Towards a third level of analysis in the work-life balance debate: Incorporating a 'society' perspective
- Authors: Zacharias, Nadine
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The international journal of knowledge, culture & change management Vol. 5, no. 8 (2006), p. 195-201
- Full Text:
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- Description: The concept of ‘work-life balance’ has been researched from three main but largely separate perspectives: Business, individual and society. Much research has attempted to link ‘work-life balance’ initiatives to ‘bottom line’ performance and to make a ‘business case’ for their introduction. Studies that have focused on employees using ‘work-life balance’ policies have shown that the issues around a satisfactory combination of work and private life spheres are still mainly perceived as an individual (female) concern. It is only recently that the issues have been regarded as a phenomenon of broader social significance because the negative consequences of the increased inability of finding a ‘balance’ are becoming more and more obvious in Western societies. In this paper, I argue that the discussion around ‘work-life balance’ has to be more inclusive and needs to integrate the three perspectives to take the debate to a new level. The underlying theme is that of values, attitudes and beliefs that are held in organisations, individuals and societies and of the ways in which their interplay predicts the ability to achieve a personal ‘work-life balance’. It is argued that those values, attitudes and beliefs are innately gendered. By adding a ‘society’ perspective to the equation, in the form of a critical ‘gender lens’, it is possible to detect deeply held and widely shared assumptions within national cultures that create gendered social structures which currently hinder the reconciliation of work and private life spheres.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001776
- Authors: Zacharias, Nadine
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The international journal of knowledge, culture & change management Vol. 5, no. 8 (2006), p. 195-201
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The concept of ‘work-life balance’ has been researched from three main but largely separate perspectives: Business, individual and society. Much research has attempted to link ‘work-life balance’ initiatives to ‘bottom line’ performance and to make a ‘business case’ for their introduction. Studies that have focused on employees using ‘work-life balance’ policies have shown that the issues around a satisfactory combination of work and private life spheres are still mainly perceived as an individual (female) concern. It is only recently that the issues have been regarded as a phenomenon of broader social significance because the negative consequences of the increased inability of finding a ‘balance’ are becoming more and more obvious in Western societies. In this paper, I argue that the discussion around ‘work-life balance’ has to be more inclusive and needs to integrate the three perspectives to take the debate to a new level. The underlying theme is that of values, attitudes and beliefs that are held in organisations, individuals and societies and of the ways in which their interplay predicts the ability to achieve a personal ‘work-life balance’. It is argued that those values, attitudes and beliefs are innately gendered. By adding a ‘society’ perspective to the equation, in the form of a critical ‘gender lens’, it is possible to detect deeply held and widely shared assumptions within national cultures that create gendered social structures which currently hinder the reconciliation of work and private life spheres.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001776
Malaysian and Australian male and female middle managers
- Authors: Wood, Glenice , Jogulu, Uma
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The international journal of knowledge, Culture amd Change Management Vol. 6, no. 3 (2006), p. 109-119
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- Description: This paper outlines the rise of women in management worldwide, and considers why so few women achieve senior or executive management positions. This slow advance of women into senior roles is unexpected given that the changes in organisations today are believed to require more ‘feminine leadership’. A decrease in the emphasis on masculine characteristics for managers is reported, and a requirement that more ‘feminine leadership’ needs to be adopted by organisations in order to ensure their survival in the future (Powell, Butterfield & Parent, 2002, p.189). Recent empirical research reports that there are differences in leadership style between male and female managers, and the findings suggest that women exhibit more transformational leadership than their male counterparts, with this style being strongly equated with effective leadership (Eagly, Johannesen-Schmidt, van Engen, 2003). However, these findings are based on western research, and it may be that cross cultural research will yield a different picture (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, & Gupta, 2004). Leadership and leadership styles may be conceptualised differently in a more paternalistic society. To explore this possibility, a cross cultural study was conducted in Malaysia and Australia. It is hypothesised that countries that are paternalistic in cultural values will exhibit a stronger constraint on women in management roles, which may impact on workplace attitudes, aspirations for promotion and style of leadership exhibited. Therefore, it is possible that the career advancement of women may be more problematic for Malaysian managerial women than their Australian counterparts. Results from an initial pilot study in Malaysia and Australia are outlined, and highlight some interesting similarities and differences to what are reported in the western literature.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001775
- Authors: Wood, Glenice , Jogulu, Uma
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The international journal of knowledge, Culture amd Change Management Vol. 6, no. 3 (2006), p. 109-119
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper outlines the rise of women in management worldwide, and considers why so few women achieve senior or executive management positions. This slow advance of women into senior roles is unexpected given that the changes in organisations today are believed to require more ‘feminine leadership’. A decrease in the emphasis on masculine characteristics for managers is reported, and a requirement that more ‘feminine leadership’ needs to be adopted by organisations in order to ensure their survival in the future (Powell, Butterfield & Parent, 2002, p.189). Recent empirical research reports that there are differences in leadership style between male and female managers, and the findings suggest that women exhibit more transformational leadership than their male counterparts, with this style being strongly equated with effective leadership (Eagly, Johannesen-Schmidt, van Engen, 2003). However, these findings are based on western research, and it may be that cross cultural research will yield a different picture (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, & Gupta, 2004). Leadership and leadership styles may be conceptualised differently in a more paternalistic society. To explore this possibility, a cross cultural study was conducted in Malaysia and Australia. It is hypothesised that countries that are paternalistic in cultural values will exhibit a stronger constraint on women in management roles, which may impact on workplace attitudes, aspirations for promotion and style of leadership exhibited. Therefore, it is possible that the career advancement of women may be more problematic for Malaysian managerial women than their Australian counterparts. Results from an initial pilot study in Malaysia and Australia are outlined, and highlight some interesting similarities and differences to what are reported in the western literature.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001775
