scholarly journals On guilt and the depoliticization of downsizing practices

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 156-180
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Karfakis ◽  
George Kokkinidis
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Organization Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
Collective Resistance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical conceptualisation of guilt and the depoliticization of downsizing practices. The authors begin with a critical review of the relevant management literature aiming to establish the discursive normalization and individualization of (un)employment. The authors then use secondary sources to reflect on the downsizing process. A process that, as the authors argue, is distinguished into three separate but interconnected phases: corporate memos (phase 1), termination scripts (phase 2) and the role of outplacement services (phase 3). By examining this process, the aim is to point to the mechanisms through which downsizing practices are neutralized and depoliticized. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual work that provides a systematic overview of the existing management literature on downsizing and guilt. Use of other secondary sources (corporate memos and termination scripts) is also employed to draw links between the discursive normalization of downsizing as identified in the relevant literature and the specific organizational processes and practices implemented by corporations during downsizing. The authors identify common ideas and themes that cut across the relevant literature and the secondary sources and aim to offer a theoretical conceptualisation of guilt and the depoliticization of downsizing practices. Findings This paper argues that downsizing discourses and practices contribute to the feelings of personal responsibility and self-blame, reinforcing an individualistic understanding of work and unemployment that excludes more structural ones, and that it helps in reproducing the existing structures of power. Research limitations/implications The study recognizes that employees’ reactions are not only unpredictable but also constantly evolving, depending on personal and social circumstances. The authors also recognize that the work is based on secondary sources much of which talk about practices in US companies, and thus the authors are and should be cautious of generalizations. The authors hope, however, that the authors will encourage further empirical research, particularly among organization studies and critical management scholars, on downsizing practices and guilt. For the authors’ part, the authors have tried to offer a critical reflection on how guilt is produced through corporate discourses and practices, and the authors believe that further empirical investigation on the three phases of the downsizing process (as identified in our work) and the lived experience of (un)employment is needed. As corporate downsizing discourses and practices frame (un)employment in strictly individualist and behavioral terms, the authors wish to emphasize the need for further theoretical investigation and political contestation. The authors, therefore, hope that the work will contribute to the relevant literature on downsizing practices and open up the discussions around layoff policies and the structural conditions of (un)employment. Originality/value The paper shows that downsizing practices and feelings of guilt are strongly linked to and exemplify the “individualization” of social and political issues such as work and unemployment. The authors suggest that individualization signifies, in some sense, a retreat from organized collective resistance and mobilization based upon class and that the prevalence of the ideology of individualism (and its correlative, meritocracy), over alternative explanations and solutions to such public issues, helps in reproducing existing structures of power and inequity.

Outsourcing in startups

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Kalil Steinbruch ◽  
Bernardo Soares Fernandes ◽  
Leandro da Silva Nascimento ◽  
Paulo Antônio Zawislak
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Core Business ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The Core ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
Structure Knowledge

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the main activities that startups outsource and the elements involved in outsourcing decisions. Design/methodology/approach A multi-case study composed of Brazilian startups was conducted. Data through interviews and secondary sources were obtained. Two groups of startups were considered and analyzed comparatively: startups in the development stage and in the sales stage. Findings The findings show that even though the literature suggests that the core business should not be outsourced, some startups do have to outsource this kind of activity. That was the main difference found between startups in the sales stage and in the development stage: the former group has a solid structure, knowledge and resources, so they can keep the core business inside the firm; whereas the latter group has little experience, scarce knowledge and resources, making outsourcing a more attractive alternative. Originality/value Theoretically, this paper approaches a perspective underexplored in the innovation and management literature: outsourcing in startups. It highlights how outsourcing, as a decision between making and buying, can help startups to improve success potential. In practice, this paper discusses and demonstrates why and what can be outsourced by startups in the development and in the sales stages to overcome their limitations and, consequently, achieve better innovative results.

