Organizational Decision-making Processes Research Articles

ESTUDOS BIBLIOMÉTRICOS (?) EM ADMINISTRAÇÃO: DISCUTINDO A TRANSPOSIÇÃO DE FINALIDADE

<p>Nos últimos anos tem-se verificado uma crescente produção de estudos bibliométricos em Administração sobre os mais diferentes assuntos. Qual a finalidade desses artigos? Que técnicas empregam? Essas e outras questões nos levaram a conduzir este estudo e reflexão. Este artigo teve como objetivo analisar e discutir a produção de estudos bibliométricos em Administração no Brasil, propondo uma reflexão sobre o emprego da bibliometria e sugerindo alternativas para o emprego de técnicas de forma que atendam a finalidade de subsidiar a pesquisa em Administração, vislumbrando possíveis avanços a serem feitos sobre um campo específico de estudo. O estudo consistiu em um levantamento de natureza biblométrica de artigos publicados em periódicos científicos brasileiros e enanpad. Os resultados mostraram que os artigos apresentam categorias que não são contempladas pela bibliometria, mostrando que as técnicas tradicionais da bibliometria não atendem completamente às necessidades dos pesquisadores que os realizam. Propõe-se, assim, a adequação do método, fazendo uma transposição de finalidade, abarcando análises e reflexões sobre o conhecimento dominante que abrigam o não hegemônico.<br /><br /></p>

Patient and Public Participation in the English NHS: An assessment of experimental implementation processes

This article analyses the impact of the implementation of a set of policies introduced after 1997 in the English National Health Service aimed at increasing patient and public involvement in organizational decision-making processes. Adopting the ambiguity/conflict policy implementation model and based on a year-long research project, it shows that patient and public engagement can be more effectively achieved when there is room for interpretation and discretion in selecting the means for involvement. Local initiatives, based on effective leadership governance mechanisms and organizational learning processes, are more likely to generate inclusiveness, shared ownership, and user-centredness than a top-down framework for involvement.

The impact of information and communication technologies on the costs of democracy

Recent developments in information and communication technologies (ICTs) can change the way strategic organizational decisions are negotiated and voted upon. We propose an analytical framework that investigates the effect of such technologies on the costs of the decision-making process in organizations by incorporating a technology variable in an already well-known model of public decision-making. The framework is applicable to any large group decision setting where collective decisions are made by voting, such as shareholders’ meetings, local and federal government meetings. We apply the framework to derive policies that will help to decrease the costs related to the democratic process. The first policy requires that governments should invest more in technologies that support multi-lateral communication and negotiation among citizens, and the second requires that citizens should use better voting mechanisms than simple majority voting to make decisions.

What do graduates think? An analysis of intention to repeat the same studies and university

The present work analyzes the key factors in the university experience that influence graduates' intention to repeat the same studies and the same institution, given the hypothetical option – based on hindsight – of selecting afresh a course and place of study. The work is inspired by the theory of planned behavior [Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior, in action control: From cognition to behavior. New York: J. Kuhl and J. Beckmann; Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211]. This analysis is based on the opinion of graduates in relation to a set of variables that together form the intention to repeat, namely quality of education; services and facilities; preparation by the university for employment; fitness-for-purpose of studies for the job market; capacities and skills acquired; the time taken to find work following graduation; current salary; and satisfaction with current employment. Using multiple regression models, the principal components of service quality in a university context are determined. The findings indicate that the quality of the educational process is the most influential aspect both in the intention to repeat the same studies and also in the intention to repeat the same university. Services and facilities have a marked influence on the latter, while the time taken to find employment and current salary are the two aspects with the least impact.

The design of robust value-creating supply chain networks

This paper provides a methodology for supply chain network (SCN) design under uncertainty. The problem is initially casted as a two-level organizational decision process: the design decisions must be made here and now, but the reengineered SCN can be used for daily operations only after an implementation period. The network structure can also be adapted during the planning horizon considered. When making the design decisions, the operational response and structural adaptation decisions taking place during the planning horizon must be anticipated. The methodology recognizes three event types to characterize the future SCN environment: random, hazardous and deep uncertainty events. At the design time, plausible futures are anticipated through a scenario planning approach. Several Monte Carlo scenario samples are generated and corresponding sample average approximation programs are solved in order to produce a set of alternative designs. A multi-criteria design evaluation approach is then applied to select the most effective and robust design among candidate solutions. An illustrative case, based on the location---transportation problem, is finally introduced to illustrate the approach, and computational experiments are performed to demonstrate its feasibility.

