Corporate Contributions As Managerial Masques: Reframing Corporate Contributions As Strategies to Influence Society*

Researchers have argued that corporate contributions serve as necessitated investments, social currency, or social responsibility efforts. This article integrates and extends these perspectives to develop a view of corporate contributions as managerial masques. It argues that managers use corporate contributions to influence various stakeholders including stockholders, consumers, employees, investors, publics and societal institutions. A strategic framework is used to explore how managers promote managerial and corporate interests through corporate contributions. the societal implications of managers' discretionary uses of corporate contributions are also discussed.     

Political Leadership,Conflict and the Prospects for Constitutional Peace

The emphasis in constitutional political economy has been that new rules and institutions can be devised that improve the welfare of a society. Given the number of societies that are infected with political conflict and as a result lower levels of welfare, this paper attempts to analyse why we do not see more constitutional conventions aimed at eliminating conflict. The key idea is that expressively motivated group members may create incentives for instrumentally motivated group leaders such that it leads them to choose conflict rather than compromise. Nonetheless, it is not argued that such a peace is impossible to obtain. This leads to a further question, that if such a constitutional agreement could be found, would the expressive perspective alter the conventional instrumental perspective on the sort of constitutional reform that should be undertaken?     

A performance matrix for strategies to improve satisfaction among faculty members in higher education

Most studies of higher education focus on students as ??customers??, and these studies tend to evaluate educational services on the basis of the satisfaction of these customers. This approach often neglects the question of the satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) of faculty members. The study designs a questionnaire for higher-education faculty members on the basis of the literature on this subject and discussion with scholars. Surveys of importance and satisfaction are then undertaken among Taiwanese faculty members with respect to various items. Each item is then placed on was modified a performance control matrix to determine an appropriate improvement strategy. Items that are found to be outside the range of an appropriate performance zone (APZ) are identified as objectives for improvement. The quality loss function (QLF) is then adopted to calculate an area of improvement objectives. A large QLF value indicates that faculty members satisfaction needs to be improved in these items. The results of this investigation demonstrate that retirement arrangements, job security, salaries, and fair promotion systems need to be improved. The resources of higher-education institutions must be invested appropriately to avoid waste and to enhance satisfaction among faculty members.     

Can Labor-capital Models Predict the Responses of Agrarian Societies to Development?Part II: Alternative Models

SUMMARY. Part II of this article presents a model that accords with the needs stated in Part I which appeared in the previous issue of this Journal. It noted that development efforts and economics have relied upon two-factor, capital and labor neoclassical economic models . FAailures have occurred when they were applied to agrarian societies where the ownership of land rent dictates particular institutional forms that engender resistance to development. It was argued that there is need for a new three-factor development theory which explicitly models land and its rent. Ideas of Smith, Ricardo, George and Samuelson -were assembled as a basis for a computer simulation model that explores landed institutions and the land value flows resulting from different development strategies.     

Societal institutions and HRM practices: an analysis of four European multinational subsidiaries in Bangladesh

Using the ‘societal-effect’ approach, a variant of the institutional theory developed and tested in Europe, this study investigates the impact of societal institutions on human resource management (HRM) practices of European multinational subsidiaries in Bangladesh, which is now on the list of the Next-11 economies of the world. In-depth case studies of four European multinational subsidiaries revealed the presence of different degrees of influence – partly attributable to societal effect – on the human resource practices of these subsidiaries. Our study added a new dimension to the interface between the strong and weak institutions and how such interfacing accords both legitimacy and reverse legitimacy to MNC subsidiaries and their societal institutions respectively. Another interesting finding of the study is the emergence of political system as a societal institution and, hence, a determinant of HRM practices in these subsidiaries. The study's implications are given.     

Trade unionism and partnership in practice: evidence from the Barclays–Unifi agreement

This article draws on empirical evidence from Barclays Bank PLC to explore the impact of partnership on trade union organisation. It outlines the rationale, development, benefits and pitfalls of the partnership agreement between Barclays and Unifi. Particular attention is paid to the positive impact the agreement has had on systems of workplace representation and on the ways in which the partnership needs to develop to better serve the trade union side. It is argued that unions need to manage the risks of partnership, ensuring their continued legitimacy in the eyes of union members.     

