Qualitative research on leadership: A critical but appreciative review

This article reviews a large number of articles that derive from qualitative research on leadership that were published prior to 2004 in peer-reviewed journals. The article then goes on to examine critically but appreciatively the ways in which qualitative research on leadership is and is not distinctive. This review shows that while qualitative research has made some important contributions to certain areas of leadership, such as the role of leaders in the change process, it is sometimes not as distinctive, when compared to quantitative research, as might be supposed. The piece also examines studies that combine quantitative with qualitative research. The different ways in which the two approaches are combined is a particular emphasis in this examination. In addition, the article explores the issue of whether the corpus of research that has been accumulated by qualitative researchers can be combined with that of quantitative researchers. A central ingredient of the discussion of qualitative research is the tendency for many researchers not to build sufficiently on the studies of leadership conducted by others. It is argued that giving greater attention to this issue will allow the contributions of qualitative research on leadership to become clearer.     

Managerialist Professionalism: The Destruction of a Non-conforming Subculture

This paper explores the complex relationship between professionalism and managerialism in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and argues that professional aspiration now embraces the managerial paradigm. More specifically, it describes a subculture – that of permanent night nurses – which endures a schematic difference from the now dominant day nurse culture, and is in imminent danger of extinction. It is held in contempt by many nursing professionals and managers whose agendas converge to form the unified template which informs their action. It is suggested that night nurses, marginalized and powerless, are a subculture with distinct native-view characteristics. Ward-based, like their day colleagues, but separated by a temporal divide, permanent night nurses recognize their difference, largely reject the new managerialist professionalism, feel unappreciated and cling to their perceived camaraderie and close patient-relationships.
This research explores the nature and origins of the new managerialist nursing profession and examines the basis of its claims of professionalism. The ethnographic methodology and research design are outlined and considerable data are presented. The paper draws upon the arguments of fellow professionals and managers who seek to deny the right of existence to this group. It is argued that 'atrocity stories' and other discourse, are evidence of evolving closure criteria, which exclude this apparently non-conforming subcultural group.     

Putting consumer behaviour in its place: the Behavioural Perspective Model research programme

Consumer research remains overwhelmingly cognitive in orientation, partly because its apparent underlying philosophical stance usually goes unremarked and unchallenged. In so far as scientific progress relies on the interaction of competing theories, consumer research is impoverished by too great a reliance on a single approach to theory. This paper proposes an alternative to the prevailing 'intentional stance' on which consumer research predominantly rests; the 'contextual stance' eschews the intentionality of the cognitive explanations of consumer choice, substituting for it an account of behaviour determined by its environmental consequences. As a prelude to the interactive debate that these competing stances will hopefully engender, the paper demonstrates that the contextual stance is a viable strategy for consumer research. The contextual strategy leads to an alternative model of consumer choice to those based on social cognitive psychology. It is argued that this model of consumer choice in behavioural perspective provides a thoroughgoing conceptual reinterpretation of consumer behaviour and marketing management as currently envisaged.     

科学基金项目立项评估:综合评价信息可靠性的多指标证据推理规则研究

公正合理的科研项目立项评估与选择是国家自然科学基金管理活动的关键环节。综合考虑科研项目的评估指标体系和选择流程,提出了利用历史评估准确性度量专家提供信息可靠性的方法,进而提出了一种系统性的基于证据推理规则的科学基金项目评估决策模型。该模型使用证据推理合成规则对多专家多指标评估信息进行集结。在集结过程中：充分考虑评估指标的权重以及评估等级的多样性;鉴于参与项目评估的专家具有不同的知识背景和经验,提出利用历史评估结果的准确性衡量专家提供的评价信息可靠性的方法;应用信度分布表征项目的整体评价结果,包含了更丰富的信息。国家自然科学基金项目评估的实例分析证明了该评估决策模型的有效性。     

