Risk management in public sector research: approach and lessons learned at a national research organization

As the Canadian federal government's main research body and a public sector agency, the National Research Council (NRC) must manage numerous strategic as well as operational risks, including those at the project, program and portfolio levels. Such risks might arise from political and other stakeholder interests, intellectual property ownership and policy, funding structures, public perceptions of science and technology, occupational health and safety, management of highly qualified personnel, availability of receptor capacity for research being undertaken, and unknown markets for very new research areas, to name a few. Varying risk management practices have existed across NRC institutes and programs in the past as a result of the relative autonomy afforded to these groups. In seeking a more systematic approach, driven by both external and internal interests, NRC researched best practices, models and frameworks for risk management. NRC needed an appropriate model and approach for managing risk that could be applied throughout different levels and within the various arenas of its activities. The approach selected is based on the concept of enterprise risk management, allowing NRC to look not only at specific areas of risk but the larger picture – effectively assessing, controlling, exploiting and monitoring risks from all sources that might threaten the achievement of its goals. At the same time, such an approach also ensures that potential opportunities that could facilitate achievement of its goals are not missed. This paper shares some of NRC's findings of its research (including best practices), describes its current framework and approach, as well as some of its challenges.     

企业战略管理模型：战略—文化—结构

在企业环境日益复杂多变的今天，如何从战略上管理企业已成为一个迫切而重要的问题。本文首先指出战略管理时代的来临，并认为企业战略管理实质上是指对企业的战略性管理。在此基础上，提出了一个以战略、文化、结构为顶点的企业战略管理三角形模型，并阐述了该模型的理论和实践意义。     

National and corporate culture differences in international strategic alliances: Perceptions of Chinese partners

We consider the effect of national culture and corporate culture differences on the management of international strategic alliances (ISAs). Findings are based on the perceptions of a relatively large sample of Chinese partner firms in ISAs with foreign partners. We find that differences in national culture and corporate culture have contributed to a similar extent to differing views on ISA management. However, findings indicate that differences in national culture and corporate culture have a differential impact on aspects of ISA management. Perception of national culture and corporate culture differences and the contribution of those differences to differing views on the management of ISAs are greater in relatively younger ISAs compared with older ISAs. Managers in equity-based ISAs report fewer problems with culture related impediments to managing ISAs than managers in non-equity-based ISAs.

Strategic leadership and executive innovation influence: an international multi‐cluster comparative study

This study investigates the relationship of strategic leadership behaviors with executive innovation influence and the moderating effects of top management team (TMT)'s tenure heterogeneity and social culture on that relationship. Using survey data from six countries comprising three social cultures, strategic leadership behaviors were found to have a strong positive relationship with executive influence on both product–market and administrative innovations. In addition, TMT tenure heterogeneity moderated the relationship of strategic leadership behaviors with executive innovation influence for both types of innovation, while social culture moderated that relationship only in the case of administrative innovation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Corporate strategic management and the overseas chinese groups

Overseas Chinese entrepreneurs have been said to possess a certain number of cultural characteristics which inhibit their ability to manage large complex enterprises.Building upon the author's experience in Southeast Asia and upon data collected in six major conglomerates in Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia, this article discusses some of the organisational mechanisms used by Chinese corporations for their strategic management.The conclusions are that Chinese culture does not apriori create a barrier to modern multibusiness management. Factors other than cultural, such as environmental risks, opportunities and stage of development may explain the strategic management style of Overseas Chinese corporations.     

A framework, process and tool for managing technology‐based assets

Technology organisations centre their business on the development of new technology‐based offerings (i.e. products and services). The strategic management of technology‐based assets is therefore crucial for these organisations as an imperative for business success. However, these assets are often intangible and reflect future rather than current value and are therefore difficult to manage when using traditional managerial concepts. This study investigates integrative mechanisms addressing the management of technology‐based assets and offerings in a technology organisation. The approach taken was to study the views and practices regarding the management of technology‐based assets in a number of strategic units of a technology organisation (CSIR, South Africa). The study maintains that the management of technology‐based assets and offerings requires clear strategic management of the process of technological innovation with special emphasis on the management of the intellectual capital (IC) and the intellectual property (IP) of the organisation. The study describes a framework linking the core processes supporting the management of technology‐based assets and offerings with other organisational elements such as leadership, strategy, and culture. Specific key links between the core process of innovation and the strategic management of investment in technology‐based assets using a portfolio approach are discussed.     

