Peter Stokes

Organizational climate and managerial effectiveness: an Indian perspective

Purpose – Research on organizational climate has shown a significant upward trend in the recent past. The purpose of the present study is to propose a conceptual model that empirically examines the relationship of dimensions of organizational climate with managerial effectiveness in Indian organizations.Design/methodology/approach – A data set of 245 managers/executives was collected from Indian organizations through a survey instrument. The collected responses were subsequently tested by using structural equation modeling (SEM). Further, the hypothesized model was tested by employing five stages of hierarchical multiple regressions.Findings – The findings suggest that organizational climate dimensions, i.e. organizational process, altruistic behaviour, role clarity and communication, results‐rewards orientation and certain aspects of interpersonal relationships play a significant role in increasing managerial effectiveness.Research limitations/implications – The results indicate ways in which organizatio...

The creation of trust: the interplay of rationality, institutions and exchange

Relationships based on notions of trust represent a central aspect of the communitarian model of industrial districts. Examination of trust has generated a substantial literature; nevertheless, there have been relatively few studies that have empirically considered the sources of trust that operate in local ties and connections. The paper aims to redress this imbalance by investigating relationships in the Arve Valley industrial district near Geneva. It considers sources of trust by engaging the theoretical framework of Möllerings (Möllering, G. 2006a. Trust: Reason, Routine, Reflexivity. Oxford: Elsevier) model of trust which is predicated on the concepts of reason, routine and reflexivity. In conjunction with this, the field research uses in-depth semi-directive interviews with small-firm managers in the Arve industrial district. The papers findings contribute to trust and industrial district literature by examining the complex interplay between the three antecedents of reason, routine and reflexivity in the creation of local trust in the industrial district setting. In essence, the paper proposes that the availability of information about potential partners and the existence of strong interdependencies inform trust decisions based on evaluation and calculation more than local norms and institutions.

Managing talent across advanced and emerging economies: HR issues and challenges in a Sino-German strategic collaboration

The human resource (HR) practices involved in global talent management continue to advance and evolve. A majority of talent management commentary is from multinational corporation (MNC) perspectives. However, the less commented small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME) also confronts challenges grounded in economic (i.e. resources, finance), organisational (i.e. size, scope and structure) and consequent behavioural rationales (i.e. mindsets and stances). This paper establishes and examines a number of propositions which consider how these factors impact on an advanced economy SME’s talent management in emerging economy collaborations. An interpretive qualitative methodology is employed using interviews conducted within two cases – SME and an MNC comparator case. The SME case is used as the driving force of the paper and its theoretical focus and findings. The MNC is used to develop issues as a comparator case. The findings show SME economic and organisational drivers producing behavioural dynamics in relation to mimesis of planned actions yet informal serendipitous responses in reality; a predilection for the proximate and familiar; design configurations of short-term expatriate visits and inpatriates; cumulating in ongoing inpatriate acculturisation and re-acculturation oscillation. Consequently, the implication is that the SME needs a HR practices encompassing resignation to the situation, flexibility and resilience in order to survive and progress.

An evaluation of the use of competencies in human resource development – a historical and contemporary recontextualisation

Purpose – Competencies have come to play a central role in a wide range of settings in UK public and private sector contexts. This phenomenon is usually analysed but rarely recontextualised. The purpose of this paper is to identify the epistemological and ontological paradigms on which these approaches are couched in a British historical socio‐cultural context.Design/methodology/approach – To put into light what this alternative perspective on competencies could add to reflection and practice, this paper realizes an in‐depth two‐year ethnographic study (employing participant‐observer methods) of a consultancy delivered training programme for customer service competency based vocational qualification in a water utilities company based in the north of England.Findings – Based on a wide literature review on competencies, the first main result of this paper is to show that many of competencies approaches are underpinned by an empirical, pragmatic and ultimately modernistic, positivistic predilection. In an at...

Exploring the impact of Investors in People: A focus on training and development, job satisfaction, and awareness of the Standard.

Purpose: Investors in People (IiP) is a United Kingdom government backed scheme aimed at enabling organizations to develop their training and development cultures and, thereby, their competitiveness. The paper examines the perceptions and understandings of individuals in six organizations undergoing IiP to explore recent claims within the literature concerning the Standard’s impact on training and development, and job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach: Data from 35 semi-structured interviews among managers and employees of six diverse organizations were gathered and analysed. Findings: The paper identifies three key findings in response to recent literature: firstly, the findings do not support a causal relationship between IiP and training and development; secondly, the findings do not support a causal relationship between IiP and job satisfaction; thirdly, and to support the other findings, the results indicate little employee awareness of IiP. Practical implications: If IiP – UKCES are to realise the potential of their Standard, it needs to find a way to ensure it has a direct and positive impact on skill development. Originality/value: While much of the previous research has identified associations between IiP and various outcomes, this paper seeks to identify the extent to which these associations can be considered to be causal.

