This paper aims (1) to create a sense of resonance with Maida Herman Solomon and her ideas, (2) to inspire a reconsideration of current management history (the unquestioned block…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims (1) to create a sense of resonance with Maida Herman Solomon and her ideas, (2) to inspire a reconsideration of current management history (the unquestioned block box of dominant figures, dominant foci and dominant practices), (3) to bring Solomon’s contributions to clinical social work into present discourse in management and organizational studies and (4) to foster recognition for Solomon in her own field of social work, as forerunner in a developing profession. Guiding this study is the question: “What are Solomon’s key contributions and why is she overlooked?”
Design/methodology/approach
This paper features a novel methodology, ficto-feminism. The feminism in ficto-feminism is presented as ontology, epistemology, method and mode of writing. Ficto-feminism combines polemical (or prowoman writing) with aspects of collective biography, autoethnography and fictocriticism. As such, the paper contributes to the emerging feminist tradition of writing differently. The approach is an embodied and reflexive approach that engages with history to investigate the absence of women.
Findings
Maida Solomon was an educator, researcher, practitioner and advocate. Her contributions to the development and practice of clinical social work spanned over 60 years, and yet, she is little more than a footnote in the history of the field. Her contributions include authoring and implementing graduate programming, which continues to be the taken for granted training; penning some of the most seminal works and advancing theory; introducing academic and scientific approaches, which saw the field professionalize and adopt new standards; and helping to change the way that society thought about mental health and sexual health. A confluence of factors contributes to her marginalization and neglect: gender, ethnicity, the feminized field of social work and the stigmatized focus for her practice.
Originality/value
The paper combines assertive autobiographical and literary strategies to foreground an overlooked female leader in the field of clinical social work, namely, Maida Solomon. Drawing on biographical material, literature, media and archival material, this paper features a fictional but truthful conversation between the present-day author/writer/historian and the posthumous, historical protagonist (Maida Solomon). In so doing, the engagement with history is both one that deconstructs while reconstructing a historical account with both aesthetic and political implications.
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Bashir Tijani, Xiao-Hua Jin and Osei-Kyei Robert
Design of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) project organizations expose project management practitioners (PMPs) to poor mental health due to the influence of…
Abstract
Purpose
Design of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) project organizations expose project management practitioners (PMPs) to poor mental health due to the influence of project organization designs on project management activities assigned to the PMPs. The AEC project organization design comprises the integration of permanent organization, project organization and external environment layers. In spite of the link between project organization design and mental health, limited studies have examined the impact of permanent organization factors, project organization factors and external environmental factors on mental health management practices. Therefore, this study aims to examine the interactive relationships between permanent organization factors, project organization factors, external environment factors and mental health management indicators.
Design/methodology/approach
Four organizational theories: institutional theory, agency theory and resource-based theory were integrated to develop a theoretical model guiding the aim of the study. Eighty-two survey data were collected from PMPs in AEC firms in Australia. Structural equation modelling was used to test the relationships between the constructs.
Findings
The study found that mental health management indicators are predicted by the interactive and direct effects of permanent organizational factors, project organizational factors and external environmental factors. The results of the interactive effects of the factors and mental health management indicators revealed that 20 of 26 proposed hypotheses were supported. Based on the established hypotheses, economic factors, technological factors, environmental factors, legal factors and organizational culture positively correlated with mental health management indicators. Likewise, human resources management (HRM), corporate governance, project governance and integrated project delivery (IPD) positively impact mental health management indicators. However, political factors, social factors, knowledge management and project management skills negatively impact mental health management indicators. Moreover, political factors, economic factors, technological factors, environmental factors, legal factors and organizational culture are positively related to corporate governance. Additionally, organizational culture positively impacts corporate governance, project governance and HRM, whereas project governance positively correlated with IPD and knowledge management.
Originality/value
The findings provide guidelines to AEC firms on achieving positive mental health management indicators through concentration on project organization design.
