The end of democracy as we knew it

foresight ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Hamm

Purpose – This paper aims to summarize the major theoretical elements in the definition of a global ruling class. It then examines how neoconservatives in the USA took power and used regime change to install US-friendly governments in other regions. A strategy of tension is used to press the American population into conformity. But the real revolution is to what extent factual politics escape any attempt to democratic control. Design/methodology/approach – The research relies on case studies of material already published and provides a synthesis. Findings – Three case studies show how far the Deep State already goes. Democracy is on the brink of survival. Originality/value – This paper is an original hypothesis of the potential end of democracy as we know it, supported by empirical data.

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 7-9

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings For many young managers and strategists, few of them will realize just how mighty Japan and its firms were in the 1990s. As the world’s second biggest economy, it saw many of its firms lead their industries in both size and innovation – Toyota and Sony being just two examples – so that they genuinely threatened to overtake the USA and its preeminence. Indeed, when Toyota finally overtook General Motors as the world’s biggest car manufacturer, the effect was felt through Detroit and beyond. Further stories about the similar rise in the price of Tokyo real estate became legendary as well – for example that the well-heeled district of Ginza in central Tokyo was worth more than the whole of California. Practical Implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 24-26

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Everyone involved in strategic management – in theory or in practice – knows about competitive advantage. Every company should have one, or at least be identifying and developing one. Unfortunately, like a lot of things that “everybody knows”, competitive advantage means different things to different people. Getting to a single, unambiguous definition of competitive advantage is harder than you might expect – and “I’ll know it when I see it” doesn’t really help anyone to run a successful company in the contemporary business environment. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-23

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – This paper examines different kinds of leadership – the transactional and the transformational (which typically is displayed by more charismatic, open-minded bosses), via data from a survey of police officers in the USA. A leadership challenge model created by the authors captures aspects of both kinds of leadership. Practical implications – This paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Achinthya Dharani Perera Halnetti ◽  
Nihal Jayamaha ◽  
Nigel Peter Grigg ◽  
Mark Tunnicliffe

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how successful lean six sigma (LSS) manifests in the Australasian (Australian and New Zealand) context relative to the context in the USA in terms of LSS project definition, structure and practices. Design/methodology/approach In-depth investigation through case studies – 12 Australian/New Zealand cases and 4 US cases – on the implementation mechanisms of successful LSS initiatives. Findings A significant difference was found between Australasian and US definitions of an LSS project. However, firms in both regions followed similar project selection, initiating and execution practices. LSS reporting structures were found to be well-established in US organizations, but none of the Australasian organizations were found to be equipped with such a structure, although the effectiveness of LSS implementation success remained unaffected. Research limitations/implications Sufficient uniformity of LSS was found across two regions implying its usefulness/generalizability, but the findings are based only on 12 cases. Originality/value The paper provides the groundwork to develop a unique LSS model for Australasian organizations to improve processes in an effective and efficient manner.


2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 190-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomalee Doan ◽  
Sammie L. Morris

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share successful strategies to enable mid‐level management academic librarians and archivists to raise major gifts from individual donors.Design/methodology/approachThe paper demonstrates the growing need for fundraising in university libraries and shows how participating in fundraising activities is an increasing expectation of librarians. Case studies are provided of successful fundraising by librarians and archivists, including their work with donors and collaboration with development professionals. The paper concludes with suggestions for maintaining donor relations.FindingsFundraising is increasing rapidly as an expected activity of librarians but is a slowly growing part of their education. More literature is also needed on the topic. Successful fundraising is dependent on clear definition of fundraising goals, effective communicational and other interpersonal skills, continuing donor follow up and regular collaboration with development staff.Originality/valueLibrarians and archivists can apply to their own fundraising needs the experiences narrated in the case studies of two successful major fundraising efforts, utilizing a team‐based approach to raising major gifts from individual donors.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-24 ◽  

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – The business fraternity rightly acknowledges the importance of Generation Y consumers. Also referred to as Millennials, this group consists of around 83 million members in the USA alone and is the largest since the Baby Boomers. Successfully segmenting such a vast consumer cohort is clearly a daunting task for any marketer. Generation Y consumers are somewhat unique compared to preceding segments. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 19-21

