Physical space, culture and organisational creativity – a longitudinal study

Facilities ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 389-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomi J. Kallio ◽  
Kirsi-Mari Kallio ◽  
Annika Johanna Blomberg
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Spatial Environment ◽  
Before And After

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the potential positive effects of the design of a physical organisational environment on the emergence of an organisational culture conducive to organisational creativity. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on an in-depth, longitudinal case study, the aim being to enhance understanding of how a change in physical space, including location, spatial organisation and architectonic details, supports cultural change. Findings – It is suggested that physical space plays an implicit yet significant role in the emergence of a culture conducive to organisational creativity. It appears from the case analysis that there are three aspects of culture in particular, equality, openness and collectivity, that may be positively affected by the design of an organisation’s physical environment. Practical implications – The careful choice, planning and design of an organisation’s physical location, layout and style can advance the appearance of an organisational culture conducive to creativity. Originality/value – The paper describes a longitudinal study comparing a case organisation before and after a change in its physical environment. The longitudinal data illustrates how a change in the spatial environment contributes to the emergence of a culture conducive to organisational creativity.

Diversity ASX corporate governance recommendations: a step towards change?

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Shimeld ◽  
Belinda Williams ◽  
Justin Shimeld
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Listed Company ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Gender Inequity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disclosure Requirements ◽  
Before And After

Purpose The business case argument was used to underpin the inclusion of diversity disclosures within the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (2010). By adding a requirement for diversity disclosure, an increase in focus on diversity would be expected because of a heightened level of accountability. Whether this change in the Recommendations affected any change in the boardroom is questionable though. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of these disclosure requirements. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on data obtained from a random sample of 120 ASX-listed company annual reports across two time periods: 2009 and 2012 (before and after the change in the Recommendations). Findings Although findings indicate that there has been some change, especially in the more visible companies (ASX200), many of the changes appear to be largely superficial with a continued focus on the business case perspective. Social implications While the disclosure recommendations have the potential to be a driver in addressing gender inequity, the findings of this paper indicate that without deep change at the organisational level, requiring listed companies to disclose on gender diversity may have little impact, with the focus remaining on the business case and business as normal. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature on gender diversity in the boardroom and the effect of disclosure. The empirical findings contribute to an understanding of the diversity Recommendations within the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, but in doing so, it calls for deeper organisational cultural change if real change is to take effect.

Determining the efficacy of consolidating municipal electric utilities in Ontario, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-317
Author(s):  
Philip R. Walsh ◽  
Olalekan Ajibade
Keyword(s):  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Electricity Rates ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Service Efficiency ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Cost

Purpose This paper aims to examine empirically if the encouragement by government policy of merger and acquisition activity involving municipal and provincially owned electricity distribution utilities (LDCs) in the Province of Ontario has had positive effects in terms of value creation, operating performance and economies of scale. Design/methodology/approach It was anticipated that with LDC consolidation, there will be increased operational efficiency and improvement in the cost-effectiveness of the merged electrical utility. Using matched pairs dependent t-testing and Wilcoxon signed-rank testing, the authors compared data for three years before and after the merger or acquisition of 16 municipal utilities (616 total observations) to determine if there were any statistically significant changes (positive or negative) in measures of financial, operational and service efficiency. Findings The findings indicate statistically significant increases in debt as a percentage of shareholder equity in post-merger/acquisition utilities and consequently leveraged higher returns on equity. However, there were no statistically significant changes in financial, operational or service efficiency measures (with the exception of decreased efficiency in telephone response). Research limitations/implications A total of 16 mergers or acquisitions were reviewed involving 32 of 79 LDCs, with the research implications pointing to a need for existing policy to be reviewed to determine whether a more detailed examination is required by the provincial energy regulator, including a closer examination of managerial motives, before approving mergers between municipal electricity distributors. This research involves only a quantitative approach and further research would examine these transactions using qualitative measures for a deeper examination as to managerial motives. Practical implications The results suggest that the mergers or acquisitions to date have served only to increase shareholder risk without improvement in other financial, operational or service efficiencies, a contradiction to the rationale behind the Province’s merger policy. Social implications The consolidation policy for Ontario LDCs has not resulted in any statistically significant improvement in electricity rates or service for consumers. Originality/value This paper is the first examination of the effects of Ontario’s LDC consolidation policy in terms of specific financial, operational and service efficiency measures.

