China Streetsmart: What You Must Know to Be Effective and Profitable in China

by John Chan

Learn how to set up and run profitable businesses in the most alluring market, China. Stays away from theories and focuses on practical advice from real professionals with proven results in China,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0130474886
• ISBN13: 9780130474889
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 323 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

A Practical Realistic Guide

I've been doing business with China now for over 8 years but recently I was asked to bring a small group of fellow business associates to China, since I was considered the "Expert". While I know my business well I certainly would not call myself an expert so I went and ask some other friends for a recommendation for a good book that we all could easily understand. A friend that lives and works in China, recommended China Streetsmart and since reading the book I can definitely say its a great guide and has even given me new ideas how to improve my own business with China. Other China books I've come across have been too superficial. I can easily recommend others to read this book. Its easy to understand yet very helpful in helping me apply my know how in a "Chinese" way. Kudos to the author!

Hands down the Best Resource Guide on the subject

I read John Chan's title after finishing a 9 year expat assignment in China. I was reading numerous publications on the subject to see how other's experiences compared with my own. Other books covered the typical topics with stories to illustrate the points, but I found many of them dated to the China of today, and too generalized. China is on a rapid pace of change and the practices & customs vary significantly by local area. "China Streetsmart" was current, accurately portrayed the regional dynamics of the China business environment, and offered widely applicable & fundamental guidelines to be successful. The recounting of real life experiences were so true to my own, it was uncanny. I only wish I had John's book 9 years ago. If your company or yourself are going to China, then make this book a prerequisite. There's not a single book out there that will prepare you for every situation, but if you read just one, I highly recommend "China Streetsmart" by John Chan. Take it from someone who has been there, the better you're prepared, the better your results. RJC - Philadelphia, PA

This book saved our company!!!

We've been a family business for many generations and realize, like Thomas Friedman says, The World is Flat" (another great book) and we need to start expanding our business abroad. Our family business finally made the plunge and invested in a factory in China. During our negotiations with the Chinese a small issue came up about who controlled the chop or business stamp. At first we didn't think much about this, but after reading China Streetsmart and following the case study in the book we began to realize this little chop means a heck of a lot more to the Chinese and their government than we first realized. After asking around with other companies setting up in China as well, we now realize that the situations explained in this book are real life issues and we now insist we control the chop. I've read many other books about China and none go into the detail China Streetsmart does in how to set up a company properly. It has been our guidebook along the way. Most just give you vague examples. So far the case that has been presented in this book is been pretty similar to our own experiences. The one little pointer about the chop alone was well worth the price of the book. This book saved us a lot of headaches. I like the common sense approach the author takes towards China and it amazes me at the basic blunders other companies have made. Hopefully we won't be one of them!

Cross-Cultural Teaching Aid

I am a cross-cultural professional with over 20 years in the field. I've just returned from a trip to China and am now in the process of expanding my practice into the China field given my clients needs to also expand there. I've since read a lot of China books, including Chinese Business Etiquette & One Billion Customers and China Streetsmart is by far the best book I've read which accurately highlights the cultural challenges business executives go through when entering a new market. I especially like the point the author makes about the importance of integrating the family in an overseas move since a businessperson's success can be strongly influenced by the home environment. Most business books tend to stress the transaction forgeting that often its the process on how its derived which will determine the long term success. The author's no nonsense approach to China has helped demystify many of the confusing stories I heard about what it takes to succeed in China. Now that I've been there I understand even more clearly and have now started to recommend this book to all my clients.

An Indispensable Resource

After reading China Streetsmart I now have a stronger sense of how to take my North American business to China. It's important to me that the author not give me theory rather something that I can really use. John's unique combination of western background coupled with years of experience on the "front lines" of doing business in China make him an unparalleled authority on how to truly be effective and profitable for anyone that is looking to do business in China. John has taken his personal experiences and to that added stories, both successful and unsuccessful, from other high-level executives to truly give the reader a realistic view of what works and what doesn't work in China and more importantly, why. I really liked the color charts and statistics throughout. I believe this is a must-have resource for anyone looking to start a business in China or enhance an existing China-based business!