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1 – 10 of 14Kerri Anne Crowne, Richard J. Goeke and Mary Shoemaker
Adjustment to the new locale is one of the primary factors that influence performance on an international assignment. The purpose of this paper is to propose a model that depicts…
Abstract
Purpose
Adjustment to the new locale is one of the primary factors that influence performance on an international assignment. The purpose of this paper is to propose a model that depicts how online social networks may contribute to international assignees’ adjustment via their influence on well-being and knowledge transfer.
Design/methodology/approach
The present research uses network theory and readily available technology to develop a model of how online supportive social networks and informational social networks may increase the international assignee’s well-being and knowledge transfer (with prior/next assignees and with the organization). These increases will subsequently have a positive impact on the assignee’s adjustment and ultimately his/her job performance.
Findings
Since this paper is conceptual rather than empirical, there are no findings; however, it is argued that online social networks may have a positive impact on an expatriate’s well-being, knowledge transfer, adjustment, and job performance.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is a conceptual piece, so data will need to be collected to test the model developed here. Furthermore, other factors may influence international assignee adjustment, such as spouse and/or family adjustment.
Practical implications
Suggestions are provided regarding how organizations can utilize in-house or external online social networks to assist international assignees.
Originality/value
Despite the ubiquity of online social networks, there is a paucity of research examining the potential impact of online social networks on international assignees.
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Yvonne Lederer Antonucci and Richard J. Goeke
Identifying appropriate responsibilities and positions needed for successful business process management (BPM) initiatives has become a challenge. Past research efforts have been…
Abstract
Purpose
Identifying appropriate responsibilities and positions needed for successful business process management (BPM) initiatives has become a challenge. Past research efforts have been based on homogenous small samples. The purpose of this paper is to validate a BPM position and responsibility framework among a larger BPM community, by measuring the framework's validity, reliability, and level of agreement among BPM professionals.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 111 BPM practitioners (19 percent outside of the USA), representing 98 different organizations (primarily in business services, manufacturing, public administration, and finance), was conducted to measure the construct validity and reliability of an existing BPM position and responsibility framework.
Findings
The results indicate that the BPM responsibilities possess adequate reliability, and that the framework demonstrates excellent convergent and discriminant validity. BPM professionals indicated significant agreement with the four proposed BPM positions, along with responsibilities associated with the three higher level BPM positions. Interesting patterns of disagreement emerged for responsibilities associated with the lowest level BPM position.
Research limitations/implications
This study furthers the understanding of BPM competencies required for BPM success. Continued research efforts are needed to understand how this BPM position and responsibility framework can work in actual BPM settings.
Practical implications
This research relates to process organization and the core competencies required for BPM initiatives, assisting in the identification and alignment of appropriate responsibilities and positions required for BPM success.
Originality/value
This paper represents the first large‐scale study of industry best practices in defining and validating positions and responsibilities associated with the BPM field of work.
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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…
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.
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Lance P. Jarvis, Edward J. Mayo and Paul M. Lane
Sustainable growth indicates how rapidly sales can increase whennew assets required to support higher sales levels are financed solelythrough additions to retained earnings and…
Abstract
Sustainable growth indicates how rapidly sales can increase when new assets required to support higher sales levels are financed solely through additions to retained earnings and new debt. The sustainable growth model provides a way for public policy makers to assess the need of any particular sector of an economy for government‐sponsored export development assistance. These assessments are the macro equivalent of product portfolio analysis. The sustainable growth approach, however, is less subjective and requires far less data input than the directional policy matrix approach recommended by others. The two approaches should be viewed as complementing one another. Selection of export development programmes can be improved by assessing the impact of any given programme on the components of an industry′s sustainable growth level. This should help to avoid initiatives that would impair the global or regional competitiveness of industries with long‐term comparative advantages.