航油企业战略管理

为迎接即将到来的竞争挑战，航空油料企业应在对自身优势和劣势，航油市场进入障碍和竞争性进行全面分析的基础上，制定科学的发展战略，这是企业谋求长远发燕尾服的必然选择，航油企业在战略制定过程中应讲求战略的适应性，协同性，连续性和柔性，在战略选择时应分别从公司层，经营层和职能层入手确定满足航油企业未来发展要求的战略内容，在战略实施时应建立支持企业战略管理的组织结构、管理机制和文化，避免依靠主观意愿，推断和危机实施战略管理，确保战略的有效实施。     

企业质量文化初探

介绍了质量文化建设的内涵,包括质量观念(理念)文化、质量行为准则、质量体系建设文化、质量创新质量文化、质量品牌战略文化、质量宣教培训文化。就如何培育优良的质量文化进行了初步的探讨,指出,"质量是企业的生命"的观念是质量文化建设的灵魂;领导观念创新是质量文化建设的关键;质量方针是质量文化建设的核心;质量管理创新是质量文化建设的源泉;质量品牌经营是质量文化建设亮点;实施卓越绩效管理模式是质量文化建设的动力;用户满意是质量文化建设的目标。     

创新基层质量文化初探

阐述了基层质量文化的内涵、基层质量文化开展中存在的主要问题和基层质量文化的创新关键点。指出,以人为本、开展人才战略培养是质量文化建设的根本和基础,提高执行力是质量文化建设的可靠手段和有力保障,树立＂质量经营＂理念是质量文化建设的重心和方向,管理创新和技术创新是质量文化开展的动力和支撑。     

STRATEGIC UNCERTAINTY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING: THE CASE FOR INSTITUTIONAL INFLUENCES ON SCANNING BEHAVIOR

This study examined the relationship between perceptions of strategic uncertainty and environmental scanning behaviors. It has been postulated that the strength of this relationship will depend on the combined effect of the environmental constraints and the prevailing approach to strategic decision making. A sample of 141 medium-size Bulgarian companies, all of them operating in a highly constrained external environment and a business culture, characterized by a low degree of calculative strategic decision making, was used to test four hypotheses related to scanning behavior. The empirical findings of this study were then compared with the results of prior research on environmental scanning in the United States in order to draw conclusions for both the theory of scanning behavior and strategic management practice in various environments. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

关于加强和培育企业的执行力文化的探讨

执行已经成为企业所面临的最大问题之一，大量企业经营失败的案例表明，企业战略经营失败的原因源于其战略缺乏可执行的基础。企业要想取得成功，必须拥有全新的执行理念，通过创建有效的执行文化，将战略、人员与运营流程三个要素有机结合，并使执行力文化成为企业的基因，并贯穿企业发展的各个方面。文章结合通用电气、海尔等优秀企业的执行力文化，提出了培育企业执行力文化的思路与策略。     

国有建筑企业中的人力资源开发与管理

在现代管理中人力资源开发与管理日益成为企业的一项战略性工作，赢得了人才就赢得了企业的持续发展的后劲。本通过选择一个传统的建筑行业为出发点，结合笔较长时期在该行业从事人力资源管理工作的实际，从建筑企业自身具具的特殊工作性质来概述人力资源开发与管理工作的现状、面临的难题，分析其原因、并着重从具体的人员培训、绩效考核、薪酬管理以及企业化建设几个方面来提出如何建立、实行高效的人力资源开发与管理体制，从而为企业的发展提供强大的人才保障。     

Strategic management cycle: The underlying process building aligned linkage among operations practices

This study explores the mechanism of building an effective linkage among manufacturing practices that is a basic attribute of high performance manufacturing. High performance manufacturing companies are those that sustain high levels of performance over time. We propose a strategic management cycle, which explains how a firm establishes and maintains sustainable performance. We hypothesize and demonstrate how the cycle creates an effective linkage that integrates strategic activities and operational practices, which in turn yields high performance. We also argue and show how the first stage of the cycle, visionary planning, supported by the cross-functional culture, is a key to the high performance manufacturing company.     

