Contingent Approach Research Articles

Influence of human resource system strength on collective affective commitment: a contingent approach

This research focuses on the HR strategy implementation process, and in particular on the concept of HR system strength. In this paper we analyze the impact of HR system strength on collective affective commitment and examine this relationship from a contingent perspective, taking into account the moderating effect of leader-member exchange (LMX) and organizational size. The statistical analysis of data obtained from a sample of 142 Spanish companies and 504 key employees indicates that, when the effect of HR practices on collective affective commitment is controlled for, the strength of the HR system also has a positive and significant effect on this affective commitment. Moreover, we conclude that this relationship is not the same for all companies, but depends on the level of LMX in the organization. That is, depending on the overall relationship between leaders and subordinates in the organization, the effect of HR system strength on workforce affective commitment will vary. In particular, when the relationships between leaders and followers are good, the effect of HR system strength on affective commitment is lower.

Commitment under uncertainty: production-inventory policies associated with environmental considerations

We consider a manufacturer that produces in response to a stochastic demand and emits pollution during the production process. Industrial pollutants released into the air are characterised by spatial variability and heterogeneity, and the precision of instruments for measuring stochastic pollution stocks varies widely across pollutants. Consequently, commitment (open-loop) strategies to control production and associated emissions are considered more practical than contingent (feedback) approaches when manufacturers are concerned about environmental consequences. In this article, we derive an optimal, open-loop control policy over an infinite time horizon and show a condition that ensures that such a policy induces asymptotic convergence of expected inventory stock and pollution stock trajectories to unique steady states. Moreover, we find that the variance in the pollution stock also converges asymptotically to a unique steady state, which is critical for prevention of irreversible environmental consequences. We show that environmental uncertainty affects inventories, leading, in the long run, to lower expected steady-state inventory stocks. We compare feedback and open-loop production policies and show that though there are losses associated with the inability to track inventory and pollution stocks accurately and thus applying the open-loop control instead of feedback, the expected long-term inventory and pollution stocks are not affected.

Acquired Versus Learned Systems in Second Language Acquisition: A Review of Studies Based on Krashen’s Hypothesis

This research aimed to explore the contribution of Krashen’s learned-acquisition hypothesis within the context of second language education. Due to a lack of empirical research exploring teaching methods specifically founded upon the learned and acquisition systems of the said hypothesis, a contingent approach was taken whereby the learned system was deemed congruent with teacher-centred learning and the acquisition system was reflective of student-centred learning due to the conscious and subconscious components, respectively. This research adopted a secondary methodological approach to permit the design and completion of a literature review, which was needed to collectively evaluate original (primary) evidence sources regarding evidence for or against Krashen’s theory of second language acquisition and an acquisition-learning distinction. The findings of the research showed that student-centred learning offers varied advantages over teacher-centred learning in terms of outcomes of value within second language education. Moreover, the findings showed that student-centred learning was associated with meaningful and statistically significant improvements in students’ affective wellbeing and academic performance within second language education. Such findings were observed across child and young adult student groups and thus, show the dynamic utility of student-orientated learning for enhancing education quality and related outcomes.

Platforms, Politics, and Policy Change: Framing A Governance Approach to TNCs in the Gig Economy

In social science, platform capitalism is becoming more analyzed as digital app-based platforms have revolutionized the global exchange of goods and services, prompting multifaceted challenges within society, economics, and politics. Platform governance emerges as this changing landscape unfolds, illuminating the intricate interplay between national and local regulatory frameworks and the burgeoning power dynamics among diverse stakeholders. This article provides a framework for examining the complex political and governance issues that have surfaced in the gig economy, mainly focused on the proliferation of ride-hailing platforms, such as Uber, also known as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). This article examines the framework of platform governance contributing theoretically by putting into dialogue a literature primarily focused on studying social media with another branch of the platform society in which policy disruption has been evident, such as transportation and urban mobility. The analysis focuses on three fundamental dimensions of political economy: ideas, interests, and institutions. The paper also reviews how these three approaches have operated in recent scholarly literature. Finally, the article underscores the need for future research to address this complexity from a contingent approach to promote a comprehensive understanding of platform regulation.

