Title: Comparative work values among future managers in China and the USA

Authors: John A. Parnell, Qing Tian, Alexander Nai-Chi Chen, Ting Yu

Addresses: School of Business, University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA. ' Faculty of Management and Administration, Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macao. ' Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macao. ' School of Finance and Economics, Ling Tung University, 1 Ling Tung Road, Taichung City, Taiwan

Abstract: Work values have been identified as critical variables in the career development process. Many of the problems associated with foreign joint ventures in China over the past two decades have been concerned with employee motivation and retention. Given these concerns, it is important to examine how differences between future managers in China and the USA might be changing over the past decade. This paper considers whether or not there are significant differences in work value among management students in US and Chinese business schools. Utilising Manhardt|s work values instrument, US business students were found to be concerned more with competence and growth than Chinese business students, but no differences were found along the factors of comfort and security, and status and independence.

Keywords: work values; China; Chinese culture; US culture; Manhardt; USA; United States; comparative values; management students; business schools; competence; growth; comfort; security; status; independence.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCCM.2008.017168

International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management, 2008 Vol.1 No.2, pp.144 - 156

Published online: 17 Feb 2008 *

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