WiseNetAsia Knowledge Center
Copyright © 2021 WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.

Understanding China’s rapid growth – How China’s work ethics shaped their present state

Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and politician around 500 BC, his Confucian values have shaped and influenced the working culture and business ethics in China. Confucianism is an ancient Chinese belief system that focuses on the importance of morality and personal ethics.

A simple understanding of Confucianism values can be of great help to recognize the impact on relationships within Chinese businesses. The fundamentals of Confucian values aim to achieve social harmony as there is a strong belief in the Chinese society that adhering to a system of hierarchy and patriarchy is the respected path to communal success, and the maintaining of harmonies is more highly valued than an individual’s success.

Some interesting facts about China; the Chinese people do not dismiss the importance of working hard but they truly embrace it, believing that hard work begets success. The working culture in China is a unique one and it can be seen as a stark difference and almost a clash with the working culture of the Western world.

In China, most employees regularly work overtime, working hours can start from 8am and 10am and finish between 6pm to 10pm or later. Working on the weekends is not uncommon as China is known for its 996 system where employees are expected to work six days a week, from 9am to 9pm. Overtime is part and parcel of the working culture in China, especially in the technology and start-up industries where employers have high expectations that their employees will get their job done in the shortest time allocated. Though it may sound daunting to foreigners, employees in China generally receive a substantial amount of annual bonuses, which can range from three to six months’ worth of salaries.

A rule of thumb in China is that juniors must show respect to seniors, this is one of the common practices in China. Seniors appreciate being introduced not by their first names, but by their titles such as Professor, Sir, or Chief.

At the workplace, the leadership team does not appreciate being contacted too frequently by juniors for matters that can be handled by their direct supervisor as they value hierarchy, they trust that their appointed direct reports are able to do their job well by guiding and coaching their juniors. Seniors cherish juniors who are able to take instructions and are accountable to perform their work without much nuisance.

In a work environment with a rigid structure, employees adhere to strict rules and guidelines, supervision by their direct report is customary. Any form of objections should be discussed in a private setting and should not be challenged in group meetings, as reputation is extremely important for seniors.

Moreover, employees who perform unasked tasks might be deemed as equivalent to subordination. In China, information flow follows a vertical hierarchical line, an employee conventionally receives vital information and clear direction from their seniors above, also regarded as top-down communication, which leaves little room for communication and feedback.

The Chinese grew up in a society of constant competition and having the spirit of being exceptionally goal-oriented and KPI-driven. The use of KPIs enables businesses to specify their goals and quantify the performance of their employees, KPI is widely implemented in most industrial enterprises and also the internal government system of China.

Bridging an intercontinental relationship through language is essential but one should not leave out the cultural expectations and social etiquette as it plays a huge role in determining workplace success.

In China, one must always take into account the importance of punctuality. Punctuality is a sign of professionalism and it helps a person stand out as a reliable and trustworthy employee. Secondly, the Chinese value respectfulness and politeness above everything, when having a conversation, never cut someone off who is speaking to make a point.

Furthermore, when a person is having their first business meeting, it is important to bring an abundant supply of business cards, which are frequently exchanged with the rest of the people present in the room.

The idiom “Hard work beats talent” is something the Chinese can firmly attest to. The Chinese are being taught that through hard work and diligence, anything can be achieved. This is a testament to the fact that China is being highly regarded as an economic superpower, in 2020 and 2021, where the COVID19 pandemic caused global economies to plummet, many countries are struggling to plan effective strategies to reopen their economies after repeated lockdowns and restrictions, China appears to be one of the largest countries to control the virus in an astounding manner and continue to show staggering growth in its economy.

For the past decade, it is not just rapid developments in the technological aspect that allowed their country to prosper but the matter of fact lies in the work ethics that the Chinese practiced on a daily basis and are accustomed to.

Gone were the days when the US was leading in artificial intelligence (AI) research. Chinese researchers are publishing more research papers on AI and securing more patents than US researchers. China is in a position to pioneer in AI to become the leader in businesses of all sizes, primarily in the tech industry where firms’ main focuses are on speech recognition and synthesis, image, and video recognition applications.

