Applying the ‘comply-or-explain’ principle: discursive legitimacy tactics with regard to codes of corporate governance

The comply-or-explain principle is a central element of most codes of corporate governance. Originally put forward by the Cadbury Committee in the UK as a practical means of establishing a code of corporate governance whilst avoiding an inflexible “one size fits all” approach, it has since been incorporated into code regimes around the world. Companies can either comply with code provisions or may explain why they do not comply, i.e., why they deviate from a code provision. Despite its wide application very little is known about the ways in which comply-or-explain is used. In addressing this we employ legitimacy theory by which explanations for deviating can be understood as means of legitimizing the company’s actions. We analyzed the compliance statements and reports of 257 listed companies in the UK and Germany, producing some 715 records of deviation. From this we generated an empirically derived taxonomy of the explanations. In a second order analysis we examine the underlying logic and identify various legitimacy tactics. We discuss the consequences of these legitimacy tactics for code regimes and the implications for policy makers.     

A Generic Semantic Grammar for Quantitative Text Analysis: Applications to East and West Berlin Radio News Content from 1979

In a semantic text analysis the researcher begins by creating one of two types of semantic grammars, each of which provides one or more templates that specify the ways concepts (or more general themes) may be related. On the one hand, a phenomenal semantic grammar can be created to extract phenomenon-related information from a text population (e.g., "Among the population's grievances [the phenomenon of interest in this case], which were ones for the abolition of taxes?"). On the other hand, a generic semantic grammar may be developed to yield data about the text population itself (e.g., "Among all clauses in the text population, how many were grievances for the abolition of taxes?"). This paper describes a generic semantic grammar that can be used to encode themes and theme relations in every clause within randomly sampled texts. Unlike the surface-grammatical relations mapped by syntax grammars, the theme relations allowed in this grammar only permit unambiguous encoding according to the meanings that clauses were intended to convey within their social context. An application of the grammar provides a concrete illustration of its research potential.     

Bayesian Nonparametric Hidden Markov Models with application to the analysis of copy-number-variation in mammalian genomes

We consider the development of Bayesian Nonparametric methods for product partition models such as Hidden Markov Models and change point models. Our approach uses a Mixture of Dirichlet Process (MDP) model for the unknown sampling distribution (likelihood) for the observations arising in each state and a computationally efficient data augmentation scheme to aid inference. The method uses novel MCMC methodology which combines recent retrospective sampling methods with the use of slice sampler variables. The methodology is computationally efficient, both in terms of MCMC mixing properties, and robustness to the length of the time series being investigated. Moreover, the method is easy to implement requiring little or no user-interaction. We apply our methodology to the analysis of genomic copy number variation.     

Financial assistance for families with severely disabled children and transport costs

Families with severely disabled children encounter many difficulties in getting out and about. The inadequacy of statutory financial assistance for transport related costs is confirmed by an analysis of families receiving grants from the Family Fund Trust. A third of the sample of 37 000 families with a severely disabled child, received grants for transport related costs. Such grants were more common for families with very young disabled children, children with particular diagnoses, or severely impaired motor function, sight and speech, and families whose children were dependent on technology, or who subsequently died. Recommendations for improving current statutory support are made. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thirty‐five Years Later in Development Assistance: Have We Moved On,or Just Performed a Minuet?

Development economists have presented the problems of development in varying and incompatible terms, and have influentially advocated contradictory policies. After twists and turns a broad consensus has emerged on pro‐poor growth objectives and on the policy and institutional means of achieving them. But a number of important questions remain unresolved or indeterminate. Development experts, economists and others, should have the humility to recognise the country specificity of much development experience and the multiplicity of valid paths to the goal of material wellbeing. They are least likely to mislead if their advice acknowledges the likely joint importance of macroeconomic stability, reasonably efficient markets, and supportive institutions.     

Intergroup Competition and Attitudes Toward Immigrants and Immigration: An Instrumental Model of Group Conflict

High levels of worldwide migration paired with increasingly negative attitudes toward immigrants and immigration in host countries indicate that it is crucial to gain an understanding of the bases of these attitudes. This article discusses one determinant of negative attitudes toward immigrants and immigration: perceived competition for resources. We present our instrumental model of group conflict, which suggests that competition for resources, and attempts to remove this competition, are important determinants of intergroup attitudes and behavior. We then review relevant research on perceived competition and attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. We conclude by discussing the implications of this research for attempts to alleviate tension between immigrants and members of host populations, and for our more general model of group conflict.     

Infant Auditory Sensitivity to Pure Tones and Frequency‐Modulated Tones

It has been suggested that infants respond preferentially to infant‐directed speech because their auditory sensitivity to sounds with extensive frequency modulation (FM) is better than their sensitivity to less modulated sounds. In this experiment, auditory thresholds for FM tones and for unmodulated, or pure, tones in a background of noise were measured for 4‐month‐old infants using a conditioned response procedure. The FM tones swept from 150 to 275 Hz or from 150 to 550 Hz. The frequency of the pure tone was either 275 or 550 Hz. The results showed that infants were slightly, but significantly, more sensitive to the sounds that included 550 Hz than they were to the lower frequency sounds, whether or not the sound was frequency modulated. It appears that infants could be somewhat more sensitive to infant‐directed than to adult‐directed speech, not because of FM per se, but because the fundamental frequency excursions in infant‐directed speech extend into a higher frequency range than those in adult‐directed speech.     

A Review of the Computerized Version of the Self-Directed Search

This article discusses general issues and concerns relative to the adaptation of paper-pencil assessment instruments to computerized formats. The computerized form of the Self-Directed Search is described and evaluated. Strengths and weaknesses of the SDS-CV are presented and recommendations regarding its use are discussed. In that additional research is needed regarding the reliability and validity of scores attained on the computerized SDS, we concluded that information from this version of the instrument should be interpreted cautiously. The computerized SDS, however, has the potential of becoming a useful instrument in the career counseling field.     

Problems of Growth in a High Technology Firm: Moving between Conscious and Unconscious Accounts of Organizational Processes

This paper explores an infrequently discussed methodological divide within qualitative research; that between conscious and unconscious accounts of organizational processes. The paper makes use of an empirical case study of problems encountered in the growth of a high-technology company. The conscious accounts of growth treat members of the firm as knowledgeable agents whose understandings are then drawn upon to generate an account of growth in terms of interrelated processes of power, meaning and legitimacy. These conscious accounts are then complemented through an exploration of unconscious dynamics in the personality of the entrepreneur, the work group and the `family' structure of the firm. It is argued that the key shift in moving between conscious and unconscious interpretation, involves the bracketing of the reality claims implicit in conscious rationalizations, and a re-listening to research material as a largely unconscious projection of individuals' `inner worlds'. With unconscious interpretations, the character of language, its emotional content and in particular the sources of individual and group anxiety all realize a central importance. Despite the established divide in the literature between these two forms of interpretation, it is argued that the case suggests the value and necessity of their integration, particularly for the understanding of creativity.