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1 – 10 of 365Chew Har Loke, Suhaiza Ismail and A.H. Fatima
The purpose of this paper are twofold. Firstly, it explores the extent to which ethical work climate (EWC) is prevalent among public sector auditors at the National Audit…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper are twofold. Firstly, it explores the extent to which ethical work climate (EWC) is prevalent among public sector auditors at the National Audit Department (NAD) of Malaysia. Secondly, it examines the relationship between EWC and the work-related ethical behaviour of public sector auditors in the NAD of Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a postal questionnaire survey, which was distributed to the public sector auditors in Malaysia. A total of 823 responses from public sector auditors in 213 audit teams was received, constituting a 66% and 78% response rate, respectively. To achieve the first research objective, the responses were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis, including mean values and mean value ranking. For the second objective, hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) statistical software was used for the cross-level data analysis.
Findings
The results reveal a moderate level of the overall EWC at the NAD. The overall EWC at the team level also has a positive significant influence on work-related ethical behaviour assessed at the individual level of auditors. In terms of the individual components of the EWC, multivariate regression analysis of HLM shows collective moral (CM) sensitivity and CM judgement have a significantly positive relationship with work-related ethical behaviour, whereas CM motivation has a negatively significant relationship with work-related ethical behaviour.
Practical implications
The empirical evidence on the level of EWC and its components implies that there is room for improvement in the ethical climate in the NAD. The finding is important for the NAD to design necessary measures to enhance the EWC, including tightening the auditors’ code of ethics and organizing ethics-related seminars, training and workshops for the auditors. The result on the positive influence of CM sensitivity and CM judgment of work-related ethical behaviour of public sector auditors is also crucial for the NAD to further inculcate moral sensitivity and moral judgment among the public sector auditors.
Originality/value
This study is among the initial research that uses Arnaud’s EWC model in assessing the influence of EWC on ethical behaviour, particularly in the context of public sector organization of a developing country, i.e. Malaysia.
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Of the mass production industries, the Automobile Industry is perhaps the leader in demanding a high standard of finish appearance and finish performance for its product. This is…
Abstract
Of the mass production industries, the Automobile Industry is perhaps the leader in demanding a high standard of finish appearance and finish performance for its product. This is to be expected, considering the prestigious nature of the product and cost of the motor car, and the increasing impact of consumerism in all the major markets of the world.
Chew Har Loke, Suhaiza Ismail and A.H. Fatima
The purpose of this paper is to empirically test Arnaud’s (2010) ethical climate index (ECI) of measuring ethical work climate (EWC) in the context of Malaysian public sector…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically test Arnaud’s (2010) ethical climate index (ECI) of measuring ethical work climate (EWC) in the context of Malaysian public sector auditors (PSAs).
Design/methodology/approach
EWC is conceptualized as four main components with two sub-components. Questionnaires were distributed to the population of PSAs in the Malaysian National Audit Department (NAD). Factor analysis (principal component analysis [PCA]) was used to verify the components of EWC.
Findings
Results from PCA revealed that EWC, indeed, has four main components. Therefore, the findings of this study provide empirical evidence that validates Arnaud’s (2010) EWC model, although tested on PSAs in Malaysia.
Research limitations/implications
This paper has a limited purpose, which is to test whether the ECI could be applied to PSAs in Malaysia to derive the original four main components of Arnaud’s EWC. Thus, this study does not evaluate the EWC of PSAs or determine causal relationships between EWC and other variables; these are left to future studies.
Practical implications
The findings of this study confirm that Arnaud’s (2010) ECI is sufficiently resilient to be applied to the context of PSAs in Malaysia. Hence, future studies could use this index to measure EWC not only in the public sector but also in the private sector. Future research could also further test this index in different contexts.
Originality/value
Arnaud’s (2010) ECI was originally applied in the context of the private sector in a developed country. Hence, this study adds value by extending the ECI to the public sector in a developing country, Malaysia.
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M. Carole Macklin and Crofford J. Macklin
When comparative advertisements are used by competitors, they become lethal weapons. If a competitor's advertising claims appear to be deceptive, one must decide the best course…
Abstract
When comparative advertisements are used by competitors, they become lethal weapons. If a competitor's advertising claims appear to be deceptive, one must decide the best course of action, if any. Because the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has decreased its regulatory activity in this area, companies need to consider other avenues of defense.
Jerrell D. Coggburn and Arturo Vega
Local governments play important roles in creating public value for their residents. Recognizing this, they have made improving local quality of life a high priority. Such…
Abstract
Local governments play important roles in creating public value for their residents. Recognizing this, they have made improving local quality of life a high priority. Such emphasis has led to the development of various service innovations designed to make urban areas better places to live and work. This article examines one such innovation, the city of San Antonio’s Neighborhood Sweep program (or, simply, “Sweeps”). Sweeps is an example of a general service delivery strategy we term “municipal services bundling” (or MSB). MSB entails targeting resources to particular neighborhoods and tailoring bundles of public services designed to meet neighborhoods' respective needs. Analysis of survey data collected from residents of “swept” neighborhoods from 1999 to 2002 suggests that MSB can have positive effects on overall levels of neighborhood satisfaction and, in the case of Sweeps, may empower local residents while promoting their sense of individual responsibility for neighborhood appearance.
