Mindfulness: performance, wellness or fad?

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Altizer
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Voluntary Participation ◽  
Business Leadership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mindfulness Practices ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on “mindfulness” as an emerging wellness, performance, and leadership solution in business, and the role of human resources (HR) in effectively leveraging the potential value while minimizing the potential risks. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews current research and current discussion of mindfulness in business, leadership, health, and management media, and provides recommendations for effective adoption. Findings Benefits of mindfulness practices include improved overall health and improved stress management for individuals and correlated benefits in productivity and performance of individuals, teams, and leaders. The potential risks of mindfulness include disengagement of non-participants and wasted investment if not integrated with company practices and culture. Practical implications This paper highlights the importance of aligning introduction of mindfulness with company practices and culture, ensuring voluntary participation, providing effective communication, and maintaining a secular nature of implementation. Originality/value This paper helps HR leaders leverage mindfulness for performance and wellness of individuals, teams and leaders.

Perceived interviewee anxiety and performance in telephone interviews

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debora Jeske ◽  
Kenneth S. Shultz ◽  
Sarah Owen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Telephone Interview ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Audio Recording ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on the role of interviewee anxiety as a predictor of perceived hireability (Study 1, n=82) and job suitability (Study 2, n=74). Design/methodology/approach Using an experimental design, participants were randomly allocated to one of two conditions (an audio recording of either a confident or anxious job candidate with identical scripts) and asked to take the role of an interviewer. Findings The anxious interviewee (played by an actor) was consistently rated as less hireable (in a combined sample based on Studies and 2), less suitable to the job and received less favorable hiring recommendations (as assessed in Study 2) than the confident interviewee (played by the same actor). Research limitations/implications The study was conducted with students who may have less interview experience than experienced interviewers. Practical implications The results suggest that anxiety has a negative biasing effect on perceived hireability and job suitability ratings. In other words, the behavioral manipulation of anxiety affects hireability ratings, independent of any subjective assessment of anxiety. Originality/value The findings provide evidence of an anxiety bias in telephone interview settings. The results highlight the importance of considering anxiety cues when training employment interviewers.

Budget preparers’ perceptions and performance-based budgeting implementation

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzaneh Jalali Aliabadi ◽  
Bita Mashayekhi ◽  
Graham Gal
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Loose Coupling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Organizational Processes ◽  
Budgetary Slack ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Budgeting Process

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the reason for the failure of implementing performance-based budgeting (PBB) at Iranian public universities and research institutes (PURI). This examination focuses on the actors participating in the budget processes and their perceptions.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses grounded theory and employs deep semi-structured interviews of budget preparers at Iranian PURI.FindingsThe results indicate a loose coupling between perceived and regulated budgeting process. This leads to budgetary slack as a barrier for authentic information flow and indeed PBB implementation. In the analysis of the results, the authors suggest some ways to improve the current situation of the budgeting processes at Iranian PURI.Practical implicationsPublic organizations that desire to transform their budgeting system need to consider their actors’ perceptions regarding the budgeting process. By explicitly considering their perceptions the organization may be able to solve any loose coupling as a result of internal, external and behavioral conditions.Originality/valueThis research examines issues that arise in the transformation of organizational processes. The focus on budget processes is critical for organizations which receive most, if not all, of their operational funds from a central authority. This research highlights the role of budget actors’ perceptions in transforming the budgeting process. An important result of this analysis is documenting the existence of loose coupling in the current budgeting process at Iranian PURI. This loose coupling results in slack creation and restricts the implementation of a PBB system. Additionally, this loose coupling limits the flow of authentic information.

Negligent retention of counterproductive employees

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis R. Self ◽  
Terry B. Self
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Disciplinary Action ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fiduciary Responsibility ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
Negligent Retention ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to encourage organizations to recognize the potential risks of retaining counterproductive employees on their payrolls and the steps they should take to prevent and/or correct the situation should it exist within their organizations. Design/methodology/approach – Literature examining a broader definition of the negligent retention doctrine, which includes employees who lack the qualifications for the positions they hold, those who are nonperformers, and/or those who exhibit toxic behaviours, and the consequences for retaining these counterproductive employees on the payroll. By using a multilayered approach, the article discusses the efforts organizations can use to identify potentially counterproductive employee behaviour and the steps the organizations should take to provide appropriate developmental strategies/programs to assist counterproductive employees, as well as, provide appropriate disciplinary action, as the situation dictates. Findings – The review highlights the potential financial drain and performance threats counterproductive employees create for organizations; offers explanations as to why counterproductive employees are often allowed to stay on the payroll; and provides suggestions for preventing the selection of counterproductive employees, for providing appropriate developmental. Practical implications – The article offers practical insights and suggestions to organizations that are interested in upholding their fiduciary responsibility to their stakeholders, while providing counterproductive employees opportunity to improve their performance/behaviours or to exit the organization. Originality/value – The article expands the definition of the negligent retention doctrine to include the often-ignored financial and emotional dangers of retaining unfit or counterproductive employees on the payroll.

