Cognitive asymmetry in employee emotional reactions to leadership behaviors

This article is predicated on the idea that leaders shape workplace affective events. Based on Affective Events Theory (AET), I argue that leaders are sources of employee positive and negative emotions at work. Certain leader behaviors displayed during interactions with their employees are the sources of these affective events. The second theoretical underpinning of the article is the Asymmetry Effect of emotion. Consistent with this theory, employees are more likely to recall negative incidents than positive incidents. In a qualitative study, evidence that these processes exist in the workplace was found. Leader behaviors were sources of positive or negative emotional responses in employees; employees recalled more negative incidents than positive incidents, and they recalled them more intensely and in more detail than positive incidents. Consequently, leaders may need to exercise their emotional intelligence to generate emotional uplifts to overcome the hassles in the workplace that employees seem to remember so vividly. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Finding common ground in team-based qualitative research using the convergent interviewing method

Research councils, agencies, and researchers recognize the benefits of team-based health research. However, researchers involved in large-scale team-based research projects face multiple challenges as they seek to identify epistemological and ontological common ground. Typically, these challenges occur between quantitative and qualitative researchers but can occur between qualitative researchers, particularly when the project involves multiple disciplinary perspectives. The authors use the convergent interviewing technique in their multidisciplinary research project to overcome these challenges. This technique assists them in developing common epistemological and ontological ground while enabling swift and detailed data collection and analysis. Although convergent interviewing is a relatively new method described primarily in marketing research, it compares and contrasts well with grounded theory and other techniques. The authors argue that this process provides a rigorous method to structure and refine research projects and requires researchers to identify and be accountable for developing a common epistemological and ontological position.

FATORES DE RISCO E DE PROTEÇÃO EM EXPERIÊNCIAS EMOCIONAIS DE ADOLESCENTES EM REDES SOCIAIS DA INTERNET

Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que buscou investigar a percepção de fatores de risco e de proteção à saúde em adolescentes usuários de redes sociais na internet, caracterizar as experiências emocionais dos adolescentes, usuários das redes sociais da internet e discutir a contribuição das experiências das amizades virtuais para o vínculo afetivo no âmbito presencial. Esse trabalho foi realizado com 13 adolescentes, entre 16 e 18 anos, estudantes do Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial de São Paulo (SENAC São Paulo), no período de fevereiro a Julho de 2011, foi utilizado como instrumento para obtenção dos dados o Grupo Focal e o conteúdo foi registrado por meio de um gravador de voz e transcrito posteriormente. A análise dos dados foi realizada através da Grounded Theory. Durante esse estudo foi possível investigar os fatores de risco e de proteção à saúde em adolescentes usuários das redes sociais na internet, destacamos alguns mecanismos importantes de proteção, como o bloqueio de suas informações pessoais a desconhecidos para se protegerem de riscos decorrentes de uso indevido do material postado na rede.

Vicissitudes e Semelhanças nas Práticas de Capelães e Psicólogos hospitalares junto às pessoas em situações de perda por morte

Este trabalho traz como tema central às práticas de capelães e psicólogos hospitalares junto às pessoas em situação de perda por morte. Os objetivos desse trabalho foi compreender os processos de acolhimento, cuidado e aconselhamento que são realizados por psicólogos e capelães nas situações de luto; e investigar as semelhanças e diferenças nas práticas de acolhimento, cuidado e aconselhamento entre esses profissionais nas situações de luto por morte. Foram sujeitos desta pesquisa 1 Capelã protestante, 1 Capelão Padre Camiliano, e 2 Psicólogas, que trabalhavam com acolhimento, cuidado, aconselhamento pastoral e psicológico em hospitais. O método de investigação qualitativo utilizado nesta pesquisa foi a Grounded Teory , que categoriza dados e cuja interpretação é realizada considerando todo o conteúdo verbal, respeitando-se cada palavra dada pelo sujeito. A Capelã foi entrevistada em sua sala de atendimento na universidade onde trabalha e os demais sujeitos foram entrevistados nas próprias dependências dos hospitais, ocasião em que solicitamos que falassem sobre suas práticas de trabalho no contexto hospitalar. Pelos resultados obtidos foi possível verificar que existe ainda hoje uma dificuldade para lidar com o termo morte e para definir o conceito de morte, tanto no âmbito religioso, como no psicológico. Existe uma cultura muito forte, que cerca as relações humanas e que dificulta a nossa compreensão e que nos impede de mencionar a palavra morte. Foi possível identificar divergências na prática diária tanto dos capelães, quanto das psicólogas, em relação aos seus Métodos e Técnicas, pois eles se confundem na hora do acolhimento, do aconselhamento, do apoio dado às pessoas que estão passando pela perda por morte. Tanto os capelães, como as psicólogas disseram que a espiritualidade é um recurso utilizado para o enfrentamento dessa perda por morte e as sugestões e sentimentos dos entrevistados em relação as suas práticas foram que os profissionais necessitam de um espaço de expressão, para o desenvolvimento de um trabalho integrado, para um suporte aos cuidadores, para a necessidade de se desmistificar o trabalho do capelão e da necessidade do trabalho das psicólogas se estender aos funcionários do hospital. Concluímos que através da pesquisa realizada apresenta-se confusão nos papéis ou funções entre Capelão e Psicólogo. Esta confusão coloca em dúvida a própria profissão, atuação ou técnicas de intervenção. Isto sugere que há necessidade, na formação destes profissionais, de esclarecimentos ou conhecimentos sobre sua atuação diante da perda por morte

