Staff publications (SoM)

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Open Access
We must dismantle the invisible career barriers in HE
(Times Higher Education, 2021-08-25) Jarrett, Rebecca
On the surface, universities’ recruitment and selection practices appear to be highly equitable and transparent – but dig under the surface and there are hidden barriers to certain groups who continue to be underrepresented in academic roles.
Open Access
Working anytime and anywhere: a contemporary behavioral phenomenon
(Frontiers, 2024-06-19) Schoellbauer, Julia; Kelliher, Clare; Hartner-Tiefenthaler, Martina
Work flexibilization enables office employees and knowledge workers to work anytime and anywhere, including outside of their expected working times. In this Research Topic, we assemble seven original papers presenting theoretical considerations and empirical findings on the psychological implications of “working anytime and anywhere”. Drawing on border theory (Clark, 2000), Steffens et al. characterize the broad concept of “work-life-blending” in terms of four interlinked components: (I) the two domains of work and private life; (II) the dynamic interplay between these domains; and (III) the individual and (IV) interindividual dynamics (e.g., within a family) determining boundary segmentation strategies. The six other papers offer insights on “working anytime and anywhere” by discussing workers' flexible work activities (Jiang et al.; Ma et al.; Yeves et al.) and extended work activities (Hendrikx et al.; Mueller et al.; Schoellbauer et al.).
Embargo
Chapter 16: Teaching sustainability: More than just a game
(Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024-05-21) Watson, Rosina; Adams, Gemma; Borrelli, Rosina
Achieving a sustainable future involves rethinking how we live, work, and do business, and understanding the steps people and organisations can take to drive these changes. This involves having a vision of what a just and sustainable future could look like, seeing business as part of an interconnected system, taking bold decisions and collaborating with others. The Exploring Sustainable Futures game is a role-playing learning experience that teaches these skills. Participants experience how the interrelated actions of businesses, government and citizens shape the future, in the context of four possible scenarios of a sustainable future by 2050. We outline how the design and delivery of the game teaches critical competencies for sustainability. We offer practical guidance on playing the game with management students and executive leadership teams. We present emerging evidence on the impact of game play on participants, and recommend more participatory methods for evaluating learning outcomes.
Embargo
The thousand faces of beauty: How credible storytelling unlocks disability representation in inclusive luxury fashion branding
(Elsevier, 2024-05-31) Lee, Zoe; Alwi, Sharifah Faridah Syed; Gambetti, Rossella
The increasing popularity of inclusive marketing as part of the broader strategies of brand activism, linked to the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) movement, is creating new opportunities for luxury fashion brands to signal their responsibility and openness when it comes to these issues. However, such inclusivity initiatives can lead to consumer backlash when luxury brands rely on perfectionism and self-esteem to elicit admiration and desirability. We ask whether weaving models with disabilities into brand narratives contributes to positive consumer responses. Using signaling theory, our study employs a structural equation modeling approach to show that, despite the negative effect of perceived brand inclusivity on consumers’ willingness to buy, the serial mediation by transportation into brand stories and advertising credibility flips the effect to positive. By doing so, this study also extends extant literature on inclusive advertising in luxury fashion by going beyond dominant manifestations of inclusivity tackling feminism and LGBTQAI + rights.
Open Access
Artificial Intelligence in education: let’s ChatGPT about it
(Liverpool University Press, 2024-05-29) Davies, Jennifer; Forster, Rick; Menzies, Laura; Tickle, Matthew; Misopoulos, Fotios
Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically the rapid rise of Natural Language Processing (NLP) platforms such as Open AI’s Chat GPT3.5, are already having a major impact on higher education institutions. There are significant concerns within academic communities about the threats such platforms pose to academic integrity. Many HE institutions have reacted quickly, announcing policies banning the use of AI software in the creation of assignment responses. Some are planning to return to strictly exam-based modes of assessment. In this article we reflect upon these recent events and how it has impacted our own teaching practice in the field of business management. We propose some alternative ways of thinking about these recent developments and focus on the opportunities that these AI platforms have to offer rather than the threats they pose.