Ruoyan Zhu, Yin Li and Li Tang
The purpose of the study is to propose a new perspective to explain how China's rapid growth in patenting is partially driven by corporate strategic patenting to influence local…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to propose a new perspective to explain how China's rapid growth in patenting is partially driven by corporate strategic patenting to influence local governments. The authors highlight the role of strategic patenting and local government-business relations in creating the gap between the patent boom and underlying technological progress in China.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors investigate the relationship between local government-business relations and corporate strategic patenting behaviors, measured as a higher ratio of patent filings to patent awards, by collecting data from three successive NADS surveys of government-business relations in 292 Chinese municipalities, paired with detailed patenting and subsidy data of 3,756 publicly listed corporations obtained through text mining.
Findings
The authors find that, while R&D investment and patent subsidies do drive corporate patenting, firms in jurisdictions with lower-quality government-business relations are more likely to engage in strategic patenting. Moreover, the negative impact of government-business relations on strategic patenting is moderated by political connections, as the strategic patenting of firms without political connections is more sensitive to government-business relations. The authors further show that firms obtain significant benefits from patenting in the form of additional subsidies from local innovation and industrial policies in the years following.
Social implications
Rolling back patent subsidies will reduce strategic patenting to a limited extent. The local governments in emerging markets need to increase the capacity to implement industrial policy and provide market-based opportunities for firms to access innovation inputs.
Originality/value
The authors provide an updated and fresh perspective to understand the phenomenon of China's patent boom by showing that patenting can be driven by corporate strategies to adapt to local institutions and influence government policy. The authors extend the analysis of strategic patenting to emerging markets.
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Mohan Kumar Bera and Petr Daněk
The purpose of this paper is to explore the risk perceptions and activities of people to reduce impacts of disaster.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the risk perceptions and activities of people to reduce impacts of disaster.
Design/methodology/approach
Case study research has been conducted in village Podhradí nad Dyjí in the Dyje river basin in Czech Republic. Villagers from different age groups, experts, NGO members have been interviewed to understand people’s perceptions of flood risks and their actions.
Findings
The research has found that changing flood insurance policy influenced people’s risk perception. There is also increasing self-dependency among people to reduce impacts of disaster. They come together to support each other and develop collectivities in managing disaster. People’s actions and willingness to participate in disaster management activities change with distance from the river bank.
Research limitations/implications
The village identified for the case study research has been affected by floods after implementation of the Crisis Management Act No. 240/2000 Coll. The findings of the study are influenced by geographical location of the municipality and cannot be generalised in the Czech Republic.
Practical implications
The research has listed physical as well as socio-economic and cultural indicators of risk perception in the Czech Republic. These indicators and outcomes should help to assess and identify the gaps in reducing impacts of floods.
Originality/value
The study has revealed the interconnection between physical, socio-economic, and cultural factors of risk perception after implementing the Crisis Management Act No. 240/2000 Coll. and changing strategies in disaster management in the Czech Republic.
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Advertising is the most visible element of modern marketing, however it is often accused by its critics of being intrusive and pervasive, and neither of these accusations can be…
Abstract
Advertising is the most visible element of modern marketing, however it is often accused by its critics of being intrusive and pervasive, and neither of these accusations can be refuted by a worldwide industry which spends billions of dollars each year reaching and persuading its target markets through daily bombardment of hundreds, if not thousands, of advertisements in most developed countries. In this article a conceptual framework of “acceptable advertising” is presented, discussed, and used to analyse the regulation of advertising in five countries around the world. The exercise succeeds in enhancing our understanding about how to improve the acceptability of advertising in contemporary societies.
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Christian Moldjord and Anne Iversen
The purpose of this paper is to explore one vital aspect of team performance, the development of vulnerability trust in temporary high-performance teams (HPTs), within the context…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore one vital aspect of team performance, the development of vulnerability trust in temporary high-performance teams (HPTs), within the context of after-action debriefing sessions.
Design/methodology/approach
In-depth interviews were conducted with military aircrew members about sharing vulnerable and personal experiences after action in a war scenario. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the qualitative material.
Findings
The study identified six themes that influence the development of vulnerability trust in temporary HPTs: creating familiarity, caring attitude and recognition of other crew members, the power of transparency, fear of rejection, contradictions between team members and the number of listeners in a sharing session. All these themes appeared to have an effect on the development of vulnerability trust.
Practical implications
The study shows how vulnerability trust may affect team development and team performance.
Social implications
The paper not only specifically provides an insight into the development of trust in HPTs but also helps to broaden the understanding of the importance of trust for team development in general.
Originality/value
The paper contributes knowledge on the development of vulnerability trust that is new to research on HPTs, and the study explores how vulnerability trust may affect team development and team performance. The data material for this research has been collected from military operators’ experiences in a war context. Such environments are often shielded from and minimally available for qualitative research.
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