Is corporate social responsibility (CSR) a universal idea? Is the same exact definition of CSR relevant for any organization, regardless of context? Or would such a definition need to be adapted to fit different types of organizations, in different cultures, industries and sectors? This book discusses how CSR should preferably be practiced. The expert authors share their knowledge on whether a broad definition of CSR can be practiced as is or if it first has to undergo changes to suit the context. The leading group of contributors argues that anyone wishing to adopt the CSR idea in their organization needs to take the context into account and, thus, find a version of CSR that fits the specific industry, sector, national culture, religion and so on, in which the organization exists. The book discusses the universality of CSR and includes a comparison of the relevance of a broad, general definition of CSR for organizations in contexts such as Buddhism and Islam, developing countries and the food processing, shipping and pharmaceutical industries. Guidelines for conducting studies on the examination of the relevance of CSR for organizations in any particular generalized context are also provided. Academics, students and practitioners involved in the fresh field of CSR will find this an essential resource. Contributors include: A. Ahmad, T. Aroni, A. Athanasopoulou, F. Azmat, W.L. Chan, J.E.-T. Cheah, D.K. Davidson, I. Fafaliou, S. Goerpe, P. Gottschalk, G.M. Hall, J.M. Hansen, M. Z. Haque, S.-w. Hsu, D. Jamali, C. Karam, M. Lekakou, L. Montanheiro, B. OEksuz, A. OErtenblad, P. Perry, P. Reinmoeller, J.W. Selsky, E. Stefanidaki, I. Theotokas, W. Visser, J. Weikert

The practical guide that gives you the skills to succeed as a leader DK's Essential Managers series contains the know-how you need to be a more effective manager and hone your management style. Find out how to improve your leadership skills by establishing a vision, inspiring others and championing high performance. You'll learn to focus your energy, build relationships and develop strategies. In a slim, portable format Essential Managers gives you a practical 'how-to' approach with step-by-step instructions, tips, checklists and 'ask yourself' features showing you how to focus your energy, manage change and make an impact. If you are keen to brush up on or enhance your leadership skills, this is the guide for you.

This innovative Handbook draws together and reflects on the specific methodological challenges that an international business scholar is likely to face when undertaking a qualitative research project. With a practical, hands-on approach to methodological debates, the Handbook raises concerns specific to international business scholars. Covering the entire life cycle of a research project from its philosophical underpinnings to publication hurdles, the book explores existing practices and gives voice to multiple, even contrasting perspectives. This invaluable source of experiential knowledge, as well as conceptual understanding, has been achieved by a truly international authorship. Including fascinating vignettes written by senior academics, the result is a guide that will be indispensable. Capturing the experiences and practices of qualitative researchers, the Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for International Business should be on the bookshelves of students and scholars of IB, researchers in international management and marketing, and teachers of cross-cultural and IB research methods.

Citizenship and Management in Public Administration is an exciting journey into the nexus between two separate but close worlds: citizenship orientations and citizenship behavior as reflected in political science theory on one hand, and organizational sciences, work studies, management, and public administration on the other. The authors have combined theoretical thinking with empirical findings to support their theories, and the data presented has been collected over almost a decade of field studies and surveys of public organizations. Dealing with the nature and meaning of citizenship, this book looks at behavior and involvement in modern public worksites. The interdisciplinary studies are all concerned with achieving better integration of the theories and ideas on citizenship and bureaucracies, which are more frequently treated as independent domains in the social sciences. However, the authors suggest that they are closely related and should be analyzed in relation to one another. This unique book will appeal to academics of management and organizational behavior, public administration and those involved in researching the not-for-profit, or third, sector.

The continued growth of emerging nations depends largely on the development of their built infrastructures and communities. Roads, dams, bridges, hospitals, schools, and housing are all examples of the built environment that impacts economic improvements in the developing world. Decision Support for Construction Cost Control in Developing Countries explores how the construction industry contributes to a nation's GDP and the related cost issues and proposed cost reduction solutions for construction projects and initiatives in developing regions. Emphasizing the role of decision support systems for reducing and managing the costs associated with construction projects, this title is an essential reference source for civil engineers, business and engineering managers, project managers, researchers, and professionals in the construction industry.

There are numerous trends taking place around the world and especially in the U.S. with implications for organizations, the workplace, leaders, and supporting organizations like Human Resources. How organizations and their leadership react and proactively address these changes will be difference between positioning themselves for success in the future or for disappearing as other organizations have disappeared. The critically important issue of these trends is that they are occurring simultaneously. The trends consists of constant and consistent change driven by advancing technology, challenges with education with implications for a future workforce, an aging population and workforce, four generations in the workforce with a growing millennial workforce, changing expectations from the workforce with an emphasis on employee engagement, and leadership development opportunities. This perfect human capital storm addresses these very important and relevant issues in a succinct fashion while also providing some systemic recommendations for organizations and its leadership to consider as they work to differentiate themselves from their competition, to look to reinvent themselves, while also creating a great place to work in the 21st century. In addition, the book provides an assessment to use as a guide and to serve as a starting point for discussion and planning among the organization's leadership team for the organization.

