Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons^™

Ssrn As An Initial Revolution In Academic Knowledge Aggregation And Dissemination, David Bray, Sascha Vitzthum, Benn Konsynski

Sascha Vitzthum

Within this paper we consider our results of using the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) over a period of 18 months to distribute our working papers to the research community. Our experiences have been quite positive, with SSRN serving as a platform both to inform our colleagues about our research as well as inform us about related research (through email and telephoned conversations of colleagues who discovered our paper on SSRN). We then discuss potential future directions for SSRN to consider, and how SSRN might well represent an initial revolution in 21st century academic knowledge aggregation and dissemination. Our paper …

Towards Self-Organizing, Smart Business Networks: Let’S Create ‘Life’ From Inert Information, David Bray, Benn Konsynski

David A. Bray

We review three different theories that can inform how researchers can determine the performance of smart business networks, to include: (1) the Theory of Evolution, (2) the Knowledge-Based Theory of the Firm, and (3) research insights into computers and cognition. We suggest that each of these theories demonstrate that to be generally perceived as smart, an organism needs to be self-organizing, communicative, and tool-making. Consequentially, to determine the performance of a smart business network, we suggest that researchers need to determine the degree to which it is self-organizing, communicative, and tool-making. We then relate these findings to the Internet and …

Community Partnerships: Creating Tangible Benefits From Community Engagement, David Cooke Dr

David Cooke

A deeper understanding of the complimentary skills sets of corporations and the not-for-profit sector reveals that they have much to offer each other and that returns on investmnent for corporations and a greater flow of funds to charitable organisations can be achieved through the study of effective partnerships.

Book Review 18 Make Room For Happiness By Steven Melemis, William C. Mcpeck

William C. McPeck

This is my review of Make Room for Happiness: 12 Ways to Improve Your Life By Letting Go of Tension. Better Health, Self-Esteem and Relationships by Steven Melemis, published by Modern Therapies in 2008.

Why Don't They Learn?, Cynthia D. Fisher

Cynthia D. Fisher

Extract: Highhouse (2008) suggests that managers’ ‘‘stubborn’’ preferences for suboptimal selection practices are based on two beliefs: (1) that selection decisions can be near 100% correct and (2) that the expertise and intuition needed to make perfect decisions are developed by experience. I will suggest mechanisms by which these beliefs persist in the face of what should be contradictory feedback.

Bosses’ Perceptions Of Work-Family Conflict And Women’S Upward Mobility: The Glass Ceiling Reexamined, Grace Lemmon

Grace Lemmon

No abstract provided.

The Interactive Effect Of Political Skill And Growth-Need On Outcomes: Boundaries On The Utility Of Workplace Political Behavior, Grace Lemmon

Grace Lemmon

No abstract provided.

A Negotiated Cultural Identity Approach: Role Of National Culture In A Cross-National Work Setting, Noriko Yagi, Jill Kleinberg, Catherine Schwoerer

Noriko Yagi

No abstract provided.

Person-Team Fit And Team Performance As Moderators Of The Relationship Between Lmx And Work Outcomes, Grace Lemmon

Grace Lemmon

No abstract provided.

Distinguishing Owner Compensation From Profit In Closely Held Companies: In Search Of A Responsibility Premium, Michael Sack Elmaleh

Michael Sack Elmaleh

The application of the income method of valuation requires that owner compensation be distinguished from free cash flow. The “proper” parsing of compensation and free cash flow can be the largest point of contention in contested valuation disputes. The preferred method of parsing is the substitution method which says that the proper allocation should be based on the wage that would have to be paid to a non owner employee. In this article I argue that owner employees carry additional responsibilities that are not normally borne by non owner employees. These additional responsibilities require that a premium be paid the …

Book Review 12 Happy For No Reason: 7 Steps To Being Happy From The Inside Out By Marci Shimoff, William C. Mcpeck

William C. McPeck

This is my personal review of Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out by Marci Shimoff and published by Free Press in 2008.

