scholarly journals The unexpected benefits of reflection: a case study in university-business collaboration

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darryll Bravenboer
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Return On Investment ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Organisational Learning ◽  
Learning Culture ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Business Collaboration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the development process and outcomes from a six-year collaboration between Halifax Bank (part of the Lloyds Banking Group) and Middlesex University between 2010 and 2016 in the UK. The collaboration involved the construction of work-integrated higher education programmes that were, from the outset, predicated on clear return on investment criteria for the Bank. One unexpected outcome from the collaboration was the emergence of critical reflection as a valued business benefit that, it is argued, has the potential for significant cultural change within the organisation. Design/methodology/approach This case study discuses how “productive reflection” can lead to an integrated approach to organisational learning. The study is located in the context of Halifax’s specific organisational objectives established following the banking crash of 2008. Quantitative and qualitative evidence is considered to illustrate the extent to which the “return on investment” criteria established by Halifax have been achieved. Findings The case study indicates that the challenging business context of the financial crash of 2008 provided the impetus for a sustained collaborative development that allowed the potential pitfalls of restricted learning opportunities to be addressed resulting in an integrated approach to organisational learning. In addition to the organisation’s return on investment criteria being met, there is evidence that the work-integrated approach has raised the prospect of productive reflection becoming part of an emerging learning culture. Originality/value The scale and sustained period of the university-business collaboration is unique and provides valuable insight into how an organisation’s learning culture can be affected by a work-integrated approach. In demonstrating the perceived business value of productive reflection, the case presented illustrates how learning can start to become considered as a normal aspect of working life.

Motives in creating an LGBTQ inclusive work environment: a case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-260
Author(s):  
Brent S. Opall
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Return On Investment ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Duality Pairs ◽  
Multiple Case

PurposeThe purpose of this inquiry is to examine why companies create LGBTQ-inclusive work environments and how these firms advance LGBTQ-inclusiveness through CSR practices and address challenges presented by strategic duality.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative multiple case study design, data was collected and then triangulated from interviews and company documents. NVivo, a qualitative research program, was used to organize, sort, query and model the data.FindingsSeveral themes were identified as reasons why Fortune 500 organizations sought to create LGBTQ-inclusive work environments. Themes include a positive return on investment, advancing human rights issues within the framework of corporate social responsibility (CSR), internal organizational pressure and parity with other Minnesota companies. Findings are examined through the theoretical lens of strategic duality.Research limitations/implicationsPrimary theoretical implications include contributions to our understanding of strategic duality by providing a first-hand account from people in organizations that encountered imperatives that to some degree are in conflict. By design, the multiple case study methodology does not allow generalizations to be drawn beyond the organizations included in this study.Practical implicationsBoth managers and researchers will find this study provides valuable insight on how people and organizations experience and navigate strategic duality (pairs of competing imperatives) within the context of the motivation behind creating an LGBTQ-inclusive work environment.Originality/valueThis inquiry provides a unique and valuable account as to why organizations choose to invest resources in creating a LGBTQ-inclusive work environment, the return on investment (ROI) and examines competing imperatives (strategic dualities) faced by management. Similar multiple case studies of this qualitative nature are rare, possibly even non-existent and, therefore, this study makes a significant contribution to the literature.

A journey towards integrated person-centred care: a case study of a mental health perspective in the voluntary sector

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Kermode
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health And Social Care

