Managerial Technologies, Ethics and Managing

ABSTRACT   This paper engages with a key element of Legge's work: the relationship between the technical and the moral in the application of managerial technologies, and how managers manage these different layers of meaning. Taking business planning and performance measurement as an example of managerial technologies, these are analysed for the extent to which they allow for an engagement with an ethical position, using Legge's (1978 ) characterization of the role of managerial technologies originally identified in Power, Innovation and Problem Solving in Personnel Management . The inter-related elements of the technical, the ethical and the practical are then used to explore how managers construct the meaning of management and their implications for Legge's more recent deontological and teleological ethical framework.     

一种集成的企业物流绩效评价模型的构建与应用研究

企业物流绩效评价的关键是怎样选择或建立评价模型,以及怎样根据评价模型建立评价指标体系。在分析BSC模型、Delphi法和MMDC模型的原理基础上,分别指出了它们的优势和不足,结合企业物流绩效评价指标体系的需求,提出了EL-BDM评价模型。利用EL-BDM模型,以某企业为应用背景,建立了该企业的物流绩效评价指标体系。     

Validation of an instrument to measure absorptive capacity

Absorptive capacity is an ability firms should develop if they wish to adapt to changes in an increasingly competitive and changing environment and to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. Despite the increase in literature on absorptive capacity, some ambiguity remains in determining the dimensions that shape the construct. Thus, no measurement instrument can be adapted to these dimensions. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the literature on absorptive capacity by using a resource-based view to present an alternative measurement instrument for absorptive capacity. This instrument differentiates between the phases of acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation of knowledge, as well as between the two dimensions of absorptive capacity (potential and realized), to reduce the problem of measuring and identifying the dimensions that shape this important construct. The instrument’s validity and reliability are guaranteed and have been tested using data from 168 Spanish organizations.     

电气自动化仪器检测原理及技术性能

本文对常用电气测量设备在生活、生产、工业等方面的应用进行了分析和研究。分别介绍了电流电压的测量、功率的测量及其它常用电子测量仪表的原理和技术性能,旨在让读者了解常用测量仪表原理及性能。     

The trend toward accountability: What does it mean for HR managers?

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the accountability trend and what this trend means for HR managers. We begin by defining performance measurement and its relationship to performance management and evaluation. We then discuss the legislative incentives behind federal performance measurement, such as the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), that are designed to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of taxpayer funded programs and how these initiatives affect HR programs. Following this, we review the implications for HR professionals and the fundamental concepts of performance measurement, including common performance measurement methodologies. Finally, we conclude by highlighting the challenges of implementing a performance management system, as well as lessons learned from agencies who have implemented performance measurement or management systems in the past.     

The influence of supply chain collaboration on collaborative advantage and port performance in maritime logistics

Although many academics and practitioners in the maritime industry have recognised the importance of supply chain collaboration (SCC) between ports and port users, there is still a lack of empirical work on this issue. This work empirically investigates the association between SCC, collaborative advantage and port performance in a maritime logistics context. Data were collected via a web-based questionnaire survey which engaged 178 responses from maritime logistics firms in South Korea. Hypotheses were tested by using structural equation modelling, following a hierarchical analysis process. The results confirm that SCC has positive impacts on collaborative advantage, which in turn helps to improve port performance. The finding indicates that collaborative advantage has a full mediation effect on the link SCC-port performance. This work invites managers to recognise the positive outcomes of inter-organisational SCC practices in enhancing collaborative advantage and port performance within port supply chain.     

人力资源经理绩效考核指标体系的构建

人力资源经理绩效考核指标体系的构建,对选聘、培养和考核人力资源经理,对管理好企业的人力资源都有着重要的意义。基于企业的战略目标确定人力资源经理的职位目标,运用职位分析,把人力资源经理的职位目标分解成8个一级指标及22个二级指标,设定权重并进行一致性检验。通过对绩效考核指标的计量、标准化,突出了可操作性。通过试测、反馈、循环完善,最终形成符合企业实际需要的人力资源经理绩效考核指标体系。     

An improved subordinate appraisal of bank manager's competence

The three-factor, forty-five item instrument measuring manager's competence in retail banking returns a poor comparative fit index when modelled as an orthogonal or oblique model. Revisiting the original scale development study published in 1996 with a new data set and following a revised research design yields a considerably improved model. A second-order factor, overall managerial competence, is demonstrated to capture a meaning common to the five first-order factors, namely, entrepreneurial style , interpersonal skills , intellectual capacity , participative management style and emotional maturity . The revised model with substantially improved construct validity and reconfirmed instrument reliability can now be used with more confidence by human resource managers. The revised instrument can become a diagnostic tool in identifying areas of incompetence in management, as well as an instrument of feedback to the manager from subordinates. Allowing subordinates to voice their opinions about their immediate supervisor can become a welcome addition to the practice of participative management. The emergence of interpersonal skills and participative management style as the key factors explaining overall managerial competence indicates the importance of assessing managerial candidates on these factors.     

