bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manager-Educator Relations from a Critical Perspective
Authors: Elliott Carole , Reynolds Michael
Published: March 2007

This article explains alternative ways of understanding the nature of the relationship between managers and management educators. The authors examine contrasting views of the relationship as expressed in the “critical” management literature. Based on Antonio Gramsci’s ideas, the article develops the position for a less hierarchical relationship in which managers’ ideas are given equal standing with those of educators and researchers.
How to Create and use Experiential Case-Based Exercises in a Management Classroom
Authors: Dean Kathy Lund , Fornaciari Charles J.
Published: March 2007

The popular case-discussion teaching method provides a real-world, decision-oriented focus that can capture complex problems in bounded scenarios. Unfortunately, the method can de-emphasize important process aspects of organizational decision making. Furthermore, overuse of cases can make them formulaic and repetitive. The case-based role play is an interactive technique that engages students in experiential, process-oriented activities based on the familiar case format. This article discusses the pedagogical benefits of the activity and describes the process of choosing appropriate cases, preparing for the class session, and running the role play. It also provides sample debriefing questions and some options for using the format.
Socofrance, S. A.: An American and French Negotiation Simulation
Authors: André Rae , Quinquis Gildas
Published: March 2007

In this negotiation simulation, students assume roles on a French or an American management team or as observers/evaluators. The two management teams negotiate the introduction of a new product into the European market. This simulation reveals the cross-cultural issues in French-American negotiations and related international negotiations. It demonstrates such negotiation concepts as integrative versus distributive bargaining, relative power of the negotiating parties, cultural noise in negotiations, bargaining skills, and shortversus long-term relationships of the negotiating parties.
Creating a Competency-Based Leadership and Managerial Skills Program: A Model for Smaller Schools
Authors: Smith Jonathan E. , Forbes J. Benjamin
Published: March 2007

A model for creating competency-based learning at small and medium-size schools of business is described. Within an MBA curriculum, a leadership and managerial skills program was developed. Students participate in an assessment center evaluation and take a series of personality and self-assessment measures. This is followed by a course that focuses on leadership and managerial skills, an experiential learning day, and developing a career plan. Students plan their MBA coursework to enhance professional skills, meet with a career coach, and select elective courses that enhance particular skills while focusing on career and life goals. An extensive list of leadership and managerial skills is included.
Case Writing Reconsidered
Authors: Lundberg Craig C. , Rainsford Peter , Shay Jeff P. , Young Cheri A.
Published: March 2007

In this article, we argue that the contemporary ideal teaching case is becoming a decision-focused one and that dysfunctional consequences may arise from such a singular focus. The value of the case method is blunted when solely or overly focused on decision making. We suggest that case writers and teachers may usefully rediscover the roots of the case method and encourage and appreciate case variety. Provided is a preliminary listing of alternative case types and a classification of case objectives that support the aim of generating discussion for the enhancement of managerial thinking, not simply decision-making capabilities.
Managing the Work-Life Balancing Act: An Introductory Exercise
Authors: Thompson Cynthia A.
Published: March 2007

Although work-life balance is an important issue for individuals and organizations, most organizational behavior textbooks devote only a few paragraphs to the topic or do not include it at all. This activity was designed to introduce or complement a lecture on work-life balance and does so by asking the students to consider work-life balance from both a personal and managerial point of view. The objective of the exercise is to demonstrate that employees’needs and interests are not necessarily in opposition to the organization’s interests and that working together to resolve work-life conflict can benefit both the employee and the organization.
The Quick Brown Fox: A Job Redesign Exercise
Authors: Beyerlein Michael Martin , Beyerlein Susan Tull
Published: March 2007

This article describes an exercise that has proven to be a practical and effective exercise to help students understand a wide range of job and organizational design concepts. Step-by-step instructions, discussion ideas, and a number of variations are also presented.
Expecting the Unexpected: Coping Skills for Dealing with Unexpected Classroom Situations
Authors: Morgan Sandra
Published: March 2007

Every experienced management instructor has faced unexpected circumstances that precipitate a quick preparation for a class session in an ongoing course. Issues of being unprepared are put in context of both the instructor's personal feelings and the particular course and students. The article focuses on design skills and solutions that have worked for the author and her colleagues. Seven design criteria for quickly prepared sessions (QPS) are presented and practical examples given for a variety of class situations. The strategies can be kept on hand for when a QPS arises or used as part of overall class planning.
A Tabletop Flexible Manufacturing Cell for Use in the Production/Operations Management Classroom
Authors: Sower Victor E.
Published: March 2007

