Transferring management practices to China: a Bourdieusian critique of ethnocentricity

Siebers, Lisa Qixun; Kamoche, Ken; Li, Fei

Abstract

This paper provides a critique of the emergent theories of human resource management in China with a view to generating new theoretical insights with particular reference to Pierre Bourdieu's social theory. It reassesses the relevance of the orthodox critique of ethnocentricity and the coherence of approaches embedded in Chinese culture. With reference to six case studies of the largest retail firms, we identify two key challenges: the reliance on headquarter human resource practices that reflect an ethnocentric ethos, i.e. country-of-origin bias, and the failure to empower local managers and the problems this creates for managers expected to implement ethnocentric practices. We examine how Bourdieu's social theory sheds light on the processes by which these firms realise their strategic objectives through the complicity of local managers whose scope for resistance is constrained by the use of normative control and in part through attractive remuneration and career prospects that generate Bourdieusian capital for these managers. We conclude with some suggestions for further research.

Citation

Siebers, L. Q., Kamoche, K., & Li, F. (2015). Transferring management practices to China: a Bourdieusian critique of ethnocentricity. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(5), https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.925948

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 10, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jun 18, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2018
• Journal: International Journal of Human Resource Management
• Print ISSN: 0958-5192
• Electronic ISSN: 1466-4399
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2014.925948
• Keywords: Bourdieu, China, HRM, retail internationalisation, retail MNEs, transfer of management practices
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/993079
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09585192.2014.925948
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Human Resource Management on 18 June 2014, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09585192.2014.925948.
• Contract Date: Apr 5, 2018