Article: Informal training in Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises Journal: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (IJESB) 2019 Vol.37 No.1 pp.1 - 24 Abstract: Entrepreneurs in small- and medium-sized enterprises are significant contributors to economic development. The purpose of this research is to examine the extent and motives for the use of informal training in Chinese SMEs. Using case studies, we found that informal training is widely used and generally accepted in Chinese SMEs. We also uncovered three separate categories on the motives for SMEs in adopting informal training based on the financial and time constraints they face, the perceived outcomes of training activities in terms of organisational performance, employee turnover, and the development of <i>Guanxi</i> and positive team cohesion, as well as the attitudinal aspects of both managers and employees that influence their intentions in adopting a specific training approach. Our study contributes to the literature of HRM in Asia, and has important implications for the government and institutions in emerging countries to support entrepreneurship and SMEs. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Informal training in Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises

Authors: Yuliani Suseno; Chanzi Bao; Mark Baimbridge; Cong Su

Addresses: School of Business and Law, Centre for Work and Organisational Performance, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup 6027, Western Australia ' International Business School Suzhou (IBSS), Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University, 111 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province 215123, China ' School of Management, Faculty of Management and Law, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD9 4JL, UK ' Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University, Box 513 S-751 20, Sweden

Abstract: Entrepreneurs in small- and medium-sized enterprises are significant contributors to economic development. The purpose of this research is to examine the extent and motives for the use of informal training in Chinese SMEs. Using case studies, we found that informal training is widely used and generally accepted in Chinese SMEs. We also uncovered three separate categories on the motives for SMEs in adopting informal training based on the financial and time constraints they face, the perceived outcomes of training activities in terms of organisational performance, employee turnover, and the development of Guanxi and positive team cohesion, as well as the attitudinal aspects of both managers and employees that influence their intentions in adopting a specific training approach. Our study contributes to the literature of HRM in Asia, and has important implications for the government and institutions in emerging countries to support entrepreneurship and SMEs.

Keywords: informal training; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; HRM; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2019.099879

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2019 Vol.37 No.1, pp.1 - 24

Received: 11 Apr 2017
Accepted: 22 Aug 2017
Published online: 26 May 2019 *

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Title: Informal training in Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprises

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