A simple tabletop flexible manufacturing cell (FMC) was developed for use in senior level operations management and quality assurance management courses. This article explores the use of this FMC in a variety of classroom situations, such as (a) in demonstrations and integrative case studies designed to increase student understanding of how to apply class materials and information; and (b) in MBA students' directed studies in the management of technology.
Managing Diversity in Organizations: An Exercise Based on Racial Awareness Training
Authors: Kulik Carol T.
Published: March 2007

Racial relations is one of the most difficult topics to cover in a course on managing diversity. This article describes an exercise, based on racial awareness training, designed to develop students' awareness of their own (and others') racial identities. The exercise includes discussion questions designed as a bridge between students' psychological experiences during the exercise and larger issues about racial relations.
Teaching Strategy as Design: A Report from the Field
Authors: Liedtka Jeanne M. , Rosenblum John W.
Published: March 2007

Within the strategy field there exists a growing consensus that a capability for strategic thinking will be critical for the shapers of tomorrow's environments. The authors argue that pedagogy in strategy has not kept pace with theory and that the teaching of thinking is a missing component in our teaching of strategy. The authors describe a course focused on strategic thinking as a process of design and reflect on the issues raised in its development and initial offering.
The Business Policy Course: Multiple Methods for Multiple Goals
Authors: Thomas Anisya S.
Published: March 2007

The field of business policy and strategy has evolved and changed over the past 30 years. The accumulation of a body of scholarly work based on empirical and theoretical investigation, the shift in the type of student, and a transformation of the business arena through technological and global forces have all changed the context of the course. As a consequence, sole reliance on the traditional case method is no longer sufficient. Instead, multiple methods that encourage participation, critical thinking, communication, integration, and the translation of theory to practice are necessary. This article suggests that an assessment of the congruence of the outcomes of different methods with the stated goals of the course should be a crucial factor in the choice of pedagogical tools.
Exploring Empowerment: One Method for the Classroom
Authors: Eylon Dafna , Herman Susan
Published: March 2007

This article describes the importance of empowerment as a business concept and offers a vehicle for exploring its cognitive and affective issues. The authors introduce and explain the concept and provide detailed instructions on how to conduct an empowerment exercise in the classroom. In addition, suggestions are provided for extending the use of the in-basket to other Organizational Behavior topics. Sample materials for conducting the exercise are included.
Distance Education as Strategy: How Can Your School Compete?
Authors: Fornaciari Charles J. , Forte Monique , Mathews Charles S.
Published: March 2007

Student learning outcomes and attitudes dominate the distance-education debate. Competitive aspects such as price, product, institutional reputation, and market size may be equally important to the effective implementation of distance strategies. This article explores the strategic implications of distance education by examining it as a killer application and describing a typology of universities based on organizational and competitive characteristics. Porter's generic strategies are used to derive propositions detailing the most appropriate strategies for various university types. We conclude with a discussion of the negative effects of poorly conceived or implemented strategies.
Cultural Diversity in the Nurse-Client Encounter
Authors: Butrin Joann
Published: March 2007

This study examined encounters between nurses and clients who originate from diverse cultures to determine the perspectives of both the nurse and the client concerning the experience of their time spent together. Fifteen nurses and 15 clients were Interviewed separately after their encounter, and their responses were compared. Three major themes emerged from the data: descriptions of mutual satisfaction with the encounter (mentioned most often), different or incongruent perceptions of the encounter, and mutual dissatisfaction with the encounter. Themes in the category of mutual satisfaction were markedly similar to the themes of caring described by previous research. Although there were expressions of language difficulties and lack of knowledge of cultural differences, these did not appear to inhibit the mutual caring that was described.
Treating Hopelessness
Authors: Wake Madeline Musante , Miller Judith Fitzgerald
Published: March 2007

