TED Talks
Martin Jacques: Understanding the rise of China
A speaker named Jacques Martin spoke during a TED Talk and focused on the topic of understanding the country of China in relation to several key cultural dimensions in doing business with the Chinese. Jacques explained his intent to provide an overview of the country and its people and their desire to rebuild a dynasty of success in the world. After watching this TED Talk it became clear that China will continue to grow and will likely face challenges but will remain loyal to their heritage and emerge as a threat to some that appose how they intend to operate and in contrast will also be seen as a place where one can prosper.
A speaker named Jacques Martin spoke during a TED Talk and focused on the topic of understanding the country of China in relation to several key cultural dimensions in doing business with the Chinese. Jacques explained his intent to provide an overview of the country and its people and their desire to rebuild a dynasty of success in the world. After watching this TED Talk it became clear that China will continue to grow and will likely face challenges but will remain loyal to their heritage and emerge as a threat to some that appose how they intend to operate and in contrast will also be seen as a place where one can prosper.
To
begin with, in learning to understand China, it is important to know that the
country is considered a civilization state and not a nation state which means
that China is one civilization with many systems functioning among one people. Businesses operate remotely among the different regions within China but the State is always present. The State enjoys more legitimacy and authority than any Western state period.
Potential for success and growth in business seems to be unlimited in China. Not ten years ago economists had predicted Chinese
growth in GDP would parallel the United States in the next five years but
recent reports have acknowledged that the Chinese GDP has already passed the
United States and is headed toward doubling in the next five to six years. This is an amazingly impossible growth rate and will likely taper off as limitations begin to surface in quality and regulation forced into play from other nations.
With
a population of over 1.3 Billion and growing at a rate of nearly 10% every year
on average understanding China continues with the people and this staggering statistic.
This is especially interesting because this is not typical for countries that
are still developing rather population booms are common among the developed
world such as the United States shortly after World War 2 in the nineteen
fifties.
When
discussing race, the civilization of China is well over one thousand years old
and the majority of the population calls themselves Chinese and can point to
the Han Dynasty as the center of their blood line. This identity is what holds
the country together and is seen as superior to all other races dwelling within
the country. In this one thousand year legacy, the state has never
realistically been challenged and is actually seen as the sole source of
spirituality like a parent figure or guardian designed to take care of the
people. From a business perspective it is critical to gain trust among the
people one is working with in China at a friendship level or even better a
member of the family in order to build layers of trust and comradery.
Chinese
culture and their understanding of the West as Jacques described, is that the
West fails to see China using Eastern eyes rather the West continues to try to
make sense of different facets of Chinese society by using Western concepts.
Jacques explained that this is a mistake. If a business person enters into the
Chinese market, he must make an effort to become Chinese in order to understand
how to work there. An organization cannot expect to go into the market immediately
feeling dominant and feel like they do not need to understand. The Chinese
simply believe they are more cosmopolitan than the West and that they will
continue to gain influence in the world and will be shaping how the rest of the
world will be in the years to come.
As
business leaders, we must look at China from a historical perspective to understand
where they are going. If an organization wants to pursue China as the next
place to do business than they will be forced to blend into how China exists
and become Chinese to some degree. Jacques closed his speech by professing that humans must embrace and welcome the transformation that China brings to
world in that democracy of multiple civilizations will be close behind and is a celebration.
References
Jacques, Martin. “Understanding the rise of China.” Online
video clip. YouTube. Youtube, 25 Apr. 2013.
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