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1 – 10 of 433Following a number of management team changes, WH Smith Travel wanted to establish how its employees viewed the company’s organizational culture. Here, Gareth English…
Abstract
Following a number of management team changes, WH Smith Travel wanted to establish how its employees viewed the company’s organizational culture. Here, Gareth English, senior consultant with business psychology experts, OPP, explains how conducting workforce surveys helped to gauge the impact of the changes, identify areas for improvement and encourage employee engagement.
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Kathleen Lynne Lane, Erik W. Carter, Eric Common and Adam Jordan
In this chapter, we begin by exploring the lessons learned from studies of teachers’ expectations for student behavior, being with early inquiry conducted following the…
Abstract
In this chapter, we begin by exploring the lessons learned from studies of teachers’ expectations for student behavior, being with early inquiry conducted following the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) of 1975. Next, we explore the expanding knowledge base following reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 1997), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA, 2004), and No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001) as the field increasingly emphasized inclusive programming and supporting access to the general education curriculum, called for academic excellence for all students, and focused on systems-level perspectives for teaching behavioral expectations. We summarize lessons learned from these bodies of knowledge, focusing attention on key findings and existing limitations of the studies conducted to date. We conclude with implications for educational research and practice, with attention to how lessons learned regarding teacher expectations for student performance can (a) facilitate inclusive programming for students with disabilities, (b) support school transitions, (c) inform primary prevention efforts and targeted supports, and (d) inform teacher preparation programs.
Mohammad Bassam Abu Qa’dan and Mishiel Said Suwaidan
This study aims to investigate the extent and nature of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the context of Jordan. It also empirically examines the impact…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the extent and nature of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the context of Jordan. It also empirically examines the impact of board composition variables (size, independent [non-executive] directors, CEO/chairman duality, age and gender) and ownership structure variables (board ownership concentration, institutional ownership and foreign ownership) on CSR disclosure level.
Design/methodology/approach
A CSR disclosure index is constructed, and content analysis is used to analyze the extent and nature of CSR disclosure in the annual reports of Jordanian manufacturing companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) during the period (2013-2015). Regression analysis using panel data is undertaken to analyze the potential impact of board composition and ownership structure on CSR disclosure level.
Findings
The results reveal that, on average, a listed Jordanian manufacturing company has disclosed 30.8 per cent of the 42 items of CSR information included in the disclosure index. In addition, there was a very slight improvement in the CSR disclosure over the study period. These results suggest there is considerable room for improvement in CSR disclosure. The regression analysis identified board size to be significantly and positively associated with CSR disclosure level. On the other hand, the percentage of independent (non-executive) directors on the board, duality of CEO and chairman positions, director’s age, board ownership concentration and the percentage of shares outstanding held by institutional shareholders were found to have had a significant negative impact on CSR disclosure level.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the literature on CSR practice and disclosure in various ways. First, it demonstrates the extent to which listed companies in developing countries, such as Jordan, take their social role seriously. Second, the study adds to the existing literature on the potential impact of board composition and ownership structure on CSR disclosure by using new variables that have not been tested before using Jordanian data. Third, the study is anticipated to provide feedback to Jordanian regulators in the Jordan Securities Commission and the ASE on the adequacy of current regulations on corporate disclosure requirements in Jordan. Finally, the study raises some issues of interest to other researchers who are currently or intend to conduct research in this area.
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Mohammed Ibrahim Sultan Obeidat and Mohammed Abdullah Al Momani
This study investigates taxpayers’ perception to the Jordanian tax system efficiency according to the perspective of Keynes. Its main purpose is to determine whether…
Abstract
This study investigates taxpayers’ perception to the Jordanian tax system efficiency according to the perspective of Keynes. Its main purpose is to determine whether taxpayers perceive the Jordanian tax system as efficient, enough to influence taxpayers’ patterns of behavior, or inefficient and just used to collect revenue by the government. A self‐administered questionnaire is used to collect the primary data of the study, in order to measure the economical and socio‐cultural efficiency of the system. A convenience sample consisting of 175 respondents was selected to survey how taxpayers perceive the Jordanian tax system efficiency. The t‐test is used as a decision criterion for the acceptance or rejection of the hypotheses. Correlation analysis is also used to support the findings of the study. The study finds that taxpayers perceive the Jordanian tax system as efficient, and they perceive that the tax system is intentionally used to influence their behavior.
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Daniel Diermeier, Robert J. Crawford and Charlotte Snyder
After Hurricane Katrina hit the coast of Louisiana on August 29, 2005, Wal-Mart initiated emergency operations that not only protected and reopened its stores, but also…
Abstract
After Hurricane Katrina hit the coast of Louisiana on August 29, 2005, Wal-Mart initiated emergency operations that not only protected and reopened its stores, but also helped its employees and others in the community cope with the disaster's personal impact. This response was part of a wider effort by the company under CEO Lee Scott to improve its public image. Wal-Mart's efforts were widely regarded as the most successful of all corporations in the aftermath of the disaster and set the standard for future corporate disaster relief programs.
Move beyond the operational dimensions of disaster response and appreciate how disaster response is connected to the company's strategy and its position in the market place. Understand how disasters are different than other types of reputational crises and are subject to different expectation from the public. Understand how a company can do well by doing good: how it can do the right thing and benefit its business at the same time. Discuss the changing expectations of companies to act in the public interest.
