ASIAN BUSINESS
There is an expression used by the chinese that they have three hearts: one for their family, one for their friends and one for themselves.
As there is four chambers in the heart organ, who resides in the fourth?
The Japanese management is changing, like the chinese and other asian countries, by introducing capitalism and business trading across the globe on their terms. To state from an article on their management style which they have used over the years that:
"...this system is at last losing its grip is a result of the end of lifetime employment. Increasingly, the reward for 35 years' slog at a big Japanese firm is early retirement or the boot.
Young Japanese see how their fathers are getting
treated and neither feel the tug of company loyalty nor fear the sanction of Japanese
society. [Also] Shigeru Nomura, editor in chief of Antore, a magazine for entrepreneurs,
thinks the real watershed was as far back as 1964. Japanese born after that date are
different, say Mr Nomura.
They don't buy into Japan's post-war values; big-company loyalty, a group ethic and the priority of catching up with the West. [To add also] Kenichi Ohmae, a Japanese management guru, thinks that they [the young] are behind some of Japan's most vibrant and creative industries ie. games software, manga [cartoons] and internet ventures...." (1)
Business has been done by other women too for many years from different countries except these women's endeavours have been growing.
It takes courage to face male complacency in the economic climate that will make it beneficial to their company policy to accept women as having the necessary skills and resources to move into the business arena.
The article in which this was high-lighted for the first time I've seen anything about this aspect of business, that of the "Most Powerful International Businesswomen".
I particularly liked the business acumen
of Sung Joo Kim, very inspiring considering how she started.
And for those internationally who mightn't have access to the magazine, an extract says:
"...when Sung Joo called her father recently to tell him a newspaper was running a story about her achievements, he was not happy, she says, "he couldn't stand a woman was being recognised like that", Working women says Kim, are usually considered "such a shame for the family" [in Korea]. Kim's father and brothers run [another company] a chaebol meaning conglomerates, and they scorned Kim's ambitions because of her gender.
Unlike her brothers, who were given important posts, Kim got a phone and a computer in the corner of the warehouse. Yet from her cubbyhole in 1989, she beat out 30 competitors and won the exclusive license to run Gucci franchises in Korea. Two years later, she split off and incorporated her own firm. "My brothers inherited, but I built my company myself" Kim says with pride." Her company annual revenue is $30 million.(2)
There were other international business professionals in the article to be aware about, not only the USA women, giving the impression of a one-corner market at the moment but things do change, just got to know where to look for trends.
Another example
of International Professionals from Hong Kong. There was an article regarding Richard Li
in which he is developing an internet presence but also has a nursey of more than 20
"baby" companies. But in addition to this:
"Richard Li knows that his initial forays into business came out of his connections, but as far as PCCW is concerned he is proud that it was built independently of his father ~ and he bridles when people suggest otherwise. He believes he has worked hard to escape the fate of a spare, considering that his older brother, Victor, is the heir to his father's role.
[He says] "We have gone our separate ways for the past few years. We all gather weekly for a big family meal, but no longer talk about our businesses". [Also in regards to being a deputy chairman on another company] "I don't even go into board meetings when I think there might be a potential conflict. Its just not worth it..."
In addition to this are his "keeping his own counsel" aspect of management:
"....in keeping with the pace of his chosen industry, tends to do it much faster, with the help of an impressive line-up of in-house advisers. He also consults a handful of mentors outside his immediate circle. [And he says] "I want to talk to them about strategy. At the end of the day, my ambition is to build a global company that can stand up to all competitors. I don't really care how much of it I end up owning as long as the company is sound and here to stay...." (3)
When East meets West, there is a unique trade-off in business and management. For example Indians that went to the USA for their education are returning to India to have their own businesses but using the know-how from both sides of the atlantic and fostering a network of business relationships.
They do this by bringing back to India the knowledge of
skills, capital, jobs and global capitalism. They are making tracks into the international
business world, mainly based in Hyderabad and Bangalore with investments in the computer
high-tech industry.
And why not considering the escalating need for software and production which is now a profitable opportunity for India to have economic growth for the coming years to compete in this market. (4)
So international issues in management and business is an important aspect for future growth not just the conglomerates. Its about how you accomplish not who has the bigger volume. As said by an advertisement "Think of all the ideas you put on paper. In China, that's a lot of paper. Brain Power."
REFERENCE SOURCES:
(1) The Economist February 2000.
(2) Working Women magazine, November 1999 issue.
(3) Sunday Business Newspaper 20th February 2000.
(4) Fortune Magazine, 17th April 2000 issue.
WEB LINK SOURCES:
The Complete Indian Economy Channel
Doing Business
in China