Creating market failure: business-government relations in the British paper-pulp industry, 1950–1980

This article examines the nuances and complexities of business-government relations in the British paper-pulp industry between 1950 and 1980 through the prism of interactions between Wiggins, Teape & Co., a paper company, and various U.K. government departments in the postwar period. It highlights the complexity of business-government and interdepartmental relations and tensions, set against the global and domestic paper industry competition and the United Kingdom’s international economic position. Longstanding industry underinvestment and interdepartmental tensions in government are identified as principal contributors to the failing competitiveness of the industry and of British businesses more generally in the twentieth century

Inter-Departmental Relations and Effective Service Delivery in the Local Government System: A Perspective from Nigeria

This paper examined the role of Inter-departmental Relations as a critical factor among others in ensuring effective service delivery at the local government level in Nigeria. It is qualitative in its data collection and analysis; combining it with the use of the systems theory which perfectly situates the import of inter-dependence that engenders the achievement of organizational goals. The analytical discussions reveal that lack of interdepartmental relations amongst units and departments, is a combining factor leading to ineffective service delivery at the local government level. The paper among other things recommends that the government should ensure that units and departments of the local government must see themselves as parties in progress; emphasizing interdependence rather than independence as well as ensuring that all categories of personnel in the local government be availed of the opportunity to attend special seminars and workshops, where they will be taught utilities of cooperation, interdependence and compromise which will equip them for effective service delivery. Keywords: Service Delivery, Inter-departmental Relations, Local Government, Interdependence, Compromis

Peerless Electric & Gas Company

This case, based on a real situation, illustrates how interdepartmental conflict can affect company performance and is a prelude for a thorough discussion of the antecedents and management of interdepartmental conflict.  The case is appropriate for MBA and upper-level undergraduate business students.  At Peerless Electric & Gas Company, sales personnel in the Marketing department are responsible for the sale of new commercial and industrial lighting, a very profitable business.  The extent to which sales is successful depends on the work of another Peerless department - Engineering and Installation (E/I) - which is responsible for designing, pricing, and installing lighting systems.  The departments report to different managers and each operates under a different set of performance expectations.  Currently, neither the planning and pricing nor the installation of new systems is done in a customer-focused, timely fashion, which jeopardizes the sales of new systems

Enhancing firm performance through internal market orientation and employee organizational commitment

Considering the importance of retaining key staff and managing the negative impact of high labor turnover on firm performance, this study investigates the notion of internal market orientation (IMO) as an employee management tool for helping companies retain employees and leverage performance via their organizational commitment. Drawing on data from three different managerial respondents in 275 companies based in China, the findings demonstrate the precedential effect of IMO on corporate performance through employees’ organizational commitment and retention. Inter-departmental relationship and interdepartmental communication, together with ownership types are identified as potential moderating variables, which may vary IMO’s effectiveness in the framework. This study provides scholars and practitioners with empirical evidence of IMO’s contribution to different industries and markets. Building on a western perspective, this study extends the literature in an emerging market context and specifically has implications for managing Chinese employees

MODELING THE PROCESS OF ASSIMILATION AND OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE CONCEPT OF MARKETING BY ROMANIAN LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

This paper proposes a model that wants to offer some pertinent answers about the process of assimilation and operationalization of the marketing concept in the practice of local organizations in Romania. Considering the reality of organizational practice in Romania, which revealed a lack of consistency in the approach of assimilation and operationalization of the marketing concept, the model tries to capture a range of factors that determine and explain this phenomenon. Reality shows that many Romanian organizations either do not perceive the need and importance of marketing in their activity or assimilate and develop a priori, actions carried out by transnational companies that do not meet the particular context of the Romanian market and / or of internal environment. The model attempts to capture the peculiarities of the process of assimilation and operationalization of the concept of marketing in local organizations and describe the characteristics of each identified organizational structures

The determinants of the quality of Sales-Marketing Interface in a Multinational Customer Brand Focused Company: The Latin American Branches

