Article

The value of beauty for organizations

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Abstract

Despite an increasing body of scientific evidence accumulated over the last 25 years, organizational design thinking has almost c1ompletely ignored the role of beauty on organizational life and performance. Based on a literature review in the fields of organizational aesthetics and management, this article explores ways in which beauty can create value for organizations. It develops an integrative approach, both rational and aesthetic, that helps better understand the contribution of beauty to organizational efficiency and performance. The analysis shows that beauty in organizations can contribute through different organizational elements: resources, outcomes, processes, organization and environment. It also gives some guidelines on how to measure and integrate it into organizations through the concept of ROIB (Return on Investment in Beauty). Finally, the article concludes with some business implications and suggestions for future research.

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... Thenceforth, the subject has become more apparent in Management studies since it conveys a sensitive dimension of knowledge. Thus, we point out the increase of aesthetic studies (e.g., Filippi & Tannery, 2009;Strati, 2010;Sorensen, 2010;Stephens & Boland, 2011;Schiavo & Antonello, 2014;Bertolin, Cappelle & Brito, 2014;Basso, Pauli & Bressan, 2014;Bouilloud & Deslandes, 2015;Ipiranga, Lopes & Souza, 2016;Turan & Cetinkaya, 2020;2022;Ivanaj, Shrivastava & Ivanaj, 2018;Kerschbaum, 2022;Edwards, Hawkins & Schedlitzki, 2019, entre outros), although these focus on the qualitative perspective to investigate the subject. ...
... Kerschbaum (2022) proposes using the aesthetic approach to developing organizational strategy, especially considering the complex, volatile and ambiguous current context. Ivanaj, Shrivastava and Ivanaj (2018) state that beauty can contribute to different organizational elements, such as results and processes, and propose the concept of Return on Investment in Beauty (ROIB) as a type of measurement. ...
... Turan and Cetinkaya (2022) argue that sustainable development can be a continuous process of creating and consuming aesthetic values. The search by executives for categories such as the beauty, the good and the truth guide positive management practices towards sustainable development and can create value for organizations (Ivanaj, Shrivastava & Ivanaj, 2018), while the agogic can contribute to the understanding of the rhythm of changes that focus on sustainability. ...
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Purpose The aim of this study focused on the elaboration and validation of an organizational aesthetic perception scale (AESCATScale) to be used in understanding individuals’ perceptions of organizational life. Design/methodology/approach We carried out a literature review, exploratory interviews, two separate surveys, and multivariate analyses. The scale was validated through an application with a large sample of college professors. Findings Our outcomes consisted of a multidimensional construct model for the perception of organizational aesthetics (AESCATScale), with seven dimensions and 20 items. According to our analysis, the organizational aesthetics construct is consistent and may be the basis for future studies on the subject. Research limitations/implications We highlight three peculiar limitations to the research: a) the subjective nature of the theme, b) the lack of comprehension of some categories by respondents and c) the sample used was chosen for its accessibility and to have been restricted to college professors of a single state in Brazil. Practical implications The AESCATScale may reveal the sensitive logic underlying several organizational practices in the workplace based on a sensitive point of view. Also, it can be a valuable tool to aid in a manager’s decision-making in situations of change. Originality/value This study introduces a differentiated approach to organizational management that can sometimes be missed due to its abstract nature. Therefore, it introduces a novelty research tool that can be used in corporate and academic environments. Keywords: Scale; Aesthetic categories; Work practices
... Aesthetic needs at a workplace tend to be negatively associated with work stress and more frequently reported than ergonomic needs (Schell, Theorell, & Saraste, 2011). These arguments and findings have been successfully extended to establish the field of organizational aesthetics, dedicated to bringing the concept of beauty to the forefronts of innovative organizational research (Ivanaj, Shrivastava, & Ivanaj, 2018). ...
... 383), of which beauty is one step towards humanistic design in organizations (Mannen & MacAllister, 2017). Although the field of organizational aesthetics has produced a considerable number of studies over the last 25 years, it remains oriented towards conceptual and phenomenological arguments developed outside the service industry, leaving most of its theoretical propositions reviewed here short of empirical support and not context-specific (Bjerke, Ind, & De Paoli, 2007;Ivanaj et al., 2018). Therefore, by empirically verifying many of the above claims in the hotel context, this study contributes to the fields of both organizational aesthetics and hospitality management. ...