The importance of collaborative frontloading in automotive supply networks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how research and development (R&D) collaboration takes place for complex new products in the automotive sector. The research aims to give guidelines to increase the effectiveness of such collaborations. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used to investigate this issue was grounded theory. The empirical data were collected through a mixture of interviews and questionnaires. The resulting inducted conceptual models were subsequently validated in industrial workshops. Findings – The findings show that frontloading of the collaborative members was a major issue in managing successful R&D collaborations. Research limitations/implications – The limitation of this research is that it is only based in the German automotive industry. Practical implications – Practical implications have come out of this research. Models and guidelines are given to help make a success of collaborative projects and their potential impacts on time, cost and quality metrics. Originality/value – Frontloading is not often studied in a collaborative manner; it is normally studied within just one organisation. This study has novel value because it has involved a number of different members throughout the supplier network.

Designing and managing collaborative enterprises in the automotive industry

This paper presents the findings of a recently completed research project. It sheds light upon the appropriate governance of inter-firm relationships, in order to achieve competitive success for the whole partnership and its individual members. An exploratory study in the German automotive industry using inductive Grounded Theory was conducted, in order to form a set of propositions that were then validated. The research has resulted in the consolidation of these propositions into a novel concept termed Collaborative Enterprise Governance, which draws on an inter-disciplinary body of knowledge. The core of the concept is a competence based contingency framework that helps enterprise managers in selecting the most appropriate governance strategy (i.e. enterprise structure) for an inter-firm relationships within automotive supply networks (i.e. enterprises), depending on various exogenous and endogenous factors.

Enterprise management:A new frontier for organisations

This paper reports on the theoretical foundations and the practical reasons for the increasing popularity of enterprise management. The research has specifically aimed to investigate the dependency between the prevailing type of core competence and the emergent enterprise structure. Empirical inductive research has been conducted in the German automotive industry using the grounded theory approach. This has involved an initial literature review, transcription and codification of interviews to derive tentative propositions, and the validation of the tentative propositions through a questionnaire survey. The research has resulted in the consolidation of the most valid propositions into a conceptual framework. This conceptual framework has been proposed to support enterprise managers who have to make strategic decisions. This study indicates that the prevailing type of core competence is a significant factor that influences the design and management of the enterprise structure. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A conceptual framework for enterprise management

This paper reports on the theoretical foundations and the practical reasons for the increasing popularity of the enterprise management perspective. Theoretical foundations are given that discuss vertically integrated, virtual and extended enterprises in terms of endogenous and exogenous factors, and the tensions that these create. An exploratory study in the German automotive industry using inductive grounded theory was conducted, involving data collection via 28 semi-structured interviews with 16 companies and data validation via a questionnaire survey receiving 110 responses from 52 companies. The research delivers a conceptual framework to show how enterprise structures emerge, depending on the prevailing type of core competencies that they use. Furthermore, it proposes contingency-planning recommendations to facilitate managing the change from one structure to another as the demands placed upon the enterprise change.

Toward a business-to-business channel incentives classification scheme

A recent focus on intermediary compensation underscores the need to organize the many complex incentives used by channel practitioners. Employing a grounded theory methodology, a channel incentives classification scheme is induced from 170 unique channel incentives used in 59 high technology suppliers’ channel programs. The incentives are organized into 16 subcategories and 5 major categories: Credible Channel Policies, Market Development Support, Supplemental Contact, High-Powered Incentives, and End-User Encouragements. Each incentive subcategory is discussed as a means of controlling reseller behaviors. Also, the conditions that give rise to the implementation of incentives are investigated through four testable research propositions.

Sales force social exchange in problem resolution situations

While sales managers spend much of their time resolving sales force-related problems, existing theory offers little insight into the social exchange processes which occur in problem resolution situations. Using a qualitative inquiry method rooted in grounded theory, we uncover three key social exchange contributions used by sales managers when dealing with problem situations in the sales force: sales manager responsiveness, caring, and aggressiveness. We then show that the extent to which managers use these exchange contributions in problem situations is a function of manager characteristics, problem-specific characteristics, and the situational context. We also show that the extent to which managers invest in these three social exchange contributions has implications for the quality for the interpersonal relationships between salespeople and their managers, and for the effectiveness of problem resolution activity.

