Showing papers in "Journal of Management Development in 2009"

Competencies as a behavioral approach to emotional intelligence

Abstract: Purpose – Development of competencies needed to be effective managers and leaders requires research and theory that can drive future scholarship and application. This introductory essay to this special issue of JMD seeks to focus on competencies in organizations in Europe and a broader conceptualization of emotional intelligence.Design/methodology/approach – Competencies are defined and an overview is provided for the papers that will follow with original research on competencies, their link to performance in various occupations, and their development.Findings – Emotional, social and cognitive intelligence competencies predict effectiveness in professional, management and leadership roles in many sectors of society. It addition, these competencies can be developed in adults.Research limitations/implications – As an introductory essay, the paper lays the foundation for the following papers in this issue.Practical implications – Competencies needed in order to be effective can be developed.Originality/value...

The balanced scorecard: a new challenge

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on one strategy known as “The Balanced Scorecard”, discussing the growing importance of balanced scorecard performance systems, exploring issues that organizations face in building and implementing scorecard systems, and sharing lessons learned from Australian organizations that have taken the balanced scorecard journey.Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken is the case study methodology to depict the real world examples of organisations that have confidence in the “Balanced scorecard performance system“ so that other organisations can follow suit.Findings – The paper concludes that the balanced scorecard approach may require some substantial changes in culture within the organization.. The balanced scorecard requires understanding, commitment and support from the very top of the business down. The balanced scorecard will evolve. As culture changes and develops to accept the new approach and members of the organisation mature within the new culture...

Emotional, social and cognitive intelligence competencies distinguishing effective Italian managers and leaders in a private company and cooperatives

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this study is to report data showing competencies that distinguish effective managers and leaders in a large Italian company and in Italian cooperatives.Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes the form of analysis competencies coded from 51 interviews and 53,360 assessments of managers and leaders comparing more and less effective managers and leaders.Findings – Emotional, social and cognitive intelligence competencies predict effectiveness in management and leadership roles in a variety of Italian organizations.Research limitations/implications – Although each sample is small, together they create a basis for future confirmatory research.Practical implications – Competencies needed to be effective can be identified.Originality/value – The paper and the studies reported are the first to be published showing competencies that distinguish effectiveness in Italian managers and leaders.

Job characteristics, work attitudes and behaviors in a non‐western context

Abstract: Purpose – Previous studies on job characteristics have been performed mainly in Western contexts More empirical evidence is needed to understand the important job characteristics of positive job outcomes in a non‐Western context Therefore, this research has two objectives: to assess the impact of five job characteristics on work attitudes and behaviors in the UAE, and to test the mediating impact of distributive justice on the job characteristics‐work outcomes relationshipDesign/methodology/approach – The study reports responses of 350 employees from five large organizations operating in Dubai Data were collected on a structured questionnaire containing standards scales of job characteristics, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intentions, distributive justice, and some demographic variables After testing scales reliability and validity, the proposed linear relationships were tested using a series of separate hierarchical regression analyses Proposed mediation hypotheses were test

Action research for practising managers

Abstract: Purpose – The paper seeks to develop a coherent model for the application of action research to problems in the field of management.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of the literature was undertaken.Findings – No model of the process of conducting an action research programme is extant in the literature. Several scholars have commented on this anomaly. Action research has many applications and the methodological choice should be determined by the research problem. This paper provides a working model for researchers in the field of management to apply to their research problem, given that they have a reasonable understanding of the problem and can develop their research question by conducting a literature review.Practical implications – Researchers in the field of management can rely on the academic validity of following this model.Originality/value – The ideas of several respected researchers in the field of action research have been combined to provide a coherent approach to the conduct o...

Organizational culture and effectiveness in business schools: a test of the accreditation impact

Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to measure the perceived impact of an accreditation process on organizational effectiveness and culture. Design/methodology/approach - A survey led with 31 deans and directors general of European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accredited schools measures the impact of EQUIS on those constructs. Findings - The paper shows a positive impact on some dimensions of effectiveness, and no impact related to the bureaucracy dimension of culture. The dimensions of organizational effectiveness that have the highest perceived positive impact are the "programs development and quality of the faculty", the "social openness and community interaction" and the "ability to acquire resources". In particular, two cultural dimensions are strongly correlated to effectiveness: adhocracy and market. Finally, the cultural change induced by accreditation seems to be correlated with a positive impact on performance. Research limitations/implications - This research is based on a small sample of perceived measures, with a single person per institution. Originality/value - The paper looks at the unexplored field of international business schools that have got the EQUIS accreditation. Cultural changes induced by EQUIS are suggested to imply a positive impact on performance.

