Strategy of Growth for Substantial Reduction of Poverty and Reversal of Trend towards Increasing Regional Divide

While Development as Freedom is considered to be one of the objectives of our national economic endeavors, and poverty reduction and fairly balanced regional development are high on the economic agenda, it is well known that our planning and economic policies have failed to produce inclusive growth to enable substantial parts of country to get the benefits of developments. The Approach Paper to 11th Five Year Plan declares its objective to be faster and more inclusive growth, but the Planning Commission or the Central Government do not put forward any significant change in the plan principles or strategies. In this paper we are suggesting a set of new innovative policies as additions to the policies already being implemented.poverty, Regional Divide, 11th Five Year Plan, innovative policies

The Psychodynamics of the Client-Consultant Relationship.

This paper reveals the lack of discovery of the unwritten or unspoken expectations of clients in a client-consultant relationship. Successful management of these expectations on the part of the consultant could lead to fruitful outcomes for both clients and consultants. In addition, consultants who are adept at managing these expectations could gain a competitive advantage in a highly competitive profession. This paper reviews both academic and practitioner literature in relation to factors that are seen as significantly affecting consulting assignment outcomes for both client and consultant. It also highlights the dearth of research on investigation of the interplay, connectedness, and relationship among the various factors identified in isolation in the existing literature. In addressing this gap, the author proposes a conceptual framework with a broad research agenda with research questions to establish the linkages among the significant success factors identified in the literature. This paper makes a valuable contribution toward future research in this respect by providing a clear conceptual framework and robust research agenda

Do management consultants understand the psyche of their clients?

The paper reveals the lack of discovery of the unwritten or unspoken expectations of clients in the consultant-client relationship

Child labor in the supply chain

© 2017, © Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: This paper aims to highlight the risks faced by companies through the use of child labor in their outsourced global supply chains. Design/methodology/approach: This paper explores recent research and commentary on child labor in global supply chains. Findings: This paper reveals the risk of brand damage to large organizations as a result of child labor inputs in their supply chains. Practical implications: This study guides practitioners of human resources in advising management on strategic and tactical approaches in sanitizing supply chains of child labor. Social implications: This paper draws attention to the risks associated with the presence of child labor in the supply chain and need for large companies to practice social responsibility beyond their borders. Originality/value: The study demonstrates how child labor is not just an ethical issue but a legal one as well and how injustices suffered by children can through public awareness campaigns destroy brand value of the ultimate benefactor companies

Messing with corporate heads? psychological contracts and leadership integrity

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to present a model of leadership fulfiling the need of our times: The leadership psychological contract (LPC). In the current socio-economic environment of uncertainty and unprecedented change, both business environments and the community at large are marked by leadership crises. This instability makes an understanding of the relational aspects impacting the relationship between leaders and their constituencies both important and urgent. Now, more than ever before, extraordinary leadership is required. The psychological contract (PC) is recognised as one of the most emergent areas in organisational research. Its contribution to the leadership domain, however, is as yet undiscovered. Design/methodology/approach – This paper addresses this deficiency by integrating contemporary leadership and PC literature. This paper also addresses criticisms raised in the leadership literature in the past 25 years relating to the scarce leadership research conducted at the unit/team level, despite the rhetoric that the main aim of leadership is in the collaborative domain, as well as the impact of leaders on emotional constructs and motivational or ‘extra-role’ behaviours. Findings – The LPC is a predictive model that comprises three dependent variables (fulfillment of expectations, trust and fairness) – which constitute the health of the contract or the leader’s integrity/credibility, and four dependent variables (affective commitment, satisfaction, discretionary effort and innovation), which constitute the ‘consequences of the contract’ or the leader’s impact. The LPC model complements previous models of transformational leadership and leader–member exchange theory and addresses various criticisms and recommendations made in literature. Originality/value – Frameworks such as authentic leadership, ethical leadership, moral leadership, spirituality and leadership each emphasise positive leader – follower relations. Taking into account the LPC and incorporating it into theory and practice should allow researchers to predict leadership effectiveness more completely and effectually than existing positive leadership approaches. The LPC model aims to enhance and refresh the value of effective and ethical leadership approaches that are emerging in response to the current socioeconomic landscape and leadership crises. </jats:sec

Unfair dismissals in Australia: Does arbitration help employees?

