Artful interventions for workplace bullying: exploring forum theatre

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margot Edwards ◽  
Kate Marie Blackwood
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Workplace Bullying ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Small Group Teaching ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Forum Theatre ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
Long Term Impact

Purpose This paper aims to explore the phenomenon of workplace bullying in response to recent calls for the development of different approaches and provide an exploration of artful approaches to intervention. Design/methodology/approach The paper offers a unique conceptualisation of workplace bullying and applies a phenomenological lens to the issue. A review of literature explores the potential value of artful interventions, and drawing on authors’ knowledge and experience with the targets of bullying, they design a forum theatre intervention for use in practice. Findings This paper argues that phenomenology offers a unique and valuable approach to understanding workplace bullying and its management. In turn, the authors propose that artful ways of engaging with workplace bullying could be an effective way of empowering workers in a “moment” of workplace bullying, and present a forum theatre workshop specifically designed for application in workplace contexts where bullying is prevalent. The three-phase workshop aims to help employees critically reflect on their current work practices and is intended for use in small group teaching. Research limitations/implications The long-term impact of this intervention has not been evaluated against more traditional methods of addressing this problem. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of this, and other art-based interventions, in workplace settings. Originality/value Workplace bullying research is predominantly conducted from a functionalist perspective, and other methods of inquiry, such as phenomenology, are rarely considered. This paper argues for artful interventions and provides an original, tailored workshop designed to empower employees to recognise and respond to bullying in the workplace.

Professional trilemma of students with family business experience

Kybernetes ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaka Vadnjal ◽  
Predrag Ljubotina
Keyword(s):  
Family Business ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Senior Student ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East European ◽  
Educational Backgrounds ◽  
The Mean

Purpose – Family businesses represent the largest share of small-sized firms in majority of economies around the world. Having in mind the global economic situation this trend is expected to be continued. With the goal of better understanding of the process of transferring the business to the next generation, which ensures a long-term success, the purpose of this paper is to investigate expectations of student’s with family business background. Design/methodology/approach – The research addresses the issue of an individual’s perception of entrepreneurship and the related factors that influence individual’s decision on whether to build a career as an employee, become a successor of family business or start own business as an independent entrepreneur. The authors separately analyzed West European (data from another study), East European and Slovenian senior student population for the purpose of comparative study. Students were surveyed and binominal regression was used for statistics. Findings – The results show differences between investigated populations and positions Slovenian students in the mean. The authors anticipate that differences are caused by historical, cultural and educational backgrounds. This challenging area is raising a lot of sub-questions for possible future research. Originality/value – The value of the study is in the replication of the existing methodology from the benchmarking study and result comparison.

scholarly journals All insects are equal, but some insects are more equal than others

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 852-863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnout R.H. Fischer ◽  
L.P.A. (Bea) Steenbekkers
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Prior Experience ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Insects As Food ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Lack of acceptance of insects as food is considered a barrier against societal adoption of the potentially valuable contribution of insects to human foods. An underlying barrier may be that insects are lumped together as one group, while consumers typically try specific insects. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ways in which Dutch consumers, with and without insect tasting experience, are more or less willing to eat different insects. Design/methodology/approach In a quasi-experimental study (n=140), the participants with and without prior experience in eating insects were asked to give their willingness to eat a range of insects, and their attitudes and disgust towards eating insects. Findings Insects promoted in the market were more preferred than the less marketed insects, and a subgroup of preferred insects for participants with experience in eating insects was formed. Research limitations/implications Although well-known insects were more preferred, general willingness to eat remained low for all participants. The results indicate that in future research on insects as food the specific insects used should be taken into account. Practical implications Continued promotion of specific, carefully targeted, insects may not lead to short-term uptake of insects as food, but may contribute to willingness to eat insects as human food in the long term. Originality/value The paper shows substantial differences between consumers who have and who have not previously tasted insects, with higher acceptance of people with experience in tasting insects for the specific insects that are frequently promoted beyond their generally more positive attitude towards eating insects.

Reflective leadership review: a framework for improving organisational performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Ann Castelli
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Organisational Performance ◽  
Effective Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scholarly Literature ◽  
Potential Efficacy ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe, examine and discuss scholarly literature on reflective leadership, a topic gaining momentum as a result of globalization. Despite the growing popularity of reflective leadership techniques, current and aspiring leaders are struggling to find ways in which to effectively practice reflection as a consequence of a lack of tangible available guidance. Design/methodology/approach – Scholarly literature on reflective leadership was examined and presented in this paper. Discussion on the potential efficacy of reflective leadership is also included as the available literature on the topic is scarce in comparison to other more established leadership techniques. Findings – Reflective leadership has been shown to improve organizational performance. The advent of globalization further intensifies the need for an effective approach leaders may deploy when assessing the long-term consequences of their actions and decisions. Therefore, methods to extend the theory and effective practice of reflective leadership are necessary to enable the future development of leaders. Practical implications – This paper provides leaders with strategies for improving their leadership effectiveness. Practical techniques for utilizing reflective leadership are offered. Originality/value – This paper describes the challenges faced by leaders when adopting reflective leadership as a way to improve organizational performance. A universal framework is presented for the effective practice of reflective leadership. This framework provides a basis for future research to test the efficacy of the model.

