Search results
21 – 30 of over 7000Ana Carolina Ferreira Costa, Fernando Capelo Neto, Maximilian Espuny, Aglaé Baptista Torres da Rocha and Otávio José de Oliveira
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are fundamental to the socioeconomic development of a country or region. They directly contribute to increasing employment generation and…
Abstract
Purpose
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are fundamental to the socioeconomic development of a country or region. They directly contribute to increasing employment generation and improving income distribution. Despite the importance of SMEs, there are still opportunities for developing works that support and guide SMEs to use digital technologies, especially to digitalize their customer service. Therefore, this work aims to propose drivers containing recommendations for developing and improving the digitalization of customer service in SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach
This work uses a qualitative approach to systematize the main SMEs' characteristics and identify the boosting elements of the digitalization of customer service in the scientific literature. To this end, the authors conducted a content analysis of the most influential empirical and theoretical articles on the theme published from 2016 to 2021 in the Scopus database.
Findings
This work identified 38 boosting elements of the digitalization of customer service based on the scientific literature. These elements were grouped into six drivers for developing and improving the digitalization of customer service. The drivers contain recommendations that were adapted for SMEs according to their characteristics and based on the experience of the authors of this work.
Originality/value
This work contributes to promoting socioeconomic development, providing important solutions for managers and owners of SMEs to improve their customer service. The proposed drivers support and encourage the use of digital technologies for developing and improving customer service, overcoming the challenges of digitalization in these companies. Thus, SMEs will be able to increase the satisfaction of their customers and improve their competitiveness.
Details
Keywords
Mikael Lindvall, Ioana Rus and Sachin Suman Sinha
Human capital is the main asset of many companies, whose knowledge has to be preserved and leveraged from individual to the company level, allowing continual learning and…
Abstract
Human capital is the main asset of many companies, whose knowledge has to be preserved and leveraged from individual to the company level, allowing continual learning and improvement. Knowledge management has various components and aspects such as socio‐cultural, organizational, and technological. In this paper we address the technological aspect; more precisely we survey available software systems that support different knowledge management activities. We categorize these tools into classes, based on their capabilities and functionality and show what tasks and knowledge processing operations they support.
Details
Keywords
Although employees are considered key stakeholders, they receive limited attention in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature compared to other stakeholders such as…
Abstract
Purpose
Although employees are considered key stakeholders, they receive limited attention in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature compared to other stakeholders such as customers. This study aims to address this gap, investigating how different factors, including CSR communication, may affect employee perceptions, and to what extent they can influence or be influenced by CSR activity.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from three multinationals (MNCs) operating in Bangladesh. Mid- and entry-level employees from different departments, namely, marketing, logistics, human resources, IT and finance, were approached for data collection. It is important to note that all the study participants were Bangladeshi.
Findings
This study demonstrates how CSR perceptions, shaped by the level of employee awareness, personal beliefs about CSR and perceived motivation for adopting CSR, strengthen psychological ties between employees and their organisation. One-way CSR communication adopted by these MNCs disseminates positive information about an organisation’s contribution to society and creates an aspirational and ideational image, which enhances identification, evokes positive in-group biases and encourages employees to defend their organisation against criticism. This study further demonstrates that employee CSR engagement can galvanise their experience of organisational identity, enhance their pride and reinforce their organisational identification.
Originality/value
Drawing on social identity theory and the CSR communication model proposed by Morsing and Schultz (2006), this study aims to understand employees’ CSR perceptions and the possible impact of this on their behaviour. Previous studies largely focus on customers’ perceptions of these activities, which means the link between CSR perception and employee behaviour remains unclear. The current study suggests that employees working in Bangladesh will not withdraw support from their organisations if CSR is used to build reputation or public image. The findings extend the literature by arguing that some employees in developing countries not only seek to improve their status by working in a reputed organisation but also tend to engage with CSR activities undertaken by their organisation.
