The application situation and determinants of postponement

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 787-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu‐Ying Huang ◽  
Shyh‐Jane Li
Keyword(s):  
Field Survey ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Environmental Uncertainty ◽  
Current Status ◽  
General Picture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Greater China ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Production Techniques

PurposeThe concept of postponement has been developed over many years. Past empirical research has been conducted almost entirely in Western countries. This paper aims to investigate the current status of postponement applications in Greater China (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) to ascertain the effects of some determinants (i.e. environmental uncertainty, production techniques, and information system (IS) maturity) on postponement application.Design/methodology/approachA field survey of big manufacturers of electronic/information technology, clothing, and electric appliances is conducted. A total of 106 usable responses are received from 411 surveys yielding a satisfactory response rate of 25.8 percent.FindingsThe result indicates that the number of applications of postponement in Greater China is growing and the incidence of postponement applications is higher than in the Western countries. Environmental uncertainty, production techniques, and ISs maturity have have positive effects on applications of postponement techniques. Some specific postponement strategies for the three industries studied are noted.Originality/valueFrom an exploratory perspective, the findings present in this paper may be useful in the sense that they give a broad and general picture of the current situation of the use of postponement in certain industries in Greater China.

Culture as a moderator of cognitive age and travel motivation/perceived risk relations among seniors

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 455-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Le Serre ◽  
Karin Weber ◽  
Patrick Legohérel ◽  
Karim Errajaa
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Subjective Age ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Cognitive Age ◽  
New Research

Purpose This study contributes to greater understanding of the senior market and the cultural differences regarding aging in Western and Asian cultures. The review of the literature highlights the cultural differences toward the concept of aging in Asian and Western countries and describes a useful age concept for investigating senior consumers, namely, that of subjective age. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of subjective age dimensions on seniors’ behavior and to assess the role of culture as a moderator of this influence. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected in France and Mainland China and consisted of answers to 300 questionnaires for the French seniors and 264 questionnaires for the Chinese seniors. Two dimensions of subjective age were measured: cognitive age and ideal age, along with travel motivations and travel perceived risk. Findings The study provides valuable information regarding the Western and Asian senior markets. Subjective age dimensions prove to be related with seniors’ behaviors (perceived travel risks). The present study also demonstrates that nationality has a moderating role on this relation. This theoretical contribution will have to be confirmed by other studies in Asian and Western countries; it opens the door to new research on Chinese/Asian seniors involving these age variables. Originality/value The study gives academics and managers insights on the influence of subjective age on seniors’ behaviors in European and Asian cultural contexts.

Community-based island tourism: the case of Boa Vista in Cape Verde

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra M. Sánchez-Cañizares ◽  
Ana María Castillo-Canalejo
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Cape Verde ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects

Purpose – This paper tries to explore the possibilities of developing sustainable, community-based tourism (CBT) in Boa Vista in Cape Verde, Africa. Island territories are generally considered preferential tourist destinations. However, the negative effects of tourism in these destinations should not be overlooked, among them environmental concerns and impacts on the culture of the island’s inhabitants. The development of CBT takes on special relevance, as it based on planning schemes in conjunction with the local community who share the positive effects derived from tourism. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used consisted in designing two surveys: one focusing on the supply side and another on the demand side of tourism to define and analyse the current status of this sector in Boa Vista. The survey on tourism supply was distributed among a panel of experts formed by tourism service providers located in Boa Vista. The statistical results of the responses and the discussion carried out by the panel of experts permitted the development of a SWOT matrix. The survey on demand was administered to foreign tourists in different parts of the island. A total of 202 valid surveys were obtained. Findings – The main results of the fieldwork are twofold. On the supply side of tourism, the community is making an enormous effort to actively participate in the development of sustainable tourism, efforts which are often constrained by the geographical barriers of Boa Vista (sandy soil, poor accessibility to other islands) and the institutional and political situation of the island. As regards the demand side of tourism, the vast majority of tourists stay at the island’s all-inclusive resorts, whereas few tourists require the services provided by the community, mainly because they are unaware that such services exist. Originality/value – Certain island destinations are more appropriate for tourists wishing to flee mass tourism enclaves due to their natural environment, relative isolation and the traditional culture of their inhabitants. For this reason, it is important to develop a CBT model for these destinations in which initiatives are planned in conjunction with members of the local community who participate in decision-making processes and benefit equally from the positive effects of tourism. Although several case studies have been reported in the research on CBT initiatives, few studies have been carried out on CBT in island territories. This is the main contribution in this paper.