Moments like diamonds in space: savoring the ageing process through positive engagement with adventure sports

ABSTRACT There are over 10 million people in the United Kingdom aged over 65, a figure predicted to double by 2050. Despite calls for the outdoors to be a focus for health-related physical activity younger adults still tend to be the predominant users of this resource. In an attempt to understand how older adults aged 65+ relate to outdoor adventure sports, data from purposive samples of rock climbers from the north of England (n = 8) and sea kayakers from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland (n = 5) were gathered using focus groups and targeted semi-structured interviews. Analysis using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and critical friends showed clear links to theory and highlights the notion that older adults with life course commitments to adventurous ‘serious leisure’ savor the opportunities afforded by growing older. Furthermore, they reject the constant ‘pathologization’ of the ageing process, emphasising instead its positive and meaningful aspects.

Micro‐moments, choice and responsibility in sustainable organizational change and transformation

Purpose – This papers aim is to examine the catalytic and pivotal role of micro‐moments in organizations and their role in producing the possibility of sustainable or unsustainable change and transformation.Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs participant observation within an interpretivistic methodological approach. This provides critical incident vignettes with which to explore issues.Findings – The argument contends that macro‐events in relation to either (un)sustainable and (ir)responsible events are rooted in “micro‐moments” centred on behaviour and choices. These myriad choices occur repeatedly – a dilemma captured by the metaphor of Janus. Underpinned by templates of Aristotelian virtue ethics and Kantian deontology, the paper argues that consistent “good” character” and “good behaviour” are central to ensuring sustainable change. Alternatively, “bad” character and behaviours have a propensity to engender ambivalent unsustainable and irresponsible environments.Social implications – The...

Reverse logistics network design model based on e‐commerce

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to study reverse logistics network design in order to better facilitate the location of factories, online retailers, and the third party logistics in the context of e‐commerce.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on types of third party collections of returned products, the paper proposes a 0‐1 mixed integrate linear programming (0‐1MILP) mathematic model for reverse logistics networks in e‐business and a further mathematical model is discussed in relation to determining the market demands and returns. Furthermore, a case study is developed and described with the intention of illustrating the value of this model and network.Findings – The paper identifies possibilities for the application of the reverse logistics network models to deal with returned products from customers in companies using e‐business.Research limitations/implications – There is scope for future research to build on the present research and consider further factors in relation to the influences on retu...

Doing the plastic fantastic: ‘artificial’ adventure and older adult climbers

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to determine the perceptions and experiences of climbing at artificial climbing walls (ACWs) as undertaken by a cohort of ‘young-old’ people (approximately 65–75 years). The engagement of older people in outdoor activities and adventure is an evolving topic; however, as part of this development, little has been written on the use of ACWs. Methodologically, the research employed in-depth semi-structured focus groups and interviews with a purposive convenience sample of six recreational climbers, subsequently expanded to ten through snowball technique. Both sexes were equally represented. Manual thematic analysis identified two key motifs: ACWs and the notion of adventure, and ACWs and the potential for learning. The findings point at what constitutes ‘real’ adventure for this group of older adults; the shifting nature of ‘old age’; the significance of self-awareness; and the role of reflexivity and physical activity in the construction of a ‘successful’ old age.

Beyond learning by doing: an exploration of critical incidents in outdoor leadership education

This paper argues that outdoor leader education and training is characterized by the development of procedural skills at the expense of crucial but usually ignored non-technical skills (e.g. contextualized decision-making and reflection). This risks producing practitioners with a potentially unsophisticated awareness of the holistic outdoor environment impeding the development of links between theory and practice. This paper analyses the application of critical incident theory to a study of undergraduates in a UK outdoor leadership degree programme in order to examine the processes of developing non-technical reflective skills in the students. The study examines a range of critical incidents in a purposive homogeneous sample of students who were asked to identify and reflect on critical incidents in practice settings of their own choice. These settings spanned from the United Kingdom to remote locations overseas. Qualitative data analysis was carried out using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The findings indicated that outdoor leadership programmes need to develop a broader and holistic skills base rather than concentrate on primarily physical and technical skills. A focus on the critical incident method early in education has the potential to equip practitioners with the holistic and complex set of skills required in the contemporary outdoor workplace.