bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Being a project manager in SPO
Authors: Winch Graham , Maytorena-Sanchez Eunice , Sergeeva Natalya
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the experience of being a project manager in strategic project organizing (SPO). It then considers that the technical competencies are the basis of task orientation of project managers as professionals during project delivery. Moreover, technical competencies are the principal source of routines used in project teaming. The chapter highlights the importance of having a realistic schedule to ensure the delivery of the project outputs at the desired future date and managing the budget to capture realistic costs while considering the outcome of risk assessments and response strategies. It also discusses how essential managing threats are due to the uncertainty surrounding the SPO.
Decision-Making and Involvement
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Piacentini Maria
Published: September 2023

This chapter examines decision-making and involvement. It begins by explaining decision-making in low and high involvement situations and the differences between these two decision-making processes. The chapter then considers the nature of involvement, how it affects people's decision-making, and how to increase it. It also analyses the stages in a decision-making process before identifying different types of shopping behaviour and consumer shopping motives. Finally, the chapter looks at the problems that people have with choice, and the strategies used to deal with choice situations, such as satisficing and maximizing behaviour, and the use of heuristics, anchoring, and framing.
Learning and Memory
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Piacentini Maria
Published: September 2023

This chapter investigates learning and memory. It begins by looking at the main approaches to learning, which is important in the field of consumer behaviour as it often leads to changes in attitudes, beliefs, or behaviour. In behavioural learning, a consumer responds to an external stimulus, such as seeing a brand of soft drink for sale, and makes a decision to buy it again based on a previous positive experience with the brand. Meanwhile, with cognitive learning, one might expect consumers to have gone through a process of search and evaluation from their memory of previous experiences (internal) and from new information available to them (external). The chapter then explains the different functions of sensory, short-term, and long-term memory. It also evaluates the role of memory in retaining and retrieving information. Finally, the chapter considers issues around social learning, including observational and vicarious learning.
Attitude Theory and Behaviour Change
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Piacentini Maria
Published: September 2023

This chapter evaluates attitude theory and behaviour change. It begins by defining the concept of attitudes as used in consumer marketing. The chapter then outlines the main components of the tri-component model, and goes on to consider the hierarchy of effects. Theoretical perspectives including balance theories, motivational theories, and multi-attribute expectancy-value theories are then discussed in depth. The chapters goes on to differentiate between compensatory and non-compensatory models and looks at how they can be used in consumer decision-making. Finally, the chapter explains the various approaches to attitude change, including persuasion models such as the elaboration likelihood model.
Personality, Self, and Motivation
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Piacentini Maria
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on personality, self, and motivation. It begins by outlining the main psychological and socially oriented perspectives on personality and self. The chapter explains the meaning of the multiplicity of self and discusses the relevance of different aspects of self to consumer behaviour. It then identifies the links between personality and self in marketing practice, including the mechanisms of symbolic consumption and the association between personality, values, and lifestyles. The chapter also highlights the relevance of psychographics to marketing practice before defining the key concepts of motivation, differentiating between needs, wants, and desires. Finally, it analyses the usefulness of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, as well as the main approaches to researching motivation.
Culture
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Piacentini Maria
Published: September 2023

This chapter begins by identifying the elements of culture. The chapter then outlines the elements of the cultural system before explaining how cultures are classified and assessing the value of these classifications. It also looks at the nature of cultural myths and rituals. Moreover, the chapter considers how culture is important for marketing communications. Indeed, culture plays a significant role in terms of the content and tone of advertising and marketing messages, and an understanding of the various aspects of culture informs communications. Finally, the chapter highlights the relevance of subcultures (demographic and consumption-based), how these relate to culture, and the implications for consumer behaviour.
The Digital Consumer
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Piacentini Maria
Published: September 2023

This chapter introduces the idea of the digital consumer and the ability of businesses to access big data to supplement the development of products and services. The chapter goes on to discuss the rise and reach of social media, the digital decision process, and the impact of influencers and opinion leaders. The role of consumers as co-creators with brands is then considered and the potential impact of artificial intelligrance is explored. Finally, the chapter discusses the ethical issues related to the collection of consumer data, in particlar data relating to children, and how it is used in digital marketing.
Future Trends in Consumer Behaviour
Authors: Szmigin Isabelle , Piacentini Maria
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores future trends in consumer behaviour, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. It begins with a discussion of neuromarketing and goes on to consider the problems and opportunities offered by technology, such as the cashless society, touch-free media, conscious consumption, and privacy. The chapter then looks a consumer misbehaviour including issues such as piracy, compulsive buying, and theft. Finally, the chapter looks at the important future potential of transformative consumer research.
Business Research Methods
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

