bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Finding a space for story: sensemaking, stories and epistemic impasse
Authors: Islam Gazi 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe current study aims to explore the role of stories in organizational sensemaking processes. Rather than positioning stories as one among many different sensemaking mechanisms, it is argued that stories allow a particular kind of sensemaking that is inherently open‐ended, distinguishing it from theoretical and propositional explanations for organizational phenomena. Drawing on previous Foucaultian discussions of epistemes, the paper aims to introduce the notions of epistemic impasse and epistemic spillover, arguing that cross‐functional interaction can cause tensions between incompatible epistemic bases, and that stories can act as a mechanism to overcome such tensions.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative methodology is used to illustrate the above mechanism in an ethnographic, participant‐observer study of a university student‐support center.FindingsThe results show how storytelling led to an increasingly open and ultimately universalizing tendency with the center, thus demonstrating both the potentials and limits of using stories within organizations.Originality/valueThe current paper adds to the storytelling literature by showing how stories not only act as a sensemaking mechanism, but also reimagine the definition of sense in a way that makes it more polyvalent and open to multiple epistemic standpoints.
“Flexibility” as the rationale for organizational change: a discourse perspective
Authors: Dunford Richard , Cuganesan Suresh , Grant David , Palmer Ian , Beaumont Rosie , Steele Cara 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe concept “flexibility” is ubiquitous as a rationale for organizational change. However, its broad application is accompanied by a general lack of definitional agreement or theoretical cohesion. The purpose of this paper is to propose the merits of an alternative approach – applying a discourse perspective to the use of flexibility as a rationale for organizational change.Design/methodology/approachThis paper first illustrates the broad referencing of flexibility as a desired organizational characteristic. It then discusses the associated lack of theoretical coherence associated with the use of the concept “flexibility” before arguing the merits of a discourse perspective on flexibility as a rationale for organizational change.FindingsThis paper identifies a set of questions to frame a discourse perspective on the use of “flexibility” as a rationale for organizational change.Research limitations/implicationsThe questions derived in this paper provide a research agenda for an investigation of the use and effects of the concept “flexibility” in the context of organizational change.Practical implicationsThe questions derived in this paper provide practice‐based insights into how the concept “flexibility” is and/or could be used in the context of organizational change.Originality/value“Flexibility” is a ubiquitous concept as a rationale for organizational change and its use is accompanied by a diversity of definitions and conceptual frameworks. The originality of this paper is that rather than seeking to provide yet another definition – or attempting a resolution of definitional differences – it argues the merits of a discourse perspective on the use and effect of the concept flexibility in the context of organizational change.
Segmenting slot machine players: a factor‐cluster analysis
Authors: Chen Sandy C. , Shoemaker Stowe , Zemke Dina Marie V. 
Published: February 2013

PurposeSlot machines and other machine gaming generate between 65 percent and 90 percent of a US casino's revenue. This article aims to examine the motivations, behaviors, and preferences of slot machine customers, and to develop market segments.Design/methodology/approachThe study's objectives include: understanding the demographic, gambling motivation, and gambling behavioral characteristics of slot machine players; identifying important reasons for choosing one slot machine game over another; examining player attitudes and behaviors pertaining to progressive machines; and investigating player desire for theme‐based games. This was accomplished through an online survey of slot machine players.FindingsProfiles of slot machine players are developed and the slot players are segmented into four clusters that explain motivations and game preferences.Practical implicationsThis article fills in some of the gaps in understanding the gambling behavior of slot players. This study can help gaming machine manufacturers design new products and features to serve existing machine gaming customers and to attract new customers. Casino and other gaming operators can use this information not only to select the right types of machines to provide on‐site, but also to develop advertising and promotions to attract and retain new and existing customers for slot machines and other types of gaming machines.Originality/valueThis is the first published study that segments slot machine players from a marketing perspective and identifies their preferences, behaviors, and demographic groupings.