Student management in Chinese higher education institutions
- Jiang, Xiaoli, Ma, Xiaoping, Wu, Yumei
- Authors: Jiang, Xiaoli , Ma, Xiaoping , Wu, Yumei
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management Vol. 9, no. 11 (2009), p. 45-58
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- Description: This study investigated six Chinese higher education institutions in relation to management of their students. The results indicate Chinese higher education institutions place a greater emphasis on controlling students in order to achieve desired outcomes according to their national ideology and cultural values. Control measures are intended to ensure good class attendance, collective teamwork and discipline. Their student management focuses on extrinsic rewards and punishments to promote desirable moral values and ethics. A very comprehensive control system is in place to achieve these goals. Students are encouraged to manage fellow students. The research also identified that prestigious universities with a higher level of entry scores place less control measures on their students compared to their counterparts with lower entry scores. Chinese higher education management believes the measures to control students are designed to combat negative elements of human beings. This study provides an understanding into the reasons why current higher education management practices exist in China and offers some explanations from historical, political and social culture perspectives. The study will assist Western educators to better understand the challenges facing Chinese students studying abroad. © Common Ground.
- Description: 2003007993
- Authors: Jiang, Xiaoli , Ma, Xiaoping , Wu, Yumei
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management Vol. 9, no. 11 (2009), p. 45-58
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study investigated six Chinese higher education institutions in relation to management of their students. The results indicate Chinese higher education institutions place a greater emphasis on controlling students in order to achieve desired outcomes according to their national ideology and cultural values. Control measures are intended to ensure good class attendance, collective teamwork and discipline. Their student management focuses on extrinsic rewards and punishments to promote desirable moral values and ethics. A very comprehensive control system is in place to achieve these goals. Students are encouraged to manage fellow students. The research also identified that prestigious universities with a higher level of entry scores place less control measures on their students compared to their counterparts with lower entry scores. Chinese higher education management believes the measures to control students are designed to combat negative elements of human beings. This study provides an understanding into the reasons why current higher education management practices exist in China and offers some explanations from historical, political and social culture perspectives. The study will assist Western educators to better understand the challenges facing Chinese students studying abroad. © Common Ground.
- Description: 2003007993
Perceptions of effective leaders : Cross cultural influences
- Authors: Jogulu, Uma , Wood, Glenice
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management Vol. 8, no. 1 (2008), p. 113-120
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- Description: This paper suggests that values, attitudes and behaviours are strongly culture specific. Therefore, it is contended that if culture exerts an influence in behaviours and attitudes of people it will be evident in the way leadership is perceived or traits of effective leadership is distinguished in organisations around the world. In the Western leadership literature, effective leadership appears to be correlated with organisational performance and profitability, subordinate extra effort and subordinate satisfaction with the leader. The Western literature also suggests that the measure of effective leadership at an individual level involve rating “by subordinates, superiors and peers and leaders themselves” (Eagly, Karau, & Makhijani, 1995, p. 128). However, there is limited knowledge and specific details of leadership characteristics that may constitute effective leadership practices outside the West, nor how universal the Western theories and models may be beyond the Western settings. There is a need to expand the existing knowledge and findings to understand whether Western leadership behaviours and practices are acceptable, appropriate or relevant in other cultures. In order to address this broad topic, the present paper will explore the perceptions of effective leadership in two diverse cultures of Malaysia and Australia. The middle managers in four industry types participated in the present research and the study found differences within and between female and male middle managers in both countries in terms of how leadership effectiveness is perceived and evaluated.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003006153
- Authors: Jogulu, Uma , Wood, Glenice
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management Vol. 8, no. 1 (2008), p. 113-120
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper suggests that values, attitudes and behaviours are strongly culture specific. Therefore, it is contended that if culture exerts an influence in behaviours and attitudes of people it will be evident in the way leadership is perceived or traits of effective leadership is distinguished in organisations around the world. In the Western leadership literature, effective leadership appears to be correlated with organisational performance and profitability, subordinate extra effort and subordinate satisfaction with the leader. The Western literature also suggests that the measure of effective leadership at an individual level involve rating “by subordinates, superiors and peers and leaders themselves” (Eagly, Karau, & Makhijani, 1995, p. 128). However, there is limited knowledge and specific details of leadership characteristics that may constitute effective leadership practices outside the West, nor how universal the Western theories and models may be beyond the Western settings. There is a need to expand the existing knowledge and findings to understand whether Western leadership behaviours and practices are acceptable, appropriate or relevant in other cultures. In order to address this broad topic, the present paper will explore the perceptions of effective leadership in two diverse cultures of Malaysia and Australia. The middle managers in four industry types participated in the present research and the study found differences within and between female and male middle managers in both countries in terms of how leadership effectiveness is perceived and evaluated.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003006153
