Our organization has opened its representative office in Thailand (I will name it as it would not be counted for advertising). The company is engaged in IT-development. I was the head of one of the subdivisions of programmers in Russia. I had to do the same in Thailand. Frankly, I happily went to such an adventure. How do the Thais work? What is their style?
Thai mentality
Much of this country does not work, and if it works, it's not as it should be. Frankly, brainstorming does not work at all. In the US, they work fine, in Russia somehow, and in Thailand ... in any way.
Delegate work, too, really does not work. And it's not even a matter of linguistic rupture ... It's not there, because in our office everyone communicates freely in English.
Local people like clear instructions. The more precise the instructions, the better. Independent decision-making? This is not about local. Apparently, they did not teach this.
For Thai people, a good relationship with the boss is extremely important. You can delay payment of wages or deprive someone of a bonus, but you must inquire about health, about the family ... just learn more about your subordinates. It's better if you bring your subordinates once a month to a bar or cafe.
Appointed as one of the leaders of one of the local departments of the Chinese. Did not work out. I had to fire the Chinese. After found out that the Thais could not get along with the Chinese because of the excessive work capacity of the latter. From the conversation with his subordinates, he realized that the Thais do not like to work with Indians because of cunning and greed. The Japanese are disliked even more. Somehow the Thai said that the Japanese reminded them of robots. It is difficult not to agree. More or less normally refer to Americans and Europeans. But they still prefer to work under Thai rule.
About salaries of middle-level and higher-level employees
Long tried to find a competent branch manager from the local (IT-sphere). There is a similar special about $ 10 000. The head of the department will cost two times cheaper: only $ 5 000.
Labor legislation
For hiring illegal immigrants in this country you can thunder in prison. To sit out the head will have a couple of years. If you decide to open a company in this country, you will have to open with someone from the local, because According to Thai laws, more than 50% of this company should belong to the Thais. If you hire foreigners, then every such worker will have to hire four Thais. The larger the company, the larger the authorized capital, so it will not be possible to make one-day firms.
Not everyone can learn how to effectively interact with Thais. And to assemble a team of compatriots, legally settle and work in their new company - is not easy and quite expensive.
Return to Russia
Working in Thailand is great: no frost, cheap fruit, delicious cuisine and other nishtyaki. But I returned home with joy. I would still go to Thailand ... but only for vacation. And to live better here, in Russia.