published_or_final_version / Geography and Geology / Master / Master of Philosophy

This thesis examines the identities and the narratives of Overseas Chinese. Through discussing their history, I explore how the overseas Chinese came to imagine themselves as a community called 'Chinese Diaspora', which is ostensibly held together by the imagination of a 'homeland' in a faraway place in the distant past. By examining autobiographical texts, I discuss how the 'Chineseness' they maintained throughout the migration is founded upon such a virtual reality, and how this in turn is experienced by the individuals. Taking the narratives as something that both reflect and construct their identities, I explore the conundrum women in diaspora face in representing their own experiences of the community on the basis of Maxine Hong Kingston's memoir. Chinese women of diaspora have particular difficulties in claiming their individuality through narrations, especially because the community that sustains the 'traditional' Chineseness is rapidly transforming.

No description available.

Han, Le. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-123). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Themes of Being Chinese in Documentary Texts --- p.41 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- The Construction of Home and Nation in Transnational Settings --- p.69 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Constructing an Imagined Global Chinese Community --- p.82 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Concluding Remarks --- p.101 / References --- p.121

Hang, Zheng. / Thesis submitted in: October 2007. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-131). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.2 / CHINESE ABSTRACT --- p.3 / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.4 / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.6 / LIST OF TABLES --- p.8 / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.9 / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1 --- Research Objectives --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2 --- China as the Strategic Research Site --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization of this Thesis --- p.15 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1 --- Classic Strategic Categories --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Generic Competitive Strategies --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Growth Vector --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Summary --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Disruptive Innovation Strategy --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Blue Ocean Strategy --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Disruptive Innovation --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Low-end encroachment --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Summary --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3 --- Diversification Strategy --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4 --- Developing Country Multinationals --- p.35 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Latecomers' Strategy --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- The Bottom of the Pyramid --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Market Structure in Developing Countries --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Country of Origin Effect --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Summary --- p.42 / Chapter 2.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.43 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND HYPOTHESES --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1 --- Theoretical Framework --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- Hypotheses and Proposition --- p.49 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.55 / Chapter 4.1 --- Quantitative Methods --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2 --- Qualitative Methods --- p.62 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- RESULTS --- p.64 / Chapter 5.1 --- Quantitative Results --- p.64 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Descriptive Statistics --- p.64 / Chapter 5.1.2. --- Tests of Hypotheses --- p.68 / Chapter 5.2 --- Qualitative Results --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Haier Group --- p.73 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Galanz --- p.79 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Geely --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Huawei --- p.89 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION --- p.95 / Chapter 6.1 --- Discussion --- p.95 / Chapter 6.2 --- Implications --- p.103 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Implication for Theory --- p.103 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Implication for Research --- p.105 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Implication for Practice --- p.106 / Chapter 6.3 --- Limitations and Future Research --- p.118 / Chapter 6.4 --- Conclusion --- p.120 / REFERENCE --- p.122 / APPENDIX 1. LIST OF IDENTIFIED 60 COMPANIES --- p.132 / APPENDIX 2. STRATEGIES RATING SHEET --- p.134 / APPENDIX 3. COMPANY CODE --- p.155 / APPENDIX 4. STRATEGY RATINGS OF SAMPLE COMPANIES --- p.156

