Subsidiaries use their weight and/or voice to get attention for the initiatives they share with the headquarters. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether subsidiaries with…
Abstract
Purpose
Subsidiaries use their weight and/or voice to get attention for the initiatives they share with the headquarters. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether subsidiaries with a low weight can effectively use their voice to get the headquarters’ attention.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is a combination of the attention-based view of the firm and the issue-selling literature applied to the context of subsidiaries selling their initiatives to the headquarters of a multinational corporation.
Findings
Subsidiaries with a low weight are trapped in a vicious circle in which they are unable to get more influence and gain a central position in the organization through the initiative-taking approach. This problem may mainly be attributed to their limited access to (or even entire lack of) direct and rich communication with the headquarters, which impedes the ability of these subsidiaries to gain knowledge about headquarters and the organization in general. As a result, low-weight subsidiaries are unable to make the correct decisions about which selling moves to use regarding initiatives that are able to capture headquarters’ attention; this inability means that they are less likely to gain approval from headquarters for implementing the proposed initiatives.
Originality/value
Subsidiary voice is not an accessible and effective bottom-up tool available to low-weight subsidiaries for gaining influence, which is contrary to what is claimed by extant mainstream research in international business and strategy. Hence, subsidiaries with low weight are completely marginalized from the sharing of subsidiary initiatives that takes place within multinational corporations.
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Syed Hammad Ul Haq, Sorin Dan and Khuram Shahzad
This study aims to explore the required leadership competencies for successful blockchain technology (BCT) implementation in public sector organizations from a sensemaking…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the required leadership competencies for successful blockchain technology (BCT) implementation in public sector organizations from a sensemaking perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a multiple case study design. Primary data are collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with several representatives of Finnish public sector organizations. Written material from the selected organizations complements the primary data. NVivo14 is used to generate codes and analyze data.
Findings
The analysis shows that through sensemaking, leaders identify cues for digitally transforming their organizations through blockchain by leveraging their curious and rational vision. After identifying the cues, leaders then interpret these cues through technological understanding and exploring different technological solutions. Once the cues are interpreted for blockchain implementation, the third step is enactment after interpreting the cues. Leaders can facilitate the enactment of blockchain by connecting the outcomes of blockchain with organizational processes and goals. Furthermore, a dark side of BCT is identified, consisting of overly optimistic expectations and creating technological dependencies in the public sector.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted in 11 public organizations in Finland, which limits the generalizability of the findings. Leadership competencies that are required for blockchain implementation within organizations can be studied further by considering more use cases. The potential dark side of blockchain implementation can be explored further.
Originality/value
The presented research model of leadership competencies for blockchain implementation is derived from sensemaking research and contributes to the literature on leadership competencies by applying sensemaking to the study of BCT.
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Hammad Ul Haq, Jiyoung Shin, Hyo Eun Cho and Sophie Junge
The purpose of this study is to examine the question of whether the repatriation adjustment process varies with different combinations of duration and purpose of international…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the question of whether the repatriation adjustment process varies with different combinations of duration and purpose of international assignments.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple-case study within one company was conducted based on in-depth interview data.
Findings
The authors find that learning-driven international assignments are more beneficial for career growth and receive better organizational support, as assignees are able to maintain regular communication (visibility) with the home unit. On the other hand, those on demand-driven, long-duration international assignments need to have a closer connection (integration) with employees in the host unit and find it challenging to maintain high visibility in the home unit simultaneously.
Originality/value
The authors contribute to existing research by highlighting that demand-driven assignees on longer assignments face greater challenges upon returning home. In addition, expatriates on short-term assignments face drastically fewer challenges than expatriates on longer assignments.
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Desirée Blankenburg Holm, Rian Drogendijk and Hammad ul Haq
We examine how subsidiaries of multinational companies communicate with headquarters about business opportunities they perceive in their local environment. Our aim is to provide…
Abstract
Purpose
We examine how subsidiaries of multinational companies communicate with headquarters about business opportunities they perceive in their local environment. Our aim is to provide in-depth insights into how communication is used to attract the attention of headquarters.
