Investigating the Relationship Between Protestant Work Ethic and Confucian Dynamism: An Empirical Test in Mainland China

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the Protestant Work Ethic (PWE) and Confucian Dynamism in a sample of 1,757 respondents from several provinces in mainland China. Mirels and Garrett's (J Consult Clin Psychol 36:40-44, 1971) PWE Scale and Robertson's (Manag Int Rev 40:253-268, 2000) Confucian Dynamism Scale were used to measure the work ethics. The 16 items of the PWE Scale and eight items of the Confucian Dynamism Scale were initially subjected to a principal components analysis. Factor analysis produced four factors of the PWE, which were labeled as follows: hard work, internal motive, admiration of work itself, and negative attitude to leisure; and three factors of the Confucian Dynamism, which were labeled: long-term orientation, short-term orientation, and guanxi orientation. The results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that all the dimensions of PWE were positively related to Confucian Dynamism, but negatively to guanxi orientation. The results also indicated that three PWE dimensions (''hard work,'' ''internal motive,'' and ''admiration of work itself'') were positively and significantly related to long-term orientation, but two of them were related negatively and significantly to the short-term orientation of Confucian Dynamism. In addition, the results showed that the dimension-admiration of work itself-of PWE was significantly and negatively associated with the guanxi orientation, but significantly and positively to the short-term orientation.

Linking Protestant Work Ethic to Workplace Ostracism: The Mediating Effect of Subjective Well-Being

“…enthusiastic, active). More specifically, we can learn from Furnham (1990b) that employees with PWE are better workers and are more likely to achieve more while at work and will feel high positive emotions while at work [31] [67]. The finding of the negative relationship between PA and Workplace Ostracism is consistent with existing literature [68].…”

Positioning Work Amid Discontinuities and Continuities

“…These reforms include the demise of permanent employment and lifelong welfare systems, adoption of Western management philosophies, implementation of labor contracting and performance-reward employment relationships, privatization of the economy, and the emergence of foreign investment and joint ventures (Tsui, Schoonhoven, Meyer, Lau, & Milkovich, 2004). The new generation of Chinese professionals in coastal areas has internalized neoliberal logics of entrepreneurial self-fashioning (Ong, 2006), influenced by Protestant work ethics such as valuing individual hard work, internal locus of control, and negative attitudes about leisure (S. Zhang, Liu, & Liu, 2012). The new generation of Chinese professionals in coastal areas has internalized neoliberal logics of entrepreneurial self-fashioning (Ong, 2006), influenced by Protestant work ethics such as valuing individual hard work, internal locus of control, and negative attitudes about leisure (S. Zhang, Liu, & Liu, 2012).…”

Stakeholders’ Perspectives in Relation to the Value of Education in Rural China

“…By analyzing the roles of these principles, it can offer a cultural viewpoint to clarify reasons for parents' and grandparents' influences on student's perspective. One of the principles, that has been particularly emphasized in the traditional Confucian ethics (Zhang et al, 2012), is filial piety that can guide people to perceive the parents' and grandparents' influence on their children's perspectives. The principle of piety filial imply that younger people must be deference to older individuals, mostly within a family.…”

“…This students' inclination could be shaped by Confucian principle of filial piety that refers to love, respect and care for parents and ancestors (Luo & Zhao, 2012). It has been particularly emphasized in Chinese traditional ethics (Zhang et al, 2012). One of the principles of filial piety implies that younger people must deference to older individuals, mostly within a family.…”