Too late to act: when crises become tragic

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
pp. 2139-2153
Author(s):  
Mary-Lieta Clément ◽  
Christophe Roux-Dufort
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Greek Tragedy ◽  
Classical Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
And Control

PurposeThis article aims to explore the tragic nature of crisis and identify managers’ decision-making processes and strategies when they are trapped by events beyond their understanding and control. In this article, the tragic is viewed as the collision of an overdetermined scenario perceived as inevitable, insurmountable and irreparable and the managers' strategies to free themselves from this scenario and divert its trajectory.Design/methodology/approachWe make a crossed literature review between crisis management and Greek tragedy as proposed by scholars in classical literature.FindingsWe make two theoretical contributions to the literature on crisis management. First, we articulate a set of research proposals into a model to explain how managers' decisions make the crisis tragic. Second, we enrich the field of crisis management by highlighting strategies in order to avoid them.Originality/valueWe use Greek tragedy, not as a metaphor to characterize the consequences of crises as the authors usually do, but as an analytical lens to explore their inexorable, insurmountable and irremediable nature and the decisions made by managers that would make crises tragic.

scholarly journals Practising open innovation: a framework of reference

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1311-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinzia Battistella ◽  
Alberto Felice De Toni ◽  
Elena Pessot
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exploratory Survey ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Opening Up

Purpose This work provides new insights into possible managerial choices and development directions for practising open innovation (OI) in companies. The purpose of this paper is to explore the different practices, actors and tools adopted for opening up the innovation process, in particular, by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are still facing difficulties in its implementation. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a literature review and an exploratory survey of a sample of 85 European SMEs. Findings The study identifies a total of 23 practices, 20 actors and 11 tools involved in the OI processes of companies. It highlights, through literature and empirical evidence, how different combinations of practices, actors and tools are put into practice. Research limitations/implications The developed framework offers new insights both from OI literature and from practitioners’ point of view into the supporting decision-making processes regarding which practices to implement, tools to adopt and actors to collaborate with. A wider investigation is recommended to include more variables to define the differences among the combinations of practices, actors and tools in terms of types of innovation (e.g. product, process, etc.), the openness degree and other contextual factors. Originality/value The originality of this paper is based on the fact that it focusses on a practical perspective of OI implementation, building a framework of reference from previous literature and empirical investigation.

Toward an inclusive understanding of technology intelligence: a literature review

foresight ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Safdari Ranjbar ◽  
Gholam Reza Tavakoli
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Technological Changes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Intelligence ◽  
Planning Processes ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to promote the authors' understanding of technology intelligence by responding to two questions: What is technology intelligence? How is it accomplished? Design/methodology/approach – To respond to the two main questions about technology intelligence in this paper, the authors have studied relevant academic, peer-reviewed journals and books using the literature databases of Google Scholar, Sciencedirect, Inderscience, Wiley and Emerald Insight. They have used few selection criteria to choose papers and books for inclusion in their study. Findings – Enhancing the authors' understanding of the technology intelligence concept by responding to the two main questions (What is technology intelligence? How is it accomplished?), classifying the main studies in the field of technology intelligence and several practical and theoretical implications are the findings in this paper. Practical implications – A number of practical implications related to technology intelligence structure, process, methods, tools and players are suggested to managers of organizations and companies to improve their technology-related planning processes and decision-making. Originality/value – Despite the considerable level of consensus on the necessity of precise scanning and monitoring technological changes and trends, there is still limited understanding of the technology intelligence concept. This paper intends to enhance the authors' understanding of technology intelligence by responding to two questions: What is technology intelligence? And how is it accomplished?

High school managements resources allocation in an era of reforms

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 828-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel Tamir ◽  
Khalid Arar
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Resources Allocation ◽  
Allocation Of Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Approach ◽  
Instruction Time ◽  
Decision Making Processes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine considerations employed in decision-making processes by Israeli high school leaders, when implementing the “Courage to Change” reform. The reform gave schools large supplementary resources in the form of “weekly instruction time” and they decided how to exploit these additional hours. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative analysis focused on data from interviews with staff from 19 high schools. Findings The research identified three types of consideration adopted by managerial staffs: “Hasty,” “Conservative” and “Path-breaking.” Findings contribute to theory concerning incremental decisions in schools concerning the allocation of resources, in line with the institutional approach, and also inform other schools coping with similar tasks. Originality/value The research is original both in its topic and context. Further conclusions and implications are discussed.

