bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contingency, fit and flexibility of HRM in nonprofit organizations
Authors: Akingbola Kunle 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe change in the environment of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) has accentuated the need for managers to understand the relationship between strategy, HRM and organizational effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to examine contingencies that underlie strategy, HRM and the dimensions of fit and flexibility in the actual HRM practices implemented by two study organizations that have deployed HRM in strategic change.Design/methodology/approachThe research used two case studies of NPOs who reported that they adopted HR practices as an integral component of their adaptive strategy to achieve a fit. Thus, the research adopted purposive sampling to determine the cases that are appropriate to examine the research questions.FindingsThe findings provide evidence of horizontal and vertical fit and flexibility‐focused HRM practices designed to provide strategic alternatives. The research raises questions about how well NPOs’ managers understand contingency drivers of strategy, HRM practices and the direction of HRM in NPOs. A number of factors contributed to promote fit, flexibility and HR practices. First, the emphasis on HRM as a critical priority in strategy by senior management. Second, factor that may have contributed to fit and flexibility dimension is the use of professional managers in the NPOs. The case organizations involved either internal or external consultants with HRM expertise in strategic planning process. Finally, organisational structure that facilitated communication channels within both organizations. Both organizations emphasized internal communications as a way of engaging employees.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings set the groundwork for major research which could extend findings from previous empirical research, that strategy of NPOs is aligned with the level of HR practices in some functions such as training and not aligned in others practices such as recruitment.Practice implicationsFor nonprofit managers, this research reinforced the importance of senior management commitment and HR expertise to develop and implement HR practices that are aligned with current strategy and the need to develop employees’ skills to facilitate flexibility to adapt to change in the environment. It is imperative for the HR practices of NPOs not only to achieve horizontal and vertical fit, but also to build in flexibility the organization requires to develop, deploy and sustain employee skills and behaviour needed to cope with the competitive environment and to help with the achievement of organisational goals.Originality/valueThe important point of this research is that it extends our understanding of fit and flexibility in NPOs. It provides an example of how two NPOs adopted and emphasized SHRM as a critical component of their strategy.
Corporate volunteering
Authors: do Paço Arminda , Cláudia Nave Ana 
Published: August 2013

