Paradoxes and Dilemmas for Stakeholder Responsive Firms in the Extractive Sector: Lessons from the Case of Shell and the Ogoni

This paper examines some of the paradoxes and dilemmas facing firms in the extractive sector when they attempt to take on a more stakeholder-responsive orientation towards issues of environmental and social responsibility. We describe the case of Shell and the Ogoni and attempt to draw out some of the lessons of that case for more sustainable operations in the developing world. We argue that firms such as Shell, Rio Tinto and others may well exhibit increasingly stakeholder-responsive behaviours at the corporate, strategic level. However for reasons of strategy, lack of competency or institutional will this increasing level of corporate responsiveness may not be mirrored effectively in dealings between subsidiary business units and their most important direct stakeholders: for example local communities and in the developing world. We contrast the struggles of Shell to replicate its corporate stakeholder-responsiveness at the local level in Nigeria with the experiences of other firms that seem to have developed managerial capabilities at a somewhat deeper level throughout the firm with consequent benefits both for stakeholders and the business.     

Marketing und Sales Performance Measurement — Das Beispiel Dell

Zusammenfassung  Die F?higkeit eines Unternehmens Leistungsnachweise von Marketing- und Verkaufsma?nahmen zu erbringen, wird bei Dell als Grundvoraussetzung für den wirtschaftlichen Erfolg angesehen. Die RAD („Retention Akquisition Development“)-Matrix ist ein Vorzeigebeispiel für ein Kennzahlencockpit, welches als Kontrollinstrument dient, mit dem Ziel, Zusammenh?nge zwischen Marktaktivit?ten und Marktleistung transparent zu machen. Zus?tzlich erm?glicht das Cockpit eine proaktive Steuerung zukünftiger Marketingma?nahmen über den gesamten Marketing-Mix hinweg. Dipl.-Betriebsw. Achim Freyer Sales Director bei Dell im Bereich Corporate Accounts für ?sterreich und die Schweiz Mag. Heike Kurzmann Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Institut für Marketing und Handel an der Universit?t St. Gallen     

The Socialization of Families Away from Home: Group Dynamics and Family Functioning on Holiday

The focus on individuals in tourism research has led to limited and fragmented research on family groups and their leisure experiences away from home. This article extends conceptual and theoretical understandings within family tourism research by offering a three-dimensional framework inclusive of group perspectives. A whole-family methodology was used with 10 families (10 fathers, 10 mothers, and 20 children) in New Zealand as a more critical and holistic approach to tourism concepts. Empirical findings illustrate group dynamics along with the underrepresented generational perspectives of children and gender perspectives of fathers to provide insights into family functioning. This resulted in a three-layered model of family holiday experiences inclusive of group sociality. The collective intentionality of family togetherness on holiday is contrasted with more balanced modes in own time, highlighting the complexity of socialization within tourism theory and practice.     

The Carrot or the Stick: Self-Regulation for Gender-Diverse Boards via Codes of Good Governance

Journal of Business Ethics - Scholars have emphasized the potential of self-regulation, realized through ‘codes of good governance’, to improve gender diversity on boards. Yet,...     

Steuerliche Förderung von Forschung und Entwicklung in KMU — Irrweg für Deutschland?

To foster R&D activities, German industry lobbyists and policymakers are discussing the introduction of tax incentives for R&D in small and medium enterprises (SME) — all the more because Germany is one of just six of the 35 OECD members without indirect R&D support. Based on a critical assessment of the arguments provided, we conclude that international experiences with R&D tax incentives are not as promising as often suggested. An appropriate transfer into the German tax system, considering its specificities, appears to be technically difficult. The high level of heterogeneity of German SMEs population suggests that not every SME requires R&D to be innovative, because empirical evidence shows multiple diverse innovation patterns that demand other forms of support. Acknowledging the existing range of SMEs, we propose that instead of introducing R&D tax incentives, the debate should be focused on how to strengthen and develop the existing innovation policy mix for SMEs.     

Cross compliance and the protection of grassland - Illustrative analyses of land use transitions between permanent grassland and arable land in German regions

Permanent grassland combines various ecological functions in terms of nature, soil, water and climate protection. Conversion of grassland to arable land is accompanied by a diminution of these functions. Various developments have led to increased pressure on the EU grassland area. With cross compliance, the EU sets minimum standards for the protection of the ratio of permanent grassland. However, this requirement alone does not ensure the preservation of grassland on sensitive sites, such as water or nature conservation areas or land on organic soils or on steep hills.This paper deals with land use changes between grassland and arable land. For this purpose we analyse data of the EU's Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) from four German federal states. The described methodology allows to identify gross changes of land use and to distinguish between conversion of permanent grassland and “loss” due to “deactivation” at a highly disaggregated level. Merging IACS-data with further spatially explicit data provides a picture of land use transitions in ecologically sensitive areas and enables conclusions to be drawn about the effectiveness of protection measures.     

Der Schlüssel für gute Pflege

Zusammenfasung  Beratung in der Pflege — Gute Pflege wird sich künftig an der Qualit?t der Beratungsleistung messen lassen müssen. Warum wird Beratungskompetenz zu einer immer wichtigeren Qualifikation für Pflegefachkr?fte? Krankenschwester Heike Jurgschat-Geer sagt Ihnen warum und gibt Tipps, wie es geht. Buchtipp und Weiterbildungsangbote unter heilberufe-online.de, Kontext     

Inhaltliche Koordination 2-2008

Ohne Zusammenfassung Mag. Heike Kurzmann Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Institut für Marketing und Handel an der Universit?t St. Gallen