Search results

1 – 10 of 116
Article
Publication date: 9 January 2018

Maryam Naebe, Bruce McGregor, Melanie Dowling and David Tester

The purpose of this paper is to identify the significant factors important for prickle discomfort properties of commercial wool knitwear and to analyse information on variability…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the significant factors important for prickle discomfort properties of commercial wool knitwear and to analyse information on variability of garments manufactured over two decades, a total of 177 purchased garments were tested.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationship between the attributes of the reversed engineered garments and garment comfort, as assessed by Wool ComfortMeter, was determined.

Findings

The results indicate that: mean fibre diameter had the most significant effect on prickle assessment; the coefficient of variation of fibre diameter interacted with fabric thickness in affecting prickle discomfort; and rib knit structures were pricklier than single jersey structures.

Originality/value

The results provide objective evidence that the consumer surveys reporting dissatisfaction with the prickle discomfort of wool are based on real consumer experiences of prickle discomfort and are not based on “prejudice” against wool garments.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 30 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Reflections on Sociology of Sport
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-643-3

Book part
Publication date: 7 October 2015

Md Nuruzzaman

The objective of this study is to investigate how country risk, different political actions from the government and bureaucratic behavior influence the activities in industry…

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate how country risk, different political actions from the government and bureaucratic behavior influence the activities in industry supply chains (SCs) in emerging markets. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of these external stakeholders’ elements to the demand-side and supply-side drivers and barriers for improving competitiveness of Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry in the way of analyzing supply chain. Considering the phenomenon of recent change in the RMG business environment and the competitiveness issues this study uses the principles of stakeholder and resource dependence theory and aims to find out some factors which influence to make an efficient supply chain for improving competitiveness. The RMG industry of Bangladesh is the case application of this study. Following a positivist paradigm, this study adopts a two phase sequential mixed-method research design consisting of qualitative and quantitative approaches. A tentative research model is developed first based on extensive literature review. Qualitative field study is then carried out to fine tune the initial research model. Findings from the qualitative method are also used to develop measures and instruments for the next phase of quantitative method. A survey is carried out with sample of top and middle level executives of different garment companies of Dhaka city in Bangladesh and the collected quantitative data are analyzed by partial least square-based structural equation modeling. The findings support eight hypotheses. From the analysis the external stakeholders’ elements like bureaucratic behavior and country risk have significant influence to the barriers. From the internal stakeholders’ point of view the manufacturers’ and buyers’ drivers have significant influence on the competitiveness. Therefore, stakeholders need to take proper action to reduce the barriers and increase the drivers, as the drivers have positive influence to improve competitiveness.

This study has both theoretical and practical contributions. This study represents an important contribution to the theory by integrating two theoretical perceptions to identify factors of the RMG industry’s SC that affect the competitiveness of the RMG industry. This research study contributes to the understanding of both external and internal stakeholders of national and international perspectives in the RMG (textile and clothing) business. It combines the insights of stakeholder and resource dependence theories along with the concept of the SC in improving effectiveness. In a practical sense, this study certainly contributes to the Bangladeshi RMG industry. In accordance with the desire of the RMG manufacturers, the research has shown that some influential constructs of the RMG industry’s SC affect the competitiveness of the RMG industry. The outcome of the study is useful for various stakeholders of the Bangladeshi RMG industry sector ranging from the government to various private organizations. The applications of this study are extendable through further adaptation in other industries and various geographic contexts.

Details

Sustaining Competitive Advantage Via Business Intelligence, Knowledge Management, and System Dynamics
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78441-764-2

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2012

Bruce E. Winston, Karen Cerff and Sam Kirui

This study defined and developed a four-item scale to measure motivation to serve (MTS) then correlated it with Cerff’s Motivation to Lead’s two scales as well as Affective and…

218

Abstract

This study defined and developed a four-item scale to measure motivation to serve (MTS) then correlated it with Cerff’s Motivation to Lead’s two scales as well as Affective and Normative Commitment scores. A convenience sample of 89 participants came from a non-denominational church in Oklahoma City, OK. The MTS showed significant correlation with Normative Commitment but not with the two Motivation-to-Lead scales or Affective Commitment. The benefit of this study lies in the development of a new scale to measure Motivation to Serve and the understanding that the new scale is significantly correlated with Normative Commitment.

