Jan Seidel, Anna Sundermann, Steven A. Brieger, Pepe Strathoff, Gabriel H. Jacob, Tony Antonio and Christina W. Utami
This paper aims to develop and empirically test a framework on how personal values and sustainability conceptions affect students’ sustainability management orientation (SMO). An…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop and empirically test a framework on how personal values and sustainability conceptions affect students’ sustainability management orientation (SMO). An understanding of this connection gives insight into the question whether students are likely to engage in sustainable business practices in their future work.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional and comparative research design is used, using survey data of business students from Germany, Indonesia and the USA (N = 475). The proposed mediation models are tested by bootstrap procedures using Hayes’s (2013) PROCESS macro for SPSS.
Findings
Self-transcendence values translate into more nuanced sustainability conceptions since individuals with self-transcendence values are more likely to conceptualize sustainability beyond their own (narrow) self-interests. In turn, the stronger individuals’ sustainability conceptions, the higher the likelihood that they prefer sustainable management practices in their future professional working field.
Research limitations/implications
Implications arise for researchers to investigate the engagement of future managers with different personal value types in sustainability practices and to gain insights into values and sustainability conceptions as a learning outcome. Limitations of this research – for instance, arising from potential common method bias – are discussed.
Practical implications
The findings point to the need to (re-)design appointment processes for management positions in a way that allows taking into account individuals’ personal values and sustainability conceptions. This research may also help firms and higher education institutions to empower their workforce/students to develop more integrated perspectives on sustainability challenges as well as teaching methods that address students’ effective learning outcomes, e.g. their values.
Originality/value
The paper offers a new framework and a cross-country perspective on psychological antecedents of individuals’ SMO as an important prerequisite for responsible behavior in the business context.
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Sarah Zelt, Jan Recker, Theresa Schmiedel and Jan vom Brocke
Many researchers and practitioners suggest a contingent instead of a “one size fits all” approach in business process management (BPM). The purpose of this paper is to offer a…
Abstract
Purpose
Many researchers and practitioners suggest a contingent instead of a “one size fits all” approach in business process management (BPM). The purpose of this paper is to offer a contingency theory of BPM, which proposes contingency factors relevant to the successful management of business processes and that explains how and why these contingencies impact the relationships between process management and performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop the theory by drawing on organizational information processing theory (OIPT) and applying an information processing (IP) perspective to the process level.
Findings
The premise of the model is that the process management mechanisms such as documentation, standardization or monitoring must compensate for the uncertainty and equivocality of the nature of the process that has to be managed. In turn, managing through successful adaptation is a prerequisite for process performance.
Research limitations/implications
The theory provides a set of testable propositions that specify the relationship between process management mechanisms and process performance. The authors also discuss implications of the new theory for further theorizing and outline empirical research strategies that can be followed to enact, evaluate and extend the theory.
Practical implications
The theory developed in this paper allows an alternative way to describe organizational processes and supports the derivation of context-sensitive management approaches for process documentation, standardization, monitoring, execution and coordination.
Originality/value
The theoretical model is novel in that it provides a contextualized view on BPM that acknowledges different types of processes and suggests different mechanisms for managing these. The authors hope the paper serves as inspiration both for further theory development as well as to empirical studies that test, refute, support or otherwise augment the arguments.
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Gwendoline Schaff, Ann Petermans, Jan Vanrie, Fabienne Courtejoie and Catherine Elsen
Most older people wish to age “in place”. However, as current housing is mainly unsuitable for later life, architects have a key role to play. Yet, there is little architectural…
Abstract
Purpose
Most older people wish to age “in place”. However, as current housing is mainly unsuitable for later life, architects have a key role to play. Yet, there is little architectural consideration for the notion of “ageing in place” and its various facets, beyond a functional focus. Architects seem to lack support to grasp inhabitants' sensible needs, and thus synergies with other human-centred disciplines could be enlightening. To ensure homes are designed in line with people's wellbeing, the authors aim to provide a state-of-the-art view, as to build a model supporting architects through their understanding of older people-environment relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors investigate the key concepts that could enrich architects' design approaches on “ageing in place”. A narrative literature review scrutinising English- and French-written publications from the last twenty years in various disciplines was conducted, with a focus on older people and non-institutionalised housing.
Findings
The results highlight five essential perspectives to be taken into account when questioning housing for older people: health, affective, social, built and contextual perspectives. Their meaning and ties are developed and then synthesised into considerations, calling for architectural creativity.