Open Access
Building higher value-added firm practices in challenging contexts: formal networks and talent management in Turkey
(Sage, 2024-05-29) Demirbag, Mehmet; Tatoglu, Ekrem; Wood, Geoffrey; Glaister, Alison J.; Zaim, Selim; Nair, Smitha R.
Where do high-impact human resources management practices thrive, and how do they make a difference in environments with limited institutional support? This study delves into the realm of talent management (TM) in Turkey, where institutional coverage is incomplete and unstable. Drawing on survey data, we explore the conditions under which TM succeeds, supplementing previous research on internal networks by examining the impact of external networks that encompass the entire firm. We find that when firms have closer ties with customers, suppliers and competitors (and hence, the basis for formal network tie building), TM is more prevalent and more likely to be successful. While conventional wisdom in comparative institutional literature suggests that such dense ties might be less effective in emerging markets owing to the absence of advanced complementarities found in mature economies, our study challenges these assumptions. In the eyes of managers, TM is not merely a tool to overcome disadvantages; it is perceived as a source of opportunities. This prompts a critical question: what specific advantages does the emerging economy system confer on firms embracing TM? Our study seeks to unravel these dynamics and contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between institutional contexts and TM.
Open Access
Identifying the exaptation potential of supply chain resilience capabilities during COVID-19: insights from Australia
(Taylor and Francis, 2024-05-19) Herold, David M.; Pratavierac, Lorenzo Bruno; Desouza, Kevin C.
What happens to newly built resilience capabilities when the pandemic is over? Using the concept of exaptation, we investigate how supply chain organizations have repurposed supply chain resilience capabilities post-pandemic. In particular, we examine the degree of ambidexterity capabilities to identify the exaptation potential from the newly acquired supply chain resilience capabilities during a disruptive event. In this paper, we (1) adopt a framework that depicts four types of different exaptation potential for supply resilience based on the management constructs of exploitation and exploration capabilities and (2) use the results from a related survey among 447 supply chain managers in Australia to subsequently analyse the exaptation potentials post COVID-19. The integration of the exaptation potential into supply chain literature opens a new chapter on how resilience capabilities are utilized, and we found that the majority of supply chains are able to simultaneously pursue and develop exploitative and exploratory capabilities.
Open Access
Achieving sustainable development goals through common-good HRM: Context, approach and practice
(SAGE, 2024-05-04) Aust, Ina; Cooke, Fang Lee; Muller-Camen, Michael; Wood, Geoffrey
This introduction to the special issue Achieving Sustainable Development Goals through Common-Good HRM: Context, approach and practice draws the links between the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the concept of Common-Good HRM and the practice of human resource management (HRM) to extend intellectual and empirical insights into this important field. Particular attention is accorded to the collective social and environmental dimensions of SDGs and the place of HRM in contributing to the ‘common good’ within and beyond the workplace. Firms may create space and incentives for HRM to promote sustainability, or actively work to constrain meaningful action in this regard. This collection brings together a broad cross-section of articles dealing with the SDGs and HRM, identifying emerging common ground and contestation as a basis for future HRM theory building, empirical enquiry and practice.
Open Access
Temporal perceptions and tensions in production management
(Elsevier, 2024-05-06) Aitken, James; Deakins, Eric; Skipworth, Heather; Cole, Rosanna
This study, through conducting a micro-level analysis of temporal dimensions, identified divergent temporalities between managers who establish temporal practices, and operators who work within the established norms. Data collected from three organizations experiencing production-related temporal operating tensions were triangulated across a survey, semi-structured interviews and observations and supported by secondary data. Four temporal operating tensions, that reflect gaps between managerial and operator temporal understandings, were identified: Efficiency versus Effectiveness; Process Standardization versus Process Improvement; Synchronization versus Autonomy; and Control versus Flexibility. This research identifies resulting temporal operating tensions and potential mitigation approaches at the junction of managerial practices and operator activities, illustrating the importance of understanding tensions at the micro-level.
