Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons^™

Operational Knowledge Transfer In Municipal Utility Organizations, G. Christian Guvemator Iv

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Municipal water and wastewater utility systems experience several challenges related to maintaining an experienced operations workforce. One of these issues is the loss of operational knowledge as the current experienced workforce reaches the age of retirement. The future success of system operability depends upon a process that transfers the knowledge of the experienced employee into the organization before he or she retires. Recent investigations highlight the importance of, and the methods for, knowledge transfer; however, current literature does not include significant information on the municipal utility industry. The objective of this investigation is to identify how operational knowledge is being …

Regional Emergency Response Teams: Case Studies In Hampton Roads, Virginia, Thomas E. Poulin

School of Public Service Theses & Dissertations

The majority of local governments lack sufficient resources to respond effectively in an independent manner to a disaster or large-scale emergency. To achieve success, they must work closely with other organizations. The research problem is that regional emergency response relationships are not well understood, which could lead to ineffective or inefficient practices. The research purpose was to describe and analyze regional emergency response in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The research methodology involved a qualitative approach, utilizing interviews and archival research. Organizational leaders of the Hampton Roads Marine Incident Response Team and the Southside Tidewater Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team were interviewed …

Retention And Job Satisfaction Among Local Law Enforcement, Lisa N. Parron

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This thesis is an exploratory study which examines the retention of police officers in the Norfolk Police Department. Focus group interviews with nine police officers provided the data for this study. Participants described aspects of their job that they enjoy and aspects of their job that could be improved. Themes identified include working conditions, supervisor relationships, interpersonal relationships, pay, responsibility, achievement and recognition, and appeal of the job.

This research was aimed at revealing what officers like and dislike about their job in order to reduce voluntary turnover and increase retention.

The findings from this study indicate that job satisfaction …

Guanxi Versus Networking: Distinctive Configurations Of Affect- And Cognition-Based Trust In The Networks Of Chinese And American Managers, Roy Y. J. Chua, Michael W. Morris, Paul Ingram

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This research investigates hypotheses about differences between Chinese and American managers in the configuration of trusting relationships within their professional networks. Consistent with hypotheses about Chinese familial collectivism, an egocentric network survey found that affect- and cognition-based trust were more intertwined for Chinese than for American managers. In addition, the effect of economic exchange on affect-based trust was more positive for Chinese than for Americans, whereas the effect of friendship was more positive for Americans than for Chinese. Finally, the extent to which a given relationship was highly embedded in ties to third parties increased cognition-based trust for Chinese but …

Guanxi Vs Networking: Distinctive Configurations Of Affect And Cognition Based Trust In The Networks Of Chinese Vs American Managers, Roy Chua, Michael W. Morris, Paul Ingram

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This research investigates hypotheses about differences between Chinese and American managers in the configuration of trusting relationships within their professional networks. Consistent with hypotheses about Chinese familial collectivism, an egocentric network survey found that affect- and cognitionbased trust were more intertwined for Chinese than for American managers. In addition, the effect of economic exchange on affect-based trust was more positive for Chinese than for Americans, whereas the effect of friendship was more positive for Americans than for Chinese. Finally, the extent to which a given relationship was highly embedded in ties to third parties increased cognition-based trust for Chinese but …

Measurement Equivalence Of Paper-And-Pencil And Internet Organisational Surveys: A Large Scale Examination In 16 Countries, Alain De Beuckelaer, Filip Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In multinational surveys, mixed-mode administration modes (e.g. combining Internet and paper-and-pencil administration) are increasingly used. To date, no studies have investigated whether measurement equivalence exists between Internet data collection and data collection using the conventional paper-and-pencil method in organisational surveys which include a large number of countries. This paper examined the measurement equivalence of a truly global organisational survey across Internet and paper-and-pencil survey administrations. Data from an organisational survey in 16 countries (N = 52,461) across the globe were used to assess the measurement equivalence of an organisational climate measure within each country in which the survey was administered. …

