Phases of Cost Cutting: Downsizing is Dead; Long Live the Downsizing Phenomenon

This downsizing research article presents a phase typology of job cutting which includes three distinct phases and three levels of argument. Conceptually, the paper draws heavily upon the seminal work of Littler and Gandolfi (2008) seeking to expand and update their 2008 Academy of Management (AOM) Conference paper. The paper culminates with a contemporary discussion of current downsizing practices showcasing that the strategy of downsizing has remained a popular restructuring method on a global scale.downsizing; cost cutting; phase; strategy.

The Impact of Leadership on Health – A Preliminary Discussion

Contemporary leaders are confronted with unrelenting demands while setting visions, goals, and objectives for organizations. Empirical studies have shown that leaders are increasingly faced with high levels of stress which, in turn, have an impact on the health of individuals, groups, and entire organizational entities. There is a particular concern for the individual health of leaders since leaders play a particularly important role in the success and future survival of firms. This research paper endeavors to address some of the pertinent issues of the concept of leadership as they specifically relate to and impact health.leadership; health; organizations; leaders.

Unravelling Downsizing – What do we know about the Phenomenon?

This downsizing article represents a succinct review of the scholarly work of researchers studying the multifaceted downsizing phenomenon over the past 30 years. Since Cascio’s (1993) article “Downsizing: What do we know? What have we learned?”, the research has burgeoned across several countries. This paper examines what we have learned during the many years of scholarly enquiry. As such, the article is based upon an analysis of the downsizing literature and represents a summation of secondary sources. The research also provides an update on the latest downsizing developments.downsizing; strategy; workforce; literature review.

The Practice of Telecommuting: A Fresh Perspective

Telecommuting has been a popular practice for an increasing number of firms and governmental bodies over the past decade or more. This research paper reviews antecedents, implementation considerations, known consequences, barriers, and recommendations that need to be determined prior to the adoption of telecommuting practices. The paper demonstrates that the phenomenon of telecommuting is the result of historical, sociological, and technological shifts and advancements. While firms have successfully implemented various elements of telecommuting practices, challenges along the way have yielded insights and lessons that merit further examination and discussion. This paper asserts that with selected individuals, proper structure, and sufficient feedback mechanisms in place, the adoption of telecommuting has the capacity to strengthen a firm’s bottom line and provide tangible benefit for its employees. As a case in point, online learning, developed in parallel with the growth of telecommuting, yields substantial benefits for employees and the companies in which they serve. For employees, online learning is convenient, accommodates multiple learning styles, and is an engaging learning mechanism. For corporations, online learning encourages cost-effectiveness, uniformity in quality and flexibility, and enhanced cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary communications, all necessary to meet the challenges of the ever-changing global marketplace.telecommuting; technology; online learning; social media; innovation; institutional learning; cross-cultural communications.

A global perspective on the non - financial consequences of downsizing

Firms engage in workforce downsizing for a multitude of reasons, generating a myriad of consequences and implications at organizational, sub-group, and individual levels of analysis. The downsizing literature is extensive, reflecting the prevalence of this management practice in North America and around the globe. Despite the large body of research, there is scarce evidence regarding the success of the downsizing strategy when assessed from financial, organizational, and human resource perspectives. This paper demonstrates that there are patterns in downsizing practices irrespective of country of origin. Internationally-oriented firms adopt similar strategies and practices to handle external threats or internal inefficiencies and experience similar outcomes. Also, there is substantial empirical evidence from multiple countries suggesting that executives have adopted downsizing activities as a strategy, driven by a deep-seated belief that these strategies will improve organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and overall financial performance. The paper shows that managers often experience a crisis mentality following the planning and implementation of downsizing and fail to make effective long-term plans for the firm and its constituencies. Furthermore, executives have a tendency to inadequately prepare for the aftermath of downsizing, and fail to understand how downsizing survivors will be affected by workforce reduction activities. Finally, the authors argue that firms mitigate some of the negative effects by providing training for survivors and introducing human resource policies and plans to mediate the after-effects of downsizing

Repeat Downsizing: Legacy, Recency, and Sensitisation Effects.

This empirical study set in a large multinational pharmaceutical company analyses three effects of repeat downsizing on commitment based on Moore and colleagues' research (2004; 2006). Results confirm a legacy effect whereby previous exposure to downsizing continues to influence commitment years after the initial exposure and a recency effect given by a greater negative effect of recent downsizing events compared to previous downsizing. A sensitisation effect was observed only among employees with a double direct exposure to the same downsizing method

Theoretical perspectives on downsizing: the long-term effect and impact of repeat downsizing.

