Chinese Organizations Research Articles

An Analysis of China Health Charity Credibility Before and After the 2016 Charity Law of the People’s Republic of China

Due to corruption and limited oversight, philanthropy in China has come under increasing scrutiny by both the Chinese government and public. In particular, corruption has impacted charities, resulting in operational funding declines that have also impacted legitimate charities serving the vulnerable. Hence, an increase in the number of Chinese charities without adequate transparency and needed good governance threatens the health of these organizations and their service groups. In response, the Chinese government enacted the 2016 Charity Law, implemented on September 1, 2016. Yet the impact of this law, if any, is unknown. We therefore conducted a literature review of the academic and gray literature to assess characteristics of the law, its strengths and limitations, and to explore anti-corruption case studies. In addition, we reviewed publicly available secondary data on the transparency status—complete financial information and responsible staff—of Chinese charity organizations and a group of health-related specific charities before and after the Law’s enactment. This included the transparency scores of the top 100 charities and top 30 health-related charities in China. The academic literature we reviewed focused on general governmental corruption and little on charity-related corruption. However, the gray literature reflected a poor view of charities in China due to publicized claims of fund and abuse. Based on our secondary data analysis, we found charity organizations’ transparency shows some variation but as a total continues to score low overall across the top net asset holding charities. Importantly, based on a regression analysis, the transparency scores of Chinese charities did not experience a significant change despite the Charity Law’s enactment. In response, strengthening the Charity Law by enhancing enforcement of financial regulations and implementing systemic good governance measures is needed. Further, efficiency initiatives such as philanthropy de-administration, e-government, and outsourcing monitoring of Chinese charities to external agencies would promote trustworthiness and credibility of Chinese charity organizations now and in the future.

Logistic regression modeling of implementation of corporate safety policy in international infrastructures

PurposeThis study aims to determine the influences of explanatory factors on the efficacy of the implementation of corporate safety policy (CSP) in international projects from the perspective of international contractors.Design/methodology/approachFour explanatory factors were identified for the implementation of CSP in international projects based on literature review. A questionnaire survey was then conducted among Chinese organizations that have been involved in international projects. In total, 121 valid responses were received from the questionnaire survey and were modeled using logistic regression to examine the impact of each factor on the observed event of interest.FindingsThe factors related to the effectiveness of implementing CSP, including “attitudes toward safety management measures (ASMM),” “operational mechanism for safety regulations (OM),” “safety knowledge management system (SKMS)” and “systematic safety training scheme (STS),” were selected. The results revealed that OM and SKMS were significant predictors (p < 0.05) of the odds of implementation satisfaction of CSP, but ASMM and STS were not. The probability of satisfactory CSP implementation increased as the value of SKMS increased, whereas the probability of unsatisfactory implementation improved as the value of OM increased.Research limitations/implicationsThe questionnaire was distributed to respondents in international contractors headquartered in China. Other types of international organizations can be covered in future research. Furthermore, other factors, such as the local construction environment, should be considered in future studies.Practical implicationsThe results provide new insights on CSP implementation overseas. Effective implementation of CSP contributes to the improvement of the safety performance of contractors. The practical significance of interpreting the influence factors is that the contractors can implement more efficient and targeted approaches and tools in the execution of their CSP. The impact of OM reminds safety managers of the synchronization of CSP as well as its implementation environment and characteristics. The effect of ASMM encourages contractors to adopt Web-based and digital knowledge management systems to improve the implementation efficiency of CSP.Originality/valueThe novelty of this study lies in the selection of factors and their impacts on CSP implementation in international projects. This study has also extended knowledge on normative safety in international projects based on quantitative modeling.

The Construction of Chinese Muslim Identities in Surabaya

This study aims to uncover how Chinese Muslims in Surabaya developed their identity in Post-Reformation. During the New Order regime, they could not show their identity as a part of Indonesian diversity. Chinese identity has merged with the “native” people. Along with the downfall of the authoritarian political system and the development of multiculturalism and pluralism, Chinese Muslims in Surabaya could express their cultural identity. This study uses a qualitative method with an ethnographic approach. The results of the study reveal that the Chinese Muslims in Surabaya developed their cultural identity through Cheng Hoo Mosque, Chinese Muslim Organization, and Imlek Celebration. The cultural identity created a hybrid identity which is a combination of Chinese, Java, and Islamic cultures.

