Systems thinking in school organizations – perspectives from various leadership levels

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Norqvist ◽  
Helene Ärlestig
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
School Organization ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Leadership Positions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Behavior ◽  
Unique Approach ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Deputy Superintendents ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand how leaders within a school district system understand their own and others' leadership positions from the perspectives of systems thinking and systems thinking skills.Design/methodology/approachThe findings are based on interviews with superintendents, area managers (deputy superintendents), principals and first teachers in Sweden. Sets of systems thinking skills guide the analysis, specifically how various leadership positions are related (their structure and relationships), how leaders understand themselves in relation to the whole and the parts (mindset), what they think about how the organization is organized (content) and how they relate to the organization's history and future (behavior).FindingsLeaders at all levels in the school organization have regular communications, but a wider systems thinking perspective is underdeveloped. The systems are hierarchical, with each level taking responsibility for its subsystem to such a high extent that it does not use or learn from other levels. We also found that change in the investigated schools is subtle, and in the schools, it did not seem important to understand change over time or the nature of important leverage points; the organizations' histories and futures were emphasized less than current issues and relations.Practical implicationsIncreased knowledge on systems thinking skills can provide insights as to whether mindsets, content, structure and behavior are supporting each other or not. These perspectives can help actors on all levels to learn together.Originality/valueIn addition to the study outcomes, this paper offers a unique approach for studying the leadership positions of the governance chain and their impact on an organization's work and results. It obtains a broader picture of school districts' systems when various members of the governing chain express how they understand their organizations, in relation to systems thinking.

Transformational spaces: educators discuss map the system and supporting Canada’s emerging generation of systems thinkers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine McGowan ◽  
Latasha Calf Robe ◽  
Laura Allan ◽  
Elinor Flora Bray-Collins ◽  
Mathieu Couture ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Third Mission ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Internal Work ◽  
Treat All ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore multiple Canadian educators' experiences with the Map the System (MTS) competition, designed to foster and grow systems thinking capacity among students exploring complex questions. The challenge has been an opportunity for social innovation programs (from the nascent to the established) across Canadian post-secondaries to engage both with their own communities and with social innovators internationally, connecting social innovation spaces as part of their third mission. Across the organizations, students valued the interdisciplinary and systems thinking qualities, and organizations benefited from the external competition, there remain questions about organizational engagement in social innovation as a deeply transformative process internally. Design/methodology/approach All Canadian post-secondary institutions who participated in the 2020 MTS competition (17) were invited to a digital roundtable to discuss their experiences. Ten were able to participate, representing a range of post-secondaries (including large research institutions, undergraduate-only universities and colleges). To facilitate discussion, participants met to discuss format and topics; for the roundtable itself, participant educators used a google form to capture their experiences. These were summarized, anonymized and redistributed for validation and clarification. To reflect this collaborative approach, all participant educators are listed as authors on this paper, alphabetically after the organizing authors. Findings For students participating in MTS, they have built both their interdisciplinary and systems thinking skills, as well as their commitment to achieving meaningful change in their community. But MTS arrived in fertile environments and acted as an accelerant, driving attention, validation and connection. Yet while this might align with post-secondary education’s third mission, educators expressed concerns about sustainability, internal commitment to change and navigating tensions between a challenge approach and collaborative work, and internal work and national competition limitations. This complicates the simple insertion of MTS in a post-secondary’s social innovation-related third mission. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to Canadian post-secondaries participating in MTS, and therefore are not representative of either post-secondaries in Canada, or all the MTS participants although Canada is well represented in the challenge itself. Additionally, while the authors believe their approach to treat all participants as authors, and ensured multiple feedback opportunities in private and collectively, this is a deliberate and potentially controversial move away from a traditional study. Social implications More than half of Canadian universities (a subgroup of post-secondaries) had at least one social innovation initiative, but questions have been raised about whether these initiatives are being evaluated internally, or are triggering the kinds of transformative internal work that might be an outcome. Understanding the impact of MTS one example of a social innovation-related initiative can help advance the broader conversation about the place (s) for social innovation in the post-secondary landscape – and where there is still significant work to be done. Originality/value As Canada has only participated in MTS for four years, this is the first inter-institution consideration of its related opportunities and obstacles as a vehicle for transformational social innovation. As well, educators talking openly and frankly to educators reinforces the collaborative quality of social innovation across the post-secondary landscape.

