bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Subordinate expectations of leadership within a cleaned‐up bureaucracy
Authors: Jones Robert , Kriflik George 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to present a theory of the leadership process within the substantive setting of a cleaned‐up bureaucracy.Design/methodology/approachOrthodox grounded theory is employed within the setting of a large public‐sector organization in an eastern state of Australia.FindingsA leadership process model is presented which depicts a core social process within which subordinates' view of leadership is formed. Subordinates in cleaned‐up bureaucracies view leaders as people who service them, thus facilitating the movement of subordinates towards the minimization of their “attainment differences”. This view is far from the New Leadership notions of the charismatic, visionary, transformational leader or the captain‐like instrumental and authoritative leader.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are derived on the basis of a substantive case study of one cleaned‐up bureaucracy in a particular country. Further research needs to expand this base to encompass other organizations in a wider range of countries across different cultures.Practical implicationsThe grounded theoretical model draws attention to the intermediation and brokering role of leaders below the top management team who need to find ways to accommodate within the unilateral dictates of the senior executive strategies designed to minimize the attainment differences of subordinates.Originality/valueThe paper responds to recent calls to situate leadership process research within specific organizational and change contexts. Not all organizational change involves movement away from existing structures, systems or principles. Rather, some change efforts involve movement within the framework of existing structures, systems or principles, in the sense that they are aimed at tightening up rather than breaking down these concepts. Thus, change efforts are often aimed at cleaning‐up bureaucracies so they can achieve their prime objectives more efficiently. The leadership literature is far less rich in analysing such situations, a deficiency which this paper is aimed at filling.
The fatal smirk
Authors: Jacobs Gabriele , Keegan Anne , Christe‐Zeyse Jochen , Seeberg Ilka , Runde Bernd 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe key to success and failure in change projects may lie not in groundbreaking events or heroic gestures but in the many seemingly meaningless acts and events that occur throughout all change projects. In order to gain a better understanding of factors leading to success in change projects, the purpose of this paper is to examine insider accounts of successful and unsuccessful change projects in a non‐business public context, namely the German police.Design/methodology/approachThe research can be located in the exploratory, inductive research tradition and consistent with that we used in‐depth semi‐structured interviews to elicit the views of 92 high potential future managers as to what constitutes a(n) (un)successful project, and what factors lead to (un)successful project outcomes.FindingsThe qualitative approach adopted allows for the tracing of a range social behavioural issues identified by members of the organization as criteria to evaluate the success of projects – commitment of peers and superiors, satisfaction of members with the outcome. Identifying factors leading to project success, participants identified the following – clear communication of both positive and potentially negative outcomes, commitment of leaders, and changes in work conditions resulting from the project.Research limitations/implicationsSocial and behavioural aspects of change projects, which are often relegated to a secondary position behind managerial and technical aspects, should be taken into account more often in (research on) change management projects.Originality/valueThe findings are based on research that explicitly integrates the mundane aspects, the daily mistakes and the routine obstacles facing those involved in change projects and suggests the value of incorporating such issues in (research on) change management projects given the spread of projects from a traditional engineering context to a variety of different contexts including, increasingly, non‐profit and governmental organizations.
A Machiavellian analysis of organisational change
Authors: McGuire David , Hutchings Kate 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to undertake a Machiavellian analysis of the determinants of organisational change. It aims to present a model of how power, leaders and teams, rewards and discipline, and roles, norms and values, serve as drivers, enablers or inhibitors of organisational change.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts the sixteenth century Machiavellian text The Prince as a lens through which to examine organisational change.FindingsThe paper concludes that Machiavellian thinking provides a valuable guide to the challenges and obstacles in negotiating organisational change and identifies the individual as occupying the central role in determining whether the change intervention will be accepted or rejected.Originality/valueThe longevity of Machiavellian thinking underlines the constancy of human behaviour and the relevance of age‐old thinking in understanding and negotiating change in a complex fast‐paced business environment.
