This study analyzes the link between cause assessment, corporate philanthropy, and dimensions of corporate reputation from different stakeholders' perspectives, using balance theory as a conceptual framework and the telecommunications industry in Austria and Egypt as the empirical setting. Findings show that corporate philanthropy can improve perceptions of the corporate reputation dimensions, but the results vary between customers and non-customers and depend on the country setting. (authors' abstract)

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The work is concerned with development of valuation principles in German accounting from the history to the present with respect to recent reform on the modernization of the accounting system. Emphasis is placed on international intervention in the internal accounting system with definition of the major influences that have on valuation. Furthermore, changes are captured in the approaches to the valuation methods for selected assets and liabilities. The aim is to provide information on the method of accounting regulation in Germany and to evaluate the current accounting system in terms of classical balance theories. The work focuses on the principles of valuation, first from a general perspective and then from the perspective of specific valuation procedures.

Holding the same negative, as compared to positive, attitudes about a third party has been shown to predict increased liking for a future interaction partner (Bosson, Johnson, Niederhoffer, & Swann, 2006). The current work extended past research by examining two possible mediators of this effect: perceptions of "knowing" the future interaction party, and state self-esteem. Participants learned that they held the same positive or negative attitude of a professor with a future interaction partner, and then rated their feelings of "knowing" their partner, their own state self-esteem, and the closeness they felt to their future interaction partner. It was predicted that holding the same negative attitude about a third party, as compared to a positive attitude, would facilitate closeness to a future partner more effectively because it would (a) provide greater perceived insight into the partner's disposition, and (b) boost state self-esteem. Findings revealed an interaction in which a shared negative attitude toward a third party produced more closeness to a future partner than a shared positive attitude, but only when the attitude was strongly held. When the attitude was weakly held, attitude valence did not influence closeness to the future partner. Participants did not feel like they knew more about their partners if they shared a negative over a positive attitude, but they did feel like they knew their partners to a greater extent if they shared an attitude that was strongly held. In addition, the manipulations had no effect on state self-esteem. Therefore, predictions regarding the possible mediators were not supported. The results are discussed in the context of past findings, and the discussion focuses on the ecological validity of the current study. In addition, the discussion considers the implications of this work for understanding social relationship formation, and offers suggestions for future research.

Organizations today face complex problems requiring individuals to work in groups to develop insightful solutions efficiently through coordination, sharing, and integration of distributed knowledge. However, very little research has investigated group problem solving, specifically in terms of incentives and problem structure. This research uses laboratory experiments to investigate the effects of individual versus group goal conflict on collaborative behaviour and performance in group problem solving process. The experiments study 4-person problem solving groups, in which the group solution emerges through coordination and information sharing. The design of the experiment is a 3 by 3 design with two factors, incentive and task structure. Experiments manipulated the relative weights of individual and group rewards using three ratios (0:100, 50:50, 100:0). Three experimental tasks differing in structure were used to investigate the incentive conflict effect on different kind of problems; in particular, problems containing detours and requiring restructuring. One-hundred and sixty-four undergraduate students participated in this study. The group problem solving process is viewed as a process towards increased structural balance based on Heider’s balance theory. This method captures both incremental search and cognitive restructuring during the problem solving process. Results report the effects of group versus individual goal conflict on group performance and behaviour. Results show that incentive influenced group performance and behaviour by affecting strategies groups used to approach the problem. Individual incentive encouraged the group to focus on the solution state while group incentives encouraged random exploration, and this difference is most significant under the complex problem structure. Results also show that task structure influenced group performance and behaviour by varying the amount of incremental search and restructuring required to solve the problem. Individual incentive weakened difference on performances among three problem structures, while group incentive amplified differences on performance and behaviour among three problem structures.

