ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at gradformat@asu.edu.
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- All Subjects: employee happiness
- Creators: Shen, Wei
Description
In accordance with the Principal Agent Theory, Property Right Theory, Incentive Theory, and Human Capital Theory, firms face agency problems due to “separation of ownership and management”, which call for effective corporate governance. Ownership structure is a core element of the corporate governance. The differences in ownership structures thus may result in differential incentives in governance through the selection of senior management and in the design of senior management compensation system. This thesis investigates four firms with four different types of ownership structures: a public listed firm with the controlling interest by the state, a public listed firm with a non-state-owned controlling interest, a public listed firm a family-owned controlling interest, and a Sino-foreign joint venture firm. By using a case study approach, I focus on two dimensions of ownership structure characteristics – ownership diversification and differences in property rights so as to document whether there are systematic differences in governance participation and executive compensation design. Specifically, I focused on whether such differences are reflected in management selection (which is linked to adverse selection and moral hazard problems) and in compensation design (the choices of performance measurements, performance pay, and in stock option or restricted stock). The results are consistent with my expectation – the nature of ownership structure does affect senior management compensation design. Policy implications are discussed accordingly.
ContributorsGao, Shenghua (Author) / Pei, Ker-Wei (Thesis advisor) / Li, Feng (Committee member) / Shen, Wei (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description摘要
在复杂多变的商业环境中，企业传统的人力资源管理已经难以应对日益频发的员工职业倦怠、人际间矛盾冲突、频繁跳槽等局面与问题。企业员工工作的价值与意义早已不再是传统的雇佣模式下，通过出卖劳动力或智力从而获得工资以实现“养家糊口”的目的那么单纯与简单，员工也希望通过辛勤的工作，以获得个体的幸福感、荣誉感与认同感等。对于现代企业的管理者而言，员工追求事业的提升、个人价值的实现，不仅体现在薪酬、福利待遇的提升，更重要的是员工个人的成长以及潜能和竞争力的提升。
随着组织行为学和心理学的不断发展与演变，与员工幸福感相关的研究备受关注。对现代企业而言，管理者借助制度设计对员工幸福积极管理，可以最大限度地发挥员工的积极性、主动性与创造性，实现员工与企业之间的利益相趋同，从而更为高效地实现组织的目标。基于此，本文以民营企业员工工作幸福感作为研究的切入点，借助理论分析、问卷调查和实证分析相结合的研究方法，系统深入地研究我国民营企业员工工作幸福感的构成、可控前因和绩效后果等问题。
本文研究发现：
第一，员工薪酬的提高有助于员工工作幸福感的提升，薪资对基层员工幸福感的影响显著高于其对高层员工幸福感的影响；
第二，完善的晋升机制对于中层员工而言更能提升其幸福感，完善的晋升机制更有利于中层员工；
第三，公平性的提高有助于提高员工工作幸福感，而且这种正效应更多体现在基层员工群体之中；
第四，高层员工更注重自我价值的实现，高层员工的工作挑战性越高，其自我实现需求获得的满足感则约高，但是对于基层员工和中层员工而言，其效果则恰恰相反，基础员工和高层员工更多地将工作挑战性和压力看作是一种负面的因素；
第五，员工幸福感的确会给企业带来正向的绩效。
本文的研究框架和实证结论不仅可以丰富学术界有关员工工作幸福感的研究，而且为企业管理者进行绩效管理以及员工工作质量的提升提供理论和实证借鉴。
在复杂多变的商业环境中，企业传统的人力资源管理已经难以应对日益频发的员工职业倦怠、人际间矛盾冲突、频繁跳槽等局面与问题。企业员工工作的价值与意义早已不再是传统的雇佣模式下，通过出卖劳动力或智力从而获得工资以实现“养家糊口”的目的那么单纯与简单，员工也希望通过辛勤的工作，以获得个体的幸福感、荣誉感与认同感等。对于现代企业的管理者而言，员工追求事业的提升、个人价值的实现，不仅体现在薪酬、福利待遇的提升，更重要的是员工个人的成长以及潜能和竞争力的提升。
随着组织行为学和心理学的不断发展与演变，与员工幸福感相关的研究备受关注。对现代企业而言，管理者借助制度设计对员工幸福积极管理，可以最大限度地发挥员工的积极性、主动性与创造性，实现员工与企业之间的利益相趋同，从而更为高效地实现组织的目标。基于此，本文以民营企业员工工作幸福感作为研究的切入点，借助理论分析、问卷调查和实证分析相结合的研究方法，系统深入地研究我国民营企业员工工作幸福感的构成、可控前因和绩效后果等问题。
本文研究发现：
第一，员工薪酬的提高有助于员工工作幸福感的提升，薪资对基层员工幸福感的影响显著高于其对高层员工幸福感的影响；
第二，完善的晋升机制对于中层员工而言更能提升其幸福感，完善的晋升机制更有利于中层员工；
第三，公平性的提高有助于提高员工工作幸福感，而且这种正效应更多体现在基层员工群体之中；
第四，高层员工更注重自我价值的实现，高层员工的工作挑战性越高，其自我实现需求获得的满足感则约高，但是对于基层员工和中层员工而言，其效果则恰恰相反，基础员工和高层员工更多地将工作挑战性和压力看作是一种负面的因素；
第五，员工幸福感的确会给企业带来正向的绩效。
本文的研究框架和实证结论不仅可以丰富学术界有关员工工作幸福感的研究，而且为企业管理者进行绩效管理以及员工工作质量的提升提供理论和实证借鉴。
ContributorsShu, Man (Author) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Wu, Fei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Xin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
