Design thinking: breaking fixation for new relationships between organizations

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 20-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Lewis ◽  
Scott Hayward ◽  
Rob Hornyak
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Interorganizational Relationships ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Brick Wall ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to show how design thinking can be a useful approach for helping interorganizational partnerships create higher levels of value creation for both parties. By integrating concepts related to human cognition, contracts and performance, the authors show how interorganizational relationships often hit a brick wall. The authors show how they can break through such obstacles in a systematic way using design thinking. Design/methodology/approach The authors anchor their conceptual and prescriptive advice in a real-life case study between a large logistics company and a global technology firm. The case study was conducted over a multiyear period with many sources of data collected: interview data, observational, participant observation, archival presentations, etc. Findings The authors show the factors that lead to rigidity in interorganizational relationships over time, and the cycle of confirmation and exploitation that truly squeezes the life out of relationships if firms are not careful. They offer a prescriptive approach for addressing this issue that should be valuable for many firms across the globe. Research limitations/implications The study is based on a single-case study, so generalizability is always an issue. However, we think that most practicing managers who have been involved (in any way) with managing an interorganizational relationship will attest to the fact that they often experience the patterns that the authors illuminate in their study. Practical implications By applying the design thinking methodology within the context of interorganizational relationships, managers will help their firms break fixation and enter entirely new plateaus of value creation for both firms. Social implications The world of work occurs through partnerships and relationships, companies rarely “go it alone”. Thus, developing the capacities in managers to continuously assess relationship efficacy, break from inertia and discover new ways of creating value will lead to positive social implications. Additionally, the design thinking methodology is based on developing empathy for others, and the authors would argue that such capabilities are sorely needed in this world. Originality/value There is a lot of work on interorganizational partnerships, but an absence of help for practicing managers on how to make such relationships great. Grounded in a real-life case study, this paper provides practical contributions to those currently managing such relationships.

Design thinking for improving employee experience: a case of a food tech company

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-11
Author(s):  
Anamika Sinha ◽  
Biju Varkkey ◽  
N. Meenakshi
Keyword(s):  
Design Thinking ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Future Orientation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Incentive Policies ◽  
Food Tech ◽  
Employee Experience

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate applicability of design thinking in creating employee centric HR solutions. This application is studied in the context of a food tech company. A design thinking process for arriving at an HR solution for employee experience management is proposed. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a single case study method. The HR professionals of a food tech company were interviewed to relate their narratives with the existing conceptual framework on design thinking. Findings It was found that the firm focused on the technological supremacy as well as developed an engaged and motivated team of delivery boys. This provided the required competitive advantage and growth. The first step in implementing the HR solution was to collect primary data for insights into the pain and gain points in employee’s day to day routine. Using the lens of empathy, multiple touch points through incentive policies, rewards, work engagement tools, feedback, inclusive decision making, and technology enabled learning solutions were designed. These signaled a caring and employee centric leadership and built future orientation and engaged the employees. Practical implications By demonstrating the applicability of design thinking and linking it to the HR solutions, a conceptual model relevant to the Food Tech industry was proposed. By integrating the process used to reach the solution, a modified model can be developed by other HR professionals working in any other Food tech company, aggregator/ service providers or logistics companies. Originality/value The study is among the initial studies to approach design thinking for HR solutions in a food tech industry.

Countering extremism through service learning: narratives learned from journalism students

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 686-697
Author(s):  
Maria Robert Bou Zeid
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Higher Educational ◽  
Journalism Students

