bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the categorization, exactness and probable utility of bibliometric laws and their extensions
Authors: Soyibo Adedoyin , Aiyepeku W. Olabode
Published: March 2007

In 1980, Brookes challenged information scientists to study the interactions between Poppenan Worlds 2 and 3, to describe and explain their interactions and thereby enhance the organi zation of knowledge rather than documents. Recent theoretical contributions to bibliometrics are seen, in part, as responding to this call. We study and classify such contributions, discuss their reasonableness, appropriateness and exactness, using the decision maker/end user-oriented focus. Because of similari ties in the application of mathematical abstractions to econom ics and to information science, we discuss the possible eco nomic implications of some recent contributions and the con straints on their application, and offer suggestions for their application particularly in the Third World where "it is cer tainly the case that information science has hardly ever been recognized".
The database producer in the information chain
Authors: Aitchison T.M.
Published: March 2007

The genesis of bibliographic databases and the role of their producers in the chain of information generation, organization. dissemination and use is reviewed. The changes that are cur rently being sought by the various elements in the chain are described and the effects these may have are considered.
Information inputs to research and development work
Authors: Whitehall T. , Breadmore C.M. , Butters A.J.
Published: March 2007

This research concerns the effect of the R&D system on information use. Interviews with 42 research and development workers showed that workers were involved in one of five types of activity: research to collect facts or opinions, research to develop a hypothesis, problem solving, feasibility study or product development. It was possible to define stages involved in these activities in terms of a task analysis obtained dunng the interview. A critical incident study of information use revealed the sorts of information needed to achieve the various tasks.

These different types of R&D activity and their task analyses, and the information inputs which were required are listed. The relative importance of external and mternal infor mation, and of informal and formal channels is revealed in the study, in a way different from that normally employed in use studies. Information was used throughout the projects, not just mainly at the beginning and end of a project. A great deal of this information was not from external, formal sources at all.
From information- to knowledge-management: the role of rule induction and neural net machine learning techniques in knowledge generation
Authors: Ford Nigel
Published: March 2007

Developments in artificial intelligence mean that it is now increasingly possible to store not only information but also knowledge as an exploitable resource. Insofar as he or she is concerned with creating, organizing and monitoring knowledge resources to support effective decision making within an organization, the information manager is developing the role of knowledge manager. As well as its organization and dissemina tion, the generation of storable knowledge is very much on the agenda of the knowledge manager. The extent to which com puters can help in the process of knowledge generation is central to his or her concerns.

Machine learning techniques have been developed which are capable of giving us an increasing amount of help in this process. The contributions of rule induction and artificial neural net systems are discussed. It is likely that such tech niques will prove to be useful tools both for the information/knowledge manager requiring practical working systems enabling the cost-effective exploitation of knowledge resources, and for the information/knowledge scientist requir ing advances in our more fundamental theoretical knowledge of the nature of information and ways of processing it.
Decision processes and information
Authors: Tarng Ming-Yueh , Chen Hai-Ming
Published: March 2007

In the field of management, decision processes are often the focus of discussion. This paper hypothesizes that decision processes are an evolution of cognition, and information processing is the primary activity for conversion of the decision maker's cognition in the decision process. Information processing reduces variety and facilitates specific decision mak ing, where variety is the number of mutually exclusive out comes for a potential management decision. The conversion of the necessary information at each phase of the decision process will improve the rationalization of decision processes. This approach should provide guidance for researchers in the dis cussion of decision processes, as well as provide additional criteria for establishing rational decision processes.
A clustering method using the strength of citation
Authors: Saito Tatsuki
Published: March 2007

A new method for modelling and clustering a relational graph produced from the citation relation among scientific articles is discussed. One article corresponds to a point and a citation link corresponds to a directed walk in the graph. This graph is a direct-citation graph and a total-citation graph is derived from it. There exist two types of directed citation graph; i.e., citing directed-graph and cited directed-graph. The former is considered in this paper. These graphs are repre sented in the form of similarity matnces which are asymmetric. The characteristics of these graphs are analyzed by clustering. For this study, a research database was designed and produced to acquire bibliographic information and obtain relations be tween articles in it. A modelling methodology of its relational structure is described in this article. Combinatonal clustering methods have been examined and a clustering method for an asymmetric similarity matrix is also proposed.
Information systems: people issues
Authors: More Elizabeth
Published: March 2007