PurposePerson-centred care is a fundamental component of any service. This case study aims to explore the delivery of person-centred care in the voluntary sector, discussing how integrating support can be achieved to benefit individuals. It identifies challenges, best practice and learning that can be applied across sectors and promotes further enquiry.Design/methodology/approachThis case study is the result of a service audit at a mental health charity. The findings are a blend of reflections, observations and examples from service delivery, synthesised with national policy to provide evidence of best practice and processes that enable person-centred care.FindingsA focus on need not diagnosis, creating accessible and inclusive services, employing dual trained practitioners, having a varied skill mix along with holistic self-assessment tools are all enablers for integrated person-centred support. Multi-agency assessment frameworks, collaboration across services, cross-agency supervision and a shared vision for integration and person-centred care support services to coordinate more effectively. Barriers to integrated person-centred support include complex physical and mental health needs and harmful risk and safeguarding. The diversity of the voluntary sector, a lack of resources along with complex and competitive funding also hinder integration.Originality/valueThis case study provides a valuable insight into the voluntary sector and shares its findings to enhance best practice. It aims to promote interest and invites further research into health and social care delivery by the voluntary sector. As this delivery continues to increase, it is vital to examine the interface between the voluntary and statutory sector. Through better understanding and further research across all sectors, the author can identify how they can achieve person-centred outcomes and deliver the national policies.

Implementing supplier management strategies for supply chain sustainability risks in multinational companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 923-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uta Juettner ◽  
Katharina Windler ◽  
André Podleisek ◽  
Maya Gander ◽  
Sandrina Meldau
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agency Relationships ◽  
Supplier Quality Management

PurposeIn a time where stakeholders increasingly demand social, environmental, and economic sustainability, mismanaging suppliers can impose substantial sustainability risks for a company and harm its reputation and business severely. This research explores the implementation of a corporate sustainable supplier strategy designed to cope with such risks from an agency theory perspective.Design/methodology/approachA case study of a multinational enterprise, a provider of leading mobility solutions in the realm of escalators, moving walkways and elevators, is conducted. Data is collected from multiple sources of evidence, including strategy documents, a focus group and semi-structured interviews.FindingsThe study identifies several implementation challenges and coping mechanisms in firstly, the agency relationships between the headquarter and the regional subsidiary units and secondly, the relationships between the regional subsidiary units and their suppliers.Research limitations/implicationsA framework conceptualising the implementation of sustainable supplier strategies is proposed. The framework positions the topic at the interface between supply chain sustainability risk, supplier quality management as well as agency relationships and identifies avenues for further research. The key limitations refer to the single case study methodology and the exclusion of suppliers in the data collection approach.Practical implicationsThe proposed framework can support multinational enterprises in developing corporate sustainability strategies and in implementing them in the supplier network.Originality/valueThe originality of the framework lies in the integrated approach combining supply chain sustainability risk, supplier quality management and triadic agency relationships.

The FCA’s new enforcement process – what will work, and what won’t

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-81
Author(s):  
Polly James ◽  
Adam Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Change ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Guidance

Purpose To review the FCA’s new enforcement process, drawing on what we believe are the positives and negatives and how the FCA should further improve the enforcement process. Design/methodology/approach Breaks down the FCA’s new enforcement process, highlighting the background and stimulus for change, the structural and cultural change, other process changes and our hopes for further reform. Findings Prospects have improved for firms/ individuals who are subject to FCA enforcement actions. Defendants who have good defensive arguments to make, but who would previously have felt under pressure to jettison those arguments in order to settle at an early stage and secure a 30 per cent discount will now be subject to a fairer process, weighted less favourably for the regulator. Originality/value Practical guidance from experienced regulatory lawyers who have valuable insight after working within the FCA.

Managing, tracking and evaluating coaching part 2: where could you be?

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsty Yates
Keyword(s):  
Return On Investment ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Evaluation Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Valuable Data ◽  
Easy Task ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Robust Process ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a number of recommendations that will enable you to get your hands around the coaching that is taking place inside your organisation so that you can manage it better and, moreover, calculate the commercial and cultural returns your organisation is achieving from the coaching in light of research presented in the author's previous article. Design/methodology/approach – This research is based on a case study. Findings – Although not an easy task, it is possible to evaluate the impact of coaching and, in turn, calculate the return on investment (ROI). Key to doing this is that each relationship should be set up correctly; the coach should be fully qualified, experienced and in supervision and information regarding the volume, status and expenditure of each coaching contract must be kept up to date and, along with evaluation data for each contract, used to measure the impact of coaching to the organisation and to calculate the ROI. Originality/value – The case study included shows how coaching has been transformed in E.ON UK since outsourcing all aspects of its coaching, resulting in a clear and robust process generating valuable data on the impact of individual contracts and the programme as a whole, as well as an ROI.

