“Sandeep, Sandeep wake up” I just heard a faint voice coming from the corner, I just thought for a second that it was Nayantara my beloved wife trying to wake me up as usual. I thought to my self that it was too early for me to get up on a Sunday morning, but I suddenly realized that I heard a male voice. I woke up and to my dismay it was not my wife but my colleague Neerav, only then did I realize that I was in my office. I was too tired for the day and have not sleep properly for the past one-week. We were quite busy with the latest product launch, a new variety of the post it notes. The product launch was a mega hit and we had just returned from a bash last night. The CEO of 3M’s Asia operations was quite impressed and during the party he just called me and said “ Sandeep you guys have done a good job, keep it up. I would like to talk to you tomorrow about something very important and lets schedule a meeting at 4.00 pm”. I decided not to think about what he just said and had great fun releasing the pent-up tension and stress. Nayantara keeps telling me that I am a perfect Virgo and give undue importance to perfection. She always accuses me of not having a work life balance and when it comes to work I completely forget everything around me and sometimes even don’t remember to have my food. I always tell her that it’s been the south Indian tradition where men are considered the breadwinners and would have to work really hard to take care of the family. I tried explaining the Hofstede’s Power Distance model, but she failed to understand, she was born in the north India and stayed in the United States for most of her life. She always believed in equality among sexes and never used to agree that the Indian society has still not matured and would take some time for people to grow up and break away from the commonplace thinking. I remember telling her last week that though I belong to a tradition, which has given importance to men and ill-treated women and such a culture was inherited from the Hindu custom, I personally believe in equality and am pretty open minded and this was primarily because of my family values
While I was thinking, Neerav told me that it was time for the meeting that was scheduled at 4.00 pm and the CEO has just arrived. I just told him that I would be back in a jiffy after refreshing myself and it was then I thought, it was nice working with him and I really enjoyed his company from my college days.
Neerav and I entered the conference room and were welcomed by the executive team for successfully completing the product launch. After few minutes of deliberation the CEO looked at me and said
CEO: Sandeep you guys have done a good job and are really proud of your work. As you are aware that the Chinese market is expanding we would require your service there and I would want you to head the Chinese operation and launch the product within the next 6 months.
I just couldn’t believe what he said, it was a pleasant shock, and the first thing that came up to my mind was ‘China”. All that I knew about the country was what I had learnt in my CCM class back in college. My professor used to tell us that China was low on Individualism and high on Long-term orientation, of all the classes that I had attended, I could just remember this. One day when I was making a presentation on China I just remarked that they are lily puts and were interested in eating anything under the sun. After my presentation was over my professor called me into her cabin and just said this “ Sandeep you seem to having a narrow outlook and are pretty much closed minded, if you want to be successful in the field of marketing and if you want to make a life out of International Marketing, I suggest you must get rid of all the stereo types and must accept things as they are”
I tried telling my professor that I had been conditioned and having been brought up in a south Indian family, where thinking leave alone eating non vegetarian food is considered a sin. My mother always quoted the Indian monk, Swami Vivekananda and told me that the kind of food that I take would determine my character and if I eat satwik food I would become satwik. I told my professor that it would take quite sometime to unlearn what I have learnt and accept things as they are. My professor gave me a smile and told me “ Sandeep the sooner you change the better off you would be.”
I just realized that I haven’t taken any steps to change and have the same mental block that I used to have.
I dint realize that the best part was about to come.
CEO: Sandeep you just have a week’s time to prepare yourself and learn more about the Chinese culture and you would have to report next week along with your wife. All the necessary arrangements have been made and you would have to meet MR Chin Chu Che.
The meeting just ended and I got back to my cabin. Mr Chin Chu Che, what kind of a name was that, I never was good at remembering names and have some how managed to survive. The best part of the Indian culture is that there are generic titles that can be used to address a person, for example dada, anna, uncle, aunty etc. and can get away easily avoiding embarrassment. However the Chinese are particular that their names are pronounced properly and even to the extent of calling them with their designated titles. While I was thinking, Neerav came up to me and told me that for the next one week I would have to undergo an orientation programme along with Nayantara.
