Roy Y.J. Chua
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Roy Chua is an Assistant Professor in the Organizational Behavior unit at the Harvard Business School. He teaches the first-year Leadership and Organizational Behavior (LEAD) course in the MBA program. Professor Chua's research draws on human psychology in an effort to understand important social processes in business organizations. In his primary stream of research, he studies how multicultural interactions in a globalized workplace influence creativity and innovation. Does multiculturalism at the workplace facilitate or inhibit creative performance? What are the key determinants and how can managers better harness a multicultural workforce for greater creative breakthroughs? Professor Chua also has a keen interest in understanding Chinese organizational behavior and management processes and more specifically social networking dynamics in China. He has published or has articles forthcoming in leading periodicals such as the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, and Research in Organizational Behavior. A native of Singapore, Professor Chua received a BSc with First Class Honors in Computer and Information Sciences from the National University of Singapore and a PhD in Management, focusing on Organizational Behavior, from Columbia Business School. Prior to his academic career, he was a Management Associate at PSA Corporation, working on strategic human resources issues such as talent development, recruitment, compensation, and training.
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Article
| Academy of Management Journal
| Forthcoming
The Costs of Ambient Cultural Disharmony: Indirect Intercultural Conflicts in Social Environment Undermine Creativity
Roy Y.J. Chua
Intercultural tensions and conflicts are inevitable in the global workplace. This paper introduces the concept of ambient cultural disharmony—indirect experience of intercultural tensions and conflicts in individuals' immediate social environment—and demonstrates how it undermines creative thinking in tasks that draw on knowledge from multiple cultures. Three studies (a network survey and two experiments) found that ambient cultural disharmony decreased individuals' effectiveness at connecting ideas from disparate cultures. Beliefs that ideas from different cultures are incompatible mediated the relationship between ambient cultural disharmony and creativity. Alternative mechanisms such as negative affect and cognitive disruption were not viable mediators. Although ambient cultural disharmony disrupted creativity, ambient cultural harmony did not promote creativity. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for research in workplace diversity and creativity.
Keywords: creativity;
culture;
Creativity;
Culture;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J. "The Costs of Ambient Cultural Disharmony: Indirect Intercultural Conflicts in Social Environment Undermine Creativity." Academy of Management Journal (forthcoming).
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Article
| MIT Sloan Management Review
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Building Effective Business Relationships in China
Roy Y.J. Chua
Keywords: China;
China;
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Journal Article
| Journal of Organizational Behavior
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Finding the Right Mix: How the Composition of Self-managing Multicultural Teams' Cultural Value Orientation Influences Performance Over Time
Chi-Ying Cheng, Roy Y.J. Chua, Michael W. Morris and Leonard Lee
This research investigates a new type of team that is becoming prevalent in global work settings, namely, self-managing multicultural teams. We argue that challenges that arise from cultural diversity in teams are exacerbated when teams are leaderless, undermining performance. A longitudinal study of multicultural MBA study teams found that in the early stage of team formation, teams with a low average level of, but moderate degree of variance in, uncertainty avoidance performed best. Four months post formation, however, teams with a high average level of relationship orientation performed better than teams with a low average level of relationship orientation. Furthermore, a moderate degree of variance in relationship orientation among team members produced better team performance than a low or high degree of variance. These findings suggest that different cultural value orientations exert different patterns of effects on the performance of self-managing multicultural teams, depending on the stage of team formation. Implications for the composition of self-managing multicultural teams and its influence on team processes and performance are discussed.
Keywords: Management Practices and Processes;
Performance;
Problems and Challenges;
Groups and Teams;
Risk and Uncertainty;
Culture;
Value;
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Article
| Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
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Collaborating Across Cultures: Cultural Metacognition and Affect-Based Trust in Creative Collaboration
Roy Y.J. Chua, Michael W. Morris and Shira Mor
We propose that managers' awareness of their own and others' cultural assumptions (cultural metacognition) enables them to develop affect-based trust in their relationships with people from different cultures, enabling creative collaboration. Study 1, a multi-rater assessment of managerial performance, found that managers higher in metacognitive cultural intelligence (CQ) were rated as more effective in intercultural creative collaboration by managers from other cultures. Study 2, a social network survey, found that managers lower in metacognitive CQ engaged in less sharing of new ideas in their intercultural ties but not intracultural ties. Study 3 required participants to work collaboratively with a non-acquaintance from another culture and found that higher metacognitive CQ engendered greater idea sharing and creative performance, so long as they were allowed a personal conversation prior to the task. The effects of metacognitive CQ in enhancing creative collaboration were mediated by affect-based trust in Studies 2 and 3.
