Showing papers in "Asia Pacific Business Review in 2013"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the transformation of vertical keiretsu in the Japanese automotive industry from 1991 to 2011, and suggest that the Japanese economy is developing similarly to the United States.
Abstract: Drawing on institutional theory, this paper discusses the transformation of vertical keiretsu in the Japanese automotive industry from 1991 to 2011. By investigating the cases of Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, the paper empirically contributes to the debate on whither the Japanese economy is heading. Long-standing relationships to suppliers and exclusiveness have changed significantly in Nissan, while remaining stable in Toyota and Honda. New competition-based elements and more open support systems have been added to earlier governance mechanisms such as power and anshin (security). We argue that the studied keiretsu since the 1990s follows diverse and complex trajectories of hybridization, and we suggest that the Japanese economy is developing similarly.
66 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used institutional theory to explore the driving force for internationalization of firms in emerging economies, and found that the internationalization practices of firms are driven not only by efficiency consideration, but also by the desire to conform to institutional isomorphic pressures exerted by the social environment.
Abstract: This study uses institutional theory to explore the driving force for internationalization of firms in emerging economies. It posits that the internationalization practices of firms are driven not only by efficiency consideration, but also by the desire to conform to institutional isomorphic pressures exerted by the social environment. The impact of three types of institutional isomorphic pressures – coercive pressure, mimetic pressure and normative pressure – on the intensity of internationalization is investigated. Analysis using survey data collected from 174 Chinese firms shows that all three institutional pressures have positive and significant effects on the intensity of internationalization. We also examine the interaction between institutional pressure and firm capability. Results suggest that firm capabilities enhance the effect of coercive pressure on internationalization, and weaken the effect of normative pressure on internationalization.
64 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors make a conceptual and empirical contribution by developing and operationalizing suitable scales to capture certain Confucian values (face saving, humility, group orientation, hierarchy and reciprocity) that can influence East Asian consumers.
Abstract: This study aims to make a conceptual and empirical contribution by developing and operationalizing suitable scales to capture certain Confucian values (face saving, humility, group orientation, hierarchy and reciprocity) that can influence East Asian consumers. Based on the pertinent literature, focus group discussions with extended East Asian families and East Asian scholar interviews, we develop and validate our measures on data from over 400 respondents across four East Asian cities (Tokyo, Hanoi, Beijing and Singapore). Despite some variance, our findings signal that East Asians are highly influenced by such traditional values. Several implications are extracted and future research directions suggested.
39 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore excellence in leadership in Thailand, a nation that has strong roots in Theravada Buddhism, and find that there are strong cultural factors such as nonconfrontation, respect, and deference for authority mediating the perceptions of Thai managers with regards to perceptions of an excellent leader.
Abstract: In this paper, we explore excellence in leadership in Thailand, a nation that has strong roots in Theravada Buddhism. Summated scales and a structural model were constructed to explain the relationships between the excellences in leadership constructs. A sample frame of 401 Thai managers employed in organizations in Bangkok, North Thailand, and East Thailand participated in this research. The findings suggest that there are strong cultural factors such as non-confrontation, respect, and deference for authority mediating the perceptions of Thai managers with regards to perceptions of an excellent leader. Age and gender are also demonstrated as key differentiating factors in the perceptions of Thai managers.
39 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a cross-level, in-depth interviews to analyze strategic international human resource management (SIHRM) of three large Chinese multinationals was conducted to understand the characteristics of the SIHRM for Chinese multinational companies and how their SIHRm orientation facilitates their international investment and operation.
Abstract: Strategic international human resource management (SIHRM) is crucial for the effective leveraging of human resources in organizations to achieve the desired business strategies. There is a rich collection of studies on western multinational corporations (MNCs) in China, but few studies that explore the SIHRM of Chinese MNCs operating overseas. This study utilizes cross-level, in-depth interviews to analyse SIHRM of three large Chinese multinationals. The paper contributes to literature by addressing two contextual SIHRM issues, namely the characteristics of the SIHRM for Chinese multinationals and how their SIHRM orientation facilitates their international investment and operation. The findings indicate that organizational transformation is the starting point for latecomers matching their international HRM strategies. Their SIHRM approaches, such as forming learning organizations, reliance on host-country nationals, reconciling both home and host-country effects and promoting ‘best practices’, facilitate ...
