Successful Management Practices Research Articles

Evaluation of compost/mulch as highway embankment erosion control in Louisiana at the plot-scale

Summary Total suspended solids (TSS) and associated turbidity in runoff water are considered the most problematic nonpoint source pollutant of Louisiana surface waters. With high precipitation in Louisiana, attention should be given to controlling highway right-of-way erosion. The use of compost/mulch for erosion control enhances soil conservation and substantially reduces erosion. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of compost/mulch placement on runoff water quality on roadsides. Our hypothesis was that the use of compost/mulch would significantly reduce TSS and turbidity in runoff from highway right-of-ways in Louisiana. Two locations constituting four sites and eight individual plots were chosen; one in an active highway construction area and another in an established area plagued by continual rill and sheet erosion. Thicknesses of compost/mulch (5 and 10 cm), slope inclination (10–34%), and tillage practices (till vs. no-till) were evaluated. Runoff, triggered by storm water events, was collected using ISCO auto-samplers from June 2010 to August 2011 and the samples were analyzed for TSS, turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity, and pH. The results of factor analysis showed that the compost/mulch thickness was the most influential variable affecting water quality. Two samples t -test results indicated that TSS and turbidity were significantly different across all comparative variables; construction activities, compost/mulch applications, and tillage practices. The results confirmed the effectiveness of compost/mulch cover as a successful best management practice. Specifically decreases in TSS of 70% and 74% were achieved for the 5 cm and 10 cm compost/mulch application when compared to no compost/mulch, respectively. Light tillage application increased TSS as much as 67%. Therefore, light tillage is not recommended since it decreased the effectiveness of compost/mulch in reducing runoff and sediment losses.

Rapid accumulation of carbon on severely eroded red soils through afforestation in subtropical China

Recovery of carbon stocks after afforestation in degraded lands provides a management practice to mitigate rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, however carbon accumulation after afforestation of severely eroded lands is poorly understood. Large areas of the red soils in subtropical China suffer from severe erosion and have very low carbon density. We investigated above- and below-ground carbon pools in bare land on a severely eroded red soil (BL), a Pinus massoniana plantation that had been established on bare land in 1981(PM) and a nearby secondary forest (SF) in southeastern China. The ecosystem carbon pool in PM (130.1±7.2MgCha−1) was 10 times higher than in BL (13.0±1.3MgCha−1), and 22% lower than that in SF (166.7±7.0MgCha−1) (p<0.05). The above ground biomass carbon pool was 91.9±4.8MgCha−1 in PM, similar to 98.2±5.5MgCha−1 in SF. The soil organic carbon (SOC) pool (to 1m depth) in PM (38.2±3.4MgCha−1) was 2.9 times higher than that in BL (13.0±1.3Mg C ha–1), but was significantly lower than that in SF (68.5±2.5Mg C ha–1). About 70% of the organic C to 1m depth was stored in the top 40cm in the two forests. The storage of light fraction organic carbon (LFOC) at the 0–60cm depth in PM was significantly higher than that in BL, but not significantly different from that in SF. PM had significantly higher proportions of LFOC to SOC for all soil depths in comparison with BL and SF (p<0.05). The mean accumulation rates of ecosystem carbon pools, aboveground biomass carbon pools, and SOC pools in PM were 4.88±0.25, 3.83±0.16, and 1.05±0.09MgCha−1yr−1, respectively. Our results indicate that afforestation of severely eroded red soils with P. massoniana may be a successful forest management practice to achieve rapid carbon accumulation.

Using Homestead Records and Aerial Photos to Investigate Historical Cultivation in the United States

