Controlling the flood: when more of a dose is less

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. David Johnson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the flood of information that is inundating us. This flood makes it increasingly difficult to make sense of the world and arrive at the correct interpretation of events. Design/methodology/approach – Classic narrative literature review applying the dosage metaphor to the growing problem of information overload. Findings – The seven elements of dosage – amount, frequency, sequencing, delivery systems, contraindications, interactions, and dysfunctions – are used to discuss four major coping mechanisms – escape, attention, delegation, and creative destruction – for dealing with the flood. Each of the coping mechanisms has different entailments for the dosage elements. Originality/value – This essay develops a guiding principle for thinking about how we should cope with this central problem of the information age: suggesting a minimalist approach that offers the hope of clarity in acting in an age that increasingly overwhelms us.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahana Wiradanti ◽  
Stephen Pettit ◽  
Andrew Potter ◽  
Wessam Abouarghoub

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the literature on peripheral ports, hub ports and concentration – deconcentration factors. This is an issue, as investments in port development in more peripheral locations are challenging due to the difficult financial situation currently faced by the maritime industry.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a narrative literature review focusing on peripherality in the context of seaports and transport. Moreover, it gathers the reasons why ports concentrate–deconcentrate, and how these factors evolve over time.FindingsThis paper develops a future research agenda for peripheral ports.Practical implicationsThe paper provides insights for ports in developing countries in their efforts to upgrade their port facilities and infrastructure.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the research on ports in peripheral locations which have been under studied compared to larger hub ports.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethany Driver ◽  
Verity Chester

Purpose Autistic women and girls have received comparatively less attention within clinical practice and research. Research suggests women tend to be diagnosed later than men, and are more likely to experience misdiagnosis. Design/methodology/approach This paper aims to report a narrative literature review that examines research on the presentation, recognition, and diagnosis of autistic women and girls. Findings Findings suggest that autistic females present differently to males and highlight low recognition of the female presentation of autism among the general public, in social spheres, educational, clinical and forensic settings. This lack of recognition appears to affect the likelihood of females being referred for diagnosis, the reliability of diagnostic assessments and subsequent access to support. Originality/value Recommendations for clinical practice focus on initiatives to increase awareness of the female presentation of autism, improving the diagnostic process for females, increasing female representation within autism training and for future research to support these goals.


IMP Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 512-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luitzen De Boer ◽  
Poul Houman Andersen

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to contribute to further advancing of IMP as a research field by setting up and starting a theoretical conversation between system theory and the IMP. Design/methodology/approach The approach is based on a narrative literature study and conceptual research. Findings The authors find that system theory and cybernetics can be regarded as important sources of inspiration for early IMP research. The authors identify three specific theoretical “puzzles” in system theory that may serve as useful topics for discussion between system theorists and IMP researchers. Originality/value Only a handful of papers have touched upon the relationship between system theory and IMP before. This paper combines a narrative, historical analysis of this relationship with developing specific suggestions for using system theory as a vehicle for further advancement of IMP research.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Kafetzopoulos

PurposeThis study seeks to provide a narrative literature review of existing empirical research, in order to better understand the processes and theory of ambidextrous leadership, as well as its influence on followers, employees and organizations.Design/methodology/approachData from 26 studies were extracted and synthesied providing a critical discussion about the methodological and theoretical aspects of the studies identified in the review.FindingsIt was revealed the attributes for an effective ambidextrous leader, it was presented the recently proposed concept of ambidextrous leadership theory and it was noticed the main criticisms against the findings of the extant ambidextrous leadership literature. It was also identified many research gaps in the literature which in turn can guide academics in the development of ambidextrous leadership.Research limitations/implicationsThe ambidextrous leadership theory represents a novel and unique approach to the domain of leadership for creativity and innovation. It is shared across hierarchical levels throughout the organization. Leaders have a significant effect on employees' behaviors and should determine its applicability to different situations. Organizations require ambidextrous managers who combine flexible, situational and versatile leadership styles developing ever increasingly new and divergent ideas. Many research gaps in the literature were also identified that can guide academics in the development of ambidextrous leadership.Practical implicationsUnderstanding that ambidextrous leadership is required to significantly influence ambidexterity and innovation allows organizations to direct their leadership selection and development.Originality/valueThis review contributes to the ambidextrous leadership literature by creating a holistic picture of where it has been and where it should go.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-224
Author(s):  
Leonor Rodriguez ◽  
Pat Dolan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of empathy in adolescents coping with maternal cancer to identify passive and active empathy forms and the role of these in adolescent coping at a challenging time. Design/methodology/approach This study was a secondary content analysis carried out on 15 adolescent interviews that were analysed to find the evidence of empathy in active and passive forms. Adolescents were between 14 and 20 years of age, their mothers were diagnosed with cancer in the previous 24 months to the interview. Findings The analysis identified more evidence of active forms of empathy than passive directed at ill mothers and their families as helpful behaviours and emotional support. Passive empathy was experienced by adolescents who did not have major changes in their daily routines because of maternal cancer. Both passive and active empathy were perceived as coping mechanisms. Maternal illness motivated adolescents’ empathy and encouraged actions to support their mothers, immediate and extended families. Originality/value Empathy is complex but can be important for adolescent development including their social skills and relationships; however, research has not evaluated the role of empathy in adolescents experiencing maternal cancer.


