All You Need Is Trust? An Examination of Inter‐organizational Supply Chain Projects

This study examines the antecedents of supply chain project success. We first propose and test a model that describes the role of relationship‐level factors (trust and asymmetric dependence) and project‐level factors (between‐firm communication and within‐firm commitment) in determining supply chain project success. We find that project‐level factors completely mediate the effect of trust on project success. We conclude that trust, despite being a stronger predictor compared to asymmetric dependence, is necessary but not sufficient for supply chain project success. We then proceed to further explore the role of these factors by introducing a categorical scheme that differentiates supply chain projects based on the decision rights configuration of each project. This categorization enables us to explore how relationship‐level and project‐level factors can have different impact on performance based on the characteristics of a supply chain project. The findings offer insights into how to effectively manage supply chain projects and inter‐firm alliances.     

Vehicle Procurement Policy for Humanitarian Development Programs

This article aims to identify optimal vehicle procurement policies for organizations engaged in humanitarian development programs and to derive general insights on the characteristics of these policies. Toward that end, we follow an inductive approach. First, we study the operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in three representative countries: Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia. Using a linear programming (LP) model primed with field data provided by the ICRC, we calculate the optimal vehicle fleet size and compare it with the policies actually implemented. Second, drawing from results of the LP model, we develop a stylized quadratic control model and use it to characterize the general structure of the optimal policy under different demand scenarios and operational constraints. After demonstrating that the results of the control model are consistent with those of the LP model in the specific context analyzed, we discuss the optimal policies and the applicability of the former as a practical tool for strategic asset planning.     

Evaluating the consequences of abandoning unprofitable customers: A comparison of direct and indirect abandonment strategies

Due to the increasing use of customer databases in many industries, companies nowadays have high visibility about the profitability of individual-level client relationships. This has led some researchers to recommend the implementation of value-based customer management strategies, including the abandonment of unprofitable customer relationships. In this context firms are faced with the choice between direct and indirect abandonment approaches. While direct abandonment strategies tend to be more efficient than indirect ones (i.e., immediate termination of the relationship vs. hoping that the unprofitable customer may leave on her own) they are also claimed to be associated with more severe negative reactions and higher abandonment cost. Based on two surveys among 965 US customers we provide evidence that, despite these beliefs, direct and indirect abandonment strategies do not differ in their negative impact on the abandoning firm. Given that (indirect) abandonment costs are therefore likely to be similar for both approaches, direct abandonment appears to be the recommendable approach for relationship dissolution.     

Ein Pl?doyer f��r Coaching vor dem Karrieresprung als fest installiertes Angebot in Organisationen

The occupational transitions of executives are considered in concerns of the conceptions ??Social Support?? and ??Sense of Coherence?? by a four structured model of a transition cycle. Furthermore the importance of a coaching that recognizes the specific needs during the single phases of a professional transition is described. After all the idea of a coaching is supported, which becomes a status of a fixed installation in organizations. The executives are accompanied through the transition in order to reduce the psychological and organizational costs and finally to commit them and their team members for a long-term employment. In addition the special change from an expert to an executive is taken into consideration.     

A Learning-Efficiency Explanation of Structure in Language

This paper proposes a learning-efficiency explanation of modular structure in language. An optimal grammar arises as the solution to the problem of learning a language from a minimal number of observations of instances of the use of the language. Agents face symmetry constraints that limit their ability to make a priori distinctions among symbols used in the language and among objects (interpreted as facts, events, speakers intentions) that are to be represented by messages in the language. It is shown that if it is commonly known that the object space is modular and messages are strings, then modularity of the language is sufficient and (essentially) necessary for learning efficiency. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number: C72.I am grateful to Hsueh-Ling Huynh, Bart Lipman, Ariel Rubinstein and Birger Wernerfelt for stimulating discussions and comments. Many thanks are due to the anonymous referee for suggestions that have helped to improve the focus and presentation of the paper. I have benefitted from comments by seminar participants at Arizona State University, Boston University, the University of California-San Diego, the University of Pittsburgh, the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB), the Midwest Mathematical Economics Meetings, and the Summer in Tel Aviv (SITA). This research was supported by a Grant from the National Science Foundation.     

Ärgerberatung in Organisationen — systemische und strukturationstheoretische Implikationen

This essay presents, based on theoretical-structural perspectives and on the usage of a systemic approach, practical methods and implications for consultants dealing with anger in organisations. The goal of this essay is to make theoretical debates useful for the concrete consultancy practice. The topic of the first step deals with the following central question: Why do consultants need a theory anyway?! The heart of this essay deals with the chances and limits of a conflict resolution training based on the systemic approach using the structural theory as a baseline. Finally, the author presents a diagnostic and intervention method which shall enable new perspectives on anger episodes.     

Vertrauen und Reputationseffekte bei Internet-Auktionen

In internet auctions the exchange between two anonymous actors corresponds to a one-shot prisoner’s-dilemma-like situation. In such a situation there is a high risk that both actors will cheat and that the market will collapse. The solution to attaining mutual cooperation is the simple and very efficient institution of a public rating system. By this institution sellers have an incentive to invest in reputation in order to enhance future chances of business. Using data from about 200 auctions of mobile phones we analyse the effects of the reputation system by empirical methods. In general the analysis of non-obtrusive data from auctions may help to gain a deeper understanding of basic social processes of exchange, reputation, trust, and cooperation and of the impact of institutions on the efficiency of markets. In this study we report empirical estimations of the effects of reputation on characteristics of transactions like the probability of a successful deal, the mode of payment, and the largest bid or auction price. Particularly, we ask whether sellers receive a “premium” for reputation. Results show that buyers are ready to pay higher prices for reputation to diminish the risk of exploitation. On the other hand, sellers protect themselves against cheating by choosing of a proper mode of payment. Simple institutional settings lead to cooperation, relatively rare events of fraud, and efficient markets despite the risk of mutual opportunistic behavior.     

Interkulturelle Kompetenz in der Polizei: Qualifizierungsstrategien

Increasing tension and scandal-laden conflicts with members of ethnic minorities during the 1990s make it clear, that the German police force is still not satisfactorily prepared to deal with a multi-cultural society. An immediate reaction was the engagement of training programmes, giving higher-rank officials something to present as an approach to solving the problem. This can apparently be seen as cosmetic change without effect on the structure and culture of the organisation. This work attempts to map the potential for sustainable development of intercultural competence via training programmes, based on the results of international research on police work. Four classical models of intercultural training are described, and their suitability for further education within the police analysed. Starting from the difficulties of determining the actual competency requirements specific in the field, and the basic problems of mediating and acquiring inter-cultural skills, the article concludes with a discussion of sustainable education strategies, which extend to fundamental questions of organisational development.     

乡土知识与生产力:滇西北农牧区社区的 养牛知识与养牛业发展

生产力的提高往往被认为与科技成果的应用有关。文章的目的是提供一个能够证明乡土知识提高生产力的实例。文章首先描述了滇西北一个农牧区村子的少数民族居民的养牛方式,并说明了某些方法如何提高养牛的生产力。文中的第二部分描述了调查点的情况以及当地牛群的定量趋势。牛数量的增加本身不能表示生产力的提高,因此本部分也阐明了生产力在当地情景下的含义。第三部分描述了两个自然村养牛方式的区别,从而证明了养牛的不同实践做法确实能够提高生产力,并且描述了与这些实践做法相关的乡土知识。第四部分说明了这些实践做法也能够给农户带来积极的经济效果。文章认为应该认真考虑乡土知识对发展的潜在积极作用。