Late Maritime Woodland period hunter-fisher-gatherer complexity in the Far Northeast: Toward an historical and contingent approach

We review archaeological research from the Late Maritime Woodland period (1300–550 cal BP) on the Maritime Peninsula and argue that there is substantial evidence for sociocultural and economic hunter-fisher-gatherer complexity prior to the arrival of Europeans. This is relevant because the region was the stage for some of the earliest contacts between Indigenous and European peoples in the Americas, and aspects of sociocultural complexity among the Wabanaki have sometimes been attributed to European contact, a conception which requires exploration. More broadly, we argue that hunter-fisher-gatherer complexity may be conceived of as a suite of practices that hunter-fisher-gatherers deploy in specific contexts to deal with historical or environmental contingencies, and which may have had long histories as seasonal and/or heterarchical practices that are difficult to resolve archaeologically. We suggest that this perspective helps to reframe recent debate around the development of hunter-fisher-gatherer complexity as one that is focused on contingent historical process.

The theory‐based view: Entrepreneurial microfoundations, resources, and choices

AbstractResearch SummaryWe build on the theory‐based view and highlight how an entrepreneur's theory can enable the creation of value. We point to three types of theories: theories of resource arbitrage, resource recombination, or resource investment that specialize resources to particular uses. However, possessing a unique theory is not enough. The realization of an entrepreneur's theory is contingent on matching it with the right organizational and governance‐related choices. Entrepreneurs must make consequential decisions about protecting intellectual property, running experiments, acquiring resources, composing teams, and securing financing. We develop a contingent approach that enables entrepreneurs to match their theory of value with the appropriate forms of action, thereby providing entrepreneurs with a level of guidance to downstream choices that the current literature fails to provide.Managerial SummaryTo create economic value, entrepreneurs need to develop their own, unique theory of value. In this article, we highlight three distinct types of entrepreneurial theory and link these to value creation. We further point out how the realization of each theory of value depends on making the right downstream choices related to the protection of intellectual property, experimentation, resource acquisition, the composition of a team, and financing. Existing advice to entrepreneurs tends to offer one‐size‐fits‐all solutions (e.g., related to experimentation), while we argue that choices about how to pursue value creation should depend on the type of theory of value that an entrepreneur pursues.

Which stakeholder matters: overall performance and contingency in nonprofit organizations

This article seeks to further the literature on the importance of stakeholders in the overall performance of nonprofit organizations. Specifically, in the French context, the effect of each type of stakeholder has to be studied. The stakeholders of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) indeed correspond to their environment, which is uncertain, unpredictable, complex, and sometimes hostile. Using French NPO reports and disclosures about their performance, multiple regressions establish the various effects of stakeholder consideration, which are heterogeneous, variable, and more or less positive. The results confirm the theoretical framework proposed from the contingent approach and the agency, stakeholders, resource dependency, and stewardship theories. The article thus defends a contingent view of performance and the importance of taking organizational characteristics into account when making decisions. Moreover, while the normative approach of stakeholder theory is important, it must be nuanced according to the nuisance power of stakeholders (which corresponds to the instrumental approach). To do this, stakeholders must be differentiated and prioritized (especially in terms of resources). The results also highlight an optimistic view of cooperation between sectors, whereas fears of negative isomorphisms are often highlighted. In short, this research calls for a nuance in best practices, in favor of adapting them to each NPO according to the organizational context.