The changing nature of the workplace and the future of office space

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 424-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Harris
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Office Space ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Demand Profile ◽  
City Of London ◽  
The City ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline key changes happening within occupier businesses that will have a medium- to long-term impact upon the demand for office space and, ultimately, the property investment market. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on survey work undertaken for the City of London Corporation as well as direct experience in advising corporate occupiers on their accommodation needs. Findings – The findings suggest major changes taking place in the demand profile of office occupiers, in terms of both quantitative and qualitative demand for space. Practical implications – There are a number of practical implications arising from the findings, not the least being the need for investors to consider the appropriateness of current standards for base building design and fit-out in contemporary offices. Originality/value – The paper presents the output of primary research and consulting and is therefore of an original nature. Its value lies in the fact that the findings reflect the actual experiences and plans of corporate occupiers and can be taken as reliable indicators of future demand for office space.

scholarly journals An ideological analysis of sustainable careers: identifying the role of fantasy and a way forward

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Matthijs Bal ◽  
Lee Matthews ◽  
Edina Dóci ◽  
Lucy P. McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Future Research ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Agency ◽  
The Individual

PurposeScholarly and general interest in sustainable careers is flourishing. Sustainable careers are focused on the long-term opportunities and experiences of workers across dynamic employment situations, and are characterized by flexibility, meaning and individual agency. The current paper analyzes and challenges the underlying ideological assumptions of how sustainable careers are conceptualized and advocates the inclusion of the ecological meaning of sustainability and the notion of dignity into the sustainable careers concept.Design/methodology/approachUsing Slavoj Žižek's (1989, 2001) conceptualization of ideology as fantasy-construction, the authors explore how the use of sustainable careers is influenced by fantasies about the contemporary workplace and the role of the individual in the workplace. This is a conceptual method.FindingsThe authors argue that the concept of sustainable careers is grounded in the neoliberal fantasy of the individual. The paper concludes by presenting an alternative concept of sustainable careers grounded in a dignity-perspective on sustainability, which offers an alternative theoretical understanding of sustainable careers in the contemporary workplace, sharpening its contours and usefulness in theorizing careers.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to systematically analyze the use and conceptualization of sustainable careers in the literate and to expose the ideological underpinnings of the concept. Propositions are developed to be explored by future research.

Organizational culture for lean programs

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 584-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Ernesto Pereira Paro ◽  
Mateus Cecilio Gerolamo
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Quantitative Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Competing Values Framework ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Competing Values ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lean Practices ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Recent studies suggest that the implementation of Lean will only be successful when aligned with organizational culture (OC). The purpose of this paper is to understand an Ideal Lean Culture (ILC) in the Brazilian context. Design/methodology/approach This diagnosis is based on the Competing Values Framework, and it is the result of a survey with 51 experts in charge of implementation of Lean programs in organizations operating in different industry segments in Brazil. Findings The results show that an ILC for Brazilian organizations seems to have the dominant profile of the hierarchy culture, thus characterizing a highly structured and formal place, with rules and procedures governing the behavior of people. Research limitations/implications Some limitations of this study include: although a survey has been applied, the research cannot be classified as a quantitative study; it brings the opinion of a limited number of Brazilian experts about lean programs; both the sample size could be increased and the nationality of respondents could be expanded for future research. Practical implications It is proposed that an organization (or an area of the organization) that wants to be successful in its lean journey must, first, measure its OC and then promote a cultural profile aligned with the results presented in this paper. By doing so, it is expected that this lean journey should have a higher probability of long-term success and sustainability of lean practices, concepts and philosophy. Originality/value In the last two decades much has been written about the importance of OC in the success of lean programs. However, very few studies has mapped and measured an ILC in a way that allows researchers, consultants and managers to evaluate if an OC is close to or distant from an ILC.

scholarly journals Managing employees beyond age 65: from the margins to the mainstream?