China has overtaken the US by impressive speed due to favorable circumstances such as rapid technological improvement, market conditions, and policy environments have allowed latecomer China and forerunner US on an equal footing, or more so reducing the advantages of incumbents.

China boasts great leadership in philosophy, religion, medicine, astrology, literature, and wide access to the examination system. While these attributes have influenced China today has the lures of markets and trades, promising their allies and counterparts the associated promise of wealth. China’s imperial past has shaped its present success in all three structures – economic, social, and politics.

One must always remember that, China’s old vernacular architecture will continue to disappear, and the imperial past has become an artifact, and with the new and growing governing system of China, it further reaffirms the glory, stability, and prosperity of indigenous predecessors of the present.

 

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WiseNetAsia Knowledge Center
Copyright © 2021 WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd.  All Rights Reserved.

A common denominator between Jack Ma and Mark Zuckerberg – Good routines and self-discipline

There are approximately 7.6 billion people on earth but only a small fraction of them are billionaires. The common household names of such billionaires are none other than Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, Jack Ma, and more. These are the people who have managed to change the world in a significant manner and have created phenomenally successful businesses in the world. The average Joe would regard them as role models, entrepreneurs that they look up to, mesmerized by their ability to inspire the world with their vision, passion, and work ethics.

One might ask, what is their secret to achieving such monumental and awe-inspiring accomplishments? What could be their belief and value systems? Do they ever have bad days and how do they overcome them? How are they able to have perpetual motivation and determination on a daily basis to achieve their ambitious goals? What did they do differently from an average person? Can we actually embark on this aspiring journey as them and achieve greater heights in life as well?

Rafael Badziag, an entrepreneur and expert in the psychology of entrepreneurship, stated in his book “The Billion Dollar Secret: 20 Principles of Billionaire’s Wealth and Success” wrote that “In the long term, your habits will determine your future”. In other words, “What you eat is what you become”. Furthermore, it would not be a surprise if all billionaires attest to this quote “You cannot build wealth without a strong foundation”.

Badziag interviewed 21 billionaires and found these common traits in them which created the foundation for their financial success.

  • Billionaires wake up early in the morning

On average, most billionaires go to bed and wake up early. This is a big component for their success. They follow a set routine every day, even on the weekends. There is a saying that when the sun rises it exudes a primal energy. There is more time for solitude where you can cultivate good thoughts and mentally start your day positively, followed by a healthy breakfast and a quick exercise. Many things can be accomplished when you get out of bed early as others are still sound asleep, that is where you can get a head start on your tasks.

  • Billionaires get sufficient sleep each night

Getting less sleep does not make a person productive nor successful. Though it is true that a few billionaires can function perfectly well with only 3-4 hours of sleep but the majority of them require 7-8 hours of sleep and rest in order to function at their optimum levels. Studies have shown that having insufficient amount of sleep can lead to serious repercussions such as chronic health issues, reduced cognition and delayed reactions.

  • Billionaires exercise and keep themselves healthy

“Health is wealth” is a line that people tend to throw around, but does everyone actually prioritize their health? Based on a survey, the level of physical activity was significantly reduced during the COVID19 pandemic period, the percentage has dropped from 83% to 50% for males and 46% to 31% for females. Without good health, no amount of success or money can make life better. Most billionaires maintain their good health by exercising regularly, practicing meditation and incorporating healthy eating habits into their diet.

  • Billionaires are avid readers

From Warren Buffett to Mark Zuckerberg, both voracious readers whom shared that reading is the most valuable source of knowledge. Zuckerberg would encourage his followers on Facebook to read by postings pictures of his current favorites that he read and thoroughly enjoyed, from self-help books to autobiographies to classic, they do read quite an array of different genres. Though it is not just books that billionaires read, many of them enjoy business and economic articles from The Economist, Bloomberg and Financial Times.

