Showing papers in "IEEE Engineering Management Review in 2010"

Social network sites: definition, history, and scholarship

Abstract: Social network sites (SNSs) are increasingly attracting the attention of academic and industry researchers intrigued by their affordances and reach. This special theme section of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication brings together scholarship on these emergent phenomena. In this introductory article, we describe features of SNSs and propose a comprehensive definition. We then present one perspective on the history of such sites, discussing key changes and developments. After briefly summarizing existing scholarship concerning SNSs, we discuss the articles in this special section and conclude with considerations for future research.

Wicked problems, knowledge challenges, and collaborative capacity builders in network settings

Abstract: Networks have assumed a place of prominence in the literature on public and private governing structures. The many positive attributes of networks are often featured—the capacity to solve problems, govern shared resources, create learning opportunities, and address shared goals—and a literature focused on the challenges networks pose for managers seeking to realize these network attributes is developing. The authors share an interest in understanding the potential of networks to govern complex public, or “wicked,” problems. A fundamental challenge to effectively managing any public problem in a networked setting is the transfer, receipt and integration of knowledge across participants. When knowledge is viewed pragmatically, the challenge is particularly acute. This perspective, the authors argue, presents a challenge to the network literature to consider the mind-set of the managers—or collaborative capacity-builders—who are working to achieve solutions to wicked problems. This mind-set guides network managers as they apply their skills, strategies, and tools in order to foster the transfer, receipt, and integration of knowledge across the network and, ultimately, to build long-term collaborative problem-solving capacity.

Harnessing the power of the oh-so-social web

Abstract: Thanks to a variety of online social applications ? including blogs, social networking sites like MySpace, user-generated content sites like YouTube and countless communities across the Web ? people are increasingly connecting with and drawing power from one other. In fact, customers are now beginning to define their own perspective on companies and brands, a view that?s often at odds with the image a business wants to project. But organizations need not be on the defensive. Indeed, some savvy executives have already been turning this groundswell of customer power to their advantage. To investigate how, the authors interviewed managers and employees at more than 100 companies that were rolling out social applications. From this research, they developed a strategic framework that businesses can use to implement social applications in a number of departments, including research and development, marketing, sales, customer support and operations. The potential benefits are numerous: Social applications can generate research insights, extend the reach of marketing, energize sales efforts, cut support costs and stoke the innovation process. (And for companies that tap into employee groundswells, the result can be increased opportunities for collaboration across departments and geographical locations, as well as greater productivity and decreased inefficiencies.) But the greatest benefit might be cultural, because social applications help weave two-way customer communications into the fabric of an organization. But anything that changes culture tends to face resistance, and this is especially true of social applications, because they require managers to embrace an unknown communications channel, one that responds poorly to attempts to control it. Based on an analysis of companies that succeeded or failed in deploying social applications, the authors have derived a number of key managerial recommendations for any organization attempting to harness the power of the groundswell.

Burnout: 35 Years of research and practice

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the career of the burnout concept itself, rather than reviewing research findings on burnout. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents an overview of the concept of burnout. Findings – The roots of the burnout concept seem to be embedded within broad social, economic, and cultural developments that took place in the last quarter of the past century and signify the rapid and profound transformation from an industrial society into a service economy. This social transformation goes along with psychological pressures that may translate into burnout. After the turn of the century, burnout is increasingly considered as an erosion of a positive psychological state. Although burnout seems to be a global phenomenon, the meaning of the concept differs between countries. For instance, in some countries burnout is used as a medical diagnosis, whereas in other countries it is a non-medical, socially accepted label that carries a minimum stigma in terms of a psychiatric diagnosis. Originality/value – The paper documents that the exact meaning of the concept of burnout varies with its context and the intentions of those using the term.

Information overload

Abstract: WHEN Alvin Toffler coined the term 'information overload' in his classic 1970 book, Future Shock, it is doubtful that even he imagined the formidable array of information sources that we now have access to. Speculation quickly surfaced that such an information supply could lead to poor decisions as the capacity of our human processing ability becomes taxed. Research has established that job productivity and performance can be severely reduced due to excessive information and the intrusion of data sources into our lives. Could it be that we will reach a time when it is quicker to discover something from scratch than from facts we can sort out from a library or the web?

