Showing papers in "Chinese Management Studies in 2007"

Analysis of political risks and opportunities in public private partnerships (PPP) in China and selected Asian countries: Survey results

Abstract: Purpose – The paper aims to provide insight into the opportunities and impact of political risks in China and selected Asian countries on opportunities in infrastructure projects under public‐private partnership (PPP) schemes.Design/methodology/approach – The impact of political risks on PPPs was investigated through an international survey among senior staff of international lenders, investors, insurers, and legal and financial advisors from the public and private sector. The surveyed political risk categories base on the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Convention and literature review. They comprise six categories: currency inconvertibility and transfer restriction, expropriation, breach of contract, political violence, legal, regulatory and bureaucratic risks, and non‐governmental action risks. The survey evaluation uses fuzzy sets and non‐parametric statistics.Findings – The findings comprise rankings of political risk factors within China and Asian countries as well as rankings of these coun...

Guanxi and its role in business

Abstract: Purpose – Guanxi is believed to be a striking feature that helps to enter a profitable and growing Chinese market. Though many have guanxi well‐defined and classified, the core value undermined within the Confucianism that constructs guanxi networks, the mechanism of how guanxi works, and the factors that make them sustainable and durable in Chinese societies have rarely been discussed thoroughly. From the socio‐cultural view, this study seeks to examine guanxi and its role in business.Design/methodology/approach – The paper used a combination of qualitative research approaches, namely interviews, and questionnaire for survey. The quantitative research approaches was also chosen to test and discuss for the results consistency.Findings – The result suggests guanxi, the unique cultural character of Chinese, does not simply connect the social networks; it also plays the role in setting the rules in doing business in Chinese society.Research limitations/implications – This paper provides an inner view which o...

Corporate social responsibility in China:impact of regulations, market orientation and ownership structure

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to report on a study that contributes to the understanding of the determinants of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the largest emerging market, namely China. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is a survey of 600 hotels that resulted in 143 returned responses from top managers. Findings – Market orientation is the most significant predicator of CSR followed by government regulations. In contrast, ownership structure is found to have little effect. Originality/value – Previous research on CSR focuses on its nature and impact on business performance, and is carried out mainly in developed countries. This research contributes to one's understanding of the determinants of CSR in emerging markets like China. © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Learning, job satisfaction and commitment: an empirical study of organizations in China

Abstract: Purpose – This study seeks to fill the gap in the existing literature regarding relationships among organizational learning, culture, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment in the Chinese context, particularly, in native Chinese enterprise settings.Design/methodology/approach – Based on well‐defined western concepts and instruments, and statistical analysis of the data collected from 919 employees in nine companies located in Guangdong, China, this study adopted an empirical design.Findings – There are positive interrelations among the three variables and, specifically, organizational learning culture serves as a predictor and job satisfaction serves a mediator.Research limitations/implications – Owing to directly utilizing some commonly‐applied western theoretical frameworks and instruments, findings may not fully detect the cultural nuances in the Chinese employees; the narrowly geographically‐concentrated sampling may prevent generalization of findings to the broad Chinese context.Practical im...

Financial distress prediction of Chinese listed companies: a rough set methodology

Abstract: Purpose – To empirically estimate a rough set (RS) model in financial distress prediction for Chinese listed companies and assess its classification accuracy.Design/methodology/approach – RS model is used to test the effect of financial ratios and some non‐financial ratios on the probability of financial distress with a sample of 212 financial distressed firms and 212 healthy firms through years 1998‐2005.Findings – Growth ratio of per share of equity, net return on assets, earnings per share, interest coverage, ownership concentration coefficient, net profit margin, pledge, retained‐earnings ratio and total assets turnover have strong classification power in financial distress prediction of Chinese listed companies, especially the ownership concentration coefficient. Prediction model combining financial and non‐financial ratios outperforms the one just containing financial ratios.Research limitations/implications – One limitation of this research is that it relies on publicly available data and the RS me...

