When combined, 管理 (guǎnlǐ) means “management” or “to manage.” Adding 层 (céng) specifies it's the “management level,” creating the collective noun for the entire administrative body of an organization.
In Western business culture, “management” can often imply a collaborative, flatter structure, with terms like “team lead” and an emphasis on employee empowerment. The Chinese 管理层 (guǎnlǐcéng), however, operates within a more traditionally hierarchical framework influenced by Confucian values.
Understanding this dynamic is key to navigating the Chinese workplace. It's less about challenging ideas in an open forum and more about understanding the direction set by the 管理层 and executing it effectively.
管理层 is a standard, formal term used across all professional environments.
The term is neutral in connotation but implies authority and formality. You would not use it in a casual conversation with friends unless you were specifically discussing work in a serious manner.