Feng Shui in Business : the Case of the Beijing Olympic Games 2008" Has Been Derived from 'Trinity of Luck', 'Tien, Ti, Ren' , That Is Heaven, Earth and Man
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FENG SHUI IN BUSINESS : THE CASE OF THE BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES 2008 CHEAH CHENG TElK Research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Business Administration UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA 2009 848091 rb -\ \-\ 1)3(). 'l 6 C. ~H+ :tOl\.f FENG SHUI IN BUSINESS : THE CASE OF THE BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES 2008 CHEAH CHENG TEIK Strategic Management was used by the Beijing Olympic Committee in planning, organizing and executing the games and feng sbui was applied to shape strategic management to overcome uncertainty and anxiety for best decision making. China therefore exercised her wisdom to take advantage of the trinity of luck to host "A High Quality Game with Distinctive Features". Hungry Ghost Month Festival was not relevant with much more goodness and stronger influence of Feng Shui. Given the findings of this study with regard to the games, the effort to enhance the country image was worthwhile. Since the Chinese wanted to be successful they bad devoted efforts to develop world class stadium which involves some form of transfer of latest sports technology and good business opp"ortunity for the country. The greater commitment against all odds during the month of the hungry ghost and efforts in line with feng shui, the design of stadiums and so many auspicious '8' was an additional opportunity to enhance their competitive advantage where they bad achieved better performance in the games to top the medal charts. "FENG SHUI IN BUSINESS, THE BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES 2008" THE RIGHT DECISION Beijing Games 2008 bas enabled China to showcase joyousness, abundance, success and plenty of good fortune. 2009 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis could not have been written without Associate Professor Dr Zainal Ariffin Bin Ahmad who not only served as my Supervisor but also encouraged and challenged me throughout my academic program. He has patiently guided me through this management project process, never accepting less than my best efforts. With very much appreciation I thank him for his time and efforts and his commitment and professional guidance given to my thesis. I also want to thank Dr Goh Kum Guan who is generous and kind to share his experience and knowledge in the subject. Last but not least I would like to thank my wife and family whose support and love has given me strength to complete this thesis and my MBA. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS ii LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES vii ABSTRAK (MALAY) VIII ABSTRACT ix Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Introduction I 1.2 Overview ofthe Beijing Olympic Games 2008 1 1.3 About this case study 3 1.3 .1 The elements of feng shui are related to each other 5 1.3.2 Significance of study 5 1.4 Problem Statement 6 ; -~· 1\.esearch Questions 6 1.5 .1 The motivation for this study 6 1.5.2 The research problem 7 1.5.3 The research objectives 7 1.5 .4 The research questions 7 1.6 Definition of terms 9 1. 7 Organization of the Dissertation 11 Chapter 2 INDUSTRY NOTES 12 11 2.1 History of the Olympic Games 12 2.2 China bidding for 2008 Olympic Games 15 2.3 2008 Beijing Olympic Committee 17 2.4 Concepts- Feng Shui and Bazi 18 2.5 Choice of Mr Xi Jinping 24 2.6 Auspicious 8 25 2. 7 Date selection 26 2.8 Hungry Ghost Month Festival 28 2.9 Literature review 29 2.9.1 The theoretical basis 29 2.9.2 The literature review 30 Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY 38 3.1 Introduction 38 3.2 Case Method 38 3.3 Data Collection 41 3.4 Interview and Bazi 42 3.5 Case Write Up 43 3.6 Case Analysis 43 Chapter 4 CASE WRITE-UP 45 4.1 Vision 45 4.1.1 History of China 45 4.1.2 Bird Nest stadium 47 4.2 Mission 48 lll 4.3 Objective 50 4.3.1 Green Olympics 51 4.3.2 People Olympics 54 4.4 Organizational Structure 55 4.4.1 Personalities and function 57 4.4.2 Marketing and Production 59 4.4.2.1 Mascots 59 4.4.2.2 Olympic Medal 61 4.5 Competition 61 4.5.1 China wanted to top the medal charts 62 4.6 The BOG 2008 and China in Global Sports 63 4.7 Issues 64 4.7.1 The relevance ofFeng Shui 64 4.7.2 Feng Shui date selection 66 4.7.3 Auspicious 8 and date selection 67 ..;_;.4 Auspicious Number 8 69 4.8 Events 70 4.8.1 A world class sports event in China 70 4.8.2 All classic planets visible 71 _ 4.8.3 What do the planets say on 08/08/08/08 ? 