ANP-Fuzzy方法在电力企业绩效考核中的应用研究

本文针对我国电力企业绩效考核指标间具有相互影响关系,且大多定性指标难以精确界定的特点,给出了一种ANP-Fuzzy的综合评价法。首先,建立系统的绩效考核指标体系及具体的考核标准,为考核员工提供规范化的评价框架。其次,设计能够准确反映考核指标间相互关系的ANP网络结构,以此确定具有联系性的指标权重。在此基础上,设计能够精确界定定性指标的Fuzzy多层次评价结构,以此评价具有模糊性的员工绩效。最后,运用Super Decisions软件和Matlab软件,给出了基于ANP-Fuzzy方法的电力企业员工绩效考核实证研究。结果表明,该方法合理可行,能够真实反映员工绩效,并且能够有效区分员工自身不同方面的绩效差异以及员工之间的绩效差异。这对帮助员工发现绩效改进空间,不断提升自身绩效具有明显效果。同时,该方法可以借助软件实现,将其应用于电力企业绩效考核具有较强的操作性。     

CEO humility,narcissism and firm innovation: A paradox perspective on CEO traits

We examine how two seemingly contradictory yet potentially complementary CEO traits—humility and narcissism—interact to affect firm innovation. We adopt a paradox perspective and propose that individuals can have paradoxical traits and that, in particular, humility and narcissism can coexist harmoniously, especially among the Chinese, whose philosophical tradition embraces paradoxical thinking and behaving. CEOs that are both humble and narcissistic are hypothesized to be more likely to have socialized charisma, to cultivate an innovative culture, and to deliver innovative performance. Two studies using multisource data involving 63 CEOs, 328 top managers, and 645 middle managers in Study 1 and 143 CEOs and 190 top managers in Study 2 support the hypotheses and point to new directions for studying CEO traits and their effects on firm outcomes.     

Manufacturing strategy: A study of machine tool companies in the UK

This paper describes findings from an empirical study carried out in a group of small to medium sized companies within the U.K. machine tool industry. Notions of manufacturing strategy are discussed and a contingency model of change within production systems is proposed. Based on the model, a research programme is described, the object of which was to determine why firms adopt particular production systems, under what conditions these are changed, and the criteria and procedures which are used. A focus for change is taken to be the make-or-buy decision. The results showed that the key criteria used by the firms in their evaluations were: capacity, utilization and process capability (technology). From the study, it is concluded that response to change was largely based upon operational considerations and that the firms lacked a framework for reviewing the strategic implications of their decisions. Hence, the need is argued for a methodology whereby firms can establish consistent functional strategies, with the plans and policies to achieve them.     

Interdisciplinary and Interorganizational Research: Establishing the Science of Enterprise Networks

We review and discuss the evolution of interdisciplinary and interorganizational research in operations management and suggest directions for future investigations. The proposed operations management research focus is one that embraces a more holistic view of an “extended enterprise” which involves working with a new business model—the organization as a network. This methodology starts by treating the organization as a system that is enabled by information technology and is characterized by ubiquitous information sharing across traditional enterprise. Proper integration of technology, business processes and people factors needs to be developed to create higher value from networked enterprises. Operations management research future lies in establishing this science from an interdisciplinary perspective. We analyze this perspective in the context of papers published in the first 50 issues of Production and Operations Management and the related literature.     

Use of risk assessment and life cycle assessment in decision making: a common policy research agenda.

Quantitative risk assessment (RA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) are both analytical tools used to support decision making in environmental management. They have been developed and used by largely separate groups of specialists, and it is worth considering whether there is a common research agenda that may increase the relevance of these tools in decision-making processes. The validity of drawing comparisons between use of the tools is established through examining key aspects of the two approaches for their similarities and differences, including the nature of each approach and contextual and methodological aspects. Six case studies involving use of each approach in public decision making are described and used to draw out concerns about using RA and LCA in this context. The following categories of concern can be distinguished: philosophical approach of the tools; quantitative versus qualitative assessment; stakeholder participation; the nature of the results; and the usefulness of the results in relation to time and financial resource requirements. These can be distilled into a common policy research agenda focusing on: the legitimacy of using tools built on a particular perspective in decision making; recognition and role of value judgments in RA and LCA; treatment of uncertainty and variability; the influence of analytical tools in focusing attention on particular aspects of a decision-making situation; and understandability of the results for nonspecialists. It is concluded that it is time to bring together the experiences of RA and LCA specialists and benefit from cross-fertilization of ideas.     

