Showing papers by "Anil K. Gupta published in 1999"

Trust within the Organization: Integrating the Trust Literature with Agency Theory and Transaction Costs Economics

Abstract: This study analyzes agency theory and transaction costs economics in contrast with the literature on trust to integrate the key concepts and assumptions of these theories. The authors use field data from one multinational corporation to illustrate that trust-embedded economic theories provide a richer explanation of intraorganizational relationship than trust-absent theories. Although the notion of trust has always been at the heart of the management field, in the last few years there has been an explosion of research on trust and its implications for the management of organizations. The interest in this topic has produced numerous books and a substantial number of articles in academic journals. Management scholars seem to be making a collective effort to understand what is trust and why it is important in different managerial settings such as interorganizational cooperation (Ring and Van de Ven, 1994), alliance governance structure (Gulati, 1995), and foreign subsidiary commitment (Kim and Mauborgne, 1993). Within the organizational development literature, the central place of trust in planned change has been widely recognized for both private and public organizations (Golembiewski, 1979; Carnevale, 1995). Some of the more recent management literature on trust has attempted to cast itself in direct opposition to other theories more heavily based in economics such as Agency Theory (AT) and Transaction Costs Economics (TCE). On one side, several scholars have stressed the criticality of building trust rather than manipulating the contextual environment with incentives and monitoring (Ghoshal and Moran, 1996; Perrow, 1986). In contrast, other scholars prefer the rational analysis of risk in order to alter individual payoffs and, therefore, be able to study calculative cooperation, independent of personal trust (Williamson, 1993). This division resembles the decades-old controversy about the nature of the human being such as the classical dichotomy suggested by McGregor's (1960) Theory X versus Theory Y. However, a few scholars have been able to merge economic theories with concepts drawn from sociology (Ouchi, 1980; Gulati, 1995). These authors highlight the role of trust within relationships e.g., the effects of socialization and familiarity. In this article, the authors analyze conceptually how the recent literature on trust relates to TCE and AT. They investigate the key concepts and assumptions of AT and TCE and the role that trust plays in them. Based on the analysis and comparison of these theories, the discussion will show that the study of trust and social capital provides insights that enrich and complement those of AT and TCE. They argue that the trust literature is not only fully compatible with these economic theories but also improves their descriptive and explanatory power. The authors also provide an illustration of how trust-embedded AT and TCE present a more accurate picture of relationships within an organization. This article is organized as follows. First, the authors will analyze the main characteristics of the literature on trust, At, and TCE in order to integrate the concept of trust within these economic theories. Then, they will briefly discuss the field research that they conducted within one multinational organization to study intraorganizational trust. Next, they will develop a model of trust within organizations, based on their prior analysis of the three streams of literature and illustrated with data from the field research. Finally, they will conclude with a discussion of the importance of building trust within organizations and explicitly incorporate the concept of trust into the theories studying business relationships between individuals. BRIEF REVIEW-OF THEORIES In this section, the authors will discuss some of the key ideas within the trust literature that have accumulated in the past few years. Then they will briefly analyze AT and TCE so that they will be able to investigate their similarities and differences with regard to the role of trust within organizations. …

Feedback‐seeking behavior within multinational corporations

Abstract: Notwithstanding their concern with intra-MNC control mechanisms, scholars have overlooked the complementary phenomenon of self-regulatory behavior by subsidiaries. In this paper, we take the first steps towards addressing this gap by advancing and testing hypotheses dealing with the determinants of a major element of self-regulatory behavior at the subsidiary level, i.e., the performance-oriented feedback-seeking behavior of subsidiary presidents. Utilizing data from 374 subsidiaries of 75 MNCs, we test hypotheses regarding the impact of subsidiary task and organizational context on the feedback-seeking behavior of subsidiary presidents. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: (i) subsidiary presidents do engage in proactive performance-oriented feedback-seeking behavior; (ii) they vary in the extent to which they engage in such behavior; and (iii) these variations in feedback-seeking behavior are at least partially systematic. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Science, Sustainability and Social Purpose: Barriers to Effective Articulation, Dialogue and Utilization of Formal and Informal Science in Public Policy 1

Abstract: A quick look at the leading scientific journals on development brings out one thing clearly: the almost total absence of positive, creative, green voices of innovator and inventors who are solving technological and institutional problems on their own without any outside help. Why is this gap so conspicuous? There could be several reasons: (a) we have become so cynical that we just cannot see any sign of hope, and the more pessimistic we are, the higher is our intellectual reputation; (b) editors put a premium on those contributions that tell us in a laboured way why the world is doomed, why nothing works, why markets, state and civil society are all set to disintegrate; (c) the contributions that describe empirical cases of local achievements are not considered intellectually rigorous enough; (d) the scholars are convinced that unless large-scale revolutions take place, there is no chance for small sporadic islands of achievements by unsung heroes and heroines of our society to make any major dent on the problems of poverty and deprivation; and (e) the conceptual filters and techniques of social analysis (so called participatory techniques included) do not equip a genuine seeker of knowledge to discover grassroots innovators and unaided transformers of social change. Millions of dollars are being spent on training in the so-called rapid method of learning and appraising rural realities and yet the result is often more of the same. In this paper, I will not dwell on what is wrong with the world. There is a lot that is wrong and must be set right soon, for instance, lifestyles of elites in the South as well as the North are totally non-sustainable. What I will discuss in this context would be answers that people have discovered to cope with the ironies of everyday life, and the inadequacies of given technological and institutional frameworks. The paper raises issues in communication in and about science and how the connections between ‘little science’ and the ‘big science’ can be made.

Fasciolopsis buski (giant intestinal fluke)--a case report.

