Impact of strategy, HRM Strength and HRM bundles on innovation performance and organizational performance

This study uses structural equation modeling to test a model of the impact of human resource management bundles on perceived organizational performance and innovation performance, on a large sample of companies. Strategic management orientation and innovation as a strategic factor are proposed to influence the existence of two types of HR bundles, functional flexibility and performance management, as well as contributing to stronger HR systems. HRM Strength, which integrates the metafeatures of an HRM system and provides a common interpretation of organizational goals, has a strong positive impact on both innovation and organizational performances. Finally, while both the functional flexibility and performance management bundles have a positive impact on organizational performance, they do not seem to affect innovation performance.

The dynamics of managerial ideology: analyzing the cuban case

After the collapse of state socialism in Eastern Europe, management researchers devoted considerable energy to investigate ways to smooth transition to market economies. But one country of the former Soviet bloc, Cuba resisted transition and reaffirmed loyalty to communism. Little is known about management in Cuba on the managerial impacts of the combination of two major environmental forces: the American embargo and the Soviet Union collapse, both of which have challenged the sustainability of the communist regime. This study intends to approach one particular aspect of management in Cuba: the relationship between national ideology and management practice. To analyze these topics, direct qualitative data from focus groups with Cuban managers and management professors was obtained and complemented with documentary analysis. Results suggest that the dynamics of managerial ideology can be understood as the interplay of several processes operating at distinct levels: institutional, professional, organizational and individual. The study provides a nested, multi-level understanding of management and organization as parts of a wider institutional context, which is both a source of constraint and a non-tangible resource to be used by ideological bricoleurs. The interplay between the acceptance of ideology and its use as a practical resource is a potential source of change. As such, the same professional class (managers) may be both a source of continuity and a trigger of change - a finding that is line with institutional theorys claim that it is necessary to understand both institutionalization and de-institutionalization for understanding organizational change and continuity.Cuba, managerial ideology, institutional change, ideological bricolage

Writing new scripts: redefining managerial agency in Cuba

Transitional societies are faced with particularly challenging and pressing problems. These usually involve the passage from a centralised, socialist-based society, to a decentralised, market-based economy. This paper addresses a somewhat different case: that of Cuba. According to the official discourse, the island is not in a state of transition. On the contrary, it is assumed that the conquests of the revolution are there to stay. Nonetheless, significant changes are taking place. The market logic is being adopted in a growing number of cases, ranging from empresas mixtas to the weak signals of entrepreneurial activity. Drawing on a series of eight focus groups with a total of 106 Cuban executives and management scholars, this paper addresses the uniqueness of the Cuban case on the basis of the theory of structuration. The paper reports how the need to keep the faith is being added with the adoption of Western management practices, and how the interplay between planned and emergent change is sculpting transition through the redefinition of managerial scripts.Cuba, managerial scripts, agency, structuration theory, focus groups

Paths to positivity: exploring the dynamics of positive organizing

This paper advances a theory about the way patterns of positive and negative organizing unfold. It is grounded in data collected from 58 individuals. We followed an inductive logic and used critical incidents to collect information on positive and negative processes and outcomes. From this we extracted six dimensions, which are present in different combinations in the 116 incidents narrated by the participants: recognition/ indifference, communication/silence, interaction/separation, confidence/distrust, loyalty/betrayal, and organizational transparency/organizational secrecy. We then analyzed how these dimensions fit together and discovered that they could be organized around four major patterns combining the clarity/opacity of organizational rules and the considerate/ detached behavior of leaders. We assert that positive leaders are essential in the creation of positive organizations, regardless of the features of the external context.positive organizing; organizational energy; leadership

What is an "exemplary workplace"? Evidence from Cuba

Management researchers and practitioners have developed a marked interest for the notion of “good companies to work for”, “exemplary workplaces”, “meaningful work”, “virtuous organization”, “truly healthy organizations” or “authentizotic organizations”. We complement the previous studies, conducted in the context of capitalistic economies, with an analysis of the representation of the “exemplary organization” in the context of a communist country, Cuba. An inductive study with 39 managers suggests that some elements of the exemplary workplace profile are heavily influenced by the local conditions (e.g., transportation system), whereas others may be viewed as probably general (social contribution). We also conclude that the balance between material conditions and social issues is a major determinant of how people evaluate the “exemplarity” of their organization.exemplary workplaces; meaning at work; Cuba

Market forces, strategic management, HRM practices and organizational performance, a model based in european sample

This study uses structural equation modeling to test a model of the impact of human resources management practices on perceived organizational performance, on a large sample of European companies. The influences of competitive intensity, industry attractiveness and strategic management are considered in the model, and their direct and indirect influence on organizational performance is assessed. The model produced an adequate fit and results show that strategic management does influence human resource practices. Human resource flexibility practices and performance management have a positive impact on organizational performance, while training was not found to have a significant impact. A direct positive impact of competitive intensity and industry attractiveness on strategic management was supported by the data, as well as a direct positive effect of industry attractiveness on perceived organizational performance.

