tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87547442723966833242024-02-20T06:38:08.948-08:00Experience China With MeIf you are like me, you don't know as much about "the New China" as you would like. Well... I'm about to learn a lot more about this subject with my upcoming trip there in June and I am inviting you to learn with me! Expand your horizons! Participate in this blog by reading posts and adding your own experiences, insights, and perspectives. My hope for this experience is that we will all learn from one another and expand our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in. Welcome!Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-79725064907220172192011-07-19T15:50:00.000-07:002011-07-19T18:05:25.480-07:00Post-trip ReflectionI've been home for a few weeks now and have had time to reflect on the entire China experience. The point of the trip was personal and professional growth. So, how have I changed? How have I grown? How have I become more qualified as a "master of business"? Here are my thoughts on the matter:<br /><br />The first thing that comes to mind is the impression that guanxi left on me. It is clear to me now that to succeed in business in China, one must not only understand the nuances of this dynamic concept, one really needs to invest Gladwell’s “ten thousand hours” practicing guanxi to really become an effective businessperson in China. In this regard, the trip revealed to me the reality that foreign firms won’t succeed in China if they ignore or attempt to bypass the role that guanxi plays. If my employer were to ask me to weigh in on personnel strategy for our China operation, I would strongly encourage them to take guanxi into account when choosing personnel. I would encourage them not to bring in foreign managers just because those individuals “know the business”, or “have proven themselves elsewhere.” I would tell my employer that a manager’s network and reputation are much more important factors for success in China than elsewhere. Furthermore, developing a network and a strong reputation takes much longer there than elsewhere. Moving forward, I am sure that we will see fewer and fewer Chinese branches of Western firms led by Western managers. My peers might think that it is because of lower costs but I will know better.<br /><br />I often hear China described as a land of opportunity and the new frontier for entrepreneurs. I see her as something a little different. To me, China is a land of problems and the new frontier for problem solvers. Everywhere I looked I saw problems of epic proportions, problems with incredible complexity and nuance. Class inequality, pollution, human rights, inflation, the one child policy… the list goes on and on. When I think about Western products or services that could be successfully exported to China, the first thing that comes to mind is <em>ingenuity</em>. China doesn’t need people looking to make a quick buck. What she needs is our best and brightest stepping forward to help solve her unprecedented environmental, societal, political, and economic problems. That being said, to help China overcome these challenges, the problem solvers that we export will only be effective if they learn how to solve <em>her problems her way</em>. We must take context into account. This trip has taught me that Western solutions will not solve Eastern problems. Take Internet censorship for example. The most memorable part of the trip for me was the time that we spent with Kaiser Kuo, Baidu.com’s Director of International Communication and a Stanford graduate. My understanding of the Internet censorship problem was turned upside down as Mr. Kuo explained the fundamental differences between how a Chinese view freedom of speech compared to a Westerner. We cannot help our fellow man until we actively listen to what they need help with. The opportunities for western businessmen involve solving China’s business problems, <em>not what we perceive to be China’s business problems</em>.<br /><br />What is my biggest fear after visiting China? 1.3 billion “educated” people who are determined to reach a standard-of-living that they see their western counterparts enjoying. By educated, I am referring to the role that the Internet now plays in conveying to the “have-nots” of the world everything they “have not.” What am I trying to say? The average American consumes 35 times more electricity than the average Chinese. Our planet cannot support a Chinese consumer that consumes even a fraction of what an American consumer currently does. What will happen when the Chinese consumer reaches a point where he can afford the car, the computer, and the home, but is told that the environment will not support this kind of consumption even though it supports that and more from Americans. We flaunt our wastefulness with our SUV’s and our McMansions. We taunt them with our MTV and our Hollywood films. We use our first-mover advantage and relative to justify the double standard. But will the Chinese consumer accept this? We are like the younger sibling that gets away with murder because we are forever mommy’s baby. Do you remember what happened to Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, in the bible? The first chance they get, his brothers level the playing field. If this inequality, whether actual or perceived, continues, what will China do to level the playing field. When will they say, “if we can’t have everything we want then neither can you…”<br /><br />We were fortunate to get to visit an elderly Chinese man in his home in a small village outside of Beijing. This man, well into his 70’s, is the former mayor of his village and his warmth, kindness, eloquence reflected his