Holistic performance management of virtual teams in third-party logistics environments

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 186-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youness Eaidgah ◽  
Amir Abdekhodaee ◽  
Manoochehr Najmi ◽  
Alireza Arab Maki
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Coherent System ◽  
Third Party Logistics ◽  
Skill Levels ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Staff Turnover

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of an integrated approach for performance improvement of virtual teams (VTs) in third-party logistics (3PL) through the integration of performance management (PM), visual management (VM) and continuous improvement (CI) initiatives into one coherent system. The paper will also propose a methodological framework to establish such a system. The intended integrated system is called as integrated visual management (IVM) throughout this paper. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on a case study that took place in a 3PL context with 19 VTs of different sizes spread across Australia. Many major 3PL companies provide their services either internationally or nationwide and therefore use VTs on a regular basis. The selected company does the same. This case was picked as representative of the many complexities which VTs face in 3PL settings, e.g. geographical and temporal separations; different skill levels within the team and between different team bases; multi-teaming system; high staff turnover; recurring performance problems and firefighting approach to problem-solving; and highly demanding performance requirements from clients. Further, this case study, being of a newly established contract and team, enabled the observation of the team dynamic and complexities from the earliest stages. In addition, as the main author of the paper was part of the managerial layer of the studied VT, this provided it a unique opportunity to escape the usual bureaucracy and rather focus on the research. This study also includes a literature review on VTs along with PM, VM and CI, which comprises IVM. Findings It was found that an integrated approach to PM, VM and CI was effective in systematically improving the VT performance. The framework for implementing IVM was productive and enabled to successfully plan and deploy the improvement intentions. Even though the team was highly virtual and encompassed a range of situational challenges, including different skill levels, a multi-teaming system and a high staff turnover, nevertheless, through IVM, the results met and exceeded performance targets on a sustainable base. Inventory record accuracy, dispatch on time, delivery in full on time and dock to stock were improved by 45, 62, 22 and 25 per cent on average, respectively. Originality/value The originality of the paper comes from its methodological approach to performance improvement for VTs in 3PL contexts through integrating PM, VM and CI systems into one coherent system, IVM.

scholarly journals Work-based learning as a catalyst for sustainability: a review and prospects

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Wall ◽  
Ann Hindley ◽  
Tamara Hunt ◽  
Jeremy Peach ◽  
Martin Preston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Higher Education ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Professional Service ◽  
Boundary Crossing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning Module ◽  
Climate Literacy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the continuing dearth of scholarship about the role of work-based learning in education for sustainable development, and particularly the urgent demands of climate literacy. It is proposed that forms of work-based learning can act as catalysts for wider cultural change, towards embedding climate literacy in higher education institutions. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws data from action research to present a case study of a Climate Change Project conducted through a work-based learning module at a mid-sized university in the UK. Findings Contrary to the predominantly fragmented and disciplinary bounded approaches to sustainability and climate literacy, the case study demonstrates how a form of work-based learning can create a unifying vision for action, and do so across multiple disciplinary, professional service, and identity boundaries. In addition, the project-generated indicators of cultural change including extensive faculty-level climate change resources, creative ideas for an innovative mobile application, and new infrastructural arrangements to further develop practice and research in climate change. Practical implications This paper provides an illustrative example of how a pan-faculty work-based learning module can act as a catalyst for change at a higher education institution. Originality/value This paper is a contemporary call for action to stimulate and expedite climate literacy in higher education, and is the first to propose that certain forms of work-based learning curricula can be a route to combating highly bounded and fragmented approaches, towards a unified and boundary-crossing approach.