Keywords: Management;
Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues;
Relationships;
Trust;
Social and Collaborative Networks;
Creativity;
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Article
| Leadership Quarterly
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Perceiving Freedom Givers: Effects of Granting Decision Latitude on Personality and Leadership Perceptions
Roy Y.J. Chua and Sheena Iyengar
A perennial question facing managers is how much decision latitude to give their employees at work. The current research investigates how decision latitude affects employees' perceptions of managers' personalities and, in turn, their leadership effectiveness. Results from three studies using different methods (two experiments and a survey) indicate an inverted-U shaped relationship between degree of decision latitude and leadership effectiveness perceptions. The increase in leadership effectiveness perception between low and moderate decision latitude was explained by an increase in perceived agreeableness; the decrease in leadership effectiveness perception between moderate and high decision latitude was explained by a decrease in perceived conscientiousness. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Keywords: Decisions;
Leadership;
Perception;
Employees;
Performance Effectiveness;
Personal Characteristics;
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Article
| Journal of International Business Studies
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Effects of Cultural Ethnicity, Firm Size, and Firm Age on Senior Executives' Trust in Their Overseas Business Partners: Evidence from China
Crystal Jiang, Roy Y.J. Chua, Masaaki Kotabe and Janet Murray
We investigate trust relationships between senior business executives and their overseas partners. Drawing on the similarity-attraction paradigm, social-categorization theory, and the distinction between cognition- and affect-based trust, we argue that executives trust their overseas partners differently depending on the partners' cultural ethnicity. In a field survey of 108 Chinese senior executives, we found that these executives have higher affect-based trust in overseas partners of the same cultural ethnicity as themselves; cognition-based trust is associated with affect-based trust differently when overseas partners are of the same or different cultural ethnicity. We also examine the role of relative firm size and age in shaping intra- and inter-cultural trust. Relative firm size has a stronger negative effect on executives' cognition-based trust if their partners were of a different cultural ethnicity. Although firm age does not have a negative effect on executives' affect-based trust as hypothesized, we found firm age to be positively associated with affect-based trust for partners of the same cultural ethnicity. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of this pattern of inter- and intra-cultural trust on international business and networking (guanxi) dynamics in China.
Keywords: Trust;
Networks;
Partners and Partnerships;
Management Teams;
Globalized Firms and Management;
Cognition and Thinking;
Ethnicity Characteristics;
Culture;
Size;
Business Growth and Maturation;
China;
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Article
| Journal of Creative Behavior
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Embeddedness and New Idea Discussion in Professional Networks: The Mediating Role of Affect-Based Trust
Roy Y.J. Chua, M.W. Morris and P. Ingram
This article examines how managers' tendency to discuss new ideas with others in their professional networks depends on the density of shared ties surrounding a given relationship. Consistent with prior research which found that embeddedness enhances information flow, an egocentric network survey of mid-level executives shows that managers tend to discuss new ideas with those who are densely embedded in their professional networks. More specifically, embeddedness increases the likelihood to discuss new ideas by engendering affect-based trust, as opposed to cognition-based trust. Implications for network and creativity research are discussed.
Keywords: Information;
Networks;
Trust;
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Journal Article
| Journal of International Business Studies
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Guanxi versus Networking: Distinctive Configurations of Affect- and Cognition-based Trust in the Networks of Chinese and American Managers
Roy Y.J. Chua, M.W. Morris and P. Ingram
This research investigates hypotheses about differences between Chinese and American managers in the configuration of trusting relationships within their professional networks. Consistent with hypotheses about Chinese familial collectivism, an egocentric network survey found that affect- and cognition-based trust were more intertwined for Chinese than for American managers. In addition, the effect of economic exchange on affect-based trust was more positive for Chinese than for Americans, whereas the effect of friendship was more positive for Americans than for Chinese. Finally, the extent to which a given relationship was highly embedded in ties to third parties increased cognition-based trust for Chinese but not for Americans. Implications for cultural research and international business practices are discussed.