career as a politician. Thus, we were all shocked by the sudden change in his demeanor when I asked him, “what are your hopes for your country?” His answer was, “My hope is that China will grow strong, so strong that all other countries will fear us and none will ever be able to invade our land again…” His message was clear, China never forgets and revenge is always a possibility. So, how does this apply to business? I left our time with Lenovo extremely uneasy about the value of American intellectual property in the eyes of the Chinese. Lenovo’s MyPad looked exactly like Apple’s iPad. I am certain that Apple is finding the Chinese marketplace a less-then-level playing field when it comes to competing against Chinese firms. It appears that China is adopting the famous adage: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. It is my opinion that China has invited Western businesses into the country to learn how to compete with them and will eventually throw them out. Be warned, access to the Chinese market may be a double-edged sword and future profits are by no means certain.<br /><br />In summation, it is my opinion that this trip has the potential to provide Cal Poly’s MBA program with a competitive advantage over others. This trip changes participants’ worldviews in so many direct and indirect ways. It solidified my relationships with many of my classmates. It prepared me for business travel. It provided me the opportunity to negotiate in a cross-culture environment. It was an opportunity to apply so many of the lessons learned throughout the program. The trip tested the knowledge and skills that we had acquired throughout the program because repeatedly asked to apply them in a new context. For example, in our marketing class we learned about consumer’s purchasing decision process. China provided us the opportunity to think about how the Chinese consumer’s purchasing decision process differs from the American consumer’s purchasing decision process. This deepens our understanding of both. The same could be said for macro- and microeconomics, business law, org. behavior, and many others. The trip had the same effect on our training as the kiln has on a piece of pottery.Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-28762851540500854952011-07-17T11:24:00.000-07:002011-07-17T13:20:35.259-07:00How did I get here?Where am I? Why am I here? How did I get here???<br /><br />Here is what I remember. I am still wondering whether it all really happened or whether it was just a dream.<br /><br />On March 2nd, a dear friend and mentor, Professor Jim Valdez, contacted Mark Alexander at Bechtel Corporation on my behalf to inquire about employment opportunities. On April 26th, after 55 days of calling, e-mailing, praying and resume revising, Mark informed me that he had "exhausted" his primary contacts at Bechtel. They weren't interested in a guy whose resume goes "overboard about how great he is..." "Oh well," I thought, "I never actually believed that I was worthy of being called a 'Bechtel Man.'" The words of my critics were always with me reminding me that I was 2nd class and destined for mediocrity... It was time to refocus on finding a job, any job, so that I could feed my family. Following my heart would have to wait until my next life...<br /><br />Two weeks later, on May 11th, I was completely caught off guard when I received a call from a recruiter with Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemical (OG&C) in Houston. They were interested! Following my conversation with the recruiter, the phone and e-mail remained silent until May 19th when I received an e-mail from an HR rep requesting a phone interview. The following Monday, after hours and hours of preperation and anxiety, I spent 30 minutes on the phone with two procurement managers in Houston. I felt good about the interview but it was just a 1st phone interview and I was realistic about my chances. They asked for, and I provided them with, references on May 26th. However, I would graduate in 16 days and would leave for our 2-week trip to China in 18 days and I couldn't begin to calculate the odds of receiving a job offer from Bechtel.<br /><br />It was Wednesday, June 8th, and I would be graduating that Saturday and leaving for China the following Monday. My references had not been contacted and Bechtel's HR rep was not responding to my e-mails. Suddenly I received an automated e-mail inviting me to apply for a job on their website. What did this mean? Did this mean that I was now "qualified" to compete with Bechtel's other candidates? It appeared that I was still at the starting line of the process. I was so disappointed and frustrated. "Okay," I remember thinking, "you won't have a job before you leave for China. Deal with it. You are just going to have to come home and work tirelessly to land a job at Bechtel or elsewhere. That is going to suck being at home unemployed again while Lindsey is still working..." I applied to the online job posting immediately with all the resolve I could muster...<br /><br />The very next day, my last day of final exams, I received a call from a Bechtel HR rep informing that she had been assigned the task of extending me an offer. We spent about 10 minutes discussing some details while I paced in the courtyard at Kennedy Library. When we were finished, I hung up the phone and feelings of relief and thankfulness washed over me. It had been a little more than 2 years since my bitter separation with my previous employer. It felt as though I had felt nothing but fear during that time. Borrowing from the great Coldplay song, Lovers In Japan, the morning had come, the sun had finally come out. I stood there and wept.