Business Research Methods contains new and revised chapters on quantitative methods and visual research, while cutting-edge material on inclusivity and bias in research, feminist perspectives, and decolonial and indigenous research is also introduced. The book is composed of four parts. The first part looks at the research process. It covers research strategies and designs, as well as ethics in business research and writing up business research. Part 2 looks at quantitative research and details the nature of quantitative research, sampling, structured interviewing, and questions. It also looks at secondary analysis and statistics. The next part is about qualitative research. This part examines ethnography, participant observation, interviewing, focus groups, language, and document data. The final part is about mixed methods of research.
The Nature and Process of Business Research
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter provides an overview of the nature and process of business research. It explains that business research is shaped by theoretical considerations, in addition to ethical and practical issues, which influence how research is carried out. Moreover, business research comprises some common elements that are nearly always present, such as literature review and data analysis. The chapter clarifies that business research is often less smooth than expected as the matter does not always go entirely into the plan, which references the diverse nature of business research. It details the key considerations in business research methods, such as theories, literature, quality criteria, and values.
Business Research Strategies
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter introduces the concept of research strategy. Developing a research strategy must contain the considerations of theory, philosophical assumptions, ontology, epistemology, and business research methods. The chapter notes how theory can be used to inform business research according to a deductive logic of inquiry, while philosophical assumptions allow people to think about the nature of reality. It then explains that quantitative and qualitative research constitute different research strategies and are usually associated with different epistemological and ontological considerations. Meanwhile, values, practical considerations, and prior experience shape researchers and their decisions when dealing with practical issues important in business research.
Research Designs
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on research designs used to collect and analyse data. A research design relates to the criteria that are used to evaluate the quality of business research while simultaneously addressing a research question. The criteria for assessing the quality of business research range between reliability, replicability, and validity and these should be considered along with measurement, and internal, external, and ecological factors. The chapter then details five prominent research designs: quasi-experiment, cross-sectional design, longitudinal design, case study design, and comparative design. It tackles how to bring together research strategy and research design, referencing the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods in terms of mixed methods research.
Planning a Research Project and Developing Research Questions
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses how to plan a research project and develop research questions. It cites that many business students are required to produce a dissertation as part of their degree. Planning the research project mainly involves understanding the expectation of the university, pondering over research areas and receiving guidance from a supervisor. The chapter explains that writing a research proposal is a good way to express the field of interest of research. Moreover, writing a research proposal enables researchers to demonstrate some knowledge of the literature in the chosen field. The chapter suggests keeping a good record revolving around the research and starting coding even before completing the data.
Sampling in Quantitative Research
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter covers sampling in quantitative research. It explores the issues involved in selecting respondents for survey research. After formulating research questions and planning the fieldwork, the survey researcher needs to decide between a structured interview and a self-completion questionnaire to determine the population suited to investigate the chosen topic. Randomly selected samples are important because they permit generalizations to the population and because they have certain known qualities. The chapter covers the types of probability sampling and non-probability sampling while also considering the decreasing possibility of achieving a sampling error in line with the sample size. It considers the sampling issues for online surveys, recognizing their increasing popularity in recent decades.
Structured Interviewing
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter elaborates on the process of structured interviewing, which is a prominent data collection strategy in both quantitative and qualitative research. It explains that a structured interview is one of the most commonly employed methods in survey research. The interview, which can be administered in person, over the phone, or video-calling applications, primarily aims to standardise responses in an effort to have differences between interviews in any research project minimized. The chapter acknowledges how business research employs social surveys as a type of structured interview. Response sets can be damaging to data derived from structured interviews, so steps must be taken to reduce their effects.