Keywords: Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues;
Managerial Roles;
Relationships;
Cognition and Thinking;
Emotions;
Social and Collaborative Networks;
Trust;
China;
United States;
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Article
| Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings
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Compelled to Help: Effects of Direct and Indirect Exchange on Perceived Obligation in Professional Networks
Roy Y.J. Chua, Billian Sullivan and Michael W. Morris
This research examines felt obligation to help others in employees' and managers' professional networks using a social exchange perspective. We hypothesize that obligation toward others would follow the norms of both direct and indirect reciprocity. Direct reciprocity predicts that obligation toward network members increases to the extent that one receives resources directly from others. In the case of socio-emotional resources, such as friendship and mentorship, this obligation is mediated by affective closeness. Indirect reciprocity predicts that obligation is felt toward others simply as a function of their inclusion in one's network, implying that obligation increases with the others' degree of embeddedness in the network. Results from two network surveys supported these hypotheses.
Keywords: Perspective;
Conflict of Interests;
Research;
Surveys;
Networks;
Forecasting and Prediction;
Social Issues;
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Article
| Academy of Management Journal
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From the Head and the Heart: Locating Cognition- and Affect-based Trust in Managers' Professional Networks
Roy Y.J. Chua, P. Ingram and M. Morris
Keywords: Cognition and Thinking;
Trust;
Management;
Networks;
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Article
| Journal of Creative Behavior
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Creativity As a Matter of Choice: Prior Experience and Task Instruction As Boundary Conditions for the Positive Effect of Choice on Creativity
Roy Y.J. Chua and S. Iyengar
Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions;
Creativity;
Information;
Outcome or Result;
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Article
| Management and Organization Review
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Do I Contribute More When I Trust More?: Differential Effects of Cognition- and Affect-based Trust
K. Y. Ng and Roy Y.J. Chua
Keywords: Trust;
Cognition and Thinking;
Outcome or Result;
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Article
| Research in Organizational Behavior
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Empowerment through Choice? A Critical Analysis of the Effects of Choice in Organizations
Roy Y.J. Chua and S Iyengar
Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions;
Theory;
Organizations;
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Chapter
| Negotiation Excellence: Successful Deal Making
| 2011
Building Intercultural Trust at the Negotiating Table
Sujin Jang and Roy Y.J. Chua
This chapter examines the challenges of intercultural negotiation with a focus on the critical role of trust. Building trust is crucial for successful negotiations between cultures, yet intercultural negotiations are often characterized by a lack of trust. We discuss what trust is, why it matters, and why it is so difficult to establish in intercultural negotiations. We then offer guidelines for building trust in intercultural negotiations with an emphasis on cultural intelligence-the capacity to adapt effectively across cultures.
Keywords: Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues;
Negotiation;
Trust;
Adaptation;
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Chapter
| National Culture and Groups
| 2006
Dynamics of Trust in Guanxi Networks
Roy Y.J. Chua and M. Morris
Keywords: Trust;
Social and Collaborative Networks;
Family and Family Relationships;
China;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., and M. Morris. " Dynamics of Trust in Guanxi Networks." In National Culture and Groups. Vol. 9, edited by Ya-Ru Chen. Research on Managing Groups and Teams. JAI Press, 2006.
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Chapter
| Cultural Intelligence: Individual Unteractions across Cultures
| 2003
Training and Developing Cultural Intelligence
J. S. Tan and Roy Y.J. Chua
Keywords: Culture;
Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues;
Training;
Learning;
Citation: Tan, J. S., and Roy Y.J. Chua. "Training and Developing Cultural Intelligence." In Cultural Intelligence: Individual Unteractions across Cultures, edited by P. C. Earley, and S. Ang. CA: Stanford University Press, 2003.