<br /><br />Less than 48 hours later, I celebrated graduation with some of my dearest friends and family. Given the challenges of the previous two years, and what the day meant to my wife and children, it was one of the most special days of my life.<br /><br />Another 48 hours later I had left San Luis Obispo and my family bound for China. I'll elaborate on the trip in my next post. To sum it up, it was a great experience filled with opportunities to bond with my classmates and pick up valuable knowledge and skills related to modern China in our modern world. However, throughout the trip my mind was elsewhere, reflecting on the past and dreaming about the future. I had worked so hard and waited so long to be able to care for my family again. All I could think about was getting my family to Houston. The trip was fun, but the end couldn't come soon enough. I had promises to fulfill.<br /><br />Two weeks later we returned to the States. In an amusing twist of fate, I was booked on a flight from Vancouver to LAX that departed and arrived 4 hours after the flight that all of my classmates were on. Looking back, I am embarrassed by my crazy behavior as I negotiated with airline personnel to get onto the earlier flight. Despite Professor Coget's best efforts to teach me how to control my emotions, I would have ended up in a Canadian jail if they hadn't put me on that flight.<br /><br />Seeing Lindsey and the kids again at the airport was one of the happiest moments of my life. Lindsey was 100 times more beautiful, David was 100 times more wild, and Kate was 100 times more adorable than I had remembered them. I was back where I belonged.<br /><br />48 hours later we all boarded a plane for Houston. It was hot and humid when we arrived but I didn't care... it was home. We arrived on a Wednesday night. My mom joined us the next day and, together, we explored the city and looked for our new home. I drove everyone to the airport on Sunday morning and, as I watched them enter the terminal, I was overcome by the reality of only the second extended time away from my family in my life (the first having ended just five days prior).<br /><br />Tuesday morning I became a member of the Bechtel family. I am thankful for the opportunity and confident that my journey has adequately prepared me for the road ahead. I think of my family constantly. I think of my mentors and what they have taught me often. Unfortunately, I think of my critics often as well. I miss my wife and kids terribly. Every day they feel a little further away and I feel lonelier and sadder. I am beginning to think that we will never be able to turn the page and get on with this new chapter...<br /><br />So, there you have it. I woke up six weeks ago in San Luis Obispo and had absolutely no idea how dramatically my life was about to change. I was an underachieving, inconsistent, unlucky, and unworthy guy with a lot of student debt, few prospects, and little confidence in my ability to prove my critics wrong. And where am I now? Well... we live and die by the will of a Creator who knows every hair on our heads and He has granted me respite for now. I am grateful but stand at the ready for the next battle that surely looms large.Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-2789688606012030362011-01-14T09:40:00.000-08:002011-01-14T10:28:44.820-08:00Let's Try A New Restaurant Tonight...<div>Everyone who knows me knows that I've always been intrigued by the thought of living and working overseas. Thus, you won't be surprised to hear that Lindsey and I are seriously considering living and working in Asia should the opportunity arise. The way we see it, deciding where to live and work coming out of this MBA program is kind of like choosing which restaurant to go to this weekend. We have been asking ourselves, "who wants to spend their entire lives eating at the same restaurant and eating the same food?" All of us have opportunities today to experience different ways of life that, for the most part, weren't practical a generation ago. My question for all of you who occasionally try new restaurants on the weekend is, why not take that adventurous spirit one step further?</div><div><br /></div><div>If you are curious about mixing things up a little and want to learn more about job opportunities in China, check out Prof. Chris Carr's blog post, <a href="http://calpolymbatrip.com/2009/china/job-opportunities-in-china-and-india-do-your-research/">Job Opportunities in China (and India) - The Sky 'May' Be The Limit, BUT... Do Your Friggen' Homework.</a> Prof. Carr is leading our trip to China in June and his post does an excellent job of presenting the realities - good and bad - of pursuing live/work opportunities in places like China.</div><div><br /></div><div>After reading Prof. Carr's post and the links that he provides, does this sound like something that you are interested in pursuing? Add a comment to this post or shoot me an e-mail and share the details of your dream/vision with me. Let me encourage and/or empower you as you explore this interest further.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Here are some of the quotes that jumped out at me from Prof. Carr's post:</b></div><div>"Over the course of my last fifteen years [in China], I’ve learned that there are only two rules: Rule #1 is that 'Everything is possible in China,' but Rule #2 is that 'Nothing is easy.'"-<a href="http://managingthedragon.com/?p=578">Jack Perkowski</a></div><div><br /></div><div>"When it comes to China, do a self evaluation. List your advantages and your disadvantages. What do you do exceptionally well? What are you weak at? What expertise does China need? What can you provide?"