Franco Gandolfi

• Doctor of Business Administration
• Professor (Full) at Georgetown University

Toxic leadership has emerged as a pervasive and destructive force across organizational landscapes globally, yet empirical, data-driven studies remain scarce—particularly within Southeast Asia. This study investigates the prevalence, perception, and emotional impact of toxic leadership in Malaysia through a quantitative survey of seventy-nine (79)...

This study examines how Indonesian automotive component firms leverage digital transformation capabilities and absorptive capacity to enhance innovation performance within the "Making Indonesia 4.0" initiative. By analyzing survey data from 100 senior executives-CEOs, Directors, and Owners-of automotive component companies, the research identifies...

Emotional intelligence (EI) has emerged as a relevant factor in leadership research. This quantitative study aims to validate the Emotional Intelligence Self-Instrument (EISI) through factorial analysis, assessing its effectiveness in measuring EI in Latin America. Additionally, the study examines the predictive power of the EISI by analyzing the r...

The long-term effects of downsizing, as well as the specific impacts of repeated downsizing, remain an area of limited understanding within the existing body of research. This gap is primarily due to the relatively small number of empirical studies conducted on the subject and the often-conflicting findings these studies present. To address this is...

Knowledge asymmetries and agency concerns among entrepreneurs, investors, and managers drive the natural evolution of the corporate information environment. Accounting data serves two main purposes in market-oriented economies. By supporting capital providers, like owners and creditors, in evaluating investment prospects and expected returns, accou...

For Brackett and Stern (2024) "everyone values Emotional Intelligence, but actually learning the components is another matter entirely" (p. 26). According to Goleman (2020), the components of EI are self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, em-pathy, and social skills. Most effective educators based in Goleman's (2015) view are alike in one cruc...

Objective: This paper critically examines the pervasive issue of toxic leadership, focusing on its detrimental effects on both organizations and individuals. It aims to establish the direct link between toxic leadership and diminished employee engagement, underscoring the importance of addressing these challenges to drive positive organizational ou...

Transformational and authentic leadership have caught researchers’ attention, and it has gained recognition and position within leadership studies. This quantitative research aims to measure the correlation between the transformational and authentic leadership of leaders on interpersonal relationships and task performance perceived by their hybrid...

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative applied research was to learn about the most important aspects to consider for designing and implementing an emotional intelligence (EI) training program among educators of Monterrey, Mexico. Using the results of the analyzed data, a list of the aspects that were found to be very important to consider for de...

Theoretical Benchmark Past researchers concluded that IPO stocks are significantly more underpriced when the listing occurred during the time when the capital market experienced shocks such as Asian Financial Crisis 1997, the Global Financial Crisis 2007, and the Covid-19 pandemic. IPO short-term performance was also negatively affected when the ma...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop an empirical investigation and discover quantitative evidence for the relationship between authentic leadership, group cohesion, and work engagement. Theoretical framework: Authentic leadership has caught researchers’ attention, and it has gained recognition and position within leadership studies. T...

E-governance fosters good digital citizenship behaviour through the advancement of openness, involvement, accessibility, trust, and education of the public. Current research examines the direct impact of electronic governance on digital citizenship behaviour with the mediation of Electronic Trust amongst the Jordan public. In this regard, a questio...

Leadership is a globally significant topic, sparking a profound and enduring interest in understanding its complexities. In the dawn of the new millennium, the concept of authentic leadership has emerged, emphasizing the genuineness and sincerity of leadership practices (Northouse, 2021, p. 205). This construct of authentic leadership is characteri...

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated the adoption of new work practices and a reassessment of our relationship with work. 'Quiet quitting' emerged as a pervasive phenomenon in the workplace post-COVID, generating concern amongst employers and contradictory conceptualisations amongst industry experts. This paper analyses the inherent tension within th...

In an era of disruptions, a coherent digital transformation strategy is essential, necessitating the Human Resources Management (HRM) function to re-imagine itself by leveraging Artificial Intelligence Technologies (AIT). This research shows how integrating AI in HR creates value in organizations and sustainable competitive advantage. A conceptual...

The primary objective of this conceptual paper is to investigate the correlation between board composition, diversity, independence, and the extent of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure within publicly listed boards in Malaysia. This study undertakes a comprehensive review and examination of the extant body of literature pertain...