Emotional intelligence development: leveraging individual characteristics

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the separate and combined effects of three individual characteristics on training gains achieved in a leadership development program designed to enhance participants' emotional intelligence (EI). The overall purpose was to test heretofore untested propositions advanced by various theorists concerning the impact of openness to experience (OE), self‐efficacy (SE), and receptivity to feedback (RF) on training outcomes.Design/methodology/approach – This empirical study utilized a sample of 135 fully‐employed business students in a treatment/control group research design.Findings – The findings suggest that leadership development professionals will likely derive differential EI training gains depending upon participants' status across several variables. Receptivity to feedback was directly associated with EI training gains while the SE‐RF and SE‐OE interactions were predictors of EI training gains.Practical implications – The results hold implications for organ...

Distinguishing high‐performing European executives

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, to add to the empirical literature related to the validity and practical utility of emotional, social, and cognitive competencies in the workplace. Second, using data from two different European samples, to demonstrate the methods for validating competency models for applied use. Third, to discuss the impact of role demands and culture on the manifestation of competencies most predictive of performance.Design/methodology/approach – The basic design used in both studies is to compare data from outstanding performers against data from typical or average performers in order to determine competencies which predict performance. The data presented here are based on operant assessment of competencies using critical incident interviews, which are then systematically coded using thematic analysis to yield behavioural evidence of specific competencies.Findings – The results indicate that, while some competencies such as achievement orientation and team leader...

Leadership as identity construction: the act of leading people in organisations

Abstract: Purpose – The objective of this article is to explore and challenge the concept of leadership by presenting a perspective on leadership as identity construction. The perspective presented is based on premises from the complexity sciences.Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on a conceptual discussion.Findings – Leadership is better understood as identity construction. This is because leadership emerges in the interaction between people as the act of recognising and being recognised. Leaders' images of themselves are therefore social constructions and the development of a leadership self (and thereby leadership) is coupled to the interaction between leaders and followers.Research limitations/implications – The research is limited to a conceptual discussion. The findings need to be further explored and challenged by other methods. The discussion is focused on organisational leadership.Practical implications – Leaders do not always have the control that mainstream leadership theory suggests. Th...

Critiquing the language of strategic management

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the semantics of the language of management in order to seek clarification of the terminology and how it is used and misused in the strategy literature.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of the literature was undertaken.Findings – Managerial language has been used to obfuscate and politicise the managerial process, especially the strategic process. In order to develop the ideas of the strategy specialty the use and misuse of the words in the strategy lexicon must be understood. The problem that the lack of consistency creates is, that in trying to assess the strategic process in the literature and in practice, it is often impossible to know exactly what strategic methodology is being expressed.Practical implications – Rather than concentrate on definitions of strategy it is necessary to seek to understand how the terminology is applied and then allocate the meaning of the terms to the school of strategic ideas that the writer/scholar espouses...

The Myers‐Briggs type indicator and transformational leadership

Abstract: – This paper aims to study the possible relationship between elements of personality as measured by the Myers‐Briggs type indicator (MBTI) and transformational leadership (TL) as measured by the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ)., – The study was done at the North American manufacturing facility of an international technology company. Utilizing the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire to measure transformational leadership, over 2,000 followers provided assessments of transformational leadership for 148 managers who had done self‐assessments and had completed Form K of the MBTI., – No relationship was found between follower assessments of transformational leadership and leader personality as measured by the MBTI. Leaders did, however, perceive themselves to be significantly more transformational than did those who reported to them. Leader preference for extraversion over introversion and intuition over perception were both significantly associated with self‐reports of transformational leadership., – Studies utilizing large samples across a variety of organizational settings are needed to confirm the results of this study., – This study calls into question the existence of a relationship between the MBTI and transformational leadership. The study does not provide any support for the possible utility of the MBTI for the prediction or explanation of transformational leadership behaviors. Assuming that followers' perceptions of TL are the more valid, the findings suggest that previous results linking MBTI and TL may be measurement artifacts., – Utilizing a large sample, the MLQ and continuous measures of MBTI preferences the results of this study contradict previous reports of a relationship between personality as measured by the MBTI and transformational leadership.

