Book Review 50 - In The Shadow Of the Dragon

Book Review 50  -  "In the Shadow Of the Dragon - The Global Expansion of Chinese Companies - and How It Will Change Business Forever by Winter Nie and William Dowell with Abraham Lu   reviewed by Chris Garrah on November 26, 2012

Overview of the book about Chinese Companies

This book is an in depth look at some of the larger companies that have developed in China.  

The successes are measured from recent history - the 1980's and 1990's  - because previous to this,  private enterprises were illegal.  Individuals prior to this who sold goods on the street could be arrested.

Some insights from the book

The book's perspective is from China business's perspective as opposed to a Western outlook.  

There is extreme competition within China for market share within the China market   and the overseas market can be even more difficult.  For example selling electronics to the US military is very difficult because the US is very suspicious of China's  intentions.

Its not just about low cost manufacturing

In the news,  people here in North America,  hear about China stealing technology or copying it.

But China is also gaining access to the inner workings of technologies by making it a condition that the technological secrets be revealed for goods that are manufactured for the China market.  For example ,Japanese trains and the Chevrolet Volt manufacturers were both asked for their trade secret technology in exchange  for those products to be made and sold in China.

Because China engineers outnumber the US engineers graduates per year by 280,000 to 40,0000 (from the book) , there is no shortage of skill in actually improving on the designs.   For example, the book relates how the Japanese train was designed to go faster in China..

Suitability of the book for a reader

The case studies could be of interest to anyone who is interested in Chinese companies and the Chinese government.   There is a depth of information in the book - 290 pages in the book I read.   But it reads like an academic book. But if you want to learn about some of the history of the business people and their companies in China you may not find the book too dry.