Developing a product innovation and technology strategy for your business

Abstract: OVERVIEW:Many companies lack a clearly articulated and well-communicated product innovation and technology strategy. Such a strategy is essential and is strongly linked to positive performance in p...

Reversing burnout: How to rekindle your passion for your work

Abstract: This publication contains reprint articles for which IEEE does not hold copyright. Full text is not available on IEEE Xplore for these articles.

Cost benefits of building green

Abstract: Not just a building style, sustainable development is a design, construction, and lifestyle philosophy with both tangible and intangible benefits. Benefits from lifecycle cost savings on utility costs and maintenance costs make building green especially attractive to owners, and certain aspects of sustainable design mirror value engineering principles in right-sizing tbe building and systems. Other benefits may be gained by improvements in tbe construction process or improvements made for tbe quality of life of tbe building occupants. The "feel-good" factor or social value is taking the decision to build green out of the economic equation and moving it to tbe principles and values of corporate responsibility. As with most project work, eady decision-making is less costly than late change, and building green is no exception to that rule the eady involvement of professionals with experience in LEED construction is a key factor in a successful green construction project.

Mindfulness as a Coping Mechanism for Employment Uncertainty

Abstract: Mindfulness-based stress interventions are well suited to reduce the anxiety of clients living with employment uncertainty. With the advent of globalization, increased job flux, and at-will employment policies, feelings of insecurity are becoming more prevalent, contributing to work-related stress (D. L. Blustein, 2006), which in turn is associated with lowered job satisfaction, elevated turnover intentions, and increased cardiovascular risk (C. D. Spielberger, P. R. Vagg, & C. F. Wasala, 2003). Mindfulness, an intentional consciousness learned through meditation, can reduce psychological suffering by reducing the anticipation anxiety experienced by employed workers who face a high degree of employment uncertainty. A growing concern for clients seeking career counseling is that the world of work is changing dramatically and rapidly, resulting in elevated levels of anxiety and employment uncertainty. Indeed, one of the major themes in the September 2003 special issue of The Career Development Quarterly (Savickas, 2003b), in which several notable scholars and practitioners stated their goals for the counseling profession, included significant concerns about the changing nature of work, the need for thoughtful integration of mental health concerns with career counseling, and the growing demand for preventive interventions (Herr, 2003; Savickas, 2003a). To that end, this article integrates these aspirations with an increasingly visible topic of research and practice in the mental health field, mindfulness-based stress reduction (Kabat-Zinn, 1996). We propose that mindfulness can provide an effective means for workers dealing with uncertain employment conditions to cope with the anticipation stress associated with employment in an increasingly ambiguous work environment. By supporting clients through mindfulness-based coping skills, career counselors can help clients remove a key contributor to their overall stress; therefore, clients are able to make calmer and perhaps more informed decisions for themselves, create a sense of agency about their situations, and operate in a more centered mode of functioning. Although other stress-reduction techniques have been used in various aspects of career counseling and work-based prevention programs (e.g., Murphy, 1996; Quillian-Wolever & Wolever, 2003), regular meditation practice and the accompanying mindfulness philosophy seems particularly well suited to help clients manage uncertainty beyond the boundaries of the actual intervention (Quillian-Wolever 8c Wolever, 2003). Employment Uncertainty Because of increasing globalization, industrial restructuring, rapid technological development, and the resulting flexible staffing arrangements, workers no longer have the security of guaranteed long-term employment (Blustein, 2006; Howard, 1995). Today's work environment contributes to feelings of insecurity, resulting in work-related stress (Blustein, 2006), which in turn is associated with lowered job satisfaction, elevated turnover intentions, and increased cardiovascular risk to the worker (Spielberger, Vagg, & Wasala, 2003). Although work stress has many antecedents (cf. Spielberger et al., 2003), the revolution in the labor market has the potential to enhance stress levels for individuals, who already face considerable psychological challenges in their work fives. Work stress is an overarching term that encompasses many different themes, ranging from issues of interpersonal and role demands, to workplace policies, job conditions, and role and job ambiguity (Spielberger et al., 2003). In this article, we concentrate on employment uncertainty, a consequence of job insecurity, which can be especially stressful to workers across the full range of skills and occupations (Sverke & Hellgren, 2002). Job insecurity, defined as "employees' negative reactions to the changes concerning their jobs" (Sverke & Hellgren, 2002, p. 26), has been linked to problems affecting both the individual and the organization, such as physical and mental health problems, family problems, and reduced levels of job satisfaction. …

