1 Introduction.- 2 The Internationalization Processes of SMEs.- 3 The Impacts of Management on the International Development of SMEs.- 4 Culture and its Dimensions: General Implications for Management.- 5 Chinese Cultural Roots and Their Influence on Managerial Issues.- 6 Empirical Analysis.- 7 Discussion of Research Findings.- 8 Conclusion and Directions for Future Research.
Rubens Pauluzzo is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University of Udine, Italy. His research interests focus on international business and management, cross-cultural management, and Asian economies and cultures. He has a PhD in Business Sciences from the University of Udine and has been a visiting researcher at Fudan University in Shanghai and at the University of Hong Kong. He has also worked in Japan for the Italian Embassy.
Bin Shen is currently an Associate Professor at Donghua University in Shanghai, China. His research focuses on supply chain and operations management. He received his PhD from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has been principal investigator on various projects funded by national grants in China. His papers have appeared in leading journals and he is an editorial board member for the International Journal of Inventory Research. He won the Textile Institute Publication Award in 2016.
This book describes how a deeper knowledge and understanding of cultural differences represents a meaningful and useful tool for management of companies, and in particular SMEs, in the People’s Republic of China. After introductory chapters on the internationalization of SMEs and the role played by management in this process, the authors explore the implications of academic discourses on culture and its dimensions for company management. The influence of Chinese cultural roots and the country’s current cultural environment on management is then examined, with provision of guidance on response to the identified challenges. A key feature of the book is the presentation of important recent fieldwork in the main economic regions of China. This research further clarifies how business culture and cultural differences impact on company activities in China and casts light on various aspects of the adaptive capability of SMEs within the country, highlighting the value of cultural awareness and intelligence. The book will be of interest to academics and practitioners alike.