... Not only it is an important outcome of organizational products and services, organizational artefacts are also capable of eliciting aesthetic experiences in sensory, cognitive, affective, and valuation processes, which leads to meaningful and pleasurable state of mind for its employees (De Groot, 2014). Thus, individuals' commitment to and satisfaction with their work may be influenced by sensory perceptions of tools with which they work as well as the setting in which they work (Ivanaj et al., 2018). ...
Article
The study recognizes the lack of a clear theoretical and empirical link between employees' sense of well-being and hotel design aesthetics, although beautiful environments are associated with optimal human functioning. Drawing on conceptual insights from organizational aesthetics and theory of subjective well-being, this quantitative study explored relationships between workplace design aesthetics, hotel employee subjective well-being and the role of contrast of back-vs. front-of-the-house. Based on cross-sectional data collected from 525 operations-level hotel employees in USA, the study found that backstage employees experience less aesthetic pleasure and report lower levels of well-being than frontstage employees. Design characteristics Unity and Variety positively affect the sense of well-being, while Typicality exhibits a U-type relationship with well-being. The effect of Variety is weaker for back-of-the-house employees. This study is the first attempt to empirically and explicitly connect organizational aesthetics to well-being and identifies a novel way to enhance the well-being of the hospitality workforce.
... Quelque rares travaux de recherche récentes ont aussi porté leur attention sur la contribution de l'esthétique, de l'art et de l'artiste au développement de la performance organisationnelle durable (Ivanaj, Shrivastava & Ivanaj, 2018). Partant du constat de la difficulté des connaissances scientifiques et rationnelles à apporter des réponses aux grands défis (environnementaux, économiques et sociaux) du développement durable (Shrivastava, 2010 ;Adler, 2015), ces recherches mettent l'accent sur l'intérêt de l'approche esthétique et de l'art comme vecteur de changement des comportements individuels et organisationnels, en faisant le lien avec l'émotion (Huy, 2002) et la passion (Vallerand, 2008). ...
... La compréhension du rôle de l'approche esthétique sur la gestion des émotions pourrait devenir un levier important de la conduite du changement (Miller et al., 2004). A l'avenir, il serait pertinent de porter plus d'attention à l'étude des dimensions émotionnelles et esthétiques des organisations, afin de comprendre leur impact sur la capacité à implémenter les orientations stratégiques nouvelles, ainsi que sur la capacité des individus et des organisations à changer (Ivanaj et al, 2018). Les travaux de recherche future dans le champ de l'esthétique organisationnelle pourraient ainsi trouver une voie de recherche fertile dans l'étude du lien entre les dimensions esthétiques de la stratégie et leur impact sur le changement et la performance organisationnelle, sujet très peu étudié jusqu'à maintenant (De Groot, 2014). ...
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Cet article explore la manière dont l’approche esthétique contribue à enrichir la formulation de la stratégie en sortant des sentiers battus, répondant aux récents appels à l’introduction de davantage de « sensibilité » dans le champ du management stratégique pour contrer la domination de la rationalité et du positivisme. Face à l’omniprésence de l’incertitude dans les organisations, celles-ci sont en quête de démarches innovantes pour penser le changement. A ce titre, les méthodes inspirées de l’art semblent particulièrement pertinentes. C’est pourquoi, une recherche-intervention par intervention artistique menée par l’un des auteurs auprès d’une université française pluridisciplinaire sert de terrain d’investigation pour questionner les apports potentiels d’une approche esthétique au service de la formulation de la stratégie d’une catégorie spécifique d’organisations, en l’occurrence les universités. Depuis plusieurs décennies, les recherches soulignent le caractère atypique des universités s’agissant de leur rapport à la stratégie, alors que ces institutions sont désormais confrontées à des injonctions paradoxales leur imposant de se réinventer pour relever les défis de la compétition mondiale. Notre étude met en évidence l’apport de l’approche esthétique tant au niveau des caractéristiques du processus de décision stratégique qu’au niveau des résultats de ce processus. La formulation de la stratégie semble être facilitée par l’intégration de processus cognitifs, émotionnels et corporels qui stimulent la créativité et conduisent à une compréhension intuitive et imaginative du sens de la stratégie et de sa complexité. Cette compréhension apporte satisfaction et motivation, mais aussi des changements de comportements et de valeurs aux niveaux individuel et organisationnel grâce au pouvoir évocateur de la métaphore et à l’énergie stimulante du dessin et de la peinture.