Ethical motivations for green business and engineering

Abstract: Corporate references to “sustainability” and the operative process of “green business” have become almost commonplace over the past decade. Companies not only seek to comply with environmental regulations, but many have discovered that techniques for reducing adverse environmental impact often have positive effects on corporate profitability as well. Such adoptions of green business and engineering practices are morally neutral because the driving forces behind them are legal and economic, but not ethical. In some instances, however, managers and engineers have undertaken green business initiatives with the notion of doing something positive for future humans and for the natural environment. In this paper we discuss the “green” driving forces behind moral decisions regarding the adoption of green engineering and business practices and conclude that most “green engineering” known to the public is simply good business practice. Only when engineering and business begin the “green engineering” program with the aim of reducing adverse impact on health or environment does “green engineering” become morally admirable.

Sustaining our future by rebuilding our past

Abstract: This publication contains reprint articles for which IEEE does not hold copyright. Full text is not available on IEEE Xplore for these articles.

Organizational stress, psychological strain, and work outcomes in six national contexts

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating roles of two distinct styles of coping and decision latitude on the relationship between three facets of role stress and psychological strain in six national contexts. Design/methodology/approach – The objective of the research is to examine the relative predictive efficacies of three theory specific moderators in six countries which differ on the cultural dimension of individualism-collectivism. The data are analyzed using moderated regression analysis. Findings – The results show that problem-focused coping is a better moderator in the individualistic countries and that emotion-focused coping is a better moderator in the collectivistic contexts. None of the three moderators moderate the relationships in Germany and South Africa – the two countries which had scores in the mid-range of the individualism-collectivism continuum. Findings are discussed for their significance into the interplay of cultural variations and coping with work stress in predicting psychological strain or distress on the job. Practical implications – Practical implications for managing human resources in various subsidiaries of multinational and global organizations are discussed. Originality/value – This paper confirms existing theories and expands the authors’ understanding of role stress and psychological strain in different cultural contexts.

Leadership skills development for engineers

Abstract: Leadership must be a key element advancing for the engineering profession to remain relevant and connected in an era of heightened outsourcing and global competition. Companies intent on maintaining a competitive edge are calling upon educators to produce engineers capable of leading multidisciplinary teams, combine technical ingenuity with business acumen, and produce graduates who have a passion for lifelong learning. Industry is also challenging universities to broaden curricula beyond the intellectual endeavors of design and scientific inquiry to the greater domain of professional leadership and entrepreneurship. Managers in industry are similarly challenged to cultivate key leadership attributes in junior engineers. This article explores the changing nature of engineering in a globally competitive environment and addresses why leadership must become a key issue in the career progression of engineers. We will present a literature review of leadership models along with some proposed solutions for cultivating leadership skills as part of the career development process. Lastly, we will present specific recommendations on how to cultivate leadership attributes throughout an engineering career.

Facing the challenges of integrated design and project delivery

Abstract: This publication contains reprint articles for which IEEE does not hold copyright. Full text is not available on IEEE Xplore for these articles." as the abstract.

Surf's up: harnessing information overload

Abstract: Presents examples of resources that shed light on trends, tools, and solutions for addressing and overcoming huge amounts of wasted effort when confronted with too much information of dubious quality.

Teaching teachers to teach green engineering

Abstract: The work provides guidelines for instructors who wish to incorporate green engineering concepts into a typical non-green engineering course without diluting course content or modifying the course syllabus by identifying 5 critical elements necessary to the successful integration of green engineering concepts into any traditional, design-oriented, non-green engineering course. The 5 critical elements result from the assessment of the incorporation of green engineering concepts into a traditional, design and analysis oriented heat transfer course offered to chemical engineering students in the fall semester of their junior year. This work not only incorporates the instructor?s assessment of the newly greened course but also assessment of the same course by a student task force. This work includes portions of the instructor?s assessment, the student task force?s independent assessment of the course as well as the task force?s assessment of the instructor?s proposed modifications to the course. Even though this study focuses on green engineering as it relates to heat transfer, the assessment and suggestions are relevant to all non-green engineering courses that attempt to integrate green engineering topics.