(In)effective leadership? Exploring the interplay of challenges, goals and measures in the context of school improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Böse ◽  
Stefan Brauckmann-Sajkiewicz
Keyword(s):  
School Improvement ◽  
School Effectiveness ◽  
School Quality ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Context ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government

PurposeThis study aims to explore the extent to which schools principals serving disadvantaged communities in Germany are able to set appropriate goals and choose suitable measures for improving their schools according to the specific challenges they face. The authors determine whether principals are able to identify their schools' challenges or whether they merely follow “universal recipes” of the school effectiveness research paradigm regardless of their particular school context. This effectiveness-driven accountability approach requires an in-depth evaluation of the school and its stakeholders and might lead to a new attitude toward failure that sees it as an essential part of developing effective school improvement plans.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted descriptive and correlative analyses as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using longitudinal data of 164 school principals. Through cross-sectional analyses, the authors investigated the connection among challenges, goals and measures and how they correlated with (self-reported) improvements.FindingsFrom a leadership perspective, priorities for school improvement should be aligned with the school-specific challenges they identify and the goals they set to address them.Research limitations/implicationsThe extent to which legislation concerning individual school quality development programs can translate into feasible and effective actions is unclear. Caution should be taken when interpreting the findings of this study, as they reflect school principals' self-selected evaluation measures and therefore might be biased.Practical implicationsIn future research, emphasis should be placed on school management processes, in particular, the development of strategic decision-making, structuring of target perspectives and derivation of steps in school improvement and instructional development. The authors recommend the government offer school principals appropriate and adequate training and support services to prevent them from overburdening their staff.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to a deeper understanding of processes concerning strategic leadership, as opposed to operative management, of schools by revealing context-sensitive considerations.

Exploring key variables of port competitiveness: evidence from Indonesian ports

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-553
Author(s):  
Sari Wahyuni ◽  
Alif Azadi Taufik ◽  
Felix Kin Peng Hui
Keyword(s):  
Government Support ◽  
Foreign Assistance ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Bureaucracy ◽  
Port Competitiveness ◽  
The Government ◽  
Port Planning

Purpose This study aims to understand the factors and problems that relate to Indonesian port competitiveness and the problems that need to be addressed by major actors such as the government and port corporations. Design/methodology/approach It combines quantitative analysis from 59 survey respondents and qualitative analysis from focus-group discussions and in-depth interviews with port experts, financial bodies, port corporations and government officials on the condition of Indonesian port planning, development and financing. Findings An Indonesian port competitiveness model was developed, comprising government support, business support and operational performance. The authors found a gap between policy expectation and realization of port facilitation, caused by inefficient government bureaucracy, customs clearance and strategic decision-making. The government's consistency and commitment need work to encourage investor interest. Road connectivity, intermodal transportation, and energy infrastructure should be enhanced to increase operational performance. These problems are caused by a lack of feasibility analysis, consideration of local economic developments, and late adoption of standard technology. The maritime-sector workforce should be trained to be more professional with foreign players, more innovative and more open towards foreign assistance. Practical implications Port competitiveness includes government-related variables. The government’s initiatives are welcomed but are not enough. Adequate attention to both micro and macro port is necessary to increase port competitiveness. Future research should develop more comprehensive solutions to increase port competitiveness in Indonesia using problems and factors outlined here. Originality/value The study investigated the unique factors and problems that relate to Indonesian port competitiveness. It uses a national scope and rich expert data involved in Indonesia's port industry.

A grounded theory study on leader authority formation process in China

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-feng Zhang ◽  
Xiao-juan Zhang ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
Gui-quan Li ◽  
You-min Xi
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Formation Process ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Organization Culture ◽  
Relationship Maintenance ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Rich Data