... These elements have the power to define an organization's existence. Properly satisfied, they can define an organization's brand (Kumar and Dash, 2017;Ivanaj et al., 2018). Since these are end needs representing all the enablers which influence them, employees satisfied with these parameters will be content with all the other lower level elements. ...
... Since these are end needs representing all the enablers which influence them, employees satisfied with these parameters will be content with all the other lower level elements. Both management as well as employees can evaluate their positions with respect to HRD for sustainability provided and demanded Filleti et al., 2017;Ivanaj et al., 2018). ...
Article
Sustainability is defined a triple bottom line approach, which concentrates on economic, social and environment growth of any organization. In order to achieve sustainability objective, the human resource focused enablers are playing a significant role in optimizing expenses, improving productivity and quality of work. Therefore, the present study seeks to build a model for the enablers of human resource development for sustainability in India power sector. The study findings help the sector to improve the productivity of their workers and establish all the enablers, which can be seen to improve quality of work life in the Indian power sector. Improved human resource capabilities and work conditions provide not only much needed motivation to power sector employees to improve their efficiency but also assist to accomplish social-ecological-economic organizational sustainability. Total Interpretive Structural Modelling with Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliqués à un Classement (MICMAC) analysis has been applied to build a structural model and to identify the driving force and dependence power of enablers. Validation of relationships among the enablers and managerial implications are also discussed. According to the findings, the enablers ‘work safety and healthy working conditions’ have the highest driving power. The outcomes of this study can help the power sector to enhance human resource capabilities and quality of work life within the organization through provision of a benchmark model and help to accomplish sustainable development initiatives in its business.
... Each initiative's departmental focus and time frame are detailed, with an emphasis on how they were developed to solve particular problems in the water resources ecosystem. [15][16][17][18][19][20]. A recurring worry that has a direct impact on productivity, equipment downtime is a significant component that is discussed in the conversation. ...
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In order to understand the effects of continuous improvement techniques on water resources initiatives, process efficiency, equipment downtime, and hydrological modelling, this study synthesizes empirical data to examine the synchronized efficacy of these tactics. The results show that staff efficiency has increased, with an overall improvement of 10% and a significant 15% uptick in the Production division. Lean Water resources reduced waste by 12%, Six Sigma Implementation reduced defects by 18%, Predictive Maintenance reduced equipment downtime by 20%, and Supply Chain Optimization improved logistical efficiency by 10%; all of these initiatives demonstrated substantial positive outcomes as a result of continuous improvement. The efficacy of the techniques on reducing operational interruptions is shown by the equipment downtime log analysis, which shows a 25% decrease in downtime hours ascribed to Predictive Maintenance. Reductions of 15% in cycle times and 12% in defect rates are two examples of the impressive gains seen in process efficiency indicators. A complete optimization of water resources operations is shown by the cumulative percentage changes across projects and processes, which highlight the transforming power of strategic interventions. This research offers a path for businesses to create better productivity, resilience, and operational excellence by providing empirical insights into the interwoven symphony of continuous improvement.
... Існує замовлення на подібні дослідження у зв'язку з посиленням глобалізації та ростом конкуренції. Вивчаються фактори покращення ефективності праці роботи організацій [3]. Проводяться дослідження в медицині як напрямі бізнесу [4]. ...
