scholarly journals Integrating Employee Benefits and Competitive Strategy

1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-150
Author(s):  
Margaret Lucero ◽  
Marion White

As the costs of employee benefits have escalated, labor cost control to enhance product market competitiveness has become a more critical organizational concern. However, benefits which are an element of compensation have remained a relatively neglected topic in the area of strategic human resource management. This paper explores the role of employee benefits in effective strategy implementation. Three core characteristics of employee benefits practices: timing, benefit level and employee-employer relationship, are described on continuum of choices. Examples of various employee benefits practices are linked to low-cost leadership and differentiation strategies.

2012 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 1219-1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Dierynck ◽  
Wayne R. Landsman ◽  
Annelies Renders

ABSTRACT This study investigates the influence of managerial incentives to meet or beat the zero earnings benchmark on labor cost behavior of private Belgian firms. We posit that relative to managers of firms reporting healthy profits, managers meeting or beating the zero earnings benchmark will increase labor costs to a smaller extent when activity increases and decrease labor costs to a larger extent when activity decreases. This should take the form of more symmetric labor cost behavior for firms that report a small profit. Our findings are consistent with this prediction. Using detailed employee data, we show that managers of firms reporting a small profit focus on firing employees who are relatively low cost to fire. To protect their reputation in the labor market, managers of other firms, particularly those reporting healthy profits, limit the numbers of dismissals and react to activity changes by changing the number of hours that employees work. Data Availability: Data are available from the sources referred to in the text.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-461
Author(s):  
Gabriela M. Baia ◽  
Otniel Freitas-Silva ◽  
Murillo F. Junior

Fruits and vegetables are foods that come into contact with various types of microorganisms from planting to their consumption. A lack or poor sanitation of these products after harvest can cause high losses due to deterioration and/ or pathogenic microorganisms. There are practically no post-harvest fungicides or bactericides with a broad spectrum of action that have no toxic residual effects and are safe. However, to minimize such problems, the use of sanitizers is an efficient device against these microorganisms. Chlorine is the most prevalent sanitizing agent because of its broad spectrum, low cost and well-established practices. However, the inevitable formation of disinfection by-products, such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), is considered one of the main threats to food safety. Alternative sanitizers, such as chlorine dioxide (ClO2) and ozone, are becoming popular as a substitute for traditional post-harvest treatments. Thus, this review addresses the use of chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ozone emphasizing aspects, such as usage, safe application, spectrum of action and legislation. In order to ensure the quality and safety of final products, the adoption of well-prepared sanitation and sanitation programs for post-harvest fruits and vegetables is essential.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
Khaliq Ur Rehman ◽  
Mário Nuno Mata ◽  
José Moleiro Martins ◽  
Sabita Mariam ◽  
João Xavier Rita ◽  
...  

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the role of strategic human resource management practices in developing resilient organizational behavior. This research aims to test the mediating function of individual resilient behavior between strategic human resources management practices and resilient organizational behavior. Data was collected from 780 managerial level employees working in small and medium Chinese enterprises in Hubei Province through a self-administrated questionnaire. The Smart partial least square structural equation modeling technique was used for data analysis. The analysis showed a significant positive relationship among SHRM practices, employee resilient behavior, and resilient organizational behavior. Results also show that employee resilient behavior partially mediates the relationship between SHRM practices and resilient organizational behavior. Individual resilient behavior is needed when an organization is in crisis, restructuring, transformation, turbulent, and unfavorable conditions. Without individual resilient behavior, it is difficult for an organization to be resilient. Therefore, strategic human resource management practices are essential to develop an employee’s resilience. This research contributed to the body of knowledge by bringing new concepts together. The main contribution was testing the role of individual resilient behavior between strategic human resource management practices and resilient organizational behavior.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harsha Bantawal ◽  
Sandhya U. Shenoy ◽  
Denthaje Krishna Bhat

CaTiO3 has attracted enormous interest in the field of photocatalytic dye degradation and water splitting owing to its low cost, excellent physicochemical stability and structural tunability. Herein, we have developed...