Effects of the biophilic atmosphere on intention to visit: the affective states’ mediating role

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Ortegón-Cortázar ◽  
Marcelo Royo-Vela
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equations ◽  
Shopping Centers ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Consumer Evaluations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Special Value ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper aims to analyze how a biophilic atmosphere inspired by nature influences customers’ affective states and intention to visit shopping centers, and to empirically test how affective states affect and mediate the relationship between the nature-based atmosphere and behavior or intention to visit.Design/methodology/approachFour hypotheses are examined empirically through a model of structural equations using control variables. A survey of 403 consumers distributed in 24 large shopping centers was used.FindingsThe findings indicate the influence of the biophilic atmosphere on affective states and the intention to visit. Also, it is shown that affective states mediate in this relationship and effect.Practical implicationsThe research suggests that shopping centers are potentially places to take advantage of people’s natural predisposition. Thus, they can combine biophilic architecture and atmosphere with other more traditional factors of attraction to increase the likelihood of visiting. A biophilic atmosphere can improve the attraction capacity within a highly competitive environment, where design and management of space is a topic of special value.Originality/valueBy incorporating the perception of the biophilic atmosphere in consumer evaluations when visiting shopping centers, this research has shown its influence on visiting intentions through affective states. The research proposes an alternative model that can increase and stimulate the attraction of demand and loyalty, as well as strengthening new paths in the field of retail and services marketing.

Embedding physician leadership development within health organizations

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Joanne Snell ◽  
Chris Eagle ◽  
John Emile Van Aerde
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Development Strategies ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Physician Leadership ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Health Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unique Approach ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this conceptual paper is to provide strategies on how to embed physician leadership development efforts within health organizations. Design/methodology/approach – Findings from our previous research, which include an extensive literature review and analysis of 53 interviews with representatives from healthcare organizations across the globe, are integrated within the context of the Influencer© framework to provide a useful and grounded tool for physician leadership development strategies. Findings – Physician leadership development strategies are identified for each of the six domains within the Influencer© framework. Practical implications – A number of physician leadership development strategies are provided. They can be used in combination or used independently. Originality/value – Integrating the knowledge gained from practices in health organizations and from the literature within the Influencer© framework is a unique approach and strengthens the usefulness of the identified physician leadership development strategies.

Interfere! How Chinese subsidiaries manage their global headquarters

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annette Metz ◽  
Christiane Prange
Keyword(s):  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Interference Management ◽  
Chinese Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transaction Analysis ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Subsidiary Managers ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Illustrative Material

Purpose With the increasing dependence on the Chinese market, Chinese subsidiary managers rather than Western managers in the headquarters take responsibility for the overall success of the multinational company (MNC). This paper aims to argue that Chinese managers need to actively interfere to guarantee the survival of the MNC. Transaction analysis is suggested as a tool to rebalance the relationship. Design/methodology/approach Based on illustrative material and experience cases, the authors highlight why and how Chinese subsidiary managers have to engage in interference management. Findings Introducing different strategies within transaction analysis shows how Western managers can deal with Chinese interference management to improve relationships. Practical implications With the use of transaction analysis, Western managers can verify their communication strategies and behavior to better relate to Chinese subsidiaries on an “adult” level. Originality/value Interference management is based on counterintuitive thought that Chinese subsidiary managers rather than headquarters become responsible for the overall success of the MNC. Transaction analysis is used to uncover hidden assumptions, communication strategies and behavior in headquarters–subsidiary relationships.

Conceptualising integrated thinking in practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy Oliver ◽  
Gillian Vesty ◽  
Albie Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Integrated Reporting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
And Control ◽  
Measurement And Control ◽  
Health And Well Being

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer theoretical and practical insights on the ways in which integrated thinking is observed in practice. Integrated thinking is linked to integrated reporting, and described as an attribute or capacity for senior management to constructively manage tensions between the multiple capitals (manufactured, intellectual, human, natural, social and relationship as well as financial capital) in strategy, resource allocation, performance measurement and control. Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework is developed from the accounting and systems thinking literature, linking integrated thinking to sustainability. Soft versus hard integrated thinking approaches are applied to contrast the siloed management of sustainability with a model that focuses on relationships and broader indicators of societal health and well-being. Practical illustrations of the conceptualised framework are presented for discussion and for further empirical research. Findings – The illustrative examples offer a diversity of corporate, government and not-for-profit viewpoints, providing evidence of both hard and soft integrated thinking in practice. Valuable insights are provided into innovative approaches that foster and make explicit the soft integrated thinking skills and map them to broader societal outcomes. Research limitations/implications – Potential problems can arise if hard integrated thinking dominates over the soft, and data required for internal management accounting purposes become narrow, linear and segregated. Routines and practices will then be based on quasi-standards, further concealing the soft integrated thinking that might be occurring within the organisation. Originality/value – With theoretical roots in systems thinking, this paper contributes to the relatively underexplored area of integrated thinking in accounting for sustainability.