published_or_final_version / abstract / Architecture / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The purpose of this study was to examine Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress and coping theory in the context of workplace stress and coping with a focus on the influence of personal and cultural resources on cognitive appraisal, coping strategies, and the well-being of Chinese who are currently employed in professional occupations overseas. The data were collected from a volunteer sample of 228 overseas Chinese professionals (128 men, 100 women, M age = 32.6). Participants completed three sets of questionnaires over a six-week period (2 weeks apart). Specific variables of interest included cultural, social, and personal resources (Chinese collective values, perceived social support and work support, and general self-efficacy), situational appraisals (perceived situational control and self-efficacy), ways of coping (Engagement, Disengagement, and Collective strategies), and changes in short-term outcomes (job satisfaction, somatic symptoms, and depression symptoms). Items that assessed collective ways of coping were developed for this study. Significant differences were found between men and women in this sample. As such, path analysis (LISREL VIII) was used to test the hypothesized relationships in the model separately for men and women. Based on a zero-order correlation matrix, the results for the initial hypothesized path models indicated a moderate fitting model for men and an inadequate fitting model for women. However, modified models revealed a good model fit for both men and women, X 2 (29, N=128)=32.72, p=.29, Q=1.13, RMSR=.05, GFI=.96, and CFI=. 98, and X 2 (29, N=100)=44.10, p=.04, Q=1.52, GFI=.93, RMSR-.07, and CFI=.92, respectively. The pattern of relationships (path coefficients) provide partial supports for the hypothesized model and Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) theoretical assumptions. The results of this study were consistent with those obtained by other researchers who found that coping resources are associated with coping strategies and short-term outcomes (e.g., Long, Kahn, & Schutz, 1992; Terry, Tonge, & Callan, 1995). For the men, personal resources of General Self-efficacy were positively related to control appraisal, Work Support predicted Collective coping, and Social Support was associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms. As expected, Disengagement coping was found to have a significant effect on depressive symptoms for the men. For the women, General Self-efficacy and Social Support were associated with perceived self-efficacy, and predicted an increase in job satisfaction and a decrease in depressive symptoms. Self-efficacy appraisal had negative effects on Disengagement coping. As hypothesized, Engagement coping was negatively associated with changes in somatic symptoms, and Disengagement coping predicted changes in both somatic and depressive symptoms. The results Of factor analysis supported the development of a Collective coping subscale. Implications of these results and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress and coping theory in the context of workplace stress and coping with a focus on the influence of personal and cultural resources on cognitive appraisal, coping strategies, and the well-being of Chinese who are currently employed in professional occupations overseas. The data were collected from a volunteer sample of 228 overseas Chinese professionals (128 men, 100 women, M age = 32.6). Participants completed three sets of questionnaires over a six-week period (2 weeks apart). Specific variables of interest included cultural, social, and personal resources (Chinese collective values, perceived social support and work support, and general self-efficacy), situational appraisals (perceived situational control and self-efficacy), ways of coping (Engagement, Disengagement, and Collective strategies), and changes in short-term outcomes (job satisfaction, somatic symptoms, and depression symptoms). Items that assessed collective ways of coping were developed for this study. Significant differences were found between men and women in this sample. As such, path analysis (LISREL VIII) was used to test the hypothesized relationships in the model separately for men and women. Based on a zero-order correlation matrix, the results for the initial hypothesized path models indicated a moderate fitting model for men and an inadequate fitting model for women. However, modified models revealed a good model fit for both men and women, X 2 (29, N=128)=32.72, p=.29, Q=1.13, RMSR=.05, GFI=.96, and CFI=. 98, and X 2 (29, N=100)=44.10, p=.04, Q=1.52, GFI=.93, RMSR-.07, and CFI=.92, respectively. The pattern of relationships (path coefficients) provide partial supports for the hypothesized model and Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) theoretical assumptions. The results of this study were consistent with those obtained by other researchers who found that coping resources are associated with coping strategies and short-term outcomes (e.g., Long, Kahn, & Schutz, 1992; Terry, Tonge, & Callan, 1995). For the men, personal resources of General Self-efficacy were positively related to control appraisal, Work Support predicted Collective coping, and Social Support was associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms. As expected, Disengagement coping was found to have a significant effect on depressive symptoms for the men. For the women, General Self-efficacy and Social Support were associated with perceived self-efficacy, and predicted an increase in job satisfaction and a decrease in depressive symptoms. Self-efficacy appraisal had negative effects on Disengagement coping. As hypothesized, Engagement coping was negatively associated with changes in somatic symptoms, and Disengagement coping predicted changes in both somatic and depressive symptoms. The results Of factor analysis supported the development of a Collective coping subscale. Implications of these results and suggestions for future research are discussed. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