The impact of social and emotional competencies on effectiveness of Spanish executives

Abstract: Purpose – The objective of this paper is to address the predictive validity of the behavioral approach of EI by Boyatzis and Goleman. There are two research questions guiding this study: emotional and social competencies are positively and significantly related with job performance; and emotional and social competencies will be more successful in predicting performance than universal personality dimensions, like the Big Five personality traits.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on the data of three medium‐sized Spanish organizations (n=223) that were involved in a competency management project based on emotional and social competencies. SPSS and structural modeling techniques available in the SEM program LISREL 8.51 software are used to enter the empirical analyses of the paper.Findings – Results show that emotional competencies and personality traits are valuable predictors of job performance as measured by the nominations procedure in the study. In addition, competencies seem to be more po...

An exploratory content analysis of situational leadership

Abstract: Purpose – Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership (SL) model is widely utilised, but it has limited empirical support. This paper aims to investigate the model through content analysis of the transcripts of supervision sessions.Design/methodology/approach – Eight transcripts of successful supervision interviews are subjected to in‐depth content analysis to investigate the validity of aspects of the SL model, principally that successful leadership interactions would vary systematically according to the level of supervisee experience. The supervisees consist of a novice, four training therapists, and three post‐graduate therapist practitioners. Statistical analyses are undertaken to investigate fundamental, predicted differences between the speech behaviours associated with the different developmental levels of these supervisees.Findings – The findings offer only partial support for the model. As predicted, an increased proportion of supervisor speech is observed in the supervision of increasingly les...

A study into leadership and management competencies predicting superior performance in the British Royal Navy

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to present a summary of a study to identify the competencies of effective leadership and management in the British Royal Navy (RN).Design/methodology/approach – The sample consisted of 261 Officers and Ratings. Performance was determined through the organisation's own extensive appraisal process, whilst personality and competency data were gathered through the use of the well‐established occupational personality questionnaire (OPQ) and the then relatively new leadership dimensions questionnaire (LDQ).Findings – The results provide support for an integrated approach to leadership and management selection and development by identifying four “supra‐competency” clusters associated with high performance in both activities. They also provide an illuminating insight into the important academic debate over the differences between the constructs of leadership and management. Additional findings highlight the importance of motivation as a competency, and deliver the first empirical support...

The theory/practice gap: a problem for research in business schools?

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview and evaluation of the “theory/practice” gap in business and management research as it has been developed in relation to US and European business and management schools. Design/methodology/approach – The paper combines theoretical and institutional analysis to construct a framework for analyzing the “theory/practice” gap and its wider implications. Findings – The paper suggests that a “dialogical” rather than “linear” model of knowledge production and dissemination is the most analytically and practically useful way of approaching the “theory/practice” gap in business and management research. Originality/value – The paper reviews and updates the “theory/practice” gap in business and management research and offers a more nuanced and realistic appreciation of how it might be resolved.

A comparison of strategic planning practices in companies from the UK and Turkey

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the nature and practice of strategic planning in two different environmental contexts, the UK and Turkey.Design/methodology/approach – Employing a structured mail questionnaire, the study collected data from a sample of UK and Turkish firms. Using a sampling frame of 500 firms from the EXTEL database of UK listed companies, 113 usable responses were received for the UK firms. In total, 135 responses were obtained from the Turkish firms based on a sampling frame of 638 firms derived from the database of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry's 500 largest Turkish manufacturing companies and the database of companies quoted on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.Findings – There are a number of significant differences between the strategic planning practices of Turkish firms and UK firms. Contrary to expectations, it appears that Turkish firms rather than UK firms are more favourably disposed to strategic planning. The exception to this is the adoption and us...

Managers of small and medium enterprises: mission statement and enhanced organisational performance

Abstract: – The main purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between mission statements and firm performance in the small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) sector., – This research is based on an empirical survey of small and medium‐sized enterprises located in science parks in the UK. A postal questionnaire was the main data collection instrument for this research. A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches is employed for data analysis., – The important conclusions reached are that the existence of mission statements in the studied firms was associated with firm performance. It is also found that organisational performance is significantly associated with the degree of non‐managerial employees' involvement in the process of mission statement development. Finally, the presence of financial goals in the studied firms' mission statements were negatively associated with firm performance., – The present study is concerned with the relationship between mission statement and organisational performance in SMEs. A further study is recommended to investigate the impact of involvement and engagement with both mission statement formulation and evolution and the strategic decision‐making process, specifically decision‐making processes in SMEs., – In order to increase firm performance, it is recommended that practitioners develop a meaningful mission statement and increase the involvement of their non‐managerial employees in the development of the mission statement., – The principal contribution of this first study is the attempt to explore the nature and role of the mission statement in enhancing organisational performance.