A study of network-building HR practices for TMT, strategic flexibility and firm performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqing Lin ◽  
Shuming Zhao ◽  
Na Li
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Transition Economy ◽  
Environmental Uncertainty ◽  
Strategic Flexibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Hr Practices ◽  
Network Building ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to introduce strategic flexibility as an important dynamic capability into the field of strategic human resource management (SHRM) and explore its mediating role between network-building HR practices for top management team (TMT) and firm performance. Moreover, based on the context of transition economy in China, the authors examine environmental uncertainty as a moderator in these relationships and empirically test the questions above. Design/methodology/approach – The authors have conducted questionnaire surveys on 780 top managers in 390 companies mainly located in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang and finally received 241 valid samples. Findings – The results show that network-building HR practices have positive effects on firm performance and strategic flexibility plays a fully mediating role between them. In addition, environmental uncertainty moderates the relationship between network-building HR practices for TMT and strategic flexibility, while it has no moderating effect in the relationship between strategic flexibility and firm performance. Originality/value – These conclusions have important implications for the development and application of SHRM in dynamic environments. Theoretically, the authors enrich the functions of network-building HR practices for TMT and provide the evidence to advocate the development of the innovative HR practices in China. In terms of the practical implications of the study, it is argued that network-building HR practices for TMT and strategic flexibility can help firms to deal with uncertainty and achieve high performance, which provides constructive guidance in the development of enterprises in the China's transition economy.

Hong Kong-UK migration could rise significantly

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
National Security ◽  
Domestic Politics ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Outward Migration

Significance The scheme has become part of a broader diplomatic fight between London and Beijing that began during anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019 and worsened following Beijing’s imposition of a repressive National Security Law last year. Impacts Western countries may try to attract Hongkongers, who tend to be highly educated, though domestic politics may hinder this. Immigration to and from Hong Kong will likely be increasingly hostage to broader relations between Beijing and Western governments. Potential staffing gaps in Hong Kong due to outward migration could increasingly be filled by migrants from mainland China.

How inter-country similarities moderate the effects of consumer ethnocentrism and cosmopolitanism in out-group country perceptions

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-155
Author(s):  
C. Min Han ◽  
Hyojin Nam
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity Theory ◽  
Conflict Theory ◽  
Consumer Perceptions ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Ethnocentrism ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Asian Consumers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how consumer ethnocentrism (CET) and cosmopolitanism (COS) may affect Asian consumers’ perceptions of out-group countries and their products, doing so by examining similar vs dissimilar countries across countries of origin. Given the strong inter-country rivalries that exist among Asian countries, the authors propose two alternative hypotheses, drawing from social identity theory and realistic group conflict theory. Design/methodology/approach To test the hypotheses, the authors examine consumer perceptions of both Western countries (dissimilar out-groups) and Asian countries (similar out-groups) within China (Study 1). In addition, the authors investigate how CET and COS affect consumer perceptions of Asian countries in Japan and in non-Asian dissimilar countries, and compare the effects between the two regions (Study 2). Findings The findings indicate that CET shows greater negative effects on perceptions of a country and its products, when the country is from a similar out-group than when it is from a dissimilar one. On the other hand, COS showed equally strong positive effects among consumers for both similar and dissimilar out-group countries. Research limitations/implications The results suggest that Asian consumers feel a sense of intergroup rivalry with other Asian countries, and, as a result, exhibit a greater degree of ethnocentric biases toward these countries and their products than they do toward Western countries and products. Also, the results suggest that COS may transcend national differences and inter-country rivalries in consumer consumption tendencies. Originality/value The study examines inter-country similarities as a moderator of CET and COS effects, which has not been extensively researched in the past. In addition, the study discusses the concept of intergroup rivalry among neighboring countries and examines how it affects consumer perceptions of out-group countries and their products in Asia, where strong inter-country rivalries exist.

