The role of the ideal organization in comparative management: A cross cultural perspective of Japan & Korea

It is popular to talk of the Confucian Work Ethic when explaining the successes of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. This is not an accurate impression. The authors of this article found significant differences in management practices — both actual and ideal — between Japan and South Korea.Professors Lane Kelley, Reginald Worthley and Harry Lie are from the College of Business Administration, University of Hawaii while Professor Arthur Whatley is from the College of Business Administration & Economics, New Mexico State University.     

Purchasing's role in computer buying: A comparative study

The sale of Electronic Data Processing (EDP) equipment represents a large and growing market both in number of dollars and products. This article analyzes the purchaser's perceived role in the EDP acquisition process from both public and private sector perspectives. Major public and private sector purchasing differences are discussed in terms of their implications for improving EDP marketing success. Differences discussed include: purchaser influence in the EDP decision process, necessity of seller-buyer interface, method of purchase, and purchasing's organization structure for buying EDP equipment.     

Singapore-based subsidiaries of US multinationals and singaporean firms: A comparative management study

The objective of this exploratory study is to compare and contrast various aspects of US management with Singapore management. One hundred and four top managers, 99 middle managers and 780 operating employees from 20 manufacturing companies participated in the survey. The chief executive of each company was contacted by mail before the survey was begun.Hypotheses concerning the management philosophies, management practices and management effectiveness were tested for differences between US subsidiaries and Singaporean firms.The results of the research indicate significant statistical differences for the two groups of companies with respect to the management variables. Explanations regarding these differences are presented.A paper comprising a substantial portion of this article was presented by the author at the43rd National Academy of Management Conference held in Dallas, Texas between August 14 and 17, 1983.The author is grateful to Dr Bruce W. Stening, of the Department of Management at the University of Western Australia for his perceptive guidance during the study. The author is with the Department of Management, University of Western Australia.     

Patented innovations developed in networks: The role of cultural looseness

The ongoing globalization tears down geographical barriers to knowledge sourcing, leaving cultural ones intact. Past research on developing innovations has largely neglected national culture or solely relied on cultural values. A recent body of research has emerged around cultural looseness – the strength of social norms and the degree of sanctioning within societies – and provided initial evidence on its importance for mastering creativity, an antecedent of innovations. However, the impact of cultural looseness on developing innovations in networks with diverse actors has not yet been tested. To this end, we develop a Multiple Indicator Multiple Causes (MIMIC) structural equation model and test it against empirical evidence from >1.25 million patented innovations. We find that in innovation networks, innovators based in culturally loose countries source knowledge of higher breadth and depth for developing innovations compared to innovators from culturally tight countries. We discuss our findings and – based on some study limitations – suggest seven streams for future research. We conclude with summarizing our contribution to theory on the impact of culture on innovation and our contribution to practice on helping managers to decide how to best source knowledge and thereby foster innovation.     

A comparative evaluation of the government's role in national airlines

This paper contrasts the role of the government owners of the British and Singaporean national airline companies. Although both companies were outstanding performers, it is contended here that the Singapore state-owned enterprise was operating out of a more favourable political economic environment. British Airways resembled the classic case depicted in the literature — inhibited by government interference, politicisation, confusion of long-term plans, etc. Singapore Airlines' history manifests these classic afflictions much less, and the government's proactive role even seemed to provide a competitive advantage.     

Exploring the role of expert power in channel management: An empirical study

Expert power is recognized as a non-coercive source of power, which can be effectively employed in the context of channel management. The paper attempts of look at the impact of expert power on certain channel relationship variables. The behavioral variables considered in the study are the use of behavior-based coordination strategy, use of problem-solving approach for conflict resolution, collaborative communication, cooperation and trust. An empirical study conducted among the computer hardware dealers in India supports the hypothesized linkages between expert power and other relationship variables.     

Quality of working life in the automobile industry: A Canada-UK comparative study

The paper examines the impact of lean production on indicators of the quality of life at work in the automotive industry and finds that it varies across companies and to a lesser extent between countries. The paper explains this by arguing that lean production seeks to impose new employment standards. This is a contested process where management's capacity to shift to new standards and labour's ability to protect its interests vary across workplaces.     

