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The purpose of this paper is to consider how practices of critical theorising directed towards present dilemmas of neoliberalisation might inadvertently participate in the reproduction of colonial power.

The paper adopts a critical theoretical approach, focussing on Wendy Brown’s recent work on neoliberalism in particular.

The paper argues that an alignment with colonial power is evident at a methodological level in Brown’s critique of neoliberalism and that this offers indication of how critical theorising in general might begin to reorient itself in ways that better ally it with the creation/promotion of decolonial possibility in contemporary contexts.

The paper makes original contribution to understanding of how western critical theorising actively participates in the reproduction of colonial power. Its value lies partly in demonstrating how this occurs in Brown’s specific case, and partly in suggesting correctives of more general applicability.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents of organizational ambidexterity of foreign ventures in an emerging market. Organizational ambidexterity, the simultaneous pursuit of exploration and exploitation, represents a key innovation strategy. Yet, the driving factors of such innovation strategies for foreign ventures competing in emerging markets have been underresearched. In this study, unpacking the construct of organizational ambidexterity into two dimensions (i.e. the combined dimension [CD] and the balance dimension [BD]), the authors aim to investigate how firm-level and industry-level factors drive foreign ventures in pursuing exploration and exploitation and maximizing the benefits of both.

This study adopts the hierarchical multiple regression approach using a sample of foreign ventures operating in high-tech manufacturing industries in China.

The authors find that the firm-level factor of strategic flexibility leads positively to the CD of organizational ambidexterity, whereas the industry-level factor of technological turbulence has a significantly positive impact on the BD.

This study provides important insights into the driving factors of organizational ambidexterity for foreign ventures competing in emerging markets.

As social media have become very popular and an integral part of the world economy in recent years, identifying factors that influence consumers’ attitudes toward social media sites has become a major goal of many researchers in academia and industry. This paper aims to identify factors that predict consumers’ attitudes and intentions toward usage of Instagram, a relatively new social media tool. In addition, it examines the role of an important dimension of culture – individualism vs collectivism –to determine cultural influences on the adoption of social media in the USA (i.e. an individualistic culture) and Kuwait (i.e. a collectivist culture).

Data were collected from a convenience sample of undergraduate business and MBA students from Kuwait and the USA. To validate the measures for the constructs depicted in the conceptual model, the authors conducted an exploratory factor analysis using all items. They then conducted a confirmatory factor analysis to further evaluate the adequacy and validity of the measurement model. They also tested the hypotheses using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Out of the nine hypotheses that were tested for significance, the SEM results indicated that seven hypotheses were significant. The results indicated a non-significant result between perceived critical mass is not a predictor of perceived usefulness and social influence to attitude.

The current study has some limitations that need to be recognized and can be used as guidelines for future research. First, college students represent only a portion of online users and may impact the external validity of our study. Hence, a more diverse sample with a broader range of ages, incomes, education levels, cultures and national origins would be advisable. Second, this study featured a dynamically continuous innovation (Instagram) rather than a discontinuous innovation. Third, other factors can be carried out to see other variables other than those described in this study to predict consumer’s attitude and intention to use the social media.

Cultural characteristics such as individualism/collectivism would seem to be potentially useful when segmenting countries. The results of the current study indicate that the modified model is applicable to a cross-national group of social media users. This study demonstrates the impact of cultural characteristics on various technology adoption. Hence, managers must be aware that countries can be grouped according to the type of cultural effect within each. Each social media category, clusters can be formed consisting of countries that are expected to have similar usage patterns based on technological capability and social norms. By understanding the factors that influence each cluster of countries, firms can design customized social media programs.

This research provides valuable information to better understand the consumers’ attitudes and intentions toward the emerging social media landscape. Indeed, the popularity of social media has greatly changed the way in which people communicate in today’s world. In particular, Instagram has gradually become a major communication media for both social and business purposes. This research shed light into the factors that influence intentions to adopt social media across different cultures. It empirically examines the role of culture – individualism vs collectivism – by using two samples (i.e. Kuwait and the USA) to determine cultural influences on the adoption of social media in different cultures.

Using data drawn from Kuwait and US samples, this current study draws upon the theory of reasoned action (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975) and the technology acceptance model (Davis, 1989). The results of the analysis indicate that the modified model is applicable to a cross-national group of social media users. Moreover, this study demonstrates the impact of cultural characteristics on various technology adoption constructs in the model.

