Essay 2
Please describe the unique contribution that you can make to the educational experience of the other members of the MBA class. (500 words) As a native of the Chinese mainland, I have experienced first-hand the tremendous changes that have occurred in China since the opening of my homeland to the rest of the world in the late 1970’s. From an insider’s perspective, I have witnessed the development of the country’s society, economy and business sectors over the years. With China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, there will be a huge increase in the cross-cultural exchanges between Western and Chinese people and businesses. The differences in culture between China and Western companies are sometimes difficult to understand on both sides. Therefore, I believe that the more that native Chinese people and Western people interact, the better we will understand each other. Better understanding leads to better relationships, not only in business but also on a more personal level. Better relationships lead to better international cooperation, which leads to improved international trade, therefore contributing to world stability.
My previous work experience has given me a thorough understanding of the business and economic environment in China. While working for the Legend Group, I have had the opportunity to study the development of some of the largest private sector domestic companies in China. Through my research, I have found that there are some key weaknesses that cause many of these businesses to fail. By sharing this information with my classmates during classroom discussions and case studies, they can learn about typical Chinese business models while I can learn their points of view on how to best correct these weaknesses. The interaction of traditional Chinese business methods with Western business theories should provide great starting points for in-depth analysis of the differences and similarities of worldwide business practices.