Market dynamism and sustainability in heritage tourism destinations: The enhancing role of bridging capital

PurposeIn recent years, interest in analysing the conceptualisation, measurement, determinants and consequences of sustainability orientation (SO) has intensified. The authors respond to a growing demand for research that delves into external and relational factors of SO in the context of hospitality and tourism industry. This paper aims to analyse how market dynamism (MD) influences the SO of firms in heritage tourism destinations (HTDs) and how bridging capital affects this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe authors empirically analysed a sample of 238 companies in the UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Peru. The proposed hypotheses have been tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results show a curvilinear relationship between MD and SO. Furthermore, bridging capital enhances the effects of MD, reducing the focal width of the U-shaped curve. Specifically, when hospitality and tourism firms (HTFs) in tourist destinations operate in environments with low-medium levels of dynamism, the diverse links generated slow down the development of an SO. However, the more dynamic the environment, the greater is the SO of firms with large amounts of bridging capital.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the importance of conducting an analysis based on a contingent approach that considers the coherence between external elements of the environment and internal factors. Such an approach helps to understand how HTFs in developing countries establish their SO. Managers should be aware of changes in demand and seek coherence between the level of MD and their inter-organisational relationships, and so be able to assess potential opportunities through developing an SO.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a better understanding of the sustainability commitment of HTFs in the sustainability of HTDs. This study connects the population ecology and social capital approaches, explaining this relationship from a disaggregated perspective – social and environmental – in the context of a developing country.

First Trimester Screening - Current Status and Future Prospects After Introduction of Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) at a Tertiary Referral Center.

Objective To investigate the uptake of different components of first trimester screening (FTS) and the impact on invasive diagnostic testing (IPT) since the introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) at a level III center. Methods Retrospective data analysis was conducted for singleton pregnancies that presented for FTS between 01/2019–12/2019 (group 1, n = 990). Patients were categorized into three risk groups: low risk for trisomy 21 (< 1 : 1000), intermediate risk (1 : 101–1 : 1000) and high risk (≥ 1 : 100). Uptake of NIPT and IPT was analyzed for each of the risk groups. Results were compared to a previous cohort from 2012/2013 (immediately after the introduction of NIPT, group 2, n = 1178). Results Group 1 showed a significant increase in the use of NIPT as part of FTS (29.5% vs. 3.7% for group 2, p = 0.001) in all three risk groups. Overall IPT rates were lower in group 1 (8.6%) vs. group 2 (11.3%, p = 0.038), mainly due to a significant reduction of IPT in the intermediate risk group. IPT rates in the high-risk group remained stable over time. Conclusion Appropriate clinical implementation of NIPT is still currently a challenge for prenatal medicine experts. Our data suggest that widespread uptake of NIPT is becoming more common these days; however, a contingent approach might prevent redundant uptake.

Paradoxical Effects of Teleworking on Workers’ Well-Being in the COVID-19 Context: A Comparison Between Different Public Administrations and the Private Sector

This study examines workers’ well-being during the first lockdown by comparing teleworkers to on-site workers across the private sector and public administrations. Using a sample of workers ( N = 471) collected online, we noted a positive association between telework and well-being. When sector is introduced, this relationship disappears, and public service workers display a higher level of well-being compared with health and social service workers. The impact of teleworking differs across sectors, highlighting the relevance of the contingent approach of human resource management (HRM). Nonetheless, our results indicated that teleworkers who prefer the segmentation of work–life boundaries display a lower level of well-being than those who prefer the integration of these boundaries. For HRM practitioners of all sectors, this finding is essential to remember after the pandemic because organizations should avoid imposing teleworking universally. Flexibility will be required to be inclusive and to preserve the well-being of all employees.