38 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the moderating effects of materialism and susceptibility to normative influence on the effects of country-specific animosity on willingness to buy foreign products made in Japan and found that the effect of consumers' animosity is subject to both consumers' personal values and social influences.
Abstract: This study examines empirically how Chinese consumers evaluate and respond to foreign products made in Japan. Specifically, it examines the moderating effects of materialism and susceptibility to normative influence on the effects of country-specific animosity on willingness to buy foreign products. The results confirm that the effect of consumers' animosity is subject to both consumers' personal values (for example, materialism) and social influences (susceptibility to normative influence). In terms of willingness to buy foreign products, the negative effect of economic animosity is alleviated by consumers' materialism, whereas that of war animosity is strengthened by consumers' susceptibility to normative influence. In turn, evidence from this study suggests implications for marketing strategies in developing countries.
37 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors aim at critiquing several existing strategic international human resource management frameworks and discusses their inadequacy to apply directly to emerging multinational companies, especially those generated from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Abstract: This paper aims at critiquing several existing strategic international human resource management frameworks and discusses their inadequacy to apply directly to emerging multinational companies, especially those generated from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. To complement the existing strategic international human resource management frameworks, key variables relevant to emerging economies are identified and an extended model with reference to emerging multinational companies is developed with several research propositions. It is believed that the proposed model would better capture the current development of multinationals in transition, and alert emerging international managers to address several people management challenges in the global context.
35 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the impact of the global financial crisis (GFC) on human resource management (HRM) practices in India's information technology (IT) industry has been analyzed and the short-term outlook for managers is to tread with caution.
Abstract: This paper analyses the impact of the global financial crisis (GFC) on human resource management (HRM) practices in India's information technology (IT) industry. The findings support the presence of a hard approach to HRM. Despite the negative impact of the GFC, there was evidence of growth in certain IT services. The specific positive and negative impacts include firms' unethical and opportunistic behaviour in performance management, pay freezes, reduced billing and employee turnover rates, increased competition, addition of new service areas and improvisations to firms' business models. The short-term outlook for managers is to tread with caution. Implications for theory and practice are also discussed.
33 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper proposed a congruency activation model and adopts a three by two experimental design to examine Chinese consumers' attitude towards different advertisements and found that Chinese consumers prefer transformational and integrated ads to informational ads under both low and high involvement conditions.
Abstract: Existing literature suggests that people's cognitive styles vary significantly across nations and cultures, and that East Asians emphasize holistic information processing and are more receptive to transformational advertising than people in the West. Yet, both theoretical rationale and empirical evidence of the effect of cognitive style on consumers' advertising responses are lacking. This study proposes a congruency-activation model and adopts a three by two experimental design to examine Chinese consumers' attitude towards different advertisements. The results indicate that Chinese consumers prefer transformational and integrated ads to informational ads under both low and high involvement conditions. Protocol analysis shows that Chinese consumers engage in more affective processing than cognitive thoughts. Thus, marketers should consider the effect of the cognitive style of indigenous consumers when devising international advertising strategies.
31 citations
TL;DR: The second wave of EA's high growth was led by China, and it is currently spreading into the whole of the EA region as discussed by the authors, which is known as the second rise of EA or EA-II.
Abstract: East Asia (EA) is conventionally defined to comprise China and Japan, the four newly industrialized economies (NIEs) of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEANs) economies. The EA region is well known for its dynamic economic growth through the past 50 years. The first wave of EA's high growth was led by Japan, and it soon spread to the four NIEs and some ASEAN economies. This marks the first rise of EA or EA-I. Japanese economists used to explain such a phenomenon as the ‘flying geese pattern’. The second wave of EA's high growth was led by China, and it is currently spreading into the whole of the EA region. The second rise of EA or EA-II is economically much more formidable than EA-I because of China's vast economic scale compounded by its high rates economic growth. The China-led EA-II today accounts for 24.4% of global GDP (higher than the US share of 21.5%), as compared to 15.2% of the Japan-led EA-I. Increasingly, China's economy operates ...
29 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors empirically analyzed the determinants of start-up firms in the Tsinghua Science Park in Beijing using survey data and found that firms that have their internal innovations grounded in their own competitive advantage show better innovation performance.