Impact of knowledge sharing on job satisfaction and innovative work behavior: the moderating role of motivating language

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of knowledge-sharing behavior (KSB) on the innovative work behavior (IWB) and job satisfaction (JS) among employees considering the moderating role of motivating language (ML) of supervisors.Design/methodology/approachThe hypothesized relationships were examined applying modeling of structural equation and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The data was collected from Chinese multinational companies in Kazakhstan with final sample of 322 respondents.FindingsThe findings suggest that the link between KSB and JS is significantly positive with the moderating impact of ML, while KSB itself has significantly negative effect on JS. Moreover, ML buffers the insignificant effect of KSB on IWB.Originality/valueResearch is atypical, as it has focus on the moderating roles of ML in the direct relationship of employee KSB and JS, and in the direct linkage of employee KSB and IWB in Chinese multinational organization in the network field.

Getting their Voice Heard: Chinese Environmental NGO’s Weibo Activity and Information Sharing

ABSTRACT This study examines Chinese environmental nongovernmental organizations’ (ENGO) use of a microblogging platform Weibo and the factors that contribute to sharing of their messages. By employing the Heuristic-Systematic Model (HSM) of information processing and through a content analysis of ENGOs’ Weibo posts, the study finds that the posts that have more followers and followees and those charged with negative emotions and containing dialogic content are more likely to be shared. More importantly, the results show that government-organized NGOs (GONGOs) and grassroots NGOs differ significantly in the application of Weibo strategies. The study suggests that GONGOs garner more reposts when releasing dialogic content, while grassroots NGOs benefit more from informational content and messages advocating environmental activism and consumerism. The results shed light on understanding social media strategies of Chinese ENGOs, and provide practical implications for the strategic use of Weibo in future environmental campaigns.

Abusive Supervision and Suicidal Ideation: The Potential Role of Meaning in Life

ABSTRACT Suicide is a common health concern around the globe. Factors that can enhance suicidal thoughts, which are considered the first phase of suicide, must be identified to address this global issue. Workplace stressors (e.g., abusive supervision) and psychological mechanisms need to be assessed to go beyond the existing risk factors that can enhance suicidal ideation. More importantly, the present study examined meaning in life as a possible moderator and mediator between abusive supervision and suicidal ideation. In the present study, we used a diverse sample of (N = 665) subordinates from six Chinese organizations and split the sample into two (N1 = 332, N2 = 333) based on low suicidal ideation and high suicidal ideation. Our results showed that abusive supervision was significantly associated with suicidal ideation. The regression analysis results indicated that meaning in life moderated and mediated the relationship between abusive supervision and suicidal ideation. Our results indicate that intervention strategies that focus on the meaning in life can be influential in mitigating suicidal ideation in subordinates.

Environmental Activism and Big Data: Building Green Social Capital in China

The rapid development of information and communication technologies, coupled with the significant progress in the areas of environmental policy and public participation, has led to the advent of environmental big data in China recently. This article applies social capital theory as an analytical lens to shed light on how Chinese environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) adopt big data to promote environmental governance. This study conducts case studies focusing on two ENGOs: The Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) and Green Hunan. Combining a qualitative approach with quantitative analysis, this research examines two big data-induced initiatives: The first involves green supply chain management in the IPE, brand-sensitive multinational corporations (MNCs), and Chinese suppliers of the MNCs, while the second involves the mobile data-based Riverwatcher Action Network of Green Hunan and numerous volunteers nationwide. This study found that big data adoption by ENGOs contributes effectively to building green social capital, including social networks and pro-environmental social norms. Green social capital has important implications for governance in terms of fostering coordination and cooperation across the boundaries of the public, private, and voluntary sectors. This study highlighted the finding that empowerment by big data helps Chinese ENGOs play the role of a change agent in sustainability transitions.

Self-Caging or Playing With the Edge? News Selection Autonomy in Authoritarian China

This article studies how the political affiliation and administrative rank of news organizations in a nondemocratic setting affect news selection autonomy. While existing studies have found that further commercialization contributes to more news selection autonomy, the extent to which political affiliation and administrative rank of news media explain autonomy remains unknown. Eight Chinese news organizations of varying political affiliations and administrative ranks were thus selected to compare their news and frame selection strategies. The findings reveal that political affiliation largely explains news selection autonomy: Party-affiliated outlets generally have lower news selection autonomy than nonparty outlets. Administrative rank has some effect on news selection autonomy in the highly competitive media markets, where news organizations with a lower administrative ranking must play more with propaganda control to compete with their higher ranking counterparts.

