Percy : A life in China - The life and times of Percy Nettle : 1886-1964
- Authors: Nettle, Rodney
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis is about the transnational life of Percival Edward Nettle (1886-1964), a young man born in Ballarat who moved from Australia to Shanghai at the end of 1906 on his way to San Francisco. He never did get to San Francisco but lived in and out of China until he died in 1964. This thesis tells his story and also addresses the perennial human management problem of achieving a co-operative fit between people from different cultural backgrounds. Percy Nettle achieved this fit with the Chinese through developing an exceptional rapport with Chinese people from the time he commenced working with them in 1907 on engineering projects, and later during and through wars and other civil engagements. He was a great success in China, the key to which was his skill with the language and later from his ability to culturally adapt and empathise with the people in the environments in which he was living at the time. Percy also found that his ‘Wesleyan’ approach to people conveniently dovetailed with the ‘Confucian’ values approach of the Chinese. Percy was able to communicate with Chinese people from Viceroys to infantry men and bandits and could win their trust regardless of social levels. Percy documented his ‘fitting in’ experience with the Chinese in his diaries, letters and journals over a fifty-five-year period until his death in Hong Kong in 1964. The analysis and contextualisation of his original records form the basis of this thesis and what is learned from this study of his exceptional life is the importance of achieving a very high level of cultural empathy and understanding with the people we deal with beginning with learning how to speak with them in their own language. Percy was also able to demonstrate the universal efficacy of strong ethical values even when they are transposed from one cultural setting to another.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Nettle, Rodney
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis is about the transnational life of Percival Edward Nettle (1886-1964), a young man born in Ballarat who moved from Australia to Shanghai at the end of 1906 on his way to San Francisco. He never did get to San Francisco but lived in and out of China until he died in 1964. This thesis tells his story and also addresses the perennial human management problem of achieving a co-operative fit between people from different cultural backgrounds. Percy Nettle achieved this fit with the Chinese through developing an exceptional rapport with Chinese people from the time he commenced working with them in 1907 on engineering projects, and later during and through wars and other civil engagements. He was a great success in China, the key to which was his skill with the language and later from his ability to culturally adapt and empathise with the people in the environments in which he was living at the time. Percy also found that his ‘Wesleyan’ approach to people conveniently dovetailed with the ‘Confucian’ values approach of the Chinese. Percy was able to communicate with Chinese people from Viceroys to infantry men and bandits and could win their trust regardless of social levels. Percy documented his ‘fitting in’ experience with the Chinese in his diaries, letters and journals over a fifty-five-year period until his death in Hong Kong in 1964. The analysis and contextualisation of his original records form the basis of this thesis and what is learned from this study of his exceptional life is the importance of achieving a very high level of cultural empathy and understanding with the people we deal with beginning with learning how to speak with them in their own language. Percy was also able to demonstrate the universal efficacy of strong ethical values even when they are transposed from one cultural setting to another.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Cultural influence on China's household saving
- Authors: Boffa, Zhang-Ming
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The recession following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis highlighted the problem of deficient household saving and imprudent consumer credit. Studies of selected economies reveal that household saving tends to decline as economies move to higher stages of development. Following rapid economic growth, China’s household saving, possibly due to the influence of traditional culture, has remained high by international standards while consumer credit levels are low. This significant phenomenon has prompted the question of what this development trajectory may become as China proceeds to higher income levels. Whereas the economic, social and financial development factors related to household saving and development have been well researched, from the perspective of this investigation, there are missing ‘cultural values’ in the analysis. Consequently, the Institutional Economics concept of ‘culture as a value’ provides the basis for this thesis into the influence of culture on China’s household saving and its effects. By extending Keynes’s General Theory in relation to saving, and incorporating studies from both the Chinese and Western scholarly traditions, five themes are identified as influencing the cultural preferences of China’s household saving. These are: (i) precautionary motives; (ii) habit formation; (iii) children’s education; (iv) consumer credit; and (v) teaching thrift. The holistic approach of this study has allowed a deeper understanding of the role of cultural values on agency and structure in economic events and their subsequent impact on household saving. Results of this investigation indicate that the Confucian value of family ties and ‘Zhong Yong’ – the Golden Mean, which translates essentially as balance, enable Chinese households to save. This development has highlighted a growing tension, in China’s modernity process, between the traditional Confucian value of thrift and the Western cultural influence of stimulating economic growth by consumption. After consideration of current saving practices and the anticipation of economic changes, this research advocates the striking of a balance between household saving and increasing consumption in China in order to avert a future financial crisis and to facilitate economic growth. The implication of this research is that finding a balance between household saving and consumption is crucial to sustainable future development in China as it shifts its development focus from investment and export-led to domestic consumption-driven growth and social development.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Boffa, Zhang-Ming