PurposeGiven the increased awareness about the social issues in organisations and the need for more research, particularly in the area of employee voluntary activities, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the motivations that lead employees to agree to participate in the corporate volunteering activities promoted by their companies, as well as to assess their level of satisfaction and happiness with the activity of volunteering.Design/methodology/approachThis research had the collaboration of a company to develop the case study about its volunteering programme and for the collection of data through an electronic questionnaire.FindingsThe results indicate a similar hierarchical organisation of the motivations when compared with some previous studies. The volunteers’ experience is satisfactory in all aspects, and is positively related to feelings of happiness. However, the results evidence a weak/moderate relation between volunteers’ motivations and happiness/satisfaction.Practical implicationsMore efforts are needed to improve the volunteers’ training and formation, which was pointed as the less satisfactory aspect (similarly to other studies). Thus, it is necessary to question the methods usually used in the training provided, which may involve the restructuring of the training plan to adapt it to the employees’ needs and to guarantee the quality of the work.Originality/valueA great part of the existent research is focused on the motivations of “conventional” volunteers which collaborate occasionally with non‐profit organisations. Thus, present study will expand the research in the area of corporate volunteering, contributing to better understand what really motivates, satisfies and makes volunteers happy with this activity.
Students' attitude towards entrepreneurship: does gender matter in the UAE?
Authors: Majumdar Sudipa , Varadarajan Damodharan 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to examine whether there is a difference in the entrepreneurial intentions among male and female students in UAE. The study is extremely relevant and interesting since females in the UAE have a higher success rate in education but this has not been translated into comparable increases in employment rates. Given the social, cultural, and religious fabric of the country's indigenous society and the rising number of female graduates, this anomaly in the corporate sector might result in more female entrepreneurs in this part of the globe, as compared to the rest of the world.Design/methodology/approachThe research studies a sample of first year business students from the United Arab Emirates, namely Dubai Men's College and Dubai Women's College. The primary survey was a part of an international study involving 12 universities in Europe, Middle East and Australia. A five‐point Likert scale was used for each question and dummy variables were computed based on the scores. The authors used a multivariable econometric model to assess the statistical significance of the determinants of entrepreneurial attitudes. The empirical assessment of the students' entrepreneurial propensity was based on the estimation of a logistic regression.FindingsThe authors' results show that male and female students were equally strong in terms of their propensity to become future entrepreneurs. Female respondents showed higher risk‐taking behavior than males, which was contradictory to past research findings that have typically found females to be more conservative in risk‐taking than males. The estimation results showed that the propensity of future entrepreneurship does not depend on gender ‐ it depended on factors like creativity, motivation and awareness. This is a very important result since the authors' sample does not follow the expected trend in the existing literature on gender differences and entrepreneurship propensities where a wide gender gap has been found.Originality/valueBoth academia and practitioners have increased their efforts in promoting an entrepreneurial mindset within society. However, only a few studies have investigated entrepreneurial attitudes amongst students and no research studies have been conducted in the UAE. The authors' research fills this lacuna and shows that the efforts need to be directed towards nurturing the creativity and awareness of both male and female students for future business ventures.
Knowledge transfer, controls, and performance of MNE subsidiaries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alharbi Jaithen , Singh Satwinder 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the influence of the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of knowledge‐sharing in subsidiaries of multinational enterprises (MNEs) located within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the impact of knowledge flows on the performance of such subsidiaries.Design/methodology/approachA cross‐sectional survey research design, involving the use of a questionnaire to acquire the primary data, is adopted. The analysis is based on 147 completed questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis are used in the analysis of the data.FindingsFormal control mechanisms are widely used as opposed to informal channels of control. Knowledge flows are associated with personalised or bureaucratic controls. Both mechanisms are negatively associated with performance, whilst output control and informal coordination are positively associated. Increased local presence and subsidiary R&D is positively associated with performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology adopted for this study can be extended for similar studies in the Middle East or in GCC countries. Policy makers in host countries in which MNE subsidiaries operate may find the results an important leverage for negotiating with MNEs for R&D to be conducted in their countries. Possible spill‐overs and diffusion effects of such R&D could then also benefit domestic firms.Originality/valueThis is one of few studies of this nature conducted in the Middle East, and the only one in the context of KSA, which has explicitly investigated the connection between knowledge flows, controls, and performance.
Countering heteronormativity
Authors: Woodruffe‐Burton Helen , Bairstow Sam 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which butch lesbians manage and negotiate their sexual identity in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative study using online ethnographical enquiry to explore lesbians' experiences of performing butch identity in the workplace. Ethical and other issues relating to online ethnographic research are also explored and discussed.FindingsIdentity negotiation is a key issue and lesbians face the constant pressure of identity management. This is not simply a personal perspective but a defence mechanism to counter the heteronormative culture within organisations. Strategies for dealing with these tensions evident in the literature and reflected in this study range from “passing” (passing as a heterosexual) to defying expectations of heteronormativity and remaining constant to individual butch identity.Practical implicationsThe paper can assist HRD professionals and leaders in developing organisation cultures which embrace and include difference and help obviate oppression. It may also be of interest to researchers and policy makers in the fields of diversity and equality and LGB issues.Social implicationsThe findings here will be of interest to social audiences including LGBT individuals, activist groups and support groups. Wider understanding of female masculinity and butch identity may help leverage greater tolerance and acceptance.Originality/valueThis study responds to calls for more LGBT research in the workplace and organisational context. The findings develop the understanding of identity negotiation in conditions of heteronormativity. It is also argued that this study of the experiences of lesbians in the workplace is positioned as an alternative site of understanding organisations, with learning to offer gendered leadership.
Second-order time-varying sliding mode control for reentry vehicle
Authors: Geng Jie , Sheng Yongzhi , Liu Xiangdong 
Published: August 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to design a global robust and continuous control scheme for the attitude tracking control problem of the reentry vehicle with parameter uncertainties and disturbances.

