ABSTRACT
The reluctance to commit oneself in writing stems in part from a desire to avoid giving hostages to fortune. What is laid down in black and white may return to haunt one in a situation where official expectations are shifting and unpredictable. This reluctance of the Chinese managers to commit themselves in writing extends to how they manage their time – few keep diaries and those that do are unable to keep to them. Constant interruptions to whatever they are doing are the norm. Frequently, a general manager can be observed engaging in several different conversations at once or even attending several meetings simultaneously. The arrival of the mobile phone, seldom switched off, has only added to the seeming chaos.
