Mapping the values and culture in Chinese public sectors

An exploratory study

Bibliographic Data

ID20501566
AuthorsYing Liu (0000-0001-5584-7805, Renmin University of China), Yuanjie Bao (0000-0002-3695-1444, Renmin University of China), Wei Liu (0000-0002-5949-0302, Renmin University of China)
EditorsSimón L Dolan
Year2013
Volume20
Issue4
Pages559-577
Publication date2013-10-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCross Cultural Management An International Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1352-7606 • E-ISSN: 1758-6089
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/ccm-04-2013-0059
OpenAlexW2084914178
LanguageEN
References cited36

Purpose – The exploratory study introduced the tri-axial model as a basic framework of cultural value to Chinese public sectors. The study tries to display value mapping of the Chinese public sectors and to examine the relationship between the identified values with organizational outcome variables, which is normally characteristic of an exploratory research. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – 404 civil servants were asked to classify 62 cultural values into three axes, emotional, economical and ethical, and to attain the importance of the 62 values. Findings – Five cultural values including happiness, belonging, harmony, achievement, and efficiency are identified to be the most important values in Chinese public sectors. Harmony and achievement were found to affect organizational outcome variables. Research limitations/implications – Sample size is relatively small, and more cultural differences have been neglected within Chinese culture. And the paper collected data twice and used different means, but analyzed the combined data, which could be problematic. Practical implications – The findings suggest that Chinese civil servants pay much attention on emotional-developmental type of cultural values. Ethic-related culture needs to be emphasized more on culture building behaviors both at the organizational level and at the national level. Originality/value – This is the first time the tri-axial model was introduced into Chinese culture. Testing with Chinese samples, the tri-axial model appears to address some of the important limitations of previous models that were summarized before. The paper successfully grouped all the cultural values into three pre-defined axes. The most important values are identified

China · Chinese culture · Civil servants · Creativity · Exploratory research · Happiness · Organizational culture · Originality · Political science · Public relations · Public sector · Social science · Sociology · Statistics · Cultural Differences and Values · International Student and Expatriate Challenges · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Law · Mathematics · Psychology · Social Psychology

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