bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Benchmarking the performance of nations: non‐uniform weighting and non‐economic dimensions
Authors: Bowen Harry P. , Moesen Wim 
Published: January 2010

PurposeMost composite indicators of national performance limit their scope to only economic performance criteria and aggregate primitive performance data using subjective fixed weight values applied uniformly to all countries. This paper proposes a weighting method to correct for biases inherent in the use of fixed and uniform weights, and it presents a composite performance indicator that encompasses both economic and non‐economic performance criteria.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a method that endogenously determines country‐specific weights that explicitly take account of a country's own choices and achievements across primitive dimensions of performance. The method is then used to construct a composite inclusive index that combines economic performance with two other performance dimensions: environmental sustainability and governance.FindingsComparison of the endogenous weight method with the method of using fixed and uniform weights indicates a bias in the latter that penalizes countries, in terms of indicating lower relative performance, which are more diverse in their achievements among primitive performance dimensions. When the endogenous weight method is used, the performance ranking of countries is altered such that countries with greater diversity improve their relative performance while the relative performance of countries having less diversity may either rise or fall.Originality/valueThe weighting method discussed in this paper: is applicable at any level of analysis (e.g. nations, companies, business units, etc.), obviates objections about the “importance” of alternative primitive dimensions that can arise when subjective fixed weights are used; and indicates more accurately relative performance since each unit of analysis is first allowed to obtain its best performance before relative performance is assessed. The method can therefore assist policy makers, companies, etc. to more accurately benchmark performance and it can, in particular, assist companies to respond to perceptions of low performance or compliance among different performance dimensions when performance has been determined using the traditional method of fixed and uniform weights.
Toxins in the workplace: affect on organizations and employees
Authors: Appelbaum Steven H. , Roy‐Girard David 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to define toxins such as toxic leader, toxic manager, toxic culture, and toxic organization and explore how they affect the organization's performance and its employees.Design/methodology/approachThis article is basically twofold. It is a literature review utilizing a selective bibliography providing advice on information sources and it is comprehensive in that the objective is to cover the mainstream and unique contributors of toxicity. It is also a general review providing an overview of this contemporary issue facing organizations with descriptions of what the problem is and how to address it.FindingsOrganizations as well as their employees suffer from the affects of toxins that are present within the organization. They also suffer from psychological effects, such as; impaired judgment, irritability, anxiety, anger, an inability to concentrate and memory loss. On the other hand, it has also been found that companies in North America alone lose an excess of $200 billion each year due to employee deviance. Employee deviance has also been found to be the cause of approximately 30 percent of all business failures.Practical implicationsThere are possible solutions to reduce, and sometimes even eliminate, toxicity in an organization. Possible solutions, such as recognition, and the use of toxin handlers to eliminate, reduce, or avoid the infiltration and spreading of these toxins is very important to organizations that suffer from or would like to prevent toxicity in the workplace.Originality/valueThe article is unique and highly practical for all individuals who are in management and for those who are called on to assume leadership roles mandated to deal with deviance, organizational citizen behavior and toxicity in the organization.
Strategic approaches of corporate codes of ethics in Australia: a framework for classification and empirical illustration
Authors: Svensson Göran , Wood Greg 
Published: January 2010

PurposeResearch has so far not approached the contents of corporate code of ethics from a strategic classification point of view. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to introduce and describe a framework of classification and empirical illustration to provide insights into the strategic approaches of corporate code of ethics content within and across contextual business environments.Design/methodology/approachThe paper summarizes the content analysis of code prescription and the intensity of codification in the contents of 78 corporate codes of ethics in Australia.FindingsThe paper finds that, generally, the studied corporate codes of ethics in Australia are of standardized and replicated strategic approaches. In particular, customized and individualized strategic approaches are far from penetrating the ethos of corporate codes of ethics content.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to Australian codes of ethics. Suggestions for further research are provided in terms of the search for best practice of customized and individualized corporate codes of ethics content across countries.Practical implicationsThe framework contributes to an identification of four strategic approaches of corporate codes of ethics content, namely standardized, replicated, individualized and customized.Originality/valueThe principal contribution of this paper is a generic framework to identify strategic approaches of corporate codes of ethics content. The framework is derived from two generic dimensions: the context of application and the application of content. The timing of application is also a crucial generic dimension to the success or failure of codes of ethics content. Empirical illustrations based upon corporate codes of ethics in Australia's top companies underpin the topic explored.
