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Article
Publication date: 1 September 2000

Judy L. Wynekoop and Diane B. Walz

The recruitment, development, and retention of top performing information technology (IT) professionals is a key concern within IT organizations today. It is therefore important…

1798

Abstract

The recruitment, development, and retention of top performing information technology (IT) professionals is a key concern within IT organizations today. It is therefore important for IT management to understand the characteristics and behaviors of high performing IT personnel in order to identify them and to create an environment conducive to their development and retention. However, the personality traits and behaviors of top‐performing developers have not received a lot of attention in the literature on IT personnel. Describes a research method for identifying and measuring the characteristics of exceptional software developers and presents the results of a pilot study using MBA students. The results of the pilot are intended to be used to refine the methodology and serve as input to future research involving IT managers. These results indicate that the research design holds the promise of providing a profile of top performing IT personnel.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1989

Hannelore B. Rader

The following is an annotated list of materials dealing with orientation to library facilities and services, instruction in the use of information resources, and research and…

Abstract

The following is an annotated list of materials dealing with orientation to library facilities and services, instruction in the use of information resources, and research and computer skills related to retrieving, using, and evaluating information. This review, the fifteenth to be published in Reference Services Review, includes items in English published in 1988. A few are not annotated because the compiler could not obtain copies of them for this review.

Details

Reference Services Review, vol. 17 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0090-7324

Article
Publication date: 4 September 2017

Deborah McPhee, Mark Julien, Diane Miller and Barry Wright

Drawing upon the theoretical concept of social identities, the purpose of this paper is to investigate if an aboriginal employee resource group (ERG) helps to improve…

1086

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing upon the theoretical concept of social identities, the purpose of this paper is to investigate if an aboriginal employee resource group (ERG) helps to improve connectedness between the participants of the ERG and the organization in a Canadian context.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research was used to interview 13 members of this ERG situated within a large Canadian bank.

Findings

The ERG created a positive experience for its members. It provided a bridge between the aboriginal identity and the organizational identity. Those who were part of the ERG felt that it encouraged them to bond to their cultural identity and that it also generated affirmative connections to the organization.

Practical implications

For employers seeking a more diverse workforce who have struggled with retaining employees from marginalized groups, ERGs may prove helpful.

Originality/value

This study posits a theoretical perspective of how ERGs are able to connect minority members to organizations through the recognition of dual identities. This is also the first study to examine the benefits of an aboriginal ERG.

Details

Personnel Review, vol. 46 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0048-3486

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 August 2023

James Robert Blair, Lisa Jones, Marie Manning, Joanne McGlown, Curtis Streetman and Carolin Walz

Higher education has experienced some significant changes over the past few years including a highly competitive landscape, use of new technology, managing COVID protocols and…

Abstract

Purpose

Higher education has experienced some significant changes over the past few years including a highly competitive landscape, use of new technology, managing COVID protocols and guiding students to resources that ensure their success. With prior research highlighting the changes in the workforce and poor working conditions of part-time faculty, this study aims to explore full-time perceptions of several employment-related variables to determine how these significant workplace changes have impacted them.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods approach is used. This includes a questionnaire being sent out via e-mail to faculty at a medium-sized, public, regional university located in the USA. This was sent through two separate listservs: full-time faculty listserv and part-time faculty listserv. The questionnaire included quantitative and qualitative questions. A one-way ANOVA was used to detect significant differences between the two groups of interest for the quantitative components. The qualitative portions of the questionnaire provided deeper insights into employee perceptions of their workplace.

Findings

This research uncovers some alarming trends for full-time faculty within higher education. Across several different employment variables, full-time faculty perceptions are significantly worse than part-time faculty. This includes work–family conflict, pay perceptions, compensation opportunities, online teaching experiences, overwhelming work activities, technology provided, travel funding provided, perceived satisfaction of a faculty advocate and perceived benefits of a faculty advocate. Qualitative and quantitative results support these findings and provide additional clarification as to why they have these negative workplace perceptions.

Research limitations/implications

A convenience sample was used, where data was only gathered from one university. Future research could replicate finding with more universities varying in their make-up and location to determine if these results hold across the USA and internationally. Some measures did not use established scales in the literature, and some were single-item measures. Future research could replicate findings using established scales with multi-item measures to provide more confidence the results produced that are reliable and valid.

Practical implications

These results suggest alarming concerns for higher education institutions regarding their full-time faculty. Human resource managers and administrators at universities should respond to “the alarm” from this research and internal employee satisfaction surveys they have conducted with their employees. Changes should be made at higher education institutions to improve employee workplace perceptions in hopes of retaining valuable employees and improving worker morale to increase productivity. The recent workplace changes and challenges for full-time faculty are negatively impacting their workplace perceptions.

Social implications

As a result of full-time faculty having significantly worse perceptions across all measured employment variables than their part-time colleagues, who already had poor perceptions, the authors may see more “good” employees leaving the industry for other more lucrative options. Others may become “dead wood” in the university and engage in “quite quitting” resulting in less productivity. With the tenure process protecting professors, this may result in universities being “stuck” with many unmotivated professors and hurt the quality of educational services provided. Some professors may even act out negatively toward the university. This could damage the quality of education provided at universities and perceptions of higher education by society.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study comparing full-time and part-time faculty workplace perceptions across several variables. After previous study has highlighted the poor work conditions and perceptions of part-time faculty, this study adds to the discussion showing that significant changes in the workplace have resulted in full-time faculty now perceiving their employment to be significantly worse than their part-time colleagues. This can have significant short-term and long-term ramifications for the industry that will make it more difficult for universities to attract talented individuals to choose a career in education and retaining their best workers based on current employment perceptions.

Details

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, vol. 39 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0885-8624

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 May 2007

Peter D. Casson and Tahir M. Nisar

This paper seeks to investigate the impact of venture capital firm organization (VC) on operations at portfolio companies, emphasizing particularly value added and involvement.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate the impact of venture capital firm organization (VC) on operations at portfolio companies, emphasizing particularly value added and involvement.

Design/methodology/approach

Prior literature indicates the importance of organizational design on the VC firm's engagement and monitoring practices. A survey methodology is used to examine such relationships, including the significance of human capital for the process of investor engagement.

Findings

The paper finds that VC organizations with a market focus and deal specialization are much more involved in portfolio companies than the firms who diversify their portfolios. This suggests that organizational focus is an important construct for explaining the degree of support accorded to portfolio companies by venture capitalists. The research also evaluates the performance outcomes of VC firm organization.

Originality/value

The research emphasizes the importance of organizational factors in the investment strategies of venture capital firms.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 45 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

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