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Concerns itself with the way in which company images are formed and disseminated and discusses work carried out among the employees, suppliers and purchasers of a heavy goods…
Abstract
Concerns itself with the way in which company images are formed and disseminated and discusses work carried out among the employees, suppliers and purchasers of a heavy goods manufacturing company. Argues that company employees should be made the focus of attention, since these are potential salesmen in the widest sense of the world. Suggests a company's experience, particularly in the industrial and service sectors will rely heavily on personal contact with employees, e.g. employees will portray an image of the company as it effects them. Proposes that all people external to the company but coming into contact with it receive the same image. Pinpoints a questionnaire involving a company image profile of engineering where employees are slightly pessimistic – includes these in question and answer format. Concludes that a company's good image among its employees and subsequently among those outside it, rests in the hands of top management. – and how can this be ignored?
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Ted D. Englebrecht and W. Brian Dowis
Worker classification continues to be a highly litigated area of taxation. That is, the status of a worker as an employee or independent contractor remains a topic closely…
Abstract
Worker classification continues to be a highly litigated area of taxation. That is, the status of a worker as an employee or independent contractor remains a topic closely scrutinized by the Internal Revenue Service. This study examines factors that the judiciary deems relevant in ruling whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor. A backward stepwise logistic regression model is implemented to categorize the factors that best predict the court’s decision on whether a worker is either an employee or independent contractor pursuant to the factors in Revenue Ruling 87-41 (1987-1 CB 296), judge gender, and political affiliation. The results indicate three factors (supervision/instructions, continuing relationship, and the right to discharge) are capable of accurately predicting 93 percent of the decisions made by the US Tax Court. Other findings support notable statistical differences between male and female judges rendering decisions and reaching conclusions. Also, there is a statistically significant difference based on the type of industry. Political affiliation appears to have no significant impact on judicial rulings.
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W. Brian Dowis and Ted D. Englebrecht
Reasonable compensation is a highly scrutinized area of taxation by the Internal Revenue Service because of the tax impact on both corporations and employees. The guidance…
Abstract
Reasonable compensation is a highly scrutinized area of taxation by the Internal Revenue Service because of the tax impact on both corporations and employees. The guidance provided via statutory and administrative authority does not fully address this issue. Specifically, there is a lack of clarity and consistency in this arena of tax. Our study examines reasonable compensation in closely held corporations and the impact of gender, political affiliation, and family makeup on decisions made in the US Tax Court. The time frame of judicial decisions covers 1983 through 2014. We use regression models and chi-square tests to analyze the effect of gender, political affiliation, and family composition on US Tax Court decisions in reasonable compensation cases. We find that the judge’s gender and tenure/experience are significant. Our results also suggest a relationship between the duration of the case and the judge’s decision. Our significant variables include judge’s gender, number of tax years covered by the case, taxpayer’s gender, and tenure/experience of the judge.
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Günther Ortmann and David Seidl
The present paper takes a look at the particularities of German strategy research over the last three decades. In contrast to much of the Anglo-Saxon research, which has focused…
Abstract
The present paper takes a look at the particularities of German strategy research over the last three decades. In contrast to much of the Anglo-Saxon research, which has focused on competition as a guiding concept in theorizing about strategy, German research has typically been concerned with more fundamental questions about the general relationship between organizations and their environments and, as a result, tended to be more conceptual than empirical. Researchers have been particularly influenced by the German sociological and philosophical traditions, specifically by the critical theory of Jürgen Habermas and by the systems theory of Niklas Luhmann. Also, there are authors who draw on the economic tradition of the Austrian School in order to develop a competence-based theory of the firm. Another branch builds on Anthony Giddens's structuration theory and Jacques Derrida's philosophy of deconstruction. As we will demonstrate, much of the research has been concerned with fundamental theoretical tensions: evolution vs. planning, selection vs. compensation, cognitive–instrumental rationality vs. moral–practical rationality, etc. We note that, as a consequence, much of German strategy research shows a particular interest in paradoxa and oxymora (such as ‘planned evolution’, ‘productive misunderstandings’ or ‘unfocused monitoring’). This paper will identify and explore important strands of German strategy research and discuss its particularities compared to mainstream strategy research in the United States.