Guanxi And Mianzi Case Study

The Mandarin term for those committed to ethical business practice is known as ‘Ru Shang’ or ‘Confucianism Trader’, and being so is traditionally thought to be a route to success (Irwin, 2012). The concepts of ‘guanxi’ and ‘mianzi’ are very important in Chinese society and are heavily influenced in the business world. Guanxi is an important part of relationships, personal connections, contacts and networks. The idea of guanxi can be thought of as a form of significant ‘social capital’ and is not something that can be reached by just exchanging business cards or having a single meal together. Relationships are formed over time and are based on trust and to have that trust reciprocated. It is common in China for an employee to take contacts with them when switching jobs as the guanxi is with the individual, not the company.

Mianzi or the Face culture is an important part of doing business in China, face is everything for the Chinese people, which also helps them maintain their guanxiwang. Mianzi is related to respect and one’s position in a hierarchy. Direct disagreement or confrontation with someone – such as a colleague or a person in a position of authority – may

You should always except a dinner invitation. There are many different rituals that the Chinese society do when it comes to dinner. Many Western businessmen should study and know these rituals. Business dinners on the mainland usually start at 6:00 or 6:30. The first dinner will be arranged by the Chinese and there are certain rules to follow. The Chinese host will be at the head of the table and he will be facing the door. As the company’s guest, you will be seated directly across from him if the table is rectangular. If it is round, then you will be seated to his right (Harris, 2010). And always taste everything but do not clean your plate. Leave just a little, to show that you 've had enough, because a clean plate means you want