Racheli Shmueli Gabel, Shimon L. Dolan and Jean Luc Cerdin
The purpose of this paper is to present a new framework for assessing the human resource strategy for international assignment (IA) of managers.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new framework for assessing the human resource strategy for international assignment (IA) of managers.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach posits the construct of emotional intelligence (EI) as a critical predictor for intercultural adjustment thereby leading to success. A theoretical model and the respective preliminary empirical test of a series of hypotheses pertaining to the relationships between several dimensions of EI, their impact on cross‐cultural adjustment and success of international managers overseas assignments, is presented. Analyses is based on cross sectional data of 67 cases (based on questionnaires), and on 39 cases with rectangular data where both supervisory input and questionnaires were used.
Findings
A significant correlation was found between the interpersonal emotional component and specific performance. Thus the capacities of empathy, social responsibility and social relations may predict better performance in the specific characters of IA. Moreover, the correlation between EI and adjustment dimensions showed significantly higher correlations; while cultural adjustment is not correlated with any EI dimensions, interaction fit correlates with all the EI dimensions except for stress management; adjustment at the work place was only correlated with intrapersonal emotional component. The correlation between adjustment variables and success variables shows that cultural adjustment is positively correlated with satisfaction among global managers. Adjustment at work correlates negatively with the wish to terminate the assignment. In other words, those who adjust less well to work show greater interest in terminating their assignment.
Research limitations/implications
Findings are based on the self‐reported questionnaires and should be treated with caution due to the possibilities of “method‐variance”. The findings are based on a small sample of international assigned managers operating within the Latin American theatre.
Practical implications
It is proposed that EI assessment be used in the selection of internationally assigned managers, in addition to the traditional selection criteria in order to improve the predictive ness of the assignee success.
Originality/value
The use of soft skills rather than hard skills as part of the selection decision of expatriates or any other internationally assigned professionals was long debated. In this study, for the first time, EI scores were used to predict cultural adjustment and subsequence success for managers.
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Adnane Belout, Shimon L. Dolan and Tania Saba
Focuses on new trends that have been identified for Canadian human resources (HR): the emergence of new roles for HR; new forms of partnerships, particularly in the…
Abstract
Focuses on new trends that have been identified for Canadian human resources (HR): the emergence of new roles for HR; new forms of partnerships, particularly in the labor‐management relations; globalizations in daily HR operations; work life issues; programs to tackle the shifting demographics; pressure to effect downsizing and cope with mergers and acquisitions; and pressures to demonstrate its usefulness to the organisation.
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Shimon L. Dolan and Salvador Garcia
The system of beliefs and values that shaped the model for management and organizations during the twentieth century is just not good enough today. In order to keep a business…
Abstract
The system of beliefs and values that shaped the model for management and organizations during the twentieth century is just not good enough today. In order to keep a business functioning well and competing successfully in markets that are increasingly more global, complex, professionally demanding, constantly changing and oriented towards quality and customer satisfaction a new model is needed. In this paper, we will propose that both management by instructions and management by objectives today give notoriously inadequate results. By contrast, description of a new approach, labeled management by values (MBV), seem to be emerging as a strategic leadership tool. The paper outlines this approach and discusses the implementation of MBV as a tool to redesign culture in organizations and prepare them for the next millennium.
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Shimon Dolan, Adnane Belout and David B. Balkin
Provides a literature synthesis on the impact of downsizing on the survivors and examines the experiences of three large Canadian companies. Results confirm trends that are…
Abstract
Provides a literature synthesis on the impact of downsizing on the survivors and examines the experiences of three large Canadian companies. Results confirm trends that are generally reported in the literature regarding the negative aspects of downsizing. It suggests that where the company had a clear strategy to implement the downsizing, which included scheduling and a well‐specified operational plan, the impact on those dismissed as well as the survivors was buffered. The use of a downsizing plan also mitigated the negative responses on behalf of the remaining personnel. On the other hand, when the company adopts a reactive approach towards the downsizing process, numerous problems associated with the survivors are reported. The firm that applied seniority to layoff decisions received more favorable responses than firms that used criteria other than seniority.
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Shay S. Tzafrir, Yehuda Baruch and Shimon L. Dolan
This study examines the consequences of emerging human resource management (HRM) practices for employees' trust in their managers from a combination of the theory of exchange and…
Abstract
This study examines the consequences of emerging human resource management (HRM) practices for employees' trust in their managers from a combination of the theory of exchange and a resource‐base perspective. Using a national sample of 230 respondents, the research reported here portrays the paths which link the consequences of emerging HRM practices to employees' trust in their managers. In this framework, HRM consequences represent a proxy in which managers' actions, behaviours, and procedures affect employees' trust in their managers. The results indicate a significant and positive influence of empowerment, organisational communication and procedural justice as determinants of employees' trust in their managers. Using structural equation analysis, findings also indicate that procedural justice mediates the impact of employee development on their trust in their managers. Implications for strategic HR policies in organisations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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I.J. Hetty van Emmerik and I.M. Jawahar
The purpose of this study is to investigate if gender and altruism evidence similar relationships with the different types of helping behaviors (e.g. organizational citizenship…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate if gender and altruism evidence similar relationships with the different types of helping behaviors (e.g. organizational citizenship behaviors, OCBs; volunteering, vol; and helping kin, HK).
Design/methodology/approach
Data from websurveys of 178 professional employees are analyzed using Zellner's seemingly unrelated regression (SURE).
Findings
Results indicate women engage in HK to a greater extent than men, however this difference between men and women in helping behaviors disappears when the other variables are entered in the model. Gender and altruism interacted to influence OCBs, such that the relationship was stronger for women than for men.
Practical implications
An important implication of these results is that by knowing the motives that are most important to people, organizations may tailor their appeals to potential volunteers. Targeting potential volunteers is most effective when it matches people's reasons for volunteering.
Originality/value
The unique contribution of this study is that it simultaneously examined the relationship between altruism and the three types of helping behavior in a single study.
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Through a survey of 200 employees working in five of the thirty establishments analysed in previous research about the microeconomic effects of reducing the working time (Cahier…
Abstract
Through a survey of 200 employees working in five of the thirty establishments analysed in previous research about the microeconomic effects of reducing the working time (Cahier 25), the consequences on employees of such a reduction can be assessed; and relevant attitudes and aspirations better known.