Chinese Organizations Research Articles

Nexus of knowledge oriented leadership and knowledge worker performance in Chinese higher education institutions: a post-pandemic behavioral analysis

PurposeIn the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak understanding the behavioral dynamics and role of knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) in driving knowledge worker performance (KWP) is paramount for organizations striving to adapt and thrive in the post-pandemic era. Drawing on the path-goal theory, this study explores the impact of KOL on KWP. In addition, this study seeks to examine both the direct and indirect influences of KOL on KWP via digital orientation (DO) and digital citizenship practices (DCP), especially for higher education institutions (HEIs) located in China.Design/methodology/approachThe sample consisted of 319 academic staff from HEIs in China. The study used Smart-PLS 4.0 for analytical examination.FindingsThe results indicate that the impact of knowledge-oriented leadership on KWP is negligible. Furthermore, DCP and DO partially mediate the relationship between KOL and KWP. The findings of this research have practical implications for Chinese HEIs and organizations across industries, providing insights into how to navigate the complexities of the post-pandemic work environment and effectively harness digitalization to optimize the KWP.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this research extend beyond the HEIs, providing organizations in various industries with evidence-based strategies to promote effective leadership, foster digital skills, and cultivate a culture of digital citizenship in the post-pandemic work landscape.Originality/valueDespite the increasing significance of KOL in the higher education sector, there is a dearth of studies establishing a relationship between KOL and KWP in HEIs. The present study seeks to fill this gap by examining the association among KOL, KWP, DO, and DCP in HEIs during the post-pandemic. This research provides significant contributions to the existing literature on the topic by scientifically exploring the association between KOL and KWP by examining the intervention mechanism of both digital citizenship practices and digital orientation.

Government Expenditure and Nonprofit Sector Size: Testing Boundary Conditions for Theories of Government–Nonprofit Relationships With Evidence From Chinese Environmental NGOs

This study explores boundary conditions for the two competing models—supplementary and complementary models—of government–nonprofit relationships within the context of Chinese environmental nongovernmental organizations (eNGOs). Analyses of 8 years of panel data and in-depth interviews reveal the following: First, while the complementary model effectively explains the relationship between government and environmental government-organized NGOs (eGONGOs), the sector size association between the government and civic eNGOs displays a pattern that combines supplementary and complementary models. Second, when predicting the sector size association between the government and civic eNGOs, the complementary model prevails when the government size is small while the supplementary model dominates when the government is large. Third, the complementary relationship persists for a longer duration under certain policy contexts, particularly in cases where direct registration policies are implemented. This study contributes to the literature by complementing recent endeavors to explore potential moderating or mediating effects of government–nonprofit relationship models.

Navigating institutional demands: Organizational responses to institutional complexity in megaproject delivery

Megaprojects are commonly exposed to multiple, conflicting institutional demands, making them notoriously difficult to manage. Drawing on organizational institutional theory, the paper explores organizational responses to deal with institutional complexity on a transnational pipeline project spanning China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The findings show how conflicting institutional demands across the involved countries were dealt with through the establishment of distinct organizational strategies and structures when a large Chinese petroleum organization entered into two separate project companies, each responsible for a section of the pipeline. One relied on a manipulation strategy where institutional complexity was reconciled by selectively coupling to certain institutional demands. The other handled competing demands through a compromise strategy involving the creation of a compartmentalized organizational structure. While these results confirm findings from prior work that the nature and internal representation of demands exerted on an organization shape its response strategy, we contribute further by showing how distinct contextual characteristics of megaprojects influence the specific responses adopted to deal with institutional complexity.

Transferring paternalistic entrepreneurial leadership behaviours (PELB): Chinese organisations in sub-Saharan Africa

This article evaluates the processes of transferring managerial and leadership practices of Chinese entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). From the lens of paternalism, we investigate Chinese entrepreneurs’ behaviours towards their African employees in Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa (SA). Through 148 interviews (with 127 interviewees) from 78 organisations, we explain how the Chinese paternalistic entrepreneurial leadership behaviours (PELB) are legitimised, transformed, and resisted in African settings. Chinese leaders adopt a nurturing approach to transfer managerial and leadership behaviours within paternalistic cultures in the development of their organisations in SSA. We articulate the types of Chinese PELB that help to sustain Chinese organisational development and those that hinder this process in SSA.

