Chinese Enterprises Research Articles

Empirical Analysis of the ESG and Financial Performance: Evidence from Chinese Technology Enterprises

To date, the concept of sustainable development has gained global attention from companies and investors. One important reason for this is the increasing interest of investors in incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) elements into their investments. The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze the correlation between ESG factor performance and corporate financial performance in Chinese technology enterprises. Additionally, the study focuses on Internet and medical technology companies to ensure relevance. The findings of the study provide guidance on ESG investment and sustainability for both companies and individual investors.

The role of open enterprises in overcoming the Middle-Technology Trap

This paper aims to unveil the role of openness in fostering enterprises to achieve technological progress. By conducting a comparative analysis of Chinese and Western companies’ supply chain strategies in the internet and new energy industries, the article finds that American enterprises have a higher level of supply chain openness than Chinese enterprises in both two industries. Based on the case analysis, that paper argues that openness plays a vital role in promoting technological innovation in enterprises. The profound influence of openness in promoting technological advancement may be observed through three aspects: openness at the technical level, openness in attracting talent, and openness in facilitating the development of rules and regulations. Accordingly, suggestions are proposed to assist Chinese enterprises in avoiding the “Middle-Technology Trap” through openness on the basis of legislation and public policy intervention. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is suggested to promote national coordination to establish a national unified market to realize the three levels of openness of the supply chain and industrial chain strategies: enterprise-level, domestic regional level, and international level.

Research on the spatial distribution and influencing factors of the maritime services: based on data from Chinese enterprises

ABSTRACT In the context of global maritime cluster development and the strategic evolution of port cities, the spatial distribution and determinants of Maritime Services (MSs) emerge as pivotal areas of inquiry. However, empirical analysis in this domain remains limited. To address this deficiency, our study meticulously processes and analyses data from Chinese Maritime Service Enterprises (MSEs) listed in the World Shipping Register Company until 2023, categorizing these enterprises into port-related, ship-related and maritime consulting enterprises. Utilizing instrumental variables and econometrics, our findings reveal that MSs in China predominantly aggregate in coastal cities, along major inland waterways, and within inland central cities, with a pronounced clustering near urban centers. This distribution is primarily influenced by two factors: firstly, geographic proximity to seaports and throughput levels markedly impacts the distribution, especially for port-related enterprises and ship-related enterprises. Secondly, the clustering of downstream supporting industries, shared labor pools and knowledge spillovers, which are essential elements of agglomeration economics, particularly affects maritime consulting enterprises. Such a pattern is also influenced by the broader business environment and governmental governance. This research not only clarifies existing disputes regarding the maritime industry’s spatial distribution but also offers insights for MSs development and the transformative planning of port cities.

Achieving collaborative pollutant and carbon emissions reduction through digital governance: Evidence from Chinese enterprises

Under China's dual carbon goals, it is imperative for enterprises to effectively reduce carbon emissions while achieving pollutant reduction. This article explores the potential role of government-implemented digital governance in facilitating these objectives. Utilizing a quasi-natural experiment on digital governance, we established an analytical framework to thoroughly examine how digital governance can help Chinese enterprises realize synergistic effects in pollution control and carbon reduction. Our study reveals that digital governance significantly reduces enterprises' emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutants, with emission intensities of the carbon dioxide, air pollutant and water pollutant being decreased by approximately 6.9%, 7.3%, and 7.0%, respectively. These reductions are primarily driven by improvements in energy efficiency, the promotion of green innovation, digital transformation, and enhanced role of media. However, it is important to note that digital governance also negatively impacts overall corporate productivity and widens the digital divide between large and small-to-medium enterprises. The research results have practical significance for promoting the achievement of emission reduction goals and sustainable development for enterprises.

A comprehensive content analysis of 104 Chinese electronic cigarette manufacturing enterprise official websites

ObjectiveThe goal was to analyse website content of Chinese electronic (e) cigarette manufacturing enterprises and understand the marketing strategies to provide evidence for decision-makers to regulate manufacturers.MethodsThrough QCC.com, one of...

Impact of Servitization on Employee Satisfaction with Performance Evaluation Systems: A Case Study of China’s New Energy Sector Amid Power Market Reforms

This study investigates the mechanisms by which service-oriented transformation affects employee satisfaction with performance evaluation systems within the context of China’s electricity market reform. Using CGN New Energy’s Guangxi Branch as a case study and applying the grounded theory method, the research systematically analyzes employees’ perceptions of fairness, transparency, and career development during the transition from a product-oriented to a service-oriented model, based on in-depth interviews and surveys. The findings reveal that while servitization enhances employee skill development and career satisfaction, it also introduces challenges, such as increased work pressure and the demand for more transparent performance evaluation systems. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing management practices and performance evaluation systems in renewable energy companies, contributing both theoretically and practically to the literature on organizational transformation in the energy sector. These conclusions are not only significant for Chinese enterprises but also offer important reference points for global energy companies undergoing similar transitions.