It was 7.00 in the evening and I decided to leave. On my way home I decided to stop at the nearby bookstore and decided to pick up a book on china and its culture. I was constantly thinking on how I would be able to convince Nayantara. By the time I reached home it was 9.00 and the dinner was laid on the table, she immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong and I was disturbed. I was hesitant initially and finally told her about the trip to China. I thought she would reject it outright and I would have a tough time convincing her but ironically she was quite enthusiastic and excited.
The next day morning we reached the orientation program and as usual were 20 minutes late. In India we somehow follow the Indian stretchable time and I for one would completely agree and abide by this standard. I have never in my life been on time for any occasion, be it my assignments or my marriage I have always followed the Indian version of IST. This I guess can be attributed to the countries sence of time, Indians are generally polychronic and never tend to value their time as well as that of others. I have never been ashamed of being late; moreover Time in the south Indian context somehow does not seem to exist. Whenever I used to attend a social function, be it a marriage or any other gathering, the function generally starts 30 minutes late from the stipulated time. 3M also has an informal culture and the employees are given utmost freedom to do what they want to, the Indian operation unlike the others don’t follow “time’ strictly.
As we entered the conference hall, we saw a small little man dressed in traditional suit and was wearing a light colored tie. “What a color combination” I remarked and Nayantara asked me to mind my business. The man looked Chinese and as soon as he saw us, he got up from his seat and bowed his head a little bit and said something in Chinese. I did not know what to do and decided to extend my hand and just said hello. We were offered a seat and he just introduced himself as Winch Chu Lee. I couldn’t quite get his name, it sounded like some north Indian dish pronounced the French way. I found it quite hard and asked him if I could call him Lee. The answer was an emphatic “No Sir”. In China, people are generally like to be addressed by their family name or sur name and not by their first name. He continued you are not advised to call somebody by their first name unless and until they have asked you to do so. This was my first lesson for the day
Never address a Chinese by his first name, unless and until you are asked to do so.
That was a clear blow t my ego I couldn’t quite take it because I had just entered and have still not settled, I looked at Nayantara and she pretended as if she did not notice. I then turned to the gentlemen and asked him if I was right if I called him Mr. Winch.
He nodded and continued.
Sir, in china you generally address people by their surname and it is advised that you address them along with their designation. If for example you are meeting with the director and his name happens to be Shin lee, you would have to address him as Director Shin. In China the power distance is high and people are divided on their caste and the upper section of the society accumulates wealth and it is perfectly accepted as a part of their culture.
I immediately made a note of what he just said. This was one trait that Nayantara admired in me the most. This habit was inculcated from my formative years when I had to keep track of my daily activities. I vividly remember my mother used to scold me for not prioritizing my appointments and my inability to deny an offer or for that matter to say “No” when asked for. I generally take refuge saying that Indians are like this, but that somehow does not seem to be true. I have known couple of my colleagues who have out rightly rejected offers on my face. Only then I realized that this was a trait that I picked from my father and cannot generalize it to Indian community as a whole.
I had no problem with this attitude at 3M, because the organizational culture permits an individual to spent 15% of his time on projects of his interests. The culture is informal and not rigid. I am a person who firmly believes that when passion is combined with a dream and if the person is an earnest seeker, there is no body from stopping him from embracing success, but success eludes a person who fails to convert adversities into future opportunities. I imbibed this trait from my father who encouraged me in all my activities and never stopped me from taking my own decisions even if it meant there was huge risk involved. This individual trait of mine is quite opposite to that of the normal Indian trait. Indians are considered risk aversive and generally like to go with the mass. Even though there is group think among the masses, India is ranked low in uncertainty avoidance, which essentially means that they are tolerant and accommodative. According to Hofstede’s model India ranks low in Long-term orientation and Individualism. I have inherited the trait of tolerance from my national culture and am quite independent which is a factor of my upbringing.
Mr. Winch got my attention and said “ Sir before we proceed I would like to tell you something very important. The Chinese value time and they don’t prefer people being late. I therefore suggest that you keep track of your time and your appointments.