Soft skills for sustainable employment of business graduates of Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansura Nusrat ◽  
Nafia Sultana
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Business Curriculum ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Graduates ◽  
Bonferroni Adjustment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether soft skill requirements found in employer job postings (advertisements) within different roles of business are similar to the soft skills practically needed in the workplace and the perception of faculties at schools of business in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach A two-phased study was administered. Phase 1 involved reviewing the latest relevant literature and hundreds of job advertisements; and in phase 2, questionnaires were administered to elicit responses from executives and faculty members from different universities in Bangladesh. Judgment sampling and the snowball technique were used to develop the sample of 84 respondents with a response rate of 56 percent. In total, 15 soft skills were used to develop the instrument. Descriptive statistics and a Kruskal–Wallis test were performed to analyze the collected data, where factors that retained α at or below 0.05, a family-wise Bonferroni adjustment (Mann–Whitney U test) was applied. Findings All the mentioned soft skills are found to be desirable by the recruiters and faculties also agreed with them. However, there exist disparities on the perceived importance of four soft skills among faculties and recruiters, and a gap was found between the business curriculum and industry expectations from fresh-out business graduates. Originality/value This study could be a basis for future studies and would help business education institutions guide their students to master the skills, and to develop and prepare them for real life battle in the job market. Moreover, the study indicates the gap between executives’ expectations from the graduates and the institutional teaching provided by higher education institutions (for business majors), which would help practitioners reform their business curriculum to better ensure employability for their business graduates. Moreover, the study opens an avenue for further research in this field for implementing training programs for attaining the most desired soft skills among higher education institutions.

scholarly journals Narrating organizational spaces

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arja Ropo ◽  
Ritva Höykinpuro
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Human Action ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Embodied Experience ◽  
Organization Studies ◽  
Spatial Turn ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lived Space ◽  
Organizational Action ◽  
Dimensions Of Space

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the narrative nature of organizational spaces and how these narratives influence human action. The study introduces a notion of “narrating space” that emphasizes a narrative construction of space that is dynamic and performative. The study joins the recent material and spatial turn in organization studies where spaces are not considered merely as a container or a context to organizational action, but as a dynamic and active force. Design/methodology/approach The study draws on the triadic conception of space of Henry Lefebvre (1991). Lefebvre developed three interconnected dimensions of space: conceived, perceived and lived space. Space can be conceived as an abstract architectural plan or perceived through the practice of space. The dimension that integrates these two is the lived space. Spaces are experienced through emotions, imagination and embodied sensations. Instead of being a passive object, spaces become active and performative through the human engagement. They carry narratives that change their form as time passes by. The study embraces aesthetic, embodied epistemology where sensuous perceptions are considered as valid knowledge. Findings The study applies an aesthetic and dynamic approach to space and illustrates how spaces carry performative and processual narratives. These narratives are based on lived experience through personal, embodied experience, memories and sensuous perceptions. The illustrations also show that narratives change over time. Research limitations/implications A narrating space concept is characterized by being subjective, dynamic and temporal. Furthermore, it is pointed out that space is constructed through sense-based experiences. A metaphor of an amoeba is offered to depict the nature of the phenomenon. The amoeba metaphor points out that space narratives are dynamic and changing. The study adds to a better awareness of space as a sensuous narrative. Beyond being an isolated personal experience, the study and the illustrations enhance a material view to organizational narratives. Practical implications The study suggests that managers, architects and designers should take notice of spaces as narratives that involve temporal and sensuous experiences when planning and (re)designing work environments. Due to the subjective and temporal nature of organizational spaces they are manageable only to a limited extent. Therefore, to appreciate an active narrating nature of organizational spaces, employee involvement in planning and (re)designing spaces is encouraged. Originality/value First, the paper enhances the awareness of organizational spaces as sensuous narratives. Second, it adds a material aspect to narratives. Third, it advances an aesthetic and embodied approach to narrative organization research.

