Chinese Management in the ‘Harmonious Society’: Managers, Markets and the Globalized Economy

Whither Chinese management? The Middle Kingdom has come a long way since the economic reforms were introduced after 1978. As ownership has opened up and has become more fragmented, the state-owned firms no longer dominate the scene, nor does their management model. Managing has also become more complex and diversified, as well as more professional. This book asks what the next steps are likely to be and will assess the current directions in which Chinese managers are developing, as its economy slows down in the face of global uncertainty. It aims to update previous works in the field covering business and management in these countries. It covers a wide range of topics, including banking, competition, employee satisfaction, expatriates, industrial relations, HRM, organization, SMEs, social responsibility, strategic sourcing, trust and so on. The book also asks in which future directions management may be moving in this important part of the international economy. The authors are all experts in their fields and are all based in universities and business schools in countries such as Australia and the UK, among others.

The work is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students in business administration especially those on MBA programmes, as well as those studying development economics, management studies and related courses, including lecturers in those subjects.

This book was published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.