Current understanding of the long-term effect of downsizing and the effect of repeat downsizing is limited by the small number of empirical studies in the field and the conflicting evidence they provide. This article reviews the three theoretical perspectives found in the downsizing literature and concludes that downsizing does have a long-term effect on employees and organizations, that the type of downsizing contact and the order of that contact influence the outcome of repeat downsizing, and that employee vulnerability or resilience to repeat downsizing is dependent on the outcome under investigation

Downsizing and Affective Organisational Commitment: A Contextual Proximity Perspective.

While the dominant literature on downsizing suggests that workforce reductions have a negative impact on employee commitment, knowledge of downsizing is limited by the undifferentiated ways in which downsizing activities are usually approached. This study analyses differences in employee commitment depending on a) the downsizing method used (voluntary redundancies, divestment, layoffs and closure of units) and b) the degree of exposure of employees to the downsizing event. Using downsizing announcements and questionnaires, two distinct families of downsizing methods were identified. Layoffs and closure of units have a negative effect on commitment while voluntary redundancies and divestment have a positive effect. Employee exposure (direct, indirect or not exposed) to the downsizing event accounts for significant differences on commitment. Studying downsizing in a differentiated way shows that assuming that all downsizing is detrimental to commitment is inadequate. We outline the theoretical and practical implications of a more nuanced approach to downsizing

Implant of equine pericardiun in diaphragmatic lesions in dogs

The objective of the present work was to use equine pericardiun preserved in glycerin as an implant to correct diaphragmatic lesions in adult mongrel dogs. After laparotomy, a 4 x 4 cm fragment of the muscular coat of the diaphragma was resected; afterwards the lesion was occluded by an implant of pericardium through a festoned suture using chromic catgut 3-0. The dogs did well during the post-operative period, with no signs of respiratory restriction. The animals (5/group) were sacrificed 7, 15, 30, 45and 60 days post-surgery. At the autopsy, the findings of the diaphragma and surrounding tissues were noted and fragments were taken for histopathology. Grossly the implant occluded completely the induced lesion, was adhered to the liver and pericardium and decreased in size without interfering with the diaphragma elasticity. At the histology, there was an initial phase (day 7 and 15) characterized by an acute inflammatory response followed by a reparative process ending up with the appearance of newly formed fibrous membrane which totally replaced the former muscular coat. The present procedure seems to be an adequatetechnique to repair diaphragmatic lesions in small animals. In addition, it employs a material which is non-expensive and easy to obtain, to keep and to apply.0 presente trabalho teve como objetivo o uso de pericárdio de eqüino conservado em glicerina na correção cirúrgica de lesões diafragmáticas em cães adultos, sem raça definida. O  procedimento cirúrgico envolveu: laparatomia; excisão de fragmento de 4 x 4 cm da porção muscular do diafragma; substituição por implante de pericárdio através de sutura contínua, festonada, com categute cromado 3-0. Os cães apresentaram pós-operatório normal, sem restrição respiratória. Os animais foram sacrificados 7, 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias após o implante (5 animais/grupo), observando-se as achados macroscópicos "in situ" e estudando-se a histopatologia do enxerto e dos tecidos circundantes. Macroscopicamente, o enxerto obliterou o orifício induzido, determinou aderência com o fígado e saco pericárdico e exibiu diminuição progressiva de tamanho, sem interferência na elasticidade do diafragma. A avaliação microscópica mostrou período inicial (dias 7 e 15) de reação inflamatória aguda, seguido de fenômenos de reparação com a formação de neomembrana fibrosa, obliterante da solução de continuidade

Dietary flavonoids improve urinary arsenic elimination among Mexican women

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure increases risk of several diseases, including cancer. Some nutrients such as flavonoids enhance glutathione activity, which in turn play a key role in iAs elimination. Our objective was to explore whether dietary non-soy flavonoids are associated with iAs metabolism. We hypothesized that the intake of flavonoids belonging to the following groups, flavan-3-ols, flavone, flavonol, flavanone, and anthocyanidin, is positively associated with urinary dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), which is the most soluble iAs metabolite excreted. We performed a cross-sectional study that included 1027 women living in an arsenic-contaminated area of northern Mexico. Flavonoid intake was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Concentration of urinary iAs and its metabolites (monomethylarsonic acid and DMA) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography ICP-MS. Results showed positive significant associations between DMA and the flavonoid groups flava-3-ols (beta= 0.0112) and flavones (beta= 0.0144), as well as the individual intake of apigenin (beta= 0.0115), luteolin (beta= 0.0138), and eriodictyol (beta= 0.0026). Our findings suggest that certain non-soy flavonoids may improve iAs elimination; however, there is still very limited information available regarding the consumption of flavonoids and iAs metabolism. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.CONACYT Fondo Sectorial de Investigacion en Salud y Seguridad Social [2005-2-14373, 2009-1-111384, 2010-1-140962, POCPN 2013-01-215464, FOSISS 272632]; National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health [MD 001452]12 month embargo; available online 21 April 2018.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]