Open Access
Decoding digital philanthropy analyzing donors choices in cryptocurrency donations
(SSRN: Social Science Research Network, 2024-04-02) Keshvari Fard, Milad; Liu, Jingshu; Petropoulos, Fotios
Since Bitcoin’s inception in 2009, cryptocurrencies have found applications in various domains. However, despite the unique potential of cryptocurrencies for the nonprofit sector, especially in fundraising, there is a scarcity of research on the behavior of crypto donors. In this research, we investigate key attributes of cryptocurrencies that correlate with the amount of donations made in that specific digital currency, and explore characteristics of digital wallets that predict the donation behavior of wallet holders. For our regression analysis, we use donation data from the Aid for Ukraine campaign, one of the largest cryptocurrency fundraising initiatives launched in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Our findings indicate that cryptocurrencies with a larger market cap and higher age tend to be favored by donors, while those associated with higher transaction fees are preferred less frequently. Donors also exhibit a propensity to contribute more in cryptocurrencies of higher price volatility. Moreover, everything else equal, stablecoins are used more often for donations. On the other hand, our results highlight that frequent cryptocurrency users tend to make larger crypto donations and are more inclined to continue supporting the campaign through future contributions. Furthermore, donors with identifiable names for their wallets tend to donate larger amounts, although this feature does not predict their inclination for future contributions.
Open Access
Shareholder litigation and private benefits of control: evidence from derivative lawsuits
(SSRN: Social Science Research Network, 2024-02-02) Yang, Chaoran; Ahmad, Wasim; Radic, Nemanja
We examine the effects of derivative litigation risks on the value of private benefits of control. Quantifying the value of private benefits of control using the voting premiums from option prices, we find that the value of the voting premium significantly decreases after firms experience derivative lawsuits. To address endogeneity concerns, we exploit the staggered adoption of Universal Demand (UD) laws across 23 U.S. states from 1989 to 2005 to investigate whether and how the reduction in litigation risks affects the level of voting premium. The results show that the adoption of UD laws increases the value of voting premiums. Our DID results are robust to a battery of tests. We also find that the adoption of UD laws leads to a decrease in the value of cash holdings, an increase in CEO cash compensation, and a decrease in investment efficiency and these effects are more pronounced for dual-class firms. Overall, our findings suggest that shareholder litigation can effectively curb the managerial extraction of private benefits. It has important implications for managers, shareholders, and policymakers.
Open Access
Adam Smith’s implicit theory of distributive justice
(Athens Institute for Education and Research, 2024-05-31) Arevuo, Mikko
Adam Smith wrote at a time when new commercial forces were reshaping national politics, pulling people from the countryside into growing towns, and altering the physical, social, and ideological landscapes. He broke with the mercantilist position, which assumed that all that mattered was the wealth of the ruling classes and the state. Smith argued that the best indicator of a country’s success was the prosperity of the workers, created through a commercial system based on natural liberty of self-ownership, equality, liberty, and justice. Although Smith didn’t explicitly develop a theory of distributive justice, he considered the interests of the three main social and economic classes in mid-18th century Britain: workers, owners of capital and landlords. Smith thought of equality as a combination of two ideas that were novel at the time: an account of liberty that was rooted in the nascent discipline of economics and a democratic social ideal of dignity for ordinary people. Grounded in Smith’s moral philosophy that places human equality as its core value, this paper unpacks his theory of economic growth and efficiency, where rents and wages increase as society develops economically while profit and interest rates fall, thus resulting in an overall fall in inequality.
