Today there are many companies in America who split their production and customer service between America and China; in fact Jacobs International is one of them. Since 2006 we have been operating a factory in Shenzhen China. Unlike many of those other companies, we own our factory and exist in China as a Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE). Our employees, both Chinese and American, pride ourselves in everything we manufacture and sell and are involved in every aspect of production. In the eight years that Jacobs International has been operating, and the fifteen years that I have been working in and with China, we have learned valuable lessons about living and working in China.
The first lesson we learned is about the importance of interdependence. Interdependence means that rather than an individual relying on just him or herself, everyone depends on one another. This emphasis on the group rather than the self is present in the writings of Confucius, who believed that the individual was defined by his or her relationship to the group. For business we have learned that defining ourselves by our company and our product has helped us create our high standards for quality and for customer service.
The second lesson we learned is about the importance of honoring traditions. Some traditions are cultural – such as the Mid-Autumn Festival– while some are more religious. One such cultural tradition is providing food and housing to all employees. That is why our factory in Shenzhen also has a dormitory. It’s also why every few months when I am in China I go to dinner with all my employees – our dinners help create a strong community and build our relationships. It is this strong rapport between our employees that creates a strong foundation for our company.
The final lesson we’ve learned is about the merging of Eastern and Western cultures, or how to adapt with losing your core identity. In the 15 years I have been working with my Chinese staff I’ve seen my employees acquire goods that are common in the west but considered luxury in China – like cars and iPhones. At the same time, our company still honors cultural traditions like Chinese New Year. From this we’ve learned that it is important to be able to adapt and adopt new practices if they are helpful, while still maintaining our old customs. It’s why we are working hard to be more present on social media platforms and on the internet, but also why we are dedicated to maintaining our original high standards for products and customer service.