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Isaac Akomea-Frimpong, Xiaohua Jin and Robert Osei-Kyei
Among the topmost challenges, limiting the transformation of conventional public–private partnership (PPP) projects to meet net-zero targets is financial risk. This challenge is…
Abstract
Purpose
Among the topmost challenges, limiting the transformation of conventional public–private partnership (PPP) projects to meet net-zero targets is financial risk. This challenge is more prevalent in PPP projects in developing economies like Ghana, where financial investments have dwindled due to the recent COVID-19 recession. This paper aims to assess the key financial challenges in transitioning to net-zero PPP projects in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
The research method process was set as follows. First, a review of the literature to identify the major financial risks from journal articles, project reports and documents was undertaken, followed by questionnaire development and collection of data. Finally, the analysis of 134 questionnaire data was examined with the fuzzy synthetic evaluation.
Findings
The results indicate that the following financial challenges could hinder the transition to net-zero PPP projects in the country: increasing borrowing charges to build net-zero PPP projects due to the global covid-economic recession, poor project financial management, unstable local capital market and excessive labour, health and safety costs.
Research limitations/implications
Although, the study was conducted in Ghana, a country in the Sub-Saharan African region, the outcomes have significant impacts for similar developing countries in research investigations into the problem.
Practical implications
Assistance is provided in this study for PPP project practitioners in identifying the key financial challenges and possible strategies to mitigate them.
Originality/value
Towards net-zero sustainability, this study highlights the crucial financial barriers to overcome in the rapid transition to climate change and zero carbon solutions in PPP projects.
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The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how high school social studies teachers perceive and address controversial topics in politically polarized suburban classrooms…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how high school social studies teachers perceive and address controversial topics in politically polarized suburban classrooms. Research indicates that political polarization significantly affects both teachers and students, with suburban communities being some of the most politically divided in the U.S. By examining the experiences of teachers in these suburban settings and their approaches to handling controversial topics, this study aims to shed light on how the political climate influences teaching practices, discussions of controversial issues and teachers' curriculum-related decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative research study. I interviewed six suburban Long Island high school social studies teachers over the 2021–2022 school year. Each teacher was interviewed twice, with interviews ranging from one to two hours. The interviews were semi-structured and asked the teachers about the purposes of teaching social studies, their communities, their experiences teaching controversial political topics, obstacles around teaching controversial political topics and the ways in which their communities received the teaching of controversial political topics. I used thematic analysis to analyze the interviews. Each interview was analyzed inductively and deductively and coded over three iterative cycles.
Findings
These “controversial” topics come with both explicit and implicit pressure to avoid discussion and deliberation in the classroom. The first finding in this section centers on explicit and implicit pressure on teachers to avoid controversial topics. The second finding highlights the consequences of that pressure on teacher curricular decision making. The third and fourth findings are focused on participants' responses to explicit and implicit pressures to avoid controversial topics. The third finding articulates on the role of tenure in approaching controversial topics in polarized communities. The final finding defines and explores teacher use of political opaqueness.
Originality/value
This work adds to the existing literature on social studies education by providing an analysis of how controversial topics are understood and enacted in the suburban environment. By adding the specificity of context to my research I examine the ways in which controversial topics are defined part by their environment, and teacher interpretation of that environment. Further, this work adds to the literature on deliberative pedagogies and controversial topics by considering the roles that contemporary local and national politics play in enacting controversial topics, and the consequences on the classroom and teaching.
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Krys Standley and McKenzie Javorka
The purpose of this paper is to propose an explicit decision-making structure that aligns with the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Many academic and non-profit…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose an explicit decision-making structure that aligns with the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Many academic and non-profit organizations aiming to advance workplace DEI maintain traditional hierarchies and decision-making structures that can impede DEI principles. Formal consensus decision-making (FCDM) is an alternative decision-making model that aligns with the values of DEI and may benefit groups undertaking workplace DEI efforts.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors are members of a voluntary workgroup formed to promote workplace DEI. In this paper, we offer reflections and insights from group members regarding FCDM and how this practice can contribute to DEI efforts.
