New report explores ethical challenges for business ... - CW Observer

A new report by the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) reviews the business ethics climate within China and the challenges that a business seeking to operate with high ethical standards might encounter. The report emphasizes that companies entering the Chinese market must be mindful of particular cultural traits (such as gift giving traditions and personal networks) when rolling out training and guidance designed to establish and ensure high ethical standards of business practice among employees.

The report outlines trends, challenges and describes business ethics and CSR in China as maturing areas which are heavily influenced by the state and traditional Confucian values. There are high expectations on business to play a part in addressing social inequalities and issues such as bribery and corruption, discrimination, human rights and environmental degradation. According to the report, the Chinese government expects ethics and CSR programs to be in line with the country?s long term strategy for social improvement as outlined in its Five Year Plan.

The report cautions that Western companies should acknowledge the roles that personal connections (guanxi) and respect or ?avoiding loss of face? (mianzi) play when guiding employees on how to manage business relationships appropriately. Other Confucian influences on employees? behavior include:

• a reluctance by staff to speak up against colleagues (particularly their superiors) or use a
• reporting hotline as they are taught unquestioning respect for authority and loyalty to their group.
• the need when training staff for small group sizes of the same rank, as the presence of superiors may inhibit employees to be frank and open

Philippa Foster Back, Director of the IBE says:

??Whilst China is still developing a robust corporate governance framework and universal rule of law, the pace of change in China is fast and the scale of their ambition in areas such as corporate governance, sustainability and anti-corruption is growing. This Paper will assist companies operating there to keep up with these developments when considering the efficacy of their ethics programs.?

?This paper is one of a series looking at the ethical challenges of doing business in specific countries. Additional papers on South Korea and South Africa can be found at: www.ibe.org.uk.

Source: http://cwobserver.x.iabc.com/2012/09/11/new-report-explores-ethical-challenges-for-business-in-china/

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