Quantitative Research using Naturally Occurring Data
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses using naturally occurring data in quantitative research. It starts with the definition of structured observation involving the direct observation of behaviour and the recording of that behaviour in terms of categories that have been devised before the start of data collection. Meanwhile, content analysis is an approach to the analysis of documents and texts that seeks to quantify content in terms of predetermined categories and in a systematic and replicable manner. The chapter mentions how the principle of naturalism informs several qualitative methods, such as ethnography and participant observation. It then cites the issues of reliability and validity in structured observation.
Quantitative Data Analysis: Descriptive, Univariate, and Bivariate Statistics
Authors: Köhler Tine
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the fundamental aspects of quantitative data analysis and explains the most commonly used analytical techniques: descriptive, univariate, and bivariate statistics. Statistics are one of the tools researchers use to see patterns in the quantitative data they collect and to explore relationships between different variables of interest. The chapter cites the importance of planning a data analytic strategy at the beginning of a research project to balance decisions in research design and method with considerations of potential analysis. It introduces different types of variables and how they impact the choice of analytical tools. Researchers must be conscientious and meticulous in the handling of data as they may inadvertently introduce errors in the data.
The Nature of Qualitative Research
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter expounds on the nature of qualitative research, which is a research strategy that usually emphasizes words rather than numbers in the collection and analysis of data. Most qualitative researchers reveal a preference for seeing the social world from the perspective of research participants. The preoccupations of qualitative researchers reflect epistemologically grounded beliefs about what constitutes acceptable knowledge. Thus, theories and concepts are regarded as outcomes of the research process. Unlike quantitative research's natural science approach, qualitative researchers are more influenced by interpretivism. The chapter also mentions the criticisms surrounding qualitative research, such as its subjectivity, generalization, and lack of transparency.
Interviewing in Qualitative Research
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses interviewing in qualitative research. It acknowledges the interview as the most widely used method in qualitative research, citing how ethnography often involves a substantial amount of interviewing. However, unlike quantitative research, interviews in qualitative research are either unstructured or semi-structured while also putting great emphasis on the interviewee's point of view. The chapter then details the questions and process of the interview for qualitative research, which includes recording, transcription, and translation. It also notes the types of non-face-to-face interviews that became widespread due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the advantages and disadvantages of interviewing in qualitative research.
Focus Groups
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter elaborates on the focus group method, which is an interview with several people on a specific topic or issue. It shows that focus groups are conducted to see whether people understand a pre-specified issue or topic. Sometimes, group interviews are carried out so that the researcher is able to save time and money by carrying out interviews with a number of individuals simultaneously. The chapter explains how focus groups have been used commercially to gain business information about markets and consumers since the 1950s. It discusses the limitations of focus groups, such as less control and difficulty to organize.
Breaking Down the Quantitative/Qualitative Divide
Authors: Bell Emma , Bryman Alan , Harley Bill
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the divide and overlap between quantitative research and qualitative research, highlighting how the distinction between both types of research is frequently exaggerated. While aspects of qualitative research contain elements of natural science, the elements of quantitative research also contain a sense of interpretivism. The chapter explains that research methods are less rigidly determined by researchers' epistemological and ontological assumptions despite the initial speculations. It highlights how researchers conduct quantification in qualitative research. Thus, a quantitative research approach can be employed for the analysis of qualitative studies, and a qualitative research approach can be employed to examine the rhetoric of quantitative researchers.
What is IHRM? Definitions and perspectives
Authors: Crawley Eileen , Swailes Stephen , Walsh David
Published: September 2023