-<a href="http://managingthedragon.com/?p=578">Jack Perkowski</a></div><div><br /></div><div>“I needed someone who was capable of communicating with the Western world.”-<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/business/economy/11expats.html?_r=2">Willy Tsao</a></div><div><br /></div><div>“In Chinese schools students are encouraged to be quiet and less outspoken; it fosters a culture of listening more than initiating.”-<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/business/economy/11expats.html?_r=2">Willy Tsao</a></div><div><br /></div><div>"My value-add in China was never going to be my facility with the language. Instead, it was going to be the knowledge and experience which I brought here from a long career in investment banking."-<a href="http://managingthedragon.com/?p=578">Jack Perkowski</a></div><div><br /></div><div>"My firm has calculated that the ratio of purchasing power for salaries in China and the U.S. is 3.5-to-1."-<a href="http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/13/china-jobs-employment-leadership-careers-work.html">Shaun Rein</a></div><div><br /></div><div>"...the percentage of young, non-Chinese entry-level managers who get hired from the U.S. is small compared to those who are hired from here."-<a href="http://siliconhutong.com/2009/05/21/some-advice-for-the-china-bound-job-seeker/">David Wolf</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Here is a portion of the comment that I left on Prof. Carr's post:</b></div><div>What struck me about this post and its links is the universality of the advice provided. For those of us intimidated by the process, we must ask ourselves whether finding work in China is really that different from finding work in the U.S. today. The weak job market here has made hiring managers as focused on value-add as ever. They no longer need to recruit candidates who aren't local - eliminating the expenses of flying candidates in for interviews or offering moving reimbursement. I'm not saying that the job search here and there is equally difficult, I'm just saying that the delta between the two may be shrinking. Finding work in either place is going to take a lot of time and energy and landing a dream job with dream compensation may not be realistic these days.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perkowski says that, "everything is possible in China... but nothing is easy". Ask yourself this, is everything possible in the U.S. today? Is anything easy here? It seems to me that the answers to both are "no" to both. So, what do we adventurous souls have to lose by exploring opportunities in China?</div>Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-59235303587220371302010-12-27T11:35:00.000-08:002010-12-27T11:45:10.970-08:00China: Fragile Superpower<div style="text-align: left;">Check out my review of another book that I just finished reading over the Christmas break by clicking <a href="http://nolandinchina2011.blogspot.com/p/report.html">here</a>. My criticisms of this book are much stronger then they were for <i>Postcards from Tomorrow Square</i>. I appreciate that this book goes into much more depth on the political history of China over the past 30 years, particularly with regards to foreign policy. However, this book will be harder for most of you to get through and will do less in terms of developing your appreciation and understanding of modern day China. As I mention at the end of my post, it tends to sensationalize Chinese politics and Sino-American relations. However, for those of you who tune in to <i>Hardball with Chris Matthews</i> or <i>Meet the Press </i>religiously, you will enjoy Shirk's writing style.</div>Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-73665751562487286752010-12-20T14:06:00.000-08:002010-12-20T15:10:00.502-08:00The next time you feel like turning on a movie or a sitcom, watch this instead!<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" style="overflow: hidden; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0" width="514" height="366" scrollbars="none" type="text/html" src="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/v/?id=frol02s4c2q7b&w=514&h=366"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">The story of the Chinese Massacre (aka Tiananmen Square) in 1989 is one that I thought I knew. After watching this documentary, I was shocked to discover that my understanding of the political uprising that took place in China wasn't even close to complete.</p><p class="MsoNormal">So much more happened at that time then I was aware of. I realize now that <i>I can't claim to know anything about China until I know about Tiananmen Square. </i>The Chinese government has done an amazing job of covering up these events by distracting us with economic reform. These days all of the talk is about China's amazing growth and bright future. However, the factors that caused Tiananmen and the events that transpired during Tiananmen remain unresolved issues that boil just beneath the surface in China.</p><p class="MsoNormal">What happened in 1989 should play a prominent role in your life today. Whether it is deciding who to purchase goods from, what Internet sites to visit, or what to believe about China's present and future, Tiananmen Square should play into your decision making. We must balance our understanding of China's economic rise with an informed understanding of its dark past and continued political oppression.