Network learning: Episodes of interorganizational learning towards a collective performance goal

Little is known about learning processes in horizontal networks. This study focuses on networks as learning entities, i.e. learning by multiple organizations as a group, and the mechanisms involved in developing and addressing a network-level performance goal. By using a narrative approach, we gather in-depth primary data from network members to examine: how do firms engage in network learning? and, how is network learning coordinated towards a performance goal in a horizontal inter-firm network? Our findings comprise two learning episodes: ‘learning how to compete’ and ‘learning how to perform’. These episodes help us to understand network learning processes; the relationship between network learning and organizational learning; and the regulatory role a hub firm provides towards a collective performance goal.     

Reciprocal relationships between psychosocial work characteristics and sleep problems: A two-wave study

Sleep problems are common and impair the health and productivity of employees. Work characteristics constitute one possible cause of sleep problems, and sleeping poorly might influence wellbeing and performance at work. This study examines the reciprocal associations between sleep problems and psychosocial work characteristics. The participants were 1744 full-time employed individuals (56% women; mean age 38 years in 2007) from the Young Finns study who responded to questionnaires on work characteristics (conceptualised by the demand–control model and effort–reward imbalance model) and sleep problems (Jenkins Sleep Scale) in 2007 and 2012. Cross-lagged structural equation models are used to examine the associations. The results show that low control and low rewards at baseline predicted sleep problems. Baseline sleep problems predicted higher effort, higher effort–reward imbalance, and lower reward. Sleep problems also predicted lower odds for belonging to the low (rather than high) job strain group and active jobs group. The association between work characteristics and sleep problems appears to be reciprocal, with a stressful work environment increasing sleep problems, and sleep problems influencing future work characteristics. The results emphasise the importance of interventions aimed at both enhancing sleep quality and reducing psychosocial risks at work.     

Cognitive skills and leadership performance: The nine critical skills

Over the years, a growing body of evidence indicates that certain cognitive skills are a critical determinant of leader performance. In the present effort we show that application of these skills is typically founded in case-based knowledge. Subsequently, we identify nine key skills people in leadership positions employ when working with case-based knowledge to address leadership problems: 1) problem definition, 2) cause/goal analysis, 3) constraint analysis, 4) planning, 5) forecasting, 6) creative thinking, 7) idea evaluation, 8) wisdom, and 9) sensemaking/visioning. Individual and situational contingencies shaping effective application of these thinking skills is discussed. In addition, the implications of findings bearing on leader thinking skills for leader assessment and leader development are considered.     

董事会特征与总经理变更

本文以在上海证券交易所1999年前上市的公司为样本,研究董事会特征等治理变量对总经理变更的影响。研究结果表明,对相对业绩下降公司的总经理变更能起到显著解释作用的变量只有董事会会议的次数和公司的领导结构。而其它治理变量,诸如董事会规模、管理董事比例、独立董事比例、股权集中度、董事会成员持股比例等,未能对总经理变更起到显著的解释作用。     

Antecendents and effects of decision comprehensiveness: The role of decision quality and perceived uncertainty

On the basis of a sample of 184 top executives, we investigated the roles of decision quality and perceived uncertainty in the relationship between decision comprehensiveness and performance. Our results show that decision quality mediates a large proportion of the comprehensiveness–performance relationship and may thus provide a more proximate outcome measure of the effect of comprehensiveness. In addition, we found that perceived uncertainty directly affects the level of comprehensiveness in organizations rather than moderating its effect on performance as conceptualized by previous research. Based on the integration of behavioral and information processing theories we suggest that more process-oriented measures such as decision quality and perceived uncertainty may overcome conflicting empirical results in the field.     

An Empirical Investigation of Costs in Batching Decisions*

This paper examines the use of costs and cost functions to model lot‐sizing decisions in batch manufacturing. The cost functions used to model a wide variety of manufacturing systems are typically derived from average cost models of unconstrained inventory problems. The use of setups and average inventories as the basis for modeling the economics of a typical batch manufacturing cell is shown to be inadequate. An alternative physical model that focuses on lead times provides a model that more closely represents the underlying value of such a cell.     

基于网络的企业营销活动实证分析

网络的应用对企业传统的营销方式产生了冲击。本文利用对近百家企业问卷调查获得的数据,运用实证的方法,证明了我国企业由于使用网络改善了其营销活动并有利于提高了营销绩效,并进一步分析了客户关系管理与信息管理在网络环境下职能的变化。     

对组织学习、核心竞争能力、战略柔性与企业竞争绩效的理论剖析与实证研究 --探索中国企业增强动态竞争优势之路

在当前超强竞争时代,组织学习、核心竞争能力和战略柔性,越来越成为企业竞争的焦点问题,成为企业营造持久的动态竞争优势的战略武器.本文在对前人有关研究进行回顾、总结和归纳的基础上,开创性地把企业核心竞争能力划分为技术能力、市场营销能力和整合能力这三个关键构成要素,识别出组织学习的三个关键维度,深入剖析了战略柔性的内涵与本质,并在此基础上,论述了它们之间的互动关系及其对企业竞争绩效的影响.最后,本文以来自中国企业的实际调研数据为基础,运用基于偏最小二乘法的结构方程模型(SEM),对上述问题进行了实证分析,剖析了本项研究对中国企业管理的启示.     

公司企业家精神培育的系统理论假设模型及验证

企业家精神是企业永续发展的不竭动力。是21世纪推动一个国家经济发展最主要的动力之一。本文从微观角度出发,研究公司如何采取有效的措施促进公司企业家精神的培育,进而提高公司的经营业绩。笔者在国内外相关领域研究成果的基础上,提出了影响公司企业家精神培育的系统理论假设模型,并通过实证研究验证了假设模型。