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1 – 10 of over 28000This paper aims to increase corporate social responsibility (CSR), including business acting in an ethical and transparent way, through the prism of strategic conversation with…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to increase corporate social responsibility (CSR), including business acting in an ethical and transparent way, through the prism of strategic conversation with applying the author’s convergent methodology that ensures the integrity, purposefulness and sustainability of development of corporations in the external environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology is based on the integration of following approaches and methods: international CSR standards, strategic planning, networked virtual collaboration, group cognitive (conceptual) modelling, inverse problem-solving in topological spaces, categories theory, control thermodynamics, big data analysis for cognitive models verification and quantum semantic approach.
Findings
The convergent methodology helps to visualize the strategic situation in a corporation and gives more chances to get a clear feeling for every employee that his or her social responsibility helps to achieve not only his or her own goals but the goals of the company. This approach helps to accelerate the raising of the level of CSR.
Research limitations/implications
The strategic situation for raising the level of CSR has to be represented during strategic conversations. The strategic process should cover all the employees of the corporation. Groups can be hierarchically organized. The number of participants of one group can be about 35, and the duration of one conversation is up to 5 hours.
Practical implications
The convergent methodology was applied many times for creating a high-level CSR atmosphere by the collective building of companies’ strategies.
Social implications
The convergent approach provides proactive identification of adverse effects of the external environment on the level of CSR and prevention of such impacts. The approach also provides acceleration of corporate strategic planning, processes of network democracy and group decision-making processes.
Originality/value
The main developing problem, which is beyond the state of the art, is that the CSR situation cannot be described in a clear, logical and formalised way, and a traditional computer model cannot be created for this case with formalised approach. The proposed convergent methodology with cognitive modelling helps to do it.
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This research paper seeks to advance the techniques of “within-paradigm” triangulation and theoretical generalization adopted in qualitative field studies for new theory…
Abstract
Purpose
This research paper seeks to advance the techniques of “within-paradigm” triangulation and theoretical generalization adopted in qualitative field studies for new theory development in management control.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the evidence gleaned from three positivist case studies along with some published interpretivist studies, this paper identifies three triangulation approaches and links them with three forms of theoretical generalization in qualitative field studies.
Findings
While the “literal” approach to triangulation has its place in the extant literature, this study finds that two other approaches, labeled “convergent” and “normative” triangulation, which are relevant in many circumstances to link multiple pieces of evidence in order to build credible explanations. In theory development, while the extant forms of theoretical generalization (constructive and contextual) are useful for identifying new solutions for both practical and theoretical concerns, this paper finds that a third form, namely “transposed” logic, is relevant in identifying new control problems that can benefit by adopting the observed unusual solutions.
Originality/value
Within triangulation, while the extant literature endorses the role of literal triangulation in obtaining consistent evidence, including how verifying inconsistent responses helps improve the validity of the obtained evidence, this paper advances two new triangulation approaches that can enrich the extant literature. Within theoretical generalization, while the extant literature deems constructive and contextual forms as “rhetoric”, this paper (1) expands their status to “logic” by clarifying their theoretical purpose and (2) introduces one new form, namely “transposed” logic that helps identify a generalizable range of management control problems that can adopt the observed unusual solution.
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Hanvedes Daovisan and Jinpitcha Mamom
Lao PDR is a developing country with increasing female participation in the informal labour market. However, these informal female workers are often emotionally and physically…
Abstract
Purpose
Lao PDR is a developing country with increasing female participation in the informal labour market. However, these informal female workers are often emotionally and physically drained due to stress in the workplace. This study aims to examine the determinants of job stress on physical symptoms associated with the mental health stigma of informal female workers in Lao PDR.
Design/methodology/approach
A convergent parallel approach was used with 1,037 structured interviews and 15 in-depth interviews between October 2017 and June 2019. Fractional response regression was used to analyse the quantitative data and thematic analysis to analyse the qualitative data.
Findings
The quantitative data showed a positive effect on job stress and physical symptoms associated with mental health stigma. The qualitative data illustrated that job characteristics, work environment, time pressure, job control, complexity related to workload, physical working conditions and physical demand were associated with emotional distress, depressive symptoms and long-term self-stigma.
Practical implications
The study findings provide guidance for developing strategies for female workers in an informal economy to help mitigate the impacts of job stress related to physical symptoms and mental health stigma.
