Selecting and preparing personnel for China assignments

A method for selecting personnel for China assignments and preparing and helping them in adapting to the culture is presented. The purpose is to avoid the cost of failures in assignments that can range from $ 300 thousand to $ 1 million (Black & Gregersen, 1999). The proposed selection process is based on the critical success qualities necessary in non-Chinese manager to operate successfully in China identified by Fernandes and Underwood (2006, p. 1-27), complemented by personal and family qualities for successful expatriates researched by Avril & Magnini (2007, p. 54-55), Guthrie & Stevens (2003, p. 240), and for China in particular by Lund & Backer (2005, p. 73). The proposed preparation and help in adaptation are based on the studies of Stroh, Linda, Black, J. Stewart, Mendenhall, Mark E., & Gregersen, Hall B. (2005, p.93 and 107) and Ching-Hsiang, Liu, and Hung-Wen, Lee (2008, p. 180-181).