Employee sensemaking in the transition to nomadic work
Authors: Bean Cynthia J. , Eisenberg Eric M. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the results of a qualitative study of employees' sensemaking as a social, communicative process during a major organizational transformation.Design/methodology/approachThis case study describes a major transition in work mode, from traditional officing to nomadic work. Nomadic work is a radical new mode of work that emphasizes: worker mobility both at and away from the company facility; a paperless operation; and integrated technological platforms that enable knowledge work and flexible, project‐based organizing. Relying on participant observation and interviews, employee accounts were gathered of their experiences as told during the change implementation.FindingsIt was found that shocks noted in social interaction indicated that employee sensemaking was anchored by frames relying on identity, culture, or structure as the primary stabilizing discourse called into question. The findings suggest that employees used sensemaking to work out the tensions between social action and the systemic realities of organizational life.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the organizational literature by responding to the call for more research on social interaction during change implementation processes and on the implementation of new information technologies.
Between cultures: values, training and identity in a manufacturing firm
Authors: Scheeres Hermine , Rhodes Carl 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to critically scrutinize the use of training interventions as a means of implementing corporate culture change and to assess the implications of such programs for employee identity.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses empirical materials, observations and reflections from a two‐year ethnographic study in a manufacturing firm to discuss the organization's “core values” with specific attention directed to a particular organizational event – the running of a training program designed to educate the firms employees in the company's newly designed culture.FindingsThe contested interaction between formally articulated corporate culture and the workplace experience of the employees is shown to demonstrate how cultural change programs can work to suppress employee's dissent and dialogue whilst being articulated in a language of inclusiveness and involvement.Practical implicationsThe paper provides a review of the complex and paradoxical implications of cultural change programs that would be of use to managers, management consultants and human resource development professionals involved in implementing cultural change.Originality/valueThe paper examines organizational culture through detailed ethnographic study with a particular focus on the problematics of how training is used as a technology for cultural change.
Silences, perinatal loss, and polyphony
Authors: Hazen Mary Ann 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the silences and silencing in the workplace and elsewhere related to women's experiences of perinatal loss.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data from in‐depth interviews with 13 women who experienced perinatal losses between 1965 and 1999 are interpreted using Foucault's concepts of power/knowledge as pervasive in social relationships.FindingsWomen who experienced perinatal loss were physically divided from others in hospitals. Hospital practices changed over time. Knowledge about perinatal loss has been scientifically classified in medicine, psychology, and related fields. This knowledge has changed between 1965 and 1999. Perinatal loss is rarely mentioned in organizational and professional literatures outside of health care. In addition to experiencing silencing from others, women silenced themselves about their perinatal losses.Research limitations/implicationsData were collected from interviews with women from the Great Lakes region of the USA. Further research should include a greater number of parents from a wider geographic area.Practical implicationsDividing practices and silences collect a toll in depression, severed relationships, derailed careers, and missed opportunities for development. As people begin to speak with one another about perinatal loss, their voices contribute to a fully human work community and polyphonic organizations.Originality/valueThis paper makes a contribution to knowledge about perinatal loss and its impact on women's careers and grief in the workplace from a postmodern perspective.
RLCeffects in fine pitch anisotropic conductive film connections
Authors: Dou G. , Chan Y.C. , Morris J.E. , Whalley D.C. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe resistance, capacitance and inductance of anisotropic conductive film (ACF) connections determine their high frequency electrical characteristics. The presence of capacitance and inductance in the ACF joint contributes to time delays and cross‐talk noise as well as simultaneous switching noise within the circuit. The purpose of this paper is to establish an experimental method for estimating the capacitance and inductance of a typical ACF connection. This can help to provide a more detailed understanding of the high frequency performance of ACF assemblies.Design/methodology/approachExperiments on the transient response of an ACF joint were performed using a digital oscilloscope capable of achieving the required ns resolution. An equivalent circuit model is proposed in order to quantify the capacitance (C) and inductance (L) of a typical ACF connection and this model is fitted to the experimental data. The full model consisted of two resistors, an inductor, and a capacitor.FindingsThe capacitance and inductance of a typical ACF connection were estimated from the measured transient response using Kirchhoff's voltage law. The method for estimation ofR,L, andCfrom the transient response is discussed, as are theRLCeffects on the high frequency electrical characteristics of the ACF connection.Research limitations/implicationsThere was decay time deviation between the calculation and the experiment. It may have resulted from the skin effect in the high frequency response and the adhesive surrounding joint as well. The main reason may be the capacitance zctric lost. Further research work will be done to determine more accurately the dielectric losses in anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) joint.Originality/valueThis paper presents a new method to characterise the high frequency properties of ACA interconnections and will be of use to engineers evaluating the performance of ACF materials in high frequency applications.