基于非均匀性语言标度和DLWA算子的动态绩效模糊群决策研究

基于企业人力资源管理(HRM)系统中职能管理部门年度绩效考核决策评价和选优序列生成过程中的数据的不确定性、随机性和模糊性,通过设计季度绩效多维度模糊评价体系,采用非均匀加性语言评估标度定性的多维度评价,构建动态加性语言判断矩阵模型,利用DLWA算子等语言信息集成算子,集成多个决策者不同时期绩效指标评价数据,并整合不同决策者的偏好度,综合呈现年度部门业绩选优序列,优化提升职能管理部门绩效考核决策的精确性、公平性和可信度。     

Partner selection in green supply chains using PSO – a practical approach

Partner selection is crucial to green supply chain management as the focal firm is responsible for the environmental performance of the whole supply chain. The construction of appropriate selection criteria is an essential, but often neglected pre-requisite in the partner selection process. This paper proposes a three-stage model that combines Dempster–Shafer belief acceptability theory and particle swarm optimisation technique for the first time in this application. This enables optimisation of both effectiveness, in its consideration of the inter-dependence of a broad range of quantitative and qualitative selection criteria, and efficiency in its use of scarce resources during the criteria construction process to be achieved simultaneously. This also enables both operational and strategic attributes that can be selected at different levels of hierarchy criteria in different decision-making environments. The practical efficacy of the model is demonstrated by an application in Company ABC, a large Chinese electronic equipment and instrument manufacturer.     

The 1996 Research Assessment Exercise for Business and Management

A substantial component of government funding for university research in the UK is now based upon an evaluation of the quality of research being conducted in each university, on a subject by subject basis. This paper describes the processes involved in the 1996 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) for business and management studies. It is argued that the strength of the current process lies in the peer review of the quality of research outputs. In addition, some of the issues needing to be resolved in undertaking such an exercise are described and evaluated. Finally, based on the authors' exposure to the full range of management research currently being conducted in the UK, some suggestions are made regarding future research directions.     

The Scientific and Methodological Basis of a Systematic Approach to Human Behavior Management

Behavior management has become an increasingly popular approach to the improvement of human work effectiveness. Philosophically, the origins of this movement can be traced almost directly to the Skinnerian distinction between operant and respondent behavior. The implications of this distinction have led to a reinforcerment based technology of behavior change with which behavior management is closely identified. In the present paper, it is argued that such an alignment places the behavior management approach in too narrow a perspective. In its most fundamental sense, this movement is both a scientific and methodological endeavor. As a science, behavior management has an empirical character marked by concerns for the objectivity and validity of its knowledge. Within this framework, the methodology it employs has many features in common both with procedures of "the experimental analysis of behavior" and with the tradition of "quasi-experimentation." The essential features of this common methodology are outlined. and their relation to several imponant types of validity issues is noted. In the final analysis, it is suggested that behavior management can be viewed more profitably as a general purpose "tool" for the evaluation of any potentially effective management practice than as a technological outgrowth of operant conditioning.     

