Sustainable development and sustainability as study objects for comparative management theory

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Borim-de-Souza ◽  
Zandra Balbinot ◽  
Eric Ford Travis ◽  
Luciano Munck ◽  
Adriana Roseli Wünsch Takahashi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Organizational Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Comparative Management ◽  
Organizational Theories ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to characterize sustainable development and sustainability as study objects for comparative management theory. Design/methodology/approach – The primary objective of this paper is to characterize sustainable development and sustainability as study objects for comparative management theory. Findings – Analytical dimensions were related to establishing three proposals, which represent possible theoretical routes for characterizing sustainable development and sustainability as study objects for comparative management theory. A framework which illustrates the theoretical route taken to develop these proposals is presented at the end of the theoretical-analytical discussions. Research limitations/implications – This paper considers that discussion about sustainable development, sustainability and comparative management theory, as interesting themes for organizational studies, lack epistemological clarity and theoretical depth. Such shortcomings are identified based upon the difficulty in identifying ontological postures, epistemological perspectives, dominant paradigms and conceptual approaches that enable greater coherence to analysis of these themes, and also support the undertaking of research that can contribute to enriching proposals related to comparative management theory. Originality/value – This is an innovative paper as it relates comparative management theory approaches with structural concepts from sustainable development and sustainability developed using contributions from organizational theories, sociological reflections, and political science. The proposed characterization is intended to blaze new and alternative epistemological paths for adding greater rigor to empirical research focussed on the relationship investigated here in a theoretical context.

Exploring the relationship between dispositions to think critically and sustainability concern in HESD

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Shephard ◽  
Qudsia Kalsoom ◽  
Ritika Gupta ◽  
Lorenz Probst ◽  
Paul Gannon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Higher education is uncertain which sustainability-related education targets should be sought and monitored. Accepting that something needs to be measurable to be systematically improved, the authors explored how measures relate to potential targets. This paper aims to focus on dispositions to think critically (active open-minded thinking and fair-minded thinking in appraising reasoning) as measures and explored how they related to sustainability concern as an indicative educational target. Design/methodology/approach This research included the development and testing of research instruments (scales) that explored dispositions to critical thinking and sustainability concern. Authors researched these instruments within their own correspondence groups and tested them with university students and staff in Pakistan, the USA, Austria, India and New Zealand. The authors also asked a range of contextualising questions. Findings Respondents’ disposition to aspects of active, open-minded thinking and fair-minded thinking do predict their concern about facets of sustainability but their strength of religious belief was an important factor in these relationships and in their measurement. Practical implications This research demonstrates the complexity of monitoring dispositions to think critically and sustainability concern in educational systems, particularly in circumstances where the roles of religious beliefs are of interest; and suggests ways to address this complexity. Originality/value This research integrates and expands discourses on ESD and on critical thinking in diverse disciplines and cultures. It investigates measurement approaches and targets that could help higher education institutions to educate for sustainable development and to monitor their progress, in ways that are compatible with their culture and values.

Legitimized identity vs identifiable legitimacy

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-120
Author(s):  
Lin Xiu ◽  
Feng Lu ◽  
Xin Liang
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Organizational Identity ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Organizational Adaptation ◽  
Organizational Legitimacy ◽  
Organizational Studies ◽  
Social Perspective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Comprehensive Studies

Purpose Organizational identity and organizational legitimacy are related constructs, but comprehensive studies of the relationship have been lacking in the literature of organizational studies. This paper aims to propose a framework that includes four possible relationships between organizational legitimacy and identity. Design/methodology/approach The authors evaluate the causes of each of these relationships and an important consequence of the relationship: their influences on organizational adaptation. Findings With a series of propositions, the authors make a tentative, but valuable, move toward integrating two broad streams of social perspective of organizing, institutional theory and organizational identity and call for research efforts in this direction. Originality/value The paper is the first one that explores the relationship between organizational identity and organizational legitimacy in a comprehensive way.

Religion and entrepreneurship in hospitality and tourism

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-172
Author(s):  
Anna Farmaki ◽  
Levent Altinay ◽  
Prokopis Christou ◽  
Ainur Kenebayeva
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relevant Theory ◽  
Theoretical Account ◽  
Entrepreneurial Behaviour ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Convergence And Divergence ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to provide a theoretical account of the nexus of religion and entrepreneurship in hospitality and tourism (H&T) by considering the influences of religion on entrepreneurial motivation, acquisition of resources for entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial behaviour. Design/methodology/approach The authors synthesise research and theory on religion and entrepreneurship and apply it within H&T, taking into account the specificities of the industry. Specifically, they pooled together relevant theory and empirical research findings which they summarised to identify points of convergence and divergence, before refining the data to allow for further theoretical insights to be gained. Findings The authors suggest that religion may positively or negatively influence entrepreneurship; in particular, they identify various modes of religion influences, which offer insights into how religion may encourage, sustain and amplify entrepreneurship or alternatively inhibit entrepreneurship. Originality/value Religion offers an important yet underused lens for understanding the activities and mechanisms influencing entrepreneurship in the rapidly evolving H&T industry. This study identifies different aspects of the two multidimensional and interdisciplinary concepts of religion and entrepreneurship and offers new insights into the relationship between the two within the context of H&T.

