Trouble In The Middle

The book Trouble in the Middle is about the ethical and cultural assumptions that both American and Chinese business cultures bring to business relationships in China. It analyzes the relationships developed between the two cultures, areas where they conflict, and how these conflicts are (or are not) resolved. The book is divided into three sections: American Business in China, Chinese Business in China, and Comparison of American and Chinese Business Cultures. In the American Business in China section, the author describes and interprets American business experience in China. He discusses how American businesses interact with Chinese businesses and how these interactions affect the ethical and cultural assumptions that both American and Chinese executives have about doing business in China. In the Chinese Business in China section, the author describes and interprets Chinese business experience in China, including interaction with Americans. He compares these two business cultures as they are experienced in China to investigate the relationships between them, centering the cultural analysis on ethical issues. In the Comparison of American and Chinese Business Cultures section, the author compares American and Chinese business cultures and investigates the ethical and cultural assumptions that both American and Chinese executives have about doing business in China. His data collection method was interviews, which gave him firsthand, insider information about how business is practiced in China. Overall, the book

This book will help readers better understand the ethical and cultural assumptions that both American and Chinese business cultures bring to business relationships in China. It analyzes the relationships developed between the two cultures, areas where they conflict, and how these conflicts are (or are not) resolved. These relationships are investigated in three stages. The author: * describes and interprets American business experience in China * describes and interprets Chinese business experience in China, including interaction with Americans * compares these two business cultures as they are experienced in China to investigate the relationships between them, centering the cultural analysis on ethical issues. Feldman's thorough research gets to the crux of how American and Chinese executives perceive the ethical and cultural aspects of doing business. The result is a book that will prove helpful to all those looking to expertly navigate Chinese-American business relationships. Review: Feldman has written this well-researched, informative work to investigate the ethical and cultural aspects of Chinese-American business relations. ...He examines assumptions Americans bring to Chinese negotiations by scrutiny of relevant literature and empirical analyses. He also points out that the Chinese are just as victimized by their corrupt systems as are foreign business partners. Finally, Feldman compares the experiences of American and Chinese businesses in China. Because the primary research in this area is still rather scant, his data collection method was interviews. This firsthand, insider information is vital to understanding the way business is practiced in China. Summing Up: Highly recommended. - L. K Miller, Western Kentucky University in CHOICE