Wu Ci-sheng and Zhou Zhen
Labour relations management, business management, HRM, focusing on the labour relations of Chinese enterprises.
Abstract
Subject area
Labour relations management, business management, HRM, focusing on the labour relations of Chinese enterprises.
Study level/applicability
This case is designed for students in schools of business or management, undergraduate MBA or executive MBA classes. Students should already have a basic knowledge about Chinese labour relations, HRM, and organizational development.
Case overview
In 2004, a deal transformed Anhui Xuanjiu Group from a state-owned enterprise (SOE) to a private company. Li Jian, the Chairman of Xuanjiu Group, focused on creating happiness for employees. Thanks to Li Jian's efforts, Xuanjiu emrged from its crisis which was formed in the planned economy system. After several years of development, the labour relations management of Anhui Xuanjiu Group became a model among private enterprises in China.
Expected learning outcomes
Students can gain new insights into labour relations in China. The case provides an example of building friendly labour relations to avoid labour disputes. It provides a set of measures for retaining and motivating workers.
Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
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Christina Ling-hsing Chang and Sheng Wu
The speedy development of information technology (IT) is indeed a significant issue to support the enterprises to spread their products and services to their customers. Although…
Abstract
Purpose
The speedy development of information technology (IT) is indeed a significant issue to support the enterprises to spread their products and services to their customers. Although the adoption of IT in the enterprises can help employees' work, it will increase their work exhaustion and job burnout too.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey data of this study was collected from Chinese IT personnel (ITP): 543 and Chinese information systems (IS)/IT users: 525, totaling 1,068 respondents.
Findings
The result shows that the influences of the organizational factors and guanxi on the work exhaustion are different between Chinese ITP and IS/IT users in the research model. Also the implications of the study are discussed and made some contribution to the research and management practice.
Originality/value
By comparison between the Chinese ITP and IS/IT users, this study shows that guanxi can be antecedent factor to some organizational factors, and the organizational factors guanxi have had a different effect on the work exhaustion of Chinese ITP and IS/IT users. Given that the critical successes to the organizations, management should focus on what direction to reduce Chinese ITP and IS/IT users work exhaustion.
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Sheng Wu, Tung-Ching Lin and Jou-Fan Shih
The purpose of this paper is to integrate psychological dimension, social dimension, and environmental dimension – six internet psychological characteristics (dissociative…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to integrate psychological dimension, social dimension, and environmental dimension – six internet psychological characteristics (dissociative anonymity, invisibility, asynchronicity, solipsistic introjection, dissociative imagination, and minimization of status and authority), deindividuation, social influence (subjective norm and descriptive norm), and containment theory (inner containment and outer containment) – to propose an innovative model which can make up for deficiencies in previous studies of the toxic online disinhibition effect.
Design/methodology/approach
On the basis of 530 valid responses collected from an online survey questionnaire, partial least squares technology was used to examine the research model.
Findings
The result shows that dissociative anonymity has a significant impact on deindividuation and toxic disinhibition. In addition, asynchronicity and dissociative imagination have a direct effect on toxic disinhibition. Besides, in social influence, the authors found that subjective norm is a stronger predictor of toxic disinhibition than descriptive norm. Moreover, in containment theory, the result shows that inner containment can effectively reduce toxic disinhibition but not outer containment.
Originality/value
This study can provide academics and practical side empirical evidence as to what factor would cause toxic disinhibition and provides an innovative view regarding the relationship between social influence and containment theory on toxic disinhibition.
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Shi-Qi Huang, Wen-Sheng Wu, Li-Ping Wang and Xiang-Yang Duan
This paper aims to study the removal of wide-stripe noise in hyperspectral remote sensing images. There is a great deal of stripe noises in short-wave infrared hyperspectral…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the removal of wide-stripe noise in hyperspectral remote sensing images. There is a great deal of stripe noises in short-wave infrared hyperspectral remote sensing image, especially wide-stripe noise, which brings great challenge to the interpretation and application of hyperspectral images.
Design/methodology/approach
To remove the noise and to reduce the impact based on in-depth study of the mechanism of the stripe noise generation and its distribution characteristics, this paper proposed two statistical local processing and moment matching algorithms for the elimination of wide-stripe noise, namely, the gradient mean moment matching (GMMM) algorithm and the gradient interpolation moment matching (GIMM) algorithm.
