Book Reviews

The Who Wants To Be (WWTB) game is a computer-based game that can be used in a variety of classroom settings. WWTB requires students to sit in a “hot seat” and answer a series of questions. Assistance is provided to the students in the form of “lifelines.” The lifelines include: (1) the 50/50 lifeline where two wrong answers disappear; (2) the Ask the Audience lifeline where class members vote on a correct answer; and (3) the Ask Your Team lifeline where students can verbally interact with teammates. The WWTB game is functional on most computer systems. The manner in which the game can be played, the difficulty of the game, and the rules of the game are all easily modified at the instructor's discretion. An analysis of examination scores reveals that the game has been an effective learning tool in the auditing course in which it has been incorporated. The game program and database structure are available to educators on a complimentary basis through the author's website.     

Educating winery visitors and consumers: an international perspective

In times of economic uncertainty, fluctuating currency exchange, increasing wine production and competition from new or established wine-producing regions, wineries must overcome many obstacles to produce, market and ultimately benefit from wine production. Educating winery visitors and other potential consumers is one among different key strategies wineries' management could undertake to build relationships, brand loyalty, and maximise any opportunities to obtaining benefits, including from wine tourism. In gathering data from wineries located predominantly in Italy and Spain, the study provides an international perspective on wineries' educational initiatives. Guided tours, product tastings and showcasing production processes are the most common approaches to educating their visitors and wine consumers. In spite of these initiatives, winery entrepreneurs categorise their educational efforts as modest, suggesting that these are not being fully exploited or maximised. In addition, few of the comments emphasise the importance of educational experiences with regard to the region or local tourism. Given the important role wineries have as product and service providers in many rural areas and tourist destinations, the study's findings have several important implications for winery entrepreneurship and for wine tourism.     

Geographic ‘clustering’ in the German opto electronics industry

The dynamics of industrial clustering and its implications for regional development present important challenges for research in economic geography. Awareness of the potential economic and innovative benefits from the geographic ‘clustering’ of firms in related industries is longstanding. In turn, the means of aiding and promoting such clustering forms an important focus for government agencies and other support organizations. This paper aims to explore these issues by drawing on empirical evidence from the opto–electronics industry in Germany.

In sum, the paper argues that, indeed, there appears to be geographic clustering in the opto–electronics industry in Germany, notably in the region of Thuringia, around Jena, and in the Munich area. The contrasting experiences of Jena and Munich suggest, however, that geographic clustering in high–technology industry does not necessarily lead to R&D collaboration and innovation. Further, in–depth research is required to determine the conditions under which geographic clustering is beneficial to innovation.     

Open-mindedness in diverse team performance: investigating a three-way interaction

Studies have shown that open-minded dynamics contribute to diverse team effectiveness; however, there are few studies on the factors that influence the impact of open-mindedness. Survey data from 218 members of 47 professionally diverse teams support a significant relationship between open-mindedness and performance. Professional identification and professional salience were found to moderate the relationship with opposing effects. The study data indicate that although open-mindedness provides a context that facilitates the open exchange and discussion of diverse ideas and perspectives in interprofessional teams, this is less influential when members strongly identify with their profession. Conversely, member focus on professional differences enhances the value of team interaction characterised by receptiveness and openness. Analysis confirms a three-way interaction between open-mindedness, professional identification and salience on performance.     

A response to LDR 2 LDR: KNEX 2 U

An act of leadership is always an act of practical theory. We lead because we hold visions of the world as it ought to be, because of the not yet, because of the potential that we see in ideas and people. Yet, there still exists a perceived binary between leadership theory (in the strong sense) and leadership practice, a binary that divides organizations, classrooms, and the differing bodies of leadership literature. In this Symposium, Duncan Waite and his colleagues discuss the barriers they have faced in bringing theory to the educational leadership classroom, as well as the promise they feel theory holds for more productive, equitable, and humane schooling organizations.     

Delivering a superior customer experience in solutions delivery processes: Seven factors for success

In marketing complex solutions to customers, business-to-business firms face significant challenges in managing the customer experience effectively in solutions delivery processes—due primarily to the use of ad hoc teams. To learn more about these challenges, we interviewed executives from a Fortune 100 high-technology company. We identify seven factors ad hoc teams can employ to address this problem, focusing on delivery team composition, delivery processes, and organization-level changes that can be made to optimize the success of the team. In solutions selling, the delivery phase is particularly critical to success. The factors identified enable firms to better manage the customer experience and enhance performance.     

The Entry Cost Shock and the Re‐rating of Power Prices in New South Wales,Australia

Australia has long been the beneficiary of low, stable power prices. A decade‐long state of oversupply underpinned this result and while plant capital costs had been rising, the cost of capital had been declining. These offsetting effects locked the wholesale market into an average cost of $35–$40/MWh. However, from 2007, a simultaneous and sharp rise in new entrant plant capital costs and the cost of capital occurred. The combined effects crept up on the industry while it was in a state of oversupply. This ‘entry cost shock’ disrupted a 7 year long equilibrium price, with average power system cost rising to $60/MWh.     

HR managers as toxin handlers: The buffering effect of formalizing toxin handling responsibilities

Toxin handlers are organizational members who help colleagues manage negative emotions in the workplace. Although toxin handling activities help distressed employees remain productive, they put the toxin handler at risk of emotional exhaustion. In this research, more than 400 HR managers described their experience managing emotionally charged employee problems. We found that formalizing toxin handling responsibilities provided a buffering effect: HR managers whose organizations had made handling emotionally charged employee problems a formal part of HR responsibilities experienced lower levels of emotional exhaustion and perceived HR as more effective, even when they engaged in high levels of toxin handling. Formalizing toxin handling responsibilities may protect HR managers from harm and ensure that they maintain the toxin handling function in their organizations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.