Details
Keywords
Neeti Leekha Chhabra and Sanjeev Sharma
To examine the organizational attributes that attract final-year management students towards organizations. The paper aims to study the already adopted employer branding…
Abstract
Purpose
To examine the organizational attributes that attract final-year management students towards organizations. The paper aims to study the already adopted employer branding strategies and the preferred channel through which organizations should promote employer attractiveness. Based on previous studies and current findings, a conceptual model on employer branding process has been developed and presented.
Design/methodology/approach
This article is based on semi-structured interviews, survey results and review of academic employer branding models.
Findings
It was found that among the students, most preferred organizational attributes were organizational culture, brand name and compensation. Students rated job portal to be the preferred channel for employer attractiveness. The study showed that there exists a significant and positive correlation between strong brand image and likelihood to apply.
Research limitations/implications
The survey sample was limited to private business schools only.
Practical implications
One of the sources for hiring on which corporate rely heavily is private business schools. This study provides the employers an insight to make their strategies for employer branding more effective. In the process, it benefits the prospective employees as well.
Originality/value
The study provides valuable inputs for formulating effective employer branding strategies. The novelty of the study is the conceptual model on the process of employer branding. One of the highlights of which is preferred communication channel for effectiveness of the strategies.
Details
Keywords
The study attempts to extend the current scholarship in the field of employer branding. Integrated communication is about consistent communication that is synergistic through…
Abstract
Purpose
The study attempts to extend the current scholarship in the field of employer branding. Integrated communication is about consistent communication that is synergistic through multiple communication channels. Employer branding activities that involve multiple internal communication channels aim to attract employees. The study proposes that the perceived impact of effective integrated communication in employer branding shapes employee attitude and hence employee attraction. Employee perception of the choice of communication channels is also proposed to have an impact on employee attraction.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory qualitative study in the form of interviews and a preliminary survey was conducted in the first phase. The main study involved a questionnaire survey to empirically test the proposed hypotheses. The respondents were information technology–business process management (IT-BPM) employees (n = 520) in India.
Findings
The direct and interaction effects of integrated communication and usefulness of communication channels on employee attraction within the organization were empirically validated to suggest a positive impact on employee attraction.
Originality/value
The study extends the current body of knowledge on talent attraction to include present employees. Similarly, the study on integrated communication and its impact on employee attraction is an important addition to the literature on employer branding, internal communication and talent management, given the present coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation.
Details
Keywords
Tamania Khan and Muhammad Zahid Iqbal
While studying the association between leader–member exchange (LMX) quality and employee work outcomes, the existing scholarship has generally focused on employee perspectives of…
Abstract
Purpose
While studying the association between leader–member exchange (LMX) quality and employee work outcomes, the existing scholarship has generally focused on employee perspectives of LMX quality. Being more inclusive, this study utilizes role theory to incorporate the dyadic (in)congruence in LMX quality and their effects on ratee feedback seeking behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Data elicited from N = 156 matched rater–ratee dyads comprising engineers working with telecommunication organizations of Pakistan. Purposive sampling was done to ensure that rater–ratee dyads were in continuous contact by their customized employee portals.
Findings
Results of polynomial regression analysis revealed that leader–member congruence in their perceptions of LMX quality enhanced member's feedback seeking behavior. Asymmetrical incongruence, i.e. the member perceived higher LMX quality than the leader, is found to predict member's feedback seeking behavior, even higher than both levels of congruence (high- and low-quality LMX).
Research limitations/implications
The scope of this study was members' reactions to performance appraisal. However, other performance appraisal outcomes are plausible such as, leader performance. This study explored the objective incongruence, yet subjective congruence can be more conclusive about the results of the present study.
Practical implications
LMX incongruence is more detrimental to members in high interaction situations. When the member perceives lower quality LMX than the leader, expectations regarding resource exchanges and behaviors are more likely to be unfulfilled for the member. Feedback seeking behavior being a member related outcome is likely to be affected more negatively in such conditions of incongruence. Second, it is likely that when there is a high degree of incongruence among the dyads, LMX congruence may become more critical to the members which in turn may give them a sense of belongingness within the dyad. Third, the relationship between leader–member dyads is affected by the social interactions facilitating the members' opinion sharing.
