Leadership styles, need satisfaction and the organizational commitment of Greek managers

This article presents the results of an empirical study of the relation between the leadership styles, need satisfaction and the organizational commitment of Greek managers. The findings show that there is a negative relationship between need satisfaction and organizational commitment. This relationship is stronger for the higher-order than for the lower-order needs. Furthermore, the results provide some empirical evidence regarding the relationship between the superior's leadership style and the subordinate's organizational commitment. The findings show that in most cases studied, the commitment of the Greek managers was higher when the superior adopted a consultative leadership style. This style was also the one preferred by the majority of our respondents.     

Sustainable employment: the importance of intrinsically valuable work and an age-supportive climate

The aging workforce emphasizes the importance of sustainable employment, that is the extent to which workers are able and willing to remain working now and in the future . This raises the question how organizations can design work contexts that contribute to sustainable employment. This study investigated the role of a intrinsically motivating job (intrinsic job value) and an age-supportive climate for three indicators of employees’ sustainable employment: employability, work engagement and affective commitment. The questionnaire was completed by 119 office employees (response 35%) of a Dutch public transport organization. A SEM analysis revealed that intrinsic job value was strongly and positively related with all three indicators of sustainable employment for employees of all ages. In contrast, an age-supportive climate was especially important for older employees’ work engagement and affective commitment. This study has implications for practice and for research of sustainable employment, HRM and aging.     

“啤酒游戏”的系统动力学分析

在简要介绍了“啤酒游戏”、系统动力学及其仿真软件Vensim的基础上,进一步构建了啤酒游戏的因果关系图和系统动力学流图,并在此基础上应用Vensim/DYNAMO构建了“啤酒游戏”的计算机模型,对其进行了仿真。研究了订货延迟时间对物流库存系统情况造成的影响,比较了两种不同的采购策略对“啤酒游戏”的影响,发现订货延迟时间的存在是造成“啤酒游戏”中“牛鞭效应”的内因,商家过分在意当前的库存与缺货情况,急于补存或者降低库存,反而会造成“牛鞭效应”的加剧。结果表明,如果商家适当的延长库存的补货时间,“啤酒游戏”中的“牛鞭效应”会有所改观,这是现代供应链上的物流企业应该借鉴的。     

Dilettantism in investigating the impact of the Internet on the wellbeing of the elderly

The surge of interest in the social impacts of the Internet has led information systems experts to apply methods and theories garnered from disciplines such as psychology and sociology. As researcher look across disciplines for methods and explanations of outcomes, they run the risk of researching badly. This may be because they are inexperienced in the theory or method, or because the theory or method is not entirely applicable to the context that challenges them. Thus, in the search for the novelty necessary to achieve publications, and given the lack of experience in applying information systems to issues beyond the corporate sphere, research that does not hold water is being undertaken. This is of particular interest because it is not necessarily being undertaken by the novice. The research reported here was undertaken by experienced researchers using experimental and interview methods with which they had experience in other disciplines (psychology and economics). However, the context of researching the impact of the Internet on the quality of life of first time users over the age of 65 was sufficiently different as to render the methods and possibly the theory inappropriate. This dilettantism must be recognized for what it is.     

A structural equation approach to measuring technological change: An application to Southeastern U.S. Agriculture

The study demonstrates a method of obtaining consistent estimates of technological change. This was accomplished by extending Theil's differential input demand system into a Multiple Indicator, Multiple Cause (MIMIC) structural equation latent variable model which explicitly accounts for the fact that technological progress is not directly observed and therefore is invariably measured with error. Results obtained for the agricultural sector of the Southeastern states suggest that technological change has been an important determinant of agricultural production and is bias towards the use of capital and against the use of land and labor.This research was partially supported by the McKethan-Matherly Eminent Scholar Chair, graduate school of Business Administration, University of Florida.     