In this study I investigate the factors that may influence consumer preference and choice in China’s home interior decoration industry. With the fast development of information technology such as the internet in China, it becomes increasingly important to have a more precise understanding of consumer preference and choice in home interior decoration decisions so that companies in this industry can provide better services to meet customer needs. Using survey data from a sample of potential customers and a sample of existing customers of a large home interior decoration company, I find that (1) internet has become the mostly used channel by consumers to gather information about home interior decoration, (2) design style is the most influential factor in consumers’ choice of home interior decoration company, and (3) consumers are more likely to choose home interior decoration companies to provide full services when they are between 35 to 45 years old or above 55 years old, when it is the first time for them to purchase a real estate property, and when they are located in the Eastern region of China. Findings of this study can help home interior decoration companies better understand customer needs and preferences, facilitate changes in their marketing and sales strategies, and consequently strengthen their competitive advantage．
ContributorsYang, Jin (Author) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Zhang, Anmin (Committee member) / Gu, Bin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
This study investigates three issues that are relevant for the development of multinational investment banks in China. The first is about the domestic market conditions that are necessary for a country to develop multinational investment banks. The second issue is about the degree to which China has met these conditions. The last issue focuses on the potential strategies Chinese investment banks can undertake to become multinational corporations.
To address the first issue, I draw an important distinction between international investment banks and multinational investment banks. For an international investment bank to be regarded as a multinational, I propose that it must have a strong presence (i.e., holding at least one percent of the market share) in at least two of the seven major capital markets in the world. Using this criterion, I identify 25 multinational investment banks. I then analyze their home countries’ domestic market conditions and propose that the following six factors are important to the development of multinational investment banks: the size of the home country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the total capitalization of its domestic security market, the number of its Global 500 firms, the volume of its foreign direct investment (FDI), the internationalization of its currency, and the openness of its capital market to foreign investors.
By comparisons, I find that China’s domestic market conditions are comparable to the home countries of multinational investment banks with respect to the size of GDP, total market capitalization, the number of Global 500 firms, and the volume of FDI. What China lags behind are the internationalization of currency and the openness of capital market to foreign investors. Given the current trends of development, it is very likely that China will be able to catch up on the latter within ten years, thus meeting all the conditions necessary for the development of multinational investment banks.
Based on the above findings, I suggest that Chinese investment banks seize this historical opportunity, speed up the internationalization of their businesses, and learn from the experiences of global industry leaders to become truly multinational corporations.
To address the first issue, I draw an important distinction between international investment banks and multinational investment banks. For an international investment bank to be regarded as a multinational, I propose that it must have a strong presence (i.e., holding at least one percent of the market share) in at least two of the seven major capital markets in the world. Using this criterion, I identify 25 multinational investment banks. I then analyze their home countries’ domestic market conditions and propose that the following six factors are important to the development of multinational investment banks: the size of the home country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the total capitalization of its domestic security market, the number of its Global 500 firms, the volume of its foreign direct investment (FDI), the internationalization of its currency, and the openness of its capital market to foreign investors.
