Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- List of Tables and Figures
- Chapter 1 Introduction: Studying Christian Ethics and Business Life in Post-1978 China
- Chapter 2 Religion and Economic Life: The Protestant Ethic and Max Weber's Legacy
- Chapter 3 Overseas Chinese Christian Entrepreneurs in Post-1978 China (Shanghai): Business, Faith and Ethics
- Chapter 4 Religious Motivation and Entrepreneurial Spirit
- Chapter 5 Business–Faith Integration: Three Types of Christian-Based Companies
- Chapter 6 Communities of Faith: Fellowships for Overseas Chinese Christian Businesspeople in Shanghai
- Chapter 7 Female Entrepreneurs: Four Stories
- Chapter 8 Conclusion and Research Implications
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 8 - Conclusion and Research Implications
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- List of Tables and Figures
- Chapter 1 Introduction: Studying Christian Ethics and Business Life in Post-1978 China
- Chapter 2 Religion and Economic Life: The Protestant Ethic and Max Weber's Legacy
- Chapter 3 Overseas Chinese Christian Entrepreneurs in Post-1978 China (Shanghai): Business, Faith and Ethics
- Chapter 4 Religious Motivation and Entrepreneurial Spirit
- Chapter 5 Business–Faith Integration: Three Types of Christian-Based Companies
- Chapter 6 Communities of Faith: Fellowships for Overseas Chinese Christian Businesspeople in Shanghai
- Chapter 7 Female Entrepreneurs: Four Stories
- Chapter 8 Conclusion and Research Implications
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
This research has attempted, through a qualitative study of 60 Overseas Chinese Christian entrepreneurs in China, to shed light on three salient issues regarding Christianity and business life in China. First, it shows how Christian faith is taken seriously by those entrepreneurs and also shows the ways in which this faith influences their daily business practices in a very secular society such as China in an ethical and rational direction. The study implies that Christianity has been and can be one possible source and actor of a new business morality in China. Second, unlike the typical assumption that links Overseas Chinese businesspeople with Neo-Confucian entrepreneurs, this research joins other studies in demonstrating the heterogeneity of the Overseas Chinese community. It shows that there is a significant and growing number of Christians among Overseas Chinese who are actively involved in Christian networking and pursuing management strategies based on Christian principles. Instead of shying away from revealing their faith, they are keen to integrate their faith into their business practices. Although it is difficult to disentangle totally Confucian values from Christian values with these businesspeople, the conduct and rationales behind their choices seem to have become more an implementation of certain interpretations of Christian values than a straightforward result of Confucian values. Third, the case studies on Overseas Chinese businesswomen imply that women are not only active in the church, as many have noticed, but are also steadily involved in entrepreneurship.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Overseas Chinese Christian Entrepreneurs in Modern ChinaA Case Study of the Influence of Christian Ethics on Business Life, pp. 143 - 150Publisher: Anthem PressPrint publication year: 2012