On 2 December, the Department of International Business and Management at Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS China) successfully hosted the Management Scholars Development Symposium.

At the beginning of the conference, Professor Martin Liu, Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Exchange at NUBS China extended a warm welcome to the guests. Professor Jie Wang, Head of the Department of International Business and Management at NUBS China presented and briefly introduced the format of the event.

Professor Xiao-Ping Chen, Philip M. Condit Endowed Chair Professor in Business Administration at the Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington, delivered an engaging presentation titled "Indirect Cronyism and Its Underlying Exchange Logic" from a psychological perspective. She emphasised that guanxi is a complex and vast subject, and how to properly handle and manage relationships is a matter that organisations must contemplate for long-term operations.

Professor Chen illustrated examples of indirect cronyism commonly found in domestic companies—department heads might favour an employee because they are a relative or a close friend of their superior, known as a guanxihu in Chinese, rather than based purely on performance.

Professor Chen conducted extensive practical surveys in domestic companies on this topic, analysing from a psychological standpoint the reasons why a supervisor might promote a guanxihu and the attitudes of external employees towards this issue.

Professor Aiqi Wu from the School of Management at Zhejiang University delivered a speech on the topic of "Progress and Trends in the Study of 'Specialization and Innovation' in Enterprise Growth" introducing the general area, progress and potential of existing research on 'Specialized, Refined, Differential, Innovation' (SRDI) enterprises. She explored and explained the content system of the theory of growth mechanism in SRDI enterprises and analysed the main directions and core issues of future research.

Professor Wu pointed out that SRDI enterprises, which are mainly innovative and deeply specialised small and medium-sized enterprises, play a significant role in the national economy. Compared to general enterprises, SRDI enterprises demonstrate stronger comprehensive capabilities across six dimensions: growth potential, organisational resilience, innovation capacity, operational efficiency, profitability and stable management. However, China's current SRDI enterprises also face multiple prominent challenges. For instance, there are issues such as weak growth momentum, insufficient coordination along the value chain and limited ecosystem empowerment, as well as scientific issues, including the difficulty of aligning existing business growth theories with the SRDI concept.

Finally, Professor Zhijun Chen, Principal investigator of the innovative research team at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, delivered an insightful lecture titled "Individual Proactivity in the Era of Change: Some Preliminary Findings". Through the study of six societal issues, Professor Chen illustrated the subjective initiative displayed by individuals from different fields and statuses against the backdrop of the transformative era of the pandemic.

Professor Chen also engaged with the audience in discussing the current urban living conditions of socially marginalised groups, represented by people with disabilities, as well as the design and challenges of socially inclusive work.

This Symposium provided a platform for academic exchange among scholars of management, offering a variety of perspectives on management theory and practical issues. Moreover, it holds profound practical significance for businesses in solving real-world problems and achieving sustainable development.