Transforming China's business practices: Adopting Western organizational development in Chinese SOEs

Abstract

Purpose

To explore a successful case of a Chinese state‐owned enterprise (SOE) as it applied western organization development (OD) approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

Paper employs a single case‐study to gain an in‐depth understanding.

Findings

Findings reveal that the organization investigated successfully uses a number of western OD techniques in creating a shared vision, establishing a performance‐based human resource management system, and standardizing budgetary and cost control procedures.

Research limitations/implications

This is a single case‐study design that calls for future research into the subject.

Practical implications

It demonstrates ways in which Chinese SOEs might successfully adopt western approaches to management to succeed in international business arenas.

Social implications

This research demonstrates ways in which business and commercial practices might influence cultural and social change regarding individualism and meritocracy.

Originality/value

Paper expands the current knowledge of Chinese business practice and of the effectiveness of OD in the international domain.

Citation

(2010), "Transforming China's business practices: Adopting Western organizational development in Chinese SOEs", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 24 No. 6, pp. 29-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777281011084757