The use of constructive-developmental theory to advance the understanding of leadership

Constructive-developmental theory is a stage theory of adult development that focuses on the growth and elaboration of a person's ways of understanding the self and the world. In this article we review how the constructive-developmental frameworks of Kegan [Kegan, R. (1982). The evolving self: Problem and process in human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press], Torbert [Torbert, W. R. (1987). Managing the corporate dream: Restructuring for long-term success. Homewood, IL: Dow Jones-Irwin.], and Kohlberg [Kohlberg, L. (1969). Stage and sequence: The cognitive developmental approach to socialization. In D. Goslin (Ed.), Handbook of socialization: Theory and research. New York: Rand McNally] have been applied in the theoretical and empirical literature on leadership and management. Although the literature has produced a number of propositions, the notion that a leader's order of development should impact his or her leadership effectiveness or managerial performance has generated the most research. We found mixed support for this proposition as well as a number of limitations in the research in general. To have a greater impact on the leadership field, constructive-developmental theory needs to generate more robust research, to link more clearly with on-going streams of leadership research, and to explore the contribution of aspects of the theory beyond individual order of development.     

Aggregation and Optimization with State‐Dependent Pricing: A Comment

A key argument in Caplin and Leahy (1997) states that the correlation between monetary shocks and output is falling in the variance of the money supply. We demonstrate that this conclusion depends on solving for the correlation in the nonstationary state of the model. In the stationary state, that correlation is initially rising.     

Team‐Level Antecedents of Individuals' Knowledge Networks*

Individuals' knowledge networks are widely considered to contribute substantially to the effectiveness and efficiency of organizations. While the positive effects of knowledge networks as a primary driver of social capital have recently received considerable research attention, potential determinants of individuals' network building have not yet been adequately addressed. In this study, we investigate how certain team‐level properties affect team members' development of knowledge networks through the course of a team project. Using data from 430 team leaders and team members pertaining to 145 software development projects, we test cross‐level hypotheses using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). The results indicate that the team's perception of the organizational knowledge‐sharing climate, the team's networking preference, and the team's perceived importance of networking for project success positively affect individuals' network building. Furthermore, a team's perception of the adequacy of its technical competency and a team's perception of the adequacy of its material resources inhibit team members' individual network development. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.     

Ethics in Confucian and Christian management behavior: Taiwan and the United States contrasted

The ethical foundations for management behavior are examined for the people in Taiwan and from those within the United States. The influences for ethical actions can be traced to Confucian teachings and Christian doctrines. The authors present the philosophical differences between humanism for Chinese people and spiritualism for Christian people in the United States. Comparisons are made on how these principles affect the management behavior within organizations.     

Biologically Motivated Cancer Risk Models

A two-stage dose response model is proposed for use in cancer risk assessment. The model assumes that transformation probabilities and cellular dynamics are exposure- and time-dependent.     

Information technology in banking

This paper argues that since the use of information is a fundamental part of all forms of activities, both corporate and private, throughout society the introduction of a new technology for using information inevitably has widespread effects. These effects are particularly far reaching in those service industries, such as banking, the very heart and essence of whose business is the handling of information.A review of the developments so far in the use of the new information technology in payment systems brings out the essential nature of its effects and shows the all-pervasive influence of the form and capability of the technology itself. It tries to illustrate where the benefits are derived and the nature of illusory gains and undesirable effects. An attempt is then made to derive an historical perspective.To try to anticipate future events, current trends in the technology and in the ways in which its use might change, are identified. The change in the technical means by which financial and other information-based services are delivered is seen to be salient feature of these developments and the important influence upon institutional relationships is discussed under the heading of the politics of the technology. Parallels in the introduction of other new technologies are drawn by way of illustration.The final part of the paper tries to develop a broader perspective and sketches out a longer scenario of the development of information technology indicating the major influence which this is likely to exert upon the development of society throughout the world.