Are oncologists involved in cancer biomarker decisions at their institutions?

6617 Background: Biomarkers play a critical role in oncology, but differences in accuracy and quality exist between different testing methods for specific markers. ASCO/CAP guidelines call for oncologists, on behalf of patients, to seek information on testing quality and to obtain assurance that testing laboratories are appropriately accredited (Wolff et al, JCO, 2007). We surveyed oncologists and pathologists from the NCI designated cancer centers to collect individual perception of their institution’s decision making on biomarkers, and awareness of lab quality accreditation. Methods: We conducted an IRB approved web survey of pathologists and oncologists at the 58 NCI designated cancer centers providing adult breast, gastric, esophageal and non small cell lung cancer care. The survey included 12 questions on institutional decision processes and lab quality accreditation. We analyzed results using simple frequencies and the Fisher's exact test. Results: The study achieved a response rate of 98% (57/58 sites), with survey responses from 115 pathologists and 156 oncologists. The perception that their institution uses a formal organizational review and decision process on new biomarker tests was reported by 47% (54/115) of pathologists and 31% (48/156) of oncologists (p= .0078). 22% (33/153) of oncologists report they are always involved in institutional decision making on biomarker method selection for their specialty. Awareness of CAP certification status for their institutional laboratory was reported by 88% (99/112) of pathologists and 46% (65/142) of oncologists (p <0.0001). Awareness of whether their institutional laboratory underwent CAP HER2 IHC and/or FISH proficiency testing was reported by 70% (53/76) of pathologists and by 21% (13/63) of oncologists who treat breast cancer (p<.0001). Conclusions: Oncologists are typically not actively involved in their institution’s decision making process to select biomarker testing methods, nor are many of them aware of their institutional lab’s quality accreditation. With the ever increasing role of biomarkers in cancer care, oncologists’ awareness of biomarker testing performance and their participation in decision making related to biomarkers will become critical.

THE STRATEGY OF THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY FOR OUTSOURCING PUBLIC RELATIONS: THE CASE OF TAIWANESE CORPORATIONS

This study used qualitative methods to collect interview data from six technology companies and applied content analysis to interpret the data. The purpose was to describe the decision-making model in the outsourcing of public relations (PR) by technology corporations to PR agencies. Results indicated that during the process of outsourcing PR, complicated relationships existed among various concepts, and the relationships were more complex than linear relationships. Within the organization, the developmental stage of its PR, the target characteristics of its PR, accumulation of individual and organizational PR abilities, and its characteristics of performance evaluation all significantly influenced the planning, execution, assessment, and development of PR abilities. Factors external to the organization, such as different environmental demands and the characteristics of PR agencies, affected the viewpoints, selection criteria, and decision-making processes of organizations with regard to outsourcing PR. The individual abilities of organizational staff, accumulation of PR ability, and outsourcing characteristics were all important concepts that determined whether technology companies outsourced their PR management. Due to diversified environmental demands, conflicts may arise from the various demands placed on the organization.

Private Governance and Land Grabbing: The Equator Principles and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels

Goals, norms, and rules negotiated and implemented by the private sector are one of the global governance approaches under debate for regulating land grabbing. This paper looks at two private governance instruments that are especially relevant: the Equator Principles (EPs) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB). Both instruments promote and introduce sustainability meta-standards in the decision-making and risk management process of signatory firms, financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with regard to land use and access. And they aim to govern two sectors of international investment, namely biofuels and project finance, that are associated with highly land consuming economic activity. Against the background of key features, the paper concludes that the imprecise and voluntary nature, lack of effective sanction and compensation mechanisms, and bias towards client interests highlight that both governance approaches provide insufficient protection of communities or the environment in weak regulatory settings and in view of the intense commercial pressure on land. Las metas, normas y reglas negociadas e implementadas por el sector privado, son uno de los enfoques de la gobernanza global bajo debate, para regularizar el acaparamiento de tierras. Este artículo analiza dos instrumentos privados de gobernanza que son especialmente relevantes: los Principios del Ecuador (EPs, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Mesa Redonda sobre los Biocombustibles Sostenibles. (RSB, por sus siglas en inglés). Ambos instrumentos promueven e introducen meta-estándares de sostenibilidad en el proceso de tomar decisiones y el manejo de riesgo de las empresas signatarias, instituciones financieras y organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG) con respecto al uso y acceso de la tierra. Y ellos apuntan a gobernar dos sectores de inversión extranjera, particularmente los biocombustibles y la financiación de proyectos que están asociados con una actividad económica de gran consumo de tierras. Contra el antecedente de las características claves, el artículo concluye que la naturaleza imprecisa y voluntaria, la falta de sanción efectiva y los mecanismos de compensación y la parcialidad hacia los intereses del cliente, hacen resaltar que los dos enfoques de gobernanza proveen una protección insuficiente a las comunidades o al medio ambiente en los entornos reguladores débiles y en vista de la intensa presión comercial sobre las tierras. 私营企业谈判和实施的目标、标准、规则是规范土地掠夺争论下全球治理的途径之一。本文研究了两种关联尤为密切的私营治理手段：“赤道原则” (EPs)与“可持续燃料圆桌会议”（PSB）。对于土地使用，这两种手段在签约公司、金融机构与非政府组织的决策与危机管理过程中都促进与引入了可持续发展的元数据标准。而且它们旨在管理与高度土地消费经济活动相关的国际投资的两个部门，即燃料与项目融资。在主要特征的背景下，本文认为，不确切、自愿性质、缺乏有效制裁与补偿机制以及对客户利益的偏见强调指出，这两种治理手段在薄弱的监管环境及土地上强烈的商业压力方面都没有提供充分的社区或者环境保护。 تُعتبر الأهداف والقواعد والأحكام محل التفاوض أو التطبيق من جانب القطاع الخاص، من بين مقاربات الحوكمة العالمية موضع الجدل بشأن تنظيم الاستيلاء على الأراضي. وتبحث الورقة الحالية وثيقتين للحوكمة الخاصة وهما: المبادئ المحققة للمساواة، ومناقشات المائدة المستديرة بشأن وقود حيوي مستدام. وتطرح الوثيقتان معايير للاستدامة في عملية صنع القرار، وعملية إدارة المخاطر في الشركات والمؤسسات المالية والمنظمات غير الحكومية، فيما يتعلاق باستغلال الأراضي والحصول عليها. كما تهدف الوثيقتان إلى فرض الرقابة على قطاعين في الاستثمارات الدولية، وهما الوقود الحيوي وتمويل المشروعات، فكل منهما مرتبط بنشاط اقتصادي ذي استهلاك زائد للأرض. وفي خلفية من هذه الملامح الرئيسية، تستخلص الورقة أن الطبيعة الطوعية وغير الدقيقة، والافتقار إلى آليات فعالة للعقاب والثواب، والانحياز إلى مصالح العملاء، هي عناصر تشير إلى أن منهجي الحوكمة كليهما لا يقدمان حماية كافية للمجتمعات المحلية أو للبيئة في ظل ضعف التنظيمات القانونية جراء الضغط التجاري المكثف على الأراضي. 민간 영역에 의해서 협상되고 실행되는 목표, 규범과 규칙은 토지 매입을 규제하기 위한 논쟁에서 지구적 거버넌스 접근들 중 하나이다. 이 글은 특별히 적절한 두 개의 사적 거버넌스 도구인 <적도 원칙>(Equator Principles, EPs)과 <지속가능한 바이오연료 원탁회의>(Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels, RSB)를 분석한다. 두 기구는 토지 사용과 접근과 관련하여 서명에 참가한 기업, 금융기관과 비정부 기구들의 의사결정과 위험관리 과정에서 지속가능성 메타 기준을 홍보하고 도입하였다. 그들은 국제 투자에서 바이오 연료와 프로젝트 파이낸스 두 부분을 관리하는 것을 목표로 하고 있고, 두 부문은 대단히 많은 토지를 사용하는 경제활동이다. 이 글은 거버넌스 접근이 부정확하고 자발적인 성격, 효과적인 제재와 보상 기제의 부재, 소비자 이해에 대한 편향을 지니고 있으며, 커뮤니티에 대한 불충분한 보호나 약한 환경 규제와 강한 토지에 대한 상업적 압력을 제공한다고 결론을 맺는다. Цели, нормы и правила, согласованные и реализованные частным сектором, являющиеся одним из глобальных подходов к управлению и регулированию захвата земель, встает на повестку дня. Эта статья рассмотрит два частных инструмента управления, которые особенно актуальны: «Принципы Экватора» (EPS) и Круглый стол по устойчивому биотопливу (RSB). Оба инструмента продвигают и вводят мета-стандарты устойчивости в процессе принятия решения и управления рисками подписавшихся фирм, финансовых учреждений и неправительственных организаций (NGO) относительно землепользования и доступа к земле. Они предназначены для управления двумя секторами международных инвестиций, а именно, биотопливом и проектным финансированием, которые тесно связаны с экономической активностью, включающей высокий землеоборот. На фоне ключевых особенностей, в документе делается вывод о том, что неточный и добровольный характер, отсутствие эффективных санкций, компенсационных механизмов и уклон в сторону интересов клиента подчеркнули, что оба подхода к управлению обеспечивают недостаточную защиту всего сообщества или окружающей среды из-за слабых регулирующих параметров и в силу интенсивного коммерческого давления на землю.

