Zhixiang (Steven) Liang

Date of entry: Fall 2014
Expected graduation date: Fall 2018
Current phase of study: Phase III (Thesis)
Specialization: Management
Status: Full-time student
Research Interests: Comparative corporate governance, emerging and developing markets, institutions void and business groups
Biography
Zhixiang (Steven) Liang is Ph.D. Candidate in Strategic Management at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University. His primary research situated at the intersection of family business, business group, and corporate governance. Built upon theoretical lenses from economics and sociology, he is currently exploring how business groups facilitate, shape or even manipulate the institutional environment to enhance their own competitive advantages. He is also interested in comparative corporate governance by associating institutional and cultural indicators with governance practice in examining existing divergence between de-jure rules and de-facto implementations.
Current thesis title
- “Business groups in emerging markets”, PhD (Management), Concordia University (2018)
Conference publications
- Liang, Z. & Carney, M. (2018). How do business groups survive with the development of market supporting institutions? A cumulative advantage perspective, Academy of International Business, Minneapolis, MN (Forthcoming)
- Carney, M., Estrin, S., Liang, Z. & Shapiro, D. (2017). National institutional system, foreign ownership and firm performance: The case of understudied countries, International Corporate Governance Society Annual Conference, Rome, Italy
- Carney, M., Estrin, S., Liang, Z. & Shapiro, D. (2017). National institutional system, foreign ownership and firm performance: The case of understudied countries, Global Strategy and Emerging Markets Conference, Boston, US
- Liang, Z. & Carney, M. (2017). Beyond market failures: Business groups - A social contribution in emerging markets, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, Montreal, Canada
- Liang, Z. (2016). Business Families: Strategy patterns in a broader scope, Academy of Management, Anaheim, CA
Working papers
- Marketization and corporate governance deviance: A provincial study on Chinese listed firms. Carney, M. & Liang, Z.
- Can business group affiliates create sustainable competitive advantage? Institutional development and business group persistence. Carney, M. & Liang, Z.
- National institutional system, foreign ownership and firm performance: The case of understudied countries. Carney, M., Estrin, S., Liang, Z. & Shapiro, D.
Academic degrees
- MBA, General Management, Beihang Univeristy, China, 2012
- BSc, Finance, Guangdong University of Business Studies, China, 2005
Academic and teaching experience
- Strategy and Competition (COMM 401), Concordia University, Winter 2018, Lecturer
- Management of Multinational Corporations (IBUS 466), Concordia University, Fall 2017, Teaching Assistant
- Strategy and Competition (COMM 401), Concordia University, Winter 2017 & Fall 2016, Teaching Assistant
Work experience
- Management Consultant, Beijing Rongzhi CSR Institute, 2011 – 2013
- Beijing, China Assistant Manager, China Construction Bank Guangdong Branch, 2005 – 2008, Guangzhou, China