Entrepreneurial opportunities, capacities and entrepreneurial environments

Abstract: Purpose – To study how entrepreneurial environments influence entrepreneurial opportunities and capacities in China.Design/methodology/approach – This paper constructs statistical models to test the relationship between environmental factors and entrepreneurial opportunities or capacities in 13 cities in China according to the conceptual model of GEM. Based on the data derived from GEM reports, the authors use principal component of factor analysis and lest square regression to study the impacts of entrepreneurial environments on entrepreneurial opportunities and capacities empirically.Findings – This paper indicates that among 13 Chinese cities, if one city has more favorable conditions in terms of nine factors of entrepreneurial environments, it will have more entrepreneurial opportunities, and its entrepreneur will have higher capacities. Moreover, the authors find the extent of the impacts of the economic and cultural environments on entrepreneurial opportunities and capacities is higher than that of ...

Organizational changes in Chinese companies: a resource‐based view

Abstract: Purpose – In recent years, resource‐based theory has emerged as one of the most promising theoretical frameworks in the field of management. In this paper, the authors aim to explore the application of a resource‐based view when implementing organizational change in Chinese organizations. The problems associated with change are explored from the perspective of human resources (HR).Design/methodology/approach – Structured interviews were conducted with top or middle managers in 160 companies in several large cities in the northern part of China: Beijing, Tianjin, Jinan and Zibo.Findings – From the perspective of HR, the main problems faced when implementing change in Chinese organizations include the following: bureaucratic regulations and strict orders remain the core features of the process of implementing changes in Chinese companies. Meanwhile, the intrinsic values and emotions of employees were neglected and coercion and manipulation was frequently used as a strategy to overcome resistance to change. ...

Ever the twain shall meet

Abstract: Purpose – To explore how selected principles of Chinese philosophy and complexity theory can be synthesized into a model for human and organizational behavior that is more accurate and appropriate to global markets than either traditional eastern or western models.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a model of human and organizational behavior based on similarities between elements of Chinese philosophy and complexity theory.Findings – Several of the respective principles of Chinese philosophy and complexity theory – the Chinese transformational cycle and complexity's cycle of attractors, for instance – are strikingly similar, suggesting that their commonalities are universals of human experience resting underneath their surface differences. By playing those similar principles off against each other, one can develop a model of human and organizational behavior that transcends both east and west, a model highly valuable to business people operating in global markets.Practical implications – Th...

A cross‐cultural assessment of attitudes of business students toward business ethics

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine whether undergraduate and graduate business students in China and the USA share similar attitudes with regard to business ethics.Design/methodology/approach – Using an instrument derived from Becker and Fritzsche, this study measured attitudes toward eight business ethics value statements. In addition, the survey asked respondents to report the degree to which they believed that reports of corporate irresponsibility had influenced their responses to the survey. Tests of significance were used to determine significant differences.Findings – Despite advances in communication, the influence of foreign firms now operating in China, and the return to China of nationals who were educated in the USA, of eight business ethics value statements examined, significant differences between the Chinese and US respondents were found in all but one case.Research limitations/implications – The data were drawn from the southern USA and from eastern China. Future researchers ...

Revisiting motivation preference within the Chinese context: an empirical study

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a motivation preferences scale and identify different groups' motivation preferencesDesign/methodology/approach – Song Lianke designed a motivation preferences scale in 2002 Authors developed this scale by factor analysis in 2006 Participants were a sample of employees from ten organizations in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China This paper compared motivation preferences among different groups via multivariate analysis of varianceFindings – Motivation preferences can be characterized by existence needs, relatedness needs and growth needs Results indicated that motivation preferences were strongly related to needs with which individuals desire to be satisfied There were significant differences in motivation preferences among groups that were categorized by gender or personality Additionally, we found that Chinese culture influenced motivation preferencesResearch limitations/implications – Authors collected all data from Jiangsu Province, but future in

Ethics, values, and leadership beliefs and practices

Abstract: Purpose – Ethics for many individuals is manifested daily through decisions and actions which display their commitment to personal values. Values permeate our lives, and influence our actions. Managers' decisions and actions should serve as a reflection of their ethics and a mirror for their personal values and beliefs. Therefore, the research question is: does ethics influence how a person performs at work and even where he or she works? If ethics affects where one works, would people with strong ethics gravitate to organizations that match through their policies and behaviors and their own personal, values and beliefs?Design/methodology/approach – The survey was developed through a literature review and multiple iterations among colleagues. It was pretested among faculty, staff, and students in the USA. The US version was administered at a southeastern non‐secular university. The survey was then sent to China for translation. It was administered to an MBA class in China affiliated with the same US non‐s...