Findings
The experiments were carried out with the practical short-wave infrared hyperspectral image data and good experiment results were obtained. Experiments show that both can reduce the impact of wide-stripe noise, and the filtering effect and the application range of the GIMM algorithm is better than that of the GMMM algorithm.
Originality/value
Using new methods to deal with the hyperspectral remote sensing images, it can effectively improve the quality of hyperspectral images and improve their utilization efficiency and value.
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Janet Chang, Sean Hsin-Hung Lin and Li-Sheng Wu
Historically, hot springs have been regarded as hedonic and foodie destinations, yet the antecedents that affect tourists' intentions for local cuisine in hot springs remain…
Abstract
Purpose
Historically, hot springs have been regarded as hedonic and foodie destinations, yet the antecedents that affect tourists' intentions for local cuisine in hot springs remain unexplored. The present study aims to address this knowledge gap by considering the role of nostalgia and hedonic values in tourist food consumption.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 315 domestic tourists by intercept surveys conducted in the Beitou Hot Spring, Taiwan. Covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping were used to test the hypotheses as well as mediating effects.
Findings
Nostalgia positively influences hedonic values, which affect tourists' intentions for local food consumption. Unexpectedly, nostalgia does not directly influence tourists' preferences due to complete mediation through hedonic values.
Research limitations/implications
Given a growing number of young consumers visiting hot springs, hedonic experience is essential and more effective for pulling visitors and stimulating local food consumption than nostalgia vibes are. Cross-cultural samples and qualitative research are suggested for future studies.
Originality/value
The study demonstrates different levels of nostalgia in different ages. It highlights the mediating role of hedonic values between nostalgia and tourists' intentions for local cuisine in the hot spring destinations, which has been overlooked in previous studies. Originality is also established by simultaneously investigating hedonic values and behavioral intentions within the context of food tourism.
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P. G. S. A. Jayarathne, Narayanage Jayantha Dewasiri and K. S. S. N. Karunarathne
Owing to the significance of a healthy lifestyle, we investigate the antecedents of the healthy lifestyle of young consumers in Sri Lanka. 658 structured questionnaires were…
Abstract
Owing to the significance of a healthy lifestyle, we investigate the antecedents of the healthy lifestyle of young consumers in Sri Lanka. 658 structured questionnaires were collected from young consumers in Sri Lanka as part of the survey procedure. The judgmental sampling method is used to choose the respondents. The analysis makes use of both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings disclose a high degree of healthy lifestyle among young consumers in Sri Lanka. Further findings revealed that health consciousness, collective esteem, and neighborhood environment are the antecedents for a healthy lifestyle. As young consumers are more concerned about a healthy lifestyle, managers in certain industries such as food and beverages, hotels, and restaurants should adopt their products and services in line with a healthy lifestyle.
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The worldwide expansion of higher education participation has destabilised the value of higher education as a currency of opportunity. An increasing number of graduates are…
Abstract
Purpose
The worldwide expansion of higher education participation has destabilised the value of higher education as a currency of opportunity. An increasing number of graduates are experiencing the precarity of unemployment, under-employment and low salaries. This study aimed to investigate how university students in China understand and respond to the changing relationship between higher education and career opportunities.
Design/methodology/approach
The research team conducted 100 in-depth interviews with final-year undergraduates at one elite and one lower-tier university in a metropolitan city in Guangdong Province.
Findings
The students were acutely aware of fierce competition in the graduate labour market. When asked “what matters most” for post-graduation career prospects, they identified elite universities and high-status fields of study as “traditional” currencies of opportunity. Nonetheless, to stand out in a competitive environment, they perceived a growing need to supplement higher education credentials through university experiences (internships, student governance, study abroad programmes), party membership, personal connections and (overseas) postgraduate education. Moreover, in a “race to the top”, they discussed how qualitatively distinctive university experiences and elite postgraduate education are “new” currencies of opportunity for high-status professional employment.
Originality/value
The study demonstrates how intensified competition for graduate employment can result in an “opportunity trap”. The students were participating in an “arms race” to accumulate positional advantages for their post-graduation careers. The net impact of such efforts on a systemic level is to create an upward spiral in what students are expected to do in preparation for their post-graduation careers and further destabilise the value of higher education as a currency of opportunity.
