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1 – 7 of 7The disconnect between the corporate social responsibility (CSR) rhetoric and the practical reality experienced within companies calls for improved CSR evaluation systems that…
Abstract
Purpose
The disconnect between the corporate social responsibility (CSR) rhetoric and the practical reality experienced within companies calls for improved CSR evaluation systems that take into account the hypocrisy content of the firm's communication. The aim of this article is to contribute to the conceptual underpinning of a sincerity/hypocrisy index that positions an organization on a continuum from idealism to cynicism.
Design/methodology/approach
Starting with the analysis of the reasons for the dissonance between message and reality, the drivers of ethical corporate behavior, the intention of the actors and the intensity of effort and of corporate communication were analysed.
Findings
The analysis of the reasons for dissonance between message and reality sheds light on the role of communication in the perception of hypocrisy. An underlying model of a sincerity/hypocrisy index is proposed to position the firm on a continuum from idealism to hypocrisy in function of the degree of congruence or dissonance between communication and reality.
Practical implications
This concept of sincerity index could form a valuable basis for the development of new evaluation instruments for rating agencies, screening institutions and other evaluation bodies.
Originality/value
The instrument can help management to concentrate on the essence of CSR: the effective implementation of a corporate culture with attention for values and responsible business practices.
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Annick Van Rossem, Stefan Heusinkveld and Marc Buelens
Building on recent research that emphasizes the role of managers as central in the adoption and implementation of management ideas, the purpose of this paper is to explore the…
Abstract
Purpose
Building on recent research that emphasizes the role of managers as central in the adoption and implementation of management ideas, the purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons why managers may vary in their responses toward these ideas.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on a cognitive perspective, the research uses a repertory grid approach to analyze survey data from 189 managers.
Findings
Rather than stressing only the role of organizational context, the paper indicates the likelihood that more invariant mental models shaped by especially position and disposition play an important role in explaining the way managers view and eventually implement management ideas.
Originality/value
The findings indicate the significance of cognitive factors in explaining managers’ attitudes toward ideas, and advance the understanding of the variety in managers’ responses toward these ideas, particularly in implementation trajectories.
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Marc Buelens and Steven A.Y. Poelmans
This study contributes to the literature on workaholism by testing the Spence and Robbins workaholic triad; 5,853 full time workers participated in a national survey on working…
Abstract
This study contributes to the literature on workaholism by testing the Spence and Robbins workaholic triad; 5,853 full time workers participated in a national survey on working hours, covering a broad range of economic sectors and employment categories. Respondents were grouped eight clusters. Results show a strong similarity with those of other studies about the validity of the Spence and Robbins' typology. The same basic dimensions and the same types are identified, and similar relationships with extra‐work activities are found. In addition, a wide range of biographical, motivational and organizational data are included. One new type of workaholic was identified: the reluctant hard worker reports relatively long working hours, at a relatively low hierarchical level, with a strong perception of external pressure and a low perception of growth culture and a strong intention to leave the organization.
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Marc Solga, Jaqueline Betz, Moritz Düsenberg and Helen Ostermann
This paper aims to investigate the effects of political skill in a specific workplace setting – the job negotiation. The authors expected negotiator political skill to be…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the effects of political skill in a specific workplace setting – the job negotiation. The authors expected negotiator political skill to be positively related to distributive negotiation outcome, problem-solving as a negotiation strategy to mediate this relationship and political skill to also moderate – that is amplify – the link between problem-solving and negotiation outcome.
Design/methodology/approach
In Study 1, a laboratory-based negotiation simulation was conducted with 88 participants; the authors obtained self-reports of political skill prior to the negotiation and – to account for non-independence of negotiating partners’ outcome – used the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model for data analysis. Study 2 was carried out as a real-life negotiation study with 100 managers of a multinational corporation who were given the opportunity to re-negotiate their salary package prior to a longer-term foreign assignment. Here, the authors drew on two objective measures of negotiation success, increase of annual gross salary and additional annual net benefits.
