bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Virtual communicating, conflicts and performance in teams
Authors: de Jong Remco , Schalk René , Curşeu Petru L. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the influence of the level of team virtuality on the effects of intra‐team conflicts on team performance, which have hardly been investigated.Design/methodology/approachA framework is proposed based on the extent to which team members use communication media to coordinate their actions and execute their tasks, taking into account the extent to which the communication media are synchronous and the extent to which the communication media convey para‐verbal and nonverbal aspects of communication. Data of 49 teams with 172 team members were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression analysis.FindingsThe level of team virtuality influences the relation between intra‐team conflict and perceived team performance. The higher the level of team virtuality, the greater the positive impact of task conflict on perceived team performance. In teams with a low level of virtuality task conflict has a negative impact on perceived team performance, and in high virtual teams task conflict has a positive impact. In addition, process conflict has a negative impact on perceived team performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study provides a framework for the effects of the level of team virtuality that can be used in further research and has implications for practice.Originality/valueThe study shows the effects of the level of team virtuality on team performance, which is important considering the emerging use of virtual communication tools in organizations.
The social psychology of knowledge management
Authors: Kimmerle Joachim , Wodzicki Katrin , Cress Ulrike 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis article seeks to address the social aspects of handling knowledge and information. For this purpose, it considers findings from social psychology and discusses their applicability in knowledge management research and practice.Design/methodology/approachThe article presents a selective but systematical review of recent social psychological literature that can be applied for knowledge management purposes.FindingsTwo social psychological concepts that strongly influence knowledge processes in organizations are first introduced: social norms and social identity. Two types of social processes that are particularly relevant for knowledge management subsequently take center stage in this article: knowledge sharing and knowledge processing in organizations. The roles social norms and social identity play in knowledge sharing and knowledge processing are then assessed.Originality/valueImplications for knowledge management practice are considered: among other implications, it is discussed what computer‐mediated support can contribute to knowledge management processes in organizations with respect to both knowledge sharing and knowledge processing.
A perspective on multiculturalism and policing
Authors: McMurray Adela J. , Karim Azharul 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between demographics and an employee's understanding of and support for the recruitment of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups in a policing context. Design/methodology/approach – A multi‐method research approach was adopted where a postal survey, comprised of both closed and open questions, was distributed to 500 Victoria Police employees and yielded a response rate of 19.5 per cent.FindingsThe findings show that gender and higher education have significant relationships to understanding CALD and lead to significant support for the recruitment of CALD employees. Results show that the instrument utilized in this study was highly reliable with a Cronbach Alpha value of 0.802. Alpha values for “understanding” and “support” were 0.813 and 0.788, respectively. Research limitations/implications – The limitation of this study is that the findings are based on a pilot study with 97 responses.Practical implicationsThe utility of the conceptual model generated in this study has practical implications and value as it is being implemented to assist Victoria Police in designing CALD policies, procedures and practices.Originality/valueThe paper proposes an empirical model showing demographics as critical determinants in understanding and support for CALD recruitment and retention in Policing. Furthermore, the conceptual model makes a significant contribution to the literature and advances Morris et al.'s model.
From an ethnocentric to a geocentric approach to IHRM
Authors: Muratbekova‐Touron Maral 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the case of one French multinational company which has undergone a process of radical restructuring and “internationalization” because of acquisitions of Anglo‐Saxon multinational companies. It examines how the organizational changes influenced the company's approach to the international human resource management (IHRM).Design/methodology/approachThe methodology of this research is the single case study. Sources of evidences are direct participation and observation, interviews with top managers, and documentation.FindingsThe results show that the ethnocentric model, when French managers were placed on the top of the foreign subsidiaries, becomes non‐efficient in the company which doubled its size and the geographical spread of its activities. It is argued that the forces of globalization constrained this multinational company to change from an ethnocentric approach to a geocentric approach to its IHRM.Originality/valueThe case demonstrates that national and organizational cultures are important contextual factors which influence the company's approach to its IHRM. The paper outlines the interconnectedness of globalization and the geocentric approach to the IHRM.
