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Guanxi Dynamics: Shifts in the Closeness of Ties Between Chinese Coworkers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Xiao-Ping Chen  and
Siqing Peng
Xiao-Ping Chen
Affiliation:
University of Washington, USA
Siqing Peng
Affiliation:
Peking University, China
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Abstract

Adopting a dynamic view of guanxi, we investigated how the closeness in Chinese coworker relationship changes as a function of interpersonal incidents, exploring factors such as the prior closeness level as well as the valence and job relevance of the incident. Two studies of PRC managers probed the content and dynamics of their coworker relationships. Results indicate that such relationships mix affective and instrumental ties. A key finding about changes is that the increase in closeness created by positive incidents was greater when the prior relationship was distant, and the decrease created by negative incidents was greater when the prior relationship was close. The implications of these findings for theory development and future guanxi research are discussed.

Keywords

change in relationship closenesscoworker relationshipguanxirelationship closeness关系同事关系关系亲密程度关系亲密程度的变化
Type
Articles
Information
Management and Organization Review , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , March 2008 , pp. 63 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © International Association for Chinese Management Research 2008

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