Customer evolution and changes in consumers, determine the fact that the quality of the interface between marketing and sales may represent a true competitive advantage for the firm. Building on multidimensional theoretical and empirical models developed in Europe and on social network analysis, the organizational interface between the marketing and sales departments of a multinational high-growth company with operations in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay is studied. Both, attitudinal and social network measures of information exchange are used to make operational the nature and quality of the interface and its impact on performance. Results show the existence of a positive relationship of formalization, joint planning, teamwork, trust and information transfer on interface quality, as well as a positive relationship between interface quality and business performance. We conclude that efficient design and organizational management of the exchange network are essential for the successful performance of consumer goods companies that seek to develop distinctive capabilities to adapt to markets that experience vertiginous change

EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL APPROACH ON THE ACCOUNTING FOR INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The development of the competitiveness hasn’t been a priority for Romanian companies until the moment of the economical crisis. The difference can be seen in quality, services, innovation, image, knowledge, the approach to information, culture, etc. The companies that manage to differentiate from the others will resist in time and the economic advantage is made through intangible assets. The assessment of the intangible assets is the real description of the company wealth which is very well known to all balance sheet users, because it contains their fair value.intangible assets, assessment, reassessment, recognition, fair value

The development of a post-settlement support framework agricultural land reform projects in South Africa

After the fall of the Apartheid regime in 1994, South Africa was presented with a myriad of reform challenges that originated due to a segregational rule. Distribution of land to those who were previously disadvantaged would become and is increasingly becoming a major challenge that the African National Congress (ANC) led government would need to address. Land reform progress and performance has become a key indicator of the African National Congress’ ability to govern after more than two decades as the majority party. The African National Congress led Government of South Africa proposed a target to redistribute thirty percent of agricultural land which was owned by the white minority by the year 2014, however as of 2012, only seven percent had been redistributed with an estimated ninety percent of the farms redistributed to black farmers no longer in commercial production (Lund, 2012). Numerous factors have been attributed to land reform failure in South Africa, including but not limited to, settlement support after receiving the land. Broadly speaking, the processes leading of land reform is categorised into two fundamental categories namely; pre-settlement project fundamentals or criteria and secondly postsettlement support. The lack of or inadequate post-settlement support systems and programs is identified as a major constraint to land reform success. This research effort is aimed at gaining an understanding of what exactly the post-settlement support programs and targeted intervention are and designing an appropriate support framework that aims to reduce land reform failures and ultimately contributing to land reform success, a more inclusive rural economy and a food secure South Africa. Lumet and Qualm quote Hall in their 2012 research as saying, “Land reform has become heavy on political rhetoric and short on detail.” Whilst the ANC led government has ended the ‘willing buyer willing seller’ policy and is looking to introduce other policies to expedite land reform settlements, a significant void exists in the detail regarding post-settlement support of land reform beneficiaries to ensure success and to maintain the productivity of the reformed farms. This study aims at creating a post-settlement support framework which will add some detail as described as lacking above. Ten research questions were formulated in which the answers to the questions collectively provide insight into the post-settlement support systems required for enhanced success. The research questions are not all directly related to the post-settlement function, but also speak to other factors that need to be adequately addressed for the post-settlement function to be framed successfully. The literature review aimed at providing a backdrop to the history of land reform policies, the success and failures thereof, but more importantly it sets the scene in which an efficient post-settlement support framework must prevail. According to the interpretivist paradigm, it is assumed “that social reality is in our minds, and is subjective and multiple” (Collis & Hussey, 2009). Social reality is therefore affected by the act of investigating it. The research involves an inductive process with a view to providing an interpretive understanding of social phenomena within a particular context” (Collis & Hussey, 2009). The research effort uses an exploratory case study method. This selected method was the best approach to use to achieve the research objectives, to answer the research questions, and to test the listed propositions. The purposeful sampling unit in this study refers to land reform projects which have been in existence for five years or longer since settlement. These black emerging farmers or farmer groups are beneficiaries of the South African governments’ land reform programme and they are therefore also beneficiaries of the post-settlement support functions. Purposeful sampling involves identifying and selecting individuals or groups of individuals that are especially knowledgeable about or experienced with a phenomenon of interest while Spradley (1979) notes the importance of availability and willingness to participate, and the ability to communicate experiences and opinions in an articulate, expressive and reflective manner