Determinanten des Informationsgehalts von Managementprognosen – eine empirische Untersuchung anhand der DAX und MDAX-Unternehmen

In this article the characteristics and determinants of the information content of management earnings forecasts of the German DAX and MDAX companies between 2002 and 2005 are analyzed. As proxy for the information content I use the precision of the wording of a forecast. I can show that the forecasts of MDAX companies are more precisely formulated than those of DAX companies. Furthermore forecasts are formulated more precisely, when companies have, (1) a lower percentage of intangible assets, (2) lower market capitalization, (3) lower volatility of earnings and (4) a higher need for external financing.     

Modellgestützte Flexibilitätsanalyse von Strategien zur Ersatzteilversorgung in der Nachserienphase

An important task in after sales service is the provision of spare parts for durables. Due to its nature and dependence on earlier sales, the demand for spare parts is inherently dynamic and uncertain requiring for high procurement flexibility. During the product life cycle, inventory management of spare parts is performed efficiently under use of flexibility provided by existing production facilities. This situation completely changes once the OEM ceases production of the parent product. A prime option of procuring spare parts for the End-of-production period is to place a final order for parts when regular production ends. Besides low unit production costs, this option does not contain any flexibility, yielding a high risk of obsolescence of stored parts, and at the same time a high risk of not being able to satisfy all demand during the service period. In order to increase flexibility further options like extra production at higher unit cost or remanufacturing of components taken from used products could be used. After introducing the problem and a basic quantitative model, we evaluate flexibility properties of strategies using different combinations of the above options. In doing so we distinguish between quantity, time, and stock related flexibility. In a comprehensive numerical study it is investigated to which extent flexibility properties of the different strategies can contribute to their economic profitability.     

Personnel selection criteria in IT ventures: A policy-capturing analysis

Growing ventures need to hire new employees and thus enhance their human capital stock. Selecting the right employees is crucial for the firms’ success. This paper looks at the criteria used in the selection process, especially at applicant fit, competencies, and social capital. Using a policy-capturing approach on a sample of managers in the German informationtechnology industry, the paper provides empirical evidence of the relationship between firm age and person-organization fit in the selection process. Furthermore, it demonstrates the interaction between two sets of selection criteria: applicant competencies and applicant fit with the formal job-requirements.     

Denn sie wissen was sie tun!

Information and communication technologies (IT) permeate both the business and the private world. They cause profound changes for companies in terms of structure, leadership, culture, education and the position of individuals within the context of the company. Established structures, decision making habits and methods of communication are being called into question. This means that communication is neither explicitly controllable nor in some cases even specified, but it also should not be viewed as arbitrary. Structures which are treated as contingent require meta-management, reflection and determination. Leaders are forced to act within a constellation of tensions between the reduction and the expansion of complexity as basic functions of structuring. Ideally this type of steering takes place consciously and with a view toward the future, taking into account the increasing complexity and dynamics of the environment and the corporate culture. Empirical studies of our four intervention research projects show that the situation for many companies is sobering. Companies cannot always entirely interpret the rapid development of communication technologies and the consequences it brings with it, nor can they completely make use of its potential advantages. Companies and individuals are forced to think actively within the networked economy. The demand for further education shifts between the company (expertise, employee loyalty) on the one hand and the responsibility of the individual for his or her own development on the other. Agreements are the key to bringing harmony and new solutions to the conflicts among the differing interests of individuals, subsystems and the company as a whole. Considering the complex requirements for companies and management caused by IT, this article shows that reflective observation of intervention research, guided by theory and with a focus on targeted change of management practice, is a process which provides new opportunities for action in both theory and practice. In this process, focusing (systemization) and reflection (enhancement of perspectives) are fundamental keys for dealing with complexity.     

Coaching für Habilitand/innen am Beispiel der LMU München

This practice report describes coachings for junior faculty members at LMU Munich. First, we describe the challenges junior faculty members are faced with at German universities and the HR development undertaken at LMU to help junior faculty cope with these challenges. In particular, we elaborate on coachings, i. e. we describe the process and topics most frequently mentioned therein. These include the sandwich position junior faculty members find themselves in, the oftentimes informal nature of their leadership position, and the requirement to react to conflicts. Finally, we present the various ways of responding to these challenges developed within the coaching process.     

Die Auswirkungen von Neid auf individuelle Leistungen: Ergebnisse einer Panelanalyse

Relative income differences are likely to lead to envy within a reference group. Envy in turn influences social behavior and individual performance. While positional concerns are apparent in daily life, empirical evidence is rare in the economic literature. This paper investigates the impact of the relative income position on individuals’ performance or productivity. As ?performance“ is difficult to measure we turn to soccer players whose performance has been well documented. The broad sample covers eight seasons of the German premier soccer league (Bundesliga) between 1995 and 2004, and includes 1040 players, a salary proxy and several performance variables. The results show that player performance is strongly affected by relative income position. A disadvantage in the relative income position reduces productivity. The larger the income differences within a team, the stronger are the effects of positional concern. Team composition also significantly affects behaviour.     

Wissensvermittlung in Beratungsprozessen

In the science of counseling there nearly has been no theoretical reflection on the phenomena of how knowledge effects the orderliness, structure and sequential patterns of interaction in counseling. In the scientific field of educational analysis, increasing attention has been given to the debates of knowledge societies and knowledge management. In the present discussions many concepts of ??knowledge?? are based on a cognitive model using terms like ??content?? and ??data??. In contrast to this theoretical view, a knowledge based framework to research micro-processes of guidance and counseling is developed. The method of qualitative Conversation Analysis, based on ethnomethodological principles, is used to establish an interpretive account of the interactional process in a counseling context. Based on this analysis, a model with four dimensions is developed identifying different action formations which illustrate not only ideal but also problematic aspects of career guidance and counseling.