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The architectural community, which is closely involved in green standards, is already aware of the need to consider the aesthetic qualities of the architectural environment in rating systems of environmental certification. The study’s relevance is related to the need to find ways to factor the impact of the aesthetic component of architecture on human health in architectural projects. The purpose of the study is to justify the need to include the aesthetic properties of architectural objects under design in rating systems for environmental certification of architecture. Rating systems for environmental certification of buildings are not universal; each has its characteristics. Analysis of the most common systems shows that they do not take into account and do not regulate the appearance of buildings from the point of view of human visual perception. At the same time, the visual and aesthetic qualities of the architectural environment affect human health and well-being, which makes them components of ecology and a matter for consideration. The author’s research focuses on some of the most common and basic standards: LEED, BREEAM, and WELL. We determined that several green standards address the visual impact of architecture as a component of human health and ecology. We also found that during certification, according to the relevant standard, in most cases, the visual impact comes down to providing a view from the window, the level of lighting inside the room, and insolation, among others. At the same time, there is no regulation of the aesthetic impact of a building on a person; there is no methodology for its evaluation. There is an obvious need to consider the aesthetic qualities of architecture. Its quantification and scoring are possible within the framework of the corresponding credits of the environmental certification rating system. For this, we propose an appropriate technique, which consists of conducting a statistical survey of some categories of respondents who answer a series of questions about visual perception and give a generalised assessment of the architectural project. The study substantiates the expediency of introducing criteria for assessing the aesthetic properties of architectural structures into the system of green standards; it analyses the requirements of green standards regarding the aesthetic properties of the architectural environment. The article also develops the principles of forming criteria for assessing the aesthetic properties of architectural structures. It argues that the aesthetic visual qualities of architectural objects affect human health and that we should consider them in the environmental certification systems of architecture. Therefore, the study is forming a unified green standard template, one of the criteria of which will allow for the awarding of points for the visual environmental friendliness of a building undergoing green certification. Keywords: green standards, BREEAM, LEED, visual ecology, visual qualities, aesthetic properties.
... As reported by Hancock (2003), art, beauty, and esthetic experiences can be found in any context, including within the workplace. Integrating artistic elements and experiences in professional settings goes beyond mere esthetics; it serves as a dynamic driver for stimulating creativity and improving the well-being of employees (Italia et al., 2008;Ivanaj et al., 2018). Workplace esthetics thus becomes a competitive tool in the hands of the organization in order to, through daily esthetic experiences, not only promote the well-being of workers already engaged in the company (e.g., Bodin Danielsson & Theorell, 2019; Rashid & Zimring, 2008;Scrima et al., 2021;Smiraglia, 2014;Vilnai-Yavetz et al., 2005), but also to retain them internally by developing a sense of organizational commitment (De Groot, 2014;González-Suhr et al., 2019) and attract new ones (Maier et al., 2022;Ronda & de Gracia, 2022). ...
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For a long time, care environments have been characterized as "inhuman," with their place meaning linked to illness and suffering. This study aims to analyze the shift in the meaning of the hospital space, investigating the impact of a permanent art gallery in a hospital's Gynecology Department on employees' well-being. Employing a quasi-experimental design, a final sample of 116 hospital employees (81 in the control group and 74 in the experimental group) completed self-report measures before and after the installation. Three self-report measurements were conducted at approximately 45-day intervals. The intervention resulted in an immediate increase in aesthetic experience, confirming an emotional involvement. Additionally, the art gallery demonstrated delayed positive effects on restorativeness after 45 days, positively affecting affective commitment and work engagement. These findings highlight the potential of art interventions in healthcare settings to enhance employees' well-being, suggesting implications for organizational design and employee satisfaction.
... Aesthetics in organisations affects resources, processes, organisation, and environment; and pertinent investments could be measured by a novel ratio ROIB (Return on Investment in Beauty). (Ivanaj et al 2018). ...
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Turbulences in organisational environments, especially due to major crises and disruptive events, force organisations to innovate, applying imagination, intuition, improvisation, etc., and route to learning from the arts, including the “aesthetic turn” in organisation and management science, and practice. Continuous projectification and proliferation of temporary organising represent some of the current trends in organisations. The current research gap lies in the insufficient understanding of the commonalities between organisational aesthetics and temporary project organisations. This systematic literature review aims to contribute to the literature on temporary organisations by integrating it with organisational aesthetics, as well as to the literature on organisational aesthetics, introducing the aspect of temporality. A keyword search in Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar along with the application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria yielded the sample of 49 articles. A systematic review of the literature and further application of the grounded theory approach allowed to discern eight themes that embrace the junctures of organisational aesthetics and temporary project organisations. These themes were aggregated into four dimensions: philosophical approach, personality traits, project management approaches, and project processes along the organisational environment. Considering these dimensions may help to create an aesthetically pleasing work environment and a culture that fosters creativity and innovation in temporary project organisations. As temporary organisational settings are often used for transitions, aesthetic temporary organisations may bring along more aesthetic permanent organisations. Cross-disciplinary and cross-thematic research in this field, involving philosophy, psychology, management, organisational theory, sociology, etc., will be vital in the future.