Abstract: This study empirically analyses the determinants of start-up firms in the Tsinghua Science Park in Beijing using survey data. More than 50% of firms are software and Internet related with CEOs has a strong technological background. It is found that firms that have their internal innovations grounded in their own competitive advantage show better innovation performance, while formal research and development collaboration with Tsinghua University plays only a marginal role. However, they benefit from informal connections with faculty members and access to students. Human resource management services by the Science Park management company are highly appreciated by tenant businesses. Finally, networking activities among tenants are found to be weak.
TL;DR: The authors argued that Malaysian investors have been able to burn with impunity, despite the dire consequences of haze on their home country, because of the close patronage relationships and vested interests of the Malaysian government elites in these companies.
Abstract: This paper analyses the regionalization of Malaysian oil palm plantation firms into Indonesia. These firms have been implicated in starting fires to clear land for planting, which has resulted in transboundary haze. This paper argues that these Malaysian investors have been able to burn with impunity, despite the dire consequences of haze on their home country, because of the close patronage relationships and vested interests of the Malaysian government elites in these companies. Because of this, the home government is inclined to protect and defend the actions of these firms in Indonesia against such allegations, while the Malaysian public continues to suffer the haze.
TL;DR: The authors reviewed 52 papers on Korean workplace gender discrimination issues that were published in the literature from 1990 to 2010 and found that persisting, though decreasing, levels of workplace discrimination and an increasing interest in the field of knowledge by both female and male scholars, especially over the past decade.
Abstract: The publishing of research on gender discrimination issues in the Korean workplace in English began in 1990 and has been steadily growing in scope, quantity and popularity. This research reviews 52 papers on Korean workplace gender discrimination issues that were published in the literature from 1990 to 2010. The goal of this study is to provide scholars, HR practitioners and policy-makers in Korea with a reference compilation of specific key characteristics for the previous studies in this field of knowledge, allowing them faster and more complete access to the past literature. Notable findings include persisting, though decreasing, levels of workplace discrimination and an increasing interest in the field of knowledge by both female and male scholars, especially over the past decade. More recently, studies have acknowledged the legal progress made by the Korean government in reducing gender issues, but have also identified many limitations in the scope and implementation of the various laws.
TL;DR: This article investigated workers' perception of organizational attractiveness in India, China and Thailand and found significant differences between different generations within cultures and between the same generations across cultures, which may be useful for similar studies as well as to help HR managers in making specific recommendations regarding their recruitment and talent development initiatives in that part of the world.
Abstract: This study aimed to develop our understanding of how generational differences in work-related values interact with those attributed to a national culture by investigating workers' perception of organizational attractiveness in India, China and Thailand. The results show significant differences between different generations within cultures and between the same generations across cultures. By developing an impression of cultural and generational value sets from the ground up, we hope to have captured the current state of the acculturation processes in those countries, which may be useful for similar studies as well as to help HR managers in making specific recommendations regarding their recruitment and talent development initiatives in that part of the world.
TL;DR: In this paper, a meta-analysis of 7748 firm samples reported in 29 studies (21 Chinesebased studies and 8 other country-based studies), test the prediction of resource-based theory and institutional theory in the context of managerial ties-firm performance relationship.
Abstract: Through a meta-analysis of 7748 firm samples reported in 29 studies (21 Chinese-based studies and 8 other country-based studies), we test the prediction of resource-based theory and institutional theory in the context of managerial ties–firm performance relationship. We examine whether contextual factors, including culture type (individualism vs. collectivism), industry setting (manufacturing vs. service), firm size (small and medium enterprises (SMEs) vs. non-SMEs), and measurements influence the managerial ties–firm performance link. Meta-analysis findings illustrate a positive and significant effect between managerial ties and firm performance, and business ties have a stronger positive effect on firm performance than political ties. The contextual moderators of cultural type, industry setting and firm size partially explain significant variance in effect sizes across studies. The result of meta-regression also suggests that the importance of political ties will decline over time. Finally, our analysis...
TL;DR: The authors examined the control of Chinese financial services and found that private interests and the regulatory authorities are intimately linked to the state apparatus and that there is no radical break in sight with China's unique blend of party state-led capitalism.