W ithout consideration of prior cultivation history, we may misinterpret the results of a study or the success of management practices in rangelands. Cultivation involves plowing the soil, seeding, and harvesting a crop annually. The long-lasting impacts, known as “land-use legacies,” from these disturbances on soils and native plant communi- ties have been observed in ecosystems worldwide for decades, centuries, and even millennia after cultivation ceases. 1 In sagebrush ecosystems, cultivation can be one of the most drastic disturbances, with recovery taking well over 90 years in some places. 2,3 These legacies include altered vegetation, soils, and hydrology. 4 The reestablishment of native species in formerly cultivated areas is typically slowed, if not halted, due to loss of native seedbanks, limited dispersal, and loss of establishment niches. 5 In contrast, exotic and invasive species are often quick to establish and dominate formerly cultivated land. 6 Cultivation can also modify soil structure, texture, and nutrient content. Plowing breaks up soil struc- ture, making it more susceptible to erosion and loss of soil organic matter and nutrients. 7 Plowing also can lead to soil compaction, which affects primary hydrological processes like soil water-holding capacity, run off, and infiltration. 8,9 These legacies are important because they represent funda- mental changes in the structure and function of ecosystems. Unfortunately, the influence of this historical land use is often overlooked in ecological studies, research design, and management implementation. DOI: 10.2458/azu_rangelands_v34i2_morris

The Successful Management Practices of Performance Management Systems

The Successful Management Practices of Performance Management Systems

Examining the planning and management of principal succession

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine principal succession planning and management by analyzing current practices of handling school leader succession in four Georgia school systems.Design/methodology/approachLooking through the lens of organizational leadership succession theory, the practices of school systems as they experienced changes in school leadership were examined. Participants included superintendents, assistant superintendents, other central office leaders, and principals. A multiple‐case approach was selected with semi‐structured interviews providing the major source of data.FindingsFindings suggest the following: there is a difference in the sense of urgency for the planning and management of the succession of principals; the development of aspiring leaders was identified as a critical component of planning and management of succession; mentoring was an essential practice through the succession process; and reliance on collaborative partnerships with outside organizations was highly valued.Practical implicationsThe implications of the study include a call for further research to determine the differences in leader succession planning and management needs related to the varying contexts. In addition, the study implies that building collaborative partnerships with university preparation programs and other external professional development organizations may assist systems in the planning and management of principal succession.Originality/valueThe originality of this study stems from the lack of literature that directly examines the experiences and practices of principal succession. The findings can inform school system leaders of succession planning and management issues and practices that exist in the four systems studied. As leadership becomes more recognized for its impact on student achievement and school performance, it is imperative that succession is managed and planned to ensure sustainability and effectiveness.

Effects of Total Quality Management implementation on business performance in service institutions: A case of Kenya Wildlife Services

The service sector is getting competitive every day. In order to be successful Quality Management (QM) practices ought to be the integral part of any organization’s strategic management. Kenya’s national parks form the pillar of the country’s tourism industry. Over one million international tourists visit Kenya annually to partake in wildlife safari and other forms of nature-based tourism. However, Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) is being faced by some challenges which they are trying to manage. These include; decline in the volume of international tourists visiting the national parks, human wildlife conflict, encroachment and poaching, and poor infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to establish how Total Quality Management (TQM) practices are employed while addressing these challenges by examining whether there are any gaps or discrepancies (positive or negative) between the service quality management offered by KWS and the actual TQM practices by (KEBS, 2008). The study was guided by the following objectives: To determine the TQM principles used, to obtain the effects of TQM implementation on organizational business performance, to determine challenges in the implementation of TQM.

The role of coaching in managing leadership transitions

The transition into a new leadership role can be extremely challenging to navigate and is one where leadership transition coaching may benefit both the individual and the organisation. This paper reviews the literature on the nature of leadership transition coaching in the workplace. It highlights commonly reported leadership transition challenges and adopts an analytical approach that considers the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) associated with using leadership transition coaching as a means of addressing these. The paper considers the benefits of leadership transition coaching, additional opportunities which may be facilitated by its implementation within organisations, possible limitations and impediments to its more widespread adoption and the means by which these may be overcome. Ultimately, successful leadership transition management practices which incorporate leadership transition coaching are summarised in the form of a suggested transition planning tool. The paper concludes that the on-going potential challenges to organisations, particularly in today’s economic climate, are in considering both the value to be gained in adopting some form of leadership transition coaching for their leadership appointments and the risks of ignoring this as a talent management tool.