Originality/value
This study offers a deeper understanding of the emotional and physical stress experienced by informal female workers in the workplace in Lao PDR, showing that job stress due to the physical workload leads to mental health stigma.
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Daniel E. Martin and Benjamin Austin
The purpose of this paper is to introduce practitioners to the appropriate use of measures of unethical behaviour, evaluate the use of integrity‐related assessments for use in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce practitioners to the appropriate use of measures of unethical behaviour, evaluate the use of integrity‐related assessments for use in personnel selection, and determine the validity of the moral competency index (MCI) instrument using standard validation procedures.
Design/methodology/approach
Content, construct, convergent and discriminant approaches are applied to establish the relative validity of the assessment tool.
Findings
The results of the MCI purport to align with one's moral values and behaviours. The paper establishes face validity of the MCI measure, but fails to establish an appropriate simple factor structure, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and support for the lack of impact of demographic factors on the purported measure of moral intelligence.
Research limitations/implications
An acceptable but constrained (working students) sample was used in the validation.
Practical implications
Researchers and practitioners should be familiar with psychometric principles to ensure the use of valid tools in a predictive and defensible manner. New measures can be developed, but should be validated before being used for developmental or personnel decision‐making purposes.
Originality/value
This paper establishes the lack of validity associated with the MCI instrument; researchers and practitioners are exposed to considerations in the appropriate use of measures of unethical behaviour, and exposed to several previously validated integrity‐related assessments for use in personnel decision‐making.
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J.A. Yogalakshmi and M.V. Supriya
The aim of the current study was to develop and validate a measure for identifying talent in the workplace. This is a gap long identified by researchers in this field.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the current study was to develop and validate a measure for identifying talent in the workplace. This is a gap long identified by researchers in this field.
Design/methodology/approach
Hinkins methodology was adopted for the establishment of a psychometrically sound measure. A 16-item scale for assessing the construct was developed. The reliability and validity were established by analyzing content adequacy, convergent validity, divergent validity and external validity. Primary data were collected from employees signaled as talent by their organization.
Findings
The study yielded a six-factor structure scale for the construct. These factors accounted for 66.8 percent of observed variance. All six dimensions, namely, calling orientation, critical insight, continuous learning, collaboration, cohesiveness and challenge drive established acceptable reliability and validity.
Social implications
The research provides a precise definition of the talent construct. Identification and retention of individuals with a high talent quotient is a critical challenge to organizations. Identifying talent is made possible through this measurement scale.
Originality/value
This research made an attempt to develop a reliable and valid measurement scale for the talent construct. The scale provides a precise definition of the talent construct. This simple sound scale could be useful at both the individual and organizational levels. It helps individuals to identify and focus on critical areas for achieving talent status. Organizations benefit through better human resource management practice. Identification and retention of talent are essential to career management. Overall, it also satisfies the urgent need in talent management research for a clear definition of the talent construct.
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Purpose: The COVID-19 global outbreak has delineated a scenario characterized by lockdown measures, travel bans, unemployment, cancelled bookings and limited travel confidence and…
Abstract
Purpose: The COVID-19 global outbreak has delineated a scenario characterized by lockdown measures, travel bans, unemployment, cancelled bookings and limited travel confidence and logistics, thus forcing many tourism destinations and related tourism businesses to cease operations either partially or totally. Empirical studies aiming to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism and hospitality industry, as well as deepen our understanding about the main response actions that tourism stakeholders consider to be relevant to cope with the crisis, are extremely relevant. This is even more true in the context of island tourism destinations, where little research has addressed these issues so far. This study was therefore carried out to contribute to filling this research gap by presenting and discussing findings of an empirical research conducted on the accommodation sector in the Island of Sardinia (Italy) with the aim to investigate the impacts that the COVID-19 outbreak has generated on their booking and employment recruitment. Further, it also aims to identify and examine the most important response actions accommodation providers are implementing to cope with the situation, and what type of interventions they think regional/national institutions should adopt to sustain them.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A convergent mixed-method approach (data validation variant) was applied on a sample of 300 complete questionnaires collected in the period 15-30 March 2020, which included 140 narratives to be used for content analysis.
