John H. Humphreys

Historical, practical, and theoretical perspectives on green management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive definition of green management. In the quest to systematically develop an inclusive definition, it seeks to take an exploratory approach to investigate the existing literature on green management from three different perspectives: first, tracing the history of how this concept emerged over time; second, considering the practices in which green organizations actually engage, focusing specifically on one company that has been recognized and honored for its extraordinary efforts toward sustainability; and third, reviewing the current developments in critical theory related to environmental issues and business.Design/methodology/approach – This exploratory review of the literature uses a tripartite approach to forge a sound definition and conceptualization of the term green management. Exploration of green management from the three angles mentioned revealed some commonalities and consistencies in the terminology and concepts. Factors common to ...

Nothing new under the sun: transformational leadership from a historical perspective

Transformational leadership theory is a relatively recent entrant into the realm of management thought. In fact, the majority of this literature has been published in the past 15 years. That being said, the ideas that are central to transformational leadership are not necessarily new. Many of these constructs can be found in the writings of earlier management theorists. The literature indicates that transformational leadership can positively impact on organizational outcomes and employee satisfaction. Without an understanding of its historical roots, however, transformational leadership risks becoming nothing more than the latest “buzzword” for enhancing organizational performance. To fully understand and appreciate the paradigm, one must trace the development of the transformational factors from a historical perspective.

Contextual implications for transformational and servant leadership

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine whether there is historical support for the proposal of Smith, Montagno and Kuzmenko that the specific cultures associated with transformational and/or servant leadership would be more or less applicable, based on context. Moreover, its purpose is also to demonstrate that a historical approach can be used effectively to examine such constructs.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a historical examination of the military retreats of Xenophon, a transformational leader, and Chief Joseph, a servant leader, during very similar contextual crises.Findings – Given similar contexts, the historical record offers support for the proposal of Smith et al.Research limitations/implications – First, the retreats of Xenophon and Chief Joseph were separated by many hundreds of years and miles. Also inherent with this type of methodology is simple disagreement among readers. Although this author finds great similarity in the retreats of Xenophon and Chief Jose...

Emotional structure and commitment: implications for health care management

PURPOSE This paper aims to determine if the emotional structure of direct healthcare workers was related to their commitment to the organization. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH A total of 105 direct healthcare workers completed self-report surveys to determine their emotional intelligence, emotional coping ability, and affective organizational commitment. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and independent sample t tests were used to analyze the data. FINDINGS A significant correlation was found between emotional intelligence, emotional coping ability, and organizational commitment. In addition, emotional intellect served as a moderating variable between coping ability and commitment such that those direct care workers who exhibited higher emotional coping abilities were more committed when emotional intelligence was high rather than low. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS This was an exploratory study. Larger sample sizes across multiple healthcare settings should be examined before definitive inferences should be drawn. Future studies should likely introduce other variables such as satisfaction, effort, and even performance appraisals to delineate causal relationships. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS It appears that personality constructs such as emotional intelligence and coping ability could possibly be used as predictive instruments to determine who might be most successful in operating in the highly emotionally charged environment of healthcare. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This is the first study that examined the constructs of emotional intellect and coping ability and organizational commitment using a direct healthcare worker sample. It provides support for the conjecture that interpersonal emotional dynamics are critical in emotionally charged environments. This knowledge could assist healthcare managers in addressing the shortage and attrition rates associated with many direct healthcare fields.

Performance appraisal: essential characteristics for strategic control

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the need for and propose a more aligned and integrated standard for performance evaluation to enhance effective strategic control.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the various issues creating discontent with the performance appraisal systems within many organizations and demonstrates how these problems inhibit successful strategic control. It attempts to cogently incorporate the performance appraisal characteristics needed for the exercise to function as a critical organizational control metric and a useful feedback mechanism for strategic management of the firm.Findings – The paper finds that, whereas performance evaluation has received reasonably robust examination in the human resources literature, explicit guidance toward the integration with strategic control is inadequate. Without consistent alignment between these functions, however, performance appraisal becomes an exercise in futility instead of a vital control measurement, often...

