New Asian Emperors: The Overseas Chinese, Their Strategies and Competitive Advantages [Paperback]

George Haley (Author), Usha C. V. Haley (Author), Usha C V Haley (Author), George T. Haley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0750641304 | ISBN-13: 978-0750641302 | Publication Date: December 12, 1998

Much has been written about the rise of the Asian economies in recent decades, and their coming economic dominance in the next century. The New Asian Emperors shows how and why overseas Chinese companies are achieving dominance in the Asia Pacific. In the wake of the Asian Currency crisis, this book takes a fresh look at the role of the overseas Chinese as they continue to create some of Asia's most wealthy and successful companies.

In particular, the authors tackle the principal difference between Western and Eastern business practices. The overseas Chinese, due to their origins and history developed a unique form of management - now they maintain it as their competitive advantage.

Although Asian governments are currently floundering, the overseas Chinese networks continue to prosper. The authors explain the following to Eastern and Western managers:

the sources and characteristics of overseas Chinese management,
how to combat the overseas Chinese,
the strengths and exploitable weaknesses of the overseas Chinese,
whether overseas Chinese management practices will spread in the same way as Japanese management did,
whether Western management technologies will find themselves outclassed.

A feature of the book are the exclusive, in-depth interviews with the New Asian
Emperors since most of them avoid the press and little is known of them.

- Develops a systematic theory of the Overseas Chinese networks and how they strategize
- Draws on interviews with CEOs of major Overseas Chinese companies, many of whom have never granted interviews before to academics

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Westerners have long assumed that there is one right way to organize and conduct large-scale business, on a foundation of rationality, individuality, and impersonality. This excellent treatise on the business philosophies and practices of the powerful Overseas Chinese cannot fail to open Western minds to whole new ways of business thinking.

Finally, a book to help Western business leaders understand the business philosophies and practices of the Overseas Chinese. Many practices of multinationals need to be altered if they are to compete with, or work with, the Overseas Chinese.

This book is a must reading for any business that wants to succeed in Asia. The authors have presented a masterly picture of how business is done by the Overseas Chinese'.

Philip Kotler,
S.C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University

'This book is very timely as it examines in a serious but readable manner both the strengths and weaknesses of the Overseas Chinese business community, and provides a framework for understanding how this vibrant community will resurrect itself from the current crisis. Most books on the Overseas Chinese business community have veered between extremes: either gushing with adulation, or portraying them as a semi-conspiracy. This book takes a balanced and holistic view, and weaves in the ethical and cultural traits of the Overseas Chinese with their management practices'.

Ho Kwon-Ping
President, Wah Chang Group (Owner of Banyan Tree Resorts) & Chairman, Singapore Institute of Management

'In the new Asia, especially after the crisis, there will be more and more Overseas Chinese marketers. This book is very important for those who want to deal with them successfully in the true market-based global economy'.

Hermawan Kartajaya,
President, Asia Pacific Marketing Federation

'The Overseas Chinese are among the most important groups of entrepreneurs in human history. Their contributions in the forthcoming economic reconstruction of much of East Asia will necessarily be immense. The New Asian Emperors provides a conside, highly readable and insightful analysis of why they are so critical to the future of the region and how their contributions are likely to be made. This book should be core reading for anyone doing business in Asia at this crucial time'.

Bruce W. Stening,
Professor and Executive Director, Australia Asia Management Centre, The Australian National University

'The Overseas Chinese represent what is arguably one of the most important economic and financial groups in the world, whose actions in the Pacific Rim and in other parts of the world have had profound effects on economic development, financial stability and instability, and the evolution of a wide range of industries in a global economic context. They also represent what is often a controversial economic and political force in countries dominated by other ethnic groups. This book provides a thoroughly authoritative and balanced assessment of the Overseas Chinese in terms of their roots, the role of family structures, management practices, and approaches to dealing with Overseas Chinese business groups - which themselves will have to evolve rapidly in the years ahead if they are to succeed as true multinational enterprises'.

Ingo Walter,
Charles Simon Professor of Applied Financial Economics, Sydney Homer Director of the NYU Salomon Center, and Professor of International Business, Economics and Finance, Stern School of Business, New York University & Swiss Bank Corporation Professor of International Management, INSEAD

An important study of ocerseas Chinese tycoons
The Economist - 7th April 2001

From the Publisher

In particular, the authors tackle the principal difference between Western and Eastern business practices. The overseas Chinese, due to their origins and history developed a unique form of management - now they maintain it as their competitive advantage. Although Asian governments are currently floundering, the overseas Chinese networks continue to prosper. The authors explain the following to Eastern and Western managers: the sources and characteristics of overseas Chinese management, how to combat the overseas Chinese, the strengths and exploitable weaknesses of the overseas Chinese, whether overseas Chinese management practices will spread in the same way as Japanese management did, and whether or not Western management technologies will find themselves outclassed. A unique feature of the book is the exclusive, in-depth interviews with the New Asian Emperors, as they are not well known and rarely speak with the press.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann (December 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750641304
• ISBN-13: 978-0750641302
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,641,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary book for Western and Eastern managers, January 4, 2000

By 

Chira (Bangkok) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Asian Emperors: The Overseas Chinese, Their Strategies and Competitive Advantages (Paperback)

As a Thai and a top manager (of a US MNC) of Overseas Chinese descent I approached this book skeptically. Much has been said about the Overseas Chinese - much of it rumour and innuendo. This book breaks the mould. It interviews unapproachable top CEOs of Overseas Chinese firms (how did the authors get access? This book is the only one on the market to do so and the results are amazing!). It develops a systematic theory of strengths, weaknesses, and competencies -- and draws implications for managers and competitive practices both for the East and for Western MNCs. Kudos! This book has given me much to think about and I heartily recommend it.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The way things really work, December 7, 1999

By 

Tim Harrigan (Phoenix, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Asian Emperors: The Overseas Chinese, Their Strategies and Competitive Advantages (Paperback)

The Asian crisis has come and gone and so have so many books on Asian management. However, I agree with Industry Week Growing Companies' recent appraisal (October 1999) that this book is an essential resource for any one doing business in the region. The authors shed light on the way business worked before the crisis, works during the crisis, and probably will work after the crisis is a memory.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a worthwhile read..., October 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: New Asian Emperors: The Overseas Chinese, Their Strategies and Competitive Advantages (Paperback)

A good, well-written often counter-intuitive book with some real insights by scholars who know Asia and Asian business. This book is now required reading in my corporate divisions in Asia and the USA.