Worker motivation during changing periods: The role of psychological capital in China?s economic reform

Abstract

The aims of this chapter are (a) to examine the economic progress of China using historical comparisons, (b) to analyze the psychological capital of China?s workforces, and (c) to highlight emerging issues associated with Chinese human resource management for sustainable development. The four-stage cycle ?Turbulent times ? Concessions, constraints, and reforms of the new regime ? Recovery of social productive forces ? Prosperity of economy and associated aspects? (TCRP) can be identified in the Chinese history, such as the golden age of the West Han and Tang Dynasties. It is argued that, whereas the catalytic functioning of a series of policy changes initiated by the current Chinese government should be acknowledged, the relatively emancipated Chinese social productive forces in various types of enterprises need to be regarded as one of the crucial factors of recent remarkable economic growth in China. During the rapidly changing period, Chinese workers? positive motivational states, such as hope, resiliency,