bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Building a sustainability strategy into the business
Authors: White Peter 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to present a case study of how a global consumer company, with over 300 brands sold in 180 countries, and 138,000 employees, is building sustainability into the rhythm of its business. This goes beyond social investment programs, addressing sustainability in product design, manufacturing operations, employee engagement and stakeholder partnerships.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the process Procter & Gamble has gone through to define its sustainability strategy and goals, gain global alignment, build sustainability strategies and accountability into its business units, and regional and functional organizations, and then raise the bar by increasing its goals for 2012.FindingsExperience in implementing sustainability shows the importance of the following factors: being explicit about sustainability and its importance: keeping a broad definition of sustainability; ensuring that sustainability is not added work; eliminating trade‐offs between performance, value and sustainability; having a clear strategy and knowing “where to play”, and getting sustainability incorporated into the DNA of a company.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new and broad overview of how sustainability has been implemented in a global consumer goods company. It introduces the unifying concept of “no trade offs” for both consumer acceptance of sustainable products and sustainability investments for companies. The paper also highlights the challenges of engaging employees around the world to deliver a single coherent sustainability strategy.
Environmental engagement, organizational capability and firm performance
Authors: López‐Rodríguez Sofía 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to understand the connection between the motivations that drive firms to adopt green commitments and the impact of these engagements on firm performance.Design/methodology/approachTheoretical underpinnings for the hypotheses are drawn from the existent literature on corporate environmental responsibility and the constructivist framework. These hypotheses are then tested through a SEM with data from a mail survey with 195 Spanish manufacturing firms that have adopted the international environmental management system ISO 14001.FindingsThe results suggest that in the process of implementing green commitments, not only instrumental and ecological motivations play a key role, but also the internal organizational activities, in addition to the outcomes of the implementation itself.Research limitations/implicationsThis research study uses perceptual measures of a single informant from each Spanish firm. Research studies that add objective data and extrapolate the analysis to firms in other countries would be worthwhile to support this model.Practical implicationsAccording to this paper, firms can enhance the outcomes of their green engagements through involving diverse functional units, and by continuously assessing these results and scanning the drivers of change.Originality/valueThis paper suggests the greening of the manufacturing process as a multidimensional procedure and helps shed light on how to successfully manage it.
A corporate's responsibility to employees during a merger: organizational virtue and employee loyalty
Authors: Chun Rosa 
Published: January 2010

PurposeA company may ignore its non‐obligatory responsibilities to employees during a major change such as a merger, leading to their disaffection and feeling of insecurity. The purpose of this paper is to explore how employee views of the merged organization differ by their pre‐merger background, and to explain the impact of the poorly perceived organizational virtue on employees' emotional response to the merged organization including satisfaction, emotional attachment, job security and loyalty.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology involved a questionnaire survey of employees from an organization in crisis following a merger due to poor employee morale and high labor turnover.FindingsThe two major findings were: first perceptions of organizational empathy, warmth and conscientiousness were strongly correlated with employee loyalty, perceived job security, satisfaction and emotional attachment. Second, company background prior to the merger had a contrary effect to that expected from existing literature; employees from the acquiring companies had more negative feeling towards the merged organization.Practical implicationsThe research findings highlight the importance of promoting the virtues of empathy and warmth as keys to ensuring the emotional attachment and loyalty of key employees to ensure the long‐term success of the merger.Originality/valueDespite growing interest in applying virtue ethics into business, empirical studies assessing organizational level virtue are rare. This empirical study of the organizational virtue advances, complements, and distinguishes itself from existing studies on merger, by demonstrating the importance of non‐obligatory virtues (those beyond legal and economic responsibilities) perceived by employees.
