Chinese decision-making operates within frameworks—parameters set by higher authorities, larger systems, or broader circumstances that constrain the decision space. Effective decision-making works within these frameworks rather than ignoring or fighting them. Understand the frameworks within which your Chinese counterparts operate: organizational hierarchies, regulatory environments, policy contexts, market structures.
These constrain what decisions are possible. Don’t propose options that violate framework constraints; they’ll be rejected regardless of merit. Framework-bounded decision-making creates layered structures: strategic decisions set frameworks, operational decisions optimize within them. Understand which level you’re operating at.
Are you setting direction or choosing within established direction? Different skills apply.
Working effectively within frameworks requires understanding them accurately—both the constraints that limit options and the spaces that allow choice. Invest in understanding the frameworks that shape your decision context.
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