Planning for relocation in recovery after the Great East Japan Earthquake

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Maly ◽  
Eiko Ishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Direct Observation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
International Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Post Disaster

Purpose – This paper aims to consider the current situation of relocation in Japan after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) in the context of past examples and post-disaster housing relocation projects in other countries. Design/methodology/approach – Information about international cases of post-disaster housing relocation was gathered though desk and literature review, supplemented by field visits to the sites for direct observation and interviews with people involved in the relocation projects. Findings – To be successful, residential relocation must consider livelihood, especially in regards to location. Involvement of the residents in the planning and decision making process creates housing relocation projects that better meet residents’ needs. Japan faces some unique challenges, yet shares commonalities with other countries, for example, in tsunami-stricken fishing areas. Housing relocation in Tohoku must strive to be accountable to the needs of the residents and the specific contexts of their communities. Originality/value – There is still a limited amount of literature in English that considers the issues of relocation in recovery after the GEJE in an international context, especially comprehensive comparisons with multiple countries. Although this paper does not deal with each international case in great detail, the comparison provides a good overview of the key issues for residents in post-disaster relocation, and suggests how lessons from international cases could be applied to the challenges that Japan currently faces in relocation planning in the Tohoku region.

scholarly journals Overconfidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-39
Author(s):  
Robert Paul Singh
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
General Population ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Research Focus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurship Research ◽  
The Past

PurposeThere has been significant growth in entrepreneurship research over the past several decades. Yet with all of the knowledge gained and presumably improved training of would-be entrepreneurs, firm failure rates remain persistently high. It is argued here that the historical and continued research focus on successful entrepreneurs has limited the field. Entrepreneurs are often considered to possess uniquely positive capabilities relative to the general population; this paper explores the possibility that the majority of entrepreneurs suffer from overconfidence and that this leads most entrepreneurs to make “bad bets” that result in underperformance and firm failure.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, a qualitative review of the literature was performed.FindingsBased on the literature review, three formal propositions are developed. The first two suggest that the majority of entrepreneurs are overconfident in their personal capabilities and the prospects for their new ventures. It is then proposed that this overconfidence leads to errors in judgment that results in financial underperformance and failure found among most new ventures.Originality/valueThis paper makes an important contribution to the entrepreneurship literature by arguing that overconfidence negatively impacts pre-founding decision-making such that entrepreneurs pursue flawed opportunities. Studying the issues raised in this paper may spur new lines of research and knowledge that lead to better entrepreneurial outcomes.

scholarly journals How to reinvent the High Street: evidence from the HS2020

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Costas Theodoridis ◽  
Nikos Ntounis ◽  
John Pal
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Discussion Paper ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Street ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to present and critically discuss the findings of the ESRC-funded HS2020 project. The aim is to discuss the retail-led change that has happened to the High Streets that participated to the project that, in some cases, is revolutionary and is leading to the reinvention of the place. To do so reference is made to various retail change theories discussing both institutional and consumer-led change. Design/methodology/approach This is a discussion paper on the findings of the HS2020 project. Findings The major finding reported in this paper is that the reinvention is a natural learning process that involves the comprehension of change and the development of knowledge that will lead to the reinvention of the High Street. Research limitations/implications The findings of the research are based on data that were collected from a total of ten towns across the UK. Practical implications The paper suggests that to reinvent the High Street the stakeholders that are involved in the place decision-making processes they should embrace the change as a natural development and try to understand and learn from it rather than resisting to it. The HS2020 project provides a comprehensive guide of the areas that change can be managed and if it happens it can facilitate the reinvention. Originality/value The paper is relevant to the academic community, as it offers insight to the theories of retail change, and to the practitioners, as it provides evidence as to how to deal with the change that happens to the High Streets.