In this paper the chief argument is that for too long decisions and general thinking about information systems have. in the main, been narrowly economically and technologically focused, without adequate regard for the people factors in volved. By contrast, consideration is given here to some human issues and the broader organizational ones—particularly those of organization culture, power, communication and the change process—in an endeavour to present the case for more re search into these areas as vital contexts within which informa tion systems exist.
Lexitran-mediated access to patent databases
Authors: Kaltenbach M. , Turner W.A. , Laville F.
Published: March 2007

This paper presents a technique and its computer implementation to facilitate "navigation" in the International Patent Classification system. The resulting system assists users having no specialised training m information retneval in iden tifying relevant classification categones and keywords they can use in Boolean quenes on a target patent database. Applied to any subclass of the patent classification, the system builds a browsing environment that provides a relevance ranking of access paths to classification codes; this complements the often inadequate text labels currently associated with patent codes.
Selection of a text retrieval system in two user environments
Authors: Crane Josette A.
Published: March 2007

The selection of software can be greatly aided by the application of information science concepts. This is particu larly well demonstrated in the choice of a text retrieval system and two case studies illustrating this fact are presented. The case studies provide contrasting user environments for analy sis, enabling comparison between a project-based, matrix organisation and the more rigid, line-management structure. The differing requirements for a text retrieval package are investigated with particular emphasis on potential uses of the software within each organisational framework The con straints of the user environment demonstrated to play a major role are existing hardware and software, together with the mechanisms of information flow apparent in each company. Whilst the functional capabilities of the software are taken into consideration, the working environment and the needs of the users are seen to be of greater significance in the final choice of a system, regardless of organisational structure
Value-added processing of representational and speculative information using cognitive skills
Authors: Cremmins Edward T.
Published: March 2007

Representational information is given on the terms "Cognition," "Cognitive Processes," and "Information Pro cessing," through a review of value-added definitions of these terms that lexicographic information processors have written for publication in dictionaries, encyclopedia, or thesauri. Speculative representational information for the terms "Infor mation Processing" and "Cognitive Skills" is then presented to and in stimulating creativity among researchers within li brary and information science Cross-disciplinary information from cognitive, cultural, and folk psychology is also used to stimulate such creativity. The information processing under consideration is primarily manual and mental for meaning making, rather than machine and computational for file mak ing.
Charging policies and practice in corporate information units in the UK 2: How to charge
Authors: Pearson David , Yates-Mercer A.
Published: March 2007

Methods of charging for information services are reviewed. A survey of 58 information units in product-based industries and eight units in service-based companies explored charging practices. Many services were charging tor just a few high cost services, such as online searches, interlibrary loans. or evaluative reports. Charges were usually set either by estimates of use or by set rates tor services. Cost estimates often did not include overheads, and quite often did not include staff costs. How specific services are charged was explored, as was price-setting. This preliminary survey was exploratory in nature and forms a basis for further study.
Challenges for development in the Asia-Pacific region: the information sector, South Korea and the Philippines
Authors: Broadbent Kieran P.
Published: March 2007

Economic development is based on the creation of new infrastructure and a service sector capable of giving support to national economies to allow society to consolidate and grow. The newly industrialised countries (NICS) of the Asia-Pacific region are good examples of countries on the move. In the rapidly changing economies of these countries, the information sector has gained new prominence alongside other sectors. In recent years NICS have been able not only to absorb new information technologies from outside the region but also have been able to consolidate, improve and create whole new industries around them Such countries have been termed "information societies" because they have been able to manipulate new advances in information-communication to develop their economic bases. Not all countries in the region have been able to do this. This paper, therefore, will examine some of the successes in the information sector, discuss some of the problems experienced by other countries and attempt to provide some answers as to what should be done to improve their chances to keep on the cutting edge of techno logical change.
Relational tools to manage pictorial information
Authors: Cassi I. , Mussio P. , Padula M. , Protti M. , Tonolli G.
Published: March 2007

The final goal of this work is to define a data model to orgamse and manage the indexmg structure of a pictorial mformaeon retrieval system. Relational tools to minage the information drawn trom digital images are presented and discussed Such tools help to organise data according to the numerical/structural user model adopted to devcrihe the im iges Specifically. they allow the storage, mampulation and management of complex pictorial object descriptions which take into account objects, sub-objects and thor composition relationships, as well as the specialisation relationship among their type
Legal issues for information professionals, Part IV: Attitudes to data protection amongst UK media librarians
Authors: Ellis Sarah , Oppenheim Charles
Published: March 2007

