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Article
Publication date: 30 September 2014

Harold M. Schroeder

This article aims to consider why it is becoming so important for businesses to use social media, and to explore the transformational impacts on organizations and the implications…

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Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to consider why it is becoming so important for businesses to use social media, and to explore the transformational impacts on organizations and the implications for learning and development. Social media is changing the nature of business and introducing new learning and development needs. These are not confined to the specific skills required to design and implement social media strategies: in many companies, more extensive transformations of culture and organizational systems are necessary to support the new ways of working that are being driven by social media usage.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings are based on a combination of literature review and our own research and experience across hundreds of projects.

Findings

An organizational change readiness assessment exercise can be used to determine whether a company has the right types of skills and expertise and an appropriate organizational environment to maximize the benefits of social media participation, and to identify which areas need to be modified or strengthened. The specific requirements for change will vary by organization and industry, but few companies can now afford to neglect social media or the types of learning and development necessary to support their use as a core component of business strategy.

Originality/value

This work links the benefits of social media participation to leaning areas that need to be modified or strengthened.

Details

Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, vol. 28 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7282

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 August 2015

Harold M. Schroeder

In today’s world, organizational knowledge management has become much more important than ever before. Technological developments have made it relatively easy to collect and use…

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Abstract

Purpose

In today’s world, organizational knowledge management has become much more important than ever before. Technological developments have made it relatively easy to collect and use almost unlimited data and information, but the ability to do so effectively and efficiently requires much more than a technical solution. Employees need the right skills and expertise to identify, interpret and apply relevant data and knowledge, and the organization must provide an overall environment that is supportive of and promotes data-driven activity, as well as the on-going learning and development that is necessary to underpin this. The paper explores some of these concepts.

Design/methodology/approach

Findings based on a literature review and past projects.

Findings

Transforming an organization for improved use of knowledge and learning can be expected to deliver far-reaching business benefits that justify the initial time and resources involved. Most importantly, the changes are likely to improve the firm’s ability not only to respond and adapt to changes in the business environment, but also to anticipate these in advance and stay one-step ahead of the competition.

Practical implications

An organizational review around this topic should consider the following questions: Are the human resource management systems, such as the performance appraisal system and the rewards and recognition system, designed to promote the types of behaviors and outcomes associated with business success in the new environment? Are employees empowered to make data-informed decisions within their own areas of work, and to form trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders? Are the training and development systems effective in equipping employees with the various types of skills and expertise that are important in the new business environment? Do the organizations leaders and managers value, model and promote the values and behaviors now associated with business success, such as transparency, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making? Does the organizational structure support these values and behaviors, for example by encouraging team working or ease of communication with business partners? Are there systems and processes in place for effective storage, management, dissemination and use of both tacit and explicit knowledge? Does the organization have a good understanding of the hard and soft skillsnecessary for effective use of social media in achieving business objectives, and are these in place? Are job roles based on expected outcomes rather than task descriptions, thereby encouraging greater efficiency and effectiveness as employees take advantage of new information, emerging technologies and skills development? Does the company actively seek opportunities for collaboration both within the organization and with external stakeholders, and does it have established mechanisms or processes for communication and information sharing?

Social implications

Companies who have adapted well to this new data-driven, trust-based environment see positive results: a major international business survey found that respondents who were strong, effective users of business information and analytics were twice as likely to be top performers in their industry compared with those who were not heavy users of information and data.

Originality/value

Use of the “art and science” concept in examining this topic.

Details

Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, vol. 29 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7282

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1980

SANDRA CLINGAN

The U.S. Congress has been struggling to create a comprehensive energy program. A key component of the present attempt, recommended by President Carter, is a synthetic fuel…

Abstract

The U.S. Congress has been struggling to create a comprehensive energy program. A key component of the present attempt, recommended by President Carter, is a synthetic fuel program. In July of 1979, the President asked for an $88 billion “crash program” to encourage development of synthetic fuels. To date, a three month struggle to reach a consensus between House and Senate conferees has brought only limited results. Compromise is emerging in the form of a proposal for a “synthetic fuels corporation.” The body would have the authority to disperse $20 billion in the form of federal loan guarantees and purchase agreements with more money to become available later.

Details

Studies in Economics and Finance, vol. 4 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1086-7376

Article
Publication date: 3 August 2012

Harold Schroeder

This article intends to provide guidance to HR professionals and others involved in the planning and implementation of post‐merger integrations. It seeks to argue that successful…

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Abstract

Purpose

This article intends to provide guidance to HR professionals and others involved in the planning and implementation of post‐merger integrations. It seeks to argue that successful integration requires an “art and science” based approach to organizational change, and to illustrate the importance of this approach by drawing on a case study project from the financial services sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a case study approach, the article describes key learnings from a financial services sector post‐merger integration project in which the author was directly involved. The problems and challenges that arose in the case study organization are described, and it is shown how these were addressed using the “Art and Science of Transformation”TM conceptual approach to achieve a successful integration.

Findings

In the case study project, a lack of detailed integration plans and the absence of integration performance metrics, as well as inadequate understanding of the likely impact of cultural incompatibilities, were identified as representing risks to successful merger. To mitigate these risks, an art‐ and science‐based approach was implemented. This included the development of an integration performance measurement system and a communications strategy, while a phased approach was taken to the integration. Use of the art and science approach to post‐merger integration helped contribute to a financially and operationally successful merger, despite the early risks and the contrasting corporate cultures involved.

Research limitations/implications

The article is based on a single case study from the Canadian financial services sector, and is written from the perspective of the author, who worked on this project as an external consultant. The specific types of problems and challenges relating to post‐merger integration will vary between organizations and sectors, but the examples discussed in this article are believed to be typical, and of value in demonstrating the importance of an art and science approach to post‐merger integration.

