This case talks about the role that can be expected to be played by a disabled woman in an organization and shows how a disabled woman can assume a leadership position and be a…
Abstract
Social implications
This case talks about the role that can be expected to be played by a disabled woman in an organization and shows how a disabled woman can assume a leadership position and be a role model.
Learning outcomes
This case identifies the qualities that help a person from a minority group succeed in the corporate environment; examines the contribution that a disabled person, especially a woman can make to an organization; analyzes transformational leadership; assesses the importance of inclusive design in today’s products; and recognizes the corporate role in ensuring an inclusive culture that encouraged disabled people.
Case overview/synopsis
The case “Sumaira Latif at P&G: pioneering inclusive design and accessibility to all” provides an in-depth look at the efforts of Sumaira “Sam” Latif (she), Accessibility Leader at P&G, to incorporate inclusive design in the company’s product packaging. Sam – a blind woman and mother of three – had always struggled to use various everyday products. Her personal struggles drove her to find ways to fix such problems for people with disabilities. So, after a decade of experience at P&G, when she got an opportunity to interact with the top management, she convinced them that catering to the disabled was not charity, but a smart business move. Sam also put forth the role she could play in helping P&G make products with an inclusive design. Impressed with her, P&G made her Special Consultant for Inclusive Design, a position specifically created for her. Sam created the widely lauded tactile indicators which helped the blind differentiate between shampoo and conditioner bottles. P&G then promoted her to the position of Company Accessibility Leader, wherein she played a pivotal role in bringing inclusive design to more of P&G’s products. Sam also played a critical role in making P&G adopt certain technologies to help the blind shop for the company’s products independently, apart from ensuring that all P&G ads were audio-described. However, Sam had an ambitious vision to infuse inclusive design into all products, which required her to bring about a culture change in the CPG industry. She was also faced with the predicament of how to ensure that audio-described ads became a media buying standard, considering the wide-scale resistance to it. How can Sam succeed in making the CPG industry develop inclusive design, the way she convinced P&G to do it?.
Complexity academic level
Graduate and post-graduate programs.
Supplementary materials
Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only.
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Provides a section by section guide to the compensation provisionsof the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. Concludes that pressure forfurther change will continue but that the…
Abstract
Provides a section by section guide to the compensation provisions of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. Concludes that pressure for further change will continue but that the prospect of a consolidated compensation code now seems very remote.
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It has long been established that when part of a parcel of land in one ownership is acquired compulsorily and the land which is retained is rendered less valuable as a result the…
Abstract
It has long been established that when part of a parcel of land in one ownership is acquired compulsorily and the land which is retained is rendered less valuable as a result the owner is entitled to compensation for that depreciation. The purpose of this article is to discuss whether a similar right to compensation arises where the land taken is itself rendered less valuable as a result of the severance.
The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) communications in business by merging previously unconnected lines of thought in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) communications in business by merging previously unconnected lines of thought in communications and law. Using Walmart as an example, the study shows that CSR communication can legitimize a corporation’s autonomous legal system of regulation and governance over its business practices.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative case study of all online corporate communications webpages from Walmart was examined. Discourse and qualitative analyses were used to show how language and online communications practices created actional legitimacy for Walmart’s CSR practices.
Findings
Using the UN’s Guiding Principles for Business as a framework for analysis, the study demonstrated how CSR communications helps Walmart to establish its own system of CSR norms, structures and remediation processes for its business outside of the state. These communications also sought to legitimize these actions among stakeholders.
Research limitations/implications
This case study looks at one corporation (Walmart) to illustrate a new connection between CSR communication and legitimacy. Future research in communications can extend this line of inquiry by examining how communications can reinforce autonomous legal systems and public perceptions.
Originality/value
Backer’s (2007) autonomous legal system and the concept of actional legitimacy in communications have not yet been studied systematically. This case study demonstrates how CSR communications can legitimize a multinational corporation’s business practices, which, in turn, raises ethical considerations for the ways this communication serves the greater society.
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It is rarely the case that a broader consideration of the available strategies for changing organisations is linked with empirical evidence on the way organisational change…
Abstract
It is rarely the case that a broader consideration of the available strategies for changing organisations is linked with empirical evidence on the way organisational change occurs. The purpose of this article is to examine data on the OD consultant's role as currently performed and the way consultants facilitate change. However, the intention is to broaden the discussion by setting this specific data against a backcloth of the current strategies for implementing organisational change. By examining the OD consultant's role against the wider perspective, the content, strengths and weaknesses of the role and of OD may be better understood.
Esteban R. Brenes, Amitava Chattopadhyay and Daniel Montoya C.
