Finnish High Tech in China - A Study of Business Culture
Suhonen, Petri (2013)
Suhonen, Petri
HAAGA-HELIA ammattikorkeakoulu
2013
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013061314067
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013061314067
Tiivistelmä
The objective of this thesis was to study the challenges caused by differences in Finnish and Chinese business cultures in the high technology industry. The study explains the main characteristics of the Chinese national and business cultures which every company operating in China will be dealing with, and offers examples of how these affect a high tech company.
The study was conducted as a case study of a Finnish high technology company running a project in China. The company encountered a Chinese enterprise that very strongly exhibited the qualities of stereotypical Chinese business culture, which gave an excellent opportunity for study. This thesis places special emphazis on high tech industry, but many of the issues discussed will be relevant for any company planning to run operations in China.
The theoretical framework explains the different aspects of Chinese business culture. In order to do this, first the concept of culture is explained, then the main characteristics of the Chinese national culture, and finally Chinese business culture itself, including how Chinese business culture has roots in the cultural values of Chinese national culture.
The results of the this thesis include findings of how a dominating aspect of Chinese business culture, a tendency for trial and error based problem solving, might be in conflict with the precision requirements of high technology industry. There are examples of problems it caused, and also some ideas on how the conflict might be overcome. The resulsts also give ideas for future research concerning evolution of business culture to enable a wider range of industries to operate.
The study was conducted as a case study of a Finnish high technology company running a project in China. The company encountered a Chinese enterprise that very strongly exhibited the qualities of stereotypical Chinese business culture, which gave an excellent opportunity for study. This thesis places special emphazis on high tech industry, but many of the issues discussed will be relevant for any company planning to run operations in China.
The theoretical framework explains the different aspects of Chinese business culture. In order to do this, first the concept of culture is explained, then the main characteristics of the Chinese national culture, and finally Chinese business culture itself, including how Chinese business culture has roots in the cultural values of Chinese national culture.
The results of the this thesis include findings of how a dominating aspect of Chinese business culture, a tendency for trial and error based problem solving, might be in conflict with the precision requirements of high technology industry. There are examples of problems it caused, and also some ideas on how the conflict might be overcome. The resulsts also give ideas for future research concerning evolution of business culture to enable a wider range of industries to operate.