Impersonal trust within the organization: what, how and why?

It has been shown in organizational settings that trust is a crucial factor in different kinds of outcomes, and consequently, building employee trust in the employer is a goal for all kinds of organizations. Although it is recognized that trust in organizations operates on multiple levels, at present there is no clear consensus on the concept of trust within the organization. One can have trust in particular people (i.e. interpersonal trust) or in organized systems (i.e. impersonal trust). Until recently organizational trust has been treated mainly as an interpersonal phenomenon. However, the interpersonal approach is limited. Scholars studying organizational trust have thus far focused only on specific dimensions of impersonal trust, and none have taken a comprehensive approach. The first objective in this study was to develop a construct and a scale encompassing the impersonal element of organizational trust. The second objective was to examine the effects of various HRM practices on the impersonal dimensions of organizational trust. Moreover, although the “black box” model of HRM is widely studied, there have been only a few attempts to unlock the box. Previous studies on the HRM-performance link refer to trust, and this work contributes to the literature in considering trust an impersonal issue in the relationship between HRM, trust, and performance. The third objective was thus to clarify the role of impersonal trust in the relationship between HRM and performance. The study is divided into two parts comprising the Introduction and four separate publications. Each publication addresses a distinct sub-question, whereas the Introduction discusses the overall results in the light of the individual sub-questions. The study makes two major contributions to the research on trust. Firstly, it offers a framework describing the construct of impersonal trust, which to date has not been clearly articulated in the research on organizational trust. Secondly, a comprehensive, psychometrically sound, operationally valid scale for measuring impersonal trust was developed. In addition, the study makes an empirical contribution to the research on strategic HRM. First, it shows that HRM practices affect impersonal trust and the contribution is to consider the HRM-trust link in terms of impersonal organizational trust. It is shown that each of the six HRM practices in focus is connected to impersonal trust. A further contribution lies in unlocking the black box. The study explores the impersonal element of organizational trust and its mediating role between HRM practices and performance. The result is the identification of the path by which HRM contributes to performance through the mediator of impersonal trust. It is shown that the effect on performance of HRM designed specifically to enhance employees’ impersonal trust in the organization is positive.

Reflexões sobre o trauma cardiovascular civil a partir de um estudo prospectivo de 1000 casos atendidos em um centro de trauma de nível I: a prospective study from 1000 cases

OBJETIVO: Analisar os dados referentes a uma grande série de casos de traumas cardiovasculares exclusivamente civil operados em um único centro de trauma brasileiro. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo de coorte, prospectivo, descritivo e analítico registrados entre os anos de 1998 - 2005. RESULTADOS: No período foram operados 1000 casos que acometeram principalmente homens jovens devido a armas de fogo, armas brancas/vidros e trauma contuso e cuja topografia das lesões se deu na seguinte ordem: abdominais, cervicais, torácicas e extremidades. As três síndromes mais comuns a admissão foram: hemorrágica, isquêmica e hemorrágica/isquêmica. No entanto, 34.6% dos pacientes estavam em choque hipovolêmico grave e em 85% da casuística havia lesões não cardiovasculares associadas. A maioria dos pacientes foi submetida a tratamento cirúrgico sem propedêutica específica, mas 14% destes foram reoperados devido à síndrome compartimental, trombose aguda e/ou hemorragia grave. A taxa de amputação foi de 5.5% e da mortalidade de 7.5%, estando correlacionada com choque hipovolêmico grave ou síndrome da resposta inflamatória sistêmica. Lesões CCV isoladas ocorreram em 15% dos casos com taxa de letalidade global de 41%, sendo 22% venosa, 47% arterial e 81% cardíaca, proporcionando diferença significativa entre lesões cardíacas versus arteriais e venosas associadas (p = 0,01; odds ratio de 7.37) e lesões arteriais versus venosas (p = 0,01; odds ratio de 3.17). CONCLUSÃO: Esta grande série de casos demonstrou ser o homem jovem o mais acometido devido principalmente à violência interpessoal e os acidentes automobilísticos, que envolvem na maioria das vezes as extremidades, associadas com lesões em outros órgãos ou sistemas. Os fatores preditivos de mau prognóstico foram choque hipovolêmico, lesão de grandes vasos arteriais e lesão cardíaca.

Ambidextrous leadership in customer contact centre organization

In a modern dynamic environment organizations are facing new requirements for success and competitive advantage. This also sets new requirements for leaders. The term of ambidexterity is used in relation with organizations that are able to manage short-term efficiency and long-term innovation simultaneously. Ambidextrous leaders have the same capability at an individual level. They are able to balance between efficiency and flexibility. This study examined the confrontation of these two competing concepts in the leadership perspective. The aim of the study was to understand this recently arisen concept and its antecedents and examine what is currently known about ambidextrous leadership. This was a case study with data collected through theme interviews in a result orientated customer centre organization that has a cultural change at hand when it comes to leadership and empowerment. Organization wants to be efficient and flexible at the same time (a.k.a. ambidextrous) and that requires new type of leadership. In this study the aim was to describe the capabilities and criteria for ambidextrous leader and examine the leadership roles related to ambidextrous leadership in different hierarchical levels. The case organization had also created systematic means to support this cultural change and the effects of the process related to leadership were studied. This study showed that the area is yet widely unexplored and contradictory views are presented. This study contributes to the deprivation of study of ambidexterity in leadership and individuals. The study presents a description of ambidextrous leadership and describes the capabilities of ambidextrous leader. Ambidextrous leaders are able to make cognitive decisions between their leadership style according to situation that requires either leadership related to efficiency such as transactional leadership or leadership related to flexibility such as transformational leadership. Their leadership style supports both short-term and long-term goals. This study also shows that the role of top management is vital and operational leaders rely on their example.

Knowledge sharing in intrafirm networks in organization

The objective of this study was research the shared knowledge and the means of sharing with the help of social network analysis. The purpose of this study was to give descriptive information to case-organization about its situational network status in different units. The premise of the study is the success of organizational competences and networks, especially when it comes to the sharing of knowledge. The research was accomplished in a TEKES –projects, Developing Network-Based Services – The Role of Competences and Networks COMNET –projects case-organization. Lappeenranta School of Business and the case-organization started the project in co-operation. The baseline for the study was organizational competencies and organizational networks as success factors, especially from the knowledge sharing’s point of view. The research was based on triangulation, which included pre-interviews, network analyses accomplished by Webropol –e-mail survey and qualitative interviews. The results indicated that regular unit meetings were experienced to be the most important method of knowledge sharing along with e-mailing, intranet and weekly bulletins. The co-operation between units was also experienced to be important when evaluating knowledge sharing and communication. The intrafirm network was experienced tight. Dispersed units and partly unclear means of information sharing were the biggest obstacles for information communication. Knowledge sharing, communication with others and trainings were seen important in the case-organization.

Customer profitability measurement in a not-for-profit organization

The objective of this study was to find out the factors that affect customer profitability in the not-for-profit case company. The customer profitability was examined in two different segments of the customer base. The effects that price, cost and the amount of services provided have on the profit margin were studied. The distribution of profitability among the customers and the effect of certain characteristics, such as size of the customer measured in services purchased, on the profitability were analyzed. The theoretical framework was built around customer profitability and the use of customer profitability information in a not-for-profit organization. The present use of customer profitability information and the possibilities of using the results of this research in the case company were presented. Quantitative research methods were used in the empirical part of the study. The results indicate that the two customer segments have differences in their buying behaviors which affect the profitability and thus the measures taken to improve the profitability should be considered with the different characteristics of the customers in mind. Finally the limitations of the study were discussed as possible further research topics.

Knowledge, processes and relationships in organizational change: Understanding how to facilitate management of intellectual capital in diverse organization structures and cultures.

This study examined relationships of organizational dependencies, change management and developed intellectual knowledge resources, in different intellectual capital based development programs on ICT-sector. Study was carried out in a research context, where high degree of external organizational contingencies existed and lots of changes in several development programs had taken place in the last years. From a scientific perspective the main contribution was that evidence between relationships of organizational dependencies, change model portfolio and developed knowledge resources could be suggested. From managerial perspective the primary implication was that in situations where sustainable competitive advantage is pursued by means of increasing knowledge based productivity of labor, firms should seek to pursue organizational settings where external dependencies have minimal amount of effect.

Victims’ status at international and hybrid criminal courts : victims’ status as witnesses, victim participants/civil parties and reparations claimants

Bestraffning av internationella brott vid internationella och hybrida straffrättsliga domstolar har traditionellt och huvudsakligen grundat sig på principen om retributiv (vedergällande) rättvisa och ackusatorisk process snarare än återuppbyggande rättvisa och en inkvisitorisk modell. Därav har brottsoffrens ställning vid dessa straffrättsliga domstolar begränsat sig till den som innehas av vittnen vid Tribunalen som behandlar brott som begåtts i det forna Jugoslavien (ICTY), Internationella krigsförbrytartribunalen för Rwanda (ICTR) och Specialdomstolen för Sierra Leone (SCSL). Internationella brottmålsdomstolen (ICC), å sin sida, har medfört en viktig förändring gällande brottsoffrens ställning i internationella straffrättsliga fora, vilket innebär att de från att ha betraktats endast i egenskap av vittnen nu även har en rätt att delta och lämna sina synpunkter (i egenskap av brottsofferdeltagare) samt kräva gottgörelse. Denna trend har fortsatt inom området för internationell straffrätt, vilket manifesterats vid hybridtribunaler som tillsatts efter ICC såsom Kambodjadomstolen (ECCC) vid vilken brottsoffer kan agera civilrättsliga parter och Specialdomstolen för Libanon (STL) där brottsoffer kan inneha en deltagande roll. Den föreliggande studien behandlar två huvudsakliga frågeställningar, av vilka den första lyder: Vilken ställning tillskrivs brottsoffren vid internationella domstolar och hybridtribunaler? I detta hänseende argumenterar författaren, sammanfattningsvis, för att brottsoffrens ställning vid internationella straffrättsliga domstolar och hybridtribunaler huvudsakligen tar sig uttryck på tre sätt, d.v.s. som brottsoffer i egenskap av vittnen, som brottsoffer i egenskap av deltagande brottsoffer/civilrättsliga parter samt som brottsoffer som kräver gottgörelse. Den andra frågeställningen för denna studie lyder: På vilket sätt fungerar brottsoffrens ställning som vittnen, brottsofferdeltagande/civilrättsliga parter och gottgörelsekrävande vid internationella och hybrida straffrättsliga domstolar? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kansainvälisten rikosten rankaiseminen kansainvälisissä rikostuomioistuimissa ja hybridituomioistuimissa on perinteisesti enimmäkseen perustunut retributiivisen oikeuden ja akkusatorisen menetelmän soveltamiseen pikemmin kuin restoratiivisen oikeuden ja inkvisitorisen menetelmän soveltamiseen. Niinpä uhrien asema kansainvälisissä rikostuomioistuimissa ja hybridituomioistuimissa on rajoittunut todistajan asemaan entisen Jugoslavian kansainvälisessä sotarikostuomioistuimessa (ICTY), Ruandan kansainvälisessä sotarikostuomioistuimessa (ICTR) ja Sierra Leonen erikoistuomioistuimessa (SCSL). Kansainvälisen rikostuomioistuimen (ICC) perustaminen on kuitenkin merkinnyt tärkeää muutosta uhrien asemaan kansainvälisen rikosoikeuden alalla siten, että kun uhrit aiemmin nähtiin vain todistajina, heillä on nyt myös mahdollisuus tuoda esiin omat näkökantansa (osallistumisoikeus) ja vaatia hyvitystä. Tämä suuntaus on jatkunut kansainvälisen rikosoikeuden alalla ICC:n jälkeen perustetuissa hybridituomioistuimissa, kuten Kambodzhan erityistuomioistuimessa (ECCC), missä uhrit voivat olla asianosaisen asemassa, sekä Libanonin erityistuomioistuimessa (STL), missä uhrit voivat osallistua prosessiin. Tämä tutkimus käsittelee kahta keskeistä kysymystä. Ensinnäkin: Mikä on rikoksen uhrien asema kansainvälisissä rikostuomioistuimissa ja hybridituomioistuimissa? Tutkimuksessa päädytään mm. siihen, että uhrien asema kansainvälisissä rikostuomioistuimissa ja hybridituomioistuimissa voi koostua pääosin kolmesta ulottuvuudesta eli uhrit todistajina, uhrit prosessiin osallistujina/asianosaisina ja uhrit hyvityksen hakijoina. Tutkimuksen toinen keskeinen kysymys on: Miten uhrien asema todistajina, prosessiin osallistujina/ asianosaisina ja hyvityksen hakijoina toimii kansainvälisissä rikostuomioistuimissa ja hybridituomioistuimissa?

Project Resource Management in R&D Public Sector Organization

In R&D organizations multiple projects are executed concurrently. Problems arises in managing shared resources since they are needed by multiple projects simultaneously. The objective of this thesis was to study how the project and resource management could be developed in a public sector R&D organization. The qualitative research was carried out in the Magnetic Measurements section at CERN where the section measures magnets for particle accelerators and builds state of the art measurement devices for various needs. Hence, the R&D and measurement projects are very time consuming and very complex. Based on the previous research and the requirements from the organization the best alter- native for resource management was to build a project management information system. A centralized database was constructed and on top of it was built an application for interacting and visualizing the project data. The application allows handling project data, which works as a basis for resource planning before and during the projects are executed. It is one way to standardize the work-flow of projects, which strengthens the project process. Additionally, it was noted that the inner customer’s database, the measurement system and the new application needed to be integrated. Further integration ensures that the project data is received efficiently from customers and available not only within the application but also during the concrete work. The research results introduced a new integrated application, which centralizes the project information flow with better visibility.

Reiterando o pacto: história, teologias políticas cristãs e a religião civil americana em uma era de multiculturalismo e império

Há 40 anos, em plena Guerra Fria, Robert Bellah concluiu seu célebre artigo sobre a religião civil americana com a seguinte pergunta: como conceber a aplicabilidade legítima dos valores-chave que suportam o imaginário nacional americano para além dos confins territoriais do seu Estado-nação? O presente artigo quer revisitar esta questão criticamente à luz de incursões regulatórias recentes dos EUA sobre o campo da liberdade religiosa no globo. Primeiramente, reviso a história da relação entre secularismo, identidade nacional e cristianismo nos EUA. A seguir, analiso as articulações político-religiosas que dão origem ao International Freedom of Religion Act (IRFA), em 1998. Por fim, tento destacar como este exercício pode fornecer contribuições mais gerais para o estudo da relação entre religião, nacionalismo e poder secular na contemporaeidade, com ênfase na relação entre estes e o princípio de soberania do estado de direito.

Karta öfver Uleåborgs stad upprättad år 1886 i enlighet med af aflidne Civil-Ingenieur C. Kjerrström år 1876 öfver staden upprättade karta jemte tilläg af: G. Wilh. Liljeblad

Mittakaava laskettu janamittakaavasta

Evolution of circadian organization in vertebrates

Circadian organization means the way in which the entire circadian system above the cellular level is put together physically and the principles and rules that determine the interactions among its component parts which produce overt rhythms of physiology and behavior. Understanding this organization and its evolution is of practical importance as well as of basic interest. The first major problem that we face is the difficulty of making sense of the apparently great diversity that we observe in circadian organization of diverse vertebrates. Some of this diversity falls neatly into place along phylogenetic lines leading to firm generalizations: i) in all vertebrates there is a "circadian axis" consisting of the retinas, the pineal gland and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), ii) in many non-mammalian vertebrates of all classes (but not in any mammals) the pineal gland is both a photoreceptor and a circadian oscillator, and iii) in all non-mammalian vertebrates (but not in any mammals) there are extraretinal (and extrapineal) circadian photoreceptors. An interesting explanation of some of these facts, especially the differences between mammals and other vertebrates, can be constructed on the assumption that early in their evolution mammals passed through a "nocturnal bottleneck". On the other hand, a good deal of the diversity among the circadian systems of vertebrates does not fall neatly into place along phylogenetic lines. In the present review we will consider how we might better understand such "phylogenetically incoherent" diversity and what sorts of new information may help to further our understanding of the evolution of circadian organization in vertebrates

Centromere domain organization and histone modifications

Centromere function requires the proper coordination of several subfunctions, such as kinetochore assembly, sister chromatid cohesion, binding of kinetochore microtubules, orientation of sister kinetochores to opposite spindle poles, and their movement towards the spindle poles. Centromere structure appears to be organized in different, separable domains in order to accomplish these functions. Despite the conserved nature of centromere functions, the molecular genetic definition of the DNA sequences that form a centromere in the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and in humans has revealed little conservation at the level of centromere DNA sequences. Also at the protein level few centromere proteins are conserved in all of these four organisms and many are unique to the different organisms. The recent analysis of the centromere structure in the yeast S. pombe by electron microscopy and detailed immunofluorescence microscopy of Drosophila centromeres have brought to light striking similarities at the overall structural level between these centromeres and the human centromere. The structural organization of the centromere is generally multilayered with a heterochromatin domain and a central core/inner plate region, which harbors the outer plate structures of the kinetochore. It is becoming increasingly clear that the key factors for assembly and function of the centromere structure are the specialized histones and modified histones which are present in the centromeric heterochromatin and in the chromatin of the central core. Thus, despite the differences in the DNA sequences and the proteins that define a centromere, there is an overall structural similarity between centromeres in evolutionarily diverse eukaryotes.