This paper describes the results of a survey carried out amongst a large number of UK media librarians and information scientists, and a smaller number of UK journal ists. Their knowledge of, and attitudes towards, the UK Data Protection Act and the EC Draft Directive on data protection were measured. The results demonstrated a reasonable level of knowledge about both pieces of legislation. It also showed that there is considerable concern within the UK media regarding the proposed EC Directive. The paper concludes that journalists are likely to ignore the Draft Directive, and that the Draft will impose intolerable burdens on the informa tion science community in the media. The paper also recom mends that the Association of UK Media Librarians under takes a data protection awareness campaign for its members.
Information management and corporate total quality
Authors: Brockman John R.
Published: March 2007

This paper examines the principal models of total quality (TQ) from the perspective of their information man agement (IM) content, expressed and implied. The models chosen include those underlying the Deming Prize of Japan, the US Presidential Award for Qualay, the European Quality Award and the proposed UK Prime Minister's Award for Total Quality, but discussion focuses upon the US Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award model. It demonstrates that on the basis of the criteria and scoring guidelines specified in these models, the effectiveness of an organisation's IM prac tices is critical to achieving corporate TQ The process of benchmarking, together with a brief case-study based on Corning Incorporated, are used to exemplity the role of IM in the TQ organisation
A unique drug activity search system
Authors: Fenton Harold , Hutton Ian
Published: March 2007

A retrieval system has been devised based on inves tigational drug activities. A unique hierarchical structure and coding system has been developed applicable to all drug activities. Online searches are possible enabling retrieval of data hitherto obtained with difficulty. Side effects profiles can be predicted or determined. Drug strategies and research programmes can be planned efficiently since it is also possible to obtain molecular structure details. Drug activities which have been abandoned are also easily accessed so that negative research avenues can be avoided.
The management information requirements of heads of university departments: a critical success factors approach
Authors: Pellow A. , Wilson T.D.
Published: March 2007

This paper examines the problems of developing management information systems in universities, with particu lar attention to the information needs of Heads of Depart ments. The context of university work is explored and needs are uncovered using the critical success factors methodology In using CSF it was found that senior managers intuitively understand and accept their use and that the methodology can take account of the unique characteristics of university management. Further advantages of the method are that all information is considered, whether or not it is easy to collect, and the critical success factors point to priorities for develop ment. The conclusions include suggestions for future research, hypotheses on critical success factors and information needs of Heads of departments and recommendations on informa tion acquisition, analysis and dissemination.
A comparison of Malaysian and American groups using a Group Decision Support System
Authors: Aiken Milam , Hwang Chi , De Magalhaes Roberto , Martin Jeanette
Published: March 2007

The vast majority of research conducted on Group Decision Support Systems has been based upon groups using the English language. In this paper, we describe a Group Decision Support System developed at the University of Mis sissippi that supports meetings of groups speaking English, German, French, Malay, or any other language which uses the Roman alphabet (including accent marks). A pilot study was conducted comparing American students using English with Malaysian students using alternatively English and Malay. All groups used a Group Decision Support System to exchange comments or solutions regarding the assigned problem. In general, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of production blocking (ease of communica tion), evaluation apprehension (fear of peer criticism), and overall meeting satisfaction in either language. These results support our hypothesis that Group Decision Support Systems can be used effectively regardless of a group's nationality or language.
A scaleable technique for best-match retrieval of sequential information using metrics-guided search
Authors: Wolff J. Gerard
Published: March 2007

A new technique is described for retrieving infor mation by finding the best match or matches between a textual 'query' and a textual database. The technique uses principles of beam search with a measure of probability to guide the search and prune the search tree. Unlike many methods for comparing strings, the method gives a set of alternative matches, graded by the 'quality' of the matching achieved.
The Jupiter system: an environment for multidatabase interoperability
Authors: Murphy J.P. , Grimson J.B.
Published: March 2007

The goal of the Jupiter system is to provide interoperability services to a federation of autonomous and possibly heterogeneous database systems. Interoperability is the ability to connect software systems in a manner which facilitates transparent access to enterprise data resources, which may be distributed among legacy applications across multiple heterogeneous software and hardware platforms. The participants are free to withdraw at any time, with the result that global integration of the participant schemas is not seen as a feasible solution. Our solution is to provide a multidatabase layer and a suitable interoperator language to allow information providers to construct loosely-coupled interoperable autonomous information systems. The enor mous problems faced by information system providers are compounded by the difficulty of integrating key applications which have been developed using traditional methods with applications developed using, for example, object- oriented technology. A goal of our research is to address the area of multidatabase interoperability and, to this end, we have constructed the Jupiter prototype.
CIDA: the expert Company Information Database Adviser
Authors: Morris Anne , Tseng Gwyneth , Drenth Hilary
Published: March 2007