Strategies to treat hopelessness were described by 188 critical care nurses from Belgium Canada. Colombia, England, France, and the United States. Data were collected by an open-ended questionnaire distributed by site coordinators to 50 randomly selected critical care nurses in one or more hospitals in each of the six countries. Data were analyzed using content analysis and data reduction techniques. Prior to collapsing data into hope-inspiring categories, discrete words or phrases to treat hopelessness were enumerated for each country. Interrater consensus was reached on each category label Hope-inspiring strategies included use of interpersonal self (listening, presence, empathy, directing the interaction away from hopelessness themes): involvement and caring for the family; sharing success stories; use of progress reports: empowerment: and referral to experts (psychologists, clinical nurse specialists). Differences were evident among the countries. Providing physical comfort was emphasized by Belgium, Colombia, and Canada but not mentioned by other countries. Nurses from France used strategies labeled Opositive provocation" to keep patients self-sufficient, autonomous, and able to move beyond dwelling on hopelessness.
Anxiety and the Colposcopy Experience
Authors: Nugent Linda S. , Tamlyn-Leaman Karen , Isa Nessim , Reardon Edward , Crumley John
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this study was to explore the anxiety of an abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) result, the need for colposcopy, and the colposcopic examination experienced by first-time colposcopy clients. Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and a Woman's Profile were administered to 149 women who had abnormal Pap smears necessitating colposcopy. The results confirm that this experience evokes anxiety. Younger women who knew less and had concurrent stressors in their lives were most anxious. Women identified ways that health professionals could be more helpful in alleviating their anxiety. Their suggestions included the provision of more information and an opportunity for personal contact with a health professional.
Interpretation and Management of Dementia-Related Behavior Problems
Authors: Harvath Theresa A.
Published: March 2007

Te purposes of this study were to explore family caregiver perceptions and interpretations of dementia-related behavior problems, and describe how these perceptions and interpretations influenced the caregivers' experiences managing these behavior problems. Using intensive interviewing techniques, family caregivers to persons with dementia (N = 10: all women) were asked to describe their experiences managing behavior problems. The results suggest that the caregiver's interpretation of the nature and cause of the behavior and her perception of the care receiver's ability to control it influence the way in which the caregiver manages the behavior problems, and the degree to which she experiences negative consequences. These results may have important implications for the way in which health professionals intervene to assist family caregivers in managing problem behaviors related to dementia.
Patient Factors and Central Line Infection
Authors: Rush Kathy L. , Haller Lorraine T.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this prospective study was to examine the relationship between patient-related factors and the development of central venous catheter infection. Fifty-three patients, representing 64 central lines, were followed from catheter insertion to removal. Information about the patient's age, sex, immunocompetence status, central line characteristics, medication regimen, and laboratory results was obtained. Results showed that, of these factors, only the medication regimen was a promising predictor of infection status. Patients who were receiving antibiotics during central line catheterization were at less risk of developing infection than patients who were not receiving them.
The Natural Evolution of Postpartum Fatigue among a Group of Primiparous Women
Authors: Troy Nancy Wieland , Dalgas-Pelish Peggy
Published: March 2007

A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted to examine the natural evolution of levels of fatigue, as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale-F, among a group of 36 primiparous women during the first 6 weeks postpartum The results revealed that this group of women experienced higher levels of morning fatigue across the 6 weeks than had previously been reported Their morning fatigue peaked at 4 weeks and then slowly decreased At the 6th week, the group mean for morning fatigue was 1.42 points (on a 100-point scale) lower than at the 1st week postpartum. suggesting women do not completely recover from the effects of pregnancy, childbirth, and transition to parenthood by 6 weeks postpartum. Maternal age and length of labor were found to be significantly related to the levels of fatigue and energy at various times during the 6 week postpartum period.
Me, Jack, and “The Head”
Authors: Beatty Joy E.
Published: March 2007

For the Academy of Management annual 2000 meeting, I collaborated with a colleague to create a sculpture titled “Times on my Mind,” which we referred to by the working name “The Head.” This article reflects on this collaboration and, using this experience as a case study, offers a typology of individual collaborative frames. These frames—negotiation, power, and knowledge—each offer a different model of collaboration, with different implications for decision making, vision, ownership, and the role of inquiry.
The Challenge of Problem-Oriented Research
Authors: Lawrence Paul R.
Published: March 2007

This article addresses two questions: What is the current state of organizational knowledge? What agenda for the field should be proposed for the 1990s? The author points out that the better work in the field of organizational knowledge has come from problem-oriented rather than from theory-oriented research. This point is explored in more detail, and seven suggestions for how best to do behavioral research are offered.
Culture and Organizational Learning
Authors: Cook Scott D. N. , Yanow Dvora
Published: March 2007

Traditionally, theories of organizational learning have taken one of two approaches that share a common characterization of learning but differ in focus. One approach focuses on learning by individuals in organizational contexts; the other, on individual learning as a model for organizational action. Both base their understanding of organizational learning on the cognitive activity of individual learning. However, there is something organizations do that may be called organizational learning, that is neither individuals learning in organizations nor organizations employing processes akin to learning by individuals. This form of organizational learning can be seen in the case of three small workshops that make "the finest flutes in the world." This essay proposes a perspective on organizational learning, drawing on the concept of organizational culture, that can be useful in understanding the case. This perspective provides a fruitful basis for exploring the above distinctions in both theory and practice.
The Institutional Embeddedness of International Business Strategy
Authors: Brahm Richard
Published: March 2007

