Articles

Articles Published in Magazines and Trade Journals

ME_july_07                               CE_October _07                          ME_january_2008                     JECM_2005

Building Trust
Mechanical Engineering, January 2008

Costly Western Assumptions
Control Engineering, October 2007

Are Your People Firefighters?
 Mechanical Engineering, July 2007
 Mechanical Engineering, July 2007
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Leveraging Cultural Differences: The Chinese Example
  The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. Washington D.C. (BNA, Inc.)
  The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. Washington D.C. (BNA, Inc.)

How's Your Cultural Intelligence?
 Distributors Link Magazine (Winter 2006)
  Distributors Link Magazine (Winter 2006)

Avoiding Faux Pas with Chinese Not Easy for Most Westerners
  U.S. Tech Management, February 2005
  U.S. Tech Management, February 2005
Other Publications

Understanding Cross-Cultural Issues Increases Profits
  Canadian Professional Sales Association, Sales Exchange
  Canadian Professional Sales Association, Sales Exchange

When in China: Take Responsibility for Poor Communication
  Journal of Employee Communication Management (May 2005)
  Journal of Employee Communication Management (May 2005)
Other Publications

International Business? You Need Interpersonal Flexibility
 Distributor's Link Magazine, Spring 2006
 

The Role of Hierarchy in Asian Business
  Distributor's Link Magazine, Summer 2006
 

The Chinese Surprise
  Biz Export Report, Summer 2005
  Biz Export Report, Summer 2005

Negotiate to a Yes that Means Yes
  Inside Business - Hampton Road (June 2005)
  Inside Business - Hampton Road (June 2005)
Other Publications

7 Lessons on Working with Asia
  Control Engineering (May 2005)
Other Publications

10 Tips for Doing Business in China
  Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (May 2005)
  Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (May 2005)
Other Publications

Chinese And American Businesswomen: More Alike Than Different
  Minority MBA (Winter 2008)
  Minority MBA (Winter 2008)
Other Publications

Readers' Comments

"You are the rarest of things: a credible expert who can write.”

~ Lee Oliver, Editor, Biz Magazine

Re: Learning How To Do Business In China, January ECN

Thank you for such a well written, timely and succinct article. You absolutely nailed it! Americans likely lose more business than they gain because of their fat, dumb and happy, narrow view of the international business world.

You should email and US mail your article to every marketing/sales organization and CEO in the  USA and require them to memorize your article before they are allowed to enter into another international endeavour! Wishful thinking anyway! This may help to sell your excellent book on a serious subject.

Most USA business men do not realize the large differences in culture and how easy it is to insult someone very innocently! China is the sleeping dragon that has awakened and will be a dominant part of the business world into the foreseeable future. We must begin to understand our international customers and their culture! Thank you again for such a great article.

Sincerely,
Gene Thomas

P.S. I have torn out and sent your article to my former employer whose performance with the Chinese was rated less than zero, absolutely the worst possible results, in hopes it will help them to begin to understand international markets. Selling to international customers, especially the Chinese, as if they were Americans is likely fatal or much worse."

Note: Received by email, and reproduced with permission