Hospitality operators' understanding of service: a qualitative approach
Authors: Crawford Alleah 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this research was to begin to answer the question “Can a person as an employee, an individual or a leader be pre‐disposed to deliver service?”.Design/methodology/approachTo answer this question the research began exploring service from the provider's perspective to better understand how it is understood and how the need to serve is developed. This study used an interpretive phenomenological approach and collected data through semi‐structured interviews. Purposeful sampling produced hospitality management operators as participants. The focus of the interviews was their understanding of service, and how one develops a need to serve others. An editing style of data analysis was conducted.FindingsFindings included an understanding of how hospitality operators view service, including necessary external and internal attributes. Additionally, a basic understanding of how the need to serve develops in service providers was garnered from the data collected.Practical implicationsSpecific implications for service practitioners included training and selection. Selection based on these findings likely produces employees that are a better fit for service provision, resulting in more satisfied employees and guests. Training employees in these key areas is also likely to produce employees that deliver service effectively and are contributing members to the organization.Originality/valueThis research is valuable to service practitioners as it identifies key attributes necessary of service providers that can aid in selection and training. Additionally, this research provides value to other researchers as it notes a spectrum approach to understanding how the need to serve develops.
Food safety practices and managers' perceptions: a qualitative study in hospitality
Authors: Arendt Susan W. , Paez Paola , Strohbehn Catherine 
Published: February 2013

PurposeFoodservice managers are responsible for making sure employees follow safe food handling practices so customers do not become ill from unsafe food. Therefore, this study aims to ascertain managers' perspectives using two methods of data analysis to answer the question, “What would make managers more effective in their role of assuring safe food practices are followed in the workplace?”.Design/methodology/approachFocus groups with current and future foodservice managers were conducted. The software program, Atlas.ti™ was used to complement researchers' analyses of focus group transcripts and develop visual representations of qualitative data.FindingsMajor thematic categories identified by the managers in this study included role identification, food safety training, and manager effectiveness. Using Atlas.ti™, data were visually mapped and relationships between different themes and theoretical ideas were represented.Research limitations/implicationsBased on the three major theme areas identified, foodservice operations should focus on improving manager effectiveness, role understanding and training to promote a safe food climate.Practical implicationsUnderstanding why safe food practices are not followed can help operators delegate resources accordingly. Visual mapping helps clarify areas to improve workplace food safety practices and illustrates linkages.Originality/valueThe use of qualitative analysis software in conjunction with researcher review in food safety research is novel. In addition, although other researchers have evaluated reasons for following or not following safe food‐handling practices, most have done so by assessing employees' perspectives rather than managers' perspectives.
Neural network cost estimating model for utility rehabilitation projects
Authors: Shehab Tariq , Farooq Mohamad 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an artificial intelligent (AI) system for estimating the construction cost of water and sewer rehabilitation projects.Design/methodology/approachTo develop the proposed system, data pertaining to 54 sewer and water rehabilitation projects was collected. The collected data were analyzed using Pareto analysis technique to identify the most important factors that contribute positively to the cost estimation process. These factors were then utilized to develop a neural network (NN) model that estimates the construction cost of this class of projects.FindingsThe study reveals a set of 23 factors that highly impact the construction cost of water and sewer network rehabilitation projects and presents a NN model that predicts the cost of these projects with high accuracy.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed system was developed using information obtained from the city of San Diego, California, USA. The cost of these projects ranged from $800,000 to $7 million. The diameter of pipes installed in these projects ranged from 1 in. to 36 in. and their length was up to about 2.7 miles.Originality/valueThe developed system saves time, improves the accuracy of the estimates and prevents problems that are usually associated with inaccurate estimates. The system will not only help funding authorities to ensure maximum utilization of resources, but will also help cities to manage their expenditures in a manner that assures satisfactory performance of their buried assets. Furthermore, the developed system is also believed to assist cities in comparing alternatives and the go/no‐go decision making process.
An entry mode decision‐making model for the international expansion of construction enterprises
Authors: Li Heng , Jin Zhigang , Li Vera , Liu Guiwen , Skitmore R.M. 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a new type of entry mode decision‐making model for construction enterprises involved in international business.Design/methodology/approachA hybrid method combining analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations (PROMETHEE) is used to aid entry mode decisions. The AHP is used to decompose the entry mode problem into several dimensions and determine the weight of each criterion. In addition, PROMETHEE method is used to rank candidate entry modes and carry out sensitivity analyses.FindingsThe proposed decision‐making method is demonstrated to be a suitable approach to resolve the entry mode selection decision problem.Practical implicationsThe research provides practitioners with a more systematic decision framework and a more precise decision method.Originality/valueThe paper sheds light on the further development of entry strategies for international construction markets. It not only introduces a new decision‐making model for entry mode decision making, but also provides a conceptual framework with five determinants for a construction company entry mode selection based on the unique properties of the construction industry.