Organizational innovation and integrated care: lessons from Buurtzorg

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 174-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharda Nandram ◽  
Nicole Koster
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Care ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Secondary Process ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Case

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the case of Buurtzorg Nederland as a good practice example of integrated care, focussing in particular on the organizational aspects of its innovation. As the field of integrated care is still in many ways in its infancy, it is hoped that lessons learned could help other agencies and other systems seeking to reform community-based care. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on a grounded approach, this case study is based on individual interviews with 38 respondents comprising staff, founder, co-founders, coaches, nurses, clients and a trainer and analysis of internal company reports. Findings – Based on the case study the authors suggest an integrated approach as the main explanation of the good practice at Buurtzorg rather than a focus on one single concept such as management structure, information and communication technology, community-based care or a patient focus. Next to the multi-level approach it furthermore shows a multi-dimensional approach as explanation for its success. In this perspective the primary process is the leading process but fully supported by the secondary process containing support facilities from a head office of the organization. Practical implications – Buurtzorg Nederland has been awarded with several prizes for its good management practice in integrated care and attention internationally is growing. Originality/value – This paper provides the first case study write-up of the Buurtzorg model for an international audience, based on extensive research to be published in an international book.

Managing renewal in fragmented business networks

IMP Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malena Ingemansson Havenvid ◽  
Håkan Håkansson ◽  
Åse Linné
Keyword(s):  
Business Environment ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Business Relationships ◽  
Core Network ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Construction Company ◽  
Construction Companies

Purpose – The authors argue that the construction industry is characterised by a fragmented business context with three main features: the project-based character, the strong focus on price in all parts of the supply chain along with the great importance of suppliers. This fragmentation has been identified as problematic for the industry’s ability to innovate and engage in renewal. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this further by focusing on how construction companies manage renewal in a fragmented business context. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use an in-depth case study of a housing project in Sweden to discuss how firms manage renewal in a fragmented type of business environment. The authors identify the challenge of achieving renewal in an individual construction company as an issue of handling intra- and inter-organisational issues in both intra- and inter-project environments. Findings – The case study indicates that renewal can be partly handled and managed through long-term business relationships and partly through opening up to new business relationships. Moreover, innovations and learning developed in other projects can be used in the focal project, and due to a repetitive task it is possible for the construction company to use a core network of individuals and organisations to enhance overall renewal among actors. Research limitations/implications – The study needs to be supported by further empirical observations. The paper encourages IMP scholars to further investigate projects from an industrial network approach. Practical implications – The study shows that the internal resources of firms can be used systematically to create continuity in a multi-project organisation, and that relationships can be used to bridge learning and innovation among actors across projects. Originality/value – The paper addresses why firms in fragmented (project-based) businesses might struggle with achieving renewal in a novel way by outlining and investigating four organisational challenges they must handle.

A case for the use of cyber-systemics to combat financial crime in Australia

Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Walker-Munro
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Financial Crime ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Systemic Design

Purpose Financial crime costs the world economy more than $1tn. Yet policing responses continue to apply traditional law enforcement methods to detect, identify and disrupt criminal actors in financial systems. The purpose of this paper is to challenge existing thinking around law enforcement practices in financial crime within an Australian context, by presenting an alternative model grounded in management cybernetics and systemic design (SD), which the author terms “cyber-systemics”. Design/methodology/approach This study reflects on prior research work across cybernetics and SD to suggest an integrated approach as a conceptually useful basis for considering regulation of financial crime, and to demonstrate utility using a case study. Findings The Fintel Alliance between financial crime regulators and financial institutions in Australia demonstrates a strong connection with, and example of, this study’s cyber-systemic regulatory framework. It will be demonstrated that the form of co-design framework offered under cyber-systemics is both consistent with cybernetic and SD literature, but also a means of avoiding regulatory disconnection in times of change and disruption. This study also invites consideration of how future forms of governance might be structured using cyber-systemics as a conceptual backbone. Research limitations/implications This work proposes a novel methodology at odds with traditional law enforcement ways of doing, inevitably requiring a change of regulatory mindset. In addition, this paper is purely conceptual and therefore more research on an empirical basis is required to prove the potential benefits in a real-world regulatory environment. Originality/value This is (to the author’s knowledge) the first conceptual exploration of blending SD and management cybernetics in the field of criminal law regulation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document