Open Access
Leadership behaviours for Lean Six Sigma: Jordan as a case study
(Emerald, 2024-05-21) Alnadi, Mohammad; McLaughlin, Patrick; Abushaikha, Ismail
Purpose This paper aims to identify leadership behaviours in the manufacturing sector in Jordan that enable successful Lean Six Sigma implementation. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data were collected through 27 interviews to identify the leadership behaviours that facilitate Lean Six Sigma and a focus group to categorise the aspects by grouping them into themes. A grounded theory approach was used in the field study. The processes of constant comparisons helped in identifying the relevant aspects of leadership behaviours and integrating specific aspects into themes; these processes were iteratives. Therefore, this research project relies on the grounded theory methodology to collect and analyse the data. The authors also used a focus group to categorise the aspects by grouping them into themes. In that, the aspects were grouped around core categories. Findings After analysing the data, 36 aspects have emerged. The data analysis processes helped in discovering the aspects of leadership that support the use of Lean Six Sigma in the manufacturing sector in Jordan. The aspects were developed through an iterative process of analysis until the saturation level was reached. Eight themes that influence the successful use of Lean Six Sigma emerged: Training and development; Continuous improvement and development; Communication; Empowering employees; Motivating employees; Managing qualities and operations; Employees engagement and involvement; and Supporting culture Research limitations/implications There are some research limitations to this study, which opens avenues for future research. First, the data was collected through qualitative methods, which limits the generalizability of the results. Future studies are needed to generalize the results to the wider business community. Second, the data was collected only from manufacturing organizations and did not consider other sectors. Future researchers are urged to replicate the study in other sectors. Third, this study considered only Jordanian firms; therefore, the authors call upon further research to investigate other national settings that may have a different business culture. Practical implications This study encourages businesses to follow and adopt these behaviours in organisations, which can help in developing desirable behaviours among leaders to reach advanced levels in using Lean Six Sigma. Moreover, practitioners can develop training programmes for developing leaders. Thus, the Lean Six Sigma journey can become smoother by addressing the issues that face practitioners during the different phases of implementing Lean Six Sigma. In that respect, the practical implication of this research is to describe the practices that the leadership of organisations must develop to maintain high levels of Lean Six Sigma deployment. Originality/value Scholarly studies in this field are scarce, especially in developing countries, so identifying the leadership behaviours can help researchers create a theory of leadership behaviours for Lean Six Sigma. Furthermore, practitioners of Lean Six Sigma can take into account these behaviours as crucial to the effective use of Lean Six Sigma. They can encourage leaders to follow and adopt these behaviours in organisations which can help in developing desirable behaviours among leaders to reach advanced levels in using Lean Six Sigma. Thus, the Lean Six Sigma journey can become smoother by addressing the issues that practitioners face during the different phases of implementing Lean Six Sigma.
Open Access
Who changes what, when and where? elaborating postponement when integrating hardware and software objects in global supply chains
(Emerald, 2024-05-16) Prataviera, Lorenzo Bruno; Norrman, Andreas
Purpose: The postponement principle concerns defining when and where value is added, usually referring to hardware components for physical products. However, in modern supply chains, software’s importance is increasing, impacting the timing and location of value-adding operations. Lacking insights into software-driven implications for postponement, we aim at elaborating on the postponement principle by contextualizing its evolution when integrating different objects (i.e. hardware and software). Design/methodology/approach: We adopted an abductive approach to elaborate on the existing knowledge with original empirical insights. A single-case study with four subcases allowed us to explore postponement dimensions in the context of a global high-tech enterprise offering products that integrate hardware and software objects. As global supply chains involve multiple jurisdictions with heterogeneous regulations, we also analyzed in depth the emerging fiscal and legal implications. Findings: Besides where and when value is added, the study illustrates that deciding who (i.e. what legal entity) is carrying out what operation on what kind of object is highly important. Moreover, fiscal and legal implications for the various legal entities strongly depend on what operations are executed and in which jurisdiction (where). The study identifies critical interrelationships among postponement dimensions when integrating hardware and software objects, highlighting the importance of understanding and managing their reciprocity with the emerging fiscal and legal risks. Originality/value: We elaborate on the postponement principle by contextualizing its applications when integrating hardware and software objects in global supply chains, which include multiple jurisdictions. By formalizing the impact of the who dimension, the study contributes to developing the interorganizational perspective for postponement. Moreover, it extends the traditional cost perspective for postponement beyond the trade-off between responsiveness and cost-efficiency, suggesting that firms applying global postponement should extend their focus to also examine fiscal and legal risks for all the legal entities involved.