Business plan: implementation of a school from 1st to 12th grade with integrated arts and sports programs

Since education is so important for the development of any country, Portugal has been encouraging practices that better address students’ needs. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go since many people still see subjects like Portuguese and Mathematics as the only important subjects and defend a traditional classroom. It has been proved by many authors that the arts and sports are fundamental for the education and, because of that, it should have a bigger role in schools. A good education is centered on the student. It uses practices that are adapted to the characteristics of the students and the contexts they are in. The arts and sports can help children acquire skills that they need in their daily personal and professional lives. Academia Geração is a private school that takes advantage of curricular flexibility to include arts and sports programs since the 1st grade, in addition to the academic subjects. Its degree of demand increases and becomes more specific and detailed as the moves forward. Adding to these programs, the school offers subjects less common in the Portuguese curriculum, such as debate, photography, first aid training. With the development of a business plan for this school, it is intended to tackle the lack of offer of alternative plans for students who want to pursue sports or art or just wish to have a more complete education with a wider offer of opportunities.Uma vez a educação ser tão importante para o desenvolvimento de qualquer país, Portugal tem vindo a incentivar práticas que melhor respondem às necessidades dos alunos. No entanto, ainda existe um longo caminho a percorrer uma vez que muitas pessoas ainda veem disciplinas como o Português e a Matemática como as únicas disciplinas importantes e defendem uma sala de aula tradicional. Já foi provado por diversos autores que a arte o desporto são fundamentais para a educação e, por isso, deve ter um maior papel nas escolas. Uma boa educação centra-se no aluno, recorrendo a práticas adaptadas às características dos alunos e contextos em que estão inseridos. A arte e o desporto ajudam as crianças a adquirir competências precisas para o dia-a-dia, na sua vida pessoal e profissional. A Academia Geração é um colégio que aproveita a flexibilidade curricular para introduzir programas de arte e de desporto desde o 1º ano, para além das áreas académicas tradicionais. O seu grau de exigência vai aumentando, tornando-se mais específico e pormenorizado consoante o aluno passa de ano. Para além destes programas, a escola oferece disciplinas menos frequentes no currículo Português mas também essenciais, como debate, fotografia, primeiros socorros. Com o desenvolvimento de um plano de negócios para esta escola, pretende-se colmatar a falta de oferta de planos alternativos para estudantes que queiram seguir a área de deporto ou das artes em Portugal ou que apenas desejam ter uma educação mais completa com uma maior oferta de oportunidades

The shading sign: is it exclusive of endometriomas?

To investigate if the shading sign is an exclusive MRI feature of endometriomas or endometrioid tumors, and to analyze its different patterns. Three hundred and fourty six women with adnexal masses who underwent 1.5/3-T MRI were included in this retrospective, board-approved study. The shading sign was found in 56 patients, but five cases were excluded due to lack of imaging follow-up or histological correlation. The final sample included 51 women. The type of tumor and the pattern of shading were recorded for each case. Thirty endometriomas and five endometrioid carcinomas were found. The remaining 16 cases corresponded to other benign and malignant tumors. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 73%, 93%, 59%, and 96%, respectively. Restricting the analysis to cystic lesions without solid or fat component, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 73%, 96%, 94%, and 80%. Five shading patterns were identified: layering (15.7%), liquid-liquid level (11.8%), homogenous (45.1%), heterogeneous (11.8%), and focal/multifocal shading within a complex mass (19.6%). No significant correlation was found between these patterns and the type of tumor. The shading sign is not exclusive of endometriomas or endometrioid tumors. Homogenous shading was the most prevalent pattern in endometriomas and half of the cases with focal/multifocal shading within a complex mass were endometrioid carcinomas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Writing New Scripts: Redefining Managerial Agency in Cuba

Transitional societies are faced with particularly challenging and pressing problems. These usually involve the passage from a centralised, socialist-based society, to a decentralised, market-based economy. This paper addresses a somewhat different case: that of Cuba. According to the official discourse, the island is not in a state of transition. On the contrary, it is assumed that the conquests of the revolution are there to stay. Nonetheless, significant changes are taking place. The market logic is being adopted in a growing number of cases, ranging from empresas mixtas to the weak signals of entrepreneurial activity. Drawing on a series of eight focus groups with a total of 106 Cuban executives and management scholars, this paper addresses the uniqueness of the Cuban case on the basis of the theory of structuration. The paper reports how the need to “keep the faith” is being added with the adoption of Western management practices, and how the interplay between planned and emergent change is sculpting transition through the redefinition of managerial scripts.N/