The Difference between Chinese and Western Negotiations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1996

Journal/Book Title/Conference

European Journal of Marketing

Volume

32

Issue

3/4

Publisher

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

First Page

374

Last Page

389

Abstract

Marketing has been defined in a number of ways, but invariably effective marketing is associated with the need to link producers and consumers (McCarthy and Perreault, 1993) or the need to facilitate exchanges (Kotler and Chandler, 1990; Lamb et al., 1994; Zikmund and D’Amico, 1989). Bennet (1988) on behalf of the American Marketing Association defines marketing as “the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas and goods, and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organisational objectives”. Thus marketing is largely, but not solely, about negotiating and considering how to influence and carry out negotiations in order to facilitate exchange. It has a wider context of highlighting the market, then segmenting it and identifying target market segments. It is concerned with understanding buyer behaviour within segments and choosing the appropriate strategies which involve how to position the product in the customer’s mind. It is also about retaining customers through offering quality, reliability and service and ensuring the whole system hangs together by developing a feedback and control system. The marketing effort in the wider context thus sophisticates the exchange process. This is highlighted by the fact that at some point, no matter how simple or complex the marketing system, negotiations between buyers and sellers take place. When buying decisions are sizeable or complex, and especially when overseas negotiations are involved, negotiation techniques can play a major role in the successful conclusion of the business deal. It is unrealistic to assume that one negotiation style fits all cultures.

Comments

Originally published by Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

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