气相色谱法测定人工合成煤气中氧含量

本文介绍了采用气相色谱法测定人工合成煤气中氧含量的分析方法,采用TDX-01(50~80目)色谱柱,外标法定量,测定氧含量。结果表明,本方法线性相关系数0.9998,检出限0.01%,平均回收率96.2%。比目前普遍采用的奥式气体吸收法、色谱法(两阀两柱),精密度高。该方法快速、简便,适合现场测定人工合成煤气中的氧含量。     

WOODWARD, TECHNOLOGY, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE — A CRITIQUE OF THE UNIVERSAL GENERALIZATION

This paper critically reviews the recent controversy over the relationship between technology, organizational structure and performance which was stimulated by the work of Woodward. An overview of the discussion is offered and an original evaluation offered on the basis of the latest contributions. This involves a detailed critique of the contribution of Zwerman. The conclusion is that the original Woodward thesis, as stated in the set of propositions for which systematic evidence was presented, should now be viewed as having been disconfirmed by the subsequent research.     

Baseline budgeting for continuous improvement.

This article is designed to introduce the techniques used to convert traditionally maintained department budgets to baseline budgets. This entails identifying key activities, evaluating for value-added, and implementing continuous improvement opportunities. Baseline Budgeting for Continuous Improvement was created as a result of a newly named company president's request to implement zero-based budgeting. The president was frustrated with the mind-set of the organization, namely, "Next year's budget should be 10 to 15 percent more than this year's spending." Zero-based budgeting was not the answer, but combining the principles of activity-based costing and the Just-in-Time philosophy of eliminating waste and continuous improvement did provide a solution to the problem.     

The voice of the loyal manager: Distinguishing attachment from commitment

The purpose of this article is to use Albert Hirschman's Exit, Voice, and Loyalty framework to analyze the extent to which corporate employees are merely attached to the firm rather than committed. A model of managerial loyalty is developed where loyalty is defined as the percentage pay increase that an employee would require to leave the current firm for alternative employment. Independent variables in the model include barriers to exit and voice. This model was tested on three data sets from North American airlines. This model received empirical support during a stable environment but was not strongly supported during a more turbulent environment. Implications of the results are discussed.     

Estimation of finite population variance using random non-response in survey sampling

In this paper, an estimator of finite population variance proposed by Isaki (1983) is studied under the two different situations of random non-response suggested by Tracy and Osahan (1994). A distribution is proposed for the number of sampling units on which information could not be obtained due to random non-response. The estimators for the mean square errors of the proposed strategies are also suggested. This paper was written while both authors were members of the Dept. of Econometrics, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Australia. This paper was presented on SISC—1996, Sydney, Australia. The opinions and results discussed in this paper are of authors and not necessarily of their institutes.     

Identifying promotional appeals for targeting potential volunteers: an exploratory study on volunteering motives among retirees

This paper examines whether older adult volunteers share similar or diverse motives for volunteering. Previous research has often treated senior citizen volunteers as a homogenous group that is significantly different from other cohorts. This paper argues that the senior citizen segment is far from homogeneous in its motives for, and behaviour towards, volunteering, which may have a significant impact on the effectiveness of recruitment and promotional campaigns. An exploratory study was conducted and, as expected, interviewees identified a variety of benefits sought from volunteering. There was considerable variability in the importance of these benefits among respondents, suggesting that further clustering would be useful. Implications for recruitment and promotional campaigns are discussed. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications     

基于现代职业教育的市场营销专业应用型本科建设探索

新建本科院校面临向应用型职业本科教育转型,这种转型要通过高校各个本科专业从培养学术型人才转变为培养应用型人才来实现。建立面向现代职业教育的应用型市场营销本科专业,需要进行精准定位,确定市场营销人才的差异化培养方式,将产教融合作为应用型本科专业建设的核心,将职业对接作为专业建设的基础,凸显特色,建立模块化和职业化的、“双证融通”的专业课程体系,采用阶梯递进式的教学方式方法,构建以专业能力和岗位技能培养为导向的教学方法体系。     

Core and equilibria in an assembled product industry

We show that the core is non-empty and coincides with the set of competitive equilibria for an assembled product industry. This paper was written while the author was affiliated with the School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of Witwatersrand at Johannesburg.     

