scholarly journals The organization design perspective on the project-based organization: a structured review

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxim Miterev ◽  
J. Rodney Turner ◽  
Mauro Mancini
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Organization Design ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to use an organizational design perspective to determine the scope of the state-of-the art of research into project-based organizations. Design/methodology/approach The paper follows a structured framework-based literature review approach. It uses an analytical framework from the organization design literature to assess 177 papers relevant to the design of the project-based organization that were published in four leading PM journals between 2008 and 2015. The authors determine which elements of organization design are covered in each paper and identify specific research themes for each of the element emerging from the literature. Finally, the authors examine the degree to which interdependencies among separate elements are addressed in the literature and discuss the most holistic papers in more details. Findings The results show that the literature on project-based organizations downplays broader organizational issues (such as organizational strategy, incentive schemes and performance management systems) while emphasizing research agenda inherited from research on single project management. In addition, the study highlights limited attention in the literature to the interdependence between separate design choices. Finally, it develops a research framework to map current themes in the literature and their relative importance and discusses a prospective research agenda. Research limitations/implications Academic implications stem from looking at the project management literature from a fresh theoretical perspective and putting project-based organization as a whole in the focus. There is a great research potential in studying organization-wide aspects and interdependencies between various organization design choices in project-based organizations. Practical implications Reflective practitioners could benefit from a wider view on the project-based organization and its design. They could also use the developed framework in management discussions. Originality/value The paper offers a novel way of conceptualizing research on project-based organizations by linking it to an established stream within the field of organization theory and design.

Diabolical perspectives on healthy morality in times of COVID-19

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Clausen
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Sociological Analysis ◽  
Niklas Luhmann ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Christian Morality ◽  
Christian View ◽  
Unlimited Growth ◽  
Historical Theology ◽  
Point Of Departure

PurposeThe paper combines the systems theoretical perspective on the evolution of societal differentiation and the emergence of codes in communication. By combining the approach by Niklas Luhmann with a historical theology on the development of Christian morality split between God and Devil, it recreates a sociological point of observation on contemporary moral forms by a temporary occupation of the retired Christian Devil.Design/methodology/approachThe article combines a Luhmannian systems theoretical perspective on the evolution of societal differentiation with a concept of emerging codes in communication. The latter is based on on the development of a Christian view of morality being split between God and Devil. It establishes a sociological point of observation on contemporary moral forms through the temporary invocation of the retired figure of the Christian Devil.FindingsThe proposed perspective develops a healthy perspective on the exuberant distribution of a health(y) morality across the globe during the pandemic crisis of 2020–21. The temporary invocation of the retired Christian Devil as point of departure in this sociological analysis allows for a disturbing view on the unlimited growth of the morality of health and its inherent dangers of dedifferentiating the highly specialised forms of societal differentiation and organisation.Originality/valueBy applying the diabolical perspective, the analytical framework creates a unique opportunity to observe the moral encodings of semantic forms in detail, while keeping the freedom of scientific enquiry to choose amongst available distinctions in the creation of sound empirical knowledge. This article adopts a neutral stance, for the good of sociological analysis. The applications of the term “evil” to observations of communication are indifferent to anything but itself and its qualities as scientific enquiry.

Measuring the invisible

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1921-1934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Ying ◽  
John Tookey ◽  
Jeff Seadon
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Selling Price ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operational Level ◽  
The Invisible

PurposeConstruction logistics is an essential part of Construction Supply Chain Management for both project management and cost aspects. The quantum of money that is embodied in the transportation of materials to site could be 39–58 per cent of total logistics costs and between 4 and 10 per cent of the product selling price for many firms. However, limited attention has been paid to measure the logistics performance at the operational level in the construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge about managing logistics costs by setting a key performance indicator (KPI) based on the number of vehicle movements to the construction site.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was adopted with on-site observations and interviews. Observations were performed from the start of construction until “hand-over” to the building owner. A selection of construction suppliers and subcontractors involved in the studied project were interviewed.FindingsData analysis of vehicle movements suggested that construction transportation costs can be monitored and managed. The identified number of vehicle movements as a KPI offers a significant step towards logistics performance management in construction projects.Originality/valueThis research paper demonstrates that framework of using vehicular movements meet the criterion of effective KPI and is able to detect rooms for improvements. The key findings shed valuable insight for industry practitioners in initiating the measurement and monitor “the invisible logistics costs and performance”. It provides a basis for benchmarking that enables comparison, learning and improvement and thereby continuous enhancement of best practice at the operational level, which may accelerate the slow SCM implementation in the construction industry.