The irony of stakeholder management in Germany: The difficulty of implementing an essential concept for CSR

Germany, in most academic works on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility (cSr), is regarded as a stakeholder democracy (e.g., aguilera and Jackson 2003; O’Dwyer 2005; crane et al. 2004; crane et al. 2005; Schmidt 2006). allen et al. (2009, p. 1) attribute this notion to the German legal system which “ensures that firms are stakeholder oriented.” especially relevant in this context—and key to the perception of Germany as a stakeholder-oriented country—is the system of co-determination (mitbestimmung), which gives employees the possibility to participate in the organizational decision-making process at all levels. In large listed corporations with more than 2,000 employees, employee representatives are even granted half of the seats on the supervisory board by law. this model of capitalism, which integrates employee interests to a much higher degree than the anglo-Saxon model, has also been branded as “rhenish capitalism”, a term coined by French economist michel albert (1991). he compared this form of capitalism, which is prevalent in countries that border the river rhine (Switzerland, austria, Germany, France, and the netherlands), to the “neo-liberal anglo-american model” primarily represented by the united States (u.S.) and the united kingdom, where the position of workers is substantially weaker. these participation rights of workers go in line with the notion that German companies put less emphasis on maximizing shareholder value than american or British companies because German companies also have to consider the interests of stakeholders like employees whose interests might be diametric to—especially short-termed—profit maximization (turnbull 1994). this understanding has also been demonstrated by several studies (e.g., ascolese 2003; Barnett 2007; habisch et al. 2011). In this context, Denis and mcconnell (2003, p. 6) point out that “in many european countries shareholder wealth maximization has not been the only—or even necessarily the primary—goal of the board of directors.” Likewise, in a large empirical study, allen et al. (2009, p. 2) asked managers whether they though that a company “exists for the interest of all stakeholders” or if “[s]hareholder interest should be given the first priority”. eighty-three percent of the German managers that participated in the survey viewed the company as a legal entity serving all stakeholders’ interests, while 76 and 71 % of the american and British managers, respectively, spoke out for prioritizing shareholder value. these preliminary thoughts demonstrate that the supposed stakeholder orientation to be found in Germany is mostly based on legal statues, namely the system of codetermination. However, the finding by Allen et al. (2009) uwf DOI 10.1007/s00550-013-0268-1

House of security: a structured system design &amp; analysis approach

Security managers must always be on guard to prevent terrorist and criminal attacks against their organizations. This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for organizational security decision-making process and security system design. It builds on the house of quality (HOQ) (a customer-requirements planning matrix) by developing a house of security (HOS) that can translate the likelihood and severity of attack scenarios against organizations into a structure comprising security system components ranked according to their likely effectiveness in preventing an attack. We assume that correlations between the system components might be changed for each scenario, i.e. several roofs, corresponding to the number of rows in the HOS matrix. For comparing different security systems designed to prevent the same threats, a measure of effectiveness is proposed. The analysis of variance method is utilized to select the vital security components by dividing the security components into two groups: vital few and trivial many. The HOS method is implemented for hotel protection from a terrorist attack, revealing fi ve components as dominant for security: Operating procedures, TV cameras, internal personnel, entry control, and visual information analysis. A partial analysis to identify the most important component for protecting a specifi c place (parking area) shows that the number of the vital components decreases and the dominant components for preventing parking area threats are operating procedures and internal

Are All Consumer-Operated Programs Empowering Self-Help Agencies?