This chapter introduces the subject of international human resource management (IHRM) and some of the key terminology and approaches used; it also considers the ways in which authors may differ in their conceptualization and writing about the subject. It then goes on to consider some of the key challenges in managing human resources (HR) in international companies. In particular, the chapter looks at factors that influence approaches to the management of an overseas workforce, including an organization's structure and the dominant orientation of an organization. It also briefly explains some of the key differences between international and domestic HRM, and includes case studies that give a flavour of the type of issues faced in IHRM. Finally, the chapter provides an overview of the other chapters and the features contained within them.
Key academic models, theories, and debates
Authors: Crawley Eileen , Swailes Stephen , Walsh David
Published: September 2023

This chapter begins with an introduction to human resources management (HRM) and includes some definitions of the scope and approaches to international human resources management (IHRM), comparing the universalistic and contextual perspectives. It considers the evolution of the concept of HRM before introducing some early models. Key concepts, and the frameworks that arrange these ideas, form the basis for understanding the operational aspects of IHRM. The chapter continues with conceptual models that explain IHRM, including its links to strategy and to the process of internationalization. It then considers recent theories that illuminate the challenges facing international managers. Finally, it examines some recent themes and debates, including the concepts of convergence and divergence, and provides an explanation of the key differences in the American and European approaches to IHRM.
Understanding IHRM: the institutional approach
Authors: Crawley Eileen , Swailes Stephen , Walsh David
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the impact of national institutions on international human resource management (IHRM) and introduces different approaches to its study. It then examines a number of institutional factors that impact on the management of human resources and that need to be considered by organizations operating overseas. The relevance of the stage of development is also evaluated, including the political, economic, and legal climate within which business operates. Diversity in human resources management (HRM) practices in terms of wages, hours, leave, and redundancy are also briefly considered, as are some of the contemporary pressures in the social environment, such as gender issues, ageing populations, and diversity in the context of sharia law. Finally, a review of recent debates on the value of institutional theory aims to show that in large multinational enterprises (MNEs), cultural, institutional, and numerous internal pressures determine the IHRM policies and practices chosen and the strategies that are adopted.
Global staffing
Authors: Crawley Eileen , Swailes Stephen , Walsh David
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores global staffing. Global staffing takes into account influencing factors at the national level such as legal frameworks; local factors such as labour market conditions; and organizational factors such as size, strategy, and structure. When staffing occurs across a multinational company (MNC) operating in several regions, the complexities of selection are magnified. Rational–logical and impersonal approaches to selection that emanate from the Anglo-American model to find the highest performer and that are based on empirical data taken during the selection process do not necessarily travel very well. Organizational and national cultures interact to produce distinctive approaches to staffing. Indeed, there are good grounds for thinking that selection is the one HRM practice that varies the most between countries. However, caution is needed before criticizing staffing systems that deviate from empirically based, performance-chasing models.
International reward management
Authors: Crawley Eileen , Swailes Stephen , Walsh David
Published: September 2023

This chapter turns to international reward management. Employment costs represent a big slice of corporate spending, and reward strategies influence the achievement of business objectives. Reward, however, is arguably the most difficult human resource management practice to optimize, and in multinational companies it becomes even more difficult. A wide range of institutional, cultural, organizational, and job-related factors influences the detailed design of reward programmes, as the chapter demonstrates. Employee satisfaction with reward is influenced by a range of personal factors. Although there is evidence that increasing multinational activity is spreading the use of different reward practices, there is also evidence that the adoption of reward practices is relatively immune to cultural differences.
Managing the employment relationship in international organizations
Authors: Crawley Eileen , Swailes Stephen , Walsh David
Published: September 2023

This chapter deals with employment relationships, a simple concept central to the management of people in business organizations. Yet, paradoxically, its very simplicity is what masks its inherent complexity, as depicted in five of its dimensions. This means that management's efforts to manage this aspect of human resources are problematic. While the chapter identifies the range of choices open to management, any resultant strategy is likely to be a blunt instrument when seeking to cope with essentially dynamic situations which can combine (and oscillate between) forms of cooperation and conflict. Moreover, management choice is constrained or influenced by a range of factors. In some instances, however, multinational enterprises (MNEs) may attempt to combine them through a hybrid approach. Whatever approach an MNE adopts, contradictions will exist, underpinned by the dichotomous nature of the employer–employee relationship.
Global talent management
Authors: Crawley Eileen , Swailes Stephen , Walsh David
Published: September 2023

