Alicia Hennig | Southeast University (China) (original) (raw)

China Business Research by Alicia Hennig

Applying Laozi’s Dao De Jing in Business, Dec 15, 2016

China is a country with a long-standing and rich history. This rich history is also expressed in ... more China is a country with a long-standing and rich history. This rich history is also expressed in its cultural, religious and philosophical diversity. One of China’s most prominent and influential philosophical strands is Daoism, which is still practiced today despite the political turmoil of the 20th century. It came into existence at roughly the same time as Confucianism. This paper focuses on a particular work of the Daoist canon, which at the same time is one of its most prominent ones: The Dao De Jing by Laozi. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate in how far the virtues described in the Dao De Jing are applicable in a business context. Thereby this paper presents a first draft to turn the Dao De Jing into a “virtue ethics for business” by a thorough and comprehensive analysis of all 81 chapters based on drawing on eight different translations.

The proposed paper presents an overview on the matter of virtue from different philosophical angl... more The proposed paper presents an overview on the matter of virtue from different philosophical angles. It concentrates on three different schools of thought coming from the West and the East and their respective concepts of virtue. These schools of thought and the therewith-associated personalities and works discussed in this paper are Aristotelian virtue ethics, Confucianism and Daoism. The paper focuses specifically on the Nicomachean Ethics (NE) by Aristotle, the Analects belonging to Confucianism, and the Dao De Jing coming from Daoism.
The paper is divided into three major parts. First, the concept of virtue of each school is outlined. In the second part, the concrete virtues as such according to each school are explained. In the third part, these virtues are then applied in specific business contexts like business practice, corporate culture and leadership, illuminating each school’s characteristic approach. The paper closes with a summary and conclusion.
In the conclusion the paper outlines differences as well as similarities between Aristotelian and Confucian virtue ethics. Yet, the author generally takes a critical stance towards comparisons merely for the sake of finding similarities. Particularly between Aristotelian and Confucian virtue ethics there is a significant difference when it comes to the cultural and historical background of these schools, which should not be ignored. Besides, even within Chinese philosophy there are already significant differences when it comes to concepts and practice.

This paper concentrates on a particular Chinese philosophical strand, Daoism, which is next to Co... more This paper concentrates on a particular Chinese philosophical strand, Daoism, which is next to Confucianism the most influential philosophical strand in China. Daoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy and can be linked to three historical personalities: Laozi (6th century BCE), Zhuangzi (4th century BCE), and the Yellow Emperor Huang Di (3rd century BCE). The paper is structured as followed: the first section introduces Daoist thought. Subsequently, the second section puts Daoism in a management context, also linking Daoism to leadership concepts and corporate ethics. Section two is then closed by a critique of Daoist thought applied in these particular fields. In the third section, Daoism’s “rival” Confucianism is then presented, together with an outline of Confucian values in leadership and corporate ethics in section four as well as a critique thereof. In section five, Daoism and Confucianism are compared regarding their applicability in management. Section six then explains where Daoist thought is practiced today in business. At last, section seven gives an outlook on Daoism and its applicability with regard to sustainability management today.

China is a diverse and heterogeneous country comprising many different regions that often have th... more China is a diverse and heterogeneous country comprising many different regions that often have their very own local cultures, customs and dialects. Thus, not only is it difficult but perhaps even inappropriate to speak of just ‘one’ China. These differences in culture and customs are partially due to the different ethnic influences and the diverse religious and philosophical movements that have occurred over time.

This article aims to provide a more nuanced picture of the Chinese culture today. Over several sections Confucianism and its prevalence in Chinese society today, and its applicability regarding a development of a specifically Chinese corporate ethics and leadership strategy are discussed. This theoretical background is then complemented with insights into the business reality in China.

CSR & Sustainability Research by Alicia Hennig

In this chapter, actual business practices are examined by analysing the corporate activities of ... more In this chapter, actual business practices are examined by analysing the corporate activities of five particular companies over several years. Apparently, companies' assertions regarding their business behaviour communicated in their annual sustainability, corporate (social) responsibility or (global) citizenship reports often diverge significantly from reality. To illustrate this gap between theory and practice this chapter is based on a media analysis, which was conducted with the help of a database provided by RepRisk AG, Switzerland. This database captures negative media as presented in newspaper articles, NGO-reports and other statements amongst others. While a single press article in many cases only shows the tip of the iceberg, the whole story usually develops over several years before it is fully unfolded. Hence, uncovered scandals are never only snapshots of dubious operations. Each scandal tells a story about a single incident, which is often embedded in a bigger picture of even more incidents occurring over time, leaving an impression of systematic unjust practices. After explaining the methodology of this case study in the first section, more background information on business activities globally is provided in a subsequent section. Then each of the five company cases is presented in detail, which includes information on the respective CSR or sustainability report, information on the particular CSR and sustainability strategy, a contrasting account of the business reality of each company and an analysis of their latest communication in light of these incidents. Each case closes with a summary and conclusion.