Narratives of exploration: from “Failure is not an Option” to “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 2091-2108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Design Theory ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Partial Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Control

Purpose To trace a shift in attitudes towards control since the mid-twentieth century, as reflected in a shift in rhetoric that accompanied the extension from first- to second-order cybernetics. Design/methodology/approach Narratives of exploration that have emerged from NASA’s lunar programme and recent design cybernetics are juxtaposed to show a transition away from the legitimisation of goal-oriented decision-making and control towards advocacy of partial control avoidance and accommodation of the unanticipated. Findings Contemporary cybernetic theory recognises the importance of both the partial presence and the partial absence of control in creative epistemic practice. It is thus unsurprising that, according to historical records, NASA’s journey to the moon was enabled not only by the assurance of control but also by lapses of control. However, NASA’s rhetorical posture during the race to the moon focused on predictable control and goal orientation, differing notably from the recent design-cybernetic openness towards uncertainty, error, and serendipity. This difference is encapsulated by the “Failure is not an option” dictum that was associated with NASA’s lunar programme and the “Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better” equivalent associated with design cybernetics. Recognition of the more recent cybernetic perspective is impeded by its continuing omission from narratives of earlier cybernetic accomplishments. Research limitations/implications To the extent that narratives examined in this paper refer to exceptional initiatives and spontaneous events, the repeatability and generalisability of the presented argument are limited. Originality/value The paper highlights changing cybernetic narratives of creative invention by examining how spontaneous changes in variety were reported to have been addressed in NASA’s lunar programme, and how recent cybernetic design theory suggests they should be addressed.

The business of the library is service

2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 447-450
Author(s):  
Bruce E. Massis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Practice ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Data Driven Decision Making ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to suggest that today’s libraries function using business practices in its management of the library to ensure that its service-based mission is respected. Design/methodology/approach Literature review and commentary on this topic that has been addressed by professionals, researchers and practitioners. Findings Libraries have learned from business the importance of using not only the business practice of using a vigorous level of data-driven decision-making, but data-driven reporting as well to a public that expects a higher level of scrutiny, clarity and precision. Paired with evidence from those who have benefitted from the library’s programs and services most visibly, this combination of data and human-driven anecdotes can serve as the optimum marriage of business and service-based confirmation of library success. Originality/value The value in exploring this topic is to make the distinction between libraries whose supporters expect it to be formally managed like a business as opposed to those who suggest that business practices be used in library operations to ensure its mission as a service-based entity is maintained.

scholarly journals From ovid to COVID: the metamorphosis of advanced decisions to refuse treatment into a safeguarding issue

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 361-369
Author(s):  
Michael Lyne ◽  
Jonathan Parker
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Advance Decisions ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine advance decisions to refuse treatment (ADRTs) in the context of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019) pandemic. This study considers the development of ADRTs, the lack of take up and confusion among the general public, clinicians and health and social care staff. Design/methodology/approach The paper is a conceptual piece that reflects on ADRTs in the particular context of COVID-19. It considers professional concerns and pronouncements on ADRTs. Findings ADRTs have a low take up currently. There is misunderstanding among public and professionals. There is a need for raising awareness, developing practice and a need to allay fears of misuse and abuse of ADRTs in clinical, health and social care settings. Practical implications The authors make recommendations that reflexive training and awareness become the norm in health and social care, that reform of ADRTs is undertaken to prevent misunderstandings and that the person becomes central in all decision-making processes. Originality/value This paper is original in considering ADRTs as a safeguarding issue from two perspectives: that of the person making the ADRT and being confident in respect for the decisions made; and that of clinicians and other professionals being reflexively aware of the need to accept advance decisions and not acting according to unconscious biases in times of crisis.

The contribution of preoccupation with failure to TQM, crisis management and HR aiming to overcome crises

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1077-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Nizamidou ◽  
Fotios Vouzas
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is binary. At first, it explores the contribution of preoccupation with failure to total quality management (TQM) and crisis management (CM). Then, it analyzes how preoccupation with failure can advance the role of human resources department (HRD) in terms of CM.Design/methodology/approachThis paper consists of the theoretical and the empirical part. In the theoretical part an extended literature review takes place. In the empirical part, the research statistical analysis is presented. The research was conducted in organizations that employ the largest number of employees in Greece and represent various corporate sectors.FindingsThe research permitted the authors to confirm their research hypotheses. It presented how preoccupation with failure can advance continuous improvement and CM. Moreover, it illustrated the impact of failure to the key role of HRD against crises.Practical implicationsOrganizations and managers can reconsider their perspective towards failure. Additionally, they can review and redesign their TQM and CM procedures based on the research findings aiming to overcome crises.Originality/valueThe literature review indicated that limited research deals with the benefits of preoccupation with failure regarding TQM and CM. Specifically, the research advances the contribution of failure in relation with the level of CM intimacy to the role of HRD against crisis. The added value of the present is to make organizations and their top management realize the significance of failure and use it to promote learning, TQM and CM.

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