You got the job. Now what? Some advice for thriving in your new job in China. DO seek out a local lieutenant. Someone familiar with the local landscape and with connections will prove invaluable. DON’T automate everything. Sometimes a technology solution is not appropriate, and manual processes may prove cheaper. DO attempt to learn the language. Or, at least a few words. That shows respect. DON’T import your management style without modification. What works in terms of motivation or communication in the United States may not go over as well in China. Keep an open mind and learn what works and abandon what doesn’t. DO get out of the office. Visit the Forbidden City. Eat in local restaurants. All work and no play makes for a dull CIO. And cultural immersion will not only benefit you personally but professionally too. DON’T meet reluctance with force. There’s nothing worse than an overbearing expat. Approach challenging situations with patience and empathy. Understand the rationale behind resistance before deciding how to overcome it. DO make sure you have your family’s support. Eighty percent of executives going to China on an assignment are accompanied by their families. Even if you’re not living in China full-time, constant travel back and forth will affect your home life. If your family’s not happy, you’re not happy. DON’T assume you’ll have local software and IT services support. The local market is still underdeveloped. Have a plan to fill in the gaps. Related content brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership brandpost Sponsored by BMC The data deluge: The need for IT Operations observability and strategies for achieving it BMC Helix brings thousands of data points together to create a holistic view of the health of a service. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 4 mins IT Leadership how-to How to create an effective business continuity plan A business continuity plan outlines procedures and instructions an organization must follow in the face of disaster, whether fire, flood, or cyberattack. Here’s how to create a plan that gives your business the best chance of surviving such an By Mary K. Pratt, Ed Tittel, Kim Lindros Dec 07, 2023 11 mins Small and Medium Business IT Skills Backup and Recovery Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe