In this paper we approach the problem of organizational order (that is, how patterns in organizational actions and design features emerge) from an evolutionary perspective. It is argued that constructivist rationalism, the doctrine that organizational order is the product of human design, is...

Although accessing finance is key to the foundation of any business, particular concerns have been expressed about the ability of UK women-owned firms to obtain external failure. In this article we use an econometric approach to explore the effect of perceptions of financial barriers to start-up...

This paper contends that complaint management should result in customer satisfaction but more importantly it should lead to operational improvement and improved financial performance. It is argued that many organisations ignore the operational value of complaints and as a result man?, complaint...

Several critical studies in accounting have approached the introduction of accounting systems in the public sector in terms of enforcing and sustaining competition-based resource allocation mechanisms. In this study, we reverse the question and ask: why has accounting not been used in certain...

The voluntary and not-for-profit sector accounts for an important and growing proportion of employment in the UK though it remains highly under-researched Rates of pay are often relatively low, necessitating forms of human resource management that emphasise non-financial means of eliciting...

This paper reports the findings from a recent study of nurse leavers at eight large hospitals in the National Health Service (NHS) of England and Wales. The study develops and extends an influential theory of employee turnover by describing how for some leavers a single, jarring event or shock...

In Europe (and elsewhere) governments intervene to stimulate innovation in the SME sector, and because SMEs face financial constraints in particular, governments encourage the provision of debt and equity (venture capital) finance to such firms. This paper discusses sales contingent claim (SCC...

Purpose - The paper aims to assess the impact of corporate strategy on shareholder value in decline and turnaround situations. Design/methodology/approach - A sample of 45 turnaround firms was selected and matched against a control sample which did not face continuous decline over the time...

Despite the hype surrounding the value-added potential of e-business for contemporary firms, the recent technology downturn was marked by poor customer satisfaction from investment in e-business initiatives. An apparent mismatch between customer expectations and vendor offerings suggested a lack...

Today, "lean" may no longer be fashionable but its core principles (flow, value, Pull, minimizing waste etc.) have become the paradigm for many manufacturing (and service) operations. Given this pre-eminence, the paper seeks to establish what impact if has had on the overall competitive...