An Investigation Of Knowledge Transfer And Retention In A Government Procurement Office, Garland T. Mobley

Theses and Dissertations

There is no measure for the loss of corporate memory. Organizations build a reservoir of knowledge in its employees, and this knowledge becomes a critical ingredient in an organization’s ability to carry out its mission. Knowledgeable people are extremely valuable and once they leave, their organizationally-applied knowledge leaves with them. This study introduces specific knowledge attributes that significantly impact effective tacit and explicit knowledge transfer and retention. Under this construct the proposed investigation explores a government program office to see if replacing experienced government employees with outsourced personnel impacts corporate knowledge retention. The study concludes that a loss of corporate …

The Effect Of Values On System Development Project Outcomes, Daniel B. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

In order to understand why organizations make certain decisions and target certain outcomes, it is useful to understand their priorities and preferences, commonly referred to as “values.” This research explores the relationship between the technical values held by system development teams and the operational effectiveness of the systems those teams produce. Specifically, it examines the impact of a value set called FIST (Fast, Inexpensive, Simple, Tiny) on DoD and NASA system development projects, and investigates the correlation between the FIST values and operational outcomes. The findings show that the FIST value set enhances project stability, increases the project leader’s control …

The Hybrid Counterinsurgency Strategy: System Dynamics Employed To Develop A Behavioral Model Of Joint Strategy, Ferdinand Maldonado

Theses and Dissertations

Since the recent focus on the Global War on Terror, both military and civilian theorists have begun to “relearn” the intricacies of counterinsurgency warfare. We face difficult challenges when confronting non-state actors that tend to attack in the time between conventional battles and the establishment of stable governments. This research compares and contrasts current counterinsurgency strategies (Hearts and Minds and Cost Benefit Theory) by applying System Dynamics to provide insight into the influences and emergent behavior patterns of counterinsurgency systems. The information gained from the development of the models and from their simulation behaviors is used to construct a System …

Task-Technology Fit Assessment Of An Expertise Transfer System, Daphne R. Mcgill

Theses and Dissertations

Organizations today are using information technology to capture knowledge from experts and disseminate this knowledge to decision makers. Having the right information to the right person at the right time facilitates more effective and efficient decisions. This study uses Goodhue’s (1998) Task-Technology Fit (TTF) theoretical model to evaluate an Expertise Transfer Forum (ETF) developed by the Oklahoma State University for the Defense Ammunition Center’s quality assurance personnel. The preliminary findings suggest a good fit between the ETF and problem-solving tasks assigned to students in the DAC classroom environment. The participants also offered the following observations: • The ETF was more …

From Organizational Design And Change To Experiential Exercises And Emotional Intelligence, William P. Ferris

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Linking Theory & Practice Section, Alvin Hwang

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Experiential Learning Association Special Issue: Best Experiential Exercises From The Eastern Academy Of Management, 2008, Donald E. Gibson

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Introduction To The Teaching & Learning Section, Steve Meisel

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Reinventing The Future: Adding Design Science To The Repertoire Of Organization And Management Studies, Joan Ernest Van Aken, Georges Romme

Organization Management Journal

Mainstream research on organization and management is largely modeled after the natural sciences and the humanities. It aims at understanding social systems and, as such, has produced a vast knowledge base. However, this knowledge base has been criticized as fragmented and lacking relevance for practice. Two recent developments have produced the possibility of reinventing the future of organization and management studies: the increasing interest in design science research and in evidence-based management. First, we discuss how the actor perspective and solution-orientation of design science research can lead to more relevant research output. Second, we explore how the use of this …

Employee Empowerment, Action Research And Organizational Change: A Case Study, Victor Wooddell