Centralized vehicle leasing in humanitarian fleet management: the UNHCR case

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Kunz ◽  
Luk N. Van Wassenhove ◽  
Rob McConnell ◽  
Ketil Hov
Keyword(s):  
Poor Performance ◽  
Fleet Management ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fleet Size ◽  
Humanitarian Organizations ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Negative Impacts

Purpose – Fleet management is a key function in humanitarian organizations, but is not always recognized as such. This results in poor performance and negative impacts on the organization. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrates how the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) managed to substantially improve its fleet management through the introduction of an Internal Leasing Program (ILP), in which headquarters procures vehicles and leases them to field offices. Design/methodology/approach – This paper develops a framework for fleet management based on a longitudinal case study with UNHCR. It compares fleet performance indicators before and after implementation of an ILP. Findings – At UNHCR, vehicle procurement was driven by availability of funding. Fleet management was highly decentralized and field offices had limited awareness of its importance. These systems and behaviors led to major challenges for the organization. The introduction of the ILP positively impacted fleet management at UNHCR by reducing fleet size, average age of fleet and procurement costs. Practical implications – This paper provides fleet managers with a tool for analyzing their fleet. The frameworks and actions described in this paper contain practical recommendations for achieving a well-performing fleet. Originality/value – This paper is the first to analyze fleet management before and after introduction of an ILP. It describes the benefits of this model based on empirical data, and develops frameworks to be used by researchers and practitioners.

Ten years of using knowledge balance sheets in Austrian public universities

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Habersam ◽  
Martin Piber ◽  
Matti Skoog
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Fourth Stage ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Balance Sheets ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a longitudinal study on the use of mandatory knowledge balance sheets (KBS) in Austrian public universities. It contributes to the discourse on fourth-stage intellectual capital (IC) research. Conclusions drawn from the analysis of the empirical material are expected to focus further research on fourth-stage IC and to improve practices of IC disclosure. Design/methodology/approach A mandatory KBS has been used to govern the Austrian Higher Education Institution sector for more than a decade. In a qualitative longitudinal case study, the authors analyze two series of qualitative interviews and documents in order to reveal functional and dysfunctional effects of the KBS in use. Findings The conclusions focus on the communicative culture in the implementation process, the way change processes are organized and the value of strategy for orientation, sense making and an effective allocation of resources. Practical implications The practical implications are twofold: first, to identify aspects of monetary, utilitarian, social and environmental value dimensions, a concerted effort to embed quantitative data in a discourse on qualitative impact on value would be needed. Second, the authors support a “communicative culture first” rather than a “tool-box first” approach. Originality/value Original empirical data have been gathered in a longitudinal study of a valuable and unique case. Retrospectively, a better understanding of the top-down implementation of the KBS and its pitfalls is achieved.

Can self-advocacy impact upon culture?

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-79
Author(s):  
Rob Greig
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
System Change ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Self Advocacy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Change ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the preceding article “Changing organisational culture: another role for self-advocacy”. Design/methodology/approach – The paper suggests that self-advocacy has the potential to be a significant influence on organisational culture, but questions whether self-advocacy's current funding regime and limited focus on outcomes makes this possible. Research limitations/implications – This issue is identified as one where further research would be beneficial. Practical implications – If organisations are to use self-advocacy as a route of cultural change, it is suggested that attention will need to be given to issues of independent funding, management change objectives and whole system change. Originality/value – If evidence were generated to support the belief that self-advocacy can impact on organisational culture, the consequences for how society and services behave towards people with learning disabilities could be significant.

An ecopreneur’s growing resilience after a series of earthquakes

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodyanne Kirkwood ◽  
Kirsty Dwyer ◽  
Sara Walton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Operational Processes ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to examine the experiences of an ecopreneurial venture that was operating before, during and after the 2010-2011 series of earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand. The aim is to elucidate on the tension existing between an ecopreneur’s personal green values/ethics and his need to be resilient and do what was necessary to ensure his business’s survival, which was operating before, during and after an extreme event – the 2010-2011 series of earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand. Design/methodology/approach The data are gathered from a longitudinal case study of Just Organic Ltd (an organic fruit and vegetable delivery service) over a five-year period which covers time before and after the earthquakes. Data were gathered via two in-depth face-to-face interviews with the ecopreneur, along with a number of email and telephone follow-ups. Findings Findings indicate that an extreme event such as an earthquake will inhibit the green values of an ecopreneur as the ecopreneur works to ensure business survival. To continue to operate successfully, the ecopreneur developed a resilient and hardy nature and adapted operational processes to run in a more entrepreneurial fashion. It would seem that holding firmly to green values irrespective of a changed business environment is detrimental to business viability and survivability. The ecopreneur bounced forward, rather than bouncing back from the disaster. Research limitations/implications The implications for research, policy makers and ecopreneurs and entrepreneurs in general are discussed. There are lessons to be learned from the experiences of the ecopreneur who is operating Just Organic Limited. Originality/value This paper is one of the few that has examined the impact the Christchurch earthquakes had on an existing eco-business. The longitudinal data enable a unique insight into the operational aspects of an eco-business before and after a series of earthquakes.