An Inquiry into Responsible Business in a Neoliberal Age, Jan 3, 2017

This dissertation concentrates on responsible business in the neoliberal era. In a multi-step app... more This dissertation concentrates on responsible business in the neoliberal era. In a multi-step approach this work aims to present a new composition of perspectives on responsible business.
The reader is guided from a narrow perspective on responsible business – presented by corporate social responsibility (CSR) concepts and current CSR strategies applied by businesses – to the legal aspects of responsible business and finally to the bigger picture resulting from a closer examination of the prevailing political and economic conditions of our time.
Over five chapters a more diversified view on responsible business today will be unfolded step-by-step and placed in a wider context of contemporary political and economic conditions. First, voluntary measures or so-called ‘soft law’ measures enabling responsible business are introduced and critically discussed. Their efficiency with regard to promoting responsible business is then put to the test by five case studies on global corporations and their business behaviour with regard to responsible conduct. This is followed by an introduction of legal aspects, particularly ‘hard law’ measures, both in theory and in practice in the fourth chapter. Thereafter, in chapter five, responsible business is placed in the wider context of international politics and the global economy. Chapter six includes an overall conclusion and an outlook on the future of responsible business.

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis apparently little has changed. Financial institut... more In the aftermath of the global financial crisis apparently little has changed. Financial institutions continue to do “business as usual”. Major players in the financial sector still violate national law, and are complicit in environmental destruction and human rights infringements due to questionable lending practices.
While companies frequently boast themselves in public of being members of certain initiatives or following specific, globally recognised guidelines and principles, in business reality companies often tend to fall short with their aspirations communicated publicly.
This paper claims that corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategies as well as current measures implemented are not effective enough to induce a substantial change with regard to more responsible business behaviour. Voluntary memberships at initiatives, commitments to globally recognised principles and guidelines, as well as internal policies are frequently disregarded when it comes to investment decisions. Therefore, after more than 20 years practice of voluntary measures it is about time for a critical assessment with regard to their effectiveness in changing corporate behaviour to the good.
This paper aims to present a more differentiated and comprehensive picture of the business reality, particularly in the finance sector. For this purpose, publicly communicated corporate responsibility approaches by two major financial institutions are presented and contrasted with the actual business practice.

Drafts by Alicia Hennig

(Unpublished) This paper presents an overview on the matter of virtue from different philosophica... more (Unpublished) This paper presents an overview on the matter of virtue from different philosophical angles. It concentrates on three different schools of thought coming from the West and the East and their respective concepts of virtue. These schools of thought and the therewith-associated personalities and works discussed in this paper are Aristotelian virtue ethics, Confucianism and Daoism. Particularly, this paper focuses on the Nicomachean Ethics (NE) by Aristotle, the Analects belonging to Confucianism, and the Dao De Jing coming from Daoism.
In the course of elaborating those different approaches, the paper starts with introducing the different personalities and their respective works. In the second section, the paper continues with describing the three different schools of thought and the historical context. The third section explains the concept of virtue of each school, before going into detail about the particular virtues in section four. The paper closes with a summary and conclusion.
In the conclusion the paper establishes differences as well as similarities, at least between Aristotelian and Confucian virtue ethics. However, the author general takes a critical stance towards comparisons merely for the sake of finding similarities, as particularly in the case of Aristotelian and Confucian virtue ethics there is a significant difference when it comes to the cultural and historical background of those virtues, which should not be ignored. Besides, even within Chinese philosophy there are already significant differences when it comes to concepts and practice, which becomes apparent when comparing the Confucian approach to virtue ethics with the Daoist conception of virtues.

Conference Presentations by Alicia Hennig

China is a country with a long-standing and rich history. This rich history is also expressed in ... more China is a country with a long-standing and rich history. This rich history is also expressed in its cultural, religious and philosophical diversity. One of China’s most prominent and influential philosophical strands is Daoism. Daoism is one of the philosophies, which is still practiced in China today despite the political turmoil of the 20th century.
The purpose of this paper is to look for virtues articulated in a number of selected works, namely the Dao De Jing, the Nei-Yeh and the Spring and Autumn Annals by Lü Buwei. The virtues presented in these works are synthesised and developed into a first outline of another Eastern approach to Virtue Ethics next to Confucian Ethics: a specifically Daoist approach to ‘Virtue Ethics’. An Eastern Virtue Ethics based on Daoism also serves to add to the field of Virtue Ethics in general which is primarily dominated until today by Aristotle’s approach.
As in the case with Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics, this first outline of a Daoist Virtue Ethics shall be also evaluated regarding a possible application in management, with a detailed description of how these virtues could be possibly applied in a business context.

