Prof. Keikoh Ryu, Keio Business School, shares research showing that successful cross-border people management depends less on exporting corporate rules and more on aligning ethical systems with local employee expectations and culture. A CoBS Research Pod with actionable research for professionals eager for knowledge.

This Research Pod was developed by CoBS editor Hari Chandana Chinni. With kind acknowledgements to Prof. Keikoh Ryu for reviewing and editing.  Related research: Ryu, K. (2017). Theoretical research on organizational ethical climate: applications and practices of Japanese enterprises in China. Journal of Economic Behaviour.

When MNCs open up operations abroad or acquire local firms to manage via expatriate management or from afar, tensions naturally occur. How can these be solved? Prof. Keikoh Ryu, Keio Business School, explores the issue through research that focuses on Japanese firms in China, with lessons in Japanese ethical management approaches that provide key insights for other international firms wanting to set up business in the Middle Kingdom.

Prof. Ryu asserts that while both Chinese and Japanese firms operate within distinctly different ethical climates influenced by their cultural and regulatory environments, the key to effective ethical management in both contexts lies in balancing these inherent orientations with adaptive strategies that meet the local needs and global standards.

Three “ethical climates” stand out that gives companies and professionals a basis for applying the necessary conditions and strategy to ensure job performance, impactful leadership, and organizational commitment: The Golden Mean style, Social Responsibility style, and Friendship-Efficiency style.

In this CoBS Research Pod aimed at professionals, you will:

• Understand the cross-cultural context through a set of key takeaways obtained through in-the-field research
• Project the findings onto your own situation, that of your team, and of the company
• And put into practice an ethical and impactful leadership style adapted to your workforce culture through an action plan.

Download Ethical People Management in Asia-Pacific: The case of Japanese firms operating in China

Useful links:

Discover Prof. Keikoh Ryu’s new book, published by Routledge, Strategic Altruism: Total Strategy Inspired by Kazuo Inamori’s Management Philosophy and now on sale

• Read a related interview with Prof. Keikoh Ryu: Strategic Altruism: A rigorous, operational, and coherent standard for corporate decision-making
• Visit the Keio Business School website
• Apply for the KBS International Exchange programme and study in Japan.

Learn more about the Council on Business & Society

The Council on Business & Society (CoBS), visionary in its conception and purpose, was created in 2011, and is dedicated to promoting responsible leadership and tackling issues at the crossroads of business, society, and planet including the dimensions of sustainability, diversity, social impact, social enterprise, employee wellbeing, ethical finance, ethical leadership and the place responsible business has to play in contributing to the common good.  

• Follow the CoBS on LinkedIn
• Download magazines and learning content from the CoBS website downloads page.

Member schools of the Council on Business & Society.

• ESSEC Business School, France, Singapore, Morocco
• FGV-EAESP, Brazil
• School of Management Fudan University, China
• IE Business School, Spain
• Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, India
• Keio Business School, Japan
• Monash Business School, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia
• Olin Business School, USA
• Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, Canada
• Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa
• Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
• Warwick Business School, United Kingdom.