Originality/value
This fivefold theoretical model adds to the existing architectural body of knowledge by adopting a multidisciplinary and multidimensional angle, going beyond the predominantly pragmatic vision associated with ageing. It provides stakeholders in architecture with a fresh and clear insight of meaningful relationships between older people and their residential environment.
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Sarah Zelt, Theresa Schmiedel and Jan vom Brocke
While researchers and practitioners agree on the importance to adapt business process management (BPM) practices to the nature of processes, the authors observe a lack of research…
Abstract
Purpose
While researchers and practitioners agree on the importance to adapt business process management (BPM) practices to the nature of processes, the authors observe a lack of research on how to most meaningfully distinguish processes in order to apply context-specific BPM practices that increase process efficiency and effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyze the nature of processes as one contextual factor for BPM.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a literature review, the authors systematically derive process dimensions that describe the nature of processes and apply an information-processing perspective to the process level as a theoretical lens through which to analyze and structure these process dimensions.
Findings
The authors identified 36 dimensions used to describe process differences that can be consolidated into five generic dimensions based on an information-processing perspective: interdependence of process participants, differentiation of process participants, process analyzability, variability, and importance.
Research limitations/implications
The paper derives process dimensions from the literature and links them to extant theories as a foundation for context-sensitive BPM. The findings serve as a basis for further conceptualizing BPM and for explaining seemingly contradicting findings about whether management practices increase or decrease organizational performance.
Practical implications
While the paper focuses on understanding and explaining process differences, the authors also demonstrate how these dimensions can be used to make strategic management decisions in order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of processes.
Originality/value
The authors systematically conceptualize process differences as a foundation for contingent process management. In addition, the authors demonstrate that organizational processes provide a new field of application for information-processing theory.
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Christian Novak, Lukas Pfahlsberger, Saimir Bala, Kate Revoredo and Jan Mendling
Digitalization, innovation and changing customer requirements drive the continuous improvement of an organization's business processes. IT demand management (ITDM) as a…
Abstract
Purpose
Digitalization, innovation and changing customer requirements drive the continuous improvement of an organization's business processes. IT demand management (ITDM) as a methodology supports the holistic governance of IT and the corresponding business process change (BPC), by allocating resources to meet a company's requirements and strategic objectives. As ITDM decision-makers are not fully aware of how the as-is business processes operate and interact, making informed decisions that positively impact the to-be process is a key challenge.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors address this challenge by developing a novel approach that integrates process mining and ITDM. To this end, the authors conduct an action research study where the researchers participated in the design, creation and evaluation of the approach. The proposed approach is illustrated using two sample demands of an insurance claims process. These demands are used to construct the artefact in multiple research circles and to validate the approach in practice. The authors applied learning and reflection methods for incrementally adjusting this study’s approach.
Findings
The study shows that the utilization of process mining activities during process changes on an operational level contributes to (1) increasing accuracy and efficiency of ITDM; (2) timely identification of potential risks and dependencies and (3) support of testing and acceptance of IT demands.
Originality/value
The implementation of this study’s approach improved ITDM practice. It appropriately addressed the information needs of decision-makers and unveiled the effects and consequences of process changes. Furthermore, providing a clearer picture of the process dependencies clarified the responsibilities and the interfaces at the intra- and inter-process level.
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G. Doetsch and J. Seidel
THE five principal divisions of aeronautical science—military aviation, research, production, operation, and air transport—afford the aeronautical engineer all possible…
Abstract
THE five principal divisions of aeronautical science—military aviation, research, production, operation, and air transport—afford the aeronautical engineer all possible opportunities for employment.
Kalidasan K., R. Velkennedy, Jan Taler, Dawid Taler, Pawel Oclon and Rajesh Kanna P.
This study aims to perform a numerical study of air convection in a rectangular enclosure with two isothermal blocks and oscillating bottom wall temperature under laminar flow…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to perform a numerical study of air convection in a rectangular enclosure with two isothermal blocks and oscillating bottom wall temperature under laminar flow conditions. The geometry of the enclosure contains two isothermal blocks placed equidistant along the streamwise direction. The top wall is assumed to be cold (low temperature). The bottom wall temperature is either kept as constant or sinusoidally varied with time. The vertical walls are considered as adiabatic. The flow is diagonally upwards and assisted by the buoyancy force. The inlet is positioned at the bottom of the left wall, and the outlet is placed at the top of the right wall. The parameters considered in this paper are Rayleigh number (104-106), Prantdl number (0.71), amplitude of temperature oscillation (0-0.5) and the period (0.2). The effects of these parameters on heat transfer and fluid flow inside the open cavity are studied. The periodic results of fluid flow are illustrated with streamlines and the heat transfer is represented by isotherms and time-averaged Nusselt number. By virtue of increasing buoyancy, the heat transfer accelerates with an increase in the Rayleigh number. Also, the heat transfer is intensive with an increase in the bottom wall temperature.