Author(s):  
Tina Peeters ◽  
Jaap Paauwe ◽  
Karina Van De Voorde

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the key ingredients that people analytics teams require to contribute to organizational performance. As the information that is currently available is fragmented, it is difficult for organizations to understand what it takes to execute people analytics successfully.Design/methodology/approachTo identify the key ingredients, a narrative literature review was conducted using both traditional people analytics and broader business intelligence literature. The findings were summarized in the People Analytics Effectiveness Wheel.FindingsThe People Analytics Effectiveness Wheel identifies four categories of ingredients that a people analytics team requires to be effective. These are enabling resources, products, stakeholder management and governance structure. Under each category, multiple sub-themes are discussed, such as data and infrastructure; senior management support; and knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics (KSAOs) (enablers).Practical implicationsMany organizations are still trying to set up their people analytics teams, and many others are struggling to improve decision-making by using people analytics. For these companies, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current literature and describes what it takes to contribute to organizational performance using people analytics.Originality/valueThis paper is designed to provide organizations and researchers with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to execute people analytics successfully. By using the People Analytics Effectiveness Wheel as a guideline, scholars are now better equipped to research the processes that are required for the ingredients to be truly effective.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-10

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper concentrates on the relationship between the number of success stories an employee receives and that employee's performance, which the results reveal isn't linear since the effect of such stories is impacted by the level of complexity of the employee's task. Hearing increasingly more success stories improves the recent simple task performance of high and low performing employees, but average performers benefit most from exposure to a small collection of stories. For complex tasks a limited number of success stories yield the best employee performance, as this avoids information overload. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-318
Author(s):  
Johannes A.W.H. Van Oorschot ◽  
Johannes I.M. Halman ◽  
Erwin Hofman

Purpose The purpose of this study is threefold. First, to provide a taxonomy of innovations in the housing sector. Second, to create a coherent framework that includes the mechanisms that stimulate and hinder the adoption of innovation in the housing sector. Third, to develop propositions for future innovation adoption research. Design/methodology/approach A search in Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science, Elsevier’ Scopus and the ARCOM database, followed by ‘snowballing’ as a backward search technique, revealed 94 scientific studies about innovation adoption in the housing sector. These studies were used to conduct a systematic narrative literature review about innovation adoption in the housing sector. Findings This study presents the state of knowledge about the adoption of innovation in the housing sector. Based on the unit of analysis by the studies included in our review, we present a taxonomy of housing innovation and we conclude that, typical for low-tech industries, no radical, discontinuous innovations were reported in the field of housing. Based on the data set of this review, a coherent framework has been developed, which includes four categories of determinants and underlying variables. Subsequently, 21 propositions have been deduced, which reflect the key mechanisms affecting the adoption of innovation in housing. Originality/value This paper is the first in which the various innovation adoption mechanisms for housing projects are integrated in a coherent innovation adoption framework. This framework not only provides an explanatory overview about innovation adoption in the housing sector but also provides insight to managers how to increase the chances to get their innovations adopted in the housing sector.


2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Gibb ◽  
Mhairi Wallace

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to test and explore alignment theory as a guiding principle for human resource development (HRD) by performing an empirical study. HRD scholars, professionals and others have adopted or assumed alignment theory to help explain HRD effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach – Constructs to measure an organisation’s strategic priorities and its HRD practices. A measure of HRD effectiveness was developed. A survey gathered data from 270 employees, managers and HRD staff in a sample of 76 organisations. Findings – The results show that HRD effectiveness does not vary with alignment as predicted. Forms of partial alignment, or the relations of an “odd couple”, are more strongly associated with HRD effectiveness than high alignment. Research limitations/implications – The use and integration of both normative measures (Likert scale) and ipsative measures (ranking) is necessary to capture alignment, but this limits the inferential statistics available to test validity and reliability. Qualitative data on case studies would be useful to explore alignment issues in context and depth. Practical implications – Stakeholders in organisations can use the “odd couple” interpretation of alignment as a fresh way to review and explore the opportunities and challenges of managing HRD effectiveness in an era where a narrowing and retrenchment of provisions is occurring and increasing. Originality/value – This study provides evidence which raises questions about alignment theory and policies intended to increase alignment. It suggests in the case of HRD, an alternative perspective that validates partial alignment can support effective HRD provisions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1455-1478
Author(s):  
Bao Dai ◽  
Ahsan Ali ◽  
Hongwei Wang

PurposeGrounded on the cognition–affect–conation (C–A–C) framework, this study aims to explore how perceived information overload affects the information avoidance intention of social media users through fatigue, frustration and dissatisfaction.Design/methodology/approach/methodology/approachA quantitative research design is adopted. The data collected from 254 respondents in China are analyzed via structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsPerceived information overload directly affects fatigue, frustration and dissatisfaction among social media users, thereby affecting their information avoidance intention. In addition, frustration significantly affects social media fatigue and dissatisfaction. Consequently, social media fatigue influences dissatisfaction among users.Originality/valueThe literature review indicates that social media overload and fatigue yield negative behavioral outcomes, including discontinuance. However, rather than completely abstaining or escaping, social media users adopt moderate strategies, including information avoidance, to cope with overload and fatigue owing to their high dependence on social media. Unfortunately, merely few studies are available on the information avoidance behavior of social media users. Focusing on this line of research, the current study develops a model to investigate the antecedents of information avoidance in social media.


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