  • Billionaires practice immense self-discipline

Billionaires set extremely high standards of discipline for themselves and the people around them. Whether you are in sports, music, culinary – in order to master your skill, you need to practice and train regularly. As they say, nothing comes easy in life, in order to succeed, you need to work hard. Another tip is to limit the distractions and temptations that hinder your progress, always be eager to enhance your skills.

Many individuals yearn to live the lives of billionaires but the ultimate setback would be the lack of self-discipline. Here are 3 helpful insights to help cultivate self-discipline.

  1. Know your weaknesses

Acknowledging your shortcomings. For instance, it could be a technological addiction to social applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Netflix or it could be an unhealthy food addiction, such as having too much of a sweet tooth. Once you address the root cause, the next step is to take action. Too often people try to pretend that their vulnerabilities do not exist and constantly find excuses to cover up their pitfalls, but in reality, we have to own up and overcome our weaknesses.

  1. Resist unnecessary temptations

The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” may seem foolish to an ordinary person but these words do carry weight. If you are a shopaholic and would kill for sale items, take a step back and re-evaluate your situation, ask yourself, “Is this a need or a want?”, “Am I going to use this item more than once?”, “Does the price justify its value?”, once you are able to convince yourself to remove the biggest temptations in your life, it will greatly improve your sense of self-discipline.

  1. Change your perception about willpower

Based on a study by Stanford University, a person’s willpower is determined by their belief and value system. If you trust that you have a limited amount of strength and willpower, your mind will tell you that you are not able to surpass those set limits. It is our internal conceptions about willpower and self-control which determines the amount of power that we have, if we remove these subconscious barriers from our minds, we can definitely achieve our goals and make it a reality.

Individuals that spend less time debating whether to indulge in behaviors that are detrimental to their health have a higher degree of self-awareness and control. They have the ability to make better decisions on a daily basis. Impulses or emotions do not dictate their choices as they make level-headed, rational and logical decisions instead.

Also, does luck play a factor in a billionaire’s success? While luck certainly is a factor but it is not the sole justification for the monetary success of billionaires, but rather, success is a product of a billionaire’s mindset, practices and principles.

 

 

September 2021

Successfully placed the role of General Manager, Cross-Border Transportation for Asean (Based in Bangkok, Thailand) for one of the largest logistics companies headquartered in China

September 2021

Closed the position of Private Label Product Manager for a hard-discount store in Chongqing, China

Singapore, October 12, 2021 — The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), WiseNet Asia, and the Chongqing Yubei District People’s Government (YDPG) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop human capital.

The tripartite MOU, signed by SUSS Provost Professor Robbie Goh Boon Hua, WiseNet Asia Founder Mr Wesley Hui, and YDPG’s Vice Director Ms Yang Man, will see SUSS offer graduate programmes such as the Master of Management and Master of IP and Innovation Management to upskill Chongqing’s workforce. WiseNet Asia will work with YDPG and hiring companies to provide internship and employment opportunities for SUSS students in Yubei District, a major tech hub in Chongqing. YDPG will provide relevant resources in support of students’ internship programme lasting between one and six months in duration.

Professor Goh, said: “SUSS is proud to be part of this collaboration, which aims to facilitate increased collaboration in talent development and mobility between China and Singapore. For SUSS, this partnership aligns with our intention to provide students with meaningful overseas experiences to complement their academic learning. We hope to produce global-ready graduates who understand the world and its emerging issues better.”

Mr Hui, said: “China is leading the world in its economic recovery since the pandemic hit last year. Post recovery, China companies have been operating with unprecedented efficiency through accelerated technology and leading-edge systems. Yubei District, being the leading tech hub that has over 700 companies and potential employers, is the right place for students to be, where they will be exposed to some of the world’s leading technology and working standards.”

