Jeffrey Pfeffer: stop selling leadership malarkey

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Leavy
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Political Power ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Skills ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So ◽  
Modern Workplace

Purpose – For insights into the debate between consultants who advocate authentic, character-based leadership and those that believe leadership is primarily an exercise of political power, S & L interviewed Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, author of Leadership BS: Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time. Design/methodology/approach – Professor Pfeffer believes “By any measure or set of relevant measures, the leadership industry has failed and continues to do so.” The interviewer asks him why he reached this conclusion and what implications this has for practitioners. Findings – Simply put, leaders need to be true to what others need from them, not to how they may be feeling. Practical implications – Professor Pfeffer offers a reminder of the enduring functionality of political skills and acumen in the workplace, which many adherents of the “inspirational leadership” approach don’t seem to want to embrace. Originality/value – Professor Pfeffer offers a no-holds-barred account of the intersection of modern workplace realities and self-interested leadership.

SFC reminding sponsors of the need to adopt an attitude of “professional scepticism”

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-84
Author(s):  
Gareth Hughes ◽  
James Comber
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Regulatory Regime ◽  
Group Company ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Professional Skepticism ◽  
Company Limited ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose To remind sponsors to adopt an attitude of “professional skepticism” in Hong Kong IPOs. Design/methodology/approach Explains the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”)'s sanction on BOCOM International (Asia) Limited (“BIAL”) as a sign of determination to hold sponsors to account as gatekeepers to the Hong Kong capital markets. Findings The SFC has reprimanded and fined BIAL HK$15 million for failing to discharge its duties as a sole sponsor in a listing application for China Huinong Capital Group Company Limited (“China Huinong”), a company established in the PRC. This substantial fine reinforces the need for sponsors to ensure that they fully and properly discharge all of their duties, and that they will be held responsible for any failure to do so, even if the listing is not ultimately approved. Practical implications If sponsors fail to fulfil the requirements required under the sponsors’ regulatory regime, the SFC will be proactive and impose tough sanctions, even if the listing application is eventually withdrawn or returned by the SEHK. Originality/value Practical guidance from experienced regulatory, financial and commercial dispute resolution lawyers.

Constructions of inclusion at two senior nursing home units in Sweden: immigrants’ perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-476
Author(s):  
Solange Barros de Alcantara Hamrin
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Immigrant Integration ◽  
Nursing Assistants ◽  
Immigrant Workers ◽  
International Organisations ◽  
Relational Dynamics ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose This study is an inductive exploration of factors that are relevant to the inclusion and integration of immigrant workers in a Swedish workplace. The purpose of this paper is to examine the experiences of immigrant employees with other organisational actors at two senior nursing units in Sweden. Design/methodology/approach Results are drawn from the analyses of interviews with six female and three male immigrant nursing assistants living permanently in Sweden. Findings Trustful relationships with other organisational actors, during both formal and informal interactions, are considered essential facilitating inclusion of these immigrant workers. Immigrant workers experienced inclusion when they achieved language competence (or felt supported in their attempts to do so) and bridged cultural differences. The results also highlight conditions for interactions and leadership as factors influencing inclusion. In addition, inclusion implied acculturation or awareness of the values of native-born citizens. Research limitations/implications The study suggests that immigrants’ relational dynamics with their colleagues are essential to inclusion, despite types of studies that focus mainly on the competences of leaders to manage diversity. Practical implications The results have implications for organisations’ development of a more democratic workplace with more inclusiveness and with satisfied employees. Originality/value The study gives voice to immigrant workers, which is rare in Swedish and international organisations that deal with the issue of immigrant integration in the workplace.

Lonely are the brave

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Snéha Khilay
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Dominant Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose – Highlights the notion of a dominant organizational culture and examines what can happen when this conflicts with an individual employee’s set of beliefs. Design/methodology/approach – Provides examples of employees who have challenged the dominant culture in their organization and considers some of the outcomes. Findings – Investigates how people get caught up in the “need-to-be-liked” syndrome and behave in a manner that causes discomfort, yet continue to do so while occasionally losing sight of strongly held values or perspectives. Practical implications – Tells the stories of individuals who, although their fight for justice involved difficulties and emotional grief, had to take responsibility and focus on the outcome they wanted, basically to continue their personal and professional lives with their heads held high. Originality/value – Recounts cases of individuals who have faced adversity in their work because of them voicing their differences, raising concerns and being treated in a negative manner as a result.

scholarly journals Men procuring sexual services from women: everyman or peculiar man?