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Teaching Note
| HBS Case Collection
|
2012
(Revised from original 2011 version)
CDG: Managing in Chinas Economic Transformation (TN)
Roy Y.J. Chua and Sharon Mozgai
Keywords: Economy;
Transformation;
China;
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Case
| HBS Case Collection
|
2010
(Revised from original 2009 version)
Managing Creativity at Shanghai Tang
Roy Y.J. Chua and Robert G. Eccles
Shanghai Tang is a luxury brand that focuses on Chinese-inspired fashion, accessories, and home decoration products. In fall 2008, amidst a growing global economic crisis, Raphael Ie Masne, executive chairman of Shanghai Tang, had to decide what to do with the recently vacant creative director position. Did Shanghai Tang need to hire a new creative director at this uncertain economic time? Or could he take on the role of the creative director himself? In addition, Ie Masne had to grapple with balancing the perennial tensions between business imperatives and the creative aspirations of his designers. How could he better manage employees who see themselves as artists?
Keywords: Talent and Talent Management;
Financial Crisis;
Employee Relationship Management;
Selection and Staffing;
Creativity;
Apparel and Accessories Industry;
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Case
| HBS Case Collection
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2010
CDG: Managing in China's Economic Transformation
Roy Y.J. Chua, Shaohui Chen and Lisa Kwan
China Data Group (CDG) is a leading business processes outsourcing company based in Beijing, China. Roc Yang, chairman of CDG, had to confront a dilemma when he discovered that one of his senior managers gave a gift to a potential client in an effort to win a large business deal. Although this practice was pervasive in the China business context characterized by heavy reliance on personal relationships or guanxi, it went against the founding principles of CDG—professionalism and service quality. Yang had to decide where to draw the line between adherence to principles of professionalism and local norms in a country caught in the midst of rapid economic transformation.
Keywords: Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues;
Management Practices and Processes;
Emerging Markets;
Negotiation Deal;
Relationships;
Networks;
Societal Protocols;
China;
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Teaching Note
| HBS Case Collection
|
2010
Managing Creativity at Shanghai Tang (TN)
Roy Y.J. Chua and Lisa Kwan
Teaching Note for 410018.
Keywords: Creativity;
Brands and Branding;
Financial Crisis;
Selection and Staffing;
Leadership;
Luxury;
Arts;
Fashion Industry;
Apparel and Accessories Industry;
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Conference Presentation
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01
Jan
2010
With my Head or with my Heart? A Study of How Chinese Executives Trust Overseas Chinese and Non-Chinese Business Partners
C. Jiang and Roy Y.J. Chua
Keywords: Trust;
Partners and Partnerships;
China;
Citation: Jiang, C., and Roy Y.J. Chua. "With my Head or with my Heart? A Study of How Chinese Executives Trust Overseas Chinese and Non-Chinese Business Partners." Paper presented at the Workshop on Trust Within and Between Organizations, Madrid, Spain, January 01, 2010.
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Conference Presentation
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7
Aug
2009
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11
Aug
2009
Compelled to Help:Effects of Direct and Indirect Exchange on Perceived Obligation in Professional Networks
Roy Y.J. Chua, Bilian Sullivan and Michael W. Morris
Keywords: Networks;
Perception;
Communication;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., Bilian Sullivan, and Michael W. Morris. "Compelled to Help:Effects of Direct and Indirect Exchange on Perceived Obligation in Professional Networks." Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, August 07–11, 2009.
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Conference Presentation
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8
Aug
2008
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13
Aug
2008
Cultural Intelligence, Trust and the Sharing of New Ideas in Multicultural Networks
Roy Y.J. Chua and M. W. Morris
Keywords: Networks;
Trust;
Knowledge Sharing;
Demographics;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., and M. W. Morris. "Cultural Intelligence, Trust and the Sharing of New Ideas in Multicultural Networks." Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA, August 08–13, 2008.
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Lecture
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22
May
2008
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25
May
2008
Why Diversify: The Link Between Diversity and Team Innovativeness
C. Y. Cheng, D. Hsu, J. Martz and R. Y.J. Chua
Keywords: Diversity Characteristics;
Innovation and Invention;
Groups and Teams;
Citation: Cheng, C. Y., D. Hsu, J. Martz, and R. Y.J. Chua. "Why Diversify: The Link Between Diversity and Team Innovativeness." Lecture at the Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention, May 22–25, 2008.