A Comparison of academic staff management practices in Chinese and Australian Universities
- Jiang, Xiaoli, Xu, Xinhui, Ma, Xiaoping, Prosser, Laurie
- Authors: Jiang, Xiaoli , Xu, Xinhui , Ma, Xiaoping , Prosser, Laurie
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The international journal of knowledge, culture & change management Vol. 7, no. 2 (2007), p. 39-47
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study investigated five Chinese higher education institutions in relation to management of academic staff. The study compared these practices with those used in three Australian universities. The results demonstrated that the Chinese universities provide more freedom to academic staff in terms of how staff spend their time at the university. However, there are more strict measures to control teaching staff’s punctuality in attending their classes and to have detailed planning and teaching documentation. There are also additional teaching evaluations at both school and university levels, together with student evaluation. Chinese higher education staff management places greater emphasis on extrinsic financial rewards to improve staff performance than do their Australian counterparts. The income of Chinese academic staff is performance based and closely connected to their teaching, supervision, research and management workload. This approach initially came from the West and is now adopted by Chinese higher education management, reflecting Chinese socialist principles regarding income distribution. This measure of distribution is a very important motivational factor designed to enhance staff performance. This study provides an understanding as to the reasons why differences exist in management practices in China and Australia and offers some explanations from historical, political and social culture perspectives. This research identifies both positive and negative aspects of the two systems and suggests that learning good management practices from each other may bring positive changes to the productivity of higher education in both countries.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005411
- Authors: Jiang, Xiaoli , Xu, Xinhui , Ma, Xiaoping , Prosser, Laurie
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The international journal of knowledge, culture & change management Vol. 7, no. 2 (2007), p. 39-47
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study investigated five Chinese higher education institutions in relation to management of academic staff. The study compared these practices with those used in three Australian universities. The results demonstrated that the Chinese universities provide more freedom to academic staff in terms of how staff spend their time at the university. However, there are more strict measures to control teaching staff’s punctuality in attending their classes and to have detailed planning and teaching documentation. There are also additional teaching evaluations at both school and university levels, together with student evaluation. Chinese higher education staff management places greater emphasis on extrinsic financial rewards to improve staff performance than do their Australian counterparts. The income of Chinese academic staff is performance based and closely connected to their teaching, supervision, research and management workload. This approach initially came from the West and is now adopted by Chinese higher education management, reflecting Chinese socialist principles regarding income distribution. This measure of distribution is a very important motivational factor designed to enhance staff performance. This study provides an understanding as to the reasons why differences exist in management practices in China and Australia and offers some explanations from historical, political and social culture perspectives. This research identifies both positive and negative aspects of the two systems and suggests that learning good management practices from each other may bring positive changes to the productivity of higher education in both countries.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005411
The influence of national and organizational culture on absorptive capacity of Chinese companies
- Authors: Tian, Feng , Lowe, Julian
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The international journal of knowledge, culture & change management Vol. 7, no. 10 (2007), p. 1-8
- Full Text:
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- Description: The paper reports on a research study of knowledge acquisition by Chinese firms involved in collaborative ventures with foreign enterprises. The study uses 152 Chinese businesses and examines how absorptive capacity (ACAP), as conceptualized by Cohen and Leventahl (1990) and modified by Zahra and George (2002), and national and organizational culture differences, affect the transfer of knowledge between Chinese firms and their international partners. The study uses a multivariate modeling approach to examine the impact of a number of factors on successful knowledge transfer. It finds that ACAP has a significant effect on successful knowledge transfer but that the relationship is significantly modified by cultural differences and inter-firm communications. Culture per se does not influence knowledge transfer directly but does so through its impact on communications channels and institutions. Knowledge management practices and organization are also able to impact successful knowledge transfer.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005181
- Authors: Tian, Feng , Lowe, Julian
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The international journal of knowledge, culture & change management Vol. 7, no. 10 (2007), p. 1-8
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The paper reports on a research study of knowledge acquisition by Chinese firms involved in collaborative ventures with foreign enterprises. The study uses 152 Chinese businesses and examines how absorptive capacity (ACAP), as conceptualized by Cohen and Leventahl (1990) and modified by Zahra and George (2002), and national and organizational culture differences, affect the transfer of knowledge between Chinese firms and their international partners. The study uses a multivariate modeling approach to examine the impact of a number of factors on successful knowledge transfer. It finds that ACAP has a significant effect on successful knowledge transfer but that the relationship is significantly modified by cultural differences and inter-firm communications. Culture per se does not influence knowledge transfer directly but does so through its impact on communications channels and institutions. Knowledge management practices and organization are also able to impact successful knowledge transfer.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005181
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