Towards a strategic understanding of global teams and their HR implications: an expert dialogue

Abstract

Drawing on initial insights emerging from a panel at the EIBA 2016 Conference in Vienna, here discussants and expert panelists engage in a follow-on conversation on the HRM implications of global teams for international organizations. First we set out how HRM can enable global teams and their constituent members to overcome the new and considerable challenges of global teams. These challenges span levels of analysis, time and space. Next we debate global teams as a strategic response to the dual pressures of global integration and local adaptation. We consider what HRM is needed for global teams to successfully resolve this dilemma, challenging practitioners to move beyond the ‘best practices’ and ‘alignment’ dichotomy. Lastly we look to the future to consider implications for research. We propose a rich research agenda focused on the complexities of the global team context.     

Why Are Health Care Managers Biased Against Hiring Service Providers With Tattoos?

Although health care managers often prefer to hire employees without tattoos, the source of this bias is unclear. One explanation is that tattoos are associated with being less responsible. An alternative explanation is that managers are concerned tattoos will hurt their organization's image. A sample of 187 dentists were shown a picture of a dental hygienist either with no tattoo, a small tattoo, or a large tattoo, and then asked about the hygienist. Results show that dentists do not associate tattoos with irresponsibility but are concerned about the fit of tattoos with the image of the practice. This means that dentists make hiring decisions based on stereotypes about customer stereotypes.     

Insights from images posted on social media: Examining the motivations of volunteer tourists

Extensive research has been conducted on the motivations of volunteer tourists; however, the scope has not included how motivation is expressed through the posting of images on social media. This study examines the relationship between volunteer tourists’ motivations and social media use through the identification of picture publishing behavior based on motivations. An online survey yielding 260 complete responses is used and statistical tests investigate the relationship between demographic factors, motivations and social sharing of photos. The results show that demographics have little impact; however, there is a relationship between motivation and photo sharing and between motivation and volume of photos.     

Bundling digitized logistics activities and its performance implications

Bundling information technology (IT) applications to support logistics activities provides a means for firms to improve their logistics performance. Grounded in the logistics management and management information systems literature, as well as the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, this study empirically: (i) investigates if there exist digitized logistics activities bundles in firms; and if so, (ii) explores the association between digitized logistics activities bundles and logistics performance of firms in terms of logistics cost and logistics service improvements. We surveyed 227 trading firms in Hong Kong and performed a factor analysis of the survey data, from which we identified three digitized logistics activities bundles and found the sample firms were clustered into four types based on the patterns of their digitized logistics activities. We then carried out a MANOVA on the data, the results of which show that different patterns of digitizing logistics activities are associated with different logistics performance outcomes. Specifically, firms with more extensive digitized logistics activities bundles and utilizing them more intensively achieve better logistics performance. Academic and managerial implications for digitizing logistics activities to improve logistics performance are discussed.     

Privatization and Fiscal Deficits in European Emerging Markets

Privatization and fiscal deficits have been linked theoretically as emerging market countries completed transitions from command to market-based economies. This study examines the joint relationships among relative fiscal deficits, privatization, and exogenous factors for twenty-five Central and Eastern European emerging market countries. Pooled regression models suggest that increased privatization does not reduce fiscal deficits, but fiscal deficits increase as privatization increases over time. These effects are dependent upon the set of countries considered and the privatization measure employed. There is limited support for the hypothesis that privatization is increased when fiscal deficits decline for the nine early privatizers.     

The influence of multiple constraints along the venture creation process and on start-up intention in nascent entrepreneurship

This study examines the influence of multiple constraints encountered by nascent entrepreneurs (NEs) in their current phase of the venture creation process – disengaged, still trying or started – and on their start-up intention after disengagement. Drawing on a sample of 1872 German NEs collated in 2014, we extend the literature in the field of nascent entrepreneurship and encountered constraints. By applying the theories of planned behaviour and appraisal as an overarching theoretical foundation, we develop our hypotheses. We find that individuals who have recently abandoned their venture have faced significantly more constraints than other NEs. A deeper analysis reveals that financing difficulties and especially certain personal characteristics impede venture creation. Furthermore, our results show that constraints beyond an NE’s own control are lethal for the continuance of the intention to create a new business. We derive important implications for NEs, entrepreneurship education and policymakers.     

Driving the electric bandwagon: The dynamics of incumbents' sustainable innovation

Given that entire industries face sustainability challenges, it is important to understand the dynamics that lead “firms‐in‐an‐industry” to engage in sustainable product innovation. To provide more insight into the question of how innovation activities spread from individual firm action to an industry‐wide engagement, this paper examines the automobile industry and the development of electric vehicles (EVs). The analysis covers automobile incumbents over a crucial decade for EV development in the industry, focusing on the different strategic motives that especially the so‐called “first movers” used to justify their earlier engagement. We find that EVs became a core pillar of the incumbents' technology strategies through a combination of coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures. Yet, the strategic motives to engage in EVs stayed poles apart between different companies. The insights from our study are relevant for those interested in the diffusion of sustainable product innovation and in incumbent behaviour in sustainability transitions.     

Brand engagement in self-concept and consumer engagement in social media: The role of the source

This three-group between-subjects experimental research investigates the extent to which consumer engagement with a social media branded post is directly affected by individuals’ tendency to incorporate brands as part of their self-concept (BESC) and whether this relationship is moderated by individuals’ exposure to three different post source types. Participants were exposed to one of three Instagram social media posts of a luxury brand, where the only manipulated factor was the type of source. Findings show that there is a positive relationship between BESC and post engagement. The study also shows that content source plays a moderating role in the relationship between BESC and post engagement, such that individuals with high BESC will engage significantly more with content posted by other users, compared with branded sources (brand, influencer).     

Same sound,same preference? Investigating sound symbolism effects in international brand names

This study replicates the interaction by language, vowel sound, and car type as first shown by Shrum, Lowrey, Luna, Lerman, and Liu (2012). Contrasting Lowrey and Shrum (2007), however, English speaking natives generally prefer front vowels (such as [e] in bed) regardless of car type. Extending these studies to consonants, most subjects prefer plosives (such as [k] in key) in international brand names for SUVs. A further extension shows a common pattern of sounds eliciting product attribute associations across languages.