I still see tremendous amount of control from HQs from HK, or Singapore, Europe, etc. Local CEOs have not enough say in local market matters, financially, or strategy-wise.
Even on a tactical level, it's not surprising that local management are told what to do.
One China CEO was told to fire one of my subordinates. After much evidence showing and reasoning, she agreed this was the best employee she was starting the administrative sacking process, yet she couldn't help it.
I insisted she was the China CEO, but she said plainly and with no emotion, "I see myself as an executive." "Secretary, you Mean?" "Yes," she admitted reluctantly, glumly.
For this equally plain and straightforward "attack" of her prestigeous position from me, who had fallen into a habit of calling black black and white white due to a long journalistic tenure preceeding, she since then had avoided me as much as possible. In a way, I didn't think she was relevant to my departmental interest in any constructive way. So much better.
This GM was removed from the post, and her post was taken up by a Singaporean, after her suprior, of course a foreigner, was moved to Singapore.
Coincidentally, Josh Agardner, a China hand, wrote the following on LinkedIn:
"China is understaffed and overworked
I’ve met with hundreds of foreign brands doing business in China, and I’ve noticed a trend…
Most foreign brands in China are UNDERSTAFFED. This is particularly true when it comes to business development and marketing.
Sure, they may have someone doing selling, but they often don’t provide them with the resources needed to grow sales. Or they may have someone doing marketing, but the person doesn't really have a budget (or even the skills and the talent) to drive success.
This isn’t only a headache for the employees who are often forced to pick up the slack by working China’s notorious “996” schedule (see the comments for more info on that…) It can actually undermine the success of the entire organization.
China isn’t a “get rich quick” market. Building success here is a long, painful, intense journey that requires not just financial commitment but the human resources needed to support your efforts.
If you’re willing to commit, it’s often well worth it. If you plan on joining the pack of understaffed, overworked, foreign brands trying to use China as an ATM … just stay home. ###
网友评论