The robot in the window seat

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 47-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Buell Hirsch
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Workplace Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cultural Implications ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to point to some emerging workplace issues relating to the increasing collaboration between human and robot workers. As the number of human workers shrinks and that of robots increases, how will this change the dynamics of the workplace and human worker motivation? Design/methodology/approach The approach of this paper is to examine recent academic, business and media writings on the subject of artificial intelligence and robotics in the workplace to identify gaps in our understanding of the new hybrid work environment. Findings What the author has found is that although there are numerous voices expressing concerns about the replacement of human workers by robots, there has not as yet been a substantive study of the impact on human workers of sharing their work life with robots in this environment. Research limitations/implications The findings in this paper are limited by the fact that they are drawn from a review of the secondary literature rather than from primary research and are therefore speculative and anecdotal. Practical implications The practical implications of the findings are to suggest that it is time to establish a systematic and standardized method for analyzing and measuring the impact on human workers of operating in an environment increasingly populated by automated co-workers. Social implications The author suspects that the social implications will be to suggest that as a human society we will need to establish psychologically and culturally valid means for coping with this new work environment, and the author believes some of the findings may well prove counter intuitive within the social context of work. Originality/value The author does not believe there is any substantial work addressing the social, psychological or cultural implications of humans working besides robots on a daily basis.

scholarly journals Antecedents of women managers’ resilience: conceptual discussion and implications for HRM

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naznin Tabassum ◽  
Sujana Shafique ◽  
Anastasia Konstantopoulou ◽  
Ahmad Arslan
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Women Managers ◽  
Career Progression ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Developmental Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to provide a framework with the antecedents of women managers’ resilience in SMEs. Design/methodology/approach This developmental study uses a comprehensive literature review and a set of propositions to identify the antecedent of women managers’ resilience and develops a conceptual framework for resilience. Findings The results indicate that in addition to personal resilience traits, interactive engagement with the work environment, career adaptability and positive human resource management (HRM) interventions are the main antecedents of women managers’ resilience. Research limitations/implications This paper contributes to theory by providing a new perspective on the study of resilience as a process at the organisational level and as a trait at personal level. It contributes to the women employee-centric resilience discussion in HRM literature and explores the relationship between resilience and women managers’ career progression. This is a developmental study, and despite the strengths of the undertaken approach, there are a number of limitations due to the lack of empirical evidence. Therefore, future research activities should focus on validating the framework and determining any potential boundaries of this resilience framework. Practical implications The study reveals a number of practical implications leading to a recommended resilience toolkit for HR managers of organisations to develop and promote resilience in their women managers and aspiring managers. Social implications The social implications of this study include the social relationships within the work-setting, better employee engagement and interaction with the work environment and flexible career progression pathways. Originality/value The paper is based on rich conceptual and theoretical discussion that identifies the key antecedents of women managers’ resilience. The study also conceptually establishes the moderating relationship between women managers’ resilience and work stress and burnout.

Emotional intelligence, leadership style and organizational climate

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bassem E. Maamari ◽  
Joelle F. Majdalani
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Communication Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the effect of emotional intelligence (EI) on the leader’s applied leadership style (mediator) and the effect of this style on the employees’ organizational citizenship (responsibility, reward and warmth and support). Design/methodology/approach The researchers are proposing a model that highlights the mediating role of leadership style on the relationship between leaders’ EI and employees’ feeling of organizational climate. The study follows the quantitative process. A survey is prepared for data collection and for statistically testing the proposed model. Findings The results show that the leaders’ EI does affect his/her leadership style. Moreover, the leaders’ style affects directly the respective employees’ feeling of organizational climate to varying levels. The variance between different styles is found to be small. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study include the minimal cross-check interviews. The sample size’s limitation resulted in the researchers’ inability to compare the different sub-sectors of the economy (labelled as the type of work of the firm) to derive deeper conclusions by economic/business sector. Practical implications The study reveals a number of practical implications affecting communication, performance, stability and tenure, and thereby lower turnover. Social implications The social implications of this study include the social relationships within the work-setting, higher empathy and higher levels of norming as a direct result of improving the leader’s EI level. Originality/value The paper is based on a sample of respondents with a new model suggested and tested scientifically, following a rigorous process. It assesses the impact of both EI and organizational climate with leadership style.

Individuals, teams and organizations score with gamification

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 24-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swatee Sarangi ◽  
Shreya Shah
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Burn Out ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Explains how gamification can help to motivate employees and boost individual and organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach – Defines gamification and provides some examples of how it can work in practice. Findings – Charts how gamification helps to engage employees by infusing vigor, making them dedicated and enabling them to be absorbed in their work. Practical implications – Explains that gamification can help in infusing a feel of ownership of performance and results. Social implications – Outlines some of the social forces that can help to make gamification a success. Originality/value – Reveals that through gamification – designed sensitively, crafted creatively and implemented positively – organizations can target burn-out and help to foster an engaging work environment.

