Change From the Middle: A Grounded Theory Approach on Middle Manager-Initiated Organizational Change From a Southeast Asian Context

Prior studies on the strategic influencing done by middle managers emphasized on a unidirectional sensemaking and failed to explore how middle managers utilized discursive capabilities in engaging stakeholders in change projects. To forward this, we used the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory as embedded within the power distant cultural norms of Philippine society. Using the LMX model as frame, we aimed to understand how middle managers position and navigate themselves to promote change upward in the organizational hierarchy. Respondents for this study were middle managers in small or mid- sized companies reporting to a business unit with subordinates working under them. Results showed middle managers utilized smooth interpersonal consultative relationships to strategically influence others, and paired this with the financial and output-focused language of their superiors. Communication, negotiation, and persuasion were considered essential leadership skills in working with peers and subordinates, while expectations of responsibility and autonomy helped initiate change. These findings open the discussion for leadership developmen

Terahertz Emission of Gallium Arsenide on Textured p-type Silicon (100) Substrates Grown via Molecular Beam Epitaxy

This study presents the terahertz (THz) emission of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) on surface textured p-type Silicon (p- Si) (100) substrates. Surface texturing was achieved by anisotropic wet chemical etching using 5% wt Potassium Hydroxide (KOH): Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) (50:1) solution for 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. Reflectivity measurements for the textured p-Si(100) substrates indicated that the overall texturing increases with longer etching times. Raman spectroscopy of the post-growth samples confirmed GaAs growth. The THz emission intensities were the same order of magnitude. The GaAs grown on p-Si(100) textured for 60 minutes exhibited the most intense THz emission attributed to the increased absorption from a larger surface-to-volume ratio due to surface texturing. All GaAs on textured p-Si(100) samples had frequency bandwidth of ~2.5 THz

Getting It Done: The role of leaders in building and maintaining an execution culture

The presence of an execution culture in organizations is crucial to ensuring that strategies get carried out (Bossidy et al., 2000; Lee & Chen, 2007). This study attempts to describe how leaders are able to build an execution culture in six Philippine companies, using convergent interviews analyzed through the grounded theory lens. Results indicate an emergent execution culture building and development model composed of five leadership actions: inclusion of multiple levels in strategy planning, identification of roles and accountabilities, communication of directions, monitoring of implementation, and connecting performance to appropriate rewards. Also included in the emergent model are key actions of the leader, such as display of personal touch to motivate and develop people, leading by doing as well as championing of execution-supportive organizational values. The emergent model offers another way of looking at the execution culture development process, culturally nuanced from Western models

Analysing the performance of farmers in the mango value chain in major production areas in Davao Region, Philippines

The Philippine ‘Carabao’ mango has established its reputation locally and internationally as a superior breed among other varieties in the world but its supply pales in comparison with the local and international demand. The Philippine mango industry is also facing a complex market structure brought by different actors in the supply chain. Hence, this study was conducted to analyse the performance of farmers in the value chain of mango in three major producing areas in the Davao region: Davao City; Digos City in Davao del Sur; and the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte. Specifically, the study aims to identify the roles of different actors in the mango supply chain, assess the profitability of the actors and identify the factors affecting profitability. Value chain and net margin analyses were employed. The results reveal that the interrelatedness of farmers, financiers and middlemen has a primary effect on the distribution of benefits among the actors in the mango supply chain. Statistical analysis suggests that trained farmers in Digos City who have trees of mature age and who are not under financing arrangement are more profitable. Econometric analysis identified volume sold and prices as drivers of profitability, while land area and cost of production negatively influenced profitability. It also confirms that non-financed farmers are more profitable than financed farmers. Wholesaling activities are favoured in Digos City due to minimal marketing costs, while retailing activities are best in Davao City due to larger captive market, specifically the Bankerohan public market

Transformational Leadership, Employee Engagement and Commitment to Change: A Comparison Between Family and Non-family Corporations