Observing the invisible: examining the role of observational learning in the development of leadership practice

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the invisible role of observational learning in the development of leadership practice. A model of observational learning and leadership practice is suggested to help guide theorizing and design intervention.Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes the form of empirical qualitative research that utilizes a time‐line interview technique with 34 managers to enable in‐depth data to be revealed of observational leadership learning. Data analysis is through a phenomenological grounded theory approach.Findings – The paper illustrates that observational learning from “notable people” is a prominent influence of these managers' conceptions of leadership. Such observational learning differed between men and women and between employed and self‐employed contexts.Research limitations/implications – The variety, availability and diversity of people to observe and engage with are argued here to have significant implications for the development of leadership prac...

Social entrepreneurship in a transitional economy: A critical assessment of rural Chinese entrepreneurial firms

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to examine the institutional and social determinants, and consequences of social entrepreneurship with respect to China's rural enterprises It also attempts to provide a conceptual framework concerning how rural Chinese enterprises act as social entrepreneurial institutions and contribute to both business development and social welfare of local communitiesDesign/methodology/approach – The conceptual framework is developed through a critical review of literature and an integration of multiple disciplinary studies, with a focus on the perspectives of institutional governance, managerial networks, and market orientationFindings – The study identifies three framework layers for the development of China's rural enterprises, which are fundamentally driven by market preserving authoritarianism, local state corporatism, community culture, social entrepreneurship and market orientationPractical implications – The proposed framework can help contribute to the theoretical development of

Teachers' commitment focuses: a three‐dimensioned view

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this research is to determine high school teachers' organizational commitment levels, their commitment focuses and variables to which their commitments are related.Design/methodology/approach – A survey‐based descriptive scanning model was used. The study was carried out in Elazig city on teachers working in public and private high schools. Taking in the whole population, the questionnaire was administered to 1,017 teachers.Findings – The results show that teachers' commitment focuses, their types and levels of commitment to these focuses vary according to their personal characteristics such as gender, marital status and tenure. Although female teachers are more affectively and normatively committed to the teaching profession than their male counterparts, they have low levels of normative commitment to the work group and low levels of continuance commitment (based on lack of investments) to the school in which they work. Married teachers are less affectively and normatively commit...

A comparative analysis of managerial competency needs across areas of functional specialization

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether there is a set of management competencies that should be possessed by managers irrespective of their areas of functional specialization using quantitative methodology.Design/methodology/approach – For the study, 31 individual competencies were analyzed. The study was confined to a fully integrated telecommunication service provider; 198 managerial employees participated in the survey.Findings – The findings reveal broad level competencies that are important for managers working in one of the seven functional areas. The findings suggest the importance of competencies from value and skill clusters than knowledge cluster across all functional areas. Further, there was hardly any congruence with the perceptions on current expertise and current importance across all the functional areas.Practical implications – While the findings of the study have a specific relevance to the managers in the telecommunication industry, they could have a rather broade...

The strategy of stakeholder briefing during merger negotiation in the bank market

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the variable stakeholder briefing in the successful completion of merger negotiations in the Greek banking branch.Design/methodology/approach – The codification is attempted by means of software, so as to clarify the trends for negotiations in win‐win conditions. Data collected by the negotiation process of two large banking companies.Findings – The paper concludes that an important factor for the successful outcome of a merger is also the methodology of briefing enacted by the leaders of the banking branch during both the negotiation and merger process.Originality/value – The two banks follow a different briefing strategy in the issue of stakeholder briefing as well but there is congruency in briefing strategies concerning substantial goals, because both banks develop in a market that modulates tactics of consuming and investing behaviors through forming an “opinion” by the image that the banks give to consumers and investors about their plans.

The effects of management education on careers and compensation

Abstract: Purpose – This study aims to explore how the amount and the nature of learning accrued during an MBA – measured in terms of competency development – impact on career advancement and compensation.Design/methodology/approach – Applying nonparametric statistical analysis on data from behavioral event interviews and survey questionnaires to a sample of 44 Italian MBA graduates, the study investigates: the type and extent of competency development during the MBA programme and the relationship between this competency development and post‐MBA career and compensation.Findings – The findings support the hypothesis that the degree of competency development during the MBA programme enhances career advancement, and that some competencies, like planning, result orientation, networking, organizational awareness, system thinking and use of technology, do so particularly, which is consistent with literature on career competencies. No relationship is found, instead, between competency development during the MBA and compen...

