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Meet the Author: Professor George Yip

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Business
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On 7 March Professor George Yip shared his expert knowledge on Chinese innovation with an audience at Leeds University Business School.

Yip, Professor of Marketing and Strategy at Imperial College Business School, was speaking at a Business Confucius Institute Meet the Author event about his latest book, China’s Next Strategic Advantage: from Imitation to Innovation, published by The MIT Press.

The research for this book took place when Yip was based in Shanghai at China Europe International Business School, where he was Professor of Strategy and Codirector of the Centre on China Innovation.

Over the course of his lecture Professor Yip shared key takeaways from his book and research, including:

  • The four key drivers of Chinese innovation.
  • The three phases of Chinese innovation.
  • Ten ways in which Chinese company innovation differs from Western innovation.

Yip brought his research insights to life with various examples and witty observations. He demonstrated the starting point for the first phase of Chinese innovation (from copying to fit to purpose) with pictures of early shanzhai (山寨 / shānzhài) products, including a bizarre phone made to look like a cigarette packet. Later, when discussing China’s greater focus on local needs and customers, Yip mused aloud whether the development of a dual screen TV, which allows two people to watch different things side by side, was a by-product of China’s single-child policy.

China’s unique approach came across clearly in examples like Haier’s washing machines. On finding out that farmers were washing crops in their machines, Western companies may have added a note to the instructions saying not to do so. Haier added an extra filter and sold the machine as suitable for clothes and crops!

The research discussed in the book focusses on engineering and manufacturing examples, but Yip also discussed the internet and China’s dedication to mobile. This was one area discussed by Financial Times Associate Editor James Kynge when he talked about China and innovation in our 2017 Annual Lecture.

The audience took full advantage of the opportunity to pose questions to the speaker. Topics addressed included stereotypes about Chinese innovation; the role of the government; advice for Western SMEs looking to move into the Chinese market; ethics and morality; comparisons with Japan; and the environment.

Yip’s advice in a nutshell for Western SMEs looking to move into the Chinese market was to bring something they don’t have (and find a way to protect that advantage). In addition to this, recognise what you don’t have and find a way to make up for that, often through a local partner or distributor.

An article in the latest edition of The Journal of International Business Studies concluded that there a need for more research like that presented by Yip and co-author Bruce McKern in China’s Next Strategic Advantage. At this event, Yip demonstrated that his work is not only in demand among leading academics in International Business, but also appeals to a wider audience. Attendees left Blackwell’s with only a few copies of the book to return to the shelves in their store.

View photos from this event on Flickr and Facebook.

The next Meet the Author event takes place on 26 April 2018 and features leading economist Linda Yueh - register online now.

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