bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organisational learning and organisational design
Authors: Curado Carla
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore a new idea presenting the possible relationship between organisational learning and organisational design.

Design/methodology/approach

The establishment of this relation is based upon extensive literature review.

Findings

Organisational learning theory has been used to understand several organisational phenomena, like resources and competencies, tacit knowledge or the role of memory in the organisation; however, it is difficult to identify fits and consequent misfits between organisational learning and the organisational design.

Research limitations/implications

This is a theoretical paper, so there is a possible limitation, regarding the lack of empirical support.

Practical implications

At the end of the paper a number of recommendations regarding the organisational design are suggested, in order to promote organisational learning in the firms.

Originality/value

This paper identifies some links between organisational learning and organisational design, providing the grounds for a subsequent development and empirically testing of those relations.
Organizational learning, tacit information, and e‐learning: a review
Authors: Falconer Liz
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and develop the argument that e‐learning technologies and techniques can play a pivotal role in encouraging and facilitating organizational learning, by transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge and diffusing it throughout the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

By synthesising the evidence in organizational learning, information technology (IT) and e‐learning research domains, this paper challenges the assertion that tacit information cannot be effectively transformed or diffused by technological means. The notion of organizational learning is examined, particularly in relation to the applicability or otherwise of anthropomorphic models. The cyclic nature of individual and organizational learning models is then discussed and a synthesized construct is offered. The importance of tacit knowledge expression and transfer in this cyclic model is examined, and the role of IT and e‐learning techniques is considered as a means of encouraging tacit knowledge transformation and flow.

Findings

Topics of reflection, independence, creation of “safe” learning spaces and the importance of collaboration in learning are demonstrated as being some of the most synergistic issues. These are under‐researched topics, though. There is significant potential for effective collaborative research amongst the organizational learning, IT and e‐learning pedagogy research communities, addressing issues such as the effective extraction and communication of tacit knowledge.

Originality/value

This originality and value of this paper lies in the synthesis of evidence from research and practice domains that have traditionally been disparate, demonstrating that the information technology and e‐learning pedagogy fields can offer effective means of enhancing organizational learning.
Designing and implementing collaborative improvement in the extended manufacturing enterprise
Authors: Coghlan David , Coughlan Paul
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide a design and implementation framework for ALAR (action learning action research) programme which aims to address collaborative improvement in the extended manufacturing enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

This article demonstrates the design of a programme in which action learning and action research were used in combination (ALAR). The participants in the EME engaged in action learning on their work on collaborative improvement in the supply chain. The action learning was studied through action research cycles of action and reflection.

Findings

This implementation of the ALAR programme consolidated the design of ten meetings across three stages and adds to other design models within ALAR approach.

Research limitations/implications

This is one particular research programme, from which learning may be extrapolated.

Practical implications

This article provides a practical design framework for ALAR programmes on collaborative improvement in the EME.

Originality/value

The article extends the application of an ALAR programme design into the inter‐organisational setting.
Facilitators of organizational learning in design
Authors: Thuy Pham Ngoc , Swierczek Fredric William
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the influence of organizational factors such as leadership commitment, incentives and interaction on learning outcomes defined as performance improvement and organizational climate.

Design/methodology/approach

Different aspects of knowledge acquisition, sharing and utilization were examined, related to outcomes. Design professionals in Vietnam construction firms were surveyed. The sample was 339 designers.

Findings

The impact of leadership commitment was significantly related to both performance and organizational climate. Incentives were only positively correlated with performance and staff interaction was only positive with organizational climate. The paper is supportive of many conceptual studies in the literature. The results show that each of these factors has a different role and impact on the organizational learning process and outcome.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this study are that the sample comes from only one industry in a developing country, and it uses an attitudinal survey. Replications of this analysis in other research contexts, industries, countries and organizational characteristics would enhance the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

From the practical perspective managers who would like to facilitate learning in the organization, improve performance and promote a better organizational climate should demonstrate their commitment to learning, provide incentives to use that learning and use a more collaborative approach.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence for the importance of leadership commitment, incentives and staff interaction on the process and outcome of organizational learning.
Extension to alliance: Aaker and Keller's model revisited
Authors: Owen James David
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Since publication, Aaker and Keller's seminal paper on brand extensions has received acclaimed support and criticism. This paper aims to return to the original work and extend the frameworks presented to brand alliances. The study seeks to examine the dimensions used in the original model and attempt to identify whether the brand extension dimensions can be applied to brand alliances.

