Management practices of Chinese managers in Chinese MNCs operating in Bangkok

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze Thai and Chinese national characteristics based on Hofstede' s cultural dimensions, Chinese human resource management approaches, and Thai and Chinese social concepts. Design/methodology/approach – The data for the analysis were obtained by surveying MBA students currently working in Chinese multinational companies and studying in public and private universities in Bangkok, using purposive sampling along with snowball sampling method. The design of the questionnaire was based on specific questions modified from Hofstede's cultural dimensions including power distance, socialism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, and time horizon. Findings – There were differences in cultural values between Thai employees and Chinese managers. Moreover, Chinese managers are not adapting themselves to the Thai culture. However, the Thai employees were satisfied working with the Chinese managers. Research limitations/implications – The study is a descriptive study and does not provide a reason for explaining the good working relationships between Chinese employers and Thai employees. Practical implications – The study reveals the working relationship between Chinese and Thais and suggests that cultural differences exist but good working relationships can still be maintained. Originality/value – Instead of regarding cultural diversity as an evil, this paper shows that some racially and culturally mixed groups can work comfortably together.