2/16/2016

With the growth of globalization, cultural sensitivity and understanding in dealing with global complexities involved in some of the aspects of life such as economic behavior, custom, language or exercising power. In fact, the culture aspect based on the high power distance that expressed the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities among people. As Thomas Hobbes said “ It is not wisdom but authority that makes law”, Chinese belongs to high power distances culture that can be shown as three examples from the business relationship, education, and family.
In societies which high power distance such as China, people getting power enjoy the greater status than those without power. Similarly, in the Chinese business world, the ranking is extremely significant in the business relationship and people getting into a cooperative business with China must keep rank differences while communicating. For example, when coming to a place or attending a conference where Chinese collaborators are gathering together, you have to greet to someone who has a higher rank first. Also, when you have a meal with Chinese businessman, it is ruled to start eating before the highest person starts. In addition,” business relationship” in China is not based on money, it is somehow the Chinese people feel respected when doing business together. Understanding and following the principle factor in business is the advantage way to build a close rapport with the partners.
The dimension deals with the fact that most individuals in China society is not equal which expresses the attitude of the culture through the inequalities in education. It is an undeniable fact that Chinese education has always placed enormous emphasis on a test score, is now becoming prevalent in this country. For example, after graduating high school, students are supposed to take the most important exam in their lives. By that way, their chances getting into university or college are determined not only by a decade of perseverance study, but also the family’s status in society. The years the parents have held a high position in cities can be exchanged for their children’s success in school. Getting into a famous school seems extremely easy for students who get benefit from their parent’s status in society. However, for those who are in a low power distance, it is harder than ever to overcome the odds.
Chinese culture values in large power distance. In a family setting, children are expected to obey their parents. The value of “ respect” between unequal status members of the family are taught at a young age. For example, parents considered authorities so children are supposed to listen to their parents and do exactly what they have told them. On the other hand, parents are responsible for taking care of their children’s business until they could be dependent themselves. It is sometimes easy for children to get mad at their parents and have a bad relationship with them as well. That is because, in China, parents always get involved in their children’s decisions so they make their own decisions for children without asking them for opinions. If they use their authority properly, parents will build a positive bond with their children as long as they realize when to step into and when to step back from their children’s lives.
As Chinese belongs to high power distance expressing the cultural perspective towards the business relationship, education, and family, significantly in these three examples reflects the customs and traditions of Chinese throughout the years. Still, does authority in culture affect to Chinese human life when it comes to “ the law” in this country? And will people from other countries choose to live in a high power distance country like this?