U.S. managers and business academics alike have been slow to recognize some of the fundamental differences between domestic and international industrial competition. This article examines one particularly salient difference, the role of national institutional systems in shaping economic action across national markets. The article initially reviews four relevant bodies of literature on competitive strategy and international competition and finds that, despite progress in this direction, none of them adequately account for the institutional embeddedness of corporate strategy. The nature of national institutional systems and their impact on international business strategies are then theoretically described. Finally, some fundamental strategic implications of the institutional embeddedness approach are explored for U.S. firms.
Progressive Fracture in Composites Subjected to Hygrothermal Environment
Authors: Minnetyan Levon , Murthy Pappu L.N. , Chamis Christos C.
Published: March 2007

The influence of hygrothermal environmental conditions on the load carry ing ability and response of composite structures are investigated via computational simula tion. An integrated computer code is utilized for the simulation of composite structural degradation under loading. Damage initiation, damage growth, fracture progression, and global structural fracture are included in the simulation. Results demonstrate the signifi cance of hygrothermal effects on composite structural response, toughness, and durability.
Micromechanical Modeling of Failure in Fiber Reinforced Intermetallic Matrix Composites
Authors: Dharani L.R. , Zhao Y.L. , Chai L.
Published: March 2007

Various failure modes observed in fiber reinforced intermetallic matrix composites are analyzed by using a micromechanical analytical model based on the con sistent shear lag theory. Stress distribution is examined for a number of damage configura tions such as interface split, fiber bridging and secondary cracking. Based on the point stress failure criterion, prediction of failure mode is made for a fiber reinforced unidirec tional composite with central transverse crack and subjected to a remote uniform stress.
British Policing in the Nineties: Free Market and Strong State?
Authors: Johnston Les
Published: March 2007

This paper considers how the two strands of British conservative ideology, "free market and strong state," have shaped British policing policy in the 1980s and how they are likely to have continued impact during the 1990s. The paper begins by examining some recent changes in British policing. First it considers developments at the level of the "strong state": notably, the problems posed for police legitimacy by changes in public order policing and by controversies surrounding the issue of police accountability. Next it examines the way in which free market ideology is having an impact on public police forces while at the same time encouraging the development of various private policing initiatives. It concludes that the formula "free economy and strong state" fails to recognize the in-creasing interpenetration of the public issues. First, how is one to conceptualize the complex connections between "public" and "private" policing when the boundaries between those spheres are in-creasingly indistinct? Second, how far are consumer-based models of policing compatible with traditional conceptions of police legitimacy?
The Processes of Re-Education: An Assessment of Kurt Lewin's Views
Authors: Benne Kenneth D.
Published: March 2007

Kurt Lewin's work as a pioneering student of basic and applied psychology is placed in its theoretical, historical, and biographical contexts. The ten principles of re-education that Lewin, along with Grabbe, articulated in 1945 are then sys tematically reviewed and criticized in the light of major developments in training (and in planned change more generally) through the twenty-five years of experi ence and experimentation following their original publication. The piece thus provides at one and the same time an assessment and illumination of Lewin's theories and of recent and current trends in training theory, methodology, and practice in America.
Clarifying Values Clarification: Some Theoretical Issues and a Review of Research
Authors: Kirschenbaum Howard
Published: March 2007

This paper explores some of the major components of the values clarification theory. The author presents his own expanded concept of the valuing process central to values clarification. Some of the most frequent criticisms of values clarification are discussed, including the charges that values clarification is "hedonistic, superficial, relativistic, value free, and without a cogent theoretical base." A major part of the paper summarizes the early research on values clar ification and nineteen more recent studies. The author holds an eclectic point of view, arguing that values clarification is best achieved when combined with other thoughtful approaches to human growth and development.
Perspectives
Authors: pfeiffer j.william
Published: March 2007

As human relations consultants, our most common activity is teaching, and we typically project our personal learning style onto our "students." The accu racy of this projection depends on the validity of our assumption that others learn the same way we do. The observation that different people learn different things in different ways is somewhat obvious.
Advances in Research on Organization Development: Toward a Beginning
Authors: Pate Larry E. , Nielsen Warren R. , Bacon Paula C.
Published: March 2007

This paper examines thirty-eight research studies that were conducted on various aspects of organization development (OD) technology. The studies are compared along eight dimensions. Problems associated with evaluating OD and the limited amount of OD research are discussed. It is argued that more systematic, longitudi nal research on OD is needed.
Does Cognitive Style Affect Diagnosis and intervention Strategies of Change Agents?
Authors: Slocum John W.
Published: March 2007