Design/methodology/approach

Using quantitative research techniques through a structured study using 11 real brands in eight hypothetical alliances over 260 respondents, the study examines the reapplication of the brand extension framework to brand alliances.

Findings

The study has found that, though some extension elements apply to alliances, the role of fit takes on particular importance, whereas difficulty of making assumes a minor role, and that the basic extension framework can be applied to brand alliances.

Research limitations/limitations

The study used real consumer brands in hypothetical extensions and alliances with student samples from the UK. Different results may be found using alternative samples and with real brands.

Originality/value

The paper adds value to the literature and to practitioners' understanding of brand leverage by identifying that, though Aaker and Keller's study framework is applicable to brand alliances, the role of fit between partners takes on a central role to the detriment of difficulty of making.
The regulation of practices that promote brand interest: a “3Cs” guide for consumer brand managers
Authors: Petty Ross D. , Lindsey‐Mullikin Joan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This research seeks to examine the regulation of practices that promote brand interest. Its goal is to develop a comprehensive conceptual framework of such practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive search of US marketing laws and regulations was conducted to find cases and regulations pertaining to practices that promote consumer interest in a particular brand. These practices were then arranged into categories by their method of influencing consumer behavior.

Findings

The 3Cs approach appears to provide a useful conceptual model for consumer brand managers. This model allows managers to consider the applicable case law and regulations for each type of practice.

Originality/value

The conceptual model developed here is the first of its kind. It provides a useful tool for consumer brand managers who are considering various practices to promote brand interest. It helps brand managers evaluate the legal risks of the various practices they are considering.
Building corporate branding through internal marketing: the case of the UK retail bank industry
Authors: Papasolomou Ioanna , Vrontis Demetris
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Starting from the premise that there are critical issues that should drive brand success, this study seeks to investigate the way the UK retail banking industry has sought to build and sustain a strong brand by launching an internal marketing (IM) programme throughout its branch network. Also aims to shed light on the themes of branding in the financial services industry and the relationship between IM and branding.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was qualitative and exploratory in nature, since the aim was to explore branch managers' and employees' views and experiences of IM within the UK retail bank industry. Data were collected by carrying out in‐depth qualitative interviews with organisational members working in different positions within 35 business units that represented seven different UK retail banking organisations. The qualitative data were analysed by using the grounded theory approach developed by Strauss and Corbin in 1990.

Findings

The data analysis revealed four core themes as constitutive of IM, namely: internal customers; training and education; quality standards; and rewards systems. These four themes are enacted on a constant basis in order to construct a certain sort of organisational reality, one that sets the foundation on building and sustaining a strong corporate brand by changing the organisational culture to one which is more “people”, service‐ and customer‐oriented.

Research limitations/implications

The study focused on one industry, the UK retail bank industry, in order to enhance one's understanding and knowledge regarding the IM theory and practice. This needs to be taken into consideration in generalising the findings to other sectors and geographic markets.

Practical implications

The research shows that the banks studied have adopted IM due to realising that employees represent a valuable source for building and differentiating the corporate brand, since they have a powerful impact on consumers' perceptions of both the brand and the organisation. The IM perspective has the potential to integrate all staff in the branding process and create an organisational culture that sets the foundation for building a strong corporate brand.

Originality/value

The current literature on IM has revealed that there is no universally accepted and adopted IM programme and that those organisations that have adopted IM have developed their own “custom‐made” approaches. The paper reveals the IM implementation approach adopted by the UK retail banks studied.
The explanatory foundations of relationship marketing theory
Authors: Hunt Shelby D. , Arnett Dennis B. , Madhavaram Sreedhar
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Drawing on resource‐advantage theory and a diverse literature base, this article seeks to further the development of the explanatory foundations of relationship marketing theory by proposing, and then providing, tentative answers to three “why?” questions in relationship marketing: why is relationship marketing so prominent now? Why do firms and consumers enter into relationships with other firms and consumers? Why are some efforts at relationship marketing more successful than others?