合肥建设节约型城市指标体系的研究

建设节约型城市是指以满足人们的生活质量为前提,将节约理念贯穿于各个领域,以最少的资源消耗获取最大的经济效益和社会效益,实现可持续发展。根据合肥市发展的特点和建设节约型城市的要求,在讨论考核评指标体系构建原则的基础上,确定了合肥建设节约型城市的考核评价指标体系。该指标体系包括3个层次和22个指标;并利用德尔斐法确定了考核评价指标的权重。根据以上指标体系,对合肥1998-2005年的资源节约状况进行了综合评价,结果显示合肥市节约型城市建设的质量和效益不稳定,距离资源节约型社会仍有很大距离。     

The Question of Value in Social Marketing

A bstract . Economic theory fails to recognize value in social marketing, it is argued, because these beliefs are widely held: (1) social marketers do not consider consumer needs , (2) they are motivated by social welfare , (3) the price mechanism does not fully operate in the social sphere, (4) there is usually insufficient competition , and (5) social marketing is less effective in market control. Based on quality-of-life (QOL) theory , several normative principles are derived to guide the efforts of social marketers. One, QOL-means have to be determined by relating them to QOL-ends (long term satisfaction). Two, discrepancies between QOI, means potentialities and actualities have to be minimized. And third, social marketing programs designed to minimize those discrepancies have to be developed in such a way as to reduce negative environmental impacts.     

解析事业单位如何实现人力资源的合理配置与管理

随着社会经济的快速发展,事业单位对人力资源管理工作提出了更高的要求,需要对自身的发展现状以及发展方向进行明确的把握,将其作为基础建立合理的管理方案和管理制度,进一步发挥事业单位人力资源管理的作用与价值。从事业单位的现状来看,其人力资源配置与管理仍然存在一定的问题与不足,需要进一步完善。对此,论文围绕事业单位人力资源的配置与管理展开论述,并提出了有关策略与建议。     

A correlation study of sustainable development goal (SDG) interactions

Quality & Quantity - As universities are the change agent of society, institutions from all nations set their goals to transform the world by exploring various societal challenges that humans...     

Self-Governance As a Mode of Societal Governance

This article explores the concept of self-governance. Self-governance refers to the capacity of social entities to govern themselves autonomously and, as such, is an important mode of societal governance in modern society. However, the nature of'self-governance'and its actual and potential contribution to societal governance in modern society are not (yet) fully understood. Therefore, two perspectives on self-governance as a mode of societal governance are dis-cussed: a system-oriented perspective thatfocuses on the operational closure of systems; and an actor-oriented perspective that stresses the situational dependency of the actual possibilities for making use of self-governance. A third, interactional, approach is added that stresses the need to understand societal interactions in their full complexity, dynamics and diversity, in which self-governing capacities are tapped.     

(De)Politicization Dynamics in Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs): Lessons from a comparison between UK and Flemish PPP policy

This article analyses the (de)politicization dynamics in complex and technical matters like public–private partnerships, which is necessary given its social impact and budgetary consequences for the years and generations to come. The global financial crisis provides an excellent window of opportunity to present this argument, because PPP policy needs to reinvent itself. We argue that PPP policy needs to be (re)politicized at the broader societal and discursive levels, which means that their public nature is recognized and that policy alternatives are debated in the public forums. The ‘Private Finance Initiative’ reassessment process in the UK may serve as an example.     

Pulling in different directions? Exploring the relationship between vertical pay dispersion and high‐performance work systems

Vertical pay dispersion (VPD), a hierarchical pay structure used to motivate employees, has traditionally been studied separately from high‐performance work systems (HPWSs). As a component of HPWSs, incentive‐based compensation schemes focus on employee‐ or team‐level incentives. However, the influence of the simultaneous utilization of VPD and HPWS on performance remains understudied. This study addresses the question of whether these approaches to managing human capital serve as complements or substitutes to one another. VPD and HPWS are argued to substitute for one another with respect to motivation‐ and skill‐enhancing practices. The opposite notion is true in regard to opportunity‐enhancing HPWSs, which serve to amplify the effectiveness of VPD. In a multisource, longitudinal sample of South Korean firms, the hypothesized predictions are supported.     