One hundred fifty-two change agents were given a list of twenty-four diagnostic questions they might ask the client organization, questions related to the change agents' cognitive styles and the tactics most likely used by the change agents to bring about organizational and/or individ ual change. The conclusions indicate that those with different cognitive styles do not use different diagnostic information and change tactics. The conclusions are compared with previous research findings on change agents' personal styles.
Organization Development, Classroom Climate, and Grade Level
Authors: Keys Christopher B. , Kreisman Rhoda L.
Published: March 2007

The focal issue is whether school participation in an organization devel opment (OD) program is associated with positive classroom climate and interpersonal behavior. Three experimental schools participated in a sixteen-month OD program that included organizational training for teams, interschool coordinating council, in-service training, and follow- up consultation. Three matched control schools did not participate. A classroom-climate measure was administered to 593 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade male students from the experimental and control schools. To evaluate interpersonal behavior, these students participated in three- choice experimental games. Students in experimental schools tended to report more positive classroom climate than did controls. The relation ship between OD participation and positive classroom climate declined as grade level increased. Interpersonal behavior and participation in the OD program were not related. Implications for school selection and implementation of OD interventions are discussed.
Emotional Problems in Retirement and What Can Be Done
Authors: Bradford Leland P.
Published: March 2007

With the ranks of the retired increasing and more and more organizations offering preretirement training, awareness of the importance of peoples' emotional reactions is beginning to be recognized. Methods are now being developed that can alert those facing retirement to the emotional diffi culties they may face and help them plan ways of coping with problems. Three forces in particular make the transition to retirement difficult: (1) organizations and work careers have, however inadvertently, filled a wide variety of very basic human needs, so the retiree is often unprepared to know how to replace these needs in other ways; (2) social norms and subtle pressures enhance feelings of being "finished"; and (3) marital difficulties result from a new twenty four-hour-a-day relationship, from unresolved conflicts, patterns of interaction, poor communication, and inadequate sharing. The article gives recommendations for both long- range preparation and last-minute preretirement planning.
Making Organizational-Design Changes Effective: An Approach Based on Indian Experience
Authors: Bhattacharyya S.K.
Published: March 2007

This paper is primarily concerned with organizational-design-change interventions, the roles of the intervening consultants, and the subjec tion of the organization to the redesign. It illustrates several aspects of organizational-design-change interventions in India. Participation of corporate managers at various levels is shown to be a critical determi nant of effective organizational changes. The approach is based on the author's perceptions and ideas that have come from professibnal work experience in this field.
Toward Developing an Unbiased Scoring Algorithm for "NASA" and Similar Ranking Tasks
Authors: Lane Irving M. , Mathews Robert C. , Buco Steven M.
Published: March 2007

Both logical evidence and empirical evidence are presented to illustrate that the conventional scoring algorithm for NASA and similar ranking tasks significantly underestimates the initial level of ability presumed to be in a group and that Slevin's alternative scoring algorithm significantly overestimates the initial level of ability. The authors present a third algorithm, which they believe is unbiased. Recommendations for group facilitators and researchers are presented. As Slevin has indicated, the conventional scoring algorithm should no longer be used.
Introduction
Authors: Bernard Harold S.
Published: March 2007

In this issue we reexamine an old but unresolved problem, that of linking experiential learning to practical application. What makes our focus different from the many earlier treatments of this problem is the specific form of experiential learning examined: the Tavistock Group Relations Conference.
General Motors: Du Pont's Tough OD Case
Authors: Fox William M.
Published: March 2007

Despite the possession of proven, concrete solutions for well-document ed problems at General Motors and the occupation of high positions in the company, a team of seasoned Du Pont executives, representing a sizeable Du Pont equity interest, made little impact upon General Motors practices over a period of several years. It was only after economic disaster struck the company and its president was replaced that their organizational reforms prevailed.
The Dilemma Counseling Approach: Application to Experiential Classroom Learning
Authors: Schell Bernadette H.
Published: March 2007

This article describes the implementation of the dilemma counseling approach to an undergraduate organizational behavior classroom setting, a longitudinal "experiential exercise" of one year's dura tion. Dilemma counseling in the group setting is explained using The Life Cycle Theory of Leadership and Client-Centered Therapy parameters. Finally, an analysis of students' perceived degree of participation, learning, skill development, and overall satisfaction with the experimental format is presented.
Perspectives on Institutional Discrimination and Resistance to Change
Authors: Larwood Laurie , Gutek Barbara , Gattiker Urs E.
Published: March 2007