Competitiveness of logistics service providers: a cross-national examination of management practices in China and the UK

This paper investigates the extent to which logistics service providers (LSPs) translate their visions of competitiveness into management practices. It is based on a comparative study conducted in both China and the UK. The results demonstrate that both Chinese and UK LSPs have established various management practices conducive to achieving competitiveness. These practices are related to different business and operational activities of an LSP. The results also reveal a fairly high degree of similarity between the UK and Chinese LSPs with regard to their perspectives and management practices, despite their different business contexts and backgrounds. There are, nevertheless, several areas in which the views of UK and Chinese LSPs diverge, which are likely to reflect differences in the development (age and the maturity) of the UK and Chinese LSPs concerned. This is the first comparative study of LSPs in China and the UK, and it provides insights as to how LSP managers pursue competitiveness in either developing or developed countries through initiating successful management practices, and also suggests that it is important for LSP managers to establish a good understanding of their international counterparts in the competition, particularly in today's globalised world, in which more and more LSPs have extended their supply chain management to leverage value from a truly world marketplace.

Benchmarking Waste Disposal in the Egyptian Hotel Industry

The growing environmental awareness among tourists, governments and other bodies, the sustainability of resources, waste management and the greening of hotels have resulted in waste becoming a critical issue for the industry. Waste disposal and its regulation are both important and complex in Egypt and as a result the Law 4/1994 for the Protection of the Environment was enforced. This study aimed to investigate the weight of solid waste produced by five star hotels in Cairo and to identify whether this weight complies with international standard benchmarks. Questionnaires were distributed to hotel executives responsible for monitoring waste management programmes. It was found that since 1994 hotels have started some successful waste management practices. However the weight of the waste produced by a number of hotels still exceeds the international benchmarks. A recommendation is that existing legislation needs to be amended to further both environmental and waste management practices.

On the efficiency of using song playback during call count surveys of Red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)

Successful management practices for declining bird species depend often on long-term surveys acquired by point counts. Despite high standardization of field protocols, uncertain detection probability remains an important source of variability and bias in point-count data. This effect is of main importance in low-responsive species as the Red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa), but it can be counterbalanced, increasing detection probability. In this 2-year study, we sampled using traditional point-count methods, followed by playback sessions for each repetition. We measured detection probability and the efficiency of playback for detectability in the context of a feasibility study on long-term point-count surveys for a harvested game bird, the Red-legged partridge. The results for both study years show a distinct increase in detection probability (23% and 45%, respectively) when using playback vs. the traditional point-count method. We also tested our results for heterogeneity, trap dependence, and time dependence, and no effect was detected. Thus, we suggest that the future design of long-term surveys on Red-legged partridges should consider abundance indices using playback sessions.

Soil Properties, Soybean Response, and Economic Return as Affected by Residue and Water Management Practices

Soil, water, and air quality can be positively impacted by alternative crop residue management practices that return residue to the soil. Double-crop production systems, particularly those with a grass included in the rotation, rely on successful residue management practices. Soil quality and overall soil tilth are often low in regions with a long history of intensely cultivated, row-crop production, such as in the Mississippi River Delta region of the mid-South. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of alternative residue (i.e., tillage, residue burning, and residue level) and water management practices on soil properties, soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production, and net economic returns, over two consecutive rotations in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–soybean double-crop system in the Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas. Initiated in 2001, this study reports results from years 4 and 5 of the experiment. Residue management effects were inconsistent among soil properties and years, and differences were generally agronomically non-significant. Averaged across irrigation treatments, soybean yield was unaffected by tillage, burning, and residue level either year. Within the non-irrigated treatment, conventionally tilled (CT) soybean yield was 38 % greater (p < .05) than no-tillage (NT) in 2005, but similar in 2006. In 2005 and 2006, irrigated soybean yield was 34 and 26 % greater (p < .05), respectively, in the burned than non-burned treatment. In 2006, the estimated net return from the high residue/burned/NT/irrigated treatment combination was 51 % greater than the traditional combination of high residue/burned/CT/irrigated soybean. By years four and five following conversion from CT to NT, the more environmentally sustainable practice of NT appears to be a viable, and potentially more profitable, alternative to the traditional and common practice of CT.

