Phenomenology of Trust Behaviour in China

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

1.1.1 Statement of the Problem

1.1.2 Purpose Statement

1.1.3 Scientific Paradigm

1.2 Rationale

1.2.1 Theoretical Rationale

1.2.2 Practical Rationale

1.3 Research Questions

1.4 Significance of the Study

1.4.1 Significance to Northern European Entrepreneurial Companies

1.4.2 Significance to the Academic Community

1.5 Operational Definition of Terms

1.6 Assumptions and Limitations

1.6.1 Assumptions

1.6.2 Limitations

1.7 Chapter Summary

Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature

2.1 The Concept of Trust

2.1.1 Business Trust

2.1.2 Trust in Cross-cultural Settings

2.1.3 Trust in China

2.1.4 Trust in Northern European Countries

2.1.5 Trust Differences between Chinese and Northern European in Business

2.2 Chinese cultural Concepts

2.2.1 Taoism and Confucianism in Business

2.2.2 Chinese Communist institutional effect

2.2.3 “Guanxi” and face as the Chinese Indigenous Concept

2.3 International Entrepreneurship

2.4 Cross-Cultural Ecology

2.5 Chapter Summary

Chapter 3: Theoretical Framework

3.1 Surviving and Thriving Trust in Two Types of Societies

3.2 Entrepreneurial Trust Transition Model

3.3 Chapter Summary

Chapter 4: Phenomenological Methodology

4.1 Using Phenomenology

4.1.1 Phenomenology as Human Science

4.1.2 The Philosophical Roots of Phenomenology

4.1.3 Phenomenology and the Current Study

4.2 Research Protocol

4.2.1 Data Analysis Procedure

4.2.2 Interviewees Profile

4.3 Chapter Summary

Chapter 5. Empirical Results and Analyzes

5.1 Description of the Interviews

5.2 Reduction of the Interview Data

5.2.1 What are the challenges Northern European entrepreneurs have in building trust in China?

5.2.2. What are the competencies/skills needed by Northern European entrepeneurs to bring about successful trust building in China?

5.2.3 Which method can be used in building trust in China?

5.3 Interpretation

5.3.1 Explication of the Northern European entrepreneurs’ essential structure of lived experience of trust building in China

6. Discussion and Conclusion

6.1 Discussion

6.1.1 Practical Contribution

6.1.2 Theoretical Contribution

6.1.3 Suggestions of Future Research

Research Objectives and Themes

The primary aim of this dissertation is to investigate the lived experiences and essential structures of trust building among Northern European entrepreneurs operating in the Chinese market. The research addresses how these entrepreneurs adapt their native trust models to the distinct social and environmental realities of China, specifically focusing on overcoming challenges and identifying effective trust-building competencies.

• Phenomenological analysis of trust-building experiences
• Comparative analysis of "surviving trust" vs. "thriving trust"
• Influence of cultural ecology on entrepreneurial behavior
• Role of "guanxi," face-saving, and due diligence in business
• Identification of essential personal competencies (e.g., humility, patience)

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter establishes the context of increasing Sino-Northern European trade and identifies the critical lack of human science-oriented research regarding trust building for Northern European entrepreneurs in China.

Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature: This section provides an interdisciplinary overview of trust, comparing Chinese and Northern European cultural concepts, and introduces the theoretical lens of cultural ecology.

Chapter 3: Theoretical Framework: The framework introduces the distinction between "surviving trust" and "thriving trust," conceptualizing the transition process for international entrepreneurs as an ecological adaptation.

Chapter 4: Phenomenological Methodology: This chapter justifies the choice of phenomenology as a method to explore subjective lived experiences and details the research protocol, including data collection and analysis steps.

Chapter 5: Empirical Results and Analyzes: This section presents the findings from 12 in-depth interviews, reducing data into thematic categories such as language barriers, patience, corruption, and network importance.

6. Discussion and Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the empirical findings, offering practical and theoretical contributions while providing recommendations for future research in diverse cultural and market contexts.

Keywords

Trust building, China, Northern European entrepreneurs, Phenomenology, Cultural ecology, Guanxi, Face, Surviving trust, Thriving trust, International entrepreneurship, Due diligence, Cross-cultural management, Personalization, Vigilance, Human science.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core subject of this dissertation?

The work focuses on the lived experiences of Northern European entrepreneurs building trust within the Chinese business environment, examining how they adapt to cultural and ecological differences.

What are the primary themes investigated?

Key themes include the differences between "thriving trust" (Northern European context) and "surviving trust" (Chinese context), the role of personal relationships (guanxi), and the impact of the communist institutional environment.

What is the primary objective of this research?

The goal is to provide a deeper understanding of trust-building processes by moving beyond traditional economic models and using an interdisciplinary human science approach.

Which methodology is applied?

The research employs a phenomenological approach, conducting one-on-one, in-depth interviews with 12 Northern European entrepreneurs to uncover the "essence" of their experiences.

What topics are covered in the main body?

The main body covers the theoretical framework of cultural ecology, empirical interview data regarding challenges like administrative hurdles and corruption, and a synthesis of required personal competencies.

Which keywords best characterize this research?

The work is defined by concepts such as trust building, phenomenology, cultural ecology, guanxi, and international entrepreneurship.

How do Northern European and Chinese trust structures differ according to the author?

The author argues that Northern European countries generally operate under "thriving trust" (taken-for-granted, institutionalized), whereas China, shaped by historical resource constraints, operates under "surviving trust" (conditional, relationship-based).

What role does "due diligence" play in this study?

The author identifies due diligence as a necessary "hard" verification method that complements the "soft" approach of building personal relationships to mitigate risks such as corruption or unethical business practices.