Cultural Aspects of Emergence of e- Relationships: A Study in a Newly Formed Large Chinese Telecom Enterprise

This study examines the dynamics of inter-organizational relationships enabled by the application of Internet technologies in a newly formed large Chinese telecom enterprise. It employs an interpretive case study approach that involved collection of qualitative data through semi-structured interviews and observations. This paper illustrates the importance of national and corporate cultures in shaping those relationships within the cultural and wider industrial network context. Guanxi, a particular relationship dimension of Chinese culture, is important for the understanding of the various ways in which business relationships are managed in Chinese-based business. The findings also indicate that it is not suitable to apply foreign experiences to China without considering the cultural context.