The development and testing of an expert system to assist with the selection of online business databases for UK company information is described. The Company Information Database Adviser (CIDA) was designed for novice and end- user searchers and covers seven categories of company infor mation : factual (directory) details, financial data, company news, company structure, mergers and acquisitions (M & A) activity, market information and company profiles. The devel opment tool was the Leonardo expert system shell. Knowledge acquisition included three knowledge elicita tion sessions with each of four experienced business informa tion intermediaries. Outputs of knowledge acquisition were: (i) factual and evaluative information for over 200 database/ host combinations, and (ii) rules, expressed diagrammatically, for database selection within each category of company infor mation. These were used to build a prototype which was examined by intermediaries and further refined. The design is outlined and the rules governing the selection of company directory databases are described by way of illustration. Test ing included: an evaluation of the user interface by novice users; field testing by staff and end-users at a prominent busi ness school, and comparative performance trials against conventional database directories. CIDA's database recom mendations were in close agreement with those of business intermediaries across a range of independently generated queries. It was used far more successfully than conventional business database directories by trainee searchers (library and information students). End-user field trials were disappoint ing because of lack of participation. The study concludes that expertise in business database selection can successfully be distilled into a number of rules which can be applied by an expert system, but more research is needed into how databases are selected and used.
Information policy - the mounting tension (value additive versus uniquely distributable 'public good')
Authors: Koenig Michael E.D.
Published: March 2007

This paper posits that there is a fundamental and less than adequately recognized tension underlying information policy issues. That tension is between the nature of infor mation as inherently a value-added product and the nature of information as a commodity with compelling 'public good' characteristics and with unique properties of trans ferability and distributability. These conflicting properties of information each attempt to drive information policy in opposite directions. The magnitude of those forces is to a large degree a function of information technology, and changes in information technology therefore change the balance between those forces and require new solutions. Furthermore, the present accelerating changes in informa tion technology are tending not only to change the balance point between those factors, but, even more interesting and less recognized, they tend to make more compelling the forces and the arguments on either side of that balance point. Thus, information policy decisions are inevitably becoming increasingly difficult to arrive at, as each side sees the logic of its side become ever more compelling, while often failing to see that precisely the same is happening to the arguments of the other side. We need to understand this phenomenon if we are to intelligently guide the information policy process.
Marketing development in the public library sector: an empirical analysis
Authors: Doherty N.F. , Saker J. , Smith I.G.
Published: March 2007

Most studies of market development have concentrated on the private sector. This paper, in contrast, focuses on the not-for-profit sector by analysing market development in the British public library sector. This paper firstly presents a summary of the nature and extent of marketing develop ment in the library services sector. The paper continues by addressing the issue of why some local authorities under take a high level of marketing activity, while others do very little. A wide range of potential influences on the degree of marketing activity, both at the macro and micro level, was empirically analysed. This study concludes that the level of marketing activity is highly influenced by both the range of services offered by the local authority and the presence of a marketing function within a specific organisation.
Information usage by biological researchers
Authors: Rolinson J. , Al-Shanbari H. , Meadows A.J.
Published: March 2007

Continuing change in the provision of, and access to, scien tific information has stimulated interest in the nature of current information usage by scientists. Recent studies have looked at this question in terms of science as a whole. The present study complements these by concentrating on the biological sciences only. It surveys research information usage in four institutions - a university agricultural faculty, a university school of biology, a government research estab lishment and a pharmaceutical laboratory - and comple ments a study of information technology usage by biological researchers which has already appeared. It is found that biologists have a spread of information needs which paral lels in its diversity that of all the sciences taken together. Changes in information-handling in biology are occurring, but to differing extents, depending on the institution and the biological specialism.
Information skills, searching behaviour and cognitive styles for student-centred learning: a computer-assisted learning approach
Authors: Wood Frances , Ford Nigel , Miller David , Sobczyk Gill , Duffin Robert
Published: March 2007

Undergraduates were tested to establish how they searched databases, the effectiveness of their searches and their satis faction with them. The students' cognitive and learning styles were determined by the Lancaster Approaches to Studying Inventory and Riding's Cognitive Styles Analysis tests. There were significant differences in the searching behaviour and the effectiveness of the searches carried out by students with different learning and cognitive styles. Computer-assisted learning (CAL) packages were devel oped for three departments. The effectiveness of the pack ages was evaluated. Significant differences were found in the ways students with different learning styles used the packages. Based on the experience gained, guidelines for the teaching of information skills and the production and use of packages were prepared.

