Steven Feldman, Ph.D. – Professor of Design and Innovation, Weatherhead School of Management

Dear Colleagues:

Does China “play by different rules” of business than Americans do? Many observers believe there are significant differences between Western and Chinese business culture, and that this is one factor in the trade imbalance between the U.S. and China. Others worry about how foreign firms can navigate the business world of China without violating domestic law, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as the Obama Administration’s Department of Justice has brought more FCPA cases involving alleged misconduct in China than in all other countries combined.

As usual, the policy debates would benefit from better understanding of the underlying phenomenon: how and why do business practices in China differ from in the U.S.? In his 2013 book, Trouble in the Middle, Professor Feldman discussed differences such as in the use of law to settle conflicts, the more collectivistic culture in China, and the relatively weak role of civil society institutions, as opposed to government and family, in China. He focused especially on the role of middlemen who serve to “end-run legal and ethical business obstacles to business transactions.” Professor Feldman has just returned from a year of further research in China. He will discuss recent developments in the economy, rule of law, and the government’s anti-corruption campaign.

All best regards,
Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies 

About Our Guests

Steven Feldman, Ph.D, began teaching at Case Western Reserve University in 1983 after receiving his PhD from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. American and Chinese business relations are at the heart of his current research, including Trouble in the Middle: American-Chinese Business Relations, Cullture, Conflict, and Ethics (Routledge, 2013). His questions include what ethical and cultural challenges American executives face in China and how they are responding to these challenges. His work provides detailed accounts of Chinese business practices and insight into how to respond most effectively to them within American fair trade laws and without jeopardizing business. Feldman’s other research further examines organizational theory, decision-making and politics. His teaching interests lie in business and professional ethics, social and political environment of management, corporate governance, nonprofit ethics, nonprofit governance, organization theory, qualitative methods, and organization behavior. Professor Feldman serves as a board member of the Cleveland Hillel Foundation, and served previously as interim executive director of the Mandel Center.

Where We Meet

The Friday Public Affairs Lunch convenes each Friday when classes are in session, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Our programs are open to all and no registration is required. We usually meet in the Dampeer Room of Kelvin Smith Library. The Dampeer Room is on the second floor of the library. If you get off the elevators, turn right, pass the first bank of tables, and turn right again. Occasionally we need to use a different room; that will always be announced in the weekly e-mails.

Parking Possibilities

The most convenient parking is the lot underneath Severance Hall. We regret that it is not free. From that lot there is an elevator up to street level (labeled as for the Thwing Center); it is less than 50 yards from that exit to the library entrance. You can get from the Severance garage to the library without going outside. Near the entry gates – just to the right if you were driving out – there is a door into a corridor. Walk down the corridor and there will be another door. Beyond that door you’ll find the entrance to an elevator which goes up to an entrance right inside the doors to Kelvin Smith Library.

Schedule of Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

September 23: Politics, Economics, and International Trade. With Joe White, Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy. Alternate Location: Mather House Room 100.

September 30: What Next for the British Labour Party? With Luke Reader Ph.D., SAGES Lecturer.

October 7: The Lake Erie Wind Farm and the Future of Wind Energy. With David Matthiesen, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Director, Wind Energy Research and Commercialization Center.

October 14: Living Black: Social Life in an African-American Neighborhood.. With Mark S. Fleisher, Research Professor, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences. Alternate Location: Mather House Room 100.

October 21: The DARPA Robotics Challenge and the Future of Robotics. With Wyatt S. Newman, Professor of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering.

October 28: Macroeconomic Challenges for the Next Administration. With Mark S. Sniderman, Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Economics, Weatherhead School of Management, and former Research Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

November 4: Biennial Political Science Department Pre-Election Forecast Discussion.

November 11: The Unrealized Promise of Libertarianism. With Gus Dizerega, Ph.D., independent political theorist.

November 18: Can Democracy Meet the Challenge of Polarization? With Mark Chupp, Assistant Professor, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Social Sciences.

November 25: Thanksgiving Break.

December 2: Putin’s Russia. With Kelly M. McMann, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director, International Studies Program.

December 9: Health Care Report Cards – Time for Second Thoughts? With J.B. Silvers, John R. Mannix Medical Mutual of Ohio Professor of Health Care Finance.