Organizations and sustainability: a field of knowledge

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-384
Author(s):  
Rafael Borim-de-Souza ◽  
Beatriz Lima Zanoni ◽  
Jacques Haruo Fukushigue Jan-Chiba ◽  
Benilson Borinelli
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Organizational Theories ◽  
Quantitative Data Analysis ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Ideological Perspective ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between organizations and sustainability as a field of knowledge possible to be accessed by descriptive and thematic representations extracted from administration area published papers about the subject. Design/methodology/approach This paper consists in a bibliometric study. It was considered five bases of journals indexation: AOM, Emerald, Elsevier, Sage and Wiley. By judgmental sampling, 11 journals were selected, in which, at the end of data collection, 192 papers were eligible to be analyzed by content and thematic analysis techniques. Findings In quantitative data analysis, it was implied that the field of knowledge identity was colonized by the Euro-American axis. In qualitative analysis, it was found that the investigated field of knowledge was built by 15 thematic representations, understood by three forms of comprehensions, enabled by four different debates. Practical implications In a political and ideological perspective of sustainability, the socioenvironmental interests are silenced by a dominant power. Along these lines, the theme is managed, instrumentalized and commercialized by a dominant power. This paper aims to make these relations between organizations and sustainability public. The investigated field of knowledge houses a dominant discursive representation interest in respect to the investigated relations. Originality/value This paper innovates by considering conceptual frameworks of sustainable development and sustainability developed from contributions extracted from organizational theories, sociological reflections and political science orientations. The selection was necessary to ensure the theoretical viability of the discussion proposed by this paper.

Quality practices as a mediator of the relationship between Lean practices and production fitness

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 500-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Onofrei ◽  
Brian Fynes
Keyword(s):  
Research Group ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Practices ◽  
Lean Practices ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Fourth Round

Purpose The purpose of this research is to test a model that incorporates investments in quality and Lean practices and production fitness constructs, originating in the theory of swift even flow (SEF), to provide insights into successful implementation of manufacturing practices. Design/methodology/approach This research uses data from the Global Manufacturing Research Group fourth round survey and empirically tests the relationships between investments in Lean practices and improvements in production fitness, using a sample of 844 plants in 17 countries. Findings The results highlight that the implementation of Lean practices yields better results on production evenness, when the company has higher levels of investments in quality practices. Therefore, the implementation of quality practices is a prerequisite for achieving higher production fitness. Originality/value The findings are important to the development and testing of operations management theory, as it integrates two research streams, manufacturing practices and SEF research, to gain insights into the interplay of manufacturing practices and how it influences the production fitness. For practitioners, this research assesses how better-performing plants compete. It provides operations managers with a better understanding of production fitness and how manufacturing practices foster its development.

Creditworthiness and access to finance: a study of SMEs in the Malaysian manufacturing industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaista Wasiuzzaman ◽  
Nabila Nurdin ◽  
Aznur Hajar Abdullah ◽  
Gowrie Vinayan
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Significant Positive Influence

Purpose The purpose of this study is to empirically assess the relationship between the dimensions of creditworthiness and access to finance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, with creditworthiness as the mediating variable. The lack of empirical research on the relationship between creditworthiness and access to finance forms the motivation of this study. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaires covering various characteristics of the firms, their access to finance and creditworthiness were distributed to a total of 456 SMEs in the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor region for this purpose. A total of 158 responses were returned, of which 145 were usable responses and the relationships are tested using SEM-PLS. Findings This study finds that an SME and its owner’s character have significant influences on access to finance. An SME’s condition and its ability to provide high quality collateral are found to be highly significant in influencing its access to finance. Capacity is significant but its significance is low, while capital is insignificant. Creditworthiness has a significant positive influence on access to finance. Originality/value This study contributes to the important yet under-researched issue of access to finance for SMEs. It highlights the issue of character of applicant as an important dimension of creditworthiness that can significantly influence access to finance for SMEs.

