Dragon Suit: The Golden age of expatriate executives in China
Few books address the experience of living in China as a foreigner, and those that do are either subjective diary-style memoirs or books on specific business-related topics.
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By showing China through the stories, headaches and successes of multinational managers based in China, Dragon Suit closes the gap between well-researched but unentertaining monographs on foreign business in the world’s most populous country, and delightful but scarcely researched expat memoires.
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Worldwide business leaders who try to comprehend China’s unavoidable impact on their livelihoods often ignore the most important voices: those of expatriate managers with years of experience in the country. Based on interviews with China-based corporate executives over five years, Dragon Suit brings to life the country’s swarming cities, recent economic tsunami, unstoppable middle class, endemic pollution, intermittent Internet, confusing culture, and endless opportunities.
The book in brief
Dragon Suit is a rare insight into the way global firms select, relocate, manage, motivate, and reward top managers in the world’s most populous market. CEOs, C-suite executives, and senior managers recall their careers since China’s early 2000s reform period until a notable 2014 policy paper declared “the end of a golden age for foreign business in China,” and beyond to the present day.
Dragon Suit addresses crucial questions for international business:
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How did China become a key market for global firms?
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Why are most foreign managers unprepared for its challenges?
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Why did the country’s near-million foreigners begin to leave
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in the mid-2010s, and who will replace them?
Most importantly, how can executives, managers, entrepreneurs, experts, and students prepare for an increasingly China-facing future in business?
Table of contents
Foreword by Joerg Wuttke
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Why ‘Dragon Suit’?
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Chapter One: Signing Up
The golden age of foreign business in China
Why go to China?
Ages and voyages
Why not go to China?
How expats end up in China
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Chapter Two: Settling In
First impressions
Expat islands in ‘real China’
The air is everywhere
China’s intermittent internet
Bracing for culture shock
Chapter Three: Gearing Up
First days at work
Cultures of collaboration
Work, life, balance
Culture-mapping matches and mismatches
Strategies and tactics of cultural adaptation
Chapter Four: Stepping Up
Leading others as a foreigner in China
Assuming roles and responsibilities
Networks and kinships
The politics of leading businesses in China
Going with the flow, turning with the tide
Chapter Five: Moving On
Localising leadership
Foreign business beyond ‘decoupling’
Thriving in China’s walled garden
Upcoming dragon suit trends
Epilogue: new dragon suit patterns
References
About The Author
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Book details
Publisher: Business Expert Press, New York
Published: 2023
ISBN: 978-1-63742-485-8
ASIN : B0C15QQVXZ
Buying options online
Some of the executives, experts and authors interviewed for Dragon Suit
Richard Eardley, Asia Managing Director, Hays
Henrik König, CEO, ThyssenKrupp System Engineering China
Angelo Puglisi, Asia Pacific Head of HR and Marketing, Benteler Automotive
Tony Shi, Asia-Pacific Executive Vice President, Benteler
Attila Hilbert, Human Resources Vice President for Greater China and North Asia, Danone
Fernanda Barth, Human Resources Manager, WEG China
Markus Baumgartner, General Manager, Miba Holding
Kurt Yu, Regional President, Voith Group
Christian Eh, Senior Vice President, Covestro China
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George Hu, Chief of Mental Health, Shanghai’s United Family Pudong Hospital
Bronwyn Bowery-Ireland, CEO, the Lissom Group
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Laurie Underwood, author, China CEO
Shaun Rein, author, The End of Cheap China
"Dragon Suit could not have come at a better time. May everyone who reads it become part of this exciting journey!"
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Jörg Wuttke
Chief Representative, BASF China
President, EU Chamber of Commerce China
"A treasure chest of facts and stories on Chinese business behavior for everyone who strives for business success in the land of the dragon!"
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​Dr. Hans Werner Hagemann
Founder of Munich Leadership Group
Author of The Leading Brain
"In Dragon Suit, Gabor expands your understanding of China, and how that can make you a better manager and leader—anywhere."
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Michael Wenderoth
Executive Coach
Author of Get Promoted