Hospitality leadership: a Chinese perspective

The purpose of this paper is to review the current literature in transformational leadership and convey a progressive model to apply transformational leadership in a Chinese hospitality context to provide practical indications to organisations, individuals, and educators in hospitality industry. This paper also explores the characteristics of different generations in China thus a broader view of effective leadership and specific issues in Chinese hospitality industry will be presented which could be assimilated by the practitioners

Examining the Impact of Confucian Values on Leadership Preferences

Efficacy of a leadership approach may be highly dependent upon cultural factors, making additional research in foreign contexts necessary. A methodology was developed to investigate the relationship between Confucian values and leadership preferences. Responses on the Chinese Values Survey (CVS) were compared to those of the Vannsimpco Leadership Survey (VLS) for both Korean (N = 48) and American (N = 47) university respondents. Correlations for both groups revealed a link between Confucian values and hybrid leadership styles. Among Korean faculty, this link was even more pronounced, yielding significant correlations to autocratic-transformational (rs [30] = .513, p \u3c .05), autocratic-transactional (rs [30] = .420, p \u3c .05), democratic-transformational (rs [31] = .567, p \u3c .001), and democratic-transactional (rs [31] = .482, p \u3c .01) leadership. Results suggest that simple theoretical approaches to leadership do not address the complex interplay between autocratic (Li) and democratic (Ren and Yi) Confucian virtues

Confucian value-based leadership communication: a study on Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

The study on leadership communication is one of the most often researched topics on leadership. However, there have been only a few studies focused on Confucian value-based leadership in a multicultural society. Therefore, this study is designed to develop a leadership communication model that works in an intercultural context. The aim of the study is twofold, first, is to identify the attributes of Dr. Mahathir’s vision formation and vision articulation associated with Confucian values, which focus on leadership communication; and second, is to provide a Confucian model of leadership that can be applied by multi-cultural leaders. This study analysed 37 speeches and interviewed 15 Chinese leaders. Findings reveal that Dr. Mahathir applied numerous attributes in developing his speech content, such as value-based cores, growth and ideological goals to capture his audience’s minds and hearts simultaneously. This study identifies three main attributes of Dr. Mahathir’s vision articulation; they include clarity, inspirational imagery and challenge. Five Confucian values which are relevant to the Chinese community and Dr. Mahathir’s leadership communication are also presented in this study. The Confucian values are Zhi (wisdom), Xin (trust), Xiao (filial piety), Ren (benevolence) and Zhong yong (moderation). This study also contributes to the expansion of the leadership communication research in Malaysia and other Asian countries

Junzi leadership in Singapore: governance and human capital development

Purpose – This paper provides insights as to how a Confucian-inspired Junzi style of leadership translates into initiatives toward human capital development in Singapore. After reviewing tripartite governance in Singapore, we discuss the character of Confucian leadership: how does this value system inform the moral economy of the Singaporean corporatist model and inherently come to impact upon the conception and significance of human capital. Design/methodology/approach – The case approach was employed using multiple sources of secondary data, supplemented by interviews with high-profile informants in Singapore. Multiple sources led to data triangulation in presenting a mutually consistent set of evidence. The paper also draws from a longitudinal observation of Singapore’s industrial relations and human resource development (HRD) policies over the last 10 years since the Global Financial Crisis. Findings – Organized along two thematic areas: governance and human capital development, this paper proposes and finds that governance in Singapore displays an institutionalized form of Junzi leadership that translates into policymaking toward human capital development. Originality/value – This paper brings about an Asian perspective of Junzi leadership toward management and governance. The Confucian value system intrinsic to tripartite governance provides an original heuristic lens that helps shed a light on the significance of human capital development in Singapore

Making sense of business leadership vis-à-vis china’s reform and transition

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the contemporary paradigm of business leadership vis-à-vis China’s reform and transitional context. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs an evidence-based approach to explore the business leadership issues influenced by economic reform and within the context of societal transition in China. A qualitative research method was adopted based on in-depth interviews with a number of middle managers from a variety of Chinese enterprises, including state-owned, domestic-private and foreigninvested enterprises. Content analysis of several rounds of interviews added depth to the data analysis. Findings – The findings complement existing thoughts and illustrate concepts, issues, and characteristics not yet emphasized in mainstream literature. General patterns and associated characteristics of business leadership in China, as well as specific patterns associated with different forms of enterprise ownerships, are identified. Research limitations/implications – The study makes a timely and necessary contribution that enriches context-specific understandings of business leadership against the backdrop of surrounding economic, social, and cultural changes. Practical implications – The study enriches understandings of commonalities and differences in leadership across the globe, facilitating working collaboratively to achieve common goals in a global community. Originality/value – The study offers new insights into business leadership by linking contextual, personal, and cognitional factors together and demonstrates some unique characteristics of leadership styles in transitional economies like China

Examining Perceptions of Good Leadership in Confucian Contexts: A Study of South Korean University Faculty

Cultural values impact conceptions of good leadership, explaining why some Western-oriented leadership strategies appear to fail in Confucian contexts. To better understand how cultural values influence the process of leadership, the Vannsimpco Leadership survey was given to 291 Korean faculty members at a university in South Korea, along with 168 faculty members from an American university who served as a comparison group. Following the collection of 95 surveys (48 from Korean faculty and 47 from American faculty), factor analysis was used to evaluate respondents’ perceptions of leadership. Results suggested that Confucian values do indeed influence conceptions of leadership. As for Korean faculty, the ideal leader was envisioned as a person who relies on positional authority to make decisions, assign tasks, and promote good morale. Korean faculty also preferred more autocratic leadership strategies than their American counterparts. Collective analysis of findings suggests that transformational and democratic leadership strategies may be adapted in a South Korean context, yet these leadership styles must maintain some autocratic norms and positional authority mandated by Confucian ethical values