Design/methodology/approach

Before addressing the three questions, the paper begins by discussing the different forms of relationship marketing.

Findings

Although relationship marketing is a relatively young field of inquiry, relationship marketing theory is an extremely rich area of research. Relationship marketing can take many forms and, as a result, relationship marketing theory has the potential to increase one's understanding of many aspects of business strategy.

Research limitations/implications

The answers to the three questions in this paper provide a strong foundation for the further development relationship marketing theory and are useful for both relationship marketing theorists and practitioners.

Originality/value

As relationship marketing theory and practice are developed further, the authors hope that the article will provide useful guidance to those involved. From a marketing theory standpoint, the eight kinds of factors provide guidance to researchers exploring the many forms of relational marketing. For practitioners, they provide a useful framework for evaluating extant relationship marketing strategies and for developing future strategies.
Self‐protection vs opportunity seeking in business buying behavior: an experimental study
Authors: Jacob Frank , Ehret Michael
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Theories on industrial buying behavior differ fundamentally with regard to motivation and direction of industrial purchasing decisions. This becomes extremely in the case of new institutional economics, highlighting administrative aspects, and market process theory, focusing on entrepreneurial aspects of buying decisions. This paper aims to challenge these approaches by setting up an experimental design. Decisions of sales and purchasing managers were investigated with respect to their motivation of self‐protection or opportunity seeking.

Design/methodology/approach

The contribution is based on an experimental design. The design is based on a prospect theory scenario. Prospect theory states that successful economic agents show a stronger tendency towards self‐protection, whereas under‐performing economic agents are willing to bear greater risks in search for opportunities.

Findings

The results suggest that indeed out‐performers show a tendency to risk avoidance and under‐performers are willing to bear more risks. The most important implication is that new institutional economics‐based approaches to buying behavior are not universally valid. However, they apply to specific situations. In that respect the contribution shows a direction for the proper application of transaction cost‐based concepts.

Practical implications

Managers are advised to take the economic performance of their customer companies into account. Outperforming companies are more responsive to measures for self‐protection. Under‐performing customers may be more tolerant towards risk if it is compensated with the expectation of better opportunities.

Originality/value

The empirical research is new in so far as it is the first to apply a prospect theory framework to a business market environment. The results show clearly that the methodology, as originally applied in prospect theory, needs refinement when transferred to a business market context.
Gildemeister Lathes Ltd
Authors: Heimers Uwe , Kupp Martin , Reitz Ulli T.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This case study sets out to draw a detailed picture of the business relationships between Gildemeister Lathes Ltd and its two competing in‐suppliers, Siemens and Heidenhain.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of a profound analysis of the relationship context and by identifying the drivers of commitment the reader should identify some starting‐points to develop a sales strategy in order to keep and raise Siemens' share of the business with Gildemeister.

Findings

The case study enables the discussion of customer value‐drivers within a relationship context and puts an emphasis on the assessment of a multi‐stage marketing‐approach focusing on different units within a complex customer organisation and taking into account the “customer's customer”‐perspective.

Originality/value

This paper provides a detailed case study of Gildemeister Lathes Ltd, Siemens, and Heidenhain.
Web sites for every department course
Authors: Naveh Gali , Tubin Dorit , Pliskin Nava
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To study the implementation of a learning content management system (LCMS) at one department of a university in light of Rogers' diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory and in comparison to known critical success factors (CSFs) in implementation of information systems.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was used to examine the implementation process.

Findings

Under authority decision to adopt the system throughout the department, the diffusion was quick and without resistance, not in line with authority adoption decision in Rogers' DOI theory. Some of the CSFs found are consistent with implementation CSFs mentioned in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

To complement the qualitative research, quantitative research is needed regarding administrative measures taken in implementation processes at other academic departments and the success in terms of system adoption.

