Mar 2007, Volume 1 Issue 1
    

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  • Research in information systems in China (1999–2005) and international comparisons1
    JI Shaobo, MIN Qingfei, HAN Weihe
    2007, 1(1): 19-38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0002-3
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    The purpose of this study is to review the research activities in information systems (IS) in the mainland of China. We reviewed and analyzed a total of 859 research papers in information systems published in 18 leading academic journals in business and management in the mainland from 1999 to 2005. Applying the content analysis method, we first categorized the papers by their reference disciplines, research topics, research methods, and the units of analysis. The data were then compared with the results of similar Western studies. Results show that, among the published IS research papers in the mainland of China, IS research itself represents the primary theoretical reference discipline; organizational and system/software issues are the main topics of the focus; non-empirical studies were the dominant research method; and the majority of studies were conducted at the organizational and/or system level. Compared with the West, IS research in China demonstrates its own characteristics in theoretical foundations, research focuses, and research methods, and there are a number of areas that need to be improved.
  • An exploratory study of the understandability of listed companies’ annual reports
    SUN Manli
    2007, 1(1): 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0003-2
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    In order to investigate the comprehension difficulties arising from the highly-specialized writing formats of listed companies  annual reports, this research evaluates investors  comprehension of annual reports and discusses ways to improve their understandability. The Cloze method is employed in this experimental study involving university students and preliminary testing. This research concludes that the understandability of Chinese listed companies  annual reports is close to the comprehension capacity of semi-professional investors but beyond non-professional investors. The extensive use of a great number of accounting jargons is likely the main cause for comprehensive difficulties for non-professionals.
  • An empirical study on critical success factors for electronic commerce in the Chinese publishing industry
    HUANG Jinghua, ZHAO Chunjun, LI Jingting
    2007, 1(1): 50-66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0004-1
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    Critical success factors for electronic commerce (e-commerce) have been a hot topic in both the academe and industry. This paper puts forward hypotheses on success factors for e-commerce of traditional companies first. Then, it conducts an empirical study on the Chinese publishing industry in order to verify the hypotheses. After testing the validity and reliability of the data, this paper verifies the hypotheses with regression analyses, and finally identifies factors impacting e-commerce success such as leadership, strategy, organization, management, IT, customers, comprehensive functions of website and customeroriented functions. In addition, customers, strategy, IT and comprehensive functions of website are identified as the critical factors impacting e-commerce success. This research not only stimulates e-commerce research in China, but also has an instructional effect on the implementation of e-commerce so that Chinese publishing enterprises can increase the success rate of their e-commerce objectives.
  • The strategic decisions and success factors of the global integration-local responsiveness of Japanese MNCs in China
    MAO Yunshi, WANG Jiancheng
    2007, 1(1): 67-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0005-0
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    This article applies Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) theories to the strategic management analysis of the global integration-local responsiveness of multinational corporations (MNCs) in China, from the perspective of company characteristics (ownership advantages and internalization advantages) and environmental dynamics (locational factors) in order to analyze the success factors influencing the sales activities of Japanese MNCs in China. Based on the analysis of a survey conducted on 230 Japanese parent companies with investments in China, the empirical research findings include: Japanese MNCs in China favor global integration strategies; the more significant the ownership advantages and internalization advantages are, the greater the global integration is; the success factors of their operations in China due to global integration are present in manufacturing know-how, procurement of parts and supplies, financial power, previous investment experience in China as well as sales networks and technologies; locational advantages mainly lie in labor cost among other things; internalization factors do not have any significant correlation with the success and performance of the subsidiary company.