An Approximate Test for Homogeneity of Correlated Correlation Coefficients

This paper develops and evaluates an approximate procedure for testing homogeneity of an arbitrary subset of correlation coefficients among variables measured on the same set of individuals. The sample may have some missing data. The simple test statistic is a multiple of the variance of Fisher r-to-z transformed correlation coefficients relevant to the null hypothesis being tested and is referred to a chi-square distribution. The use of this test is illustrated through several examples. Given the approximate nature of the test statistics, the procedure was evaluated using a simulation study. The accuracy in terms of the nominal and the actual significance levels of this test for several null hypotheses of interest were evaluated. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Open2-Innova8ion Tool—A software tool for rating organisational innovation performance

The Open2-Innova8ion Tool is an interactive, multi-media, web-based software tool for rating organisational innovation performance. This tool was designed for organisations to use as an adaptation of the European Commission's work on developing empirical measures of national innovation performance with the Summary Innovation Index (SII). It is designed for users with experience of employment in an organisation, from senior managers to all types of employees, with an interest in rating the innovation performance of their organisation. The Tool is quick and intuitive to use, and provides textual feedback, together with graphic ratings using Google meters. Feedback is based on user perceptions of organisational indicators of Innovation Enablers, Activities, and Outputs to provide an overall rating of innovation performance; this can be compared with a self-rating of innovativeness to allow some interpretation of the congruence between the user and their organisation. This prototype Tool was trialled and evaluated during a workshop on low carbon vehicle innovation, with participants (innovators) representing organisations from the surface transport industry as part of the U-STIR programme with EU Framework 7 funding. This publically available web-tool has applications to education, training, and research http://design.open.ac.uk/itool/.     

When workplace ostracism leads to burnout: the roles of job self-determination and future time orientation

Abstract

Given that ostracism is a common occurrence in the workplace, scholars and practitioners alike have identified its range of negative effects. This study aims to examine the association between workplace ostracism and burnout level as well as the moderating effects of job self-determination and employees’ future time orientation, using a survey questionnaire. This was completed by a total of 248 employees from a hotel group. We hypothesized that: (a) workplace ostracism was positively associated with burnout; (b) this positive relationship was contingent upon job self-determination such that the relationship was weaker for higher, rather than lower, job self-determination; and (c) the positive relationship was also contingent upon employees’ future time orientation such that the relationship was weaker for employees who have higher, rather than lower future time orientation. Results confirm all three hypotheses.     

A tale of two crises: Federal transfers and regional economies in Russia in 2009 and 2014–2015

We examine transfers from Russia’s federal government to the regions during the two recent economic crises. We show that while federal transfers in 2009 were large and targeted poorer regions, the 2014–2015 transfers were much smaller and not targeted. This policy shift was accompanied by a relatively greater decline in own revenues in the poorer regions and their worse economic performance overall. As a result, interregional budget expenditure inequality in Russia was significantly higher in 2014–2015 than it had been for years. This is important because regional budgets are responsible for a large share of investments, housing, education and healthcare.     

An evaluation of class-teachers’ roles in transferring values

Besides their academic success, teachers are bound to equip learners with values and prepare them as good citizens for the society. In this respect, the aim of this study is to evaluate primary school class-teachers’ roles in transferring values to their learners. This qualitative study comprises views by inspectors, directors, subject-teachers working in ten primary schools and parents in the city of Nicosia, Cyprus. The data was collected through interviews. This research indicated that class-teachers are effective role-models with responsibilities and effect of values transferring differed according to academic priorities and personalities. While parents feel satisfied with values transfer, most inspectors, directors and subject-teachers point to deficiencies in the approach. At this point, it is suggested that teachers are trained and a target-based curriculum is designed. This study was particularly aimed at evaluating class-teachers’ roles in transferring values in primary school years, which are assumed to be the most critical period of time. In the literature, the opinions of inspectors, directors, subject-teachers and parents about value transferring are not well known. One of the aims of tolerance education is that all stakeholders in educational organizations are satisfied with the transferring values and they feel peaceful. In this study, these new perspectives will show the state of harmony in educational institutions and the different opinions about transferring values. This research is hoped to add to this issue, which was rarely dealt with in literature, for the development of applications and policies.

     

柔性制造模式下参数化三维CAPP系统设计

面向多品种、小批量的柔性三维CAPP系统是先进制造中重要的单元技术。文章基于三维CAD/CAM平台技术,利用PLM技术研究三维CAPP系统的功能和结构特点,在采用特征知识描述形状结构和工艺信息的基础上,提出切实可行的三维CAPP系统框架,为三维产品并行设计与快速制造提供系统支撑技术。