Social comparison processes in organizations

We systematically analyze the role of social comparison processes in organizations. Specifically, we describe how social comparison processes have been used to explain six key areas of organizational inquiry: (1) organizational justice, (2) performance appraisal, (3) virtual work environments, (4) affective behavior in the workplace, (5) stress, and (6) leadership. Additionally, we describe how unique contextual factors in organizations offer new insight into two widely studied sub-processes of social comparison, acquiring social information and thinking about that information. Our analyses underscore the merit of integrating organizational phenomena and social comparison processes in future research and theory

Platonic prophecy and the possibility of philosophy

In this thesis I explore the question of the possibility of philosophy. Initially I frame this question in response to Aristophanes' portrayal of Socrates in his Clouds. According to Aristophanes, Socrates' philosophical way of life is comedic, in so far as he is unable to distinguish the serious from the trivial. It is also dangerous, because in placing the serious and the trivial on the same foundation, Socrates liberates what was bound by way of traditional practice. Philosophy, according to Aristophanes' accusation, is ignorant of everyday life, for it is concerned with the theoretical and insubstantial. The question of the possibility of philosophy is, I argue, central to how Plato might be understood. If philosophy is nothing more than culture and history, if it is really nothing, then Plato's dialogues might only be read as historical fiction. I will argue that to read Plato with this assumption is to anachronistically limit what can be known by way of philosophical practice. Consequently, I argue that we must approach Plato in the spirit in which he writes, in so doing giving up on those assumptions which might preclude us from understanding philosophy as a way of life. Having thus outlined my interpretive credo, and opened up the debate around traditional practice and philosophical theory, I move on to examine the foundation of the religious tradition - divine wisdom. Bringing divine wisdom back from the past into the present is the religious prophet who, along with the philosopher, seeks to live not just according to tradition, but according to truth. An examination of the religious prophet is also, therefore, an examination of the limits of philosophy. With an interpretation of Plato's Euthyphro I show that the foundational speech of the religious prophet - Euthyphro - is rooted in his distorted philosophical desire; a desire sated in eternity only with the perversion of history.;In all, Plato shows that it is a lack of self?knowledge, brought about a pious devotion to history, which separates the prophet from the philosopher. Turning to Plato's Phaedo I explore Plato's understanding of the possibility of philosophy. In this dialogue Socrates, on the day he is to be put to death, tells his friends that philosophy is a practice for dying. He fears not his own death, he says, for the soul is immortal. Philosophy, it would seem, is founded on prophecy. In the Phaedo we come to see the nature of this prophetic insight. In the first half of the dialogue Socrates introduces death as in a cycle with life and argues, from this position, of the ongoing existence of the soul. Yet, as I will show, in making the soul immortal Socrates denies death and thereby calls into question the practice of philosophy. After disagreements from his friends he approaches the question of the soul's immortality from within the circumference of his own life. From here, death does have significance. Death, we come to see, both defines our temporality and is the path through which we approach eternity. Philosophy is possible, according to my interpretation of Plato, because our soul attains itself through the intelligibility of the lifeless things?in?themselves, such intelligibility itself providing the foundation to our own existence - a foundation inaccessible to philosophical analysis

Transformational leadership and substitutes for management: An exploratory analysis

Contemporary writers on management highlight the need for improved leadership within organisations. In this respect, this paper proposes and tests a model that incorporates leadership behaviours, situational variables, and traditional managerial behaviours. The results of this study indicated that, in highly formalised work environments, increasing work group cooperation reduces the need for direction provided by management. Furthermore, the transformational leader behaviours of individualised consideration and intellectual stimulation appeared to impact positively on perceptions of work group cooperation. These findings provide a basis for further research that examines the effects of transformational leader behaviours together with situational variables

Who wants to play "Follow the leader?" A theory of charismatic relationships based on routinized charisma and follower characteristics

This paper outlines a theory of charismatic relationships based on the individual orientation of the follower and extent of charismatic message routinization. A model is proposed that addresses three different types of charismatic relationships-socialized, personalized, and social contagion-and describes the role of follower's self-monitoring, self-concept clarity, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Seven propositions based on these perspectives are presented, and the paper concludes with an outline of the model in an organizational context and possible research strategies to test the validity of the theory

Transformational Leadership and Substitutes for Management: An Exploratory Analysis

AbstractContemporary writers on management highlight the need for improved leadership within organisations. In this respect, this paper proposes and tests a model that incorporates leadership behaviours, situational variables, and traditional managerial behaviours. The results of this study indicated that, in highly formalised work environments, increasing work group cooperation reduces the need for direction provided by management. Furthermore, the transformational leader behaviours of individualised consideration and intellectual stimulation appeared to impact positively on perceptions of work group cooperation. These findings provide a basis for further research that examines the effects of transformational leader behaviours together with situational variables.</jats:p

Tempering of chromium steels

Thesis (Sc.D.) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Metallurgy, 1950Vita.Bibliography: leaves 100-103.by Robert Weierter Balluffi.Sc.D

Children of the Empire [music] : patriotic song & chorus /

For voice and piano.; "Sung with immense success in J.C. Williamson's great production of Little Red Riding Hood" -- T.p.; Cover carries photograph by Talma of the production.; Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an6260820; MUS: N, Hince 495.Little Red Riding Hood (Pantomime

Somewhere in the world [music] : valse song /

Cover title.; Publisher's no.: 105.; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-an5636651