Abstract: A girl, aged 20 years presented with diarrhoea, vomiting, pain abdomen and loss of weight, the routine Stool examination revealed Fasciolopsis buski (giant intestinal fluke) in large numbers. Despite treatment with Praziquantel, she died after three days.

Evaluation of thyroid hormones in chronic renal failure.

Abstract: When chronic renal failure becomes advanced, the serum levels of most hormones are altered because of several interplaying mechanisms. This study was carried out to evaluate the level of total thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyrotropin (TSH) in 96 clinically euthyriod patient with chronic renal failure and 25 healthy individual as control. The patients were grouped into two groups, 62 patient on conservative management and 34 patients on chronic haemodialysis. The patient of both groups showed significant decrease in total T3 and T4 level as compared to normal control. Serum TSH level were similar in both groups as well as in control and were with in normal limit except 3 patients on conservative management which showed TSH level above normal chronic haemodialysis did not have positive effect in alteration of serum T3, T4 and TSH level.

Compensating Local Communities for Conserving Biodiversity: How Much, Who Will, How and When

Abstract: Large number of local communities across the world have shared unhesitatingly their knowledge about local biodiversity and its different uses with outsiders including researchers, corporations, gene collectors and of course, activists. Many continue to share despite knowing that by withholding this knowledge they could receive pecuniary advantage. As if sharing was not enough, large number of herbalists do not even accept any compensation when offered. In some cases they have cultural and spiritual taboos against receiving compensation because of the fear that effectiveness of their knowledge would cease if they received any payment for it. Much against the conventional understanding, however, poor people are poor indeed, but not so poor that they cannot even think. For them, the knowledge gained through experimentation and innovation is a matter of life and death given the uncertainties of nature. Furthermore, this knowledge has immense value to all of mankind. After GATT and Rio treaty, sensitivity on the subject has certainly increased. It is being realized that biodiversity cannot be prospected or used without making the conserving communities and innovative individuals the stake holders in any plan for adding value to the resource. This realization has been articulated in FAO undertaking on Plant genetic resources through a recommendation of international gene fund in the name of Farmers’ Rights. This would be administered by an international civil service for distributing so generated resources to various governments for conservation purposes. The Rio treaty provides under Article 8J, a condition for Involvement and approval of local communities conserving biodiversity ensuring in the process an equitable sharing of benefits. Article 15.5 requires prior informed consent, through of course, enforceable only in the countries which have a law requiring such a consent. Neither the concept of farmers’ rights under FAO undertaking nor RIO treaty or GATT treaty provide specific mechanisms for achieving the goal of compensating local communities. FAO undertaking in fact is highly misleading. It celebrates the contribution of the farmers but provides for no direct incentives to those who conserve the genetic diversity. Part one of the paper deals with the role of networks, NGOs and IPR regime in conservation of knowledge. Part two enumerates the threats leading to the erosion of knowledge as well as resources. Part three describes briefly the experience of Honey Been network and part four provides discussion on an effective sue generis system and the requirement for changes in the national policy for conserving and rewarding agro biodiversity.

Fishing in the `Troubled` Waters: Recognizing, Respecting, and Rewarding Local Ecological Knowledge, Innovations and Practices Concerning Aquatic Biological Diversity

Abstract: The study of indigenous ecological knowledge has become an important building block of any participatory approach to natural resources management. It is not the outsiders alone who benefit from the study of indigenous ecological knowledge but even the communities themselves may benefit a great deal if they are provided the opportunity to learn from each other as well as from formal science. In this paper, I look at the relationship among knowledge providers and the outside users with specific reference to aquatic biological diversity. Given the asymmetric relationship among the knowledge providers and the users, I draw attention to the efforts made by Honey Bee Network in influencing the ethics and equity of the knowledge exchange among various stake holders. I discuss the concept of sacred waters and other institutions for conserving aquatic biodiversity. Different kinds of material and non-material incentives for individuals and communities are described. Suggestions are made for changing the ethical basis of knowledge and resource exchange among those who conserve resources and those who use them besides other policy and management interventions that can empower local communities and enrich modern science and technology in the context of aquatic biological diversity.

Role of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis of suspected cases of genito urinary tuberculosis.

Abstract: The aim of study was evaluation of the utility of ELISA test using A60 Antigen for rapid diagnosis of Genitourinary Tuberculosis in various age groups. ELISA test based on mycobacterial antigen A60 (Anda biological, France) was used to estimate specific IgG antibodies in the sera of fifty four suspected cases of Genito urinary tuberculosis. (GUT)Sera of 30 montoux negative healthy adults (age/sex matched) were taken as control by detecting IgG anti bodies to A60 antigen. It was concluded from this study that IgM was positive in 87.0% of cases.

Blending Universal with Local EThic: Accountability Towards Nature, Perfect Stranger, and Society

Abstract: conserving the nature which surrounds us requires dealing with out perception of natureiii. Often we do not realize that the attribution of human feelings in our discourse with non-human sentient beings mimics rules of out own social order. Animals and plants, then, are supposed to operate by our rules of good and bad, useful and non-useful, and desirable and undesirable properties. A good example of this tendency is the use of the term, ‘weed’, (a plant which is considered undesirable or out of its place). Obviously, in nature no plant is out of its place. We either do not realize the significance of this plant at that place, or the signal embodied in its appearance does not make sense to us. In some places we have disturbed the environment so much that ‘undesirable’ plants find it more convenient to grow there than the ‘desirable’ plants. The language of ‘desirable’ and ‘undesirable’ says nothing innate about the plants or their habitats, but it does say something about the way we relate to out natural surroundings.