Ingrained interests and path-dependency

This study is a sociological exploration of changes and interrelationships between production systems, management systems employment relations through case Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) which has undergone substantial restructuring reforms in an agriculture-dominated region that witnessed rapid industrialisation. It draws on data collected qualitative interviews, focus group discussions workplace observation participation. The findings suggest while market, efficiency performance have become the dominant discourse China’s SOEs, various organisational actors reconstructed their identities, engaged constant negotiations continued formal informal rules supported interests.