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1 – 10 of over 2000Recently, the author facilitated a particularly difficult organization development (OD) intervention with a private non‐profit organization. It was an organization whose staff and…
Abstract
Recently, the author facilitated a particularly difficult organization development (OD) intervention with a private non‐profit organization. It was an organization whose staff and governing board were deeply divided by interpersonal conflict. Although he tried to avoid it, the author found himself pulled into the politics of this organization. This intervention caused him to ask the question: Who is the client in an OD intervention? Is it the person who hired him? The entire organization? The organization's board? OD practitioners, as reflected in the academic literature, either provide conflicting views on this point or ignore the question altogether. Citing quotations from many prominent OD practitioners, including Golembiewski, Bennis, Burke, French and Bell, and Weisbord, the author searches for a definitive answer in the literature. In this paper, which is part literature review and part case study, he takes a critical look at the OD literature on this topic; ties OD to Jean Jacques Rousseau's concept of the general will; writes an in‐depth case study; and provides his reflections on this issue. The author concludes that within a highly politicized and contentious organization, it can be highly problematic for the OD practitioner to work for the organization as a whole, since he/she may, at times, be forced to take sides.
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Richard Frank Tester and Farage H. Al-Ghazzewi
This paper aims to focus on the utilisation of pre- and probiotics for oral care and the state of knowledge at this time.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to focus on the utilisation of pre- and probiotics for oral care and the state of knowledge at this time.
Design/methodology/approach
Pre- and probiotics describe beneficial carbohydrates and microbiota, respectively, for optimal gut health. Carbohydrates provide energy selectively for the gut-friendly bacteria. The use of both carbohydrates and bacteria is, however, being expanded into other areas of the body – including the skin, vagina and oral cavity – for health-related applications.
Findings
There is increased interest in both pre- and probiotics for oral care products. The importance of oral microflora and their selective substrates is discussed against a background of contemporary oral care approaches. The issues and benefits are discussed in this review.
Originality/value
It is clear that consumption of prebiotics and probiotics may play a role as potential prophylactic or therapeutic agents for reducing the presence of organisms in the mouth associated with tooth decay. To confirm a beneficial effect of pre- and probiotics further in vivo studies involving healthy human volunteers should be considered.
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Focuses on the approach to interpreting earnings equality found in the writings of a variety of economists and in particular, technological change and its effects on the demand…
Abstract
Focuses on the approach to interpreting earnings equality found in the writings of a variety of economists and in particular, technological change and its effects on the demand skill resulting in earning inequality. Argues that the evidence in favour of the technological effect is weak and presents some alternatives for further consideration.
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Richard A. Lancioni and Frank Lex
The control of inventory in physical distribution management is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks for the industry practitioner. Inventory is one of the largest cost…
Abstract
The control of inventory in physical distribution management is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks for the industry practitioner. Inventory is one of the largest cost elements in distribution and an error in judgment may result in serious trouble for the firm. According to Bowersox the basic function of inventory is to increase profitability through manufacturing and marketing, but the exact quantities of inventory to be carried are not often agreed to by management. Some departments such as marketing may want an abundance of inventory, while finance desires that levels be kept down. Because of such conflicts the exact determination of what levels of inventory a firm should carry is not easily performed.
The ideal of greater equality has been an important part of America's self‐image. From the time of the U.S. revolution, when equality was a component in our battle cry for…
Abstract
The ideal of greater equality has been an important part of America's self‐image. From the time of the U.S. revolution, when equality was a component in our battle cry for freedom, various political movements have held the ideal of greater equality as central to their programs. More than mere political rhetoric, reducing inequality has been the goal of a broad array of public measures. Yet despite all efforts, wealth and income distribution have changed relatively little in U.S. history.
Joseph P. Cangemi, Bill Burga, Harold Lazarus, Richard L. Miller and Jaime Fitzgerald
No one would argue that leaders have a myriad of significant responsibilities. Using a premise the authors support – leadership is a people business – they aim to utilize their…
Abstract
Purpose
No one would argue that leaders have a myriad of significant responsibilities. Using a premise the authors support – leadership is a people business – they aim to utilize their more than 100 years combined leadership to answer the question: what, then, is the real work of the leader?
Design/methodology/approach
Narrative based on over 100 years of leadership and consultation on leadership with a wide variety of organizations.
Findings
The result is the eight roles of the leader, which are as follows: collaborative developer of mission, vision, and organizational core values; creator of a humanistic work environment; developer of people, builder of capabilities; Initiator of organization‐wide communications; role model of emotional intelligence; utilizer of strategic data; consensus seeker – risk taker; change agent.
Practical implications
The paper discusses each of the roles of the leader in some detail, using a model developed for this purpose. The paper does not attempt to deal with the production, product quality, financial, etc. responsibilities of the leader, only what the authors feel is the principal focus of leadership – the people.
Originality/value
The authors are leaders with over 100 years combined leadership experience. Some are leading theorists and practitioners as well. Defining exactly what is leadership has been a persistent problem for researchers and theorists. Discovering how to create or produce leaders likewise has been a difficult challenge over the years. This paper provides a model that encompasses both challenges to answer the fundamental question, what is the real work of the leader?
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This paper aims to advance a critical analysis of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within sport. First, the author locates CSR within the wider field of sport-related social…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to advance a critical analysis of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within sport. First, the author locates CSR within the wider field of sport-related social activities. Second, the author identifies key issues that confront CSR in sport. Third, while referring to papers elsewhere in this issue of the journal, the author sets out future possibilities for the pursuit of CSR within sport with regards to its technical, dialogical and critical dimensions.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach taken here is a critical one, advocating CSR work and research which identifies strengths and limitations in, and explores future arrangements for, the CSR sector.
Findings
The paper finds that the CSR sector in sport should pursue a dialogical and critical practice within and through its work.
Originality/value
The originality and value of the paper lie in how the paper advances critical understanding of CSR in sport.
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Neural networks offer an alternative to numerical scoring schemes for credit granting and extension decisions. A standard back‐ propagation neural network running on a DOS…
Abstract
Neural networks offer an alternative to numerical scoring schemes for credit granting and extension decisions. A standard back‐ propagation neural network running on a DOS personal computer is used with 125 credit applicants whose loan outcomes are known. Applicant characteristics are described as input neurons receiving values representing the individuals' demographic and credit information. Three categories of payment history, delinquent, charged‐off, and paid‐off, are used as the networks output neurons to depict the loan outcomes. After training on part of the data, correct classifications were made on 76–80% of the holdout sample.