Sustaining corporate culture in a world of hybrid work

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Buell Hirsch
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
White Collar ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine the challenges to sustaining corporate culture in a world of hybrid working. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a review of current literature on the impact of remote and hybrid working on white-collar employees. Findings There is little consensus on whether remote/hybrid working will harm or strengthen corporate culture. Research limitations/implications The viewpoint is a subjective assessment of a limited number of articles on the subject Practical implications It is not entirely clear how those responsible for corporate culture can act on the findings. Social implications In a world in which corporations are experiencing a shortage of talent, how they handle corporate culture will be increasingly important. Originality/value While much has been written on the impact of remote working, this viewpoint takes the original view that strong corporate cultures rely more on the attitudes and actions of individual employees that company programs or initiatives.

Accounting for gaming in the time of plague: COVID-19 in Macau

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Noronha ◽  
Jieqi Guan ◽  
Sandy Hou In Sio
Keyword(s):  
Critical Event ◽  
Gaming Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Account ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose While the COVID-19 virus has been spreading worldwide, some studies have related the pandemic with various aspects of accounting and therefore emphasized the importance of accounting research in understanding the impact of COVID-19 on society as a whole. Recent studies have looked into such an impact on various industries such as retail and agriculture. The current study aims at applying a sociological framework, sociology of worth (SOW), to the gaming industry in Macau, the largest operator of state-allowed gambling and entertainment in China, which will allow for its development during the COVID-19 pandemic to be charted. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the theory of SOW as a framework and collects data from various sources, such as the government, gaming operators and the public, to create timelines and SOW frameworks to analyze the impact of the virus on the gaming industry and the society as a whole. Findings Detailed content analysis and the creation of different SOW matrices determined that the notion of a “lonely economy” during a time of a critical event may be ameliorated in the long term through compromises of the different worlds and actors of the SOW. Practical implications Though largely theory-based, this study offers a thorough account of the COVID-19 incident for both the government and the gaming industry to reflect on and to consider new ways to fight against degrowth caused by disasters or crises. Social implications The SOW framework divides society into different worlds of different worths. The current study shows how the worths of the different worlds are congruent during normal periods, and how cracks appear between them when a sudden crisis, such as COVID-19, occurs. The article serves as a social account of how these cracks are formed and how could they be resolved through compromise and reconstruction. Originality/value This study is a first attempt to apply SOW to a controversial industry (gaming) while the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing. It offers a significant contribution to the social accounting literature through its consideration of the combination of unprecedented factors in a well-timed study that pays close attention to analyses and theoretical elaboration.

scholarly journals Strategies for transcending the chaos of societal disruptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
John C. Camillus ◽  
Jeffrey E. Baker ◽  
Anushka I. Daunt ◽  
Jungyoon Jang
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Societal Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Real Options Approach ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to offer a strategic management response to societal disruptions of the magnitude triggered by the agricultural, industrial and information revolutions. These pose challenges that are much greater and different in kind than the industry-wide disruptions that businesses have learned to manage. Pandemics, climate change, biotech and artificial intelligence guarantee that such societal disruptions will be an inescapable and recurring reality. Design/methodology/approach The paper builds on the strategic management responses to wicked problems, which possess in microcosm the chaotic ambiguity that characterizes societal disruptions. Findings The authors propose a management process that affirms a sense of identity, identifies robust actions, adopts a real-options approach and uses a platform organization. Research limitations/implications The primary limitation is that the recommendations and findings are extrapolations of organizational practices in analogous situations. No examples of formal management processes specifically designed to address societal disruptions were identified. Practical implications The practical implications are significant. The specific recommendations in the paper directly address strategic management practice in organizations. Social implications The social implications are integral to the motivation of the paper as it describes the intrinsic characteristics of societal change and transformation, enabling organizations to interact with society on a dynamic basis. Originality/value While there has been growing interest and research into business and industry disruptions, the challenge of societal disruptions, which is the focus of this paper, has not been directly addressed.

scholarly journals Industry professionalisation of strata title managers: what are the implications for governance?

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Altmann
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the rise of strata manager as a newly emergent profession and note their impact on the governance within medium and high density, strata titled housing such as flats, apartments, town-houses and CIDs. Design/methodology/approach – This research presents finding from a small scale, qualitative research project focused on the interaction between the owner committee of management and strata managers. Findings – The introduction mandatory certification is championed by industry bodies. The strata managers considered they already demonstrated valuable attributes desired by committees of management. These differed to the attributes targeted by the new training regime, and the attributes valued by the committees of management. Research limitations/implications – This is a small scale pilot study. A larger study will need to be undertaken to confirm these results. Practical implications – There is a disjunct between the training and what strata managers consider relevant to undertaking their duties. This has significance for the ongoing governance of these properties and industry professionalisation. The resilience of Australia’s densification policies will depend on how learning will translate into better governance outcomes for owners. Social implications – One in three people within Australia’s eastern states lives or owns property within strata titled complex (apartments, flats and townhouse developments). The increasing number of strata managers and professionalisation within their industry has the ability to impact an increasing number of people. Originality/value – The impact of this new profession, and their requirements in terms of expertise has not been fully considered within existing academic literature.

scholarly journals Can universities save us from disaster?

