bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The critical business of corruption
Authors: Brown Ed , Cloke Jonathan 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to set out an agenda for promoting collaboration between researchers in critical geography and critical management studies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is divided into two main sections. In the first, a detailed discussion of the nature of critical perspectives in the two traditions is advanced which focuses upon the nature of the two disciplines, the contested meaning of “critical” approaches and our relationship with the wider political world. The opportunities for collaboration are explored in more specific detail through consideration of the ongoing attempts to develop a new perspective on the current international pre‐occupation with corruption and anti‐corruption initiatives, which is both critical and multi‐disciplinary.FindingsIn trawling through the political economy of the development of an idea, corruption, the paper demonstrates, not just the part that a critical geographical narrative has to play in informing policy, but also the vital links that geography has to develop with the critical appraisal of business, business management and economics. The paper calls for the combining of insights from both traditions to better assess what is signified by corruption, how the concept is used in the business world and how to convince policymakers that, in this area at least, there is no such thing as a consequence‐free policy.Originality/valueThis paper's originality lies in: its bringing together of two distinct research traditions in geography and management studies; and the novel approach it espouses in relation to refining our understanding of the meaning of corruption and its place in broader debates about economic policy and broad patterns of development.
“The people” and resistance against international business
Authors: Otto Birke , Böhm Steffen 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to analyse the organisation of the Bolivian “water war” in Cochabamba that saw a social movement resist international business and the privatisation of public goods. The implications for the study of resistance in management and organisation studies will be evaluated.Design/methodology/approachLaclau's discourse theory is used to analyse the organisation of resistance and the establishment of a new discourse of “the people”. A range of primary and secondary data are drawn upon.FindingsThe study shows how the resistance movement was successfully organised in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Through various “horizontal” and “vertical” methods of organising, the Coordinadora, the overarching resistance organisation, was able to unite formerly disparate discourses into a single demand. This establishment of a united front was a key element in the formation of the discourse of “the people”, which successfully challenged neo‐liberal privatisation and management discourses put forward by the government, multinational companies and international finance institutions.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was primarily focused on studying the discursive shift that occurred during the Bolivian “water war” in 1999 and 2000. The paper was not able to discuss the aftermath of the successful resistance movement, and the various problems the new municipal water organisation ran into after it regained control of the water resources in Cochabamba.Practical implicationsThe primary audience of practitioners are participants in social movements that are engaged in resistance struggles against multinational companies and governments. Drawing on the experiences from the Bolivian “water war”, the paper offers a range of practical insights into how to effectively organise resistance movements. This paper might also be useful to policy makers and managers in the area of water management.Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers that analyses the Bolivian “water war” to consider its implications for the study of resistance within management and organisation studies.
Globalised marketing and the question of development in the Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA)
Authors: Dominic Nkamnebe Anayo 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to answer the basic question of the fate of Sub‐Sahara Africa's development in the context of the emerging marketing system that is anchored on the globalisation orthodoxy.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws from literature to argue that the emerging globalised marketing system is an advanced stage of colonisation, neo‐colonisation, and re‐colonisation of Sub‐Sahara Africa by the developed economies.FindingsBased on this premise, the paper submits that the new system possesses the potentials to impoverish SSA unless innovative marketing and development paradigms that are Afro‐centric are developed, to tactically respond to the challenges posed by the emerging marketing system that favours the rich countries of the world.Practical implicationsThe paper proposes some strategic choices open to Sub‐Sahara Africa for adapting to the new order. Only through this means can the region actively and positively participate in this “juggernaut called globalisation”.Originality/valueIn providing a view of the impacts of globalisation on Sub‐Sahara Africa from within the region, this paper offers an alternative to the largely “developed world” academic discourse.
Investors' response to mutual fund company mergers
Authors: Allen David E. , Parwada Jerry T. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to examine mutual fund investors' response to mergers of Australian mutual fund companies.Design/methodology/approachTwo matching‐control techniques are employed to analyse the impact of mergers on excess money in and out of open and closed funds involved in the transactions. The paper employs cross‐sectional regression analyses to examine the impact of mergers on different types of parties to mergers.FindingsThe results suggest that mergers are not accompanied by increased money flows. Instead investors withdraw from the target funds prior to and after the merger. Funds belonging to specialist mutual fund companies record more gains in assets under management than declines following mergers, and that money inflow gains at competing funds induce reductions of management expense ratios at target funds.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper studies mergers in only one industry in a single country. Future studies may extend to other industries and economies.Originality/valueThis paper extends prior research on the flow effects of mergers at individual fund level by considering the issue at the corporate level.