Details

International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1093-4537

Article
Publication date: 12 April 2011

Arthur Lerner

The purpose of this paper is to advance that a significant part of McGregor's legacy was from considering human behavior as important to organizational life and management, and to…

2315

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to advance that a significant part of McGregor's legacy was from considering human behavior as important to organizational life and management, and to step outside thinking of the time to incorporate social science research and thinking. While others have followed his lead, the idea of looking beyond those fields for useful frameworks for additional insights – as he did by incorporating psychology – has been largely overlooked. This paper seeks to propose such an approach as adding to the breadth and depth of organizational/managerial understanding.

Design/methodology/approach

There is no methodology, per se, other than reading. The approach is to trace highlights of McGregor's thinking, influences on him and by him, and to introduce fields of thought that can further those aims of better informing the “human” side.

Findings

Spiral dynamics (SDi) and finite and infinite games provide well developed frameworks for better understanding “human” aspects of organized behavior both socially, and in the management and research of organizational behavior. Considering them is also in line with McGregor's legacy of stepping outside traditional management theory to inform his thinking and arguments.

Research limitations/implications

There has not been research on Finite dynamics, but there is documentation of work done with SDi. The implications of each include better understanding of culture components of organized behavior, especially in a global environment, comparing results of already occurring phenomena (e.g. mergers) in light of the ideas proposed. A key limitation is creating and using further operational measures for some studies.

Practical implications

The practical implications are significant in terms of offering new ways to better analyze, understand, and act on socially (“human“) based factors that address issues within and across cultures. These include guidelines for balancing interests of corporations with national/global economies, post merger behavior, identifying other factors that affect issues of loyalty, commitment, motivation, alignment, etc. as issues of cultural diversity in organizations (especially global ones).

Social implications

The first implication is that it takes recognition of dynamics advanced by both approaches for them to have conscious impact. They already conform to events known to have happened. SDi was used repeatedly to improve societal harmony by Mandela in post‐Aparheidt South Africa. Finite and […] poses hyotheses and distinctions about factors that help explain recent global economic meltdown, and ways to prevent future occurrence. While “business” in nature, the social implications are vast.

Originality/value

The originality here lies primarily in thinking outside the boxes that have emulated, evaluated, or expanded on the central thrust of McGregor's thinking. Other than placing finite and infinite games in a management/organizational context, and suggesting some questions for research and practice, the only other original thought was to consider the “meta” legacy of McGregor's example of going outside management thinking to inform what he believed to be valid, rather than stay strictly within the domains of social science and traditional management thinking. All this, of course, in the pursuit of advancing his concern for the human side of enterprise.

Details

Journal of Management History, vol. 17 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1348

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 June 2015

Harun Harun, Karen Van-Peursem and Ian R.C Eggleton

Drawing from an interest in the changing Indonesian political and regulatory history, the purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the role that accounting reform…

4458

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing from an interest in the changing Indonesian political and regulatory history, the purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the role that accounting reform can play in nurturing, or failing to nurture, a more dialogic form of accounting in a local Indonesian municipality.

Design/methodology/approach

To collect the data, the authors undertook a case study of a local municipality and drew from patterns found in Indonesia’s long colonial history. Data were acquired from official and publicly available documents and interviews with 29 key figures, including those involved in formulating and disseminating laws and also those affected by the accounting reforms from 1998 to 2009. Document collection and interviews were conducted at national and local levels.

