Maximising sustainability of Dutch dairy farming systems for different stakeholders: A modelling approach

A multi-attribute sustainability function is included into a dairy farm LP-model by using Weighted Goal Programming. The created Weighted Linear Goal Programming (WLGP)-model is used to maximise sustainability of different Dutch dairy farming systems and to analyse the impact of: (1) maximisation of individual sustainability aspects (economic, social and ecological sustainability) and (2) maximisation of overall sustainability using stakeholder preferences. Maximising the individual aspects of both dairy farming systems, i.e. conventional and organic, shows the trade-offs between different aspects of sustainability. For conventional as well as organic dairy farming maximum scores are highest for external social sustainability. The conventional dairy farm achieves a slightly higher score for overall sustainability than the organic dairy farm for all stakeholders (i.e. consumers and producers). This shows that it is possible for conventional dairy farms, similar to the conventional farm used in the analysis especially regarding the stocking density and under Dutch policy conditions, to achieve equal sustainability scores in comparison with organic dairy farms. It is concluded that the WLGP model is a suitable tool to analyse the sustainability of different dairy farming systems.     

Understanding IJV performance in a learning and conflict mediated context

Determinants of international joint venture (IJV) performance are examined within the context of cross-border learning. Using a structural equation model, we test the multifaceted interactions among strategic goal congruency, national culture differences, learning and conflict. Cross-border learning is recognized as a kernel variable which is influenced by matching strategic motives, national culture differences, and conflicting relations, and which affects the performance of IJVs. In particular, we hypothesize that interpartner goal congruency and national culture differences have an indirect effect on IJV performance through cross-border learning and conflict; previous studies established their direct relationship. The test results show that congruent strategic motives and cultural similarity had a positive effect on cross-border learning, which was reinforced by learning capacity, and which in turn led to better performance. Conflicting relations between partners and heterogeneous cultural backgrounds were shown to discourage cross-border learning.     

New venture adaptation in international markets: A goal orientation theory perspective

This study uses goal orientation theory to investigate why managers of international new ventures make adaptations to markets served, entry modes used, and the organization. We use the case method to identify the international adaptation behaviours of six new ventures and managers’ explanations regarding those adaptations. We infer two different profiles of managerial goal orientation. The goal orientation associated with proving one’s competence is common across managers, but firms only pursue international adaptation if their managers also hold a learning goal orientation. In contrast, if managers have the goal orientation associated with avoiding failure, firm-level adaptation is not apparent.     

How to inspire users in virtual travel communities: The effect of activity novelty on users’ willingness to co-create

Virtual travel community managers tend to incorporate a degree of novelty within activity design to foster interaction between users. Little is known of how users respond to these novel activities. Based on customer inspiration theory, this research investigated the mechanisms of activity novelty on users' willingness to co-create and the moderating effect of user regulatory focus and activity goal attainability. Results of three scenario-based experiments revealed that activity novelty positively influenced users’ willingness to co-create via user inspiration. Promotion-focused users were more inspired by novel activities and in turn had a higher willingness to co-create than those were prevention-focused. When activity goal attainability was high (vs. low), the positive effect of activity novelty on inspiration was attenuated. We present the theoretical and practical implications of activity design within virtual travel communities.     

Hospitality employee knowledge-sharing behaviors in the relationship between goal orientations and service innovative behavior

Goals are central to understanding motivated behavior, with each discipline emphasizing its consequences, levels, and types of goals. Because knowledge sharing is not mandatory in all organizations, individual personal motivation is critical for voluntary and active engagement in knowledge sharing. This study investigates the structural relationships among two distinctive forms of goal orientations as personal intrinsic motivators (learning goal orientation and performance goal orientation), two distinctive types of knowledge-sharing behaviors (knowledge collecting and knowledge donating), and employee service innovative behavior. The data were derived from 418 respondents working in five-star hotels in Busan, Korea. The positive relationship between learning goal orientation and knowledge collecting was stronger than that of the relationship between learning goal orientation and knowledge donating. The negative relationship between performance goal orientation and knowledge donating was stronger than the relationship between performance goal orientation and knowledge collecting. In addition, the positive relationship between knowledge collecting and employee service innovative behavior was stronger than the positive relationship between knowledge donating and employee service innovative behavior. The study concludes with discussions of the empirical findings, managerial implications, and strengths and limitations. Future research avenues are also offered.     

