Gift Giving Behavior in China
Instructions:
This assessment task has several steps that need to be undertaken before you can commence the writing up of your response to the stated questions and submit your answer to Turnitin for grading.
Step One:
As you read the article titled ‘A Tale of Two Countries’ – take notes.
Step Two:
Read the following two choices / options of questions
| Option One | Option Two |
| If it is true that cultural values guide and/or motivate individual or group behaviors, what are the prime factors that have been or still are motivating Chinese businesses to offer ‘gifts or gift money’ to potential business partners or to existing buyers? Is the giving of gifts or gift monies the same as bribery? What are some of the ethical principles that need consideration by all parties when engaging in gifting or the provision of gift monies? | In several of Hofstede’s past research publications, he states that there is a significant correlation between the high scores on Power Distance and Hinduism in India, and atheism in China. What are some of the characteristics of the Hindu religion that could account for this correlation? Was Hofstede right or wrong in his correlation observations about India? How much do you believe atheism and/or Confucianism influence business behavior in China? Why do you believe that way? |
Solution:
Executive Summary:
This essay covers the concept of gift giving behavior among Chinese and in China. This is a summary of the whole essay in which it starts with the origination of the gift giving behavior and how people twisted the concept of gift giving for their own personal gains. The essay also covers how a company can set some policies for the employees as to accept or not to accept which gift from any other firm.
The gift-giving behavior in China was originated between 551-479 B.C., this idea was seen as a ‘rule of virtue’ in the early years of Chinese civilization. The meaning of gift in Chinese culture means ‘ritual item’. In the ancient Chinese the line between the tangible and intangible worlds is penetrable, in other terms the spirit world provides presents to human beings and human beings endure the spirit world with presents. Therefore, presents are an answer to and a precondition for receiving protection by the spirit world which has direct proportion to an individual’s present giving behavior. Guanxi is currently associated with presenting a gift for the intention of doing business which leads to strengthening relationships between business associates or between seniors and juniors (Szto, pp. 601, 2016)
It is believed the through Guanxi a person will have good ties with his business partners however, the Western firms need to understand the value of it and how it can help them in their future endeavors. The thing that motivates the Chinese to this gift giving behavior is that they want their leaders or subordinates to trust them and in the Chinese culture it is considered to be the means of having a good interpersonal relationship in the corporate world. the gift giving behavior in the business world is considered to be the main feature in individual efficiency and managerial staff has been guided to progress and preserve this behavior with their subordinates which will enrich good leadership skills among them and their staff will look upon them as an ideal (Pearce 1997 as cited in Qin & Deng, 2016).
According to Qin & Deng (2016), the exchange of materialistic or non-materialistic gifts is for one purpose either for business or bribery. However, Guanxi is considered as a relationship between two individuals to have a stronger bonding in the long run. Guanxi entails trust in a business relationship, through this gift giving behavior the bond of the business person grows stronger in China.
Another type of gift giving behavior that is used to maintain the intrapersonal relationship, in the long run, is very common in Chinese culture. This kind is called reciprocity, this kind of gift giving can be materialistic that is any tangible good of high value or any non materialistic gift that in terms of favors or any help in the corporate world. Many people enjoy it when they receive any materialistic good that is of high value which can be used instantly (Aung, Zhang and Teng, 2017). According to Qin & Deng (2016), the relationship between different officials doesn’t exist previously so to trust a government official bribes are given which is disguised in the form of Guanxi but it is reciprocity so that they could get favors from the government in time of need. The gift giving behavior is linked to corruption by many researchers for compensating the public institutions for the future relationship. He states that the motivation for Chinese to provide gifts to the bureaucrats or other government officials to gain other favors like loans or the introduction of possible business customers (Graycar & Jansics 2016, pp. 1017).
The scenarios in which the gift giving or receiving is not permissible:
- The workers shouldn’t receive presents from any third entity under any situation or event.
- Presents in the form of money or any other voucher, relaxation presents like vacation tickets are not allowed under any situation
- The gift shouldn’t be received in exchange for any favor
- The gift shouldn’t be accepted at all when it is understandable that a favor is expected in return
- The gift shouldn’t be accepted when the giver intends to influence any business decision of the receiver.
- The gift shouldn’t be received when it can be seen that the giver will dominate the receiver in the long term.
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