IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i17p6750-d401560.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring the Interactions of Factory Workers in China: A Model Development Using the Grounded Theory Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Ye Ye

    (Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 54100, Malaysia)

  • Rosmini Omar

    (Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 54100, Malaysia)

  • Binyao Ning

    (Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 54100, Malaysia)

  • Hiram Ting

    (Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, UCSI University, Sarawak 93450, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study uses the grounded theory approach to explore factory workers to factory worker interaction (FWI) in the context of Chinese factories and proposes a model of FWI in the workplace. Human interaction in the workplace is indispensable in most sectors. Compared with large-scale factories, China’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) factories lack capital resources and technological advancement, and sustainably managing factory workers is essential for the development of Chinese SME factories. However, previous studies have ignored FWI in Chinese factories. The model developed in this study considers the types, driving factors, and influential outcomes of FWI. The main factors affecting FWI are the individual characteristics of the workplace and external environmental factors and, among types of FWI, information sharing is the most dominant and prevailing. The managers’ management style and the emotional state of factory workers are playing moderating roles in FWI. Results show that factory managers can take advantage of the positive impacts of FWI to improve the efficiency of factory workers and avoid its negative effects to achieve sustainable development of the factory. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Ye Ye & Rosmini Omar & Binyao Ning & Hiram Ting, 2020. "Exploring the Interactions of Factory Workers in China: A Model Development Using the Grounded Theory Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:6750-:d:401560
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/6750/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/6750/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gaston Fornes & Guillermo Cardoza, 2019. "Internationalization of Chinese SMEs: The Perception of Disadvantages of Foreignness," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(9), pages 2086-2105, July.
    2. Chen, Shih-Chih & Jiang, Wei & Ma, Yin, 2020. "Decent work in a transition economy: An empirical study of employees in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    3. Suhartanto, Dwi & Dean, David & Nansuri, Ruhadi & Triyuni, N.N., 2018. "The link between tourism involvement and service performance: Evidence from frontline retail employees," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 130-137.
    4. Kaibin Xu & Wenqing Li, 2013. "An Ethical Stakeholder Approach to Crisis Communication: A Case Study of Foxconn’s 2010 Employee Suicide Crisis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(2), pages 371-386, October.
    5. Ching‐Yuan Huang & Rhay‐Hung Weng & Yi‐Ting Chen, 2016. "Investigating the relationship among transformational leadership, interpersonal interaction and mentoring functions," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(15-16), pages 2144-2155, August.
    6. Terblanche, Nic S., 2018. "Revisiting the supermarket in-store customer shopping experience," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 48-59.
    7. Jun H. Choi & Saerona Kim & Dong-Hoon Yang, 2018. "Small and Medium Enterprises and the Relation between Social Performance and Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, May.
    8. Yun-Wing Sung, 2007. "Made in China: From World Sweatshop to a Global Manufacturing Center?," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 6(3), pages 43-72, Fall.
    9. Papathanassis, Alexis, 2012. "Guest-to-guest interaction on board cruise ships: Exploring social dynamics and the role of situational factors," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 1148-1158.
    10. Kihyun Lee & Yeon Joo Chae & Inyong Shin, 2016. "Motivational antecedents of leader-member exchange differentiation: Evidence from South Korea," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 87-112, March.
    11. Pia Lotila, 2010. "Corporate Responsiveness to Social Pressure: An Interaction-Based Model," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(3), pages 395-409, July.
    12. Oksana Zanozovska, 2017. "The Effects Of The Quality Of Employees' Interactions With Their Managers On The Quality Of Their Work," Baltic Journal of Economic Studies, Publishing house "Baltija Publishing", vol. 3(2).
    13. Ayşe Banu Elmadağ & Alexander E. Ellinger, 2018. "Alleviating job stress to improve service employee work affect: the influence of rewarding," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 12(1), pages 121-141, March.
    14. Huan Sun & Shaofeng Wu & Yanning Li & Guangquan Dai, 2019. "Tourist-to-Tourist Interaction at Festivals: A Grounded Theory Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-15, July.
