Carina Simon, Tim Oliver Brexendorf and Martin Fassnacht
Consumer engagement has been designated as an approach to describing online interactions that more comprehensively reflects the nature of consumers’ interactive relationships in…
Abstract
Purpose
Consumer engagement has been designated as an approach to describing online interactions that more comprehensively reflects the nature of consumers’ interactive relationships in online brand communities. This paper aims to explore consumers’ brand community engagement in the context of Facebook brand pages. This research puts forth the hypothesis that consumers’ brand community engagement on Facebook is dependent upon two overarching themes: external social forces and internal personal forces.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on social impact theory, social identity theory and social exchange theory, a conceptual research model is developed and empirically tested through structural equation modelling using cross-sectional data of 460 Facebook brand fans.
Findings
The empirical results suggest that internal personal forces primarily positively influence brand community engagement, while external social forces can even impact consumers’ brand community engagement negatively.
Research limitations/implications
Future research should test and validate the proposed model for specific categories and brands.
Practical implications
This paper offers help to online brand marketers to trigger meaningful engagement of consumers in a brand community on Facebook.
Originality/value
This paper examines the consumer engagement construct from a behavioural perspective in a defined social media context and highlights the peculiarities of online brand communities on Facebook that distinguish them from traditional brand communities. The research uses a strong theoretical foundation to develop a model that investigates the prevalent variables that influence consumers’ brand community engagement on Facebook.
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Xin Li, Torben Juul Andersen and Carina Antonia Hallin
The purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative perspective on Zhong-Yong that is different from the notion of “Yin-Yang balancing” and apply it to understand the issue of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative perspective on Zhong-Yong that is different from the notion of “Yin-Yang balancing” and apply it to understand the issue of balancing the top-down and bottom-up processes in strategy making.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopt a “West meets East” mindset and approach to develop an alternative perspective on Zhong-Yong, and then apply this perspective to understand the issue of balancing the top-down and bottom-up processes in strategy making. There are three steps in the process of developing the alternative perspective. First, the authors argue that the essence of “Yin-Yang balancing” is a ratio-based solution to paradoxical balancing, which is in fact equivalent to Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean and compatible with some western management scholars’ approaches to solving paradox. Second, the authors identify a different generic solution to paradoxical balancing implicit in the western management literature. Third, the authors find in the original text of Zhong-Yong equivalent ideas to the identified different generic solution and then propose an alternative perspective on Zhong-Yong that is fundamentally different from the notion of “Yin-Yang balancing.”
Findings
Applied to the issue of balancing the top-down and bottom-up processes in strategy making, the new perspective on Zhong-Yong provides us with the following prescriptive insights from the life-wisdom of eastern philosophy: first, top management (e.g. Shun as the sage-king) must listen to various views and opinions also from employees and low-level managers at the bottom of the organization to be better informed about complex issues. Second, top management must analyze the diverse elements of the various views and opinions they collect and synthesize by taking the good from the bad to find smarter solutions and make decisions with better outcomes. Third, abiding by a set of (more or less) cohesive values help top managers be open and receptive to information and insights from low-level organizational members and enhancing unbiased information.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is mainly a theoretical perspective. Empirical work is needed to test the prescriptions offered in this paper.
Practical implications
Practitioners may learn new perspectives from ancient Chinese philosophies on how to balance.
Originality/value
This paper applies a new perspective on Zhong-Yong to an important paradox in strategic management.
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Shenja van der Graaf, Le Anh Nguyen Long and Carina Veeckman
Shenja van der Graaf, Le Anh Nguyen Long and Carina Veeckman
Shenja van der Graaf, Le Anh Nguyen Long and Carina Veeckman
Shenja van der Graaf, Le Anh Nguyen Long and Carina Veeckman
Jenny M. Hoobler and Kim Dowdeswell
The authors of this study aim to test a possible turn toward relational, as opposed to agentic, management development program (MDP) content.
Abstract
Purpose
The authors of this study aim to test a possible turn toward relational, as opposed to agentic, management development program (MDP) content.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors performed a content analysis of the literature and qualitative interviews of management coaches/consultants from South Africa and the USA.
Findings
In both studies, the authors found more relational than agentic content comprising MDP content. Interviews revealed a predominance of relational strategies and that agentic and relational skills are often interwoven in development efforts.
Practical implications
This work may guide management coaches and consultants to offer clients management development (MD) with a greater focus on relational skills.
Originality/value
Future studies should build on our findings to explore whether leadership may now require more relational as opposed to agentic skills.
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Laura Temmerman, Carina Veeckman and Pieter Ballon
This paper aims to share the experience of a collaborative platform for social innovation (SI) in urban governance in Brussels (Belgium) and to formulate recommendations for…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to share the experience of a collaborative platform for social innovation (SI) in urban governance in Brussels (Belgium) and to formulate recommendations for future initiatives.
Design/methodology/approach
The publicly funded collaborative platform “Brussels by us”, which aimed to improve the quality of life in specific neighbourhoods in Brussels (Belgium), is presented as a case study for SI in urban governance. The case study is detailed according to four dimensions based on the SI and living lab literature.
Findings
While the initiative appeared to be a successful exploration platform for collaborative urban governance, it did not evolve into concrete experimentation nor implementation of the solutions. Possible explanations and recommendations are formulated.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this paper are based on the experience of a one-year initiative. The results should be completed by similar case studies of longitudinal initiatives, and with other levels of implementation such as experimentation and concrete implementation of solutions.
Originality/value
This paper presents a concrete case study of a collaborative platform implemented in a specific neighbourhood in Brussels (Belgium). Its digital and offline approach can help other practitioners, scholars and public institutions to experiment with the living lab methodology for the co-ideation of solution in urban governance. The four-dimensional framework presented in the study can provide future initiatives with a structured reporting and analysis framework, unifying and strengthening know-how in the domain of SI.
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Carina Söderlund and Magnus Hansson
The purpose of this paper is to explore the role and function of visuals, visual communication and information design as they relate to management control systems and visual…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the role and function of visuals, visual communication and information design as they relate to management control systems and visual management (VM) in lean-inspired organisations. This paper helps expand knowledge on how visual and design studies can contribute to research on VM as part of a management control system.
Design/methodology/approach
A study is outlined, which was conducted at a multinational manufacturing company to investigate employees’ perceptions and use of visual devices on the shop floor, including their related reactions and behaviour. The study is delimited to operation management, lean manufacturing and lean boards (i.e. daily management boards and performance measurement boards).
Findings
The findings point out the persuasive purpose of lean boards, as well as the metaphoric and persuasive functions of the visuals and information design in management control systems.
Originality/value
Visual research and design research are rare within studies of management control systems. There is a need to perform research that takes into account the role and function of visual communication and information design in VM. The proposed areas for future research can provide design principles, as well as insights into the complexity of visual communication and information design in VM and management control studies.