Purpose This study aims to focus on the authority formation process of Chinese enterprise leaders, with the purpose of finding out how an ordinary newly established firm leader develops into a real top leader and achieves the status of legitimacy in a well-known enterprise. Design/methodology/approach Based on constructivist grounded theory, this paper investigates the formation mechanism of entrepreneurial authority in China by using the rich data of Liu Chuan-zhi’s leader activities. Findings In the “evolution” path of authority formation, leaders continually consolidate and improve their authority through two classes of exceptional management activities: “emergency rescue” and “promotion activities”. The successful realization of exceptional management activities benefits from a leader’s management experience accumulation and relationship maintenance with the government. In the “design” path of authority formation, leaders consolidate and improve their authority by exercising their position of power. Leaders’ legitimacy is reflected by making strategic decision and demonstrating discretion of position power. Additionally, passing on an inspiring leader’s thoughts and ideas to an organization’s members is accomplished through the construction of organization culture, institutionalization and convention. Research limitations/implications First, the findings are based on only Liu Chuan-zhi’s case. The authors still need more cases to compare and develop the findings and seek theoretical saturation in a broader sense. Second, the qualitative analysis is based on secondary data and future research could consider the introduction of interviews, video and other types of research data. Originality/value Under the parallel paths which are “evolution” and “design”, the dynamic leader authority formation model in China is founded.

A benchmarking study of Indian seaports

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-102
Author(s):  
Sajeev Abraham George ◽  
Anurag C. Tumma
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Port Authorities ◽  
Financial Performance Measures ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to benchmark the operational and financial performances of the major Indian seaports to help derive useful insights to improve their performance. Design/methodology/approach A two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology has been used with the help of data collected on the 13 major seaports of India. The first stage of the DEA captured the operational efficiencies, while the second stage the financial performance. Findings A window analysis over a period of three years revealed that no port was able to score an overall average efficiency of 100 per cent. The study identified the better performing units among their peers in both the stages. The contrasting results of the study with the traditional operational and financial performance measures used by the ports helped to derive useful insights. Research limitations/implications The data used in the study were majorly limited to the available sources in the public domain. Also, the study was limited to the major seaports which are under the Government of India and no comparisons were carried out with other local or international ports. Practical implications There is a need to prioritize investments and improvement efforts where they are most needed, instead of following a generalized approach. Once the benchmark ports are identified, the port authorities and other relevant stakeholders should work in detail on the factors causing inefficiencies, for possible improvements in performance. Originality/value This paper carried out a two-stage DEA that helped to derive useful insights on operational efficiency and financial performance of the India seaports. A combination of the financial and operational parameters, along with a comparison of the DEA results with the traditional measures, provided a different perspective on the Indian seaport performance. Considering the scarcity of research papers reported in the literature on DEA-based benchmarking studies of seaports in the Indian context, it has the potential to attract future research in this field.

Regulation and information asymmetry

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn McLaughlin ◽  
Assem Safieddine
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Stock Returns ◽  
Operating Performance ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Information Asymmetries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Industrial Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regulated Utilities

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the potential for regulation to reduce information asymmetries between firm insiders and outside investors.Design/methodology/approachExtensive prior research has established that there are substantial effects of information asymmetry in seasoned equity offers (SEOs). The paper tests for a mitigating effect of regulation on such information asymmetries by examining differences in long‐run operating performance, changes in that performance, and announcement‐period stock returns between unregulated industrial firms and regulated utilities that issue seasoned equity. The authors also segment the samples by firm size, since smaller firms are likely to have greater asymmetries.FindingsConsistent with regulated utility firms having lower levels of information asymmetry, they have superior changes in abnormal operating performance than industrial firms pre‐ to post‐issue and their announcement period returns are significantly less negative. These findings are most pronounced for the smallest firms, firms likely to have the greatest information asymmetries and where regulation could have its greatest effect.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper does not examine costs of regulation. Thus, future research could seek to measure the cost/benefit trade‐off of regulation in reducing information asymmetry. Also, future research could examine cross‐sectional differences between different industries and regulated utilities.Practical implicationsRegulation reduces information asymmetry. Thus, regulation or mandated disclosure may be appropriate in industries/markets where information asymmetry is severe.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to compare the operating performance of regulated and unregulated SEO firms.

scholarly journals Unemployment and spell duration during the Great Recession in the EU

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Gradín ◽  
Olga Cantó ◽  
Coral del Río
Keyword(s):  
Great Recession ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
Unemployment Spells ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
The Eu