    15. Li Xue Cunningham & Chris Rowley, 2010. "Small and medium-sized enterprises in China: a literature review, human resource management and suggestions for further research," Asia Pacific Business Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 319-337, July.
    16. Yoke-Tong Chew & Henry Wai-Chung Yeung, 2001. "The SME Advantage: Adding Local Touch to Foreign Transnational Corporations in Singapore," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(5), pages 431-448.
    17. Lu Qiu & Xiaowen Jie & Yanan Wang & Minjuan Zhao, 2020. "Green product innovation, green dynamic capability, and competitive advantage: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1), pages 146-165, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giovanni Lombardo & Andrea Mazzocchetti & Irene Rapallo & Nader Tayser & Silvano Cincotti, 2019. "Assessment of the Economic and Social Impact Using SROI: An Application to Sport Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Mohd Faizal Hamzah* & Mohamad Noorman Masrek & Irwan Kamaruddin Abdul Kadir, 2018. "Work Design and Competencies in Relation to Work Performance: A Proposed Framework," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, pages 127-136:2.
    3. Adriana GRIGORESCU & Maria-Magdalena LUPU, 2015. "Integrated Communication as Strategic Communication," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 16(4), pages 479-490, October.
    4. Cui, Yu & Khan, Sufyan Ullah & Li, Zhixue & Zhao, Minjuan, 2021. "Environmental effect, price subsidy and financial performance: Evidence from Chinese new energy enterprises," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    5. Xiaohui Wu & Yumin Li & Chong Feng, 2023. "Green innovation peer effects in common institutional ownership networks," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 641-660, March.
    6. Niamh Brennan & Doris Merkl-Davies & Annika Beelitz, 2013. "Dialogism in Corporate Social Responsibility Communications: Conceptualising Verbal Interaction Between Organisations and Their Audiences," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(4), pages 665-679, July.
    7. Jing Li & Guangquan Dai & Jinwen Tang & Ying Chen, 2020. "Conceptualizing Festival Attractiveness and Its Impact on Festival Hosting Destination Loyalty: A Mixed Method Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Woldt, Jason J. & Prasad, Sameer, 2022. "Crises in global supply chains: The role of impression management communications," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    9. Yu-Ping Wei, 2021. "The Effect of Food Safety-Related Attributes on Customer Satisfaction of Ready-to-Eat Foods at Hypermarkets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-11, September.
    10. Bauer, Jan M. & Aarestrup, Simon C. & Hansen, Pelle G. & Reisch, Lucia A., 2022. "Nudging more sustainable grocery purchases: Behavioural innovations in a supermarket setting," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    11. John Knight & Wei Wang, 2011. "China’s Macroeconomic Imbalances: Causes and Consequences," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(9), pages 1476-1506, September.
    12. Yeung, Henry Wai-chung & Liu, Weidong & Dicken, Peter, 2006. "Transnational corporations and network effects of a local manufacturing cluster in mobile telecommunications equipment in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 520-540, March.
    13. Fabricio Carlos Schmidt & Roselaine Ruviaro Zanini & André Luis Korzenowski & Reno Schmidt Junior & Karl Benchimol Xavier do Nascimento, 2018. "Evaluation of Sustainability Practices in Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Enterprises in Southern Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-11, July.
    14. Ullah, Irfan & Jebran, Khalil & Umar, Muhammad & Bin Yousaf, Umair, 2023. "Chief executive officer trustworthiness and green innovation," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    15. Pilar, Ladislav & Balcarova, Tereza & Rojik, Stanislav & Ticha, Ivana & Polakova, Jana, 2018. "Customer experience with farmers’ markets: what hashtags can reveal," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 21(6), July.
    16. Claudia Daniela Albă & Liliana Sonia Popescu, 2023. "Romanian Holiday Vouchers: A Chance to Travel for Low-Income Employees or an Instrument to Boost the Tourism Industry?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-17, January.
    17. Nihel Chabrak & Russell Craig & Nabyla Daidj, 2016. "Financialization and the Employee Suicide Crisis at France Telecom," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 501-515, December.
    18. Rizzi, Francesco & Gigliotti, Marina & Runfola, Andrea & Ferrucci, Luca, 2022. "Don't miss the boat when consumers are in-store! Exploring the use of point-of-purchase displays to promote green and non-green products," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    19. Andrew Martin Fischer, 2010. "Is China turning Latin? China's balancing act between power and dependence in the lead up to global crisis," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(6), pages 739-757.
    20. Lisa De Propris & Nigel Driffield & Stefano Menghinello, 2005. "local industrial systems and the location of FDI in Italy," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 105-121.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:6750-:d:401560. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.