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Maxwell
Keyword(s):  
Natural Science ◽  
Natural Philosophy ◽  
Social Philosophy ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Social Progress ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Basic Task ◽  
The Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to spell out the urgent need to correct structural rationality defects in academia as it exists at present, so that it may become actively and effectively engaged in helping us solve the grave global problems that confront us. Design/methodology/approach The paper spells out an argument for the urgent need to bring about a revolution in academic inquiry so that the basic aim becomes social wisdom and not just specialized knowledge, problems of living being put at the heart of the academic enterprise. Findings Natural science needs to become more like natural philosophy; social science needs to become social methodology or social philosophy; and a basic task of academia needs to become public education about what our problems are and what we need to do about them. Almost every part and aspect of academia needs to change. Research limitations/implications The implication is the urgent need to bring about an intellectual/institutional revolution in academic inquiry, so that the aim becomes wisdom, and not just knowledge. Practical implications There are substantial practical implications for natural science, social inquiry and the humanities, education, social, economic and political life. Social implications There is a need for a new kind of academic inquiry rationally designed and devoted to helping us make social progress towards as good a world as possible. The social implications are profound. Originality/value In the author’s view, bringing about the academic revolution, from knowledge-inquiry to wisdom-inquiry, is the single most important thing needed for the long-term interests of humanity.

The Age of No Retirement

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-164
Author(s):  
Jonathan Collie
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Healthy Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Era ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Thinking ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the value, often overlooked, inherent within a society where people are living longer, healthier and more productively than ever before. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a summary of the activities, achievements and objectives of “The Age of No Retirement” movement for social change since its inception on 1st October 2014. Findings – The spectacular demand for new thinking and design-led action across all sectors of society to break down the ageist stereotypes that are impeding age-neutral societal progress in the UK. Practical implications – Communities, employers, individuals – EVERYONE – can begin to harness the incredible power of the Xtra 10 (the extra ten years of healthy life expectancy that modern generations can now expect – in the middle of their lives!). Social implications – The social implications are almost limitless – for a new era of over-50 makers, designers, entrepreneurs, workers, leaders, learners, teachers, doers, intergenerational catalysts, etc., the list goes on. Originality/value – The Age of No Retirement is a design-led social enterprise that is driving new thinking in the Age space.

scholarly journals The denial of limits and interior aspects of descent

foresight ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 527-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Slaughter
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
It Infrastructure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Limits To Growth ◽  
The Social ◽  
Economic Indices ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purposes of this paper are as follows. Part one examines the role of denialism in the context of proposals advanced through the much-abused Limits to Growth (LtG) project. Part two uses three sets of criteria (domains of reality, worldviews and values) to characterise some of the interior human and social aspects of the “denial machine.” It uses these criteria to address some vital, but currently under-appreciated “interior” aspects of descent. (N.B. A succinct “primer” or overview of the concept and underpinning rationale for notions of “descent pathways” is provided in the introduction to this special issue.) Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on a number of authoritative sources that track the dimensions of global change and, specifically, the ways that humanity is tracking towards Dystopian overshoot-and-collapse futures. The significance of the LtG project is assessed in this context. Part two employs the criteria noted above to identify and open out the centrality of the human and cultural interiors. Findings – Responses to the LtG project are shown to have deprived humanity of the clarity and will to respond effectively to the emerging global emergency. The rise of climate change denialism has followed suit and made effective responses increasingly difficult. A new focus, however, on some of the dynamics of reality domains, worldviews and values, clarifies both the nature of the problem and prefigures a range of solutions, some of which are briefly outlined. Research limitations/implications – This is primarily a conceptual paper that suggests a range of practical responses. For example, re-purposing parts of the current information technology (IT) infrastructure away from financial and economic indices to those tracking the health of the planet. Also translating the case put forward here for a new generation of Institutions of Foresight (IoFs) into real-world start-ups and examples. Further research is needed into the uses and limitations both of positive and negative views of futures. It is suggested that the latter have more value than is commonly realised. Practical implications – In addition to those stated above, the practical implications include new uses for IT infrastructure based on worldcentric – rather than financial and economic worldviews; designing and implementing a new generation of IoFs; and finding new ways to inform the public of impending Dystopian outcomes without exacerbating avoidance and depression. Social implications – The social implications are profound. Currently, humanity has allowed itself to “tune out” and ignore many of the well-founded “signals” (from the global system) and warnings (from those who have observed and tracked real-world changes). As a result, it has outgrown the capacity of the planet to support the current population, let alone the 10 billion currently projected by the United Nations (UN). Something must give. Applied foresight can provide essential lead time to act before human actions are overwhelmed by forces beyond its control. Originality/value – The paper draws together material from hitherto disparate sources to assess the LtG project. It also deploys key concepts from an integral perspective that shed new light on human and cultural forces that determine how people respond to the prospect of Dystopian futures. In so doing, it provides insight into why we are where we are and also into some of the means by which humanity can respond. Specifically, it suggests a shift from collapse narratives to those of descent.

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