Improving performance of construction projects
Authors: Zhang Lianying , Fan Weijie 
Published: February 2013

PurposeAs a crucial soft skill, emotional intelligence (EI) is reported to have many benefits, yet it remains largely unexplored in construction project management. The purpose of this paper is to explore further application of project manager's EI to improve project performance.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire‐based survey covering 112 project managers in construction is used to determine project managers’ EI, and relate that to the performance of their most recent projects, as well as examine the moderating effects of international involvement and contract type.FindingsResults indicate high expressions of six EI factors in project performance of large and complex scale; whereas the effects of self‐confidence and teamwork have not been confirmed. Additionally, international involvement and contract type are found to moderate the relationships between certain EI factors and project performance.Practical implicationsThe paper makes recommendations on selection and appointment of project managers to construction organizations; meanwhile it assists project managers in recognizing the significant competencies that cater for large and complex construction projects.Originality/valueIn this paper, the EI model is modified especially for project managers, to make up for the deficiency of project managers’ EI framework, as well as the project performance criteria for construction projects. Then an analysis takes place of the key EI dimensions or competencies on project performance, which contributes to the body of project managers’ EI.
Toward a parsimonious model of arbitrator acceptability
Authors: Houghton Jeffery D. , Elkin Randyl D. , Stevenson Sarah 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe aim of this study is to take a construct validation approach toward developing and testing a parsimonious, yet comprehensive, higher‐order factor model of arbitrator acceptability that helps to identify what matters most in the arbitrator selection process.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques to examine data from a sample of union advocates attending an arbitration conference to test a hypothesized model of arbitrator acceptability that includes procedural justice, experience, and education as first‐order indicators of arbitrator acceptability. Three competing alternative models that add age, race/gender, and distributive justice, respectively, to the hypothesized model as an additional indicator of arbitrator acceptability were also examined.FindingsResults suggest that the hypothesized model is the best fitting of the four models tested. In addition, the path coefficients of the added paths in each of the alternative models were non‐significant.Research limitations/implicationsKnowledge regarding the relative importance of the various factors involved in arbitrator acceptability will be of interest to future researchers in determining which variables to study in arbitrator selection research as well as to practitioners seeking to better understand and manage the complex arbitrator selection process.Originality/valueThis study makes an important contribution to the literature by being among the first to examine both arbitrator characteristics and organizational justice concepts simultaneously in a single model. This study also takes an important step toward more clearly defining and validating the arbitrator acceptability construct. Finally, this study helps to provide an answer to the question of what matters most in the arbitrator selection process.
The strategic use of caucus to facilitate parties' trust in mediators
Authors: Poitras Jean 
Published: February 2013

PurposeMediators' impartiality and empathy are two classical factors in the parties' trust in mediators. However, mediators are often torn between being impartial and being empathetic. The aim of this paper is to explore this empirically.Design/methodology/approachThis study empirically tests the strategic use of caucus to improve the interaction between impartiality and empathy by splitting them into two phases: impartiality in joint sessions and empathy in caucus.FindingsThe strategy did create significant synergy between impartiality and empathy with the main impact of reducing the time needed to reach an agreement.Research limitations/implicationsAll research data come from workplace mediation and from the same organization. Although it can be reasonably postulated that the results can be generalized to other mediation settings, this remains to be proven.Practical implicationsWhen mediators use the trust caucus strategy, impartiality and empathy work better together and parties put more weight on empathy than on impartiality. While the use of the trust caucus does not increase the likelihood of reaching agreement, it does significantly decrease the time needed to conclude an agreement.Originality/valueThe study uses a quasi‐experimental design to test its hypothesis. Furthermore, the study uses real mediation cases.
