A recent study in Guangzhou, a metropolitan city in South China, shows that
the factors that motivate the Chinese workforce are quite similar to those
in the West. Moral incentives such as the title of advanced worker were no
longer believed to be effective whereas material incentives, sense of achievement,
interestingjob and good leadership were regarded as important motivational fac
tors. The present economic reforms in China including the emphasis on material
incentives, the upholding of the principle of 'to each according to his work', the
adoption of the 'factory director responsibility system' and the introduction of
market mechanisms seem to meet these needs.
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