Perception is reality. And in China, reality can sometimes be amusing. Take for example this great story out of China about the concept of “face,” which is roughly defined as the importance of reputations and appearances.

Some Chinese companies are taking “face” one step further and running crafty Screens on white people (so much for reverse discrimination). To convince people to trust in their companies, firms are hiring white foreigners to stand in as business partners or to be fake employees.

(Who knew whites were so trustworthy?) I, for one, can think of a few who might dispute this notion –Native Americans and, more recently, anyone who’s had the misgiving to turn on the TV when BP CEO Tony Hayward speaks.

To have a white foreigner work at your company is a Screen play, defined on The Standard Table of Influence Strategies as a “the attempt by a player to borrow issues, ideas, events or other symbolic references to advance its agenda or thwart a competitor's movements.” In this case, the Screen is visual and implies some sort of connection to Western countries. For many, these connections signal beaucoup bucks!

The Chinese market is difficult to navigate. But rent a white boy and it can be a bit easier.

Posted by: Alice Hu

Photo Credit: zazzle.com