Cultural intelligence effects on expatriates’ adjustment and turnover intentions in Mainland China

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 818-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Akhal ◽  
Shimin Liu
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Intelligence ◽  
Turnover Intentions ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
The Other ◽  
International Assignments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment is one of the crucial factors for multi-national corporations’ (MNCs’) global success, which if neglected can lead to poor performance and increased turnover rates. On the other hand, cultural intelligence (CQ) is an important perspective for understanding international business success. Utilizing a relatively large sample of foreign professionals (n = 402) working in Mainland China, this study aims to test the effects of cultural intelligence on expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment and their turnover intentions. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected via a cross-sectional survey, and the hierarchical multiple regression technique was used to test the hypotheses. The facets of cross-cultural adjustment were treated as potential predictors of turnover intentions and mediators in the relationship between CQ and turnover intentions. Findings With the exception of CQ-behavioral, the other three dimensions of CQ had varying positive effects on the three facets of expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment. When the variable of turnover intentions was regressed on the four dimensions of CQ, the motivational dimension was the only predictor. Also, general and work adjustment facets had strong effects on turnover intentions, thus when they entered in the third step after CQ-motivational, they provided full mediation. Practical implications Given the strong and positive effects of all CQ dimensions on all facets of cross-cultural adjustment, MNCs should assess and select individuals with high CQ levels for international assignments. Based on the correlations of the control variables, age and level of education, MNCs should keep an eye on those who are young and those with higher levels of education as they are more likely to leave their international assignments prematurely. Expatriates themselves should set long-term personal plans for acquiring the needed cultural knowledge. Originality/value This research extends the relationship between CQ and cross-cultural adjustment to expatriates’ turnover intentions, a very costly problem for MNCs, yet barely researched in the context of CQ. This study also extends the geographical validity of CQ to Mainland China, a very lucrative market for global MNCs, yet a challenge for Western expatriates in particular.

Empirical assessment on the liveability of cities in the Greater China Region

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khee Giap Tan ◽  
Tongxin NIE ◽  
Shinae Baek
Keyword(s):  
Mainland China ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Greater China ◽  
Domestic Security ◽  
Cultural Conditions ◽  
Chinese Policy ◽  
Political Governance ◽  
China Region

Purpose – This paper aims to apply a comprehensive Liveability Cities index to rank the liveability of 100 cities in the Greater China Region. Against the backdrop of the ongoing trend of rapid and extensive urbanisation observed in China, “liveability” is being given an increasingly higher priority by the Chinese government. However, there has been no attempt to empirically measure this concept and to examine its nexus to the narrower concept of competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach – The index is based on 96 indicators across five environments, namely, economic vibrancy and competitiveness; environmental friendliness and sustainability; domestic security and stability; socio-cultural conditions; and political governance. Findings – The empirical results show that Hong Kong, Macau and cities in Taiwan generally perform well in overall liveability rankings, while first-tier cities in mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen) do not find a place among the top ranks. Originality/value – The rankings and simulation exercise aim to provide Chinese policy makers with a framework to assess the liveability of China’s cities and suggests indicative policy suggestions that can be taken to improve overall liveability.

Integrating Chinese cultural philosophies on the effects of employee friendliness, helpfulness and respectfulness on customer satisfaction