About two-thirds of the searches had serious weaknesses, indicating a need for effective training. It appears that choice of searching strategies, search effectiveness and use of CAL packages are all affected by the cognitive and learning styles of the searcher. Therefore, students should be made aware of their own styles and, if appropriate, how to adopt more effec tive strategies. Information skills training and, in particular, CAL packages for this purpose should be designed to accom modate different cognitive and learning styles.
Electronic bulletin board distributed questionnaires for exploratory research
Authors: Miller James , Daly John , Wood Murray , Brooks Andrew , Roper Marc
Published: March 2007

The use of electronic bulletin boards is increasing dramat ically ; they are now a significant source of opinion and experience-related commentary from a wide variety of people over a large range of topics. As such, they are a major information resource and potentially suitable as a vehicle for questionnaire distribution. To date, there has been no formal discussion of this vehicle - a deficiency this paper attempts to address. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this medium, and compares it against the other possible alternatives. We believe this comparison shows that the medium has a great deal to offer and a wide degree of applicability, especially within the area of exploratory research.

The main deficiency with the medium is that it poten tially suffers from a large-scale self-selection bias. To inves tigate this, we have conducted a questionnaire study through this medium, and subsequently replicated it using a traditional mail distribution approach. We believe that this experiment provides evidence that, for populations without a sampling frame, the effect is of a similar magni tude for both bulletin board distributed and mail distrib uted surveys. We conclude that surveys using this new medium are valid, given the above restriction.
Contributions of Organizational Sociology
Authors: Lammers Cornelis J.
Published: March 2007

A case is made for the stance that sociologists who study organizations have been and are rendering more valuable services to organizational theory and practice by maintain ing the sociology of organization as a more or less distinct speciality than by simply joining hands with others in an interdisciplinary approach to the field. Some typical features of the sociological 'touch' in organizational analysis are singled out, namely (1) the view that organizations are recalcitrant tools, (2) the view that organizations form part and parcel of society, (3) the interest in cultural aspects and cultural determinants of organizational forms and processes, and (4) a specific ethos: problem orientation. Finally, the contributions of organizational sociology to practical and societal concerns are discussed. It is concluded that these contributions are of an indirect rather than of a direct kind.
Research Note: Linguistic Analysis of an Open-ended Questionnaire in an Organizational Study
Authors: Engwall Lars
Published: March 2007

This paper discusses methods of data collection when opinions of organization members are required for a study. The advantages and disadvantages of rigorously structured questionnaires and open-ended questions are examined. Methods to increase the reliability in the analysis of open-ended questions are suggested. An application from a Swedish newspaper company demonstrates how qualitative and quantitative methods can be combined in the analysis of unstructured information. The results point to , differences in orientation between different occupational groups in the company. In addition the results indicate that qualitative and quantitative methods provide similar results. Finally, the feedback of the results to interviewees has pointed to the usefulness of the method both for research and as a tool in organizational development.
Equality of the Sexes in an Organizational Perspective: A Swedish Experiment
Authors: Westlander Gunnela
Published: March 2007

One way in which management can respond to contemporary demands that it take greater responsibility for equal working conditions for men and women is by special training projects designed to break through existing barriers. One such 'break-away effort', which was subjected to an especially systematic evaluation, is described in this paper. It involved women workers in a Volvo plant in central Sweden.
Is Bureaucracy Inevitable? The Chinese Experience
Authors: Shenkar Oded
Published: March 2007

Is bureaucracy inevitable? Can an organization exist without a specialized division of labour and multiple rules, and escape the problems associated with bureaucracy? The present paper discusses the Chinese experience in 'eliminating' bureaucracy throughout history, particularly in the Cultural Revolution. The consequences of this attempt and its aftermath suggest that bureaucratic rules and specialization are inevitable, and that we should try to improve rather than eliminate bureaucracy.
The Rise and Fall of the Division of Labour, the Past 25 Years
Authors: Carter Nancy M. , Keon Thomas L.
Published: March 2007