This chapter identifies a wide range of threats to fair and equitable talent management on an international scale. Talent management provides a rich arena for advances in practice and for researchers to understand how talent strategies work. The idea that organizations were competing for talent caught the imagination of business leaders and, latterly, of academics. Seeing good employees as talent opened up new ways of thinking about labour markets, and new discourses grew around the high performers that organizations wanted to attract and retain. This development forced, or at least obliged, HRM practitioners to rethink their human resource strategies to match and respond to the new love of ‘talent’. The basic idea and guiding principle is that talented employees make disproportionate or differential contributions to organizations. Thus, developing talent strategies that minimize impacts of the biasing factors identified in the chapter presents a major challenge to organizations.
The business environment of human resource management
Authors: Thomas Rob
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the business environment of human resource management (HRM). It surveys the external environment and the influences on the organization that originate from outside its boundaries. The chapter aims to provide encouragement and guidance to explore the external influences, both actual and potential, that impact an organization. It begins by considering how to 'order' the various influences in the external environment using the STEEPLE framework. Then, working within this framework, the influences are grouped in order to investigate them and thereby emphasize the dynamic interrelations between the individual influences.
Rewarding people at work
Authors: Pilbeam Stephen
Published: September 2023

This chapter expounds on the nature of reward strategy and the total reward concept. It explains the notion of total reward, the concept of new pay, the principal pay strategies, the range of financial benefits, and the important role of non-financial rewards. It outlines the strategic approaches taken towards reward. The chapter also explores the principal approaches taken towards the allocation of pay. Finally, it considers contemporary issues concerning reward.
Utilizing human resources in organizations
Authors: Gilmore Sarah , Williams Steve
Published: September 2023

This chapter delves intoexamines how human resources are utilized in organizations. It discusses the characteristic ways in which employers attempt to benefit from flexibility when it comes to managing human resources. It presents the organizational arrangements and policies, such as talent management and retention, used for the purpose of effective utilization of human resources in organizations such as talent management and retention.. The chapter also highlights the importance of employee well-being when considering how human resources are utilized. It concludes by explaining why these 'good' practices are a matter of concern for employees, employers, and human resource professionals.
Redundancy and human resource management
Authors: Williams Steve
Published: September 2023

The This chapter examines the concept of redundancy as a feature of human resource management (HRM). It identifies the principal causes of redundancies. The chapter also distinguishes presents the main alternatives without having to make to compulsory redundancies. The impact of redundancy exercises on the workers affected, including remaining employees, and the implications for managing human resources is also considered. The chapter concludes by enumerating the four aspects of redundancy as a feature of human resource management.
Equality, diversity, and dignity at work
Authors: Rayner Charlotte , Rumbles Sally
Published: September 2023

The This chapter explores the development of our understanding of workplace equality, and diversity, and dignity at work. It begins by considering the concepts that underpin the understanding of equality and diversity. Then, it outlines the legal issues affecting equality and diversity issues. The chapter also provides a contemporary view of bullying at work. Finally, it examines the implications of equality, diversity, and dignity at work for the management of human resources.
Managing performance and absence
Authors: Hall David
Published: September 2023

This chapter describes the relevance and development of performance management. It starts by looking at the growth of performance management. It explore tThe relationship between human resources management (HRM) and managing performance is explored, by tracing the development and relationship of strategic HRM (SHRM) to performance through the influence of HR policies and high-performance work practices. The chapter also shows how performance management systems operate, including consideration of the main methods which are commonly applied as management interventions, such as performance appraisals. The last part of the chapter focuses on some key issues and challenges relating to performance management, introducing employee absence as and an area of performance that is under increasing scrutiny, employee absence.
Managing grievances, discipline, and workplace conflict
Authors: Williams Steve , Rumbles Sally
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks intoexamines the key mechanisms which organizations use for managing workplace conflict, particularly the use of procedures for dealing with grievance and disciplinary issues. It surveys the nature of formal procedures for handling grievances and disciplinary issues in organizations. The reasons for their existence and their principal contents are also discussed. The chapter surveys presents the issues that relate to the way in which grievances and disciplinary matters are typically dealt with by managers in organizations, and their implications, with reference to some specific topics such as bullying and harassment. Finally, it examines the system of employment tribunals in the UK and mediation, a means of resolving disputes at work which is becoming increasingly popular.
Ethics and human resource management
Authors: Christy Richard , Christy Gill
Published: September 2023