Abstract: Chinese capitalism cannot be captured by theoretical frameworks and concepts such as the ‘Varieties of Capitalism’ approach. Despite its integration into the world economy and the financial crises, the country has kept a stable Leninist basis of formal institutions. The case of financial services shows: (i) a resilience of the sector to the ‘Great Financial Crisis’ of 2008 and (ii) the use of the crisis as an opportunity. Examining the control of Chinese financial services shows that private interests and the regulatory authorities are intimately linked to the state apparatus and that there is no radical break in sight with China's unique blend of party state-led capitalism.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the challenges of human resource management in China and propose some possible solutions and future research directions, together with possible solutions to the HRM challenges in China.
Abstract: China suffered minimal fallout from the global financial crisis due to its burgeoning economy and ‘socialism with Chinese characteristics’ political strategy. However, despite this, its industries face enormous human resource management (HRM) challenges associated with the country's rapid economic growth. Principal amongst these HRM challenges is the need to attract and retain crucial talent. It is likely that if Chinese industry is unsuccessful in these endeavours, the future economic growth of China may be stalled, resulting in more serious long-term outcomes. This paper explores these challenges together with some possible solutions and future research directions.
TL;DR: In this article, a timely and important book, the authors investigate the relationship between the dif-ferent dimensions of the diceto-divergence and the relationship of the two dimensions.
Abstract: P. Sheldon, S.H. Kim, Y.Q. Li, and M. Warner, London and New York: Routledge, 2011, xix +326 pp., £ 90.25 (hbk), ISBN 978-0415584548 In this timely and important book, the authors investigate the d...
TL;DR: Based on recent interviews with 20 food and drink production companies in Shanghai region, the authors aims to address a key research question: what are the institutional and organizational factors that influence the production systems in general and the quality and safety of products in particular?
Abstract: In recent years, China has experienced many crises related to food safety which have challenged the legitimacy of food production companies and damaged the reputation of relevant state law enforcement agencies, as well as influenced consumer confidence. Based on recent interviews with 20 food and drink production companies in the Shanghai region, this paper aims to address a key research question: what are the institutional and organizational factors that influence the production systems in general and the quality and safety of products in particular? The outcome of this research indicates that the pressure to minimize costs driven by price competition, changing consumer expectations, as well as a lack of enforcement of state regulation, cause companies to struggle to stay afloat and impede their commitment to social responsibility.
TL;DR: In this paper, a large-scale study of the global financial crisis and its impact on MNCs in Australia was conducted, considering occurrences of site closures, offshoring, outsourcing, labour force reductions, reductions in working hours, salary reductions, and reductions in training and travel.
Abstract: This paper analyses some of the factors that impact multinational companies' (MNCs) reaction to the global financial crisis. This paper reports the results from a large-scale study of its impact on MNCs in Australia, considering occurrences of site closures, offshoring, outsourcing, labour force reductions, reductions in working hours, salary reductions, and reductions in training and travel. Evidence showed that MNC reactions varied according to certain institutional and organizational effects. For example, MNCs originating from liberal-market economies are more likely to have offshored and outsourced production and reduced employment. The implications for understanding of MNC behaviour are discussed.
TL;DR: The authors investigated whether impression management exists in Chinese corporate annual reports and found that impression management motives do underlie chairman's statements in the Chinese context in a number of ways, as they suggest in this contribution.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether ‘impression management’ exists in Chinese corporate annual reports. Despite flourishing in the Western context, the literature regarding impression management has not yet received any significant development pertinent to China and its cultural norms. The following question is raised: do the most profitable Chinese listed companies disclose information in their chairmen's statements in a way that is significantly different from those of least profitable companies? The results indicate impression management motives do underlie chairman's statements in the Chinese context in a number of ways, as we suggest in this contribution.
TL;DR: The contributions to this symposium on "Demystifying Chinese Management" have attempted to tackle new strategic issues and challenges vis-a-vis the newly diversified ownership and management system which has occurred since Deng's economic reforms as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The contributions to this symposium on ‘Demystifying Chinese Management’ have attempted to tackle new strategic issues and challenges vis-a-vis the newly diversified ownership and management system which has occurred since Deng's economic reforms. It is clear that when we try to ‘make sense’ of management in the People's Republic of China, we must take into account the degree to which Chinese management has become distinctive, with an adaptation of exogenous knowledge to local circumstances and a relative degree of ‘convergence’ involving a synthesis of ‘local’, ‘glocal’ and ‘global’ forms.