This study examined the differences in transformational leadership, employee engagement and commitment to change between family and non-family firms that had undergone transformation in the past five years. Employee engagement was also tested for mediation in the relationship between transformational leadership and commitment to change. 1,091 employees from 21 Filipino corporations, one third of which are family firms, answered a 42-item survey questionnaire. As hypothesized, there were significant differences in transformational leadership and employee engagement between family and non-family corporations. In contrast to previous studies, non-family corporations scored higher on both variables than family corporations. No significant difference was noted in commitment to change between the two types of organizations. In addition, the study found that employee engagement partially mediates the relationship of transformational leadership and employee commitment. The results of this study add value to our understanding of how transformational leadership can influence employee engagement and commitment to change. On the practical side, leaders in the different types of organizations can find ways to strengthen their transformational leadership behaviors that increase employee engagement and in turn, lead to commitment to change

Terahertz emission from CuO nanowires synthesized through thermal oxidation of Cu foils

We demonstrate terahertz (THz) emission from cupric oxide nanowires (CuO NWs) synthesized through thermal oxidation of Cu foils in ambient air by heating the foils in a hotplate for two hours at 300, 350, 400, and 450 °C. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the changes in the morphology of the foils; from the formation of a film composed of grains at 300 and 350 °C to the formation of NWs at 400 and 450 °C. The NWs were seen to have densities and dimensions that vary depending on the oxidation temperature. X-ray diffractometry showed that the grains that form at 300 and 350 °C were composed of a mixed phase of Cu2O and CuO, while the CuO NWs were observed to crystallize at temperatures greater than 400 °C. THz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) showed that the foils containing CuO NWs were observed to emit THz radiation. It was further shown that increasing the density and dimensions of the NWs enhances the transient photocurrent generated throughout the length of the NWs, resulting in a stronger THz emission

Value Chain Issues and Opportunities in Selected Horticulture Crops in Southern Mindanao, Philippines

The agri-food system is undergoing changes that create opportunities and challenges for small-scale producers. In the Philippines, food retail and processing sectors modernize and concentrate to respond to increasing market requirements. On the other hand, production sector is fragmenting and many small farmers struggle to access opportunities particularly in high value horticulture markets. This paper focuses on understanding the challenges and opportunities in selected fruit and vegetable value chains. Price spread, net margins and price transmission analyses were used to examine cost structure, distribution of benefits and efficiency of these horticulture markets. Results show that the share of the farm to retail price is declining due to declining real farm price relative to wholesale and retail prices. While nominal output prices and productivity have increased over time, cost of inputs has increased faster thereby decreasing profitability of the farm sector. With increasing cost of fuel, fertilizers and transport costs have increased significantly and compounded further by poor infrastructure facilities. Results also indicate that farm prices are not fully transmitted particularly between farm and wholesale markets compared to between wholesale and retail markets. This indicates poor infrastructure conditions in the rural areas. Price signals are also not fully transmitted from one market to another which implies inefficiencies in the markets which can be caused by poor infrastructure facilities and price distortions created by market power. There are, however, opportunities to enhance profitability through quality grading and clustering. Clearly, interventions to help farmers improve quality, productivity and access to high value markets are needed to increase their income. A value chain approach is important not only to understand issues but also to develop an integrated package of interventions that make use of the resources of the private sector and augment the limited public funds to help the small producers in the chain

Net Margins Analysis of Selected Fruits and Vegetables in Southern Mindanao, Philippines

Agriculture is the driving force behind Mindanao’s economy. It plays a major role in the economics of development since a continuous level of farm production can be one of the wellsprings of commercial and technological growth. However, developments in the agrisector can be hampered by productivity constraints as producers aim to play a role in high value chains and other emerging markets. Net margins analysis is used in this research to assess the performance of value chains and their implications in terms of public and private strategies. The analyses reveal the following: (1) Inadequate knowledge on farm techniques leads to higher cost and lower productivity; (2) Poor road conditions and the lack of farm to market roads lead to high wastage rates and lower profitability; (3) Low volume of transaction and poor market regulations lead to higher cost and lower profit; and (4) Farmers’ individualistic behavior worsens the aforementioned problems since producers and wholesalers operating at a smaller scale show lower benefits received in terms of net margin shares. To enhance performance and productivity of small farmers in the chain, it is important to address the issues on soil and disease management, access to credit, support systems in terms of production and marketing, infrastructure and post harvest technology