Findings

This study shows that Indonesia has undertaken significant economic and political reforms for the intended purposes of fostering democracy, strengthening accountability, and creating transparency in relation to public sector practices. As part of these reforms, accrual accounting is now mandatory, independent audit is conducted, and disclosure is required by Government offices at central and local levels. Nonetheless, drawing from dialogic accounting principles, this study demonstrates the limitations of legislation and regulation in countering patterns that have long been laid down in history. Essentially, there is limited opportunity to question the elements of these reforms, and the study has also found that centralizing forces remain to serve vested interests. The root of the problem may lie in traditions of central control which have played out in how a dialogic form of accounting has failed to emerge from these important accounting reforms.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study should be understood from historical, political, and cultural backgrounds of the site of the study.

Practical implications

The implications of the findings should be taken into account by public sector policy makers, particularly in emerging economies – where political realities, economic, social, political, and cultural backgrounds set different historical patterns and result in unique circumstances that may tend to retain traditions of the past even under rules and regulations of the present.

Originality/value

A key contribution of this study is to show how the political traditions of a nation can permeate and divert the intent of, in this case, engaging a broader public in discourse about accounting reform in the public sector. In addition, this study also provides an understanding of public sector reform in the context of a diverse and unsettled nation which has been long subject to colonial, top-led, and military leadership. The findings demonstrate complexities and unintended outcomes that can emerge in public sector accounting reform and how, in this case, they appear to be influenced by historical traditions of centralized control.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 28 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 April 2008

Dorthe Døjbak Haakonsson, Richard M. Burton, Børge Obel and Jørgen Lauridsen

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how misalignments between the organizational climate (measured as information‐processing demand) and the leadership style (measured as…

8872

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how misalignments between the organizational climate (measured as information‐processing demand) and the leadership style (measured as information‐processing capability) may result in negative performance consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical part of the paper is based on questionnaire data. Key informant is the CEO and thus there is a focus on the CEO's perception of climate and leadership style. Data are subjected to regression analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that misalignments between climate and leadership style are problematic for organizational performance. This is supported by the empirical findings that show partial support for three out of four hypotheses and full support for the fourth hypothesis.

Research limitations/implications

Data cover information on Danish small‐ and medium‐sized firms. These cross‐sectional data and cannot study the effects of misalignments over time.

Practical implications

Because the findings show that misalignments between climate and leadership style are problematic to organizational level of performance, this implies that in case of misfits either the climate or the leadership style must be changed.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is that the framework allows an explicit understanding of which managerial actions are needed to manage particular types of climate. Further, the framework enables an understanding of how misalignments may result in poor performance.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 46 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Abstract

Details

The Emerald Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-786-9

Article
Publication date: 17 October 2008

Mikko Tanni and Eero Sormunen

This paper aims to give a critical review of the empirical information seeking and retrieval (IS&R) literature focusing on learning related information behavior. It also aims to…

2351

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to give a critical review of the empirical information seeking and retrieval (IS&R) literature focusing on learning related information behavior. It also aims to propose the task‐based approach to link research on learning and information behavior in learning tasks and to organize and interpret the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes the form of a critical literature review.

Findings

Researchers have identified patterns of information behavior and variations in the conceptions of seeking and using information for learning tasks. The results are fragmented and a framework should be developed to guide further research. Learners' information behavior in learning tasks may be attributable to various explanatory factors, which have not been taken into account in any single study. The concept of focus formulation appears to link information seeking and learning. The role of the writing process in learners' information behavior and the characteristics of the resulting documents have received least attention in the research field.

Research limitations/implications

The review emphasizes task‐based IS&R literature. Learning research may shed more light on specific questions.

Practical implications

The paper may help teachers in designing learning tasks.

Originality/value

The paper provides a synthesis of recent studies on information behavior in learning tasks and identifies new paths for further research.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 64 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 13 August 2018

Robert L. Dipboye

Abstract

Details

The Emerald Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-786-9

1 – 10 of 116