Hostname: page-component-669899f699-8p65j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-30T10:15:56.697Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Chinese Management Research at a Crossroads: The Past, Present, and Future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2025

Xielin Liu  and
Xuechen Ding
Xielin Liu
Affiliation:
Capital University of Economics and Business, China University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Xuechen Ding*
Affiliation:
Beijing Technology and Business University, China
*
Corresponding author: Xuechen Ding ([email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Contemporary business and management research in China has advanced rapidly, making significant strides in the introduction of theoretical frameworks, research methodologies, local theory development, and practical applications. Much of this research continues to draw on Western theories, and since the reform and opening up, Chinese management research has evolved through distinct stages of globalization and localization. Today, it faces new challenges amid anti-globalization trends. At this critical juncture, the key question is whether China should continue integrating Western theories or capitalize on the opportunity to develop indigenous management theories. This paper explores the differences in scientific development concepts and focuses between China and the West, the historical trajectory of Chinese management research, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. To enhance China's contribution to global management research, we propose that it is essential to sustain international collaboration, deepen understanding of frontline enterprise practices, promote micro-level research and interpretation with Chinese characteristics, and cultivate an open academic community, while optimizing the research evaluation system.

摘要

摘要

自改革开放以来，中国管理研究经历了全球化和本地化的不同阶段，而今天又在逆全球化趋势中面临着新的挑战。在这个关键时刻，中国是应该继续整合西方理论，还是利用这个机会发展本土管理理论是十分重要的议题。本文探讨了中西方科学发展观念的差异、中国管理学研究的历史发展轨迹以及面临的挑战和机遇。为了增加中国对全球管理学领域知识的贡献，我们建议必须保持国际开放合作，加深对企业一线实践的 理解，推动具有中国特色的微观层面的研究和解释，并在优化科研评价体系的同时努力培育形成开放的学术社区。

Keywords

anti-globalizationglobalizationlocalizationmanagement research管理学研究全球化本土化逆全球化
Type
Commentary
Information
Management and Organization Review , Volume 20 , Issue 6 , December 2024 , pp. 1025 - 1033
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Association for Chinese Management Research

