Meredith A. Atwood, Jordan W. Mora and Abram W. Kaplan
This paper aims to evaluate leadership diffusion in a federal agency within the context of organizational learning and culture change.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate leadership diffusion in a federal agency within the context of organizational learning and culture change.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an innovative 360 degree survey assessment method, the impact of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Leadership Program (LP) was examined. A series of statistical tests was performed to analyze the role of familiarity and exposure in predicting leadership behavior and to compare the level of leadership behavior among co‐workers based on exposure to the LP.
Findings
The findings indicate that familiarity is a critical predictor of behavior change across all co‐worker subgroups. Increased exposure to the LP results in stronger, more consistent predictive models. Finally, co‐workers with higher exposure to the LP have increased levels of leadership behavior.
Research limitations/implications
The results in the study suggest that, in order to promote leadership and organizational learning, familiarity with leadership skills is essential. Furthermore, the greater the familiarity with leadership through at‐work interaction, the more likely co‐workers are to learn and apply leadership techniques.
Originality/value
The study is especially unique and valuable due to the advanced 360 degree assessment which acts as a tool to measure the diffusion of leadership principles from LP participants to co‐workers, while also analyzing the role of participant interaction with co‐workers following their participation in a leadership class.
Details
Keywords
Kamal Naser, Khalid Al‐Khatib and Yusuf Karbhari
Over the last decade, Jordanian Authorities and Government adopted several far‐reaching measures aimed at improving its investment environment. These measures included the…
Abstract
Over the last decade, Jordanian Authorities and Government adopted several far‐reaching measures aimed at improving its investment environment. These measures included the introduction of International Accounting Standards (IASs) in 1990, amendment of the Companies Act in 1997 and amendments to Investment Promotion Law in 1998. This study specifically provides empirical evidence on changes in the depth of corporate disclosure after introducing IASs. In addition, the relationship between the depth of corporate disclosure and company's attributes is investigated. The outcome of the analysis reveals a slight improvement in the depth of disclosure after the introduction the IASs. The depth of disclosure seems to be associated with corporate size, audit firm status, liquidity, gearing, and profitability.
Nima Gerami Seresht, Rodolfo Lourenzutti, Ahmad Salah and Aminah Robinson Fayek
Due to the increasing size and complexity of construction projects, construction engineering and management involves the coordination of many complex and dynamic processes and…
Abstract
Due to the increasing size and complexity of construction projects, construction engineering and management involves the coordination of many complex and dynamic processes and relies on the analysis of uncertain, imprecise and incomplete information, including subjective and linguistically expressed information. Various modelling and computing techniques have been used by construction researchers and applied to practical construction problems in order to overcome these challenges, including fuzzy hybrid techniques. Fuzzy hybrid techniques combine the human-like reasoning capabilities of fuzzy logic with the capabilities of other techniques, such as optimization, machine learning, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and simulation, to capitalise on their strengths and overcome their limitations. Based on a review of construction literature, this chapter identifies the most common types of fuzzy hybrid techniques applied to construction problems and reviews selected papers in each category of fuzzy hybrid technique to illustrate their capabilities for addressing construction challenges. Finally, this chapter discusses areas for future development of fuzzy hybrid techniques that will increase their capabilities for solving construction-related problems. The contributions of this chapter are threefold: (1) the limitations of some standard techniques for solving construction problems are discussed, as are the ways that fuzzy methods have been hybridized with these techniques in order to address their limitations; (2) a review of existing applications of fuzzy hybrid techniques in construction is provided in order to illustrate the capabilities of these techniques for solving a variety of construction problems and (3) potential improvements in each category of fuzzy hybrid technique in construction are provided, as areas for future research.
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Samuel R. Hodge and Martha James-Hassan
In this chapter, we discuss teaching physical education to Black male students in urban schools. We present a brief account of the history and status of physical education and…
Abstract
In this chapter, we discuss teaching physical education to Black male students in urban schools. We present a brief account of the history and status of physical education and specifically examine school physical education, particularly for Black male students in urban geographical contexts. We also offer strategies to counter the narrative of Black male school failure and present strategies for addressing the needs of urban teachers and Black male students.
After the ratification of the peace treaty and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel, Jordan was expected to play a major role in the Middle East financial market…
Abstract
After the ratification of the peace treaty and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel, Jordan was expected to play a major role in the Middle East financial market. As a result of the peace treaty Jordan may attract overseas investors to invest in the Amman Financial Market (AFM). Consequently, the level of information disclosed by companies listed on the AFM will become an important issue for prospective investors. This study empirically examined the effect of specific financial characteristics on the comprehensiveness of disclosure in the annual reports of a sample of 54 companies listed on the AFM. The variables tested in this study were market related: industry, audit firm size and market capitalisation; performance related: profit margin, return on equity and liquidity, and structure related: assets, sales, leverage and ownership. The empirical evidence revealed that company size (measured by assets and market capitalisation), leverage and return on equity were statistically related to the comprehensiveness of disclosure of the sample companies listed on the AFM. Reporting improved after international standards were adopted. Large companies were more involved in long term borrowing which requires detailed reporting. Size was the main predictor in comprehensive reporting.
The Alienor method offers a powerful approximation technique for the optimization of continuous multivariable functions defined on a compact set H of Rn. Its computational…
Abstract
The Alienor method offers a powerful approximation technique for the optimization of continuous multivariable functions defined on a compact set H of Rn. Its computational efficiency is completed by the fact that it gave rise to the theory of space‐densifying curves. Presents a survey of these curves, analysing their most important properties and characteristics. Finally, the concept of theoretic calculation time (t.c.t.) associated with each curve suggests an interesting geometric problem on the existence of a curve with minimal t.c.t.
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Rateb J Sweis, Firas Izzat Mahmoud Saleh, Samer Eid Dahiyat, Nadia J Sweis, Rawan Ali Saleh and Hannah Diab
The purpose of this paper is to aggregate significant part of debates in the field of International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) toward performance improvement by…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to aggregate significant part of debates in the field of International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) toward performance improvement by benchmarking of the Total Quality Management (TQM) practices, and to propose TQM-Benchmarking model as a seed for future research in the context of INGOs.
Design/methodology/approach
TQM practices for INGOs were first identified based on critical synthesis of the literature for both, existing for-profit TQM literature and the INGOs field-specific quality and accountability frameworks, initiatives, and practices (Jordan introduced as an example) followed by solicitation of the opinions of experts and colleagues through personal interviews and focus group discussions to define the proposed TQM-Benchmarking model.
Findings
TQM-Benchmarking model of six practices vital to INGOs performance are proposed by this review including leadership and management commitment, beneficiaries focus and participation, partnership management for sustainability, human resource (HR) focus, process management and learning and continuous improvement, and use of quality information.
Originality/value
While TQM practices succeed in improving performance of for-profit organizations, this review proposed TQM-Benchmarking model with field-specific practical pillars of performance improvement in the INGOs.
Details
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Communications regarding this column should be addressed to Mrs. Cheney, Peabody Library School, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. Mrs. Cheney does not sell the books listed here. They are…
Abstract
Communications regarding this column should be addressed to Mrs. Cheney, Peabody Library School, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. Mrs. Cheney does not sell the books listed here. They are available through normal trade sources. Mrs. Cheney, being a member of the editorial board of Pierian Press, will not review Pierian Press reference books in this column. Descriptions of Pierian Press reference books will be included elsewhere in this publication.