Originality/value

Successful LCMS implementation in an academic environment is rather rare and studying the successful authority decision in this case is of value to researchers and to practitioners. To adopt the system might imply that administrative measures could expedite implementation in other academic institutions.
DYNER: a DYNamic clustER for education and research
Authors: Kehagias Dimitris , Grivas Michael , Mamalis Basilis , Pantziou Grammati
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of a non‐expensive dynamic computing resource, consisting of a Beowulf class cluster and a NoW, as an educational and research infrastructure.

Design/methodology/approach

Clusters, built using commodity‐off‐the‐shelf (COTS) hardware components and free, or commonly used, software, provide an inexpensive computing resource to educational institutions. The Department of Informatics of TEI, Athens, has built a dynamic clustering system consisting of a Beowulf‐class cluster and a NoW called DYNER (DYNamic clustER). This paper evaluates the use of the DYNER system, as a platform for running the laboratory work of various courses (parallel computing, operating systems, distributed computing), as well as various parallel applications in the framework of research, which is in progress under on‐going research projects. Three distinct groups from the academic community of the TEI of Athens can benefit directly from the DYNER platform: the students of the Department of Informatics, the faculty members and researchers of the department, and researchers from other departments of the institution.

Findings

The results obtained were positive and satisfactory. The use of the dynamic cluster offers to the students new abilities regarding high performance computing, which will improve their potential for professional excellence.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of this research study are that the students clarified issues, such as “doubling the number of processors does not mean doubling execution speed”, and learned how to build and configure a cluster without going deeply into the complexity of the software set‐up.

Practical implications

This research provides students with the ability to gain hands‐on experience on a not very common to them but useful platform, and faculty members – from a variety of disciplines – to get more computing power for their research.

Originality/value

This paper presents a dynamic clustering system where, its versatility and flexibility with respect to configuration and functionality, together with its dynamic, strong computational power, renders it to a very helpful tool for educational and research purposes.
The need for a digital library service registry
Authors: Frumkin Jeremy
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine how a digital library service registry will help enable the development of distributed, service‐based digital libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

A discussion of recent efforts in building service registries, the key components for a digital library service registry, and the need for a reference model for building distributed digital libraries.

Findings

By building a reference model, digital library system development can move forward so that digital libraries become less silos of information and more interoperating collections of distributed services

Originality/value

Provides ideas for digital library developers and implementers, especially those looking for increasing collaboration and interactivity in digital libraries.
The changing digital content landscape
Authors: Swatman Paula M.C. , Krueger Cornelia , van der Beek Kornelia
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide an empirically based analysis and evaluation of the existing and possible future evolution of Internet business models within the digital content market, focusing particularly on the possibilities for cooperation and coopetition within this market‐space.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a three‐year study of the European online news and online music sectors, comprising a set of preliminary, scene‐setting case studies of a number of major players within the European online news and music sectors; a detailed, two‐stage survey made up of online questionnaires and face‐to‐face interviews; and a small number of in‐depth case studies.

Findings

Provides a discussion of the changes taking place in the online news and music sectors, the evolution of the business models within them, the driving forces we have identified, and finally some predictions about what the future may hold for both these sectors.

Research limitations/implications

The research is indicative, rather than general – being centred on European participants in two sectors of the digital content market‐space in the period between May 2003 and August 2004.

Practical implications

A rich evaluation of these two fast‐moving digital content sectors, providing empirically based insights into the ways in which they are evolving and changing and into parallels with other, similar sectors of the digital content market.

Originality/value

This paper is the first major empirical evaluation of the digital content market‐space and offers practical assistance, as well as new theoretical insights on e‐business model evolution in this area.
Why a review issue?
Authors: Abeles Tom P. , Pearce Snyder David
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To introduce this “all review” issue, comprising a diverse mix of volumes reviewed by a broad spectrum of individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

This article calls into question the future viability of conventional print publishing in general, and the continued use of academic journals both for the dissemination of current research and as the primary means of assessing the work of academics for the purpose of promotion and tenure. It further suggests that the world of clicks and bricks is merging, and that there will be a competitive struggle to determine the value of various paths for knowledge dissemination.

Practical implications

The article suggests that, with the introduction of electronic transmission and storage of knowledge – cheaply, securely, interactively and readily accessible – the future market for, and use of, traditional academic journals needs serious reconsideration and repurposing.

