Stakeholder engagement as a facilitator of organizational learning

This paper examines the relationship between stakeholder engagement and competence building. Following the dual perspective of the firm, which indicated that managers deal with both transactions and competences concurrently, we argue that stakeholder interactions also concern both transaction cost reduction and value creation. Based on a review of the extant literature, we incorporated a micro-macro connection between organizational learning and competence building. Further to this, we developed a conceptual framework by linking stakeholder engagement and organizational learning. This framework demonstrates that stakeholder relations may have significant effects on organizational learning and thus stakeholder engagement can play the role of facilitator in building firm competences

Co-Operative Inquiry as a basis for Evaluation of Knowledge Management Tools

This paper highlights the changes needed in the practice of IT evaluation when directed towards IT used to support knowledge management. The paper addresses the need for evaluation to recognise the increased emphasis on IT supporting the work of communities of practice in contrast to simply automating organisational processes. A framework that uses a form of action research (co-operative inquiry) is suggested that attempts to widen participation within the evaluation process and to enrich the purpose to which evaluation is put, especially in regard to the IS practitioner and IS users

Mobile Business in the Vending Industry

The business of operating vending machines substantially changes by the use of telemetry via wireless technologies. This technology enables operators to change their business processes from a fixed periodical to a needs-based operating and maintenance, generating efficiency and effectiveness added values. In addition, significant advantages can be achieved by real-time error reports, by analyzing and optimizing the product range and the profitability. The paper provides a general introduction in the vending market and the operating process. Based on this, drawbacks and opportunities of the use of mobile communication techniques in vending machines for a business process reengineering are discussed and criteria for the choice of telemetry-equipped vending machines’ locations are developed. The feasibility of the proposed concepts is examined with regard to the current technical state-of-the-art. Finally, conclusions are drawn and an outlook on the future of mobile vending is given.mobile business; mobile business processes; mobile BPR; vending industry; telemetry

The mission and culture of the corporation

The economic crisis has brought a new situation also for the Hungarian economic policy, as neoliberalism as the main trend in economic thought is no longer valid. This phenomenon cannot be reduced to be a mere macroeconomic course shift, as an entire economic philosophy and approach has lost its relevance. One consequence of this is the need for a thorough revision of the theory and practice of business management, along with the re-evaluation of the notion and position of the corporation. Our study aims to contribute to this theoretical reformation, presenting that social values derived from psychological and sociological findings such as human motivational theories or trust are fundamental elements of the 21st century corporate model. To point to this, we use the ideological correspondences, while proving that our national research on corporate theory and even rather its application are far behind the 21st century requirements and lack even the Western view of the 20th century

The Strategic Real Estate Framework: Processes, Linkages, Decisions

The intention of this work is to provide a contemporary perspective for understanding the real estate markets that can guide the involvement and decisions for all sectors of society's direct and indirect involvements with the real estate process, resources and market participants. Comprehension of the multifaceted, multidimensional, substantial segment of the economy known as real estate is best accomplished through a strategic framework. Because the real estate discipline lacks coherence and concurrence about what is the essence of real estate and what are the operative paradigms for comprehending and making order of the discipline, there is need for a strategic framework that is simultaneously synthesizing, integrating and comprehensive. The concept of the real estate strategy framework both provides the basis for gaining insights into the real estate discipline and also presents a means to connect a strategic approach to real estate with the act of real estate decision-making. By understanding the real estate process, those strategic influences on transactions that follow from the real estate process can be identified. This framework can enhance the quality, reliability and prudence of real estate decisions. By understanding these interdependencies and linkages, more effective decisionmaking concerning real estate interests and the objectives of participants in the real estate markets can be achieved.

The Effect of Alliance Block Membership on Innovative Performance

Alliance, membership, Innovation, performance

Organizational Mortality of Small Firms: The Effects of Entrepreneurial Age and Human Capital

This paper addresses the issue of internal determination of organizational outcomes. It is argued that in small and simply structured organizations a considerable proportion of the variance in organizational activities and outcomes is associated with individuals. In particular, the paper uses human capital theory to derive hypotheses about individual determinants of organizational mortality. These hypotheses are tested with event-history data of firm registrations and de-registrations in a West German region. The hypotheses are corroborated by the data, but the effects may nonetheless be due to processes linking individual characteristics with organizational performance other than those suggested by the human capital approach

Upgrading, Downgrading, Linking, Innovating: Microfinance Development Strategies - A Systems Perspective

In the transition process from financial repression to a prudentially deregulated financial system, an increasing number of developing countries are becoming concerned about access of the rural and urban masses to microfinance. Only viable institutions with sound practices, which mobilize their own resources and cover their costs from the margin, can respond to the increasing demand for microsavings, microcredit and microinsurance services on a sustainable basis. Three major approaches contribute to the development of a system of microfinance: reform of the policy environment; institutional transformation; and instrumental innovation. In this framework there is a wide variety of institutions that have to undergo major adjustments to play their role effectively as financial intermediaries for the microeconomy: commercial and development banks; formal local banks and semiformal financial institutions under private, cooperative, community or local government ownership; credit NGOs; and informal financial institutions. Contingent upon the policy environment, the institutional infrastructure, and the degree of market integration, there are four major strategies of institutional transformation: institutional adaptation, or downgrading, of formal financial institutions; institutional enhancement, or upgrading, of nonformal financial institutions; linking formal and nonformal financial institutions; and, in the absence of a sufficient number of adaptable formal and nonformal institutions, infrastructural innovation: establishing new microfinance institutions. In each case, sound financial practices appropriate to the institution and its market are essential. There is no single best approach that can be simply replicated without regard to the unique situation of a country or region. --