Conflict Transformation: A Longitudinal Investigation Of The Relationships Between Different Types Of Intragroup Conflict And The Moderating Role Of Conflict Resolution, Lindred Greer, Karen Jehn, Elizabeth Mannix

Karen A. Jehn

In this longitudinal study, the authors examine the relationships between task, relationship, and process conflict over time. They also look at the role of conflict resolution in determining whether certain forms of intragroup conflict are related to the appearance of other forms of conflict over time. Their findings indicate a negative and long-lasting impact of process conflict occurring early in the team's interaction. Specifically, they find that process conflict, but not task or relationship conflict, occurring early in a team's interaction leads to higher levels of all other conflict types for the remaining interactions of the team. In addition, the …

What If We Took Within-Person Performance Variability Seriously?, Cynthia D. Fisher

Cynthia D. Fisher

Extract: Efforts to understand what seems to be an unacceptably weak relationship between actual performance and rated performance have focused exclusively on the rater side of the model, not on the performance side. For instance, the Murphy (2008) model shows error only for ratings. Therefore, efforts to remedy the situation have also focused exclusively on raters: adjust the relationships of poor-quality ratings to other variables for attenuation because of unreliability, improve the raters by training, clarify the rating task by providing a better format, or enhance rater motivation to be honest in recording what they really think. A strong implicit …

A Sacramental Viewing Of 'Atonement': The Movie, Vaughan S. Roberts

Vaughan S Roberts

Talking Vs. Communicating, Ken Margolies

Ken Margolies

[Excerpt] There is a saying, "When all is said and done, more is said than done." Stewards who attend union meetings to decide how to handle and issue or grievance sessions with management probably agree. Why is it so difficult to get past the talk and make decisions, agreements, and well, get things done?

Bottom-Up Organizing In The Trades: An Interview With Mike Lucas, Ibew Director Of Organizing, Jeff Grabelsky

Jeffrey Grabelsky

[Excerpt] Like the bottom-up organizers who built the IBEW 100 years ago by traveling from city to city, working at their trade and preaching the union creed, Lucas has been around the block. From Florida to Oklahoma, Indiana to Tennessee, he worked from 1954 to 1959 as a member of the Laborers and Teamsters unions. He began his organizing career in the utility construction industry, and first volunteered his talents to the IBEW in 1960 by organizing the manufacturing workers at a new Studebaker plant in Bloomington, Indiana, which he had recently helped build as a union electrician. He served …

Building And Construction Trades Unions: Are They Built To Win?, Jeff Grabelsky

Jeffrey Grabelsky

[Excerpt] The evidence of labor's declining power in the economic and political arenas is increasingly clear. Despite the tenacious efforts of talented leaders over the past ten years, the labor movement has still failed to turn the proverbial cornet. Some labor leaders now believe that a dramatic change in strategic direction may be necessary to revitalize labor's fortunes. The emerging debate about labor's future touches every sector of the movement. The building and construction trades are no exception.

Work Organization, Technology, And Performance In Customer Service And Sales, Rosemary Batt

Rosemary Batt

The author analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of Total Quality Management and Self-Managed Teams, as compared to mass production approaches to service delivery, among customer service and sales workers in a large unionized regional Bell operating company. Participation in self-managed teams was associated with a statistically significant improvement in self-reported service quality and a 9.3% increase in sales per employee. When combined with new technology, teams boosted sales an additional 17.4%. These effects persisted over time. Total Quality Management, by contrast, did not affect performance. This study represents a “strong test” of the efficacy of teams because theory predicts weak …

Unbinding The Concept Of National Culture: A Negotiated Cultural Identity Approach, Noriko Yagi

Noriko Yagi

No abstract provided.

Towards A Model For Team Learning In Multidisciplinary Crisis Management Teams, Selma Van Der Haar, Karen Jehn, Mein Segers

Karen A. Jehn

Crisis management teams have the duty to perform immediately, reliably and effectively in case of an emergency, crisis or disaster. The teams are composed of members who are diverse in expertise, experience, parent organisation and familiarity. This makes these teams ad hoc multidisciplinary action teams that have to function as a team and perform in a reliable and effective way as quickly as possible. Our expectation is that team learning is very important for establishing this team performance. In this paper, we develop a broad model of how this team learning occurs in crisis management teams, especially in the operational …

It’S The Nature Of Work: Examining Behavior-Based Sources Of Work- Family Conflict Across Occupations., Erich Dierdorff, Kemp Ellington

