Positive language and virtuous leadership: walking the talk

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Meyer ◽  
Matthias P. Hühn
Keyword(s):  
Oral Communication ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Leadership ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Business Practitioners ◽  
Organizational Scholarship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to discuss the advantages and challenges of using virtuous language in business. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a theoretical exploration based on a literature review and philosophical analysis that uses a quantitative study from the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as its starting point. Findings This study argues that neo-Aristotelian leadership and positive leadership explain why companies whose financial filings use value-laden language that stresses the higher purpose of the organisation to outperform companies whose reports use the language of profit maximisation. While neo-Aristotelian leadership is based on Aristotle’s Rhetoric, positive leadership is primarily influenced by research results from Positive Psychology and Positive Organizational Scholarship. The two approaches to leadership highlight something that conventional business research largely ignores, namely, the role of values as drivers of human behavior and the importance of character in leadership. Both research streams indicate that it is possible for organisations to do well and do good because they are seen as groups of value-driven individuals. Thus, using virtuous/positive communication is a possible means to do well financially and to (re-)humanize the business world of tomorrow. Research limitations/implications The BHI study investigates the outcomes of written language only; thus, it does not consider oral communication. Moreover, there is no “perfect level” of virtuous language in corporate environments. We should not expect the same precision in ethics as in mathematics. Practical implications By way of explaining how to best use virtuous language in a business context, this study helps business practitioners to do good and well. Social implications This study offers a pathway to (re-)humanize tomorrow’s world of business, which is once again subjugating humanity to imagined technological imperatives. Originality/value By deliberating the benefits and possible downsides of using virtuous language in a business environment, this paper advances a topic that has recently gained considerable attention but is still in need for more research.

Understanding trust across cultures: an empirical investigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-314
Author(s):  
Namporn Thanetsunthorn ◽  
Rattaphon Wuthisatian
Keyword(s):  
National Culture ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Business Success ◽  
Learning Material ◽  
Global Business ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Managerial Implications

Purpose In today’s business world, trust is an essential ingredient for business success, as it serves as a foundation for enhancing a network of positive relationships among businesses, clients, employees and stakeholders. This study aims to shed light on a deeper and more substantial understanding of trust by examining the casual association between national culture and trust. Design/methodology/approach The study empirically investigates the extent to which cultural factors promote and constrain the level of trust using a mixed sample of 46 developed and developing countries observed over the period of 1990-2014. Findings The study provides new empirical evidence that trusting behavior is explained systematically by national culture. Countries with high individualistic and high long-term oriented cultures are the most favorable environment that fosters trust among people in society. In contrast, individuals from countries with the expression of high power distance and high uncertainty avoidance cultures appear to exhibit less trust in others. Practical implications The study provides managerial implications, especially for managers and management consultants in a global context, regarding the cultural relevance of trust in the new and foreign environment, and the effective management of trust among culturally diverse workforces and business relationships. In addition, the study should serve as a supplemental learning material in the business and management disciplines to demonstrate the essential role of trust in the global business environment. Originality/value The study adds to the existing body of knowledge on trust by offering new empirical insights into how culture plays an influential role in the creation of trust. This serves as a good starting point for academic scholars and practicing professionals to further develop appropriate management strategies and execution plans for managing trust across different cultural settings.

The impact of information technology and communication systems on the agility of supply chain management systems

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 2217-2236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roya Dehgani ◽  
Nima Jafari Navimipour
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Business World ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe impact of information technology (IT) on the agility of supply chain management (SCM) systems is very noticeable in the business world nowadays. Competition and constant changes, including product/technological innovations, decreasing product lifestyles and product proliferation, create pressure that affects the business environment. Organizations are required for answering the changes in the market to gain a competitive advantage and business success. The organizations are able to answer to unexpected market changes through supply chain market, and these changes are converted to business opportunities. Using IT to achieve the agility of SCM is one of the important factors to help the organizations. Therefore, the adoption of IT and its efficient implementation can improve the cooperation between supply chain agility through the rapid transfer, the distribution of accurate information and the use of information. This paper aims to investigate the impact of IT on the agility of SCM.Design/methodology/approachA total of 120 employees of the Golasal firm are involved in collecting data using a questionnaire. Measurements were performed in all questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale. The causal model is evaluated by structural equationmodeling technique, which is used to examine the reliability and validity of the model.FindingsThe results have shown that IT has positive influences on the agility of SCM systems. In addition, the obtained results have shown that four variables, namely, IT skills and knowledge, IT-based systems integration, IT infrastructure and design of global position system and geographic information systems, affect the agility of SCM systems.Originality/valueIn this paper, the agility of SCM systems is pointed out and the approach to resolve the problem is applied into a practical example. The presented model provides a complete framework to examine the impact of IT on the agility of SCM systems.

