From Ethics 'By Proxy' to Ethics In Action: New Approaches to Understanding HRM and Ethics

In this paper we review recent UK literature on HRM and ethics and suggest that implicit in many accounts is a perception of a 'moral hole' appearing within the employee relations landscape which is based on external, reflective observations of HRM policies and practices. We argue that the investigation of HRM and ethics could be broadened by locating HRM and ethics research more explicitly within the social and cultural realities of organizations and their employees. Finally, we outline and illustrate what a social constructivist approach might add to research in this field and how it might provide insights that help bridge the gap between theory and practice.     

Explaining the Passage of Living Wage Legislation in the U.S.

Using data from various sources to describe 1,077 U.S. cities, I examine the adoption of living wage legislation between 1995 and 2006. I analyze both the decisions to adopt such legislation and the timing of such decisions. My principal finding is that, while the size and political identity of the community play a significant role, the adoption of living wage legislation is also significantly influenced by local economic circumstances. An important implication is that researchers who seek to measure the economic impacts of the legislation must allow for its endogeneity, in order to separate its economic effect(s) from its economic cause(s).     

Convergence in Sub-Saharan Africa: a nonstationary panel data approach

Given the development of time series econometrics and nonstationary data analysis, St. Aubyn (Empirical Economics, 24, 23–44, 1999) demonstrates a new paradigm for testing income convergence, or better defined, income stability, namely testing the stationarity of pair-wise income differentials. In this paper, a panel data set of Sub-Saharan African countries is constructed and panel cointegration and unit root tests are used to investigate the convergence properties of incomes and standards of living within Africa. Overall, little evidence is found to substantiate claims of convergence across Africa, although in some cases, smaller convergence clubs within Africa may be found. In addition the use of nonstationary panel data techniques is proposed for the testing and establishing of coherent convergence clubs.     

Predicting electronic commerce adoption in Chilean SMEs

The Theory of Planned Behavior is used to predict a variety of behaviors, but its use in dealing with predicting e-commerce intentions in small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and in developing countries is limited. We use the TPB to model intentions to adopt e-commerce among 212 managers/owners of SMEs in Chile. Hierarchical regression results show that the subjective norm and attitude constructs positively and significantly predict intentions, but the perceived behavioral control construct does not. Results can be used by developing countries, especially those in Latin America, to encourage the adoption of e-commerce among SMEs.     

Beyond nudges: Tools of a choice architecture

The way a choice is presented influences what a decision-maker chooses. This paper outlines the tools available to choice architects, that is anyone who present people with choices. We divide these tools into two categories: those used in structuring the choice task and those used in describing the choice options. Tools for structuring the choice task address the idea of what to present to decision-makers, and tools for describing the choice options address the idea of how to present it. We discuss implementation issues in using choice architecture tools, including individual differences and errors in evaluation of choice outcomes. Finally, this paper presents a few applications that illustrate the positive effect choice architecture can have on real-world decisions.     

A bed management strategy for overcrowding in the emergency department

In 2006, the Institute of Medicine cited growing visit volumes, hospital closures, financial pressures, and operational inefficiencies as the principal reasons for emergency department (ED) overcrowding and called for regulatory measures to resolve the problem. A Midwest medical center with 59,000 annual ED visits instituted a bed management strategy to decrease the need to board, or hold, admitted hospital patients in the ED awaiting transfer to an inpatient care unit. This strategy was successful in improving the hold time from an average of 216 minutes to 103 minutes, or by 52%. This allowed the staff at the hospital to care for an additional 2,936 patients. During this same time, the overall hospital mortality decreased by 0.07% and patient satisfaction scores improved 1%. The greatest outcome from this intervention was realized in the potential revenue increase of over $2 million.     

Some simple mathematical models for adoption processes: The case of the comprehensive school reform in Norway

This article reviews simple mathematical models which have been or may be used for adoptation processes. Each model's role in the explanation process is analyzed.

The case of the spread of the comprehensive school reform in Norway is used to ilustrate an adoption process. The logistic, or chain-reaction model, and a normal model for independent adoption are emphasized. The fit of the curves for the provinces and the whole country favors the logistic model. Evidence of a “neighborhood effect” at the micro-level also points to a communication process.

     

Accounting in Hungary: Do we speak the same language?

Accounting in Hungary has undergone significant reforms in recent years. Modeled after European Accounting rules and International Accounting standards, the Hungarian Rules of Law in Force have brought accounting practices in line with west European standards. This article compares the Hungarian Law of accounting to US accounting standards. Those differences that may affect the decisions of an executive working within the international arena are highlighted. Although minor differences exist, mainly in disclosure requirements, US investors, creditors, and managers may be assured comparable information is available for analyses. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.