Chinese management at the crossroads: setting the scene

The ‘Middle Kingdom’ has come a long way in the last few decades, its economy has burgeoned and its prosperity has flourished. Chinese management has evolved greatly too but is now at the ‘crossroads’, as the People's Republic of China celebrates the 60th anniversary of the ‘Liberation’ led by Mao Zedong and the 30th anniversary of the economic reforms launched by his successor, Deng Xiaoping. In this symposium, we review its past legacy, its evolution to date, as well as its options, covering a wide range of management topics. As ownership of its enterprises has opened-up and has become more fragmented, state-owned firms arguably no longer dominate the scene, nor does their management model. Being a manager has also become more complex and diversified, as well as more professional. The Party has proclaimed the ‘Harmonious Society’ as the route to reconciling economic performance with social justice. This edited collection asks what are the next steps and will assess the current directions in which Chinese managers are developing, as its economy now has to cope with a slowdown in the face of global uncertainty.