German Managers Research Articles

The influence of voice quality, voice content, and managers’ mood on their evaluations of voice: An experimental investigation

Whether organizations can benefit from employee voice depends on the receiving managers’ evaluations, as proposals can be implemented, dismissed, or forwarded to superiors for consideration. Despite its important role in identifying valuable suggestions, research on managers’ evaluations of employees’ proposals is scarce. Grounded in the literature on employee voice, innovation management, social hierarchy, the Elaboration Likelihood Model, and the Hedonic Contingency Model, the current study addresses this research gap by investigating the influence of voice quality, voice content, and managers’ mood on managers’ evaluations of voice. The findings from using a factorial, between-subjects experimental design with 384 German managers as participants demonstrate that managers’ evaluations tend to be higher when voice is of high quality and that managers evaluate promotive voice higher than they do prohibitive voice. No direct or indirect influence of managers’ mood was identified. The study concludes with implications for employees and organizations, limitations, and directions for future research.

Attracted to the Hustle? An Impression Management Perspective on Entrepreneurial Hustle in New Venture Recruitment

AbstractResearch has shown that impression management helps entrepreneurs access critical resources, but insights into applying concrete impression management techniques in new venture recruitment remain scarce. This knowledge gap represents a challenge for new ventures facing disadvantages in recruitment. We propose self‐presentations of entrepreneurial hustle as an effective impression management technique for entrepreneurs. Such self‐presentations to applicants increase the perceived competence and thereby the attractiveness of entrepreneurs' new ventures. We introduce applicants' individual entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurs' gender as factors influencing the relationship between entrepreneurial hustle and perceived entrepreneurial competence. Employing an experimental vignette methodology across three samples – a main sample drawn from mTurk (N = 613) and two additional samples from Prolific (N = 130) and German management students (N = 188) – we find that perceived competence mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial hustle and perceived organizational attractiveness. While individual entrepreneurial orientation weakens the effect of entrepreneurial hustle self‐presentations on perceived competence, we do not find an influence of entrepreneurs' gender. This research indicates mechanisms and contingencies regarding the effect of entrepreneurial hustle self‐presentations. Our results advance not only research on entrepreneurial hustle but also theory on interviewer‐level impression management and new venture recruitment.

Modern features of organization’s management system in Germany on the example of BASF LLC

An organization’s management system plays an important role in the activities of enterprises. In the context of changes in the production sector, it is necessary to adapt and modernize management system to maintain a company’s competitiveness, and it explains the relevance of the research topic. Without periodic research, analyzing trends and opportunities in markets where business activities are conducted, it is impossible to form an effective management model. Insider model of company organization and German company BASF were chosen for the study. The purpose of the study is to define the concept of management system, analyze and characterize insider management model and trace its features in the BASF management system. Among the research objectives are the following: to summarize, analyze and form the characteristics of the German management system, consider the BASF management system and trace the features of the German model in it. Such research methods as synthesis, analysis, structuring, and deduction have been used in the article. The study concludes that BASF management structure contains features of insider management model (social orientation, focus on high-quality products, implementation and improvement of technological developments, use of modernized management methods, and highly qualified personnel).

Audit quality and classification shifting: evidence from UK and Germany

PurposeThe authors examine the impact of audit quality (AQ) on classification shifting (CS) among non-financial firms operating in the UK and Germany.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used various audit committee variables (size, meetings, gender diversity and financial expertise) to measure AQ and its impact on CS. The authors used a total of 2,110 firm-year observations from 2010 to 2019.FindingsThe authors found that the presence of female members on the audit committee and audit committee financial expertise deter the UK and German managers from shifting core expenses and revenue items into special items to inflate core earnings. However, audit committee size is positively related to CS among German firms but has no impact on UK firms. The authors also document evidence that audit committee meetings restrain UK managers from engaging in CS. However, the authors found no impact on CS among German firms. The study results hold even after employing several tests.Research limitations/implicationsOverall, the study findings provide broad support in an international setting for the board to improve its auditing practices and offer essential information to investors to assess how AQ affects the financial reporting process.Originality/valueMost CS studies used market-oriented economies such as the USA and UK and ignored bank-based economies such as Germany, France and Japan. The authors provide a comparison among bank and market-oriented economies on whether the AQ has a similar impact on CS or not among them.