Rethinking project management

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 716-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Walker ◽  
Beverley Lloyd-Walker
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Axial Coding ◽  
Over Time

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent of the continuing influence on project management (PM) research directions of rethinking project management over the last ten years. Design/methodology/approach The authors chose a qualitative research approach that involved reading all papers published in the International Journal of Managing Project in Business since its commencement in 2008. Content analysis was performed on these papers to allow axial coding of key article content influence themes. Findings The research identified the strength, over time, of the three research interest clusters on the PM research agenda and resultant changes in the PM paradigm. The five directions put forward by the rethinking PM agenda and other researchers ten years ago have continued to influence the PM research agenda. Originality/value Findings provide a better understanding the changes in PM research directions since rethinking PM, the increased breadth and sophistication of PM research in general, and future research directions.

Performance measurement effects on organizational responses to threats

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Huber
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Management System ◽  
Organization Design ◽  
Performance Measurement System ◽  
Performance Management System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Literature

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain how an organization’s performance measurement system can influence the appropriateness of an organization’s responses to threats. Design/methodology/approach – Inductive and deductive reasoning, drawing on major theories and on empirical findings in the management literature. Findings – An organization’s performance measurement system can influence the effectiveness of the organization’s detections of threats and the appropriateness of the organization’s responses to threats and, in these ways, contribute to the organization’s robustness and sustainability. Practical implications – Formation of an appropriate performance management system can prove critical to both detection of and responses to organizational threats. As such, an organizational performance management system can contribute to organizational robustness and sustainability. Originality/value – The idea, that an organization’s performance measurement system can influence the effectiveness of the organization’s detections of threats and the appropriateness of the organization’s responses to threats, is not articulated in the management literature. Thus, the research reported here is original and would seem to have value to the research community, the organization design community (as an organization’s control systems are an important component of its architecture), and the management community.

Repatriation of international assignees

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Knocke ◽  
Tassilo Schuster
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative Approaches

Purpose Repatriation continues to be a current challenge for many international firms. While this topic has received only limited attention in literature in the past, it has aroused an increased academic interest since the 2000s. Until now, however, thorough analyses of advancements in this field, which go beyond a pure content-related review, are still scarce in research. To address this gap, this study provides a systematic and comprehensive literature review of repatriation from an ecological systems perspective. The purpose of this paper is threefold: to analyze where and when repatriation research has been published, what aspects (e.g. topics, theories, and contexts) have been considered in the repatriation literature, and how the research has been conducted (e.g. employed methodologies). Based on the findings implications for future research are developed. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a systematic literature review of 96 peer-reviewed articles from 1973 to 2016. Findings The results of the study reveal that repatriation has found its way into journals of different disciplines. By employing an ecological systems theoretical perspective, the study shows that research on repatriation covers a broad set of ecological systems to explain repatriation outcomes. Quantitative approaches are fairly prominent in repatriation research, whereas the use of qualitative approaches has increased lately. Mixed-methods approaches, however, are still scarce in the repatriation literature. Moreover, the results outline that the majority of scholars collected data on the individual level. With regard to methodological rigor (both design and analysis), a steady use of linear regression modeling in quantitative articles was found, whereas more sophisticated methodological approaches such as structural equation modeling and longitudinal studies have only recently found their way into repatriation research. Finally, by considering that the expatriate literature addresses a variety of types of expatriation, this study highlights that research on repatriation should differentiate more thoroughly between types of repatriates to provide target-group-oriented recommendations and to deepen the understanding of the repatriation phenomenon. Originality/value This study contributes to the repatriation research in several ways. First, it provides a systematic analysis of the repatriation literature from an ecological systems theoretical lens. By combining this content-related analysis with an investigation of methodological issues, the study outlines which ecological systems have been covered in the literature on repatriation, where the strengths and weaknesses of this literature stream lay, and in which direction future avenues of research should move. Moreover, the study highlights which methodological shortcomings are still existent in the repatriation literature and shows that a differentiated viewpoint on repatriates like in the expatriation literature is still in an embryonic stage in repatriation research. Finally, it contributes to the repatriation research by deducing valuable recommendations for future research.

Qualitative research: deductive and inductive approaches to data analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theophilus Azungah
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Data Generation ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain the rationale for choosing the qualitative approach to research human resources practices, namely, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, rewards management, employee communication and participation, diversity management and work and life balance using deductive and inductive approaches to analyse data. The paper adopts an emic perspective that favours the study of transfer of human resource management practices from the point of view of employees and host country managers in subsidiaries of western multinational enterprises in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Despite the numerous examples of qualitative methods of data generation, little is known particularly to the novice researcher about how to analyse qualitative data. This paper develops a model to explain in a systematic manner how to methodically analyse qualitative data using both deductive and inductive approaches. Findings The deductive and inductive approaches provide a comprehensive approach in analysing qualitative data. The process involves immersing oneself in the data reading and digesting in order to make sense of the whole set of data and to understand what is going on. Originality/value This paper fills a serious gap in qualitative data analysis which is deemed complex and challenging with limited attention in the methodological literature particularly in a developing country context, Ghana.

