Entrepreneurial service performance and technology management: A study of China and Japan

Purpose ‐ The purpose of this paper is to examine the utility of a selection instrument in predicting service and technologically oriented performance in technologically oriented businesses in mainland China and Japan. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Data was collected from 262 employees in mainland China and 236 employees in Japan pertaining to their service and technology orientations with regard to on-the-job performance in a high technology management environment. Employees completed a personality-oriented employment questionnaire that has been previously examined. Findings ‐ Each dimension predicted performance in both samples, although the structures were not consistent across the two countries. In China, the seven dimensions consist of extroversion, emotional stability, the desire to make good impressions on others, conscientiousness, life satisfaction, performance orientation, and helpfulness. In Japan, the seven dimensions consisted of extroversion, emotional stability, the desire to make good impressions on others, conscientiousness, closed mindedness, empathy, and helpfulness. Results from multiple regression analyses suggested that substantially less of the variance in service-oriented and technologically oriented performance could be explained in China than in Japan. Research limitations/implications ‐ Researchers and practitioners alike should be careful when applying surveys developed and validated in western countries because they may not measure the same constructs in China. Further, although countries in Asia share physical proximity, their cultures are so diverse that the utility of such assessments may vary substantially from one country to another. Originality/value ‐ There is a dearth of empirical research examining on-the-job performance in China. This paper, however, adds to the literature by examining high technology businesses in China and demonstrating how their internal processes may differ both from western organizations and those in other Asian cultures.