Contextualizing Transnational Chinese Christianity: A Relational Approach

In recent years, the number of Chinese Christian organizations in Europe has grown considerably compared to other overseas Chinese community organizations. They can mobilize transnational networks and resources to expand religious space in host societies and form a highly visible social force. Although the rise of early Christianity in the Western world has been considered an outcome of inherent religious strength, especially in terms of its central doctrines and religious ethics, this article suggests that in the diasporic Chinese world where Christianity constitutes a non-indigenous religious tradition, social relatedness based on native place, family, and kinship ties provides a more useful context for understanding its dynamic expansion and cross-regional transmission. Drawing on anthropological fieldwork conducted in Europe among overseas Chinese Christian traders and entrepreneurs, this research seeks an alternative framework for understanding the religious-cultural dynamics of Chinese Christianity in the context of transnational migration.

Hidden in plain sight- Audience engagement in China’s data journalism

This article delves into the strategies of different Chinese news organizations’ (e.g., state-owned media, we-media, private news organizations) engagement with audiences in data journalism, aiming to attain dual legitimacy (identity legitimacy and institutional legitimacy) within the unique landscape of the digital media era in China. Utilizing the lens of organizational legitimacy, qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 Chinese data news practitioners. The findings reveal that news entities have adopted “restrictive involvement” and “substitutive involvement” strategies to limit audience engagement to superficial interactions within the consumption process of data journalism. Identity legitimacy has traditionally served as the primary incentive for news organizations to engage audiences, while institutional legitimacy has constrained the forms and degrees of audience engagement. The study posits that audience deployment by news organizations is more of a rhetorical maneuver than a practical engagement, symbolically involving audiences in China’s data news production. This research contributes an institutional perspective to the understanding of data journalism and audience engagement dynamics, shedding light on the intricate interactions between news entities, audiences, technology and the state within China’s context.

Risk management maturity and robustness in the Chinese manufacturing supply chain: a comparison study across organisational cultures

ABSTRACT Chinese manufacturing, a major engine of the world economy, has been at the heart of the challenge of major global supply chain disruptions. This research explores the relationships among different dimensions of supply chain risk management maturity and supply chain robustness in Chinese manufacturing organisations. A structural equation model is developed and tested based on the participation of 296 supply chain managers. Based on the Competing Values Framework, four different culture groups are assessed to determine whether the relationships differ by culture type. While all model relationships were found to be significant and positive across the culture groups, the weights associated with certain relationships were significantly different. The adoption of the proposed framework could bring the benefit of a more comprehensive evaluation of supply chain risk management maturity, as well as the identification of both strengths and areas where improvements may be necessary for achieving supply chain robustness.

The Impact of Transformational Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction and Stress: A Study on 3 Different Chinese Organizations

The Impact of Transformational Leadership Styles on Job Satisfaction and Stress: A Study on 3 Different Chinese Organizations

The Role and Influence of Chinese Immigrants in Singapore in Diplomacy with China

The relationship between Southeast Asian countries and China has always been an academic concern. Some scholars define it as the rational choice and wisdom of small countries to survive in the cracks of the struggle between big powers. As a predominantly Chinese country, the relationship between Singapore and China has always been the focus of discussion and research. This paper focuses on the characteristics of Singapore's Chinese predominance and analyzes the role of Singaporean Chinese in the changing relations between the two countries. This includes the influence of clan organizations and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Singapore-China relations. This paper finds that Chinese organizations have played a key role in cultural and political exchanges between the two countries. CSCCs and chambers of commerce have played an active role in the attitude of Chinese Singaporeans towards China. However, the attitudes and perceptions of Chinese Singaporeans are also affected by the social environment and political situation.

Developing and validating a nomogram for penile cancer survival: A comprehensive study based on SEER and Chinese data.