Digital innovation continues to fuel business transformation. Organizations have realigned their strategic direction on enhanced adoption of digital technologies to leverage the opportunities provided by the new age technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence. Enterprises can leverage strategic advantage in talent-a key differentiator-by adopt...

Applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in Human Resource Management (HRM) contributes to more capability, diverse insights, and analytical support to enhance people management. This study presents an integrated overview of the research trends through a PRISMA-compliant bibliometric review. We have analysed a dataset of 247 Scopus-indexe...

Toxic leadership is a type of leadership that is destructive to members of a team, an organization, and society at large. It is ubiquitous and ever-present in a variety of settings. Yet, within the larger body of the leadership literature, toxic leadership accounts for a surprisingly small percentage of the leadership research. There are dozens of...

This empirical study set in a large multinational pharmaceutical company analyses three effects of repeat downsizing on commitment based on Moore and colleagues' research (2004; 2006). Results confirm a legacy effect whereby previous exposure to downsizing continues to influence commitment years after the initial exposure and a recency effect given...

Current understanding of the long-term effect of downsizing and the effect of repeat downsizing is limited by the small number of empirical studies in the field and the conflicting evidence they provide. This article reviews the three theoretical perspectives found in the downsizing literature and concludes that downsizing does have a long-term eff...

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) and the Big Five personality traits on the attainment of success in leadership positions within hospital administration. The researchers predicted the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and neuroticism, anticipating a negative link. Additionally, t...

Arzuaga, S., Gandolfi, F., Hansson, M. and Johnston, T. (2021) Downsizing and affective organizational commitment: A contextual proximity perspective, Journal of Empirical Economics Letters, Vol. 20, No. 9, pp. X.

This article, a qualitative research study based on an informal survey, examines the role and significance of French as a global and local language around the world, especially within the multilingual context of Sub-Saharan Africa, and their impact on language teaching, learning and use. Issues include building awareness and appreciation of the glo...

Grounded on Lewin's three-stage change model (1951) and an appreciation of the benefits of leadership theories and organizational change, this mixed-method case study sought to present stages in change implementation in an academic division of a Vietnamese university. In creating an effective working environment where lecturers collaborate in a con...

In this paper, servant leadership and critical pedagogy are amalgamated to explore how aspirations for a greater measure of social justice may be addressed within higher education. A preliminary framework is proposed based on three concepts from critical pedagogy: trust, dialogue, and empowerment. In-depth discussion precipitates valuable insights...

Grounded on Lewin's three-stage change model (1951) and an appreciation of the benefits of leadership theories and organizational change, this mixed-method case study sought to present stages in change implementation in an academic division of a Vietnamese university. In creating an effective working environment where lecturers collaborate in a con...

Servant leadership is a concept deeply rooted in ancient history and Greenleaf revitalized this practice in modern-day organizations. In this paper, we seek to identify how a servant leader, or servant teacher can draw lessons from critical pedagogy and how through various pedagogical interventions they can serve as critical pedagogues. Critical pe...

Research on leadership has become a prominent scholarly and professional pursuit in an ever-changing, highly complex, and multi-dimensional globalized world. In spite of an overabundance of scientific and anecdotal work, a myriad of leadership-related questions have remained unanswered. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to demystify leadershi...

Firms engage in workforce downsizing for a multitude of reasons, generating a myriad of consequences and implications at organizational, sub-group, and individual levels of analysis. The downsizing literature is extensive, reflecting the prevalence of this management practice in North America and around the globe. Despite the large body of research...

This conceptual research paper examines the theoretical underpinnings of employee downsizing as a management strategy. It investigates the issue of why firms downsize in the first place. In addressing this question, some systematic thoughts are offered on the causes of downsizing. The author develops and proposes a conceptual framework for studying...

Workforce downsizing-here referring to a systematic reduction of employee headcount-is persistently utilized to increase organizational productivity, efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness. As a strategy of choice for firms around the world, workforce downsizing produces far-reaching financial, organizational, and social consequences. Despi...

Introduction This book and the scholarly literature agree that firms engage in workforce downsizing for many reasons. Downsizing generates a myriad consequences and implications at organizational, subgroup, and individual levels of analysis (Gandolfi and Hansson, 2011; Datta, Guthrie, Basuil, and Pandey, 2010). The body of literature on downsizing...

Downsizing as a systematic reduction of employees is frequently utilized in order to increase productivity, efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness of organizations. As a strategy of choice for many firms around the world, downsizing produces far-reaching financial, organizational, and social consequences. Despite the large body of literatur...

Downsizing as a systematic reduction of employees is frequently utilized in order to increase productivity, efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness of organizations. As a strategy of choice for many firms around the world, downsizing produces far-reaching financial, organizational, and social consequences. Despite the large body of literatur...

Downsizing as a systematic reduction of employees is frequently utilized in order to increase productivity, efficiency, profit-ability, and competitiveness of organizations. As a strategy of choice for many firms around the world, downsizing produces far-reaching financial, organizational, and social consequences. Despite the large body of literatu...

Scientific analysis of downsizing implications and consequences from a global perspective.

The business literature on the causes and consequences of downsizing has grown significantly over the last three decades. A multitude of causes has been identified. Downsizing is sometimes seen primarily as a cost-reducing response to various crises and external factors over which management has little or no control. Others see downsizing as a stra...

The business literature on the causes and consequences of downsizing has grown significantly over the last three decades. A multitude of causes has been identified. Downsizing is sometimes seen primarily as a cost-reducing response to various crises and external factors over which management has little or no control. Others see downsizing as a stra...

Telecommuting has been a popular practice for an increasing number of firms and governmental bodies over the past decade or more. This research paper reviews antecedents, implementation considerations, known consequences, barriers, and recommendations that need to be determined prior to the adoption of telecommuting practices. The paper demonstrate...

After nearly three decades of corporate restructurings and reorganizations, the modern firm has continued to resort to reduction-in-force (RIF) strategies. This article presents an overview and a brief historical analysis of some of the most popular RI F concepts that have been adopted by companies and governmental agencies on a global scale since...

After nearly three decades of corporate restructurings and reorganizations, the modern firm has continued to resort to reduction-in-force (RIF) strategies. This article presents an overview and a brief historical analysis of some of the most popular RIF concepts that have been adopted by companies and governmental agencies on a global scale since t...

Organisations have adopted downsizing activities in the pursuit of increased productivity, efficiency, competitiveness, and effectiveness for more than three decades. While an extensive body of literature has developed related to the driving forces and consequences of downsizing, few studies have examined the impact of downsizing on innovation. Thi...

After nearly three decades of corporate restructurings and reorganizations, the modern organization has continued to resort to reductions-in-force (RIF) strategies. This article presents an overview and a brief historical analysis of some of the most popular RIF concepts that have been adopted by firms and governmental agencies on a global scale si...

The business literature on the causes and consequences of downsizing has grown significantly over the last three decades. A multitude of causes has been identified. Downsizing is sometimes seen primarily as a cost-reducing response to various crises and external factors over which management has little or no control. Others see downsizing as a stra...

This research article on downsizing represents a comprehensive review of the scholarly work of researchers studying the multifaceted phenomenon of downsizing over the past 20 years. Since Cascio's (1993) seminal article Downsizing: What do we know? What have we learned?, the research has burgeoned across several countries. This paper examines what...

Contemporary leaders are confronted with unrelenting demands while setting visions, goals, and objectives for organizations. Empirical studies have shown that leaders are increasingly faced with high levels of stress which, in turn, have an impact on the health of individuals, groups, and entire organizational entities. There is a particular concer...

Downsizing as a managerial strategy has been implemented on a global scale for more than two decades. Most research on the outcomes of downsizing focus on the personal and professional consequences affecting individuals representing two distinct camps: the downsizing survivors and downsizing victims. This Australian case study explored how the exec...

Downsizing as a restructuring strategy has been actively implemented for the last three decades. While employee reductions were utilized mainly in response to crises prior to the mid-1980s, downsizing developed into a fully-fledged managerial strategy for tens of thousands of companies in the mid- to late-1980s. Since then, downsizing has transform...

Organizations have practiced downsizing in the pursuit of increased efficiency and effectiveness for more than three decades. As a strategy of choice, downsizing is adopted to achieve bottom-line objectives. While an extensive body of literature has developed related to the overall consequences of downsizing, comparatively few studies have examined...