... Organizational aesthetics initially was described by scholars like Strati (1999Strati ( , 2000, Ramirez (2005), Gagliardi (1996), and Linstead and Höpfl (2000. Their main contributions were suggestions in which organizational aesthetic stimuli (OAS) aesthetic value could be observed by the observer (Ivanaj et al., 2018). The v. ...
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Companies may have difficulty in adapting design as a strategic tool in industrial competition if they do not have an understanding of its meaning and value in practice. Part of the problem stems from the lack of a clear typology of design dimensions and attributes-the equivalent of marketing's 4 "P"s (Lorenz 1995). This research provides a fresh look at the design factor and a new typology and framework that will allow companies to analyse and adapt their values, image, process and production (VIPP's), thereby gaining competitive advantage by design.
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We design a laboratory experiment to test the extent to which the often-observed “beauty premium”–a positive relationship between attractiveness and wages–is context-specific. Using three realistic worker tasks, we find that the existence of the “beauty premium” indeed depends on the task: while relatively more attractive workers receive higher wage bids in a bargaining task, there is no such premium in either an analytical task or a data entry task. Our analysis shows that the premium in bargaining is driven by statistical discrimination based on biased beliefs about worker performance. We also find that there is substantial learning after worker-specific performance information is revealed, highlighting the importance of accounting for longer-run interactions in studies of discrimination.
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DESIGNERS HAVE TRADIIONALLY FOCUSED ON ENHANCING THE LOOK AND FUNCTIONALITY OF PRODUCTS. RECENTLY, THEY HAVE BEGUN USING DESIGN TOOLS TO TACKLE MORE COMPLEX PROBLEMS, SUCH AS FINDING WAYS TO PROVIDE LOW-COST HEALTH CARE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. BUSINESSES WERE FIRST TO EMBRACE THIS NEW APPROACH—CALLED DESIGN THINKING—NOW NONPROFITS ARE BEGINNING TO ADOPT IT TOO.
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In the beginning was the story Or rather: many stories, of many places, in many voices, pointing toward many ends.
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Organizational Aesthetics, Experience and Plausibility Aesthetic Knowledge of Organizational Action The Elusiveness of Organizational Aesthetics The Beautiful in Organizational Life Artefacts, Form and Aesthetic Categories Conclusions
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Forest Products Society The efficiency and productivity of the wood products manufacturing sector have been evaluated by many researchers. Productivity growth compensates for price increases and enhances competitiveness. Technical efficiency, which is the efficiency of converting inputs to outputs, directly affects costs and consequently profits and capital investments. Considering the importance of efficiency and productivity studies, this paper provides an introduction to performance assessment approaches and reviews the literature on productivity and efficiency studies of the Canadian wood industry. It concludes that further research in this area may develop by incorporating factors and aspects specific to the wood industry and including desirable and undesirable outputs of the production process into the models. Comparative analyses with other regions and temporal efficiency studies can also help in evaluating and monitoring the performance of wood producers in Canada and identifying improvement policies.
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This paper argues that organizational communication research, and in particular a perspective that focuses on narrative, can contribute in important ways to understanding the practices of strategy. Narrative is believed to be critical to sensemaking in organizations, and multiple levels and forms of narrative are inherent to strategic practices. For example, narrative can be found in the micro-stories told by managers and others as they interact and go about their daily work, in the formalized techniques for strategy-making whether or not the techniques are explicitly story-based, in the accounts people give of their work as strategy practitioners, and in the artefacts produced by strategizing activity. After exploring applications of narrative approaches to strategy praxis, practices, practitioners and text, we review two concepts that might serve to integrate micro and macro levels of analysis. Overall, narrative is seen as a way of giving meaning to the practice that emerges from sensemaking activities, of constituting an overall sense of direction or purpose, of refocusing organizational identity, and of enabling and constraining the ongoing activities of actors.