by Ngan Nga Wing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 220-236). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgments --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Tables --- p.xi / List of Figures --- p.xiii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiv / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Background --- p.1 / Context of the Study --- p.2 / Ethnic Chinese and Their Business --- p.2 / Ethnic Chinese and Homeward Investment --- p.4 / Guanxi and the Contemporary Socialist China --- p.5 / The Notion of Guanxi and Instrumental Relationships --- p.7 / Area of Study --- p.10 / Physical Environment of Fuj ian Province --- p.10 / Economic Development Since 1949 --- p.10 / "Reasons of Selecting Jinjiang, Fujian " --- p.11 / Objectives of the Study --- p.12 / A Brief of the Thesis --- p.13 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES --- p.14 / Introduction --- p.14 / Research Designs And Methods --- p.15 / Choice of the Method-Qualitative Method --- p.15 / Data Collection From Human Resources --- p.20 / Purposive and Emergent Sampling --- p.21 / Data Collection in the Field --- p.22 / In-depth Interviews --- p.23 / Group Interviews --- p.26 / Participant Observation --- p.28 / Secondary Data in the Field --- p.29 / Some Critical Reflection in the Field --- p.30 / Data Collection From Non-human Resources --- p.32 / Inductive Data Analysis --- p.33 / Categorization --- p.33 / Triangulation --- p.34 / Network Analysis --- p.35 / Case Reporting --- p.36 / Tape Recording --- p.37 / Verbatim --- p.38 / Narrative --- p.38 / Validity And The Issue Of Subjectivity --- p.39 / Summary --- p.41 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- ETHNIC CHINESE AND THEIR BUSINESS CULTURE --- p.42 / Introduction --- p.42 / Economic Success of Ethnic Chinese --- p.43 / Hostile Business Environments --- p.45 / Political Environment --- p.45 / Restriction of the Scope of Economic Activities --- p.47 / Restriction on Capital Participation of Ethnic Chinese --- p.49 / Restriction of Governing Labour by Ethnic Chinese --- p.50 / Other Discriminatory Treatment Against Ethnic Chinese --- p.51 / Chinese Culture And Capitalism --- p.53 / Confucian Value System --- p.55 / Confucianism and Ethnic Chinese Entrepreneurs --- p.57 / Ethnic Chinese Business Culture --- p.59 / The Concept of Family --- p.59 / Family and Ethnic Chinese Business --- p.60 / Characteristics of Family-oriented Firms --- p.61 / Kin Groups and Association --- p.64 / Types of Kin's Groups and Association --- p.64 / Functions of the Kin's Groups and Associations --- p.66 / "Networks, Trust and Guanxi " --- p.68 / The Cultural Trait of Networks Among Ethnic Chinese --- p.68 / Trust --- p.70 / Guanxi --- p.72 / Ethnic Chinese Homeward Investment --- p.76 / Spatial Hurdles in Homeward Investment --- p.77 / Weak Legal Framework --- p.77 / Poor Quality of Bureaucrats --- p.79 / The Prevalence of Guanxi --- p.80 / How Do Ethnic Chinese Do to Overcome the Problems? --- p.81 / Summary --- p.84 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- NETWORKS AND ETHNIC FUJIANESE ENTREPRENEURS --- p.85 / Introduction --- p.85 / Networks and Investment --- p.86 / Types Of Networks --- p.88 / The Nature of Networks --- p.89 / Extra-firm Networks --- p.89 / Intra-firm Networks --- p.93 / Entrepreneurship --- p.96 / Inter-firm Networks --- p.97 / Kinship --- p.97 / Friendship --- p.99 / Friendship is More Important than Kinship --- p.101 / Motivations of Cultivating Networks --- p.104 / Extra-firm Networks --- p.104 / Weak Legal Framework --- p.105 / Flimsy Bureaucratic System --- p.107 / Greater Autonomy of Local Authority --- p.107 / Intra-firm Networks and Inter-firm Networks --- p.110 / Ancestral Ties and Emotional Linkages --- p.110 / Personal Trust and Reciprocal Obligation --- p.112 / Cultural Affinity --- p.113 / Complex Sentiment --- p.114 / Mechanisms of Network Building --- p.115 / Extra-firm Networks --- p.115 / Power rather than Monetary Relationships --- p.115 / Proprietary Rights --- p.116 / Social and Political Legitimacy --- p.117 / Intra-firm Networks --- p.118 / Utilitarianistic Familism --- p.118 / Entrepreneurial Familism --- p.121 / Inter-firm Networks --- p.122 / Blood Relationship of Kinship --- p.123 / The Role of Intermediary --- p.124 / Reciprocity and Obligations of Friends --- p.126 / Benefits of Building Networks --- p.127 / Extra-firm Networks --- p.127 / Access to Profit --- p.129 / Access to Protection --- p.130 / Intra-firm Networks --- p.132 / Reliable Management --- p.133 / Fast Decision Making --- p.134 / Personal Achievement --- p.134 / Inter-firm Networks --- p.136 / Obtaining Information --- p.136 / Minimizing Risk --- p.137 / Mutual Exchange --- p.138 / Summary --- p.139 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- ENTREPRENEURS AND GUANXI --- p.141 / Introduction --- p.141 / Dimensions of Personal Relations --- p.142 / Rural Vs Urban --- p.142 / Sentimental Relations Vs Instrumental Relationship --- p.145 / Guanxi Mentality Vs Economic Mentality --- p.147 / Reciprocity (Bao) Vs Corruption/Bribery --- p.148 / Elements of Guanxi Management --- p.150 / Sameness --- p.151 / Familiarity --- p.152 / Trust --- p.154 / Social Obligation and Reciprocity --- p.155 / The Tactics of Cultivating Guanxi --- p.157 / Gift-giving --- p.157 / Money-giving --- p.161 / Banquets --- p.163 / Achieved Familiarity by an Intermediary --- p.165 / Employment and Partnership --- p.167 / Entrepreneurs Need Certain Technical Skill --- p.172 / Awareness of Guanxi --- p.172 / Understand the Guanxi Cultivating Process --- p.173 / Impacts of Guanxi --- p.174 / "Ability to Identify, Design and Implement Guanxi Cultivation " --- p.175 / Knowledge of Management Techniques --- p.177 / Attitudes and Performance of Entrepreneurs in Guanxi Cultivating --- p.179 / Proactive --- p.179 / Reactive --- p.182 / Resistive --- p.185 / Characteristics of Firms With Successful Strategies --- p.189 / Strong Entrepreneurship --- p.189 / Strong Personal Networks --- p.191 / Good Family Networks --- p.193 / Local Professionals --- p.194 / Strong Financial Back Up --- p.195 / Summary --- p.198 / Chapter CHAPTER SIX --- CONCLUSION AND REFLECTIONS --- p.200 / Homeward Investment by Ethnic Fujianese in Fujian: Summary of Finding --- p.200 / Reflections --- p.203 / Reflections from Informant Entrepreneurs --- p.203 / Personal Reflections --- p.209 / Contribution of the Study --- p.210 / Direction for Future Study --- p.211 / Appendix I In-depth Interviews with Ethnic Fujianese Entrepreneurs --- p.213 / Appendix II In-depth Interviews with Government Officials --- p.215 / Glossary --- p.216 / Bibliography --- p.220