As the largest economy in Asia, the People’s Republic of China plays a pivotal role in international business. Therefore, developing a profound understanding of China’s unique economic, political, social and cultural conditions is an indispensable premise to successfully conduct business in this region. Those managers of tomorrow who feature such expertise will have a competitive edge among their peers. The objective of this course is to develop and the understanding of China’s cultural values and their influence on management activities, to enhance the ability to effectively communicate and interact as well as how to behave in a Chinese business environment. The course will be supplemented by group assignments, group presentations, discussion parts, case studies, movie clips and role plays. In more detail, we will look at:

• Perception of the self and of the other
• Cultural dimensions and managerial implications
• The Chinese economy and culture
• Introduction into Chinese history
• Building trust and relationships with business partners and colleagues
• Business etiquette
• Meaning and effects of direct and indirect communication styles
• Successful conflict management
• Leadership and knowledge transfer
• Business negotiations
• Human resource management in China
• Sunzi’s art of war
• Case studies, movie clips and role plays