Design/methodology/approach
– First, feedback linearization is applied to the model of reentry vehicle, resulting in three independent uncertain subsystems. Then a new second-order time-varying sliding function is proposed, based on which a continuous second-order time-varying sliding mode control (SOTVSMC) law is proposed for each subsystem. The global robustness and convergence performance of the closed-loop reentry vehicle control system under the proposed control law are proved.

Findings
– Simulation is made for a reentry vehicle through the assumption that there is external disturbance to aerodynamic moment and the aerodynamic parameters as well as the atmospheric density are perturbed. The results verify the validity and robustness of the proposed strategy.

Originality/value
– The SOTVSMC attitude controller based on feedback linearization is proposed for the reentry vehicle. The advantages of the proposed SOTVSMC are twofold. First, the global second order sliding mode is established, which implies that the closed-loop system is global robust against matched parameter uncertainties and disturbances in reentry. Second, the chattering problem is significantly alleviated.
Guaranteed-stability adaptive fuzzy control of a hydraulic elevator
Authors: fateh mohammad mehdi , Amerian Mohaddeseh 
Published: August 2013

Purpose
– A hydraulic elevator including the hydraulic actuator and cabin is highly nonlinear with many parameters and variables. Its state-space model is in non-companion form and uncertain due to the parametric errors, flexibility of the ropes, friction and external load disturbances. A model-based control cannot perform well while a precise model is not available and all state variables cannot be measured. To overcome the problems, this paper aims to develop a direct adaptive fuzzy control (DAFC) for the hydraulic elevator.

Design/methodology/approach
– The controller is an adaptive PD-like Mamdani type fuzzy controller using position error and velocity error as inputs. The design is based on the stability analysis.

Findings
– The proposed control can overcome uncertainties, guarantee stability, provide a good tracking performance and operate as active vibration suppression by tracking a smooth trajectory. The controller is not involved in the nonlinearity, uncertainty and vibration of the system due to being free from model. Its performance is superior to a PD-like fuzzy controller due to being adaptive as illustrated by simulations.

