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How does a party's organizational structure affect its chances of becoming a national party? While existing explanations of party nationalization focus on country-level institutional and societal variables, we argue that aspects of party organization such as the degree of centralization of authority, ideological unity and leadership factionalism also matter. By bringing the analysis to the party level, this article provides a multilevel analysis of institutional and party organization variables and disentangles the effect of each set of influences. We use original data on party organization and party nationalization for 142 parties across twenty European countries. This research contributes to the literature on nationalization and party development by advancing organizational strategies which parties could adopt in different social and institutional environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual representations of information can offer several benefits compared to text communication. This study examines the effect of knowledge visualization, compared to a text control condition, on attitude toward the content, specifically an organizational strategy. Companies operating across borders face great challenges in ensuring compliance with the strategy in different cultural contexts. Recent research evidence showcases the cognitive and emotional benefits of utilizing visual representations of knowledge in organizations. An experiment is conducted comparing two knowledge maps to a textual version of the same corporate strategy. In order to measure attitudes toward the strategy, a scale is developed and tested in Europe and China. The study outcome provides a parsimonious and effective tripartite scale of attitude toward strategy with cognitive, affective and behavioral components. The scale is then applied to a different sample to test the effect of mapping the strategy visually on attitudes toward the strategy, and to test whether the effect is persistent in Europe and China. The results of the experiment show that subjects exposed to the visual conditions had a significant more positive affective and cognitive attitude toward the content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents important information about the operations of nonprofit organizations in the online Web 2.0 technology environment with a focus on public libraries. Explained are techniques that any organization can apply in the development and brand management, communication with the widest and target audiences, models of public relations, shaping of public will, the use of Web 2.0 technologies, applications, tools and the concept of Library 2.0, all in order to create a positive public image of the library in the Web 2.0 environment. Scientific research has established that Croatian public libraries are still not fully adapted to demands of modern technological environment, but some of them are certainly on track to rise towards the ideal of Library 2.0, completely transformed library open to its customers as partners and together with them able to justify their existence and provide funds from various sources for their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In applying a strategy, structure, ownership and performance (SSOP) framework to three major clearing banks (ABN AMRO, UBS, Barclays), this article debates whether the conclusions generated by Whittington and Mayer about European manufacturing industry can be applied to the financial services sector. While European integration plays a key role in determining strategy, it is clear that global factors were far more important in determining management actions, leading to significant differences in structural adaptation. The article also debates whether this has led to improved performance, given the problems experienced with both geographical dispersion and diversification, bringing into question the quality of decision-making over the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on a new database, this article deals with the transformation of ownership, strategies and structures of the top 50 Italian and Spanish business groups and with the relationships between these three dimensions in the period extending from the mid-1970s to 2003. Despite the deep changes in the macro-economic framework during the period considered, the ownership and organisational structures of big business present relevant continuities in both countries. However, the database individuates a metamorphosis in the diversification and internationalisation patterns in both nations. Among the many relevant factors in the interpretation of this trend, the impact of the process of European integration and the high level of turbulence which characterised the largest companies during this period are not negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this commentary on the special issue remarks are provided on the importance of the strategy, structure, ownership and performance (SSOP) research programme as an exemplar of policy-relevant 'phenomenon-based' research, some key findings are summarised and implications for the three main bodies of theory at issue are discussed. Finally, suggestions are made about taking the research agenda forwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the strategies, structures and performance of large Dutch firms in the period 1963-2003, and compares the results with those of other European companies. Did Dutch companies develop corporate strategies and structures comparable to other European companies in response to the Treaty of Rome 1957, which signalled the start of gradual European economic integration? In this period Dutch firms became larger and increasingly active outside their national borders. This article describes the strategies and structures of large firms in this period, in order to investigate how firms dealt with the changing environment and also how firms anticipated and benefited from these changes. In addition, it analyses the corporate performance effects of changes in the environment and strategies and structures. With a strong preference for related diversification, Dutch companies showed a strategy comparable with three large European countries. Initially, many Dutch companies opted for the multidivisional structure, but after the 1980s the functional holding gradually became the most important structure. The choice of structure, however, was not critical to performance, in contrast to the choice of strategy. The related diversified strategy turned out to be the best performing strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the nature of the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and competitiveness. We start with the commonly held view that firm competitiveness is defined by the market. That is, the question of what are the critical competitiveness factors is answered by looking at how companies and financial analysts describe and evaluate a firm. To analyze this, we review the current state of the art on the relationship between CSR and competitiveness. Second, CSR criteria used by financial analysts is identified and compared with company valuation methods. Third, the results of a multi-stakeholder dialogue on CSR and competitiveness of the European financial sector are presented. As a conclusion, we argue that CSR and competitiveness relate through a learning and innovation cycle, where corporate values, policies and practices are permanently defined and re-defined. Thus, we propose that learning takes place as CSR is embedded in business processes, and that once it has been integrated, in turn, it generates innovative practices, and finally, competitiveness. At the end of the paper, we propose that CSR in practice consists of managing inherent paradoxes generated by the tension between CSR and business policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the condition and changes of the HRM function in various European states. These changes have shown a shift of HRM tasks from HRM departments to managers themselves, and are according to the literature, this shift is known as devolution or decentralization. Our attention is focused on important factors in this process (from organizational ones, such as HRM strategies and policies, to more environmental ones, such as the sector or the state). Analysis shows that the country (as an institutional environment) sets the limits or encourages development towards devolution. HRM policy within the individual institutional context is of only secondary importance. Results show that country is a factor that fosters divergent tendencies and HRM policy accelerates convergence in HRM practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the result of the papers presented in the conference "Communication in Europe, seeking relationships among research and society", which did not pretend to establish a whole overview about communication research in France but, from different kind of indicators, try to organize a first instance cartography about that subject. Thus, a first exploration outline is presented: conditions of this discipline in France; an analysis of the situation of public organizations related to the subject, as well as of the reviews and new concepts about that topic; it finishes with a discussion lists analysis on those research and communication practices which had been carry out in the Internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the reforms made in the European Union (EU) governance and considers its implication in the future. It is stated that the implementation of the reforms may be difficult due to resistance to change in an organization. It is also stated that the central message of the progress in reforms of European public management and governance is to move the EU into unexplored territory where new principles are required to guide the design and implementation of innovative solutions. It proposes a framework for defining new principles to guide the process of building the management and governance capacities for effective EU.

The article discusses the success of the activities initiated by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) in 2009 and its plans for 2010. Over 800 participants have attended the organization's Lodz 2009 conference. Its active involvement in European projects was also successful. The EUPHA aims to deliver more and better services to its stakeholders and interested partners like starting projects that cater to public health research.

The article discusses the findings of a review panel investigating the European Research Council (ECR). The panel was headed by psychologist and former Latvian president Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga who presented her findings to the European Commissioner for Research Janez Potočnik on July 23, 2009. Topics include the frustration with the ERC's organizational structure, including its over-regulation, over-control, and over-steering, and some of the key issues that the review panel focused on such as whether scientists of bureaucrats should be in charge of directing the ERC. Also discussed is how ERC's scientific strategy and rules, which are set by ERC's independent Scientific Council, impacts the organization's grant review process.

The author reflects on the failure of the European Union (EU) to integrate the European countries for research and development projects. It highlights the factors which halted its plans including the hesitancy of national governments to concede sufficient sovereignty and the conflict concerning the number of languages that the nations used. It notes that the European Commission released another proposal on October 6, 2010 which is called the Innovation Union to pursue its research objectives.