A review of evidence concerning the effect of efforts to counter discrimi nation suggests that little progress has been made. Three leading theoret ical and research perspectives on discrimination are examined: economic, sociological, and psychological. This article asserts that a fourth perspective, analyzing the decision process of the rational man ager concerned with the opinions of powerful others, is still needed for a full understanding of organizational discrimination. The new managerial framework is seen as having important implications for policymakers and managers concerned with ending discrimination. Several hypotheses are offered for testing this perspective.
Experienced Acceptability: Measuring Perceptions of Dysfunctional Leadership
Authors: Peterson Mark F.
Published: March 2007

Questionnaire items were designed to measure subordinates' per ceptions of their superior's response to particular aspects of their subordinates and the work situation. Some of the items focus on actions that subordinates are likely to view as generally inappro priate. Others concern actions that are likely to be viewed as con structive under some conditions, but dysfunctional under others. The items were included in cross-sectional field studies of sanita tion workers, teachers, and stewards of a service industry union. The items are found to have similar statistical properties to tradi tionally designed items. Their association with other leadership items and with attitudinal criteria indicate that some reflect dif ferent aspects of leadership than do traditionally phrased items. Others overlap empirically with established measures, but con tribute to an understanding of the phenomenology of leader behav ior as seen by subordinates.
Discrepancies Between Actual and Aspired Self: A Comparison of Leaders and Nonleaders
Authors: Peppers Larry , Ryan John
Published: March 2007

In recent years there has been an emphasis in the leadership literature on situational factors in leadership at the expense of traits research. New evidence, however, suggests that the abandon ment of the research for leadership traits may have been premature. This study compares individuals holding defined leadership posi tions with nonleaders on a number of personality dimensions. The results indicate significant differences between the two groups regarding specific traits and the overarching concept of personality congruence. Conclusions are drawn concerning the implications of these findings for those concerned with leadership development.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Strategy Consultants
Authors: Ginsberg Ari
Published: March 2007

The demand for strategy consultants to actively contribute to the improvement of cor porate performance has increased in recent years. This demand has brought a growing need to examine the appropriateness of different types of evaluation schemes. This article reports the results of an empirical study that examined how various measures of organiza tional effectiveness correlated with senior executives' perceptions of consultants' influ ence on strategy. The results support the validity of an evaluation scheme that emphasizes strategy consultants' contributions to increased organizational flexibility, or adaptability. These results also indicate that executives who hire strategy consultants for their con tributions to shorter range, profitability-oriented indicators of organizational effective ness are likely to be disappointed.
Company Paternalism and the Hidden-Investment Process
Authors: Uhl-Bien Mary , Tierney Pamela S. , Graen George B. , Wakabayashi Mitsuru
Published: March 2007

This study investigates belief in company paternalism as an indicator of the "right type" for line managers in leading Japanese corporations. In five companies, 1,075 line managers were surveyed about their belief in company paternalism, their experience with both the formal and informal career-development systems within their company, their working relationships with their immediate superior (LMX), and their overall job satisfaction. Results indicated that belief in company paternalism contributed as hypothesized to formal career investments, informal career investments (including both self-investment and supervisor investment), LMX, and overall job satisfaction. These relationships held true both before and after experiences with the formal career-development system were controlled. Implications of right type for American organizations are discussed.
Leadership Succession
Authors: Magee Roderick R. , Beach Lee Roy , Mitchell Terence R.
Published: March 2007

Leaders frequently attempt to implement changes when they enter an ongoing organization. Subordinates react to these attempts, either by facilitating implementation or by resisting it. This research examined both implementation tactics and resistance tactics. The first of two studies found that the implementation tactics used by Army leaders are highly similar to those that have been reported previously for civilian leaders, except that training is used as an implementation tactic in the Army but not in civilian organizations. Army subordinates' tactics are similar to, but more limited than, those previously described for civilian subordinates. The second study found that Army leaders' ratings of the various implementation tactics differed as a function of leadership experience and the presence or absence of subordinate resistance to the proposed change. Army subordinates' ratings of tactics for dealing with proposed changes differed as a function of the subordinates' acceptance of or resistance to the proposed change.
Process and Outcome Expectations for the Dialectical Inquiry, Devil's Advocacy, and Consensus Techniques of Strategic Decision Making
Authors: Priem Richard L. , Price Kenneth H.
Published: March 2007

This study examined expectations of cognitive conflict, social conflict, decision confidence, and postdecision group affect in the dialectical inquiry, devil's advocacy, and consensus decision-making techniques. Expectations show some congruence with the affective, but not objective, outcomes found in prior empirical studies. Expectations were found to discriminate among dialectical inquiry, devil's advocacy, and consensus.
Identifying Critical Leadership Competencies of Manufacturing Supervisors in a Major Electronics Corporation
Authors: Daniel Thomas L.
Published: March 2007

