How a multiple orientation of control reduces governance failures: a focus on monastic auditing

This paper considers multiple control systems at the organizational level and argues for a nuanced and multifaceted approach for internal governance. For this undertaking, we look at a little-examined control and auditing instrument, the formalized audit procedures of Roman Catholic orders. These so-called visitations are one important pillar in the monastic governance system to counter aberrations. Utilizing surveys and interviews, we examine 106 Roman Catholic religious communities in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and connect these visitations procedures with rule violations and sexual abuse cases. We argue that communities unaffected by scandals and rule violations rely strongly on process and clan control to address inefficiency and misconduct; whereas, affected communities focus more on business issues. We caution against the trend of relying predominantly on output-based processes while suggesting a balance between different types of control systems. Further more, we enhance the current discourse by considering implementation procedures of control. The religious orders attach great importance to the way control measures are carried out. To steer the behavior of their members, many successful orders even complement controls with personal support and identity strengthening

Fusionen und Übernahmen im Licht der Hybris - Überblick über den Forschungsstand

Zusammenfassung: Eine hohe Anzahl von Fusionen und Übernahmen scheitert. Gleichwohl sind Fusionen und Übernahmen an der Tagesordnung. Als eine Erklärung hierfür wird die Hybris-Hypothese diskutiert, d.h. die These, dass sich Entscheidungsträger der aufnehmenden Unternehmen systematisch überschätzen. Um diese These zu testen und um gegebenenfalls Maßnahmen gegen Hybris zu ergreifen, sind verlässliche Indikatoren für Hybris erforderlich. Die Arbeit stellt die in der Literatur entwickelten Indikatoren vor und diskutiert deren Vor- und Nachteil

A Case of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Associated with Rotavirus Infection in an Elderly Asian Male and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), a small vessel vasculitis mediated by deposition of immune-complexes containing IgA in the skin, gut, and glomeruli, often presents with abdominal pain, purpuric rash in the lower extremities and buttocks, joint pain, and hematuria. The disease most commonly targets children but can affect adults who tend to have a worse prognosis. CASE REPORT We discuss a case of HSP in an elderly Chinese male who presented with severe proximal bowel inflammation, vasculitic rash, and proteinuria; he was found to have positive stool rotavirus and giardia. He improved significantly with high dose steroids. We believe rotavirus may have been a triggering event in this patient. A brief review of the literature is also presented. CONCLUSIONS This is the first case report describing a classic presentation of HSP in an adult following a rotavirus infection. HSP can cause significant morbidity and mortality in adult patients predominantly from progressive renal failure; therefore careful management and monitoring is important. GI infections seem to be a common trigger for HSP and this case report suggests that rotavirus may be part of the spectrum

Abusive supervision, public service motivation, and employee deviance: The moderating role of employment sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine abusive supervision and public service motivation (PSM) as antecedents of deviant workplace behaviours. Design/methodology/approach – The study was conducted in a cross-sectional research design with survey data from 150 employees in the public, private and non-profit sector in Germany and the USA. Findings – Abusive supervision is positively associated with employee deviance, whereas PSM is negatively related to deviant behaviours. The employment sector moderates the negative relationship between PSM and employee deviance such that this relationship is stronger in the public and non-profit sector. Research limitations/implications – Limitations arise from the convenience sampling approach and the cross-sectional nature of the dataset. Practical implications – Human resource managers should consider behavioural integrity in the attraction, selection and training of both supervisors and subordinates. Private organisations can address the needs of strongly public service motivated employees by integrating associated goals and values into organisational missions and policies. Originality/value – This is the first study to introduce PSM into research on employee deviance. It shows that a pro-social motivation can drive anti-social behaviours when employees with high levels of PSM are members of profit-seeking organisations. Keywords Counterproductive work behaviour, Dark side of leadership, Destructive leadership, Person-organisation fit Paper type Research pape

Investigation of the Electrohydraulic Forming Process with respect to the Design of Sharp Edged Contours