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – After all the dust has settled from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, one fact that will be “chewed on” (with apologies to certain Italian defenders), is that the team with the most visiting fans during the festival of football was not neighbors Uruguay, nor was it football-crazy countries such as Columbia or Argentina who are close by. It was actually the USA, whose team progressed well and, if viewing figures are anything to go by, may have finally “got” soccerball, or whatever they call it these days. Practical implications – Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-87
Author(s):  
Paulos A. Wondimu ◽  
Ole Jonny Klakegg ◽  
Ola Lædre

Purpose Early contractor involvement (ECI) faces many barriers because it differs from traditional business practices. Public owners, especially, face a major challenge because they must comply with international and national legislation. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework that illustrates the various approaches that public project owners can take to implement ECI. Design/methodology/approach In addition to a literature review, three groups of case studies were carried out. The case studies were based on 54 semi-structured in-depth interviews with key personnel from 21 Norwegian public projects and document study. Findings In all, 25 approaches to ECI were identified during the research. Twelve of these were used in the cases studied. Social implications There are several approaches to ECI that are suitable for public owners. However, the contractor’s contribution depends on which approach is implemented and how it is implemented. Originality/value As original contribution, this study presents a novel framework that defines options for implementing ECI in public projects. Furthermore, this paper provides insights on how ECI can be implemented in public projects based on Norwegian experiences. Although the empirical data of the study is limited to Norwegian public projects, this study contributes to knowledge about how to implement ECI internationally.


2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-364
Author(s):  
Tareq Nail Al-Tawil

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate whether or not lenders are environmentally liable by the simple act of lending money. The concept of “lender liability” is one of the more critical issues which seems to be ready to upset the “apple cart” of environmental calm, which the English law enjoyed until recently. Why should banks be held liable for pollution and clean-up costs? The banks’ responsibility should end when it has granted the loan to the borrower to carry out its commercial activities. It is argued that a lender who becomes involved in the borrower’s financial management is unlikely to incur a clean-up liability, but it will become liable to clean it up if it forecloses or takes possession of the land. Can the bank be regarded as the “owner” of the land? In some English statutes, there is no definition of the word “owner”. Does a mortgagee in possession entitle him to ownership of the property to hold him responsible for liabilities for environmental harm? Design/methodology/approach The development of domestic environmental liability and the Trans-Atlantic position with the USA will be examined. The “owner” concept will also be critically reviewed to see whether banks and mortgagees can be regarded as owners on possession of the property. The dilemma of the English courts with regards to lender issues and lender self-protection will also be examined. This will all be analysed and criticised in this paper. Findings This paper aims to demonstrate whether or not lenders are environmentally liable by the simple act of lending money. It will also discuss “owner” concept to see whether banks and mortgagees can be regarded as owners on possession of the property. Originality/value In this paper, the “owner” concept will be critically reviewed to see whether banks and mortgagees can be regarded as owners on possession of the property. The dilemma of the English courts with regards to lender issues and lender self-protection will also be critically analysed and compared with different legal systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Nappi ◽  
Kevin Kelly

PurposeMeasurement of the innovation process performance is critical for both managers and researchers. However, existing performance frameworks (PFs) neglect performance indicators (PIs) and dimensions relevant to the current innovation landscape in companies as well as lack support in the definition of action plans. Thus, this paper aims to introduce a new and updated PF for measuring innovation performance and defining improvement actions.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed PF is developed from literature and action-oriented case studies in two European manufacturing companies. First, the literature review enabled the synthesis of framework elements into a “conceptual” PF capable of illustrating the current state of knowledge in the field. Then, this PF was applied in the case studies that enriched the conceptual form with empirical insights, resulting in a new and updated PF.FindingsThe review enabled the systematisation of nine dimensions and 259 PIs that were fragmented throughout the literature. In turn, empirical insights from the case studies gave rise to an actionable procedure for providing a comprehensive diagnosis of the company's situation considering the new trends as well as defining improvement actions. Although the results from the two cases cannot be generalised, the findings encourage broader applicability.Originality/valueThe novelty of this research resides on the fact that the PF consolidates elements from the literature but combined with empirical insights in a new actionable way that supports managers in performance measurement and provides researchers with an extensive systematisation of dimensions and PIs.


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