The China Strategy: Harnessing the Power of the World's Fastest-Growing Economy

by Edward Tse, Edward Tse

No major enterprise or financial institution can avoid doing business with China—if not directly, then through myriad hidden connections. Global businesses either use Chinese resources or sell to and in China or compete with companies that do.

Because there’s no avoiding China, business leaders need a framework that orders the different (and seemingly contradictory) streams of data that hint at its future. That framework is The China Strategy .

In this invaluable book, Edward Tse explains the ever-changing nature of China's business environment, its increasingly complex relationship with the rest of the world, and the global business implications—not just for our current environment but for the next decade.

Change, Tse argues, is taking place in non-linearly. Some dimensions (like Chinese entrepreneurship) are expanding exponentially, while others (like the value of China's labor arbitrage) may be reaching a plateau. Eschewing easy explanations, Tse shows how to build and execute a global business strategy in light of these changes, offering practical advice amidst a sea of simple books that offer too-quick solutions.

In a world in which a successful business strategy means a successful China strategy, this book is uniquely positioned to help business leaders navigate the “country that cannot be ignored.”

Genres: China, Nonfiction, Asia, Business, Economics

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2010

Reviews

[Chris Aylott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Longtime business consultant Tse summarizes his advice for doing business in China. To summarize the summary, China is immensely big and complex, and anyone doing business there should be flexible and ready to take some risks. Which is good advice for almost any situation in modern life, come to think of it.

Somewhat more usefully, Tse charts the recent history of the Chinese business world -- there have been some interesting shifts -- and outlines the distinctions between China's tightly regulated strategic businesses and their loosely regulated consumer businesses. I wonder if he's whitewashing the corruption and bureaucracy that you would expect to see in the system, but this is a good portrait of what the country looks like right now.

[Edward (Eddie) Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author demonstrates an incredible knowledge about the dynamics of global business with China as a significant driver. The book shows that multinational companies, as well as local Chinese companies, are interlocked with the massive Chinese supply chain system coupled with an unavoidable emergence of China as the hub for cheaper sources of labor and raw materials. In effect, the narrative of the Edward Tse's Book refocuses our minds on the growing importance of building a national and company-wide business strategy which incorporates erecting structures that can leverage on a close relationship with Chinese innovation in a competitive world. I recommend it.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The China Strategy by Edward Tse showcases the remarkable dedication of the Chinese people and their leadership toward achieving their goals. Tse provides a helpful and fundamental introduction to China, shedding light on its economy and government, thus offering an honest representation of the country’s economy. In this book, he highlights China's past, present, and future as it emerges as one of the world's largest economies. China's impressive accomplishments in recent years can be attributed to several key drivers, which the author explains as their culture and economy, competitive nature, governance, and interdependence on the global stage.

[Cherie Heng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, outdated as its a 2010 read, but it does provide some nuggets of insights into how China developed - where are some areas of growth; and definitely good for a beginner. Apart from that, the trends captured are what we understand. 1. Open China; 2. Entrepreneurial China; 3. Official China; 4. One World. While some sentiments does feel like hopeful generalisation / big picture; it also shares how local giants need a concrete china strategy to expand beyond its shores. Some points are repetitive too

[Cem · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is quite well-written. Although it takes a big-picture approach towards the 2nd largest economy in the world, it also deep-dives into the most important elements of China's growth such as value-chain migration, China integration for multi-nationals and various industry developments all within China. He basically says, through various examples, that China requires a localized and well-thought approach, and although its a very complicated market, the rewards of succeeding in China are tremendous.