Human competences for sustainable strategic management: evidence from Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Galleli ◽  
Flavio Hourneaux Junior

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify how human competences are associated with sustainable strategic management (SSM) within organisations. Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative study in two phases: first, a theoretical phase is developed, resulting in a proposal for the role of human competences in organisational sustainability; second, an empirical phase including instrumental case studies of two large, sustainability-oriented Brazilian companies. Data were obtained from interviews and companies’ reports. The authors used Atlas.ti software to perform the thematic content analysis. Findings Despite the importance of human competences in SSM, the authors find evidence that this concept has not been developed, even for companies with a consolidated position in sustainability. Human competences are a requirement for effective SSM. Research limitations/implications Coexisting elements within an organisation, often referred to as elements of organisational and human behaviour, can influence the dynamics of the expected interrelationships between human competences and sustainability management, in addition to the influencing factors presented in this study. Originality/value In general, studies advocate that the relationships among organisational competences, human competences and organisational strategies must be aligned and reinforced. Nevertheless, these relationships are not that solid as they should be as stated in both the literature and the conventional discourse of practitioners.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-224
Author(s):  
Leonor Rodriguez ◽  
Pat Dolan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of empathy in adolescents coping with maternal cancer to identify passive and active empathy forms and the role of these in adolescent coping at a challenging time. Design/methodology/approach This study was a secondary content analysis carried out on 15 adolescent interviews that were analysed to find the evidence of empathy in active and passive forms. Adolescents were between 14 and 20 years of age, their mothers were diagnosed with cancer in the previous 24 months to the interview. Findings The analysis identified more evidence of active forms of empathy than passive directed at ill mothers and their families as helpful behaviours and emotional support. Passive empathy was experienced by adolescents who did not have major changes in their daily routines because of maternal cancer. Both passive and active empathy were perceived as coping mechanisms. Maternal illness motivated adolescents’ empathy and encouraged actions to support their mothers, immediate and extended families. Originality/value Empathy is complex but can be important for adolescent development including their social skills and relationships; however, research has not evaluated the role of empathy in adolescents experiencing maternal cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1149-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Guthrie ◽  
Francesca Manes Rossi ◽  
Rebecca Levy Orelli ◽  
Giuseppe Nicolò

Purpose The paper identifies the types of risks disclosed by Italian organisations using integrated reporting (IR). This paper aims to understand the level and features of risk disclosure with the adoption of IR. Design/methodology/approach The authors use risk classifications already provided in the literature to develop a content analysis of Italian organisations’ integrated reports published. Findings The content analysis reveals that most of the Italian organisations incorporate many types of risk disclosure into their integrated reports. Organisations use this alternative form of reporting to communicate risk differently from how they disclose risks in traditional annual financial reporting. That is, the study finds that the organisations use their integrated reports to disclose a broader group of risks, related to the environment and society, and do so using narrative and visual representation. Originality/value The paper contributes to a narrow stream of research investigating risk disclosure provided through IR, contributing to the understanding of the role of IR in representing an organisational risk.


Author(s):  
Hamed Mohammed Almuhrzi ◽  
Hamed Ibrahim Al-Azri

Purpose The purpose of this conference report is to provide an overview of the Second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development. Design/methodology/approach This is a conference report that provides an overview of the Second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development. Based on the authors’ involvement in setting the scene for the conference and their attendance, they follow a thematic content analysis procedure to extract and synthesize the most important issues and concerns being discussed during the discussions and commentaries of the conference. Findings The report presents an overview of the conference, the main outcomes of its sessions and the main reoccurring themes during the conference’s sessions. Originality/value This is the first conference report on the Second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Safa Riaz ◽  
Keith Townsend ◽  
Peter Woods

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the role of HRM philosophy for HPWS formulation and implementation, as well as to investigate its role to improve employee perceptions of HPWS.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative study of 55 interviews was conducted with managers (senior, HR, frontline) and employees from three telecommunication organisations based in Pakistan.FindingsThe findings indicate that a clear, well-developed HRM philosophy ensures clarity in HPWS formulation not only for managers, but also for employees. However, lack of strong philosophical foundations for HPWS can result into distorted HRM messages and negative employee perceptions.Originality/valueWhilst there remains debate over the positive and negative influence of HPWS for employee outcomes, this study presents HRM philosophy as important HRM component to understand HPWS implementation. The article highlights the fact that the purpose of HPWS practices and its effective communication to employees can make a substantial difference in how employees perceive these practices. In sum, an employee centred philosophy is likely to be pre-condition circumstances for improving employee outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nik Abdul Rahim Nik Abdul Ghani ◽  
Ahmad Dahlan Salleh ◽  
Amir Fazlim Jusoh @ Yusoff ◽  
Mat Noor Mat Zain ◽  
Salmy Edawati Yaacob ◽  
...  