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Malcolm Gladwell; род. 3 сентября 1963, Хэмпшир) — канадский журналист, поп-социолог. В 2005 году «Time» назвало Малкольма Гладуэлла одним из 100 самых влиятельных людей. Книги и статьи Малкольма часто касаются неожиданных последствий исследований в социальных науках и находят широкое применение в научной работе, в частности в областях социологии, психологии и социальной психологии. Некоторые из его книг занимали первые строки в списке бестселлеров «The New York Times». В 2007 году Малкольм получил первую премию Американской Социологической ассоциации за выдающиеся достижения по отчетам в социальных вопросах. В 2007 году он также получил почетную степень доктора филологии Университета Ватерлоо. Малькольм Гладуелл описывает эксперименты, которые показывают, что человеку с поврежденными эмоциональными центрами крайне трудно принимать решения. Он рассказывает про одного такого пациента, которому было предложено прийти на прием либо во вторник, либо в пятницу. И пациент два часа решал во вторник ему прийти или в пятницу — в столбик выписывал плюсы и минусы, их сравнивал, группировал по разному, всяко переставлял. И в жизни своих домашних он просто убивал вот этим. Если его спрашивали, ты что хочешь: омлет или салат? — это задача минут на сорок. Обычный человек очень просто поступает. Он видит омлет, что-то чувствует и говорит: Хочу! Все. Выбор сделан легко и быстро.
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Is design more effective when designers are given greater freedom? Does it help to combine experiential design with functional design? And what kind of study will give you those answers? The Association of Dutch Designers and two Dutch universities collaborated on a survey of 163 Dutch firms in an attempt to find out.
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Purpose When comparing and contrasting features of the public service sector with those of the private service sector, the differences between the notions of customer and citizen, notable in the past, are now blurring. Whilst acknowledging the important differences that exist between the two service sectors, the authors seek to address the recent structural changes in the public service sector that aim to adopt best practices taken from the private into the public sector. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the important differences in public and private service delivery processes; with an emphasis on the need for improved definitions. Design/methodology/approach The literature reviews undertaken were qualitative synthesis in nature. Content analysis was undertaken and applied in reviewing 39 literature of sub‐fields of public and private service delivery, published in English‐speaking peer‐reviewed journals. Findings Based on the literature review, a promising approach for public sector productivity might be the disaggregated approach. Such an approach, focusing on the output components at a tactical level, could alleviate the problems related to public service productivity measurement (i.e. the problem of output definition). In particular, it could help define outputs at the operative level. Such measures could then percolate up to the strategic level (by aggregating the operative level results). Clearly this remains an interesting challenge for the productivity and performance management discipline and worthy of greater examination. Research limitations/implications The authors compared and contrasted appropriate performance and productivity tools and highlight the challenges in adopting performance and productivity measures in the public sector in an attempt to become more efficient and effective. Until greater understanding is gained, there is little likelihood of successfully transferring models of productivity and performance management between the sectors or the development of appropriate models. Originality/value To date, there has been inadequate attention given to identifying, comparing and contrasting the significant differences between the organisations that deliver the public funded services and those in the commercial private services sector. This work highlights specific areas for future research.
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Purpose ‐ The article aims to provide a discussion of societal norms concerning "attractiveness," the existence of appearance discrimination in employment, the presence of "preferring the pretty", and then the authors examine important civil rights laws that relate to such forms of discrimination. Finally, the authors apply ethical theories to determine whether such discrimination can be seen as moral or immoral. Design/methodology/approach ‐ It is a legal paper which covers all the laws related to discrimination based on look. Court cases and Americans laws related to this concept are reviewed and critically discussed. Findings ‐ The paper finds that appearance-based discrimination is not illegal in the USA so long as it does not violate civil rights laws. Research limitations/implications ‐ This research is limited to Federal and State laws in the USA and may not be relevant in other countries as the local laws might vary. Practical implications ‐ Managers and employees can protect themselves in the workplace from illegal discriminatory practices. Social implications ‐ Employees know their rights and enhance their understanding of laws related to appearance, attractiveness, and why companies look to hire those who are considered "handsome", "pretty" and "beautiful". Originality/value ‐ This is an original and comprehensive paper by the authors.
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In this guest editorial we have two aims. First, to outline the background to, and motivation for, this special issue, which called for contributions that went beyond the academic article and used fiction and other literary techniques to communicate; and second, to introduce the papers and briefly outline their contribution. We conclude the editorial with some reflections on the preparation of this issue and a call for academics to embrace the uncertainty associated with communicating their ideas in novel forms.
