Dr. Yanfen Wang | Motivation and Employee Engagement | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Leadership and Management

Dr. Yanfen Wang | Motivation and Employee Engagement | Best Researcher Award

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), China

Author Profile

Google Scholar 

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Yanfen Wang’s academic journey is marked by her unwavering commitment to understanding and advancing knowledge in the field of Business Administration. She began her formal higher education at Xi’an International Studies University in 2014, where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Her dedication and passion for business strategy and organizational behavior soon led her to enroll in a Master’s program in Business Administration at the same institution. During this time, she studied under Professor Zizhen Geng, who played a crucial role in shaping her early research direction, particularly in team dynamics and creativity within organizational contexts.

This foundation set the stage for her doctoral journey at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)—one of China’s most prestigious research institutions—where she embarked on her Ph.D. in Business Administration in 2022 under the mentorship of Professor Qingxiong Weng. Her doctoral studies mark a significant transition into more rigorous and high-impact research, focusing on workplace psychology, employee behavior, and leadership dynamics.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Yanfen Wang’s professional journey as an academic has been heavily research-oriented, marked by her active involvement in both theoretical development and empirical investigation in the field of organizational behavior. Despite being a current Ph.D. candidate, she has already authored and co-authored several impactful papers in reputable international journals.

Her involvement in ongoing research collaborations—with both her former advisor, Professor Geng, and current mentor, Professor Weng—demonstrates her ability to bridge academic theory with practical implications. She has delved into pressing workplace issues such as leader-member exchange (LMX), paradoxical leadership, and team creativity, offering nuanced perspectives and empirical evidence that contribute meaningfully to business psychology literature.

Her growing portfolio of conference presentations at the Academy of Management (AOM) meetings further reflects her standing in the global academic community. Notably, she has presented three times at AOM (2021, 2023, and 2024), with one of her works being recognized with a Best Paper Notification in the OB Division—a testament to the quality and relevance of her research.

🧠 Contributions and Research Focus

Yanfen’s research contributions explore the intricacies of employee behavior and workplace dynamics, particularly in the Chinese organizational context. A core theme running through her publications is how leadership behaviors, both constructive and paradoxical, influence employee outcomes—ranging from creativity and motivation to counterproductive behaviors.

One of her notable studies, “Catching up or putting them down?”, published in Personality and Individual Differences, investigates how employees react to highly conscientious coworkers—shedding light on social comparison mechanisms and interpersonal dynamics in workgroups. Her co-authored paper on “LMX ambivalence” in Applied Psychology dissects the dual-edge consequences of inconsistent leader behavior, identifying its potential to deplete relational energy and trigger counterproductive actions.

In her work in progress, she is tackling bold questions like “Cheating from dominating?”, where she examines how dominant leadership traits can inadvertently push employees toward unethical behaviors—highlighting her interest in the darker side of organizational psychology.

🏆 Accolades and Recognition

Though still early in her academic career, Yanfen has garnered impressive accolades. Her Best Paper Notification from the AOM’s Organizational Behavior Division is a significant early recognition that places her among promising young scholars in the field. Moreover, her role as corresponding author on several publications—an uncommon feat for a doctoral student—reflects the high level of trust and credibility she has earned from her collaborators.

Her Google Scholar profile further reinforces her academic impact, showcasing her citations and growing influence within the research community.

🌏 Impact and Influence

Yanfen Wang’s research resonates deeply in both academic and practical circles. Her focus on team dynamics, leadership styles, and employee behavior offers actionable insights for HR professionals, corporate leaders, and organizational consultants seeking to build more effective and ethical workplace cultures. Her empirical work, rooted in both Western theories and Chinese workplace realities, provides a culturally grounded perspective that enriches global organizational behavior scholarship.

Her multi-methodological expertise—ranging from SPSS and Stata to Mplus, Amos, and fsQCA—also showcases her versatility in tackling complex behavioral phenomena using robust analytical techniques. This skill set makes her well-positioned to produce rigorous and policy-relevant research in both academia and industry contexts.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking ahead, Yanfen Wang is poised to become a thought leader in organizational psychology and business administration. Her research trajectory suggests a growing interest in the ethical and psychological implications of leadership, and her ability to interrogate both the motivational and adverse effects of workplace behaviors will continue to shape conversations in organizational studies.

Her evolving body of work contributes not only to theory development but also to practical frameworks that managers and organizational developers can use to create healthier, more transparent, and performance-enhancing workplaces.

If her early achievements are any indication, Yanfen is set to leave a lasting impact on the academic world, with a legacy rooted in intellectual curiosity, methodological rigor, and a deep commitment to advancing human potential in organizational settings. ✨

Motivation and hindrance: The mixed blessing of paradoxical leader behaviour for workplace creativity in China

Authors: Z. Geng, Y. Wang, Y. Fan, C. Shan
Journal: Asia Pacific Business Review
Year: 2023

Motivating R&D team creativity: the social cognitive effect of external developmental feedback and internal goal interdependence

Authors: Z. Geng, Y. Wang, J. Xue, H. Tang, H. Liu
Journal: R&D Management
Year: 2022

Diminished relational energy: How and when LMX ambivalence leads to leader‐directed counterproductive work behavior

Authors: L. Chen, Q. Weng, A. Popelnukha, H. Jiang, Y. Wang
Journal: Applied Psychology
Year: 2025

Catching up or putting them down? An investigation of employee divergent reactions to coworker conscientiousness

Authors: Q. Weng, Y. Wang, X. Wang, H. Qin
Journal: Personality and Individual Differences
Year: 2025