Organizations today face complex problems requiring individuals to work in groups to develop insightful solutions efficiently through coordination, sharing, and integration of distributed knowledge. However, very little research has investigated group problem solving, specifically in terms of incentives and problem structure. This research uses laboratory experiments to investigate the effects of individual versus group goal conflict on collaborative behaviour and performance in group problem solving process. The experiments study 4-person problem solving groups, in which the group solution emerges through coordination and information sharing. The design of the experiment is a 3 by 3 design with two factors, incentive and task structure. Experiments manipulated the relative weights of individual and group rewards using three ratios (0:100, 50:50, 100:0). Three experimental tasks differing in structure were used to investigate the incentive conflict effect on different kind of problems; in particular, problems containing detours and requiring restructuring. One-hundred and sixty-four undergraduate students participated in this study. The group problem solving process is viewed as a process towards increased structural balance based on Heider’s balance theory. This method captures both incremental search and cognitive restructuring during the problem solving process. Results report the effects of group versus individual goal conflict on group performance and behaviour. Results show that incentive influenced group performance and behaviour by affecting strategies groups used to approach the problem. Individual incentive encouraged the group to focus on the solution state while group incentives encouraged random exploration, and this difference is most significant under the complex problem structure. Results also show that task structure influenced group performance and behaviour by varying the amount of incremental search and restructuring required to solve the problem. Individual incentive weakened difference on performances among three problem structures, while group incentive amplified differences on performance and behaviour among three problem structures.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mobility worldwide. As a corollary, the health of top- and lower-level athletes alike is profoundly reliant on movement and exercise. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on athletes’ motivation to exercise and train. In detail, we aim to better understand who (i.e., demographic, sport-specific, and psychological state and trait variables) reported a change in motivation to train due to the lockdown, why they reported lower motivation (i.e., open-ended questions on problems), what they did to help themselves, what support they received from others, and what they are looking forward to after the lockdown (i.e., open questions). Questionnaire data and answers to these open-ended questions were assessed via an online questionnaire, completed by 95 amateur and recreational athletes during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Germany (April to mid-May 2020). Results show that greater numbers of female athletes are less motivated to train in comparison to male athletes (p = 0.029). No differences in motivation were found regarding type of sport (individual vs. team sport) and number of competitions during the year. Also, more motivated to train amateur and recreational athletes showed lower athletic identity than athletes who reported no change in motivation to exercise during the lockdown (p = 0.03). Additionally, differences in state emotional, perceived stress, and personality variables (i.e., orientation to happiness, volition) were found between athletes who stated that they were less motivated to train compared to athletes who reported no changes in motivation. In particular, closure of sports facilities and social distancing measures were perceived to be highly problematic. Even though athletes received emotional support, organized themselves via routines and schedules, and trained using online tools, they predominately stated that they wished that their coaches would have supported them more. Understanding the impacts of a pandemic-related lockdown on athletes’ motivation, athletes’ coping strategies, and their desired support will help better support them in future crises.

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Tendo em vista que grande parte da população mundial já vive em cidades, pensá-las de forma sustentável pressupõe entender a sua dinâmica, buscando alternativas para questões amplas e complexas que emanam do chamado desenvolvimento sustentável. A sustentabilidade urbana impõe desafios aos governantes e a toda sociedade, no sentido de atender às demandas atuais, prevenindo e mitigando os efeitos negativos gerados como consequência do crescimento econômico. Para tanto, há a necessidade de haver gestão integrada entre órgãos de diferentes setores governamentais e de áreas de políticas distintas bem como a necessidade de reflexão acerca de novas concepções de planejamento e gestão de políticas públicas e na perspectiva do ordenamento territorial para aliar o crescimento econômico, a preservação ambiental e a qualidade de vida da população. Nesse sentido, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo principal analisar a mudança do sistema social e os efeitos na sustentabilidade urbana da cidade de Rio Grande/RS, a partir da instalação do Polo Naval. Para tanto, buscou-se embasamento nos pressupostos da Sustentabilidade Urbana, na Teoria de Sistemas Sociais e na Teoria do Equilíbrio Pontuado. Assim, foi possível analisar a implantação do Polo Naval na cidade de Rio Grande, identificando os reflexos da (in)sustentabilidade urbana produzida pelo Polo Naval sob a perspectiva da Teoria de Sistemas Sociais, bem como analisar o processo de mudança ocorrido na cidade, relacionando as evidências encontradas à estrutura profunda do sistema social e ao Modelo de Mudança Descontínua, admitindo-se que algumas perturbações são capazes de romper o equilíbrio e provocar diversas mudanças, não necessariamente de forma gradual. No contexto da presente pesquisa, essa pontuação foi associada a instalação do Polo Naval, na cidade de Rio Grande no Rio Grande do Sul. A utilização de mais de uma abordagem teórica se mostrou pertinente na presente pesquisa, tendo em vista a diversidade de elementos e a quantidade de dados a serem analisados fornecidos pelos diversos stakeholders que foram entrevistados. Para cumprir os objetivos desta