关系与圈子——中国人工作场域中的圈子现象

中国人长于创业,格兰诺维特认为创业者的一项重要职能就是要平衡耦合与脱耦,也就是关系结构要可紧可疏,关系范围要可伸可缩,这样才能一方面寻找机会,又有足够强的动员能力掌握机会。圈子现象可用于解释为什么中国人长于平衡耦合与脱耦。小圈子往往是一个人动员其人脉中的家人与熟人关系组成的小团体,因为熟人关系是人情交换关系,可以有较大的弹性,同时熟人可以从认识的圈外人发展而来,所以使得圈子的边界不封闭,圈子也因此增加了弹性。这样的弹性使得中国人的个人网关系结构可伸可缩,可紧可密。

Guanxi and Circles: Social Networks in China

This paper illustrates the phenomenon of circles in the Chinese culture,including the type and role of trust in such circles.The Chinese national culture is thought of as a culture of collectivism,which in turn makes the Chinese network structure dense and closed in organizational settings.However,we find that there are also aspects of openness and flexibility in both Chinese business and social networks.In general,a circle is an ego-centric network.Second,it has a structure of "differential mode of association".Third,just like family ties,core members of the circle are indicated by loyal,unbreakable and intimate relationships,but peripheral members are mainly composed of familiar ties,denoted by long-term relationships with limited liability in favor exchanges.Finally,the boundary of a circle is not closed,and outsiders may be included in the circle.That makes the Chinese network structure flexible to opening or closing.