This blog brought to you by … exploring blogger perceptions of a product endorsement policy and reviews

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Walden ◽  
Denise Bortree ◽  
Marcia DiStaso
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Product Information ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relationship Management Theory ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how a change to a US policy about product testimonials affected bloggers and to understand bloggers’ perceptions of the organization-blogger relationship (OBR). Design/methodology/approach – This study utilizes a survey (n=173) with closed and open-ended questions, and both quantitative and qualitative data are analyzed. Findings – Bloggers’ decisions to accept compensation for a review may influence how much control they feel they have over the OBR. Qualitative data indicate that even as bloggers seek access to products to review, they prefer to maintain editorial control over the review process. Research limitations/implications – The study extends the transparency literature in public relations and relationship management theory by exploring the relationship between bloggers and public relations professionals through the lens of a disclosure policy. Practical implications – Recommendations are offered for public relations professionals in how to maintain transparent relationships with bloggers. Social implications – Qualitative data reveal concern among bloggers about efforts to persuade them and what they should disclose; this may impact the trust that consumers have in reviews at blogs. Originality/value – The study demonstrates the effects of review behaviors on the OBR and offers an organic explanation of how this relationship evolves. This is important as consumers are increasingly consulting blogs for product information. This issue also has relevance to public relations professionals, who are encouraged to broach the issue of transparency with bloggers.

Agency, generic ecosystems and sustainable development: Part 2 agency as an ecosystem

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurice Yolles
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Agency Theory ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Agency Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Context ◽  
Socioeconomic Context ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Context Free

Purpose This paper is in two parts. The purpose of the first part was to explore the basis for the creation of an agentic ecology theory that could provide a generic multidisciplinary context-free manifold that can be applied to specific domains and contexts. As an element of this, it explored the relationship between agency and its agents (at various foci) and the nature of agency ecologies. It also explored the relationship between viability and sustainability. In this second part, the purpose is to create an agency model that will recognise the analytical and decision-making attributes of the viability–sustainability relationship by centring on the modelling a socioeconomic ecosystem and a social disciplinary species model. Design/methodology/approach Agency theory will be used to model a generic agency ecology and its environment of subordinate elements – especially those subordinates that can be used as amenities to satisfy the needs to agency development. Part 1 of the paper took a tour of concepts relevant to the representation of ecosystem structures and their application. Part 2 will centre on delivering a schema capable of embracing agency ecology from which applications may derive. Findings It is shown agency theory is not only a modelling schema but can also provide diagnosis to examine the condition of, or for locating problems within, an agency in its ecosystem environment. This is illustrated within a socioeconomic context. Research limitations/implications The paper is conceptual in nature, without any to diagnose any substantive issues within the socio-economic context. Originality/value A generalized agency ecology approach is proposed over this two-part paper that is novel through the use of 3rd order cybernetics.

Correlation between sustainability education and engineering students’ attitudes towards sustainability

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Sustainability Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fundamental Knowledge ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Development Course ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of a sustainable development course on the beliefs, attitudes and intentions of a cohort of engineering students in a university in Miri, Malaysia, towards sustainability. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire survey was conducted among the cohort of students encompassing the three facets mentioned. Findings The respondents expressed low to medium agreement towards all the survey items related to beliefs, attitudes and intentions. A sense of moral obligation towards sustainability is linked to higher sustainability awareness, willingness to safeguard sustainability and a sense of responsibility towards sustainable development. The respondents were generally perceived to have fundamental knowledge of sustainable development. Research limitations/implications This study shows that a sustainable development course called Engineering Sustainable Development offered in a university in Miri, produced positive impacts on the beliefs, attitudes and intentions of the engineering students towards sustainable development. Sustainable development courses are generally instrumental to impart the value and practices of sustainability among university students. Originality/value As limited correlational studies on whether sustainable development courses effectively shape the beliefs and attitudes of students have been previously conducted, this study provides insight into the effectiveness of one of such courses and how the course can be further improved to enhance its effectiveness.

Perceptions of time at work

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristides Isidoro Ferreira ◽  
Joana Diniz Esteves
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Working Day ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – Activities such as making personal phone calls, surfing on the internet, booking personal appointments or chatting with colleagues may or may not deviate attentions from work. With this in mind, the purpose of this paper is to examine gender differences and motivations behind personal activities employees do at work, as well as individuals’ perception of the time they spend doing these activities. Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained from 35 individuals (M age=37.06 years; SD=7.80) from a Portuguese information technology company through an ethnographic method including a five-day non-participant direct observation (n=175 observations) and a questionnaire with open-ended questions. Findings – Results revealed that during a five-working-day period of eight hours per day, individuals spent around 58 minutes doing personal activities. During this time, individuals engaged mainly in socializing through conversation, internet use, smoking and taking coffee breaks. Results revealed that employees did not perceive the time they spent on non-work realted activities accurately, as the values of these perceptions were lower than the actual time. Moreover, through HLM, the findings showed that the time spent on conversation and internet use was moderated by the relationship between gender and the leisure vs home-related motivations associated with each personal activity developed at work. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature on human resource management because it reveals how employees often perceive the time they spend on non-work related activities performed at work inaccurately. This study highlights the importance of including individual motivations when studying gender differences and personal activities performed at work. The current research discusses implications for practitioners and outlines suggestions for future studies.

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