How does a large corporation take company-wide signature programs and apply them in China in a sensitive and intelligent way? We asked that question of IBM and other companies for our upcoming In Focus report on Community Involvement in China.

"You have to find out what the issues are and what the community and government are trying to do about it, and then talk to the relevant representatives, and say, 'Look, this is what we have done in other countries; would it be relevant to what you are trying to achieve locally, or would we need to make some adaptations?'"

These are the words of IBM's Louise Davis, Executive of Corporate Community Relations for IBM Asia Pacific, in an interview conducted for The Center's upcoming InFocus Report on community involvement in China.

"China is the most happening place in the world right now, and there are lots of things that are very exciting," said Davis. "We focus on education, and the hot thing for the government is the West. While schools and teachers in Shanghai are good and well resourced, there is a lot that needs to be done in more remote areas in the West of the country."

According to Davis, IBM's signature community involvement programs — Re-inventing Education, Kid Smart, and their web-based employee volunteer model, On-Demand Community — all exist in China as well as elsewhere in the IBM footprint. IBM recognizes, however, that the nature of a program is dictated by what the local community and government want.

"We don't just take what is available in the US and say 'this is it, take it or leave it.' We go to the people we know (in Government or community organizations) and let them know what we have available — for example, web-assisted technology for people with disabilities or, elderly people — and how it works, and see if there is an interest first."

Click here for more information on IBM's community involvement programs.

Editor's Note: Watch for our upcoming In Focus report, "Community Involvement in China," for more viewpoints, interviews and information.