Along the Academe‐Policy Frontier: A Tribute to Aileen S.P. Baviera

Along the Academe‐Policy Frontier: A Tribute to Aileen S.P. Baviera

China’s CROs rebound from virus

China’s nationwide lockdown in February and early March to curb the spread of COVID-19 caused clients of Chinese pharmaceutical contract research organizations (CROs) to fear for the continuity of ...

Contextual resource or demand? The effects of organizational engagement climate on employees’ work-to-family conflict

Drawing from the work-home resources model and the social support literature, the present study investigated how organizational engagement climate influences employees’ work-to-family conflict by examining resource generation and resource depletion mechanisms. Using a sample comprised of 2415 employees from 280 Chinese organizations, we found that organizational engagement climate was negatively related to employees’ work-to-family conflict via work engagement, and simultaneously, positively related to employees’ work-to-family conflict via work time. Additionally, our findings suggested that high level of supervisory support strengthened the organizational engagement climate-work engagement relationship. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications, as well as the limitations and suggestions for future research.

What Makes a Competent International Project Manager in Emerging and Developing Countries?

This study explores what makes a competent international project manager in emerging and developing countries by applying content analysis and multidimensional scaling method on the reports of project managers nominated by a Chinese nonprofit organization. The results indicate that international project manager competences can be understood from an efficiency-effectiveness−oriented perspective and an input-output−focused perspective. Four competence sets are identified, including fundamental knowledge and skills, goals-oriented competences, uncertainty and change management competences, and stakeholder management competences. The findings contribute to competence research in the international project context and provide insight for companies and individuals on career and competence development.

Biotech start-ups hit by coronavirus work stoppages

As the outbreak of the new coronavirus, now officially named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to mushroom, the related work stoppages in China have put a spotlight on Western biotech companies’ dependence on Chinese contract research organizations (CROs). The situation has prompted some start-ups to rethink their contingency plans—particularly when it comes to chemistry services. Biotech firms had anticipated delays related to the Lunar New Year holidays, and so far outbreak-related travel restrictions have extended that work gap by only a week. But as the virus spreads—according to Chinese authorities, as of Feb. 13, more than 60,100 people had been infected and nearly 1,400 had died, most of them in China—some biotech firms that rely on China are becoming nervous about how long their projects could be on hold. Much attention is on WuXi AppTec, the largest Chinese CRO. Although many of its operations are in Shanghai,

Determining the Challenges Encountered by Chinese Expatriates in Pakistan

The workforce of growing globalization has led to a large number of expatriate employees working overseas for short term employment. An expatriate assignment is strongly correlated with a variety of difficulties that affect expatriates’ adjustment abroad. Therefore, the aim of this article is: (1) to determine the challenges encountered by Chinese expatriates in Pakistan and (2) to determine the role of cross-cultural training for a successful international assignment. The paper adopts a qualitative approach by conducting semi-structured interviews; the interviews were conducted with 22 males and eight females, forming a total of 30 Chinese employees with the average age of 34.5 years, working in different Chinese organizations in Pakistan in 2018. The findings of this study revealed that the most significant challenges faced by Chinese expatriates in Pakistan were cultural differences and language barriers in both work and non-work factors, whereas, those Chinese expatriates who were trained through formal and informal learning techniques could facilitate their cross-cultural adjustment.

Measuring Up: Better baby contests in China, 1917–45

AbstractThis article charts the Chinese indigenization of better baby contests, from Christian health services offered by the YWCA to positive models of nourishment organized by Chinese philanthropic organizations and local and central governments. American missionaries and milk-powder companies played a large role in sponsoring the contests in China. Influenced by the rise of scientific measurement and ‘national rejuvenation’ as promoted by the New Culture Movement in 1915, Chinese organizers tended to focus on liveliness, gender equality, and statistics that pointed to the need for public reform. As in the United States of America, scientific criteria sometimes also challenged conventional notions of plump cuteness. These goals sometimes conflicted with the implicit aims of corporate sponsors. Contests thus celebrated new material conditions and public hygiene facilitated by modern industry, but was at the same time circumscribed by commercial advertisers, reticent evangelists, or other sponsors.

A Structural Analysis of the Chinese Patriarchal Family Business Model: What Happens in the Corridors of the Shrine?

