Ethics Statements of Public Relations Firms: What Do They Say?

This study was designed to examine the prevalence of a code of ethics and to analyze its content among public relations agencies in the United States. Of the 1,562 public relations agencies reviewed, 605 (38.7%) provided an ethical statement. Among the ethical statements provided by these public relations agencies, ‹respect to clients,’ ‹service,’ ‹strategic,’ and ‹results’ were the values most frequently emphasized. On the other hand, ‹balance,’ ‹fairness,’ ‹honor,’ ‹social responsibility,’ and ‹independence’ were the least frequently mentioned in the ethical codes. Also, none of the sampled agencies included any sanctions regarding enforcement of their particular codes of ethics.     

Examining the Effects of Moral Development Level,Self-Concept,and Self-Monitoring on Consumers’ Ethical Attitudes

This study investigates the possible effects of self-concept, self-monitoring, and moral development level on dimensions of consumers’ ethical attitudes. “Actively benefiting from illegal activities,” “actively benefiting from deceptive practices,” and “no harm/no foul 1–2” are defined by factor analysis as four dimensions of Turkish consumers’ ethical attitudes. Logistic regression analysis is applied to data collected from 516 Turkish households. Results indicate that self-monitoring and moral development level predicted consumer ethics in relation to “actively benefiting from questionable practices” and “no harm/no foul” dimensions. Actual self-concept is also a predictor variable in relation to “no harm/no foul” dimension. Age and gender make significant differences in consumers’ ethical attribute dimensions.     

Deciding to export: An exploratory study of Singaporean entrepreneurs

This paper confirms a mapping between a taxonomy of entrepreneurs and what triggered Singaporeans to become exporters. The study involved interviews with 47 new exporters based in Singapore. Entrepreneurs were classified as either ‘opportunity seeking’ or ‘reactive’. Export triggers were either ‘pull’, negative ‘push’, or positive ‘push’. We find that those who were opportunity seeking at start-up were more likely to have responded to export ‘pull’ forces. It was rare indeed for a reactive founder to have been ‘pulled’ into exporting. Among this group of entrepreneurs, ‘push’ forces dominated the decision to export. The paper concludes with some implications for policy targeting and suggestions for further research.     

When Deontology and Utilitarianism Aren’t Enough: How Heidegger’s Notion of “Dwelling” Might Help Organisational Leaders Resolve Ethical Issues

This paper offers an alternative to deontological and utilitarian approaches to making ethical decisions and taking good actions by organisational leaders. It argues that the relational and context-dependent nature of leadership necessitates reference to an ethical approach which explicitly takes these aspects into account. Such an approach is offered in the re-conceptualisation of ethical action on the part of leaders as a process of “coming into right relation” vis-à-vis those affected by their decisions and actions. Heidegger’s notion of “dwelling” is explored as a means of “coming into right relation”. Three aspects of dwelling: “staying with”, “comportment” and “active engagement” are described and ways in which they might be practically enacted by leaders are suggested. The paper concludes by reflecting on the ways adopting a “dwelling” approach to resolving ethical issues implies a re-conceptualisation of leadership itself.     

中国企业渠道联盟关系影响因素研究

Channel alliance is regarded as the most advanced form of channel relationships. The extant literature mainly focuses on commitment, trust, communication and cooperation as influencing factors of channel alliance relationship. This paper empirically explores influencing factors of channel alliance relationship in Chinese enterprises, and their respective degrees of influence, particularly those of personal relationship and government administrative factors. Research hypotheses were tasted based on a survey of automobile vendors and dealers. Three most important influencing factors were identified “commitment and trust”, “communication and cooperation”, and “returns”. __________ Translated from Nankai Guanli Pinglun 南开管理评论 (Nankai Business Review), 2006, 6(1): 42–48     

企业创新悖论与两栖组织模式——基于海尔空调产品开发团队案例的研究

While knowledge exploration and exploitation represent two distinct activities requiring corresponding organizational arrangements, new product development calls for a dynamic combination of the two. Based on a systematic review of the paradox between knowledge exploration and exploitation and various resolving strategies, this research extends the construct of organizational ambidexterity from dual structure to ambidextrous capabilities, and suggests a dialectical method for reconciling this paradox at lower organizational levels. Based on a case study on the development teams of air conditioner in Haier, we find that ambidexterity is a multi-level construct existing not only at the organization level but also at lower levels such as teams and individuals like model managers. Translated and revised from Jingji Guanli 经济管理 (Economic Management), 2008, (11): 44–49 and Jingji Lilun yu Jingji Guanli 经济理论与经济管理 (Economic Theory and Business Management), 2008, (2): 51–57     