Organization Management Journal

This article summarizes the results of a project designed and implemented by a cross-sectional design team of employees of a local government agency. We compare the project design to criteria associated with employee empowerment programs and action research models. Finally, we compare the outcomes of the project with important components of employee empowerment. The purpose of this article is to highlight how one such project was implemented in a field setting, and review what was learned by the participants regarding how management and employees can work more effectively together on issues of strategic importance to the organization. Both the process …

Aquarius Advertising Revisited: A Case Becomes An Experience, Kristen Backhaus

Organization Management Journal

This experiential exercise is based on a traditional organization theory case related to structural contingency theory. The exercise provides a means by which students can play the role of advertising agency professionals and their clients. The objectives of the exercise are to demonstrate structural contingency theory; to illustrate the relationship between contextual factors in an organization’s environment and its internal organization design; to demonstrate the effects of structural deficiency on communication and project completion in a creative organization; and to demonstrate the need for horizontal linkages for effective project completion. The exercise is appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Music As A Mirror: The ‘‘Choosing My Personal Theme Song’’ Exercise, Nathan S. Hartman, Thomas A. Conklin

Organization Management Journal

When asked to describe their strengths people rarely refer to their natural knowledge, skills, abilities, and talents. From this we may assume that many are unaware of their individual strengths or at the very least take them for granted. Music lyrics are particularly salient symbols available in the minds of students and can be powerful tools for learning more about themselves and others. This knowledge is valuable as they continue in their own personal evolution as they discern greater distinctions between themselves and the world around them. The interactive exercise presented here uses music to help students look in the …

Demonstrating The Challenges Of Behaving With Emotional Intelligence In A Team Setting: An On-Line/On-Ground Experiential Exercise, William P. Ferris

Organization Management Journal

The idea of this new exercise is to involve two project team participants in an interpersonal conflict in front of a classroom of learner/observers and then to debrief the entire experience in terms of emotional intelligence (EI) concepts in a way that clarifies these concepts experientially. It is preceded by EI readings and may be followed by extended on-line discussions and a variety of different papers and/or homework assignments. It can be used in traditional, blended learning (BL), or on-line courses or training classrooms. Originally developed to involve on-ground (face-to-face) and on-line students from the same course in the same …

A Review Of Becoming A Resonant Leader (Mckee, Boyatzis, And Johnston): Contextualizing The Place Of Emotional Intelligence Skills With Respect To Team Leadership And Group Dynamics, Robert R. Klein

Organization Management Journal

No abstract provided.

Initial Attraction To Organizations: The Influence Of Trait Inferences, Jerel E. Slaughter, Gary J. Greguras

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Organization personality perceptions have been defined as the set of personality characteristics associated with organizations. Previous research supports five distinct factors of organization personality perceptions: Boy Scout, Innovativeness, Dominance, Thrift, and Style. The purpose of this research was to understand how individuals' initial attraction to firms is influenced by their perceptions of the degree to which firms display these traits. Results of the present investigation indicated that organization personality perceptions accounted for significant variance in initial organizational attraction, after controlling for perceptions of the degree to which the jobs at the organizations offer traditional attributes. In addition, several self-rated Big …

Different Fits Satisfy Different Needs: Linking Person-Environment Fit To Employee Commitment And Performance Using Self-Determination Theory, Gary J. Greguras, James M. Diefendorff

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Integrating and expanding upon the person-environment fit (PE fit) and the self-determination theory literatures, the authors hypothesized and tested a model in which the satisfaction of the psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence partially mediated the relations between different types of perceived PE fit (i.e., person-organization fit, person-group fit, and job demands-abilities fit) with employee affective organizational commitment and overall job performance. Data from 163 full-time working employees and their supervisors were collected across 3 time periods. Results indicate that different types of PE fit predicted different types of psychological need satisfaction trod that psychological need satisfaction predicted affective …

Tapping The Grapevine: A Closer Look At Word-Of-Mouth As A Recruitment Source, Greet Van Hoye, Filip Lievens

