Ethical Judgment and Whistleblowing Intention: Examining the Moderating Role of Locus of Control

The growing body of whistleblowing literature includes many studies that have attempted to identify the individual level antecedents of whistleblowing behavior. However, cross-cultural differences in perceptions of the ethicality of whistleblowing affect the judgment of whistleblowing intention. This study ascertains how Chinese managers/professionals decide to blow the whistle in terms of their locus of control and subjective judgment regarding the intention of whistleblowing. Hypotheses that are derived from these speculations are tested with data on Chinese managers and professionals (n = 306). Statistical analysis largely supports the hypotheses, which suggests that an individual's locus of control does moderate the relationship between ethical judgment and whistleblowing.     

An Assessment of Taiwan's Indirect Investment Toward Mainland China

The economic ties between Taiwan and the mainland China had been restored since 1987. A comparison of Taiwan's investment toward the mainland and the ASEANs shows that the investment size is much smaller in the mainland in terms of money flow; nonetheless, much higher in terms of number of firms. Also, the effects of investment-induced trade is much stronger in the mainland. Using the 1986 Input-Output Tables and the data set of officially registered investment volume by industry, this paper simulates the possible linkage effects on output, employment and export shift for both sides.     

The analysis of a price war strategy under market demand growth

We use the finite repeated Prisoners' Dilemma game model herein to discuss how firms choose their optimal strategy under a price war with market demand growth. This model has two players: one is an R-type player and the other is a TFT-type player. Each player has two strategies to choose from: a preemption strategy and a “wait” strategy. Our results indicate that: (i) if the probability that the opponent is an R-type (TFT-type) player is high, then the time when the opponent adopts a preemption strategy will be early (late); (ii) Market demand growth is an incentive for cooperation among firms; (iii) if the market demand growth rate is high, then the R-type player will not have an evolutionary advantage. We use the competition between cell phone manufacturing firms Nokia and Motorola in China as an example. When Nokia is an R-type player and adopts a preemption strategy, Motorola should preferably use a preemption strategy rather than a “wait” strategy. However, as a TFT-type player, this will benefit Motorola under the situation of market demand growth.     

The Intratemporal Substitution between Government Spending and Private Consumption: Empirical Evidence from Taiwan

In this paper, we investigate the idea that a general model of consumption should allow for the direct effect of government consumption. We show, given an assumed preference specification, that there is a cointegration restriction implied by an intraperiod first-order condition of the model. This restriction leads to a linear deterministic cointegrated system of government consumption, private consumption and their relative price that is consistent with the data for Taiwan. The intratemporal elasticity of substitution between government and private consumption is estimated to be about 1.1. Overall, we find consistent empirical evidence in support of our model.     

Do types of economic ownership matter in getting employees to commit? An exploratory study in the People's Republic of China

Economic reforms launched in the People's Republic of China led to rapid growth in the non-state sector. Economic organizations in this sector adopt different styles of business operations and management practices when compared with their state counterparts. These systematic differences generate work dynamics with implications for workers' job attitudes and behaviours. The present study explores the relationship between workers' perception of the workplace and organizational commitment after the reform. Three hundred employees in Shanghai, from six enterprises, were randomly sampled for interview. Differences were found between state and non-state employees in their demographic characteristics, organizational perceptions and commitment. Findings suggested that state and non-state workers differed in their commitment and these relationships were mediated through various perceptual dimensions. Implications of the results for theory and practice are discussed.     

Proposing online game loyalty and its antecedents considering gender as a moderator: a qualitative study

This study discusses the formation of consumer loyalty in the context of online games. Loyalty to a specific online game may be conceptualized in terms of repeat patronage, switching behavior, and word-of-mouth recommendations toward the game. A conceptual model is proposed. In the model, virtual power-status, incentive utility, relational interacting behavior, and feature enhancement indirectly influence loyalty through the mediation of satisfaction and commitment. Gender is proposed to moderate each model path given that individuals with stronger feminine or masculine identities are likely to make repeated consumption on online games based on different game product choices accordingly. Finally, the implications of the proposed model and suggestions for future research are also discussed.     

From a labour-surplus to a labour-scarce economy: challenges to human resource management in Hong Kong

In this paper, the acute problems faced by the market economy of Hong Kong are assessed. These are seen to arise from the shift in the labour market from labour surplus to labour scarcity. The major geo-political role of Hong Kong both in servicing the extendal capital requirements of South China and as a key state within the conurbation of ‘little dragons’ is also examined. The consequences of this structural shift in terms of the challenges being mounted to HRM both strategically and functionally are also evaluated and are interpreted as an evolutionary process.     

The relative importance of facial attractiveness and gender in Hong Kong selection decisions

This field experiment found that Hong Kong human resources management specialists were influenced by the attractiveness bias in evaluating short-listed candidates for an entry-level trainee position. Zero order, stepwise and hierarchical regressions showed that perceived attractiveness of the candidates was more related to their work experience and work-related skills than to grade-point average and public examination results. Women candidates were generally preferred over male candidates. Further research is suggested to determine if the influence of attractiveness extends over a wider range of jobs and to measure more precisely the influence of attractiveness in different cultures and for men and women.     

The ethics of peer reporting in Chinese societies: evidence from Hong Kong and Shanghai

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ethics of peer reporting in Chinese societies. Based on a review of the literature, we develop a framework that explains peer reporting behaviour in terms of the individual's ethical ideology, locus of control and subjective judgement regarding the ethicality of peer reporting. Hypotheses derived from these speculations are tested with data from Chinese managers (n?=?362). Statistical analysis largely supports the hypotheses. The implications of this finding are discussed.     

A Companion For NPV: The Generalized Relative Rate of Return

We show how to determine a unique rate, for a particular cash flow stream, that is used only whenever a project demands outside resources to compound the rates of the existing term structure precisely at those times. The net present value of the cash flow stream when discounted with the thus-modified term structure becomes zero. We therefore determine a vector of rates that belongs to the induced space of internal rates of return for that cash flow stream. The rate is applicable under discrete stochastic interest rate representations and provides maximum loan rates that may be contracted only when needed thus keeping a project financially autonomous. (Any investments required may be fully repaid by the project's own cash outflows).