Empirical research published during the past 25 years which focussed on the division of labour was reviewed. Identifiable themes indicated that researchers were principally interested in the relationship between segmentation and size, size/technology, size/administrative ratio, structure, and innovation. Additionally, two methodological issues, measurement and emergent/contextual, were the subjects of numerous articles. Despite the substantial decline in the number of articles published since the early 1970s, the nature of several interrelationships remains undetermined. Researchers were urged to pursue these topics within the current broader conception of organiz ations.
Beyond the Surrogate of Motivation
Authors: Sievers Burkard
Published: March 2007

The image of man as presented in the predominant organizational theories of motivation does not accord with the author's experience of working with people in organizations. This dissonance has led to a critique of the concept of motivation and its inherent theoretical shortcomings as to the reality of people in organizations. The main argument of this essay, however, stems from a meta-critical perspective according to which the notion of motivation and its referrant theories can be regarded as scientific inventions. The hypothesis is offered and elaborated that motivation is a surrogate for meaning, i.e. for the meaning of work and life which is increasingly lost through the high frequency of fragmentation and splitting in our contemporary work enterprises. Any attempt towards discovering existential dimensions of meaning can be accomplished only if social scientists, managers and workers alike, both individually as well as collectively, again become aware of death as a fact of life; it is only through acknowledging mortality that humanization can occur.
A Political Bargaining Theory of Co-determination — An Empirical Test for the Dutch System of Organizational Democracy
Authors: Teulings Ad W. M.
Published: March 2007

Works Council influence in strategic managerial decisions is based upon the formal legal capacity to interrupt the process of decision-making at some point before its implementation, i.e. to halt the labour process of management. This equals the capacity to halt the operational labour process by means of a work stoppage in traditional collective bargaining.

An empirical study of Works Council politics, comparing two samples (336 firms in 1980 and 63 firms in 1984) shows a strong but complex inter-relationship between the use of legal interventions and of legitimate non-statutory means of power.

Influential, leading Works Councils follow a 'rational political' or a 'radical' strategy.

The economic crisis increases the gap between this vanguard of inter-related Works Councils and a majority of isolated Councils abstaining from action or accommodating by bureaucratic ritualism.
The Language of Power and the Power of Language
Authors: Clegg Stewart R.
Published: March 2007

In this paper earlier research by the author (Clegg 1975) is used as an occasion for reflecting more generally on the adequacy of approaches to the study of language and power in organization analysis. Three approaches, the ethnographic, conversation analysis and a materialist approach, are discussed. The limitations, both in practical and analytic terms, of a 'language' approach to power are drawn from a discussion of the 'inclemency rule' and other data.
Workers' Self-Management in the World System: The Yugoslav Case
Authors: Rojek Chris , Wilson David C.
Published: March 2007

This paper attempts to show that whilst the concept of self management was reasonable in the light of Yugoslavia's break from the Soviet bloc, its practice has proved problematic. It is argued that there are two inter-related reasons for this. First, self-management becomes largely a myth in a country which is interdependent with a dominantly capitalist worldwide market system and, second, it becomes difficult to sustain self-management in the light of factions and pressure groups which consistently put their own interests above those of the nation.

Theoretically, the paper attempts to transcend the nation state as the primary level of analysis. It is argued that organizational relations in one country can only be understood in terms of the inter-state system of organizational relations. Self-management is likely to be problematic in a world economy which is dominated by the advanced capitalist core powers.
Organizational Culture: Origins and Weaknesses
Authors: Meek V. Lynn
Published: March 2007

This paper is a brief but critical survey of some theories of organizational culture. It outlines the theories of culture borrowed from anthropology by social scientists interested in 'complex organizations', and locates these theories in an historical debate regarding their 'proper' use. The paper argues the need for a conceptual distinction between culture and social structure, and asserts that the culture of organizational life cannot be analyzed in terms of a universal unitary concept. The argument concludes by suggesting 'conceptual tools' for interpreting culture — symbol, ideational systems, myth and ritual — and how they might be used in analysis.
Managerial Beliefs About Work in Two Arab States
Authors: Ali Abbas , Al-Shakhis Mohammed
Published: March 2007

This study examines current beliefs about work among Saudi and Iraqi managers. Two hundred and three Iraqi and 132 Saudi managers completed questionnaires used to measure their belief systems. Iraqi managers show greater commitment to egalitarian and humanistic beliefs, and are less individualistic than Saudi managers. Furthermore, country affiliation, rather than demographic and organizational variables, is found to be important in determining beliefs about work.
The Measurement of Perceived Intraorganizational Power: A Multi-Respondent Perspective
Authors: Enz Cathy A.
Published: March 2007