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

To advance knowledge of word-of-mouth as a company-independent recruitment source, this study draws on conceptualizations of word-of-mouth in the marketing literature. The sample consisted of 612 potential applicants targeted by the Belgian Defense. Consistent with the recipient-source framework, time spent receiving positive word-of-mouth was determined by the traits of the recipient (extraversion and conscientiousness), the characteristics of the source (perceived expertise), and their mutual relationship (tie strength). Only conscientiousness and source expertise were determinants of receiving negative word-of-mouth. In line with the accessibility-diagnosticity model, receiving positive employment information through word-of-mouth early in the recruitment process was positively associated with perceptual …

India Unleashed, Nirmalya Kumar

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Corporations in the developed world increasingly see India as a high-growth market and its companies as acquirers of their assets, global competitors, partners for enhancing the competitiveness of their global value chain and a source of new energy and dreams for the world economy. How did this all happen? The author shares the essence of what he learned from 10 trips to India to interview more than 30 CEOs and top executives who are unleashing the new global power of Indian firms.

Project Management Use Second Life, Collaborative Project

Dyson College- Seidenberg School of CSIS : Collaborative Projects and Presentations

This entry adheres to the use of the quad chart template to provide a succint description only of the current research project undertaken by the participants. It provides for the following information:

1. Participants and Affiliations
2.Overall Project Goals
3. Illustrative Picture
4. Specific research/artistic/pedagogic foci

Strategic Leadership And Innovation In High Technology Firms, Terri A. Scandura Phd

Management Faculty Articles and Papers

Did you ever wonder what the organizations that produce some of the high tech gadgets we marvel at such as the IPhone and the Blu-ray player are like? How do their leaders create and maintain a spirit of innovation that produces these hit products? High technology firms face unique challenges because of the fast paced and ever-changing landscape of their industry. Intellectual capital and innovation have become the key sources of competitive advantage in a wide range of industries and many have argued that the key to the future competitiveness of organizations in the U.S and abroad is the ability …

Intrapersonal Consequences Of (Un)Forgiving: How Forgiveness Affects The Victim, Edward Eli Kass

Organization, Leadership, and Communication

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Authentic Leadership And Cultural Intelligence In Cross-Cultural Contexts: An Objectivist Perspective, Gretchen Vogelgesang Lester, R. Clapp-Smith, N. Palmer

Faculty Publications, School of Management

Cultural adaptation in cross-cultural situations is an integral part of international management and leadership literature. However, there has been little theory or empirical research that takes into account the objectivist perspective of the necessity of leaders remaining true to their moral standards when operating in different host-cultures. We draw upon the authentic leadership and cultural intelligence literatures to explicate a model by which authentic leaders in a cross-cultural context can find a balance in the tension between their own deeply held values and those of the host-country’s culture.

Identifying Pre-Retirees For Bridge Employment: Factors That Influence Post-Retirement Employment Decisions, Sharon Kendrick, Melody Wollan

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

In a field study of 387 pre-retirees, four factors are demonstrated to be important as tools to aid Human Resource Managers and managers in predicting and influencing employees to consider participation in bridge employment: education levels of pre-retirees, training opportunities offered, role support from others (of particular importance supervisors and coworkers), and work family balance issues. Additionally, our findings draw attention to the importance of employment status (part-time versus full-time) and the number of years to retirement in predicting pre-retirees’ intentions to work in bridge employment.

Focusing On Process And History: Path Dependence, Paul Donnelly

Books/Book Chapters

In recognition of the calls for more processual and historically informed organizational theorizing, this chapter considers the notion of path dependency, an approach which holds that a historical path of choices has the character of a branching process with a self-reinforcing dynamic such that preceding steps in a particular direction induce further movement in the same direction, thereby making the possibility of switching to some other previously credible alternative more difficult. Path dependence seeks to assess how process, sequence and temporality can be best incorporated into explanation, the focus of the researcher being on particular outcomes, temporal sequencing and the …