The relevance of confucian values to leadership communication

Research on leadership communication is still an active area of inquiry as can be seen from the growing number of studies employing different perspectives to enhance the contributions of the field in its own right.From the intercultural communication perspective, every culture provides a particular view of leadership communication because each culture has tended to look at certain cultural conceptual artifacts differently. For example, in Asia, the studies on leadership communication tended to focus on Japanese and Korean and there are only a few studies which have used other cultural notions like the ones carried out in Malaysia.Among the challenges faced by the leaders in Malaysia are the ways to remain relevant in light of rapid changes in the country. The priority is, therefore, to be able sustain the impressive achievements made thus far in the rather challenging context of a multi-racial and multireligious society, especially the need to understand the cultural thinking of the Chinese community after the recent General Election (GE13).This article discusses the Chinese and Western leadership cultures and the roles of Confucian values in leadership communication in East Asia.On the basis of insights gained, a model has been proposed to guide the development of subsequent leadership communication studies, particularly that which involves the Chinese community in Malaysia

Executive leadership in China: an investigation into the leadership styles of Chinese executives working for American ventures in mainland China

Leadership and culture are complex fields. Some researchers assert that the transactional-transformational leadership paradigm is universally effective across cultures; whereas, some argue that specific culture traditions and norms, interaction between leaders and followers, as well as core value and belief systems are bound to differentiate leadership styles. It is realized that all these suggestions are subject to challenges and criticism. Adopting a realist philosophy and a case study strategy, this study embodies both qualitative and quantitative perspectives though the quantitative material has been used as an adjunct to the case study interviews rather than as a representative and random survey. Materials have been obtained from sixty five Chinese and American executive level managers within medium to large sized wholly American-owned companies of electronics industry in mainland China. This study argues that leadership seems to be oversimplified in Bass’ two-factor theory since there are a number of flaws that exist within the literature. The case analysis indicates that the leadership styles of Chinese and American executives can be both transformational and transactional. However, the findings suggest that American executives generally exhibited obvious transformational leadership, but also transactional contingent reward; conversely, Chinese executives displayed modest transformational leadership and more transactional management-by-exception (active)

Ren Leadership: An Interpretive Biography of Bai Fangli

The purpose of this qualitative interpretive biographical study was to enhance our understanding of leadership by exploring the life of Bai Fangli through the lens of Confucian virtues. This study followed Denzin\u27s (1989a) qualitative design of interpretive biography by exploring Bai\u27s epiphanies to offer multiple perspectives on the significance of the epiphanies and their impact on Bai\u27s life and his influence as a modern Chinese leader. This study was guided by the central question: What is the essence of the life and leadership of Bai Fangli as explored through the lens of Confucian virtues? In order to answer this study\u27s central question, Denzin\u27s data analysis procedures were applied for this study. Incorporating Denzin\u27s data analysis procedures, this study applied three phases of data analysis: (a) document analysis, (b) interview analysis, and (c) combined the analysis of the documents and interviews. Data from documents were gathered from 91 online newspaper articles, 43 photographs, and 8 videoclips. Interview data were gathered during open-ended interviews with 12 purposefully selected participants. An internet-based audio video system, emails, and phone were utilized in this study. Four themes and seven sub virtue themes were combined from these documents and interviews. The lens of Confucian virtues was articulated based on seven sub virtue themes and how they are aligned with the literature review. Bai Fangli\u27s interpretive biography was then reconstructed and the major themes that have shaped his life were identified. This study enhances our understanding of leadership by articulating Ren Leadership, a universal leadership. Since Bai\u27s actions demonstrated both Eastern virtues of benevolence and great love [ren ai], righteousness [yi], rituals [li], wisdom [zhi], trustworthiness [xin], fortitude [yong], and frugality [jian] and Western virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance, the second finding recognized that moral leadership is applicable to both Eastern and Western world views. The third finding describes an example of a moral leader in China who blended both Eastern and Western virtues. Finally, this study revealed the feasibility of the return of the traditional Confucian virtues in contemporary China

The Relevance of Confucian Values to Leadership Communication

Research on leadership communication is still an active area of inquiry as can be seen from the growing number of studies employing different perspectives to enhance the contributions of the field in its own right. From the intercultural communication perspective, every culture provides a particular view of leadership communication because each culture has tended to look at certain cultural conceptual artifacts differently. For example, in Asia, the studies on leadership communication tended to focus on Japanese and Korean and there are only a few studies which have used other cultural notions like the ones carried out in Malaysia. Among the challenges faced by the leaders in Malaysia are the ways to remain relevant in light of rapid changes in the country. The priority is, therefore, to be able sustain the impressive achievements made thus far in the rather challenging context of a multi-racial and multi-religious society, especially the need to understand the cultural thinking of the Chinese community after the recent General Election (GE13). This article discusses the Chinese and Western leadership cultures and the roles of Confucian values in leadership communication in East Asia. On the basis of insights gained, a model has been proposed to guide the development of subsequent leadership communication studies, particularly that which involves the Chinese community in Malaysia