This article reports the results of two studies that examined the critical leadership competencies of high-performing manufacturing supervisors in a major electronics company. Using critical incident interviews, Study 1 (n = 17) disclosed and initially tested 13 potential competencies. Study 2 (n = 38) then used questionnaires containing descriptions of the competencies to test the hypothesis that high-performing supervisors would be seen by subordinates, superiors, and self as displaying significantly greater levels of the competencies. Nine of the potential competencies identified in Study 1 significantly distinguished the high-performing supervisors from randomly selected supervisors when the subordinate-completed questionnaires of Study 2 were analyzed.
The Phase versus Traditional Approach to Burnout Diagnosis
Authors: Greiner George M.
Published: March 2007

An empirical study of alternative methods of diagnosing burnout in a human-services organization was conducted. Scholars previously debated the merits of a phase approach versus a traditional-regression approach to assess the virulence of burnout among employees. Results of this study suggest that the approaches lead to contradictory results as hypothesized. However, problems with measurement and research in applied settings underscore the need for longitudinal and experimental designs that include outcome measures.
Development of a Model for Announcing Major Layoffs
Authors: Smeltzer Larry R. , Zener Marie F.
Published: March 2007

A model for announcing major layoffs was developed. First a model was developed from the existing literature. Using this model as a guiding framework, layoffs from eight organizations were analyzed. The model was then refined as a result of this analysis. The resulting model emphasizes the importance of understanding existing rumors, matching the announcement to the organizational culture, considering the current climate, being aware of legal constraints, and addressing both internal and external publics. A list of recommendations is provided.
How can Women's Lack of Upward Mobility in Accounting Organizations be Explained?
Authors: Maupin Rebekah J.
Published: March 2007

Despite popular portrayals of women's current success in public accounting, labor force statistics indicate that few women advance to partnership-level positions. Accounting research on the scarcity of female partners tends to approach this issue from a person-centered perspective and to focus on characteristics of women as an explanation for their occupational status. This article demonstrates that a situation-centered perspective provides a useful contribution in understanding the scarcity of women partners. The findings are based on a survey of 188 male and 184 female accountants.
Blue versus Gray: A Metaphor Constraining Sensemaking Around a Restructuring
Authors: Greenberg Danna N.
Published: March 2007

Through a case study analysis, this article explores the processes that guide organizational members' sensemaking around a departmental restructuring. Symbolic processes prove to play a critical role in reestablishing understanding even when organizational leaders are not explicitly directing these symbolic processes. This article demonstrates that because of their influence on sensemaking, undirected symbolic processes can hinder effective organizational change. To successfully manage organizational change, leaders need to more actively manage these intangible aspects of the change process.
Influence Tactics Used for Different Objectives with Subordinates, Peers, and Superiors
Authors: Yukl Gary , Guinan Patricia J. , Soitolano Debra
Published: March 2007

Only a few studies have examined the relationship between influence tactics and objectives, and the results were inconsistent. The present study employed two different research methods to determine how often people use nine influence tactics to attain five influence objectives with subordinates, peers, and superiors. One method was a survey on which managers reported their use of each tactic for each type of objective. The other method was a content analysis of incidents in which influence attempts in a variety of organizations were described from the perspective of the agent or target. The results showed that managers seek different things from subordinates, peers, and superiors. A different pattern of influence tactics was used for each type of influence objective, and the pattern varied by direction. Implications for managers were discussed.
The Effect of Group Mentoring on Career Outcomes
Authors: Dansky Kathryn H.
Published: March 2007

The importance of mentoring as a component of career development has been well supported empirically. Yet mentors may not be a viable option for individuals who would like to progress on a management track but have limited opportunities to do so. This study proposed that professional associations may function as a source of mentoring for its members. The influence of affiliation with a professional organization on career outcomes was tested. Four components of group mentoring were identified through factor analysis: psychosocial support, inclusion, networking, and role modeling. Inclusion predicted higher job attainment, whereas role modeling made a significant contribution to salary. This study has practical implications for management development.
Using Ownership as an Incentive
Authors: Welbourne Theresa M. , Cyr Linda A.
Published: March 2007