Open Access
Generative artificial intelligence in business: towards a strategic human resource management framework
(Wiley, 2024-04-11) Chowdhury, Soumyadeb; Budhwar, Pawan; Wood, Geoffrey
As businesses and society navigate the potentials of generative artificial intelligence (GAI), the integration of these technologies introduces unique challenges and opportunities for human resources, requiring a re-evaluation of human resource management (HRM) frameworks. The existing frameworks may often fall short of capturing the novel attributes, complexities and impacts of GAI on workforce dynamics and organizational operations. This paper proposes a strategic HRM framework, underpinned by the theory of institutional entrepreneurship for sustainable organizations, for integrating GAI within HRM practices to boost operational efficiency, foster innovation and secure a competitive advantage through responsible practices and workforce development. Central to this framework is the alignment with existing business objectives, seizing opportunities, strategic resource assessment and orchestration, re-institutionalization, realignment and embracing a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. This approach provides a detailed roadmap for organizations to navigate successfully the complexities of a GAI-enhanced business environment. Additionally, this paper significantly contributes to the theoretical discourse by bridging the gap between HRM and GAI adoption, the proposed framework accounting for GAI–human capital symbiosis, setting the stage for future research to empirically test its applicability, explore its implications on HRM practices and understand its broader economic and societal consequences through diverse multi-disciplinary and multi-level research methodologies.
Open Access
HRM, institutional complementarities, and performance: the case of the healthcare sector in Jordan
(Elsevier, 2024-04-22) Mohammad, Tamara; Darwish, Tamer K.; Khassawneh, Osama; Wood, Geoffrey
Building on the comparative capitalism literature, we aim to understand the impact of HRM practice on hospitals performance within the healthcare sector in Jordan, and the role of HRM in mitigating and overcoming systemic shortfalls. Two different surveys were distributed for both hospital and HR managers across all hospitals. Our findings indicate that certain HR practices are positively associated with performance, despite contextual challenges such as informal networks and cultural limitations that could undermine efficiency. We further tested the potential impact of HR complementarities on performance; nevertheless, the results did not significantly surpass the explanatory power of the individual HR practices. It might have been anticipated that mutually supportive bundles of practices might compensate for systemic weaknesses. However, it may be the case that players have devised solutions in other areas of managerial practice that may be more effective than HRM in compensating for systemic limitations. Our study also highlights that in oligopolistically structured markets, common in private healthcare systems, the effectiveness of HR practices may be less crucial for profitability, though this does not diminish their broader relevance for societal and community outcomes which are beyond the scope of this work.
Embargo
Exploring knowledge dynamics and change management in diverse corporate entrepreneurship ecosystems
(Springer, 2024-04-03) Liu, Jixun; Zhu, Xiaoxian; Xu, Zimu
This study investigates change management in the context of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) and presents an innovative conceptual model to improve commitment to change. Utilizing Lewin’s model and Bandura’s social learning theory, the research identifies six essential success factors (CSFs) that are vital for achieving effective change management in CE initiatives. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, this study examines the relationship between the preparedness of organizations, facilitating factors, and the level of commitment individuals have toward change in 38 entrepreneurial corporations in China. The study suggests a new conceptual framework called the people-centered implementation (PCI) model as a strategy for implementing CE change. This model prioritizes the establishment of synergy between the efforts of an organization and its individuals, resulting in increased commitment and successful execution of entrepreneurial projects. The PCI model provides valuable knowledge for practitioners managing change within CE initiatives and contributing to broader economic transition and institutional changes. The uniqueness of this study is its concentration on change management challenges specific to CE and its creation of a pragmatic model to tackle these challenges, ultimately leading to enhanced project success and wider economic influence.