Navigating the Paradox of Originality and Usefulness: The Roles of Distinct Error Climates in Fostering Team Radical Creativity

Authors: Z. Geng, M. Xiao, H. Wang, J. Xue, Y. Wang
Journal: Creativity and Innovation Management
Year: 2025

Rida Batool-Motivation and Employee Engagement-Best Researcher Award-2741

Published on by Leadership and Management

Dr. Rida Batool-Motivation and Employee Engagement-Best Researcher Award

Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xian -China  

Author Profile 

Early Academic Pursuits

Rida Batool's academic journey began in Pakistan, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Human Resource Management (HRM) from Fatima Jinnah Women University in 2009. Her thesis, titled "Soft Skills Training in the Hotel Industry of Pakistan," laid the foundation for her future research interests in HRM. Demonstrating a strong inclination towards understanding and improving organizational practices, she pursued a Master of Management Science & Engineering at Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in Xi’an, China, from 2011 to 2013. Her master's thesis, “Investigating a Relationship Between Best Human Resource Management Practices and Optimized HR: A Comparative Study for Organizations in Pakistan and China,” showcased her ability to analyze and compare HR practices across different cultural contexts.

Professional Endeavors

Rida's professional career began at CINEPAX Limited in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, where she worked as an HR Supervisor from 2009 to 2011 and then as an HR Executive from 2014 to 2017. In these roles, she was responsible for maintaining employee records, planning and managing training programs, administering salaries and benefits, and conducting HR interviews. Her experience at CINEPAX honed her practical skills in HRM and provided her with valuable insights into the challenges and dynamics of the entertainment industry.

In January 2021, Rida transitioned to a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in Xi’an, China. During this time, she focused on applying for research grants, publishing papers, supervising and reviewing the work of fellow researchers, and teaching research techniques. This role not only expanded her academic horizons but also solidified her position as a mentor and leader in her field.

Contributions and Research Focus

Rida Batool's research has made significant contributions to the field of management sciences, particularly in HRM. Her PhD thesis at Huazhong University of Science & Technology (HUST) in Wuhan, China, titled "Impact and Mechanism of Internal Identity Asymmetry on Employee’s Behavior and Feelings: An Empirical Study for Pakistan’s Employees," delved into the psychological aspects of employee behavior, exploring how identity asymmetry affects workplace dynamics.

She has authored numerous publications that highlight her research prowess. Notable among these is her paper in Heliyon, “Impact of Internal Identity Asymmetry on Employee's Behaviors and Feelings: A Mediating Role of Psychological Distress,” which explores the intricate relationship between identity asymmetry and psychological distress in employees. Her other works, such as those published in SAGE Open and the International Journal of Information, Business, and Management, further underscore her expertise in transformational leadership, project success, and comparative HRM practices between Pakistan and China.

Accolades and Recognition

Rida's academic and professional excellence has been recognized through various awards and honors. She received the HUST Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2019, acknowledging her contributions beyond her academic responsibilities. She also earned the Graduate National Scholarship Award in 2012, securing second prize from Northwestern Polytechnical University. These accolades reflect her dedication, hard work, and the high regard in which she is held by her peers and mentors.

Impact and Influence on Motivation and Employee Engagement 

Rida Batool's impact on the field of HRM is profound. Her research has provided valuable insights into how internal identity asymmetry affects employee behavior and feelings, a critical area that influences organizational effectiveness and employee well-being. Her comparative studies have shed light on the best HRM practices in different cultural contexts, offering practical recommendations for optimizing HR functions in diverse organizational settings.

As an educator and mentor, Rida has influenced many budding researchers and students. Her ability to supervise and guide research projects, coupled with her active participation in seminars and workshops, has helped shape the next generation of HR professionals.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Rida Batool's legacy in the field of management sciences is built on her deep understanding of HRM, her innovative research, and her commitment to academic excellence. Her future contributions are poised to further advance the field, particularly in areas related to identity asymmetry, employee behavior, and cross-cultural HR practices.

Looking ahead, Rida aims to continue her research on internal identity asymmetry and its implications for organizational behavior. She is also keen on exploring new avenues in HRM, such as the impact of technology on HR practices and the role of leadership in fostering inclusive and productive workplaces.

Employee engagement, on the other hand, is the emotional commitment an employee has towards their organization and its goals. It goes beyond mere job satisfaction and encompasses how invested employees are in their work and how willing they are to go the extra mile. Engaged employees are often more productive, innovative, and loyal to their company. Engagement can be fostered through meaningful work, strong leadership, clear communication, opportunities for growth, and a positive work environment. High levels of employee engagement are linked to improved business outcomes, such as higher customer satisfaction, lower turnover rates, and better financial performance.

Conclusion

Rida Batool’s journey from a passionate student in Pakistan to a respected postdoctoral researcher in China exemplifies her dedication to advancing the field of management sciences. Her early academic pursuits laid a strong foundation, while her professional endeavors and research contributions have significantly impacted HRM practices. Recognized for her excellence and commitment, Rida continues to influence and inspire, leaving a lasting legacy in her field and paving the way for future innovations in HRM and management sciences.

Motivation in the workplace refers to the internal and external factors that stimulate employees to take actions that lead to achieving goals. It encompasses various elements such as intrinsic factors like personal growth, fulfillment, and recognition, as well as extrinsic factors like financial rewards, job security, and working conditions. Motivation drives employees to exert high levels of effort towards achieving organizational objectives and personal development. Understanding what motivates employees is crucial for managers because it helps in designing strategies that enhance performance, satisfaction, and retention.

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