Ananda Mukherji and Jyotsna Mukherji
This paper integrates two different areas, namely the structure of future organizations and the role of OD in that environment. The paper briefly traces the forces in the…
Abstract
This paper integrates two different areas, namely the structure of future organizations and the role of OD in that environment. The paper briefly traces the forces in the environment that are impacting business organizations and the likely structures of future organizations. The changing role of OD in being relevant to these future structures is discussed. Specific areas OD needs to address are also highlighted.
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Ananda Mukherji, John D. Francis and Jyotsna Mukherji
The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of joint action between firms, and to examine how interfirm linkages impact the development of information systems that…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of joint action between firms, and to examine how interfirm linkages impact the development of information systems that impact joint action. The research also examines how economic dependence impacts joint action or joint activities between firms. While the importance of interfirm relations has been widely acknowledged, the relationships between buyers and suppliers can vary widely on the amount of joint action they undertake with each other.
Design/methodology/approach
Using structural equation modeling, the authors test a model of influences on joint action that incorporates elements of social norms that develop between partners, their economic dependence on each other, and a coordination mechanism of shared information systems.
Findings
The findings indicate that joint action is influenced indirectly by some elements of social exchange, and instead is directly impacted by economic dependence and information systems. Social norms, specifically commitment, do impact the development of shared information systems.
Research limitations/implications
This is a single industry study of automotive parts and accessories firms. Care should be taken in generalizing these findings to firms in similar settings – relatively small suppliers to larger assemblers or manufacturers.
Originality/value
The value of this research is to help understand the elements of interfirm relations, their impact on information systems, the overall impact of these on joint action or joint activities between firms, and the role of economic dependence.
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Ashay Desai and Ananda Mukherji
Vertical integration across three different types of economies and selected industries is studied to trace historical, political, and economic influences on the evolution of…
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Vertical integration across three different types of economies and selected industries is studied to trace historical, political, and economic influences on the evolution of vertically integrated structures. Specifically, the focus in this article is on the industrial development that took place in Germany, the UK, Japan and the USA. The role of a domestic market, colony markets, and attempts to become a dominant colonizer all play a significant role in the development of various industries, and the efficiency levels that they attained. The role of government, the level of international competition, and other integration drivers salient in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are also discussed. A broad view of structural and contextual forces provides a better understanding of why certain industries chose to integrate the way they did.
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Information systems and organization structures have been highly interconnected with each other. Over the years, information systems architectures as well as organization…
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Information systems and organization structures have been highly interconnected with each other. Over the years, information systems architectures as well as organization structures have evolved from centralized to more decentralized forms. This research looks at the evolution of both information systems and organization structures. In the process, it looks into the impact of computers on organizations, and examines the ways organization structures have changed, in association with changes in information system architectures. It also suggests logical linkages between information system architectures and their “fit” with certain organization structures and strategies. It concludes with some implications for emerging and future organizational forms, and provides a quick review of the effect of the Internet on small businesses traditionally using stand‐alone computers.
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Ananda Mukherji and Pedro Hurtado
The focus of this article is to closely examine the role of cross‐cultural factors on interpreting, categorizing and responding to the environment. To that effect, this article…
Abstract
The focus of this article is to closely examine the role of cross‐cultural factors on interpreting, categorizing and responding to the environment. To that effect, this article examines two different streams of research. The first is a review of the literature on the environment, and the second is an assessment of certain cross‐cultural factors that may systematically influence strategic problem definition. Based on an examination of the literature on the environment, two frameworks are developed. The first framework addresses issues associated with categorizing the environment and the second framework highlights organizational responses. Hofstede’s dimension of individualism‐collectivism is used to suggest that managers are likely to differ systematically on strategic problem definition on the basis of culture. Conclusions are derived that relate culture, environment, strategic problem definition and organizational responses.
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The extensive research undertaken in studying the relationship between diversification and performance has been largely inconclusive. There have been a number of reasons for mixed…
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The extensive research undertaken in studying the relationship between diversification and performance has been largely inconclusive. There have been a number of reasons for mixed results including heterogeneity of samples, pooling of data, and cross‐sectional analyses. One possible way to address these problems is to make comparisons based on homogeneity of samples, or some other well‐defined structural variable, and to study firms longitudinally. More than just the statistical analysis, this paper identifies the key role of critical antecedent conditions that affect outcomes from diversification strategies. A sample of 59 firms from three distinctly different industries (food, electronics, and petroleum) are used in this empirical study. Results indicate that statistically significant differences exist when industry homogeneity is maintained and critical antecedent variables are isolated. More importantly, the role of initial conditions and historical performance levels have an important bearing on diversification efforts and subsequent performance.
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Today, as we hurtle towards imminent planetary destruction in the age of the Anthropocene, we believe it may be instructive to try and understand if the ancient science of…
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Today, as we hurtle towards imminent planetary destruction in the age of the Anthropocene, we believe it may be instructive to try and understand if the ancient science of spirituality can prove useful in humankind's ability to change course, even at this late hour. We argue that such a paradigm shift is critically essential for human survival and that without the inner transformation proposed by this science, it may prove impossible to build a society based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. This chapter draws from foundational texts and authoritative sources across multiple religious traditions, based upon which it outlines a brief sketch of the ancient science of spirituality. We begin with an account of the differentia specifica of this science, where we delve into what kind of science this is. Since it is centrally concerned with inner transformation, we briefly outline the theory of change embedded in this science and the kind of rejuvenation it enables, which makes it possible for us to clearly perceive the key elements and the structure of reality. We then spell out the impact this has on the nature of human action, continually teasing out implications for policy and practice in our time. We provide a few concrete illustrations of the same. Inter alia, we also show how many of these insights can be found even within modern scientific and philosophical traditions, thereby indicating possibilities of convergence and synthesis between ancient and modern science, following thereby the guidance of genuine spirituality.