By comparisons, I find that China’s domestic market conditions are comparable to the home countries of multinational investment banks with respect to the size of GDP, total market capitalization, the number of Global 500 firms, and the volume of FDI. What China lags behind are the internationalization of currency and the openness of capital market to foreign investors. Given the current trends of development, it is very likely that China will be able to catch up on the latter within ten years, thus meeting all the conditions necessary for the development of multinational investment banks.
Based on the above findings, I suggest that Chinese investment banks seize this historical opportunity, speed up the internationalization of their businesses, and learn from the experiences of global industry leaders to become truly multinational corporations.
ContributorsLiu, Xin (Author) / Chang, Chun (Thesis advisor) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Hong (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
The current study combines field study, survey study, and public financial reports, and conducts an in-depths comprehensive study of the cost of the global tire industry. By comparing the price and the total cost structure of standardized tire products, we investigate Chinese tire industry’s global competitiveness, especially in light of China’s fast increasing labor cost. By constructing a comprehensive cost index (CCI), this dissertation estimates the evolution and forecasts the trend of global tire industry’s cost structure. Based on our empirical analysis, we provide various recommendations for Chinese tire manufacturers, other manufacturing industries, and foreign trade policy makers.
ContributorsZhang, Ning (Author) / Zhu, Ning (Thesis advisor) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Hong (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
In this study I investigate the organizational strategies that Chinese power generation companies may use to reduce the impact of coal price increases on their profits. Organizations are open systems in that no organization possesses all the resources that it needs and all organizations must obtain resources from their external environments in order to survive. Resource dependent theory suggests that the most important goal of an organization is to find effective mechanisms to cope with its dependence on the external environments for resources that are critical to its survival. Chinese power generation companies traditionally rely heavily on coal as their raw materials, and an increase in coal price can have a significant negative impact on their profits. To address this issue, I first provide a systematic review of the resource dependence theory and research, with a focus on the strategies such as vertical integration, diversification, and hedging that organizations can undertake to reduce their dependence on the external environment as well as their respective benefits and costs. Next, I conduct a qualitative case analysis of the primary strategies the largest Chinese power generation companies have used to reduce their dependence on coal. I then explore a new approach that Chinese power generation companies may use to cope with increases in coal price, namely, by investing in an index of coal companies in the stock market. My regression analysis shows that coal price has a strong positive relation with the price of the coal company index. This finding suggests that it is possible for firms to reduce the negative impact of raw material price increase on their profits by investing in a stock market index of the companies that supply the raw materials that they depend on.
ContributorsSun, Min (Author) / Shen, Wei (Thesis advisor) / Liu, Jun (Committee member) / Pei, Ker-Wei (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
This thesis starts with an analysis of the current situation of the pharmaceutical industry in China, and discusses the strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the pharmaceutical industry in China. It elaborates on the rationale for the development of the mergers and acquisitions of the pharmaceutical SMEs. Then a literature review is provided on the causes of corporate mergers and acquisitions such as the economies of scale, synergistic effect, transaction costs, market power, and strategic diversification.Next,the thesis analyzes the underlying rationale for the M&A transactions in the pharmaceutical industry in China, and explores the likely path of successful value creation for pharmaceutical SMEs in China. Specifically, with five in-depth case studies of M&A transactions of pharmaceutical firms, this thesis reveals the critical success factors leading to value creation and growth in the practice of mergers and acquisitions of the pharmaceutical SMEs in China.
ContributorsZhou, Yan (Author) / Pei, Ker-Wei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Hong (Committee member) / Shen, Wei (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
In this study I investigate the organizational mechanisms (pathways) through which strategic investors can help a firm improve performance. Many commercial banks in China have recently invited foreign banks as strategic investors since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), hoping to gain managerial and technological knowhow from the foreign banks. Using Shanghai Pudong Development Bank as a representative example, I conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis about how the joining of Citi Bank as a strategic investor has helped the local Chinese bank improve its financial performance. On the basis of a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, I first develop a theoretical model that describes the organizational mechanisms (pathways) through which foreign strategic investors can influence the local bank’s performance. Specifically, by participation in corporate governance, the foreign strategic investor can have a positive influence over the local bank’s strategy development, operational targets, incentive systems, and organizational culture, which consequently lead to improvements in the local banks operations and financial performance. I then use a case study method to substantiate the logic and the pathways of the model with the detailed information collected from the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Citi Bank strategic alliance. The results are consistent with the model’s descriptive validity.
ContributorsLiu, Xinyi (Author) / Pei, Ker-Wei (Thesis advisor) / Chen, Hong (Committee member) / Shen, Wei (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015