A qualitative investigation into leader behavioural flexibility

Purpose – The current research aims to determine to what extent Australian managers are behaviourally flexible and to identify what factors are associated with the development of leader behavioural flexibility (LBF) and its contribution to positive organisational outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – Because of the exploratory nature of the questions to be addressed, a qualitative approach to data collection was selected. In particular, the grounded theory methodology was utilised due to its ability to aid with the theory building process. Semi-structured interviews based on the critical incident interview technique were used as the data source. Findings – The findings illustrate that the Australian managers who participated in this study exhibited significant degrees of LBF. The results also suggest that education level and group size may be antecedents to LBF. In addition, it appears that leader-member exchange may mediate the relationship between LBF and positive organisational outcomes, while social intelligence may moderate this relationship. Research limitations/implications – The current research makes several contributions in terms of theoretical development and reveals a richer insight into the underlying processes associated with the relationship between LBF and positive organisational outcomes. Practical implications – As the current research was conducted in the field with 20 practising organisational managers, the findings also highlight some important practical applications regarding LBF. Originality/value – Although previous studies have been able to establish a relationship between LBF and positive organisational outcomes, they have explained very little about the processes associated with this relationship. The present study attempted to uncover some of these processes.

Diabetes service provision:a qualitative study of newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes patients' experiences and views

Aims: To explore newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes patients' views about Scottish diabetes services at a time when these services are undergoing a major reorganization. To provide recommendations to maximize opportunities brought by the devolvement of services from secondary to primary healthcare settings. Methods: Qualitative panel study with 40 patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, recruited from hospital clinics and general practices in Lothian, Scotland. Patients were interviewed three times over 1 year. The study was informed by grounded theory, which involves concurrent data collection and analysis. Results: Patients were generally satisfied with diabetes services irrespective of the types of care received. Most wanted their future care/review to be based in general practice for reasons of convenience and accessibility, although they dis-liked it when appointments were scheduled for different days. Many said they lacked the knowledge/confidence to know how to manage their diabetes in particular situations, and needed access to healthcare professionals who could answer their questions promptly. Patients expressed a need for primary care professionals who had diabetes expertise, but who had more time and were more accessible than general practitioners. Patients who had encountered practice lead nurses for diabetes spoke particularly positively of these professionals. Conclusions: Nurses with diabetes training are particularly well placed to provide information and support to patients in primary care. Ideally, practices should run 'one-stop' diabetes clinics to provide structured care, with easily accessible dietetics, podiatry and retinopathy screening. Newly diagnosed patients may benefit from being made more aware of specific services provided by charitable organizations such as Diabetes UK. © 2005 Diabetes UK.

Blood glucose self-monitoring in non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes:a qualitative study of patients' perspectives

Background: Self-monitoring of blood glucose is controversial in the management of type 2 diabetes. Some research suggests that self-monitoring improves glycaemic control, whereas other research is sceptical about its value for people with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin. Although blood glucose meters are widely available and used by this group, patients' own views are absent from the debate. Aim: To explore the pros and cons of glucose monitoring from the patients' perspectives. Design of study: Qualitative repeat-interview study. Setting: Patients were recruited from 16 general practices and three hospital clinics within four local healthcare cooperatives in Lothian, Scotland. Method: Interview data from 40 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the previous 6 months were analysed using thematic analysis informed by grounded theory. We report findings from round 1 and round 2 interviews. Results: Glucose monitoring can heighten patients' awareness of the impact of lifestyle; for example, dietary choices, on blood glucose levels. Glucose monitoring amplifies a sense of 'success' or 'failure' about self-management, often resulting in anxiety and self-blame if glucose readings remain consistently high. Moreover, monitoring can negatively effect patients' self-management when readings are counter-intuitive. Conclusion: Our analysis highlights the importance of understanding the meanings that newly diagnosed patients attach to glucose self-monitoring. To maximise the positive effects of self-monitoring, health professionals should ensure that patients understand the purpose of monitoring and should clarify with patients how readings should be interpreted. © British Journal of General Practice.

'Urine testing is a waste of time': newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes patients' perceptions of self-monitoring

Aims To date, there is no convincing evidence that non-insulin treated patients who undertake self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) have better glycaemic control than those who test their urine. This has led to a recommendation that non-insulin dependent patients undertake urine testing, which is the cheaper option. This recommendation does not take account of patients' experiences and views. This study explores the respective merits of urine testing and SBGM from the perspectives of newly diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes. Methods Qualitative study using repeat in-depth interviews with 40 patients. Patients were interviewed three times at 6-monthly intervals over 1 year. Patients were recruited from hospital clinics and general practices in Lothian, Scotland. The study was informed by grounded theory, which involves concurrent data collection and analysis. Results Patients reported strongly negative views of urine testing, particularly when they compared it with SBGM. Patients perceived urine testing as less convenient, less hygienic and less accurate than SBGM. Most patients assumed that blood glucose meters were given to those with a more advanced or serious form of diabetes. This could have implications for how they thought about their own disease. Patients often interpreted negative urine results as indicating that they could not have diabetes. Conclusions Professionals should be aware of the meanings and understandings patients attach to the receipt and use of different types of self-monitoring equipment. Guidelines that promote the use of consistent criteria for equipment allocation are required. The manner in which negative urine results are conveyed needs to be reconsidered.