Management practices and productivity: Does employee representation play a moderating role?

AbstractBloom and Van Reenen (2007) have suggested an index of best management practices capturing three broad areas: monitoring, targets and incentives. However, it is an open question whether the functioning of these practices depends on contextual factors. From a theoretical viewpoint, the management practices involve both productive and dysfunctional effects. We hypothesize that the relative strength of these effects depends on the industrial relations climate. Works councils help management practices live up to their potential by building long‐term employer‐employee cooperation. Our empirical analysis uses panel data from the German Management and Organizational Practices survey to examine this hypothesis. Applying a reformulated version of the Mundlak estimator, we disentangle short‐term and sustaining productivity effects of the management practices. Our results show that the incidence of a works council specifically strengthens the sustaining productivity effect of the practices.

Pain management in German specialized outpatient palliative care : Across-sectional study to present the current pain management of palliative patients in the home environment

With the help of specialized outpatient palliative care teams (German abbreviation: SAPV), seriously ill and dying patients in Germany can be adequately cared for in their home environment until the end of their lives; however, there are no uniform standards or guidelines for well-executed pain management right now. This approach serves as basic research in the field of public health research. This is intended to present which methods (use of different professional groups, use of pain medications, alternative medical treatment etc.) the individual SAPV teams use for pain management. From this it can be deduced which procedures can be considered particularly effective. This cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2021. All German SAPV teams (n = 307) listed on the homepage of the German Association for Palliative Medicine (DGP) were contacted by post and invited to participate. Atotal of 175 teams (57%) responded to the request and were included in the evaluation. Adescriptive data analysis was performed. Pain management in the German outpatient care of palliative patients is based on several components. All common pain medications are used, but primarily metamizole (99.4%) as anon-opioid analgesic, morphine (98.3%) from the opiate series and pregabalin (96.6%) as aco-analgesic are mainly prescribed. If pain therapy fails, 22.5% of the SAPV teams perform palliative sedation for symptom control on aregular basis. This cross-sectional study is the first of its kind to provide ageneral overview of the treatment options for pain management in German outpatient palliative care. In comparison with international studies, the question arises as to whether uniform therapy schemes and areduction in the medication available in the individual SAPV teams could lead to an improvement in patient care.

Update of evidence- and consensus-based guidelines for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) by the German Society of Pediatric and Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases (GKJR): New perspectives on interdisciplinary care

BackgroundNew therapeutic strategies for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have evolved within the past ten years, and as a result, an update of the 2011 recommendations of the German management guidelines was initiated. MethodsA systemic literature review was performed, overarching principles were proposed and pre-selected via an online survey followed by two multidisciplinary consensus conferences. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments were discussed, statements were proposed and ultimately agreed upon by nominal group technique (NGT). Results12 overarching therapeutic principles, as well as 9 recommendations on pharmacological and 5 on non-pharmacological treatments for JIA were agreed upon. ConclusionThis report summarizes the recent update of the interdisciplinary, consensus-based German guidelines on the management of JIA. The multi- and interdisciplinary participation of all caregivers was central for this patient-focused update. With these guidelines, physicians can choose an evidence-based approach, which allows better tailored treatment in this vulnerable cohort of children and adolescents.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term care managers' intention to quit

BackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2-pandemic poses major demands for long-term care, which might have impacted the intention to quit the profession among managers of long-term care facilities.MethodsWe used cross-sectional data of an online survey of German long-term care managers from outpatient and inpatient nursing and palliative care facilities surveyed in April 2020 (survey cycle one; n = 532) and between December 2020 and January 2021 (survey cycle two; n = 301).ResultsResults from the multivariate logistic regression analysis, including all variables simultaneously, showed that the pandemic-specific demands [OR = 1.034; CI = 1.011-2.057] and the general demands [OR = 1.023; CI = 1.001-1.045] were significantly associated with the intention to quit the profession. This association was significantly stronger for general demands in survey cycle two compared with survey cycle one. The results highlight the pandemic's immediate impact on long-term care. The interaction term between survey cycle and demands indicated that the association between general demands and the intention to quit the profession significantly rose between survey cycle one and two [OR = 1.036; CI = 1.000-1.072], whereas the association between pandemic specific demands and intention to quit the profession did not significantly vary by survey cycle [OR = 0.975; CI = 0.940-1.012].ConclusionsIn view of the increasing number of people in need of care and the already existing scarcity of specialized nursing staff, the results highlight the need for initiatives to ensure the provision of long-term care, also and especially in such times of crisis.Key messages The intention to quit the profession among German managers of long-term care facilities has significantly increased during the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic.During the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic the perceived general demands as well as those directly related to the pandemic have increased significantly.

Intercultural differences in issue interpretation: Effects of emotions and framing

The interpretation of strategic issues as threats or opportunities influences strategic actions and firm performance. The extant research identifies cultural differences as an important driver of strategic issue interpretation. Specifically, research from a socio-cognitive perspective shows that differences in cognitive styles across cultures lead to differences in the interpretation of strategic issues by East Asian and Western managers. Based on cross-cultural research on emotions and decision-making, we argue that cultural affordances also lead to differences in emotional experiences and behavioral consequences across cultures which affect the strategic issue interpretation of managers from East Asian and Western cultures in different ways. We theorize that Chinese managers are similarly affected by fear and happiness in their strategic issue interpretation, while German managers are only affected by fear. For German managers, this effect is moderated by issue framing, which is not the case for Chinese managers. A vignette-based decision experiment involving 194 German and 174 Chinese executives offers support for our hypotheses. These findings have implications for cross-cultural research on strategic issue interpretation and for cross-cultural research on strategic decision-making in general.

Cultural differences in geographic mobility readiness among business management students in Germany and Spain ahead of graduation

Given the increased internationalization of organizations and economies of scale concentrated in urban centers, graduates are often expected to relocate for their first job. Based on Hofstede’s model and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we examine the effects of cultural dimensions (individualism-collectivism and uncertainty tolerance) as well as subjective norms (parents’ and peers’ attitudes towards geographic mobility) on readiness for geographic job-related mobility in samples of German and Spanish business management students ahead of graduation from university. The study involved administering a survey questionnaire to 273 third- and fourth-year business management students of two large universities (one in Germany and another in Spain). Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the measures was confirmed, allowing for comparison of scores across the groups. We found that German students had generally a larger geographical mobility, whose readiness was predicted by parents’ and peers’ perceived attitude and uncertainty tolerance. Readiness for geographic mobility was also higher when social or material incentives are offered, yet geographic mobility readiness for career incentives and for social incentives was predicted by vertical individualism and horizontal collectivism, respectively. This study is one of the first to examine geographic mobility readiness among undergraduate management students in the two countries, who by nature of their training are expected to be mobile. The study also shows the differential effects of sub-dimensions of the Hofstede cultural dimensions.

It is not only about money —– German farmers' preferences regarding voluntary standards for farm sustainability management

Improved sustainability in farming is one of the main objectives of the European Union's new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for 2021–2027. In an exploratory study conducted with German farmers, we examine the adoption-decision process for a comprehensive farm sustainability management standard. The standard is rooted in scientific assessment systems and aims to achieve higher levels of sustainability in all farm production processes. Despite the growing political interest and increasing consumer demand for sustainable food, no such sustainability standard has as yet become established in Germany. Using a Delphi process, we analysed the main hindrances to its wider acceptance. Linking our results to the pre-decision stages of Rogers' innovation-decision model, we find that there is both a lack of any relative advantage of a sustainability standard and a lack of communication of the benefits, such as optimised processes and possible economic improvements. We also analysed both the importance and the optimal configuration of the various elements that make up the standard. Besides the obvious desire for higher product prices, the data basis underlying the sustainability assessment is identified as the most important factor of an optimised standard. Technical user support is another aspect of great concern to the farmers questioned, whereas the threshold values for farming regulation given in the standard appear to be of less significance to them. According to those surveyed, a standard would need to display a high level of compatibility with existing farm management practices, it must not be too complex, and it would need to promote its advantages so as to overcome its lack of trialability. Agricultural sustainability management could play a role in achieving the national emission and biodiversity targets of European member states, but only if they are accepted by a majority of practitioners. However, current German management standards need to undergo further development if they are to meet the needs of practitioners. Our findings can help all member states to structure their agricultural policies and promote the use of farm sustainability management. Further research should aim to improve standards and tools of agricultural sustainability management and render them compatible with EU funding policy.

Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in children and adolescents: Does this increasing diagnosis require a common guideline for pediatricians and pediatric surgeons?

BackgroundIn contrast to adults, for whom guidelines on the cholelithiasis treatment exist, there is no consistent treatment of pediatric patients with cholelithiasis throughout national and international departments, most probably due to the lack of evidence-based studies.MethodsWe evaluated the German management of pediatric cholelithiasis in a dual approach. Firstly, a retrospective, inter-divisional study was established, comparing diagnostics and therapy of patients of the pediatric surgery department with the management of patients aged < 25 years of the visceral surgery department in our institution over the past ten years. Secondarily, a nation-wide online survey was implemented through the German Society of Pediatric Surgery.ResultsManagement of pediatric patients with cholelithiasis was primarily performed by pediatricians in the retrospective analysis (p < 0.001). Pediatric complicated cholelithiasis was not managed acutely in the majority of cases with a median time between diagnosis and surgery of 22 days (range 4 days–8 months vs. 3 days in visceral surgery subgroup (range 0 days–10 months), p = 0.003). However, the outcome remained comparable. The hospital’s own results triggered a nation-wide survey with a response rate of 38%. Primary pediatric medical management of patients was confirmed by 36 respondents (71%). In case of acute cholecystitis, 22% of participants perform a cholecystectomy within 24 h after diagnosis. Open questions revealed that complicated cholelithiasis is managed individually.ConclusionsThe management of pediatric cholelithiasis differs between various hospitals and between pediatricians and pediatric surgeons. Evidence-based large-scale population studies as well as a common guideline may represent very important tools for treating this increasing diagnosis.

Formation and development of the state-public management of primary school management in the South-East of Ukraine (XVIII – the beginning of the XX century)

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of formation and development process of primary education public administration in the South-East of Ukraine during the eighteenth – early twentieth century. The main socio-economic and cultural prerequisites for the formation and development of education management in this region are identified. It is concluded that the process of education management system formation in South-Eastern Ukraine is due to the following factors: administrative division of the territories of the Russian Empire, colonization and settlement of the region, a large population, desire of various ethnic communities to meet their own educational needs, the resistance of immigrants to the assimilation policy. The main trends in the development of public administration of education in southern Ukraine were: diversity of different educational institutions, which had different subordination, strengthening the role of clergy and parish schools in the education system of South- Eastern Ukraine, strengthening public activities, inconsistency of government education policy issues. The conceptual principles of the development of education management in the South-East of Ukraine are determined: the multinational and multi-confessional character of the region, as well as its rapid socioeconomic development, which served as a factor in the educational needs of the population. Peculiarities of primary education public management in Greek, German, Mennonite, Jewish, Czech, and Bulgarian settlements are revealed. Forms of public initiative in education management are identified, namely: participation in discussion of educational institutions draft statutes, elections of self-government bodies, introduction of Sunday schools, material support for opening and operation of literacy schools, opening of free public libraries, publishing of available fiction, free supply of books, conducting surveys to study the state of education, etc.

