As the second-largest economy, China is a strategic destination for British business ventures, yet many expatriate managers face challenges in China due to the unique cultural characteristics of Chinese employees. Chin-Ju Tsai’s research aims to address these challenges and improve leadership effectiveness.
Award: Residency
Project lead: Dr Chin-Ju Tsai
Department: Human Resource Management and Organisation Studies
Partner: Modern Management Center (MMC)
Context and Underpinning Research
This project builds on Chin-Ju Tsai’s ongoing research, spanning ten years, on cross-cultural leadership. As the second-largest economy, China is a strategic destination for British business ventures, including education, retail, energy, finance, and banking. Chin-Ju Tsai’s research found that many expatriate managers face challenges in China due to the unique cultural characteristics of Chinese employees, such as high respect for hierarchy, inexpressiveness in communication, and the importance of saving face. These traits differ significantly from those in other countries, making effective cross-cultural leadership crucial. Chin-Ju Tsai’s research aims to address these challenges and improve leadership effectiveness.
Residency overview
The residency took place at the Modern Management Centre (MMC) in Shanghai where the following impact activities took place:
• Knowledge-exchange on leadership, management practices, and Chinese social modernisation, revealing insights into local practices and challenges.
• Library research via access to Daohan Library's resources, which provided valuable information on recent trends in management and economic development in China. This research will contribute to future publications and training materials for expatriate managers.
• Establishing valuable connections with expatriate managers through events hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce.
SSIA funding covered the travel and accommodation costs for Chin-Ju Tsai’s placement in Shanghai.
Outcomes and impact
The project has contributed to both immediate and future outcomes and impact, including:
• Enhanced knowledge: Discussions with MMC staff and expatriate managers provided valuable insights that elucidated the specific challenges faced by expatriates and potential ways to overcome these challenges.
• Relationships and collaborations: Established a foundation for partnerships with MMC and SinoMatter, enabling opportunities for future collaborative work.
• Dissemination: Via a book exhibition, Chin-Ju Tsai identified potential distribution channels in China for her book. This could expand the reach of her work to a broader audience in the Chinese market.
Next steps:
Chin-Ju Tsai has plans to pursue future collaboration and impact opportunities. The first is to apply her research in a practical setting through the development of expatriate training programmes in collaboration with SinoMatter. The eventual aim is to create a structured programme that can be adapted for other multinational companies operating in China, providing practical guidance on managing Chinese employees. Chin-Ju Tsai’s enhanced knowledge of the Chinese business environment will also inform future practitioner-oriented books, articles, and case studies. Finally, she plans to explore distribution partnerships with Chinese publishers identified at the book exhibition to reach a wider audience within China.
Get involved:
If you would like to get involved with this work please email Chin-Ju.Tsai@rhul.ac.uk
