From Chief Asia Inspector:
There’s been a lot of discussion on China blogs recently about how important it is to be culturally and historically aware when doing business in China. Unlike many web discussions, this one has actually brought some useful information and theories to light, but to my mind, the ideas need a little untangling:
Dan Harris on the ChinaLawBlog says “Knowledge of Chinese history and culture is an asset for doing business in China. However, because circumstances in China change so quickly, staying abreast of China’s current situation is far more important than knowing its past.” Most responses to his past blogs on the subject were positive, “with most everyone agreeing that knowing Chinese culture is an important asset, but no replacement for knowing business.” [full text]