Guanxi and social capital: Networking among women managers in China and Finland
Huang, J., & Aaltio, I. (2014). Guanxi and social capital: Networking among women managers in China and Finland. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 39, 22-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2013.09.002
Published in
International Journal of Intercultural RelationsDate
2014Discipline
Basic or discovery scholarshipJohtaminenBasic or discovery scholarshipManagement and LeadershipCopyright
© Elsevier. This is a final draft version of the article whose final and definitive form has been published by Pergamon, imprint of Elsevier.
Considering that women are still under-represented in management, researchers have claimed that networking is an important career management tool for women. This study aims to empirically explore how women managers benefit from social networks in the information technology (IT) field in China and Finland. Guanxi, an Eastern term for social networking, has seldom been studied in terms of gender and career, especially within cross-cultural research. Social capital is a Western term for social networks. Using questionnaires, in-depth interviews and interpretive analysis, we compare the composition and structure of social networks used by women managers within the information technology sector in the two countries. The results show: (1) that in both contexts, there is an effect of female-to-male dyads, which are mainly within power- and work-related networks (e.g. most ties of ‘influence’ are with older men) while female-to-female dyads are mostly ‘social’, (2) China has relatively small networks while Finland has networks differentiated on the basis of function, and (3) there are differences in the structure and participant strategies in networks and networking in the two contexts.
Both guanxi and social capital include elements of who know you” and “who knows you” that are important for career success. We suggest that a strategic and cross-gender, cross-company approach to networking would assist women in career advancement. Moreover, deeper research should be undertaken into the nature of the social ties that carry networks because these are based on country-specific traditions even when they appear superficially similar. Implications for international human resource management are also discussed.
...


Publisher
Pergamon PressISSN Search the Publication Forum
0147-1767Keywords
Original source
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01471767/39/supp/CPublication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/23639656
Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
- Kauppakorkeakoulu [1413]
Related items
Showing items with similar title or keywords.
-
The effect of early career social capital on long-term income development in Finland
Oinas, Tomi; Ruuskanen, Petri; Hakala, Mari; Anttila, Timo (Emerald, 2020)Purpose – In this study, the authors examine whether social capital embedded in individuals’ social networks is connected to employees’ long-term income development in Finland. Design/methodology/approach – Analyses are ... -
The development and management of interpersonal trust in a business network in health, exercise, and wellbeing markets
Hakanen, Mila (University of Jyväskylä, 2017)The aim of this dissertation is to explore the development, management and measurement of interpersonal trust in the context of a business network. More specifically, the focus is building and managing trust in the ... -
The role of social capital in intra-family succession : ensuring the transition of networks to the second generation
Saaranluoma, Laura (2017)Given the era of the new economy the role of social capital is even more important and the preservation and transfer of it in a situation of intra-family succession should be one of the major considerations when conducting ... -
Verkostot, paikallisuus ja eriarvoisuus
Salminen, Veli-Matti (Jyväskylän yliopisto, 2012) -
Vauraus, luotto, luottamus : talonpoikien lainasuhteet Pohjanlahden molemmin puolin 1796-1830
Hemminki, Tiina (University of Jyväskylä, 2014)