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The recession following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis highlighted the problem of deficient household saving and imprudent consumer credit. Studies of selected economies reveal that household saving tends to decline as economies move to higher stages of development. Following rapid economic growth, China’s household saving, possibly due to the influence of traditional culture, has remained high by international standards while consumer credit levels are low. This significant phenomenon has prompted the question of what this development trajectory may become as China proceeds to higher income levels. Whereas the economic, social and financial development factors related to household saving and development have been well researched, from the perspective of this investigation, there are missing ‘cultural values’ in the analysis. Consequently, the Institutional Economics concept of ‘culture as a value’ provides the basis for this thesis into the influence of culture on China’s household saving and its effects. By extending Keynes’s General Theory in relation to saving, and incorporating studies from both the Chinese and Western scholarly traditions, five themes are identified as influencing the cultural preferences of China’s household saving. These are: (i) precautionary motives; (ii) habit formation; (iii) children’s education; (iv) consumer credit; and (v) teaching thrift. The holistic approach of this study has allowed a deeper understanding of the role of cultural values on agency and structure in economic events and their subsequent impact on household saving. Results of this investigation indicate that the Confucian value of family ties and ‘Zhong Yong’ – the Golden Mean, which translates essentially as balance, enable Chinese households to save. This development has highlighted a growing tension, in China’s modernity process, between the traditional Confucian value of thrift and the Western cultural influence of stimulating economic growth by consumption. After consideration of current saving practices and the anticipation of economic changes, this research advocates the striking of a balance between household saving and increasing consumption in China in order to avert a future financial crisis and to facilitate economic growth. The implication of this research is that finding a balance between household saving and consumption is crucial to sustainable future development in China as it shifts its development focus from investment and export-led to domestic consumption-driven growth and social development.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Effective leadership behaviours to manage people issues of cross border mergers and aquisitions in China
- Authors: Wang, Jian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The aim of this research is to identify the effective leadership behaviours in managing people issues of a British-Chinese cross border acquisition case study in China. There are three areas involved in this study: people issues in mergers and acquisitions (M&As), cross culture differences and cross culture leadership. The knowledge gap identified from past research is that there appears to be no in-depth empirical study to date on an integrated model of the three areas noted above to have a holistic understanding of their influence on the success or failure of M&As, especially in the context of cross border M&As in China. This is the focus of this research. The objectives of this research are to identify how leaders have managed cross culture issues, communications, employees’ resistance, stress and trust in a Western-Chinese cross border acquisition as well as the perceived effectiveness of these leadership behaviours both from the perspectives of Chinese employees and the western managers. The conceptual framework of this research adopted and built on the theoretical model of Project GLOBE. Findings from this study suggest a ‘multiplier’ effect with impact across all the people issues in this cross border acquisition, which means that when one people issue is not managed well by the leadership team, other people issues are triggered. The outcome of this acquisition was influenced by the integrated and holistic effect of all the people issues. In this study, management of people issues in a cross-culture environment was fundamental. There are seven culture dimensions proposed by this study to measure the organisational culture differences pre- and post-acquisition as influenced by both Chinese and British cultures. Specific cultural behaviours related to the proposed seven culture dimensions were also identified. Organisation culture clash was found with the post-acquisition organisation culture which influenced the leadership behaviours in managing the people issues and the perceived effectiveness of the leadership behaviours. This study contributes to existing knowledge by adding the integrated dimension of effective leadership behaviours in managing people issues in a cross culture context of M&As in China as well as extending the theoretical model of Project GLOBE. The practical learning from this study could help leaders in future M&As to take effective actions in managing people issues to improve the success rate of cross border M&As in China which can potentially contribute to the economic development of China and other developing countries.