Teaching companies how to be entrepreneurial: cultural change at all levels

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Murray Gillin ◽  
Rebecca Gagliardi ◽  
Laura Hougaz ◽  
David Knowles ◽  
Michael Langhammer
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This case study aims to show how a strategic intervention, using an in-house delivered university entrepreneurship education program, cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset and effective innovation culture amongst company staff. The intervention produces a measured change in staff decision making style from analytical to a more intuitive style. Also assessed is the resulting management-style change to the firm’s internal environment, strategic motivation and performance. Design/methodology/approach Through a qualitative longitudinal study of Partners and staff in the firm, the authors measure the impact of the selection, integration and performance of in-house entrepreneurship education on firm culture. Findings The authors identify organisation factors that inhibit staff entrepreneurial behaviour and by integrating an in-house education intervention, demonstrate unambiguously the resultant effective culture and entrepreneurial mindset. Research limitations/implications Generalising results from this single longitudinal case study requires caution. The positive outcome from the in-house education concept can be considered for further evaluation within other organisations. Practical implications Using an entrepreneurial health-audit to assess in-firm cultural behaviour enables management to identify factors fostering/inhibiting entrepreneurial activity and devise interventions to cultivate a firm-wide entrepreneurial mindset. Originality/value In-house education is not a new concept, but a targeted focus on entrepreneurship applied strategically to a committed firm shows outstanding results. The added-value is in the demonstrated enhancement to effective innovation outcomes.

Impact of a management innovation on professional subcultures – the case of a balanced scorecard implementation in a Chinese hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 857-869
Author(s):  
Tian Gao ◽  
Bruce Gurd
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Management Innovation ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Dominant Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Professional Groups

Purpose The balanced scorecard (BSC) has been a popular management innovation in health care. Implementing an innovation like the BSC can change the professional subcultures of a hospital. The purpose of this paper is to measure subcultures to establish the level of change during the implementation of a management innovation in a single Chinese public hospital. Design/methodology/approach Four surveys were administered to the staff of a single hospital, and a 100,000-word research diary was compiled from observation of the research process. A longitudinal case study design was administered from 2006 to 2009. The competing values tool was administered twice to assess organizational cultural change. Findings There was a change in the culture of different professional groups. The group with the strongest dominating culture type, which relies on cohesion, morale and employee participation in decision-making, shows the most positive change in cultural types during the BSC implementation process. Management innovations such as the BSC can create more balance in each professional group. Practical implications The successful implementation of a management innovation in a hospital requires the managers to consider meeting the demand of medical professional groups and achieve desired culture type change, which in turn may help to achieve the expected results. Originality/value This paper provides support to the finding that groups with a dominant group culture are more receptive to change and implementing a management innovation can influence professional group’s culture. It also provides evidence that the implementation of BSC can create more balance in each professional group’s culture. Although these findings come from health care, it may have relevance to other contexts in China.

Evolution and effect of LEAN bundles: a longitudinal study

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 3789-3808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ville Hallavo ◽  
Markku Kuula ◽  
Antero Putkiranta
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adaptive Use ◽  
The Business Cycle

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effects of lean in a longitudinal context. Lean is currently experiencing its second coming. In spite of this, the current body of research on lean is especially lacking in longitudinal studies.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used in this study is a longitudinal case study. The authors combined elements of multiple-case study and survey research by analyzing interview data on the same 23 Finnish manufacturing firms at three distinct points in time (1993, 2004 and 2010) with a methodology called qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) that is novel to the field.FindingsThe “thick” results of our exploratory contingency theoretic analysis suggest that the holistic and adaptive use of lean bundles is effective. It seems that especially the firm status of ownership and the phase of the business cycle exert an impact on successful lean bundle use. There is also evidence that a certain maturation effect takes place within lean bundle use: lean is increasingly being used as a complete management philosophy.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors hope that this research encourages researchers to use more QCA in their research, especially with small samples.Originality/valueThis is a unique longitudinal study on the same 23 manufacturing firms and their development. Furthermore, this study opens new avenues for lean theory development, introduces a new methodology to the field and helps decision makers to gain a better understanding of the long-term dynamics of lean.

Mental health recovery narratives: their impact on service users and other stakeholder groups

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myra Piat ◽  
Jessica Spagnolo ◽  
Suzanne Thibodeau-Gervais ◽  
Catherine Deschamps ◽  
Yves Gosselin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Recovery ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Recovery Narratives ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, assess the effects of the peers’ recovery narratives on service users’ perceived mental health recovery; and second, explore various stakeholders’ perspectives on the program, specifically its facilitators and barriers. Design/methodology/approach The study used a convergent mixed-method design. First, a pre-test post-test design was used with service users to evaluate the peer recovery narrative program. They completed the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS) and participated in qualitative interviews that explored perspectives on their mental health recovery before and after the program. Second, a cross-sectional design was used to explore stakeholder groups’ perspectives on the recovery narrative program immediately after listening to the narratives. Findings While findings show that there was no statistical difference between scores on the RAS before and after the peer narratives, thematic analysis revealed a change in service users’ understanding of recovery post-narratives. Other stakeholder groups confirmed this change. However, some healthcare professionals questioned the universal positive effects of the peer recovery narrative program on service users. Stakeholders agreed that beyond effects of the peer recovery narrative program on service users, there were also positive effects among the peers themselves. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first Canadian study, and one of the first studies to rely on mixed-methods and various stakeholder groups to evaluate the impact of peer recovery narratives on service users. The research, thus, fills a knowledge gap on peer recovery narratives.

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