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 646-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lain ◽  
Wendy Loretto
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Later Life ◽  
First Century ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Against a backdrop of legislative and policy changes, this paper assesses the extent to which the over-65 age-group is moving from the margins to the mainstream of UK employment. The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in HR research and practice which, it is argued, has paid relatively little attention to the over-65s. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis draws on three waves of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) (2001, 2008, 2014), to explore the extent to which organisational, occupational and sectoral marginalisation of the over-65s has changed in the twenty-first century. Findings – The results show that the share of 65-69 year olds working as employees doubled between 2001 and 2014, primarily because long-term established employees worked longer. Overrepresentations of lower-level “Lopaq” occupations reduced, and over-65s became more integrated across occupations and sectors. Research limitations/implications – More research is needed to understand the factors driving the steady move from the margins to the mainstream (e.g. LFS does not measure pensions), and future research on the older workforce should automatically include workers in this age-group. Practical implications – The discussion considers the implications for managerial practice, in a context of increasingly age-diverse workforces. Originality/value – This paper addresses a gap in research into later life working and also demonstrates the ways in which the nature of employment among the over-65s is changing, thereby challenging some of the assumptions about those who work into later life and how they are – or should be managed.

Lean maintenance index: a measure of leanness in maintenance organizations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maheswar Singha Mahapatra ◽  
Dinesh Shenoy
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Improvements ◽  
Maintenance Program ◽  
Maintenance Work ◽  
Prime Movers

PurposeMaintenance organizations continue to be under pressure to systematically eliminate maintenance wastes and deliver services that their customers value. To this end, maintenance managers are implementing lean maintenance practices. But how does one consistently estimate the leanness of these practices in their organization? The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for a metrics – referred to as the lean maintenance index (LMI) that can help managers estimate the leanness of maintenance practices.Design/methodology/approachBased on a comprehensive review of literature in the domain, this study identifies four factors and nineteen subfactors that are essential for the success of a lean maintenance program. A fuzzy-set-theory-based assessment framework is developed that can be used by an in-house team to measure the degree of implementation of lean maintenance practices in their organization. The authors applied the framework to a maintenance workshop that services diesel engines and other prime movers.FindingsThe framework provides maintenance managers valuable insights to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of their organization vis-à-vis their maintenance practices, thus enabling them come up with a firm action plan for future process improvements.Originality/valueThis paper adapts the concept of agility and readiness to maintenance work. A key contribution of this study is the identification of factors and subfactors that forms the basis to estimate the leanness of maintenance practices in an organization. Another contribution is its application to a large maintenance workshop that demonstrates the ease of its implementation. Future research in this area can help identify more factors and subfactors and thus improve the estimation of leanness.

Acquisitions and the shareholder base

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (10/11) ◽  
pp. 1416-1432
Author(s):  
Nicholas Wonder ◽  
Claire Lending
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Market Value ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Instrumental Variables Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of acquisitions on the number of shareholders of the acquirer (the shareholder base) and relate that effect to the method of payment and the ratio between the target’s and acquirer’s shareholder bases prior to the acquisition. Design/methodology/approach Using 348 acquisitions from 1993 to 2013 for which both parties are public, American firms, the paper measures changes in the acquirer’s shareholder base from before announcement through to four years after completion. OLS regressions, together with an instrumental variables approach addressing the endogeneity of acquisition payment, indicate the determinants of those changes. Findings Acquisitions completed partly or entirely in stock lead to large increases in the shareholder base, and the increases mostly endure over the four-year window examined in the study. Regression results indicate that the target to acquirer shareholder ratio has a much greater impact on the acquirer’s base for stock acquisitions than for cash acquisitions. The ratio is also associated with changes in beta. Practical implications Because existing theoretical and empirical literature shows that the shareholder base impacts the risk, liquidity, and market value of stock, managers evaluating potential targets and modes of payment may wish to consider the likely impact on their firms’ shareholder bases, as may investors contemplating the effects of an acquisition announcement. Originality/value This is the first work documenting both a short- and long-term impact of acquisitions on the shareholder base and the first to investigate the determinants of the change in the base.

scholarly journals An ethical perspective of business CSR and the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-253
Author(s):  
Timothy Manuel ◽  
Terri L. Herron
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ethical Perspective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Individual Health ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on business responses to the pandemic through an ethical lens and to make recommendations for future research in this unique environment. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents many ethical implications for businesses’ responses in balancing individual health and firm risks during the initial and recovery stages. What decisions are businesses making in this pandemic environment? What ethical foundations most align with these decisions? Design/methodology/approach The authors review recent business actions taken in response to the pandemic in light of models of motivation for corporate social responsibility (CSR). Findings Businesses have engaged in a wide range of philanthropic CSR actions during the pandemic, likely motivated by both utilitarianism and deontological factors in response to the needs of internal and external stakeholders. The pandemic has disparate impacts, generally hurting lower-income individuals more, likely increasing inequality. Research limitations/implications There are many questions for future research to determine where pandemic-related CSR has different effects for businesses over the long term compared to the pre-pandemic environment. Social implications Businesses must act to benefit society, protect employees and maintain the trust of their stakeholders during the pandemic. Originality/value Existing models have examined corporate disaster philanthropic responses that were localized and acute. Business responses to the COVID-19 virus are unique given the severity, the widespread nature and the duration of the crisis.

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