</p><p class="MsoNormal">For example, here is a story from 2006 that you may be aware of but haven't thought about seriously:</p><p class="MsoNormal">Shi Tao was a Chinese journalist who forwarded an e-mail to a New York website, which outlined the instructions from the Chinese government regarding how Chinese media was to cover the 16<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Beijing Massacre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yahoo China supplied Chinese authorities with the time the E-mail was sent, the IP address, and the corresponding PC from which it was sent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>With this information, the authorities arrested Shi Tao and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yahoo’s Michael Callahan, Sr. Vice President, had this to say at a subsequent congressional hearing on the matter, </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><i></i></o:p></p><blockquote><o:p><i> </i></o:p><i>“The facts of the Shi Tao case are distressing to our company…When Yahoo China in Beijing was required to provide information about a user who we later learned was Shi Tao, we had no information about the identity of the user or the nature of the investigation. At the time the demand was made for information in this case, Yahoo China was legally obligated to comply with the requirements of Chinese law enforcement.”</i></blockquote><i></i><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>U.S. Representative Christopher Smith, (R) New Jersey, shot back at Mr. Callahan, </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><blockquote>“My response to [your statement] is, if the secret police a half century ago asked where Anne Frank was hiding, would the correct answer be to hand over the information in order to comply with local laws?” </blockquote>I visited Yahoo's main website this morning without a thought. Knowing that their recent behavior was compared - fairly I might add - to that of a conspirator of the Holocaust has caused me to think hard about the ambivalence that I show towards this very serious issue.<div><br /></div><div>What about you? Does your current attitude towards China qualify as ambivalent? Have you thought about the statements that you make through your actions? I'm not saying that you must dedicate your life to human rights advocacy. What I am saying is that ignorance is no excuse. If, after seeing the facts, you decide that you do not condone the behavior of your government or the businesses you transact with, you should do something about it lest you become guilty by association.<br /><br /><p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-69534489695976383632010-12-15T21:06:00.000-08:002010-12-16T11:09:57.299-08:00How Do These Images Make You Feel?<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/6853452?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">A parade marking the 60th anniversary of the Communist Party's rise to power in China, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">October 1, 2009, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China; video </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">by </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/danchung"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dan Chung</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></div><blockquote><blockquote><p align="left"></p></blockquote><p align="left"></p></blockquote><p align="left">To watch the video click on this button in the above frame: </p><p align="left" style="text-align: center;"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 65px; height: 43px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR65UUh72xTPKraErYhVOZc_OdnttmydYdiieWKnT0zsjavZxSDn0SekIRaUWNxqRGGeSQdGY-njxePMtaHiHyC6khJN44yopXUSrb9w22c5VAsDlDJy-mdS9hAq7I5oTKeM8c2ivlUdpb/s200/Screen+shot+2010-12-16+at+10.50.48+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551358252055117378" /> </p><p align="left" style="text-align: left;">and then this button to go to full screen: </p><p align="left" style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 26px; height: 23px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshTg5yDLz425c1IyR4kcsx7h6-K5j0kEl2RpOvPQUTRKuBNDvcO4lUU5My8wQ2lJKDa-3j5BYybMZAYwaDE-qUNYCr_rd0FrdNLSkBbUUqu5qFX7x6aWEMth1pQVnlsTIQlCcLwOhRTGi/s200/Screen+shot+2010-12-16+at+10.50.57+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551358767684609938" /></p><p align="left">I've watched this 3.5 minute video over and over. It stirs up so many feelings in me. I can't decide whether I feel happy for them, enamored with them, intimidated by them, or possibly even <em>terrified</em> of them. How does it make you feel? And along these lines, how did the '08 Opening Ceremonies make you feel?</p><p align="left"><em>How should we feel when we see China "flex its muscles" or "express itself" on a scale not seen since the Cold War? </em>This is a fundamental question that I would like to answer through this experience. </p><p align="left">China is causing us to experience feelings that we have never felt before (or haven't felt in several decades.) For me, these images are a fitting way to start our journey because they stir up those feelings deep within me. My hope is that you and I will watch this video six months from now and experience very different feelings then we do now. My hope is that we will develop our understanding and appreciation of modern China in ways that will allow us to see it in a new light.</p><p align="left">But we're getting ahead of ourselves... tell us how you feel about China today. What is your gut reaction to these images? What part of you gives rise to these feelings?