Findings
In Study 1, the initial hypothesis – political skill will be positively related to negotiator success – was fully supported. In Study 2, all three hypotheses (see above) were fully supported for additional annual net benefits and partly supported for increase of annual gross salary.
Originality/value
To the authors' best knowledge, this paper presents the first study to examine political skill as a focal predictor variable in the negotiation context. Furthermore, the studies also broaden the emotion-centered approach to social effectiveness that is prevalent in current negotiation research.
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Claudia Ringel‐Bickelmaier and Marc Ringel
The purpose of this paper is to review the approaches of international organizations to fostering knowledge management.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the approaches of international organizations to fostering knowledge management.
Design/methodology/approach
Two different approaches are used: First, presenting case studies on the United Nations Development Programme, the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the World Bank, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the OECD and the European Commission. Second, evaluation of the progress of the respective approaches by using common test criteria for knowledge management implementation established in the literature.
Findings
It was found that all the institutions covered in this contribution have passed the stage of information management and have put active knowledge management systems in place. However, a structured and systematic management of implicit and external knowledge can be found to a lesser extent. Only a few international organizations like UNDP or the World Bank have pushed their knowledge management systems to integrate both internal and external, explicit and implicit knowledge. The results show clearly that most international organizations still show much room for improvement regarding their information and knowledge management system.
Research limitations/implications
The study was the first of its kind to look into information and knowledge management in international organizations. The contribution can be used as a starting‐point for further in‐depth work and as a blueprint for designing knowledge management systems in other international bodies.
Practical implications
The findings from the study may be used by various practitioners including knowledge managers in international organizations, knowledge management professionals and university researchers.
Originality/value
The paper represents the first documented attempt to review information and knowledge management in international organizations.
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Jan O. Piontkowski, Andreas Hoffjan, Maik Lachmann and Lukas D. Schuchardt
Purpose – Interorganizational cost management among companies can lead to significant cost reductions. However, the determinants of the implementation and long-term use of open…
Abstract
Purpose – Interorganizational cost management among companies can lead to significant cost reductions. However, the determinants of the implementation and long-term use of open book accounting as a tool in interorganizational cost management still remain unclear. We contribute to the academic literature by examining the influence of different determinants on the propensity to use open book accounting.
Design/methodology/approach – We conduct an experiment and use a covariance-based structural equation model to analyze the influence of the amount of the initially offered cost information, the offer of a relation-specific asset, and the relative power structure. The model introduced in this paper also integrates aspects of user acceptance that are derived from the Technology Acceptance Model.
Findings – The results demonstrate that both groups of variables have a significant effect on the willingness to use open book accounting. We also show that users of a management device are influenced in their choice by the perceived ease of use of the instrument; yet the extent to which open book accounting can help them achieve their goals (perceived usefulness) has an even stronger influence.
Research limitations/implications – Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the determinants that lead to the successful implementation of open book accounting as an interorganizational cost management tool, and help companies to avoid pitfalls during the implementation process.
Originality/value – This is the first study to analyze the simultaneous influence of different situational and attitudinal determinants on the propensity to engage in interorganizational cost information exchange.
Marc Esteve, Monica Grau and Ramon Cabrera Valle
The purpose of this study is to examine values among public sector employees. Furthermore, this study will identify differences according to several demographical variables with…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine values among public sector employees. Furthermore, this study will identify differences according to several demographical variables with relevant policy making implications.
Design/methodology/approach
Once the literature review on public sector values and the description of the tri-axial model is presented, analysis based on a survey of 3,018 public sectors will be undertaken. The sample consists of employees working in the Government of Andalusia, Spain.
Findings
Results reveal the domination of pragmatic values, as well as values connected to the ethical axis. The study also shows how these values vary according to several demographic characteristics of the respondents, especially when considering their level of education and their respective tenure.
Research limitations/implications
When managing employees from public organizations, emphasis should be given to the development of an organizational culture that represents a configuration of both pragmatic and ethical axes.
Originality/value
This study was tested with relatively a large sample size (more than 3,000 observations), thus adding significant and original value to the empirical test of the tri-axial model.
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