Strategic adaptations to environments inside China: An empirical investigation in the construction industry

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine a series of environmental factors and industrial conditions governing the construction industry in China. The outcome of this part of the analysis sheds light on the development of appropriate competitive strategies and important resources and competencies (IRCs) to establish long‐term competitive advantages.Design/methodology/approach – The overarching conceptual framework consists of both external and internal analyses. Since, the scope of work is very broad, the materials presented in this paper is limited to external analysis of environmental factors. The study is primarily derived from a literature review and synthesis of data gathered from various public sources. Certain parts of the analysis utilize frameworks developed by other researchers and selective statistical methods.Findings – Some environmental factors, such as government intervention and legal and regulatory systems require the development of Guanxi (relationships) to cope with. Other fact...

Epistemology of strategy: some insights from empirical analyses

Abstract: Purpose – Knowledge is often tapped in the process of strategy making. Yet this is rarely explored in the empirical research literature. However, to better understand strategy making in Chinese minds, a new epistemology of strategy is needed. This is the aim of this paper.Design/methodology/approach – A unique approach is taken here, one that highlights the differences in Eastern and Western thinking but also draws upon recent empirical results to underlie the discussion.Findings – As may be expected, evidence was found that the more business‐oriented a discipline, the more likely ideas from the discipline are being utilized in strategy making. Psychology, sociology and politics are far less relevant for strategy than the other disciplines. Even more intriguing insights are gained as to contextual influences on strategy‐making processes. In terms of economic sectors, the strategy‐making processes are richer in terms of the tapping of ideas than in services.Research limitations/implications – Clearly there...

Molecular, structural firm adaptations to environments: empirical Tao of the CEO

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate CEOs as leaders in manufacturing organizations. The focus is on the roles of CEOs in organizational adaptations to changing and continuously evolving external environments.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is grounded on a conceptual theory of molecular structuring inside organizations. The authors then investigate CEOs' leadership roles. For this purpose a long established Singapore perceptual database of corporate productivity practices is utilized. Two contrasting samples (N=65) of high and low adaptability manufacturing firms are obtained. Statistical technique of Pearson product correlation yields intriguing, contrasting patterns of findings. On the basis of these results, we then discuss the roles of CEOs in highly adaptive versus lowly adaptive manufacturing firms.Findings – The results are seen through the lenses of molecular structuring of organizations suggest a sharp contrast in the nature of the roles of CEOs. In organizations that ar...

Recruitment and retention of ICT skills among MNCs in Taiwan

Abstract: Purpose – The existing research on multinational companies (MNCs) tends to emphasise the diffusion of knowledge and skills in information, communication and technology (ICT) from the more advanced industrialised nations to less‐developed or latecomer countries. Few studies have examined the ICT work force supply and development of local ICT skills among MNCs' overseas subsidiaries. This paper aims to fill the gap by evaluating the issues relating to the host country's ICT work force planning and supply and the recruitment and retention of ICT skills among MNCs at their local subsidiary.Design/methodology/approach – A survey of 100 MNCs in Taiwan, Republic of China was used for analysis. The self‐administered questionnaire was designed to examine the extent of difficulty experienced by MNCs in recruiting high, medium and low levels of ICT skills in the manufacturing and service sector. Attrition rate of the ICT skilled workers in Taiwan was also examined.Findings – The results suggest some degree of ICT sk...

The art of value creation strategy: Evidence from a Chinese state‐owned enterprise

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to provide a rich description of the contents and process of implementing the value creation strategy at a Chinese state‐owned company, Zhujiang Iron and Steel Company (ZISCo), and to identify the pattern of such an implementation process.Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a case study approach through personal reflection, 16 interviews with middle managers and employees, and collection of the company's internal documents.Findings – The steps and pattern of implementing value creation at ZISCo are identified by starting at a key function – production, then expanding to other functions. Hard issues (functional value creation activities) as well as soft issues (organisational culture and HR policies) are tackled in the implementation process.Research limitations/implications – The paper is based on a single case study, thus limiting the scope for generalising its findings. Practical issues in the implementation process are discussed, such as the identification of the le...