Open Access
Managing upward and downward through informal networks in Jordan: the contested terrain of performance management
(Wiley, 2024-04-18) Melhem, Muntaser J.; Darwish, Tamer K.; Wood, Geoffrey; Abushaikha, Ismail
This study explores how local managers, in practicing Human Resource management (HRM), may pursue their own interests that are out of line with the agendas of headquarters in multinational companies (MNCs). It is widely acknowledged that informal networks have an impact on HRM practices in emerging markets. While these networks are often regarded as beneficial for organizations in compensating for institutional shortfalls, they may also lead to corruption, nepotism, or other ethical transgressions. Indigenous scholarship on informal networks in emerging markets has highlighted how their impact occurs through a dynamic process; powerful placeholders deploy informal networks to entrench existing power and authority relations when managing people. Qualitative data were gathered through 43 in-depth interviews and documentary evidence from MNCs operating in Jordan. MNCs are subject to both home and host country effects; we highlight how, in practicing HRM, country of domicile managers deploy the cultural scripts of wasta informal network to secure and enhance their own relative authority. HRM practices are repurposed by actors who secure and consolidate their power through wasta. They dispense patronage to insiders and marginalize outsiders; the latter includes not only more vulnerable local employees but also expatriates. This phenomenon becomes particularly evident during the performance appraisal process, which may serve as a basis for the differential treatment and rewards of employees. Consequently, this further dilutes the capacity of MNCs to implement—as adverse to espousing—centrally decided approaches to HRM.
Open Access
Research and innovation identified to decarbonise the maritime sector
(Pivot Science Publications Corporation, 2024-03-27) Ling-Chin, Janie; Simpson, Rachel; Cairns, Alasdair; Wu, Dawei; Xie, Ying; et al.
The maritime sector requires technically, environmentally, socially, and economically informed pathways to decarbonise and eliminate all emissions harmful to the environment and health. This is extremely challenging and complex, and a wide range of technologies and solutions are currently being explored. However, it is important to assess the state-of-the-art and identify further research and innovation required to accelerate decarbonisation. The UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub have identified key priority areas to drive this process, with particular focus on marine fuels, power and propulsion, vessel efficiency, port operations and infrastructure, digitalisation, finance, regulation, and policy.
Open Access
How do low-status expatriates deal with crises? stress, external support and personal coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic
(Emerald, 2022-03-23) Haist, Joshua; Kurth, Philipp
Purpose: Low-status expatriates (LSEs), a highly vulnerable group, have been significantly affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores the stressors that continue to impact LSEs in Germany and their access to support during the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: An interpretivist, qualitative research approach was employed. The authors utilised a multi-level data collection strategy that combined interview and questionnaire data from 16 expatriates and 16 social actors. The data were analysed using a directed content analysis method. Findings: LSEs experienced high levels of stress that were further exacerbated by the introduction of COVID-19 control measures that were intended to slow the spread of the virus. LSEs are particularly vulnerable due to their overrepresentation in precarious professions and the associated job insecurity. Critically, external support from employers and social actors is generally lacking, leaving LSEs to rely on their own personal coping strategies in difficult times. Research limitations/implications: The earlier Expatriate crisis Framework highlights the importance of external support for expatriates. However, this framework does not sufficiently account for personal coping strategies that are particularly important for individuals that cannot access such external support (e.g. LSEs). Herein, the authors offer a revised framework that is more applicable to LSEs. Practical implications: Current practices are problematic, necessitating policy changes at both governmental and organisational levels. Originality/value: This study provides unique insights into the ways in which the pandemic has affected the already precarious position of LSEs and identifies the importance of personal coping strategies in the absence of external sources of support.