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Maanik Nath

The government in British-ruled India established cooperative banks to compete with private moneylenders in the rural credit market. State officials expected greater competition to increase the supply of low-cost credit, thereby expanding investment potential for the rural poor. Cooperatives did increase credit supply but captured a small share of the credit market and reported net losses throughout the late colonial and early postcolonial period. The article asks why this experiment did not succeed and offers two explanations. First, low savings restricted the role of social capital and mutual supervision as methods of financial regulation in the cooperative sector. Second, a political-economic ideology that privileged equity over efficiency made for weak administrative regulation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112972982110346
Author(s):  
Meola Mario ◽  
Jose Ibeas ◽  
Jan Malik

Physical examination (PE) is considered the backbone before vascular access (VA) placement, during maturation period and for follow-up. However, it may be inadequate in identifying suitable vasculature, mainly in comorbid patients, or in detecting complications. This review highlights the advantages of ultrasound imaging to manage VA before placement, during maturation and follow-up. Furthermore, it analyses the future perspectives in evaluating early and late VA complications thank to the availability of multiparametric platforms, point of care of ultrasound, and portable/wireless systems. Technical improvements and low-cost systems should favor the widespread ultrasound-based VA surveillance programs. This significant turning point needs an adequate training of nephrologists and dialysis nurses and the standardization of exams, parameters, and procedures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4610
Author(s):  
Simone Berneschi ◽  
Giancarlo C. Righini ◽  
Stefano Pelli

Glasses, in their different forms and compositions, have special properties that are not found in other materials. The combination of transparency and hardness at room temperature, combined with a suitable mechanical strength and excellent chemical durability, makes this material indispensable for many applications in different technological fields (as, for instance, the optical fibres which constitute the physical carrier for high-speed communication networks as well as the transducer for a wide range of high-performance sensors). For its part, ion-exchange from molten salts is a well-established, low-cost technology capable of modifying the chemical-physical properties of glass. The synergy between ion-exchange and glass has always been a happy marriage, from its ancient historical background for the realisation of wonderful artefacts, to the discovery of novel and fascinating solutions for modern technology (e.g., integrated optics). Getting inspiration from some hot topics related to the application context of this technique, the goal of this critical review is to show how ion-exchange in glass, far from being an obsolete process, can still have an important impact in everyday life, both at a merely commercial level as well as at that of frontier research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Micheli ◽  
Matteo Mura

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of comprehensive performance measurement systems (PMS) – i.e. measurement systems that comprise financial and non-financial indicators, and which also consist of indicators related to different aspects of an organisation’s operations – in the relationship between strategy and company performance. Design/methodology/approach Survey data of top managers of large European companies were collected and analysed by means of exploratory factor analyses and hierarchical regressions in order to validate the proposed hypotheses. Findings This research shows that different strategies lead to the use of different types of performance indicators. Also, it finds that the utilisation of a comprehensive PMS enables the implementation of both differentiation and cost-leadership strategies. Specifically, a comprehensive PMS positively mediates the effect of differentiation strategy on organisational and innovative performance, and of cost-leadership strategy on organisational performance. Research limitations/implications Further research could be undertaken in other contexts and consider additional factors, such as the structure, maturity and different uses of PMS, and the cost of measuring performance. Qualitative studies could examine the role of PMS in dynamic environments, as well as the evolution of PMS during strategic transitions. Practical implications Greater consideration should be given to the utilisation of different types of performance indicators when implementing and re-formulating strategy. Originality/value This study clarifies the links between strategy and performance measurement, and it is the first to identify the mediating effect of comprehensive PMS between strategy and company performance.


2009 ◽  
pp. 47-72
Author(s):  
Carlo Cambini

- The liberalization process in the railway industry is highly influenced by the availability of rolling stocks. Although these assets are duplicable and cannot therefore be defined as essential facilities, evidence from many countries shows that they represent the most relevant barrier to entry in the market. In this paper, following the UK experience, we analyse the role of the rolling stocks and the hypothesis of a vertical separation of these assets from the present owner, i.e. the incumbent operator Trenitalia SpA. We therefore evaluate the pros and cons of a potential de-integration of the Italian railway industry in order to enhance market competitiveness and the overall efficiency of this industry. . Keywords: railway transport, regulation, competition, essential facilities Parole chiave: trasporto ferroviario, regolazione, concorrenza, asset essenziali . Jel Classification: L43 - L51 - L92


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