</p>Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-1612397725148058382010-12-15T18:44:00.000-08:002010-12-17T11:09:54.872-08:00Economic Development and Christianity<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(89, 89, 89); line-height: 19px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family:Lucida Grande;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I think we should jump right into an issue that I know many of you care deeply about: the spread of Christianity in China. My professor posed this question to us recently on his blog: </span></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/does-economic-development-work-against-christianity/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Has economic development encouraged or discouraged the growth of Christianity in China?</span></a></span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><br />To give you some background, here is a 3-minute video called </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://video.nytimes.com/video/2007/05/25/timesselect/1194817108937/christianity-in-china.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Christianity in China</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and a 2007 NY Times article called </span><a href="http://select.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/opinion/31kristof.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">From Torture to Plaintiff: a Pilgrim's Progress in China</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />I asked </span><a href="http://www.actsoneeight.org/WHO_WE_ARE/THE_TEACHER_AUTHOR/the_teacher_author.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">John Morris</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, an "online missionary" and dear friend of ours, to share his views on this subject. John founded his ministry, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.actsoneeight.org/index.html">Acts One Eigh</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.actsoneeight.org/index.html">t</a>, to spread the Gospel to the 1.9 billion (and counting) Internet users around the world. To learn more, you can visit his website by clicking </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/at%20http://www.actsoneeight.org/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. John makes some interesting observations about the spread of Christianity in China, check it out:</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family:Lucida Grande;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><!--StartFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></span></span></span></p><span style="font-family:Lucida Grande;"><span style="font-size:11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:Arial;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Extreme, very extreme, oppression can stifle the Church anywhere as it does under some extremely oppressive governments in the Middle East. Under less extreme oppression, the true Church often thrives. When Christianity is legalized or tolerated, there can be a significant decline over time in the seriousness, commitment, Biblical knowledge, and purity of the Christians and the Church (example is the US). Oppression in China has varied from severe ... to extreme ... to very, very extreme.<br /><br />It is estimated that in some provinces ~50% of the people are Christian. In others, Christianity is almost not seen. My sources agree that there are ~100,000,000 Christians in China.<br /><br />We must keep in mind that China lets the rest of the world see what China wants them to see. The video and article you referenced are probably tainted by that. It is not as good as portrayed in them. In some provinces, even when all laws are followed, Christians are both persecuted and arrested by the authorities.<br /><br />Christianity is rising rapidly in China and should continue to do so in the immediate future if politics and economics continue on their present course.<br /><br />The Westernization (if that is the right word) of China will distract the young from Christianity. The desire for personal peace (unchallenged independence) and the desire for affluence (wealth and the stuff it buys) can pull people away from their need for God (see Mark 10:17-27) and for the Church. Predictably, the appeal of the false health and wealth Gospel is rising in some of the more Westernized areas of China.</span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i></blockquote><!--EndFragment--><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I think John touches both sides of the issue. On one hand, economic development may be helping spread Christianity in China if it is helping to reduce the amount of repression on the church. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I just finished reading Susan Shirk’s </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">China: Fragile Superpower </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(a book I'll review on this blog soon).</span></span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> According to Shirk, after their “close call” in 1989 (Tiananmen Square), China’s leaders became fixated on what they call “social stability” as a way to stay in power. “Society is changing so fast that Communist politicians can’t discern which groups are solidly in their camp and which groups might form the base of an opposition – so they try to satisfy them all,” says Shirk. In other words, they are having nightmares about which straw will break the camel's back. </span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This suggests that the economic rise in China may be reducing oppression on Christianity.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">However, what I hear John saying is that, in the long run, economic development will be a barrier to the church's spread. This explosion of relative affluence will provide people with the temporary satisfaction that "stuff" provides thus distracting them from the deeper meaning provided by one's faith.