SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE

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SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE

LEADERSHIP IN CHINA

(Author’s Version)

Master Thesis Project

By Miss. Naixi ZHANG

Department of International Business and Management

April 25, 2011

Groningen

The Netherlands

University of Groningen

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Dear Sir/Madam,

The aim of this research is to study Chinese business elites’ leadership styles. The items described below are about leaders’ preferred leadership behaviors. This research does not judge the suitability or desirability of these behaviors, but only providing plenty of choices for business elites to choose their favorate behaviors among these items, and this can offer a first-hand data for the further research about the formation of leadership styles. Thanks very much for your participation!

1. Gender (check √ only one): � Female

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Male 2. Age: ________________________________ 3. Nationality:___________________________

4. Education level (check √): � Bachelor � Master � MBA � PhD � others_________ 5. Political status (check √): � Member of Chinese Communist Party � others_______ 6. The ownership of your company (check √):

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State-Owned Enterprise

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Private-Owned Enterprise � Foreign-Invested Enterprise � others____________________ 7. Job title______________________________

1. PLEASE read each item carefully.

2. PLEASE think about how frequenty/ to what degree you engage in the behavior described by the items.

3. PLEASE read the five answers provided after the item and decide which one of the five most clearly expresses the frenquency/degree with which you engage in the behavior.

4. PLEASE circle the answer you have selected.

Demographic Information

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Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following believes and statements: 1 = Strongly Disagree 2 = Disagree 3 = Neutral 4 = Agree 5 = Strongly Agree

Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 1. Hierachy is important 1 2 3 4 5

for an organization. (Confucianis m)

2. Position means power. 1 2 3 4 5

(Confucianis m)

3. Benevolent government 1 2 3 4 5 is more useful in Modern society.

(Confucianis m)

4. Self-reflection is the best 1 2 3 4 5 way to avoid mistakes.

(Confucianis m)

5. Humans are good in nature. 1 2 3 4 5

(Confucianis m)

6. People are the most important 1 2 3 4 5 treasure.(Confucianism)

7. Humans should follow natural 1 2 3 4 5 laws. (Daoism)

8. Man and natural world should 1 2 3 4 5 be united into one.

(Daoism)

9. Harmony means a cycle of 1 2 3 4 5 destiny, when one reaches the

extreme, a reversal to the other

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11. Humans are selfish. 1 2 3 4 5

(Legalis m)

12. Position is the basis for 1 2 3 4 5 utilizing power and capacity.

(Legalis m)

13. Law is an instrument and 1 2 3 4 5 method to solve problems and

achieve goals.

(Legalis m)

14. Humans are the center of all 1 2 3 4 5 things or above all things.

(Western manage ment theories)

15. Scientific management is more 1 2 3 4 5 efficient than humanistic management.

16. Taking risk is necessary. 1 2 3 4 5

17. Humans should be independent. 1 2 3 4 5

18. All human beings are equal. 1 2 3 4 5

19. People should trust each other. 1 2 3 4 5

20. Nationalism is most important. 1 2 3 4 5

(Mao’s theories)

21. Human beings can conquer 1 2 3 4 5 almost everything.

(Mao’s theories)

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Please indicate the extent to which you perform the following behaviors: 1 = Never 2 = Seldom 3 = Occasionally 4 = Often 5 = Always

Never Seldom Occasionally Often Always 23. I keep remembering 1 2 3 4 5 the importance of practicing

benevolence when dealing my business.

(Confucian Benevolent Leadership)

24. I tell myself that I should 1 2 3 4 5 continuously learn new knowledge

in order to keep the positon in this fast-changing society.

25. I follow the Doctrine of the Mean 1 2 3 4 5 (zhongyong zhi dao).

26. I am perseverant. 1 2 3 4 5

27. I practice self- reflection. 1 2 3 4 5

28. I shape the character of 1 2 3 4 5 my followers (eg. role modeling,

mentoring, and reinforcing benevolence).

29. I adopt bottom- up 1 2 3 4 5 community-building.

30. *I am being beneficient without 1 2 3 4 5 great expenditure.

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32. *I pursue what one desires 1 2 3 4 5

without being covetous.

33. *I maintain a dignified ease 1 2 3 4 5 without being proud.

34. *I am majestic without being 1 2 3 4 5

fierce.

35. I am modest. 1 2 3 4 5

(Daoist Wateristic Leadership)

36. I am adaptable. 1 2 3 4 5

37. I am a humble person. 1 2 3 4 5

38. I am flexible. 1 2 3 4 5

39. I am honest. 1 2 3 4 5

40. *I exert minimal influence on 1 2 3 4 5 the lives of others.

41. *I encourage others to take 1 2 3 4 5 ownership of tasks.

42. *I perfer “soft tactics”, such as 1 2 3 4 5 persuation, enpowerment and

collaboration.

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44. *I promote harmony with nature 1 2 3 4 5 and others.

45. *I reject the trapping of status 1 2 3 4 5 and promote equality.

46. *I give to and serve others. 1 2 3 4 5

47. I am persistent and powerful. 1 2 3 4 5

48. I emphasize reward as well 1 2 3 4 5 as punishment.

(Legalist Iron-fist Leadership)

49. I am clear about the importance 1 2 3 4 5 of capability.

50. I assign competent talent 1 2 3 4 5 to the right position.

51. I follow up the project 1 2 3 4 5 and check the results.

52. I evaluate contributions 1 2 3 4 5 and grant rewards accordingly.

53. I pursue excellence. 1 2 3 4 5

(Western Leadership)

54. I advocate individualism. 1 2 3 4 5

55. I think sincerity is essential. 1 2 3 4 5

56. I am a risk-taking person. 1 2 3 4 5

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58. I understand and perform 1 2 3 4 5 the social responsibility of my company.

59. I seek the truth from facts. 1 2 3 4 5

(Mao’s Leadership)

60. I serve the people and carry 1 2 3 4 5 out mass line.

61. I believe in democratic centralism. 1 2 3 4 5

62. I prefer reformation. 1 2 3 4 5

(Deng’s Leadership)

63. I prefer innovation. 1 2 3 4 5

64. I adopt experimentalism in my work.1 2 3 4 5

65. I believe in pragmatism. 1 2 3 4 5

Note:* The sign means these statements are referred from the book Leadership and Management in China, edited by Chen and Lee, 2008 version