Application of Confucianism in Human Resource Management for State-own Enterprises in China

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the characteristics of Confucianism leadership and its influence on employee behavior in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in China; 2) to investigate the organizational culture’s influence on employee behavior in SOEs; and 3) to analyze the impact of employee behavior on job performance within SOEs. In this study utilized mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative), data were collected using a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 385 employees from multiple state-owned enterprises across China. A non-probability sampling method was used to select respondents, targeting those with relevant experience in SOEs. The questionnaire was carefully designed to ensure reliability and validity in measuring key variables such as Confucian leadership qualities (Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, and Xin), organizational culture, employee behavior, job satisfaction, and promotion. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha which is all more than 0.7, and content validity was ensured through expert reviews. The researcher also find that all the hypotheses are significant due to the p value less than 5 percentage. The results of this study showed that: 1) Confucianism leadership significantly influences employee behavior through the promotion of virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. Confucianism fosters an environment of ethical behavior and harmony within the organization. 2) Organizational culture plays a key role in reinforcing positive behaviors, emphasizing respect, collaboration, and integrity, which contribute to job satisfaction and higher organizational performance. 3) Employee behavior, shaped by leadership and organizational culture, has a direct impact on promotion opportunities and job satisfaction within SOEs.