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Article
Publication date: 25 October 2018

Iiris Aaltio and Jiehua Huang

Inadequate social networks are often seen as an explanation of the under-representation of women in management. Networks contain culture-specific features, as in China where the…

Abstract

Purpose

Inadequate social networks are often seen as an explanation of the under-representation of women in management. Networks contain culture-specific features, as in China where the term guanxi is used, defined as a shared common identification held by two or more individuals (Jacobs, 1979). In several studies, guanxi has been found to relate positively to success at work both for the individual and the organization, but little is known about it from gender and career perspectives. Referring especially to the earlier studies by Chow and Ng (2004), the purpose of this paper is to address the meaning of guanxi networks for top women IT managers in mainland China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from 21 women managers in mainland China, using a questionnaire about the composition and structure of their core guanxi networks and face-to-face interviews which allowed ample opportunity to elaborate the participants’ responses to items included in the questionnaire and their perspectives to using guanxi in general. The authors used both data in an interpretive analysis.

Findings

It was found that: there is a significant effect of female-to-male dyads concerning power and work-related guanxi bases, such as influence; there is a significant effect of female-to-female dyads concerning questions of private life and crisis, and women IT managers have a relatively limited guanxi base. The findings of this paper support Ibarra’s (1993) suggestion that a common strategy for women is to use and develop a functionally differentiated network. Based on findings, the authors further suggest that in building a successful managerial career, women managers in China need to reflect their gender, be gender-sensitive in building up their networks and stay incorporated at the core networks in the organization whatever gender they represent. They also suggest that because networks are dependent on culturally bound definitions (like guanxi), even the guanxi practices may vary locally in different parts of China.

Research limitations/implications

Women managers are important role models for younger female candidates and the possibility to close connections with them is relevant. Because networks are dependent on culturally bound definitions (like guanxi), even the guanxi practices may vary locally in different parts of China. For further studies, the authors suggest to focus on the consequences of guanxi practice limitations to women managers’ careers, especially from the perspective of private life responsibilities and the possible problematic nature of power ties between the gender(s).

Originality/value

Even if working life is becoming more and more global, the local and culture-based nature of networking remains. This paper contributes on the extensive research on social networking practices in China, often described in terms of guanxi, which has seldom been investigated using critical gender perspective.

Details

Gender in Management: An International Journal, vol. 33 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2413

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 April 2007

Iiris Aaltio and Jiehua Huang

This study seeks to focus on Chinese women managers and gender aspects in information technology (IT) management.

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Abstract

Purpose

This study seeks to focus on Chinese women managers and gender aspects in information technology (IT) management.

Design/methodology/approach

Women managers' experience on career is explored in relation to the Chinese cultural environment and within the IT industry. Two special topics emerged from the in‐depth interview results: high future expectations and strong belief in own competence. Background methodology of the study is Q‐sort methodology and interpretive analysis.

Findings

The findings suggest that IT women managers are high achievers with a high level of ambition. A joy of career advancement and full use of their potential is seen in their perceptions of work and career. The findings also indicate that Chinese women's career development in the IT field calls for identity reconstruction in both their private and work lives. This refers to a work‐family conflict within Chinese culture which emphasizes Guanxi and close societal ties. Although not expressed specifically, it was possible to read from the subtext that women also expect certain emotional costs from career advancement.

Practical implications

Although there are still only few women in top‐level positions in China, the study confirms their potential to succeed in management, at least in a recently developed field like IT. The findings indicate that the recent sweeping technological changes provide women with a platform to penetrate. It gives them a chance to be recognised for their achievements in the field of new technology and proves their ability to advance to the upper realms in this field.

Originality/value

This study accumulates the understanding on women's careers and career strategies worldwide and especially in China.

Details

Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 20 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0953-4814

Keywords

Content available
Article
Publication date: 10 April 2007

Heather Höpfl and Peter Case

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Abstract

Details

Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 20 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0953-4814

Book part
Publication date: 25 January 2021

Chengming Han and Jiehua Lu

Purpose. This chapter explored the effects of egalitarian gender attitudes and routine housework on subjective well-being among older adults in China.Design/methodology/approach…

Abstract

Purpose. This chapter explored the effects of egalitarian gender attitudes and routine housework on subjective well-being among older adults in China.