Methodology/approach
We study four communication processes of opportunities recognised by subsidiary managers in four different units within the same multinational corporation.
Findings
We find that communication is influenced by the subsidiaries’ perception of their relationship with headquarters. Importantly, we find that subsidiaries in emerging countries show different communication patterns than those in advanced markets. Our results further point out that multinationals from advanced countries face the challenge to respond to the increased salience of opportunities from emerging economies, while at the same time still working within existing communication patterns and structures that are not adapted to this new situation.
Originality/value
Our study presents communication processes within multinationals beyond the frequency of communication, including a variety of aspects of communication. Doing so, we are able to point out that open communication is not achieved with all subsidiaries, and what is worse, seems most of all to be challenged for subsidiaries in emerging markets, risking promising business opportunities in these markets.
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Total quality management (TQM) has been a universally applienod management strategy to improve organizational performance and thereby to achieve competitiveness. Compared with the…
Abstract
Purpose
Total quality management (TQM) has been a universally applienod management strategy to improve organizational performance and thereby to achieve competitiveness. Compared with the scholarly and practical attention paid to identify the consequences of implementing TQM practices, little is known about how those practices enhance organizational image and employee satisfaction. This paper aims to address that research gap and is designed to empirically prove the relationship between TQM practices, organizational image and employee satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire-based survey of 285 employees including administrators, managers and heads of departments of 21 National Accreditation Board for Hospital and Healthcare providers-accredited hospitals in India was conducted. The proposed research model was tested using partial least squares based structural equation modelling.
Findings
The results revealed that TQM practices have positive direct and indirect effects on employee satisfaction, confirming the partial mediation role played by organizational image in the relationship between TQM practices and employee satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
From the findings, leaders can understand that by implementing TQM practices, organizations can enhance image of the organization and bring high level of employee satisfaction.
Originality/value
The study tries to answer questions largely ignored in the TQM literature: the effect of TQM practices on organizational image and employee satisfaction, and the mediating role of organizational image on TQM practices and employee satisfaction.
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Muhammad Abbas, Rayan S Hammad, Mohamed Fathy Elshahat and Toseef Azid
This paper aims to compute the Malmquist Index of Islamic and conventional banks to compare their performance in the sample period of 2005-2009. Islamic banks have been showing…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to compute the Malmquist Index of Islamic and conventional banks to compare their performance in the sample period of 2005-2009. Islamic banks have been showing tremendous growth throughout the world in recent past. Their progress is exceptional in Islamic countries on account of patronization for religious reasons. There existed vacuum in research of their productivity change over the years.
Design/methodology/approach
This study tries to apply the Malmquist Index. The Malmquist Total Factor Productivity Index has been further divided into Efficiency Change Index, Technological Change Index, Pure Efficiency Change Index and Scale Efficiency Change Index to obtain an insight about the reasons for the change in productivity.
Findings
Results indicate that the productivity of Islamic banks decreased in 2007 but it increased in 2008 to 2009. Islamic banks had higher productivity growth from 2005 to 2006, but they experienced lower growth in subsequent years as compared to their conventional counterparts.
Research limitations/implications
Data were not available before 2005 in Pakistan.
Practical implications
This study is helpful for the investors and bankers for formulating the future policy.
Social implications
This study also provides a guideline for establishing the ethical financial institutions.
Originality/value
This is an original attempt.
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Asma AlHammadi and Hossam M. Abu Elanain
The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to examine the direct relationship of organizational justice (OJ), psychological empowerment (PE), Leader Member Exchange (LMX)…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to examine the direct relationship of organizational justice (OJ), psychological empowerment (PE), Leader Member Exchange (LMX), organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), LMX on PE and OCB and PE on OCB; and second, to investigate the mediating role of PE between OJ and OCB and between LMX and OCB in the service industry in a non-Western context.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative questionnaire was used to test the proposed hypotheses of the study. From employees working in service providing organizations in the UAE, 364 usable responses had been collected and data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).
