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Purpose On the basis of social identity theory, this paper aims to predict and test the influence of abusive supervision on service employees’ proactive customer service performance (PCSP) in the hotel industry. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 198 service employee-coworker dyads from 12 hotels in China. Previously developed and validated measures of abusive supervision, organizational identification, collectivism and PCSP were used and found to be highly reliable in this study. Findings Time-lagged data from 12 hotels in China reveal that abusive supervision negatively influences service employees’ PCSP, through organizational identification. In addition, employees’ collectivistic value orientation also strengthens the negative relationship between abusive supervision and organizational identification. These findings have several theoretical and managerial implications, especially for hospitality context. Practical implications First, the study suggests that hotels should design supervisors’ selection, training and monitoring to reduce mistreatment, which could be highly costly to employees’ identification and hence proactive behaviors. In addition, hotel supervisors are encouraged to learn to regulate their emotions by developing emotional management skills and interpersonal skills. Second, because collectivists are more likely to be affected by abusive supervisors, organizations should pay special attention to them by allocating more supportive resources, providing psychological comfort and expert counseling. Finally, hotels and managers should seek to meet individuals’ basic needs by fostering positive relationships between supervisors and employees, offering favorable treatment and connecting an organization’s goals with employees’ individual values. By doing so, employees’ organizational identification will be enhanced and hence contribute to PCSP. Originality/value First, scarcely any study has focused on negative types of leadership styles and how they affect employees’ PCSP. The authors address the research gap by extending the antecedent scope of PCSP to dark side management and provide empirical evidence about the suppressing effects of abusive supervision on PCSP. Second, the focus on organizational identification provides a new extension for social identity theory in application for incurring employees’ proactive behaviors. Third, this study provides a novel contribution by suggesting that the level of collectivism an employee holds can exacerbate the salience of abusive supervision.

To explore the organizational antecedents of proactive customer service performance (PCSP), we developed and tested a multi-level model of the impact of high-commitment human resource (HR) practices on PCSP in the hospitality industry. Drawing on the proactive motivation model, the mediating roles of work-related self-efficacy, perceived organizational support, and harmonious passion for work are examined simultaneously in the relationship between high-commitment HR practices and PCSP. Using time-lagged data from 94 hotels in China, we found that high-commitment HR practices positively influenced service employees’ PCSP via work-related self-efficacy, perceived organizational support, and harmonious passion for work. We discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of this research and also give some suggestions on how to effectively adopt and implement high-commitment HR practices.

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Drawing upon the resource-based view, this study examines how political connections affect corporate diversification in an emerging economy. Data from a sample of 1,280 Chinese public firms over 2002-2005 show a strong positive relationship between political connections and corporate diversification. We also find that the positive relationship between political connections and corporate diversification is moderated by the level of state ownership in firms and the level of regional institutional development. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.We would like to thank the Senior Editor Kevin Zhou and the two anonymous reviewers for their insightful and constructive comments.

The creation of solar steam generators with both high energy conversion efficiency and desired salt-resistant performance is essential for practical desalination. Herein, we report for the first time the fabrication of polypyrrole-coated biomass porous foam as efficient solar steam generators. The as-prepared foams possess a low thermal conductivity of 0.022 W M–1 K–1 for alkali-treated corn straw (CSA) and 0.027 W M–1 K–1 for both microwave- and alkali-treated corn straw (CSMA). Based on their high light absorption (95–100%), superhydrophilic wettability, excellent thermal insulation, and unique aligned channels, the foams show excellent energy conversion efficiency of 89.74, 91.08, and 91.54% for the polypyrrole-coated CSA (P-CSA) and 96.8, 97.05, and 98.32% for the polypyrrole coated CSMA (P-CSMA) at light intensities of 1, 2, and 3 kW m–2, respectively. Importantly, thanks to their aligned hierarchical channels, our generators show extraordinary salt-resistant performance, e.g., the energy conversion efficiencies of P-CSA and P-CSMA were measured to be 62.30 and 94.7% in 20 wt % NaCl at 1 kW m–2 irradiation, respectively. Furthermore, no obvious salt accumulation was observed after 30 d of continuous operation at real sunlight irradiation, implying an outstanding long-term stability for practical solar steam generation.

This paper aimed to explore the mechanical properties of a cement-based material with carbon nanotube (CNT) under drying and freeze-thaw environments. Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to analyze the pore structure and microstructure of CNT/cement composite, respectively. The experimental results showed that multi-walled CNT (MWCNT) could improve to different degrees the mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strengths) and physical performances (shrinkage and water loss) of cement-based materials under drying and freeze-thaw conditions. This paper also demonstrated that MWCNT could interconnect hydration products to enhance the performance of anti-microcracks for cement-based materials, as well as the density of materials due to CNT’s filling action.

Drawing on expectancy theory and the socioemotional wealth (SEW) perspective, we propose that family owners with intrafamily succession intention are more motivated to accumulate or preserve SEW. As corporate philanthropy is a critical way for family-controlled firms to accumulate or maintain SEW, family owners with intrafamily succession intention are more likely to engage in corporate philanthropic activities. Data on a nationally representative sample of family-controlled firms in China support our prediction. We also find that the relationship between intrafamily succession intention and corporate philanthropy is moderated by family owners' social status and religiosity. The findings contribute to our understanding about family businesses, in general, and those in China, in particular, as well as the SEW perspective.