Practical implications

Post‐merger integration represents just one form of organizational change, and the “Art and Science of Transformation” approach is equally relevant and valuable to other types of projects. The evidence from previous research is that a high percentage of organizational transformations fail to meet their objectives or are abandoned before completion, with project failures most often due to a lack of attention to people‐related factors. By adopting the approach discussed in this article, organizations can help to reduce the risk of failure by achieving a good balance between the art and the science of change.

Social implications

Unsuccessful organizational change initiatives are wasteful of financial and human capital resources, and may result in demoralized employees – especially if they feel that their experience and skills are not being effectively utilized in the change initiative. The Art and Science of Transformation approach helps ensure that organizational change initiatives build efficiently and effectively on available human and other organizational resources to achieve positive outcomes.

Originality/value

The Art and Science of Transformation framework was developed by Schroeder & Schroeder Inc. on the basis of its experience of helping organizations achieve successful change. Although other studies have examined the factors associated with successful post‐merger integration using a case study approach, the application of this framework to the post‐merger integration context is unique.

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

Book part
Publication date: 1 August 2017

Astrid Van den Bossche

Cognitive literary criticism is introduced as a bridge between cognitive approaches to the study of persuasion, and literary traditions in consumer research. As a successor to…

Abstract

Purpose

Cognitive literary criticism is introduced as a bridge between cognitive approaches to the study of persuasion, and literary traditions in consumer research. As a successor to reader-response theory, cognitive literary theory focuses on the cognitive processes of interpretation, while keeping an eye on the aesthetic properties of the text. Paradigmatically cautious researchers might shy away from attempts to marry positivist cognitive constructs to interpretivist cultural theory, but this chapter argues that these qualms also conceal missed opportunities for the study of persuasion.

Methodology/approach

Insights from cognitive literary criticism are demonstrated at the hand of a LEGO ad.

Findings

Theory of mind and conceptual blending are crucial cognitive skills involved in the interpretation of persuasive texts.

Originality/value

Most research to date has kept literary and cognitive approaches to persuasion separate, black-boxing the processes of persuasion. This chapter argues for a revitalization of interest in aesthetic detail, informed by insights from cognitive science.

Details

Qualitative Consumer Research
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-491-0

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 March 2011

Michael J. Braunscheidel, James W. Hamister, Nallan C. Suresh and Harold Star

The purpose of this paper is, first, to utilize institutional theory to assess motivation for the adoption of Six Sigma. Second, to examine the role of an organization's…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is, first, to utilize institutional theory to assess motivation for the adoption of Six Sigma. Second, to examine the role of an organization's innovation implementation climate and the fit between the innovation considered and the values of the organization's members on the implementation of Six Sigma. Third, to study the impact that the adoption and implementation of Six Sigma has on organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Methods advocated in case study research were employed in the conduct of seven case studies. The research protocol consisted of identifying organizations in a variety of manufacturing industries, and conducting focused interviews with a minimum of three respondents in each company in order to improve validity.

Findings

This paper suggests that institutional theory proves to be an effective means by which to examine the adoption of Six Sigma. In addition, support for innovation implementation model suggested by Klein and Sorra is found. Each of the studied firms reported performance improvements as a result of the adoption and implementation of Six Sigma.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to a better understanding of Six Sigma adoption, implementation, and implementation effectiveness of Six Sigma by exploring how it is applied in different manufacturing contexts.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 31 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 August 2005

Harold Boley, Virendrakumar C. Bhavsar, David Hirtle, Anurag Singh, Zhongwei Sun and Lu Yang

We have proposed and implemented AgentMatcher, an architecture for match‐making in e‐Business applications. It uses arc‐labeled and arc‐weighted trees to match buyers and sellers…

Abstract

We have proposed and implemented AgentMatcher, an architecture for match‐making in e‐Business applications. It uses arc‐labeled and arc‐weighted trees to match buyers and sellers via our novel similarity algorithm. This paper adapts the architecture for match‐making between learners and learning objects (LOs). It uses the Canadian Learning Object Metadata (CanLOM) repository of the eduSource e‐Learning project. Through AgentMatcher’s new indexing component, known as Learning Object Metadata Generator (LOMGen), metadata is extracted from HTML LOs for use in CanLOM. LOMGen semi‐automatically generates the LO metadata by combining a word frequency count and dictionary lookup. A subset of these metadata terms can be selected from a query interface, which permits adjustment of weights that express user preferences. Web‐based pre‐filtering is then performed over the CanLOM metadata kept in a relational database. Using an XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) translator, the pre‐filtered result is transformed into an XML representation, called Weighted Object‐Oriented (WOO) RuleML (Rule Markup Language). This is compared to the WOO RuleML representation obtained from the query interface by AgentMatcher’s core Similarity Engine. The final result is presented as a ranked LO list with a user‐specified threshold.

Details

Interactive Technology and Smart Education, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-5659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1973

Current issues of Publishers' Weekly are reporting serious shortages of paper, binders board, cloth, and other essential book manufacturing materials. Let us assure you these…

Abstract

Current issues of Publishers' Weekly are reporting serious shortages of paper, binders board, cloth, and other essential book manufacturing materials. Let us assure you these shortages are very real and quite severe.

Details

Reference Services Review, vol. 1 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0090-7324

Article
Publication date: 14 November 2008

Anna Marie Johnson, Sarah Jent and Latisha Reynolds

The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies and annotates periodical articles, monographs, and audiovisual material, in the area of library instruction and information literacy.

Findings

The paper provides information about each source, discusses the characteristics of current scholarship, and describes sources that contain unique scholarly contributions and quality reproductions.

Originality/value

The information in the paper may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.

Details

Reference Services Review, vol. 36 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0090-7324

Keywords

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