Understanding guanxi as the eastern social capital : a qualitative approach.

This qualitative study seeks to provide an understanding of guanxi as the Eastern social capital in the Chinese business context, from the perspectives of Taiwanese working individuals. Participants consisted of six males and six females with considerable amount of working experience. Three occupational industries, manufacturing, media and financial services, are also represented in the sample. Two areas of interests were examined, namely (a) the similarities between guanxi and social capital and (b) the effects of social capital across different occupational industries. Results showed that attributes of social capital could be found in the accounts of guanxi and guanxi is a unique form of social capital in the Chinese business context. Finally, positive consequences and notable benefits derived from social capital were reflected from the Taiwanese participants. This supports the importance of investing in building guanxi to do businesses in the Chinese context.Bachelor of Art