This chapter studies the link of between human resource management (HRM) to and the ethical behaviour of the organization. It begins by reviewing the major approaches to ethics in Western philosophy such as deontological, consequentialist, and virtue-based approaches. It also talks about the strengths and weaknesses of those approaches and how they can be applied to business undertakings. The chapter presents the special features of the employment relationship. It also examines the concept of whistleblowing and investigates the ethical questions and problems posed when engaging in two core HRM activities, employee reward and the management of equality and diversity issues. The concluding part of the chapter highlights the role of HRM specialists with respect to organizational ethics and asks if they have a potential role as 'ethical stewards' or the 'conscience' of the organization.
International human resource management
Authors: Williams Steve , Howe-Walsh Liza , Scott Peter
Published: September 2023

This chapter examines the main aspects of the increasing cross-border dimension to human resources management (HRM) activities, through an investigation of the main features of international HRM (IHRM). It considers the main implications of globalization for the practice of HRM. Then, it focuses on the important role of multinational companies (MNCs) in the global economy, and assess the factors that influence the transfer, or diffusion, of HR practices between their home country headquarters and subsidiaries in foreign locations. The ways in which staff undertaking international assignments are managed is also discussed. Finally, it the chapter explores the concept of 'strategic international HRM'.
The Global Marketing Environment
Authors: Lee Kiefer , Carter Steve
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on the global marketing environment. It looks into the significance of accounting for the global environment. Additionally, the chapter lists factors relevant to this discussion within the global environment such as an intermediate environment and the macro environment. It notes the role of the government in the economy which should be in line with political stability and international relations. The chapter then explores the legal environment wherein local domestic law and international law are tied with global marketing. It also looks at China's rise within the World Trade Organization. The chapter also narrates approaches to the study of culture at the same time as discussing the technological, competitive, and currency environment. It highlights the role of pressure groups.
Understanding Globalization
Authors: Lee Kiefer , Carter Steve
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks specifically at globalization. It explores the concept of globalization in terms of economic reality, political reality, technological reality, and cultural reality. Globalization is a complex phenomenon that affects many aspects of life, thus there is no accepted consensus as to what exactly the term represents. The chapter then cites the opportunities and threats of globalization such as financial integration and macroeconomic volatility. It looks at global migration in line with economic growth and humanitarian crises. Additionally, the chapter looks into the environmental sustainability of globalization by referencing climate change, food security, and energy security.
Understanding Global Cultures and Buyer Behaviour
Authors: Lee Kiefer , Carter Steve
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores global cultures in an effort to look into buyer behaviour. It defines culture, referencing language, religion, values, education, social organization, aesthetics, technology, and politics. The chapter also looks into consumer behaviour. It lists functional, social, and experiential as the types of needs which relate to consumer behaviour. Also, the chapter discusses how to conduct various cross-cultural analyses such as Schwartz' value inventory. It explores commodity trading and government buying behaviour. The chapter then looks at business-to-business (B2B) buyer behaviour models and looks at what these models say about buyer behaviour impact of culture. It notes the correlation between culture and ethics.
Understanding Social, Ethical, and Ecological Aspects of Market Planning
Authors: Lee Kiefer , Carter Steve
Published: September 2023

This chapter explains the social, ethical, and ecological aspects of market planning. It looks into the history of corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate social practice (CSP), and sustainability. Then, the chapter explores the advantages and disadvantages of doing the allegedly right thing which references increased sales, brand position, and decreased operational costs. It discusses ecologically sustainable marketing. The chapter also explores the ethical responsibility of businesses in line with ethics training, human rights, labour practices, competitiveness, and communication. It notes the usage of Corruption Perceptions Index to measure levels of corruption in a country. Additionally, the chapter cites the legislation, credit restrictions, and blacklisting in global markets.
Market Entry Strategies
Authors: Lee Kiefer , Carter Steve
Published: September 2023

This chapter looks into market entry strategies. It introduces the international marketing environment alongside its impact on market entry strategies. The chapter narrates the process of internationalization which used the Uppsala approach, industrial network approach, and bargaining power approach. Additionally, the chapter examines other theories of internationalization such as the transactional cost analysis theory. The chapter then lists multi-level marketing and the subscription business model as examples of international business models, while licensing and franchising are referenced as market entry modes. The chapter looks into the electronic marketplace as well. Moreover, the chapter acknowledges the difficulty of matching marketing strategies and modes of entry while referring to global services.
Organizing and Controlling Global Marketing Operations
Authors: Lee Kiefer , Carter Steve
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses organizing and controlling global marketing operations. It looks into ethnocentrism, polycentrism, regiocentrism, and geocentrism and relates these to the philosophy of management. This philosophy has considerably influenced organizational structures. The chapter explores the planning for global marketing and global control mechanisms as well. It explains the factors of organizing for global marketing which will depend on the degree of internationalization, type of product or service, and resources of the organization. Planning, control and organizational structure are essential for managing and controlling global operations. Moreover, the chapter looks into the issues related to global organizational structures, such as different time zones and international commitment.
Business in a resource-constrained world
Authors: Blowfield Michael
Published: September 2023

