Browsing by Type "doctoral thesis"
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PublicationA Formative and Summative Evaluation of Digital Coaching for Leadership Development in Organizations – A Mixed Method Study(Universität St. Gallen, 2021)Thuraiappah, MelanLeadership coaching is an evidence-based intervention for leadership development. Scalability is often not possible for most organizations due to shortages of time and financial resources. E-coaching counteracts these issues to some extent by using technology for non-face-to-face coaching. Furthermore, e-coaching systems represent a more promising approach for facilitating coaching, particularly via smartphone applications. This dissertation investigates a leadership coaching approach similar to the characteristics of an e-coaching system: digital coaching. First, a formative evaluation was conducted to investigate the usage of digital coaching in organizations. Second, the effects of digital coaching on individual and organizational objectives were evaluated with summative evaluation criteria: reactions, behavior, and organizational outcome. Third, digital coaching outcomes were compared to those of personal coaching, which were conducted via telephone. To meet the research objectives, a mixed method approach was used with semi-structured interviews (n = 27) and a field experiment (N = 82). Field experiment participants were randomly assigned to a control (n = 26), digital (n = 29), or personal group (n = 27). Digital coaching was found to have a positive effect on behavior (r = .30) and organizational outcome (r = .92). The positive effect on behavior did not occur in cases of high levels of leadership behavior prior to coaching. Furthermore, digital coaching had a low effect on reactions. The comparison between digital and personal coaching revealed more positive effects of digital coaching toward behavior (r = .28) and organizational outcome (r = .47). However, the effects of personal coaching on reactions (r = .40 to .55) were significantly higher than those of digital coaching. This dissertation presents evidence that digital coaching is more suitable for leadership behavior, and personal coaching for personal development. This conclusion is applicable to coachees showing a moderate level of leadership behavior prior to coaching. Furthermore, digital coaching requires self-motivation and awareness for coaching with a smartphone application. Overall, these findings have numerous practical implications for organizations, coachees, and intervention designers, and provide a foundation for future research on digital coaching.Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationA Framework for Enabling Asset Tokenization Business Models in the Financial Services SectorDistributed ledger technology enables a new way to record transactions and thus fundamentally changes how ownership of digital objects can be managed in the future. In addition to various innovative application areas, the concept of tokenization has emerged in recent years, where any type of asset or contractual right can be digitally represented on a distributed ledger in the form of a token. Once this reference is established, the issuance, transfer, and storage of tokens on such decentralized platforms offers not only the opportunity for increased operational efficiencies but also for new innovative services. Especially in the financial industry, the interest in the tokenization of bankable assets is growing. However, little is empirically known about this concept, its benefits, and its realization. Further, it can be stated that previous research solely focuses on technological or conceptual problems and that an integrative perspective on this phenomenon has been neglected so far. While companies are encouraged to establish unique business models around technological innovation, a blueprint with insights into applicability, design, and implementation is required. This dissertation addresses this gap by providing a first reference point to enable business model innovation for asset tokenization in the financial services sector. In particular, a frame of reference with three respective artifacts was developed to determine the business potential of tokenization, enable the design of its value architecture, and highlight guiding principles for its successful implementation. The work follows a design-oriented paradigm in terms of design science research and aims at a scientifically sound foundation for practice and academia. While asset tokenization may disrupt our economic system leading to more efficiency and accessibility, this research provides strategic guidance in a token economy and may accelerate the development of viable use cases and business models in the future.Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationA Marketing Approach to Financial Disclosure Narratives : Relevance of Market-Based Intangibles in Earnings Conference Calls(Rosch Druck, 2011)Ebersbach, LydiaType: doctoral thesis
