Cross Cultural Working

[Dandan]

From these monthes work experience, i found that i conldn't make sure it's culture reason or personal reason when some bad things happen.I always think there are the difference between the eastern culture and western culture; of course, it's true actually; but some more i believe it shold be the personal reason.

So i want to talk something about the manager.

The general manager of our department comes from Gremany;he has come to china more than 20 years, he know more about Beijing than me.(He first came to Beijing in 1982 when i were not born in china.heehee)

On time?As you know, the german always on time when make appointment; but i always receive the call" why R didn't come to the meeting this afternoon that we made appointment;If he forgot it?" I can say nothing, so i reply'sorry, he is very busy and maybe forgot it'.Sometimes our customer come to the office,and he told me that he make appiontment with R; but the GM always come to office 20 or 30minutes later.

A big 'war'.One time he needed the contract stamp of the company, and he told me to the headoffice to fetch it.(The head office is far from this office)You know, the contract stamp is very important in china business;if there hasn't the permit of big boss,anyone can't use it causally.That time our big boss went to American,so others managers didn't agree and i couldn't successfully fetch it.When i back to office, he so angered with me, and he said lots of ' they don't believe me; it's your reponsible that you can't fetch it...'.I got angery also but didn't say much to him. Though others manager didn't allow the accountant to give it to me, of course i also can't rob it.In this period also have an interesting ting happened, everymonth our accountant need the signatur form big boss, then she give the staff the salary. but you know, the big boss stilled in USA but he would be back to Beijing in 2 days, and the accountant can give salary 2 days later. But he was angry with this, talked much in email which send to the big boss. (Many the chiese staff can't understand it).

I write these and hope someone can help me to analysis, it's the difference culture or persoanl reason.

Thank you:)

[ipsi()]

It's very much a person thing. My girlfriend's old boss was Indian, and he was almost exactly like this. Always late, always looking for what you've done wrong, never telling you that you've done a good job, etc.

So yeah, it's not cultural, as far as I can tell, it's a personal thing - some people are like this, some people aren't.

[simonlaing]

I think there are some elements of culture in this.

Germans (espicially engineers) often stress efficiency. In Europe and the US people use signatures and don't have to use the stamp of "Zhang" to make contracts and do business.

There is also a sense that the rules and the contract are the most important.

In China, people and managers stress working hard and long but not necessarialy efficiently always. It seems the company leaders must sign off on most big decisions. Monthly payment could be considered a big decision. The power of the Zhang is so strong that people want to protect it's possession as much as possible.

A general rule of thumb When you run into problems or changes to normal procedure you should inform your boss of the situation and suggest possible solutions strategies.

So when you couldn't get the Zhang the boss was angry because that made things inefficient. The Chinese side probably saw it as protecting the control of the company.

When the accountant paid the workers two days late, the boss saw this as a breaking of the contract to pay the workers at a certain time each month. In the US and EU companies can be sued by employees for actions like this. Breaking a contract can be very serious. (when you realized this it would have been best to inform him with as much notice as possible).

Cross cultural workplaces are difficult, but erring on the side of too much communication whether in memos, short messages or calls is the best way to sort this out. Or get your boss to talk to the accountant, head office and others to cooperate with you when you need it.

Try to think about when things become less efficient or waste time the German will be frustrated and annoyed. Communicating and acting in advance to avoid these situations will help. Good luck.

Simon:)

[roddy]

Ignore him as much as possible, he's an idiot.

Edit: Your boss, not Simon . . .

[Lu]

Personal, not cultural. Completely unreasonable for your boss to blame you for things you have no power over, like whether or not someone shows up at a meeting.

It might be cultural that he doesn't fully grasp the significance of a stamp (chop, zhang), but then if he's been in China for 20 years he should get that by now.

If I were you I'd look around for another job, with a better boss. Either way, good luck!

[cdn_in_bj]

I don't think it's strictly a cross-cultural issue - I know of Chinese managers that are as you described.

[Scoobyqueen]

I agree it is not a cultural issue. The typical German manager is reliable and does not forget appointments. However, they expect subordinates to be obedient. That includes covering his back when and if he forgets an appointment. Your response or admission to an outsider that he might have forgotten it is not appropriate and I believe in China this would not be appropriate either (losing face and all that?There would be consequences if someone from my team did that). Make up an excuse for him or simply say you haven’t been in the office for a while so don’t know.

It sounds like your manager is very stressed due to other commitments or that he has problems outside work. You are expected to work around this. Someone here suggested that you look for another job but please remember there is an R in every company. You should see this as an opportunity to find ways to cope in an apparent difficult situation. If you can make a habit of turning such negative experiences into positive ones, you will progress far in your career. The grass is not greener and there will be more such experiences down the road. But there is always a positive interpretation, even if you just tick the minus box “how not to do things, when I become the boss”.

You should also examine yourself and rate yourself as a subordinate. Maybe you rub him up the wrong way? If so, you should adapt to him more.

Edited August 13, 2008 at 12:02 PM by Scoobyqueen
spelling

[Dandan]

I read the advice very seriously.Thank you for everyone.Some experience is so wonderful recently beyond the magination.R's friend who is a chinese lady talked with me about him yeasterday and wanted knew some information.She said that R is very illiberality,suspicious etc. They know each other more than 8 years by an UK friend.She helped him so much sincerely.He borrowed something from her but until now he doesn't give them to her.She said that she'll find the police if he is still delay it or dodge her.Finally, she said 'please don't tell R i contact with you'.

Anyway, i don't know what has happened to them ; it should be the privacy between them and not related to my job.

Last month i have told the boss and R that i'll leave the company because of preparing for the entry-exam of master degree.

heehee,it's a good experience for me.(No pains,no gains.).I hope through that i can become more mature and rational when something is happened.