This study found substantial divergence between a general measure of perceived departmental power and an issue-specific measure, and indicates a conceptual distinctiveness between these two common perceptual measures. Using the assessments of three different respondent groups allowed for the cross-validation of the power measures while highlighting differences in perceptions based on group membership. The findings of this study raise the possibility that different dimensions of power (enacted versus potential power) are not equally reflected in the two perceptual measures when departmental members and top managers are the groups assessing each sub-unit's power. Measurement distinctiveness was not found to exist when other departments' members evaluated each subunit's power. This investigation suggests that future studies of power would benefit from utilizing more than one perceptual measure and more than one group of respondents.
On Reading Organizational Culture
Authors: Linstead Stephen , Grafton-Small Robert
Published: March 2007

The study of organizational cultures has been dominated by an interpretative approach which has emphasized the production of culture at the expense of the creativity shown by the consumers of cuiture, organizational members. 'Corpor ate culture' is distinguished from 'workplace' or 'organizational' cultures, and a number of other problems emerging within the literature are identified. These are presented as organizational culture versus cultural organization; cultural plurali ties ; rationality and the irrational; common knowledge and its constitution; power and ideology; and individualism and subjectivity. It is then argued, after a detailed discussion of concepts drawn primarily from a close reading of the work of Jacques Derrida, that a postmodern approach to organizational culture would recast the problems in terms of a revised conceptualization of subjectivity, and would formulate culture as paradox, otherness, seduction, and discourse. This would entail studying the 'bricolage' of organizational members within the 'microphysics' of what de Certeau calls the 'tactics of everyday practice'.
Cognition in Organizational Analysis: Who's Minding the Store?
Authors: Schneider Susan C. , Angelmar Reinhard
Published: March 2007

Research on cognition in organizations has focused primarily on managers and how they think while performing a variety of managerial tasks. This approach limits our understanding of cognition at the collective level and the interactive effects across levels of analysis. We propose a framework of cognition — based on structure, process, and style — which can be applied to the individual, group and organizational levels of analysis. By mapping the territory, we observe certain well-travelled routes, while other terrain remains relatively unexplored. This map also identifies theoretical and methodological road blocks which suggest a number of future research directions.
Organizational Learning: A Review of Some Literatures
Authors: Dodgson Mark
Published: March 2007

Organizational learning is currently the focus of considerable attention, and it is addressed by a broad range of literatures. Organization theory, industrial econ omics, economic history, and business, management and innovation studies all approach the question of how organizations learn. A number of branches of psychology are also revealing on the issue. This paper assesses these various literatures by examining the insights they allow in three main areas: first, the goals of organizational learning; second, the learning processes in organizations; and third, the ways in which organizational learning may be facilitated and impeded. It contends that while the various literatures are revealing in particular aspects of organizational learning, a more complete understanding of its complexity requires a multi-disciplinary approach. The contributions of the different approaches are analyzed, and some areas are suggested where the transfer of analytical concepts may improve understanding.
Too Little Too Late: A Case Study of Escalation in Decision Making
Authors: Drummond Helga
Published: March 2007

This paper examines a city council's persistence with a failing department over a five-year period. The case is an example of escalation of commitment where decision-makers inherit a previously unsuccessful and long established decision as distinct from involvement in an ad hoc venture. It is concluded that the pres sures to escalate in established decisions are different from those previously observed in ad hoc ventures. Escalation in established decisions is cyclical, altern ating between structural and social pressures. Project and psychological factors are secondary. Powerlessness is identified as a new structural variable. It is specu lated that escalation in established decisions may be basically structural. Decision- makers' actions are reminiscent of behaviours observed in previous studies of strategic decision-making.
Teams : From 'Ideology' to Analysis
Authors: Jenkins Alan
Published: March 2007

This paper challenges the thesis of Sinclair (1992) that current managerial experimentation with teams can be understood using the concept of a 'team ideology'. The latter notion is shown to be reductionist, preventing a proper historical and sociological analysis of the phenomenon. The theoretical value of long-standing contingency approaches for such an analysis is reaffirmed, but their limits are also outlined in order to clarify the directions organizational theory must take to fully understand the delicate 'embedding' of teams in organizations.
When Chinese Companies Negotiate with Their Government
Authors: Derong Chen , Faure Guy Olivier
Published: March 2007

