Comments on: Rio Tinto and Urumqi as Corporate Culture Lessons http://silkroadintl.net/blog/2009/08/21/rio-tinto-and-urumqi-as-corporate-culture-lessons/ Your Branch Office in Asia Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:52:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: marcus http://silkroadintl.net/blog/2009/08/21/rio-tinto-and-urumqi-as-corporate-culture-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-1507 marcus Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:38:41 +0000 http://silkroadintl.net/blog/?p=516#comment-1507 I learn heaps from your blog. I found dealing with Chinese people quite tricky when going there as a tourist and as a man interested in a Chinese woman. I always found that business and life are intertwined and life is business. I found that there is always a reason why you pay more or you should pay. I think they that all foreigners are stupid. I think that is where they make a mistake and leave themselves open to smarter foregners. I also think that many foreigners don't trust them so don't deal with them. They therefore miss out on trade. Overall I believe that when corruption is deeply rooted then usually the economy is too. I learn heaps from your blog. I found dealing with Chinese people quite tricky when going there as a tourist and as a man interested in a Chinese woman. I always found that business and life are intertwined and life is business. I found that there is always a reason why you pay more or you should pay. I think they that all foreigners are stupid. I think that is where they make a mistake and leave themselves open to smarter foregners. I also think that many foreigners don’t trust them so don’t deal with them. They therefore miss out on trade.

Overall I believe that when corruption is deeply rooted then usually the economy is too.

]]> By: daniel http://silkroadintl.net/blog/2009/08/21/rio-tinto-and-urumqi-as-corporate-culture-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-1506 daniel Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:06:42 +0000 http://silkroadintl.net/blog/?p=516#comment-1506 Great comments! hope your comments to be noticed by wisdom chinese. God bless them.. Great comments! hope your comments to be noticed by wisdom chinese.
God bless them..

]]> By: China Gets Serious About Corruption http://silkroadintl.net/blog/2009/08/21/rio-tinto-and-urumqi-as-corporate-culture-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-1503 China Gets Serious About Corruption Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:46:31 +0000 http://silkroadintl.net/blog/?p=516#comment-1503 [...] David Dayton at Silk Road International  points out in his latest blog post, the western mindset is different from the [...] [...] David Dayton at Silk Road International  points out in his latest blog post, the western mindset is different from the [...]

]]> By: david http://silkroadintl.net/blog/2009/08/21/rio-tinto-and-urumqi-as-corporate-culture-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-1501 david Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:03:39 +0000 http://silkroadintl.net/blog/?p=516#comment-1501 Jason. First, thank you. But I think that I've really got you fooled. I have to admit, since you've asked, that I usually only post my successes and/or what I should have done. Many of the lessons that I share I've learned the hard way--meaning, I did the wrong thing and only after reviewing what went wrong with staff did I understand what we should have done. We do do the right thing a lot of the time too (that's why we're still in business, I suppose), but I get better materials from the problems that the successes. Probably the two biggest assets I have, in terms of cultural learning opportunities are a) good people around me. This is by far our biggest success in China. Because we have chosen and retained good people we have been able to be successful in China. My staff are the reason I'm still in business. And b) loyal clientele that have allowed me time and again the time necessary to get things right on their behalf. The only credit that I can take myself is the fact that I'm still here--it's been almost 20 years now. I've been working with factories for almost 10 of those years. We do, on average, 12-15 projects a month and each project involves 4+ individual factories. So you can see that, if nothing else, we do interact with a ton of factories--mostly small to medium sized entities. That means I get a lot of material. I also studied Anthropology (Thai-Chinese comparative corporate culture) in grad school. I loved it. Really changed how I see things. I'm headed back for a PhD...some day. Jason.

First, thank you. But I think that I’ve really got you fooled.

I have to admit, since you’ve asked, that I usually only post my successes and/or what I should have done. Many of the lessons that I share I’ve learned the hard way–meaning, I did the wrong thing and only after reviewing what went wrong with staff did I understand what we should have done. We do do the right thing a lot of the time too (that’s why we’re still in business, I suppose), but I get better materials from the problems that the successes.

Probably the two biggest assets I have, in terms of cultural learning opportunities are a) good people around me. This is by far our biggest success in China. Because we have chosen and retained good people we have been able to be successful in China. My staff are the reason I’m still in business. And b) loyal clientele that have allowed me time and again the time necessary to get things right on their behalf.

The only credit that I can take myself is the fact that I’m still here–it’s been almost 20 years now. I’ve been working with factories for almost 10 of those years. We do, on average, 12-15 projects a month and each project involves 4+ individual factories. So you can see that, if nothing else, we do interact with a ton of factories–mostly small to medium sized entities. That means I get a lot of material.

I also studied Anthropology (Thai-Chinese comparative corporate culture) in grad school. I loved it. Really changed how I see things. I’m headed back for a PhD…some day.

]]> By: Jason Patent http://silkroadintl.net/blog/2009/08/21/rio-tinto-and-urumqi-as-corporate-culture-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-1500 Jason Patent Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:52:35 +0000 http://silkroadintl.net/blog/?p=516#comment-1500 David, Another great post. Thanks. I'm struck by how well you keep your cool. I've been working on the notion of the "culturally savvy leader," and you're a living example of one. What characteristics do you think you possess that enable you to remain effective despite all the obstacles before you? How much have you had to train yourself? In the heat of the moment, how do you stay cool and regroup? Would appreciate any thoughts you have on the matter. Great blog. Jason David,

Another great post. Thanks. I’m struck by how well you keep your cool. I’ve been working on the notion of the “culturally savvy leader,” and you’re a living example of one. What characteristics do you think you possess that enable you to remain effective despite all the obstacles before you? How much have you had to train yourself? In the heat of the moment, how do you stay cool and regroup?

Would appreciate any thoughts you have on the matter.

Great blog.

Jason

]]>