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the case of the Aspiration, Communication and Transformation campaign conducted by journalism students to counter extremism as a form of experiential learning in Lebanese higher educational context. It documents the views and experiences of students in a service learning (SL) project for redressing a timely social issue. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a descriptive case study methodology involving a portraiture naturalistic approach for data gathering. It conducted semi-structured interviews with three participating students to learn from their experiences in countering extremism. This was complemented by two interviews with the instructor in charge of the project and an external stakeholder. Findings Results emphasized the combination of applying the broadcast technical skills of the course to countering extremism in a volatile political context. Research limitations/implications The findings are only a mild reflection of countering extremism through SL since it focused on a single case study involving a limited number of participants. However, the study offered common sense conclusions having broader applicability. Practical implications This topic is of particular importance to higher educational institutions and communities working on countering extremism through education, particularly in contexts rife with violence and ideological indoctrination. Social implications This paper has social implications on promoting awareness about extremism as a challenging social debacle. It presents workable recommendations for fostering a stronger relationship between higher education institutions and communities to defy extremism. It shows the importance of connecting curricula to community needs. Originality/value This paper fills a gap in the literature pertaining to the role of higher education institutions in countering extremism through SL in Lebanon and the MENA region.

Understanding the role of the broker in business non-profit collaboration

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Lee
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Employee Volunteering

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the contribution of brokers to business non-profit collaborations, in the context of employee volunteering. It investigates the roles brokers play and ways they contribute to value creation within social alliances. Design/methodology/approach – This research focusses on a case study of a UK employee volunteering broker programme run by a local volunteer centre. A combined qualitative methodology involved document analysis and interviews, with brokers and business, community and government partners involved in employee volunteering collaborations. Findings – Brokers play three key roles in business non-profit collaboration as connectors, facilitators/co-designers and learning catalysts. These roles help stimulate manifestations of associational value, transferred resource value, interaction value and synergistic value. Research limitations/implications – Results indicate brokers play an important part in nurturing conditions underpinning innovation and value co-creation, key characteristics of transformational forms of business non-profit collaboration. This study was based on a single case study. Future research could explore broker contributions within a variety of business non-profit settings. Practical implications – For managers implementing business non-profit collaborations, this paper provides a framework depicting key broker roles and ways brokers enable collaborative value that may be useful when assessing whether to use the services of a broker. Originality/value – This paper enriches the understanding of business non-profit collaboration and the role of individual actors in affecting value creation, an under-researched area in the social alliance literature. It provides a framework for assessing broker contributions in business non-profit collaborations.

ESOL pre-service teachers’ culturally and linguistically responsive teaching in mixed-reality simulations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shim Lew ◽  
Tugce Gul ◽  
John L. Pecore
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Mixed Reality ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Responsive Teaching ◽  
Simulation Technology ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Simulation technology has been used as a viable alternative to provide a real life setting in teacher education. Applying mixed-reality classroom simulations to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher preparation, this qualitative case study aims to examine how pre-service teachers (PSTs) practice culturally and linguistically responsive teaching to work with an English learner (EL) avatar and other avatar students. Design/methodology/approach Using an embedded single case study, three PSTs’ teaching simulations and interviews were collected and analyzed. Findings This study found PST participants made meaningful connections between theory and practices of culturally and linguistically responsive teaching, particularly by connecting academic concepts to students’ life experiences, promoting cultural diversity, using instructional scaffolding and creating a safe environment. Nevertheless, they needed further improvement in incorporating cultural diversity into content lessons, creating a challenging and supportive classroom and developing interactional scaffolding for ELs’ language development. The findings also show that while PST participants perceived simulation technology as very beneficial, expanding the range of technological affordances could provide PSTs an opportunity to undertake a full range of critical teaching strategies for ELs. Originality/value This research contributes to broadening the realm of mixed-reality technology by applying it to ESOL teacher education and has implications for both ESOL teacher educators and simulation technology researchers.

