David Collins and Kelley Rainwater
This paper offers a reanalysis or “re‐view” of a celebrated tale of corporate transformation – the turnaround of Sears, Roebuck and Company – which was discussed in the Harvard…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper offers a reanalysis or “re‐view” of a celebrated tale of corporate transformation – the turnaround of Sears, Roebuck and Company – which was discussed in the Harvard Business Review. Noting that “contextual” and “processual” attempts to revise the tale of Sears and its transformation would tend to exchange one monological rendering for another, albeit more critical account, the paper “re‐views” the case in an attempt to make space for perspectives and narratives normally edited out of narratives of change management.
Design/methodology/approach
Building upon a critical review of the literature concerned with organizational storytelling the paper “re‐views” the Harvard rendering of the Sears case as an epic tale. The paper then supplements this epic rendering of the Sears case with another two accounts of the case, which recast and review the tale first as a tragedy and then as a comedy.
Findings
The paper reveals the polysemic nature of organization and change and suggests the need for approaches to the narration of change that can give voice to perspectives denied by both celebratory and critical accounts of change management.
Originality/value
The paper offers an innovative “re‐view” of a celebrated account of change management and invites the reader to make room for voices and perspectives normally lost within narratives of change.
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David Grant, Grant Michelson, Cliff Oswick and Nick Wailes
This paper aims to examine the contribution that discourse analysis can make to understanding organizational change.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the contribution that discourse analysis can make to understanding organizational change.
Design/methodology/approach
It identifies five key contributions. Discourse analytic approaches: reveal the important role of discourse in the social construction of organizational change; demonstrate how the meaning attached to organizational change initiatives comes about as a result of a discursive process of negotiation among key actors; show that the discourses of change should be regarded as intertextual; provide a valuable multi‐disciplinary perspective on change; and exhibit a capacity, to generate fresh insights into a wide variety of organizational change related issues.
Findings
To illustrate these contributions the paper examines the five empirical studies included in this special issue. It discusses the potential for future discursive studies of organizational change phenomena and the implications of this for the field of organizational change more generally.
Originality/value
Provides an introduction to the special issue on discourse and organizational change.
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Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
Storytelling is as old as language itself. History teaches us “to the victor the spoils”, the spoils including the writing of history itself – the despot in one version of the saga is the courageous leader of the alternate view.
Practical implications
Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.
Originality/value
The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.
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Young children are particularly vulnerable in times of war and conflict, but they often emerge as resilient agents of change, promoting social justice and community rebuilding…
Abstract
Young children are particularly vulnerable in times of war and conflict, but they often emerge as resilient agents of change, promoting social justice and community rebuilding post-conflict. The likelihood of this type of trauma response, however, is largely dependent upon the tactical interventions offered to them during the trauma experience. News media portrayals of war and conflict can serve to heighten negative effects for children living in conflict zones, but entertainment and curriculum-based media can be used strategically to mitigate or moderate those effects.
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The term “social economics” has been in currency ever since J.S. Mill coined the phrase to cover the inductive study of the groups and social unions that man forms, guided by the…
Abstract
The term “social economics” has been in currency ever since J.S. Mill coined the phrase to cover the inductive study of the groups and social unions that man forms, guided by the principle of social altruism, to conduct his economic relationships. Although Mill rejected this approach in favour of deductive, self‐interested political economy, others, notably Wieser, J.M. Clark and Weber, have all tried to enact their versions of social economics in the centre stage. Even though Weber's theories became prominent in sociology, and both Clark and Wieser have their disciples, the study and theoretical development of social economics has remained at the periphery, making little impact upon the unswaying hold of the neo‐classical microeconomic orthodoxy.
Reverses the traditional approach of defining classes or status groups before investigating patterns of social interaction by using patterns of interaction between more basic…
Abstract
Reverses the traditional approach of defining classes or status groups before investigating patterns of social interaction by using patterns of interaction between more basic units such as occupational groups to determine the nature of stratification order. Outlines the theoretical basis and compares this to other methods before giving examples of applications.