论中国招商引资过程中政府决策的合理性

Based on consumer and manufacturer behaviors, this research describes local governments’ unique role in the process of “attracting foreign direct investment (FDI)”. Drawing from a sample of 28 provinces plus four cities throughout China from 1998 to 2004, we construct an econometric model in this paper to analyze the common factors that influenced the result of “attracting FDI”. The main finding of this paper is that in the process of “attracting FDI”, local governments play a decisive role, which puts consumer surplus, producer surplus and the other social welfare into a basket to construct its plan for “attracting FDI”. The common factors which influence the result of “attracting FDI” are local costs, the number of foreign-invested company, the market share of local companies, and the market share of foreign-invested companies. Translate from Caimao Jingji 财贸经济 (Finance & Trade Economics), 2005, (12): 70–75     

Mad as Hell or Scared Stiff? The Effects of Value Conflict and Emotions on Potential Whistle-Blowers

Existing whistle-blowing models rely on “cold” economic calculations and cost-benefit analyses to explain the judgments and actions of potential whistle-blowers. I argue that “hot” cognitions – value conflict and emotions – should be added to these models. I propose a model of the whistle-blowing decision process that highlights the reciprocal influence of “hot” and “cold” cognitions and advocate research that explores how value conflict and emotions inform reporting decisions. I draw on the cognitive appraisal approach to emotions and on the social-functional value pluralism model to generate propositions.     

中国制造业企业创新活动的关键影响因素研究——基于江苏省制造业企业问卷的分析

Based on empirical evidence from enterprises in Jiangsu Province, this paper studies key influencing factors of their innovation activities at the micro level. Results show that a “threshold effect” and a reversed U-shaped relationship exist between an enterprise’s size and intensity of its innovation input when factors such as brand, entrepreneur background, HR, industrial and regional differences are controlled. Agglomeration effect is found influencing an enterprise’s innovation activities negatively rather than positively. A non-linear relationship is also found between an enterprise’s innovation activities and export ratio, showing a “capture effect”. A behavior mode of the effects of these influencing factors on innovation activities of China’s manufacturing enterprises is established and implications are provided. __________ Translated and revised from Guanli shijie 管理世界 (Management World), 2007, (6): 64–74     

Eine differenzierte Darstellung der Kostenstelle Pflege bei stationären Altenhilfeeinrichtungen

Heilberufe - Die Kostenstelle Pflege in der stationären Altenhilfe umfasst die Leistungen „Grundpflege“, „Medizinische Behandlungspflege“, „Soziale...     

声誉激励还是经济激励——独立董事"跳槽"的实证研究

This paper analyzes the real motivations behind independent directors’ (IDs) job-hopping behavior based on 75 cases from 2001 to 2005. Relevant extant literature is reviewed and an analytical framework based on reputation incentive mechanism (such as company reputation, a company’s position in the hierarchy of Chinese firms’ administrative reporting relationships, and job risks) and economic incentive mechanism (including IDs’ remunerations and HR costs) have been put forward. Results show that reputation-related factors, such as a listed company’s reputation and job risks, are the main influencing factors of IDs’ job-hopping behavior. This finding indicates that sole emphasis on IDs’ remunerations may not able to motivate IDs effectively and the reputation mechanism is more effective in motivating IDs. Contributions of this paper include enrichment of the extant literature on corporate governance from a brand-new perspective and provision of empirical evidence for further improvement in the incentive mechanisms for IDs. Translated and revised from Zhongguo Kuaiji Pinglun 中国会计评论 (China Accounting Review), 2008, 6(2): 177–192     

网上交易中的声誉机制:来自淘宝网的证据

Using data on prepaid cards for an online game listed on Taobao.com, this paper examines the impact of sellers’ reputation on their sales in China’s online market. It is found that sellers’ good reputation has a positive impact on their sales volume, but the marginal effect of this impact decreases severely. We also find that sellers’ affiliation with seller coalitions can increase their sales in a given period. Results show that individual and collective reputation can function well in the absence of mature law and social credit system related to online trade, and that private order can substitute public order in a market with immature laws as in China. Translated and revised from Nankai guanli pinglun 南开맜理评论 (Nankai Business Review), 2007, 10(5): 36–46     

Moral Differentiation: Exploring Boundaries of the “Monkey See,Monkey Do” Perspective

Research in ethical decision making has consistently demonstrated a positive relationship between others’ unethical behavior and observers’ unethical behavior, providing support for the “Monkey See, Monkey Do” perspective (e.g., Robinson and O’Leary-Kelly, Acad Manage J 41:658–672, 1998). However, the boundaries of this relationship have received little research attention. Guided by theory and research in interpersonal distancing, we explore these boundaries by proposing and examining “moral differentiation,” the set of individual and situational characteristics that affect the degree to which one is willing to be influenced by others’ unethical behavior. Using data from 655 undergraduate business students in two U.S. universities, we test moderating hypotheses regarding the influence of moral differentiation characteristics on the relationship between others’ unethical behavior and observers’ unethical behavior. Results suggest that strong moral identity, low need for affiliation, and extraversion weaken the relationship between others’ unethical behavior and observers’ unethical behavior. Implications for managers and future research are discussed.     

