Met 360 - Managing Cultural Differences and Diversity in a Global Economy 16. Describe the responsibilities of a host. Chinese Modesty and Humility, pp. 39-46 Discussion questions for Encountering the Chinese: A Modern Country, An Ancient Culture 17. Describe Chinese humility (including courtesy, self-deprecation, modesty, understatement, (3"d edition, 2010) by Wenzhong Hu, Cornelius N. Grove, and Zhuang Enping acceptance of praise/compliments, listening, applause, tolerance). 18. How and when are business cards used in China? How are they presented? Discuss. 1. Who are the authors? What are their backgrounds and biases? Why did they write this book? 19. How and when are resumes used in China? How are they presented? Discuss. Who is the intended audience? What type of publication outlet is Intercultural Press? Why 20. In seating and photographs, who represents "the seat of honor"? Why? Explain. do these questions matter? 21. How does Chinese humility work with group harmony? With the patriarch? Making Friends with the Chinese. pp. 47-61 Front Matter and Introduction, pp. ix-xxx 22. Distinguish between the three types of personal relationships (i.e., affective ties, instrumental 2. What is the purpose of this book? What is this book about? Why is this book important? ties, and mixed ties) the authors present as fundamental to Chinese culture. Include in the Discuss (include a description of the trade relationship with China and the USA). discussion the central role of guanxi. 3. How do the authors position China's long agrarian past as a foundation for China's culture? 23. Discuss further the expectations of family, family members, and friends (e.g., respect, Explain. harmony, obligations, informality, personal influence, ingroups and outgroups, anger, favors, 4. How are family, school, work unit, local community all components of the basic unit of advice, shared time). Chinese society? What is the basic unit of analysis in Chinese culture? Discuss (include a 24. What do the authors caution about romance? Explain. liscission of the expected parent-child relationship, extended family relationships, school Education and Training Among Chinese. pp. 65-78 cohorts, class collectives, class friends, work unit relationships [danwei], and neighborhood). 25. Describe the actions, behaviors, and attitudes of a "model" Chinese student (from elementary 5. In this section, the authors present three fundamental values of Chinese culture: collectivism, school through university). large power distance, and intra-group harmony. Discuss these fundamental values. 26. Discuss the preferred learning/teaching style in Chinese culture. Include in the discussion the 6. Assess the chart of words (values of Chinese people) on page xxix. role of books and the role of teachers (laoshi). How does this compare with Western style instruction? Explain. Part I-Advice for Westerners Interacting with the Chinese 27. Discuss the role of student cohorts (class collectives, class leaders). Chinese Titles and Forms of Address, pp. 3-11 Negotiating and Institutional Decision Making, pp. 79-98 7. Describe Chinese naming practices. 28. Assess the following statement: "But in Chinese institutions, decisions are made by a process 8. Describe formal and informal forms of addressing others in Chinese culture. How important of leader-mediated compromise that involves people at several hierarchical levels, discussing are tiles, toles, given names? How are lao (older than oneself) and xiao (younger than oneself) matters behind the scenes, circulating written memoranda, and meeting informally" (p. 79). used in addressing others? See also conventions for last names (e.g., spouses, children), 29. Describe the time it takes for decision-making in Chinese organizations as well as who makes formal address (e.g., sir, madam), occupational titles, kinship. and follows the final decision. Where to groups fit into this description? The individual? Greetings, Conversations, and Farewells. pp. 13-24 Harmony? Discuss. 9. Describe formal and informal greetings (word use, obligations, physical interaction). What is 30. How does the Chinese government moderate (influence) organizational decision-making? meant by these greeting rituals? Discuss. Explain. 10. What are some conversational starters? Taboo subjects in conversation? 31. What is meant by the "iron rice bowl"? Discuss. 1 1. Describe the formal and informal ways for farewells (word use, obligations, physical 32. What are some of the built-in friction points (e.g., timing, authority, information needs, interaction). What is meant by these farewell rituals? Discuss. hierarchy, harmony, high versus low context communication styles, approaches to Chinese Style Dining, pp. 25-29 negotiation, written contracts) between Westerners and Chinese when negotiating? Discuss. 12. Fully describe the etiquette involved in Chinese style dining (seating, paying, announcing. 33. What are the expected relationship outcomes of negotiations with the Chinese? [See for adjourning, drinking [alcohol], inviting [guests], eating [including courses, finishing what is example the elements of trust, obligation, mutual support, permanence, gender.] Discuss. given, utensils, food types], toasting [speeches], thanking, timing [length of dining], purpose The Concept of "Face" in Chinese-American Interaction. pp. 99-11 1 of the meal, etc.). 34. Define the Chinese concept of "face" in your own words. [See the authors' 7-point Appointments. Visiting, and Time Use. pp. 31-38 explanation of face, pp. 102-103.] Why is "face" important? Explain. 13. Discuss how appointments and meetings are established, conducted, scheduled, and timed 35. How does one acquire "face"? Earn "face"? Lose "face"? Maintain "face"? Save "face"? Fix (start, finish). (or re-acquire) "face"? Spare "face". Protect "face"? Discuss. 14. Describe the nature of visits [ such as timing (start, finish, announced, unannounced, invited, 36. Interpret the following Chinese proverb, "A person needs face as a tree needs bark" (p. 103). times throughout the day, public/private) and scheduling (friends, family, others)]. 37. Describe how li (decorum) is a critical element of face. 15. What signals are sent when one seeks "alone time"? Explain. 38. Assess the list (8 guidelines) of ways to interact with Chinese acquaintances (p. 1 10).39. How might you go about repairing "face" when you are responsible for the loss? Discuss. Part II- Advice for Westerners Living and Working in the PRC Pp. 1 13-124 40. Why are foreigners treated deferentially in China? How so? By whom (individual, group, institution, strangers)? Explain. 41. How ought a foreigner ask for assistance? Discuss. 42. How ought one dress? Deal with invitations (even last moment invitations)? Explain (see also question 44). 43. Describe line (queue) etiquette. Pp. 124-137 44. Describe accepting, giving, and refusing invitations. 45. Describe lending and borrowing items. Does it matter from whom the item is lent or borrowed? Discuss. 46. Describe gift giving in Chinese culture (when, for what occasion, gift presentation, gift opening, reciprocity in gift giving, gift acceptance [including obligations], type of gift [see list on pp. 128-130], price of gift, rejecting a gift). 47. The authors return to dining. Consider again formal banquets (also seating and toasting), alcohol, help with serving and cleaning up after the meal, how to host a meal (and roles of the host), how to pay for the meal, greeting guests, type of food, and offering of utensils. Discuss. Pp. 138-147 48. What might be some of the challenges associated with Westerners entering the Chinese university environment? Discuss (see class changes and resources, student behavior, teaching styles). 49. What advice do the authors provide regarding domestic help and childcare? Explain. Pp. 148-156 50. Discuss and update the travel section with special attention to trains, planes, automobiles, bicycles, electric vehicles, and other service providers such as Didi. 51. Discuss and update the Internet section with special attention to China's social credit system (and score). 52. What advice do the authors provide for Westerners leaving China? Discuss (see farewell gifts, re-entry acculturation, maintaining contact). Pp. 156-164 53. Has the book succeeded in its purpose? 54. Assess the totality of this book within course learning so far