Bob Pettapiece and Sabrina Smith Campbell
Although several articles of progress exist that indicate various levels of improvement in race relations in America—perhaps the most notable being the election of the country’s…
Abstract
Although several articles of progress exist that indicate various levels of improvement in race relations in America—perhaps the most notable being the election of the country’s first African American president--racism is far from over. News reports have highlighted the resurfacing of hate groups, and some even suggest that the political dissension that exists on Capitol Hill is directly correlated to the color of the President’s skin. This article looks at schools as one possible source of this problem and as a possible place for solutions. It includes a study done in three public schools in southeast Michigan that evaluated acceptance levels of African American teachers and White teachers of one another. The study showed that in their most personal and intimate actions or dating, sharing confidences and sexual relations, neither group is accepting of each other. The article also gives some suggested approaches to improve relations between African American and White teachers.
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Bryan Smith and Bob Dodds
It is a truism that the vast majority of development takes placewhile a manager is carrying out the job. Also where any managementtraining and development investment can be seen…
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It is a truism that the vast majority of development takes place while a manager is carrying out the job. Also where any management training and development investment can be seen to affect the bottom‐line business results, then commitment at both an organizational and individual level can be more easily secured. Using work‐based projects for individuals and groups is an approach which can secure both bottom‐line payoff and effective learning transfer, while bringing about significant changes. Reviews the development of and experience in project‐based learning over several years at Sundridge Park. Offers and explores critical success factors together with experiences of project‐based learning with Volvo and ICI. Explains the issue of integrating learning with doing and makes links with action learning and career development. Also highlights the potential of information technology in capturing and retaining learning through projects.
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Catherine Smith, Bob Norton and Debbie Ellis
Outlines Leavitt′s Diamond, which postulates that it is rare forany change to occur in isolation. Of four interdependent variables– tasks, structure, technology, and people �…
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Outlines Leavitt′s Diamond, which postulates that it is rare for any change to occur in isolation. Of four interdependent variables – tasks, structure, technology, and people – change to only one or two of the variables will cause problems. Applies Leavitt′s theory to the changes which have taken place in the Management Information Centre of the British Institute of Management over the past ten years, which included relocation, computerization and charging, all of which impacted on services immediately. Changes to the organization structure took place only much later. The case study also shows the impact on staff and services when structure becomes the first of the variables to be changed and concludes with some comments on the significance of management style in managing change.
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Augustine Pang, Nasrath Begam Binte Abul Hassan and Aaron Chee Yang Chong
The aim of this paper is to examine how crises can be triggered online, how different social media tools escalate crises, and how issues gain credibility when they transit to…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to examine how crises can be triggered online, how different social media tools escalate crises, and how issues gain credibility when they transit to mainstream media.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory study uses the multiple case study method to analyze five crises, generated online, throughout their life-cycles, in order to build analytic generalizations (Yin).
Findings
Crises are often triggered online when stakeholders are empowered by social media platforms to air their grievances. YouTube and Twitter have been used to raise issues through its large user base and the lack of gatekeeping. Facebook and blogs escalate crises beyond the immediate stakeholder groups. These crises are covered by mainstream media because of their newsworthiness. As a result, the crises gain credibility offline. Mainstream media coverage ceases when traditional news elements are no longer present.
Research limitations/implications
If crises are increasingly generated online, this study aims to apply a framework to manage the impact on organizations.
Practical implications
How practitioners can use different new media tools to counter crises online and manage the transition of crises to mainstream media.
Originality/value
This is one of the first few studies that analyses how organizational crises originate online, gain traction and get escalated onto mainstream media. Understanding what causes crises to trigger online and gain legitimacy offline will enable practitioners to engage in effective crisis management strategies.
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The competitive pressures being placed on Western manufacturingorganizations require new restructuring models, which take account ofvalue‐adding capability and guide investment…
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The competitive pressures being placed on Western manufacturing organizations require new restructuring models, which take account of value‐adding capability and guide investment. Time‐based manufacturing strategies offer a framework to develop the total input/output chain in isolation of selling price. This method can be used successfully in batch‐manufacturing companies to reduce throughput time and conversion cost – the method is non‐capital‐intensive and involves total company and people commitment. Discusses a case study and results from implementation in a JIT environment in the electrical switchgear industry. Further research is required to link throughput time reduction with total factory cost and investment justification.