IT project managers' construction of successful project management practice: a repertory grid investigation

AbstractAlthough effective project management is critical to the success of information technology (IT) projects, little empirical research has investigated skill requirements for IT project managers (PMs). This study addressed this gap by asking 19 practicing IT PMs to describe the skills that successful IT PMs exhibit. A semi‐structured interview method known as the repertory grid (RepGrid) technique was used to elicit these skills. Nine skill categories emerged: client management, communication, general management, leadership, personal integrity, planning and control, problem solving, systems development and team development. Our study complements existing research by providing a richer understanding of several skills that were narrowly defined (client management, planning and control, and problem solving) and by introducing two new skill categories that had not been previously discussed (personal integrity and team development). Analysis of the individual RepGrids revealed four distinct ways in which study participants combined skill categories to form archetypes of effective IT PMs. We describe these four IT PM archetypes – General Manager, Problem Solver, Client Representative and Balanced Manager – and discuss how this knowledge can be useful for practitioners, researchers and educators. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research.

An Analysis of Business Challenges Faced by Foreign Multinationals Operating the Chinese Market

China’s rapid economic growth has presented numerous opportunities and challenges for foreign firms there. Many large corporations have established a China centre to coordinate and control their operations in the country. As firms have increased their presence in China, their concerns are increasingly focused on implementing successful management practices and strategies. This article describes the challenges and difficulties that multinational companies faced in Chinese market. It analyses roles played by the human resource function in these China, culture differences, social environment and other factors.

Creating Greater Success in Succession Planning

The problem and the solution .The prevalence of formalized succession planning practices in organizations appears to be increasing, largely due to changing demographic and related trends. However, many organization leaders report low levels of confidence in their succession planning systems and processes. Best succession and talent management practices can help organizations achieve significant benefits, including improved financial performance. A practical, five-step approach to succession planning is proposed that incorporates both best practices and an innovative application of role theory. The approach should help organizations look to and prepare for the future more effectively, including better specifying the future requirements they will have for their leaders. Implications for human resource development (HRD) professionals and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Effect of Combined Use of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients on Sunflower Yield, Soil Fertility, and Overall Soil Quality in Rainfed Alfisol

To study the response of inorganic and organic nitrogen (N) sources both alone and in conjunction and their influence on soil quality, a field experiment was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons using sunflower (MSFH‐8) as test crop. The experimental site soil was Typic Haplustalf situated at Hayatnagar Research Farm of Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, India, at 17° 18′ N latitude, 78° 36′ E longitude. The experiment design was a simple randomized block design with 11 treatments replicated four times. Among all the treatments, vermicompost (VC)+Fert at 25+25 kg N ha−1 recorded the highest grain yields of 1878 and 2160 kg ha−1 during both kharif and rabi seasons, respectively, which were 43.9 and 85.1% higher than their respective control plots. Apparent N recovery varied from as little as 38.30% (FYM at 50 kg N ha−1) to 62.16 (25 kg N ha−1) during kharif and 49.65 (75 kg ha−1) to 83.28% (VC+Fert at 25+25 kg N ha−1) during rabi season. Conjunctive nutrient treatments proved quite superior to other set of treatments in improving the uptake of N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), and micronutrients in sunflower and their buildup in the soil. Highest relative soil quality indexes (RSQI) were observed under VC+Fert at 25+25 kg N ha−1 (1.00) followed by VC+Gly at 25+25 kg N ha−1 (0.87). Considering the yield and relative soil quality indices (RSQI), conjunctive applications of VC with either inorganic fertilizer, FYM, or Gly at 25+25 kg N ha−1 could be a successful and sustainable soil nutrient management practice in semi‐arid tropical Alfisols. Besides this, the fertilizer N demand could be reduced up to 50%.

From Change Management to Change Leadership: Embracing Chaotic Change in Public Service Organizations

The objective of this article is to describe a way for public services leaders to lead chaotic change. By chaotic change, it is meant changes in an organization when the external and internal complexity and uncertainty is high which is the case for most public organizations. Suggestions are made on how to lead chaotic change by influencing the patterns of human interaction and to focus change management on people, identity and relationships by changing the way people talk in the organization. Building on experiences from the private sector, the authors contend that change management effectiveness is low because leaders underestimate the complexity of change, focusing on tools, strategy and structures instead of paying attention to how human beings change by forming identities through relating. Also, in public services, the complexity of change is high as it equally deals with the transformation of complex patterns of interaction and relating. Successful change management practices in public service organizations should therefore take better account of unpredictability, uncertainty, self-governance, emergence and other premises describing chaotic circumstances. For a leader, this necessitates paying attention to how people form identities in organizations and avoiding design-oriented managerial interventions, as well as keeping at bay the anxiety caused by not being in managerial control.

