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Assimilating Chinese and Western Cultures at Hainan Airlines (HNA)

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Abstract

“Dear Sirs, I’d like to tell you a story of an aircraft company. How can I grow up my company with just one million dollars?” It was 1994, and a certain young Chinese man was presenting his start-up in self-taught and non-standard English to an investment manager at the Quantum Fund. At the time, his company was worth a mere one million dollars. The confidence of the young man thus surely attracted the interest of the investment fund manager. “Where is this aircraft company of yours?” asked the fund manager. “Let me consult a map,” said the young Chinese man. “Shall we look at Vietnam, where America was defeated before? Do you see the reason why you lost the Vietnam War then? Because men who wear shoes always fail to beat men who are barefoot. It has been thus throughout history. Yet it is on an island near Vietnam that my company is located”. His remark drew laughter from the Americans present.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Mr. Luo Wei, Board Chairman Chen Feng at Hainan Airlines: Setting on What Is Right and Finding Relaxation and Enjoyment in the Arts, CCBOSS and Partners. November 2005. http://www.ccboss.com/news_Files/qyjlingxiu/chegngongzl/153257802_2.htm

  2. 2.

    Hainan Airlines official website: http://www.hnair.com/hnairweb/ABOUTHNAIR/wfmdefault.aspx

  3. 3.

    Sina Finance, http://www.8801.net/user1/success001/archives/2006/1654.html

  4. 4.

    Sina Finance, Chen Feng: Engaging the WTO Cause in Terms of the Spirit of Giving Birth, http://www.8801.net/user1/success001/archives/2006/1654.html

  5. 5.

    Chen Feng, Hainan Airlines (Group) Company’s Development and Growth [6].

References

  1. Investigation team (2003) HNA Panorama (II). China Civil Aviation Magazine, Issue No.12

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  2. Chen Feng (2004) HNA wins all corners of the country – traditional culture and modern corporate management. Contemp Manager 12

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  3. Chen Feng (2005) On traditional culture and modern corporate management – talking about the growth and development of HNA. J Cap Univ Econ Trade 2

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  4. Bai Wangang (2006) Chen Feng and Hainan Airlines, Facing the absolute challenge to establish a President philosophy, http://www.chnmc.com/newchnmc/lt/2006915104821.htm. 27 Sept 2006

  5. JI Donghua (2001) Hainan Airlines Chairman Chen Feng: business leaders develop inner strength. http://105.stock888.net/010830/100,105,612728,00.shtml

  6. Chen Feng (2001) Apocalypse from HNA eight-year practices of Modern Enterprise System. J Transp Syst Eng Inf 1

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  7. Wang Zhe (2004) HNA development into the fast lane. Corporate Image Magazine 9

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  8. Investigation team (2003) HNA decade road (I). J China Civil Aviat 11

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  9. Investigation team (2003) HNA Panorama (II). China Civil Aviation Magazine, Issue No.11

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Su, Y., Chen, L. (2014). Assimilating Chinese and Western Cultures at Hainan Airlines (HNA). In: Modern Oriental Corporate Culture. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35214-0_7

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