Snapshot of Chinese Business Culture

The outward trappings of a culture (its customs, traditions, rules, rituals, and so on) are primarily a product of the culture's deeper underlying values. Familiarity with these values can help us understand their business priorities and expectation. It can also us interpret unfamiliar behaviors and anticipate actions or reactions to something we might do, say, or propose.

Here are some basic business Chinese values. Click on a specific value or on CONNECTIONS to see them all.

I. CONNECTIONS

II. RECIPROCAL OBLIGATION

III. COLLECTIVE BEFORE INDIVIDUALS

IV. RESPECT FOR HIERARCHY

V. SAVING FACE

VI. PROTOCOL AND CEREMONY