…From the Editor

Abstract

Whether on the road or at a desk, the feeling of having no viable options, no matter which way we turn, can be exasperating. Faced with organizational gridlock, business leaders commonly seek an outside perspective to open up a fresh avenue of thought or approach. As Bart Tkaczyk details on page 6, the most productive engagements with an external consultant are carefully planned to balance sound research with creative application. Hitting the “refresh” button on organizational challenges entails asking hard questions. But that alone is not enough. On page 17, James B. Rieley outlines a thorough method for not only uncovering the essential elements in a decision-making scenario, but also for testing the likely consequences of any proposed solution so that crucial resources are not squandered. At a leading Malaysian retailer, satisfying customers with in-store promotions without incurring additional costs called for mapping out key processes. In so doing, note Kuang Siew Lee and Cheng Ling Tan on page 24, store managers were able to identify underlying supply chain issues that could hamper on-shelf availability and to address such crucial variables as proper staff training. The value of e-training in the Nigerian civil service led Bello Zainab, Muhammad Awais Bhatti, and Faizuniah Pangil to examine the factors that affect its adoption. As they explain on page 33, their poll of 450 department heads underscored the need for effective technical support to bolster workers’ adoption of e-training as a new way to acquire essential skills. And in their study of 365 bank managers in Bangladesh, on page 43, Nadia Newaz Rimi, Mohd.Yusoff Yusliza, Tim Walters, and Mohammad Rabiul Basher Rubel show that effective delegation—in this case, of human resource responsibilities to branch leaders—can also enhance service quality. The recent proliferation of living labs highlights the importance of collaboration in spurring research and testing innovative products and processes. In his analysis on page 52, Frits D.J. Grotenhuis concludes that to get the most from these dynamic partnerships, better coordination is needed between the experimental facilities and the organizations they serve. Regular readers of Global Business and Organizational Excellence will notice the journal's new look, inaugurated with this issue. The hope is that in both design and content, the pages that follow will inspire a fresh outlook of your own.