Abstract
Managers in China, the USA and Britain were asked to describe the extent to which they used five sources for handling nine managerial events. Western managers were found to rely more upon their own experience and training, while in China, rules and procedures were more salient. For most events, Western managers who described themselves as relying on their own experience and training believed that the events had been well handled. They reported that events were less well handled to the extent that they referred to their superiors. Reliance on the superior was associated with role ambiguity among Western managers but not in China. Even though Chinese managers relied more upon rules and procedures they too evaluated events more positively when they had relied on their own experience and training. The results are discussed in terms of Chinese and Western cultural values and the prospects for change in managerial practice in China.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
*Dr. Peter B. Smith is Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Sussex and Director of the Centre for Research Into Cross-Cultural Organization and Management at Roffey Park Management Institute, Horsham, the United Kingdom. His current interests are in cross-cultural comparisons of managerial behaviour and in the cultural problems experienced within joint ventures.
**Dr. Mark F. Peterson is Professor of Management at Texas Tech University, USA. His research interests include the social interpretation of work events, international management and leadership.
***Dr. Zhong Ming Wang is Executive Dean of the School of Management and Dean of the Graduate School, Hangzhou University, People's Republic of China. His research interests are in joint ventures, leadership, decisionmaking and management selection.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smith, P., Peterson, M. & Wang, Z. The Manager as Mediator of Alternative Meanings: A pilot Study from China, The USA and U.K.. J Int Bus Stud 27, 115–137 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8490128
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8490128