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Title: | Contextual factors, knowledge processes and performance in global sourcing of IT services: An investigation in China |
Authors: | Du, R Ai, S Abbott, P Zheng, Y |
Keywords: | Cultural understanding;Global sourcing;Knowledge processes;Performance;Trust |
Issue Date: | 2011 |
Publisher: | IGI Global |
Citation: | Journal of Global Information Management, 19(2), 1 - 26, 2011 |
Abstract: | In this paper, the authors explore the influences of two major contextual factors—supplier team members’ cultural understanding and trust relationship—on knowledge processes and performance in global sourcing of IT services. The authors discuss a joint investigation conducted by a cross-cultural research team in China. Cultural understanding is measured by individualism with guanxi and mianzi, two Chinese cultural concepts, and trust relationship is measured by adjusting trust, a notion reflecting the uniqueness of the Chinese people. Knowledge processes are characterized by knowledge sharing. Performance is measured by the outcomes of global sourcing, which is represented by product success and personal satisfaction. Data are collected in 13 companies in Xi’an Software Park, with 200 structured questionnaires distributed to knowledge workers. The results of quantitative data analysis indicate that cultural understanding influences trust relationship greatly, as well as knowledge sharing and performance in global sourcing of IT services. Trust relationship significantly impacts knowledge sharing, whereas trust relationship and knowledge sharing have no impact on performance. This study suggests that special aspects of the Chinese context have significant direct impacts on knowledge processes while no direct and immediate impacts on performance in global sourcing of IT services. |
Description: | Copyright @ 2011, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Reuse of this article has been approved by the publisher. |
URI: | http://www.igi-global.com/gateway/article/52806 http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8096 |
DOI: | http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/jgim.2011040101 |
ISSN: | 1062-7375 |
Appears in Collections: | Publications Computer Science Dept of Computer Science Research Papers |
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