Drawing on case study material, this paper analyzes a complex negotiation between a Chinese company and local government. It highlights the main char acteristics of such a negotiation and describes the rationale and outcomes of the process. Observations made in a Chinese context may provide insights for negotiators working in other cultural contexts when they address the question of resolving universal difficulties in government-organization negotiations. Lessons are drawn on matters such as the logic implemented in order to deal with power within an asymmetric setting or some workable approaches used in conflict handling, especially in case of deadlock. Finally by emphasizing three cultural dimensions — national—ethnic, organizational and profes sional — this study analyzes some key features of negotiated management in the Chinese context.
A Diverse Employee in a Changing Workplace
Authors: Mamman Aminu
Published: March 2007

This paper attempts to identify some of the key variables that can impinge on employee interaction adjustment in a diverse workforce. For the sake of convenience, these variables are categorized as primary, secondary and mediat ing variables. Primary variables are the major characteristics of an employee that distinguish him/her from other members of the organization. They pertain to characteristics which cannot be easily changed or manipulated (e.g. disabil ity, culture, race, gender). Secondary variables encompass other aspects of an employee's background that can also help in defining his/her 'identity' in the eyes of the members of the organization (e.g. intonation) and his/her psycholo gical disposition (e.g. cognition, personality). The effect of primary and sec ondary variables on a diverse employee's interaction adjustment is mediated by situational factors (e.g. the intensity and frequency of the dominant group's attitudes), interaction strategies and organizational factors (e.g. policy on diversity).
Strategy, Environment and Performance in Two Technological Contexts: Contingency Theory in Korea
Authors: Lee Jangwoo , Miller Danny
Published: March 2007

This paper examines the range of application of strategic contingency theory. Its thesis is that as technologies and economies become more open to market forces, the tenets of contingency theory become increasingly relevant. The Korean economy seemed an ideal venue for testing this notion as it is very heterogeneous in the effectiveness of its technological regulation. Many Korean companies employing traditional technologies are able to benefit from government intervention, whereas most of those using emergent technolo gies — even in the same industry — are forced to compete internationally and are very much more subject to competitive market forces. We found that Korean companies using emergent technologies were more likely to do well if they heeded contingency prescriptions in making strategy: specifically, if they employed innovative and marketing differentiation strategies in uncertain environments and cost leadership strategies in stable contexts. On the other hand, companies that used traditional technologies were less apt to benefit from matching strategy to environment. In short, strategic contingency literature was found to apply more to businesses employing emergent technologies than to those using traditional technologies. Notions from institutional and contin gency theory and from the literature on cross-cultural management are used to interpret these findings.
Institutionalizing the Labour Theory of Value: Some Obstacles to the Reform of State-owned Enterprises in China and Vietnam
Authors: Boisot Max H.
Published: March 2007

The changes experienced by the managers in socialist and post-socialist state- owned enterprises can be likened to what Kuhn (1962) has termed a 'paradigm shift', a transition between two systems that are incommensurable. Yet, as Kuhn himself has pointed out, individuals do not easily give up on the way that they see the world. A new paradigm often only really takes root when the advocates of an earlier paradigm die off. This paper examines the paradig matic role played by the labour theory of value in accounting for the behaviour of state-owned enterprise managers in China and Vietnam. It examines specific managerial and institutional practices derivable from the theory and assesses the implications of a paradigm approach to the challenge of system reforms in both countries for institutional and structural contingency theories.
Local Corporatism and Rural Enterprises in China's Reform
Authors: Jiang Shanhe , Hall Richard H.
Published: March 2007

'Local corporatism' has been identified as a major factor in the rapid growth of the Chinese economy. The institutional environment, ownership, political and social factors operate along with economic factors in explaining local cor poratism and differences in the degree of corporatism of collective and private enterprises with local governments. The differences lead to the distinction between collective and private enterprises in terms of organizational character istics. This is confirmed by data from 132 rural enterprises in China.
Inertia, Density and the Structure of Organizational Populations: Entries in European Automobile Industries, 1886-1981
Authors: Hannan Michael T.
Published: March 2007

Existing theories of density dependence in organizational evolution treat the key processes as timeless functions of density. This paper revises the theory by specifying that the effects of density on legitimation and competition change systematically as organizational populations age. It argues that these changes in effects reflect population-level inertia due to institutionalization and the development of various forms of population structure. The proposed model of these processes implies a set of complex interactions between density and population age in effecting vital rates in organizational populations. These hypotheses are tested with data on entries of firms into the automobile indus tries of Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy during 1886-1981. These tests generally support the revised model. The pattern continues to hold when entry rates in each country are allowed to depend upon density in the whole set of countries, following Hannan et al. (1995).