Understanding Chinese management needs through ancient Chinese philosophy

Relevant intellectual and human capital growth in China is necessary for sustainable business development and to achieve China’s ambition for global leadership. This can only be achieved through fundamental improvements in the management education system. This is difficult to manage because a history of family, friends and party membership were more relevant to ones career than a sound education. Using a creative and fun framework of the Chinese zodiac, we attempt to theorise the varying levels of human capital and training needs for an MBA in China. In this way, we relate a widely-accepted Chinese framework to better understand the relevant needs of the educational community.