Survey research in finance
Authors: Neuhauser Karyn L. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo provide an introduction for the special issue on surveys, to give an overview of the survey literature and debate, and to provide direction for future research using the survey method.Design/methodology/approachSurvey of the relevant literature.FindingsThe survey technique can be productively applied to a large number of finance topics but researchers must be careful to incorporate the same degree of rigor used with other research methods.Originality/valueSummarizes and ties together the papers included in the special issue and explains the overall contribution of the special issue on surveys.
Translation and validation of the Graham‐Harvey survey for the Brazilian context
Authors: Alencar Abaide Balbinotti Marcos , Benetti Cristiane , Renato Soares Terra Paulo 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the systematic translation and content validation method used to produce the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Duke Special Survey on Corporate Policy by Graham and Harvey.Design/methodology/approachIn accordance with the requirements for cross‐cultural application of surveys, the paper accounts for obvious differences in language, culture, and the institutional setting and employ well‐known techniques from the field of psychology, such as the use of backtranslation, to ensure faithfulness to the original survey. A panel of experts served as judges in evaluating the clarity of language and the practical pertinence and theoretical dimensions of the questionnaire. Coefficients of content validity for each item and for the instrument as a whole are reported.FindingsThe results illustrate how a questionnaire designed for one country should be rigorously translated and validated prior to use in another country.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the content validity of the translated version of the Duke Special Survey on Corporate Policy for use in Brazil is generally satisfactory, a few items may prove to be a challenge for the Brazilian CFO to answer, particularly those questions concerning features that are uncommon in the Brazilian financial market.Originality/valueThis paper explores the field study method in finance by borrowing from the vast experience of psychology research in the rigorous translation and validation of survey instruments. This study also highlights the similarities and differences in the interpretation of questions between emerging and developed markets.
Decision processes in German mutual fund companies: evidence from a telephone survey
Authors: Drachter Kerstin , Kempf Alexander , Wagner Michael 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe performance of actively managed mutual funds is largely dependent upon the investment decisions of the fund managers. The purpose of this study is to examine the decision processes in German fund companies and their impact on fund performance.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a telephone survey to assess the behavior and attitudes of German mutual fund managers. The design of the survey allows a linkage of fund manager data with information about mutual funds and fund management companies.FindingsThe evidence shows firstly, that it is possible to conduct a high quality survey study even though managers know that their answers will be linked to their performance and secondly, that the behavior of managers depends heavily on the characteristics of the funds and the characteristics of the fund company.Research limitations/implicationsIn the paper, factors are identified which influence the short‐term performance of fund managers. In further studies, one should examine whether these factors also determine the long‐term performance of fund managers.Originality/valueThis is the first survey study that attempts to link the information provided by fund managers to information about the funds and fund companies.
The perception of dividends by Canadian managers: new survey evidence
Authors: Kent Baker H. , Saadi Samir , Dutta Shantanu , Gandhi Devinder 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to analyze survey results on the perception of dividends by managers of dividend‐paying firms listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).Design/methodology/approachManagers from a sample of 291 dividend‐paying TSX‐listed Canadian firms were surveyed about their views on dividends.FindingsThe most important factors influencing dividend policy are the level of current and expected future earnings, the stability of earnings, and the pattern of past dividends. Despite dramatic differences in the level of ownership concentration between Canadian and US firms, their corresponding managers' views on the determinants of dividends are similar. Canadian managers believe that dividend policy affects firm value but express little agreement with the theory of a residual dividend policy. They express strong support for the signaling and lifecycle explanations for paying dividends, but not for the bird‐in‐the‐hand, tax‐preference and dividend clientele, agency cost, or catering explanations. Compared with non‐dividend payers, Canadian dividend‐paying firms are significantly larger and more profitable, have greater cash reserves and ownership concentration, and have fewer growth opportunities.Originality/valueThis study updates and expands previous survey‐based research on dividends and provides new evidence from managers of Canadian firms.