Integrating corporate social responsibility and other strategic foci in a distributed production system: a transaction cost perspective on the North Sea offshore petroleum industry
Authors: Midttun Atle , Dirdal Tore , Gautesen Kristian , Omland Terje , Wenstøp Søren 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to explore the challenges of integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) with other strategic foci into the supply/contractor chain, both conceptually and empirically, with a focus on one sectorial case: the Norwegian upstream petroleum industry. It compares contradictory theories of strategic focus and explores their implications for the organisation of the supply chain and discusses challenges and solutions for operative CSR‐oriented supply chain managementDesign/methodology/approachThe empirical analysis, inspired by the cognitive mapping approach, seeks to elicit the strategic profiles of the oil majors and suppliers/contractors in the petroleum industry. This is based on textual analysis of core statements of overall business strategy such as the CEO's and the Chairman's statement letter to the shareholders. The paper also draws on research and workshops with petroleum companies and their suppliers in the North Sea, as well as contracting experts and researchers taking part in the EU‐TRENDS project which focused on satisfying Europe's future demands and needs for sustainable, secure, safe and clean energy supplies.FindingsThe strategic profiles of the petroleum companies and their suppliers/contractors indicate that, while they coincide on many points, there is considerable discrepancy as far as CSR and HSE are concerned. The suppliers/contractors tend to emphasise the technology dimension more strongly than the petroleum companies. HSE and CSR are, on average, strategically under‐communicated within the supply industry compared with the petroleum companies, but there is also considerable variation within each group.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper explores how transaction cost theory may help frame managerial challenges and approaches in integrating CSR consistently throughout supply chains. It shows some of the limitations of the “rationalist” model of industrial organisation both at the firm level and at the supply chain level and discusses possible expansions into broader managerial approaches.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights some of the managerial challenges and basic approaches for integrating CSR consistently throughout the value chain.Originality/valueThe originality of the article lies conceptually in linking the CSR literature to transaction cost theory of industrial organisation. Empirically the article presents new insights into strategic foci of the petroleum companies and their supply chain.
Stakeholder relations and maintaining the licence to operate: a comparative case study of the Swiss telecommunications industry
Authors: Kern Isabelle , Sachs Sybille , Rühli Edwin 
Published: January 2010

PurposeIn the research project “Good practices of stakeholder view” three firms in the Swiss telecommunications industry were analysed in order to compare their stakeholder involvement. This paper seeks to illustrate how these three firms, namely Swisscom, Sunrise, and Orange, dealt with a particular problem all of them faced: the deployment of antennas for mobile telephony that in some cases was strongly opposed by the population. Thereby, the “Telco” firms were challenged as societal institutions and had to defend their licence to operate. The three firms chose different strategies to deal with the problem.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on comparative case studies that combine qualitative and quantitative aspects.FindingsThe benefits of good stakeholder relations are illustrated as well as the problems that might arise when stakeholders are ignored.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are based on a sample of three telecommunication firms.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests good practices for firms that aim to improve their stakeholder interactions.Originality/valueThis paper sheds light on the value of different strategies in the stakeholder relations to maintain a firm's licence to operate and to pursue its business in the intended way.
The eras and participants of fair trade: an industry structure/stakeholder perspective on the growth of the fair trade industry
Authors: Davies Iain A. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the increased mass‐marketing in the fair trade industry to provide a robust analysis of the industry, participants and growth for use both as a starting‐point for researchers in this field and as a case study for readers with an interest in any ethical trading initiative.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing data from a longitudinal exploratory research project, participant observation from two organizations and in‐depth interviews from a total of 15 organizations are combined to build a strong theory grounded in the data.FindingsThe paper provides insight into the nature of participants and industry structure in fair trade over time. Four distinct eras are identified which reflect both current literature and the practitioners' perspective. The four eras can be split into three extant eras – the solidarity era, niche‐market era, and mass‐market era, and the fourth – the institutionalisation era – depicts participants' beliefs about the future for the industry.Research limitations/implicationsThe three principal theoretical contributions are the definitions which are provided for the different eras of the market's progression, the view of industry structure and the newly defined participants from both the commodity and under‐considered craft markets.Practical implicationsPractical contributions are provided since the paper offers a holistic view of the fair trade market, so acting as a starting‐point for those new to fair trade.Originality/valueThis paper provides deep empirically grounded theory from which fair trade research can grow. It also provides future insights from participants in the industry, advancing current theory.