Findings
Based on group members’ reflections on using FCDM, we provide three main insights about how FCDM can contribute to organizational DEI efforts: (1) Group dynamics, which include greater psychological safety, increased collaboration and power sharing and reduced competition, (2) Group outputs, including clearer decisions and implementation plans and high-quality products and activities and (3) Challenges and tensions of FCDM, including the time needed for FCDM processes, the learning curve associated with a new way of making decisions and internal cognitive tensions when deciding on proposals.
Practical implications
We recommend organizations consider FCDM as a process that may promote DEI by providing an explicit structure through which to share power and foster deliberative group processing.
Originality/value
Our insights from practice represent a novel conceptualization of FCDM as a strategy for promoting DEI within organizations. We also offer considerations for groups seeking to adopt this form of decision-making.
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Israa Dahmen and Jamel Chouaibi
Climate change is becoming one of the biggest and most pressing environmental challenges of the last century. As such, the board of directors and its sub-committees need to…
Abstract
Purpose
Climate change is becoming one of the biggest and most pressing environmental challenges of the last century. As such, the board of directors and its sub-committees need to recognise and address climate change as a potential strategic risk for their companies, using a sustainable approach that prioritises this risk over other business-related risks. In this framework, this paper aims to examine the influence of audit committee characteristics and its effectiveness on the commitment to voluntary climate change disclosure.
Design/methodology/approach
Our sample covers 403 non-financial companies from 48 countries. These companies belong to the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sectors, namely oil and gas, chemicals and coal. We have used data from company responses to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) survey for the years 2015–2021. The total number of observations for the seven-year periods is 2,821 firm years. Audit committee characteristics examined are size, independence, gender diversity and number of meetings. Regarding the effectiveness of the audit committee, it is measured using a composite index developed from its individual characteristics.
Findings
Our findings show that the number of meetings held by the audit committee affects positively the commitment to the CDP initiative. However, the effects of audit committee size, independence and the presence of women are statistically insignificant. Regarding the effectiveness of the audit committee, our results show that it has a positive and significant effect on the commitment to the CDP initiative. In addition, the results demonstrate that the audit committee diversity, measured using the Herfindahl index, had a positive and significant effect on climate change disclosure commitment.
Practical implications
This study offers new insights into the role of the audit committee in improving climate change disclosure. The findings indicate that companies can improve their sustainability and social responsibility by establishing an effective audit committee within their board of directors. Furthermore, investors and regulators must give great importance to the characteristics of the audit committee and its roles and duties in the fight against climate change.
Originality/value
In contrast to previous research, this study examines, simultaneously, the impact of individual characteristics and the effectiveness of the audit committee on the commitment to climate change disclosure.
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Arya Candra Kusuma, Robert Kurniawan, Sri Kuswantono Wongsonadi, Prana Ugiana Gio, Henny Herawaty Br. Dalimunthe and Anan Sutisna
This study aims to analyze the effect of energy consumption by energy source toward the price level of fossil fuels in Indonesia.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the effect of energy consumption by energy source toward the price level of fossil fuels in Indonesia.
Design/methodology/approach
Using data from the Energy Institute and the World Development Indicator, this study applies the error correction model method to analyze the effect of energy consumption on price levels, both in the short and long run.
Findings
The results of this study show that the price of oil, which is one of the energy sources, has increased. In the long run, coal consumption increases oil prices, while geothermal consumption does the opposite. On the other hand, in the short term, only oil consumption increases oil prices. This study emphasizes the importance of renewable energy development, especially geothermal energy and hydroelectricity, for energy price stability in Indonesia.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effect of Indonesian energy consumption on oil prices. In addition, this study breaks down the analysis of energy consumption by source, making it a valuable reference for the development of renewable energy in Indonesia.
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Rong Fu, Xiangyi Kong, Lifang Gao and Lina Zhao
By integrating insights from cognitive style literature and person-environment fit theory, our study aims to explore which type of entrepreneurs are more inclined to initiate…
Abstract
Purpose
By integrating insights from cognitive style literature and person-environment fit theory, our study aims to explore which type of entrepreneurs are more inclined to initiate humor behaviors, the circumstances under which such behaviors are more likely to be employed within entrepreneurial teams and the specific benefits of humor behaviors for initiators.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes humor behaviors in entrepreneurial teams through a three-wave time-lagged field survey of 227 entrepreneurs in China.
