Comments on: Differences in Culture http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:51:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Elisabeth Suiter http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-129 Elisabeth Suiter Sun, 02 Apr 2006 06:53:19 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-129 The topic of intellectual property protection is an interesting one. Some of us are in Burgunder's class this quarter which addresses this issue, and he has made a point on how stronger intellectual properties may be good for some of us, but it can literally choke to death some conomies which are built around the ability to make cheap imitations. I asked on the panel headed by our Dean a couple months back if they believed that people buying counterfeit products were really lost sales, or if it was possible that those people would not have bought the original if the counterfeit was not available anyway. The issue remains that we must protect intellectual property to the extent to which creativity can continue to be encouraged, but stronger intellectual property rights may not always mean better, according to what we have begun to learn in Burgunder's class. So then, while we sit and wait for China to conform to our standards, we may have to consider the possibility that maybe they really shouldn't. The topic of intellectual property protection is an interesting one. Some of us are in Burgunder’s class this quarter which addresses this issue, and he has made a point on how stronger intellectual properties may be good for some of us, but it can literally choke to death some conomies which are built around the ability to make cheap imitations. I asked on the panel headed by our Dean a couple months back if they believed that people buying counterfeit products were really lost sales, or if it was possible that those people would not have bought the original if the counterfeit was not available anyway. The issue remains that we must protect intellectual property to the extent to which creativity can continue to be encouraged, but stronger intellectual property rights may not always mean better, according to what we have begun to learn in Burgunder’s class. So then, while we sit and wait for China to conform to our standards, we may have to consider the possibility that maybe they really shouldn’t.

]]> By: Drew Lassen http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-115 Drew Lassen Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:04:30 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-115 This is an interesting topic to explore in conjunction with the post made a couple of weeks back on Feb 14. entitled "English Corner". On one hand, traditional Chinese customs may prohibit efforts to westernize their ideas of corporate governance. On the other hand, there appears to be a wave of well-educated, high-achieving individuals that prefer the western way of doing business. These are the future controllers of Chinese business and Chinese policy, and it looks like they are likely candidates for changing the status quo. This is an interesting topic to explore in conjunction with the post made a couple of weeks back on Feb 14. entitled “English Corner”. On one hand, traditional Chinese customs may prohibit efforts to westernize their ideas of corporate governance. On the other hand, there appears to be a wave of well-educated, high-achieving individuals that prefer the western way of doing business. These are the future controllers of Chinese business and Chinese policy, and it looks like they are likely candidates for changing the status quo.

]]> By: Deirdre Byrne http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-107 Deirdre Byrne Mon, 27 Mar 2006 06:42:38 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-107 I think that China will continue to adopt Western forms of doing business to the extent that they can no longer benefit from doing so. There is still obviously a lot which they can learn from the West, both in terms of business structure and technical know how. However as to whether they will ever totally embrace Western business standards I doubt it. Even if they wanted to they probably wouldn’t be able. Certain aspects of the manner in which business is preformed there are too intertwined with their culture and history to ever change completely. I think that China will continue to adopt Western forms of doing business to the extent that they can no longer benefit from doing so. There is still obviously a lot which they can learn from the West, both in terms of business structure and technical know how. However as to whether they will ever totally embrace Western business standards I doubt it. Even if they wanted to they probably wouldn’t be able. Certain aspects of the manner in which business is preformed there are too intertwined with their culture and history to ever change completely.

]]> By: Mike Rogers http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-103 Mike Rogers Mon, 27 Mar 2006 04:39:22 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-103 While countries, such as China and India, may seek to imitate the United States in the short run in order to catch up, I believe in the long they will develop their own business culture. Take for example China, for two thousand years Chinese civilization was literally the center of the economic world. Even look at the Chinese characters for China, they translate to the "Middle Kingdom." There is too much history and pride there for the Chinese to not attempt to develop their own style of business. So, is there something in Asian culture that predetermines that any attempt to reform coporate governance through Western norms will fail? Not necessarily. They are a highly motivated society, seeking to better themselves and their country. For the time being, imitating the West helps them do that. In the future, though, I believe the Chinese will try to return to center of the globe. While countries, such as China and India, may seek to imitate the United States in the short run in order to catch up, I believe in the long they will develop their own business culture. Take for example China, for two thousand years Chinese civilization was literally the center of the economic world. Even look at the Chinese characters for China, they translate to the “Middle Kingdom.” There is too much history and pride there for the Chinese to not attempt to develop their own style of business.

So, is there something in Asian culture that predetermines that any attempt to reform coporate governance through Western norms will fail? Not necessarily. They are a highly motivated society, seeking to better themselves and their country. For the time being, imitating the West helps them do that. In the future, though, I believe the Chinese will try to return to center of the globe.

]]> By: Darren Deedon http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-98 Darren Deedon Sun, 26 Mar 2006 07:48:52 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-98 Through our studies of our business practices, and international business practices, I have also wondered if foreign businesses and their unique business cultures might lead us to adopt "new" "better, faster, cheaper" business practices. Or, will it be their culture be forced to change to our standards, in order to compete as an economic powerhouse. Think about it. How long can China and India continue to steal other counties intellectual property, until they face a world economic backlash? We are not the only nation that guards our IP as if our life depends on it. If they can't be trusted, the business opportunities are quite as great as they could be (yet still very significant). I hope to hear more about this very interesting subject. Through our studies of our business practices, and international business practices, I have also wondered if foreign businesses and their unique business cultures might lead us to adopt “new” “better, faster, cheaper” business practices. Or, will it be their culture be forced to change to our standards, in order to compete as an economic powerhouse.

Think about it. How long can China and India continue to steal other counties intellectual property, until they face a world economic backlash? We are not the only nation that guards our IP as if our life depends on it. If they can’t be trusted, the business opportunities are quite as great as they could be (yet still very significant).

I hope to hear more about this very interesting subject.

]]> By: Caroll Moya http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-94 Caroll Moya Fri, 24 Mar 2006 08:33:07 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/differences-in-culture/#comment-94 This upcoming event sounds intriguing. In many ways, James McGregor addresses these similar issues in his book <i>One Million Customers</i>. I Googled the event and if anyone is interested I believe registration is $100 for students, which includes a breakfast, two lunches, and a lot of valuable information… not a bad deal! For further information here is a link: <a href="http://www.law.berkeley.edu/centers/bclbe/symposia/corporategovernance/" rel="nofollow">Corporate Governance in East Asia</a> This upcoming event sounds intriguing. In many ways, James McGregor addresses these similar issues in his book One Million Customers. I Googled the event and if anyone is interested I believe registration is $100 for students, which includes a breakfast, two lunches, and a lot of valuable information… not a bad deal! For further information here is a link:

Corporate Governance in East Asia

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