Consumer myopia: a cross-cultural study about the attitude and sustainable behavior of university students

PurposeThe present study has the general objective to verify the myopia level of Management students from different cultures.Design/methodology/approach For that purpose, the methodology chosen was, as for means, quantitative and qualitative, and as for purposes, exploratory and descriptive. The primary data were collected through questionnaires and interviews applied with Brazilian and German Management students.Findings Regarding the results, it was observed that the students of both countries have similar attitudes and behaviors concerning sustainability; moreover, it was verified moderate myopia concerning the environmental behavior of the students inside both universities despite cultural differences.Research limitations/implications The present study cannot generalize the results for the universe Brazil and Germany, one of the limitations of the study being the cult-unit researched. Only Management students of the two countries were studied, besides being sampled for convenience.Social implications In Bremen, the resource economy is cultural it was developed especially in the post-war periods with the restrictions imposed on the country. On the other side of the comparison, we have Fortaleza, a city in northeastern Brazil. The scourge of northeastern droughts has led the region to develop a culture of water and resource-saving.Originality/valueThe study empirically tested a new concept related to sustainability with people from two countries with different realities. The consumer myopia identifies the short-term view of consumers concerned only with their immediate personal satisfaction, and who do not envisage the possibility of allying this satisfaction with sustainability in the long term.

Blinded by the slide show: Ignorance and the commodification of expertise

This article investigates how commodification operates with reference to expertise, rather than material objects. By drawing on the work of German management consultants, it highlights three forms of ignorance that arise as part of commodifying expertise. These are here described as ignorance due to profit, ignorance due to rhetoric and ignorance due to strong assumptions. These forms of ignorance render invisible the wider socio-economic effects of consulting, hide the degree to which corporate representations may not reflect the world they purport to describe, and postulate specific yet highly skewed understandings of freedom regarding human subjects. Taken together, they point out that a distinguishing feature of the commodification of expertise, vis-à-vis that of material objects, is that it provides greater scope for the creation and use of ignorance, as it blurs the boundaries between commodity and context.

Ecosystems 4.0: redesigning global value chains

PurposeThe study analyses how Industry 4.0 and underlying digital technologies influence the design of ecosystems in global value chains (GVCs).Design/methodology/approachA qualitative-exploratory research design is used. It deploys a multiple case study based on semi-structured interviews with 73 German managers of multinational enterprises. Applying a qualitative content analysis, the expert interviews are inductively analyzed and triangulated with secondary data to develop a synthesized data structure.FindingsThe analysis reveals a general tendency towards decentralization of value chain activities. Depending on the nature of each activity and several contextual factors, however, hybrids between centralization and decentralization of processes can be observed in Industry 4.0 environments. Consequences for global ecosystems are altered cooperation with business partners, new organizational forms and novel market environments.Research limitations/implicationsGiven inherent limitations in scope and methodology, the study calls for cross-industry and cross-country analyses. Further studies should research implications of Industry 4.0 changes in ecosystems and GVCs, and the role digital platforms can play in this context.Practical implicationsThe results help companies to analyze and adapt their role in ecosystems and associated GVC activities to Industry 4.0 environments, thus staying competitive in changing market conditions.Originality/valueThis study is among the first to empirically investigate the influence of Industry 4.0 on ecosystems embedded in GVCs. Reflecting existing company environments, it adds an international and company-external perspective to Industry 4.0 research.

How to digitalize inseparable service processes: the enabling role of internal and external support for innovation

Across industries, firms face the need to digitalize their service processes, i.e., transform the service delivery from a physical into a digital form or enhance it through digital technologies. Therefore, one important challenge can arise due to the inseparability of service processes, which describes the necessity for a customer to consume a service the moment which a service provider produces it. Since existing research has failed to examine inseparability as a predictor of service digitalization, this study aims to explore whether inseparability hinders the digitalization of service processes and whether internal support in form of innovation culture and external support from third parties can help to mitigate the influence of inseparability. Data from an online survey of 204 German service employees and managers confirm our hypotheses. These results demonstrate to practitioners that although it may be more difficult to digitalize service processes due to their inseparability, firms may rely on internal and external support for innovation to overcome this challenge.