Frames play a central role in how parties to a conflict make sense of their situation and how they interact. How they interact in turn affects possible outcomes. This article addresses a set of challenges to teaching about frames, framing, and their link to conflict assessment, and offers a web‐based solution that addresses some of these challenges. The training material incorporates aspects of simulation exercises and case stud‐ies to create a realistic environment in which students conduct assessments of conflict dynamics and frames. This free, publicly‐available product can be integrated into in‐class training modules, assigned as an out‐of‐class project, or explored through individual study. The materials allow for self‐pacing, backtracking, review, and repeated tries, made possible by the web medium.

The aim of this paper is to present a holistic approach to training, that clearly demonstrates cost savings with improved effectiveness and efficiencies that are aligned to business objectives.

Extending Kirkpatrick's evaluation framework with Phillips's return‐on‐investment (ROI) concepts, the paper conveys a number of successes; including trainee satisfaction and the capturing of improved knowledge and skills.

The paper includes case studies of how, and to what extent this knowledge has been applied with examples of resulting efficiency savings. The paper shows that there is growing agreement that one of the primary drivers, if not the key driver of long‐term organisational effectiveness, is the ability of an organisation to learn effectively. The methodology requires some additional assessment and course preparation to establish a basis from which to demonstrate learning effectiveness. The financial benefits of the applied learning are far greater than the additional preparatory costs.

Learning organisations that anticipate, react to change and learn, are likely to maintain a competitive advantage. These organisations are constantly looking for more effective and efficient ways of training. Paradoxically, other organisations will often slash training budgets in times of hardship, as training departments are unable to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programmes.

The paper presents a practical example of how training should be applied to truly demonstrate its value in the workplace

Performance feedback about whether responses are correct or incorrect provides valuable information to help guide learning. Although feedback itself has no extrinsic value, it can produce subjective feelings similar to “rewards” and “punishments.” Therefore, feedback can play both an informative and a motivational role. Over the past decade, researchers have identified a neural circuit that processes reward value and promotes reinforcement learning, involving target regions of dopaminergic input (e.g., striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex). Importantly, this circuit is engaged by performance feedback even in the absence of reward. Recent research suggests that feedback-related brain activity can be modulated by motivational context, such as whether feedback reflects goal achievement, whether learners are oriented toward the informative versus evaluative aspect of feedback, and whether individual learners are motivated to perform well relative to their peers. This body of research suggests that the brain responds flexibly to feedback, based on the learner’s goals.

Examines the phenomenon of price signalling whereby consumer goods manufacturers attempt to signal higher quality via a higher price when objective product quality is, in fact, not demonstrably higher. Shows that higher price alone does not succeed in signalling higher quality, but that higher price accompanied by premium‐quality signals in the other elements of the marketing mix does succeed. Concludes that a premium pricing strategy cannot be successful if price is the only marketing variable emphasised and brand managers should think in terms of premium quality positioning that requires the right marketing mix.

Examines the phenomenon of “price signalling”, whereby consumer goods manufacturers attempt to signal higher quality via a higher price when objective product quality is, in fact, not demonstrably superior. A study of two similar facial moisturizers showed that higher price alone did not succeed in signalling higher quality, but that higher price accompanied by premium‐quality signals in the other elements of the marketing mix (advertising, packaging, in‐store location) does succeed. To put it more generally, a “premium pricing strategy” cannot be successful if price is the only marketing variable emphasized. Brand managers should therefore think in terms of a “premium quality positioning” that requires the application of quality cues across the marketing mix.

To investigate and understand the reasons why internal auditing is often perceived to not add value. This paper describes the development of a new process model and approach that will improve the actual and perceived value of auditing.

Process analysis, identified areas of potential inefficiency and conflict. The literature review identified the standards and guidance that influence the way internal auditing is managed and its current trends. A questionnaire was sent to auditors and auditees at AWE Plc., to gain their views on audit effectiveness and quantify their perception of value.

Questionnaire results show variations in the perceived value of internal auditing, particularly of some key stages in the process. The management of internal auditing is too focused on programme achievement, not the resulting value from improvement action.

The new process model has yet to be tried in practice, and this identifies an area of future research. It is envisaged that some additional audit preparation would be required, and the time taken to conduct an audit may also increase slightly. The financial benefits quoted by applying the new model would be estimated and may require some justification.

The new model should improve audit effectiveness and its perceived value as the focus changes from simply undertaking an audit, to demonstrating its actual financial value. It has the potential to significantly influence the way both internal and external auditing is conducted in the future.

The improved process model and cost‐benefit audit methodology approach was found to be unique within the scope of the literature review.