Leda McIntyre Hall

Public and Nonprofit Management and the “New Governance”

Many public functions originally performed primarily by state actors now routinely rest not with the responsible government agencies but with a host of nongovernmental, third-party surrogates or proxies. There has also been an increase in partnerships and collaboration between nonprofits, corporations, and governments, necessitating new skills and competencies for public and nonprofit leaders alike. The authors summarize the literature on these issues and identify important areas of agreement. They then report the results of a research project intended to help public and nonprofit managers identify characteristics of nonprofit organizations that are most likely to signal the existence of an effective and accountable organization.

City employee perceptions of the impact of dress and appearance: You are what you wear

This study focuses on city employees and their perceptions regarding the importance of dress and appearance in the public sector workplace. Using the impression management literature and self-presentation theory, we examine the impact of mode of dress worn (casual, business casual, formal business) on their self-perceptions of creativity, productivity, trustworthiness, authoritativeness, friendliness, and competence. We also examine their beliefs regarding the impact of employee appearance on customer perceptions of service quality. Our results suggest that “you are what you wear.” Respondents felt more competent and authoritative when wearing either formal business or business casual, more trustworthy and productive when wearing business casual, and least friendly and creative when wearing formal business attire. Respondents also believed that uniforms had a positive impact on customer perceptions of overall service quality, and that tattoos, athletic wear, unconventional hairstyles or hair color, sweat pants, facial piercings, revealing clothing and clothing with tears, rips or holes had a negative impact. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Big Fights: Competition between Poor People's Social Movement Organizations

Using a national survey and interviews with organizers, the authors find two broad areas of competition between social movement organizations (SMOs). Territorial competition focuses on turf and resources. Organizational competition comprises recruitment of staff leadership styles, definition of issues, training strategies, and recruitment of members. In this study of poor peoples SMOs, the authors find that competition differs between SMOs in national federations and those that are independent, local groups. Further, they find that competition, rather than cooperation, is the prevailing pressure on SMOs.

Employee beliefs regarding the impact of unconventional appearance on customers in Mexico and Turkey

Purpose – The increasing prevalence of unconventional appearance attributes (e.g. tattoos, piercings, unnatural hair color, alternative clothing) is a concern among employers as these appearance attributes are often viewed negatively. Because much of the existing employee appearance research has been conducted in the USA, the purpose of this paper is to examine employee beliefs regarding the impact of unconventional employee appearance on customer perceptions of service quality in Mexico and Turkey. The authors also examine the impact of gender, age, and position level. Design/methodology/approach – The sample consisted of 295 white collar employees in various service industries in Turkey and Mexico. Respondents reported how they thought eight employee appearance factors (tattoos, facial piercings, unconventional hair color, unconventional hair styles, sweat pants, clothing with rips or tears, clothing that bears midriffs, belly-buttons, or cleavage, and uniforms) would affect customer perceptions of serv...

A growth machine for those who count

The theoretical model of an urban growth machine requires augmentation and alteration when applied to growth in a contracting context. In many older cities there are growth activities on a political and economic landscape colored by scarcity, shrinking industrial bases, population decline, and fierce competition for resources. Drawing upon a case study of Detroits New Center Area, we expand the discussion of growth machines by examining how and why an isolated but deliberate instance of neighborhood growth and redevelopment occurred.

Government Incentives to Business: A Comparison of Mérida, Mexico, and South Bend, Indiana

Abstract Since the adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), there is wider and more public interest in business growth in Mexico and trade expansion between the United States and Mexico. We examine the use of government-based and funded incentives for business development, location, and expansion—potential benefits for businesses in either country. There are distinct differences between the roles of government in attracting and subsidizing businesses in Mexico and the United States, particularly in the level of government involved and the relative emphasis on attracting foreign investment as opposed to the expansion of existing businesses.Abstract Since the adoption of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), there is wider and more public interest in business growth in Mexico and trade expansion between the United States and Mexico. We examine the use of government-based and funded incentives for business development, location, and expansion—potential benefits for businesses in either country. There are distinct differences between the roles of government in attracting and subsidizing businesses in Mexico and the United States, particularly in the level of government involved and the relative emphasis on attracting foreign investment as opposed to the expansion of existing businesses.

Ties that Bind: The Impact of Religious Affiliation on Cooperation and Competition in Small Religious Nonprofit Organizations1

Th is study examines a group of small, religious, nonprofit organizations whose single common thread is funding from the Campaign for Human Development of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Hypotheses are made about the relationships between organizational goals, competition between groups, and linkages with other groups. Th e degree of interaction with other groups and the types of actions used to attain goals varies between religious and more secular nonprofit groups.This study examines a group of small, religious, nonprofit organizations whose single common thread is funding from the Campaign for Human Development of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Hypotheses are made about the relationships between organizational goals, competition between groups, and linkages with other groups. The degree of interaction with other groups and the types of actions used to attain goals varies between religious and more secular nonprofit groups.

The Leadosaurus Task Force: An Educational Project to Identify and Remediate Lead Poisoning in the Muessel School Neighborhood

The existence and effects of lead poisoning continue to plague young children and their families, particularly children in older inner city neighborhoods. A task force in South Bend, Indiana, developed a parental education program which was implemented at an inner city elementary school. The program involved parent education, events for the children, a blood lead level assessment, and observations of the childrens academic and social skills. Conclusions pointed to the importance of personal contact with parents and the continuing need for lead abatement in older housing stock.