Workforce diversity: from a literature review to future research agenda

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-603
Author(s):  
Shatrughan Yadav ◽  
Usha Lenka
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Workforce Diversity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Different Dimensions

Purpose Workforce diversity is widely believed to enhance the knowledge and perspectives of organizations. The purpose of this study is to synthesize the existing diverse literature on workforce diversity and to enlighten the avenues for future research in managing workforce diversity. Design/methodology/approach This study performs a comprehensive review of empirical and conceptual studies published on workforce diversity and its outcomes in the top 13 peer-reviewed leading management journals between 1990 and 2019. Findings The assessment of diversity literature reported mixed and inconsistent results that are the critical challenges of diversity management. Furthermore, most studies have not individually identified the problems of diversity dimensions. To understand the problems, this study has divided the different dimensions of diversity (e.g. age, gender, race, education, functional background and tenure) and their results, supported by various theories. The findings of this study suggested a different reason for existing conflicts and proposed a future research agenda. Originality/value To overcome the challenges of diversity, this study has proposed the future research agenda for future research. to take optimum advantage of workforce diversity, this study contributes a theoretical perspective that enhances the understanding of existing diversity in organizations and develops diverse organizations.

Differences in sustainability practices and stakeholder involvement

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Bulgacov ◽  
Maria Paola Ometto ◽  
Márcia Ramos May
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stakeholder Interests ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Sustainability Practices

Purpose – This research aims to describe sustainability practices adopted by companies and the influence they have with the involvement of stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative investigation, using case study methodology, was undertaken in 17 companies that use strategic sustainability practices in some way. The companies were observed under the theoretical perspective of social responsibility and sustainability, and with the approach of strategic practices. Findings – Interpreting the data produces an alternative framework of analysis for strategic organizational activities oriented toward the understanding of practices of sustainability, especially in processes aimed at catering to and/or involving stakeholders. The research further supports the idea that sustainability practices, regardless of their level of implementation, have a strong relationship, in these companies, with stakeholder interests. Originality/value – The intent is that the proposed analytical framework will allow further debate toward better understanding of actions focused on environmental determinism and internal company conditions.

Learning-structure fit part I

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 294-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleša Saša Sitar ◽  
Miha Škerlavaj
Keyword(s):  
Learning Styles ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Organization Design ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Learning Behavior ◽  
Learning Collaborative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Double Loop Learning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this study, which consists of two parts, is to bring together literature on organizational design and learning of individuals in organizational settings. The literature suggests that learning takes place in organic and less-structured organizational designs, whereas empirical research provides conflicting evidence. This first part theorizes about the influence of mechanistic vs organic designs on three different aspects of employees’ learning behavior: knowledge sourcing, learning styles and learning loops. Design/methodology/approach This paper is built on previous research on the impact of structure on learning and theorizes about the relationship between mechanistic/organic design and specific learning behavior at work. Findings Four propositions are developed in this paper, regarding how a different structure leads to a different learning behavior. Mechanistic structure is associated with internal learning, independent learning and single-loop learning, whereas organic design leads to external learning, collaborative learning and double-loop learning. Research limitations/implications Because the paper is conceptual in nature, the propositions are in need of empirical validation. Some directions for empirical testing are proposed. Practical/implications For an organization design practice, managers should be aware of the distinct impact different structures have on individual learning at work. Furthermore, the appropriate organizational structure for learning must be considered in the broader context of contingencies. Originality/value This paper contributes to the organizational design literature and to the organizational learning theory by conceptualizing the relationship between structure and learning of individuals at work.

scholarly journals Employee performance management: charting the field from 1998 to 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Frances Maley ◽  
Dabic Marina ◽  
Miriam Moeller
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Multiple Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Employee Performance ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Main Research ◽  
The Future ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the development and consider the future of one of the most controversial areas of human resource development – employee performance management (PM).Design/methodology/approachThrough bibliometrics, a multiple correspondence analysis identifies the main research directions of PM studies and provides a map of descriptors and a list of authors, along with a framework to track PM literature over 20 years (1998–2018).FindingsScholars have attempted to address some of the questions raised by earlier researchers. However, critical questions remain unanswered, and there is increasing dissatisfaction with the process. The most glaring yet unaddressed problem with PM is poor employee acceptability of the process.Practical implicationsIf the research gaps are addressed, the lack of acceptability of the PM could be resolved and more effectively managed in the future.Originality/valueThe study particularly addresses poor employee “acceptability” of the PM process, a subject that has received limited attention by scholars.

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