Date Added: November 14, 2013 01:16:41 AM

There are big differences when comparing the Western and Chinese way of project management training and their ways of doing things in the office. Below are some of the contrasts you will discover when putting the two project management styles side by side.

The Resourceful Democrat vs. the Benevolent Father

In a western setting, the ideal boss is someone who is like a resourceful democrat. He is the one who establishes the company's mission and vision, as well as the general business strategy. He assigns the tasks for execution to his employees through the means of empowerment. A western boss is big in two-way communication; he allows the lower ranks to speak to him about their ideas and suggestions, making them a part of the decision-making process. The lower ranks may even be afforded with management courses to make them better in their line of work.

The Chinese boss acts like a benevolent father to his employees. He supervises his people and provides them training courses the way a father supervises his children. He makes it a priority to instill discipline in his people so that they will obey him without question. Unlike the Western boss, the Chinese boss does not encourage two-way communication; he gives the instructions and his subordinates should carry them out without question. He may sound like a tough boss, but it is also his job to look after the personal welfare of his employees and he usually spends a significant amount of time tending to it.

Pros and Cons

From the way it sounds, the Chinese boss is running a tight ship. It has its pros, of course. Doing it the Chinese style guarantees fast results and efficient multitasking. There is less or no time wasted on long hours of brainstorming and negotiating, since the boss' decision is not contestable.
However, this could be a disadvantage for employees who hate being micro managed. There are employees who hate being dictated on, something that the Chinese boss is most likely to do. This is also an issue for employees who are very particular with individual merit, given the Chinese' preference for group accountability.
Now that China is rapidly moving on into international workplaces, it is important that the two management styles co-adapt to each other. One must understand that what motivates a Western employee is not the same with what motivates the Chinese worker. Gaining a deeper understanding will make it easier for both sides to solve their issues.

Take project management training courses or any type of management courses Hemsley Fraser to better understand the management styles in China. The knowledge you can gain from such training courses can help if you are planning to work or start a business in China. About training courses: www.hemsleyfraser.co.uk