzing the differences between the cultures and stop trying to correct them, by merely just understanding them, you will be further in the game that many other people, leading you and your business to a large deal of success.