December 2009 / January 2010 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

Business
Under Chinese management
By Frank Kuijsters
Is there something like a Chinese management
style?
Although the communist Mao Zedong Confucianism
rejected as reactionary and feudal, the influence
of the Chinese philosopher’s thoughts and actions
of the population never completely disappeared.
Indeed, even during the Cultural Revolution, when
everything that smacked of the old China had to
be destroyed, Confucius did affect the thinking
and acting of the population. You can’t just erase
25 centuries.
Fundament
The teachings of Confucius (551-479 BC) is known
as the cultural foundation of China. He is described
as “China’s first master” and has followers in East
Asia. Confucius’ teachings originally transmitted
only orally, but after his death by his students in
writing. More than 1000 years long, to the early
twentieth century, Chinese students were required
to the wisdom and teachings of Confucius and
learned by heart at any time could cancel out
loud. The teachings in the Chinese psyche as such
deep scars left as the Judeo-Christian morality
in the western world.
Confucianism is therefore, deliberately or
not, major impact on the management of Chinese
enterprises. The Journal of Management Studies
in an article in 2007 concluded that the influence
of Confucius on Chinese Management wasn’t
estimated for a long time on its true value.
The faster China’s economy develops, the
more the Chinese seem to refer to their history
and important figures of the past. The Chinese
economic miracle is leading to a renaissance of
the ancient Chinese values. At several schools
Confucius is educated again.
“Zesjes” Culture
Anyone who has done business in China will
recognize: the way to a decision or agreement
is long and full of bumps (see box ‘10 tips’).
But if a decision has been taken, it also carried
with dizzying speed, without reserve or wailing
afterwards.
It is not only a consequence of the top-down,
authoritarian management culture, but it is also
due to the Confucian work ethic. One can accuse
the Chinese of many, but they do not lay down a
“zesjes” culture. In addition, both employee and
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Vol.19 • No. 10 • December 2009 / January 2010