Signaling strategic commitment for organizational transition: how to manage potential M&As through voluntary disclosures

To ‘transit or not’ often depends upon winning over investor opinion to large strategic initiatives. M&A is one such major realignment of an organization and yet once a bid for a company has been announced there is a period of uncertainty when the bid may not be completed. This depends on share price movements determined more by investor perceptions than fundamental values. This paper investigates whether these perceptions may be influenced by ‘voluntary’ corporate communications and so link managerial practices to strategic outcomes. Drawing upon two very large M&A data sets (USA and UK) (57,000 deals; 30,000 communications) we argue managerial practice (signaling strategic commitment) shapes market response and demonstrate communication characteristics, and the use of high-reputation intermediaries, play an important role in determining share price reaction

Voluntary disclosures as a form of impression management to reduce evaluative uncertainty during M&A

This study develops and tests a set of hypotheses on how to manage investors’ evaluative uncertainty during M&A through a specific form of impression management, namely, interim news events. We suggest that voluntary disclosures are key in influencing investors’ reactions during M&A. Empirical support for our theoretical arguments is shown in a sample of 36,376 deals and 163,023 associated interim news events carried out by NYSE and NSDQ listed organizations over 10 years. Our research contributes to literature on voluntary disclosures, impression management, and managing M&A

An assessment of the implementation of the performance management and development system: the office of the premier in the Eastern Cape Province

The Performance management and development system has been introduced in the South African Public Service with the intention of monitoring, reviewing, assessing performance, developing under performers, recognising and rewarding good performance of the public officials. It is also there to develop the public officials who fail to attain required expectations. This study focuses on investigating whether employees do understand Performance Management and development system for the effectiveness of employee performance in the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier and that this has with the motivation of the public sector in the Eastern Cape, and the correlation that this has with the motivation of the public officials to improve performance. A qualitative research design was used for this study to investigate whether employees do understand effectiveness of PMDS on employees performance. The research design consisted of a case study where seven interview questions were conducted with the first employees from level four to level eight (operational staff), middle managers from level nine to level twelve and senior managers in the Office of the Premier Eastern Cape. Data analysis led to thematic analysis two themes were developed from the objectives of the study. This study has made the following recommendations: The employees in the Office of the Premier should be regularly monitored and evaluated on how to implement performance management and developed system. As a result, the study will give more understanding in aligning with the OTP strategy and drive individual performance, but will also assist all levels of employees within the OTP: EC in understanding the day to day operational activities of performance management. It will also help employee support and talent management professionals in knowing and understanding the best practices to adopt, in managing their individual performance levels

Underestimating Capable Readers

Capable and gifted readers are often held back in grade level basal reading texts, regardless of their reading ability, for fear that essential skills may be missed (Allen and Swearingen, 1987; Carr, 1984). The abilities of these students are often underestimated (Bennett and Desforges, 1988)

Scoping Review of Environmental and Sustainability Education in Teacher Education: Historical Context of Research and Preliminary Results

The paper is a collection of data preserved from original research on a scoping review for ESE-TE. The original research in tables and figures have been preserved for a historical context. The original paper was presented at two conferences: World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) and Environmental Education SIG of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) by the two leading authors (Douglas D Karrow and Susan Maureen Docherty-Skippen). The third Author (Rob Blom) summarised the document and added relevant details such as a preface and a preamble. Rob and Doug will be published in the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (IJSHE) in the special issue Making an Impact – UN Sustainable Development Goals and university performance.To identify the international trends in environmental and sustainability education in teacher education (ESE-TE) research, we (Doug and Susan) report research from a scoping literature review. Different from international literature reviews in ESE that have examined policy issues, sustainability pedagogies, and how ESE is embedded in TE curriculum, our study focuses on all aspects of ESE relevant to TE. We screened 2,142 research articles spanning over five decades and 81 countries. Of the 788 articles deemed eligible (i.e., English-language, peer-reviewed, pre-service/in-service teacher education that explicitly mentioned ESE-TE research), data from 637 studies have been included in this study. Our research analysis included quantifying the geographic, temporal, and methodological trends, and a qualitative exploration of the research problems/context themes. While 82% of the research articles we examined were empirical, the most prevalent problems investigated across all of the studies centred on the themes of TE commonplaces (34%), competencies and literacy (20%), and awareness (16%). While no definite conclusions may be drawn until the complete data set has been analysed (a forthcoming paper), preliminary findings suggest a disparity of ESE-TE research in Asia, South and Central America, and Africa. Preliminary results also suggest that more research in the context of TE praxis is needed

Toward an understanding of transfusion-related acute lung injury: statement of a consensus panel

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73845/1/j.0041-1132.2004.04347.x.pd

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Surgery

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140217/1/sur.2013.9999.pd