An assessment of training needs for Chinese companies operating in the United States

The major purpose of the study was to assess the training needs of Chinese companies operating in the United States from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and to examine any differences in training needs identified by those companies under different company ownership. In addition, the study examined how organizational characteristics influenced the training needs and the assessment methods used. The sample for the study was selected mainly from the Directory of Foreign Firms Operating in the United States (1992), the Directory of Foreign Manufacturers in the United States (1993), and the Asian Finance Directory: U.S. Offices of Asian Financial Institutions (1989). A self-administered mailed survey was conducted in summer 1997 to collect data for achieving the purposes of the study. Although 109 Chinese companies were chosen as the sample for the study, only 68 of them were actually reached by the survey. Seventeen companies returned their questionnaires. Based on a twenty-five percent response rate, the results of the study indicated that, on average, the top three technology training needs identified by the Chinese companies surveyed were standard operating procedures, basic computer skills, and advanced computer skills. The top three people training needs were verbal/ interpersonal skills, customer relations/service, and written communication skills, while quality improvement methods, strategic planning, and management development were the top three organization training needs. Few differences in training needs were found among those Chinese companies by three types of company ownership. The findings also suggested that organizational restructuring, technology change, and mandatory regulations may be factors influencing the training needs of the Chinese companies. In addition, the findings suggested that business history, organizational size, technology change as well as mandatory regulations may be factors influencing the needs assessment methods used by Chinese companies operating in the United States. Recommendations for practitioners included highlighting the human capital investment and enhancing computer skills training and ESL programs. Recommendations for future research were also addressed