Findings
We find that entrepreneurs with higher creating style are more likely to exhibit humor, making them more popular within entrepreneurial teams. Additionally, the positive relationship is amplified in the presence of high levels of conflict.
Originality/value
Previous studies provide substantial evidence of the positive effects of humor behaviors on their recipients in the workplace; however, there has been limited focus on the antecedents of humor behaviors and the benefits for the humor initiators. Our study addresses the gaps by providing empirical evidence that creating style of entrepreneurs may promote humor behaviors, particularly in the context of conflicts within entrepreneurial teams, and such behaviors could elevate entrepreneurs’ social acceptance within teams.
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Suheil Neiroukh, Okechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali and Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani
This study investigates the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on decision-making processes and organizational performance, addressing a crucial gap in…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities on decision-making processes and organizational performance, addressing a crucial gap in the literature by exploring the mediating role of decision-making speed and quality.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing upon resource-based theory and prior research, this study constructs a comprehensive model and hypotheses to illuminate the influence of AI capabilities within organizations on decision-making speed, decision quality, and, ultimately, organizational performance. A dataset comprising 230 responses from diverse organizations forms the basis of the analysis, with the study employing a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) for robust data examination.
Findings
The results demonstrate the pivotal role of AI capabilities in shaping organizational decision-making processes and performance. AI capability significantly and positively affects decision-making speed, decision quality, and overall organizational performance. Notably, decision-making speed is a critical factor contributing significantly to enhanced organizational performance. The study further uncovered partial mediation effects, suggesting that decision-making processes partially mediate the relationship between AI capabilities and organizational performance through decision-making speed.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing body of literature by providing empirical evidence of the multifaceted impact of AI capabilities on organizational decision-making and performance. Elucidating the mediating role of decision-making processes advances our understanding of the complex mechanisms through which AI capabilities drive organizational success.
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Peng Zhou, Yue Gai and Chaowei Wang
This study conducts a systematic literature review on the determination of urban land value to offer a comprehensive understanding of the methods, datasets, themes and factors of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study conducts a systematic literature review on the determination of urban land value to offer a comprehensive understanding of the methods, datasets, themes and factors of land value. The study aims to identify research gaps and suggest directions for future research in urban land value.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts the systematic literature review (SLR) approach to synthesize the literature on urban land value. The SLR is structured according to a three-stage protocol, involving planning, conducting and reporting to ensure transparency and reproducibility. Quantitative bibliometric analysis and qualitative hierarchical thematic analysis are used to assess the evolution of research and to identify key themes and factors.
Findings
The study reveals an unbalanced research focus on developed economies and residential land in urban land value literature. A hierarchical framework categorizes 644 factors into 25 subthemes and 8 themes across physical dimensions (e.g. land attributes and structure attributes) and market dimensions (e.g. land market and macroeconomic conditions). Two primary estimation methods – regression and residual – are identified, each suitable based on data availability. The literature’s evolution is driven by advances in empirical methods. An extensive catalog of databases is compiled, and a corresponding menu of methods is discussed with a focus on empirical identification strategies.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited by the focus on urban land value and the exclusion of agricultural, recreational and transportation land. Future research should expand to other land types and integrate new data sources and advanced methodologies such as machine learning to enhance empirical robustness.
Practical implications
The systematic review provides a foundation for practical applications and policy discussions on land value estimation and taxation. It offers a useful catalog of land value databases and a menu of land evaluation methods. They are useful for real estate businesses to perform accurate land evaluations and investment appraisals. They can also assist governments in determining precise land value for tax assessments and public policy formulation.
Originality/value
This paper is among the first to apply the SLR approach to urban land value – the price of an essential asset owned by households, businesses and governments. A key contribution is the identification of two distinct evolution patterns of literature: a “pine tree” pattern, showing linear, accumulative growth using homogeneous methodologies (e.g. regression methods) and a “palm tree” pattern, where diverse methods (e.g. residual methods) form independent branches. This analysis provides a new perspective on how methodological homogeneity influences the structure of research themes, offering insights into the dynamics of knowledge development in the field and in general.