The purpose of this case study is to describe the Costa Rican coffee roaster and retail company Grupo Britt and provides sufficient information for readers to discuss the company's…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this case study is to describe the Costa Rican coffee roaster and retail company Grupo Britt and provides sufficient information for readers to discuss the company's growth options in the US and Latin American markets. It has been prepared to facilitate discussion and learning about appropriate growth strategies and the building, positioning and branding of companies from emerging economies within the internationalization processes.
Design/methodology/approach
The case study is based on primary research conducted in conjunction with the company, including interviews with senior management and an ample review of documents. Secondary research was also conducted into the relevant environmental, industry and competitor trends and characteristics.
Findings
The case presents the ways in which Grupo Britt has been successful in developing a new business model based on the concept of a “sense of place.” This translates as meaning that the company generates products and services that highlight the particular characteristics of the place(s) in which it operates.
Originality/value
This is a complex, in‐depth case study suitable for use with advanced MBA students and practitioners. Depending on the aims of the instructor, different aspects of the case can be highlighted and it can be used in a course or module focussing on strategies for growth or internationalization, international business or marketing, or brand management
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This paper aims to discuss the precise altitude and velocity tracking control of a hypersonic vehicle, a global adaptive neural backstepping controller was studied based on a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the precise altitude and velocity tracking control of a hypersonic vehicle, a global adaptive neural backstepping controller was studied based on a disturbance observer (DOB).
Design/methodology/approach
The DOB combined with a radial basis function (RBF) neural network (NN) was used to estimate the disturbance terms that are generated by the flexible modes of the hypersonic vehicle system. A global adaptive neural method was introduced to approximate the unknown system dynamics, with robust control terms pulling the system transient states back into the neural approximation domain externally.
Findings
The globally uniformly ultimately bounded for all signals of a closed-loop system can be guaranteed by the proposed control algorithm. Additionally, the command filtered backstepping methods can avoid the explosion of the complexity problem caused by the backstepping design process. In addition, the effectiveness of the proposed controller can be verified by the simulation used in this study.
Research limitations/implications
Normally lateral dynamics issue should be discussed in the process of control system designed, the lateral dynamics are not included in the nonlinear dynamic model of hypersonic vehicle used in this paper, merely the longitudinal flight dynamics are discussed in this paper.
Originality/value
The flexible states in rigid modes are considered as the disturbance of the system, which is estimated by structuring DOB with NN approximations. The compensating tracking error and prediction error are used in the update law of RBF NN weight. The differential explosions complexity derived from the backstepping procedure is dealt with by using command filters.
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Manveer Mann, Sang-Eun Byun and Yishuang Li
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the range of realignment strategies employed by retailers in the USA in response to the 2008 economic recession.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the range of realignment strategies employed by retailers in the USA in response to the 2008 economic recession.
Design/methodology/approach
Following the grounded theory approach, National Retail Federation News Briefs published between 2008 and 2011 were analyzed by sorting them into thematic categories and comparing trends in strategic decisions during the recession (2008-2009) and after the recession (2010-2011). Based on the emergent categories, propositions were developed to provide theoretical explanations of the findings.
Findings
The authors found five thematic categories of realignment strategies: promotional, organizational, price, operational, and product realignments. In line with contingency theories, retailers used these strategies to achieve a greater fit with the altered business environment and consumer consumption patterns. While promotional realignment was most prevalent, followed by organizational realignment, different realignment strategies were pursued based on the strategic focus and long-term vs short-term orientation of the retailers.
Originality/value
The contribution of the findings is twofold: filling a critical gap in the literature examining the range of realignment decisions of the US retail industry in response to the recent economic recession; and enhancing the theoretical understanding of underlying factors or mechanisms of specific realignment decisions in the context of a turbulent economic environment.
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Oswald A. Mascarenhas, Ram Kesavan and Michael Bernacchi
Traditional marketing strategies assume that customers involve (e.g. search, assess, purchase, use) with products or services mostly at the end of their value chain as finished…
Abstract
Traditional marketing strategies assume that customers involve (e.g. search, assess, purchase, use) with products or services mostly at the end of their value chain as finished market offerings. This article challenges managers to invite target customers to be involved at all stages of the value chain. The specific purpose of our new customer‐value‐chain involvement (CVCI) model is to enhance customer relationship management in conjunction with supply chain management, employee relationship management) and retailer partners’ relationship management. There are definite advantages to CVCI as it can provide continuous customer feedback and enable more objective quality assessment and judgment, but most importantly, it can elevate customer satisfaction to customer delight that spawns lifetime loyalty and positive referrals. The importance and managerial implications of CVCI are discussed.