Transformational leader behavior, proximity and successful services marketing

This research examined the relationship between the behaviors associated with transformational, transactional, and laissez‐faire leadership and followers’ success in marketing financial services in a proximal sales unit environment. Although transformational leadership has received significant support in non‐sales settings, empirical research investigating the transformational sales manager/sales follower dyad is limited. Recent research has suggested that a transactional style of sales management may be preferable when attempting to influence follower work outcomes. This examination reports results that support the notion that transformational sales leadership may be advantageous to services sales organizations in settings where sales managers and their followers are in close proximity.

Leadership and Temperament Congruence: Extending the Expectancy Model of Work Motivation

We integrate theory and research from disparate areas to develop a comprehensive expectancy model of work motivation. Within our model, we: (1) consolidate the motivation, leadership, and personality literatures; (2) effectively incorporate the self-concept and personalities of leaders and followers; (3) provide an expanded view of the dynamics surrounding the concept of effort; (4) specify dyadic temperament congruence as a critical source of goal-directed behavior, and (5) offer a more realistic depiction of the implications of satisfaction and perceived equity.

Examining the Work of Mary Parker Follett through the Lens of Critical Biography

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to take a look at significant contributions of Follett through the lens of critical biography to put her work in the context of her life events, her mentors, and the other major influences on her work. Design/methodology/approach – Critical biography is a qualitative method with which social historians research the individual scholars or practitioners critical incidents in life in order to explore and explain the subjects scholarly development and intellectual contributions, situated in the social and historical background of the subject. Findings – Key theoretical contributions of Mary Parker Follett, which seemed ahead of her time and inexplicable given that she did not work in the private sector, are revealed to be linked to her educational, professional and personal experiences. Research limitations/implications – Qualitative research in general and critical biography in particular are demonstrated to be the useful methods for providing context for management ...

Lillian McMurry of Trumpet Records: Integrity and Authenticity in the Charismatic, Constructive Narcissist Leader

Although the emerging construct of authentic leadership has received considerable attention recently, there are still diverse and competing theoretical perspectives. Common with nascent theory, many have suggested that researchers attempt to craft expanded and more nuanced conceptions of current and potential components, antecedents, and outcomes associated with the conduct and attribution of leader authenticity. Although such theoretical advancement is essential to the maturation of the paradigm, management historians recognize the important role the historical record can play in the progression of contemporary frameworks. During archival research of the business proceedings of Trumpet Records, a 1950s independent record label, we encountered the compelling story of an entrepreneurial leader whose extraordinary integrity and authenticity appeared inconsistent with certain aspects of the principal authentic leadership definitions beginning to converge in the literature. Accordingly, we examined the life and writings of Lillian McMurry, the founder of Trumpet Records, to propose a framework by which leader integrity initiates the conduct and attribution of authentic leadership to transcend charismatic and narcissistic tendencies and diminish the abuse of symbolic status.

Ending the denial of slavery in management history

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to further fill the void of American slavery within management history and leadership studies by presenting the unique case of Joseph E. Daviss paternalistic leadership.Design/methodology/approach – This case was selected because of Daviss attempt to transplant Robert Owens utopian practices of social harmony in an industrial, textile‐mill setting to the backdrop of his slavery plantation. The method used is the historical method of analyzing both primary and secondary sources of data about Joseph E. Davis, a Mississippi planter, during the time periods of antebellum and reconstruction.Findings – This analysis indicates that Joseph E. Davis exhibited benevolence, authoritarianism, and, to a degree, moral paternalistic leadership with his slaves. Yet, due to his ideology and the context, he still defended slavery and Southern rights.Research limitations/implications – Historical knowledge about paternalistic leadership during the antebellum slavery and reconstructi...