Purpose - To determine the factors associated with arbitration awards in unfair dismissal complaints under Australian federal legislation and to assess whether employees benefit from arbitration. Design/methodology/approach - This research involves an empirical analysis of 342 decisions in 17 industries by arbitrators in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission over the four year period 1997-2000. Logistic and ordinary least squares regression are used to analyse the data. Findings - The findings of this study indicate that 50.6 per cent of arbitration decisions were in favour of employees and only 10.8 per cent of complainants were reinstated. Independent variables which are significantly associated with each of the three dependent variables are identified. Research implications/limitations - The results of this study enable researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the arbitration process and recognise independent variables that are associated with the arbitrator's decision in unfair dismissal cases. Practical implications - Employers lose half the unfair dismissal cases that go to arbitration. To reduce legal and associated costs, employers may need to look at ways of creating a more harmonious workplace. Employees do not benefit much from arbitration and have little chance of reclaiming their jobs. Reaching a settlement through mediation may be a better option. Originality/value - This is the first study to assess arbitration decisions in Australia. By developing a conceptual model based on arbitration outcomes and structuring the analysis on this model, the paper presents a logical understanding of the factors that drive arbitration decisions and remedies. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Power sharing in progressive discipline: New rules of engagement arising from an Australian perspective

The aim of this exploratory study is to apply the lens of power to the understanding of progressive discipline in Australian workplace contexts. Using data from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, we analysed the outcomes of 78 unfair dismissal cases across 17 industries over a four-year period (1997-2000). We found that the application of progressive discipline on employees is concentrated around industry and occupational class. Specifically, it shows that occupational classes such as unskilled, skilled, and sales staff are more susceptible to disciplining by employers. It raises the awareness of the immense power the employer derives from the use of progressive discipline over employees and implications in the new environment of on-going labour deregulation and the lack of statutory intervention to ameliorate the growing power imbalance

Transnational Strategy of Australian Service Firms: Resource Management for Foreign Expansion.

Australian firms expanding overseas must have a business strategy to exploit any competitive advantage, strongly supported by corporate strategy and management. The focus of this research is on the transnational strategy and management of Australian firms. This study investigates the nature of the integration of home-base and offshore operations of Australian firms to achieve competitive positions in national and world markets. Its purpose is to analyze and assess the impact of the size of the firm, its management and the development of strategies. Conclusions of the study support the fact that management mentality and behavior are important. The study also analyzes management mentality in the context of intra-firm competition or collaboration for resources, in a manner which is consistent with firm's performance. Specifically it demonstrates that management can rationally have different views about priorities for the allocation of resources and international operations yet compete actively for the same resources, or collaborate whenever possible, in order to achieve their own goals

HP Australia: Sustainability in supply chain strategies

This case study explores the supply chain management strategies of Hewlett Packard Australia.(HP). At the heart of HP's supply chain strategy is sustainability. HP sees itself as a socially responsible organisation and therefore pursuing sustainable supply chain practices are seen as an integral part of achieving the social responsibility. HP proactively seeks to use its sustainable supply chain practices as a competitive tool so as to improve its image among stakeholders as a good global citizen. HP runs an ambitious program of asset recovering centred on recycling as part of its supply chain and encourages both suppliers and customers to become part of its sustainability program

Disintermediation of traditional chemical intermediary roles in the Electronic Business-to-Business (e-B2B) exchange world

The traditional chemical distribution industry is a multi-billion dollar business and with the introduction of Electronic Business-to-Business (e-B2B) exchanges to the global chemical industry there is some concern about the future roles of traditional intermediaries (TI). The objectives of this research paper are to investigate the possibility of disintermediation of roles of TI by e-B2B exchanges and to identify the value adding role of TI as perceived by chemical distributors and buyers. If these value adding roles may be the key to future survival for TI in the marketplace. International data collected from e-B2B exchanges, chemical distributors and buyers are used. Content analysis of e-B2B exchanges was conducted while survey questionnaires were used for distributors and buyers using a cross-sectional approach. The research shows that whilst the e-B2B exchanges have a role to play in the chemical supply chain management there were still sub-functions which the buyers viewed that the TI could offer to them. So the supplier-buyer relationships could be maintained between the buyers and the TI, at least for the time being, until newer business models of e-B2B exchanges begins to compete with the TI's to offer these sub-functions. The research holds valuable implications for TI in the chemical industry regarding the need for differentiation with a view building new competences to survive the encroachment of their traditional business base by e-B2B exchanges. The impact of e-B2B exchanges on TI in the chemical industry has not previously been studied in-depth. This paper provides new knowledge and makes a contribution by providing evidence of evolution in the chemical distribution channels. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved