The evolving gift-giving practices of bicultural consumers

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
May Aung ◽  
Xiying Zhang ◽  
Lefa Teng
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Marketing Research ◽  
Chinese Immigrants ◽  
Gift Giving ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Populations ◽  
The Gift ◽  
Chinese Cultural Values ◽  
As Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to offer a better understanding of contemporary consumer behaviour. This study relates to the complex and value-laden phenomenon of “gift-giving” from the perspective of bicultural consumers. The focus was on the gift-giving practices of Chinese immigrants in Canada within both their current and their past residencies (Canada and China, respectively). Design/methodology/approach Conceptual guidelines for this study embodied the gift-giving conceptual framework of Sherry (1983) and Chinese cultural values on gift giving (Yau et al., 1999). A qualitative research study was implemented. Specifically, in-depth interviews with Chinese immigrant women mainly from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Ontario, Canada, offered empirical evidence relating to the gestation stage of gift giving. Findings The findings indicate the complexity of acculturation in gift-giving practices. In terms of gift-giving occasions, Chinese immigrants in Canada, for the most part, adopted the Canadian gift-giving occasions. However, the important role of ethnicity in decision-making is found through their strong sense of differentiation between Chinese and Canadian gift receivers. The results also indicate some Chinese cultural values such as relationship, reciprocity and group orientation as being still important in shaping gift-giving practices, even after immigration to a new country quite distant from the homeland. One cautionary note is that some cultural values such as relationship can be common to both Chinese and Canadian cultural groups. Research limitations/implications This research was conducted mainly in the GTA in Ontario, Canada. Future studies could address other large Canadian cities with significant bicultural Chinese populations such as Vancouver in British Columbia and Motreal in Quebec. Practical implications This research extends the knowledge of bicultural consumers by examining the evolving gift-giving practices of Chinese immigrants living in Canada. A good understanding of the cultural values important to bicultural consumers will help marketers to efficiently and effectively allocate their marketing resources in attracting these niche consumers. Social implications This study has contributed to the broader field of marketing research. Specifically, the current study offers the importance of understanding values transference of bicultural consumers and their behaviours in integrating into the mainstream gift-giving cultural context. Originality/value This study has contributed by offering evidence of how a minority consumer group formed complex acculturation realities within a gift-giving consumption context. This contribution can be counted as a step towards theoretical advancement in the field of acculturation and of understanding bicultural consumers.

Consumer xenocentrism in China: an exploratory study

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rene Dentiste Mueller ◽  
George Xun Wang ◽  
Guoli Liu ◽  
Charles Chi Cui
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Marketing Research ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Chinese Economy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Chinese History ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Foreign Products

Purpose – Marketing research has focussed more on in-group favoritism and out-group derogation (i.e. ethnocentrism) than out-group favoritism and in-group derogation (i.e. xenocentrism). The purpose of this paper is to explore the xenocentric behavior in the consumer sphere to explain why some consumers have a bias for foreign products even when domestic ones are qualitatively similar or better. As the Chinese economy has experienced more than three decades of near double-digit growth and increased openness to foreign products, it is important to examine phenomena related to the formation of Chinese attitudes toward foreign products with the rising tensions between the seemingly irreversible globalization and Chinese re-awakening nationalism. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on a review of the extant literature and focus groups in three cities in China. Findings – This study has found that consumer xenocentrism (CX) is prevalent in China, especially among the new emerging wealthy classes, younger consumers, and the local elite. It appears that Chinese consumers are psychologically or sociologically orientated or predisposed toward foreign (Western) goods. The findings from this study suggest that both consumer ethnocentrism and CX are possible or even expected. The short review of Chinese history presented here has shown that these phenomena can be explained by traditional in-group/out-group theories. Specifically, when there are too many xenocentrics, national esteem is threatened and this prompts many individuals to become more ethnocentric. Research limitations/implications – This study is based on the literature and focus groups data, hence, the findings are not intended to be generalizable. Practical implications – The findings from this study should be of interest to business practitioners and policy makers. Social implications – The historical and cultural perspectives taken in this study indicate that understanding consumers’ xenocentric behavior entails knowledge and deep understanding of how cultural values and contemporary social-political forces interplay within consumers’ formation and change of attitudes toward the choice of domestic and foreign products. Originality/value – This study shows that the ability of foreign products to meet the individual’s need or enhance his/her self-esteem more so than domestic products is indicative of something more than simply an international, cosmopolitan, or modern orientation. The fact that consumer foreign bias is found with both mundane and widely available products, expensive and inexpensive products, and conspicuous and non-conspicuous goods challenges the assumption that this phenomenon is simply traditional prestige-consumption behavior. Future research needs to be directed at measuring the CX construct and examine potential antecedents of such a behavior.

The impact of culture on Chinese employees' work values

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bih‐Shiaw Jaw ◽  
Ya‐Hui Ling ◽  
Christina Yu‐Ping Wang ◽  
Wen‐Ching Chang
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Work Values ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Chinese Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Values ◽  
Cultural Exposure ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Chinese Cultural Values ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to investigate the detailed relationships between Chinese cultural values (Confucian dynamism, individualism, masculinity, and power distance) and work values (self‐enhancement, contribution to society, rewards and stability, openness to change, and power and status) in an integrated model. Further attempts are also made to explain the above relationship in terms of different cultural exposure experiences.Design/methodology/approachThe sample was collected from China (selected from after‐work classes for Chinese businessmen in China) and Australia (overseas Chinese living or working in Sydney) by questionnaires. Altogether, 185 respondents took part in the study. SEM was used to test the relationship between Chinese cultural values and work values, and difference analysis was employed to test the impact of respondents' Western cultural exposure experiences.FindingsInteresting results are found concerning Chinese employees' cross‐cultural work values. The study not only confirms the impact of cultural values on work values, but also brings some new thoughts on Hoftstede's belief that instead of high masculinity and individualism, Confucian dynamism is the main cultural value to foster self‐enhancement and most work value of Chinese employees.Research limitations/implicationsBecause China is a complex country, the limited Chinese sample should not be taken as representative. The current study did not differentiate respondents' demographic differences. Hence some demographic variables may have produced some of the intergroup differences reported in this study.Practical implicationsThe findings provide useful input for managers who are seeking to develop effective working relationships with Chinese counterparts.Originality/valueThis paper enriches existing Chinese values studies and serves as a starting point for future research concerning the detailed relationship between Chinese cultural values and work values.

Chinese cultural values and gift‐giving behavior

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Qian ◽  
Mohammed Abdur Razzaque ◽  
Kau Ah Keng
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Gift Giving ◽  
Chinese Cultural Values

scholarly journals Entrepreneurs’ individual-level resources and social value creation goals

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Brieger ◽  
Dirk De Clercq
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Social Value Creation ◽  
Human And Social Capital ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of how the interplay of individual-level resources and culture affects entrepreneurs’ propensity to adopt social value creation goals.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 12,685 entrepreneurs in 35 countries from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, it investigates the main effects of individual-level resources – measured as financial, human and social capital – on social value creation goals, as well as the moderating effects of the cultural context in which the respective entrepreneur is embedded, on the relationship between individual-level resources and social value creation goals.FindingsDrawing on the resource-based perspective and Hofstede’s cultural values framework, the results offer empirical evidence that individual-level resources are relevant for predicting the extent to which entrepreneurs emphasise social goals for their business. Furthermore, culture influences the way entrepreneurs allocate their resources towards social value creation.Originality/valueThe study sheds new light on how entrepreneurs’ individual resources influence their willingness to create social value. Moreover, by focussing on the role of culture in the relationship between individual-level resources and social value creation goals, it contributes to social entrepreneurship literature, which has devoted little attention to the interplay of individual characteristics and culture.

The influence of brand schematicity on the importance of product cues: self-purchasing versus gift-giving situations

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Carsana ◽  
Alain Jolibert
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Gift Giving ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Extrinsic Cues ◽  
The Gift ◽  
Online Brand Community ◽  
Search For Information

Purpose The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of self-purchasing versus gift-giving situations on the importance of product cues and the moderating effect of brand schematicity. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected via an online survey of 285 French consumers for wine and 139 French consumers for whisky. The interaction effect of the gift-giving situation and brand schematicity on the importance of product cues was then investigated. Findings The results differed, depending on the importance of brand cue. For the whisky category (high brand importance), brand schematicity had no influence on the importance of cues. For the wine category (low brand importance), brand schematicity moderated the influence of the gift-giving situation on the importance of extrinsic cues such as commercial brand. Brand schematicity and the situation of gift-giving also influence the number of important cues which consumers take into account when making their choice. In low-involvement purchasing situations, brand-aschematic consumers use fewer choice criteria than brand-schematic consumers, whereas in high-involvement purchasing situations, regardless of their level of brand schematicity, consumers use the same number of criteria to make their selection. Practical implications When the commercial brand is a salient cue and regardless of the purchasing situation, it is important to provide information on the brand to consumers through any format, such as social media, leaflets, flash codes, in-store digital display, etc. When the commercial brand is not a salient cue, brand schematicity may be relevant to a segment of consumers because this consumer profile may need more information and will focus on the commercial brand. Brand managers could develop a specific approach to schematic consumers based on brand content, for example, brand managers could provide marketing materials (e.g. leaflets, flash codes, mobile apps) to retail store managers explaining the origin and value of the commercial brand. Consumers could also be provided with digital devices (such as tablets), which they could use to search for information according to these cues before choosing their product. Social media and online brand community could also provide more details about the brand and may provide an interactive area for discussions with consumers. Originality/value There has been little research on the effect of brand schematicity on the importance of product cues. To the authors’ knowledge, the interaction between brand schematicity and purchase according to product category has not previously been studied. The influence of brand schematicity changes depending on the importance given to brand cues.

Impact of cultural values on leadership roles and paternalistic style from the role theory perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Korhan Arun ◽  
Nesli Kahraman Gedik ◽  
Olcay Okun ◽  
Cem Sen
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Role Theory ◽  
Cultural Models ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Paternalistic Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Asian Cultural Values ◽  
Leadership Substitutes

PurposeThis paper researches the effects of the cultural context from values' ground on leadership roles and the effects of roles on styles. The idea behind this study is to show that cultural communities have different cultural models regarding the kinds of roles leaders should or should not play.Design/methodology/approachThe sample was chosen from the part of the town where the immigrant workforce is growing, as well as it is the closest growing economic area to Europe in Turkey.FindingsThe analysis shows that cultural values significantly affect leadership roles. Additionally, there is a correlation between roles and paternalistic leadership style. Asian cultural values do affect leadership roles more than Western values. Additionally, each culture is diminishing the other. As leadership roles increase, they are acting as paternalistic leadership substitutes.Originality/valueInterestingly we have introduced paternalistic leadership substitutes to literature and showed that paternalistic leadership is not only culturally but also contextually bounded.

Re-integrating values, mind of Mao and selected papers

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 406-416
Author(s):  
Check Teck Foo ◽  
Fang Fang
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Mao Zedong ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scholarly Community ◽  
Chinese Management ◽  
Ethical Behaviors ◽  
Research Opportunity ◽  
Chinese Cultural Values ◽  
The Mind

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elaborate a unique approach to researching into the mind of Mao and, at the same time, review of papers in this issue of Chinese Management Studies. Through this paper, the editor hopes to communicate the three simple yet important criteria that should feature in the selection of future papers. Design/methodology/approach Values of scholarly community as embodied within the 1,040-year-old Yuelu Academy are first introduced as translated by the joint efforts of the authors. The relevance of such cultural values for modern scholars is then discussed. This is followed by the author highlighting the unique research opportunity (documentary study and analysis) as offered by the Shaoshan Mao Memorial Museum. Perhaps it is possible to get a hint of the thinking of Mao Zedong. Finally, consistent with the earlier two review papers, a bird-eye view of key findings is given of the nine selected papers, namely, on politics, state-owned enterprises, team, socialism, planning, human resource management, leadership, competition and knowledge. Findings Clearly the modern scholarly community will benefit by imbibing the values of the Yuelu Academy with their strong emphasis on ethical behaviors, diligence and the deep pursuit of scholarly inquiry. Also, the Chinese, by documenting the writings of Mao Zedong (Shaoshan Museum), made him perhaps the most well-documented strategist for in-depth research. From the latest review of manuscripts, authors have yet to incorporate Chinese cultural, historical and social background as an integral part of their papers. Originality/value This paper calls for scholars to try to reintegrate Chinese cultural values back into research on Chinese management. Professor Warner Malcolm, Cambridge University, a contributing author wrote to the journal saying in essence: “[…] Chinese management is […] deeply rooted in Chinese cultural norms […]” Hopefully more of the submissions will begin to reflect such an orientation.

Reciprocity and gift-giving logic in NPOs

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 513-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamberto Zollo ◽  
Guglielmo Faldetta ◽  
Massimiliano Matteo Pellegrini ◽  
Cristiano Ciappei
Keyword(s):  
Service Sector ◽  
Gift Giving ◽  
Charitable Organizations ◽  
Organizational Responsiveness ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Variables ◽  
The Gift ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate, through the lens of the gift-giving theory, volunteers’ motivations for intending to stay with organizations. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 379 volunteers from 30 charitable organizations operating in Italy’s socio-healthcare service sector. Bootstrapped mediation analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings Volunteers’ reciprocal attitudes and gift-giving intentions partially mediated the relationship between motives and intentions to stay. Practical implications Policy makers of charitable organizations are advised to be more responsive to behavioral signals revealing volunteers’ motivations, attitudes, and intentions. Managers should appropriately align organizational responsiveness with volunteers’ commitment through gift-giving exchange systems. Originality/value The findings reveal that reciprocity and gift giving are significant organizational variables greatly influencing volunteers’ intentions to stay with organizations. Signaling theory is used to explain how volunteers’ attitudes are linked with organizational responsiveness. Furthermore, this study is the first to use an Italian setting to consider motives, reciprocity, and gift giving as they relate to intentions to stay.

scholarly journals Comparing accounting students’ instructional preferences: Australia and Zimbabwe

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seedwell T.M. Sithole ◽  
Indra Abeysekera
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Instructional Material ◽  
Accounting Students ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Instructional Preferences ◽  
Design Choice ◽  
Cultural Conditioning

Purpose This study aims to examine the instructional preferences exhibited by students in an Australian and a Zimbabwean setting and how cultural conditioning can reflect in the instructional design choice and the effect on the learning process. Design/methodology/approach Using graphical and textual presentations of an experiment with three instructional designs and 217 undergraduate students, this study empirically examines student understanding of financial accounting in the two countries. Students’ performance scores and reported mental effort ratings were used to determine the instructional preference. Findings The findings of this comparative study show that Australian accounting students prefer graph and text designs aligned with a low power distance, (PD) while Zimbabwean students prefer graph and text designs associated with a high PD. Deep-rooted cultural values and modes of thinking need to be considered in the learning processes. Research limitations/implications The sample used in this study came from first-year undergraduate students studying introductory accounting at two different universities from two different countries (Australia and Zimbabwe). The results may not be generalisable to other universities, although similar patterns were found to be consistent with students’ cultural orientations. In addition, there may be other factors that motivate students’ learning and affect their performance, and those should therefore be considered. Practical implications The results suggest that students learning in different cultural contexts learn better with different instructional formats, requiring educators to consider different formats of instructional material. Originality/value This study is the first to offer accounting educators insights on one major dimension of cultural variation, using instructional material designed according to cognitive load theory principles in a cross-cultural context.

Do all Chinese employees have the same cultural values? An exploratory investigation on differences in Chinese cultural values among state-, privately-, and US-owned firms

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 827-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kitae Kim ◽  
Kwon Yoon ◽  
Bongsoon Cho ◽  
Longzhen Li ◽  
Byoung Kwon Choi
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cultural Value ◽  
Ownership Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exploratory Investigation ◽  
Chinese Cultural Values ◽  
Business In China ◽  
Value Model ◽  
Ownership Types

Purpose – Using Hofstede’s cultural value model, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how Chinese employees’ cultural values differ according to firm ownership type such as state-, privately, and US-owned firms. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 367 Chinese employees working at firms located in Beijing. Findings – Results showed that while Chinese employees in state-owned firms scored the highest in collectivism, those working at privately and US-owned firms scored higher for individualism. The score for long-term orientation was also higher in state-owned firms than in privately and US-owned firms. However, contrary to the expectation, the scores for Chinese employees for power distance in state-owned firms were lower than in the others, while the scores for masculinity in state-owned firms were higher than for the others. Chinese employees in all three types of firms showed lower scores than reported in previous studies for uncertainty avoidance. Practical implications – This study contributes to a deepened understanding of how the cultural values of Chinese employees differ depending on firms’ ownership types, with significant implications for managers, who do business in China as they seek to establish management practices more closely aligned with the cultural values of Chinese employees. Originality/value – This study may be the first attempt to examine how Chinese cultural values differ according to various ownership types. It suggests that Chinese employees at privately and US-owned firms have different cultural values from employees at state-owned firms, even though all three groups of employees are Chinese.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document