Originality/value

The article provides a challenge to both The Academy and its co‐dependent publishing industry to openly address the techno‐economic realities confronting each, and suggests that much that is currently being done in response to the emerging internet world simply involves the superficial conversion of “bricks” to “clicks,” rather than an honest effort to deal with the transformational issues and opportunities at hand.
Anthropologists are speaking up (finally), but are they saying enough? A review of Besteman, C. and Gusterson, H. (Eds), Why America's Top Pundits Are Wrong: Anthropologists Talk Back
Authors: Ingham John M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the book, Why America's Top Pundits Are Wrong: Anthropologists Talk Back.

Design/methodology/approach

The author, himself an anthropologist, evaluates how a group of anthropologists responds to popular right‐of‐center pundits.

Findings

Why America's Top Pundits Are Wrong: Anthropologists Talk Back is just as instructive for what it reveals about the current condition of anthropology – and, for that matter, left academia – as for what it says about the lack of anthropological sophistication in popular books that purport to tell us what is right or wrong with the world and where it is heading. Freighted with postmodernism, the influence of Michel Foucault in particular, present‐day anthropology makes assumptions not unlike those of the Straussians of the far right. Thus, our left‐of‐center anthropologists have trouble locating what is so objectionable about reactionary conservatism and, at the same time, difficulties in assessing social conditions, both at home and abroad. The author ends with sketching an anthropology that would pay more attention to the psychological and environmental costs of globalization.

Originality/value

Notes that the 12 contributions dispense with academic jargon and try to reestablish a public presence for anthropology – a format which may reach a wider public.
The practice of co‐creating unique value with customers: an interview with C.K. Prahalad
Authors: Leavy Brian , Moitra Deependra
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Strategy & Leadership asked the originator of the concept of co‐creation of unique value with customers to explain how it works in theory and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Questions for this interview were prepared by both academics familiar with C.K. Prahalad's concepts and managers struggling to innovate new value propositions.

Findings

Co‐creation theory asks a basic question. What if: Consumer ≥ the Firm? Instead of assuming that their firm can innovate unilaterally, managers are learning to depend on the consumers to be involved. They shift from product innovations to experience innovations.

Research limitations/implications

Case studies of the development of new experienced‐based value propositions need to address issues such as sustainability of competitive advantage.

Practical implications

The theory points the way to new growth opportunities. If we accept the role of the consumers in helping us create their own experience then finding new markets is not all that onerous. Look at Starbucks–coffee, credit cards, music, and wireless.

Originality/value

Raises basic and provocative questions about the role of the customer in the future of the firm.
Gaining 3‐D customer insight to drive profitable growth
Authors: Langford Ron , Schulz Kraig
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This article aims to introduce a more comprehensive approach to generating customer insights that can improve almost any organization's ability to drive profitable, customer‐focused growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Examining data on the disparity between “what customers say” and “what they do” can uncover major business opportunities. For example, data that tracked hundreds of physicians' prescribing behaviors over time was matched with a survey that asked them to rate each of various drugs along certain dimensions. A statistical model was built to determine which product attributes, when rated favorably for one drug, were most predictive of prescribing behavior.

Findings

The article finds that the 3‐D approach requires companies to segment based on an integrated view of their customers. This reveals true cause and effect – how changes in a company's offer or communications lead to changes in customer behavior, and what affect these have on company profitability.

Practical implications

Managers can use the 3‐D integrated perspective to help evaluate strategic options by addressing the economic trade‐offs between customers' likely responses to a change and the cost of the change.

Originality/value

Companies that focus on customer behavior, particularly what it is about their and their competitors' products and services that cause customers to switch from one to the other, develop clearer pictures of the economic drivers of customers and customer segments, and dedicate their attitudinal research to interpreting and improving their understanding of how to influence customer behavior. The resulting insights enable managers to spot and target opportunities for profitable growth that are invisible to other companies and help them more effectively prioritize where, how and in what to invest.
Profiting from evidence‐based management
Authors: Pfeffer Jeffrey , Sutton Robert I.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This article advocates for evidenced‐based management and aims to demonstrate how it works.