AbstractThe family business features a replica of the family model, carrying the DNA of its structural foundational principles that sow the seeds of the vision of its creator (the family head). They are nonetheless bound by several external factors that determine their growth path. As the market is a highly unstable environment, resilience in strategy is demanded to maintain enterprise survival and improve its performance. In the present research, we attempt, firstly, to display the findings of an analysis of small and medium-size Chinese organisations that sketches their characteristics, including the following elements: the style of the leader, decision-making style, leadership style, organisation structure, supervision, variables related to the manager and organisation ownership. Secondly, we delineate the impact of the implementation of a set of strategy configurations on Chinese business effectiveness. The research findings reveal a considerable impact of the aforementioned variables on Chinese SME effectiveness; they reflect a strong presence of the produce or perish leadership style, a predictable characteristic of enterprises led by males (with an effect estimated with 0.48) combined with the entrepreneurial type of leader that entails a strict mode of management (centralization) and subsequently influences business effectiveness. All these characteristics confirm the replication of the family management style within SMEs.

Translating Chinese culture into English: from sole patronage to joint patronage

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, there has been a significant change of the form of patronage in translating Chinese culture into English, that is, from sole patronage by one Chinese organization to joint patronage by both Chinese and Western institutions. This article investigates the advantages of joint patronage and whether it can remedy the shortcomings of sole patronage in translating Chinese culture for a Western audience through a case study of ‘Culture and Civilization of China Series’ (CCC project), a project jointly undertaken by the China International Publishing Group and Yale University Press. The study demonstrates that the CCC project is a success thanks to the close collaboration among the writers, translators and editors on both the Chinese and American sides. The analysis of the translations demonstrates that, with full consideration of the needs and expectations of Western readers, the English versions of the CCC series are not rigid literal translations of the original Chinese texts, but involve considerable adaptation so as to achieve the goal of introducing Chinese culture to both general and specialized readers. The study indicates that, compared with sole patronage, joint patronage is a better form of introducing Chinese culture to Western anglophone audiences via translation.

Spanning transnational boundaries in industrial markets: A study of Israeli entrepreneurs in China

This study investigates Israeli transnational entrepreneurs who provide B2B intermediation services in China. To understand the dynamic evolution of their profile and activity, we apply an interpretative framework that combines practice theory and boundary spanning models to analyze six case studies of Israeli transnational entrepreneurs in China. The findings indicate a gradual evolution of their personal and professional profile, determined by a dynamic interdependence between various forms of capital, entrepreneurial habitus, and circumstantial factors. They mobilize a combination of social, cultural, economic and symbolic capital to span organizational, country, cultural and stage boundaries between Israeli and Chinese individuals and organizations. We integrate these findings into a comprehensive model, presenting the various components and stages that led to the development of transnational profiles and activities. Our findings provide an original contribution both to industrial marketing theory and practice, and to transnational entrepreneurship literature, advancing academic understanding and offering a clear roadmap for entrepreneurs, organizations and policy-makers.

Identification of key employability attributes and evaluation of university graduates’ performance

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the managers’ views on the characteristics which university graduates should have to obtain the job and efficiently perform in Chinese industrial organizations, and how are they performing in the industry.Design/methodology/approachMix-method approach was followed to identify the key employability attributes, employers’ expectations and students’ performance. Analysis of interviews and literature provided the foundation for the development of the employability instrument used. In total, 11 identified attributes were grouped into four dimensions, i.e. knowledge, skills, abilities and professional attitude. Structural analysis was performed to test the hypotheses and theoretical model. The importance of the identified attributes was checked via the ranking technique, followed by an evaluation of students’ actual performance and a comparison between them.FindingsEmpirical analyses indicate that the managers in China consider “skills” as the most important dimension for employability in Chinese industrial organizations and “reliability” is the highly demanded subsequent factor. A significant gap has been found in all studied dimensions and 10 out of 11 sub-factors.Originality/valueThis study not only identifies key employability attributes, but also proposes and validates an instrument for measuring students’ industrial performance. It also highlights the factors where industry and academia should focus to improve graduates’ employability and their industrial performance.

Abusive supervision, high-performance work systems, and subordinate silence

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test a mediated moderation model of the joint influence of abusive supervision, high-performance work systems (HPWSs) and organizational commitment and intention to leave on employee silence.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 456 employees and 78 human resource managers in 78 Chinese organizations.FindingsThe results revealed that abusive supervision led to subordinate silence, and HPWSs intensified this effect. In addition, such moderating effect of HPWSs was accounted for by employees’ organizational commitment and intention to leave.Research limitations/implicationsTo reduce the occurrence of employee silence, organizations should not only monitor and restrain abusive supervisory actions, but also be aware of subordinates’ work attitudes driven by organizational HPWSs.Originality/valueThis is the first study which demonstrates that HPWSs can foster employees’ organizational commitment and hinder their intention to leave and consequently strengthen the relation between abusive supervision and employee silence.