The literature on consumer-operated-service programs (COSPs) distinguishes two organizational types based on their leadership styles: the self-help agency (SHA)–participant democracy and the board–staff-run COSP. This study considers whether the characteristics of these two organizational leadership styles are recognized by members and whether these characteristics are associated with membership degree of empowerment. Two-hundred and fifty new entrants to five COSP drop-in centers rated the programs' leadership style using the COPES System Maintenance Scale and assessed their own empowerment on four empowerment measures. ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to evaluate differences between settings; MANCOVA to assess differences in member empowerment. COSP system maintenance differences distinguished the two organizational types (p < .000). SHA–participant democracy members scored significantly better than board–staff-run program members on three of the four empowerment measures. SHA–participant democracies, with a lower focus on system maintenance, and an emphasis on power sharing between staff and non-staff members, appeared to more effectively use organizational decision-making processes to empower their members.

English

&nbsp; This research study on the government decision-making process on the policy level towards Thai State owned enterprises (SOE) offers some ideas that may provide a useful interpretation of the government decision-making process on the policy level of public administration. The researcher aims to propose a better understanding of government policy formulation and implementation towards Thai SOE through two case studies. The findings of the study support the analytical framework that in the stage of agenda setting, the garbage-can model is the decision-making model that helps explain the processes of agenda setting, due to the variety of participants that influence the decision-making processes. However, the incremental model is more explanatory in the following stage. Once the policy is decided and implemented, policies are formulated and the day-to-day operational decisions are made incrementally by the ministry&rsquo;s high-ranking officials and the SOE management. Moreover, the researcher found that government policies towards these two SOEs were, very often, on and off, and the government took about three to four decades with several governments to push the policies to be implemented and accomplished. &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;Organizational decision-making process, State owned enterprises (SOEs), satisfying model, incremental model, garbage-can model, the garbage-can model in political institutions as according to Kingdon&rsquo;s theory, Thai administrative culture, the politics of despotic paternalism.

Intent to be a Socially Responsible Small or Medium-sized Enterprise: Theory of Planned Behavior and Leaders’ Actualizing

A review of the academic research in corporate social responsibility shows little work on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the U.S. whereas considerable work in this domain has been conducted in the European context. This study seeks to make a contribution to the research void by addressing one particular area of social responsibility in the U.S. context. Specifically, we employ Ajzen’s reasoned action approach to begin to build an understanding of what promotes leaders of SMEs to reduce waste. This study addresses several questions: What are the attitudes of owners and managers of SMEs toward waste reduction practices for their organizations? How are stakeholder interests toward waste reduction perceived? And, are leaders of SMEs influenced by their industrial environment? The authors utilized an email survey directed to owners and managers of SMEs with greater than 5, but less than 500 employees in the telephony, construction, pulp and paper products, textiles, and agriculture industries. 377 emails were opened and 104 completed surveys were obtained. The survey instrument was developed from the theoretical perspective of Isaac Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, p. 179-211. Results from a partial least squares analysis of the data suggest that there is a strong and significant relationship between the normative, attitudinal, and control constructs with an individual’s intention to be a socially responsible SME. This finding suggests that efforts to influence SME owners and managers to implement waste reduction activities need focus on changing individual attitudes.

Can Organizations Mitigate Individual Biases? Evidence from Mutual Fund Investment Decisions

Can organizations mitigate the impact of individual biases on organizational decisions? This study investigates whether and how organizational structure and decision making process affect the quality of organizational decisions. Theoretical arguments about the impact of organizational structure and decision process on organizations’ disposition effect - a decision bias that refers to actors’ tendency to sell assets whose prices have increased since purchase, yet hold on to assets that have dropped in value since purchase - are evaluated empirically on a large sample of mutual fund portfolio decisions. The findings suggest that decision making process significantly affects the disposition effect bias in organizational decisions.

‘Animateurs’ and Animation: What Makes a Good Commissioning Manager?

To examine the managerial behaviours adopted by commissioning managers in English primary care trusts (PCTs), and to explore the impact of these behaviours. Qualitative case studies were undertaken in four PCTs, focusing on staff engaged in the commissioning of hospital services. Both formal and informal observation were undertaken (150 hours), and 41 in-depth interviews conducted with managers and general practitioners (GPs). Managers adopted many managerial behaviours familiar from the literature, including sharing information, and networking inside and outside the organization. Multiple organizational layers and unclear decision-making processes hindered this activity. In addition, some managers with responsibility for facilitating practice-based commissioning (PbC) adopted a managerial mode that we have called being an 'animateur'. This approach involved the active management of disparate groups of people over whom the manager had no authority, and appeared to be a factor in determining success. It was facilitated by managerial autonomy and was more prevalent where managers were seen to have legitimacy. Some organizational practices appeared to inhibit its development. From 2012/13 it is planned that GPs will be taking more responsibility for commissioning in the English NHS. This research suggests that managers of the new commissioning organizations will require a deep and contextualized understanding of the NHS and that it is important that organizational processes do not inhibit managerial behaviour. Legitimacy may be an issue in contexts were managers are automatically transferred from their existing appointments.