Erich C. Dierdorff

The consequences of work–family conflict for both individuals and organizations have been well documented, and the various sources of such conflict have received substantial attention. However, the vast majority of extant research has focused on only time- and strain-based sources, largely neglecting behavior-based sources. Integrating two nationally representative databases, the authors examine 3 behavior-based antecedents of work–family conflict linked specifically to occupational work role requirements (interdependence, responsibility for others, and interpersonal conflict). Results from multilevel analysis indicate that significant variance in work–family conflict is attributable to the occupation in which someone works. Interdependence and responsibility for others predict work–family conflict, …

If You Pay For Skills, Will They Learn? Skill Change And Maintenance Under A Skill-Based Pay System., Erich Dierdorff, Eric Surface

Erich C. Dierdorff

Although the use of skill-based pay has increased in popularity, empirical investigations of the effectiveness of this compensation strategy have been scarce. The fundamental premise of skill-based pay is that contingent monetary reward will promote individual learning. The authors empirically examine this essential principle with data spanning 5 years, using latent growth analysis. Results demonstrate that skill-based pay is related to individual skill change and maintenance. Whether or not individuals earn skill-based pay on their initial attempt is associated with subsequent rates of learning. In addition, the frequency with which skill-based pay is received and the total amount earned are …

Assessing Training Needs: Do Work Experience And Capability Matter?, Erich Dierdorff, Eric Surface

Erich C. Dierdorff

Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little empirical work examining factors that influence such ratings has been undertaken. We investigated the impact of individuals’ levels of work experience, self-efficacy, and skill proficiency on their subsequent ratings of training needs. Our results indicate that self-efficacy and skill proficiency are positively related to importance and frequency ratings for both skills and job tasks. However, when considered collectively, skill proficiency was a more potent influence, suggesting that an individual’s actual capability may have a greater impact on ratings of training needs than his or her perceived …

Perceptions Of Deception: Making Sense Of Responses To Employee Deceit, Karen Jehn, Elizabeth Scott

Karen A. Jehn

In this research, we examine the effects that customer perceptions of employee deception have on the customers’ attitudes toward an organization. Based on interview, archival, and observational data within the international airline industry, we develop a model to explain the complex effects of perceived dishonesty on observer’s attitudes and intentions toward the airline. The data revealed three types of perceived deceit (about beliefs, intentions, and emotions) and three additional factors that influence customer intentions and attitudes: the players involved, the beneficiaries of the deceit, and the harm done by the perceived lie. We develop a model with specific propositions to …

The Antecedents And Effects Of National Corruption: A Meta-Analysis, William Judge, D. Brian Mcnatt, Weichu Xu

D. Brian McNatt

No abstract provided.

Diversity And Team Learning: The Impact Of Faultlines And Psychological Safety, Joyce Rupert, Karen A. Jehn

Karen A. Jehn

In this field study, we investigated 186 members of 70 management teams and tested the relationship between perceptions of team members 'fault lines' (hypothetical dividing lines in a team under diverse features) and different types of team learning task, process and social learning. From the results showed that when team members fault lines experienced fewer learning task in the team took place. This relationship was mediated by psychological safety. This study complements the literature on team learning, by demonstrating that experienced on different fault lines ways related to team learning, depending on the topic learning relates. In addition, an apparent …

Transactional Leadership, Marco Tavanti

Marco Tavanti

Transactional leadership in a continuum with transformational leadership. This chapter offers an overview and introduction to the key concepts and study of transactional leadership in organizational management and in workplace relations.

A Study Of Exchange And Emotions In Team Member Relationships, Marie T. Dasborough

Marie T Dasborough

In this article we aim to generate theory about how individuals perceive their relationships with team members, and their emotional experiences within the team member exchange (TMX) process. Findings from qualitative and quantitative analyses are presented, with data collected from 25 full-time employees working within five teams in two organizations. The qualitative results reveal a variety of exchanges that occur within the team member relationships, including relationship-oriented exchanges and task-oriented exchanges. Team members highlighted the importance of friendship within the team context, and that they experienced positive and negative emotions in response to their TMX relationships. The quantitative results also …

"Evolving Notions Of Corporate Responsibility: Seizing The Next Horizon", Art Stewart

Art Stewart

No abstract provided.

"Getting It Right On Nonprofit Partnerships", Art Stewart

Art Stewart

No abstract provided.