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Lecture
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1
Feb
2008
The Devil Wears Prada: The Effect of Exposure to Luxury Goods on Ethical Decision Making
Roy Y.J. Chua and X. Zou
Keywords: Luxury;
Ethics;
Decision Making;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., and X. Zou. "The Devil Wears Prada: The Effect of Exposure to Luxury Goods on Ethical Decision Making." Lecture at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, February 01, 2008.
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Conference Presentation
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3
Aug
2007
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8
Aug
2007
Strong leaders empower less? The curvilinear effects of empowerment through choice on leadership perceptions
Roy Y.J. Chua and S. S. Iyengar
Keywords: Leadership;
Decision Choices and Conditions;
Perception;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., and S. S. Iyengar. "Strong leaders empower less? The curvilinear effects of empowerment through choice on leadership perceptions." Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August 03–08, 2007.
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Conference Presentation
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01
May
2007
The Tao of Choice in Leading: How empowerment through choice affects leadership perceptions
Roy Y.J. Chua and S. S. Iyengar
Keywords: Leadership;
Decision Choices and Conditions;
Perception;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., and S. S. Iyengar. "The Tao of Choice in Leading: How empowerment through choice affects leadership perceptions." Paper presented at the Transatlantic Doctoral Conference, London Business School, May 01, 2007.
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Conference Presentation
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11
Aug
2006
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15
Aug
2008
Differential effects of affect, perceived newness, and perceived usefulness on creativity judgment
Roy Y.J. Chua and S. S. Iyengar
Keywords: Creativity;
Perception;
Judgments;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., and S. S. Iyengar. "Differential effects of affect, perceived newness, and perceived usefulness on creativity judgment." Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, August 11, 2006–August 15, 2008.
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Conference Presentation
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5
Aug
2005
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10
Aug
2005
The effects of choice, goal, and creative self-efficacy on divergent thinking and creative outcomes
Roy Y.J. Chua and S. S. Iyengar
Keywords: Goals and Objectives;
Decision Choices and Conditions;
Creativity;
Outcome or Result;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., and S. S. Iyengar. "The effects of choice, goal, and creative self-efficacy on divergent thinking and creative outcomes." Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Honolulu, August 05–10, 2005.
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Conference Presentation
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5
Aug
2005
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10
Aug
2005
The effects of culture and network density on trust in Chinese vs American managerial networks
Roy Y.J. Chua, M. W. Morris and P. Ingram
Keywords: Culture;
Networks;
Management;
Trust;
China;
United States;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., M. W. Morris, and P. Ingram. "The effects of culture and network density on trust in Chinese vs American managerial networks." Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Honolulu, August 05–10, 2005.
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Conference Presentation
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5
Aug
2005
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10
Aug
2005
Trust in the face of competitive and cooperative rewards
K. Y. Ng, Roy Y.J. Chua and M. L. Chan
Keywords: Trust;
Motivation and Incentives;
Cooperation;
Competition;
Citation: Ng, K. Y., Roy Y.J. Chua, and M. L. Chan. "Trust in the face of competitive and cooperative rewards." Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Honolulu, August 05–10, 2005.
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Conference Presentation
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01
Jan
2005
Dynamics of trust in guanxi networks
Roy Y.J. Chua and M. W. Morris
Keywords: Trust;
Networks;
Citation: Chua, Roy Y.J., and M. W. Morris. "Dynamics of trust in guanxi networks." Paper presented at the National Culture and Groups Conference, January 01, 2005. (Published as a chapter in National Culture and Groups, edited by Ya-Ru Chen. Vol. 9 of the Research on Managing Groups and Teams series, Elsevier, July 2006.)
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Conference Presentation
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1
Aug
2003
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6
Aug
2003
Do I contribute more when I trust more? A study on two boundary conditions of trust
K. Y. Ng and Roy Y.J. Chua
Keywords: Trust;
Decision Choices and Conditions;
Citation: Ng, K. Y., and Roy Y.J. Chua. "Do I contribute more when I trust more? A study on two boundary conditions of trust." Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Seattle, August 01–06, 2003.
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