创业者因“我能”而拼凑：创业震荡的调节效应

遵循自我一致性理论和认知评价理论，引入创业目标清晰度和创业震荡（消极创业震荡和积极创业震荡），揭示创业自我效能感影响创业拼凑的内在作用机制和边界条件。基于297名创业者回溯式调查数据进行实证检验，结果发现：创业自我效能感既能直接促进创业拼凑，又能通过创业目标清晰度的中介作用产生间接促进作用；积极创业震荡能够削弱创业自我效能感对创业拼凑的驱动效应，并且通过创业目标清晰度的中介作用实现；消极创业震荡的调节效应不显著。研究结论部分解释了“面对同样的资源短缺情境，为何有些创业者积极开展创业拼凑，但有些创业者却无所事事”和“积极创业者在何种情境下会开展更多创业拼凑”等问题。     

Construct a composite indicator based on integrating Common Weight Data Envelopment Analysis and principal component analysis models: An application for finding development degree of provinces in Iran

Balanced development of regions requires the fair distribution of facilities and services. Hence, it is necessary to find and estimate the development degree of regions for policy makers. This paper presents an integrated Common Weight Data Envelopment Analysis (CWDEA) – Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model to find out the development degree of provinces in Iran. First, 131 suitable indicators are selected and then, the indicators are classified in fourteen different classes. In classical DEA model, each Decision Making Unit (DMU) is free to set its weights to reach the efficient frontier. In this paper, to restrict flexibility in indicator weights, development degree of provinces in each class is calculated using CWDEA model. Since, the proposed CWDEA model is not capable of fully ranking of provinces with all indicators, hence, the development degrees generated by CWDEA model are considered as indicators of PCA and the final ranks are obtained using PCA model. The results of proposed CWDEA-PCA model show that Yazd, Semnan and Bushehr are top three provinces in Iran.     

The antecedents and consequences of being envied by coworkers: An investigation from the victim perspective

This study focused on the victims of coworker envy and presented a comprehensive model of being envied by coworkers to explore its antecedents and consequences in the hospitality context. Based on a sample of 232 employee-supervisor dyads in five Chinese hotels, we found that competitive goal interdependence fostered coworker envy, whereas cooperative goal interdependence prevented it. Further, the experience of being envied by coworkers undermined the frontline hospitality employees’ social exchange relationship with coworkers. This in turn prevented them from engaging in organizational citizenship behavior directed at their organizations (OCBO) and specific individuals (OCBI) such as organization members. In addition, envied employees’ others’ approval of the contingent self-esteem was found to strengthen (1) the direct effect of being envied by coworkers on coworker exchange and (2) the indirect effect of being envied by coworkers on OCBO and OCBI via coworker exchange.     

国有企业如何深入开展创先争优活动

国有企业深入开展创先争优活动,以深入学习实践科学发展观为主题,以＂打造推进科学发展战斗堡垒,建设推进科学发展时代先锋＂为主线,从实际出发,改革创新,务求实效。文章以广西农垦思源酒业有限公司为例,分析了国有企业深入开展创先争优活动的主要措施。     

Aggregating forest harvesting activities in forest plantations through Integer Linear Programming and Goal Programming

The inclusion of criteria related to the spatial patterns resulting from forest harvesting activities is an important component of forest planning. Harvesting operations are more efficient when the harvesting areas are clustered. Therewith, it is possible to reduce the displacement of machinery and costs related to construction and maintenance of the road network. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate different strategies for aggregating harvesting stands in a forest plantation. We applied two Goal Programming approaches aiming at aggregating harvesting stands and an Integer Linear Programming model for including road investments into strategic forest planning.