Can Transport Infrastructure Improve Enterprise Energy Efficiency? Evidence From China

As an advanced social development capital, transportation plays a vital role in promoting regional development. Concurrently, the business activities of enterprises intimately relate to these transportation services. Utilizing road construction to improve the energy efficiency of enterprises, therefore, becomes a critical way to promote the transformation of the economy from high-speed development to high-quality development. Existing studies primarily focus on the impact of transport infrastructure on productivity, while few papers focus on the impact mechanism of transport infrastructure on energy efficiency. To delve deeper into the internal relationship between transportation and regional economic development, this paper explores the effect of transport infrastructure on energy utilization efficiency at the enterprise level. Based on the environmental pollution data of Chinese industrial enterprises from 2001 to 2011, this paper analyzes the impact of transport infrastructure on enterprises’ energy efficiency and verifies the impact mechanism. The results show that the construction and improvement of urban road facilities can significantly improve firm energy utilization efficiency. Compared to low-energy consumption sectors, the impact of transportation infrastructure on the energy efficiency of high-energy consumption industry enterprises is notably more pronounced. A closer examination of the impact mechanism revealed that both industrial agglomeration and the cost effect are pivotal mechanisms through which transportation infrastructure affects enterprise energy efficiency. JEL Classification: D21, L91, Q40, Q51

Assessing the potential of collaborative innovation strategies to drive green development: Threshold effect of market competition

Environmental management literature suggests that elevating the total factor productivity (TFP) of the renewable energy (RE) industry is pivotal for achieving green development. With intensifying market competition in the RE sector, collaborative innovation (COI) has emerged as a crucial strategic choice for enterprises to address developmental bottlenecks. To assess the potential of COI in driving green development, we leveraged data from 114 Chinese RE enterprises from 2011 to 2022. The research findings indicate: (1) COI significantly enhances the TFP of RE enterprises; this enhancement primarily stems from the positive influence of COI on innovation capabilities. (2) The positive effects of COI on TFP manifest only when market competition surpasses a certain threshold level. (3) COI significantly impacts the TFP of small and medium-sized RE enterprises in the growth stage.

ESG performance and green innovation of Chinese enterprises: Based on the perspective of financing constraints

Sustainable development needs to rely on green innovation. Enterprise ESG performance rating to alleviate the information asymmetry between enterprises and investors, for the green innovation provides development opportunities. However, there is a lack of research on the mechanism of the two based on the perspective of financing constraints. Therefore, considering the theories of sustainable development, green innovation, financing constraints and stakeholders, the basic mechanism and non-linear mechanism of ESG and green innovation are explored, aiming to provide reference for playing the role of ESG performance in promoting green innovation. The results show that better ESG performance can significantly promote the output of green innovation, and this promoting effect exists for both high-end green innovation and low-end green innovation, and its main channel is to alleviate financing constraints. In addition, this incentive exists a double threshold of digital finance and a single threshold of enterprise scale. Perfect digital finance and larger enterprise scale will strengthen the incentive effect of enterprise ESG performance on green innovation output. Considering financing constraints, this study further clarifies the relationship between enterprises ESG performance and green innovation, enriching the theoretical framework of green innovation and offering a new pathway for advancing green innovation among Chinese enterprises.

Relational assets, environmental uncertainty and internationalization speed of Chinese multinational enterprises

PurposeHow to support the rapid internationalization of multinational enterprises (MNEs) is a hot topic in academia and industry. The main purpose of this work is to study the role of relational assets (R-assets) in promoting the speed of internationalization of MNEs, and to explore the moderating effect of environmental uncertainty (institutional environment and industry environment) on the relationship between R-assets and internationalization speed of MNEs.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the outward foreign investment data of China’s A-share listed enterprises from 2009 to 2021, and employs the Cox proportional hazards model to empirically test the research hypothesis.FindingsThe empirical results revealed that R-assets can promote enterprise internationalization speed. In addition, the study also finds that the institutional uncertainty of host countries weakens the promotion effect of R-assets on internationalization speed of MNEs, while the industry uncertainty strengthens the promotion effect of those. Heterogeneity analysis illustrates that, compared with state-owned enterprises, non-state-owned enterprises have a more significant effect on the above conclusions.Originality/valueThis study enriches the literature on internationalization speed of MNEs by focusing on the determinants of internationalization speed through R-assets. From the perspective of knowledge, the work also provides a theoretical reference whereby MNEs can use host country R-assets to accelerate knowledge acquisition and then internationalization practice. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights for managers aiming to develop effective strategies through R-assets to achieve rapid internationalization, contributing to an emerging literature stream on catch-up for emerging-market MNEs.