The primary aim of this study was to create a nomogram for predicting survival outcomes in penile cancer patients, utilizing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and a Chinese organization. Our study involved a cohort of 5744 patients diagnosed with penile cancer from the SEER database, spanning from 2004 to 2019. In addition, 103 patients with penile cancer from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were included during the same period. Based on the results of regression analysis, a nomogram is constructed and validated internally and externally. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated by concordance index (c-index), area under the curve, decision curve analysis, and calibration curve, in internal and external datasets. Finally, the prediction efficiency is compared with the TNM staging model. A total of 3154 penile patients were randomly divided into the training group and the internal validation group at a ratio of 2:1. Nine independent risk factors were identified, including age, race, marital status, tumor grade, histology, TNM stage, and the surgical approach. Based on these factors, a nomogram was constructed to predict OS. The nomogram demonstrated relatively better consistency, predictive accuracy, and clinical relevance, with a c-index over 0.73 (in the training cohort, the validation cohort, and externally validation cohort.) These evaluation indexes are far better than the TNM staging system. Penile cancer, often overlooked in research, has lacked detailed investigative focus and guidelines. This study stands as the first to validate penile cancer prognosis using extensive data from the SEER database, supplemented by data from our own institution. Our findings equip surgeons with an essential tool to predict the prognosis of penile cancer better suited than TNM, thereby enhancing clinical decision-making processes.

The Role of Digital Transformation, Corporate Culture, and Leadership in Enhancing Corporate Sustainable Performance in the Manufacturing Sector of China

The Chinese manufacturing industry faces many challenges to sustainable development. This study examines how transformational leadership, corporate culture, and digital transformation affect Chinese manufacturing organizations’ sustainability. It will also examine the moderating role of environmental dynamism and the mediating effect of innovation capabilities. A self-administered survey was distributed to 350 manufacturing companies’ owners, managers, leaders, and employees, etc. Participants were selected via convenient sampling. This data collection effort validated findings and empirically tested theories. Smart PLS structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), quantitative research, and cross-research are used in this study. The findings suggest that corporate culture, transformational leadership, and digital transformation significantly affect organizations’ sustainability. Innovation capability does not affect the relationship between corporate culture and sustainability. However, it mediates the relationship between transformational leadership, digital transformation, and business sustainability. Innovation capabilities and business sustainability performance are moderated by environmental dynamism. This study contributes to sustainable corporate performance theory by showing managers how transformational leadership, digital transformation, and corporate culture can help manufacturing companies grow indefinitely. The findings have major implications for China, a highly industrialized nation. This study could benefit regulatory authorities, academic institutions, industry, government agencies, and researchers.

Cultural Identity of Malaysian Chinese language education Formed under the Influence of Two-Way Institutional Changes in Contrasting Perspectives, 1950s - 1980s

Malaysia is the Southeast Asian country with the most complete retention of Chinese language education after independence. In the face of the nationalist policies after the Second World War, why is Malaysian Chinese language education unique from other Southeast Asian countries? With such a question, this paper intercepts the development of Chinese language education in Malaysia and the Philippines during the early period of independence of Southeast Asian countries in the 1950s - 1980s, by comparing and combining the theory of two-way institutional change. It is found that there existed a Chinese education organization in Malaysia during this period that was able to compete with the government's nationalistic policy, thus under the two-way game movement of top-down institutional change by the government and bottom-up institutional change by the Chinese education organization, the survival of Chinese schools and national cultural identity became possible. This will serve as a reference for the construction and development of language schools in foreign countries and the maintenance of national cultural identity.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell therapy for renal dysfunction in Alport syndrome: protocol for an open-label, single-arm trial in China

IntroductionAlport syndrome (AS) is one of the most common fatal hereditary renal diseases in human, with a high risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease without effective treatments. Mesenchymal stem...

Chinese-Australian carers' perceived needs and preferences in planning to embed an iSupport for Dementia program in aged care services.

