Creating shared value in China: The case of Austrian businesses

The objective of this study is to investigate the state of creating shared value (CSV) in China, where a number of societal pressures and issues, appear to offer businesses plentiful opportunities to apply the CSV model. The focus here lies on foreign businesses in China, which are commonly referred to as a key driving force behind China's economic growth. Following a review of relevant literature discussing both, the global as well as the Chinese context of companies “doing good,” this study utilizes online and in-person interviews to gather additional data to derive more insight into recent business practices, specifically analyzing which level of “doing good” foreign businesses in China are currently engaging in. For this empirical component of the study, Austrian businesses in China serve as the target population. The study's findings show, that while “doing good” has been a relevant topic for foreign businesses in China, many are still engaging in simpler ways of “doing good,” such as philanthropy or Corporate Social Responsibility. Only few companies currently follow a CSV approach in China, yet a larger number find CSV a suitable approach for businesses in China, indicating that CSV does have potential as China continues her economic growth. The study concludes with recommendations for both, academia and business practice, and could potentially also serve as an inspiration for regulatory policies for foreign businesses in China.