Design/methodology/approach
The momentum and energy equations are solved simultaneously. The energy equation (3) is initially solved using the alternating direction implicit (ADI) method. The results of the energy equation are updated into the vorticity equation. The unsteady vorticity transport equation is also solved using the ADI method. Dimensionless time step equal to 0.01 is used for high Ra (105 and 106) and 0.001 is used for low Ra (104). Convergence criteria of 10−5 is used during the vorticity, stream function and temperature calculations, as the sum of error should be very small.
Findings
Numerical study of air convection in a rectangular enclosure with two isothermal blocks and oscillating bottom wall temperature is performed under laminar flow condition. The effect of the isothermal blocks on the heat transfer is analyzed for different Rayleigh numbers and the following conclusions are arrived. The hydrodynamic blockage effect is subdued by the isothermal heating of square blocks. Based on the streamline diagrams, it is found that the formation of vortices is greatly influenced by the Rayleigh number when all the walls are exposed to a constant wall temperature. The influence of amplitude on the heat transfer is remarkable on the wall exposed to oscillating temperature and is subtle on the opposite static cold wall. The heat transfer increases with an increase in the Rayleigh number and temperature.
Research limitations/implications
Flow is assumed to be two-dimensional and laminar subject to oscillatory boundary condition. The present investigation aims to study natural convection inside the cavity filled with air whose bottom wall is subject to time-variant temperature. The buoyancy is further intensified through two isothermal square blocks placed equidistant along the streamwise direction at mid-height.
Originality/value
The authors have developed a CFD solver to simulate the situation. Effect of Rayleigh number subject to oscillatory thermal boundary condition is simulated. Streamline contour and isotherm contour are presented. Local and average Nusselt numbers are presented.
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This paper aims to describe the students’ experience in adopting design thinking (DT) and extreme programming (XP) throughout a course of technology innovation workshop in a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the students’ experience in adopting design thinking (DT) and extreme programming (XP) throughout a course of technology innovation workshop in a master of business administration (MBA) degree program.
Design/methodology/approach
This study analyzes data (performed process and achieved results) from the students’ reports and the instructor’s observations about three courses held in 2016, 2017 and 2018. In each course, there were students conducting activities to understand, develop, and validate the market, customer, user and prototype.
Findings
This paper identifies that the processes of DT and XP promote active and collaborative learning relationships. The adopted activities along with a mix of different backgrounds from the students can promote good insights to understand the user problem and build a technological solution with incremental innovation.
Research limitations/implications
This paper describes only a unique view from the instructor’s knowledge; therefore, others might present different scenarios and results.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the characterization of DT and XP activities when teaching technological innovation in a MBA.
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Brian L. Rubin, Carmen L. Brun, Jaliya Stewart Faulkner, Michael K. Freedman, Kurt Lentz and Jae C. Yoon
The purpose of this paper us to summarize the remarks of the Commissioners and participants in several panel sessions and workshops during the 2013 annual “SEC Speaks” conference…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper us to summarize the remarks of the Commissioners and participants in several panel sessions and workshops during the 2013 annual “SEC Speaks” conference held by the Practising Law Institute in cooperation with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, discussing the SEC's accomplishments in 2012 and its agenda for 2013.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper summarizes remarks by Chairman Walter and Commissioners Aguilar, Paredes, and Gallagher; provides highlights from panel sessions and workshops concerning the Division of Corporation Finance, the Division of Trading and Markets, the Division of Enforcement, the Division of Investment Management, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations as well as highlights from the panel sessions relating to Accounting, Risk, Strategy and Financial Innovation. Judicial and Legislative Developments, and Ethics.
Findings
The summaries provide an overview of the SEC's most important current rulemaking, projects and policy priorities.
Originality/value
The paper presents current SEC issues and developments addressed by experienced SEC lawyers.