Findings
OJ significantly influences PE and LMX, while its influence on OCB is insignificant. Also, LMX significantly affects PE and OCB, PE significantly impacts OCB, whereas PE and LMX significantly mediate the relationship between OJ and OCB.
Practical implications
Organizations should promote fairness, psychological empowerment and OCB among employees. Additionally, leaders should develop positive and productive relationships with their employees.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of a limited number of studies designed to analyze the hypothesized relationships within a non-Western context, specifically in the UAE.
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Asif Hamid Charag, Asif Iqbal Fazili and Irfan Bashir
The purpose of this study is to understand the residents’ perception towards environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of tourism development in Kashmir.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to understand the residents’ perception towards environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of tourism development in Kashmir.
Design/methodology/approach
The research instrument containing 27 items pertaining to six variables is adopted from the literature. A mix-method survey approach is used to solicit residents’ perceptions regarding environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of the current level of tourism development. A total of 326 useful responses were subjected to descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc analysis using SPSS (Version 22.0).
Findings
In general, the negative and positive impacts of tourism development are well perceived by the residents. The results indicate that the residents display positive perception regarding economic impacts, however, social and environmental impacts are negatively perceived. Furthermore, barring level of education, the study found no significant difference in the residents’ perception towards tourism impacts (environmental, social, cultural, economic, quality of life and cost of living).
Research limitations/implications
The paper identifies perceived impacts and issues of tourism development thereby, proposing possible mitigating measures. Also, the study identifies the need to develop a comprehensive policy framework addressing the issues related to the resident’s negative feelings towards tourism impacts. Further, the study envisages the need for engaging residents in developing a progressive and participatory planning process for future tourism activities in the area.
Social implications
The study offers critical social implications for city tourism development. It suggests a community-based approach should be adopted to sensitize residents about the positive benefits of tourism.
Originality/value
The study is a novel attempt concerning residents’ residents perceptual differences towards tourism impacts. Furthermore, this study investigated socio-cultural impacts of tourism under two separate categories for better understanding. in doing so, this study provides finer understanding of perception of residents towards tourism impacts in Indian context. The findings of the study will prove critical for different stakeholders in developing future tourism framework and policies in the region.
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Ahmad Yuosef Alodat, Zalailah Salleh, Hafiza Aishah Hashim and Farizah Sulong
This study aimed to investigate the effect of sustainability disclosure (SD) as a mediator for the relationship between corporate governance (CG) and the performance of firms…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the effect of sustainability disclosure (SD) as a mediator for the relationship between corporate governance (CG) and the performance of firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE).
Design/methodology/approach
The study analysed 405 reports of firms listed on the ASE from 2014 to 2018. The direct and indirect impact of governance mechanisms on the firms' performance was examined using STATA 15. A four-step procedure for testing mediation was used to determine the mediating role of SD.
Findings
The results demonstrated that the board and audit committees' effectiveness positively and significantly influences the firm's performance. Additionally, the results demonstrated that SD partially mediates the relationship between CG and the firm's performance.
Research limitations/implications
Research implications – This study supported the assumptions of agency, resource dependence and stakeholder theories as the basis to explain the relationship among board’s effectiveness, audit committee’s effectiveness, sustainability report and firm performance in developing economies. In addition, the results suggested that CG helps to enhance the firm's performance and sustainability reporting. Firms providing sustainable report are deemed more responsible and attract more returns to firms. Research limitations – The study only focused on reports from five years for non-financial firms listed on the ASE to test the assumed relationship between the variables.
Practical implications
This study contributed to the body of knowledge by examining the mediating role of SD between CG and firm performance. Investors, managers and regulators can obtain further insights, especially those seeking to improve a firm's performance in the emerging markets, through a sound CG system and extensive sustainability reporting.
Originality/value
This study focused on the direct and indirect impacts of CG and firm performance in an emerging and developing economy. The study used SD as the mediating variable in examining the indirect effect.