pesquisa, foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória de natureza qualitativa e descritiva, em um recorte temporal que compreende anos de 2006-2014. Utilizou-se fontes primárias e secundárias de dados para realizar os levantamentos apontados. Em relação aos dados primários, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 39 stakeholders presentes no sistema social de Rio Grande e relacionados direta ou indiretamente com Polo Naval. Os dados coletados foram analisados a partir da metodologia de Análise de Conteúdo e agrupados em categorias de efeitos positivos e negativos na dimensão econômica, ambiental e social. Os efeitos da dimensão política foram analisados a partir do Modelo de Mudança Descontínua e na perspectiva da estrutura profunda dos sistemas sociais. Entre os resultados encontrados, na dimensão econômica, percebeu-se efeitos positivos como aumento do PIB e do PIB per capita, empreendedorismo local aumento na arrecadação de impostos e na receita própria do município, o aumento dos investimentos na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, no Porto do Rio Grande, em empreendimentos imobiliários residenciais e comerciais, além de incentivos financeiros por parte do governo como forma de fomentar o Arranjo Produtivo Local. Entre os efeitos econômicos negativos, destaca-se o declínio do consumo em períodos sazonais de finalizações de projetos assim como a inflação do setor imobiliário e suas consequências decorrentes do aumento da demanda por imóveis no município de Rio Grande. Entre os efeitos ambientais positivos percebeu-se o desenvolvimento de parcerias e cooperação para monitoramento ambiental do município, o monitoramento ambiental propriamente dito, a melhoria da infraestrutura urbana em termos malha viária e aeroportos. Entre os efeitos ambientais tidos como negativos, estão o desmatamento de áreas verdes para instalação do empreendimento, problemas de governança ambiental que resultam em conflitos entre a gestão ambiental pública e privada, os efeitos negativos previstos nas licenças ambientais e nos estudos de impacto ambiental do empreendimento. Em relação aos efeitos ambientais negativos de caráter urbanístico tem-se o inchaço e adensamento da infraestrutura urbana, a precarização da gestão de resíduos sólidos industriais e urbanos, a coleta de esgoto incipiente, as dificuldades na coleta e destinação de resíduos domiciliares, o aumento do consumo de recursos naturais em função das demandas de grandes empreendimentos como o Polo Naval, e as consequências negativas geradas em termos de tráfego urbano em virtude do aumento populacional que ocasiona o aumento do número de veículos e pedestres em circulação. Com relação aos efeitos sociais positivos, destaca-se o aumento do investimento em qualificação e geração de emprego a partir da apropriação da mão de obra local e aumento do poder aquisitivo (renda). Entre os efeitos negativos destacam-se aqueles relacionados à saúde, educação, segurança, mão de obra externa e qualificação profissional, migração e aumento populacional, remoção e transferência de famílias e moradias de áreas industriais, conflitos sociais em termos de choque cultural e xenofobia caracterizada pela convivência com trabalhadores de outras localidades, além da existência de condições sub-humanas de habitação para a população migrante. Os resultados encontrados contribuem com evidências empíricas demonstrando os efeitos positivos e negativos de um empreendimento como o Polo Naval de Rio Grande e suas implicações para o contexto onde está inserido, elucidando qual é a dinâmica do processo de mudança nesse sistema social. Tais efeitos demonstram a (in) sustentabilidade que o empreendimento causa em algumas dimensões e podem auxiliar no processo de diagnóstico para buscar medidas que ajudem a solucionar ou amenizar os efeitos negativos. Além disso, os resultados encontrados neste trabalho também podem contribuir para que gestores públicos e privados, instituições de ensino superior e de pesquisa, possam elaborar estratégias e planos de ações conjuntos na tentativa de mitigar aqueles efeitos econômicos, ambientais, sociais e políticos negativos, assim como potencializar aqueles considerados positivos, equilibrando as dimensões analisadas. Assim, a pesquisa pode se tornar uma base para estudos complementares na tentativa de aprofundar cada uma das dimensões e seus respectivos efeitos, bem como auxiliar na elaboração de um planejamento urbano mais eficaz, que institua políticas públicas condizentes com os problemas decorrentes do Polo Naval. Assim, será possível adotar medidas para equilibrar o crescimento econômico, preservação do meio ambiente e qualidade de vida da população, tendo em vista a necessidade de buscar o desenvolvimento de forma sustentável. / Considering that much of the world's population already lives in cities, thinking sustainably requires understanding the dynamics of cities, seeking alternatives to large and complex issues emanating from the so-called sustainable development. Urban sustainability poses challenges to governments and the whole society in order to meet current demands, preventing and mitigating the negative effects generated because of economic growth. Therefore, there is the need for integrated management between agencies of different government sectors and different policy areas and the need for reflection on new designs for planning and management of public policies in the context of spatial planning, to combine economic growth, environmental preservation and quality of life of the population. In this sense, the present study aimed to analyze the change of the social system and the effects on urban sustainability of the city of Rio Grande / RS, from the installation of the Naval Pole. Therefore, we sought to basement on the assumptions of Urban Sustainability in Theory of Social Systems and the Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium. Thus, it was possible to analyze the implementation of the Naval Pole in the city of Rio Grande, identifying the effects of the urban unsustainability produced by the Naval Pole from the perspective of the Theory of Social Systems, and analyze the process of change occurred in the city, linking the evidence found the deep structure of the social system and Discontinuous Change Model, admitting that some disorders are able to break the balance and cause a number of changes, not necessarily gradually. In the context of this research, this score was associated with installation of the Naval Pole, in the city of Rio Grande in Rio Grande do Sul. The