This chapter evaluates business in a resource-constrained world and how their operations are shaped from within by sustainability challenges. It begins with how businesses are perceived. It then moves on to a description of the features of contemporary businesses that aid and hinder private sector action. The historical role of business is also examined as well as the implications of conventional ideas on business. Finally, the chapter reflects on the roles a business could play, not just to protect itself from sustainability challenges, but to guide the process of transformation to a prosperous resource-constrained world.
Strategy and execution
Authors: Blowfield Michael
Published: September 2023

This chapter analyzes the relationship between sustainability and company strategy. It looks at evidence that companies have treated sustainability as a strategic issue and looks at the different ways it has been interpreted from a strategic perspective. It explores how sustainability has been integrated into corporate strategy in specific companies and identifies common features from these experiences. It takes an in-depth look at marketing as a particular example of how sustainability can influence strategy. It concludes with lessons about executing sustainability strategy.
Cooperation, collaboration, and partnership
Authors: Blowfield Michael
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on partnerships and other forms of collaboration that have come to prominence because of the business–sustainability relationship. It begins by examining why partnerships have garnered attention, and then identifies the main types of collaboration that business engages in. Partnerships involve various arrays of stakeholders, and company perspectives are affected by whether they want to manage or engage with stakeholders. Stakeholder theory provides insights into the power relations that are a strong influence on how partnerships operate and what they can achieve. This is explored further with examples of inter-firm collaborations, supply chain partnerships, and multi-stakeholder partnerships in different regions of the world.
Next-generation competencies
Authors: Blowfield Michael
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the distinct competencies that business will require in order to address sustainability challenges. It examines how a company's interpretation of those challenges affects what competencies it needs, and the degree of change or modification required. It analyzes evidence of demand for new competencies from companies and elsewhere. It then separates out the different types of competency, distinguishing between hard skills, capabilities, and new frameworks for transitioning to and prospering in the kind of world sustainability issues imply. It tackles the different kinds of organization that can deliver these new competencies, and pays particular attention to the role of business schools.
Financing sustainability
Authors: Blowfield Michael
Published: September 2023

This chapter delves into the role of finance and investment in the context of sustainability. It considers the importance of the financial markets in successfully addressing sustainability challenges, and how global capital has contributed to the challenges we face today. It describes the array of current initiatives through which investing and banking communities engage in sustainability, and the emergence of sustainability-oriented financial instruments. Particular attention is paid to the sustainable investing movement that has emerged out of the long-established field of socially responsible investment. The chapter explores the impact of sustainability on funds, analysis, investment strategies, and other elements of financial markets. Finally, it addresses the issue of whether we are progressing towards the kind of changes in investment behaviour that some aspects of sustainability seem to require.
Introduction to Management
Authors: Combe Colin
Published: September 2023

Introduction to Management contains four parts. Part One focuses on management principle and functions. This includes a look at management theory, planning, organising, leading, controlling, and decision-making. Part Two is about managing people and communications. This includes human resources management, motivation and communication, and teams and teamwork. Part Three considers management and organisation. It discusses organisational structure, organisational culture, ethics, and corporate social responsibility. Finally, Part Four is about strategy, change, and innovation.
Management Theory
Authors: Combe Colin
Published: September 2023

This chapter presents a chronological account of the evolution and development of management thinking and theory, starting from the work of Adam Smith in the eighteenth century. The chapter begins by presenting an overview of the key theoretical perspectives using the competing values framework including internal processes, the rational goal model, human relations, and the open systems model. It addresses the question of up to what extent can management theory further the effectiveness of management in the modern era. Much of this latter analysis is informed by contingency approaches to management. Examples of the different perspectives in different organisational settings and timeframes are used. The latter part of the chapter discusses the integration of different approaches to management.
Planning
Authors: Combe Colin
Published: September 2023