Modelling of microstructure and damage evolution in Sn‐Pb solder
Authors: Wei Y. , Chow C.L. , Fang H.E. , Lu W.Y. , Lim J. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper aims to present a viscoplastic constitutive model of Sn‐Pb solder taking into account the evolution of microstructure and damage growth in the material.Design/methodology/approachThe microstructure evolution is represented by a parameter describing the coarsening of the phase size, and its resulting evolution equation is established from previous experimental data. The damage evolution is derived from the theory of damage mechanics within the framework of irreversible thermodynamics. Both a phase‐size parameter and a damage variable are included in the constitutive model.FindingsThe model is capable of simulating the effects of Sn‐Pb solder microstructure on mechanical behaviour for both bulk material and miniature specimens under monotonic tensile loading. It was found that the expected failure location determined using the phase‐size criterion is identical to that using the damage criterion, but differs from that determined using the von Mises stress criterion.Originality/valueMicrostructure and damage evolution are modelled for Sn‐Pb solder. Some simulation results are compared with the experimental data to provide the necessary validation of the damage/microstructure‐coupled constitutive model.
Theory and practice of total quality function deployment
Authors: Devadasan S.R. , Kathiravan N. , Thirunavukkarasu V. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis article seeks to propose a technique called total quality function deployment (TQFD) and to appraises its practicality by applying it to a traditional pump‐manufacturing environment.Design/methodology/approachThe deficiencies of QFD techniques were studied. The theory of the TQFD technique was developed with the objective of overcoming these deficiencies. Two pump‐manufacturing companies were involved, while examining the practicality of TQFD technique.FindingsA traditional pump‐manufacturing environment lacks knowledge of implanting techniques like QFD, which challenges the researchers to test‐implement, the techniques like TQFD. Yet the successful development of TQFD documents during the reported research project indicates the practical feasibility of TQFD implementation in pump‐manufacturing companies.Research limitations/implicationsThe practicality of TQFD was tested by involving two pump‐manufacturing companies located in the city of Coimbatore in India. These two companies may not represent the global pump‐manufacturing environment. However, the pump‐manufacturing trend is uniformly showing sluggish growth at global level. Hence, the inferences drawn may considerably represent traditional pump‐manufacturing environment at the global level.Practical implicationsSince TQFD documents are successfully developed, engineers can be trained to become TQFD coordinators. These engineers will transfer the voice of customers into the practical field by following the implementation procedure presented in the paper.Originality/valueSo far no researchers have reported the theory and practice of TQFD. Pump manufacturing companies lose their market share because of the failure to translate customers' vague languages into technical languages through the involvement of all personnel and holistic exploitation of resources of the organisation. TQFD is a very valuable technique to meet this imperative.
An integrated quality assurance information system for the design‐to‐order manufacturing environment
Authors: Nookabadi A.S. , Middle J.E. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeAs one of the major goals in modern industry, quality assurance concerns the whole life cycle of both product and process covering all quality‐based functions. It is also clear that, in order to design and manufacture the right products for customers, there is a strong need for an information system to support all the quality‐based functions from the pre‐production stage through to post‐production. Despite the research studies on integrated quality systems (IQS) in recent years, there remains no model for the implementation of IQS. This study aims to address this issue.Design/methodology/approachIn considering quality assurance as a system within an organisation which itself has other sub‐systems, and referring to the definitions of integration, it is clear that the concept of integration can be applied to this area. The objective of integrated quality assurance information system is to integrate all phases from initial identification to final realisation of requirements and customer expectations in order to achieve maximum effectiveness and full customer quality satisfaction.FindingsIn this paper a schematic model of those essential quality‐based functions that need to take place within any design‐to‐order manufacturing environment are presented. The model collects, distributes, co‐ordinates and analyses information and data throughout all the sub‐sections. To validate the model a prototype test has also been carried out.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first to provide information and model on all the quality‐based functions from the pre‐production through to post‐production stage.
