Hang-Yue Ngo

The Role of Trust and Contractual Safeguards on Cooperation in Non-equity Alliances

Because partners may behave opportunistically in alliances, contractual safeguards or trust between partners are necessary for successful outcomes. However, it remains controversial whether safeguards and trust substitute or complement each other. Drawing on transaction cost theory, this study conceptualizes both contractual safeguards and trust as important control mechanisms in non-equity alliances, and develops a model that relates contractual safeguards and trust to cooperative outcomes. We test our hypotheses with data collected from 233 architect–contractor partnerships in Hong Kong. The results show that the relationship between contractual safeguards and cooperative outcomes depends on both the level and type of trust.

Human resource practices and firm performance of multinational corporations: influences of country origin

Drawing from a cultural values perspective, we investigate the effects of country origins on HR (human resource) practices of firms from the United States, Great Britain, Japan and Hong Kong operating in Hong Kong. In general, results supported hypothesized differences in HR practices of firms from different countries. In addition, results indicated that HR practices, specifically structural training and development and retention-oriented compensation, were related to various measures of firm performance. Of further interest was the finding that country origin moderated relationships of HR practices with firm performance; in general, relationships of structural training and development and retention-oriented compensation were stronger for Hong Kong firms. Implications of the results are discussed.

Organizational attractiveness of firms in the People's Republic of China : A person-organization fit perspective

The authors investigated factors related to firm attractiveness as an employer in the Peoples Republic of China. The organizational attributes of type of ownership, nationality of the supervisor, and firm familiarity in organizational descriptions were manipulated and their effects were measured on firm attractiveness. In addition, the authors adopted a person-organization fit perspective to investigate how individual difference characteristics moderated the effects of these organizational attributes on attractiveness. Although, in general, participants were more attracted to foreign than state-owned firms and to familiar than unfamiliar firms, results provided support for the person-organization fit perspective in that the individual differences moderated the effects of the organizational attributes on firm attractiveness. For example, participants were more attracted to state-owned versus foreign firms when they were more risk averse and had a lower need for pay. Thus, the results provide initial support for the generalizability of the person-organization fit perspective to a non-Western setting.

Affective organizational commitment of workers in Chinese joint ventures

This study examines the factors affecting joint venture employees’ affective commitment in the Peoples’ Republic of China. Three theoretical frameworks (i.e. the justice framework, the job security framework and the trust framework) are employed to study the antecedents and the consequence of workers’ affective commitment. The proposed mediation model includes: distributive justice, procedural justice and perceived job security as the antecedents of affective commitment; trust in organization as the mediator; and turnover intention as the outcome variable. The results supported this mediation model. It has been found that trust in organization mediates the relationships between distributive justice, procedural justice, perceived job security and affective commitment. In addition, perceived job security and affective commitment have significant effects on the turnover intention of workers. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of the present study are discussed.

Different responses to job insecurity of Chinese workers in joint ventures and state-owned enterprises

Job insecurity has become an important issue for western organizations in the last decade due to uncertain economic conditions, global competition, and the advancement of information technology. In this study, we integrate social exchange theory and rational choice theory to explain employees’ responses to job insecurity in the Chinese context. We distinguish short-term transactional exchange from long-term relational exchange, and argue that joint ventures (JVs) and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are characterized by different kinds of employee-organization exchange. An integrated theoretical framework is developed to explain why workers in these organizations respond differently to job insecurity. A total of 548 supervisor-subordinate dyads in a JV and a SOE in China are used to test the hypotheses derived from our framework. The results of hierarchical regression analysis indicate that the effects of job insecurity on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and job performance depend on both organizational types and employees’ trust in their organization.

The interaction between leader–member exchange and perceived job security in predicting employee altruism and work performance

This study investigated the relationships among leader–member exchange (LMX), perceived job security, and employee performance. Drawing on the job demands–resources model and conservation of resources theory, we expected both LMX and perceived job security would affect employee altruism and work performance in a positive manner. In addition, LMX and perceived job security were expected to interact to predict the two outcome variables. The hypotheses were tested with a sample of 184 employees in a state-owned enterprise in China. Our results showed that LMX, but not perceived job security, was positively related to employee altruism and work performance. Additionally, the effect of LMX on altruism was stronger for employees perceiving less job security. The findings indicated that LMX as a job resource becomes more impactful to altruistic performance when employees feel less secure at work.

Human resource flexibility, organizational culture and firm performance: an investigation of multinational firms in Hong Kong

This article explores the relationships between human resource (HR) flexibility, organizational culture, and organizational performance. Drawing on previous works, we develop a conceptual model that links the constructs together. It is hypothesized that the three sub-dimensions of HR flexibility (i.e. employee skill flexibility, employee behaviour flexibility, and HR practice flexibility) affect adaptability culture, which in turn impacts HR-related and market-related outcomes. The data were collected via a questionnaire survey of HR directors/managers in multinational corporations (MNCs) in Hong Kong. The results of structural equation modelling (SEM) reveal the positive effects of employee behaviour flexibility and HR practice flexibility on adaptability culture. Employee skill flexibility, however, exerts no such effect. Further, adaptability culture is found to affect both HR-related and market-related performance in a positive manner.

Interrole conflict as a predictor of job satisfaction and propensity to leave: A study of professional accountants

Interrole conflict arises from incompatible role requirements between two or more work‐related roles. This study examined its effect on job satisfaction and propensity to leave. Data were collected from a sample of 251 professional accountants employed in Hong Kong firms. Results from hierarchical regression analyses revealed that interrole conflict was associated with low job satisfaction and high propensity to leave. In addition, finds that professional commitment moderated the relationship between interrole conflict and propensity to leave. Research and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.

Who Gets More of the Pie? Predictors of Perceived Gender Inequity at Work

Gender inequity is prevalent in the workplace. It violates the principle of equal treatment for all employees, and often leads to problems with retention, morale, and performance. Individuals, however, may have different perceptions of gender inequity. In this study, we examined the relationship between individual and organizational level variables and perceived gender inequity for a sample of church workers. Regression analysis was used to test several hypotheses informed by social psychological theories. The results showed that (1) individuals perceived gender inequity in the workplace; (2) organizational level variables had more effect on perceived gender inequity than individual level variables; and (3) compared to men, women perceived greater gender inequity favoring males. Discussion, limitations, and suggestions for future research are provided.

Socialized to be a professional: a study of the professionalism of accountants in Hong Kong

Abstract Extant definitions of professionalism in the management literature are ambiguous. Adopting a socialization perspective, in this study we view professionalism as the values, goals and norms learned through professional socialization. Based on Miner’s (1993) motivation role theory, we develop a new scale of professionalism. We further investigate the antecedents and outcomes of professionalism and test a number of hypotheses on 251 accountants in Hong Kong. Our results suggest that current job characteristics have a stronger effect on professionalism than does early stage socialization. Additionally, a higher level of professionalism is related to higher professional identification, higher job satisfaction and lower intentions to quit. Theoretical and managerial implications are drawn.