How problematic are cultural barriers to successfully doing business in China?
I believe cultural differences can be significant challenges for a foreigner doing business in China. They are not insurmountable by any means, however. China is open for business and anyone who hasn’t figured that out these days has been living under a rock for the last 10 years. In my travels to China recently, I met Mexicans, Peruvians, Germans, Iranians, and many others representing a diverse international community thriving within mainland China and doing lots of business there. One person’s cultural barrier is another’s opportunity to learn. Cultural barriers exist anywhere you choose to work. Some are more exaggerated than others. When facing stark cultural contrasts between one’s clients and one’s self, success is dependent on openness and interpersonal flexibility.