Wine's placebo effect
Authors: Priilaid David A. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThrough the use of both sight and blind‐based quality metrics, the purpose of this paper is to ascertain the extent to which the sighted appreciation of a wine's intrinsic merit is confounded by extrinsic cues such as price and region of origin.Design/methodology/approachUsing a database of sighted and blind tastings of three red South African wines (Cabernet, Merlot and Shiraz) over the period 1993‐2001, a series of multiple linear regression models is developed to explain sighted quality ratings.FindingsThe meta‐model, with an adjusted R2 of 31 per cent, indicates three statistically significant explicatory factors, namely price, region, and intrinsic quality. The price cue alone explains 84 per cent of sighted quality assessments; the combined effect of both the region and price cue explains 95 per cent. This finding suggests that when quality is measured from a sighted perspective, area becomes a significant explicator, along with price. It is only once the cues of region and price have been factored into the meta‐model that intrinsic merit becomes relevant, and here, only to an extremely limited extent (5 per cent). The lack of correspondence between sighted and blind tasting scores, suggests that for sighted judgements – extrinsic cues appear to be masking the wine's intrinsic merit.Originality/valueFor the first time, blind and sighted tasting results are collated into one database and statistically interrogated. The findings show how we are deleteriously distracted by the apparent efficacy of extrinsic cues.
Consumers’ perception of wine packaging: a case study
Authors: Rocchi Benedetto 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the methodology adopted and the main results achieved by an exploratory study on consumers perception of wine packaging.Design/methodology/approachThe research was designed to elicit the relevant dimensions through which consumers perceive and describe differences between bottles of wine. In order to allow respondents to freely express their perceptions without suggesting a priori descriptive category/dimensions a repertory grid (RGT) approach was followed. A sample of 30 consumers were asked to analyse differences across 11 bottles and to summarize them in descriptive bipolar constructs. The results were analysed performing a consensus procrustes analysis. An innovative feature of this study was the analysis of complete transcriptions of interviews to better understand the meaning assigned by consumers to descriptive constructs.FindingsThe attributes of bottles and labels represent the main factors underlying wine packaging perceptions. These characteristics are the very first “signal” perceived looking at bottles. Consumers use them to define more abstract “constructs” (as distinction or tradition) they use while assessing alternative products and choosing among them. From a methodological point of view, this study confirm the interest of combining RGT and content analysis as a tool for explorative research in marketing.Originality/valueResults seem to be a suitable basis for a survey on a representative sample directed to model the preferences about packaging features. Moreover, the analysis of preferences could be improved within a qualitative perspective, using laddering techniques of interview to elicit the hierarchical structure of motivation linking characteristics, attitudes consumers’ values.
Multiple informants and asymmetric interactions of mutual trust in dyadic business relationships
Authors: Svensson Göran 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe objective of this research is to describe and apply a method with which to measure and evaluate mutual trust in dyadic business relationships with both one‐to‐one and multiple informants, as well as symmetric and asymmetric interactions.Design/methodology/approachApplication of the perceptual bi‐directionality method, i.e. the PBD‐method, is introduced in this context to measure and evaluate the relationship properties of mutual trust in the context of one‐to‐one and multiple informants, as well as the symmetric and asymmetric interactions, in dyadic business relationships.FindingsThe overall impression of the mutual trust in the studied relationships is that they are well balanced. It may erroneous, since there may be balance deficiencies between the various trust dimensions. The stepwise evaluation of a case example reveals that there are substantial differences between the various trust dimensions measured in the dyadic business relationship.Research limitations/implicationsIt is argued that the measurement and evaluation of unidirectional trust issues is not enough in itself to understand the relationship properties of trust between two actors in dyadic business relationships, but that a bi‐directional approach should be applied in terms of the relationship properties of mutual trust. Furthermore, the approach of one‐to‐one key informants might also be insufficient. Instead multiple informants should be used in the measurement and evaluation of the relationship properties of mutual trust in dyadic business relationships and, symmetric, as well as asymmetric, interactions of mutual trust in dyadic contexts should be considered.Practical implicationsThe PBD‐method is a formalised and structured method of how to measure and evaluate the mutuality of relationship properties in dyadic contexts. The outcome of the present research is also a set of generic mutuality measures that can be useful in different management and research applications.Originality/valueThe PBD‐method may be used to measure and evaluate multiple key informants' in asymmetric interactions of mutual relationship properties in dyadic contexts, instead of only matching one‐to‐one key informants in symmetric interactions.
Strategic typologies in the European telecommunications sector: a rejoinder to Turner
Authors: Curwen Peter 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo demonstrate that the strategic typology advanced by Turner in this journal for the European telecommunications sector is in need of further clarification.Design/methodology/approachThe Turner sample is subjected to a number of tests specifically in the European mobile telecommunications sector.FindingsThe Turner typology is found to be imprecise in certain respects.Originality/valueThe paper addresses the issue of how to build appropriate typologies.