Mitigation Assessment of Vegetated Drainage Ditches for Collecting Irrigation Runoff in California

Widespread contamination of California water bodies by the organophosphate insecticides diazinon and chlorpyrifos is well documented. While their usage has decreased over the last few years, a concomitant increase in pyrethroid usage (e.g., permethrin) (replacement insecticides) has occurred. Vegetated agricultural drainage ditches (VADD) have been proposed as a potential economical and environmentally efficient management practice to mitigate the effects of pesticides in irrigation and storm runoff. Three ditches were constructed in Yolo County, California for a field trial. A U-shaped vegetated ditch, a V-shaped vegetated ditch, and a V-shaped unvegetated ditch were each amended for 8 h with a mixture of diazinon, permethrin, and suspended sediment simulating an irrigation runoff event. Water, sediment, and plant samples were collected spatially and temporally and analyzed for diazinon and permethrin concentrations. Pesticide half-lives were similar between ditches and pesticides, ranging from 2.4 to 6.4 h. Differences in half-distances (distance required to reduce initial pesticide concentration by 50%) among pesticides and ditches were present, indicating importance of vegetation in mitigation. Cis-permethrin half-distances in V ditches ranged from 22 m (V-vegetated) to 50 m (V-unvegetated). Half-distances for trans-permethrin were similar, ranging from 21 m (V-vegetated) to 55 m (V-unvegetated). Diazinon half-distances demonstrated the greatest differences (55 m for V-vegetated and 158 m for V-unvegetated). Such economical and environmentally successful management practices will offer farmers, ranchers, and landowners a viable alternative to more conventional (and sometimes expensive) practices.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP - CASE STUDY OF INA AND MOL

Transformation of INA through privatization has and still represents a crucial part of Croatian economy. Following liberalization and consolidation in the oil and gas industry Croatian government decided to privatize its ownership and transfer it to public sector. Model of INA’ s privatization is planned to go through several phases. In this model of INA’ s privatization, the first phase included partnership with a strategic investor. By transferring its technology and knowledge, and applying its successful management and business practices, strategic partner enabled further growth and development, revitalization and easier access to resources, markets and innovation.

Perspectives for sustainable management of cedar forests in Lebanon: situation analysis and guidelines

The signature and ratification of the convention on biological diversity by the Lebanese government has boosted the declaration of nature reserves. Cedar forests formed the pilot ecosystems, using international funds, for the implementation of a conservation programme and development of management plans. Although different in their attributes, all recent nature reserves have the same basic management objectives and goals but they ignore the idea of taking into account the difference in specific site features and assets that could boost the success of any management plans. Twelve cedar forests flourish in the Mount Lebanon chain. These forests are either protected by the forestry law or are declared as nature reserves by the Ministry of Environment. The results reveal, through Participatory Rural Appraisals and Rapid Rural Appraisals, that religion, geographical location and land ownership play, to a certain extent, a role in adopting successful management practices of cedar forests. The RRAs and PRAs spell out the origins of woodcraft, old stories memorized by elderly people and ethnobotanical knowledge. The 4Rs tools method adopted highlighted the need for more collaboration and synergy of effort between various institutions. The social, ecological and economic aspects of the regions play a major role in defining the backbone of management plans for cedar forests in Lebanon. The present paper proposes guidelines for the establishment of a network of cedar nature reserves in Lebanon adopting collaborative management and assigning a separate role for each reserve; the details rely on the site’s natural features, as well as socio-economic and cultural characteristics.

Ecological and human dimensions of management of feral horses in Australia: a review

In Australia, the management of feral horse populations is a contentious issue, owing to their pluralistic status as an introduced pest and a national icon. In this review, we synthesise current knowledge of the ecological effects of feral horses and the human dimensions of feral horse management, using case studies from around the world to illustrate contentious and successful management practices. We highlight gaps in the literature and suggest that more peer-reviewed research would be beneficial in reducing the current public controversy surrounding management of feral horses.