The buying network in international project business: A comparative case study of development projects

While previous research has found project buying to be distinct from other buying situations, in that it typically involves a multi-organizational network, to date there has been very little empirical research on this phenomenon. Our aim in this paper is therefore to investigate the structure and decision-making processes of the project buying network during the project cycle and its interactions with project sellers. We first develop a preliminary conceptual framework for analyzing the project buying network, which is then applied to a comparative case study of three development projects. The findings from the case study allow us to propose a revised conceptual framework for analyzing the dynamics of the project buying network during the project cycle, as well as interaction with sellers. Our findings also contribute an understanding of development projects, in particular the role of financiers.     

The role of human resources strategy in export performance: A longitudinal study

This longitudinal study examines the effect of human resources strategy on the export performance of 388 Florida firms. After controlling for differential firm advantages, managerial perceptions and aspirations, and marketing activities, results show that the way human resources are selected, deployed, compensated and motivated will play a significant role in subsequent export performance.     

The paradigm of utilizing robots in the teaching process: a comparative study

This paper discusses a comparative study of the effects of using a humanoid robot for introducing students to personal robotics. Even if a humanoid robot is one of the more complicated types of robots, comprehension was not an issue. The study highlighted the importance of using real hardware for teaching such complex subjects as opposed to relatively cheap simulation environments. While the field of robotics is still in its infancy it benefits from a “wow” effect that can be utilized to positively influence the education of new specialists in this field. This comparative study, done at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, highlights the educational benefits of this idea. Two groups of students took part on a completely volunteer basis in an “introduction to personal robotics” workshop. While one group only worked with simulators on computers, the other group was also given access to real robots in addition to the simulators. This allowed them to test their programs on a real platform and tweak them to compensate for differences between the virtual world and the real world. This second group had consistently and considerably better results than the first group.     

A framework for upgrading comparative management research

Nearly a decade ago major problems facing the field of comparative management were identified. They continue to persist today despite considerable progress made in recent years. These problems related to the reliability, validity, and generalizability of comparative research findings will need to be resolved if the field is to attain academic maturity and legitimacy. Indentification and operationalization of critical variables will play an important role in the design of research studies and their conduct. A framework for upgrading comparative management research, with regard to overcoming both theoretical as well as methodological problems, is presented and discussed in this article.     

Participative company management in Europe: the new role of middle management

A review of studies from different European countries reveals that research into the new role of middle management in new production systems is quite inconsistent. Referring to the example of the German 'Industriemeister' (master craftsman) it will be shown that these inconsistencies are due to different models of the future role of middle management.     

Culture's consequences: A methodology for comparative management studies in Southeast Asia?

Hofstede's model of culture and many reviews of his work are discussed to investigate the relevance of his paradigm to management research, particularly in the culturally diverse region of Southeast Asia. The issue is analyzed with the results of a replication carried out by the authors, applying Hofstede's questionnaire to 170 Hong Kong, Malaysian and Singapore managers.     

Response bias in the measurement of salesperson orientations: The role of impression management

Impression management has long been recognized as a form of response distortion in the self-reported attributes and attitudes of salespersons and job applicants. In this study we examine whether measures of salesperson orientations may be susceptible to this self-enhancing response bias. Salesperson orientations examined include customer and selling orientations, and sales learning and performance orientations. Characteristics of these response biases include extreme responses to job desirable items, low construct reliability, low predictive validity, and a factor structure in which job-desirable items form a common factor. The analysis of a survey of pharmaceutical salespersons suggests self-enhancing responding may be a problem in the measurement of salesperson orientations. We identify steps that firms and researchers can take to identify self-enhancing responses.     

The role of Guanxi in green supply chain management in Asia's emerging economies: A conceptual framework

In recent decades, rapid industrial modernization and economic growth have brought substantial environmental problems such as air pollution, hazardous waste, and water pollution for the Asian emerging economies (AEE), in particular China, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and South Korea. These countries have started to adopt green supply chain management (GSCM) as a strategy to reduce the environmental impact. There are anecdotal evidences that the adoption of GSCM in this region is partly influenced by Guanxi – a cultural norm, which plays a significant role in relationship governance within supply chain activities among the AEE. Based on a systematic literature review, we develop a conceptual framework that characterizes the drivers and barriers for the adoption of GSCM practices, incorporating Guanxi as a moderator in the manufacturing sector of the AEE. The conceptual framework addresses the roles of two types of Guanxi in the adoption of GSCM: the relational Guanxi at individual level based on social exchange theory and the aggregated Guanxi at firm level derived from social capital theory. This recognition of Guanxi at two separate decision levels help companies better manage their relationships while they green their supply chains. Directions for future research and managerial implications are discussed accordingly.     