The impact of individual‐owners on currency speculation: the case of Danish non‐financial firms
Authors: Aabo Tom 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo investigate the extent to which finance managers in non‐financial firms speculate in the currency markets and particularly to investigate the effect of individual‐owners on such speculation.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses survey data in order to analyse the extent of currency speculation in non‐financial firms. It uses survey data and publicly available data in an ordered probit regression analysis in order to analyse the decisive factors behind the extent of currency speculation in non‐financial firms.FindingsCurrency speculation is widespread among non‐financial firms and takes the form of selective hedging as well as speculation not related to the underlying business. The extent of speculation is positively related to the size of the firm, to the international involvement of the firm, and to the conservatism of its capital structure. If an individual (often the founder or a descendant of the founder) is the largest shareholder in the firm, the extent of such speculation is significantly reduced.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are based on Danish, non‐financial firms listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper is to provide evidence on the negative relationship between individual‐owners (ownership structure) and the extent of currency speculation in non‐financial firms and more generally to investigate the factors behind such speculation.
Risk and decision making by finance executives: a survey study
Authors: Coleman Les 
Published: January 2007

PurposeWhen finance managers face decisions, they do not always make clinical evaluations using rational methodology, but systematically depart from utility maximisation. This article addresses biases that are related to risk propensity, and categorises them under five headings: decision makers' characteristics and perception; reference levels; mental accounting and the assumption of mean reversion; the longshot bias or overconfidence; and the desire for immediate gratification. The research reported in the paper seeks to understand the mechanisms of these biases using a study of decision making by Australian finance executives in a setting that is representative of a typical business decision.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a case study that was designed to identify why decision makers facing choices will prefer a risky alternative. Data were collected using e‐mail contact and an electronic survey. Respondents (n=67) provided demographic data, and answered questions that probed their attitudes and decision styles. Risk propensity was quantified by respondents' attitude towards a risky decision, and was explained using independent variables related to decision maker traits.FindingsJust over half the executives proved willing to take a risk, and almost half the variance in their risk propensity was explained roughly equally by respondents': endowment, perception of risk's role in decisions, assessment of alternative choices, and expectation of the decision's outcome. Manipulation of the cases along four dimensions varied the decision's facts, but they proved only marginally significant to risk taking.Originality/valueThe study provides a practical explanation of the risk taking behaviour of finance executives; confirms that context is more important to decisions than their content; and adds to the growing body of applied behavioural research in finance.
Modeling relationship quality in the parcel delivery services market
Authors: Palaima Tomas , Auruškevičienė Viltė 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe aim of this study is to develop a structural model and test it in the parcel delivery services business‐to‐business market in order to identify how services quality influences relationship quality and to determine the interactions between constructs of relationship quality.Design/methodology/approachA structural model was developed using frameworks suggested by Gwinner et al., Hennig‐Thurau et al. and Bingguang et al. Online survey research was employed to survey the respondents. Structural equation modeling was employed to estimate structural model and test hypotheses.FindingsThe research demonstrated that services quality does not have direct influence on commitment, but impacts it indirectly through various relational benefits. The results imply that services quality is not enough for commitment‐based loyalty to develop. Relational benefits are essential. The results demonstrated that special treatment benefits, social benefits and confidence benefits are intricately related and have effect on each other. Main findings of the study demonstrated that in parcel delivery services industry there exist context‐specific relationships between constructs of relationship quality. The research found out that the interactions between constructs of relationship quality in parcel delivery services industry are different. Moreover, the empirical study confirmed the existence of industry‐specific direct and indirect loyalty drivers.Research limitation/implicationsThe developed relationship quality model is intentionally limited to parcel delivery services industry in order to examine industry‐specific relationships between the constructs. The model could be extended in order to model competition and effects of change in relationship quality on customer life‐time‐value.Practical implicationsThe model can be used by managers of parcel delivery companies to assess loyalty and commitment of clients.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to identify how services quality influences relationship quality, test relationships between constructs of relationship quality and examine context‐specific relationship in the parcel delivery market.