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 464-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Tingchi Liu ◽  
Li Yan ◽  
Ian Phau ◽  
Andrea Perez ◽  
Min Teah
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Service Setting ◽  
Service Outcomes ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose This study aims to investigate the main and interactive effects of three employee attributes, namely, employee friendliness, helpfulness and respectfulness, on customer satisfaction in Mainland China. Design/methodology/approach A 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects experimental design enabled an eight-scenario study depicting a service experience manipulated by employee friendliness (high/low), helpfulness (high/low) and respectfulness (high/low). Findings It is found that the effect of respectfulness has the strongest impact on customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction generated by helpfulness is higher when respectfulness is high rather than low, while the interaction between helpfulness and friendliness is not found, even though helpfulness exerts a stronger effect than friendliness on customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is also maximized when all three positive interpersonal attributes all jointly presented. Interestingly, the absence of respectfulness tends to trigger a negative effect, while the display of friendliness results in a positive effect. Research limitations/implications Beyond the joint positive effects on service outcomes, different interaction patterns reveal that the display of friendliness is desirable and beneficial to enhance interpersonal outcome. However, the communication of respect is crucial, and, as such, managers and employees need to strive for a good balance on how to demonstrate these behaviours in critical moments such as service recovery. The findings from relative and interactive effects of three employee attributes are new in the literature and provide significant theoretical and managerial contributions for both researchers and managers. Originality/value This study takes the first step in decoding the cultural meaning of employee attributes through integrating Chinese traditional philosophy, Li (i.e. politeness), into a specific service setting by examining its comparative effects with other attributes.

Work-home interference and work values in Greater China

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 801-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-qin Lu ◽  
Bei Wang ◽  
Oi-ling Siu ◽  
Luo Lu ◽  
Dan-yang Du
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Job Performance ◽  
Work Values ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Greater China ◽  
Work Demand

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating effects of work-home interference (WHI) on the relationships between work demand, work attitudes, and job performance, with a focus on the moderating effect of Chinese work values (CWV). Design/methodology/approach – A self-administered survey method was used. The sample comprised 1,032 employees from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The moderated mediation framework was used to test the proposed model. Findings – The results showed that WHI mediated the relationships among work demand, job satisfaction, and affective organizational commitment (AOC), but did not mediate the relationship between work demand and job performance. CWV moderated the mediated relationships and exacerbated the mediation effects of WHI on the relationships between work demand and job satisfaction and AOC. Research limitations/implications – The use of a cross-sectional design prevented the drawing of causal inference. With the exception of job performance, the self-reported measures are all subject to the problem of common method bias. Practical implications – Organizations in Greater China could implement stress management programs to reduce the negative effects of work demands. HR practitioners and managers should understand what values their employees hold to provide the proper interventions for them. Originality/value – By integrating both the mediator (WHI) and a moderator (CWV), this study investigated how CWV, an individual-level cultural value, affects the influences of WHI. The results highlight the importance of incorporating culturally specific value constructs when examining the underlying mechanisms of WHI.

scholarly journals In VitroActivity of Glucosinolates and Their Degradation Products against Brassica-Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 432-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Sotelo ◽  
M. Lema ◽  
P. Soengas ◽  
M. E. Cartea ◽  
P. Velasco
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Xanthomonas Campestris ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Allyl Isothiocyanate ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Soil Pathogens ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects

ABSTRACTGlucosinolates (GSLs) are secondary metabolites found inBrassicavegetables that confer on them resistance against pests and diseases. Both GSLs and glucosinolate hydrolysis products (GHPs) have shown positive effects in reducing soil pathogens. Information about theirin vitrobiocide effects is scarce, but previous studies have shown sinigrin GSLs and their associated allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) to be soil biocides. The objective of this work was to evaluate the biocide effects of 17 GSLs and GHPs and of leaf methanolic extracts of different GSL-enrichedBrassicacrops on suppressingin vitrogrowth of two bacterial (Xanthomonas campestrispv. campestris andPseudomonas syringaepv. maculicola) and two fungal (AlternariabrassicaeandSclerotiniascletoriorum)Brassicapathogens. GSLs, GHPs, and methanolic leaf extracts inhibited the development of the pathogens tested compared to the control, and the effect was dose dependent. Furthermore, the biocide effects of the different compounds studied were dependent on the species and race of the pathogen. These results indicate that GSLs and their GHPs, as well as extracts of differentBrassicaspecies, have potential to inhibit pathogen growth and offer new opportunities to study the use ofBrassicacrops in biofumigation for the control of multiple diseases.

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