Control of management practices and their impact on the competitiveness of companies in Mexico

Competitiveness has different meanings. All of them contain common elements that allow them to be classified into four dimensions: stakeholders, human factor, innovation, finance and market penetration. Goals: The main objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between the use of resources and capacities and financial performance in small and medium microenterprises (Mipymes) of the three sectors in Mexico. Metodology: Regarding the method of obtaining information, the data obtained from the application of 360 surveys were used, covering SME units from the sectors: industrial, commerce and services; in the main cities of the country. A theoretical model was designed to contrast the 3 specified hypotheses, and it was validated with a linear regression model. Contributios: Finally, it is concluded that this empirical study, framed in the contingent approach, has been able to show that human factors and innovation explain to a greater extent their influence on financial performance. And that technology, although it contributes to performance, conflicts when the human factor intervenes in the implementation of said technology. Thus, constituting a sustainable competitive advantage for business success.

Examining Monetary Valuation Methods to Analyze Residents' Social Value From Hosting a Publicly-Funded Major Sport Event

Measuring residents' social value from hosting major sport events has become a popular practitioner and researcher focus. However, researchers have used a plethora of monetary valuation methods to measure social value on an equally diverse set of events. Rather than being applied to major sport events, the use of these methods in sport research has been limited to smaller events, programs, or facilities. Consequently, investigating monetary valuation methods for major sport events is necessary to inform practitioners and researchers of these types of events as to which tool(s) to use. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate various monetary valuation methods to determine which method(s) is(are) best to examine residents' social value in a post-event context and test the selected method(s) for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. After reviewing monetary valuation methods found in the sport management literature, two methods were deemed suitable avenues to pursue: the reverse contingent valuation method and the opportunity cost approach. This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to derive a conceptual and empirical analysis. Interviews were conducted with 14 Vancouver residents and supplemented with document analysis; as well, 525 Vancouver residents completed a self-administered online survey. Findings highlighted the importance of using both the reverse contingent valuation method and opportunity cost approach given their complementary nature. The reverse contingent valuation method allowed residents to select how much they valued their experience. This individual or micro-economic perspective is a necessary prerequisite for residents to adequately determine their value of hosting in relation to other options (e.g., building hospitals, having professional sport teams) when applying the opportunity cost approach, which asks residents to reflect at societal or macro-economic level. This synergistic approach demonstrates the importance of addressing both perspectives: the micro (i.e., individual exchange) and the macro (i.e., event exchange) aspect. In doing so, this approach offers researchers and practitioners avenues forward to examine the social value of publicly-funded major sport events exclusively through a direct, an indirect, and a synergistic method to advance the examination of major sport events' social value.

Universal Cell Free DNA or Contingent Screening for Trisomy 21: Does It Make a Difference? A Comparative Study with Real Data

Objective: The aim of the objective was to compare the detection rate for trisomy 21 of universal cell free DNA (cfDNA) screening with contingent screening. Methods: Retrospective study was carried out at 3 German centers. The study included euploid and trisomy 21 pregnancies where cfDNA and first trimester (FT) screening assessment was carried out. The FT risk for trisomy 21 was computed based on combined screening and stratified into the following classes: high risk ≥1:10, intermediate risk 1:11–1,000, low risk ≤1,001. For universal cfDNA screening, the cfDNA test results were examined. For the contingent screening model, the result of the cfDNA test was taken into account in case of an intermediate FT risk. Different strategies combining maternal age, nuchal translucency, nasal bone, beta-hCG, and PAPP-A were evaluated. Screen positivity was defined as either a high risk after FT screening or a cfDNA test indicating a high-risk result. An inconclusive cfDNA test was also considered as screen positive. Results: The search of the database identified 2,255 euploid and 163 affected pregnancies. All affected fetuses were identified by universal cfDNA screening. 1.3% of the euploid fetuses were classified as screen positive due to final inconclusive cfDNA test result. The detection and false-positive rate of a contingent approach that is based on combined screening and cfDNA screening in the intermediate group would be 98.4% and 0.7%, respectively. With this approach, cfDNA screening would be necessary in only about 27% of all pregnancies. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a contingent approach provides similar detection rates for trisomy 21 as universal cfDNA screening, by a reduction of 73% the number of cfDNA tests.

