Environmental cognitions and scanning behaviour of Chinese small and medium-size enterprise managers: an empirical study of a multidimensional model

摘要

We investigate the environmental scanning behaviour of managers of small and medium-size enterprises in China and the effects of their environmental perceptions on their scanning behaviour. The questionnaire survey was carried out in Tianjin, one of the biggest cities in China. A pilot study was undertaken to ensure the scale and content reliability of questionnaire items. Measures were based on adoption and revision of classical researches in environmental scanning. The quantitative analysis was performed on the data, collected from 120 managers of Chinese small and medium-size enterprises. One-way analysis of variance, Scheffe's multiple range test and hierarchical regression analysis were applied in the analysis. The rank order of the managers' perceived strategic uncertainties regarding environment sectors reflected a mix of task and general sectors. Perceived strategic variability and environmental complexity positively affected their scanning frequency. Perceived quality of information source had a direct effect on scanning frequency. It also positively moderated the relationship between perceived strategic variability and scanning frequency, whereas negatively moderated the relationship between perceived environmental complexity and scanning frequency. The managers in this study, in the unique institutional and economic context, have some similar and some different characteristics and patterns in environmental cognition and scanning compared with managers in developed countries or other emerging markets. Perceived strategic variability environmental complexity and quality of information source are important predictors of environmental scanning behaviour for Chinese managers.