Exploring the ethical behavior of managers: A comparative study of four countries

Donaldson and Dunfee's (1994) social contracts theory of economic ethics was subjected to empirical scrutiny to determine whether it can explain differences in behavior between cultures. Data collected utilizing a series of vignettes developed by Fritzsche and Becker (1984) were examined for differences in indicated ethical behavior among American, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese managers. Rationale for the behavior was classified according to hyper and community norms which were supported or violated. The results suggest that the three East Asian countries do not neatly cluster together in relation to the U.S. in terms of their patterns of ethical behavior. Nonetheless, when we examined the specific rationale for the decisions provided by the managers, the effects of Asian cultural characteristics became more notable. We also found that the social contracts theory provided a much needed bridge between ethical universalists and relativists. The specific reasons underlying their decisions are discussed in the light of cultural and social differences.This research project was partially supported by a research grant from the School of Business and Management, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.     

Building trust in US-Japanese business relationships: Mediating role of cultural sensitivity

While evidence suggests trust plays a fundamental role in maintaining successful buyer-seller relationships in Japan, little is known conceptually as to how foreign sellers can best develop trust in the minds of their Japanese customers. In this research, we develop and test a multi-component model of US seller actions that manifest key trust-building processes (intentionality- and capability-processes) which sellers find effective in building trust with their Japanese buyers. In this unique cultural context, theory suggests trust develops when sellers demonstrate benevolent intentions toward the buyer and exhibit a strong capability to fulfill business promises. An analysis of 181 US sellers in Japan demonstrates that a combination of trust-building efforts is recognized as being critical in seller attempts to develop and sustain trust on the part of their Japanese customers. Importantly, cultural sensitivity mediates the impact of intentionality-based practices on buyer trust, while capability-based activities directly influence trust.     

The role of e-marketplaces in supply chain management

Electronic marketplaces (e-marketplaces) have a profound influence on the way in which organizations manage their supply chains. Proponents of the e-marketplace concept suggest that web-based trading systems, such as World Wide Retail Exchange (WWRE) and GlobalNetXchange (GNX), would enable companies to more efficiently buy, sell, and manage their supply chain processes on a global scale. This study investigates the extent to which e-business tools of the e-marketplace are used by channel members in the retail sector for business-to-business supply chain management (SCM). The study is based on a survey involving food service companies, retailers, and wholesalers in the UK. It is shown that the e-marketplace supply chain applications enable the majority of companies to automate transaction-based activities and procurement-related processes rather than strategic supply chain activities. The results also indicate that full participation in e-marketplaces requires companies to integrate their internal and external supply chain activities and share strategic information.     

Control-trust interplays and the influence paradox: A comparative study of MNC-subsidiary relationships

This study focuses on the interplay and possible coexistence of control and trust when influencing others and when being influenced. The paper presents an analysis of change processes whereby an actor becomes ‘a trusted influenced other’. This occurs due to the controls that take place, rather than despite of these. It is suggested that intended purpose and perceived legitimacy need to be considered, as well as the type and level of control. Moreover, imbalanced interactions whereby the other actor is prevented from becoming a source of influence may negatively impact the overall development and exploitation of knowledge. A second dimension in the studied relationships is when the other becomes ‘a trusted source of influence’, not only a ‘trusted influenced other’.     

Paradigm development in Chinese management research: The role of research methodology

Kuhn’s paradigm framework asserts that scholarly fields differ in their level of development, and that such differences will be reflected in research norms and practices. In particular, early stage subfields are expected to have less consensus regarding theory and methods, negatively affecting both the consistency and sophistication of research designs. We examine Kuhn’s framework in the context of a rapidly advancing subfield: Chinese management research. This paper reports a content analysis of China-based studies against a matched set of management articles, focusing on methodology. In partial support of the paradigm framework, we find many differences in several important research design characteristics. Additionally, consistent with expectations, many of these differences decline over time. Based on these findings, we discuss the applicability of Kuhn’s framework to management research, and also identify normative guidelines for the design of future Chinese management studies.