He then proceeded and elaborated on the day’s agenda. What was striking was that there was a segment on 3M’s Chinese culture. I wondered how different would 3M’s Chinese operation differ from that of others.
Mr Winch, was really smart, he could immediately sense what was running in my mind, he told me “ Sir, 3M China’s culture is different from that of the others he continued, Sir as you might be aware China’s power distance ranking is significantly higher as compared to other far east Asian countries. The world’s average score is 55 and that of china is 80, which makes it a country where ranking and designations are given utmost importance. There is inequality in power and wealth in the Chinese society and the society is more likely to follow a caste system that does not allow significant upward mobility of its citizens. This means that a foreigner would find it difficult to break into the existing social group. It would take quite some time to gain importance. The Chinese rank low on individualism and this would mean that they would have a close and committed member group be it family, extended family or extended relationships. Therefore an autocratic mode of operation might not be acceptable to the Chinese and you would have to become socially acceptable and then work along with them. This might not be as easy as it is said yet not that difficult too. As I was telling you the way you might have worked in India could be quite different from that in china.
This was the third continuous shock that I received in a row and it was difficult to take it. However, my culture has thought me one eternal truth that “ one does not get what he desires, he gets what he deserves and wise men accept this and know that this very moment is inevitable and life is too short to be spent worrying”. I got reminded of Ramana maharishis’s quote and told myself that everything happens on the basis of Prarabdha karma.
I decided to take a break and told Mr Winch that I would have to leave as I have an appointment that I had to attend to. He understood my situation and was kind enough to let me go.
On my way back home, I never spoke a word and was driving my car. I was contemplating on what Mr. Winch has just said. I just can’t imagine working in an environment that stifles creativity and where too much importance is given to bureaucracy.
We reached home and I asked Nayantara to get me a cup of coffee and curd rice. I was born and brought up in south India and not a single day passed without eating curd rice. I felt really uncomfortable the whole day because I dint get my quota of coffee and curd rice. Meanwhile I just picked up the book that I had purchased and decided to keep myself informed before I get ton class tomorrow.
To my dismay the first thing that I saw when I opened the book, were pictures of Snakes, Scorpions, Crabs and a few un identified objects. The text below read
“Chinese delicacy”. The very thought and sight of the picture was nauseating and to add o to the situation Nayantara arrived with a bowl of curd rice and coffee. I just couldn’t hope that she would get the dishes at this time of the hour. I was completely lost and did not feel like eating.
It was only now that she spoke a word, “Sandeep, why are you being childish, you need to understand that every culture is unique in its own way and it is only upto to you to accept and adjust. I am sure when Chinese come to India they would feel the same way as you would when they see a white liquid mixed rice, I am referring to curd rice.
Sandeep you need to grow up and widen your horizon as your professor used to say. While you were reading I just spoke to Jayanth, he is my friend and an expert in cross-cultural management. He said that, “Chinese are very courteous and give importance to relationships and would respect other people’s views. If we just go by the Hofstede’s model, we wouldn’t be able to visit any country in the world. No doubt the Hofstede’s model does explain the cultural aspects, but we might have to keep in mind that not all the people fall under the model and the immediate society and family also influences peoples behaviour.
A foreigner who visits China should be bit more sensitive. He should take utmost care that he doesn’t hurt their feelings. I do understand that Sandeep might not like the food that is being served, he has the liberty to accept the food but not have it, and this would ease tension and will not be considered as an insult”.
Moreover, “Sandeep” she said “ A person like you who appreciates and follows the spiritual path which seems to be running in your family stream, I think you would have to be happy to know that even though china is considered an atheist country where the state lays down definite rules governing religion, there seems to be many tradition religious practices like Zen, Buddhism that you might be interested in. You would also be surprised to know the china also has an old tradition and culture that they respect and cherish.
I felt relieved after hearing Nayantara speak and was feeling really hungry and decided to eat the curd rice that she bought for me. Next day morning, I took utmost care that I reach the conference hall on time. Today’s programme was to cover the topics on the dressing style, body language, and gifts.
