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 enlarge | Author: James Mcgregor
Publisher: Free Press
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $4.79
You Save: $10.21 (68%)
New (40) Used (24) from $2.10
Rating:  46 reviews
Sales Rank: 93026
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.4 x 1
ISBN: 074325841X
Dewey Decimal Number: 337
EAN: 9780743258418
ASIN: 074325841X
Publication Date: September 4, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Must Read March 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If anyone could illuminate the intricacies of doing business in China, it had to be James McGregor. The Minnesota native first became interested in Asia after a youthful tour of duty in Vietnam, but did not return to the region for many years. While enjoying a successful career as a journalist, during the late 1980s McGregor recognized that Asia's economy was beginning to take off. So, he risked everything and headed for Taiwan, where he became The Asian Wall Street Journal's bureau chief, at the age of 33. Realizing that Asia's future was happening largely on the mainland, he moved on to become The Wall Street Journal's China bureau chief in Beijing. During his tenure there, he traveled extensively throughout every region of the country. His ability to absorb and utilize the nation's nuances as an Old China Hand landed him his next role as the head of Dow Jones's business operations for China. In 2000, McGregor became a partner and the China managing director for GIV Venture Partners, a venture capital fund. In addition to these responsibilities, McGregor also served as a governor for the American Chamber of Commerce and in 1996 was elected Chairman of that organization. He currently serves on several other China-business-related and philanthropic boards. Between his experiences as a journalist and a business leader, McGregor has gained extensive knowledge of China's business climate. The results are the vital insights and excellent suggestions he shares in this must-read book.
Within the pages, McGregor presents his argument for how China's history influences the present business system and how to work with that result. In the first chapter, the story of Morgan Stanley illustrates the challenges of partnering with a Chinese company. While the two firms shared one objective, their culture clash nearly ruined the joint venture. Another chapter uses the story of a successful Chinese entrepreneur to show the power of personal relationships, government attempts at anti-corruption, and how to keep your employees honest. The Dow Jones story illustrates methods McGregor himself used to deal successfully with government bureaucrats. The following chapter deals with the airline industry and the steps Boeing took to eventually achieve its goals. One of the more interesting stories is Rupert Murdoch's struggle to develop and bring the country's media system into the millennium. The battle for world's largest telecom system is also an engaging chapter that offers key insights. The book's final chapter deals with suggestions for managing Chinese employees and structuring your business. Throughout the book, the author provides indispensable "tips" on doing business in the world's largest market.
McGregor's book of "best practices" is overall well written and enlightening. He uses excellent examples to illustrate his points, which are remarkable stories in themselves. Each chapter provides a "what this means for you" section and a handy "Little Red Book" at the end of each chapter. The Little Red Books' bullet point summaries make taking notes or underlining unnecessary and allow readers to easily find and review particular points later on. One Billion Customers is essential reading for any non-Chinese person employed in--or thinking of doing business in--China. General readers--especially those living in Shanghai--may also find it a worthwhile read.
Holds essential knowledge February 5, 2008
If you are likely to read only one book about Chinese business culture - this should be it. It collects and simplifies knowledge, and the author is able to convey it all to the reader. The little red book of business that follows each chapter is priceless. It also has some good tips for further reading.
 Marginal Guide to Current China Business Environment December 28, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Government intereference can derail your plans; "Guanxi" (connections) are of questionable value; The marketplace changes quickly.
All of these observations and platitudes could be drawn from a comfortable armchair anywhere. There is little if any hard data, there are no refrences or appendices. In short, this is a series of journalist articles stitched together for an entertaining "book".
Mr. McGregor will not tell you anything you do not already know - Some easily forgettable anecdotes, and bland recommendations.
 An Engaging, Insightful Read October 30, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the eighth China business book I've read, and I read them not because I'm a businessman, but rather because I find them intriguing on a cultural level. To be certain, China is the Wild East, and McGregon's book paints a striking portrait of what one can expect when attempting to do business there. I live in Taiwan, and even astute Taiwanese business people (who've invested billions in China) find it extremely rough going on the mainland - and they're Chinese! Personal accounts I've heard from (adult) students (namely of the tragic joint venture variety) would burn off your ears. This book is filled with case studies that rival just about any of those ancecdotes. The first chapter alone will leave you stunned. The Chinese have a saying (the Chinese have many sayings, as will have noticed): ren chi ren, or 'man eat man.' If you want to minimize the headaches in China, best to arm yourself with the knowledge and lessons contained in this probing and often entrancing book.
Troy Parfitt, author
Plane reading enroute to China...should be on all flights to PRC July 15, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
James MacGegor has lived the ongoing business evolution in China personally. Drinking jia pi (draft beer)outside of the JianGuo Hotel on his fortieth birthday,he could see evidence of the volitivity of that evolution. To the west, on the face of the SCITE Building were the pock marked bullets holes ,reminders of June 1989. The JianGuo was serving fois gras and competing with Maxim's for customers and to the east ;the beginnings of the third and fourth ring road extension were being buildt .
He has seen and lived this explosive ,volitile growth personally, and has captured the important ,basic "do's and don't when in china" in this book .
In the 21st century, all businesses from Paris to Dundee to Peoria to Osaka need to deal with the reality of the China manufaturing platform. A company will either be a partner or competitor with China ---little in between; and the knowledge in this book is a good starting point in dealing with this worldwide paradigm shift called China
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