Agency theory is used to develop hypotheses regarding the effects of ownership proliferation on firm performance. The authors examine the effects of chief executive officer (CEO) ownership, executive team ownership, and all employee ownership in addition to the moderating effect of risk on firm survival and stock price. Firms with low CEO ownership outperform those with high levels of CEO ownership across all levels of risk, but the effect is most pronounced for low-risk firms. Executive team ownership is negatively related to firm performance, whereas ownership for all employees is positively associated with firm performance, particularly for higher risk firms.
The Relationship between Organizational Climate and Employee Perceptions of Involvement
Authors: Shadur Mark A. , Kienzle Rene , Rodwell John J.
Published: March 2007

One of the key factors that may influence employees’ perceptions of involvement is organizational climate. This article examines the relationship between employee perceptions of involvement and organizational climate. Data were collected using a survey of 269 employees of an information technology company. The authors argue that employee involvement is composed of three essential variables, namely, participation in decision making, teamwork, and communications. Three hierarchical regression analyses were carried out with each of the employee perception of involvement variables as dependent variables. Employee demographic data, employee affective attitudes (job satisfaction, commitment, and stress), and three dimensions of organizational climate (bureaucracy, innovation, and support) were entered into the regression analyses. The results showed that supportive climates and commitment significantly predicted each of the employee involvement variables. The results are related to current research literature on organizational climate and involvement, and the implications for managers are discussed.
The Evolution of Strategies for Multiagent Environments
Authors: Grefenstette John J.
Published: March 2007

SAMUEL is an experimental learning system that uses genetic algorithms and other learning methods to evolve reactive decision rules from simulations of multiagent environments. The basic approach is to explore a range of behavior within a simulation model, using feedback to adapt its decision strategies over time. One of the main themes in this research is that the learning system should be able to take advantage of existing knowledge where available. This has led to the adoption of rule representations that ease the expression of existing knowledge. A second theme is that adaptation can be driven by competition among knowledge structures. Competition is applied at two levels in SAMUEL. Within a strategy composed of decision rules, rules compete with one another to influence the behavior of the system. At a higher level of granularity, entire strategies compete with one another, driven by a genetic algorithm. This article focuses on recent elaborations of the agent model of SAMUEL that are specifically designed to respond to multiple external agents. Experimental results are presented that illustrate the behavior of SAMUEL on two multiagent predator-prey tasks.
Explorations in Evolutionary Robotics
Authors: Cliff Dave , Husbands Phil , Harvey Inman
Published: March 2007

We discuss the methodological foundations for our work on the development of cognitive architectures, or control systems, for situated autonomous agents. Our focus is the problems of developing sensorimotor control systems for mobile robots, but we also discuss the applicability of our approach to the study of biological systems. We argue that, for agents required to exhibit sophisticated interactions with their environments, complex sensorimotor processing is necessary, and the design, by hand, of control systems capable of such processing is likely to become prohibitively difficult as complexity increases. We propose an automatic design process involving artificial evolution, wherein the basic building blocks used for evolving cognitive architectures are noise-tolerant dynamical neural networks. These networks may be recurrent and should operate in real time. The evolution should be incremental, using an extended and modified version of a genetic algorithm.

Practical constraints suggest that initial architecture evaluations should be done largely in simulation. To support our claims and proposals, we summarize results from some preliminary simulation experiments in which visually guided robots are evolved to operate in simple environments. Significantly, our results demonstrate that robust visually guided control systems evolve from evaluation functions that do not explicitly require monitoring visual input. We outline the difficulties involved in continuing with simulations and conclude by describing specialized visuorobotic equipment, designed to eliminate the need for simulated sensors and actuators.
An Evaluation of Maes's Bottom-Up Mechanism for Behavior Selection
Authors: Tyrrell Toby
Published: March 2007

Maes has proposed a mechanism for action selection (behavioral choice) (Maes, 1989, 1990, 1991 a), which is reviewed here and is evaluated using a simulated environment. This simulated environment is a detailed and complex generalized model of the action selection problem faced by an animal in the wild and presents a rather severe test for an action selection mechanism. The results of testing Maes's mechanism in the simulated environment are discussed, some observed deficiencies in the mechanism's operation are described, and the computational reasons underlying the deficiencies are explained. lt is argued that some central aspects of the design of Maes's mechanism mean that it is not able to deal well with animal like action selection problems.
A Decision Technology System to Deliver Effective Concurrent Engineering
Authors: Forgionne Guisseppi A.
Published: March 2007

Concurrent engineering can reduce the lead time and cost of developing, and improve the quality of, new or modified products. To achieve these benefits, design, engineering, and manufacturing knowledge must be shared in a systematic, complete, integrated, and timely manner among the affected decision makers. Significant functional and technical barriers can prevent the free flow of the necessary knowledge. An information system, called a decision technology system (DTS), can be developed to help decision makers overcome such barriers.