Aiming Higher: Chinese Businesses Advancing Consumer Rights Beverly Kracher Associate Professor of Business Ethics & Society College of Business Administration Creighton University Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007 Background Focus: Chinese firms’ advancement of stakeholder issues, specifically, consumer rights Definitions of “consumer rights” Government’s role in protecting consumer rights Business’s role in protecting consumer rights
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007 Paper Thesis We must identify practical guides for Chinese business firms to advance consumer rights – focus on the positive rather than the negative –Cite examples –Consider the business practices that enhance consumer rights
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007 Business Practice #1 – Openly Communicate Interests Chinese companies are communicating their interest in consumer rights via their websites.
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007
Business Practice #2 – Seek/Respond to Consumer Feedback Banking
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007 Business Practice #3 – Act in Solidarity Banking Air conditioning industry Express Delivery industry
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007 Business Practice #4 – Create Appropriate Business Systems Drinking Water Industry E-supervision Initiative
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007 Business Practice #5 – Go Above and Beyond the Law Computer industry
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007
5 Business Practices that Advance Consumer Rights 1.Openly communicate interests 2.Seek/respond to consumer feedback 3.Act in solidarity 4.Create appropriate business systems 5.Go above and beyond the local and national laws
Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007 Conclusion and Future Work Balanced perspective is key for maintaining a sense of pride and respect for honorable Chinese business firms We must stem the tide of cynicism by reporting positive examples of Chinese firms advancing consumer rights