Aiming Higher: Chinese Businesses Advancing Consumer Rights

Aiming Higher:Chinese Businesses

Advancing Consumer Rights

Beverly KracherAssociate Professor of Business Ethics & Society

College of Business AdministrationCreighton 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

Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007

Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007

Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007

Business Practice #2 – Seek/Respond to Consumer

Feedback

Banking http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6665105.stm

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

Kracher, CIBE Conference 2007

5 Business Practices that Advance Consumer Rights

1. Openly communicate interests2. Seek/respond to consumer feedback3. Act in solidarity4. Create appropriate business systems5. 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