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This chapter addresses a new approach to organizational learning, namely, artistic interventions, which encompass a variety of ways that people, products, and practices from the world of the arts enter the world of organizations. Although the field has grown rapidly, little empirical research has been conducted on what actually happens inside organizations during and after artistic interventions. The author argues that, to close gaps and correct for biases in existing work, future research will need to engage multiple stakeholders (employees, artists, managers, intermediaries, and policy-makers), address multiple ways of knowing, especially the neglected bodily senses, and draw on concepts and methods from diverse disciplines.
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This paper is about two managers of Red Cross refugee camps in Tanzania who manage by exception in rather exceptional circumstances. Using a model of managerial work that delineates roles carried out at the information, people, and action levels, inside and outside the unit, these managers' activities concentrate especially on communicating and controlling a chaotic situation in a steady state, at least temporarily. While many other managers appear to be moving away from conventional forms of managing--to more linking instead of leading and convincing instead of controlling, etc.--here are two managers who seem to be going the other way, precisely because their situation is so unconventionally risky. Ned Bowman's great contribution has been not justabout risks and options per se, butin the risks that he himself took and the options that he himself exposed. In this spirit, the paper concludes with a plea for the opening up not simply of content, but of context.
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Beautiful action in organizations comes from exceptional craft skill and focuses us on exceptional management skill. Beautiful management action tends to be particular and local—It may only be experienced by a single person within the organization. I call such small moments “little beauties” and offers three examples from a small organization. I conclude that little beauties provide a way to find and inquire into instances of exceptional craft skill and thus offer a Positive Organizational Scholarship approach to practice.
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Facial attractiveness has a positive influence on electoral success both in experimental paradigms and in the real world. One parameter that influences facial attractiveness and social judgements is facial adiposity (a facial correlate to body mass index, BMI). Overweight people have high facial adiposity and are perceived to be less attractive and lower in leadership ability. Here, we used an interactive design in order to assess whether the most attractive level of facial adiposity is also perceived as most leader-like. We found that participants reduced facial adiposity more to maximize attractiveness than to maximize perceived leadership ability. These results indicate that facial appearance impacts leadership judgements beyond the effects of attractiveness. We suggest that the disparity between optimal facial adiposity in attractiveness and leadership judgements stems from social trends that have produced thin ideals for attractiveness, while leadership judgements are associated with perception of physical dominance.
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This article is based on a keynote address delivered at the 33rd annual Organizational Behavior Teaching Conference in Rochester, New York, on June 15, 2006. The audience for this address included faculty, executive educators from the profit and nonprofit sectors, and doctoral students in the organizational and management sciences who had gathered to explore the content and processes for high-quality management education.
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This study examines tourists’ attitudes towards tourist-tourist encounters. The appearance and the number of observed tourists as well as the place of residence of the observing tourists were studied. The variables of tourist appearance and the number of people at the site were manipulated electronically in a set of rainforest photographic images. The data were collected through an on-site self-administered questionnaire. The results from 409 respondents suggested that there were different encounter preferences between Japanese and Western observers with respect to both appearance and the number of people encountered. Japanese have a preference for mixing with Westerners, at least in the rainforest setting studied. Westerners do not have marked appearance-related preferences. For the number of people in the setting, Westerners are inclined to favour few or no people while Japanese prefer some people and are tolerant of larger numbers. These findings, which contradict much of the existing North American recreation based work on people in contact, were examined from a number of theoretical perspectives, including in-group and out-group analyses, and dynamic encounter norms. Some potential management implications were outlined.
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Sustainable landscape design is generally understood in relation to three principles – ecological health, social justice and economic prosperity. Rarely do aesthetics factor into sustainability discourse, except in negative asides conflating the visible with the aesthetic and rendering both superfluous. This article examines the role of beauty and aesthetics in a sustainability agenda. It argues that it will take more than ecologically regenerative designs for culture to be sustainable, that what is needed are designed landscapes that provoke those who experience them to become more aware of how their actions affect the environment, and to care enough to make changes. This involves considering the role of aesthetic environmental experiences, such as beauty, in re-centering human consciousness from an egocentric to a more bio-centric perspective. This argument in the form of a manifesto is inspired by American landscape architects whose work is not usually understood as contributing to sustainable design.