Design/methodology/approach

The article identifies seven implementation principles to help people and companies that are committed to doing what it takes to profit from evidence‐based management.

Findings

The seven principles are: treat your organization as an unfinished prototype; no brag, just facts; see yourself and your organization as outsiders do; evidence‐based management is not just for senior executives; like everything else, you still need to sell evidenced‐based management; if all else fails, slow the spread of bad practices; and the best diagnostic question: what happens when people fail?

Research limitations/implications

A follow‐up article needs to show results when firms institute evidence‐based management.

Practical implications

A key underpinning of evidence‐based management are three truths: that most so‐called breakthrough ideas are either old, wrong, or both; that effective companies and leaders are more interested in what is true than what is new; and that those that do simple, obvious, and even seemingly trivial things well will dominate competitors who search for silver bullets and instant magic.

Originality/value

The article explains why the implementation of evidenced‐based management promotes competitive advantage.
Measuring the value of human capital investments: the SAP case
Authors: Cantrell Susan , Benton James M. , Laudal Terry , Thomas Robert J.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Over the past three years Accenture developed and applied a new measurement tool that assesses the maturity of an organization's human capital development processes, benchmarks the processes' performance against other organizations, and determines the relationship of each process to bottom line business results. It is designed to help executives make significantly more informed choices about their investments in human capital. This article aims to look at this tool.

Design/methodology/approach

The tool, known as the human capital development framework, now has been tested in more than 60 organizations. This case describes how one organization used it to help turn around a struggling division.

Findings

Results of the initial implementations of the framework suggest that financial performance improves as a company improves its scoring in those critical human capital processes with strong relationships to financial success. As an organization moves from one benchmarking quartile to the next in these processes within the framework scoring, its capital efficiency – or the ratio of total annual sales to the capital invested in the operations of the business by shareholders and creditors – improves from 10 to 15 percent.

Practical implications

The framework outlined in this article provides a tool that enables company leaders to make clear‐eyed assessments of the payoff from human capital investments. It helps organizations diagnose their strengths and weaknesses in key human capital practices, to set investment priorities and track performance, and to establish an empirical link between human capital investments, business practices, and overall business performance.

Originality/value

Those organizations in the study with more mature human capital processes have better financial performance than those organizations with less mature processes. Specifically, those organizations that focus on processes devoted to three key areas – creating a people strategy aligned with the business strategy, providing supportive work environments, and developing employees by giving them ample opportunities to learn and grow – achieve far greater economic success than those that do not.
The “silo‐virus”: diagnosing and curing departmental groupthink
Authors: Schütz Peter , Bloch Brian
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide an informative and stimulating view of some key issues in interdepartmental conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the first study in the German‐speaking world, of the impact of interdepartmental conflict, in the period 2002‐2003, 300 enterprises participated. Respondents were at all levels of business hierarchy and all sizes of enterprise and ranged from junior manager to chairman and from the smallest firms to global market leaders.

Findings

Several conclusions: it is a common illusion that an enterprise is one big happy family. It is a mixture of groups and people with aims, perceptions and preferences which can easily and frequently conflict with one another. This is clearly a major and often underestimated source of stress, demotivation and inefficiency.

Practical implications

Demonstrates ways of using conflict productively. The first step is a self‐critical appraisal of one's own role in terms of interdepartmental cooperation. The next step of self‐reflection entails the reader coming to terms with any possible prejudices he/she may have towards other departments. These stereotypes form and colour behaviour at departmental interfaces and frequently become self‐fulfilling prophecies. A limitation of the study is that small firms with up to ten employees were not included.

Originality/value

The paper offers many new insights through the survey and primary research on which it is based. Also, the German experience is highly relevant to the UK and USA, while at the same time, providing some useful bases for cross‐cultural comparison.
Managing complex team interventions
Authors: Barner Robert
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide readers with a better understanding of the organizational conditions that lead to complexity in team structure, operation, and dynamics, and introduce guidelines for facilitating complex team interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is based on the author's 20 years' experience as an internal OD executive, external consultant, and associate professor in the areas of organizational change and teambuilding.

