Browsing Departments by Author "Li, Xin"
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Li, Xin (Frederiksberg, 2011)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: All of the three major theories of the firm, i.e., the transaction cost theory, knowledge-based theory and the entrepreneurship theory, offer some insightful analyses of the nature of the firm. However, they all have limitations and weaknesses in answering the fundamental question of the existence of the firm. In addition, they are all partial due to their particular focus on the multifaceted phenomenon of the firm. We argue that it is necessary and sufficient to develop a comprehensive yet integrative theory of the firm that combines the three competing yet complementary logics. Toward this end, we propose an aspirational community theory of the firm (ACT) as a candidate theory by conceptualizing the firm as an aspirational community, the core of which is a group of like-minded people sharing similar or same aspiration/vision. To explain the existence of the firm, we make a distinction between contractual labor and aspirational labor, the former being defined as services provided by a laborer in fulfillment of a contract while the latter as services provided by a laborer in pursuit of an aspiration; and argue that firms exist because while the market may be effective and efficient for allocating contractual labor it is less effective and efficient than the firms for allocating aspirational labor. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/8382 Files in this item: 1
Xin Li_INT working paper wp2-2011-xl.pdf (433.7Kb) -
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Abstract: This paper describes the current state of the management academia as a naked carnival, namely, most of the management researches have no such a clothes called practical relevance. It is intended to provide an explanation why management research has become irrelevant to the real management practice. It argues there are three factors behind the irrelevance problem: first, the ‘scientific model’ of management studies generates an initial and internal force which pushes the management research away from practice management studies supposed to serve; second, paradigm maintenance effort of the mainstream management scholars prevents the irrelevant management academia moving back towards management practice; third, the surrounding environment provides the management academia anything but a strong counter force to change the irrelevance reality. This paper also argues any solutions under the ‘scientific model’ are doomed to failure; and the only way out is to completely abandon the ‘scientific model’ and adopt a ‘professional model’ of management studies. Unfortunately, this paper argues such a radical change from within is highly unlikely to happen. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7826 Files in this item: 1
wp1-2009-xl.pdf (264.4Kb) -
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Abstract: This paper is intended to propose a relationship-based theory of the firm (R’BT), an alternative to the transaction cost theory. The R’BT takes relationship disharmony (rather than transaction costs) as its basic unit of analysis of the nature of the firm, and argues relationship disharmony derives from conflict of interests, a problem faced by any human organizations; to reduce the conflict of interests, the best way is to harmonize relationships by mutually accommodating or internalizing the other party’s interests into its own consideration; the degree of harmony or disharmony in the relationships will in turn determine the performance of the organization in question. This paper provides a completely different explanation from the transaction cost economics when addressing issues such like the existence, boundary and internal organization of the firm. Also discussed are its implications for organizational management and economy. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7828 Files in this item: 1
wp3-2009-xl.pdf (160.1Kb) -
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Abstract: This paper presents a critique of Freek Vermeulen’s synthesis of rigor and relevance in management research, and argues (1) at the first glance, Vermeulen’s papers are very appealing; (2) but with a closer scrutiny, we can unveil the weak and shaky foundations of his argument; (3) as a consequence, his solution of ‘adding a second loop’ to make management research meet dual needs of rigor and relevance is illusory and merely an applied science fiction; (4) and finally, there are two real contributions of his papers to the irrelevance debate, but they are not like what we might have thought. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7827 Files in this item: 1
wp2-2009-xl.pdf (223.8Kb) -
An application to ChinaLi, Xin (Frederiksberg, 2011)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: The starting point of this PhD research is two observations. The first is that people often tend to discuss a country’s national competitiveness in a general tone, i.e., judging a country to be either competitive or uncompetitive, rather than making more balanced assessment, and therefore their opinions often contradict each other. The second observation is that there are many competing international reports that rank a large number of countries in terms of their national competitiveness. These reports often provide different rankings for a given country (e.g., China), and therefore the readers of these reports are often left with a confusing picture. The first observation reflects the reality that there has been a lack of commonly accepted definition of national competitiveness. The second reflects the methodological problems of the indexing-and-ranking methods commonly used by international competitiveness reports... URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/8357 Files in this item: 1
Xin_Li.pdf (5.486Mb) -
A Relationship-based ApproachLi, Xin (Frederiksberg, 2011)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: This paper argues that the existing four major theories of the firm, i.e., the transaction cost theory, resource-based view, the entrepreneurial theory, and the stakeholder theory, are all insightful yet partial because each of them has a particular focus on the phenomenon of the firm. To better understand the nature and behaviors of the firm, we need a comprehensive yet integrative theory. Toward this end, this paper proposes a relationship-based theory of the firm (R’BT) which claims that it is the relationships between the entrepreneur and other individuals or firms that determine the existence, boundary, internal organization and competitive advantage of the firm. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/8361 Files in this item: 1
Xin_Li_INT_2011.pdf (275.3Kb)
Now showing items 1-6 of 6