Originality/value
– The proposed DAFC is applied for the first time on the hydraulic elevator. Compared to classic adaptive fuzzy, it does not require all system states. In addition, it is not limited to the systems, which have the state-space model in companion form and constant input gain, thus is much less computational and easier to implement.
Change, challenge and choice: being a student mentor
Authors: Crawford Karin , Simpson Diane , Mathews Ian 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThis collaborative project, undertaken in the context of higher education in England, examined students’ motivations for undertaking a voluntary extra‐curricular mentoring role with young people in public care. It also considered students’ perspectives on what they gained from this experience.Design/methodology/approachThe research was undertaken using a qualitative case study approach, with a focus on students undertaking mentoring in addition to their studies. The case study was a community project that drew on student volunteers to mentor children and young people who are looked after by the local authority. Methods included semi‐structured interviews, focus groups, development of individual exemplars, and the use of Web2 technologies, specifically a blog site and vodcasts. Data were collected between September 2010 and May 2011.FindingsFindings reported in this paper demonstrate the reasons students engaged with mentoring looked after children as an extra‐curricular activity and the benefits they gained from this experience. As such, institutions and educators might consider how student engagement in mentoring can be valued and embedded in the wider student experience.Originality/valueThis literature provides evidence of mentoring as an important social and political phenomenon. Whilst much is known about benefits to mentees and, to a lesser degree, for mentors in the mentoring relationship, this research explores the issues in more depth by considering the interface between being a mentor and completing undergraduate or postgraduate level studies. In particular it discusses the potential for mentoring to become embedded within the curriculum to ensure education for sustainable futures.
Exploring mentoring experience through positioning theory lens
Authors: Tan Justina 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore mentoring experience through positioning theory lens. It discusses, specifically, the mentoring experience of beginning teachers and mentors in a school in Singapore.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a case study approach. The data are collected mainly through interviews with beginning teachers and mentors.FindingsThe findings suggest that beginning teachers who had an emotionally assuring mentoring experience had mentors who positioned themselves as emotional providers. Those who had a professionally fulfilling mentoring experience had mentors who positioned themselves beyond the providers of emotional support. Beginning teachers who had a less satisfying experience had mentors who positioned themselves as physically and emotionally unavailable. Mentors who had a professionally frustrating mentoring experience had beginning teachers who challenged their positioning. Those who had a personally enjoyable and professionally satisfying mentoring experience positioned themselves as not averse to learning from beginning teachers.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that schools may want to give more attention to mentor preparation, and it should not be a one‐off exercise. The findings also suggest that it may be a good idea to also consider a pre‐mentoring session for both mentors and beginning teachers before they embark on the mentoring proper.Originality/valueAlthough this study is at best a research in progress, it, however, signifies the first step towards initiating a dialogue in this aspect as there are hardly any studies that mentoring particularly in the context of Singapore. For the teaching profession in Singapore, this is especially a significant first step.
Threshold work: sustaining liminality in mentoring international students
Authors: Starr‐Glass David 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThis article, which is conceptual and exploratory in nature, aims to examine the use of sustained liminality in the initiation phase of the mentoring relationship. Liminality is the non‐structured transitional phase in transformative cultural and social change: a place betwixt‐and‐between, where previous and future norms are suspended. The article argues that providing an explicit liminal phase in mentoring relationships allows mentor and mentees to consider the nature of the relationship and the eventual process through which its goals might be accomplished.Design/methodology/approachThe article reflects on experiences gained in using a liminal approach to the mentoring process with distance transnational mentees. It presents the case for the use of what is termed threshold work in addressing the transition from non‐mentored to mentored status. It understands mentoring as a ritual enactment that requires a reassessment of cultural assumptions for participants with differing national identities.FindingsThe article is conceptual in nature and presents only anecdotal outcomes derived from informal discussion with mentees. It argues that, based on these initial experiences, more evidence‐based research might be usefully conducted to examine the effect of a liminal approach on the mentoring process, at both relational and outcomes levels, particularly when mentor and mentee are distanced spatially and by national culture.Originality/valueThis article presents a novel perspective for approaching the initiation phase of the mentoring process. Although used in other contexts, liminality is infrequently employed in mentoring. The utilization of liminality may be particularly valuable in approaching novice mentees who have different national cultural backgrounds and prior educational experiences. As such, the article provides useful insights for practitioners, especially in academic environments.
The public sector and the development of microfinance in Spain
Authors: Estapé‐Dubreuil Glòria , Torreguitart‐Mirada Consol 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe study of the relationships between the public sector and the microfinance sector in Spain; through the analysis of the microcredit programs undertaken by the diverse governmental bodies, as well as their repercussion in the development of the microfinance sector.The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachDetails on the public policies analyzed have been mainly extracted from the web sites and annual reports of the agencies. Semi‐structured interviews to members of the boards of most microfinance institutions (MFIs), as well as a database compiled by the authors on the MFIs and their clients had been used. As a theoretical reference, concepts within the institutional theory are applied.FindingsFinancial services provided by governmental bodies to underprivileged are scarce, raising a lot of interest following its introduction, but with decreasing levels of realizations in recent years. Public policies have been found to influence in different ways the development and consolidation of the Spanish microfinance sector, although in general having feeble institutional impact.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of the analysis, limited to only one European country.Practical implicationsSuggested paths for further collaboration between governmental bodies and MFIs and other social organizations related to the sector.Originality/valueFocus on the public policies related to the microfinance sector in a developed country.
Exploring nonlinear effects of family power on the performance of Italian wine businesses
Authors: Gallucci Carmen , D'Amato Antonio 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThis work seeks to investigate the performance of wine businesses operating in the Campania region in the South of Italy and aims to verify the family power effect on company performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted on a sample of 114 firms that operate in the quality wines industry. Using a panel data regression model with time fixed effects, the authors analyzed the firm performance during the interval 2007‐2010 to detect the effect of family power on the firm performance. Family power was measured through the degree of family involvement in ownership and on the board. Performance was measured in terms of revenue and profitability.FindingsThe research highlights a U‐shaped relationship between family power and revenue and an inverted U‐shaped relationship between family power and profitability.Originality/valueThe findings show an empirical framework which could stimulate the academic debate on family effect in order to draw implications for marketing management and policy makers in the wine business and to provide suggestions for further research.