Financial evaluation of the convergent technologies development in a digital economy

Kybernetes ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1425-1451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franja Pižmoht ◽  
József Györkös ◽  
Dijana Močnik
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Evolutionary Model ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Marketing Area

Purpose This paper aims to explore the digital economy in the fields of the most promising new technologies: information and communication technologies, biotechnology and nanotechnology. It highlights the convergence of nano-, bio-, info- and cognitive (NBIC) technologies by developing a model for the accurate evaluation of different types of options in the development process of convergent technologies. Design/methodology/approach The empirical research is based on theoretical analysis and case studies. The authors conducted six in-depth interviews. The study covered different research projects led by centres of excellence, competence centres and institutions that support the transfer of innovations in the economic and business environment. Findings The research findings prove that there is a convergence of NBIC technologies that can be observed and modelled. The created evolutionary model of NBIC convergence, also based on the theory of real options, allows a proper evaluation of the entire convergence process. Practical implications For enterprises and scientific research institutions, the NBIC model could represent the starting point for developing further concepts of investment evaluation. The model also considers the indicators of the innovation system, which, in addition to the marketing area, include regulatory challenges of companies (competition, copyrights, patents, taxation, etc.). Originality/value This paper enhances the understanding of new technologies in a digital economy. The purpose of this study is to clarify the principal factors for the effective observation and measurement of the convergence phenomenon. It also offers suggestions for improvement of the research and innovation system in the new economy.

Fun 2 fit aerobics: the misadventures of Amy and Azi and a Malaysian start up!

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Amran Rasli ◽  
Rosman Yusoff ◽  
Huam Hon Tat
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Business World ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Planning And Control ◽  
Fitness Industry ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control ◽  
Starting A Business

Subject area Entrepreneurship. Study level/applicability First year undergraduate students in business and management. Case overview “The Misadventures of Amy and Azi” case presents a brief historical perspective of two partners' venture into the aerobic and fitness industry. The case discusses the partners' foray into the business world armed with great determination and a one year business plan but without proper understanding of the operational requirements of running a business. Though successful in the launching of the first studio, the initial success had blinded the vision of one of the partners, Azi who wanted to open another branch quickly. After a few months of operation, they realized that the second studio was a failure and had sapped the profit from the first centre. To make matter worse, the two partners are stuck with the second studio and have to find another premise for the first studio due to short-sightedness when signing the rental agreement. Expected learning outcomes The case study enables the students to: understand the current business environment of fitness industry in Malaysia, appreciate the need for proper planning and control in starting a business, to be aware of the importance of understanding legal implications in starting a business, the need to conduct proper market research before starting and to understand multi-cultural and multi-religion issues in Malaysia. Supplementary materials Teaching note.

Managing renewal in fragmented business networks

IMP Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malena Ingemansson Havenvid ◽  
Håkan Håkansson ◽  
Åse Linné
Keyword(s):  
Business Environment ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Business Relationships ◽  
Core Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Construction Company ◽  
Construction Companies

Purpose – The authors argue that the construction industry is characterised by a fragmented business context with three main features: the project-based character, the strong focus on price in all parts of the supply chain along with the great importance of suppliers. This fragmentation has been identified as problematic for the industry’s ability to innovate and engage in renewal. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this further by focusing on how construction companies manage renewal in a fragmented business context. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use an in-depth case study of a housing project in Sweden to discuss how firms manage renewal in a fragmented type of business environment. The authors identify the challenge of achieving renewal in an individual construction company as an issue of handling intra- and inter-organisational issues in both intra- and inter-project environments. Findings – The case study indicates that renewal can be partly handled and managed through long-term business relationships and partly through opening up to new business relationships. Moreover, innovations and learning developed in other projects can be used in the focal project, and due to a repetitive task it is possible for the construction company to use a core network of individuals and organisations to enhance overall renewal among actors. Research limitations/implications – The study needs to be supported by further empirical observations. The paper encourages IMP scholars to further investigate projects from an industrial network approach. Practical implications – The study shows that the internal resources of firms can be used systematically to create continuity in a multi-project organisation, and that relationships can be used to bridge learning and innovation among actors across projects. Originality/value – The paper addresses why firms in fragmented (project-based) businesses might struggle with achieving renewal in a novel way by outlining and investigating four organisational challenges they must handle.