Are women better leaders than men?

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon De Mascia
Keyword(s):  
Role Models ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Women In Leadership ◽  
Leadership Positions ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women In Management ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Management Thinking

Purpose – Examines some of the reasons women remain under-represented at the top of organizations, despite developments in management thinking that appear to reward areas where women traditionally excel. Design/methodology/approach – Looks at some of the research into leadership skills and draws conclusions regarding the paucity of women in management. Findings – Considers some of the obstacles to women becoming managers to be: the attitudes of male managers, the lack of suitable role models for women, women’s reticence to network, and lack of confidence. Practical implications – Urges organizations to work harder to reduce the significance of these obstacles. Social implications – Shows how organizations – and through them society as a whole – would benefit from having more women in top jobs. Originality/value – Argues that having more women in leadership positions – that is, more positive role models – would help to give women more confidence in their ability to be great leaders and would encourage more women to push themselves forward for leadership opportunities.

Finding desirable post-consumption behaviors

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 2984-3003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juhee Kang
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Brand Love ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Love Relationships ◽  
Future Behavior ◽  
Premium Price ◽  
Antecedents And Consequences ◽  
Luxury Hotel ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the antecedents and consequences of romantic brand love in the luxury hotel context. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from guests who had stayed at a luxury hotel within the past year and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The findings indicate that uniqueness and hedonic values are a prerequisite of evoking closeness and passionate feelings toward hotel brands, resulting in guests’ advocacy and willingness to pay a premium price. Practical implications This study provides practical implications for luxury hotel marketers by introducing a new angle to understand brand love and suggesting desirable post-consumption behaviors through creating romantic love relationships between guests and hotel brands. Originality/value Research on the multidimensional aspects of luxury value is limited. This study proposes a conceptual model to investigate which luxury values enable guests to fall in love with brands and influence future behavior decisions and identifies opportunities for managerial benefits relating to consumers who are not traditional or frequent visitors to hotels.

Evolution of framework foresight

foresight ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 643-651
Author(s):  
Andy Hines
Keyword(s):  
Iterative Process ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Teaching Tool ◽  
Established Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
The Future ◽  
Unique Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The organization’s core approach to exploring and influencing the future, Framework Foresight, emerged from piecemeal roots in the 1990s to an established method circa 2013. Since then, it has evolved from primarily a teaching tool to a project methodology in its own right. The purpose of this paper is to explore the iterative process that has emerged in which teaching and practice inform and advance one another. Design/methodology/approach Innovations in technique will be highlighted and illustrated by commentary from project experience. The piece will be providing readers with a birds-eye view into the evolution of a foresight method in both theory and practice. Findings The continuous iteration between theory and practice, or the classroom and the client world, provides an excellent means to advance the teaching and practice of foresight. Significant changes include three horizons, inputs, drivers, archetypes, rating scenarios and strategic approach. Practical implications This paper suggests that closer relationships between academia and the external/client world provide practical benefit by improving teaching and providing more innovative approaches for clients. Originality/value The description of the development of this unique approach to doing foresight work provides an example for other programs or firms to emulate.

What’s new in leadership?

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 15-18
Author(s):  
Joan Marques
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Practices ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Leadership Qualities ◽  
Leadership Positions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceptions Of Leadership ◽  
Informal Settings ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to underscore the changing perceptions of leadership as a whole, and more specifically, what is appreciated in contemporary leadership practices. Design/methodology/approach This is a reflective paper based on observations on leadership skills and how these are perceived and valued today. Findings Leadership today demands qualities that are not merely to be reflected on others or situations, but that have to, first and foremost, make sense to the leader internally. Qualities and skills discussed are authenticity, wakefulness, agility, kindness, equilibrium, neuroticism, and eagerness. Practical implications This paper aims to provide food for thought to those who consider themselves leaders or aspire to become leaders, whether in formal or informal settings. Social implications The paper strives to instill deeper awareness in those who perform in leadership positions, toward treating themselves and others toward greater fulfillment and accomplishment. Originality/value The leadership qualities discussed in this paper demonstrate that leadership is not necessarily a practice in which followers and a situation have to be included. Each quality requires deep reflection and, first and foremost, pertains to self-leadership as a precursor to leadership onto others.

Winning leaders

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 43-45
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Leadership Positions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Leader ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

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 Leading international organizations requires a certain set of skills, which are often not evidenced in those we currently see in leadership positions. This briefing looks at what is required to be classed as an effective global leader. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists 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.

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