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For media queries and interviews, please contact:

SUSS
Valerie Ng (Ms)
Senior PR Manager, Communications & Marketing
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Email: valeriengww@suss.edu.sg

Tian Zhiyuan (Mr)
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Email: ztian@suss.edu.sg

WiseNet Asia
Regine Chin (Ms)
GM, Marketing
WiseNet Asia
Email: regine.chin@wisenetasia.com

About the Singapore University of Social Sciences

Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) is a university with a rich heritage in inspiring lifelong education, and transforming society through social sciences. We develop work-ready graduates and work-adaptive alumni to their fullest potential through our 3H’s education philosophy – ‘Head’ for professional competency with applied knowledge, ‘Heart’ for social awareness to meet the needs of the society, and ‘Habit’ for passion towards lifelong learning.

We offer over 80 undergraduate and graduate programmes, available in full- and part-time study modes, which are flexible, modular and inter-disciplinary, catering to both fresh school leavers and adult learners. SUSS also offers a broad range of continuing education and training modular courses for the professional skills upgrading of Singapore’s workforce.

Our programmes and courses are made available through our five schools:

  • S R Nathan School of Human Development
  • School of Business
  • School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences
  • School of Law
  • School of Science and Technology

To date, over 38,000 graduates have experienced our unique brand of education, and each year, about 15,000 students are pursuing their full- and part-time studies with us.

The Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), as part of SUSS, leads in the field of research on adult learning to build capabilities of the training and adult education sector in Singapore and beyond.

For more information on SUSS, please visit www.suss.edu.sg

About WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd

Founded in the year 2011, WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd is a one stop HR solutions provider and management consulting firm headquartered in Singapore, with other locations in Kuala Lumpur, Chongqing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.  WiseNet Asia’s HR solutions consist of talent acquisition, talent transition, talent development, HR outsourcing, internship programs and consulting.  WiseNet Asia’s core value is to accelerate human resources development through innovative HR models and knowledge sharing. For more information, visit http://wisenetasia.com/

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The Singapore Management University (SMU) and WiseNet Asia are jointly organizing a workshop as follow:

Advance Your Career Through Overseas Opportunities In the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
DESCRIPTION:

The pandemic has provided a peek into the future, in which digital is key to all interactions.

The world, has changed dramatically. In the midst of this change, how can graduates distinguish themselves from their peers when navigating the increasingly competitive job market?

Who better to answer these questions than the HR experts themselves!

Join us in this workshop and meet HR and industry experts who will share with you how having a global and entrepreneurial mindset will give you the additional boost in your resume. This could be your ticket to the dream career you’ve always wanted.

DATE & TIME:  22 Oct 2021, Friday / 4pm (GMT +8 Singapore Time)

EVENT LINK:  https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?e=%5bUNIQID%5d&u=9fbbd955ed0eaca8758ae805e&id=ecab22fe47

 

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WiseNet Asia, NUS Business School and the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum are jointly organizing a webinar exclusively for their members and NUS Business School students.  The topic of the webinar is “Transforming from a Rural Village to the World’s Largest Megalopolis – Shenzhen”.

Being the world’s largest megalopolis, Shenzhen is one of the center of economic attraction for multinationals and global talents in China.  In this webinar, the speakers will introduce multinationals and Singapore companies in Shenzhen and the related career opportunities available.  There will also be sharing on the latest talent attraction policies.

EVENT INFORMATION

Date: 22 Oct 2021, Friday

Time: 2pm (GMT +8 Singapore Time)

Platform:  Zoom


ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum
Set up in 2001, Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum is the leading social organization that gathers together successful business leaders in one common platform, with the mission of nurturing and facilitating growth of new businesses.  Yabuli’s signature events include the Annual Yabuli Forum, Youth Forum and the China-US Business Leaders Roundtable.  For more information about Yabuli, please visit:  www.cefco.cn or global.cefco.cn/


WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd
Founded in the year 2011, WiseNet Asia Pte Ltd is a one stop HR solutions provider and management consulting firm headquartered in Singapore, with other locations in Kuala Lumpur, Chongqing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.  WiseNet Asia’s HR solutions consist of talent acquisition, talent transition, talent development, HR outsourcing, internship programs and consulting.  WiseNet Asia’s core value is to accelerate human resources development through innovative HR models and knowledge sharing. For more information, visit http://wisenetasia.com/

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