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Transferring management practices to China: a Bourdieusian critique of ethnocentricity

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

Authors

Lisa Qixun Siebers

KEN KAMOCHE Ken.Kamoche@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Human Resource Management

Fei Li



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 Mar 28, 2024
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.

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