Does marketing analytics capability boost firms' competitive marketing performance in data-rich business environment?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sabbir Rahman ◽  
Md Afnan Hossain ◽  
Fadi Abdel Muniem Abdel Fattah
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Marketing Analytics ◽  
Marketing Performance ◽  
Analytics Capability

PurposeFew well-documented studies have explained the importance of researching firms' marketing analytics capability (FMAC). In spite of its significance, there is scant attention to conceptualising and empirically investigating FMAC and its consequences in a data-driven business context. Thus, this study aims to develop and test a conceptual model that relates FMAC and its repercussions in the data-rich business environment.Design/methodology/approachThis study analysed the data from 250 managers amongst large and medium-sized manufacturing and service-intensive firms. Furthermore, this research performed an empirical study by using operationalised questionnaire survey method to verify the hypotheses and reach its theoretical and managerial implications. Structural equation modelling with maximum-likelihood estimation method was applied to verify the validity of the proposed research model.FindingsMultivariate analysis results show that FMAC significantly influences firms' competitive marketing performance (FCMP) with the presence of holistic marketing decision-making (HMDM) as a mediator. Moreover, adoption of artificial intelligence (AAI) enhances the relationship of FMAC-HMDM and FMAC-FCMP linkages.Practical implicationsThis study analyses how FMAC can enhance FCMP and contributes to resource-based views and technological capability theories. From a managerial perspective, guidelines are provided for marketers to adopt advance technologies, such as AI, to optimise FMAC and HMDM to achieve competitive marketing performance.Originality/valueBelieving that “how to be competitive in marketing performance under data-rich-environment”, this research is the first to use the data of a firm manager to facilitate the understanding of FMAC, which provides a new direction for improving marketing performance. In addition, HMDM and AAI are also proposed for firms to optimise FCMP.

Quota for the employment of disabled people in Russia: strategies for compliance

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Denisova‐Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Business Environment ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
Master's Level ◽  
Disabled People ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Creative Solutions ◽  
Informal Practices

TitleQuota for the employment of disabled people in Russia: strategies for compliance.Subject areaHuman resource management.Study level/applicabilityThe case might be used in teaching International Management or Russian society at a Master's level, including MBA.Case overviewQuotas for the employment of disabled people exist in many countries, including Russia. Many companies in Russia, however, are “forced” to find “creative solutions” to avoid this quota. This attitude is caused not by the unwillingness of companies to support disabled people, but rather by their moral and technical unreadiness to do so. Using one example of a company providing freight services, the case illustrates this. The company is faced with additional challenges: it is a 100 percent subsidiary, dependant on its parent company in many respects – especially in financial matters.Expected learning outcomesStudents:learn some informal practices (legislative norms and networks) in the Russian business context;,discuss how organizations are faced with informal practices and establish problem solving techniques;andreceive some additional information on the business environment in Russia.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

Turning open innovation into practice: trends in European corporates

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Onetti
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Organizational Boundaries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Opening Up ◽  
Current Practices