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Parinaz Sami, Farajollah Rahnavard and Alireza Alavi Tabar
The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediator role of product innovation in the relationship between political and business ties (independent variables) and firm…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediator role of product innovation in the relationship between political and business ties (independent variables) and firm performance (dependent variable).
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, research hypotheses were tested using the structural equation modeling method.
Findings
The findings from 267 manufacturing companies in Iran show that business ties have an effect on firm performance through product innovation, while the role of innovation is not proved as a mediating variable in the relationships between political ties and firm performance. In addition, business ties have an effect on product innovation and firm performance, whereas political ties have no such effect.
Practical implications
These results provide useful points for developing economies, theoretically and practically.
Originality/value
Despite the increasing attention to the role of managerial ties (political and business ties) in improving product innovation and firm performance, there is no study conducted on the mediating role of product innovation in the relationship between managerial ties and firm performance.
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Zhe Liu, Hao Wei, Li Chen, Haihang Cui and Bohua Sun
The purpose of this study is to establish an effective numerical simulation method to describe the flow pattern and optimize the strategy of noncontact mixing induced by…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to establish an effective numerical simulation method to describe the flow pattern and optimize the strategy of noncontact mixing induced by alternating Gaussian light inside a nanofluid droplet and analyzing the influencing factors and flow mechanism of fluid mixing inside a droplet.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the heat converted by the alternating incident Gaussian light acting on the nanoparticles was considered as the bulk heat source distribution, and the equilibrium equation between the surface tension and the viscous force at the upper boundary force was established; then, the numerical simulation methods for multiple-physical-field coupling was established, and the mixing index was used to quantify the mixing degree inside a droplet. The effects of the incident position of alternating Gaussian light and the height of the droplet on the mixing characteristics inside a droplet were studied. Finally, the nondimensional Marangoni number was used to reveal the flow mechanism of the internal mixing of the droplet.
Findings
Noncontact alternating Gaussian light can induce asymmetric vortex motion inside a nanofluid droplet. The incident position of alternating Gaussian light is a significant factor affecting the mixing degree in the droplet. In addition, the heat transfer caused by the surface tension gradient promotes the convection effect, which significantly enhances the mixing of the fluid in the droplet.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates the possibility of the chaotic mixing phenomenon induced by noncontact Gaussian light that occurs within a tiny droplet and provides a feasible method to achieve efficient mixing inside droplets at the microscale.
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Amonrat Thoumrungroje and Supara Kapasuwan
Given the inconclusive findings on relational ties–performance relationships, this study approaches this phenomenon through social capital theory and resource-based view (RBV…
Abstract
Purpose
Given the inconclusive findings on relational ties–performance relationships, this study approaches this phenomenon through social capital theory and resource-based view (RBV) lenses to advocate the mediating role of nonmarket- and market-based capabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey-based research methodology was employed. A list of 1,425 foreign subsidiaries was identified from the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) website, and key informants were contacted. A final response rate of 11.8% was achieved. All hypotheses were tested via path analyses with the bootstrapping technique.
Findings
The results indicate that the relationships between business- and government-relational ties and performance are fully mediated by market- and nonmarket-based capabilities with the latter serving as essential but inadequate preconditions for achieving superior firm performance.
Practical implications
To mitigate the liability of foreignness and to enhance performance of foreign subsidiaries operating in volatile emerging economies such as Thailand, government and business relational ties are crucial in developing nonmarket- and market-based capabilities. The nonmarket-based capabilities entail the ability to negotiate with and influence policy makers, which in turn helps augment the development of market-based capabilities, including the ability to be highly responsive to customers' needs.
Originality/value
This research illustrates the embedded roles of nonmarket and market-based capabilities developed through complex interactions among social actors, including the multinational enterprises’ (MNEs’) subsidiaries and government and nongovernment counterparts, in attaining superior performance. The results indicate how relational ties enable MNEs’ subsidiaries to develop various capabilities, and how these capabilities are related with each other and linked to firm performance. Findings from an emerging economy undergoing recent political and economic uncertainties also provide theoretical advancements for international business studies.