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the different dynamic characteristics of unemployment in a selected group of European Union countries during the current Great Recession, which had unequal consequences on employment depending on the country considered. Design/methodology/approach – The paper follows Shorrocks’s proposal of a duration-sensitive measure of unemployment, and uses cross-sectional data reported by Eurostat coming from European Labour Force Surveys. Findings – The results add some evidence on the relevance of incorporating spells’ duration in measuring unemployment, finding remarkable differences in unemployment patterns in time among European countries. Research limitations/implications – In this paper unemployment is analyzed for all the labor force. Future research should investigate patterns across specific groups such as young people, women, immigrants or the low skilled. Practical implications – It is generally accepted that the negative impact of unemployment on individual welfare can be very different depending on its duration. However, conventional statistics on unemployment do not adequately capture to what extent the recession is not only increasing the incidence of unemployment but also its severity in terms of duration in time of ongoing unemployment spells. The paper shows an easy and practical way to do it in order to improve the understanding of the unemployment phenomenon, using information usually reported by statistical offices. Originality/value – First, the paper provides a tool for dynamic analysis of unemployment based on reported cross-sectional data. Second, the paper demonstrates the empirical relevance of considering spells’ duration when assessing differences in unemployment across countries or in unemployment trends. This is usually neglected or only partially addressed by most conventional measures of unemployment.

The emergence of entrepreneurial team as a research field – way forward

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willy Das ◽  
Satyasiba Das ◽  
Manojit Chattopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Entrepreneurial Team ◽  
Research Stream

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review and critique the existing literature on entrepreneurial teams (ET) by taking a multi-disciplinary viewpoint and provide a future research agenda based on the identified themes and trends.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review (SLR) was undertaken using “business source complete”. Further scrutiny and application of exclusion criteria led to a final sample consisting of 139 papers from 27 different journals belonging to not just entrepreneurship and strategic management but also other disciplines like OB, finance, sociology, psychology, etc. Using qualitative thematic analysis, the authors identified 11 major themes.FindingsThe paper reviews both the eleven themes and the linkages between the themes. Thereby identifying areas that have been understudied and those that have received comparatively more attention. The review revealed that the research stream possesses certain conceptual and methodological concerns apart from its cross-sectional and primarily bivariate nature. Five such main concerns have been identified and discussed in detail. Other elements of the resulting research agenda include calls for more clinical process-oriented research, further attention to context, shifting the level of analysis, and a need to integrate across disciplines.Originality/valueThis paper incorporates a broad insight of ET across academic disciplines to show how future contributions could benefit by incorporating research from other fields. In doing so, provides a starting point for more nuanced discussions around the interrelationships between the different conversations that are taking place in the ET literature.

Fashion designers' attitude-behaviour inconsistencies towards a sustainable business model: a neutralisation theory perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asphat Muposhi ◽  
Brighton Nyagadza ◽  
Chengedzai Mafini
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Sustainable Fashion ◽  
Fashion Designers

PurposeFashion designers in South Africa remain ambivalent in embracing sustainable fashion. This study examines the role of neutralisation techniques on attitude towards sustainable fashion. The study was conducted in South Africa, an emerging market known for water scarcity and pollution emanating from the textile industry.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was used to collect cross-sectional data from a sample of 590 fashion designers using a web-based online survey. Study constructs were drawn from the neutralisation theory and theory of planned behaviour.FindingsStandard multiple regression analysis results identified denial of injury, appeal to higher loyalties and external locus of control as the major rationalisation techniques influencing South African designers' negative attitudes towards sustainable fashion.Research limitations/implicationsResearch was conducted in South Africa where the concept of sustainable fashion is still at developmental stages. The generalisation of the study findings may be enhanced by extending the study to other markets with a fully developed market for sustainable fashion.Practical implicationsThe study results underscore the necessity of reducing social, structural and institutional barriers associated with the adoption of sustainable fashion. This study provides input towards efforts to develop attitude change strategies to stimulate designers to embrace sustainable fashion.Originality/valueThe research study contributes to theory, practice and future research.