Workaholism, work and extra‐work satisfactions and psychological well‐being among professors in Turkey
Authors: Burke Ronald J. , Koyuncu Mustafa , Fiksenbaum Lisa 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine potential antecedents of workaholism components identified in previous research and the relationship of these components to work and extra‐work satisfactions and psychological well‐being among professors in Turkey. It attempts to replicate previous research conducted in North America.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 406 professors using a web‐based questionnaire. Three workaholism components were considered: work involvement, feeling driven to work because of inner needs, and work enjoyment.FindingsIt was found that the three workaholism components were unrelated to three blocks of antecedent predictor variables. Both feeling driven to work and work enjoyment generally predicted validating job behaviors while work enjoyment predicted work and extra‐work satisfactions and psychological well‐being. These findings provide a partial replication of previous North American results, suggesting the need to consider both country and cultural factors in future workaholism research.Research limitations/implicationsAll data were collected using self‐report questionnaires, raising the possibility of response set tendencies. In addition, all data were collected at one point in time, making it difficult to determine causality.Practical implicationsWork enjoyment emerged as a strong and consistent predictor of most work and well‐being outcomes. Organizations are encouraged to increase satisfaction levels in efforts to attain productive and healthy people.Originality/valueThis paper replicates previous workaholism research carried out in North America in Turkey, a secular Muslim country. The importance of considering country culture and values is highlighted.
Dimensions of Indian culture, core cultural values and marketing implications
Authors: Banerjee Saikat 
Published: October 2008

PurposeBehavior of a consumer largely depends on interplay between inner self and outer stimuli. Consumption decisions made in the market cannot be viewed as an independent event – it is closely related with values and social relationship and cultural allegiance. With globalization, culture becomes predominantly important strategic issue in market that has to be faced and properly managed. But, in different settings, management of cultural diversity could be seen as a threat, or an opportunity. As culture and values vary country to country, a close insight about country‐specific culture and core values is almost essential for a smooth sailing in any market. The purpose of this paper is to discuss overall fundamental dimensions of Indian culture and core values and resultant marketing implications.Design/methodology/approachThe major task is to identify specific culture and core values at the time of marketing in a cross‐cultural setup. In this backdrop, an attempt has been made in this paper to discuss overall fundamental dimensions of Indian culture and core values with the help of a verbal model. The model has further been examined with the help of empirical marketing evidences from Indian market with an objective to help marketers to address those cultural and value dimensions at the time of their brand marketing in India.FindingsInputs about Indian culture and value dimensions can be of immense use to brand managers to strategies their marketing road map to minimize chances of erroneous decision‐making. A table summarizing the aspects that have to be considered at the time of building brands in India has been proposed to facilitate useful marketing decisions to penetrate the Indian market. At the time of starting its journey in a new country like India, the best approach a firm can adopt is to accept major issues involved with culture and values.Practical implicationsThe verbal model about core culture and values of India, and proposed strategic roadmap, facilitate marketers to devise more accurate marketing strategies for India.Originality/valueThis paper presents a country‐specific approach that may be useful to marketers busy with consumer marketing in India. A verbal model of “Culture and Value Dimensions of Indian consumer” is of immense help in charting marketing strategies to win over Indian consumers.
A cross‐cultural assessment of leading values in design‐oriented companies
Authors: Calabretta Giulia , Montaña Jordi , Iglesias Oriol 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis study is an attempt to approach design management from a cultural perspective. Specifically, the paper assumes that design orientation reflects an underlying organisational culture that distinguishes design‐oriented companies from the rest and reinforces their capability to generate competitive advantage from design management. The aim is to disentangle the main characteristics of this culture.Design/methodology/approachA case study research approach was adopted to gain some initial insights on the cultural characteristics of the population considered in the present study.FindingsThe results of the field study identify a set of general values and product‐related values shared by the design‐oriented companies considered in this research. In addition, the existence of functional sub‐cultures and cross‐cultural differences is analysed, together with a discussion on how organisational culture and functional sub‐cultures can co‐exist in this specific context.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough a rich set of qualitative data was garthered, the number of cases is still too small to consider replications and opportunities for theory building.Originality/valueThe paper proposes a structured description of design orientation from a multiple level of analysis (organisational culture and individual sub‐cultures). It provides useful insights on interaction and harmonisation between these levels, leading to a better understanding of the drivers of design‐oriented behaviour. Additionally, the cross‐cultural setting of the study addresses the interconnectedness of cross‐cultural design practices and design‐oriented managerial values.
