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Comparative Network Research in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 April 2019

Ronald S. Burt Open the ORCID record for Ronald S. Burt [Opens in a new window]  and
Bat Batjargal
Ronald S. Burt*
Affiliation:
University of Chicago, USA
Bat Batjargal
Affiliation:
Oklahoma State University, USA
*
Corresponding author: Ronald S. Burt (ron.burt@chicagobooth.edu)
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Abstract

Using recent substantive results on China and the West, we highlight some virtues to Mill's method of residues for comparative network research. The result is research that combines the emic-etic approaches discussed by Leung (2009) with the spirit of Whetten's (2009: 49) efforts to make ‘theory borrowing more context sensitive’. We draw on recent comparative research about the competitive advantage enjoyed by network brokers, trust facilitated by embedding a relationship in a closed network, the subset of Chinese relations that constitute guanxi, the idea of American and European guanxi, different business environments maintained by the same network mechanism, cocoon networks, small-world networks, the longer history apparent in Chinese networks, and job search via colleagues, friends, and family. We also illustrate the value of data graphs for the expository value of the method of residuals in comparative network analyses.

摘要

基于新进关于中国和西方的大量结果，我们强调Mill关于比较网络研究的残差方法所具有的优点。了主位研究方法与客位研究方法。本着Whetten (2009: 49)努力让“理论更加具有情境敏感性”的精神，我们结合了梁觉（Leung, 2009）所讨论的主位-客位研究方法。我们利用了近来大量的比较研究，包括网络中间人享受的竞争优势，将关系嵌入封闭网络中而产生的信任，中国关系的子集，美国和欧洲关于关系的理念，由同样的网络机制、蚕茧式网络、小世界网络所维系的不同商务环境，中国网络中显现的较长历史，以及通过同事、朋友和家庭进行的求职。我们还说明了在比较网络分析中数据图形在解释残差方法中的价值。

Аннотация

На основании последних значительных исследований в Китае и на Западе, мы выделяем некоторые достоинства метода остатков Милля для сравнительного анализа социальных связей. В результате появилось исследование, которое сочетает эмически-этический подход, который развивал Леунг (2009), с усилиями Уеттена (2009: 49), направленными на то, чтобы сделать «применение теории более чувствительным к контексту». Мы опираемся на свежие сравнительные исследования о конкурентном преимуществе посредников в социальных отношениях; укреплении доверия за счет встраивания взаимоотношений в закрытую сеть; структуре отношений в Китае, которые составляют guanxi; понятии американского и европейского guanxi; различных условиях ведения бизнеса, которые существуют на основе одинакового механизма социальных связей; коконных сетей; социальных связей в тесном мире; долгой истории социальных отношений в Китае; а также поиске работы с помощью коллег, друзей и членов семьи. Мы также подчеркиваем особое значение графического изображения данных для визуализации метода остатков в сравнительном анализе социальных связей.

Resumen

Usando los resultados fundamentales recientes en China y Occidente, destacamos algunas virtudes del método de residuos de Mill para la investigación comparativa de redes. El resultado es una investigación que combina los enfoques de emic y etic discutidos por Leung (2009) con el espíritu de los esfuerzos de Whetten (2009: 49) para hacer que “los préstamos de teorías sean más sensibles al contexto”. Nos basamos en investigaciones comparativas recientes sobre la ventaja competitiva de los corredores de redes, confianza facilitada por la incorporación de una relación en una red cerrada, el subconjunto de relaciones chinas que constituyen guanxi, la idea de guanxi estadounidense y europeo, diferentes entornos empresariales mantenidos por el mismo mecanismo de red, redes de capullo, redes de mundo pequeño, la historia más larga que se observa en las redes chinas y la búsqueda de empleo a través de colegas, amigos y familiares. También ilustramos el valor de los gráficos de datos para el valor divulgativo del método de residuos en los análisis comparativos de redes.

Keywords

business strategyChinese managemententrepreneurshipnetwork analysisorganizational theoryprivate-owned enterprisessocial networks商务策略中国管理创业网络分析组织理论私营企业社会网络стратегия ведения бизнесакитайский менеджментпредпринимательствосетевой анализтеория организациичастные предприятиясоциальные связиestrategia de negociosgestión chinaemprendimientoanálisis de redesteoría organizacionalempresas privadasredes sociales
Type
Article
Information
Management and Organization Review , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , March 2019 , pp. 3 - 29
Copyright
Copyright © The International Association for Chinese Management Research 2019 

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Footnotes

Accepted by: Editor-in-Chief Arie Y. Lewin

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