Erratum

Becker, W. J., Cropanzano, R., &amp; Sanfey, A. G. 2011. Organizational Neuroscience: Taking Organizational Theory Inside the Neural Black Box. Journal of Management, 37: 933-961. (Original 10.1177/0149206311398955). The following author’s name was incorrectly cited and referenced throughout this article: C. D. Beugré was incorrectly spelled C. D. Bergué. The references currently read: Bergué, C. D. 2009. Exploring the neural basis of fairness: A model of neuro-organizational justice. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 110: 129-139. Bergué, C. D. 2010. Brain and human behavior in organizations: A field of neuro-organizational behavior. In A. A. Stanton, M. Day, &amp; I. M. Welpe (Eds.), Neuroeconomics and the firm: 289-304. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar. The references should read: Beugré, C. D. 2009. Exploring the neural basis of fairness: A model of neuro-organizational justice. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 110: 129-139. Beugré, C. D. 2010. Brain and human behavior in organizations: A field of neuro-organizational behavior. In A. A. Stanton, M. Day, &amp; I. M. Welpe (Eds.), Neuroeconomics and the firm: 289-304. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar.

An analysis of decision-making process in organizations: Implications for quality management and systematic practice

Decision-making is an integral organisational process that impacts every level including, individual, group, and organisation. It is often associated with problem-solving and group processes in the organisational structure. With the advance of technology and our ability to engage in more streamlined business, the role of decision-making in today's organisations became even more critical. Organisational members are often left with making fast and rapid decisions without being furnished with knowledge and skills to make them. This paper first provides an overview of different decision-making process including, brainstorming, affinity diagramming, force-field analysis, flow charting, planning matrix, unilateral decision-making, consultative decision-making, voting decision-making, and consensus decision-making; and consequently, analyses the utility of decision-making process in organisational settings and investigate their implications for quality management in organisations. The findings of this study demonstrate the integral link between decision-making and various organisational processes such as quality decision-making, systematic planning, performance, and learning.

The application of a Business Intelligence tool for strategic planning in a higher education institution: a case study of the University of the Witwatersrand

This article presents a discussion on the importance of business intelligence (BI) and the role that a specific BI tool, Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition, plays in the strategic decision-making processes in an organisation. The University of the Witwatersrand, often referred to as Wits, was used as a case study. The main objective of a business intelligence tool is to improve the quality and timeliness of the input of data to the organisational decision-making process. The quality of the data, which is an organisational asset, is therefore of the utmost importance. Approaches for the identification of business intelligence from corporate information and knowledge management were also assessed. A questionnaire was administered among key informants within the university in order to address some of the pertinent issues at higher education institutions. In addition, the role of a data warehouse within the business intelligence framework was presented. The paper itself covers a wide range of disciplines from information technology, knowledge management to decision sciences. The article also presents a proposed framework to be used in line with the best practices in the implementation of business intelligence solutions.Keywords: Business Intelligence (BI), Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (BIEE), Data Warehouse, Strategic Decision Making, Strategic Planning, Higher Education Institutions and Knowledge Management.Disciplines: Information Technology, Knowledge Management, Management Sciences, Decision Sciences &amp; Management

Intention versus identification as determinants of adolescents’ health behaviours: evidence and correlates

The present study used a within-participants design to (a) assess the predictive validity of prototype identification versus intention for adolescents’ health behaviours and (b) examine whether control of health behaviour by intention relative to identification is associated with key individual difference variables. Participants were school children (N = 136) who completed measures of intention, perceived behavioural control and prototype identification for 14 health-related behaviours at Time 1, and reported their behaviour 2 weeks later (Time 2). A hierarchical regression showed that prototype identification and intention exhibited similar predictive validity in the prediction of adolescents’ health behaviour. Importantly, identification contributed an additional 6% to the variance in behaviour, after controlling for intention and perceived behavioural control from the theory of planned behaviour [TPB: Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179–211.]. Additional analyses showed that greater social comparison tendencies, lower agreeableness, greater intellect and less emotional stability were all related to greater control of behaviour by prototype identification. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

About Our Authors

About Our Authors