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Berdy Briggitte Cuya-Velásquez, Aldo Alvarez-Risco, Marián Arias-Meza, Maria de las Mercedes Anderson-Seminario and Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales
An important sector that presents continuous growth year after year and one of the most notable economic sectors worldwide is hospitality and tourism (H&T). For this reason, many…
Abstract
An important sector that presents continuous growth year after year and one of the most notable economic sectors worldwide is hospitality and tourism (H&T). For this reason, many enterprises have been created and developed. Each journey could face several challenges, such as economic, social, political, environmental, and technological. This study examines research and case studies about H&T entrepreneurship and provides new insights into the current industry about all aspects that affect entrepreneurship development. Additionally, the impacts of the spread of COVID-19 in the current industry and the changes in the awareness of tourists to enjoy more sustainable tourism that protects the planet during their daily operations are addressed; this being a new opportunity for business so that entrepreneurs can compete in a hypercompetitive market.
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Jeremy B. Williams and Rebecca Keogh
Scholars working in the field of the economics of education have long documented how investment in girls’ education delivers the greatest return in terms of societal wellbeing…
Abstract
Scholars working in the field of the economics of education have long documented how investment in girls’ education delivers the greatest return in terms of societal wellbeing (see, e.g., Dollar & Gatti, 1999; Forbes, 2000; Klasen, 2002). Unfortunately, mainstream economists have quite a narrow interpretation of wellbeing, the rate of growth in gross domestic product (GDP) usually serves as the main barometer. The problem here is that higher rates of economic growth do not necessarily imply improved outcomes in terms of gender equality. Getting girls in school certainly represents progress. There are 129 million girls around the world who are not in school (UNICEF, 2022), and there are numerous obstacles to overcome if this problem is to be seriously addressed. The good news is that far more attention is being devoted to girls’ education and the empowerment of women today than in the past, as countless NGOs and charities have sprung up in recent years that focus on these issues. A key question, however, is whether it is sufficient just to get girls to attend school. Less attention seems to be paid to what they actually do when they get there. Admittedly, some education is better than none at all, but what if girls attended schools where the measure of success was less focussed on exam results, getting a good job, and growing GDP? In this chapter, we present the case for school education that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Green School for Girls (GS4G) – a pilot programme – seeks to implement a curriculum and pedagogy that will produce strong, independently minded, entrepreneurial young women, capable of earning a good living for themselves and their families in a fashion that is in harmony with the interests of the community and the natural environment.
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At the core of understanding the practice of marketing sustainable tourism lies an appreciation not only of the evolution of the concept of sustainability, but also of the…
Abstract
At the core of understanding the practice of marketing sustainable tourism lies an appreciation not only of the evolution of the concept of sustainability, but also of the co-productive process between consumer and producer. This chapter establishes a conceptual overview on sustainable tourism and its alternative terms (ecotourism, responsible tourism, soft tourism, ethical tourism). Its origins stem from the pivotal works of the Brundtland Report. The author considers the complex structures that interact with the tourism industry, such as the social, environmental and economic impacts of tourism in vulnerable or sensitive climates. For example, in Central Thailand, cities such as Bangkok have experienced rapid urbanisation as well as burgeoning tourism. This has resulted in high levels of air pollution from traffic congestion and manufacturing, while escalation in the tourism industry places burdens on waste management systems. Further strains on waste management in both the Eastern and Southern regions, particularly along the coastlines, which suffer from high levels of coastal litter, are attributed to the rising tourism industry – a process other popular destinations have undergone, such as Costa Rica. Examination of cases such as Thailand will elicit further discussion of public awareness of the impacts of the tourism industry in vulnerable climates. Lastly, the chapter will look at cases of demotion or de-marketing of tourism in certain regions in order to limit the number of visitors, such as that of the Blue Mountains National Park in Australia. In addition to the case studies reviewed in this chapter, there is a practice exercise in developing an environmental performance index, based on existing data on country-specific environmental performance.
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Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way…
Abstract
Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way of using the law in specific circumstances, and shows the variations therein. Sums up that arbitration is much the better way to gok as it avoids delays and expenses, plus the vexation/frustration of normal litigation. Concludes that the US and Greek constitutions and common law tradition in England appear to allow involved parties to choose their own judge, who can thus be an arbitrator. Discusses e‐commerce and speculates on this for the future.