Qingfeng Textile Company: The Challenges of Recruiting, Training and Retaining Talent in SMEs

This case illustrates, in a first-person account, some of the difficulties of establishing a Chinese private enterprise. Lao Qian, the protagonist, is the founder of Qingfeng, which is engaged in the fabric trade business. In developing the firm, he faces a number of human resource management challenges: how to recruit, retain, train, and make the best use of employees. He knows that strong talent is crucial to a successful business. But as a small private enterprise with lofty goals, how can Qingfeng attract, retain, and develop the talent it needs? This case is focused on how Chinese private enterprises approach the start-up process, their pursuit of healthy development, and their challenges in talent management. The case is suitable for basic human resources or entrepreneurship courses for MBA students.