Findings: Quantitative findings report high cancellation rates, a severe decline in reservations and a relevant downsizing in staff recruitment. Qualitative findings identify several macro-based (i.e., institutional) and micro-based (i.e., business) interventions. Macro-based interventions are related to financial, fiscal, health, welfare, transport, destination management and destination marketing aspects. Micro-based interventions are mostly related to innovation, sanitation and cleanliness and pricing/cancellation policies.
Originality/Value: The chapter adds to the still limited island-related research aiming to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism and hospitality industry and to deepen the scientific debate about the main response actions that accommodation providers consider to be relevant to cope with the crisis.
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Presents a hyperbranched polymer, a hydroxyl functional aliphatic polyester which consists of a polyalcohol core from which branches extend, forming a core‐shell structure with a…
Abstract
Presents a hyperbranched polymer, a hydroxyl functional aliphatic polyester which consists of a polyalcohol core from which branches extend, forming a core‐shell structure with a large number of hydroxyl groups at its peripheral surface. It is polydisperse and consists, apart from the main core/shell fraction, of a minor fraction with tree‐like branches. Hyperbranched polyesters of this type have been found to contribute to improved physical, as well as chemical and mechanical, properties. Due to the unique molecular architecture, it is possible to design the hyper‐branched polyester in numerous ways to acquire the desired properties in different applications. Focuses on and illuminates how molecular design might affect properties in not only one, but many applications. Illustrates this by way of examples in the field of alkyds, where presented hyperbranched polymer contributes to low viscosities combined with excellent drying; in amine cured epoxies, where a hyperbranched epoxy demonstrates dramatically increased toughening; and in polyurethanes and radcure, where rapid curing can be obtained by proper molecular design.
Victor Fannam Nunfam, Norbert Adja Kwabena Adjei, Hafiz Adam and John Frank Eshun
The paucity of empirical evidence on the limitations of the industrial attachment programme of technical universities for enhancing students' human capital in Africa tends to…
Abstract
Purpose
The paucity of empirical evidence on the limitations of the industrial attachment programme of technical universities for enhancing students' human capital in Africa tends to thwart concrete policy options.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used the convergent mixed methods including 594 surveys, two focus groups and in-depth interviews to assess and accentuate the research gap in this study.
Findings
Evidence of constraints linked to the industrial attachment programme for developing students' human capital needs include limited funding, logistics and incentive for supervision, incompatible placement and exploitation and sexual harassment of students. Insufficient duration and intrusion of the industrial attachment programme due to labour unrests, inadequate collaboration and fears of student interns breaching organisations' confidentiality policies were also found to hinder the programme.
Research limitations/implications
The study's dependence on participants' perspectives has the possibility of being characterised by recollection prejudice. The comparatively limited scope and size of the study participants creates concerns of representativeness and generalisability of the study outcome.
Practical implications
The outcome of this study could yield significant practical implications for the planning and operations of the industrial attachment programme of tertiary institutions. It also provides information which could serve as the basis for future research and comprehensive evaluation of the programme's planning and implementation.
Originality/value
The authors have delineated empirical evidence on the constraints of the industrial attachment programme of Ghanaian technical universities to inform policy decisions on the planning, operations, funding and evaluation of the programme in collaboration with industry and government.
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John D. Nicholson, Adam Lindgreen and Philip J. Kitchen
The purpose of this paper is to apply the theory of relationship marketing to the previously unexplored context of organizations – from multiple sectors of society – that interact…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to apply the theory of relationship marketing to the previously unexplored context of organizations – from multiple sectors of society – that interact through no other apparent reason than geographic proximity. The paper assimilates literature from outside the discipline of marketing and synthesizes this with empirical findings in order to present a practical agenda for private sector firms in relation to their local region.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative, convergent depth‐interviews and interdisciplinary literature synthesis.
Findings
The paper presents a model of relevant marketing geography, which positions a resource‐based view as a new direction for relationship marketing research. An additional model conceptualizes the competencies possessed by a private sector firm that allows the firm to access local stocks of social capital.
Research limitations/implications
The paper offers the results of an exploratory, inductive investigation. Subsequent further research directions are significant and are outlined at the end of the paper.
Practical implications
Involvement by private sector firms in their local region is often a random, spontaneous activity, or a reactive activity in response to prompts by public and third sector actors. The paper presents two models that move this agenda from emergent to planned strategic activity for private sector firms.
Originality/value
There is little if any previous discussion of research in the above outlined context within the marketing literature. This paper offers the potential for expansion of that literature.
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