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the current practices in “corporate-startup collaboration” and “Open Innovation” (OI) in Europe. OI has increasingly become mainstream. A growing number of European corporates are adopting OI approaches to innovate and benefit from a more agile business environment. As Henry Chesbrough – the father of OI – finds out, there is “no single best model for engagement”. It highly depends on the goals that companies want to achieve. Models and approaches of corporate-startup collaboration are continuously evolving. A study of the variety of their effective-implementations in a real business context is therefore beneficial. Design/methodology/approach For the purpose of this research, the authors analyzed the European corporates that are considered as “innovation leaders” according to “SEP Europe’s Corporate Startup Stars” annual ranking. According to experts’ evaluations, these companies represent the most advanced case studies in open innovation. The paper analyses the experience of 31 European large corporates implementing effective corporate-startup collaboration. The research approach is exploratory and descriptive. Findings By adopting a practitioner-oriented perspective, the authors contribute to shed new light on how European corporates adopt OI and internalize arising innovations across organizational boundaries. Six key areas of OI activities have been identified and compared based on required resources’ commitment. Nearly all of the corporates have implemented low-commitment strategies such as organizing one-off startup events and/or sharing free resources with startups. By contrast, only a limited number of corporates engaged actively through acquisitions (M&A), which requires the highest level of commitment. Startup procurement and investments seem to be the most effective approaches to startup-corporate collaboration, while corporate accelerators and innovation outposts are adopted by only nearly half of the companies considered. Research limitations/implications Although the research is not a comprehensive survey, it is useful to identify current and future trends of successful corporate-startup collaboration as well as best practices by European leading companies working at the forefront of OI. Practical implications This study provides evidence of the main trends in corporate-startup collaborations, both opening up their innovation processes for mutual benefits. The results have important implications both for corporates and policy makers since the study also highlights the main barriers that hinder successful corporate-startup collaborations. Although many of the analyzed corporates report to have introduced “startup-friendly procedures” – including shortening payments times, simplification of vendor registration and qualification process – the vast majority of companies still need to be educated about the opportunities and benefits arising from Open Innovation (OI). This is particularly true for mid-size companies and small and medium-sized companies that based on some preliminary evidences have not yet fully engaged in open innovation due to limited resources and lack of ability to understand the disruption threats posed by recent technology and market evolution. Originality/value To date, there is little evidence on current practices of “Open Innovation” and “corporate-startup collaboration” in Europe. Only recently, large European corporations have concretely started to engage with startups. This paper attempts to shed new light on this so-far under-explored issue.

“Walking the talk” in times of recession: the case of corporate social responsibility in Greece

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Papacharalampous ◽  
Dimitra Papadimitriou ◽  
Christos Anagnostopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Strategic Orientation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Thematic Content ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Descriptive Account ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose This study aims to examine the actions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) at a national business context that is firmly defined by prolonged financial crisis. It does so by using a critical view on CSR disclosures in an attempt to get to the heart of the real matter of CSR, from both a thematic content and strategic orientation perspective. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a sample of 50 firms that operate in the Greek market and belong to the most significant sectors of the national economy. Their CSR disclosures are content-analyzed, providing a body of 836 pragmatic CSR actions. Findings The key findings of the study denote differences among the examined sectors, with banks and financial services being the most active in terms of CSR actions. Regarding the thematic content, firms choose mainly to implement actions with a societal character, while in terms of strategic orientation, they opt for CSR actions that serve existing cause-related programs without any brand presence. Moreover, profound interest appears for the external business environment, whereas the number of CSR actions with employees’ participation is limited. Practical implications The study offers a descriptive account of the actual CSR engagement in Greece amid a prolonged downturn, thus shedding light on the current CSR trends and deficits and helping decision makers embed CSR as an integral part of their business operation. Originality/value During adverse economic conditions, this study captures potential discrepancies between the “walk” (doing) and the “talk” (self-reporting) of CSR. In so doing, it contributes to CSR literature by exploring both the “what” and the “how” these actions are implemented.

Metric proposal for customer engagement in Facebook

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mª Ángeles Oviedo-García ◽  
Miriam Muñoz-Expósito ◽  
Mario Castellanos-Verdugo ◽  
María Sancho-Mejías
Keyword(s):  
Customer Value ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Customer Engagement ◽  
Previous Attempt ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Fine Tune

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a comprehensive metric for customer engagement in Facebook, the top social networking site. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is conceptual and it makes operative customer engagement concept in the specific context that is Facebook. Findings – In the new dynamic business environment fostered by Internet, where customer value goes beyond what the customer spends on a brand or a firm, firms will be able to fine-tune their customer engagement strategy by means of the metric results and its evolution. Research limitations/implications – The paper, which provides insight and a metric for customer engagement in Facebook, is a starting point for future conceptual and empirical research that might be conducted to further refine the proposed metric. The assessment of engagement achieved as a result of actions on Facebook will allow marketers to evaluate the efficiency of the action and, through its longitudinal evaluation, the fluctuation according to different posting strategies used, so managers can see whether engagement or disengagement is happening and then make decisions about which type of content generates better engagement. Originality/value – The metric offered is unique, as it focuses on customer engagement on Facebook, and to the best of author’s knowledge, there is not any previous attempt to measure it.

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