Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book considers the relationship between cultural values and capitalist development, and highlights the influence of this research on international and cross-cultural management studies in China. It discusses the implications of the model, with its emphasis on culture, institutions and firm co-ordination, on divergence in management practice and organization in Chinese firms. The book examines the development of banking regulatory institutions and identifies ideological conflicts between Chinese and Western perspectives on the overall objective and purpose of regulations. It investigates the networking strategies of Western managers and describes the perceived importance of hiring influential 'princelings' and other well-connected individuals in order to develop their interests in the banking sector. The book examines institutional and organizational trust, making visible the consequences of the 2008 banking crisis for the reputations of Western institutions, executives and managers working in the Chinese banking sector.