6.2 Factors Influencing Sustainable Employee and Business Development in Africa: The Case of Chinese Organizations
Presenter's country
United Kingdom
Start Date
17-8-2018 4:30 PM
End Date
17-8-2018 5:30 PM
Location
Bernhard Center 105-107
Submission type
Abstract
Abstract
This paper explains the factors that influence African sustainable development in the context of business by using a stakeholder view. The paper analyzes the practices of 86 Chinese organizations investing in Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. These organizations involve different types of ownership and sizes across various sectors. From these organizations, 156 interviews were conducted with a similar proportion of Chinese investors/business owners and local employees from each of the countries. The findings show that (1) Chinese managers perceive that local workers are able to improve their stakeholder roles in the workplace by improving their education level, skills for work, and capabilities both prior to work and in the workplace; (2) Chinese managers’ ability to adapt to and learn from the local business environment will help improve the stakeholder status in the local workforce; and (3) local perceptions of Chinese organizational practices influence the development of both Chinese firms and the local workforce. These findings help identify the need for local sustainable development in businesses and the influence of foreign organizations on such development from a local employee stakeholder perspective.
Keywords
sustainable development, local employee, stakeholder perspective, Africa, China
6.2 Factors Influencing Sustainable Employee and Business Development in Africa: The Case of Chinese Organizations
Bernhard Center 105-107
This paper explains the factors that influence African sustainable development in the context of business by using a stakeholder view. The paper analyzes the practices of 86 Chinese organizations investing in Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa. These organizations involve different types of ownership and sizes across various sectors. From these organizations, 156 interviews were conducted with a similar proportion of Chinese investors/business owners and local employees from each of the countries. The findings show that (1) Chinese managers perceive that local workers are able to improve their stakeholder roles in the workplace by improving their education level, skills for work, and capabilities both prior to work and in the workplace; (2) Chinese managers’ ability to adapt to and learn from the local business environment will help improve the stakeholder status in the local workforce; and (3) local perceptions of Chinese organizational practices influence the development of both Chinese firms and the local workforce. These findings help identify the need for local sustainable development in businesses and the influence of foreign organizations on such development from a local employee stakeholder perspective.