This book was written by Pr. Benoit Vermander as the lead author, with the contribution of other authors including Philip J. Chmielewski, Olivier Coispeau, the Maverlinn Team, Amandine Monteil and Stephan Rothlin. The underlying CSR research programme was initiated and led by Maverlinn Strategic Finance with the support of industry leaders, including Bureau Veritas, Michelin, Saint Gobain, Air Liquide and Auchan China to help foreign companies operating in China better assess and exercise their corporate social responsibility (CSR) in their specific multifaceted context. One of the key findings is that in China as elsewhere, taking into account CSR values and practices is ultimately a much rewarding long term business strategy.

This book develops i) a vision, ii) an assessment, and iii) a blueprint, so as to offer decision-makers a framework into which they can locate the strategic and ethical decisions they have to make.

• The vision tries to answer two key questions: i) How to define CSR and make the notion fully relevant in the Chinese context? ii) What are the resources provided by China’s socio-economic, cultural, and legal contexts that define the modus operandi of corporations being conscious of their social responsibilities?
  
• The assessment analyzes the most pressing challenges to be answered and focuses on specific issues such as safety, financial transparency, sense of individual and collective responsibility, as well as staff training and participation.
  
• A blueprint is offered, helping corporations weigh the social, cultural and ecological impact of the decisions they have to make.

Pr. Vermander's book shows that CSR should be understood and implemented not only as a specific dimension of the corporate strategy but also as an internal driving force nurtured by the contribution of the individual team members of the corporation. The objective of the management oriented recommendations formulated in this book is to foster, in the Chinese context, the emergence of a self-adapting and robust CSR engine capable to deliver better insights for tackling corporate challenges and ultimately foster excellence.

Book review and selected comments :

“I would like to recommend this book to you.”

Lu Mai
Secretary General, China Development Research Foundation

“This book criss-crosses perspectives emanating from the business world, the government, the experts, and the civil society. It anchors corporate responsibility into a vision of sustainable development enriched by China's cultural resources. It is indeed a blueprint for putting responsibility and sustainability at the core of public and private strategies, and a required reading for all entrepreneurs operating in Asia.”

Michel Camdessus
Former Director General IMF (1987-2000)

“In corporate social responsibility, a great challenge is the gap between knowledge and expectations between managers in China and their head office colleagues. This book provides a comprehensive, systematic informative and committed perspective essential to both.”

Christian Murck
Former President of the American Chamber of Commerce, China

“Coming from a foreign scholar, this book builds on the perspectives offered by the Chinese culture, while bringing in the most recent examples of corporate practices observable in China, offering the reader an absolutely unique perspective.”

He Yi
Chairman of Essilor (China) Holding Company
Member of the board of Essilor International

“This book brings moral clarity and sense of direction to companies having to make strategic choices in a complex environment. At the same time, it always takes into account the economic and cultural conditions of China. Such reading nurtures discernment and decisiveness.”

Alex Wang
CEO of Orange Solutions Consulting (Beijing)

“Benoit Vermander has brought his deep knowledge of China and the Chinese culture to help us understand the evolving complex nature of CSR with Chinese characteristics. This timely work will be useful for managers and leaders looking for a compass to guide them in developing the responsible corporate and individual behaviour that is very much needed in Chinese organizations.”

Henri-Claude de Bettignies
Emeritus Professor of Asian Business, INSEAD
Emeritus Professor of Globally Responsible Leadership, CEIBS, Shanghai

“Pr. Benoit Vermander's book anchors key CSR findings in the day-to-day reality of China business, with thoughtful and actionable conclusions. It contributes a much needed toolbox for the management of all companies striving to nurture a strong culture of excellence in China and beyond.”

Olivier Coispeau
Co-Founder of Maverlinn Strategic Finance