Executive courage in the Palestinian organizational culture
Authors: Yasin Mahmoud M. , Alavi Jafar , Saba Fifi H. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis research attempts to shed some light on Palestinian executives and their organizational culture. Specifically, this research focuses on the dimensions of executive courage in the unique Palestinian culture. The impact of executive courage on Palestinian organizations is emphasized.Design/methodology/approachThis research is survey‐based. The research instrument utilized in this study was also used in other cultural settings. Content analysis and factor analysis were used to analyze the data collected from a sample of 40 Palestinian executives.FindingsThe results underscore the significance of making tough decisions on behalf of the organization, as an important dimension of the multi‐dimensional executive courage construct. The results of this study clearly show the positive impact of executive courage on organizational culture of Palestinian organizations.Practical implicationsThe findings of this research are relevant to Palestinian executives and those executives seeking to engage in joint‐ventures with them.Originality/valueThis research represents rare insight into the Palestinian organizational culture. In the process, the practices of the Palestinian executives with regard to executive courage and its impact on organizations are examined.
Building credibility in international banking and financial markets
Authors: Erik Flyvholm Jørgensen Poul , Isaksson Maria 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe research aims to draw a detailed picture of how international corporate banks and financial institutions approach image advertising to enhance impressions of their credibility. The purpose of the work is twofold, namely to demonstrate how corporate credibility can be conceptualised and made operational for strategic communication, and how the operational categories are utilised in the planning of recent image advertising campaigns in Europe.Design/methodology/approachA reconceptualised model of credibility dimensions was first proposed to obtain a collection of operational appeal forms. A corpus of 74 print adverts was then analysed in order to establish how financial marketers use the appeal forms to strengthen their corporate reputations. The patterns of credibility appeals obtained were then linked to the supporting visuals to provide a fuller picture of the industry's current praxis for portraying its expertise, trustworthiness and empathy.FindingsThe results reveal an overwhelming focus in both text and images on recounting companies' achievements and competencies at the expense of providing assurance of their integrity, truthfulness or attention to clients' needs. There is also clear evidence that corporate advertising is in fact strongly focussed on communicating credibility with less than 10 percent of discourse and visuals devoted to credibility‐free themes and issues.Research limitations/implicationsThe study takes a production perspective, using discourse and rhetorical analysis to determine how corporate documents are planned and executed. The data do not thus explain how advertising professionals distinguish between credibility appeals or how their target audiences recognise or respond to text and images communicating credibility.Practical implicationsThe results of the research are intended to bring increased attention to the rhetorical options for managing reputations and their potential effects on corporate credibility discourse.Originality/valueThe study demonstrates how dimensions of credibility can be conceptualised at a level relevant both to practitioners and to academic writing courses. Additionally, the application of the credibility appeals disconfirms the expectation that financial services providers are increasingly branding themselves to the market on the basis of their character and concern for customers' well‐being.
Communicating a new corporate image during privatization: the case of El Al airlines
Authors: Herstein Ram , Mitki Yoram , Jaffe Eugene D. 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThe importance of corporate image management in the airline industry has increased substantially in recent years. More and more managers of airline companies have found themselves changing their company's corporate image in order to ensure a more modern and updated identity. The purpose of this case study is to trace the new corporate image communication design and implementation phases of the privatization process of El Al airlines.Design/methodology/approachThis article explores the transition process of a government‐owned airline with a popular‐national image to a private company with an exclusive‐national image, focusing on the implementation of its new corporate image communication process.FindingsThe case study described here suggests that the corporate image communication process of a company that has become a private entity should be holistic and takes place on four levels – internal and external, formal and informal.Originality/valueThis unique case study adds a new element to the process of communicating image to internal and external stakeholders in the airline industry and other service sectors that are becoming increasingly privatized. El Al airlines transitioned from government ownership to private hands, a process that required the implementation of drastic changes in terms of service quality management standards. It is quite rare to find companies in the airline sector that have undergone privatization.
