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This conference presentation considers the development of the business ethics curriculum in the West and in China. It was delivered at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou. More information at www.gdufs.biz
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The challenge of business ethicsin the West & in China
Robert ShawGraduate School of BusinessGuangdong University of Foreign Studies
2nd International Symposium on Corporate Responsibility & Sustainable Development 第二届国际企业责任和可持续发展研讨会
Agenda
1. The challenge
2. The development of business ethics in the West
3. The development of business ethics in China
4
1 The challenge5
The challenge –public expectations
6
Politicians and the public expect business practitioners to be honest, to obey the law, to be concerned about the environment and the national interest
There are spectacular examples of failure in the West and in China
The challenge –illegality7
The challenge – new responsibilities
8
Their first democratic labour union elections 2012
All-China Federation of Trade Unions 中華全國總工會
The challenge for legislators & educators
9
Some people blame the Business Schools for commercial dishonesty, the harsh effects of capitalism and inequality within society
How should nations respond to the global economic strife?
How should businesses respond?
What is it realistic to expect from business ethics courses?
The purpose of Business Schools
10
About half the Business Schools in the West emphasise ethics
Who decides the curriculum?
Produce employable graduates,honest workers
Business ethics is the battle ground
Example: Entrepreneurship
The challenge – misunderstandings about business ethics
11
Ethics is about what people ought to do
Contrast with science
Contrast with the law
If you want to know how to get people to obey the law, ask the police, criminologists, psychologists, sociologists
Business ethics courses will not make people more honest, nor should they try to do this
2 Business ethics in the West
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We confront new topics
We are becoming clearer on our aims in courses
Research is becoming more profound
Topics in business ethics13
The subject business ethics appeared in the 1960s
Topics:Employee dishonestyCodes of conductFair working conditions - health and safetyRespect for other culturesThe horrors when corporations are caught lyingMonitoring emailTaking and giving bribesChild labour in foreign countriesWhistle blowingWorkplace rights - drug testing, surveillanceThe joys of corporate social responsibility
Topics in business ethics14
New problematics:
Social justice –distribution of wealthEconomic theory – neoliberalismCapitalism & socialismDemocracy & other systemsCorporations & moralityThe effect of technology on societyEthics of cyberspace Eco-phenomenologyHuman rightsIndigenous rights – land rights, cultural harvestAnimal rightsOpen access to data/science/government information
The aims of business ethics15
The goal – coursesTo discuss what people ought to doMoral dilemmasScholarship
The goal – studentsDevelop decision-making skillsTo make better decisions [& act differently]Scholarship
The aims of business ethics17
The goal – intellectual disciplineThe intellectual aspects of leadership (Scholar-Practitioner)Thought in the philosophy of management, ethics, political philosophy, jurisprudence
The aims of business ethics18
Courses and research draw upon the Western tradition
Parmenides & Kant – rationalityAristotle – flourishing & codes of ethicsKant –moral autonomy & deontologyBentham & Mill –utilitarianism
The aims of business ethics courses
19
Moral autonomy
The moral person / leader / manager is
EITHER Heteronomous – follows rules
OR Autonomous – independent in
thought and action
Kant: If you are morally autonomous, youMake your own decisionsDo so rationallyHave strength-of-will sufficient to act as you
decide
The aims of business ethics20
The Scholar-Practitioner concept
The aims of business ethics21
The Scholar-Practitioner concept
3 Business ethics in China22
Theorists contrasts with the West
What I see in China
The example of corporate social responsibility
The way ahead
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What I see in China25
80% of businesses small or medium
NationalismValuesPrideConfidenceUnity
Localisation = National self-determination
IdentityOpenness to ideasThe Chinese way
Role of leadership
The example of corporate social responsibility
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Western concerns in business decision-making
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Chinese concerns in business decision-making
29
Overall, CSR in China research closely mirrors, albeit in a lagging fashion, the findings of wider CSR in management research. These findings are notwithstanding the very distinctive context of CSR in China.
After all in this country there are strong legacies of Marxism–Leninism, a dominant state and the role of the Communist Party, whose traces abide in the continuing prominence of regulation for CSR. Although CSR, as a subject for academic analysis, is regarded as originally an American phenomenon with more recent European and global ‘translations’, we have seen how CSR in China research represents a further facet of this translation.
Jeremy Moon & Xi Shen (2010) CSR in China Research, Salience, Focus and Nature, JBE
The way ahead30
Distinctive topicsAccess to informationIndigenous peoples –TibetRights in the international arena & at
homeSocialism with Chinese characteristicsDemocracyChinese business practicesThe foundational values of China (the example of Chinese medicine)
Chinese scholarship
New pedagogy
The way ahead31
The way ahead32
Thank you
2nd International Symposium on Corporate Responsibility & Sustainable Development 第二届国际企业责任和可持续发展研讨会