Mr. Winch told us that the Chinese generally prefer traditional suits with light colour ties and he also warned me that I should abstain from wearing bright colours. Speaking about their body language he said that, when they tap their feet, it symbolizes anger and when they put their index finger on their nose they are communicating “that it is me”. The Chinese prefer gifts and have the tradition of declining the gift three times before they accept it.
The next few days passed and I had learnt a lot about China and its culture, I felt very comfortable and confident that I could be successful in handling the assignment and would be able to launch the product successfully.
At the end of the day I realized that what is more important is not where you go, when you go and what you do there, what is important is that we must have an open mind and accept things around you. Finally, I realized that even this boils down to the eternal truth that I learnt from Ramana maharishis’s teachings “ this moment is inevitable, there is nothing that you can do to change what has actually happened, therefore accept and move on."
While I was thinking, Neerav told me that it was time for the meeting that was scheduled at 4.00 pm and the CEO has just arrived. I just told him that I would be back in a jiffy after refreshing myself and it was then I thought, it was nice working with him and I really enjoyed his company from my college days.
Neerav and I entered the conference room and were welcomed by the executive team for successfully completing the product launch. After few minutes of deliberation the CEO looked at me and said
CEO: Sandeep you guys have done a good job and are really proud of your work. As you are aware that the Chinese market is expanding we would require your service there and I would want you to head the Chinese operation and launch the product within the next 6 months.
I just couldn’t believe what he said, it was a pleasant shock, and the first thing that came up to my mind was ‘China”. All that I knew about the country was what I had learnt in my CCM class back in college. My professor used to tell us that China was low on Individualism and high on Long-term orientation, of all the classes that I had attended, I could just remember this. One day when I was making a presentation on China I just remarked that they are lily puts and were interested in eating anything under the sun. After my presentation was over my professor called me into her cabin and just said this “ Sandeep you seem to having a narrow outlook and are pretty much closed minded, if you want to be successful in the field of marketing and if you want to make a life out of International Marketing, I suggest you must get rid of all the stereo types and must accept things as they are”
I tried telling my professor that I had been conditioned and having been brought up in a south Indian family, where thinking leave alone eating non vegetarian food is considered a sin. My mother always quoted the Indian monk, Swami Vivekananda and told me that the kind of food that I take would determine my character and if I eat satwik food I would become satwik. I told my professor that it would take quite sometime to unlearn what I have learnt and accept things as they are. My professor gave me a smile and told me “ Sandeep the sooner you change the better off you would be.”
I just realized that I haven’t taken any steps to change and have the same mental block that I used to have.
I dint realize that the best part was about to come.
CEO: Sandeep you just have a week’s time to prepare yourself and learn more about the Chinese culture and you would have to report next week along with your wife. All the necessary arrangements have been made and you would have to meet MR Chin Chu Che.
The meeting just ended and I got back to my cabin. Mr Chin Chu Che, what kind of a name was that, I never was good at remembering names and have some how managed to survive. The best part of the Indian culture is that there are generic titles that can be used to address a person, for example dada, anna, uncle, aunty etc. and can get away easily avoiding embarrassment. However the Chinese are particular that their names are pronounced properly and even to the extent of calling them with their designated titles. While I was thinking, Neerav came up to me and told me that for the next one week I would have to undergo an orientation programme along with Nayantara.
It was 7.00 in the evening and I decided to leave. On my way home I decided to stop at the nearby bookstore and decided to pick up a book on china and its culture. I was constantly thinking on how I would be able to convince Nayantara. By the time I reached home it was 9.00 and the dinner was laid on the table, she immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong and I was disturbed. I was hesitant initially and finally told her about the trip to China. I thought she would reject it outright and I would have a tough time convincing her but ironically she was quite enthusiastic and excited.
