How Chinese management development practices differ from western models

In a case study of MD programmes for police officers in China, commitment to the organisation took on much greater prominence than did managerial techniques and competences.

At the top of the MD agenda for the Chinese police is the development of “functional effectiveness”. However, the principles underpinning management development and learning activities are always laid out by the political leaders. Therefore, a strategic aim of MD programmes is to cultivate political loyalty among managers with the intention of developing their knowledge and awareness, if not total acceptance, of the Communist party line.