This chapter focuses on one of the four main functions of management: planning. Planning is what sets the direction that guides the organisation towards achieving goals. The chapter explores the different stages of the planning process, which are formulation, implementation, and evaluation. It then sets out the role of planning in setting goals and objectives. Planning helps managers to focus on what goals and objectives need to be achieved, what resources are required to achieve them, and how best to deploy them. The chapter also considers the limitations of planning, such as the potential stifling of creativity, innovation, and experimentation. Finally, it enumerates the different types of plans and the required management skills that are involved in the planning process.
Organising
Authors: Combe Colin
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the organising function of management. This function involves making decisions about what activities and tasks have to be undertaken; who has to undertake them; and how should they be grouped and scheduled. The chapter demonstrates the key components of organising and the formal approaches to the organisation of work. It introduces the concepts of authority, chain of command, and span of control so that decision-making authority can be formally recognised. It also delves into the advantages and limitations of the centralisation and decentralisation of decision-making.
Leading
Authors: Combe Colin
Published: September 2023

This chapter addresses leadership as an aspect of management. It outlines the reasons to think of leadership as a distinct attribute and skill that is different from management as a function. It presents theoretical models such as traits, situational, functional, behavioural and styles, transformational, and contingency approaches to give a better understanding of leadership. It also gives examples of leadership, including transformational and transactional leadership in a business context. The chapter also expounds on the concept of power and influence within different organisational settings including the challenges of leading in a global context.
Managing Groups and Teams
Authors: Combe Colin
Published: September 2023

This chapter delves into the formation, use and management of groups and teams. It initially provides the definitions of groups and teams before highlighting the key differences between them. Theoretical models of the development of groups and roles within them are utilised to set the scene for an analysis of teams and teamwork, including explanations of different types of teams with insights into the reasons for their formation. The chapter discusses the advantages of teams as well as some of the limitations associated with this approach. It emphasizes the importance of teambuilding and the implementation of empowerment strategies for managing effective teams and promoting teamwork. The chapter also considers the development of virtual teams in the context of the global economy and discusses the relative merits of this model for achieving organisational aims.
Introduction
Authors: O’Mahoney Joe , Markham Calvert
Published: September 2023

This chapter provides key perspectives on the consulting industry, which include a description of what management consultancy is, a guide to how it is done, and a critical analysis of the consulting industry. It introduces a variety of views and contrasting perspectives of global experts and stakeholders in the consulting industry. It also explores the influence of the consulting industry, which can be evidenced in the spread of management innovations that organizations across the globe use. The chapter discusses how the success of the consulting industry in terms of revenue generation, growth, and influence has created a backlash amongst many journalists, academics, and government watchdogs. It explains that the complicity of the consulting industry in the collapse of the dotcom industry marked a turning point in public attitudes towards the industry.
The Consulting Industry
Authors: O’Mahoney Joe , Markham Calvert
Published: September 2023

This chapter begins by explaining what consultancy is, its history, and the recent trends in the market. It highlights the existence of consultancy, the institutions that sustain it, and the main ways in which events like the dotcom crash, the IT boom, and the credit crunch have affected the industry. It also examines consultancy across the world in terms of the differences in markets and how consultancies operate in each region. The chapter considers that consulting firms' strategies and fortunes are determined by the decisions of the clients, governments, and economies that encapsulate them. It explains that organizations that possess highly trained workers, high trade union involvement, and a participative style of management rely less on management consultants than countries that have a low-skilled workforce and weak participative management styles.
Consultancy Skills
Authors: O’Mahoney Joe , Markham Calvert
Published: September 2023

This chapter takes a practitioner's view of the skills required to perform well as a management consultant which is based on years of personal experience and on the observation and teaching of many management consultants. It clarifies why a consultant needs skills that are different from any other managerial occupation. It also covers the challenges of working in a consulting role and three key processes in consulting: selling the work, delivering the work, and managing a consulting business. The chapter demonstrates how consultants should manage their time and set priorities for what they do in selling and management. It looks at key communication skills that consultants find useful in performing their work well.