The overcoming of design constraints with respect to forming of sharply contoured sheet metal workpieces made of high strength steel or other materials which are difficult to form is an important aspect in sheet metal part production. One interesting solution to extend existing forming limits can be the use of electrohydraulic forming as single forming operation or in combination with quasi-static hydroforming. Apart from promising results regarding the feasible part geometries this process allows a quite efficient production due to its potential to reduce equipment expenses. Current research work at the Chair of Forming and Machining Technology (LUF) at Paderborn University deals with a comparison of investigations on both processes, quasistatic and high speed hydroforming. Recent results show an adequate comparison of achievable edge radii using an oblong die geometry and sheet metal made of thin stainless steel. It can be seen that when using electrohydraulic forming an increase of discharge energy leads to smaller radii than achievable by quasi-static hydroforming. An additional potential can be seen in the process characteristic itself because the very short pressure pulse allows a significant reduction of locking forces using only the inertia of the tooling mass

Process reliability and reproducibility of pneumomechanical and electrohydraulic forming processes

A sufficiently high process reliability and reproducibility is mandatory if a high-speed forming process is to be used in industrial production. A great deal of basic research work into pneumo-mechanical and electrohydraulic forming has been successfully performed in different institutions in the past. There, the focus has been more on process related correlations, such as the influence and interaction of different parameters on the course and result of those processes. The aspects of reliability and reproducibility have not been examined to a sufficient extent. Hence, in the case of pneumo-mechanical forming, insufficient investigations have been conducted into the effect that key parameters like the kinetic energy level, the filling height of the working media or the conditions inside the acceleration tube have on the reproducibility and course of the process. For electrohydraulic forming, the repeatability has worsened on occasions up to now. To improve the forming results and, in particular, the reputability of the process, it is necessary to examine the tool parameters associated with the electrodes and the working media. That is why research of this type is currently ongoing at the LUF. One important issue here is examining the options that exist for visualising the way the spark takes hold in the discharge chamber

Triggers and damages of organizational defensive routines

Existing research on organizational defensive routines (ODRs) posits that they have strong and intertwined individual and organizational components. However, the literature has not yet systematically isolated and analyzed factors at both levels that trigger ODRs. This paper first utilizes theory on organizational routines to explain the characteristics of ODRs. Next, it identifies their individual and organizational level triggers. At the individual level factors generating ODRs are general self-efficacy, locus of control, and neuroticism while those operating at the organizational level are organizational politics, red tape, and organizational structure. The paper finally explores the potential damages ODRs could cause to individuals and organizations related to individuals’ job satisfaction, work engagement, organizational ambidexterity, and organizational learning. The theoretical model in this paper builds a foundation for future empirical study and extends theoretically the nomological network of ODRs

Do synergies exist in related acquisitions? A meta-analysis of acquisition studies

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) aim to increase the wealth of shareholders of the acquiring company, in particular by creating synergies. It is often assumed that relatedness is a source of synergies. Our study distinguishes between business, cultural, technological, and size relatedness. It discusses the reasons why these different forms of relatedness can lead to an acquisition success and we conduct a meta-analysis of 67 prior M&A studies. Results indicate that positive effects can be expected under specific conditions only and have a limited overall impact on acquisition success. A moderator analysis finds that synergies stemming from relatedness depend on industry-, country-, and investor-characteristic

Combined Working Media-Based Forming on a Pneumo-Mechanical High Speed Forming Machine

Quasi-static working media-based forming processes (WMF) permit the production of complex sheet metal parts with relatively little expense. The associated need for very high pressures and hence complex tools and machines for the production of fine geometrical details is often problematic. The use of high speed forming processes (HSF) can offer many benefits, including a reduced financial outlay on equipment and better part properties in this case. But these processes also have disadvantages, of course, such as if they are used for the production of complex large-surface parts. Consequently, a combination of both approaches would be ideal. This paper describes a new approach to combining high pressure sheet metal forming (HPF) and pneumo-mechanical HSF for the production of complex sheet metal parts

Organization vs Disorganization: A Computational Model of Goals, Motivation and Problem Solving

This paper presents an agent-based simulation of “disorganization” and its effect on problem solving. The Prime objective of the simulation is to determine the variance in problem solving under two settings. The first has inflexible structural limitations enacted on the agents (organization) while the other has very little structural limitations (disorganization). The simulation also employs goals as a foundation for the motivation with which agents solve problems. Findings of the simulation show that the “organization” setting guarantees a minimal number of problems are solved independent of how much simulated employees interact with each other. Instead, the “disorganization” setting seems to be more efficient when agents extend the range of social interaction, in or outside their working group, department, or division