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, failed to capture the hearts of South Korean consumers, ultimately withdrawing in 2006 after eight years in the market. Although, it had achieved stunning successes in the U.S. and overseas, Wal-Mart was unable to apply its proven U.S. business model in South Korea. Wal-Mart is only one among several retailer...

This downsizing research article presents a phase typology of job cutting which includes three distinct phases and three levels of argument. Conceptually, the paper draws heavily upon the seminal work of Littler and Gandolfi (2008) seeking to expand and update their 2008 Academy of Management (AOM) Conference paper. The paper culminates with a cont...

This downsizing article represents a succinct review of the scholarly work of researchers studying the multifaceted downsizing phenomenon over the past 30 years. Since Cascio’s (1993) article “Downsizing: What do we know? What have we learned?”, the research has burgeoned across several countries. This paper examines what we have learned during the...

Large Australian and Swiss banks have been trimming their workforces since the mid-1990s. With further rounds of downsizing activities predicted, this study sought to identify, examine, and compare the adopted organizational downsizing implementation strategies. The primary purpose of this cross-cultural study was to determine how large Australian...

Large Australian and Swiss banks have been trimming their workforces since the mid-1990s. With further rounds of downsizing activities predicted, this study sought to identify, examine, and compare the adopted organizational downsizing implementation strategies. The primary purpose of this cross-cultural study was to determine how large Australian...

This conceptual research paper evaluated the Management Development (MD) and Competitive Advantage (CA) literature by examining possible relationships and correlations between the concepts of MD and CA. A preliminary literature review on MD and CA was carried out and the emerging role of MD in organisations assessed. The paper considered the concep...

The Learning Organisation literature reveals that organisations that have opted to become Learning Organisations have the ability to cope with major changes more successfully. The concept of the Learning Organisation also includes school organisations which have an increasing need to adapt to an ever-changing environment. To date, little research o...

This Australian case study purported to conceptualize the downsizing process and to develop a preliminary conceptual framework depicting the phases of downsizing. The research examined perceptions of managers pertaining to aspects of the process of downsizing within large Australian banks. The study showcases that downsizing was perceived as a mult...

This research studied the role, relevance and prevalence of personal development and growth (PEDG) during the downsizing activity of a large Australian bank. The study found that the bank failed to provide adequate levels of training and development (T&D) in the area of PEDG. This was in stark contrast to the abundant provision of professional deve...

Organizations that have transformed into Learning Organizations have a strong tendency to focus upon continuous improvement and have the ability to cope with major change more successfully and effectively. The concept of the Learning Organization is not confined to a particular type, size, and form of organization, and also includes school organiza...

This study examined managerial perceptions of the downsizing process within large Australian banks. The main purpose was to conceptualise the downsizing process and to test, refine, and extend the preliminary conceptual framework. The study demonstrates that downsizing was perceived as a multi-phase process – including pre, while, and post phases....

Workforce downsizing has become a reality for most Australian banks. This case study examined the relevance of Personal Development and Growth (PEDG) during the downsizing activity of a large Australian bank. The study found that the bank failed to provide adequate levels of training and development (T&D) in the area of PEDG. This was in stark cont...

The Australian and New Zealand banking industries have been cutting their workforces steadily since the mid-1990s. With further rounds of workforce downsizing predicted, it was of considerable interest and importance to examine the implementation strategies that large Australian and New Zealand banks have adopted in their latest downsizing endeavor...

Since the mid-1990s, Australian and New Zealand banks have been slashing their workforces steadily. In light of further downsizings predicted, it was of considerable interest to examine the implementation strategies. This study has revealed three findings. First, Australian banks primarily adopted workforce reduction strategies, whereas New Zealand...

Downsizing as a change management strategy has been adopted by companies and governmental agencies since the 1970s. While workforce reductions were utilized mainly in response to organizational and economic crises prior to the mid-1980s, downsizing developed into a proactive restructuring strategy of choice for a multitude of organizations in the m...

The downsizing of global workforces has been a corporate reality since the early 1980s. This Australian study examined accounts of downsizing survivors of a large firm. The research probed into how downsizing survivors adjusted to their newly found corporate realities in the aftermath of restructuring and downsizing and how individuals developed ne...