Embedding corporate responsibility through effective organizational structures
Authors: Perera Aldama Luis R. , Awad Amar Patricia , Winicki Trostianki Daniela 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which companies are embedding the corporate responsibility function in different organizational structures, and to identify, when possible, best practices related to organizational structures which have proved effective in managing corporate responsibility that can be applied by any organization, regardless of size or industry sector.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed and applied a methodology, in the form of a questionnaire, covering more than 40 aspects to describe what companies are doing to integrate the corporate responsibility function in their organizational structures. The design of the survey was based on available literature as well as their own professional experience answering questions commonly received from clients in Latin America. The questionnaire was then applied to a small sample using companies' public information from reports and company web sites.FindingsThe application of the questionnaire on a sample of Chilean companies using their public information tested the tool as valid and fit for the designed purpose. The main conclusions were that CSR structuring and CSR strategies are both strongly associated with the size of the company in terms of number of employees and revenues.Originality/valueMany questions arise when the task of implementing CSR is proposed and Latin American companies are trying to apply best practices by learning from the experience of companies with longer histories in CSR matters. However, trends are not uniform and different organizations are taking a variety of pathways in the process of CSR implementation. This paper offers a general vision of how companies are making the effort to implement CSR best practices, in terms of structure, strategy and scorecard; and presents a simple tool to assess the gaps, if any, in the effective embedding of corporate responsibility on organizational structures.
A knowledge management perspective of corporate social responsibility
Authors: Preuss Lutz , Córdoba‐Pachon Jose‐Rodrigo 
Published: January 2010

PurposeCompanies increasingly find themselves under pressure to adopt socially responsible forms of operation. Since organizational change is crucially influenced by knowledge creation and sense‐making, this paper aims to determine how knowledge management (KM) processes can foster (or impede) progress towards corporate social responsibility (CSR).Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the KM literature to identify areas of knowledge management that are particularly relevant to managing a company's social and environmental externalities.FindingsDistinguishing between two related but analytically distinct approaches to knowledge management, namely an element and a process view, the paper develops a conceptual model of how knowledge management can impact on CSR.Originality/valueDistinguishing between elements of knowledge and processes of managing these allows a more systematic and comprehensive approach to managing knowledge around CSR.
Motivations and potential monitoring effects of large shareholders
Authors: Pergola Teresa M. , Verreault Daniel A. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to synthesize and evaluate the stream of research that links large shareholders to the production of shared corporate benefits.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is to review the literature with an emphasis on the development of findings.FindingsThe presence of large shareholders is positive only if their incentives are aligned with other owners and they have the power to exert influence. The presence of large shareholders, even those whose interests are aligned with owners, does not always result in stronger governance structures.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited by the existing stream of literature and the completeness of our search process.Practical implicationsA synthesis and evaluative summary of the research is presented that may be used by researchers, executives, and board members.Originality/valueFrom a research viewpoint, effective research designs should incorporate both incentive and power when assessing the monitoring role of large shareholders to aid in the validity and comparability of research results. From a practice viewpoint, managers and board members may use our summary figure to evaluate power relationships and likely reactions to strategic and tactical decisions in their firm's governance structure.
Private equity and the UK market: some “real” concerns
Authors: Kirkbride James 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe paper aims to look at the growth of private equity and to consider the concerns that the public and media have raised, as well as the response to these concerns.Design/methodology/approachThis article is an opinion piece based on current and recent trends.FindingsIt is difficult to ascertain whether the publics’ concerns are real or are media lead. The tax changes have also caused concern in the private equity business with a belief that they will drive investors out of the UK market and reduce the competitiveness and attractiveness of the UK for the private equity investor.Originality/valueThe key may involve more transparency in the private equity industry as this may help resolve some of the growing public and political distrust. The paper also suggests that to attain a better understanding in this area, the competitive position of the UK market needs to be recognised.
Fighting economic espionage with state trade secret laws
Authors: Pacini Carl J. , Placid Raymond , Wright‐Isak Christine 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of trade secrets, reasonable steps to preserve secrecy, trade secret value, misappropriation methods used to acquire trade secrets, various legal remedies, and internal controls to protect trade secrets.Design/methodology/approachA sample of types of civil trade secret cases is highlighted. The paper includes a statutory and legal case study analysis of the elements in a civil trade secrets lawsuit. Analysis of actual trade secret court cases illustrates the importance of private civil lawsuits in combating intellectual property fraud.FindingsThis paper shows the serious impact of trade secret espionage on the success and survival of businesses and the necessity of proving each element of a civil claim under state trade secret law. Also, practical steps necessary to protect an entity's trade secrets are discussed.Practical implicationsThis paper raises the awareness of executives, managers, internal and external auditors, forensic accountants and other interested parties about the severity of trade secret espionage. Also, this paper highlights numerous steps to protect trade secrets.Originality/valueThis paper fills an identified need to inform those involved in the fight against economic crime about the importance of state trade secret laws and internal controls in the fight against intellectual property fraud.