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Birch ◽  
Jane Ireland
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
New South ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sex Worker ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Thrill Seeking ◽  
Sexual Services ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore characteristics of men procuring sexual services from women. Design/methodology/approach – This is a quantitative study using questionnaires and purposive sampling. The sample was from New South Wales, Australia, and included brothels and outreach organisations where sex work is decriminalised. The participants were 309 men who reported procuring sexual services with women. Findings – Primary motivations for procurement included thrill/excitement and attractiveness of the sex worker. Cluster analysis identified five groups, the most frequent being those with a drive for exciting, thrill-seeking sex with an attractive partner and those with the same drive but not wanting investment. High proportions of men were married, in professional employment and did not present with a criminal history. Sexual experiences procured were conventional. Procurement presented as an enduring behaviour maintained across decades, commencing at a young age. Involvement in procurement preceded decriminalisation. Practical implications – The results do not support men's procurement as primarily “deviant”. Professionals may need to explicitly enquire about such behaviour where relevant to do so (e.g. in discussing sexual health) and in doing so ensure procurement is discussed as normative and not as unusual behaviour. Originality/value – Challenges any conceptualisation of procurement as deviant, extending the research base further by capturing users of such services as opposed to attitudes towards procurement.

Responsible tourism education of younger consumers: the role of mini-clubs in mountain resorts

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-419
Author(s):  
Hugues Seraphin
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourism Education ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
Social Empowerment ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to discuss whether children can play a role in the sustainability of the tourism industry as a whole. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a literature review of key terms: sustainable tourism; mountain tourism; children; and empowerment. Findings Children could potentially play a role in the sustainability of tourism if they are empowered to do so. mini-clubs in mountain resorts could, for instance, contribute to their social empowerment using a catalytic strategy. Practical implications Practitioners involved in the sustainability of the tourism industry should investigate ways to make the sustainability endeavour of the industry more inclusive. As for academics, they should devote time for research on children, as they are an important stakeholder group for the industry. Originality/value This paper focusses on children in the tourism industry. There is a dearth of research in this area.

Succeeding with organizational change

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 19-21
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Frequent Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Performance ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – Rapid developments in technology and the increase in global competition combine to ensure that the business environment is subject to frequent change. Organizations must evolve to succeed and grow. Those which fail to do so are effectively reserving their place among the also-rans. These tough challenges facing companies aren’t going away in a hurry. Being equipped with the ability to adapt is therefore crucial. Indeed, effective performance in both the short and longer term depends on it. The failure rate of change initiatives remains staggeringly high. To say that change management needs to be taken seriously is therefore stating the obvious. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

scholarly journals Perceptions of growth-impeding constraints acting upon SMEs’ operations and the identification and use of transitionary paths to elevate them

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 756-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Clegg
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Case Data ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Do So