Purpose This paper critically aims to examine the concept of beneficial ownership and its application in musharakah-based home financing. Design/methodology/approach The study applies the method of juristic interpretation in analyzing the meaning of beneficial ownership in legal documentation of musharakah-based home financing. This qualitative study uses content analysis approach that investigates the works of Islamic scholars on the concept of ownership and evaluates the concept of beneficial ownership in musharakah-based home financing from the Islamic perspective. Findings The result finds that beneficial ownership is considered a true ownership, as Shari’ah allows the transfer of ownership based on the offer and acceptance in a contract. Furthermore, the absence of legal registration does not mean the absence of true ownership, whereas all documentations and agreements have clearly stated rights and liabilities of each contracting parties. Originality/value This paper provides a fiqhi discussion of analyzing beneficial ownership in musharakah-based home financing. It shows that Shari’ah parameters are essential for the use of beneficial ownership to ensure its compliance with the Shari’ah requirements of milkiyyah (ownership).


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Elena Windolph ◽  
Stefan Schaltegger ◽  
Christian Herzig

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conduct an empirical analysis among large German companies to enhance the understanding of whether and which institutional factors influence the application of sustainability management tools. Stepping from corporate sustainability visions to implementation requires the application of management tools. A multitude of sustainability management tools have been proposed in literature. Research on their application in corporate practice is, however, scarce. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a survey of large German companies and publicly available data, this paper tests the influence of corporate sustainability networks, indices, standards and the awareness of sustainability management tools on their application in corporate practice. Findings – A particularly strong positive relation exists between awareness and application of sustainability management tools. Standards are also found to have a positive influence, while the influence of networks and indices is less strong. Our findings suggest that the application of sustainability management tools can be fostered through the promotion and increasing awareness of tools. Research limitations/implications – The analysis is based on a survey of large German companies. Factors of institutional isomorphism are tested. Further research is needed for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the influence of further aspects such as competitive and psychological factors. Practical implications – The findings of this paper suggest that the application of sustainability management tools can be fostered particularly well through increasing awareness and the active promotion of tools. Networks, indices and standard help increase awareness. Originality/value – The analysis unveils the role of institutional factors influencing the application sustainability management tools in corporate practice.


eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E Ali-Khan ◽  
Liam W Harris ◽  
E Richard Gold

Support for open science is growing, but motivating researchers to participate in open science can be challenging. This in-depth qualitative study draws on interviews with researchers and staff at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital during the development of its open science policy. Using thematic content analysis, we explore attitudes toward open science, the motivations and disincentives to participate, the role of patients, and attitudes to the eschewal of intellectual property rights. To be successful, an open science policy must clearly lay out expectations, boundaries and mechanisms by which researchers can engage, and must be shaped to explicitly support their values and those of key partners, including patients, research participants and industry collaborators.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marte Daae-Qvale Holmemo ◽  
Daryl John Powell ◽  
Jonas A. Ingvaldsen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the roles of internal lean consultants in western organizations during lean transformation processes and how these roles affect the outcomes of the changes. Design/methodology/approach Findings are based on a qualitative study of four Norwegian public organizations. Findings Characteristics of western organizations put internal lean consultants in important roles during the project initiation and change phases. However, consultants have less impact in the last phase of the transformation process while transferring the responsibilities over to line management. The organizations struggle to “make lean stick” due to the distribution of responsibilities between managers and internal consultants. Practical implications The distribution of responsibilities between managers and consultants should be carefully considered in lean transformation processes. Internal lean consultants should serve the managers as teachers and coaches, rather than doing their jobs for them. Originality/value The paper contributes with in-depth knowledge of the roles of internal consultants in lean transformation processes, a topic that the literature has left unexplored and undebated.


2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Joan Marques

PurposeThis article presents the diverse responsibilities of the HR department in organizations that strive for leadership within their sector.Design/methodology/approachLists and explains these responsibilities, and highlights how they are connected.FindingsAdvocates that at the foundation of an HR department's responsibilities should be an immediate and continuous connection with strategic management and with departmental heads, so that the workforce can be geared toward any new requirements.Practical implicationsPresents a useful way forward for HR departments that find themselves simply fulfilling the functions of the old personnel division for database and administration, for pushing around the papers regarding employees' performance, and for posting job vacancies.Originality/valueEmphasizes the role of HR as a link between top management and employees.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1104-1127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sedki Karoui ◽  
Romdhane Khemakhem

PurposeThis study aims to better understand the Islamic consumption incentives because the spectacular flourishing of the halal market in different places around the world has grown the interest in understanding and deciphering the mechanisms behind its development.Design/methodology/approachThrough an exploratory study of some Tunisia-based Islamic groups’ purchasing behavior, this paper investigates factors leading to the purchasing ofhalalgoods (Islamic consumption).FindingsFindings show that the Islamic consumer is more of an Islamist than simply a Muslim. In addition, findings show thathalalconsumption is not merely related to religious affiliations but also the product of numerous cultural, social and psychological factors.Originality/valueIn addition to Islamism and Islamic activism, this paper puts in evidence the role of some post-structural factors such as identity, nostalgia and hedonism in relation to the buying intention ofhalalproducts and services.


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