Originality/value
The study suggests that to fully grasp the implications of LMX theory, we need to consider the viewpoints of both the dyadic members at the same time.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to demonstrate how Dare2Share, an internal YouTube‐style of podcasting platform where employees can create and upload short learning nuggets for their colleagues…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to demonstrate how Dare2Share, an internal YouTube‐style of podcasting platform where employees can create and upload short learning nuggets for their colleagues in either video or audio format, is helping to transform learning at BT.
Design/methodology/approach
It explains the reasons for BT's adoption of Dare2Share, the form it takes and the advantages it brings.
Findings
It describes how Dare2Share enables BT employees to learn from each other by rapidly capturing and spreading learning throughout the organization in the form of podcasts, discussion threads, blogs, RSS (really simple syndication) feeds, documents, courses and portals. Any BT employee can view content on or offline and can comment on and rate each piece as well as report inaccurate content. Employees can also comment on the content and contact the author directly.
Practical implications
The paper reveals that learning is immediate, relevant and presented in the context of the work. Learning segments are short and available on various devices. High‐quality content is quickly identified and used, experts are easily discovered and contacted, and the learning experience is personalized and social.
Social implications
It highlights the value of social learning in a large organization that is placing increasing emphasis on good customer service.
Originality/value
This paper provides the inside story of the adoption of a new learning system at a company that has always been ahead of the curve in the area of learning technologies.
Details
Keywords
This study aims to identify specific human resource management (HRM) practices to overcome destructive deviance among public sector employees. Further, this study aims to rank the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify specific human resource management (HRM) practices to overcome destructive deviance among public sector employees. Further, this study aims to rank the identified HRM practices in the order of their impact on destructive deviance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the technique of both inductive and quantitative content analyses to identify specific HRM practices and rank them in the order of their impact on destructive deviance. Data was collected from 30 executives employed in Indian public sector via unstructured interviews. Also, Krippendorff’s alpha reliability estimate was calculated to establish the reliability of the content analysis, which was 0.80.
Findings
This study identified ten HRM practices (human resource planning, job design, training and development, reward system, employment security, career advancement opportunities, performance management, employee participation, monitoring and control, work–life balance) in overcoming destructive deviance among public sector employees. Furthermore, based on their frequency distribution, the HRM practices were classified into three categories, i.e. most significant, significant and least significant.
Research limitations/implications
Based on the categorization of HRM practices into three categories, this study implies that to discourage employees from exhibiting deviant behaviour, organizations should focus on the implementation of most significant HRM practices followed by significant and least significant practices. HRM practices that function as a coherent and synergistic system act as a win-win strategy benefitting both employees and the organization.
Originality/value
In spite of the rising research interest in the deviant behaviour in the literature, still there is a dearth of research pertaining to the association between HRM practices and destructive deviance. Moreover, there is no consensus among researchers concerning the specific HRM practices that should be incorporated in the overall construct. Guided by these gaps in the literature, this study identifies ten HRM practices to overcome destructive deviance among public sector employees using qualitative analysis.
Details
Keywords
Dawn Jutla, Peter Bodorik and Jasbir Dhaliwal
Government initiatives are continuously being designed to create stable and supportive environments for developing new industries. Presents a conceptual model for use by…
Abstract
Government initiatives are continuously being designed to create stable and supportive environments for developing new industries. Presents a conceptual model for use by governments in creating and sustaining an appropriate climate that facilitates the national adoption of e‐business. It focuses specifically on the needs of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Also suggests six categories of e‐business readiness metrics and measures to be used for assessing how a country is performing in terms of providing a positive e‐business readiness climate. Examples of innovative initiatives are provided from Canada, The Netherlands, Norway, and Singapore. Concludes that a balance among attention to infrastructure components has not yet been achieved in these countries.
Details