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to know which growth-impeding constraints are perceived to act upon operations of small- to medium-sized (SME) companies by their owner-managers and to recommend transitionary paths to elevate constraints and increase contribution levels made by SMEs’ operations. To do so, this research has been primarily founded upon Hayes et al.’s (2005) operations contribution model for differentiating between different levels of operations’ contribution, and secondarily on the theory of constraints philosophy to explain the perceptions of constraints found at each level – current and future. Design/methodology/approach An open-ended survey and a series of group workshops have gathered new empirical data about these perceptions, which were coded using the relational content analysis to identify a parsimonious set of perceptual growth-impeding constraint categories. The most popular transitions were identified and a correlation of frequency rank orders between “perceived current” and “perceived future” constraints categories was calculated, and likely transitionary paths for growth are discussed. Three SME case studies were documented in related action research to contextualise survey findings. Findings The most popular transition was from “neutral” to “leading”. A lack of people capability was perceived to be the most commonly reported growth-impeding constraint category, followed by a combined lack of process competence and product and service innovation, further followed by a lack of skills in information technology automation. In addition, a new conceptual model has been generated inductively to address shortcomings found in the original operations contribution model (Hayes et al., 2005) during its application to UK SMEs. The new model is referred to in this paper as the “Operations Growth Rocket”. Research limitations/implications This research only used data from UK SMEs. Practical implications This work should help SME owner-managers to overcome growth-impeding constraints that act upon their operations and assist them to develop more effective actions and paths to increase the contribution levels made by their operations. This in turn should support growth of their organisations. Findings will also inform teaching about more effective operations management in SMEs. Social implications This work should help UK SMEs to grow, which in turn will strengthen the UK economy. Originality/value A novel approach and new data from 208 SMEs modify a classical operations contribution model (Hayes et al., 2005). This is achieved by considering transitionary paths to be meta-categories continua abstracted from constraint categories combined with case data for moving towards higher levels of operations contribution, rather than using discrete growth-impeding and growth-constraining “levels”. This research has inductively generated a new version of the classical contribution model that should be more suitable for stimulating growth in (UK) SMEs.

scholarly journals How to reinvent the High Street: evidence from the HS2020

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Costas Theodoridis ◽  
Nikos Ntounis ◽  
John Pal
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Discussion Paper ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Street ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to present and critically discuss the findings of the ESRC-funded HS2020 project. The aim is to discuss the retail-led change that has happened to the High Streets that participated to the project that, in some cases, is revolutionary and is leading to the reinvention of the place. To do so reference is made to various retail change theories discussing both institutional and consumer-led change. Design/methodology/approach This is a discussion paper on the findings of the HS2020 project. Findings The major finding reported in this paper is that the reinvention is a natural learning process that involves the comprehension of change and the development of knowledge that will lead to the reinvention of the High Street. Research limitations/implications The findings of the research are based on data that were collected from a total of ten towns across the UK. Practical implications The paper suggests that to reinvent the High Street the stakeholders that are involved in the place decision-making processes they should embrace the change as a natural development and try to understand and learn from it rather than resisting to it. The HS2020 project provides a comprehensive guide of the areas that change can be managed and if it happens it can facilitate the reinvention. Originality/value The paper is relevant to the academic community, as it offers insight to the theories of retail change, and to the practitioners, as it provides evidence as to how to deal with the change that happens to the High Streets.

Tweeting your way out of disaster

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 17-19
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Customer Services ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Social media now rules our online lives. It is an inescapable part of our modern existence, and as such, it is being embraced by companies to allow them to survive in the digital age. Twitter is becoming the go-to destination for customer service issues, mainly because of its public and instantaneous nature. Customers are able to make use of a huge audience and the potential for brand damage to a company by using Twitter to complain about a service failure. The costs are now so great that companies need to seriously consider and invest in their Twitter customer services. Success here can not only mitigate brand damage, but also improve it, whereas failure to do so can be catastrophic. Twitter is now the key to how well a company can do globally. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Theorizing the configuration of modifiable off-the-shelf software

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 887-909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elham Mousavidin ◽  
Leiser Silva
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Difficulty Level ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Social Construction Of Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Interpretive Flexibility ◽  
Do So

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to theorize the social dynamics of modifiable off-the-shelf software (MOTS) configuration process. The authors do so by formulating theoretical propositions about the configuration process. Design/methodology/approach The authors have conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on MOTS configuration and the associated challenges to draw on the properties of MOTS. The authors then examined these properties through the lens of social construction of technology to formulate the authors’ theoretical propositions. Findings The authors formulate theoretical propositions about the configuration process. The authors also develop four scenarios based on the authors’ theoretical propositions for managing the configuration process of MOTS. These scenarios categorize the difficulty level of the configuration by two theoretical groups: malleability and interpretive flexibility. Practical implications The findings especially the scenarios can guide practitioners when managing configuration processes. Originality/value The authors synthesize the literature on MOTS. The theoretical contributions emphasize the social dynamics in configuring this type of software which is an angle that has not been developed in previous literature.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document