Findings

The article concludes that team‐building failures frequently occur when facilitators operate from team archetypes that are radically outmoded, and severely underestimate the complexity of certain team‐building issues. Readers are introduced to six guidelines for managing complex team interventions.

Practical implications

This article is designed to help OD practitioners plan extremely complex and difficult team‐building interventions. The article should serve as a useful tool to experienced OD consultants who are attempting to tackle more advanced team‐building interventions. An organizational example is provided to illustrate key concepts.

Originality/value

The author believes that this article provides a unique perspective, by examining issues of organizational complexity that must be faced by experienced team facilitators.
Team‐building webs
Authors: Denton D. Keith , Richardson Peter
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to show how the corporate or organizational intranet can be used to enhance team building within organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes how the corporate intranet can be used for something more than an electronic library. Groups can act in a coordinated way if there is a continuous flow of information about where they are at and whether or not they are smeeting expectations; this can be accomplished using the intranet.

Finding

The paper shows how to improve the management of people within an organization using the intranet. It describes several practical applications of this technology.

Originality/value

The corporate intranet has never been used as a management tool. It can be used to test comprehension of organizational objectives and expectations. It can help members gain a clearer picture of what is really going on and what each needs to do to change directions.
Exploring the future exploiting the past
Authors: Ericson Mona
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Studies of strategic change are mainly characterized by a linear time view, treating time as a variable, a package of narrative events or as a path that the organization “travels” over time. The purpose of this paper is to move beyond this view providing an alternative, nonlinear conception of time.

Design/methodology/approach

Framed by the logics of consequence and appropriateness an empirical example of strategic change within the Scandinavian consumer co‐operation is given, illustrating the exploration of business opportunities and the exploitation of socially and historically rooted values and principles. Drawing on philosophical hermeneutics a qualitative method is chosen, the basis on which the empirical material through interviews and documents is generated.

Findings

The empirical study illustrates that the logic of consequence communicates with the logic of appropriateness in a nonlinear manner while interrelating the future and the past. The exploration of business opportunities shapes the past, which is brought to light when opportunities are expressed through the present, continuously forming and reforming the present and in turn shedding new light on the past.

Originality/value

Although various forms of intellectual bridging and transfer are encouraged within the field of strategic management, notably lacking are studies that focus on time. This paper brings to the fore an alternative conception of time. It acknowledges the past in its hermeneutical significance when ascribing the past a dynamic repetitive role.
Oral history as a classroom tool: learning management theory from the evolution of an organization
Authors: Topping Sharon , Duhon David , Bushardt Stephen
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of oral history to teach students about management history and the implementation of principles of management during the evolution of an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the oral history methodology and how the process was adapted to classroom learning.

Findings

By studying the historical development of a multispeciality physician practice, students were able to see firsthand the incredible impact of the founders on the future of the organization and understand how the early culture and strategy of the organization set the stage for its successful future. Other findings involved the evolution of the organizational structure and incentive system, staff and recruiting policies, and the impact of the environment overtime. In addition, the use of oral history in the classroom proved to be an effective way of making management history come alive for students.

Research limitations/implications

Although designed to benefit students, the researchers found that the project provided an exciting learning experience that revealed numerous new research ideas and avenues to explore.

Originality/value

This project was an invaluable learning experience for the students since it allowed them to witness the real world through the eyes of experienced practitioners. The students had the opportunity to talk with dynamic individuals who are successful business leaders. Their impact as role models for the students was a strong subsidiary. Furthermore, an oral history such as this leaves a memorial that can be referenced for years to come by researchers, community historians, and the organization itself.
History, ownership forms and corporate governance in India
Authors: Gollakota Kamala , Gupta Vipin
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to trace the evolution and persistence of different forms of business ownership in conjunction with the values and institutions that shaped those forms, and discuss the implications for corporate governance in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Research paper analyzing broad historical trends, integrating multiple frameworks.

Findings

Many ownership forms exist: family, government, professional, and foreign (multinational firms). In each period, shifts in values resulted in shifts in institutional and legislative frameworks, which, in turn, gave rise to different forms of business ownership. The end result, however, has been an amalgamation of diverse co‐existing ownership models, with evidence of evolution towards more balanced values.

