Peter Heinrich, Jochen Schulz zur Wiesch (Hg.): Wörterbuch zur Mikropolitik

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Pers?nlichkeits��bereinstimmungen zwischen Marke und Konsument: Stand der empirischen Selbstkongruenzforschung und verbleibende Investigationsdirektiven

Great importance is attached to the perception of personality matches between brand and consumers regarding its impact on purchase behaviour and purchase behaviour antecedents. The latest metaanalysis of Bauer et al. (2006) confirmed the high level of significance of selfcongruity effects but drew also attention to the moderate level of the average total effects whose reasons are still unexplored. In particular selfcongruity research lacks knowledge about the relevance of physical self congruity perceptions that may enhance traditionally moderate levels of self congruity effects if included in self congruity measures. Additionally possible tracks of implementing selfcongruity research findings in practice are still unexplored. As knowledge of how to force selfcongruity perceptions is missing, yet the application of selfcongruity theory is subjected to trial-and-error-principles. This article dedicates to the actual state of the selfcongruity research that has not been systematised extensively since the nineteen-eighties. Existing metaanalytical results are supplemented by deepening theoretical knowledge of complementary areas of research. The resulting synthesis leads to an interdisciplinary comprehension of self congruity effects. On the basis of these explanations detailed findings are provided concerning research directives that still necessitate investigation: research in levels of self congruity effects as well as research in possibilities of implementing self congruity knowledge in daily brand management.     

Governance,religious assurance and Islamic banks: Do Shariah boards effectively serve?

This study examines the quality of governance and religious assurance provided by Shariah boards (SBs) when undertaking the crucial compliance review required in fulfilling the expected ethical and social legitimacy of Islamic banks. To better understand the complex behavioural processes, we explore the governance role of SBs and assess issues related to competence, effectiveness and independence in the light of the newly adopted 2011 Malaysian Shariah Governance Framework (SGF). A series of semi-structured interviews were undertaken with key individuals in two well-established fully-fledged Malaysian Islamic banks. Our findings reveal that the newly implemented SGF has generally brought about some of the benefits hoped for by its regulatory architects. We find the quality of religious assurance to have been enhanced due to the emphasis placed on religious audit giving rise to improved credibility. However, we report the compliance review process to be inadequately undertaken with SBs still excessively reliant on internal officers implying possible independence compromise. We highlight concerns relating to (1) the general level of competency of individual SB members; (2) lack of technical banking and finance knowledge; and (3) SB members generally fulfilling a ceremonial role rather than undertaking vigilant monitoring. Our findings lead us to question the full impact of the new 2011 SGF and query the value and effectiveness of SBs. We make the call for the establishment of external religious auditors to render compliance assurance which could provide the much-needed impetus to improve governance and increase market and stakeholder confidence.     

Governance Choices for Corporate Social Responsibility: to Contribute,Collaborate or Internalize?

Within a competitive business environment where resources are limited, it is increasingly important for senior management to make every investment count. Measuring ‘return on investment’ occurs at every level of operations—so why not also in the arena of Corporate Social activity? Until now, much research has focused on finding the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and increased business performance. Researchers have not examined the cost implications associated with the different forms of governance utilized by companies to implement their CSR activities, e.g., outsourcing through charitable contributions, developing an in-house program, or creating a more collaborative model, which benefits both the company and the partner nonprofit organization. Careful examination and evaluation of these costs will help senior management choose the governance structure that will maximize the benefits they reap from CSR activities.Drawing upon insights from organizational economics, this article develops a framework to compare the alternative modes of CSR governance and identifies the key drivers that affect governance choice, including associated costs. Most importantly, it provides a decision-making tool that can guide senior management in this vital choice as a way to contribute to the competitive advantage of the firm.     

Ist Ethik ein Erfolgsfaktor? Unternehmensethik im Spannungsfeld von Oxymoron Case,Business Case und Integrity Case

For a number of years now, public awareness of the social and ecological consequences of the drive to make profit in business—a goal pursued in some cases by radical means—has become increasingly acute. Accordingly, business endeavors nowadays face a full-blown legitimization crisis. This development is accompanied by a flourishing debate on business ethics, or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the main objective of which is to evolve perspectives for a business management culture that is ethically legitimate,—or from a social viewpoint quite simply better. A prominent place in the debate on business ethics is currently occupied by what is referred to as the business case for CSR, whose credo is: Ethics is a success factor! At first sight this approach appears persuasive—after all, it promises more profit for profit-oriented businesses along with more ethics for an ethically sensitized society. But a more careful look lays it open to criticism. On the one hand, this is because—in pragmatic terms—it presupposes a business-specific sanction mechanism that in today’s real world works rudimentarily at best; on the other hand, it is because—in programmatic terms—it demands only a moralization of the markets, but not a moralization of management. In other words, the way in which the business case goes about solving the problems of business ethics relies on the very same exclusive (radical) profit orientation on the part of management that can be regarded as the root cause of the problems in the first place. In contrast to this position, we argue that an ethically better management culture presupposes a moralization of management, which in turn implies a legitimization of profit.     

Global Financial Crisis, Public Administration and Governance: Do New Problems Require New Solutions?

A financial crisis, or any crisis, is likely to produce a variety of responses from governments. This article discusses the range of responses that may be possible, pointing out that diametrically opposite answers may be made to the common problem. The analysis points to the persistence of many dichotomies in our thinking about public administration and public policy. These varied responses to crises are investigated in several political systems including the Baltic States and the European Union.     

Kapitalmarktreaktionen auf Personalabbauprogramme: Welchen Einfluss haben Motiv,Umfang und Freiwilligkeit?

This study examines the effects of layoff announcements on the market value of German listed companies. Analyzing 136 announcements being published between 2000 and 2009, the results show marginal abnormal returns but high variance indicating that the market reaction might depend on specific characteristics. As potential determinants we particularly discuss the reasons for layoff, the size of layoff and the voluntariness of layoff. We find that reactive reasons like plant closures have a negative impact on shareholder value whilst active reasons like cost improvements enhance shareholder value. The size of layoff tends to induce negative effects. A voluntary layoff announcement however increases the value of a firm. Furthermore, we find a positive relationship between abnormal returns and human capital intensity and a negative one with both the manufacturing industry membership and financial leverage. In addition, the regression model extends prior literature since its coefficient of determination exceeds those in Anglo-American studies.