New Technologies in China. An ambivalent impact on managerial control procedures

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2. New technology in China : A specific framework

2.1Specificities of Chinese managerial practices

2.1.1 A strong Confucian heritage

2.1.2 Confucian thought and Bio power

2.2 Impact of New Technologies

2.2.1 An intensification of work

2.2.2 An increase in Stress

2.2.3 A blurred frontier between personal and professional life

2.2.4The blurring of sources of Power and Authority

2.3 Differences between China and the West while facing these impacts

2.3.1 The role of Authority

2.3.2 A very fast evolution

2.3.3 A different perception of New Technologies

3. Method

3.1 Sample method

3.2Dataset

3.2.1 population

3.2.2Groups of variables

3.3 Limits of the method

4. Results

4.1 Hypotheses testing

4.1.1 Intensification of work

4.1.2 Increase in stress

4.1.3 Work/life balance

4.1.4 Blurring of sources of Authority

4.2 Recapitulation of hypotheses

4.3 Managerial implication

4.3.1 New technologies to decrease stress

4.3.2 New technologies to increase workload

4.3.3 New technologies to decrease managerial cost

5.Conclusion

6. Appendices

6.1Questionnaire

6.2 Word cloud of “New Technologies”

7. Reference

Research Objective and Scope

This study aims to investigate the impact of new technologies on managerial control procedures within the unique professional environment of China. Specifically, it seeks to understand how modern technological adoption influences employees' working conditions, stress levels, work-life balance, and their perception of authority, while grounding these findings in the sociological concept of Biopower.

• Analysis of IT acceptance and adoption in the context of Chinese non-western cultural norms.
• Exploration of how new technologies blur the boundaries between professional and private life.
• Application of Foucault’s concept of Biopower to understand internalized control in the workplace.
• Quantitative assessment of the impact of new technologies on employee stress and work efficiency.
• Derivation of practical managerial implications for implementing new technology projects in Chinese companies.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 Introduction: Provides the background on changing working conditions and establishes the research focus on the ambivalent impact of new technologies in China.

2. New technology in China : A specific framework: Explores the intersection of Chinese managerial traditions, such as Confucianism, with the introduction of modern technology.

3. Method: Describes the quantitative research design, including the survey methodology used to collect data in Shanghai.

4. Results: Details the findings of the hypotheses testing, focusing on themes like work intensification, stress, and the blurring of authority.

5.Conclusion: Summarizes the key practical and theoretical takeaways of the study regarding IT acceptance and managerial practices in China.

6. Appendices: Contains the research materials, specifically the survey questionnaire and the keyword analysis of "New Technologies".

7. Reference: Lists the academic literature and sources consulted for this research.

Keywords

Technology acceptance, Change Management, Bio-power, control system, Culture and IT Management, work/life balance, Michel Foucault, China, Confucianism, managerial practices, employee stress, digital transformation, authority, organizational behavior, survey analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The thesis examines how the implementation of new information technologies impacts managerial control procedures, specifically focusing on employees in China and how these changes are perceived.

What are the primary thematic areas?

The study centers on technology adoption, employee stress, the blurred lines between personal and professional life, and the changing nature of organizational authority.

What is the main research question or goal?

The primary goal is to understand the ambivalent impact of new technology on individual Chinese employees and organizations, while analyzing how traditional cultural features influence this adoption.

Which scientific methods are employed?

The author uses a quantitative approach, implementing a survey among 300 Chinese workers in Shanghai, and validates the resulting model using Cronbach’s alpha and correlation coefficients.

What does the main body address?

The main body integrates a literature review on IT management and Foucault’s concept of "Bio-power" with empirical data from a survey to test six specific hypotheses regarding the impacts of technology on the workforce.

How can one describe this work using keywords?

Key terms include Technology acceptance, Change Management, Bio-power, Work-life balance, Chinese culture, and IT management.

How does the concept of "Bio-power" apply to the workplace?

The author uses Foucault’s theory to explain how control mechanisms in software (like automated tracking) lead employees to internalize supervision, making them both the object and the source of their own control.

What did the survey reveal about home-working and guilt?

The study found that female Chinese workers feel more guilt when working from home compared to their male counterparts, and that a job perceived as "interesting" generally decreases this feeling of guilt among men.

What is the managerial implication of using technology for reprimands?

The data suggests that employees who prefer digital communication are also more receptive to receiving reprimands via technological devices, which allows managers to be more efficient in their supervisory roles.