For decades, the writings of James MacGregor Burns have defined the central issues in our understanding of leadership. Their impact is illustrated here through ten chapters exploring Burns' research on presidential leadership and related issues of moral and effective leadership, the nature of social change and transformation, and the subtleties of the relationships between leaders and followers. Exploring history through the dynamics of leadership, this extraordinary volume outlines the dynamics of social change and transformation and illustrates how leaders shape followers' motivations. The transactional and transforming leadership of various US presidents are considered within broader questions of personal ethics, conflict and compromise, and historical contingency. The presidencies of Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson in particular transformed American society and American politics. The essays in this book explore the several ways they fought for enduring human values using power resources that aroused and satisfied deep human motives and tested the limits of leadership effectiveness and morality. Students of leadership, the US Presidency, the American founding, and history more generally will find this book enlightening. Scholars and leaders in business, psychology and philosophy with also find much of value given James MacGregor Burns's insightful analysis across a wide field of disciplines. Contributors include: S.T. Allison, D. Bradburn, J.B. Ciulla, R.A. Couto, T.E. Cronin, G.R. Goethals, G.R. Hickman, E.J. Larso, G. Sorenson, P. Spero

This volume in the Research in Organizational Sciences series is entitled Received Wisdom, Kernels of Truth and Boundary Conditions in Organizational Studies. Received wisdom is knowledge imparted to people by others and is based on authority and tenacity as sources of human knowledge. Authority refers to the acceptance of knowledge as truth because of the position and credibility of the knowledge source. Tenacity refers to the continued presentation of a particular bit of information by a source until this bit of information is accepted as true by receivers. The problem for organisational studies, however, is that this received wisdom often becomes unquestioned assumptions which guide interpretation of the world and decisions made about the world. Received wisdom, therefore, may lead to organisational practices which provide little or no benefit to the organisation and, potentially, negative organisational effects, because this received wisdom is no longer valid. The 14 papers in this volume all, in some way, strive to question received wisdom and present alternatives which expand our understanding of organisational behaviour in some way. The chapters in this volume each strive to present new ways of understanding organisational constructs, and in so doing reveal how received wisdom has often led to confirmation bias in organisational science. The knowledge that some perceived truths are actually the products of received wisdom and do not stand up to close scrutiny shakes up things within research areas previously thought settled allowing new perspectives on organisational science to emerge.

Drawing together understandings from science and business around the increasingly important concept of resilience, this book provides managers, academics and practitioners with important ideas that will help business prepare for the future. It provides much needed detail on the challenges that climate change poses for organisations and makes essential reading for anyone interested in sustainable business.' - Suzanne Benn, University of Technology, Sydney, AustraliaClimate change has had a significant impact globally, predominantly for those vulnerable to its influence. The first book of its kind, The Climate Resilient Organization assesses the issues that have mounted for decision-makers in the field, while providing strategies to tackle them. With a particular focus on building climate-resilient pathways for private sector organizations, the expert authors offer practical tools and decision-making criteria for evaluating adaptation needs, costs and benefits. Split into two parts, this book begins with an analysis of the subject on a global scale; it continues by translating the science surrounding it while presenting it in a manner suited to local decision-makers. Sustainability and climate adaptation scholars as well as managers will equally find this book to be an insightful read. Government officers and risk management professionals will also find the topics discussed beneficial to their work.

The study of e-adoption focuses on the implementation and use of the Internet and Internet-based technologies for personal and business activities. This field has become increasingly relevant due to the increased reliance upon the Internet among individuals in both developed and developing countries. E-Adoption and Socio-Economic Impacts: Emerging Infrastructural Effects identifies the multidimensional impact of e-adoption and provides theoretical and practical solutions for policy makers, managers, and researchers in government, industry, and academia. This publication unites research on all aspects of e-adoption with the aim of understanding this phenomenon on both an organizational and individual level.

Evaluating the role of logistics and supply chain management skills or applications is necessary for the success of any organization or business. As market competition becomes more aggressive, it is crucial to evaluate ways in which a business can maintain a strategic edge over competitors. The Handbook of Research on Information Management for Effective Logistics and Supply Chains highlights strategies, tools, and skills necessary for supply management within organizations and companies. Featuring best practices and empirical research within the field, this handbook is a critical reference source for scholars, practitioners, researchers, information systems and telecommunication specialists, and managers.

True leadership is about character - this is the key to winning 'the right way'. In a world where we're bombarded by messages of 'winning at any cost', dishonest politicians, CEOs committing fraud, disgraced military commanders and cheating athletes, integrity matters more than ever. The Character Edge explains the powerful role character plays in trust, culture and leadership, and offers readers tools to exercise and strengthen their own. Reaching from the battlefield to the classroom and beyond, former superintendent of West Point Robert Caslen and professor of psychology Dr Michael Matthews explore the vital link between strong character and strong leadership, and explain why the latter cannot exist without the former. 'Caslen and Matthews show how and why this fundamental inner architecture of leadership can - and must - be built' - Jim Collins, bestselling author of Good to Great.