Power inequality in cross-cultural learning : the case of Japanese transplants in China
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Asia Pacific Business Review
Publication Date
4-1-2008
Volume
14
Issue
2
First Page
253
Last Page
273
Keywords
China, Cross-cultural management, Japan, Organizational learning, Power, Social construction perspective
Abstract
This article considers power inequality in the context of cross-cultural organizational learning. A qualitative study of five Japanese subsidiaries operating in the People's Republic of China revealed that the Japanese had invested considerable effort into replicating and reinforcing the corporate values, norms, policies and collective learning practices from their home country. Through control of organizational resources and through all-embracing culture transformation programmes, they had leveraged their dominant power to standardize the social construction of collective learning processes and impose these upon the local Chinese. It is noted that these programmes raise the spectre of de-culturalization, namely, removal of Chinese identity and cloning of Japanese identity, and pass opportunities to implement alternative programmes based on libertarian education philosophies that could drive a bilaterally negotiated approach to cross-cultural integration.
DOI
10.1080/13602380701314750
Print ISSN
13602381
E-ISSN
1743792X
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2008 Taylor & Francis
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Hong, J. F. L., & Snell, R. S. (2008). Power inequality in cross-cultural learning: The case of Japanese transplants in China. Asia Pacific Business Review, 14(2), 253-273. doi: 10.1080/13602380701314750