Globalization has created increased economic and social uncertainty to China partially represented by daunting ethical dilemmas. It is critical for Chinese human resource development (HRD) researchers and practitioners to advice China to address the problems through balancing the need for short-term growth and long-term sustainability following the Global Financial Crisis era. However, little is known about how HRD can and should respond to these circumstances in a Chinese context.
The Solution
Linking China’s ethical dilemmas to traditional cultural beliefs and values is necessary to understand the ethical issues in dealing with increased uncertainty in future development. Three major cultural beliefs/ideologies that influence ethical behaviors in China are analyzed: Confucianism, Taoism, and Capitalism. Ethical imperatives derived from cultural analysis and HRD implications are presented at the national, organizational, and individual level.
The Stakeholders
The article offers HRD researchers and practitioners a framework to address how to create a benign ethical culture for China, which promotes and sustains ethical behaviors.
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