Yoram Mitki

Organizational learning mechanisms and continuous improvement

The firm’s structural inertia seems to be a crucial roadblock in continuous improvement efforts. The management paradigm shift required in the transition towards a continuous improvement culture is from individual‐based learning to system‐based learning. Explores the role of an organizational learning mechanism in overcoming the barriers for continuous improvement. Examines the implications of the creation of a parallel learning structure mechanism and its concomitant impact on continuous improvement in a paper mill firm over an eight‐year period. Concludes with the identification and discussion of some theoretical issues.

Communicating a new corporate image during privatization: the case of El Al airlines

Purpose – The importance of corporate image management in the airline industry has increased substantially in recent years. More and more managers of airline companies have found themselves changing their companys corporate image in order to ensure a more modern and updated identity. The purpose of this case study is to trace the new corporate image communication design and implementation phases of the privatization process of El Al airlines.Design/methodology/approach – This article explores the transition process of a government‐owned airline with a popular‐national image to a private company with an exclusive‐national image, focusing on the implementation of its new corporate image communication process.Findings – The case study described here suggests that the corporate image communication process of a company that has become a private entity should be holistic and takes place on four levels – internal and external, formal and informal.Originality/value – This unique case study adds a new element to ...

Leadership, development and learning mechanisms: System transformation as a balancing act

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance a framework for the exploration of system transformation that includes leadership roles, contextual mess and triggering events, designing and managing sustainable learning mechanisms, managing a variety of balancing acts, creating shared understanding and, transforming shared understanding into action.Design/methodology/approach – A five‐phased longitudinal research of one organization – Kibbutz Shefayim– during 12 years: semi‐structured interviews (60‐120 minutes each) with Kibbutz members representing a wide range of views and experiences in 1993; collecting and reviewing of Kibbutz internal “raw” documents that related to changes that occurred during the past 12 years, and; follow‐up semi structured interviews in 1998, 2001 and 2005. The interviewed members were asked to describe the nature of the changes that had taken place since the previous interview, including reasons, mechanisms, results and impacts.Findings – The findings suggest that leading sys...

Guanxi: the evolutionary process of management in China

As China becomes increasingly important to the global economy, it becomes increasingly prudent to understand the mindset of the Chinese manager. Recognising the significant impact of guanxi and its influence on management in China is important for Western firms. The paper illustrates the evolutionary process of the Chinese managerial infrastructure and builds a basic framework for understanding it better. This study found that China is in the midst of an institutional managerial evolution from a communist based managerial system to a capitalistic socialist system managed by the communist party. An attempt to replace the old discretion based system of revenue sharing with a new rule based system of revenue-sharing demanded an evolution of managerial practices. The managerial aspects of how to transform the present Chinese managerial approach to an Anglo Saxon, transparent one based on clear rules of trade backed by a strong business ethics backbone and models is crucial.

From blueprint to implementation: communicating corporate identity for the hotel industry.

Purpose – In recent years, the field of corporate identity management has grown substantially in importance in the hospitality industry. Managers of hotels have become increasingly interested in learning methods that have been successful in communicating a new corporate identity. The purpose of this case study is to document the design and implementation of new corporate identity communication process.Design/methodology/approach – This article describes a holistic process of designing a new corporate identity for a leading hotel management group, with a focus on implementation of its corporate communication process.Findings – The case study described here suggests that corporate identity communication occurs at four levels – internal and external, formal and informal – and provides a strategic framework for any hotel chain management in implementing a new corporate identity.Originality/value – This case study adds a new element to the process of communicating image/identity to internal and external stakeh...

Innovative training in designing corporate identity

Purpose – To present the role of innovative training in the design and assimilation process of a new corporate identity. Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on a description of the design process of a new corporate identity and its assimilation by a hotel chain management company. Data were gathered by in-depth interviews with members of the company’s management, namely its CEO, marketing manager and human resources manager and five hotel managers. In addition, written material was analyzed, including business and operational reports. Findings – The innovative training approach, which is based on continuous involvement of all organization members, is an effective mechanism for designing, building and adapting corporate identities in an era characterized by significant changes in the business-marketing environment. This approach enables the company to rapidly assimilate the new identity and improve business results. The active involvement of internal stakeholders during the formulation stages of the organizational vision, and later, when determining the training mechanism for its assimilation, contributes to the satisfaction of both employees and clients, minimizes employee turnover, and enhances the organization’s reputation. Originality/value – This article illustrates how innovative training assists organization managements in designing and assimilating new corporate identities. It differentiates between supportive training and innovative training, indicating both the connection between innovative training and organizational learning and the contribution of the employees in implementing the corporate identity.

From Crisis to Success: Three Case Studies in Organizational Learning.

Purpose – Radical changes and increasing competition in the global economy and markets lead enterprises to change their business policy and activities. This process demands the creation of effective organizational learning mechanisms. This paper seeks to illustrate how three service organizations designed and utilized organizational learning mechanisms to introduce a successful, new corporate brand.Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology was based on interviews and hard data collection. These techniques were found most appropriate for learning and understanding in‐depth organizational transformation processes.Findings – Two main research findings can be noted. The first is that there are various mechanisms of learning organizations that can improve organizational performance and reputation. The second is that any organizational learning mechanism should be based on the on‐going active involvement of internal stakeholders (employees) both as individuals and as teams.Originality/value – This ...

From branded to endorsement corporate identity strategy: the case of the Fattals Hotel Management Group.

Purpose – During the past several years, many hotel management firms have changed their corporate identities. Such corporate identities are based primarily on one of the following three approaches: monolithic, endorsed and branded. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of designing a corporate identity for a hotel chain management firm based on the transition from a branded corporate identity to an endorsement corporate identity. Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes the transition from a branded corporate identity to an endorsement corporate identity as undergone by the Fattals Hotel Management Group, which manages a chain of 12 hotels. The paper examines the various stages of the process, from the decision to change the company’s identity up to the final stage of examining the results.

Israel Cancer Association: promoting the fight against breast cancer with IMC strategy

Purpose – The objective of this case study is to present the Israel Cancer Associations (ICA) focused approach to promoting the concept of fighting breast cancer, using an integrated marketing communication (IMC) strategy.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a field‐based case study. In‐depth interviews have been used for data collection with the CEO, marketing management and spokesperson. The case is presented in a chronological order and presents the move from a corporate identity based on monolithic approach to an endorsed corporate identity strategy.Findings – Results of the new communication process showed that the percentage of people in the general Israeli public who perceive the ICA as an organization that has the objective to fight against breast cancer has increased by more than 20 percent since the campaign was launched. As a result of the associations focus over the past five years on promoting the fight against breast cancer, the amount of money it has raised among the gener...

How El Al Airlines transformed its service strategy with employee participation

Purpose – The purpose of this case study is to trace the process by which the new management of an airline company sought to implement a premium service strategy and to assimilate this strategy into its organizational culture, with the aim of positioning the company as a high‐quality airline with a place among the leading international airline companies.Design/methodology/approach – In‐depth semi‐structured interviews with the chairman, CEO, marketing manager, service manager, human resource manager and employees from different units were held during a period of four months. In addition, documents (reports, industry analyses, newspaper publications, and periodical reports) relating to the change process were collected and reviewed.Findings – The case study suggests that any attempt by an airline company to change its service culture and to reach high‐quality standards should be led by a planned strategy which fully involves employees, utilizing their knowledge and experience. This should be done through a...