Design/methodology/approach. Data were drawn from the Third Wave Survey on the Social Status of Women in China (2010). The sample included 1,260 older adults aged 63–95, consisted of 428 urban respondents and 832 rural respondents, among which included 638 men and 622 women. Stratified linear regression models were used to examine the effects of egalitarian gender attitudes and routine housework on subjective well-being among urban–rural and gender subsamples.

Findings. The results indicated that egalitarian gender attitudes were positively related to subjective well-being. Routine housework was still gendered work in both urban and rural places in China. Routine housework predicted better subjective well-being only among rural women. There were significant differences in egalitarian gender attitudes and the division of housework between urban and rural samples.

Originality/value. Gender egalitarian attitudes and the division of housework in China were patterned not only by genders but also by the urban–rural division. Different from previous studies, housework did not have influence on subjective well-beings, except a positive association among rural women in the sample.

Details

Chinese Families: Tradition, Modernisation, and Change
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80071-157-0

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 February 2021

Jiehua Lu and Jiawei Nie

Labor participation has always been a hot topic in academic circle and a vital label in the process of China's economic and social development. Therefore, the purpose this paper…

Abstract

Purpose

Labor participation has always been a hot topic in academic circle and a vital label in the process of China's economic and social development. Therefore, the purpose this paper is to use CGSS 2015 data, starting from labor participation, and make a comparably comprehensive analysis of the influencing factors of subjective well-being of females.

Design/methodology/approach

By conducting probit regressions, the paper reveals the impact of labor participation and socio-demographic conditions on the subjective well-being of females in Mainland China.

Findings

First, the authors’ findings turn out that urban women do have a higher level of women's subjective well-being when compared to rural women. Second, educational attainment has a significantly positive effect on subjective well-being only in urban areas, while having teen children is only statistically significant for rural residents. Third, the overall impact of employment conditions on women's subjective well-being is reduced due to the transition of gender conceptions. In all, the evaluation of subjective well-being of females is reshaped by the overwhelming transition of society in Mainland China.

Research limitations/implications

There remain some limitations of this study. First, because CGSS 2015 data are the only data analyzed here, it is hard and inaccurate to compare the differences between this result and previous outcomes conducted by other scholars using CGSS 2005, 2010 and 2013 data. Second, the categories of employment conditions are not detailed, and thus it adds burden to further analysis. For future studies, a wider range of data should be taken into account and provide data support to have a convincing comparison at different times. The social background of diverse employment conditions could be discussed in-depth as well.

Originality/value

Based on the early literature, this paper is intended to use Chinese data to study the major factors affecting Chinese female labor participation in Mainland China and also discuss the implications in practice.

Details

Asian Education and Development Studies, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-3162

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 May 2021

Burak Cankaya, Berna Eren Tokgoz, Ali Dag and K.C. Santosh

This paper aims to propose a machine learning-based automatic labeling methodology for chemical tanker activities that can be applied to any port with any number of active tankers…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a machine learning-based automatic labeling methodology for chemical tanker activities that can be applied to any port with any number of active tankers and the identification of important predictors. The methodology can be applied to any type of activity tracking that is based on automatically generated geospatial data.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology uses three machine learning algorithms (artificial neural networks, support vector machines (SVMs) and random forest) along with information fusion (IF)-based sensitivity analysis to classify chemical tanker activities. The data set is split into training and test data based on vessels, with two vessels in the training data and one in the test data set. Important predictors were identified using a receiver operating characteristic comparative approach, and overall variable importance was calculated using IF from the top models.

Findings

Results show that an SVM model has the best balance between sensitivity and specificity, at 93.5% and 91.4%, respectively. Speed, acceleration and change in the course on the ground for the vessels are identified as the most important predictors for classifying vessel activity.

Research limitations/implications

The study evaluates the vessel movements waiting between different terminals in the same port, but not their movements between different ports for their tank-cleaning activities.

Practical implications

The findings in this study can be used by port authorities, shipping companies, vessel operators and other stakeholders for decision support, performance tracking, as well as for automated alerts.

Originality/value

This analysis makes original contributions to the existing literature by defining and demonstrating a methodology that can automatically label vehicle activity based on location data and identify certain characteristics of the activity by finding important location-based predictors that effectively classify the activity status.

Details

Journal of Modelling in Management, vol. 16 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-5664

Keywords

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