Fast and rigorous: Configurational determinants of strategic decision-making balance

A longstanding debate in the strategic decision-making literature has focused on whether top management teams (TMTs) can effectively balance speed and comprehensiveness when making important decisions. In our research, we build on early insights and pivot from considering whether TMTs can engage indecision-making that balances these tensions to focus instead on when certain types of TMTs are able to achieve such balance. We employ a novel configurational analytical approach and a theoretical framework built from role theory to examine the CEO-TMT interface in a new way. In so doing, we are able to identify specific CEO-TMT constellations that support decision-making that is both fast and rigorous. Using a unique primary dataset and an abductive, configurational approach grounded in fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), we identify six specific leader-team configurations that each facilitate decision processes characterized by rigorous intra-team debate, meaningful reconciliation of divergent ideas, and fast decision speed (which we describe as strategic decision-making balance). The range of CEO-TMT configurations that emerge from our analyses contribute new theory and findings for the strategic decision-making and interface literatures more broadly, as well as the specific research streams on executive gender, humility, and TMT structure.     

Interprofessional collaboration between residential child care and mental care practitioners: a cross-country study in six European countries

ABSTRACT

The severe mental health problems of many of the young people living in residential settings pose a great challenge and demand on child protection and mental care (MC) services. Drawing on comparative research and debates from six European countries, this study examines demands for integrated care and interprofessional collaboration practices between residential child care (RCC) and MC. In this article, research data will be brought together from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, the UK (Scotland) and Spain. In total, 61 practitioners from RCC and MC were interviewed. Given the complexity of the residential care service context and service system differences across national contexts, the original hypothesis was that this would differentiate the collaboration practices. However, the similarity between the countries is greater than anticipated. The concluding findings are organised by matrix technique into a content-analytic summary table. The main finding was that in spite of encouragement for integrated RCC, obstacles for collaboration and lack of coordination between systems remain, often related to understanding the professional role and tasks, lack of shared knowledge, attitudes and ways of communication. One significant finding in the cross-country comparison was the evident and unrealistic expectations for the ‘other’ provider to help and care.     

Taking the longer view: Explaining Multicultural London English and Multicultural Paris French

The article explores the perplexing outcomes of comparative research projects in London and Paris on language change in multilingual areas of the cities populated by large numbers of recent immigrants with very diverse language backgrounds. In London, as in many other northern European cities, language contact on such a large scale has resulted in the emergence of a “multiethnolect”: a repertoire of innovative linguistic forms used by young people of all ethnicities, including monolingual non‐immigrant speakers. In Paris, however, there was no such repertoire. I propose four factors that are necessary for a multiethnolect to emerge and that explain why similar processes of population movement, immigration, and globalization have produced such different linguistic outcomes in London and Paris. These factors remind us that language evolution, like language use, is constrained not only by the social characteristics of individuals but also by the socio‐cultural historical contexts in which individuals live.     

Toward an emergent Asian behavioural model of perceived managerial and leadership effectiveness: a cross-nation comparative analysis of effective and ineffective managerial behaviour of private sector managers in India and South Korea

ABSTRACT

This Type 4 (emic-and-etic) indigenous cross-case/cross-nation comparative study compares the results of two Type 3 (emic-as-emic) indigenous replication studies of effective and ineffective managerial behaviour carried out within private companies in India and South Korea respectively. The method used was ‘realist qualitative content analysis’ involving inductive open and axial coding. Of the Indian findings 100% were found to be convergent in meaning with 94.43% of the equivalent South Korean findings. This has led to the identification of a two-factor emergent Asian behavioural model of perceived managerial and leadership effectiveness comprised of 16 positive (effective) and 6 negative (ineffective) generic behavioural criteria. These criteria could be used in both countries to critically review and improve extant, or develop new, competency-based management/leadership development programmes. The research findings lend no support to claims that national culture has a major impact on managerial and leadership practices, styles, and effectiveness.     

