China Streetsmart: What You MUST Know to be Effective and Profitable in China [Paperback]

John Chan (Author), John V. Thill (Author), Barbara E. Schatzman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130474886 | ISBN-13: 978-0130474889 | Publication Date: April 14, 2003 | Edition: 1

Learn how to set up and run profitable businesses in the most alluring market, China.

• Stays away from theories and focuses on practical advice from real professionals with proven results in China, which is easy to understand and follow.
• Learn from the best practices of effective China business executives.

This book is written for professionals by professionals who have worked in China for decades. The book does not stress theory about how business should be done but rather how business is done by some of the most successful business executives in China. The objective of the book is to pass on practical advice on how to be effective and more importantly, profitable in China.

Almost every foreign company has made mistakes in China and it is the objective of the book to not only show new investors how past mistakes can be prevented but also to help those already in the market learn how other executives handle similar challenges. Real life case studies are also explored in-depth to give investors a better understanding of the challenges one can expect to face and more importantly a way to resolve them.

China Streetsmart also examines China's outlook to give the investor a balanced view that the attractive opportunities WTO offers must be juxtaposed with the critical challenges such as how to tackle growing unemployment and pervasive corruption. Streetsmart investors are cautious optimists and within every risk there are also great opportunities to be capitalized on. The benefits of investing in China are real. The critical question is not whether one should invest in China but rather how. This book will show you the way.

Editorial Reviews

Review

... essential survival kit and insightful winning tips. -- Fred Hu, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs

... one of the few books available that acutely portrays the current complexities of business life in China. -- Guy Bouchet, Vice President, A.T. Kerney

... one of the few books available that acutely protrays the current complexities of business life in China. -- Guy Bouchet, Vice President, A.T. Kerney

... shows both new and seasoned corporate strategists how to deal with China's various pitfalls. -- Jun Ma, Director and Senior Economist, Deutsche Bank

... written for people who want to capitalise on the opportunities that exist in China today and the next decade. -- Henry Luk, Regional Director and CFO, The Economist Group, Asia Pacific

A must for understanding - and profiting from - the post-WTO China market. -- Willy Lam, Senior China Analyst at CNN's Hong Kong Office

From the Publisher

Learn how to set up and run profitable businesses in the most alluring market, China.

- Stays away from theories and focuses on practical advice from real professionals with proven results in China, which is easy to understand and follow.

- Learn from the best practices of effective China business executives.

This book is written for professionals by professionals who have worked in China for decades. The book does not stress theory about how business should be done but rather how business is done by some of the most successful business executives in China. The objective of the book is to pass on practical advice on how to be effective and more importantly, profitable in China.

Almost every foreign company has made mistakes in China and it is the objective of the book to not only show new investors how past mistakes can be prevented but also to help those already in the market learn how other executives handle similar challenges. Real life case studies are also explored in-depth to give investors a better understanding of the challenges one can expect to face and more importantly a way to resolve them.

China Streetsmart also examines China’s outlook to give the investor a balanced view that the attractive opportunities WTO offers must be juxtaposed with the critical challenges such as how to tackle growing unemployment and pervasive corruption. Streetsmart investors are cautious optimists and within every risk there are also great opportunities to be capitalized on. The benefits of investing in China are real. The critical question is not whether one should invest in China but rather how. This book will show you the way.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: FT Press; 1 edition (April 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130474886
• ISBN-13: 978-0130474889
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book saved our company!!!, April 17, 2006

By 

Stan M. Hoffman (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China Streetsmart: What You MUST Know to be Effective and Profitable in China (Paperback)

We've been a family business for many generations and realize, like Thomas Friedman says, The World is Flat" (another great book) and we need to start expanding our business abroad. Our family business finally made the plunge and invested in a factory in China. During our negotiations with the Chinese a small issue came up about who controlled the chop or business stamp. At first we didn't think much about this, but after reading China Streetsmart and following the case study in the book we began to realize this little chop means a heck of a lot more to the Chinese and their government than we first realized. After asking around with other companies setting up in China as well, we now realize that the situations explained in this book are real life issues and we now insist we control the chop.

I've read many other books about China and none go into the detail China Streetsmart does in how to set up a company properly. It has been our guidebook along the way. Most just give you vague examples. So far the case that has been presented in this book is been pretty similar to our own experiences. The one little pointer about the chop alone was well worth the price of the book. This book saved us a lot of headaches. I like the common sense approach the author takes towards China and it amazes me at the basic blunders other companies have made. Hopefully we won't be one of them!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cross-Cultural Teaching Aid, April 12, 2006

By 

Gabby Martinez - See all my reviews

This review is from: China Streetsmart: What You MUST Know to be Effective and Profitable in China (Paperback)

I am a cross-cultural professional with over 20 years in the field. I've just returned from a trip to China and am now in the process of expanding my practice into the China field given my clients needs to also expand there. I've since read a lot of China books, including Chinese Business Etiquette & One Billion Customers and China Streetsmart is by far the best book I've read which accurately highlights the cultural challenges business executives go through when entering a new market.

I especially like the point the author makes about the importance of integrating the family in an overseas move since a businessperson's success can be strongly influenced by the home environment. Most business books tend to stress the transaction forgeting that often its the process on how its derived which will determine the long term success.

The author's no nonsense approach to China has helped demystify many of the confusing stories I heard about what it takes to succeed in China. Now that I've been there I understand even more clearly and have now started to recommend this book to all my clients.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hands down the Best Resource Guide on the subject, May 12, 2006

By 

Robert J. Cinquina (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: China Streetsmart: What You MUST Know to be Effective and Profitable in China (Paperback)

I read John Chan's title after finishing a 9 year expat assignment in China. I was reading numerous publications on the subject to see how other's experiences compared with my own. Other books covered the typical topics with stories to illustrate the points, but I found many of them dated to the China of today, and too generalized. China is on a rapid pace of change and the practices & customs vary significantly by local area. "China Streetsmart" was current, accurately portrayed the regional dynamics of the China business environment, and offered widely applicable & fundamental guidelines to be successful. The recounting of real life experiences were so true to my own, it was uncanny. I only wish I had John's book 9 years ago. If your company or yourself are going to China, then make this book a prerequisite. There's not a single book out there that will prepare you for every situation, but if you read just one, I highly recommend "China Streetsmart" by John Chan. Take it from someone who has been there, the better you're prepared, the better your results.

RJC - Philadelphia, PA