When an icon stumbles: the Ribena issue mismanaged
Authors: Jaques Tony 
Published: October 2008

PurposeWhen two 14‐year‐old New Zealand schoolgirls challenged the advertising claims of Ribena blackcurrant drink – owned by global giant GlaxoSmithKline – they triggered a sequence of events which led to prosecution, public opprobrium and international damage to an iconic brand. The purpose of this paper is to explore the case and identify lessons for future management practice.Design/methodology/approachSome of the fundamental principles of issue management, post‐crisis discourse and corporate apologia are to recognize the problem early, to promptly institute a strategic response plan and corrective action and, if necessary, to apologise genuinely and without delay. The paper assesses the case against the theoretical basis of each of these principles and comparable cases. A senior executive of the company concerned was interviewed about some management aspects.FindingsDespite early indications of a problem which had potential impact around the world, a major global corporation responded inadequately to a local situation and, as a result, suffered prolonged embarrassment at the hands of two teenagers and unnecessarily severe damage to its brand and international reputation.Originality/valueBy in‐depth analysis of a recent case, the paper underlines valuable lessons in terms of prompt management intervention, consistent strategy and effective apologia. It also illustrates the danger of poor management of a brand extension and the risk of contagion facing multinational organizations where adverse outcomes in one small regional market can rapidly damage a global reputation.
When working hard pays off: testing creativity hypotheses
Authors: Suh Taewon , Shin Hochang 
Published: October 2008

PurposeThis study seeks to suggest and test an important moderator, organizational encouragement, which plays between working hard, and two outcome variables, creativity and performance. This study also aims to test the traditional inferences and conclusions in the creativity literature in order to generalize them into the corporate communications/public relations (PR) setting.Design/methodology/approachThe dataset includes 148 survey returns from Korean practitioners in corporate communications and/or PR. Path analysis and multi‐group analysis are utilized for analyses.FindingsThe findings provide evidence that the effect of working hard on performance can significantly be intensified when the practitioner is encouraged to work creatively in the organization. Some of the findings also confirm the general view of the traditional notion from the creativity literature.Research limitations/implicationsThe results indicate that when an employee is working hard is better related to the performance goal when the employee is encouraged to take risks and to work in a creative manner. Limitations are concerned with the fact that, in the Korean public relations setting, little knowledge was known about the variables.Practical implicationsWithout any effort, simply being creative cannot guarantee successful outcomes. Organizational encouragement is very important in the workplace to encourage creative outcomes and better performance.Originality/valueThis study investigates and determines the role of the organizational determinant of creativity as a moderator in the combination of a mediating variable and working hard. The study area of corporate communications lacks discussion of creativity.
Transparency and performance communication: a case study of Dutch Railways
Authors: Galetzka Mirjam , Gelders Dave , Pieter Verckens Jan , Seydel Erwin 
Published: October 2008

PurposeIn an attempt to gain insight into the effects of transparent communication on critical performances, this paper aims to explore performance measures and communication of a large‐scale service organization, i.e. the Dutch Railways (Nederlandse Spoorwegen, (NS)).Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured interviews with employees of NS and external stakeholders were analyzed to study which performances are measured by NS, why they are measured, and how they are communicated to the employees and stakeholders.FindingsAn ambiguous view on transparency was observed. Although transparency is advocated by most employees and stakeholders, this study revealed the complexity of performance communication of a service organization. In this case, NS used to fully disclose performances but emphasized positive performances. This transparent communication strategy seemed to backfire and yielded a counterbalanced societal response from customer organizations which resulted in a strained relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are based on qualitative data of a limited number of interviews. Several types of actors were interviewed but not passengers of NS themselves.Practical implicationsFrom a communicative point of view, it might be wise to publish negative aspects as well as the positive ones to promote trust and corporate credibility. Building trust involves investing in positive experiences for customers and promotion of realistic expectations. To enhance trust, organizations must not only inform stakeholders and citizens about their performances but also invest in direct communication with their stakeholders.Originality/valueThis study explores performance communication of a service organization, and the ambivalent role of transparency of (internal and external) performance communication.