Building Global Business Collaboration for a Construction and Power Tools Manufacturer

The client is a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing products and software for the construction, building maintenance, energy, and manufacturing industries. Its solutions range from anchoring systems and fire protection to power tools, measurement technologies, and engineering services. The company operates internationally and is known for its innovation and commitment to quality.

The client was engaged in a strategic transition project to relocate critical assembly lines from its China plant to India. As part of the knowledge transfer process, the Indian team would be collaborating with their Chinese counterparts both remotely and during on-site visits to China. Key challenges included:

1. Cultural Understanding

There was a need to build awareness of how national cultural differences impact daily work and communication.

2. Navigating Chinese Social Norms

The team required insights into Chinese societal values and etiquette to build rapport during interactions and visits.

3. Business Practice Alignment

Understanding key Chinese business behaviours, including hierarchy, indirect communication, and relationship-building, was essential for a successful transition.

4. Collaboration Across Work Styles

The India team needed to explore and align with the Chinese team’s approaches to meetings, decision-making, and leadership.

5. Mitigating Cultural Misunderstandings

Identifying potential friction points and learning how to handle them respectfully and effectively was critical.

• 20+ years of experience delivering global cultural awareness training
• Deep expertise in India-China cultural dynamics and workplace integration
• Practical, business-focused training solutions tailored to real-world projects
• A trusted track record with clients including JCB India, Caterpillar, AXA GOBO, and Société Générale

Global Business Culture designed and delivered a four-hour, interactive cultural awareness session for the client’s team in Vadodara. The training was facilitated by Vidya Subramanian, an experienced intercultural consultant with hands-on experience collaborating with Chinese teams.

Phase 1: Cultural Foundations

• Introduction to the session’s purpose, structure, and objectives
• Exploration of what culture is and how it influences workplace behaviour
• Visible vs invisible aspects of culture, including beliefs, values, and assumptions

Phase 2: Country-Specific Awareness

• Overview of China: demography, festivals, traditions, and do’s and don’ts
• Key Chinese cultural traits: face, modesty, filial piety, guanxi (networks), unity, and interdependence

Phase 3: Comparative Work Styles

• India vs China in meetings, leadership, decision-making, and communication
• Group discussion to surface anticipated challenges and develop culturally appropriate responses

Phase 4: Practical Application

• Participants discussed real-life concerns and proposed culturally sensitive solutions
• The facilitator shared best practices and key takeaways to enhance collaboration

• Deeper understanding of the cultural nuances impacting day-to-day operations
• More successful knowledge sharing and implementation of standard practices across countries
• Open communication and increased collaboration between culturally diverse teams.