The competitive dimension of comparative optimism / La dimensión competitiva del optimismo comparativo

We usually think that positive events are more likely to occur to us than to others and vice versa for negative events. This phenomenon, called comparative optimism, increases both social utility and the tendency to present oneself as above average. The literature highlights the same elements in competition. Our objective was to study the links between comparative optimism and competition and to argue that social utility can explain this relation. In our study, we presented participants with comparative optimistic, comparative pessimistic or neutral targets. We observed that a comparative optimistic target was perceived to fit better with a competitive situation than other targets because he/she was deemed socially useful (e.g., assertive, self-confident). Participants also felt that a comparative optimistic target pursued more performance goals than the other targets. This effect was mediated by the perception of this target as a competitive person. These results, consistent with our assumptions, highlight the competitive dimension of comparative optimism.     

隐名合伙与有限合伙比较研究——兼论其同时设立的必要性和合理性

隐名合伙与有限合伙均根源于康曼达契约。二者虽有相似之处 ,但却具有不同的制度价值。其共性在于均可用以解决有限责任合伙人的投资问题 ;不同之处则决定其分别具有不同的适用对象和制度安排。因此 ,二者均具有十分重要的制度价值 ,均应成为我国民事立法的模式选择     

Business Legitimacy among Business Students in the United States, Great Britain, and South Africa

This study compares attitudes toward business legitimacy in three countries. Positive attitudes toward business legitimacy exist when there is a congruence between organizational activities and societal expectations. Businesses are concerned about the extent to which negative attitudes toward business legitimacy will lead to increased government regulation. The results suggest that business students in all three countries are similar in their attitudes toward business legitimacy; however, blacks have more negative attitudes toward business legitimacy than do whites. This study resulted in the validation of a scale that can be used to measure attitudes toward business legitimacy on a cross-cultural basis. Business legitimacy is a major concern in South Africa as the predominately white business community seeks to give the emerging black majority a stake in the existing economic system. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

我国现代农业示范园区综合评价

从山东半岛沿海地区选取青岛、威海和潍坊3个农业示范园作为研究对象,在采用模糊层次分析法（Fuzzy-AHP法）创建现代农业示范园的综合评价指标体系的基础上,对以上3个地区的不同园区的发展状况和管理状况等方面进行综合考评。通过对比分析发现,山东半岛沿海地区现代农业示范园区有的已进入农业现代化的发展阶段,有的还处在起步阶段,其建设和发展呈现不平衡的发展态势。推进现代农业示范园区的建设和发展,要依托现代农业产业技术体系,增强科技支撑能力;在加大对园区的政策性扶持的同时,注重园区自我发展能力的提升;通过农民培训体制机制的创新,提高园区引领和示范带动效果。     

社会指数研究中文化差异与幸福感研究关系探析

关于文化差异是否以及如何影响幸福感判断,学界存在两种相反观点： 一是认为文化差异会造成情感、心理等因素上的差异,从而影响自我阐释和幸福感的判断结果;另一种观点认为文化背景差异不会导致调查结果差异。通过社会学调查实例结论,对两种观点进行分析： 前者更倾向于具体指标的分析,对具体政策制定和实施效果的参与更为有效;而后者则将各指数因素归纳作整体把握,有助于不同文化间的比较研究。中国社会学的幸福感研究若要完成有效的政策制定参与,应重视社会指数研究的旨向与目的,将前者纳入后者调查范围,重视数据的二次分析。     

泛在学习环境下中美高校教师信息文化素养比较

在泛在学习环境下,高校教师作为教学的设计者、引领者、组织者和管理者,面对灵活多样的学习手段和海量的学习资源,必须具备较高的信息文化素养。比较中美信息文化素养的概念认知理解、中美高校教师信息文化素养建设标准以及中美高校教师信息素养提升途径与效果等方面的差异,学习和借鉴美国的成功经验,对从国情出发,制定出适合我国的高校教师信息文化素养标准,拓宽提升高校教师信息文化素养路径,推进我国教育现代化,实施人才强国战略具有重要意义。