The China Ready Company [Hardcover]

Steven H. Ganster; Kent D. Kedl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 2005

Is Your Company Ready for China? Determine your company’s state of readiness to tackle the opportunities and challenges of the world’s most dynamic market—China. Learn from the many firms who have gone before you over the last 15 years and “wished they knew then what they know now.” The China Ready Company describes a practical process and diagnostic tool to prepare your company to succeed in China’s dynamic and complex market. It is a pragmatic and readable guide to gaining consensus among your management team to develop and execute a winning China strategy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A long overdue and practical guide for understanding and addressing the unique challenges of investing and working in China." -- Jay Hoenig Senior Director, Fluor China Former Chairman, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai

An outstanding book for how to successfully do business in China and win where challenges are significant, differences are real. -- John R. Breitenstein President, DuPont Dow Elastomers Asia Pacific

Easy to read, interesting and, after nearly 10 years in China, has some unique insights I haven’t come across before. -- Phil Murtaugh Former CEO, General Motors China

One of the best books I have read on the subject and should be required reading before making any investment. -- Terry Fry Managing Director, PPG Fiber Glass Asia/Pacific

This book will serve you well as you consider a China strategy for your business. Thought provoking, easy to read. -- Peter Ellefson Engineering Director, DuPont Company

About the Author

Steven H. Ganster has more than 27 years in international strategy consulting, primarily in Asia. He has assisted over 100 multinational firms in their strategy assessment for China alone. He is currently based in Shanghai as Managing Director of Technomic Asia, a market strategy consultancy to Western companies across a wide array of industries. He has an MBA from the Garvin School of International Management (Thunderbird) in Arizona and an undergraduate degree in English Literature and Asian Studies from Vassar College in New York. Kent D. Kedl has been involved with China for nearly 20 years. In the 1980s and early 1990s, he worked in education in China, teaching English and journalism, managing Chinese language and cultural exchange programs. In the mid 1990s he worked in IT and manufacturing with Fourth Shift Corporation, the first foreign software firm to operate in China. Kent is Executive Director of Technomic Asia and splits his time between Shanghai and Minneapolis. He has a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in East Asian Studies from the University of Minnesota.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: China Pathways, LLC (November 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977208605
• ISBN-13: 978-0977208609
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,779,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chinese Gold, May 9, 2006

By 

Reardon Smith (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The China Ready Company (Hardcover)

With over fifteen years of experience working with western clients in the China market, Steven Ganster and Kent Kedl aptly compare the fortunes and perils of a business expansion into China with the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890's - "Of the tens of thousands who made it to the Bonanza, only a handful found fortunes". Many found ruin and even worse. This reviewer can attest to the validity of the comparison - with personal scars earned in China I mean, not at the Gold Rush!

While on the surface being an infomercial for the authors' own consulting company and its China Readiness Assessment process, the book has three other levels that make it a worthwhile read for consultants and business leaders. The case studies, anecdotes, insights and suggestions will be invaluable for any company (and its consultants) that is trying to decide whether a move into China is essential or just plain stupid. The choice is not always obvious. The differences between doing business in the USA and in China are well laid out and preparations for a new venture in China are described in detail - starting with the "Six D's" - Due Diligence, Due Diligence, and Due Diligence.

On a second level, while this book is very specifically about working in China, many of its warnings, analyses, preparations and suggestions would work equally well for ventures into other countries. Or even for other major expansions of a firm, like M&A's, spin-offs, or departures into radical new products. The authors' careful, analytical, and comprehensive readiness approach would be valid for many of a firm's decision making activities. The chapter on "Understanding Your Motivation to Expand (into China)" (my parentheses) would make good reading for any CEO faced with any equally daunting decision.

The third level that I think consultants will enjoy in this book is that it really is telling the story of the life of the authors' consulting company. Many of the case studies are of interest as examples of consulting interventions in general - how do we take what the client think he wants and make him see what he really needs, and then take him along the path to meaningful results? How do we deal with internal conflict and corporate cultural issues? What do we do if there is not consensus at the top for a major move like going into China? How do we reconcile risk with realistic reward? How do we look beyond the client company, to its supply chain and the product's value chain? These are all valuable lessons for consultants no matter whether the case in point is China or a new revolutionary donut.

The book is written intelligently and with humor and is an easy read. More importantly, it is clear that the authors love China; its people; its culture; its opportunities. There really is gold in them-thar-hills. This book might help you find it.