Reassessing Elton Mayo: clarifying contradictions and context

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Muldoon ◽  
Joshua Bendickson ◽  
Antonina Bauman ◽  
Eric W. Liguori
Keyword(s):  
Critical Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Monetary Incentives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
Elton Mayo

Purpose Elton Mayo was a professor at a prestigious university, but not a researcher; a scholar, but more concerned with executives; a capitalist, but someone who downplayed monetary incentives; an insider, but someone whose own background was more of an outsider. These contradictions have resulted in scholars questioning Mayo’s impact on the field of management. Thus, this paper aims to critically review Mayo and his contributions to management through a lens calibrated to the context of his time, providing a more contextually accurate view of Mayo and his work and offering a clearer view of his meaningful impact on the field. Design/methodology/approach Using a combination of primary and secondary sources, the authors connect otherwise disparate information to critically review Mayo’s work within the context of its era. Findings The authors’ critical review of Mayo identified nine topical areas where Mayo and/or his work have been misunderstood or misinterpreted. For each area, the authors offer a more contextualized and appropriate interpretation of Mayo and his viewpoints, and thus more accurately informing the management literature. Originality/value This paper is the first to thoroughly revisit Mayo and his work through a contextualized lens, offering a more informed view of why Mayo’s seemingly controversial behaviors were actually quite standard behaviors given his context.

The derivation of Shariah risk in Islamic finance: a theoretical approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 663-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Syazwani Mohd Noor ◽  
Muhammad Hakimi Mohd. Shafiai ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Islamic Law ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Islamic Finance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Contractual Obligations ◽  
Finance Theory

Purpose This paper aims to propose a derivation of Shariah risk from both the Islamic finance theory and theory of contracts in Islamic law. Specifically, it deliberates the derivation of Shariah risk following the contracts validity and apprises the readers of the Shariah risk issues currently under debate. Design/methodology/approach This study reviews the relevant literature and presents an analysis of contract rulings through evidence derived from the Qur’an, Hadith and other secondary sources of Islamic law. Various theories of Islamic finance and Islamic law of contracts are identified, to examine the general principles and essential elements and conditions of a valid contract. Findings This analysis asserts that any circumstances that may render invalidity of the contract will trigger Shariah risk. More importantly, this paper highlights the implications of invalid contracts, based on the opinion of Hanafi jurists, who concluded that Shariah risk may be derived from any void or voidable contracts due to the failure of the contractual parties to comply with Shariah contractual obligations. Research limitations/implications This paper emphasises the derivation of Shariah risk over theoretical approaches. It does not include an explanation in the form of any empirical model. Originality/value This is the first study that contributes to the field of derivation of Shariah risk, based on the theory from the Islamic law of contracts.

Personal health records: a new type of electronic medical record

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kisha Hortman Hawthorne ◽  
Lorraine Richards
Keyword(s):  
Medical Informatics ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Personal Health Records ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Literature

Purpose This paper examines existing research on the topic of personal health records (PHRs). Areas covered include PHR/patient portal, recordkeeping, preservation planning, access and provider needs for future reuse of health information. Patient and physician PHR use and functionality, as well as adoption facilitators and barriers, are also reviewed. Design/methodology/approach The paper engages in a review of relevant literature from a variety of subject domains, including personal information management, medical informatics, medical literature and archives and records management literature. Findings The review finds that PHRs are extensions of electronic records. In addition, it finds a lack of literature within archives and records management that may lead to a less preservation-centric examination of the new PHR technologies that are desirable for controlling the lifecycle of these important new records-type. Originality/value Although the issues presented by PHRs are issues that can best be solved with the use of techniques from records management, there is no current literature related to PHRs in the records management literature, and that offered in the medical informatics literature treats the stewardship aspects of PHRs as insurmountable. This paper offers an introduction to the aspects of PHRs that could fruitfully be examined in archives and records management.

scholarly journals Megaproject management and leadership: a narrative analysis of life stories – past and present

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shankar Sankaran
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Narrative Inquiry ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Life Stories ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Organization Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lessons Learnt ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
The Right

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to glean leadership lessons of megaproject managers through the life stories of four purposefully selected managers from two contemporary and two landmark megaprojects. Design/methodology/approach A narrative inquiry approach applying thematic analysis is used to capture lessons learnt from these stories with a focus on leading megaprojects. Narrative analysis has been used in organization studies and this paper is an attempt to use it in project management research. Findings Common strategies used by all four megaproject managers to be successful include: selecting the right people and building their capability; building trust with stakeholders; dealing with institutional power and politics effectively; and having the courage to innovate. There were also some differences in the approaches used by these managers due the times in which these projects were implemented. Research limitations/implications The use of narrative inquiry is new to project management literature. As the life stories were not presented in the same way it was difficult to analyze them in the same manner, and further data had to be collected. This could have been avoided if it were feasible to collect narratives directly from the megaproject managers. This is being planned in future research emerging from this paper. Practical implications This study helps megaproject managers to exhibit leadership attributes that would be required to execute such large complex projects that have wide implications for the society, economy and the environment. Social implications Megaprojects are often considered major displacements that cause social and geophysical issues that affect the environment. Lessons learnt from these stories could be useful to avoid such issues. The stories analyzed showed the human side of the megaproject managers toward people related, health and societal issues. Originality/value Narrative inquiry is new to project management literature. In the past, project management literature has focused on extracting lessons learnt from historical and classical projects, but lessons from life stories of project managers have not been used for the same purpose.