Papers by Alicia Hennig

Social Science Research Network, Jan 11, 2016

Social Science Research Network, 2016

The proposed paper presents an overview on the matter of virtue from different philosophical angl... more The proposed paper presents an overview on the matter of virtue from different philosophical angles. It concentrates on three different schools of thought coming from the West and the East and their respective concepts of virtue. These schools of thought and the therewith-associated personalities and works discussed in this paper are Aristotelian virtue ethics, Confucianism and Daoism. The paper focuses specifically on the Nicomachean Ethics (NE) by Aristotle, the Analects belonging to Confucianism, and the Dao De Jing coming from Daoism. The paper is divided into three major parts. First, the concept of virtue of each school is outlined. In the second part, the concrete virtues as such according to each school are explained. In the third part, these virtues are then applied in specific business contexts like business practice, corporate culture and leadership, illuminating each school’s characteristic approach. The paper closes with a summary and conclusion. In the conclusion the paper outlines differences as well as similarities between Aristotelian and Confucian virtue ethics. Yet, the author generally takes a critical stance towards comparisons merely for the sake of finding similarities. Particularly between Aristotelian and Confucian virtue ethics there is a significant difference when it comes to the cultural and historical background of these schools, which should not be ignored. Besides, even within Chinese philosophy there are already significant differences when it comes to concepts and practice.

Im globalen Spannungsfeld der Korruption

Innovative Leadership in Times of Compelling Changes, 2021

World Humanism, 2013

ABSTRACT China is a diverse and heterogeneous country comprising many different regions that ofte... more ABSTRACT China is a diverse and heterogeneous country comprising many different regions that often have their very own local cultures, customs and dialects. Thus, not only is it difficult but perhaps even inappropriate to speak of just &#39;one&#39; China. These differences in culture and customs are partially due to the different ethnic influences and the diverse religious and philosophical movements that have occurred over time. This article aims to provide a more nuanced picture of the Chinese culture today. Over several sections Confucianism and its prevalence in Chinese society today, and its applicability regarding a development of a specifically Chinese corporate ethics and leadership strategy are discussed. This theoretical background is then complemented with insights into the business reality in China.

Applying Laozi’s Dao De Jing in Business, Dec 15, 2016

An Inquiry into Responsible Business in a Neoliberal Age, Jan 3, 2017

China is a country with a long-standing and rich history. This rich history is also expressed in ... more China is a country with a long-standing and rich history. This rich history is also expressed in its cultural, religious and philosophical diversity. One of China’s most prominent and influential philosophical strands is Daoism. Daoism is one of the philosophies, which is still practiced in China today despite the political turmoil of the 20th century.
The purpose of this paper is to look for virtues articulated in a number of selected works, namely the Dao De Jing, the Nei-Yeh and the Spring and Autumn Annals by Lü Buwei. The virtues presented in these works are synthesised and developed into a first outline of another Eastern approach to Virtue Ethics next to Confucian Ethics: a specifically Daoist approach to ‘Virtue Ethics’. An Eastern Virtue Ethics based on Daoism also serves to add to the field of Virtue Ethics in general which is primarily dominated until today by Aristotle’s approach.
As in the case with Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics, this first outline of a Daoist Virtue Ethics shall be also evaluated regarding a possible application in management, with a detailed description of how these virtues could be possibly applied in a business context.

Social Science Research Network, Jan 11, 2016

Social Science Research Network, 2016

The proposed paper presents an overview on the matter of virtue from different philosophical angl... more The proposed paper presents an overview on the matter of virtue from different philosophical angles. It concentrates on three different schools of thought coming from the West and the East and their respective concepts of virtue. These schools of thought and the therewith-associated personalities and works discussed in this paper are Aristotelian virtue ethics, Confucianism and Daoism. The paper focuses specifically on the Nicomachean Ethics (NE) by Aristotle, the Analects belonging to Confucianism, and the Dao De Jing coming from Daoism. The paper is divided into three major parts. First, the concept of virtue of each school is outlined. In the second part, the concrete virtues as such according to each school are explained. In the third part, these virtues are then applied in specific business contexts like business practice, corporate culture and leadership, illuminating each school’s characteristic approach. The paper closes with a summary and conclusion. In the conclusion the paper outlines differences as well as similarities between Aristotelian and Confucian virtue ethics. Yet, the author generally takes a critical stance towards comparisons merely for the sake of finding similarities. Particularly between Aristotelian and Confucian virtue ethics there is a significant difference when it comes to the cultural and historical background of these schools, which should not be ignored. Besides, even within Chinese philosophy there are already significant differences when it comes to concepts and practice.

