Race and Culture - The Conversation in Asia

In the wake of recent social turmoil in many countries, the issue of race has been prioritised on the global corporate D&I agenda. Yet many companies are grappling with how to address this topic in Asia.

• How do we talk about race and culture at work in a way that resonates locally? 
• And what do the dynamics of race and culture look like in different markets in Asia?

With strong corporate sponsorship, Community Business is currently leading an ambitious research project - engaging with local stakeholders across 6 markets in Asia to explore answers to these questions and provide recommendations for companies seeking to adopt a progressive approach to addressing race and culture in their workplaces in Asia. Learn the latest updates and download available research assets

As Phase 2 of the research project comes to an end, we’re excited to release the second set of research assets designed to understand experiences of racial and cultural bias of corporate employees in different markets in Asia.

Employee Survey Key Findings Market Infographics 

In August 2021, Community Business partnered with Qualtrics to conduct an anonymous online survey with over 2,000 corporate employees in 6 different markets in Asia.  Download these infographics to view key findings for each market and access credible data on: 

• Key attributes that define employees’ cultural identity  

• The extent to which racism is perceived as an issue, the nature and key grounds for racism 

• Experiences of cultural bias and the negative impact in the workplace 

• Role of companies in addressing racism – both within their workplaces and in broader society 

Employee Stories Videos 

In addition to the employee survey, we invited employees across Asia to share their stories directly to camera. Hear the stories behind the data to get a better understanding of employee experiences and perspectives in the region. 

The specific objectives of this Research Project include: 

• Explore the extent to which a discussion on race and culture is important for companies in Asia at this time 

• Understand the context and key dimensions of race and culture in different markets in Asia 

• Identify specific experiences of racial and cultural bias (positive and negative) in the workplace in different markets in Asia 

• Discuss whether companies have a responsibility to address race and culture in their organisations in Asia 

• Share ways in which companies can address race and culture in Asia, drawing on direct experience (good and bad) of companies and insights from local experts 

• Provide recommendations, resources and tools to help companies address race and culture in Asia 

In examining this topic in Asia, the Research Project will focus on the markets of China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Philippines and Singapore.

The Research Project is divided into three phases and will include a range of research approaches: 

Phase 1: Race & Culture – Do We Need to Talk About This in Asia?  (Apr – Jun 2021)

In the first phase, we conducted background research and interviewed experts across the region (mainly local academics with published work on this topic) to understand the context and relevance of discussion on race and culture in different markets in Asia. 

• Market Context Infographics – learn about the local dynamics

• Expert Perspectives – read what they have to share 

Phase 2: Understanding Racial and Cultural Bias - Experiences in Asia  (Jul – Sep 2021) 

In the second phase, our focus turned to corporate employees to understand their experiences in Asia. We’ve done this via: 

• An anonymous online Employee Survey with some 2,000 corporate employees across Asia

• Employee Stories Videos

Phase 3: How to Address Race & Culture in Asia  (Nov 2021 – Jan 2022) 

In the final phase, in addition to engaging externally to identify corporate approaches and best practices, we are looking to summarise and analyse all that we have heard and learnt to provide recommendations for companies.

• One to one interviews with business leaders and consultants   

• Corporate Case Studies 

Stay tuned as we look to release further research assets in Q1 2022!

This Research Project is sponsored by the following organisations:

The research project is ongoing till Q1 2022. To learn more about how to get involved, visit this page.