The Baldrige Award’s falling fortunes

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1972-1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cook ◽  
Weiyong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Substitution Effect ◽  
Iso 9000 ◽  
Performance Excellence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Fashion ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore two explanations for the Baldrige Award’s decline. The management fashion literature suggests that it is a waning management fad, and the marketing choice literature suggests the likely presence of an ISO 9000 substitution effect. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study utilizes data collected on Baldridge Award applications, publications, ISO 9000 certifications and economic indicators. These data are contrasted to explore patterns and trends, and correlation analyses conducted to reveal the plausibility of the fad and substitution effect explanations for the Baldrige Award’s decline. Findings Data analysis confirms the Baldrige Award’s prolonged decline and strongly suggests it is in the final stage of a management fashion life cycle with support provided for the presence of an ISO 9000 substitution effect. Research limitations/implications Many organizations have shifted their attention away from the Baldrige as a means to quality and performance excellence, and there is evidence that the ISO 9000 standards are a viable substitute. Practical implications The Baldrige Program has served its purpose with the Baldrige Award being the pinnacle of recognition for performance excellence achievement. However, the Award is in decline and the Baldrige Program is on a path to financial exigency. The Baldrige must be reframed to recover its role as the preeminent approach to performance excellence. Originality/value The paper satisfies the need to examine potential causes for the diminishing role of the Baldrige Award and challenges both academicians and practitioners to reexamine the Baldrige Program.

scholarly journals Coping with COVID-19: the role of accounting in shaping charities' financial resilience

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Kober ◽  
Paul J. Thambar
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Reporting ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Resilience Framework ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the role of accounting in shaping charities' financial resilience during the COVID-19 crisis.Design/methodology/approachA case study of a charity was conducted. The financial resilience framework (Barbera et al., 2017) was applied to explore how accounting contributes to charities' capacity to cope with crises.FindingsThe results show how the accounting practices of budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting (financial and nonfinancial), as well as “accounting talk,” form part of the anticipatory and coping capacities that provided the charity the financial resilience to navigate the COVID-19 crisis.Practical implicationsThe paper evidences the important role accounting plays in establishing financial resilience to help charities cope with crises, particularly the importance of having accounting practices established prior to a crisis and accounting information forming part of managers' discussions. The study also demonstrates that financial reserves have an important buffering capacity role.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to examine the role of accounting within a charity during an economic crisis. The authors explore the role of accounting in shaping a charity's financial resilience and demonstrate the applicability of the financial resilience framework to a sudden, unexpected crisis such as COVID-19. They extend the accounting talk literature by highlighting its importance to a charity and during a crisis.

Mediating role of innovativeness between risk taking and performance in Indian universities

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Gupta ◽  
Anitha Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Risk Taking ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Work Culture ◽  
Creative Teaching ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose With increased globalization, Indian universities are struggling to attract and retain talented academics and are exploring the ways to enhance their service performance and brand image (BI). However, there is a paucity of studies that view universities through the corporate lens. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of innovativeness in the relationships of creativity, risk taking (RT), and performance in service delivery (PSD). Another objective is to find out how this nexus affects universities’ BI. Design/methodology/approach Responses were collected from 280 academics working for different Indian universities. Structural analysis was performed to examine the relationships under investigation. Findings The results indicate that innovativeness fully mediates the positive RT – PSD relationship and that PSD positively influences BI. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study mainly augment the theory of BI by empirically linking BI and its antecedents in the context of Indian universities. Practical implications For enhancing a university’s BI, management is encouraged to promote RT work culture along with innovative and creative teaching methods. Originality/value This study is one of the few studies in India that see academia through the corporate lens. Also, it provides evidence for the importance innovativeness in enhancing BI of a university.

scholarly journals Coopetition in temporary contexts: examining swift trust and swift distrust in humanitarian operations