use of more than a theoretical approach proved to be relevant in this study, given the diversity of elements analyzed and the amount of data to be analyzed provided by the various stakeholders who were interviewed. To accomplish the goals of this research, an exploratory research of qualitative and descriptive nature was carried out between 2006-2014. We used primary and secondary data sources to carry out the surveys indicated. Regarding the primary data were conducted semi-structured interviews with 39 stakeholders present in the social system of Rio Grande and directly or indirectly related to Naval Pole. Data were analyzed from the content analysis methodology and grouped into categories of positive and negative effects on the economic dimension, environmental and social. The effects of the political dimension were analyzed from the Discontinuous Change Model and in view of the deep structure of social systems. Among the results, the economic dimension, perceived positive effects as increased GDP and GDP per capita, local entrepreneurship increase in tax revenues and own the city revenue, increased investment in the Federal University of Rio Grande, port of Rio Grande, in residential and commercial real estate projects, as well as financial incentives from the government in order to foster the Local Productive Arrangement. Among the negative economic effects, there is the decline in consumption in seasonal periods of project completions as well as inflation in the real estate sector and its consequences of increased demand for real estate in the city of Rio Grande. Among the positive environmental effects realized by the development of partnerships and cooperation for environmental monitoring of the municipality, environmental monitoring itself, the improvement of urban infrastructure in terms road and airport network. Among the environmental effects taken as negative, are the deforestation of green areas for the enterprise installation, environmental governance problems that result in conflicts between public and private environmental management, the negative effects provided for in the environmental permits and environmental impact studies of the project . Regarding the negative environmental effects of urban character has swelling and densification of urban infrastructure, the precariousness of industrial and municipal solid waste management, collection of incipient sewage, difficulties in collection and disposal of household waste, increasing consumption of natural resources according to the demands of large enterprises as the Naval Pole, and the negative consequences generated in terms of urban traffic because of the population increase that causes the increase in the number of vehicles and pedestrians on the road. Regarding the positive social effects, the increase stands out investment in skills and employment generation and from the ownership of the local workforce and increased purchasing power (income). Among the negative effects highlight those related to health, education, security, hand external work and professional training, migration and population growth, removal and transfer of families and houses of industrial areas, social conflicts in terms of culture shock and characterized xenophobia by interaction with workers from other locations, besides the existence of sub-human living conditions for the migrant population. The results contribute empirical evidence demonstrating the positive and negative effects of a project like the Polo Naval Rio Grande and its implications for the context in which it operates, elucidating what is the dynamic process of change in this social system. Such effects demonstrate the (in) sustainability that the project because in some dimensions and can assist in the diagnostic process to seek measures to help solve or mitigate the negative effects. In addition, the findings of this study may also contribute to public and private managers, higher education and research institutions, can develop strategies and plans of joint actions in trying to mitigate those economic effects, environmental, social and negative political as well how to leverage those considered positive, balancing the dimensions analyzed. Thus, the search can become a basis for further studies in an attempt to further studies in each of the dimensions and their effects, as well as assist in developing a more effective urban planning, to set public policies consistent with the problems arising out of Polo Naval. Therefore, you can take steps to balance economic growth, environmental protection and people's living quality, considering the need to pursue development in a sustainable manner.

Work-family balance practices (WFBPs) in the workplace have caused growing interest amongst employees and employers in developing countries like Malaysia. Previous research has shown that the application of work-family balance interface (e.g. work-family integration) in the workplace has an impact on the role of manager, particularly at the micro level analysis. The study has four objectives, which are: (1) To explore how managers and executives in the O& G sector perceive the notion of WFBPs; (2) To identify the type of WFBPs introduced in the Malaysian O&G companies; (3) To compare the WFBPs in both government-owned and privatelyowned O&G companies; and (4) To evaluate the role of a manager in implementing WFBPs in O&G companies. A qualitative method was employed in this study by using a face-to-face, semi-structured interview approach. The interview approach was used to explore the concept and dimensions of the understanding of WFBPs, as this is the appropriate approach to gain a viewpoint from an individual perspective. The empirical result of the investigation has recognised the significant themes of the implementation of WFBPs on the O&G employees' work-life balance. Firstly, it provided the WFBPs' notions of the integration, separation and integration-separation concept between work and family lives to the O&G workforces. Secondly, the study identified and examined the utility of the WFBPs that enables the comparison of formal and informal WFBPs for both government-owned and privately-owned O&G companies. Thirdly, the study evaluated the role of the manager in undertaking the WFBPs and factors that motivate the O&G workforces in the workplace. This study also revealed the impact on the individual and the organisation from the implementation of WFBPs. Hence, the study showed the interconnected manager roles in achieving the work-life balance whilst working with the O&G industry.