Annotated bibliography: research sources and summaries

Business Biblio

Azfar, O. & Danninger, S. (2001). Profit-sharing, employment stability, and wage growth. Industrial & Labor Relations Review, 54 (3): 619-630

The authors contend that profit-sharing can be shown to reduce human resources costs and increase productivity in limiting turnover and increasing retention. This consolidates and enhances firm-specific knowledge and skills. Oddly narrow demographics lead one to question the full applicability of these claims, however.

Bryson, J. (2006). Managing information services: A transformational approach. Ashgate Publishing.

This text provides a practical explanation of the necessities and needs of transforming information management form traditional physical management systems to those that utilize current trends in technology and allow for more dynamic access. Communication and corporate governance are also substantially addressed.

Cooper, C.L., Bruno, D. & Norman, F. (1992). Improving the effectiveness of gainsharing: The role of fairness and participation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 37 (3): 471-490

This article largely consist of a review of many studies conducted regarding both the perception of fairness and the effects of this perception in a variety of settings. Direct analysis by the authors themselves is somewhat lacking in vigor, but the results of the many studies reviewed and attendant theories provide tremendous insight.

Fombrun, C.J., Tichy, N.M. & Devanna, M.A. (1984). Strategic human resource management. John Wiley and Sons.

Though some of the specific trends and responses identified in this quarter-century-old text are out of date, this first text to explore the strategic importance of human resource allocation still provides essential insights into the workings of any business and its effective use of its employees.

Florkowski, G.W. (1987). The organizational impact of profit sharing. Academy of Management Review, 12 (4): 622-636.

This study came to some interesting conclusions regarding the effects of a profit sharing incentive. Job satisfaction was not affected as predicted, yet plan support was definitely influenced by the degree of proposed profit sharing. The size of the study makes its results somewhat questionable and in need of verification.

Kennedy, P.W. (1995). Performance pay, productivity, and morale. Economic Record, 71

(214) [HIDDEN]

This paper attempts to construct an economic schema that includes worker morale as a function of pay and performance, and specifically asserts that worker moral is determined by relative pay rather than by absolute compensation. Lack of real world data casts some doubt on the conclusions drawn here.

Kruse, D.L. (1993). Profit sharing: Does it make a difference? The productivity and stability effects of employee profit-sharing plans. UpJohn Institute for Employment Research.

By far one of the most comprehensive examinations of profit sharing as it has played out in real companies. An examination of data compiled form more than 500 companies with various profit-sharing plans over a twelve year period is presented in immensely readable and useful prose.

Levine, D.I. (1990). Participation, productivity, and the firm's environment. California Management Review, 32 (4): 86-100

In this study, the author explores the effects of employee inclusion on decision making within companies, specifically on issues that relate to productivity. Overall work environment and other incentives for participation -- both provided by the company and apparently intrinsic to inclusion -- are examined.