A woman leader's experience in Korea

The methodology described in this article is of significance to HRD scholars seeking to better understand employee perceptions of the work environments in which practitioners seek to develop employees. Diagnostic instruments tailored to specific work settings can be developed simply and inexpensively with the approach described. A summated rating scale was developed to measure employee perception of a broad range of work environment variables that research has shown influence employee development and performance. An employee perception-based factor model was then developed based on factor analysis of data gathered with the study instrument. Analysis of the data indicated an interpretable five-factor model. Based on the salient variables of the factor model, a shorter diagnostic instrument was developed specifically for the work setting used in the study. The approach developed in this study can mitigate the obvious problem that arises if one attempts to generalize a single set of work environment factors as representing the perceptions of work groups which may have significantly different demographic or occupational characteristics, work settings and cultures. While the specific factor model and diagnostic tool generated in this study cannot be generalized beyond the study population, the instrumentation and methodology can be used to develop unique factor models in other work settings to provide the basis for diagnostic instruments appropriate for those settings and work groups.     

The cross-cultural adjustment process of expatriate families in a multinational organization: a family system theory perspective

This case study examined the relationship between the family flexibility of expatriates in a multinational corporation and their cross-cultural adjustment, as well as the stressors experienced by the expatriate, spouse, and children during the international transition. Family flexibility was negatively correlated with cross-cultural adjustment as perceived by the participating expatriates. All five cross-cultural adjustment dimensions (cultural, psychological, organizational, personal and relational) had a statistically significant relationship with family flexibility. Expatriate families identified cultural, relational, and psychological stressors as having the greatest impact on their cross-cultural adjustment. The components of family flexibility (roles, rules, assertiveness and leadership) played a key role in the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate, spouse and children. These findings provide insights to organizations and their human resource development professionals as well as to expatriates and their families on how family flexibility impacts cross-cultural adjustment – insights that could lead to the development of appropriate support and development mechanisms.     

What explains the extent and content of social disclosures in Swedish municipalities’ annual reports

Public awareness and interest in environmental and social issues as well as increased attention in the mass media have resulted in a higher demand for social disclosures from organisations. The aim of this study is to explain the extent and variation of content in social disclosures among Swedish municipalities. The empirical data is based on annual reports and archive data from official statistics. In this study we take an eclectic approach, and use a multi-theoretical framework in order to explain the content and extent of social disclosures. The statistical analyses show that the extent of social disclosures is associated with size, tax base, tax rate, financial performance and political majority. The study shows that there are significant differences between municipalities regarding both extent and content of social disclosures.     

Foundations for collaborative performance measurement

In the past years, companies have been establishing collaboration relationships as a means to become more competitive. This type of relationship presents some special characteristics that need to be managed properly in order to be successful. Performance measurement systems (PMSs) may support the management of such relationships by aiding to define and collect the necessary information. However, further understanding is needed to identify the elements and interactions among collaborative elements and how they can be integrated within a PMS. The aim of this article is twofold. The first purpose is to analyse the contents of works that tackle interorganisational and collaborative relationships as well as PMSs for interorganisational and collaborative environments by defining a typology. The typology comprises two dimensions: degree of relationships among collaboration elements and integration of collaboration within PMS. The second purpose is to perform a comparative study of the works for identifying main strengths and gaps for future research.     

Measuring Job Satisfaction with CUB Models

In this paper we present two statistical approaches for discussing and modelling job satisfaction based on data collected in the Survey on Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) conducted by the Bank of Italy. In particular, we analyse these data by means of a mixture model introduced for ordinal data and compare results with the Ordinal Probit model. The aim is to establish common outcomes and differences in the estimated patterns of global job satisfaction, but also to stress the potential for curbing the effects of measurement errors on estimates by using CUB models [a Combination of discrete Uniform and (shifted) Binomial distributions], allowing control for the effect of uncertainty and shelter choices in the response process.     

Gay men's experiences coming out online: A qualitative study

The current study employed qualitative methodology to investigate the experiences of 12 gay men who came out online, using Facebook. Analysis of coding data yielded several key themes. First, gay men discussed a range of experiences that influenced their online disclosure, including homophobia, internalized homophobia, and previous salient sexual identity disclosures. Participants also commonly expressed a variety of goals and concerns about coming out online, including improving relationships and loss of friends, respectively. Finally, gay men identified several benefits to coming out on Facebook, including increased efficiency in coming out as compared to face-to-face disclosures, increased authenticity, and decreased ambiguity about their sexuality. Results are discussed within the context of literature on men's coming-out experiences and online identity management.     

Strategic approaches to sustainability in fashion supply chain management

Today, the sustainability challenge has become a relevant issue in the fashion industry. However, given that the request for sustainability is relatively new in this industry, empirical research that could guide companies towards supply chain sustainability is lacking. This study aims to deepen the understanding of the main strategic approaches to sustainability used in fashion supply chain management (SCM). Ten case studies were examined in terms of the practices that characterise these approaches. Moreover, contextual factors, drivers and barriers that support or hinder different approaches were identified. To accomplish this goal, both environmental sustainability and social sustainability were investigated, and all the areas of fashion SCM (i.e. new product development, source, make, deliver, retail, return, governance) were considered simultaneously to offer a wide overview of this industry’s sustainability issue.     

Professional competencies in social work education for the third sector in southern Spain

The education of social workers in the Spanish university is structured around the professional competencies that will subsequently be applied in the labour market. As social work is a profession focused on the provision of social welfare and the prevention of social exclusion, it is expected of social workers that they become analytical, thoughtful professionals within their environment and that they play an active role in preventing social exclusion and inequality. However, there are important splits and contradictions between the official recognition of such competencies by universities and their effective implementation in the labour market. In this paper we analyse the main constraints and contradictions involved in the acquisition of the professional skills of social workers in their transition to the labour market. To do this, we focus on the specific case competencies in professional field of the third sector in Andalusia     

Crowding out,crowding in or just a matter of transformation? Informal financial support in Portugal and Sweden

This investigation examines the role of informal financial support among university students in two different welfare states, Portugal and Sweden. Using data from a questionnaire (N = 525), students’ experiences of receiving loans and gifts, and differences in norms and attitudes towards informal financial support, are explored. The data reveal that the Swedish students receive more financial support in terms of monetary loans and gifts from persons in their social network, while for Portuguese students support from their parents to a higher degree is embedded in patterns of living conditions. Furthermore, the interaction processes of exchange of support, for both groups is characterised by reflexivity and complexity, not only framed by resource conditions, but also by relational and situational factors. The results are discussed in the theoretical framework of crowding out/crowding in theories.