The next day morning we reached the orientation program and as usual were 20 minutes late. In India we somehow follow the Indian stretchable time and I for one would completely agree and abide by this standard. I have never in my life been on time for any occasion, be it my assignments or my marriage I have always followed the Indian version of IST. This I guess can be attributed to the countries sence of time, Indians are generally polychronic and never tend to value their time as well as that of others. I have never been ashamed of being late; moreover Time in the south Indian context somehow does not seem to exist. Whenever I used to attend a social function, be it a marriage or any other gathering, the function generally starts 30 minutes late from the stipulated time. 3M also has an informal culture and the employees are given utmost freedom to do what they want to, the Indian operation unlike the others don’t follow “time’ strictly.
As we entered the conference hall, we saw a small little man dressed in traditional suit and was wearing a light colored tie. “What a color combination” I remarked and Nayantara asked me to mind my business. The man looked Chinese and as soon as he saw us, he got up from his seat and bowed his head a little bit and said something in Chinese. I did not know what to do and decided to extend my hand and just said hello. We were offered a seat and he just introduced himself as Winch Chu Lee. I couldn’t quite get his name, it sounded like some north Indian dish pronounced the French way. I found it quite hard and asked him if I could call him Lee. The answer was an emphatic “No Sir”. In China, people are generally like to be addressed by their family name or sur name and not by their first name. He continued you are not advised to call somebody by their first name unless and until they have asked you to do so. This was my first lesson for the day
Never address a Chinese by his first name, unless and until you are asked to do so.
That was a clear blow t my ego I couldn’t quite take it because I had just entered and have still not settled, I looked at Nayantara and she pretended as if she did not notice. I then turned to the gentlemen and asked him if I was right if I called him Mr. Winch.
He nodded and continued.
Sir, in china you generally address people by their surname and it is advised that you address them along with their designation. If for example you are meeting with the director and his name happens to be Shin lee, you would have to address him as Director Shin. In China the power distance is high and people are divided on their caste and the upper section of the society accumulates wealth and it is perfectly accepted as a part of their culture.
I immediately made a note of what he just said. This was one trait that Nayantara admired in me the most. This habit was inculcated from my formative years when I had to keep track of my daily activities. I vividly remember my mother used to scold me for not prioritizing my appointments and my inability to deny an offer or for that matter to say “No” when asked for. I generally take refuge saying that Indians are like this, but that somehow does not seem to be true. I have known couple of my colleagues who have out rightly rejected offers on my face. Only then I realized that this was a trait that I picked from my father and cannot generalize it to Indian community as a whole.
I had no problem with this attitude at 3M, because the organizational culture permits an individual to spent 15% of his time on projects of his interests. The culture is informal and not rigid. I am a person who firmly believes that when passion is combined with a dream and if the person is an earnest seeker, there is no body from stopping him from embracing success, but success eludes a person who fails to convert adversities into future opportunities. I imbibed this trait from my father who encouraged me in all my activities and never stopped me from taking my own decisions even if it meant there was huge risk involved. This individual trait of mine is quite opposite to that of the normal Indian trait. Indians are considered risk aversive and generally like to go with the mass. Even though there is group think among the masses, India is ranked low in uncertainty avoidance, which essentially means that they are tolerant and accommodative. According to Hofstede’s model India ranks low in Long-term orientation and Individualism. I have inherited the trait of tolerance from my national culture and am quite independent which is a factor of my upbringing.
Mr. Winch got my attention and said “ Sir before we proceed I would like to tell you something very important. The Chinese value time and they don’t prefer people being late. I therefore suggest that you keep track of your time and your appointments.
He then proceeded and elaborated on the day’s agenda. What was striking was that there was a segment on 3M’s Chinese culture. I wondered how different would 3M’s Chinese operation differ from that of others.
Mr Winch, was really smart, he could immediately sense what was running in my mind, he told me “ Sir, 3M China’s culture is different from that of the others he continued, Sir as you might be aware China’s power distance ranking is significantly higher as compared to other far east Asian countries. The world’s average score is 55 and that of china is 80, which makes it a country where ranking and designations are given utmost importance. There is inequality in power and wealth in the Chinese society and the society is more likely to follow a caste system that does not allow significant upward mobility of its citizens. This means that a foreigner would find it difficult to break into the existing social group. It would take quite some time to gain importance. The Chinese rank low on individualism and this would mean that they would have a close and committed member group be it family, extended family or extended relationships. Therefore an autocratic mode of operation might not be acceptable to the Chinese and you would have to become socially acceptable and then work along with them. This might not be as easy as it is said yet not that difficult too. As I was telling you the way you might have worked in India could be quite different from that in china.