Retiring the Golden Hammer: Identifying Situational Practices for Public Strategy Implementation

While scholars and practitioners increasingly embrace contingent approaches to public strategic management, they have done so tepidly. In an increasingly perilous and turbulent governing environment, both groups must move past time-honored tools and concepts and embrace the complexity inherent to the strategy implementation process. In response, this article proposes a contingent, micro-organizational process model of public strategy implementation based on Whittington’s (2017) framework of strategy as a practice and a process. Through regression analysis of 205 strategic initiatives from 43 U.S. municipalities, the study concludes that the relationships between implementation practices and proximate outcomes do indeed vary over time and across context, offering a specific list of recommended practices tailored to the intersections of implementation phase and initiative type. Public strategy implementation scholars can best aid practitioners by rejecting strategic reductivism and embracing micro-organizational implementation activity surrounding a strategic initiative, in all of its temporal and contextual splendor.

Retiring the Golden Hammer: Identifying Situational Practices for Public Strategy Implementation

While scholars and practitioners increasingly embrace contingent approaches to public strategic management, they have done so tepidly. In an increasingly perilous and turbulent governing environment, both groups must move past time-honored tools and concepts and embrace the complexity inherent to the strategy implementation process. In response, this article proposes a contingent, micro-organizational process model of public strategy implementation based on Whittington’s (2017) framework of strategy as a practice and a process. Through regression analysis of 205 strategic initiatives from 43 U.S. municipalities, the study concludes that the relationships between implementation practices and proximate outcomes do indeed vary over time and across context, offering a specific list of recommended practices tailored to the intersections of implementation phase and initiative type. Public strategy implementation scholars can best aid practitioners by rejecting strategic reductivism and embracing micro-organizational implementation activity surrounding a strategic initiative, in all of its temporal and contextual splendor.

The role of human resource practices in the implementation of digital transformation

PurposeProfessionals and academics need to know what human resource practices are necessary in this Industry 4.0 environment and digital revolution. This research studies some human resource practices in the digital age that favor the implementation of digital transformation. The authors’ arguments suggest that for personnel to be a key asset in digital transformation processes, a strategic alignment is necessary to drive the company toward these objectives.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses were tested in a representative sample of 184 manufacturing companies with ten or more employees located in the southeast of Spain, using partial least squares.FindingsThe authors’ findings show that human resource practices partially mediate the relationship between strategic alignment and digital transformation. Based on the contingent approach, the authors also maintain that the company must implement human resource practices that encourage employee behaviors that are consistent with the organization's strategy. This strategic alignment and these human resource practices enable companies to achieve digital transformation in search of superior performance.Research limitations/implicationsLongitudinal and multilevel studies could increase the strength of the research, which could also include companies from other sectors. Although the technology component is fundamental in digital transformation processes, human capital management is even more important. This research highlights the mediating role of human resource management, where practices such as teleworking, teamwork and employee engagement are essential to foster innovative behavior and implement the digital transformation process.Practical implicationsIn the new digital environment, companies must adopt a set of human resource practices that favor innovative employee behavior that helps digitally transform their businesses.Originality/valueTo the best of authors’ knowledge, this empirical study has not been previously carried out. The theoretical model and hypothesis testing provide strategic value for understanding some of the determinants of digital transformation in relation to human resource management.

Do Employees boost opportunities to compete abroad? A longitudinal study of family and non-family firms

