Corporate Values in Chinese IT Companies: Analyzing Xiaohongshu's Approach
In Chinese IT companies like Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), corporate values are centered around an engineering culture that closely resembles Russian practices. The first value—striving for excellence—takes top priority. It combines curiosity, positivity, and a proactive mindset. These are essential qualities for company growth, where engineers must continuously learn and positively influence their teams.
The approach emphasizes avoiding complacency: not imposing limitations and positively impacting colleagues. Unlike many companies, curiosity is prioritized, which drives innovation in products like social networks with e-commerce elements.
User-Centric Development
The second value focuses on understanding the audience. For IT professionals, this means actively listening to feedback, solving problems without excuses, and prioritizing value creation. A common mistake developers make is implementing 'brilliant' ideas without considering user needs.
Engineers must know their users and seek innovation. This is especially relevant for platforms like Xiaohongshu, where content is user-generated: images, travel experiences, hobbies.
Pragmatism in Evaluating Results
The third value—practicality—defines success metrics. Evaluation is based on facts, without embellishment. Focus on speed: rapid iterations instead of prolonged analysis, clear goals with a willingness to compromise.
In teams, this solves the problem of endless discussions without experimentation. Developers are results-oriented, accelerating feature releases in the dynamic social media market.
Complete list of Xiaohongshu's values:
Striving for Excellence
- Maintain curiosity, keep learning and growing
- Stay optimistic and positive, don't falter when facing challenges
- Positively influence others to improve the team
- Don't settle for the status quo, aim for perfection
User-Centricity
- Know your users, listen to them actively
- Solve problems without excuses
- Understand needs, seek innovative solutions
- Creating value is the top priority
Practicality
- Evaluate based on results without embellishment
- Rely on facts, objective analysis
- Fast iterations without excessive analysis
- Clear goals, willingness to compromise
Openness
- Openly share information, express ideas
- Respect opinions, make decisions without ego
- Discuss before deciding, support after
Responsibility
- Take tasks to completion with excellence
- Act reasonably in uncertainty
Openness and Team Dynamics
The fourth value emphasizes interaction: open discussion of ideas, respecting opinions. A key point is discussing decisions before finalization and unanimous support afterward. This minimizes sabotage, common in teams without feedback opportunities.
The Chinese approach to feedback differs: focus on the matter, not emotions. Mature engineers adjust their attitudes without taking offense. In a young company (average age <30), this shapes culture through values.
Responsibility in Uncertainty
The final value—responsibility—requires completing tasks thoroughly, acting in uncertainty without focusing on personal gain. This is adult behavior for senior developers: deep analysis, decision-making, and execution.
Values are adapted to context: for IT, it's a balance between speed, quality, and team. Reflecting on experience is useful, but blind copying isn't—values shape culture.
Key Takeaways
- Striving for excellence as the top priority stimulates curiosity and growth in engineering teams.
- User-centricity prevents development of unwanted features.
- Pragmatism accelerates iterations through facts and goals.
- Openness ensures discussion and support for decisions.
- Responsibility focuses on execution in uncertainty.
Xiaohongshu's approach combines elements resonant with Russian practices and unique ones, like military metaphors for teams. This is valuable experience for middle/senior specialists building IT cultures.
— Editorial Team
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