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 1449-1473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Schiffling ◽  
Claire Hannibal ◽  
Yiyi Fan ◽  
Matthew Tickle
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Nonprofit Sector ◽  
Humanitarian Relief ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trust Theory ◽  
Humanitarian Operations ◽  
Swift Trust ◽  
Limited Choice ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeBy drawing on commitment-trust theory, we examine the role of swift trust and distrust in supporting coopetition under conditions of uncertainty and interdependence in the setting of humanitarian disaster relief organisations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents findings from case studies of 18 international humanitarian relief organisations based on 48 interviews and the analysis of publicly available documents.FindingsWe find that both swift trust and swift distrust support coopetition. As coopetition is simultaneous cooperation and competition, in this study we show how swift trust and swift distrust also occur simultaneously in coopetitive contexts.Research limitations/implicationsCoopetition as a strategic choice is well-researched in the private sector, yet has received less attention in the nonprofit sector, particularly in contexts that are shaped by interdependence and uncertainty. We show the importance of swift trust and swift distrust in coopetitive relationships by drawing on commitment-trust theory.Practical implicationsIn focusing on a competitive environment in which cooperation is essential, we find limited choice of coopetitive partners. Humanitarian relief organisations must often simply work with whichever other organisations are available. We highlight how trust and distrust are not opposite ends of a spectrum and detail how both contribute to coopetitive relationships.Originality/valueOur findings contribute to commitment-trust theory by explaining the important role of distrust in forging coopetitive relationships. Furthermore, we contribute to prior work on coopetition by focusing on an uncertain and interdependent nonprofit environment.

The “Halalification” of tourism

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 558-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faiza Khan ◽  
Michelle Callanan
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Market Segment ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the confusing use of terminology associated with tourism undertaken by Muslims and to identify key concerns associated with this type of tourism. Design/methodology/approach This is an exploratory study and adopts a critical review of literature following the evolutionary concept analysis method. Content analysis of popular UK media, UK-based tour operators’ websites and tourism strategies of destinations popular with Muslim tourists were conducted to examine the use of terminology. Findings There is no clear difference between the various terms (halal, Muslim friendly, Islamic, etc.) used. Overall, academia uses the term Islamic tourism, while the industry and media use various terms. Among destinations, however, there is no clear and consistent use of terminology. A key concern of Islamic tourism is the role of certification in assuring travellers and the lack of standardisation of halal certification. Research limitations/implications The paper is based on literature review and secondary data analysis. It lacks primary research. Practical implications This study highlights the need for consistent use of terminology across industry. Another implication is the issue surrounding halal certification of food and the importance of trust in the seller/service provide. Another trend that industry providers need to consider is the growth of the Muslim millennial traveller and the needs of this market segment. Originality/value The paper highlights the importance of studying the Muslim tourist market and provides a starting point for further research. It highlights several issues such as the need to develop a typology of Muslim tourists. Of particular interest is the concern whether halal values in danger of being commodified in the absence of a universal agreed criterion for halal certification.

Feasibility study of automatically performing the concrete delivery dispatching through machine learning techniques

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 573-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Maghrebi ◽  
Claude Sammut ◽  
S. Travis Waller
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Mixing Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Solution ◽  
Learning Techniques ◽  
Ready Mixed Concrete ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the implementation of machine learning (ML) techniques in order to automatically measure the feasibility of performing ready mixed concrete (RMC) dispatching jobs. Design/methodology/approach – Six ML techniques were selected and tested on data that was extracted from a developed simulation model and answered by a human expert. Findings – The results show that the performance of most of selected algorithms were the same and achieved an accuracy of around 80 per cent in terms of accuracy for the examined cases. Practical implications – This approach can be applied in practice to match experts’ decisions. Originality/value – In this paper the feasibility of handling complex concrete delivery problems by ML techniques is studied. Currently, most of the concrete mixing process is done by machines. However, RMC dispatching still relies on human resources to complete many tasks. In this paper the authors are addressing to reconstruct experts’ decisions as only practical solution.

scholarly journals Stewardship theory: is board accountability necessary?

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 1292-1314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Keay
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Agency Theory ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Agency Problems ◽  
Stewardship Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
General Terms ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate that notwithstanding the fact that stewardship theory embraces things like trust of directors, their professionalism, loyalty and willingness to be concerned for the interests of others, as well as rejecting the foundations of classic agency problems that are asserted by agency theory, board accountability is as relevant to stewardship theory as it is to agency theory. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies the theory underlying board accountability in corporate governance, which is so often applied both in the corporate governance literature and in practice with agency theory in mind, to stewardship theory. Findings While the idea of accountability of boards is generally associated with an explanation and conceptualisation of the role and behaviour of directors as agents within classic agency theory, the paper demonstrates that board accountability is a necessary part of board life even if the role of directors is explained and conceptualised in terms of stewardship theory. Practical implications The paper suggests some accountability mechanisms that might be employed in a stewardship approach. Originality/value While many authors have talked in general terms about board accountability and its importance, this is the first paper that has engaged in a substantial study that links board accountability directly with stewardship theory, and to establish that accountability is necessary.

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