Measuring program success

Growth in the use of programs has led to a requirement of understanding what constitutes program success. A measurement construct for program success, which comprises four dimensions—delivery capability, organizational capability, marketing capability, and innovative capability—was developed based on 172 responses to a web‐based questionnaire to program managers. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and canonical correlation analysis were applied to test for the relationship between program success and program context. Results showed that the measurement construct for program success was stable over different types of program contexts. It provides a tool for further investigation into program success assessment.     

Some Like it Non-Financial …

Abstract

Over the last decades the process of modernization in the public sector has fostered the adoption of new accounting techniques, such as accrual accounting and non-financial performance measurement systems. The purpose of this paper is to test hypotheses on the different perceptions of politicians and managers as to the importance of performance information. Our findings suggest that politicians’ and managers’ views on the importance of performance information are more similar than expected. They also show that accounting innovations are in some cases embraced with enthusiasm (non-financial performance), whereas in other cases they are hardly recognized (e.g. accrual accounting).     

基于MIMU的车速测量方案研究

分析了车辆装备底盘性能测试对运动参数测量的特点和要求,提出了利用MIMU单独工作进行车速测量的方案,以MIMU(MEMS Inertial measurement unit)为主要单元,以小型蓄电池作为供电源,通过USB-RS422转换接头,从USB口连接到笔记本电脑,从而获得计算的基本数据。给出了车速测量系统的安装调整和速度及位移的计算思路,明确了实现工程化应用还需深入进行的工作。     

A Framework For Work‐Life Instruments: A Cross‐National Review

Recently there has been growing attention paid by practitioners to the need for effective measurement of the contribution of work‐life management initiatives to both financial and nonfinancial performance objectives and to organizational effectiveness overall. We review a range of performance indicators, criteria, and indices that are used in a variety of countries to measure the performance of work‐life initiatives. Using insights from research as a theoretical foundation, we present a framework for organizations to use when developing metrics for work‐life measurement that comprise the four dimensions of planning and alignment, customization, supportive culture, and demonstrated value. Finally, we offer recommendations for research and practice related to measurement of work‐life initiatives to assist scholars, managers, employees, and communities. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Application of the Yale Technology Concordance to the Construction of International Spillover Variables for India

Although there is increased interest in the role of international technology spillovers, empirical studies have been hampered by a host of measurement problems. This paper reviews recent attempts to address two of these problems. First, there are differing degrees of transferability of technology from one region to another. Second, both embodied and disembodied technology are transferred, and these different modes of transfer have distinct implications for both behavior and policy. To deal with the first measurement problem, the Yale Technology Concordance (YTC)—a matrix that maps patents into industries of manufacture and sectors of use—was used to construct indices of relevance of foreign technology to India. To deal with the second measurement problem, the YTC was again used to construct pools of embodied and disembodied international technology. After describing the variable construction, the paper highlights the performance of these variables in equations that predict Indian firms' R&D, technology purchases and output.     

超越质量模型与平衡计分卡的异同及其启示

对于追求业绩改进的企业来说，找到最有效的业绩考评工具是极其重要的，因为业绩考评是持续改进的基础。本文在管理控制系统的四个中心问题——目标、战略与计划、业绩目标设定、奖励机制的基础上，对当今世界上最著名的两种考评工具：欧洲卓越质量模型与平衡计分卡进行了对比，并得出启示：如何将战略业绩框架成功实施于组织中应当成为管理者关注的重点问题；同时，企业应当对两种工具兼收并蓄，各取所长。     