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Gunnar Mau, Michael Schuhen, Sascha Steinmann and Hanna Schramm-Klein
This paper aims to analyse how children behave during a purchasing process in a simulated shop and how they put their goals into effect at the Point of Sale (POS). The…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse how children behave during a purchasing process in a simulated shop and how they put their goals into effect at the Point of Sale (POS). The focus of this research is children in Germany aged between 8 and 10 years. The results reveal answers to the following questions: which criteria do the children consider important when buying groceries? How efficiently and effectively do children pursue the goals demanded of them at the POS? This knowledge can support parents, teachers and educational organisations in teaching children consumer literacy.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through interviews and a subsequent observation of the behaviour in a purchase simulation. A total of 436 school children aged 8 to 10 years answered a questionnaire about their behaviour at the POS and perceived demands during the purchasing process as well as their understanding of purchase-relevant concepts. Subsequently, purchase behaviour and decisions in a digitally simulated shopping environment of a supermarket were analysed for a subsample (n = 170). This combination of methods enables the collection of observable decision-making behaviour as well as of the declarative knowledge and the purchasing habits of the children.
Findings
Children often act differently from the way they themselves intended and expected during the purchase decision at the POS. Only a small number of children behaved purposefully, whereas the vast majority was distracted by the great amount of stimuli in the simulated supermarket. The results reveal factors that helped children cope with the shopping task and shielded them against purchase impulses from the stimuli at the POS.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to combine questionnaires about children’s declarative knowledge of the shopping process with observation of the real decision behaviour in a supermarket simulation task.
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Linda S. Al-Abbas and Ahmad S. Haider
The purpose of this study is to examine the most frequent countries and prevalent discourses in the context of homosexuality in the headlines of Arabic-language media outlets.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the most frequent countries and prevalent discourses in the context of homosexuality in the headlines of Arabic-language media outlets.
Design/methodology/approach
This study combined both corpus linguistic (CL) quantitative and critical discourse analysis (CDA) qualitative approaches to analyse five thousand two hundred news headlines that were retrieved from the Factiva news database from 2010 to 2019.
Findings
There were six main categories of subjects covered by the media in the context of homosexuality, namely crime, extremist groups, legislation, authority figures and scandals, culture and countries. The analysis showed that the countries whose laws criminalize homosexuals were more frequent than those seen to be supportive of homosexuals. The findings revealed that homosexuals are under-covered in the Arab media, and whenever they are present in the news reports, they are depicted negatively.
Research limitations/implications
This study examined the representation of homosexuals in Arabic headlines from 2010 to 2019. Future researchers may investigate their construction in the body of the articles in different periods and languages.
Practical implications
The present research has implications regarding the necessity of objectivity in covering news about minority groups without being influenced by the stock of ideas circulating in the culture where media outlets report.
Social implications
The social implications include enhancing the principles and values of solidarity and respecting all groups in society.
Originality/value
Although there is considerable literature on the representation of homosexuals in media outlets, the number of articles that investigated the same concept in the Arab region is relatively limited to the best knowledge of the researchers. Therefore, this study can add great significance to existing knowledge as it tackles a limitedly investigated topic in the Arab world.
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George Burruss, Christian Jordan Howell, Adam Bossler and Thomas J. Holt
Cybercrime is the greatest threat facing law enforcement agencies in England and Wales. Although these crimes are transnational by nature, the burden of response has been…
Abstract
Purpose
Cybercrime is the greatest threat facing law enforcement agencies in England and Wales. Although these crimes are transnational by nature, the burden of response has been placed on line officers. Not all officers, however, believe they are capable of responding to calls involving cybercrime. The current study, using latent class analysis (LCA) on a large sample of English and Welsh officers, finds two types of officers: those prepared (39 percent) and those unprepared (61 percent). Using logistic regression to predict who falls into either classification, the authors find that training and age are the best predictors of latent membership. Implications for policy and future research are discussed. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the authors used LCA to determine the number and character of unobserved categories of officers in how they deal with cybercrime.
Findings
The LCA indicated there are two distinct categories of police in the English and Welsh constabulary: those prepared (39 percent) and those unprepared (61 percent). Training and age were the two key determinants of this classification.
Research limitations/implications
LCA is an exploratory analysis technique that requires additional validation to confirm the findings of any one study.
Practical implications
The salience of training in helping officers feel prepared to deal with cybercrime cases as well as victims was demonstrated. A full 60 percent of the officers in this study fell in the “unprepared” category, which continues to highlight the limitations of local police to handle cybercrime cases; nevertheless, almost 40 percent of officer could be considered ready when responding to cybercrimes.
Social implications
As the harm cybercrime brings to our financial and social well-being, law enforcement agencies will be required to improve their response capabilities. Most current cybercrime responses address technical issues related to online fraud and abuse, but officers often perceive the problem as outside their legal and geographic jurisdiction. Knowing how officers perceive cybercrime as well as their own capabilities will allow us to begin changing enforcement policies, training capacity and individual response efficacy.
Originality/value
This study involved a sample of English and Welsh constables and sergeants to classify their cybercrime readiness. The analysis and particular data are unique to the study of cybercrime.
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