The exit option: mediation and the termination of negotiations in the Northern Ireland conflict
Authors: O´ Dochartaigh Niall , Svensson Isak 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the mediation exit option, which is one of the most important tactics available to any third party mediator.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyzes a crucial intermediary channel between the Irish Republican Army (hereafter IRA) and the British Government utilizing unique material from the private papers of the intermediary, Brendan Duddy, including diaries that cover periods of intensive communication, extensive interviews with the intermediary and with participants in this communication on both the British Government and Irish Republican sides as well as recently released official papers from the UK National Archives relating to this communication.FindingsThe study reveals how the intermediary channel was used in order to get information, how the third party and the primary parties traded in asymmetries of information, and how the intermediary utilized the information advantage to increase the credibility of his threats of termination.Research limitations/implicationsThe study outlines an avenue for further research on the termination dynamics of mediation.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the conditions for successfully using the exit‐option is vital for policy‐makers, in particular for peace diplomacy efforts in other contexts than the Northern Ireland one.Originality/valueThe paper challenges previous explanations for why threats by mediators to call off further mediation attempts are successful and argues that a mediator can use the parties' informational dependency on him in order to increase his leverage and push the parties towards settlement.
The effect representatives have on their client's perceptions of justice and fair treatment in workplace dispute resolution processes
Authors: Farmer Kevin P. , Miller Jane K. 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical framework for assessing the effects representatives have on their client's perceptions of justice, outcome and satisfaction, as well as the treatment received by clients from other stakeholders, in workplace dispute resolution processes.Design/methodology/approachResearch propositions are advanced based on constructs and theories drawn from the literature on organizational justice, in particular, as well as social psychology in general.FindingsRepresentatives are hypothesized to have a profound effect on their client's perceptions of voice, participation and satisfaction as well as on the treatment accorded the client by the other side and third‐party neutral. Representation,per se, is heralded as neither a positive nor a negative force in workplace dispute resolution processes.Research limitations/implicationsThe framework of a representative's effects is limited by a focus on individual employees who pursue disputes arising out of the employment relationship against management and, therefore, excludes disputes involving groups as well as non‐employment related disputes.Practical implicationsSuggestions for expanding or contracting the role of representatives in workplace dispute resolution are discussed.Originality/valueAlthough it is ubiquitous in US jurisprudence and is a growing presence in alternative dispute resolution, the representative‐client dyad has been unexplored. The impact representatives have on the client's perceptions of justice, and the effects representatives have on other stakeholders in the process, bear scrutiny.
Form and function of luxury flagships
Authors: Manlow Veronica , Nobbs Karinna 
Published: February 2013

PurposeLuxury shopping touches upon many facets of experience, ranging from the strategic objectives of the brand to the subjective, interpersonal experiences of individuals. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the flagship's form and appearance: including architecture, decor, arrangement of space, symbolic elements, location, and its function to better understand the role of the aesthetic environment of the flagship as a means of communicating the brand's objectives, which are mediated by a consumer's perception of the brand and store, the goals he or she brings to the experience, and the situational determinants of the shopping experience.Design/methodology/approachThe authors explore the strategic role and customer experience of flagships in major international locations through interviews with luxury flagship managers and customers. Site visits were made to multiple brands. Ethnographic research on the consumer experience was carried out in two locations of a major brand's flagship store.FindingsThe authors arrive at definite characteristics comprising branding strategies, retail practices, and the consumer experience. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive delineation of the meaning and purpose of luxury flagships.Research limitations/implicationsThe exploratory study focused broadly on managers’ views, and on the customer experience of one brand in two major cities. Comprehensive interviews and survey research should be conducted in targeted stores with a focus on customers at these flagships.Practical implicationsThe paper yields practical information which can be used by brands to more effectively provide a satisfying customer experience. The paper adds to the empirical research on the aesthetic dimensions of flagship stores, its function in relation to the brand, and the experience it provides customers.Social implicationsThis empirical study explores the meaning and usage of branded spaces and retailing strategies to those who experience the environment: managers and customers.Originality/valueThe paper explores the phenomena of the luxury flagship experience along two pivotal points: the point of view of managers who are charged with promoting the goals set forth by the brand and that of customers who experience the luxury environment on their own terms, as well as responding to the sensorial environment they encounter.