Government strategy

In recognition of the risks of talent constraints on business, the Chinese government rolled out its 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) outlining a strategy for finding and nurturing talent, with the idea of bringing 2,000 skilled Chinese home all in an effort to meet the country's pressing talent demand.

The program is aimed at encouraging experienced engineers, scientists and other experts of Chinese origin back from the West to grow more domestic companies into the ranks of the world's top 500 companies.

The commencement of MBA courses in many colleges is also testament to the government's effort in increasing the education level of China's workforce and to build an innovation economy.

China's business schools such as CEIBS in Shanghai and the Guanghua School of management at Peking University now rank among the top business schools in the world.

However, some say that China is not a good breeding ground for training talent, and if China is not able to provide a more competitive and creative environment, it cannot generate talent.

"I think how people are going to be managed needs to be changed in China, because people need to realize that the kind of 'top-down', 'managing to please the boss' is not good in a modern competitive enterprise," says Parkinson of RMG.

"If you have a culture that encourages ideas and criticism and people work there not just for the money, then you have a sustainable development in your company."

Contact the writers at lvchang@chinadaily.com.cn and liaoxue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/31/2012 page1)