Frontiers in Management Research

Number 2, 2017

8
Awareness Regarding Better Business Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce among College Students: Should It Be a Concern for Business Schools?

Authors: Susan M. L. Zee, Avinash Waikar, Lillian Yee-Man Fok, Kenneth J. Lacho

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 570

This study examines the awareness of college students regarding the roles and functions of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) and chambers of commerce (CC). The study shows that the overall awareness/knowledge of both BBB and chambers of commerce was low for all students, even lower than the knowledge of the public at large. The study shows a significant positive correlation between the average score regarding awareness of BBB and that of chambers of commerce which suggests - students who have a higher level of awareness of BBB would have higher level of awareness of chambers of commerce. There was a statistically significant difference in the level of awareness according to working experience and race, but there was little difference in terms of gender.

9
Understanding Good Practice in Workplace Coaching

Authors: Dimitra Skoumpopoulou

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 1510

Workplace coaching is growing rapidly and many organisations use it as a way to motivate and support their employees in their careers. This paper is a theoretical paper that draws upon the authors' experiences of workplace coaching. The author discusses the main aspects of successful workplace coaching while it summarises the most important behaviours and attitudes of an effective workplace coach.

11
First-mover Strategy and Performance of Late Movers among MNEs in an Emerging Market

Authors: Wanxing Jiang, Ji Li, Tao Liu, Xiaolong Tao

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 623

Research shows several effects of first-mover strategy on first movers’ performance. However, the effects of first-mover strategy on late movers’ performance have not been sufficiently studied. Integrating viewpoints from theories of organizational sociology as well as those of business strategy, we predict that the first-mover strategy should have both direct and indirect effects on the performances of later movers. Moreover, the effects are more likely to be significant in emerging markets with more environmental uncertainties. To test these predictions, we develop hypotheses and test them empirically among MNEs in China’s insurance industry. This test shows that, other things being equal, first-mover strategy does cause significantly more imitation among late movers. The imitation, in turn, has significant effects on other dimensions of firm performance, including less deviation from the industry norm and better financial performance. Finally, in the process of imitation, similarity in home-country culture also has a significant and positive effect.

19
Delivering the Responsible Management Agenda – A Framework for Responsible Mindful Management

Authors: David Edgar, Estrella Bernal, García Campayo

Abstract

View in PDF

Number of views: 446

The global economic crisis has caused governments and charities to be squeezed in term of resources to meet social and environmental needs. In parallel, social enterprises, volunteering and the “big society” have stepped in to help fill the void. However, this is a smoke screen that covers a bigger problem – the lack of true social responsibility by large corporations. Too often, mention is made of the economic crisis recovery but the crisis is greater than this, it includes social and environmental crisis which quite simply is not recovering nor is it receiving the attention it deserves. This paper explores this contention and through a literature review proposes a holistic approach to better inform business as to its responsibility and how to meet a more responsible management agenda. We propose this through a model based on responsible management and mindful leadership and provide a brief description of a case study as to how mindfulness is starting being used by an Iberian Multi-national to recast the social responsibility agenda and move towards a more responsible management approach to business. Different coaching techniques combined with Nominal Group Technique were used to identify underlying deep values of participants (CEOs). The resultant values can be used by the multinational to construct a theoretical model of responsible management and mindful leadership. One outcome of this model applied to this multinational is the current strategy being developed by the company. This strategy embeds our thinking and considering the high influence of the case multinational in its sector, we believe the use of the Responsible Management and Mindful Leadership Model will be a tool which increases the multinational´s capacity to influence crisis recovery in the true sense, considering social and environmental aspects.