China affects business for almost every company and individual on the planet. Global politics, manufacturing, technology, migrant communities, and international students are just a few of the ways China is already impacting your life.
Doing Business in China (DBi China) modules introduce the cultural differences and unique corporate circumstances present in doing business with contemporary China, both within and outside of the mainland. Managing a business that deals with China often requires navigating competing dynamics, a collectivist culture and individual needs, as well as Chinese law and international standards. This DBi... series looks at what those tensions are and what has and hasn't worked in the past.
DBi China assumes you'll be working in China, but is helpful as well for those who are working with Chinese individuals and companies via China's expanding global presence.
The modules draw on case studies, media reports, and 30 years of professional and personal experience in China, on-the-ground insights from professionals who have worked in and with China directly for decades.
DBi China is built around 15 modules, each focused on a specific skill or theme necessary for being successful in China.
The 15 Modules
[DRAFT — module titles pending final review]
- Module 1: China's Global Footprint: Why It Matters to Your Business
- Module 2: Chinese Business Culture: What You Need to Know
- Module 3: Navigating Collective Culture vs. Individual Needs
- Module 4: Working Within Chinese Law and Regulation
- Module 5: Sourcing and Manufacturing in China
- Module 6: Reading China's Regulatory Environment: Common Prosperity and Policy Shifts
- Module 7: Crisis and Adaptation: Lessons from Covid Zero and Reopening
- Module 8: Decoupling, Derisking, and “China for China”
- Module 9: Know the Players: Alibaba, Didi, TikTok, Huawei, WeChat, BYD, et al
- Module 10: Negotiating and Building Relationships with Chinese Companies
- Module 11: Working with Chinese Individuals and Teams
- Module 12: China's Global Presence: Belt and Road and Beyond
- Module 13: Managing Trade Wars and Geopolitical Risk
- Module 14: Case Studies: Successes and Failures in the China Market
- Module 15: Setting Up in China: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started
Sample Module
A preview of what each module will include. Full modules coming soon.
Module 1: Why China Matters — China's Global Economic Footprint
What this module covers:
- Mapping the ways China's economy touches industries outside of China
- Identifying the major channels of Chinese economic influence: manufacturing, trade, technology, capital markets, and diaspora communities
- Recognize why understanding China has become a baseline business competency, not a specialty
- Customize your DBi China modules to match just what you'll need to work successfully in China
Overview: Before looking at how to do business with or in China, it helps to see just how wide China's economic footprint already is. From the products on your shelves, to the technology in your pocket, and the companies you compete with and/or work with. This module maps that footprint, allows for the customization that you'll want for your specific job in China, and sets up the questions the rest of the modules will answer.
[Case studies, media, and readings for this module coming soon]