Company formation and regulation compliance for SMEs (Estonia)
Authors: Gordon Dickinson Paul 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine academic literature and business regulation for company formation in Estonia in relation to small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). It is an example of a country which is a new member of the expanded European Union (EU) and its regulation.Design/methodology/approachThis exploratory paper makes use of World Bank Surveys, primary business law sources together with an interview from a business within the country assessed giving a grass‐roots perspective.FindingsThe investigation reaffirms the importance of SMEs within transitional economies from a Soviet background such as Estonia because of the Socialist black hole. It also emphasizes the correlation between SME development and business law and the significance and key aspects of company formation for an SME. Furthermore, transition economies like Estonia have complied with EU directives for company formation and advanced within the regulation process quickly. However, it is still more difficult for a person or entity from another EU Member State to form a company in Estonia.Practical implicationsThis research demonstrates that compliance on EU regulation for company formation by a new EU member has been provided for within the regulation of the wording. It also indicates that for an entity from another EU state (other than Estonia) it is slightly more difficult to form a company. Unofficial costs, a legacy from the Soviet period are almost non‐existent within the Estonian company registration system. Some of the gaps within the World Bank Surveys are filled by the interview, although further evaluation is needed from other academics.Originality/valueThe research highlights the importance of company formation for SMEs, the compliance of a new EU Member State with EU directives, and the reality of company formation regulation for an SME in Estonia.
Non‐renewal of fixed‐term contracts
Authors: van der Bank C.M. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide tests to apply and establish what factors are relevant in determining whether or not an employee had a reasonable expectation of renewal of a fixed‐term contract as envisaged in section 186(1)(b) of the 1995 LRA.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws from case studies to examine whether these actionable conducts can be defined in a precise way.FindingsThe common law scenario, has been materially altered by the provisions of section 186(1)(b) of the 1995 LRA that the employers' non‐renewal of the contract or offer to renew the contract whilst the employee reasonably expected the employer to renew the contract therefore it constitutes a dismissal.Practical implicationsThe common law interpreted that where a fixed‐term contract expires, where an express term in the contract stipulates that there is no expectation to renew the contract in the mind of the employee concerned that the contract will be renewed again; the employer will have no contractual remedy available to him. This paper calls upon common law to use and pro‐actively manage labour law responsibilities and further refine the existing dismissal tools.Originality/valueThis paper contributes the rethinking of labour rights is necessary because the social, economic and political environments in which they were first conceived have been fundamentally affected by modern globalization and the expansion of the network society.
Market freedom or shareholders' protection? A comparative analysis of the duties of nominee directors
Authors: Rizal Salim Mohammad , Tai Yong Teh 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the recent codification of the duties of nominee directors in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachComparative law and legal theory.FindingsThe paper finds that the Malaysian approach to the duties of nominee directors is overly prescriptive and inconsistent with commercial reality.Practical implicationsA review of the law on the duties of nominee directors in Malaysia is called for.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the need for clear law reform objectives and made comparisons of the law across jurisdictions.
Is carbon finance the answer to climate control?
Authors: Yeoh Peter 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the continued viability of the European Union emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) as a tool for climate control in the face of continued criticisms.Design/methodology/approachThis evaluative study makes use of connected existing studies and other secondary data from economics, management, politics and law.FindingsThe study found that though there were various flaws in the scheme in its initial launching phase, the insights gained are being applied in the second and subsequent phase of the EU ETS. It is also ascertained that despite initial doubts, a market for carbon finance is successfully established in the EU albeit with various limitations. The scheme is also poised to link with other regional schemes to address climate control.Research limitations/implicationsThough the study relied primarily on secondary data, the findings were sufficiently triangulated with perspectives from economics, politics, management and law. The findings would also provide useful and relevant information to those engage in the theory and practice of carbon finance.Originality/valueThis paper updates on the legal and economic significance of the EU ETS as a market mechanism to address climate change.