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PublicationA Service Perspective on Value Creation Strategies(Harland Media, 2010)Fischer, ThomasFast-changing competitive environments call for changing the fundamental value creation logic of capital goods manufacturing companies from the producer orientation focusing on one-time transactions to a customer orientation focusing on long-term relationships between companies and customers throughout the product utilization phase. Service business development can be the key to realize the transformation. It puts the customer in the first place and focuses on bringing value to customers that helps reduce their total utilization costs and delivering that value at a profit. However, companies struggle with various challenges due to the complexity of the task. Three perspectives on value creation through service business development that are especially relevant and lack practical and theoretical insights are addressed in this thesis by three research models. The first model explores the necessary dynamic capabilities for service business development using a qualitative case study research approach. The findings suggest two distinct approaches to service business development that use different sets of dynamic capabilities for sensing, seizing and reconfiguring activities. The second model investigates if and how companies change their service strategy over time. It is based on a longitudinal quantitative study using data from three surveys and additional, supportive mini-case studies. The data reveal five distinct service strategies and four patterns of service strategy change among the identified strategies. The third model uses a qualitative case study approach to analyze the alignments among service strategy, external environment, business strategy and organizational design elements for achieving strategic fit. The findings suggest four strategic configurations that companies may adopt to achieve strategic fit. The three research models contribute to the understanding of value creation through service business development in capital goods manufacturing companies. Overall, the thesis provides guidance for managers to succeed in service business development and contributes to fill the theoretical gaps related to the business challenges.Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationA Service-Dominant Logic View of Retail On-Shelf Availability(Rohner + Spiller AG, 2012)Ehrenthal, Joachim C.F.Providing products on store shelves is a key function of retailing, but it comes at a price. Retailers spend 5% of the global $13.9 trillion sales on logistics. 45% of logistics expenses are caused by store inventory handling and holding. Improvements in store inventory management are therefore a primary objective for retail managers. Over the last decades, research and practice have devoted considerable attention to reducing inventory management costs. Retailers improved logistics efficiency and introduced new technology in the pursuit of providing constantly high levels of on-shelf availability. However, this approach may be very costly if shopper demand varies. This research therefore investigates the benefits of adjusting on-shelf availability to account for demand variation. It shows empirically when differentiated levels of on-shelf improve store inventory management costs over non-adjusted availability provision. It develops and applies Service-Dominant (S-D) logic, a structuring framework from marketing based around value co-creation in service networks, and transcends the traditional role of retail inventory from the protection against demand towards the goal of service provision and value-creation with shoppers. The S-D logic view of on-shelf availability is addressed in three complementary levels: theory, conceptual development and empirical research. Theoretically, this research reviews comprehensively and synthesizes the advances and applications of S-D logic since its introduction in 2004. It suggests redundancies in S-D logic, identifies future topic areas and guides research and practice in its application and development. Specifically, it points to the investigation of value attenuation - opposed to co-creation - and the empirical validation of phenomena uncovered by the S-D logic perspective. Conceptually, this research transcends the traditional view of the effects of retail out-of-stocks on sales losses to a S-D logic view that unveils out-of-stocks to attend value across suppliers, retailers, shoppers and their respective networks. It develops a model of value co-creation where manufacturer supply and shopper demand meet in the retailer's realm. The model identifies the shopper as an active entity whose response to out-of-stocks redistributes value within the retail ecosystem. It proposes that co-creation of value through on-shelf availability takes place in the spatio-temporal integration of actor resources and suggests to improve value creation by allowing on-shelf availability to match shopper demand variation. Empirically, this research uses inventory modeling to investigate the value of adjusting on-shelf availability to account for demand variation. It transfers the S-D logic concept into a single-location, single-item periodic-review lost sales inventory model with non-stationary demand. In a first step, it analyzes numerically the performance of inventory policies taking into account varying degrees of demand variation using a cost structure comprised of costs for ordering, handling, holding, and out-of-stocks. In a second step, it uses a real life replenishment setup and actual sales data to investigate the value of accounting for demand variation in practice, putting a novel focus on demand variation within and across days. The analysis shows the value of accounting for demand variation to retailers is substantial, especially when demand varies while fix costs are low. This research provides implications for retail managers and points towards further research in S-D logic, on-shelf availability and inventory modeling. On a broader level, it suggests moving distribution thought and management towards a goal of value co-creation to address availability challenges in supply chains. The dissertation can also be accessed via the database of electronically published dissertations of the University of St.Gallen (EDIS) [http://www1.unisg.ch/www/edis.nsf/SysLkpByIdentifier/4008?OpenDocument&lang=en here].