This was the third continuous shock that I received in a row and it was difficult to take it. However, my culture has thought me one eternal truth that “ one does not get what he desires, he gets what he deserves and wise men accept this and know that this very moment is inevitable and life is too short to be spent worrying”. I got reminded of Ramana maharishis’s quote and told myself that everything happens on the basis of Prarabdha karma.
I decided to take a break and told Mr Winch that I would have to leave as I have an appointment that I had to attend to. He understood my situation and was kind enough to let me go.
On my way back home, I never spoke a word and was driving my car. I was contemplating on what Mr. Winch has just said. I just can’t imagine working in an environment that stifles creativity and where too much importance is given to bureaucracy.
We reached home and I asked Nayantara to get me a cup of coffee and curd rice. I was born and brought up in south India and not a single day passed without eating curd rice. I felt really uncomfortable the whole day because I dint get my quota of coffee and curd rice. Meanwhile I just picked up the book that I had purchased and decided to keep myself informed before I get ton class tomorrow.
To my dismay the first thing that I saw when I opened the book, were pictures of Snakes, Scorpions, Crabs and a few un identified objects. The text below read
“Chinese delicacy”. The very thought and sight of the picture was nauseating and to add o to the situation Nayantara arrived with a bowl of curd rice and coffee. I just couldn’t hope that she would get the dishes at this time of the hour. I was completely lost and did not feel like eating.
It was only now that she spoke a word, “Sandeep, why are you being childish, you need to understand that every culture is unique in its own way and it is only upto to you to accept and adjust. I am sure when Chinese come to India they would feel the same way as you would when they see a white liquid mixed rice, I am referring to curd rice.
Sandeep you need to grow up and widen your horizon as your professor used to say. While you were reading I just spoke to Jayanth, he is my friend and an expert in cross-cultural management. He said that, “Chinese are very courteous and give importance to relationships and would respect other people’s views. If we just go by the Hofstede’s model, we wouldn’t be able to visit any country in the world. No doubt the Hofstede’s model does explain the cultural aspects, but we might have to keep in mind that not all the people fall under the model and the immediate society and family also influences peoples behaviour.
A foreigner who visits China should be bit more sensitive. He should take utmost care that he doesn’t hurt their feelings. I do understand that Sandeep might not like the food that is being served, he has the liberty to accept the food but not have it, and this would ease tension and will not be considered as an insult”.
Moreover, “Sandeep” she said “ A person like you who appreciates and follows the spiritual path which seems to be running in your family stream, I think you would have to be happy to know that even though china is considered an atheist country where the state lays down definite rules governing religion, there seems to be many tradition religious practices like Zen, Buddhism that you might be interested in. You would also be surprised to know the china also has an old tradition and culture that they respect and cherish.
I felt relieved after hearing Nayantara speak and was feeling really hungry and decided to eat the curd rice that she bought for me. Next day morning, I took utmost care that I reach the conference hall on time. Today’s programme was to cover the topics on the dressing style, body language, and gifts.
Mr. Winch told us that the Chinese generally prefer traditional suits with light colour ties and he also warned me that I should abstain from wearing bright colours. Speaking about their body language he said that, when they tap their feet, it symbolizes anger and when they put their index finger on their nose they are communicating “that it is me”. The Chinese prefer gifts and have the tradition of declining the gift three times before they accept it.
The next few days passed and I had learnt a lot about China and its culture, I felt very comfortable and confident that I could be successful in handling the assignment and would be able to launch the product successfully.
At the end of the day I realized that what is more important is not where you go, when you go and what you do there, what is important is that we must have an open mind and accept things around you. Finally, I realized that even this boils down to the eternal truth that I learnt from Ramana maharishis’s teachings “ this moment is inevitable, there is nothing that you can do to change what has actually happened, therefore accept and move on."