To assess Chinese-Australian carers' needs and preferences through co-design strategies with stakeholders to embed an evidence-based iSupport for Dementia program into routine community aged care services in Chinese ethno-specific aged care organisations. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to August 2022 in three Chinese ethno-specific aged care organisations in Australia. We applied a univariate analysis to test variables associated with carers' needs and preferences when embedding the iSupport for Dementia program into routine practice among community aged care services. A total of 101 carers completed the survey. Most carers in our study preferred the iSupport program to be provided in their first language, have a program facilitator to lead the program and would like to interact with peers in the program. Most carers indicated that they are willing to pay for the iSupport program using the budget allocated to their home care package. Younger carers (younger than 65 years), and adult children's carers are more likely to use the web-based iSupport manual and invite their family members to the program compared to those older than 65 years. Other demographic characteristics had no significant association with their needs and preferences. Chinese-Australian carers' perceived needs and preferences in this study will inform the implementation of a culturally tailored iSupport program to be embedded in community aged care services provided by Chinese ethno-specific aged care organisations. Findings will also inform culturally and linguistically congruent iSupport programs for carers from other culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia.

Promotive and prohibitive ethical voice in groups: the effect of faultlines and role ambiguity

Despite the role of ethical voice in promoting ethics in working units, scant attention has been devoted to the emergence and boundary conditions of collective ethical voice. In accordance with the integration between regulatory focus theory and social identity theory, this research explores the antecedents and moderators of promotive ethical voice and prohibitive ethical voice in working units. Hierarchical regression analysis of field data on 632 employees and 62 leaders at three Chinese organizations supports the hypotheses. Faultlines negatively relate to promotive ethical voice and prohibitive ethical voice in groups. Role ambiguity moderates the effect of two forms of ethical voice on citizenship behaviors and task performance in groups. Based on regulatory focus and social identity theory, this study contributes to existing research by revealing faultlines to be barriers of collective promotive and prohibitive ethical voice. Additionally, this research provides a novel lens to understand the underlying interaction mechanisms through which role ambiguity regulates the effect of ethical voice on performance in groups.

Chinese NGOs “Going Out”: Depoliticisation and Diplomatisation

Chinese non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are increasingly active in international development activities. As an emerging force, what will their impact be on global civil society, especially given that they originate from an authoritarian environment that places numerous constraints on them? This study examines the internationalisation of Chinese NGOs and its implications for global civil society by analysing the organisational discourses of Chinese NGOs. This discourse analysis relies on a two-layer analytical framework, one layer using qualitative content analysis and the other employing the discursive legitimation framework. The analysis shows that Chinese NGOs use soft charity discourses instead of critical discourses as a way to avoid “politicising” development issues and utilise discourses that diplomatise their international activities. These discourses help Chinese NGOs achieve legitimacy or avoid de-legitimacy through four discursive legitimation strategies: avoidance, authority, rationalisation, and moralisation. This article shows that Chinese NGOs express a strong national identity, position themselves as “friendship messengers,” and bring the Chinese state’s influence to global civil society even though the Chinese state has not yet mobilised internationalisation at scale.

Perceived climate of Cha-xu and trust on knowledge sharing: a moderated mediation model

PurposeThis study aims to identify an antecedent that hinders knowledge sharing, namely, the perceived climate of Cha-xu. Based on the social exchange perspective, the authors propose a theoretical model that links the perceived climate of Cha-xu to employee knowledge sharing. This model focuses on the mediating role of two types of trust (vertical and horizontal trust) and the moderating role of task interdependence in influencing the mediation.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 509 Chinese employees, this study carried out a survey on an online platform. This study developed a structural equation model and tested the moderated mediation hypothesis by using Mplus 8.0.FindingsThe results showed that two types of trust act as mediators in the relationship between the perceived climate of Cha-xu and knowledge-sharing processes. The mediating effect of horizontal trust is stronger. Most significantly, findings show that this mediated relationship is contingent on the level of task interdependence.Originality/valueThis paper provides evidence for distinguishing vertical trust and horizontal trust in the field of knowledge management. From a managerial perspective, this study identifies traditional cultural factors for hindering knowledge-sharing processes within Chinese organizations.

