TY - JOUR

T1 - The Impact of a Corporate System on Impression Management

T2 - Implications from an Ethnographic Research Study

AU - Zhu, Yi

PY - 2018/7/29

Y1 - 2018/7/29

N2 - The purpose of this paper is to clarify how the structure of the corporate system influences the impression management of employees. Many existing studies often analyze impression management from the perspective of individual employees, and limited research on corporate systems that might influence their behavior. In this paper, we examine the effect of corporate promotion system on impression management of local employees by taking an example of ethnography of Japanese retail business (Ichi) in Hong Kong. As a result, there were four main findings in this study. First, the impression management of local employees is inconsistent and fluctuates depending on how they understand the human resources image that a company wants. Secondly, whether or not the impression management of local employees is intentional cannot be generally stated, and it is necessary to analyze it after understanding the philosophy and strategy of the relevant company. Third, when analyzing the impression management of local employees, it is necessary to understand the customs and beliefs of Hong Kong. Finally, the results may depend on how the evaluator understands the corporate promotion system, whether or not local employees manage impressions. Thus, this study suggests that when analyzing impression management, it is necessary to consider not only the corporate system but also the importance of external factors such as local culture and its context.

AB - The purpose of this paper is to clarify how the structure of the corporate system influences the impression management of employees. Many existing studies often analyze impression management from the perspective of individual employees, and limited research on corporate systems that might influence their behavior. In this paper, we examine the effect of corporate promotion system on impression management of local employees by taking an example of ethnography of Japanese retail business (Ichi) in Hong Kong. As a result, there were four main findings in this study. First, the impression management of local employees is inconsistent and fluctuates depending on how they understand the human resources image that a company wants. Secondly, whether or not the impression management of local employees is intentional cannot be generally stated, and it is necessary to analyze it after understanding the philosophy and strategy of the relevant company. Third, when analyzing the impression management of local employees, it is necessary to understand the customs and beliefs of Hong Kong. Finally, the results may depend on how the evaluator understands the corporate promotion system, whether or not local employees manage impressions. Thus, this study suggests that when analyzing impression management, it is necessary to consider not only the corporate system but also the importance of external factors such as local culture and its context.

U2 - 10.20790/easoc.2018.9_101

DO - 10.20790/easoc.2018.9_101

M3 - Journal article

VL - 2018

SP - 101

EP - 118

JO - East Asian sociology of the 21st century

JF - East Asian sociology of the 21st century

IS - 9

ER -