Chinese Business Networking and the Pacific Rim: The Family Firm's Roles Past and Present

Abstract

It would be difficult to imagine a firm operating any business without some form of networking. Chinese businesses, however, are distin guished by the multifaceted and critical roles networking plays. Own ers, managers, and the firms themselves are intertwined in a complex of relationships. Why this is so bears on the nature of Chinese society and the evolution of the Chinese economy. Networking among Chi nese business has added poignancy for the Pacific Rim touching the Asian and North American shores, because the region's vast territo rial expanse, multiple political boundaries, and opposing economic systems make its successful performance more necessary, and be cause since the last decade, Chinese enterprises appear to be arriving on the scene with such force and speed. Yet, the current expansion of both Chinese migrants and their economic activities from their traditional homeland to the various