Management of anal cancer patients \u2013 a pattern of care analysis in German-speaking countries

BackgroundRadiotherapy dose and target volume prescriptions for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) vary considerably in daily practice and guidelines, including those from NCCN, UK, Australasian, and ESMO. We conducted a pattern-of-care survey to assess the patient management in German speaking countries.MethodsWe developed an anonymous questionnaire comprising 18 questions on diagnosis and treatment of ASCC. The survey was sent to 361 DEGRO-associated institutions, including 41 university hospitals, 118 non-university institutions, and 202 private practices.ResultsWe received a total of 101 (28%) surveys, including 20 (19.8%) from university, 36 (35.6%) from non-university clinics, and 45 (44.6%) from private practices. A total of 28 (27.8%) institutions reported to treat more than 5 patients with early-stage ASCC and 42 (41.6%) institutions treat more than 5 patients with locoregionally-advanced ASCC per year.Biopsy of suspicious inguinal nodes was advocated in only 12 (11.8%) centers. Screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is done in 28 (27.7%). Intensity modulated radiotherapy or similar techniques are used in 97%. The elective lymph node dose ranged from 30.6 Gy to 52.8 Gy, whereas 87% prescribed 50.4–55. 8 Gy (range: 30.6 to 59.4 Gy) to the involved lymph nodes. The dose to gross disease of cT1 or cT2 ASCC ranged from 50 to ≥60 Gy. For cT3 or cT4 tumors the target dose ranged from 54 Gy to more than 60 Gy, with 76 (75.2%) institutions prescribing 59.4 Gy. The preferred concurrent chemotherapy regimen was 5-FU/Mitomycin C, whereas 6 (6%) prescribed Capecitabine/Mitomycin C. HIV-positive patients are treated with full-dose CRT in 87 (86.1%) institutions. First assessment for clinical response is reported to be performed at 4–6 weeks after completion of CRT in 2 (2%) institutions, at 6–8 weeks in 20 (19.8%), and 79 (78%) institutions wait up to 5 months.ConclusionsWe observed marked differences in radiotherapy doses and treatment technique in patients with ASCC, and also variable approaches for patients with HIV. These data underline the need for an consensus treatment guideline for ASCC.

Physical influences on seafarers are different during their voyage episodes of port stay, river passage and sea passage: A maritime field study.

IntroductionDuring a sea voyage, crew members of vessels are permanently exposed to physical stress caused by noise, vibration and heat. This study aims to describe the extent of the physical influences on board container ships and the resulting stress.MethodsUp to four scientific investigators accompanied six sea voyages on container ships under German management. Workplace and person-related measurements for noise, vibration and climatic parameters were carried out on the vessels during the three different voyage episodes (port stay, river passage and sea passage).ResultsThe interviewed seafarers reported, in decreasing order, the level of psychological stress due to vibration (80.6%), noise (71.8%) and, much less, heat (45.7%) in the workplace.In terms of workplace-related physical measurements, the highest noise levels were found in the engine room (104 dB (A)), in the workshop (81 dB (A)) and on deck (77 dB (A)), irrespective of the voyage episode. Some noise measurements in the recreational area revealed levels above the threshold. All measured 180 vibration values were below the relevant threshold limits—with the highest values in the engine room (62 mm/s2), followed by the workshop (37 mm/s2) and the engine control room (34 mm/s2). In terms of thermal comfort, none of the measured climatic parameters differed significantly between the voyage episodes. According to the person-related physical measurements, the noise exposure was particularly pronounced among the engine room personnel with an average noise level of 96 dB (A) (often during cleaning, painting and repair work). In contrast, the deck crew and nautical officers were respectively exposed to an average level of 83 dB (A) and 77 dB (A) at work.DiscussionA relevant stress level due to physical loads was detectable in the present study. As ship crews are exposed to the physical influences on board for 7 days a week over several months, further research is recommended to assess the long-term health effects for seafarers.

How Executives Manage Interpersonal Conflicts in Chinese Companies in Germany: Intercultural Difference in Conflict Management Styles

This study aimed to examine the influence of culture on the conflict management styles of Chinese executives when interacting with their German staff in Chinese companies located in Germany. A mixed method was employed. First off questionnaire survey was completed and the data was analyzed with t-test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient methods, then semi-structured interview was conducted and the qualitative content analysis method was used for analysis. This study found that IDV, UAI, IVR dimensions had significant powerful influence on conflict styles of Chinese and German managers; the cultural orientations of Chinese and Germans had also been altered, but their favorite styles remained the same due to the factors, namely: cultural regression, stability of national culture, and various dialectics.