Alignment capabilities of big data’s value creation in the context of service delivery processes

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Brinch ◽  
Jan Stentoft ◽  
Dag Näslund
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Organization Performance ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Turbine Generator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wind Turbine Generator ◽  
Service Supply Chains

Purpose While big data creates business value, knowledge on how value is created remains limited and research is needed to discover big data’s value mechanism. The purpose of this paper is to explore value creation capabilities of big data through an alignment perspective. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a single case study of a service division of a large Danish wind turbine generator manufacturer based on 18 semi-structured interviews. Findings A strategic alignment framework comprising human, information technology, organization, performance, process and strategic practices are used as a basis to identify 15 types of alignment capabilities and their inter-dependent variables fostering the value creation of big data. The alignment framework is accompanied by seven propositions to obtain alignment of big data in service processes. Research limitations/implications The study demonstrates empirical anchoring of how alignment capabilities affect a company’s ability to create value from big data as identified in a service supply chain. Practical implications Service supply chains and big data are complex matters. Therefore, understanding how alignment affects a company’s ability to create value of big data may help the company to overcome challenges of big data. Originality/value The study demonstrates how value from big data can be created following an alignment logic. By this, both critical and complementary alignment capabilities have been identified.

Sustainable value creation in SMEs: a case study

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Vincenza Ciasullo ◽  
Orlando Troisi
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Process Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Sustainable Value

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study how a small to medium‐size enterprise (SME) in Campania (Italy) integrated sustainability into its corporate strategy, and how its sustainable corporate strategies reflect on intangible assets.Design/methodology/approachThe paper, an exploratory study based on grounded theory, analyzes are interviews with the entrepreneurial team and top and middle management. Findings are integrated with documentary analysis, internal process data and archival material.FindingsEthics and value systems play a significant role in devising sustainable corporate strategy. Competitive strategies, innovation, quality and responsibility are reflected in management procedures and the supply network system involving partners in sustainable innovation processes.Research limitations/implicationsA single case study obviously limits the generalizing of the findings.Practical implicationsEntrepreneurs and managers can benefit from the study to build a relational network for sustainable development.Originality/valueThe process of sustainable value creation, sharing and the co‐creation of knowledge emerges fully in the case study analyzed. The study pivots on issues of innovation and eco‐sustainability as drivers for corporate sustainability and business ethics.

Mutual value creation in component co-branding relationships

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 1883-1898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Cassia ◽  
Francesca Magno ◽  
Marta Ugolini
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Press Releases ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Component Supplier ◽  
Promotional Materials ◽  
Unknown Component ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Willingness To Engage

Purpose – This paper explores the process of mutual value creation in a component co-branding relationship between an unknown component supplier and a well-known Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). In particular, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the antecedents of parties’ willingness to engage in mutual value creation, thus enriching Grönroos and Helle’s (2010, 2012) model of mutual value creation. Design/methodology/approach – An in-depth longitudinal analysis of a single case study in the cycling wear industry is presented based on data gathered from several sources, including long interviews with managers of a component supplier and an OEM, promotional materials, press releases and articles in cycling-related publications and on web portals, and online conversations among amateur cyclists. Findings – Four antecedents of the willingness to engage in mutual value creation are identified: mutual trust; the perceived easiness of alignment between the supplier’s and OEM’s processes and resources relevant to value creation; the expected creation of a substantial level of additional mutual value; and the expected value gains for each party. Research limitations/implications – The study analyses only one case in a single industry and adopts a dyadic perspective. Practical implications – This study suggests that – contrary to the traditional view – when specific antecedents for mutual value creation are present, the component co-branding strategy is available to many innovative small- and medium-sized firms without strong brands. Originality/value – Beyond enriching Grönroos and Helle’s (2010, 2012) model, this study explains why co-branding relationships can be established even in the absence of a strong component brand.

scholarly journals Implementing integrated reporting to disclose intellectual capital in health organisations: a case study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Paola Dameri ◽  
Pier Maria Ferrando
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Healthcare Organisation ◽  
Single Case Study ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Innovative Solution