Reading the wind: how middle managers assess the context for selling issues to top managers

Issue selling is an important mechanism for creating change initiatives in organizations. This paper presents two studies that examine what middle managers think about as they decide whether or not to sell strategic issues to top management. In Study 1 middle managers identify themes that indicate a favorable or unfavorable context for issue selling. Top management’s willingness to listen and a supportive culture were the most often named contributors to context favorability, while fear of negative consequences, downsizing conditions and uncertainty were thought to signal that a context was unfavorable for issue selling. Study 2 identifies factors that middle managers associate with image risk in the context of issue selling. Violating norms for issue selling, selling in a politically vulnerable way and having a distant relationship with top management were regarded as major contributors to a middle manager’s level of image risk. Both studies enrich our understanding of the social psychological mechanisms that undergird the strategic change process. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Strategic HR functions and firm performance: The moderating effects of high-involvement work practices

Although the strategic human resource management literature has emphasized the value of the integration of human resource management into strategic management, the mechanism through which the strategic integration of HR functions contributes to the improvement of firm performance is relatively unknown. Assuming that HR strategies cannot be successfully implemented without employee support for and commitment to these strategies, this research focuses on high-involvement work practices, which allow employees to participate in management decisions as potential moderators of the integration of HR functions in strategic management and firm performance. Using a sample of 203 unionized Korean firms, this research found that the effects of a strategic HR function on firm performance were moderated by high-involvement work practices such as a pay-for-performance program, a career-development program, union participation in company strategy, and temporary worker benefits. The results suggest that a strategic HR function will not be successful without institutional mechanisms that foster employee involvement.     

建筑承包企业的战略生态管理研究

建筑承包企业都有许多复杂的关系网络，在每个网点上企业都有自身的战略规划。结合企业关系管理和企业战略生态管理的相关理论和知识，构建出建筑承包企业的战略生态管理模式。在这种战略管理模式下，建筑承包企业可以很好地进行战略管理，提高企业在整个战略生态圈内竞争地位与企业的核心竞争力。     

石油企业战略经营业绩评价指标体系研究

对我国石油企业而言，建立科学、合理、有效的经营业绩评价指标体系意义重大。文章从战略管理和可持续发展角度出发，分别设置了石油企业低成本战略经营业绩评价指标体系、国际化战略经营业绩评价指标体系和非多元化以勘探开发为主业的战略经营业绩评价指标体系，并提出了相应的保障措施，对我国石油企业的战略经营业绩评价工作有非常重要的指导意义。     

The strategic management process at the public planning unit level

This paper describes a normative strategic management process for the public sector. It focuses on the state agency or department as the strategic public planning unit (SPPU). Each department within a state Government provides a distinctly different service to a more or less homogeneous segment of the state's citizenry. Therefore, for strategic management purposes, each state unit operates in its unique context and must meet the demands of varied constituency publics if it is to be a viable and effective provider of its service. The process herein described recognizes the unique aspects of public sector strategic management and integrates several stages that are specific to the public sector into an established private sector strategic management framework.     

Corruption and change: the impact of foreign direct investment

This study examines influences on the level of corruption in countries from a strategic perspective. Corruption is one of the country‐level influences on market entry, investment, and other decisions fundamental to strategic management at the international level. The study examines the impact on corruption of change in levels of foreign direct investment (FDI). It uses the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) scores computed by Transparency International for 1999 and 2000. Results indicate that the more rapid the rate of change in FDI, the higher the level of corruption. Higher levels of perceived corruption are associated with each of two dimensions of national culture: uncertainty avoidance and masculinity. Research and managerial implications are also discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rethinking incrementalism

This paper discusses different notions of incremental strategic management and, on the basis of empirical data from a longitudinal study of strategic management, and existing research and theory, reconceives the subject within an ‘organization action’ framework. The paper also argues that such an approach raises important issues concerned with the management of strategic change in organizations.