Despite of many attempts, there are many business offers being rejected in China every year. One cause of it is probably the limited knowledge of the offering party about the culture of China. Many business owners who aspire to gain a scene in the growing economy of China think that their dominant style of negotiating would work. And they are certainly not right.

If you are one of those entrepreneurs who want to do business in China, here are few cultural related tips to avoid a clashing of customs.

Be Polite

Calling cards must be handed out with two hands and must face the recipient in a readable manner. Accompanying it with a bow is also a great plus. More importantly, in the event that exchange of cards happens simultaneously, you should hand out your card under their card to show that you are giving them higher importance.

Enjoy Their Cuisines and Traditions

In most cases, you would be treated out in one or more of the ceremonial banquets with different authentic Chinese cuisines. Just eat a little of each so you can have a taste of every dish they have prepared. Keep in mind that refusing to eat would mean an insult to them. Moreover, some traditional Chinese believes that leaving a little food on the dinning table after the meal is a good luck, so this must be also taken into consideration.

Pay Respect

It is a fact that Chinese are one of the most patriotic individuals in the world. Even though they know how to speak English, they would still hire an interpreter when interviewed on international television. This is one sign of their love for their language. Chinese also demonstrate strong ties with their beliefs.

We know that cultures do not simply jive. Learning and respecting every culture are extremely important to gain not just good business but great friendships as well.

When owners of the original McDonald’s decided to sell the franchise, Ray Kroc immediately had an eye for it. He bought the company on 1954, and allowed it to grow on what is known as the biggest fast-food chain worldwide today.

How did Ray Kroc create such huge a food company? To many, this has been dubbed as the McDonald’s way, where it has been constantly used as a business model worldwide and not to mention, college case studies. Although it might look like McDonald’s had it easy, it was not always the case. In several occasions, the giant fast food chain flopped some of their offerings.

One of the most notable of these flops is the so-called Hulaburgers. A hamburger offered to Christians during lent with only pineapple and cheese in it. Can you imagine how it would taste? It didn’t succeed, so I bet it must have tasted bad.

But through the years, we know that their success can be mainly attributed to their business practices, which are detailed below.

Standardization

The company set standards by making sure all their hamburgers, as well as their other food offerings will taste the same from all of their branches worldwide. Can you imagine McDonald’s if their hamburgers tasted differently from place to place?

Systematization

Like any business, McDonald’s wants to maximize their resources. Due to their system, a service crew who normally serves a handful customers can maintain that service quality even if he starts serving hundreds of people. What is more interesting about their system, is that a new hire who doesn’t know anything about making burgers, can give you the famous McDonald’s burger in just a few days of training.

Values

Most importantly, it is the company’s values that allowed them to succeed. They have a diverse team of well-trained individuals. Customers aren’t always right, but they come first. And they always give back to the communities they serve.