PurposeThe aim of our research is to give empirical and theoretical solutions to some criticalities of the original International Integrated Reporting Framework (IIRF). Indeed, it takes as value creation only the increase of the capitals triggered by business activities, overlooking the fulfilment of the institutional mission that is the actual value creation lever.Design/methodology/approachThe present paper introduces a case study aimed at implementing the IIRF in an Italian non-profit healthcare organisation. The research is based on theory building from cases, action research and interventionist approach. IIRF was adopted because of its claimed ability to support the communication process to stakeholders and the control of value creation. However, IIRF shows several weaknesses.FindingsAn adjusted version of IIRF is suggested, highlighting the role played by IC in the organisational business model and in the value creation process. The adjusted seems able to foster awareness of the role IC in value creation in healthcare organisations.Research limitations/implicationsIn this paper no one of the singles pieces of the adjusted framework is innovative by itself, but jointly they give raise to an innovative solution, able to address the disclosing and managerial needs of the examined organisation. The single case study permits to us to test the weaknesses of the IIRF claimed in the literature, to suggest some adjustments to the original framework and to validate their effectiveness. Thanks to the single case study we then built theoretical constructs developing theory inductively; now the suggested framework can be further tested and validated in other organisations.Originality/valueThe paper introduces an innovative approach to IC reporting and disclosure in healthcare organisations. This is relevant not only for external communication but also for internal aims supporting managers in decision and actions.

Recruitment process outsourcing: a case study in Malaysia

2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1029-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sim Siew-Chen ◽  
Gowrie Vinayan
Keyword(s):  
Transaction Cost Economics ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Real Life ◽  
End Users ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Recruitment Process ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the conduct of recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), based on a real-life case study of one company in Malaysia. The paper analyses the company’s process of recruitment outsourcing from beginning to end, in three sections: RPO decision, RPO implementation and RPO outcome. Design/methodology/approach – The case study was carried out through semi-structured interviews with relevant respondents, including the country HR manager, the HR staff and operation managers in the organisation, plus with the RPO provider. Findings – The key findings, from a theoretical and academic viewpoint, are that RPO decisions and implementation cannot be fully or properly explained by one theory, but are better explained by integrating transaction cost economics, the resource-based view and the Agency Theory. The study also highlights the importance of involving end users in the RPO process. Research limitations/implications – While this single case study gives a clear, in-depth insight into the issues in this particular instance, future research extending to a wider range of organisations would serve to expand the findings and provide more generalisable results. Practical implications – Practitioners and service providers should be able to draw valuable lessons from the experience of Tech-solution, particularly from the different perceptions and levels of satisfaction about the service provider’s performance between internal HR and the internal end users (operation managers). Originality/value – This paper provides a specific and detailed analysis of RPO implementation in practice. It also addresses the call for more RPO outsourcing-specific research in the extant literature.

Value creation in SME private equity buy-outs

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander D.F. Lahmann ◽  
Wiebke Stranz ◽  
Vivek K. Velamuri
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Private Equity ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Abnormal Returns ◽  
Single Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Common Value ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Multiple Case Studies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze specific levers of value creation in small and mid-size private equity deals. Private equity firms add value through various types of value creation measures in their portfolio firms to achieve abnormal returns. Established literature has shown that value creation measures differ across portfolio firms due to the different development stages of the firm and different buy-out types. Despite the fact that the majority of deals belongs to the small and mid-size segment, prior studies mostly analyzed large private equity buy-outs or mixed samples. Design/methodology/approach To explore value generation measures in small and mid-size buy-outs, a single case study format was applied studying the carve-out of QUNDIS from Siemens Building Technologie by CAPCELLENCE as an exceptional successfully private equity deal within this segment. Findings The analysis shows that operational and governance improvements are common value creation measures in all buy-outs. The results suggest a lower leverage for smaller private equity deals indicating that financial engineering is less important. Furthermore, in small and mid-size deals, the strategic focus is growth contrary to downsizing and refocusing in large buy-outs. Research limitations/implications Results of a single case study should be generalized cautiously, as they are perceived as less robust compared to empirical methods or multiple case studies. However, this method is appropriate for explorative studies. Originality/value The paper is original in exploring certain value creation measures applied by private equity firms in their portfolio companies in the small and mid-size segment.

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