This study sheds light on the contingent effect that employee human capital may have on the relationship between family involvement and internationalisation via exporting —both in terms of entry mode (how to export) and degree (how much to export). We formulate several hypotheses by drawing mainly on arguments from the resource-based view and stewardship theory. The empirical setting is a large sample of Spanish manufacturing firms (family and non-family) operating between 1991 and 2016. Our results reveal that the positive (negative) relationship between family involvement and export intensity (direct exporting) is boosted (mitigated) at higher levels of employee human capital. Our findings thus provide statistical support for a positive and significant contingent approach to the effect human capital has on the connection between family involvement and internationalisation.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ROLE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH IN THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between transformational leadership role and organizational health in the General Directorate of Education of North Khorasan. Their validity was confirmed and their reliability was obtained using Cronbach's test of 88% and 78%, respectively. The study population is 153 employees of the General Directorate of Education of North Khorasan who were active in 2021. The statistical sample includes 110 employees; which were selected by random sampling method. Findings showed that there is a significant relationship between the components of research (the role of transformational leader with desirable influence, the role of transformational leader with inspirational motivation, the role of transformational leader with mental motivation) and organizational health. As a result, in order to make the organization healthier and achieve this important goal, managers should make efforts to improve their leadership role in order to solve organizational problems by establishing a committed relationship along with a contingent approach to environmental variables.

Leadership in the role of motivators and creators of employees performance

The purpose of the article is to highlith a new dimension of business that takes place in completely different conditions and that is based primarily on knowledge, creativity and post-modern leadership. Radical changes, in which today's economy and its entities exist and develop, require the new ways of leadership. Hence the modern form of business articulates and gives a critical dimension of leadership, as an interaction between leaders and employees, with the intention to change it, based more on emotional and ethical assumptions than on forced active influence. The aim of the analysis is to determine the professionalism of leadership treatment of employees and what is the projection of the further trend of these relationships, given that this relationship directly affects the motivation of employees in achieving their performance. Research methods. The research was carried out using common scientific approaches and methods, in particular the empirical method.This paper analyzed the different theoretical and practical approaches to the phenomenon of leadership as a result of the changes within which today’s Serbian business and inverse role of this phenomenon occurs. Relevant employee data was collected using the questionnaire method. For the needs of the research, and based on the literature in the field of leadership and experience of the authors, a questionnaire with 40 questions was developed (this is not a standardized questionnaire model, but a personal projection). Research results. The research resulted in the confirmation of the set hypotheses that the performance of the organizations depends on the style of leadership and the characteristics of employees and that leadership is not only the management but also a psychological problem. Research novelty. Leadership in the future imposes an unwritten rule that some things will never be the same, as well as that some new forms will appear that will improve our knowledge, the systems in which we work and general business environment. New leadership will rely on the complex knowledge and innovations that come from employees. Future leaders will be those who make entrepreneurs out of their employees and who create an atmosphere of direct innovation. Serbian companies need to invest much more in the future development of leaders and managers. The research sheds light on the role and importance of leadership as a direct reflection on changes in employee behavior, motivation and increased performance. Practical significance. The results of this research can be applied in all areas of business and economy. Having in mind the contingent approach, the obtained results can be used as a basis for creating the most efficient leadership style possible. Tabl.: 6. Refs.: 20.

EEG based emotion detection using fourth order spectral moment and deep learning

This paper proposes emotion detection using Electroencephalography (EEG) signal based on Linear Formulation of Differential Entropy (LF-DfE) feature extractor and BiLSTM network classifier. LF-DfE effectively detects nonlinearity and non-Gaussianity of the EEG signal. BiLSTM network captures long term dependency of the EEG signal and learns spatial information from different brain regions. Proposed model is used to discriminate positive, negative, and neutral emotions on SEED database, valence and arousal on DEAP database. To assess the proposed model subject contingent, noncontingent and inter-dependent (cross-session) experiments are performed on the SEED database. The average accuracy of emotion detection on SEED database for subject contingent approach is improved by 4.12 %, for noncontingent approach by 4.5 % and for inter-dependent approach it is improved by 1.3 %. To reconfirm the above findings, one more experiment is conducted for subject noncontingent approach on DEAP database. On DEAP database for subject noncontingent experiment average accuracy is improved by 7.04 %. Experimental results of the proposed feature extractor LF-DfE with the BiLSTM network found to be improved over existing methods.