Why demotion of older workers is a no-go area for managers

Abstract

Demotion – the reduction of an employee’s rank and salary – is often mentioned by managers and policy-makers as a means of increasing the employability of older workers in an ageing labour force. However, so far in practice demotion is rarely applied. This paper is the first empirical investigation of how managers perceive demotion as an instrument of human resource management. By means of a survey and a vignette study among managers in the Netherlands (N = 355), we examine whether managers consider demotion of poorly performing older workers a fair solution. Three contributions stand out. First, based on attribution theory we find support for the hypothesis that managers judge demotion to be fair in those cases where deterioration in task performance is caused by controllable factors (such as work motivation) and unfair when the causes are uncontrollable (such as age). Second, the expectations of managers about the organization-wide consequences of introducing demotion as a human resource policy play a significant role in considering demotion. Most managers perceive negative organizational externalities (e.g. decrease in loyalty and motivation of staff) to arise when introducing demotion and are reluctant to apply demotion in practice. And a third contribution: positive (negative) beliefs of managers about the hard skills – e.g. creativity, willingness to learn, flexibility – of older workers make demotion less (respectively more) likely.     

基于BSC方法的供应链绩效评价

本文运用从BSC的方法来评价供应链绩效,评价的角度有四个:财务,顾客,内部流程,创新和成长。在提出指标的时候,对以往的很多供应链绩效指标相关文献进行了回顾,并把这些指标导入到供应链的四个维度。在对文献回顾的基础上提出了本文的方法,本文的方法对于管理者来说可以更有效的从多角度评价供应链绩效。     

Simulation of truck arrival process at a seaport: evaluating truck-sharing benefits for empty trips reduction

Empty running of container trucks increases empty miles. With the aim of a reduction in the number of empty-truck trips, this study simulates the truck-sharing idea in a port and also evaluates the positive effects of the changes made. This study develops simulation models for the current process (the current truck arrival process in a seaport) and the proposed process (the idea of truck-sharing). The data for this study are provided by a local port. Simulation results are validated by using real-life data from the port. The simulation results confirm that the truck-sharing idea boosts port transport capacity, and that it can handle the increasing future truck volume effectively. The truck-sharing idea can also account for reduced emissions released from trucks in the port surroundings. The results of the simulation will be useful in persuading port authorities to evaluate truck-sharing initiatives. This study will assist port managers with replies to questions, such as ‘What impact will truck-sharing have on transport capacity expansion?’     

Port industry performance management: a meso-level gap in literature and practice?

Over the past decades, literature has been focusing increasingly on performance management. A great deal of studies have pointed out that performance management has evolved from mere financial measurements to a multitude of indicators, and that the subject being measured can range from micro-level (an organisation), meso-level (industry) to macro-level (regional or national) performance. The authors will research which academic literature has focused on the performance measurement and management of the meso-level and how that is translated in practice, with special attention for the port industry. In practice, the authors observe that mostly so-called ‘observatories’ are responsible for monitoring the performance of infrastructure industries. Within this context the authors will examine the cooperative efforts of the past 20 years between universities and the European port industry. Based on this analysis, research and policy recommendations will be made on industry performance management, with specific consideration for port industry performance management.     

Experienced and Novice Investors: Does Environmental Information Influence Investment Allocation Decisions?

Economic Value Added (EVA) is a performance measure that is being used by an increasing number of companies, but academic research on EVA is limited. In addition, all prior empirical academic studies on EVA have used the firm as the unit of analysis. In this study, we examine the effect of EVA on the performance of individual managers. Specifically, we examine whether managers on EVA-based bonus plans outperform managers on traditional accounting-based bonus plans. We are able to test this because we have access to an EVA-focused company that has managers on both EVA and traditional bonus plans. Our results suggest that managers on EVA bonus plans who understand the EVA concept perform better than managers on traditional bonus plans. However, we find some evidence that the increase in performance results from increased consistency or congruence in the manager's evaluation–reward process rather than from superiority of EVA as a performance measure. Also, we find that the effect of EVA bonuses and EVA understanding differs depending on the area of the firm in which the manager is employed. This suggests that EVA may not be a universally appropriate base for reward systems. *Mohan Lal passed away 24 July 2002. This paper is dedicated to him.     

Managerial efficiency and human capital: an application to English association football

The problem of hidden action in organizations makes direct measurement of managerial performance problematic. But in English association football hidden action is unlikely to be as serious a problem because the owner observes the manager's performance each time the team plays. In this situation production frontier analysis may be used to measure managerial performance and analyze the variation in performance across managers in terms of manager human capital. Having some kind of prior affiliation with the club and achieving international recognition as a player are especially important. Overall, initial experience matters more than specific and general managerial experience. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.