Balancing work and personal life: the leader as acrobat

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to exhort leaders, organizations, and HR professionals to introduce changes in the work structure and environment, as well to pioneer new policies and practices, which allow employees to bring more balance into their lives.Design/methodology/approach – The long‐term benefits of balanced work‐life are outlined from the research literature as well as the experience of selected business leaders. This is followed by a series of practical exercises designed to help readers achieve work‐life balance.Findings – Using the metaphor of an acrobat, this paper provides compelling reasons and proven methodology for leaders and HR professionals to engage more seriously with the topic of work‐life balance. How to effectively balance work with personal life is demonstrated through a series of personalized exercises which urge readers to examine their past, present, and future; and then set and implement short‐ and long‐term action plans to reach goals that are linked to their person...

Reality revisited: leading people in chaotic change

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a way for leaders to lead chaotic change. By chaotic change it is meant changes in an organization when the external and internal complexity and uncertainty are high.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a conceptual discussion.Findings – The paper contributes to concepts of change management in organisations faced with increased complexity in internal and external environment. The study challenges mainstream change management concepts and its chance of success when faced with increased complexity. The authors make suggestions on how to lead chaotic change by influencing the patterns of human interaction. It is recommended to focus change management on people, identity and relationships by changing the way people talk in the organisation.Research limitations/implications – The authors contend that change management effectiveness is low because leaders underestimates the complexity of change, focusing on tools, strategy and structures instead...

AACSB International and the management of its brand: implications for the future

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how AACSB might better position itself through brand management.Design/methodology/approach – The paper attempts to offer suggestions on a different branding strategy for AACSBFindings – The paper suggests that AACSB establishes different levels of accreditation, each having different standards and each having a different level of prestige. This repositioning of the AACSB brand would make the accreditation standards flexible, depending on the resources a school wanted to devote to business education, and the prestige that the school wished to achieve with accreditation.Originality/value – The paper contributes to the literature by proposing a solution that will enhance the value of AACSB accreditation to schools of different resource endowments.

From crisis to purpose

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to argue that the current economic crisis offers an opportunity to rethink the role of the business school and how business schools can reinvent what they do by an engagement with history and the design sciences.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on an ongoing research project into the role of the business school. It provides an historical analysis of the business school's evolving role.Findings – Debates about the nature of the business school fall into two camps, one that argues that the business school is a professional school, and another that says the business school needs to be a better social science school. This paper suggests an alternative perspective, more geared to a view of management as an art, rather than a science, offering less economics, more humanities and history.Originality/value – The paper aligns itself with a growing call for business school reform and suggests how alternative disciplines might help shape its future.

Re‐thinking the foundations of the strategic business process

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a coherent model of several schools of strategic ideas while utilising and building on the models extant in the literature, but also considering a change of epistemological and systemic paradigms.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of the literature was undertaken.Findings – The result of the analysis of the literature is that a seven‐school model is postulated. The seven schools being grouped within three categories. The first category is labelled the Classical Schools and includes the Design School, the Planning School and the Positioning School. The second category is labelled the Neo‐classical Schools and includes the Contingency School and the Resource School. The third category is labelled the Post‐Classical Schools and includes the Learning School and the Emergence School.Practical implications – The concept of strategic emergence, a characteristic of a complex self‐adapting system, is developed.Originality/value – Very little work, es...

A “360” degree view for individual leadership development

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceived usefulness to participants of a particular 360‐degree leadership survey process to assist an understanding of how ratees receive and respond to 360‐degree feedback.Design/methodology/approach – The paper includes a sample of eight new and emergent leaders at one university in Australia who complete a 360‐degree feedback survey. Through semi‐structured interviews, they are asked to report on their learning as a result of undertaking the 360‐degree exercise. A constant comparison method of data analysis is used to analyse the participants' responses.Findings – The research study finds from the group undertaking the 360‐degree feedback process that, in equal proportion, participants report receiving: no surprising feedback but reinforcement and affirmation; and new insights, with developmental strategies identified to effect change as a result of feedback. The paper argues, from findings of the literature and the study, the importance of a measu...

Public sector managers and entrepreneurship in Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract: Purpose – In Iran the role of entrepreneurs in developing communities is considered to be a special issue by planners and policy‐makers; thus the aim of this paper is to explore and examine some of the main structural, behavioural and environmental barriers faced by entrepreneurs in Iranian public industrial corporations.Design/methodology/approach – A survey (questionnaires and interviews), observation and available documentation formed the main methods (triangulation) for the generation of relevant data. Thirteen public organisations responsible for social affairs in the country's budget document were involved. Using an unlimited sampling formula and a categorised random sampling method 220 organisations were accessed, from which 169 questionnaires were received and analysed.Findings – There is a direct relationship between managerial characteristics and organisational entrepreneurship. Also, there is a significant correlation between employees' characteristics and organisational entrepreneurship in pub...