China is not suffering for lack of international attention. Between its booming economy, its controversial monetary policy, and its newfound role as the world’s banker, there’s been no dearth of China news in the West. Yet international investors still know relatively little about the country they deem so important. And, sometimes, with ignorance comes fear. […]
Socially commercial
In the West, many companies are already using social media to listen to customers, build brand loyalty and learn how they can improve customer service. Facebook recently partnered with Amazon.com to generate recommended gift lists based on Facebook users’ favorite books and movies, recent activity, and what friends have liked. The telecommunications company Verizon monitors […]
CSR in China: Domestic enterprises outshine MNCs
Globalization has increased awareness of, and controversy over, corporate social responsibility (CSR) around the world. China is certainly no exception. Encouraged by the country’s economic reform in 1978, and later, by its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, multinational corporations (MNCs) flooded into the Chinese market. With them, they brought not only […]
The risks of Foxconn’s model
Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer, which supplies to companies including Apple and Dell, has come under intense scrutiny following a series of suicides among its employees. At least 18 Foxconn workers have attempted suicide between January 2010 and November 2011 by throwing themselves from the Foxconn building, 14 of which resulted […]
“New luxury” and the rise of a Chinese luxury clothing brand
Mao Jihong, founder and president of Mixmind Art & Design Co., Ltd., is known internationally for establishing the first and most successful Chinese luxury brand Exception de Mixmind. Mao’s success stems from his engagement with Chinese culture, and his persistence in establishing an authentic value and aesthetic system that is original yet with international appeal. […]
What is a Confucian entrepreneur?
CKGSB Honorary Professor of Humanities Tu Weiming has been involved in the teaching of Confucianism for more than 40 years, but the former director at the Harvard-Yenching Institute sees himself as more than an educator and academic. His active promotion of the Confucian humanistic tradition includes engaging dialogues with other religious traditions, defending Confucian tenets […]
What does the contemporary Chinese art bubble say about Chinese culture?
Zhang Zikang has served as the director of the Today Art Museum since 2004. Under his leadership, the flagship Beijing museum has been widely acknowledged as a leading force for promoting contemporary Chinese art in the international market. In the interview, Zhang discusses the possibility of cooperating with the corporate world and bringing both artistic […]
Chinese companies consider sustainable growth strategies in the face of competition
Last year, the high employment rate in the United States, the inextricable sovereign debts of the European countries and the elevated inflation rate in many developing countries contributed to a gloomy economic outlook. Under such circumstances, many countries have turned to China to find new business opportunities. Associate Dean and Professor of Strategy Liao Jianwen […]
A Nation of Provinces
In March 2011, Jiuquan’s Municipal Energy Bureau issued a set of regulations imposing “construction requirements” on wind energy firms. Companies that failed to buy local equipment, the notice said, would no longer be able to do business in the area. In response, China’s National Energy Board (NEB) issued a statement banning Jiuquan officials from “requiring […]
It’s about more than just the money
When online retailer Jingdong Mall, also known as 360buy.com, announced its plans to raise up to $5 billion for a 2012 IPO, everyone began to speculate: Is it due to high profits, or no profits? Should they be going public so early? A few key issues shed some light. First of all, it is without […]