Research limitations/implications

Comparative research involving other national contexts will help broaden our understanding of the origins and persistence of different forms of governance. Exploration of other governance mechanisms, such as the changing roles of the board of directors or the impact of legislation, also can be explored in the Indian context.

Practical implications

As multinational firms expand their operations and outsourcing in India, they must understand the existing governance structures in order to better manage their activities.

Originality/value

Perspective of corporate ownership and governance in India using a cultural, institutional, and historical perspective.
Erotic retailing in the UK (1963‐2003)
Authors: Kent Tony , Berman Brown Reva
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to trace the changes in the retail outlets that supply erotic products and toys. It explores changes in attitude towards these products over the four decades under review.

Design/methodology/approach

The marketing mix (the 4Ps of marketing) is the lens through which the past and contemporary retail environment for such erotic products is examined.

Findings

What emerges from the story of the journey from backstreet to online is the change in attitude towards both shops and products, and the development of shops selling sexually‐arousing products to women, a trend unique to the last decades of the twentieth century.

Originality/value

The combination of an historical approach and the theoretical concept of the marketing mix provides a fresh view of the under‐researched area of erotic retailing.
Albert Thomas and scientific management in war and peace, 1914‐1932
Authors: Walter‐Busch Emil
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Among leaders of the French Socialist Movement, Albert Thomas (1878‐1932) was one of the few steady supporters of scientific management. The purpose of this paper is to describe how Thomas developed his ideas about advanced management thought and practice during and after World War I.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper makes extensive use of published and unpublished primary sources preserved at the Archives nationales, Paris, at the Bureau International du Travail (BIT), Geneva, and at Smith College, Northampton, MA.

Findings

Thomas's reformist ideology first stood the test during World War I when he served as minister for munitions for France. After the International Labour Organization had entrusted him with the directorship of the BIT, Thomas helped to create the International Management Institute (IMI) as a center for the collection and dissemination of advanced management thought and practice. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the rationalization movement fell into disrepute. Like some progressive members of the Taylor Society, Thomas identified scientific management increasingly with concepts of socioeconomic planning and international cooperation. Nonetheless, the intellectual tide turned against his reformist creed. Having lost the support of its American sponsors, IMI closed its doors in January 1934, only about two years after Thomas's unexpected death.

Originality/value

The paper tries to show how one of the most brilliant French politicians of the last century developed and applied his theories‐in‐use about scientific management under changing historical circumstances.
Communicating with local publics: a case study of Coca‐Cola's Chinese web site
Authors: Tian Yan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This is a case study of Coca‐Cola's Chinese web site. It aims to examine how Coca‐Cola, the number one brand in the world, is using its web site to communicate with the publics in the world's largest market.

Design/methodology/approach

Uses a qualitative text analysis.

Findings

Coca‐Cola is practicing a “glocal” strategy, which integrates the ethnocentric and polycentric model in international public relations, to communicate with the Chinese publics through its Chinese web site.

Originality/value

This study provides insights for understanding the theory and practice of global corporate public relations.
Relationships are the core value for organisations
Authors: Phillips David
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine how relations with social groups, including shareholders, customers, employees and vendors among other stakeholders are pivotal to generating wealth and optimising long‐term shareholder value.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the values intrinsic in stakeholder relations and examines why it should be included in the core of evaluation, auditing and management of organisations to create wealth, value and corporate profit.

Findings

The concept of organisations with values that extend from physical assets, intellectual property, process, know‐how, knowledge brand and reputation attributes is understood as being part of the value of companies. Stakeholder relationships are intangible assets and there is a significant body of opinion that identifies intangible assets as a major driver in the global economy, corporate survival and success. There is a pivotal management role in relationship management which is the lever by which value from intangibles is optimised.

Originality/value

Describes how, for companies in the twenty‐first century, the creation of value increasingly depends on intangible assets such as knowledge, systems, data, intellectual property, brands and market relationships. This opens up a new area of public relations practice whereby public relations managers take responsibility for the creation of value through relationships throughout organisations.