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Bruton, G. D., Zahra, S. A., & Cai, L. 2018. Examining entrepreneurship through indigenous lenses. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 42(3): 351–361.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruton, G. D., Zahra, S. A., Van De Ven, A. H., & Hitt, M. A. 2022. Indigenous theory uses, abuses, and future. Journal of Management Studies, 59(4): 1057–1073.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, K., Liu, X., Li, Y., & Linderman, K. 2023. Government support and cross-border innovation: The effect of China's innovative city policy on Chinese firms’ patenting in the United States. Production and Operations Management, 32(6): 1793–1811.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, X. P., & Chen, C. C. 2004. On the intricacies of the Chinese guanxi: A process model of guanxi development. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 21: 305–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, X. P., Eberly, M. B., Chiang, T. J., Farh, J. L., & Cheng, B. S. 2014. Affective trust in Chinese leaders: Linking paternalistic leadership to employee performance. Journal of management, 40(3): 796–819.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Child, J., & Lu, Y. 1996. Introduction: China and international enterprise. In Child, J. & Lu, Y. (Eds.), Management issues in China, Vol. 2: 1–8. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Du, Y. Z., & Sun, N. 2022. Constructing chinese characteristic management theory system: Necessity, feasibility and thoughts. Chinese Journal of Management, 19(6): 811–820+872.Google Scholar
Eesley, C., Li, J. B., & Yang, D. 2016. Does institutional change in universities influence high-tech entrepreneurship? Evidence from China's Project 985. Organization Science, 27(2): 446–461.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eisenhardt, K. M. 2012. The case study research method. Beijing: Beijing University Press.Google Scholar
Fang, T. 2012. Yin Yang: A new perspective on culture. Management and Organization Review, 8(1): 25–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farh, J. L., & Cheng, B. S. 2000. A cultural analysis of paternalistic leadership in chinese organizations. In Li, J. T., Tsui, A. S., & Weldon, E. (Eds.), Management and organizations in the Chinese context: 84–127. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fei, X. 2022. Jiangcun economy. Changsha, China: Hunan People's Publishing House.Google Scholar
Filatotchev, I., Ireland, R. D., & Stahl, G. K. 2022. Contextualizing management research: An open systems perspective. Journal of Management Studies, 9(4): 1036–1056.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gao, X(A), & Zheng, Y. 2020. ‘Heavy mountains’ for Chinese humanities and social science academics in the quest for world-class universities. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 50(4): 554–572.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gao, Y., Hu, Y., Liu, X., & Zhang, H. 2021. Can public R&D subsidy facilitate firms’ exploratory innovation? The heterogeneous effects between central and local subsidy programs. Research Policy, 50(4): 104221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gary, H., & Michele, Z. 2018. The end of bureaucracy. Harvard Business Review, 10–12: 50–59.Google Scholar
Greeven, M. J., Xin, K., & Yip, G. S. 2023. How Chinese companies are reinventing management. Harvard Business Review, 3–4: 104–112.Google Scholar
Guo, L., Zhang, M. Y., Dodgson, M., Gann, D., & Cai, H. 2018. Seizing windows of opportunity by using technology-building and market-seeking strategies in tandem: Huawei's sustained catch-up in the global market. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 36: 849–879.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hwang, K. K. 1987. Face and favor: The Chinese power game. American journal of Sociology, 92(4): 944–974.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, P. P. 2014. The unique value of yin-yang balancing: A critical response. Management and Organization Review, 10(2): 321–332.Google Scholar
Liang, J. 2018. Chinese management research or Chinese way of thinking: A personal reflection. Quarterly Journal of Management, 3(2): 10–18+145.Google Scholar
Liu, W., Heugens, P. P. M. A. R., Wijen, F., & van Essen, M. 2022. Chinese management studies: A Matched-samples meta-analysis and focused review of indigenous theories. Journal of Management, 48(6): 1778–1828.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lockett, M. 1988. Culture and the problems of Chinese management. Organization Studies, 9(4): 475–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mao, J.-Y. 2018. Forty years of business research in China: A critical reflection and projection. Frontiers of Business Research in China, 12: 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mitchell Crow, J. 2022. US–China partnerships bring strength in numbers to big science projects. Nature, 603(7900): S6–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murmann, J. P. 2014. Reflections on choosing the appropriate level of abstraction in social science research. Management and Organization Review, 10(3): 381–389.Google Scholar
Murmann, J. P., & Zhu, Z. 2021. What enables a Chinese firm to create new-to-the-world innovations? A historical case study of intrafirm coopetition in the instant messaging service sector. Strategy Science, 6(4): 305–330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shi, X. W., Liang, X. K., & Ansari, S. 2024. Bricks without straw: Overcoming resource limitations to architect ecosystem leadership. Academy of Management Journal, 67(4): 1084–1123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, Y. T., & Yao, L. 2022. Influence in transnational cooperation: Theme words and their international impact in China-US management studies. Science of Science and Management of S.&.T, 43(5): 48–62.Google Scholar
Tsui, A. S. 2004. Contributing to global management knowledge: A case for high quality indigenous research. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 21(4): 491–513.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tsui, A. S., & McKiernan, P. 2022. Understanding scientific freedom and scientific responsibility in business and management research. Journal of Management Studies, 59(6): 1604–1627.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tsui, A. S., & Lyu, L. 2015. The theoretical and practical issues in Chinese indigenous management research. Chinese Journal of Management, 12(3): 313–321.Google Scholar
Wagner, C. S., Zhang, L., & Leydesdorff, L. 2022. A Discussion of measuring the top-1% most-highly cited publications: Quality and impact of Chinese papers. Scientometrics, 127(4): 1825–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, X. F., Yu, M. M., Wei, H. N., & Liu, Y. Q. 2021. Historical changes and characteristic evolutions of Chinese scholars’ publications in top journals. Scientometrics and Evaluation, 7(3): 3–17.Google Scholar
Wang, Z., Tang, L., Cao, C., & Zhou, Z. 2023. The impact of US-China tensions on people mobility. China Review, 23(4): 159–195.Google Scholar
Wei, J., Yang, J. M., & Chen, G. P. 2022. When the West meets the East: The cognitive parochialism and reflection of Chinese management practice. Management World, 38(11): 159–174.Google Scholar
Zhang, J., Luo, W. H., Song, J. W., & Huang, D. Y. 2016. The evolution of the internationalization of Chinese management research and its future direction: The development paradigm of the International Association for Chinese Management Research in China and community building. Chinese Journal of Management, 13(7): 947–957.Google Scholar
Zhang, Y. L., & Wu, G. 2019. Review and prospect of the scientific history of business administration discipline in the past 70 years in New China. Management World, 35(11): 8–18.Google Scholar