TL;DR: In this paper, a meta-analytic approach was used to aggregate the empirical findings of studies published before 2011 and the results from generalized least-squared analyses showed that the predictor-performance relationships are stronger for Asian firms when the predictors are market orientation, marketing synergy, technological synergy, product advantage, product innovativeness, cross-functional integration, top management support, pre-development proficiency, technological proficiency, market potential and technological turbulence.
Abstract: Even though a large amount of research has investigated how different factors impact new product performance in different contexts, little attention has been paid to exploring the drivers of new product success for businesses in Asia. This study therefore focuses on this issue by using a meta-analytic approach to aggregate the empirical findings of studies published before 2011. By controlling several contextual factors (product type, unit of analysis and time), the results from generalized least-squared analyses show that the predictor–performance relationships are stronger for Asian firms when the predictors are market orientation, marketing synergy, technological synergy, product advantage, product innovativeness, cross-functional integration, top management support, pre-development proficiency, technological proficiency, market potential and technological turbulence. In addition, the results also reveal that most of the performance effects of the predictors are different between low-technology and hig...
TL;DR: For example, the authors argued that if history does indeed repeat itself, the first time as "tragedy", the second and successive times may be no less "tragic" for those concerned.
Abstract: What Karl Marx might have said is that if history does indeed repeat itself, the first time as ‘tragedy’, the second and successive times may be no less ‘tragic’ for those concerned. He was not con...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors build on resource-based and network theories to pose an integrative framework for understanding diversification strategy of MBA curricula in Chinese business schools and find that returnee faculty members exhibit a curvilinear effect on curricular diversification.
Abstract: This paper builds on resource-based and network theories to pose an integrative framework for understanding diversification strategy of MBA curricula in Chinese business schools. Using a data set collected from 41 schools offering MBA degrees, we find that returnee faculty members exhibit a curvilinear effect on curricular diversification. We also find that network centrality moderates the relationship between returnee faculty members and diversification in those educational institutions with insufficient returnee faculty members who can nonetheless achieve synergies by utilizing their network connections. These results not only offer explanations on how organizations in developing countries can overcome limited internal resources disadvantages but also provide specific insights into how business schools in China can offset the challenges of improving their education programmes.
TL;DR: Ralf Bebenroth and Toshihiro Kanai as discussed by the authors addressed a question common to many so-callees: "Is it possible to be a good teacher without being a bad teacher?"
Abstract: Ralf Bebenroth and Toshihiro Kanai, London, Routledge (Contemporary Japan Series), 2011, 242 pp., hardback This collection of 12 scholarly contributions addresses a question common to many so-calle...
TL;DR: This article investigated the perception of the impact of globalization in Malaysia and found that a significant percentage of the respondents subscribe to the hegemonic view of globalization as a system that is closed to other political, economic and value systems.
Abstract: With the aid of a multi-disciplinary literature review and a sample of 165 managers and professionals, this study investigated the perception of the impact of globalization in Malaysia. The study revealed that a significant percentage of the respondents subscribe to the hegemonic view of globalization as a system that is closed to other political, economic and value systems. However, they also see the benefits of globalization in terms of the transfer of good business practices as well as the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI). The views of respondents vary between ethnic groups, with the Chinese tending to be more enthusiastic about the positive impact of globalization while the Malays tend to be more concerned about its negative impact. The theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, an edited collection attempts to "demystify" a number of these developments in Chinese management and to highlight recent research on strategic issues and challenges vis-a-vis realizing the managerial version of the so-called "Chinese Dream" in a wide range of business enterprises in China and overseas.
Abstract: The Chinese economy has dramatically changed in its nature over the last three decades or so. It has moved from being a command economy into market socialist system over the period and has morphed from an economy dominated by state-owned enterprises to an economy with a wide range of ownership forms, both public and private. In turn, its managers, managing and management have correspondingly undergone a major ‘sea change’. This edited collection attempts to ‘demystify’ a number of these developments in Chinese management and to highlight recent research on strategic issues and challenges vis-a-vis realizing the managerial version of the so-called ‘Chinese Dream’ in a wide range of business enterprises in China and overseas.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the characteristics of managers and management in Vietnam, which can be divided into two parts: the first part is a survey and the second part is an analysis of managers' characteristics.
Abstract: In this timely and important book, the authors investigate the characteristics of managers and management in Vietnam. The book has 11 chapters, which can be divided into two parts. The first part i...