Clearing Up the Egoist Difficulty with Loyalty

This paper seeks to analyze and to motivate a trend toward virtue ethics and away from deontology in the business ethics account of organizational loyalty. Prevailing authors appeal to “transcendent” values (deontology), skepticism (there is no loyalty), or Aristotelianism (loyalty is seeking mutual self-interest). I argue that the “Aristotelian” view clears up the “egoist” difficulty with loyalty. Briefly, critics feel we must “transcend,” “replace,” “overcome” and most especially sacrifice self-interest on the altar of ethics and loyalty. I argue that few things can be more ethical than loyalty to shared values. When a company and I both pursue the same value X, there becomes no difference between my seeking my best interest and my seeking the best interest of the company (and vice versa). Hence, the way out of the egoist difficulty with loyalty is seeing a company’s interests as my own (Aristotle’s third stage of friendship).     

William Faricy Condee. Coal and Culture: Opera Houses in Appalachia. Athens: Ohio University Press, 2005. xii + 210 pp. ISBN 0-8214-1588-3, $34.95 (cloth).

In Coal and Culture William Condee examines Appalachian small-towntheaters built between the 1860s and 1930s that appropriatedthe high-culture term ‘opera house’ for spaces presentingdiverse activities from high school graduations to travelingtheatrical troupes. The title ‘opera house,’ ratherthan ‘theater,’ conveyed an aura of culture, refinement,and acceptability in an era when theater was sometimes regardedas having questionable morals. ‘Opera house’ soundedgrand, but many structures were modest buildings whose facadesdiffered little from     

并购式内创业中的人力资源整合水平和模式研究

When firms start intrapreneurship by merger or acquisition, the level and pattern of human resource integration becomes a critical issue. However, extant literature has paid scant attentions to this issue. Drawing on the previous researches on M&A intrapreneurship, the present article collected primary data of the level and pattern of human resource integration in M&A intrapreneurship by means of in-depth interviews and used content analysis method to structurally analyze the data. The results showed that enterprises engaging in M&A intrapreneurship generally choose a high or intermediate level of HR integration. Specifically, enterprises at high level of HR integration tend to absorb employees from the acquired directly or recruit afresh employees, while enterprises at intermediate level of HR integration are inclined to adopt an agent-type of integration pattern. Translated from Zhejiang daxue xuebao(Renwen shehui kexueban) 浙江大学学报(人文社会科学版) (Journal of Zhejiang University (Humanities and Social Sciences)), 2007, 37(1): 178–189     

间断性服务业顾客忠诚维度及其影响因素

This research empirically studies customer loyalty in the intermittent service industry with samples from the catering business in Beijing. Results show that customer loyalty in the intermittent service industry is composed of three causally related dimensions, namely cognitive loyalty, affective loyalty, and behavioral loyalty. Factors influencing customer loyalty in the intermittent service industry are customer satisfaction, service quality, and customer perceived value (CPV), in descending order of significance. These factors vary in their function mechanisms and effects on different dimensions of customer loyalty. __________ Translated and revised from Shuliang jingji jishu jingji yanjiu 数量经济技术经济研究 (The Journal of Quantitative & Technical Economics), 2007, (3): 91–101     

Profitability analysis of Chinese listed firms: 1992–2004

This research collects and analyses the profitability data of Chinese listed companies from 1992 to 2004. Results show that, on average, the profitability of Chinese listed companies has declined over the period. Post-IPO earnings also exhibit a downward trend. A further analysis reveals that changes in listed firms’ profitability ratio follow a strong mean reversion pattern. Translated and revised from Zhongguo Kuaiji Pinglun 中国会计评论 (China Accounting Review), 2007, 5(2): 165–180     

我国企业非市场行为影响因素的实证研究

Drawing upon the resource dependence theory, this paper examines the determinants of nonmarket behaviors in the Chinese context. Using survey data of 175 top managers in China, we test 13 firm and environment characteristics likely influencing nonmarket behaviors. Results show that a firm’s economic resources, top management orientation, and uncertainty in the nonmarket environment are significantly related to Chinese firms’ nonmarket behaviors. Translated and revised from Zhongguo gongye jingji 中国工业经济 (China Industrial Economy), 2007, (5): 104–112     

Krisengeprüftes Europa — auf dem Weg zu einer Patchwork-Union?

Wirtschaftsdienst - Auf der Grundlage einer unzureichend gefestigten „europäischen Identität“ sah sich die Europäische Union in den vergangenen Jahren etlichen...