Innovative Ireland—technological,industrial and societal challenges

The aims of this paper, from a perspective of the public sector, are (1) to provide a brief background scan of contemporary society, particularly the new challenges for technological, industrial and societal change, (2) to outline in passing some needs for and implications of innovative and entrepreneurial activities, and (3) by so doing provide a perspective on educational and related needs.The thesis of this paper is that Irish society, by virtue of its historical record, its cultural values, its educational and industrial performance and its human resources, is well placed to develop rapidly under contemporary conditions of change. Underlying this proposition is the assumption that the formal educational system from primary to tertiary levels including continuing education has a major role to play in contributing to maximising this economic and social development opportunity.     

The influence of collectivist human resource management practices on team-level identification

In this study, we investigate how a culturally specific human resource management (HRM) approach influences employees' relational identification at the team level, which may in turn influence the behavior of team members. Given the boundary condition of a collectivistic societal culture, collectivist HRM helps improve employees' team-level identification and their performance. Collecting empirical data from firms in different regions of China, we found that the collectivism-oriented HRM approach has a positive effect on employees' team-level relational identification. This team-level identification, in turn, can significantly improve the job satisfaction of team members and reduce their turnover intention. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our findings for academic researchers and practitioners.     

Liberal Education: Cornerstone of Democracy

Democracy is a form of government that requires an active and informed citizenry who share material resources sufficiently to enable all members of society to participate. But a minimum of material equality is not a sufficient condition for democracy. Citizens need training in skills beyond those that will enable them to earn a living. Widespread availability of liberal education is an essential component of any society that seeks to sustain democratic institutions. The United States has been fortunate to have had leaders for two centuries who understood the need for liberal education as a cornerstone of democracy. However, the growing demand that universities operate according to the same principles as a business has been undermining the consensus about the need for liberal education.     

Determinants of donation amount in nonprofit membership associations

Nonprofit organizations depend heavily on charitable giving. Using survey data of 2,517 nonprofit professional association members, this study examines the factors influencing the donation amounts given to those organizations. The results of a hierarchical regression analysis suggest that gender, length of membership, and individuals' intrinsic motivation are predictors of their decisions about how much to donate. However, level of satisfaction and extrinsic motivation do not predict members' extent of generosity. This study offers empirical evidence of the positive effects of nonprofit organizations' building mutual relationships with their members regarding donation amounts. The findings contribute to further understanding of the factors that drive donation amount.     

Can Labor-capital Models Predict the Responses of Agrarian Societies to Development?Part I: Problems With Development Economics

Development efforts and economics have relied upon two-factor, capital and labor neoclassical economic models. Failures have occurred when they were applied to agrarian societies where the ownership of land rent dictates particular institutional forms that engender resistance to development. It is argued that there is a need for a new three-factor development theory which explicity models land and its rent. Ideas of Smith, Ricardo, George and Samuelson are assembled as a basis for a computer simulation model that explores landed institutions and the land value flows resulting from different development strategies. Part II, a subsequent article in this Journal, sets forth the models.     

基层党员干部培训有效性研究

随着我国经济的不断发展,社会广大群众对政府的管理以及服务也有了更高的要求,为了充分满足群众需求,做到与时俱进,政府需要结合实际发展情况完善基层党员干部的培训工作。当前,政府各基层单位以及部门中基层党员干部较多,覆盖范围也较为广泛,想要整体提高工作素质以及服务水平具有巨大挑战性,需要针对性提出科学有效的培训方式。因此,论文针对基层党员干部培训有效性进行研究,希望能够为提高基层党员干部的整体素质提供参考和借鉴,从而为社会群众提供更好的服务。