  • The impact of a fi rm’s internal control mechanisms on the choice of innovation mode
    LIU Xinmin, LI Yuan, SU Zhongfeng, FENG Jinlu
    2007, 1(1): 91-101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0006-z
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    A firm s internal control mechanisms may have a significant influence on the choice of innovation mode. Therefore, based on the research on the internal control mechanisms of companies, we developed a model to explore the relationship between a firm s internal control mechanisms and the choice of innovation mode. Using a sample of 585 Chinese firms, this study tests the proposed model. Results show that strategic control has a positive relationship with radical innovation, but a negative relationship with incremental innovation, while financial control has a negative relationship with radical innovation, but a positive relationship with incremental innovation.
  • Why, when, and how to diversify? A comparison between Western theories and the cognition of Chinese enterprises
    JIA Liangding, QIAN Haiyan, CUI Rongjun, ZHANG Junjun, CHEN Yongxia
    2007, 1(1): 102-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0007-y
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    This paper uses as research samples 140 papers on enterprise diversification published in top-notch Western journals, and public statements from 30 influential contemporary Chinese CEOs on enterprise diversification. Both the qualitative open coding and the qualitative factor analysis are employed to analyze the two samples respectively, and then the corresponding analysis is utilized to explore the differences between Western theories and the cognition of Chinese enterprises on the motivation (why), timing (when) and industry choice (how) of enterprise diversification. Results show that, first, both consider the motivation of diversification mainly from the perspectives of resource-based view and asset portfolio theory. However, Western theories pay more attention to the factors related to the perspectives of the resource-based theory, transaction cost theory and agency theory, while Chinese enterprises put more emphasis on those factors associated with the asset portfolio theory, government policies and institutional theory. Second, on the cognition of the timing of diversification, Western theories insist that enterprises should diversify when they meet threats, while the practice of Chinese enterprises insists that diversification should take place when enterprises have enough strength. Third, Western theories focus more on the interrelationship between the original industry and the intended industry than on the attractiveness of the intended industry, while Chinese enterprises pay more attention to attractiveness than interrelationship.
  • Top management team heterogeneity and firm performance: An empirical research on Chinese listed companies
    ZHANG Ping
    2007, 1(1): 123-134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0008-x
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    An empirical study of the 2001 2002 data from 356 Chinese companies listed in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges indicates that within the social context of China the characteristics of a firm s top management team have a different impact on firm performance from those of foreign countries. Also, the tenure heterogeneity and functional experience heterogeneity of the top management team are inversely related to firm performance. This paper analyzes and discusses the findings in detail and points out areas for future research.
  • The impact structure of social capital on corporate performance: Empirical evidence from listed companies in China
    SHI Junwei, FU Haiyan, HU Lijun
    2007, 1(1): 135-154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0009-9
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    Vertical relationships with the government, particular relational capital and organizational social network capital, constitute corporate social capital (CSC). Using the empirical data of 97 listed companies in China, this paper examines the impact of CSC on corporate performance, finds that CSC has a positive impact on sales revenue but an insignificant impact on the improvement of ROA. More specifically, when a firm enlarges its sales revenue, the function of organizational network capital is stronger than that of a particular relational capital and that of governmental connections. The paper also finds that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have more advantages in using governmental connections, therefore leading to better social status than non-SOEs do, who have fewer advantages in using any particular relational capital. The article suggests that managers should appraise carefully the effectiveness of CSC, and combine it with other resources; firms should distinguish the structure of the impact of CSC on performance improvement in a dynamic way. With respect to the implication of this paper, it could help in analyzing firm behaviors in the transitional China.
  • In search of the best human resource practices in chain stores in China
    LIU Shanshi, CHAO Gang, Irene Hau-siu Chow
    2007, 1(1): 155-166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11782-007-0010-3
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    This paper is based on a recent survey of human resources (HR) practices from 83 chain stores in China. It differentiated managerial staff and operating employees according to different types of HR configurations. It also identified high and low adoption based on bundling of HR practices using cluster analysis. The impact of HR practices alignment on enhancing firm performance was evaluated using high adoption cluster. The findings advance our knowledge in the High Performance Work Systems literature and offer important insights for executives in formulating effective HR management strategies.