Matthew Smith, Spiros Batas and Yasaman Sarabi
The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a slowdown of economic activity across the globe, which has resulted in high levels of disruption to labour markets. This study seeks to…
Abstract
Purpose
The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a slowdown of economic activity across the globe, which has resulted in high levels of disruption to labour markets. This study seeks to examine how the outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted the search strategies of students seeking for an internship, and whether these have changed since the start of the pandemic. The study utilises the strength of weak ties hypothesis, social capital theory and status attainment theory to explore the changes in securing a position since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
This study draws on data from two cohorts of MBA students seeking to secure internships: one before the outbreak and one during. A multinomial regression is employed to examine how students have used network ties to secure internships and how this has changed since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Findings
The multinomial regression results indicate that there was little difference in the strategies employed by students before the crisis compared to those that secured them during, potentially indicating that students are unwilling to deviate from typical job search strategies, especially in times of uncertainty.
Originality/value
This study provides insights into how network ties are used by job seekers during a period of economic and environmental uncertainty.
Details
Keywords
Projections of demographic trends worldwide show that the number of older workers in the workplace is increasing. Older workers possess knowledge which is crucial to company…
Abstract
Purpose
Projections of demographic trends worldwide show that the number of older workers in the workplace is increasing. Older workers possess knowledge which is crucial to company competitiveness. Considering this, companies should make full use of this valuable resource. The purpose of this paper is to determine how current younger workers imagine themselves when they become workers over 50.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were gathered via questionnaire survey among workers under 50; statistical analysis methods were used.
Findings
Younger workers consider themselves to be a future valuable resource for their company. They are also positive about taking part in training and development as they get older. However, they have rather negative opinion about remaining in the organization beyond the retirement age, even on a part-time basis.
Research limitations/implications
The paper relies on questionnaire survey from a relatively small number of respondents (35 workers under 50). Presented survey is part of an ongoing study investigating older workers’ knowledge.
Practical implications
Workers over 50 possess knowledge which is necessary to the company's development and success – therefore it is important to start paying interest to older workers and appreciation of their knowledge.
Social implications
Current younger workers think positively about their future status as an older worker. This outlook could contribute to an improved quality of life for older workers and socially responsible management practices.
Originality/value
Paper supports a positive view of older workers which is based on their knowledge and qualification. There have been limited research studies focusing on older workers’ knowledge and on the connection between human resource management and knowledge management.
Details
Keywords
Carlos Bauer, John M. Galvan, Tyler Hancock, Gary K. Hunter, Christopher A. Nelson, Jen Riley and Emily C. Tanner
Sales organizations embrace technological innovation. However, salespeople’s willingness to use new technology influences a firm’s return on investment, representing a significant…
Abstract
Purpose
Sales organizations embrace technological innovation. However, salespeople’s willingness to use new technology influences a firm’s return on investment, representing a significant concern for the organization. These concerns highlight tensions regarding the tradeoffs associated with technology implementations. The purpose of this study is to offer insights that help reduce the complexities of sales technology (ST) by exploring the changing dynamics of contemporary business relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper synthesizes the ST literature using the service ecosystem perspective to propose the sales techno-ecosystem (STE) framework, providing new insights into organizational decision-making related to the ongoing digital transformation of sales tasks.
Findings
This synthesis of the ST literature with the service ecosystem seeks to clarify the impact of technology within the evolving nature of buyer–seller relationships by providing four unique perspectives.
Research limitations/implications
Perspective 1 reviews the sales-service ecosystem framework and develops the theoretical underpinnings and relevant terminologies. Perspective 2 summarizes critical aspects of the ST literature and provides foundations for future research in the STE. Perspective 3 offers a more granular view, explicating roles and contexts prevalent in buyer–seller–technology interactions. Perspective 4 provides a set of tenets and advances research questions related to each tenet.
Practical implications
The culmination of these four perspectives is the introduction of five key tenants designed to help guide strategy and research.
Originality/value
The paper advances Hartmann et al. (2018) service ecosystem paradigm by explicating critical aspects of its ST domain to generate insights for theory and practice.