BUS News

Research Happy Hour: Exploring Digital Transformation and Labour Market Dynamics

10 Mar, 2025

The HKBU School of Business recently held its “Research Happy Hour” on 26th February 2025, marking the first time with new Dean, Prof. Han ZHANG, in attendance. Prof. ZHANG highlighted the event as a precious opportunity to connect with researchers, acknowledging the challenges they face and hoping that the event provides them with some refreshment.

Prof. Danny WANG from the Department of Management, Marketing and Information Systems was the first speaker, presenting his research on “Unlocking the Performance Impact of Digital Transformation”. His work, funded by a GRF grant from 2023, bridges information systems, marketing, and strategy. His research comprises three studies. A meta-analysis of 251 studies across 37 countries found that incremental technologies improve performance more than disruptive ones, especially in less developed markets. Digital transformation negatively impacted firm performance in China, with frequent IT executive turnover being particularly detrimental, though organisational changes can moderate this. The ongoing study examines how digital transformation aids Chinese firms in international expansion, focusing on Belt and Road countries and impacts on marketing, sustainability, and social outcomes.

Dr. Leo YANG from the Department of Accountancy, Economics, and Finance shared his project on “Monitoring the China Labour Market - Big Data Approach”. The project captures high-frequency, large-scale data from job market activities to address the lag in labour statistics in China. By monitoring job postings on major platforms, the project collects over 2 million records daily, including job titles, descriptions, qualifications, salary ranges, and locations. The data has been used for research on the impact of China's double reduction policy, ESG practices, and age discrimination, offering new insights into China's labour dynamics and supporting research in business strategy and labour economics.

External scholars participated in the event as guest discussants, engaging actively with the School's scholars and contributing their insightful perspectives on the topics at hand.

The Research Happy Hour facilitated stimulating discussions and fostered connections among participants. This event upholds the School's tradition of promoting a multidisciplinary research environment, providing scholars with a supportive platform to collaborate and advance their academic pursuits.