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After thinking about it, I can see why some would argue that economic development provides more harm then good in terms of the spiritual wellbeing of the Chinese people. </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">However,</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> I ultimately believe that this economic rise is lifting the majority of Chinese out of extreme poverty. This rise is providing them with clean water, heated homes, and the ability to travel across their country to see loved ones not seen in years. Yes, I'm sure that there are pockets - particularly among the youth - where affluence is giving people an excuse to ignore questions of eternity. But what distracts a few empowers many more.</span></span></b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am expecting many of you to have questions and/or opinions about this topic. Please share them with all of us by commenting on this post.</span></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><p></p></span>Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-77046670407492562412010-12-09T16:02:00.000-08:002010-12-15T14:30:44.097-08:00Read Postcards from Tomorrow Square - Reports from China!I highly recommend that all of you who are interested in broadening your understanding of China should read <em>Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China</em>. James Fallows writes for The Atlantic Monthly and this book - a collection of articles written for the magazine - is as entertaining as it is insightful. Make it your goal to read a chapter a night and feel free to jump to the chapter(s) that peak your curiosity. Each chapter is a stand alone story that will provide you with a "peak behind the curtain" of Chinese society. Click here to read my full literary review of <i>Postcards.</i>Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-58834545419711876822010-11-04T09:10:00.000-07:002010-11-04T10:42:55.834-07:00Harvard Offers Executive MBA in ChinaI read an article in today's WSJ about Harvard's expansion of executive education offerings in China. David Yoffie, senior associate dean of executive education at Harvard, was asked about the competitive nature of executive MBA programs offered by American schools in China. Yoffie responded, "...all the major competitors are engaged in those marketplaces... [but] we're not stepping on each other's toes yet. The markets in China are too huge for that."<br /><br />This, in a nutshell, explains the allure of the Chinese marketplace for American organizations. We are learning in Managerial Economics course how pricing and output should reflect supply and demand. The Chinese market is so unusual today because demand for products is literally off the charts. Thus, Porter's three generic strategies appear to be incomplete with regards to a firm's ability to be profitable in China. The relatively rapid opening up of the Chinese market is causing firms to adopt a strategy of "just get in the game." In this situation, firms can pay less attention to cost leadership, product differentiation, or competitive forces when making operational decisions. The sheer magnitude of buyers in China means that, for the foreseeable future, all suppliers can operate without much regard to their competition.Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8754744272396683324.post-11381484450723378632010-10-28T13:06:00.001-07:002010-10-28T13:40:00.972-07:00Observations About World ViewsProfessor Carr made some excellent comments during our info. session this morning about the importance of understanding others. This trip will provide me with the opportunity to practice interpersonal effectiveness through understanding the different world views of the people that I will come into contact with through this experience. One way to practice this skill is in gift giving. He emphasized the importance of giving gifts that are thoughtful, personal, and reflect our understanding of the way that the Chinese perceive the gift giving process. According to Carr, presentation of a gift in Chinese business can be as much an expression of gratitude as the gift itself. <br /><br />This discussion ties directly to our Organizational Behavior discussions about interpersonal effectiveness hinging on our understanding of the world views of others. This class has revealed two important characteristics about the people that I will come into contact with through this experience. First, those I interact with will have a very different world view from my own. Second, those I interact with will have a very different world view from <span style="font-style: italic;">all of the other </span>people that I interact with on this trip. True cross-cultural effectiveness depends on going beyond a basic understanding of the differences in world view between two nations of people and learning to recognize and appreciate the uniqueness of everyone. One of my goals for this trip is to learn how to recognize and respond to the differences in world view held by the many <span style="font-style: italic;">subgroups </span>of people that make up China. The subgroups that I am referring to will be defined by factors such as city, region, industry, firm, and others that will surprise and delight me. Furthermore, my goal is to go beyond "grouping" people for the sake of understanding and practice the art of recognizing and responding to the unique world views of every person that I come into contact with through this experience.Dan Nolandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16535175431541217558noreply@blogger.com0