From Loose Groups to Rigorous Organizations: The Transitional Logic of Chinese Fan Communities from the Perspective of Media Development

Currently, Chinese fan organizations demonstrate strong internal cohesion and efficient executive force, far exceeding previous fan groups. This article explores the development of Chinese fan communities and finds that the Internet, a new kind of media that breaks through time and space limitations, has caused this change. Firstly, the development of the Internet has made timely interaction between fans possible, strengthening the internal cohesion of fan groups. Besides, the information cocoon brought by personalized recommendation algorithms further makes the fan communities change into homogeneous groups with similar value orientations and high group identification regarding their respective idols.Meanwhile, the flow economy based on the Internet has prompted fan groups to seek ways to achieve efficient data labor, leading to the division of labor within fan groups. As a result, these previously loose fan groups evolve into rigorous organizations with a hierarchical structure, functional division of labor, and institutional norms. The common emotional foundation—is the recognition of idols; the common goal—is creating internet flow for idols; the field of collective action is the internet and social media platforms; and the mechanism of unified action—the hierarchical and functional system makes the current Chinese fan organizations unprecedentedly strong.

Developing a psychological care competences framework for nurses in China: a mixed methods study

BackgroundWith social transformation, rapid economic development and deepening awareness of psychological health in China, people’s demand for psychological health services is becoming increasingly urgent. A key challenge for Chinese medical organizations is to train enough qualified psychological care nurses. A greater understanding of psychological care competences (PCC) can help in clinical nurse selection, training, and assessment.ObjectiveTo develop a PCC framework for Chinese nurses and obtain a consensus on the framework among experts.MethodsA descriptive mixed methods study was designed consisting of a literature review and semi-structured interviews followed by three Delphi rounds. The experts (n = 16) involved were nurses, nursing managers and educators from nine Chinese provinces with a specific interest in psychological care. Descriptive statistics assisted in data analysis.ResultsUsing the Iceberg Model as a theoretical foundation, five main dimensions and associated subdomains were integrated from 39 chosen articles. The semi-structured interviews with 24 nursing managers and nurses confirmed all of the themes from the literature review while generating new themes, both of which were incorporated into the initial PCC framework. After three Delphi rounds, the experts reached consensus on the PCC framework, including five domains (knowledge, skills, professional ethics, personal traits, internal motivations) and 22 subdomains with connotations. The response rate (RR) values for the three rounds of consultation were 80.00%, 87.50% and 92.86%, the composite reliability (Cr) values were 0.89–0.90, and the Kendall coordination coefficients were 0.155-0.200 (P < 0.05).ConclusionsOn the basis of the Iceberg Model, literature review and qualitative research methods along with Delphi technique were used to develop a scientific and systematic PCC framework. The research methods were feasible and the results were reliable, thereby providing a basis for adopting this framework into nursing education. A formal assessment tool should be developed to test the PCC of nurses in clinical practice.

Power distance orientation alleviates the beneficial effects of empowering leadership on actors’ work engagement via negative affect and sleep quality

AbstractAlthough many studies have explored the benefits of empowering leadership for followers, the beneficial effect of such behavior for actors who demonstrate empowering leadership has been overlooked. Applying conservation of resources theory, we propose and test a model that determines why and when empowering leadership benefits actors. We use an experience sampling survey to examine the effect of empowering leadership on actors’ daily work engagement. In particular, we focus on the moderating role of power distance orientation and the mediating roles of negative affect and sleep quality, which operate sequentially. The results based on responses from 160 supervisors in two Chinese organizations indicated that empowering leadership in the morning was negatively related to negative affect in the afternoon and positively related to sleep quality at night and next-day work engagement. The strength of this beneficial effect was moderated by power distance orientation, such that supervisors with a high degree of power distance orientation obtained fewer benefits from empowering leadership than those with a low degree of power distance orientation. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings for the leadership, affect, sleep, power distance, and conservation of resources literatures are discussed.