老外现在很注重中国文化。没办法,要赚中国人的钱,不懂中国文化肯定不行。两家外国公司在中国的命运展示了这一点。二十年前,美国和加拿大的两国公司几乎同时出口地球物理仪器到中国。美国公司技术水平高,但没有在中国搞关系。加拿大公司技术水平差了很多,到了快倒闭的边缘。但加拿大公司研究中国文化,很会在中国拉关系。到了今天,水平高的美国公司早就倒闭了,而加拿大公司的日子过得很滋润。 维基百科这样定义关系重要性的: Guanxi describes the basic dynamic in personalized networks of influence, and is a central idea in Chinese society. 关系是中国社会的核心思想。 【1】 维基百科进一步介绍与关系有关的几个关键词(感情、人情和面子):Closely related concepts include that of ganqing , a measure which reflects the depth of feeling within an interpersonal relationship, renqing , the moral obligation to maintain the relationship, and the idea of face , meaning social status, propriety, prestige, or more realistically a combination of all three. 然后,维基百科阐述了关系的重要思想: At its most basic, guanxi describes a personal connection between two people in which one is able to prevail upon another to perform a favor or service, or be prevailed upon. The two people need not be of equal social status. Guanxi can also be used to describe a network of contacts, which an individual can call upon when something needs to be done, and through which he or she can exert influence on behalf of another. In addition, guanxi can describe a state of general understanding between two people: he/she is aware of my wants/needs and will take them into account when deciding her/his course of future actions which concern or could concern me without any specific discussion or request. 作为一个中国人,要是吃透了上面的话(特别是最后一句),在中国也可以混得不错。 【1】http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanxi
NPR的 这个节目 讲的是很滑稽的事:如果你是个白人,有一套像样的西服,不需要任何技术就能在中国找到收入可观的工作。更滑稽的是,你根本就不需要工作,最多是在公开场合和领导握握手,讲几句话;平时也就是在办公室看看杂志,睡大觉,等等。据说是有了白人上班,可以帮助提高公司的信誉,而且这种和白人的联系在中国商界是非常重要的事情。 参考 Job Ad In China: White Man. No Experience Needed http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128011084