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PublicationA Two-Case Exploratory Analysis of the Emergence and Cultivation of Meaningful Work Through Four Calling-Related Work OrientationsThe majority of todays workforce demands work to be meaningful and not solely a paycheck. Realizing this demand may be the key to positive and lasting outcomes including higher motivation, improved performance, and lower absenteeism. These outcomes surpass those of common extrinsic incentives. However, unanswered questions remain about the emergence and cultivation of meaningful work. Prior studies have primarily relied on one-dimensional models to explain the emergence of meaningful work. In addition, only sparse research has explored practices that foster meaningful work. My dissertation addresses these shortcomings by applying Lepisto et al.s (2017) work orientation construct to explore the relevance of four calling-related work orientations, the differences between them, and practices that cultivate meaningful work. I conducted a quantitative and a qualitative exploratory study in an interdisciplinary research consortium and two organizations. In the quantitative study (N = 599), I validated the relevance of four calling-related work orientations and thus extend current understanding of the emergence of meaningful work. Moreover, I provide new insight into individual work orientations by showing significant differences between organizations, departments, genders, and generations. The expressive-passion orientation exhibited the highest relevance for the emergence of meaningful work among all groups, followed by the craftsmanship orientation. Significant differences suggest that the expressive-passion orientation is hampered in traditional organizations, whereas it is favored in network marketing organizations. The kinship and service orientations exhibited a lower relevance, although the importance of belongingness was exemplified by salespeople in network marketing organizations, in particular from Generation Z, and especially women placed a high priority on prosocial impact. In the qualitative study, I identified nine practices that foster meaningful work, four of which expand extant knowledge. Employee-oriented leadership was beneficial to an expressive-passion orientation through a primary focus on employees self-realization. Positive image development also favored an expressive-passion orientation and strong identity development had a positive influence on a craftsmanship orientation. Lastly, impact-based reward management was conducive to a service orientation through an emphasis on the prosocial impact of work. These four practices provide scholars with new research directions and managers with modern approaches to cultivating meaningful work.Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationAffect Matters: Going Beyond Rational Decision-Making Processes to Understand Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy SourcesDecarbonizing energy production is a crucial lever for mitigating climate change. Despite impressive learning curves in relation to renewables, and high levels of socio-political as well as market acceptance, implementation is proving difficult due to a lack of local acceptance. A better understanding of the drivers underlying social acceptance is essential for helping policymakers and project developers craft new strategies for managing processes at the local level, and thus supporting the implementation of low-carbon policies. With this thesis, I increase understanding of the factors underlying social acceptance of renewables by focusing on the role of affect in the implementation of wind, solar and geothermal energy projects. I present recommendations to project developers and policy makers for better integrating energy projects into local communities, and highlight to researchers the importance of measuring affective factors, in addition to cognitive factors, to advance energy acceptance research. In the first paper, I explore peoples affective reactions to wind energy and the impact of the latter on local attitudes towards wind energy projects. I find that affective evaluations of wind energy differ between mild and strong opponents. The results show that policymakers and project developers should not be blinded by the vocal opinions of strong opponents but pay more attention to those who have mixed feelings about the technology (i.e., the silent majority). In the second paper, I examine the role of installation size and affect in forming attitudes towards solar energy. Results reveal that when comparing solar and wind energy installations of similar sizes, the stronger preference for solar energy decreases to a similar level as that of wind energy. Policymakers may thus encounter comparable challenges with large-scale solar to those associated with wind energy projects. The study also shows that affect is especially important in shaping peoples attitudes in the case of large-scale installations. In the third paper, I investigate the role of seismic risk of deep geothermal energy on affect, emotions, and attitudes towards shallow and deep geothermal projects. Results show that being informed about geothermal energy can positively impact peoples affect about the technology. They also show that a spillover effect of seismic risk awareness on perceptions about shallow geothermal projects is identifiable in terms of affect and emotions, but not through attitudes, highlighting the importance of measuring affective factors in addition to cognitive factors in energy acceptance research.Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationAgility Transformation Excellence : Guiding Organizations Towards Corporate AgilityAs organizations are challenged with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), developing agile capabilities becomes the first priority for most organizations to innovate and respond rapidly to external changes (Klimenko, Winter, & Rohner, 2019). However, a shift in management toward greater agility at the enterprise level poses major challenges for organizations trying to transform their slow-moving, top-down bureaucratic practices (Leybourn, 2019). In this dissertation project the author designed a Corporate Agility Maturity Model to support organizations in their transformational programs by providing guidance on systematically developing Corporate Agility capabilities in a certain sequence that follows the organizational learning journey. The author captured the Corporate Agility as an organizational phenomenon and, therefore, focused on Agility not on the team level or individual level, but at the highest organizational level, where enterprise-wide decisions are made for the entirety of the organization. Although maturity models are an established instrument to devise development paths, currently available maturity models often focus on the control of certain capabilities (doing things right) (Winter & Aier, 2020). The proposed Corporate Agility Maturity Model identifies the organizational Corporate Agility maturity level and derives a roadmap for developing the Corporate Agility capabilities in a sequence appropriate for a given type of organization (doing the right things).Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationAktenschluss, Noven- und Replikrecht im summarischen Verfahren der Schweizerischen Zivilprozessordnung(Universität St. Gallen, 2022-09-19)Domenig, BenjaminSummary proceedings have been uniformly regulated since the effective date of the Swiss Civil Procedure Code in 2011. Nevertheless, different practices have developed in the cantons regarding the application and handling of summary proceedings. The present dissertation examines the questions (a) at which point in time in summary proceedings the file closing occurs and (b) whether and under which conditions new factual allegations and evidence are admissible after the file closing occurs. Finally, (c) it addresses the question whether there are special features to be taken into account in the parties right to reply in summary proceedings. The analysis of the laws of summary proceedings has shown that, contrary to the prevailing doctrine, the law of summary proceedings does clarify the question about the point in time at which the file closing occurs. The legislator has regulated by qualified silence that (a) in summary proceedings only one exchange of documents takes place. Therefore, contrary to the rulings of the Federal Supreme Court, the file is necessarily closed after the first unrestricted opportunity of the parties in the proceedings to express their positions. It is not within the discretion of the court to determine the point in time of the file closing. The question regarding the laws of novelty in summary proceedings is to be assessed differently. In this respect, the summary procedure law does not contain any provisions, which is why Art. 229 CPC must be applied by analogy. Contrary to Art. 229 CPC, in summary proceedings it is not the main hearing but the closing of the file which is the focus of the proceedings. New factual allegations and evidence are therefore (b) admissible if they are brought forward without delay and have only arisen after the closing of the file (genuine novelties) or were already existent before the file closing but could not be brought forward beforehand despite reasonable diligence (non-genuine novelties). If the principle of judicial investigation is applicable, new factual assertions and evidence must be taken into account until the beginning of the deliberations on the judgment (Art. 229 para. 3 CPC by analogy). The right of reply must also be granted to the parties (c) in the summary proceedings. In deviation from the right of reply in ordinary proceedings, it is not permissible, according to the present opinion, to request the setting of a time limit to exercise the right of reply if the right of reply could be exercised within the waiting period (usually ten days).Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationAktivierung im Sportsponsoring : Gestaltung strategischer Partnerschaften aus SponsorenperspektiveSponsors insufficiently use the communicative possibilities of sports sponsorship partnerships. This work systematically takes up the topic of activation in sports sponsoring from the sponsor’s perspective. The basis for this is the existing research on sports sponsoring and the activation of sports sponsoring partnerships. The relevant literature reveals the possibility of multi-faceted communication through sponsoring, sport as a promising means of effective sponsoring and activation as an elementary component in sports sponsoring. Based on a situational and reality-oriented research approach, the work crystallizes challenges of activation in sports sponsoring, develops a typology of activation in sports sponsoring based on detailed case reconstructions, and finally proposes an integral concept for the strategic planning of activation in sports sponsoring. The concept considers influencing factors at the levels of the sponsoring company and the actual sponsorship partnership. Two individual case analyses show the practical applicability of the concept. The work opens practical elements of a holistic, effective strategic activation in sports sponsoring from a sponsor’s perspective.Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationAmbidextrous leadership climate - empirical studies on firm-level effects & practical enrichmentCompanies increasingly face the contradictory demands of developing ambidexterity. That is, the ability to balance incremental business optimization and create disruptive innovations to secure a long-term competitive advantage. Building ambidexterity poses a challenge as new growth activities frequently involve business models, capabilities, and organizational contexts that are often inconsistent with those used in established businesses. Scholars have developed the ambidextrous leadership style to address such challenges. Ambidextrous leaders must balance current and new activities, integrate short- and long-term thinking, and craft an emotionally engaging vision while remaining focused on execution. Nonetheless, conceptual problems and significant theoretical gaps limit the applicability of the construct. I address these issues in three studies. Study 1 draws on a sample of over 16,000 employees from 94 companies and shows that an ambidextrous leadership climate positively affects organizational performance through collective work engagement. This effect is most pronounced when competitive pressure is high. Study 2 relies on 26 expert interviews and outlines an advanced ambidextrous leadership construct. In particular, I identify a set of purpose-oriented behaviors that enable ambidextrous leaders to mobilize their work-forces' full potential based on inspiring shared goals. Study 3 examines a sample of over 16,000 employees from 88 companies and proposes that a more pronounced ambidextrous leadership climate increases organizational innovation implementation through collective creativity. However, the effect is only evident given a high inspirational leadership climate. In sum, I further develop the ambidextrous leadership construct and illustrate that it is not an 'all-purpose weapon,' but rather its effectiveness depends on specific situational characteristics and mechanisms. Future research may equally use this work as a starting point to further investigate the construct's theoretical significance and develop its practical use.Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationAmbidextrous Strategy, Organizational Identity and Leadership: Towards a Leadership Theory of Identity-Strategy Realignment(Universität St. Gallen, 2021-09-20)Schneider, Jan-LaurenzIn times of substantial economic, technological, and societal change, incumbent organizations are continuously confronted with ever-changing market conditions. In order to ensure long-term survival, well-established organizations increasingly execute strategic renewal activities. Changes in the strategic direction of an organization also involve important implications for an organizations identity. In fact, organizational identity acts as a guidepost for organizational action. Hence, so-called identity-challenging strategies require a simultaneous shift in an organizations identity to become effective. This dissertation sets out to explore what I term the identity-strategy realignment process. Following an identity-challenging strategic move, incumbent organizations and their leaders are expected to realign organizational identity with the revised strategy. To date, this specific type of identity change has not been investigated. Similarly, it has not been specified which role organizational leaders play in managing the realignment of organizational identity and strategy. By conducting an inductive, qualitative case study at a European manufacturer of light commercial vehicles, I explored this research gap in-depth. In fact, a comprehensive model of the identity-strategy realignment process emerged from the collected data. Besides multiple other relevant insights, the results particularly highlight the importance of identity polarization in the context of the identity-strategy realignment process. The qualitative study further revealed the significance of organizational leadership responses and direct leadership practices in this context. A subsequently executed quantitative study confirmed the qualitative findings by revealing that direct leadership practices, in particular participative leadership, strongly support the identity-strategy realignment process. Ultimately, the insights of this research study extend existing theoretical knowledge on the phenomenon of identity-strategy misalignment and deepen the understanding of the role of organizational leaders in strategy-driven identity change.Type: doctoral thesis
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PublicationAmerikanisches Financial Accounting (Theorien und Methoden)(Schulthess Polygraphischer Verlag - Mitteilungen aus dem Handelswissenschaftlichen Seminar der Universtiät Zürich, Bd. 165, 1986)Type: doctoral thesis