Polish financial reporting principles in transition
Authors: Leśko Dariusz 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to deal with the evolution of Polish financial reporting principles in its historical context, this providing the reader with basic understanding of what has been influencing the shape of Polish accounting rules and how they evolved from the communist times until the accession of Poland to the European Union. This in turn should help in understanding the way in which Polish corporate governance system has evolved.Design/methodology/approachThe approach taken is a general review and analysis of the issues surrounding Polish accounting rules transition.FindingsThroughout the transition period Polish financial reporting principles managed to successfully convert from socialistic to financial‐market oriented thus providing both financial managers and investors with a powerful governance tool.Practical implicationsFull understanding of the development of modern financial reporting principles, especially in the transition/emerging economies, is not possible without sound knowledge of the socio‐economic context of their formation.Originality/valueBoth business practitioners interested in collaboration with companies from Poland (or another transition country) as well as academics working on financial reporting/management issues in international setting should find the paper useful.
Determinants of capital structure of banks in Ghana: an empirical approach
Authors: Amidu Mohammed 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamics involved in the determination of capital structure of banks in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs panel regression model in examining the capital structure of banks in Ghana.FindingsThe results of this study show that profitability, corporate tax, growth, asset structure and bank size influence banks' financing or capital structure decision. The significant finding of this study is that, more than 87 per cent of the banks' assets are financed by debts and out of this, short‐term debts appear to constitute more than three quarters of the capital of the banks. This highlights the importance of short‐term debts over long‐term debts in Ghanaian banks' financing.Originality/valueThe main value of this paper is identification of factors that determine capital structure of banks in Ghana.
Leadership in different kinds of regional development networks
Authors: Harmaakorpi Vesa , Niukkanen Harri 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of network leadership in meeting the requirements for regional development networks imposed by the network society.Design/methodology/approachA new framework of three different archetypes of regional development networks was devised. The characteristics of the different networks and the requirements they set for network leadership were assessed as a case study in the Lahti Region, Finland. A special panel of experts of three highly experienced network leaders was organized as part of the present study. Their task was to assess the differences concerning network leadership in different regional development networks. The session was conducted in the (niin sanottumeans it was not an inspiration) Inspiration Center in the Lahti Region. Inspiration Center is a platform for brainstorming and stimulation, designed especially to arrive at ideas and form opinions through teamwork. The method used was a half‐structured group discussion, planned especially for the purpose of the present study. The method was used to form a convergent expert assessment among the participants.FindingsThe essential differences of the types of regional development networks make it insufficient to talk about network leadership as a general concept. It is important to identify and understand the differences in network leadership required by the different archetypes of regional development networks.Originality/valueThe paper combines leadership, network leadership, and regional development in a novel way.
Action research as culture change tool
Authors: Marcinkoniene Romualda , Kekäle Tauno 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo report experiences of changing cultures in three Lithuanian schools by means of action research.Design/methodology/approachThis took the form of action research in the schools. Culture change measured by a culture survey (developed by Harrison and Stokes) in the beginning and towards the end of the three‐year change project.FindingsThe cultures of the primary and vocational schools have clearly changed towards the general total quality management culture traits of achievement and individual problem solving during our project. The culture of the secondary school has not changed similarly. A possible explanation for this may lie in the very strong power orientation of this third school; in our discussions, some teachers state that some are forcefully against change out of fear of losing their power position. However, even here the power orientation has weakened and the respondents generally are in preference of an achievement culture.Research limitations/implicationsOnly three case schools were studied. Schools as organizations are quite different to companies, but could be comparable to other public organizations. Furthermore, Hofstede culture studies would suggest certain similarity between Lithuanian and some other Baltic states' work culture (e.g. Poland, Latvia) but differs clearly from some others (Finland, Estonia, Russia); this does not disqualify the action research methodology but makes the results basically incomparable.Practical implicationsCulture change takes time, and some post‐communist public organizations such as schools are even slower to change – but with persuasion and patience and well‐planned change programme, culture can be changed.Originality/valueThis is an original empirical study in a managerially‐demanding environment.