Development and Application of an Employee Moral Quotient (MQ) Evaluation Index System for Chinese Petroleum Enterprises

Recognizing the critical role of oil and gas resources as strategic assets and acknowledging the increasing emphasis on green development and social responsibility driven by international energy agreements and the “dual carbon” strategy, this study addresses the urgent need for a robust employee evaluation framework within China’s petroleum sector. While existing systems often prioritize competence-based indicators, they frequently overlook the crucial aspect of employee Moral Quotient (MQ). This research focuses on developing and validating a holistic, scientifically grounded, multi-dimensional, and dynamic MQ evaluation index system tailored specifically for Chinese petroleum enterprises. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating a comprehensive literature review, semi-structured interviews with industry experts, and robust quantitative techniques, including the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the entropy weight method. A two-round Delphi study, involving 18 experts from six provinces across China, ensured broad representation and facilitated the construction of the evaluation index system and the determination of indicator weights. The Delphi process achieved a high degree of expert consensus, evidenced by a 100% questionnaire response rate in both rounds, expert authority coefficients of 0.851 and 0.879, respectively, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance of 0.243 and 0.247 (p < 0.01), respectively, demonstrating strong reliability and scientific validity. The resulting MQ evaluation index system comprises eight first-level indicators and thirty-three s-level indicators, encompassing key dimensions of employee morality relevant to the petroleum industry. This comprehensive system provides a robust and objective tool for employee selection, training, performance evaluation, and career development within Chinese petroleum enterprises, supporting informed decision-making in human resource management and fostering a culture of ethical conduct and sustainable development. Furthermore, the developed framework offers valuable insights and serves as a potential model for petroleum enterprises and other resource-intensive industries globally seeking to integrate MQ assessment into their human capital management strategies.

The dance of power and responsibility: understanding the multilevel government influence on CSR practices in Chinese state-owned enterprises

ABSTRACT This study investigates how multilevel government influences the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Using the control rights theory, we illustrate how the supervisor (the provincial government) utilizes residual control rights allocated by the principal (the central government) to exert both top-down binding and bottom-up buffering effects on the CSR practices of their agents (local governments and SOEs). Our findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between government control levels and SOEs’ CSR practices, with administrative intervention reinforcing this trend and fiscal decentralization leading to an inverted U-shaped relationship. These insights highlight complex inter-governmental dynamics influencing SOEs’ CSR practices.

How does green strategy orientation promote substantive green innovation? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises

How does green strategy orientation promote substantive green innovation? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises

Study on the Relationship Between Dual Network Embeddedness and Subsidiary Innovative Performance

This article explores the relationships between the dual network embeddedness of subsidiaries (group internal network embeddedness and group external network embeddedness) and subsidiary innovative performance in emerging economies within the context of the digital economy. Using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) to analyze survey data from 182 subsidiaries of Chinese manufacturing enterprises. The findings of the study reveal the effect of the two dimensions (structural embeddedness and relational embeddedness) of intra- and extra-group network embeddedness on the two dimensions of absorptive capacity, and innovative performance at the subsidiary level. It clarifies the chain mediating effects of the two dimensions of subsidiary absorptive capacity on subsidiary innovative performance, as well as the direct impact of subsidiary potential absorptive capacity on subsidiary innovative performance.

Adaptive Strategies and Sustainable Innovations of Chinese Contractors in the Belt and Road Initiative: A Social Network and Supply Chain Integration Perspective

As global economic integration and rapid technological advancements transform international business, international engineering contracting has become essential for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This paper investigates the significant impact of China’s strategic initiatives, notably the “Going Global” strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), on the operational practices of Chinese enterprises involved in overseas investments. Central to this transformation is the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, which emphasizes the integration of supply chain management and stakeholder collaboration to enhance performance in international EPC projects and underscores the crucial role of these elements in promoting sustainability. Incorporating insights from social network data analysis, this study reveals that contractors collaborating with various stakeholders—such as owners/consulting engineers, domestic and foreign customs departments, and group headquarters/design parties—exhibit a high degree of similarity in personnel profiles. This suggests that the internal organizational structure and personnel allocation of contractors could be optimized to enhance operational efficiency, aligning with the collaborative patterns identified. This study addresses a critical research gap by exploring how effective supply chain management and collaborative stakeholder engagement within multinational EPC projects contribute to sustainable outcomes. Employing advanced social network analysis software, the research examines the complex interactions among stakeholders and their influence on procurement dynamics. Findings indicate that strong relational networks and strategic collaborations significantly enhance procurement efficiency and project success, underscoring the importance of supply chain integration. Ultimately, integrating supply chain management principles into the EPC model not only offers innovative perspectives for advancing sustainability in international projects but also provides actionable insights for improving project outcomes within the BRI framework. This research underscores the pivotal role of supply chain organization and stakeholder cooperation in achieving sustainability objectives, thereby enriching the discourse on sustainable enterprise operation and supply chain management in the context of global initiatives.