SME social performance: a four‐cell typology of key drivers and barriers on social issues and their implications for stakeholder theory
Authors: Kusyk Sophia Maria , Lozano Josep M. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) are often neglected in the context of business and society theory building. The purpose of this article is to build a model of why SMEs address social issues by integrating internal and external drivers and barriers to social performance (SP).Design/methodology/approachUsing thematic analysis, barriers and drivers to SME social performance are clustered along key stakeholders and presented in a theoretical model. The analysis dates from 1973 until 2006 and is grounded in an extensive literature review that represents a total of 83 countries. It includes academic and practitioner accounts stemming from theoretical and empirical work, as well as conference proceedings. A total of 80 drivers and 96 barriers to SME high social performance are identified.FindingsThis paper develops an SME four‐cell ideal type of social issues management (SIM) response typology based on drivers and barriers of social performance.Practical implicationsThe importance of understanding barriers and drivers to social responsibility (SR) of SIM for stakeholder theory, policy makers, and practitioners is discussed, concluding with implications for further SME‐SR research.Originality/valueThe four‐cell typology considers the theoretical claims of stakeholder theory within the context of SMEs and proposes a heteronomy of stakeholder salience.
Bodega Jiménez‐Landi and Javier Benjumea Chair: the collaborative creation of a strategic stakeholder management approach in a small Spanish enterprise
Authors: Luis Fernández Fernández José , Benavides Delgado Juan , Villagra García Nuria 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to attempt to gain a deeper understanding on small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and point out some of the most serious barriers for small Spanish companies to implement such kind of strategic approach and connect it with its day‐to‐day operations.Design/methodology/approachAfter laying out the conceptual framework, and after giving a short description of the Spanish institutional landscape on corporate social responsibility (CSR), the paper focuses on SMEs and the practical issues relating to strategy design, core business and implementation as identified by managers and academics.FindingsThe paper shows a joint venture and a strategic partnership between the Javier Benjumea Chair and a new small Spanish company, in which the partners start a process of mutual help and learning. That partnership is itself an interesting experiment as a case of collaboration between the enterprise and an academic institution.Research limitations/implicationsThis is only the first step in generating a model applied to improve CSR uptake at the SME level.Originality/valueThe theoretical goal that is sought after in this paper is how to advance the design of a conceptual model and tools for analyzing and managing dynamically some of the most relevant intangible aspects of an SME, in order to improve its strategic management of the relationships with the stakeholders.
Positive and negative deviant workplace behaviors: causes, impacts, and solutions
Authors: Appelbaum Steven H. , Iaconi Giulio David , Matousek Albert 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact on organizations of both negative deviant workplace behaviors – those that violate organizational norms, policies or internal rules – and positive deviant workplace behaviors – those that honorably violate them. The reasons why people engage in such behaviors are explored, along with some of the reasons why organizations allow such behaviors to thrive within their walls. A typology of positive workplace behavior is determined and is compared with other pro‐social behaviors such as: whistleblowing, corporate social responsibility, organizational citizenship behavior and innovation. Possible solutions to overcome problems associated with negative deviant behavior in the workplace are examined, along with how to promote positive deviant behavior in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachA literature review on current positive and negative deviant workplace behavior was conducted.FindingsRegardless of whether negative deviance is overt or implicit, it has negative consequences for the entity and its affiliates. The estimated impact of the widespread theft by employees on the US economy has been reported to be $50 billion annually. Toxic organizations depend on employees that are dishonest and deceitful in order to be successful. Furthermore, it is found that psychological empowerment is likely to be a key enabler of positive deviance.Originality/valueIt is proposed that the survival of an organization in the face of negative deviant employees is possible with a remodeling of an organization's norms, attitudes and social values to a specific organizational culture centered on important ethical core values; by addressing value differences between employee subcultures, and more frequent background checks when hiring. Adhering tightly to organizational norms may preclude positive deviant behaviors that would be beneficial to the organization, and thus employee psychological empowerment is recommended.
