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A typology of guanxi-based governance mechanisms for knowledge transfer in business networks of Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises

A typology of guanxi-based governance mechanisms for knowledge transfer in business networks of Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises
A typology of guanxi-based governance mechanisms for knowledge transfer in business networks of Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises
Guanxi has strong implications for interactions among individuals in Chinese society. This study investigates guanxi-based governance mechanisms in the context of knowledge transfer among Chinese small and medium-sized manufacturing firms. We analyze, in-depth, qualitative interview data gathered from 78 Chinese engineers who work for Chinese small and medium-sized die-casting manufacturers. Our findings reveal that guanxi influences the production of three forms of guanxi-enabled trust: guanxi-enabled relational trust, calculative trust, and institutional trust. By combining these forms of trust, we generate a typology of seven guanxi-based governance mechanisms for knowledge transfer—“guanxi-hu,” “huibao,” “lun,” “gan-qing,” “jiao-qing,” “ren-qing,” and “mianzi.” We discuss the research and managerial implications of our findings.
1059-6011
1-43
Ko, Wai Wai
b6862b69-bb89-4c9b-adee-847727150b31
Liu, Gordon
007f9930-f197-4b10-88a6-f20102249711
Ko, Wai Wai
b6862b69-bb89-4c9b-adee-847727150b31
Liu, Gordon
007f9930-f197-4b10-88a6-f20102249711

Ko, Wai Wai and Liu, Gordon (2016) A typology of guanxi-based governance mechanisms for knowledge transfer in business networks of Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises. Group & Organization Management, 1-43. (doi:10.1177/1059601115627942).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Guanxi has strong implications for interactions among individuals in Chinese society. This study investigates guanxi-based governance mechanisms in the context of knowledge transfer among Chinese small and medium-sized manufacturing firms. We analyze, in-depth, qualitative interview data gathered from 78 Chinese engineers who work for Chinese small and medium-sized die-casting manufacturers. Our findings reveal that guanxi influences the production of three forms of guanxi-enabled trust: guanxi-enabled relational trust, calculative trust, and institutional trust. By combining these forms of trust, we generate a typology of seven guanxi-based governance mechanisms for knowledge transfer—“guanxi-hu,” “huibao,” “lun,” “gan-qing,” “jiao-qing,” “ren-qing,” and “mianzi.” We discuss the research and managerial implications of our findings.

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Accepted/In Press date: 29 December 2015
e-pub ahead of print date: 3 February 2016
Organisations: Southampton Business School

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 397460
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/397460
ISSN: 1059-6011
PURE UUID: 043ac5af-a97f-4843-a0c5-45e3608bd055
ORCID for Wai Wai Ko: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6637-6591

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Date deposited: 01 Jul 2016 10:56
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 01:14

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Contributors

Author: Wai Wai Ko ORCID iD
Author: Gordon Liu

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