This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/01425459110135784. When citing the…
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/01425459110135784. When citing the article, please cite: Maire Brennan, (1991), “Mismanagement and Quality Circles: How Middle Managers Influence Direct Participation”, Employee Relations, Vol. 13 Iss: 5, pp. 22 - 32.
Despite the optimism which surrounded the adventof quality circles a decade ago, recent researchsuggests that there are few programmes stillfunctioning. The data on which this…
Abstract
Despite the optimism which surrounded the advent of quality circles a decade ago, recent research suggests that there are few programmes still functioning. The data on which this article is based were collected in five organisations in central Scotland in the period 1983‐86, when quality circles were in operation or were being introduced. Since then, all but one of the programmes has ceased. The research indicates that the barriers encountered by quality circles are of two kinds: some general to any form of organisational change; others specific to quality circles. In addition, quality circles cannot easily be assimilated into existing organisational power structures but require changes to systems of reward, communication and decision making. Specifically the role played by middle managers is examined. They may see quality circles as a threat to their managerial prerogative and are in a position to impair the circles by denying them the resources (such as time, information, people and finance) they need to operate. Without the co‐operation of middle managers, the circles cannot select appropriate projects, collect data or implement solutions, and may find it impossible to continue.
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Laura Corazza, Elisa Truant, Simone Domenico Scagnelli and Chiara Mio
Can sustainability disclosures be a tool for executing image restoration strategies after corporate manslaughter? This is the question explored in this study of Costa Crociere's…
Abstract
Purpose
Can sustainability disclosures be a tool for executing image restoration strategies after corporate manslaughter? This is the question explored in this study of Costa Crociere's sustainability reports after the Concordia disaster.
Design/methodology/approach
Merging traditional textual content analysis with visual analysis and supported by machine learning tools, this is a predominantly qualitative study framed by legitimacy theory, image restoration theory and impression management.
Findings
Costa Crociere's voluntary sustainability reporting is strongly influenced by a mix of text and visual signals that distract readers' attention from the disaster. A “nothing really happened” communication strategy pervades the disclosures, with the only rational motivation being to change perceptions and erase memories of this tragic and avoidable event.
Research limitations/implications
Although the analysis covered multiple sources of corporate information, media coverage was not one of them. A more in-depth exploration of sustainability reporting in the cruise industry, including evidence of similar cases, to test impression management theory would be a worthwhile avenue for future research.
Social implications
While Costa Crociere technically followed the customary guidelines of disclosing human resource impacts, there was almost no acknowledgement of the people involved in the accident. Costa Concierevastly understated their responsibility for the accident, did not apologize, and conveyed very little remorse. The majority of disclosures centred on disaster recovery management.
Originality/value
The authors discuss why and how a company can overcome a legitimacy threat by completely freezing its voluntary sustainability reporting, and the authors show how a company can restore its image by minimizing specific aspects of an accident and shifting attention from the human victims to corporate operations. Incorporating image recognition driven by AI models and combining the results with narrative disclosures contributes an innovative and original analysis technique to the field of impression management. In addition, this research also contributes to our knowledge on the cruise industry – a sector currently under scrutiny for its ethical, social and environmental practices.
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Juliette Senn, Sarah Maire and Alessandro Ghio
Addressing grand challenges requires an in-depth understanding of the social constructs, such as the gender discourse that shapes gender equality. Accounting, through annual…
Abstract
Purpose
Addressing grand challenges requires an in-depth understanding of the social constructs, such as the gender discourse that shapes gender equality. Accounting, through annual reporting, contributes to constructing realities, thus impacting grand challenges. This paper explores how organizational reporting by a non-governmental organization (NGO) promotes particular ideologies about gender in a changing sociocultural context.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a case study of an NGO that has long used annual reports to disseminate its perspectives on gender. Drawing on 1,251 pages of annual reports (in French, a gendered language), including 1,618 visuals, from 1995 to 2021, we use feminist and ideological perspectives to analyse the rhetorical strategies used.
Findings
The results show that the NGO’s annual reports include evolving perspectives on gender. In an earlier period, it emphasizes complementarity between men and women while assigning primary roles to men. More recently, while the organization continues to support traditional visions on gender representation, the reporting narratives and visuals strive towards greater inclusivity. The findings also suggest instances of ambiguity in how an organization can use narratives and visuals, prompting a discussion on the idea of rhetorical ambiguity in organizational reporting.
Originality/value
This study shows how organizational reporting longitudinally evolves regarding grand challenges, beyond financial and business matters. The paper identifies sites of gender ideology in both visuals and narratives of the reports.
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Anne Broderick, Tony Garry and Mark Beasley
This paper aims to explore current management attitudes towards benchmarking and its implementation within small business‐to‐business service firms in order to enhance a deeper…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore current management attitudes towards benchmarking and its implementation within small business‐to‐business service firms in order to enhance a deeper understanding of benchmarking within such contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses in‐depth case analysis of small architectural services to collect empirical data on benchmarking initiatives, attitudes, key characteristics and constraints on benchmarking.
Findings
Findings suggest that there are significant variations in the receptiveness of small business‐to‐business firms towards the adoption of benchmarking. There may be an inherent distrust of benchmarking, as it is primarily perceived as being a tool for larger organizations, where productivity improvements are the main driver. Evidence of perceived constraints in both the implementation of benchmarking and in the definition of what constitutes best practice highlighted a cultural difficulty for small architectural firms when adopting a business process orientation. Traditionally, when evaluating their services, architectural practices are oriented towards professional design criteria, often with creative rather than business process priorities. Results suggest less cumbersome measurement models than key performance indicators (KPI) are needed to allow organically developing firms, such as architectural services, to apply benchmarking and quality ideas flexibly.
Originality/value
Research on current management attitudes towards benchmarking or actual implementation of benchmarking techniques in small business‐to‐business service firms is scarce. This paper addresses this by developing a deeper and richer contextual understanding of benchmarking within such contexts.
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Beatriz Gallo Cordoba, Catherine Waite and Lucas Walsh
This paper aims to understand if buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services, a digital type of credit that targets young consumers, acts as a protective or a risk factor for food…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand if buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services, a digital type of credit that targets young consumers, acts as a protective or a risk factor for food insecurity among young consumers in Australia.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses survey data from a representative sample of young consumers aged 18–24 from all internal states and territories in Australia. Propensity score matching is used to test two hypotheses: BNPL drives young consumers to food insecurity, and food insecurity leads young consumers to use BNPL.
Findings
There is evidence that BNPL use is driving young Australian consumers to experience food insecurity, but there is no evidence of food insecurity driving the use of BNPL services.
Practical implications
The evidence of BNPL driving young consumers to experience food insecurity calls for the adoption of practices and stronger regulation to ensure that young users from being overindebted.
Originality/value
Although the link with more traditional forms of credit (such as personal loans) and consumer wellbeing has been explored more broadly, this project is the first attempt to have causal evidence of the link between BNPL and food insecurity in a high-income country, to the best of the authors’ knowledge. This evidence helps to fill the gap about the protective or risky nature of this type of digital financial product, as experienced by young Australians.