scholarly journals Process philosophy’s potential contributions to innovation process research within organization studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-393
Author(s):  
Queila Regina Souza Matitz ◽  
Karine Francisconi Chaerki
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Process Philosophy ◽  
Organization Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Contexts ◽  
Innovation Processes ◽  
Recent Claim ◽  
Oriented Research

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss process philosophy’s potential contributions to understanding and investigation of innovation processes associated with organizational contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a theoretical piece that examines the concept of process philosophy by relating it to the relevant literature and use of examples.FindingsIn particular, the authors develop some ideas and encourage future discussion around two aspects: process philosophy-oriented conceptualizations of innovation processes and process philosophy-oriented methods of investigation about innovation processes. The authors conclude that more process philosophy-oriented research of innovation processes must be conceptually multidimensional and methodologically performative.Originality/valueThere is a recent claim about a “process turn” within organization studies, which is partly represented by attempts to develop and apply a deeper meaning of process. The presentation of the concept is novel, and does add to the literature. These aspects provide clarification regarding implications of thinking and enquiring procedurally into innovation processes.

Activist manager

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Bruce
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Personnel Management ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Organization Theory ◽  
Scientific Management ◽  
Labor Turnover ◽  
Organization Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Worker Empowerment

Purpose – This paper aims to identify and fill a gap in the knowledge of the contribution of Henry S. Dennison toward management and organization studies and problematize the assumptions underlying the mainstream understanding of scientific management and human relations. Design/methodology/approach – Primary sources are in the guise of archival papers, as well as published journal articles, books and book chapters; secondary sources in the guise of material about Dennison, as well as interviews with family and friends. Findings – The paper concludes that Dennison made an original and enduring contribution to management theory including, but not isolated to, personnel management, organizational behavior and corporate governance that influenced key thinkers of his times. Practical implications – Dennison was a practicing manager – in fact, he was the president of (what was) his family company which operates today as Avery Dennison – but he still found the time and energy for active public service and to peripatetically articulate his management “praxis”. The paper reveals that much of Dennison’s thoughts and deeds have much relevance today. Among other issues, in his concern with reducing labor turnover and unemployment, in devising and implementing effective personnel management and in his pioneering work on human motivation, group dynamics, goal congruence, worker empowerment and executive compensation, issues of profound importance to business leaders today can be found. Originality/value – To date, only piecemeal attempts have been made to chronicle Dennison’s contributions to management and organization theory, but these have been scattered across the social sciences. There has been neither any systematic, consolidated synthesis of his contributions to management and organization studies nor of his impact on the thinking of key thinkers of his times.

Whatever happened to the family? England’s new gang strategy

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Pitts
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Gang Violence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Original Analysis ◽  
The Family ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
New Research ◽  
Recent Policy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of HM government’s gang strategy from 2011 to the present. It considers why an initial emphasis upon the “troubled family” as the progenitor of gang violence has given way to more tightly focussed modes of intervention in which concerns about gang violence are conflated with other policy concerns. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on a range of policy documents over the relevant period to demonstrate a shift in rhetoric and focus and assesses this trajectory against the evidence base suggested by other relevant literature. Findings The argument contained in the paper attributes this shift in focus to a combination of the insights provided by new research, dwindling budgets and the reformulation of the original policy objectives in terms of recent policy priorities. Social implications It is suggested that in times of austerity, policy initiatives are reformulated to fit available resources but changes are presented as an improvement on what went before. Originality/value The paper uses secondary sources to develop and original analysis and argument.

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