A proposed methodology for the prediction of mental workload, based on engineering system parameters

In the design of engineering systems, mental workload is one of the most important factors in the allocation of cognitive tasks. Current methods of task allocation have criteria that are defined in only general terms and are thus not very useful in aiding detailed decision-making in system design. Whilst there are many quantitative criteria available to determine the physical space in human-machine interaction, system designers really require an explicit model and specific criteria for the following identification of the mental workload imposed by the system; prediction of both human and system performance; evaluation of the alternatives of system design; and the design of system components. It is argued that the available methods of workload or performance are either too domain-dependent to apply to the design of other systems, or subject-dependent and thus do not reflect the objective workload imposed by the system. The presented research adopts a new approach to cognitive task analysis in dynamic decision-making systems. Based on the characteristics derived from task analysis, a general conceptual model of the prediction of mental workload in system design is proposed. In the new model, workload is represented by a set of system parameters—task arrival rate, task complexity, task uncertainty, and performance requirements—which are considered to be the main sources of workload. In this context, workload becomes an objective demand of engineering systems, independent of any subjective factors. Whether an individual or population is overloaded depends upon their workload threshold with respect to the specified task and environment. It is hoped that this new model, after both laboratory and industrial validation, could be used by system designers to predict the workload imposed on people by systems.     

A modularised typology for flow design based on decoupling points – a holistic view on process industries and discrete manufacturing industries

Management of production activities covers a wide range of decisions. In this paper, a modularised approach is suggested that, through configuration, generates a case-specific flow design. The approach is based on identification of decision categories that are generic and fundamental in the flow design, covering both discrete manufacturing industries and process industries. Each decision category identifies a unique property of the flow which changes at a particular point: this is termed a ‘decoupling point’. A three-dimensional modularised typology is developed by combining three different decision categories. Cases from the steel industry and the tooling industry are used to illustrate how the typology can be applied. The modularised approach provides a typology for the application of both qualitative and quantitative methods for flow management, including planning, control and performance management.     

Postmodernism, philosophy and management: concepts and controversies

The paper offers a (partial) review of the philosophy of postmodernism as it applies to social science in general and management and organization theory in particular. Initially, some of the main analytical perspectives of postmodernism and post-structuralism are explored, notably those relating to epistemology and ethno-industrial change. Subsequently, we review concepts which lie at the heart of the 'postmodern mood' in social philosophy and sociology; for example, representation, reflexivity, deconstruction and decentring. In so doing, we take reference to the works of Jean Baudrillard, Jacques Derrida and Jean-François Lyotard amongst others Finally, this philosophical assessment review forms the basis for an analysis of postmodernism as an emerging paradigm of management and organization theory. The works of key postmodernist writers in management and organization studies are reviewed and case examples of postmodern research presented.     

基于Mo-RVIKOR的混合多属性决策方法

针对复杂性和不确定性多属性决策问题,考虑定量和定性融合的属性形式,提出了模块化随机多准则妥协解排序法（Modular Random VlseKriterijumska Opti-mizacija I Kompromisno Resenje,Mo-RVIKOR）,该方法无需将信息统一,就能处理多种信息形式存在的多属性决策问题。采用精确数、随机变量处理定量评价信息,用概率语义术语集处理定性评价信息;通过改进离差最大化法确定属性权重;根据Mo-RVIKOR对决策对象进行排序;最后以某公司C2B定制化服务质量评测项目为例,验证了所提方法的有效性。     

How Fair Is Safe Enough? The Cultural Approach to Societal Technology Choice1

This paper consists of an argument and a pilot study. First is a general, perhaps philosophical, argument against the National Academy's viewpoint⁽¹⁾ that dealing with risk is a two-stage process consisting of (a) assessment of facts, and (b) evaluation of facts in sociopolitical context. We argue that societal risk intrinsically revolves around social relations as much as around evaluations of probability. Second, we outline one particular approach to analyzing societal risk management styles. We call this the fairness hypothesis. Rather than focusing on probabilities and magnitudes of undesired events, this approach emphasizes societal preferences for principles of achieving consent to a technology, distributing liabilities, and investing trust in institutions. Conflict rather than probability is the chief focus of this approach to societal risk management. This view is illustrated by a recent empirical pilot study that explored the fairness hypothesis in the context of new nuclear technologies.