Impact of green inclusive leadership on employee green creativity: mediating roles of green passion and green absorptive capacity

PurposeOrganizations encourage green creativity among their employees to reduce environmental pollution and attain sustainable development. Green, inclusive leadership can produce positive outcomes and influence employees' green innovation. However, green inclusive leadership and green creativity are empirically less examined in the sustainability literature. Therefore, this study theorized a conceptual model based on the organizational creativity theory to explore the influence of green inclusive leadership on employees’ green creativity. It also aimed to explore the intermediating effect of green passion and green absorptive capacity on the relationship between green inclusive leadership and green creativity.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire-based survey from 540 employees of a manufacturing enterprise in China. The hypotheses were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe findings reveal that green inclusive leadership positively and significantly influences employees' green creativity. Moreover, the results show that green passion and green absorptive capacity play positive mediating roles in the relationship between green inclusive leadership and green creativity.Practical implicationsThis study offers practical implications for Chinese manufacturing enterprises, where green inclusive leadership is essential to enhance green passion, green absorptive capacity and green creativity among employees.Originality/valueDrawing upon the organizational creativity theory, this research study is novel because it is one of the few empirical research studies to explore green inclusive leadership and green creativity in Chinese manufacturing enterprises. It further establishes the positive mediating role of green passion and green absorptive capacity in the relationship between green inclusive leadership and green creativity.

Environmental regulation and enterprise green innovation: a dual heterogeneity perspective

ABSTRACT Based on institutional theory, environmental regulation (ER) is considered the primary factor in stimulating green innovation (GI) in enterprises. The existing literature has extensively explored the ER-GI relationship, but conclusions are still inconsistent, which is related to neglecting the dual heterogeneity in this relationship. Hence, we divide ER into command ER (CER) and incentive ER (MER), and GI into compliant GI (CGI) and strategic GI (SGI) to address this research gap. Employing a questionnaire survey of Chinese manufacturing enterprises, we re-examined the ER-GI relationship and tried to identify the moderating effect of environmental ethics (EE). The results show that CER and MER positively affect CGI and SGI. Furthermore, under the CER, there is increased accessibility to adopting CGI. Under the MER, the likelihood of choosing SGI is higher. Moreover, we find that heterogeneous ERs are more conducive to SGI under the moderating effect of EE. This study has significantly contributed to the literature on the ER-GI relationship.

Does symbolic AI-related disclosure influence CEO promotion? Evidence from state-owned enterprises in China

ABSTRACT This paper considers firms’ artificial intelligence (AI)-related discretionary disclosure to examine whether symbolic communications of AI influences a CEO’s chance of career advancement in Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). We find a positive relationship between symbolic AI disclosure and the possibility of managers getting promoted. Our main finding is more salient when a firm’s achievement of policy goals is more crucial, its financial performance is relatively poor, and a manager has more urgent promotion needs. Results imply that CEOs engage in impression management via managerial discretionary disclosure to strengthen organizational legitimacy and build a favourable impression, which may increase their probability of getting promoted.

The productivity spillover effect of foreign divestment: Evidence from Chinese industrial enterprises

Foreign divestment in China is garnering increasing social attention. This study investigates the productivity spillover effects of foreign divestment based on Chinese industrial enterprise data from 2000 to 2007. Our findings indicate that foreign divestment negatively impacts the total factor productivity (TFP) of incumbent enterprises, especially through backward linkages. We examine potential mechanisms based on the characteristics of divested and incumbent enterprises. The closure of foreign-invested enterprise disrupts industrial connections, whereas the sale of foreign equity to domestic shareholders strengthens local industrial linkages, thus presenting an opposite effect. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan (HMT)-invested enterprises tend to local sourcing, leading to divestment effects through backward linkages. Conversely, non-HMT enterprises, with a higher capability to provide differentiated intermediate goods, primarily exhibit forward linkage effects. Further analysis reveals that incumbent enterprises with lower technological capabilities are more dependent on their foreign suppliers and customers. Domestic non-state-owned enterprises and those in regions with lower economic development or marketization levels also have less stable input-output relationships. As a result, these enterprises are more susceptible to the vertical spillover effects of foreign divestment.

The influence of CSR on cross-border mergers and acquisitions

This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of Chinese enterprises' cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) events from 2012 to 2022, investigating the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) levels on cross-border M&A within the Chinese context. The research reveals that enterprises with higher CSR scores tend to experience lower success rates in cross-border M&A. Both internal and external CSR dimensions exhibit negative impacts on cross-border M&A, with external CSR demonstrating a more pronounced adverse effect. Notably, a history of successful cross-border M&A outcomes significantly enhances the likelihood of smoothly completed future transactions..