Building Internal Capacities for Change in China: Action Learning in the Public and Private Sectors

Abstract

China has pursued an ‘Open Door’ policy since 1979 which started the transformation of its economic system. Foreign companies were invited to invest in China and to participate in the construction of a socialist market economy with ‘Chinese characteristics’ and the Chinese government itself embarked on fundamental reforms of its administration. In the short time span of 20 years, China has transformed itself from being an isolated underdeveloped country to a country with significant economic prowess. Its GDP has quadrupled since 1979 and China is now enjoying a huge trade surplus with the United States. Major Chinese cities from Guanzhou and Shanghai to Tianjin and Beijing have gone through urban renewal and now boast a skyline dotted with skyscrapers forming the backdrop to bustling economic activities. Today, the major companies of the world can no longer afford to be absent from the China market.