Health literacy and mental health of school principals. Results from a German cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Dadaczynski ◽  
Claudia Kotarski ◽  
Katharina Rathmann ◽  
Orkan Okan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

PurposeSchool principals are generally seen as key facilitators for the delivery and long-term implementation of activities on school health promotion, including health literacy. However, there is little evidence on the health literacy and health status of this occupational group. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the health literacy of school principals and its association with mental health indicators.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional online survey with German school principals and members of the management board (vice principals) was conducted (n = 680, 68.3% female). Demographic (gender, age) and work characteristics (type of school, professional role) as well as health literacy served as independent variables. Mental health as a dependent variable included well-being, emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Next to uni- and bivariate analysis, a series of binary logistic regression models was performed.FindingsOf the respondents, 29.2% showed a limited health literacy with significant differences to the disadvantage of male principals. With regard to mental health, respondents aged over 60 years and those from schools for children with special educational needs were less often affected by low well-being as well as frequent emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Taking into account demographic and work characteristics, regression models revealed significant associations between a low level of health literacy and poor mental health across all indicators.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow to draw conclusions about the causal pathways between health literacy and mental health. Although the sample has been weighted, the results cannot be generalized to the whole population of school principals. There is a need for evidence-based interventions aiming at promoting health literacy and mental health tailored to the needs of school principals.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate health literacy and its association with health indicators among school principals.

Cognitive and affective predictors of occupational stress and job performance: the role of perceived organizational support and work engagement

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Junça Silva ◽  
Cannanda Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Perceived Organizational Support ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThis study aimed to (1) analyze whether the perceived organizational support (POS) was a significant predictor of performance and stress and (2) explore the mediating role of engagement in these relations.Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypotheses, the authors collected data with 200 working adults in a mandatory quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic crisis.FindingsThe results showed that the POS contributed to increase engagement, and consequently, job performance. These relations also proved to be significant for stress, because when the POS increased, the work engagement also increased, and as a result decreased occupational stress.Research limitations/implicationsThis study relied on a cross-sectional design. Therefore, future research should consider a daily design to replicate this study and analyze daily fluctuations. Overall, the authors can conclude that work engagement is an affective process through which POS decreases stress and increases performance.Originality/valueThis study tests the mediating effect of work engagement on the link between POS, stress and performance, and its theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Does social reporting matter? Empirical evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel Sarea ◽  
Monsurat Ayojimi Salami
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Voluntary Disclosure ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Social Reporting ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gcc Countries

Purpose This paper aims to examine the level of Islamic social reporting (ISR) disclosure of Islamic banking in Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries using a checklist based on Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institution (AAOIFI) standards. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative method – Tobit Model – is adopted in this study. The unweighted disclosure method used to measure the ISR disclosure checklist consist of 51 items in Islamic banks (IBs) in the GCC countries. The stakeholder theory and legitimacy theory are used to investigate the possible banking performance factors affecting the accounting practices such as ISR disclosure in IBs. Findings The findings show that the ISR disclosure index is linked to the IBs’ performance indicators in GCC countries. The result indicates both Islamic banking profitability and age establish positive and statistically significant relationship with ISR disclosure while leverage establishes significant negative relationship with ISR disclosure. This implies that Islamic banking profitability, leverage, and age are essential bank performance indicators that make ISR disclosure worthy of doing even in the presence of Islamic bank stakeholders in GCC countries. This finding linked compliance with the mandatory disclosure recommendations of AAOIFI Standard No. 7, as well as voluntary disclosure. Research limitations/implications This study used cross sectional data for the year 2019, which is considered more recent despite its being a year data analysis. However, future research should consider mix method as well as more analysis tools provided their number of observations are sufficient enough. Social implications The study identifies the factors that may enhance Islamic financial institutions, including Islamic banking in GCC countries, to comply with ISR disclosure. The application of this study supports Accounting standards setters to consider standards that support ISR disclosure in Islamic banking in different countries. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is novel in exploring the level of ISR disclosure in Islamic banking in GCC countries by using a checklist based on AAOIFI standard No. 7 and establishes the relationship between ISR disclosure index and IBs profitability, leverage, as well as age of Islamic banking in operation.

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