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Wang, Jian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The aim of this research is to identify the effective leadership behaviours in managing people issues of a British-Chinese cross border acquisition case study in China. There are three areas involved in this study: people issues in mergers and acquisitions (M&As), cross culture differences and cross culture leadership. The knowledge gap identified from past research is that there appears to be no in-depth empirical study to date on an integrated model of the three areas noted above to have a holistic understanding of their influence on the success or failure of M&As, especially in the context of cross border M&As in China. This is the focus of this research. The objectives of this research are to identify how leaders have managed cross culture issues, communications, employees’ resistance, stress and trust in a Western-Chinese cross border acquisition as well as the perceived effectiveness of these leadership behaviours both from the perspectives of Chinese employees and the western managers. The conceptual framework of this research adopted and built on the theoretical model of Project GLOBE. Findings from this study suggest a ‘multiplier’ effect with impact across all the people issues in this cross border acquisition, which means that when one people issue is not managed well by the leadership team, other people issues are triggered. The outcome of this acquisition was influenced by the integrated and holistic effect of all the people issues. In this study, management of people issues in a cross-culture environment was fundamental. There are seven culture dimensions proposed by this study to measure the organisational culture differences pre- and post-acquisition as influenced by both Chinese and British cultures. Specific cultural behaviours related to the proposed seven culture dimensions were also identified. Organisation culture clash was found with the post-acquisition organisation culture which influenced the leadership behaviours in managing the people issues and the perceived effectiveness of the leadership behaviours. This study contributes to existing knowledge by adding the integrated dimension of effective leadership behaviours in managing people issues in a cross culture context of M&As in China as well as extending the theoretical model of Project GLOBE. The practical learning from this study could help leaders in future M&As to take effective actions in managing people issues to improve the success rate of cross border M&As in China which can potentially contribute to the economic development of China and other developing countries.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
An identification of the meanings(s) of 'development' in a Chinese village context : The first piece of a jigsaw puzzle
- Authors: Roy, Cameron
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines the meaning(s) of ‘development’ within a rural village in Sichuan province, China... Importantly, this thesis is a unique snapshot account containing grassroots stories about what development means from the voice and perspective of average Han villagers in a single village in contemporary rural China. (Taken from Abstract)
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Roy, Cameron
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines the meaning(s) of ‘development’ within a rural village in Sichuan province, China... Importantly, this thesis is a unique snapshot account containing grassroots stories about what development means from the voice and perspective of average Han villagers in a single village in contemporary rural China. (Taken from Abstract)
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A great leap forward : EFL curriculum, globalization and reconstructionism - a case study in North East China
- Authors: Zhang, Xiaohong
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: I have used the name, The Great Leap Forward in relation to my study of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) curriculum reform as I have linked economic, political and social developments of the late 20th and early 21st centuries in China with education developments that have occurred at the same time as the reform has been implemented.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Zhang, Xiaohong
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: I have used the name, The Great Leap Forward in relation to my study of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) curriculum reform as I have linked economic, political and social developments of the late 20th and early 21st centuries in China with education developments that have occurred at the same time as the reform has been implemented.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The determinants of chief executive officer turnover in Chinese listed companies : An aspiration level and power perspective
- Pi, Lili
- Authors: Pi, Lili
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This study focuses on the determinants of CEO turnover of listed companies in China, the largest transitional and developing economy in the world, where governance institutions and structures are evolving. Drawing on the strategic change, aspiration, and CEO power literature, a CEO turnover model and a set of hypotheses have been contructed.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Pi, Lili
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This study focuses on the determinants of CEO turnover of listed companies in China, the largest transitional and developing economy in the world, where governance institutions and structures are evolving. Drawing on the strategic change, aspiration, and CEO power literature, a CEO turnover model and a set of hypotheses have been contructed.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
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