The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has had close exchanges and cooperation with China, with the regional capital Dusseldorf playing an important role in the construction of the Silk Road economic belt. More than 870 Chinese-funded enterprises have set up in the city, half of all the Chinese-funded enterprises based in the country.
Matthew Geller used to work for Telefonica a network cooperative in Germany and got to know ZTE as a buyer when the Chinese telecommunications giant became a strategic partner. With the two companies merged, Matthew joined ZTE as Director of Support. At first, Matthew was wary whether customers would be satisfied with ZTE’s network operations. However, later results soon dispelled his doubts.
"I was excited and a bit worried at the same time. Worried because I never worked for a Chinese company before, I had no idea what it would be like to report to Chinese managers. Excited because I already knew ZTE a little bit, I knew that ZTE is a very dynamic company, was growing very fast and has strategic ambitions in the German market. So it was a combination of both. So this was the time when I joined ZTE. And ZTE managed to take over the network very well. The customers didn’t notice at all that ZTE has taken over the network and the whole thing went very smoothly," Matthew said.
Of course, different cultures bring different working practices, and each company has its own characteristics. Matthew said that he is impressed with the speed and flexibility of working for a Chinese company.
"I think one difference is that my Chinese colleagues clearly know the need for speed. They like fast solutions and there is always a sense of urgency in a Chinese company. I think another big difference is immediacy. They like interactive communication, fast resolution of issues, but also on a higher level, Chinese companies here seem to have a long strategic plan. Of course they would have because they invest quite heavily in the local market. So they have a strong strategic plan but they are very flexible in the way they get to their goals. So if something doesn’t work they immediately change and go in a different way. So it’s a very high degree of flexibility, more flexible than what I’m used to," Matthew said.
During the working day, Matthew took us to a signal tower. He introduced us to safety engineer Frank Lukens and his team. They are carrying out routine maintenance on the tower. Frank is proud of the fact he works for a Chinese company. It's a new experience and he feels he has benefited from different management methods and cultures.
"As a German Engineer, I’m doing my things in a very planned way. I do a very planned work. The Chinese colleague gave me some experience concerning doing things in a quick way and a spontaneous way and to be faster. This in combination with German way to work, I think it’s a very successful way," Lukens said.
Matthew said that through working for a Chinese firm, more and more Germans are developing an understanding and appreciation for Chinese culture. For example, Dusseldorf's annual China Festival has become a symbol for the city. Investments in Germany by Chinese companies, especially in terms of innovation, is a sign that the “Made in China” brand is certain to become a symbol of high-tech, high-quality products.
