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The Taoist Spirit of Haier: The Metaphor of Sea Based on the Symbolism of Water

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 December 2016

Peter Ping Li
Affiliation:
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China
Steven Shijin Zhou
Affiliation:
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China
Abby Jingzi Zhou
Affiliation:
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China

Extract

It is unusual for any speech to maintain strong influence over the general strategies of an organization and the behavior of its employees over time. ‘Haier Is a Sea’, presented by Zhang Ruimin, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Haier, more than twenty years ago, is an exception. This commentary identifies the core features of sea as a metaphor, explores the philosophical roots of this metaphor, and discusses the implications.

Type
Dialogue, Debate, and Discussion
Copyright
Copyright © The International Association for Chinese Management Research 2016 

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References

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