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Péter Esö, Graeme Hunter, Peter Klibanoff and Karl Schmedders
An asset management company must replace the manager of its two signature mutual funds, who is about to retire. Two candidates have been short-listed. The management team is…
Abstract
An asset management company must replace the manager of its two signature mutual funds, who is about to retire. Two candidates have been short-listed. The management team is divided and cannot decide which of the two candidates would make the better mutual fund manager. The retiring manager presents a linear regression model to examine success factors of mutual fund managers. This linear regression is the starting point for the subsequent analysis.
Application of linear regression analysis to analyze the performance of mutual fund managers.
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SMALL COUNTRY TOWNS are still, in spite of recent changes, one of the pleasures of holidaying in Britain. Much of their individuality is now hidden behind a uniformity of signs to…
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SMALL COUNTRY TOWNS are still, in spite of recent changes, one of the pleasures of holidaying in Britain. Much of their individuality is now hidden behind a uniformity of signs to car park and toilets, and one‐way systems which avoid the corn exchange, the church and everything else of interest. The antique shops have acquired the sameness of Woolworths. Most of them seem to have run out of antiques and offer a range of newlyminted horse‐brasses (tractor badges, if they exist, are taking a long time to catch on), hunting horns (intended for a non‐hunting type of unspeakable), Hong Kong coloured‐glass oil lamps, and a genuine cracked jug and washbasin.
This paper explores the political and legal issues contained in the law and jurisprudence surrounding missing American service personnel. It argues that the Missing Service…
Abstract
This paper explores the political and legal issues contained in the law and jurisprudence surrounding missing American service personnel. It argues that the Missing Service Personnel Act of 1995 is an effect of the legacy of the Vietnam War rather than a response to a particular legal problem. The essay further contends that we should be suspicious of the effort to transform the balance sheet of war into a justiciable legal question, primarily because the requirement to produce a body fails to disarm the representational economy in which the absent body constitutes a continuation of Vietnam War hostilities.
Peter Dalmaris, Eric Tsui, Bill Hall and Bob Smith
This paper aims to present research into the improvement of knowledge‐intensive business processes.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present research into the improvement of knowledge‐intensive business processes.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature review is conducted that indicates that a gap exists in the area of knowledge‐based business process improvement (KBPI). Sir Karl Popper's theory of objective knowledge is used as a conceptual basis for the design of a business process improvement (BPI) framework. Case studies are conducted to evaluate and further evolve the improvement framework in two different organisations.
Findings
Highlights the gap in the literature. Draws attention to the merits of KBPI. Reports on the design of an improvement framework for knowledge‐intensive business processes, and on the lessons learned from the conducted case studies.
Research limitations/implications
Practical and time constraints limit the scope of the case studies. General applicability can be inferred, but not tested, due to the small number of case studies.
Practical implications
A new practical way to achieve performance improvement, that utilises structured tools on intangible organisational assets. The framework can be applied by organisations that run knowledge‐intensive business processes.
Originality/value
This paper addresses a gap in the area of KBPI. It combines concepts from business process management with a robust theory of knowledge to design a practical improvement framework. The paper also contains interesting argumentation supporting the use of Karl Popper's epistemology in BPI and knowledge management.
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Dana A. Forgione, Melony J. Goodhand and John A. Wrieden
We present a legislative background and assessment of approaches to financing the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare services, and focus on issues related to…
Abstract
We present a legislative background and assessment of approaches to financing the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare services, and focus on issues related to beneficiaries eligible for both VA and Medicare benefits. We refer to a large, VA Medical Center (VAMC) hospital and healthcare complex as a case for comparison of financing approaches. Several legislative proposals had been made to grant the VA funding transfers from Medicare. To date, none has passed in the Congress. Our analysis shows that payments from Medicare would need to be adjusted for the specialized characteristics of VAMC patients, as well as for higher capital costs related to the federal VAMC mandate to maintain reserve capacity for national health emergencies, in order to appropriately apply Medicare payments.