74 4.9 Problems 75 4.9.1 Human Rights Issue 75 4.9.2 The weather for the opening ceremony and during the two weeks 76 IV 4.9.3 Renovation Rules 77 4.9.4 Astrology 78 4.9.5 Unlucky 8 78 4.9.6 The Beijing Games and the Hungry Ghost Month Festival 79 4.9.7 The curse of the Fuwa 81 4.10 The 2008 Olympic Games Committee Future Plans- After the 2008 BOG 83 Chapter 5 CASE ANALYSIS 89 5.0 Case Analysis 89 5.0.1 The theory offeng shui in my study · 90 5.0.2 The reliability of data sources 90 5.0.3 Why lunar calendar is not used ? 90 5.1 Introduction- Strategic Management 90 5.1.1 Environmental analysis (PESTLE) 91 5.1.2 Internal analysis (SWOT) · 97 5.2 Introduction- Cultural elements 99 2.2.1 Environmental analysis (PESTLE) 99 5.2.2 Internal analysis (SWOT) I 00 Chapter 6 DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 111 6.1 Recapitulation of the Case Ill 6.2 Discussion Ill 6.2.1 Strategic moves by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Committee for 115 'High Quality Games with Distinctive Features' 6.2.2 The 2008 Games Impact on China 117 v 6.2.3 Future plans 118 6.3 Recommendations 118 6.4 Limitations and Future Research 120 6.5 Conclusions 120 REFERENCES Books Biodata ofFeng Shui Masters Lilian Too and Joey Yap All feng shui quotes and pictures are from Lilian Too's World ofFeng Shui. The official website of the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 APPEN:PIX(ES) An exclusive interview with Dr Goh Kum Guan A Feng Shui expert and consultant Dr Gob's PhD in Management and International Credentials Presentation slides 1 to 30 Feng Shui in Business: The case of the Beijing Olympic Games 2008. VI List of Tables Page 2.1 Chronology of athletic event 12 2.2 The Olympic Games 15 List of Figures 1.0 The Olympic Emblem 2 1.1 The Olympic Rings 2 1.2 Two main issues and Three concepts 4 2.1 The left Palm 19 2.2 The Flying Star Chart 20 2.3 The ideal Arm Chair effect 20 2.4 Mr Xi Jinping 24 -·') - Hungry Ghost Festival 28 3.0 Affinity Triangles 39 4.0 One World One Dream 45 4.1 Former gymnast LiNing lights Olympic cauldron 45 !-i . .L Bird Nest Stadium 47 4.3 Olympic Torch 49 4.4 Environmental Symbol 51 4.5 The Executive Board Committee of the BOC. 56 4.6 Mr Xi Jinping _ 57 4.7 Mascots 59 4.8 Olympic Medals 61 4.9 Renovation Rules 77 Vll Abstrak ( Malay ) Dalam kes ini saya telah membuat kajian mengenai "Feng Shui dalam Pemiagaan : Kajian mengenai kes acara sukan Olimpik 2008 di-Beijing" dania berlandaskan kepada 'Tuah dan Nasib' (Trinity of Luck), 'Tien, Ti, Ren' , iaitu Syurga, Bumi dan Inshan. Acara sukan Olimpik 2008 ini dilangsungkan ditempat yang betul dan sesuai iaitu Beijing I China, pada masa yang tepat iaitu 080808 dan membuat sesuatu benda yang betul iaitu mengendalikan acara sukan Olimpik Beijing pada tahun 2008. Dalam kajian kes ini saya akan mengenalpasti bagaimana unsur-unsur tuah dan nasib serta Feng Shui mempengauhi usaha membuat keputusasn dalam acara sukan Olimpik 2008 di Beijing. Dalam kajian ini saya mengutarakan dua unsur utarna yang bersangkutan dengan acara ini, iaitu Feng Shui dan Bulan Hantu Lapar. Acara Olimpik 2008 ini berlangsung pada tanggal 8 Feng Shui, yang mana menjadi sebahagian daripada kecemeralangan tuah nombor 8. Sukan Olimpik 2008 di Beijing ini dimulakan pada 8hb Ogos hingga 24hb Ogos iaitu pada Bulan Hantu Lapar. Saya juga menceritakan bagaimana China berusaha untuk mendapatkan penajaan Sukan Olimpik 2008 di Beijing walaupun ia berhadapan dengan banyak halangan. Dari kajian kes ini saya dapati jawatankuasa sukan Olimpik 2008 di Beijing China telah menggunakan tuah dan nasib serta Feng Shui dalam usaha menjayakan acara sukan ini serta membina rekabentuk gelanggang sukan berbentuk sarang burung dan kuib air yang sebenarnya secara symbolik mengambarkan Syurga dan Bumi. Berlandaskan kepada unsur-unsur pengurusan strategik saya telah menganalisa kes acara sukan Olimpik ini dengan menggunakan PESTLE dan SWOT. Kajian dan analisa saya menunjukan yang Feng Shui memang wujud dan memang berkait rapat dalam usaha membuat keputusan yang bernas dalam sukan Olimpik 2008 di Beijing. Vlll ABSTRACT This case study, "Feng Shui in Business : the case of the Beijing Olympic Games 2008" has been derived from 'Trinity of Luck', 'Tien, Ti, Ren' , that is Heaven, Earth and Man. It was at the right place in Beijing China, at the right time 080808, and doing the right thing, the Beijing Olympic Games 2008. This case study will highlight how the trinity of luck and feng shui influences decision making in the Beijing Olympic Games 2008.