When I first heard of the Playmaker system at the PRSSA conference 2010, I was immediately attracted tothis system of influence strategies. I find it particularly useful because it embraces all different types of strategies for organizations or individuals to make effective influences on their reputation or brand constructions. Being a native Chinese, I was always wondering how those strategies could be applied to Chinese culture. Luckily, I found one of the Playmaker Systems’ blogs titled “Playmaker China,” which offers their experiences applying some of the strategies in the Chinese market. I am honored to write a guest post on this topic, and I would like to focus on one type of playmaker strategy—Peacock, and talk a little bit about how this influence stratagem fits in Chinese culture.

Peacock, at first sight, is somewhat incompatible with Chinese culture. As a country rooted in Confucianism, China places high value on conformity and modesty. Openly speaking out may seem crazy and awkward. However, there is an exception, “Sister Furong,” a grass-root class Chinese woman with whom many American people may not be familiar.

Sister Furong was original named Shi Hengxi. She was an ordinary woman from a farmer family in a small town in China. In 2005, by showing her narcissistic pictures of misplaced self-confidence on the Internet, this Chinese version of Lady Gaga had gained nationwide popularity. Although majority people take a negative attitude towards Sister Furong’s exaggerated behaviors, she successfully made herself famous and even is considered as an Internet celebrity in China. So far, the Peacock seems to be working well. However, the Chinese authorities eventually banned Sister Furong and her related activities in the late 2005, as they thought her behaviors contained unhealthy message. The Peacock collapsed.

The story of Sister Furong may give caution to those doing business in China: Although Peacock is easy to use to stand out and attract public attention, you should always be mindful of the power of censorship. If you want to run the Peacock play in China, you may have to create a thoroughly and sophisticated plan so as to maintain the harmony with Chinese censorship. Otherwise, stick with the Confucianism values and being modest may be a better choice.

Posted by: Jing Qiu (Cathy) cathyqiujing@gmail.com
Masters Candidate, Journalism & Mass Communication, Kansas State University

Photo Credit: yun158.com
 

Perception is reality. And in China, reality can sometimes be amusing. Take for example this great story out of China about the concept of “face,” which is roughly defined as the importance of reputations and appearances.

Some Chinese companies are taking “face” one step further and running crafty Screens on white people (so much for reverse discrimination). To convince people to trust in their companies, firms are hiring white foreigners to stand in as business partners or to be fake employees.

(Who knew whites were so trustworthy?) I, for one, can think of a few who might dispute this notion –Native Americans and, more recently, anyone who’s had the misgiving to turn on the TV when BP CEO Tony Hayward speaks.

To have a white foreigner work at your company is a Screen play, defined on The Standard Table of Influence Strategies as a “the attempt by a player to borrow issues, ideas, events or other symbolic references to advance its agenda or thwart a competitor's movements.” In this case, the Screen is visual and implies some sort of connection to Western countries. For many, these connections signal beaucoup bucks!

The Chinese market is difficult to navigate. But rent a white boy and it can be a bit easier.

Posted by: Alice Hu

Photo Credit: zazzle.com

China surpassed the United States as the number one CO2 emitter in 2007. Yet since then, and somewhat paradoxically, it has been successfully Drafting Uncle Sam, becoming a leader in renewable energy sources.

China’s ability to provide the west with solar panels and wind turbines has some experts running ominous Screens on China becoming a modern-day Middle East—controlling the world’s supply of alternative energy.

Global leaders have bought into this fear—or at least understand that they need to develop profitable relationships with China. In March 2010, the United States announced almost $40 million in funding for the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center. Not to be outdone, Europe Crowded the advancement and announced last Saturday its own partnership with the Middle Kingdom to make progress in developing clean energy technology.

Either way you look at it, helping the environment is making China even wealthier and more popular with its western neighbors. Is it the dawn of the Chinese Century?

Posted by: Alice Hu

Photo Credit: knowledge.allianz.com