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The paper builds up from a review of some expected, but other quite surprising results regarding country estimates for the year 2000 of genuine saving, a sustainability indicator developed by a World Bank research team. The author examines this indicator, founded on neoclassical welfare theory, and discusses one of its major problems. Theoretical developments from ecological economics are then considered, together with insights from Georgescu-Roegen's approach to the production process, in search for an alternative approach. A model with potentially fruitful contributions in this direction is reviewed; it points the course efforts could take enable sustainability evaluations based on a more realistic set of interrelated monetary and biophysical indicators. (Rev Econ Polit/GIGA)

This research article examines overpromising in scientific discourse that may raise unrealistic expectations in order to gain trust and funding. Drawing on signaling theory, philosophy of promising, and science communication research, a conceptualization of overpromising is presented. This conceptualization facilitates the evaluation of promises in science and technology and highlights the importance of the knowledge context. Further research is needed to explore the broader dimensions and motivations for overpromising.

The article is devoted to the generalization of theoretical views on governance as extended relations in society that are formed between subjects — natural persons and/or legal entities — when solving complex problems, overcoming which in various social spheres requires of them collective decisions and actions. The relevance of the work is due to the need to systematize modern views on the possibilities and conditions of practical application of decision-making and implementation mechanisms in multi-subject surroundings. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the universal definition of governance based on the generalization of its modern conceptions by various scientific schools. The novelty of the research is in the interpretation of governance as decision-making in multi-subject surroundings. The research methodology is based on the use of an interdisciplinary approach in outlining the most essential characteristics of decision-making process, which are the subject of numerous scientific studies of this social phenomenon. The article summarizes modern approaches to understanding the concept of governance. Its main characteristics, which manifest when it is used in various social spheres, have been revealed. This term is defined as institutionalized decision-making, which constitutes a mechanism for independent subjects to make coordinated decisions to obtain benefits determined by their interests when solving problems that would require significant efforts and resources to be overcome on one's own, or it would be impossible at all. This interpretation makes it possible to substantiate the universality of the use of decision-making in social relations; it is due to the perceived need of subjects for the joint with others search and implementation of solutions to achieve their own goals. The content-dependency inherent in modern scientific approaches is proven when the concept of governance is defined, which is determined by the specifics of relations, the peculiarities of the institutional environment of a specific social sphere. Based on the most widespread modes of institutionalized multi-subject decision-making, a classification of its types and forms is proposed. The formation of social capital within the framework of the network regime of governance is considered. A conclusion is made about the need to build social relations in the conditions of decentralization reforms in Ukraine using the mechanism of governance.

PurposeAttention to processes has increased, as thousands of firms have adopted the process view of their organization. Process orientation (PO) means focusing on business processes rather than emphasizing functional structure or hierarchy. Despite the huge growth in the business process management literature, a methodological gap still remains about a certain ambiguity in the definition of the construct specifying its theoretical domain and dimensionalization. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the literature on PO through the creation and validation of a model to measure the key dimensions of the PO construct.Design/methodology/approachThe authors derive from literature several dimensions which shape the concept of PO. In a second step, the study includes factor analysis on a sample of 152 Austrian manufacturing companies to verify that the model is empirical valid.FindingsThe paper provides insight in the concept of PO. It concludes that PO is a multidimensional construct, consisting of the following dimensions: design and documentation of business processes; management commitment towards PO; the process owner role; process performance measurement; a corporate culture in line with the process approach; application of continuous process improvement methodologies; and process‐oriented organizational structure.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample used in this work only included Austrian firms operating in manufacturing industry. Generalizability of the findings to other industries or other countries is open to scrutiny.Originality/valueSeveral studies into process management use proxy variables as an indicator for PO (e.g. ISO 9000 certification). Other studies treat the construct as a unidimensional measure. However, unidimensional measures meet with increasing criticism, as they turn out to be insufficient to capture the richness of such a complex construct. This paper attempts to rectify the content deficiencies in the literature on the construct by specifying its theoretical domain and dimensionalization.

Military virtues are core in military traditions, rituals and practices. Military virtues are the foundation of military personnel since he/she is in a profession which needs to evaluate the situations quickly and take the ethical decision. This paper attempts to address opera-tionalization of the construct of Military virtues in-order to introduce an instrument to measure the same. Prior to that a working definition for the construct of military virtues developed. A set of military virtues is also presented as an objective of the study