Decreasing corporate governance in an ethico‐economic general equilibrium model of unity of knowledge
Authors: Alam Choudhury Masudul , Harahap Sofyan S. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain how to reduce transaction cost in corporate governance by subjecting it institutionally to ethics and values of interactive and consensual decision making with transparency gained from participation between managers and shareholders/stakeholders and the community at large. This is an epistemological problem in the Islamic approach to corporate governance. The paper brings these out in technical language and methodology.Design/methodology/approachAn analytical epistemological and comparative study between mainstream and Islamic conceptions in corporate governance is used to develop the idea mentioned above. The analytical model used is of an ethico‐economic general equilibrium type with learning variables.FindingsThe Islamic theory of corporate governance under the rubric of its epistemology of unity of knowledge treated within a systems approach is found to reduce transaction cost and produce better management decisions.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is mostly theoretical in nature but carries quantitative facts on the limitations of existing corporate governance practice at the accountancy level in the global scene.Practical implicationsThe adoption of institutional modes to generate interactive, integrative and evolutionary frameworks of corporate decision making is derived from the content of the paper. Recent global incidents with WorldCom and Enron are cited to show how corporate governance has failed as an effective means of reducing the immense transaction costs that were engendered by the failure of these mega corporations.Originality/valueThe paper conveys an original idea that has not been taken up elsewhere. It reflects the systems approach to the study of behavior in a corporate setting within the epistemology of systemic unity of knowledge. Besides, in the Islamic comparison that the paper undertakes in contradistinction to the mainstream approach, the methodology of systemic unity of knowledge conveys an altogether new way of studying corporate governance in the related new institutional framework.
Compliance obstacles to competitiveness
Authors: Doyle Eleanor 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the competitiveness obstacles that European businesses face, which, if not addressed, limit the potential of the EU economy, particularly in terms of the Lisbon goals. Adopting a broadly defined compliance‐centred approach, the paper seeks to identify how some significant competitiveness obstacles of European business might best be addressed.Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth interviews in 44 multinational and medium‐sized companies were used to investigate compliance requirements, the tools and methods used to manage compliance, compliance‐related obstacles to competitiveness. A survey of four European Information Centres was conducted to evaluate their effectiveness in achieving their stated mission.FindingsOrganisations lacked systems to proactively manage compliance to allow them to deepen or sustain their competitive positioning. Companies were concerned with the reliability and comprehensiveness of reports on compliance risks and how these could be related to prioritised strategic goals. A gap was identified between regulation production and dissemination, and conversion of regulatory information into knowledge used to gain and maintain business advantage. This gap is inadequately filled by business supports, including the European Information Centres.Originality/valueThe business‐focused approach to managing compliance suggested here could increase the competitiveness of EU businesses and the EIC Network is potentially well positioned to play its part in the value‐adding process of both the providers and consumers of EU information.
Marketing in governance: leader‐managerial practices for efficiency in competency‐based administration and transformational marketing model
Authors: Gladson Nwokah N. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine steps to be taken to educate, train, and achieve effective positive attitude and behavior modification of members and transformational managerial practices in corporate organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopted a descriptive methodology in describing leader‐managerial practices for efficiency in competency‐based administration and transformational marketing model.FindingsThe paper finds that transactional managerial leadership focuses mainly on role clarification, and the initiation of structure, meeting the social needs of subordinates, and the distribution of rewards and punishment according to performance. But the new system of transformational managerial leadership accomplishes all these, and goes further, to adopt certain meta‐managerial orientations, which include individualized consideration, intellectual stimulation, inspirational motivation and idealized influence, that enable such a transformationally conscientized leader‐manager to achieve superior results in the organization.Originality/valueThe specific work organizational practices discussed in this paper are very potent tools in the hands of managers. A conceptual model, known as the strategic corporate intelligence and transformational marketing (SATELLITE) model, is outlined, and can be used by corporate intelligence staff to provide marketing intelligence.