Toward a telework taxonomy and test for suitability: A synthesis of the literature

The current merging of computer and communications technologies is facilitating the trend towardtelework-remote work arrangements enabled by information technology. Organizations today have ever increasing options in the management and distribution of their work processes. In this study, we review the research on telework conducted in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan. We then propose a taxonomy for classifying different types of telework. Using this taxonomy, we examine the spatial, coordination, and temporal structures of different types of telework.Previous research results indicate that the introduction of telework is a complex process and has profound implications for the organization. However, this research critically lacks any guidance for the decision maker in determining the feasibility of implementing telework. We propose a framework for a telework suitability test to determine the appropriateness of telework, in a particular situation. This telework suitability test integrates existing research findings with future research areas.     

The derived demand for faculty research

Estimation of the demands for many services supplied by government and charitable organizations are hampered by two practices common to the supply of these services. The suppliers often employ non‐price rationing of these services, and they price discriminate. The supply of college training, for example, is rationed on the basis of academic ability as well as willingness to pay, and more able students are typically quoted lower net prices (associated with scholarships) than less able students. This paper suggests a method for dealing with both practices in the analysis of cross‐sectional data. This methodology is used to investigate the question of why university faculty members are expected to do research as well as teach. One answer supported by our empirical work is that the customers (e.g., the students) demand it. Thus, controlling for price and non‐academic features, better students will choose to attend a university where more scholarly research is performed. Moreover, our empirical findings also support a strong negative link between faculty time devoted to teaching and the supply of research. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experience seeking: A subjectivist perspective of consumption

The present research examines consumer behavior from a subjectivist perspective. In a phenomenological sense consumption consists of the generation of internal thoughts and|or sensations, which constitute the content of experience. The sociopsychological characteristics of consumers who primarily seek cognitive stimulation (cognition seekers), sensory stimulation (sensation seekers), novel stimulation (noveltry seekers), or are seekers of all three forms of experience (experience seekers) are delineated. Preliminary causal rationales for each type of consumption are put forward based on these findings.     

An empirical study of a new method for forming group judgments: Qualitative Controlled Feedback

The Qualitative Controlled Feedback (QCF) method was developed by Press [1] to assist policy makers in forming judgments and making decisions that reflect the careful interactive reasoning and arguments of all of the members of a group or population. Since the QCF method involves controlled feedback, it tends to minimize the effects of face-to-face group interaction pressures. Since the feedback is “qualitative,” however, the procedure tends not to artificially induce a consensus on the group. This paper summarizes a feasibility study of the procedure. A sample of 111 faculty and staff members of the University of British Columbia participated in the testing of the method. The participants were asked to make a judgment on the importance of building an aquatic center on campus. A second (control) group of 89 faculty and staff members was surveyed on the same issue, but using the conventional survey method, that is, no feedback. It was observed that Qualitative Controlled Feedback created a good interaction (in the sense of exchanging arguments and reasons) among group members. Changes in judgments occurred as subjects went from one stage to another after having qualitative feedback of information. It was also found that the judgments given by the subjects in the qualitative controlled feedback group were distributed quite differently from those given by the control group. The method suggests a significantly new way of collecting and interpreting group judgments.     

Adoption rationales of new management practices

This study considers that multiple and diverse rationales, including rational, emotional and socially conditioned responses can influence the adoption of management practices. The study includes four case studies in order to subject the adoption rationales that Sturdy (2004) posits to empirical inquiry and to explore the impacts of these differing rationales on characteristics of the subsequent adoption. The findings show that five of the six rationales Sturdy proposes are empirically identifiable. The findings also suggest that, subject to the exploratory nature of the study, earlier adoption of management practices is associated with political and psychodynamic rationales, consistent with notions of being seen to adopt new ways of working. The findings also suggest that the political and dramaturgical rationales are associated with more rapid adoption due to influential individuals or groups acting as champions. Whilst Sturdy proposes his rationales as a simple list, the findings of this study suggest a more complex relationship between the rationales. The study contributes to the growing body of literature that addresses the important topic of management practices, particularly those that provide an expository consideration.     

Why Do Women Wait? Matching, Wage Inequality, and the Incentives for Fertility Delay

This paper explores the interaction between wage inequality and the marriage and fertility decisions of young women. We develop an equilibrium search model of marriage, divorce, and investment in children that allows for differential timing of fertility. We show how patterns of fertility timing in U.S. data can be explained by the incentives for fertility delay implied by marriage and labor markets. We find that these incentives help explain both the cross-sectional relationship between women's wages and fertility timing and the changes over the past 40 years in married women's fertility timing and labor supply. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: J12, J13.     

Keeping Teams Together: How Ethical Leadership Moderates the Effects of Performance on Team Efficacy and Social Integration

Journal of Business Ethics - Prior research has demonstrated a strong relationship between team performance and team members’ team efficacy beliefs and perceptions of social integration....