The adoption of high performance work systems in foreign subsidiaries

This study examines the determinants and outcomes of the adoption of high performance work systems (HPWS) in foreign subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs). Region-of-origin of MNCs, headquarters (HQ) influence, and strategic human resource management (SHRM) orientation are expected to determine subsidiaries’ use of HPWS, which affects firm performance via organizational climate. We found that HQ influence, SHRM orientation, and HPWS adoption varied among foreign subsidiaries originating in different regions. HQ influence and SHRM orientation were positively related to the adoption of HPWS. HPWS had a positive effect on subsidiaries’ performance, and this positive effect was partially mediated by organizational climate.     

The applicability of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia for patients with sub-acute neck pain: a qualitative study

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively evaluate patients understanding and interpretation of the wording used in test items of the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK). The TSK was developed to measure fear of movement in patients suffering from low back pain. The TSK is being increasingly used for other pain conditions. Patients with sub-acute neck pain experience problems while completing this questionnaire. The aim of this study was to elicit these problems. The study was conducted within the framework of a randomised controlled trial. The Three-Step Test Interview (TSTI) was used to collect data on the thoughts or considerations of respondents while completing the TSK. In the analysis, each transcribed interview was divided into three segments. The thoughts and considerations were then analysed and categorised per item. During the TSTI two problems were identified. One concerned the meaning of specific words used, like “dangerous” and “injury”. The other problem was that several implicit assumptions within some items make it difficult for respondents to answer these items. It was concluded that in the development and validation of questionnaires like the TSK, not only quantitative psychometric properties are important, but also qualitative research has an important contribution to enhance applicability.     

How Concept Knowledge Affects Concept Evaluation

Conventional concept testing methodologies are based on the simple assumption that respondents understand the concept when they offer their evaluation of it. Obviously it's an assumption that often will not hold. What happens to the quality of the evaluation at different levels of concept knowledge is the issue addressed in this article by Eric Reidenbach and Sharon Grimes. Their research shows that the level of concept knowledge affects certain elements of the evaluation more than others, and that the evaluation is moderated by the type of innovation and the way it is presented.     

Did sunspot forces cause the Great Depression?

We apply a dynamic general equilibrium model to the period of the U.S. Great Depression. In particular, we examine a modification of the real business cycle model in which the possibility of indeterminacy of equilibria arises. In other words, agents’ self-fulfilling expectations can serve as a primary impulse behind fluctuations. We find that the model, driven only by these measured sunspot shocks, can explain well the entire Depression era. That is, the decline from 1929 to 1932, the subsequent slow recovery, and the recession that occurred in 1937-1938.     

An empirical investigation of the appropriateness of the product life cycle to municipal library services

A set of longitudinal data for each of 25 major U.S. cities was extracted from the U.S. Bureau of the Census publicationCity Government Finances. This was used to compute municipal libraries' market share of total city expenditures. The data were graphed and exhibited the characteristics of a product life cycle curve. The findings of the study suggest that the product life cycle concept can be usefully applied to non-profit public sector organizations. Specifically the findings indicate that library administrators should give serious attention to market stretching or recognize that decline in their market share in the next few years appears likely. It is also suggested that recognition of the product life cycle concept has implications for managerial strategy and skills in the library service, particularly in the field of personnel selection.     

Property rights and entrepreneurship in science

This paper examines the evolving relationship in science between the reward structure and entrepreneurial activity. We draw a distinction between two types of property rights. Basic science is fostered by a mechanism of reputational rights; technological advances-and the products and processes they produce - are fostered by a mechanism of proprietary rights. The two forms of property rights differ markedly in terms of the incentives they provide to share information in a timely fashion. We argue that because of a host of factors university-based scientists in certain fields are more likely to privatize knowledge today than in the past, trading reputational rights for proprietary rights. Events in the life sciences serve as a case study. A discussion of how privatization affects basic science follows. Although the evidence is far from complete, we conclude that the movement towards privatization may be more beneficial to product development and the scientists engaged in the activity than to basic science.     

Commitment to Employees: Does It Help or Hinder Small Business Performance?

This study used a sample of 4,637 small businesses to test the relationship between organizational commitment to employees (OCE) and company performance. OCE was significant in all five of the performance models. The results of the employee productivity model revealed a significant positive relationship between OCE and company performance, suggesting that small businesses might be able to realize some benefit in employee productivity from OCE programs. In addition, results from the return on assets, return on sales, return on cashflow, and employee growth models indicated that some OCE programs might be more beneficial to small businesses than others. Potential antecedents of OCE were also examined. Company size, owner education, and gender of the owner had positive relationships with OCE. Partial support was also found for a positive relationship between owner experience and OCE. Differences in the results of this study compared to studies for larger corporations and suggestions for future research are also discussed.