Im globalen Spannungsfeld der Korruption

Innovative Leadership in Times of Compelling Changes, 2021

World Humanism, 2013

International Handbooks in Business Ethics, 2020

Its principles of self-cultivation and kindness can improve corporate culture and work environmen... more Its principles of self-cultivation and kindness can improve corporate culture and work environment, writes Alicia Hennig

This dissertation concentrates on responsible business in the neoliberal era. In a multi-step app... more This dissertation concentrates on responsible business in the neoliberal era. In a multi-step approach this work aims to present a new composition of perspectives on responsible business. The reader is guided from a narrow perspective on responsible business – presented by corporate social responsibility (CSR) concepts and current CSR strategies applied by businesses – to the legal aspects of responsible business and finally to the bigger picture resulting from a closer examination of the prevailing political and economic conditions of our time. Over five chapters a more diversified view on responsible business today will be unfolded step-by-step and placed in a wider context of contemporary political and economic conditions. First, voluntary measures or so-called ‘soft law’ measures enabling responsible business are introduced and critically discussed. Their efficiency with regard to promoting responsible business is then put to the test by five case studies on global corporations ...

Frontiers of Philosophy in China, 2017

Journal of Business Ethics, 2019

Journal of Creating Value, 2019

In the past, linear extrapolations of strategic plans offered promising guides to the future. Man... more In the past, linear extrapolations of strategic plans offered promising guides to the future. Managers tried to categorize well-known problems into boxes with strategy labels, the top of a firm’s agenda was steering clear of potential potholes, and there was a choice between clear-cut future options. These strategies no longer work today, and just repeating what we have been done before is not a convincing recipe. The world has become different with multiple and often fuzzy options. In this article, we suggest that companies in different industries have to become more agile. Naturally, agility is not easy to implement as managers fear chaos and confusion. Thus, we introduce agility patterns with different degrees of change. For instance, high-reliability organizations, such as transportation or nuclear energy, are supposed to engage more in gradual change and stick closer to planning. However, we argue that even these companies have to become agile, albeit on a different level. In c...

Philosophy of Management, 2016

The paper concentrates on the Chinese philosophical strand of Daoism and analyses in how far this... more The paper concentrates on the Chinese philosophical strand of Daoism and analyses in how far this philosophy can contribute to new directions in management theory. Daoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy, which can only be traced back roughly to about 200 or 100 BC when during Han dynasty the writers Laozi and Zhuangzi were identified as “Daoists”. However, during Han dynasty Daoism and prevalent Confucianism intermingled. Generally, it is rather difficult today to clearly discern Daoist thought from other philosophical strands as in the same period also Buddhism, Mohism and Legalism shaped contemporary thinking. Furthermore, there is a difference between the religious practice of Daoism in the sense of popular religion and the theoretical basis of Daoist thought presented in Laozi and Zhuangzi. The religious practice in contrast can have very mystical elements, which are linked to superstition. Moreover, there is also the question of in how far Daoist thought and practice is still prevalent at all in Chinese society today. Hence, the picture of Daoism is heterogeneous, first, regarding the question of what can be defined as the “original core” of Daoism, second, the difference between thought and religious practice, and third, the question of the prevalence of Daoist thought in China today. This paper offers a broader discussion regarding the potential ways of application of Daoist thought today over five parts. First, it illuminates the most important values taught under the name of Daoism. Thereby, it focuses on the Daoist thought and leaves out the actual religious practice together with its mystical elements. Second, these values are then put into the management context to analyse in how far Daoism can broaden our contemporary understanding of management in general and different management styles in particular. Third, Daoism in a management context is then contrasted with the comparably rigid Confucian doctrine also applied in a business context. Here, the application of Daoist and Confucian thought in the fields of leadership, management and corporate ethics is presented and compared. Fourth, insights into the real business practice in China regarding Chinese philosophies like Daoism and Confucianism in fields like management, strategy or corporate ethics are provided. Fifth, an outlook is presented where Daoism is discussed in the context of contemporary debates on sustainability and CSR. Here, the proposed paper illuminates in how far the philosophy of Daoism can also contribute to a more holistic understanding of sustainability and CSR today, thereby contributing to more innovative solutions in management.

When entering a market or country abroad to operate business there, it is important to understand... more When entering a market or country abroad to operate business there, it is important to understand the respective local culture. Hence, for business success in China it is vital to gain at least a partial understanding of Chinese Culture. In this article three different perspectives are presented on how to look at Chinese Culture. The first position, which is still quite prominent in contemporary business ethics and management studies, appears to label China a "Confucian Culture". Based on this, attitudes and behaviour are all seen in the light of Confucianism. A collection of related articles dealing with cross-cultural comparisons are summarised in this part. They had been published among others by William E. Shafer and Christopher J. Robertson in the Journal of Business Ethics. The second position, presented by Ning Huang, is merely descriptive. She states obvious differences between the Chinese and German culture, but without categorising them as typically Confucian. Th...