Chinese workers' work ethic in reformed state-owned enterprises: implications for HRD Academic Article

abstract

• Work ethic, as the construct of work-related values and attitudes, directly affects employees' job performance. Work ethic subjects to the influence of business and social practices. China is in the mix of major economical and political transformation, although little is known about how work ethic has changed for Chinese workers since the economic reform first initiated in 1979. This study is designed to examine work ethic currently held by workers of Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Findings revealed work ethic perceptions based on the multidimensional work ethic profile (MWEP), a Western work ethic profile, and the Confucian work ethic (CWE), an Eastern work ethic profile, resulted in similarities but often lived different life styles. The major differences tended to focus on perceptions of hard work, self-reliance and centrality of work. Other areas such as education, use of time, delay of graduation and other MWEP concepts were very similar to Chinese workers' work perceptions. 2009 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

authors

• Madsen, Jean

published proceedings

• HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL

author list (cited authors)

• Li, J., & Madsen, J.

citation count

• 14

complete list of authors

• Li, Jessica||Madsen, Jean

publication date

• January 2009

publisher

• Taylor & Francis  Publisher

published in

• Human Resource Development International  Journal

keywords

• Chinese Workers
• Economic Reform
• Work Ethic

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1080/13678860902764100

start page

• 171

end page

• 188

volume

• 12

issue

• 2

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13678860902764100