Democratic transition, judicial accountability and judicialisation of politics in Africa
Authors: Yusuf Hakeem O. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the growing incidence of judicialisation of politics in Nigeria's democratisation experience against the backdrop of questionable judicial accountability.Design/methodology/approachThe article draws on legal and political theory as well as comparative law perspectives.FindingsThe judiciary faces a daunting task in deepening democracy and (re) instituting the rule of law. The formidable challenges derive in part from structural problems within the judiciary, deficient accountability credentials and the complexities of a troubled transition.Practical implicationsEffective judicial mediation of political transition requires a transformed and accountable judiciary.Originality/valueThe article calls attention to the need for judicial accountability as a cardinal and integral part of political transitions.
Internalization of costs, liability and negligence, performance and reliance
Authors: Kantarelis Demetri 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss incentive mechanisms and procedures for cost internalization by both potential defendants and plaintiffs.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken is to rely on the concepts of liability, negligence, precaution and methodologies for estimation of compensatory damages in conjunction with the Coase theorem.FindingsThe paper finds that the decision to internalize and minimize cost depends upon marginal precautionary costs and marginal expected harms.Research limitations/implicationsResearch needs to be conducted from a law and economic perspective on developing procedures for estimating precautionary costs and expected harms.Practical implicationsThis paper calls upon business firms and their stakeholders (primarily employees and customers) to use and pro‐actively manage their precautionary responsibilities and further refine the existing formulas. More specifically, it aims to help law and economics students as well as practitioners in law and regulation to better understand the implications of marginal precautionary costs and marginal expected harms in the process of cost internalization.Originality/valueIn exploring the precautionary responsibilities of firms and their stakeholders, this paper contributes to a better understanding of liability and negligence issues and, as a result, to the important intersection of law and microeconomics.
Evading economic reality
Authors: Gordon Brown M. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is too analyze what causes judicial decisions about access impairment in American eminent domain and police power cases to be based on subjective interpretations instead of objective factual evidence about the spatio‐material conditions of access.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a review of commentary on decision making and language in legal contexts, contemporary rhetorical analysis combined with discourse analysis are employed to illuminate inconsistencies of legal terminologies with respect to access.FindingsThe analysis finds that legal terminology of access takings sustains cognitive indeterminacies and prevents the use of standard quantitative approaches to measurement.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this research are that access conditions need to be considered in the context of transaction costs based on an underlying ontology of access phenomena.Practical implicationsThis paper calls for changing legal policy so that objective measures of access can be used to evaluate impairment.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to analyze underlying problems in access takings and sets the stage for a more objective and scientific approach to a long unresolved problem involving property takings.
The ethics of corporate governance
Authors: Rossouw G.J. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe principles, regulations and directives associated with corporate governance constitute a view of the role, responsibilities and obligations of corporations within a given society. Identifying the ethics of a specific corporate governance regime entails making explicit the moral responsibilities and obligations of corporations in society as well as the ethical values associated with these responsibilities and obligations. In order to make meaningful global comparisons between the ethics of corporate governance regimes, a number of vital distinctions need to be made. The purpose of this paper is to introduce and discuss three such distinctions.Design/methodology/approachConceptual clarifications and distinctions are considered with regard to three pairs of related concepts: the ethics of governance and the governance of ethics; external and internal corporate governance; and shareholder and stakeholder orientations in corporate governance.FindingsThe conceptual distinctions that have been considered are vital for making useful comparisons between the ethics of different corporate governance regimes around the world. Neglecting these conceptual distinctions can lead to misunderstanding and confusion in the global discourse on the ethics of corporate governance.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a theoretical framework for comparing four regional perspectives on the ethics of governance, namely from Africa, Asia, Continental Europe and North America. It also provides a framework for any other global comparative study on the ethics of corporate governance.Originality/valueThe paper provides a conceptual framework for making global comparisons with regard to the ethical underpinnings of corporate governance regimes. It thus assists in creating a framework for a global discourse on the ethics of corporate governance.