scholarly journals Closeness and distance: configurational practices for digital ambidexterity in the public sector

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Magnusson ◽  
Jwan Khisro ◽  
Max Björses ◽  
Aleksander Ivarsson
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Digital Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Configurational Approach ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Large Municipality

Purpose The purpose of this study is to increase the current understanding of how public sector organizations dynamically balance exploration and exploitation of digital initiatives, i.e. the enactment of digital ambidexterity. Design/methodology/approach This study uses Zimmermann, Raisch and Cardinal’s perspective of configurational practices for addressing the enactment of digital ambidexterity. The method comprises a qualitative, interpretative case study of a large municipality in Sweden, using both interviews and secondary data. Findings Through the perspective of configurational practices, the study identifies and describes a set of sub-practices that constitute the enactment of digital ambidexterity. This is then used for theorizing how configurational practices involve the balancing of closeness and distance. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by being a single, non-longitudinal case of a Swedish municipality that has implications for generalizability and transferability. Moreover, it opens up for new perspectives to the future study of the enactment of ambidexterity in the public sector. Practical implications Organizations striving for digital ambidexterity are recommended to use the configurational approach to assess and design their governance to build ambidextrous capabilities through a combination of closeness and distance. Social implications This study is aimed at strengthening public sectors abilities for continued relevance for its stakeholders over time. With increased need for digital innovation within the public sector, the findings and recommendations derived from the study lead to increased innovation capability, which in turn is expected to lead to increased relevance of services. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that addresses how ambidexterity is enacted within the public sector following the configurational approach. As such, it opens up for new perspectives on organizational ambidexterity.

scholarly journals Digital ambidexterity in the public sector: empirical evidence of a bias in balancing practices

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Magnusson ◽  
Tero Päivärinta ◽  
Dina Koutsikouri
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Digital Government ◽  
Digital Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Conceptual Distinction ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore and theorize on balancing practices (BP) for digital ambidexterity in the public sector. Design/methodology/approach The research is designed as an interpretative case study of a large Swedish authority, involving data collection in the form of interviews and internal documents. The method of analysis involves both theorizing on the findings from a previous framework for digital innovation and deriving design implications for ambidextrous governance. Findings The findings show that all identified BP except one (shadow innovation) is directed toward an increased emphasis on efficiency (exploitation) rather than innovation (exploration). With the increased demand for innovation capabilities in the public sector, this is identified as a problem. Research limitations/implications The limitations identified are related to the choice in the method of an interpretative case study, with issues of transferability and empirical generalizability as the main concerns. The implications for research are related to a need for additional studies into the enactment of digital ambidexterity, where the findings offer insight and inspiration for continued research. Practical implications The study shows that managers and executives involved in the design and imposition of governance within the public sector need to take the design recommendations for digital ambidexterity into consideration. Social implications The study offers two main implications for practice. First, policymakers need to take the conceptual distinction of efficiency and innovation into account when designing policies for the digital government. Second, existing funding practices need to be re-designed to better facilitate innovation. Originality/value This is the first study directed toward enhancing the insight into BP for digital ambidexterity in the public sector. The study has so far resulted in both a localized shift in policy and new directions for research. With the public sector facing needs for increased innovation capabilities, the study offers a first step toward understanding how this is currently counteracted through governance design.

Matrix organizations and cross-functional teams in the public sector: a systematic review

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Pakarinen ◽  
Petri Juhani Virtanen
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Typical Application ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Functional Teams ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the empirical research on matrix organizations and cross-functional teams (CFTs) in the public sector, focussing on typical application areas and settings and on motivation for deployment and evidence of utility. Design/methodology/approach This is a systematic literature review compiled from several electronic databases. Data cover the period from 1990 to 2015 and are confined to academic articles written in English. Findings Applications of the matrix approach in public sector organizations are found in human resource management and performance management, service development and public procurement, and creation of new organizations or organization reform and network organizations. While the proven utility of matrix organization is often unclear, especially CFTs are linked to better organizational performance, improved coordination, internal collaboration and development of cross-boundary tasks. Research limitations/implications Methodological limitations relate to excluded data due to non-accessible articles. Practical implications The findings have practical implications for public sector organizations in adapting to a changing environment. Originality/value This is the first systematic literature review of matrix management in public sector organizations.

Benchmarking applications in public sector principal‐agent relationships

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 723-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Andersen ◽  
Bjørnar Henriksen ◽  
Ingrid Spjelkavik
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Principal Agent ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Further Development

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the range of benchmarking applications that can be used in a principal‐agent relationship setting often found in the public sector.Design/methodology/approachCollection and critical analysis of secondary data from relevant publications addressing applications of benchmarking in the public sector. Extraction of knowledge from several research projects where the authors have been involved in studying and developing benchmarking approaches for different public sector organizations. Induction of new theory about the use of benchmarking in principal‐agent relationships in the public sector, grounded through empirical evidence from case studies.FindingsA number of new approaches to benchmarking in the public sector have been identified and described, some of which are already used in real life cases, others which need further development before being implemented. All of these can introduce benefits to both principals and agents involved in such benchmarking efforts.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper explores benchmarking applications that are almost exclusively relevant in a public sector setting, although some of them might be adapted to certain private sector conditions.Originality/valueWhereas most work on benchmarking in the public sector tend to view only improvement‐oriented, voluntary benchmarking as relevant and useful, this paper demonstrates how many different imposed benchmarking schemes with other purposes can be useful.

Performance management in Canadian public organizations: findings of a multi-case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swee Chua Goh ◽  
Catherine Elliott ◽  
Greg Richards
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Cross Case Analysis ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Performance management (PM) is now clearly a well-established practice in public sector organizations. However, increasingly scholars have been questioning its efficacy in improving organizational performance. Research has shown that the presumed benefits remain questionable and that there are many barriers, challenges and problems in implementing PM. The purpose of this paper is to report and discuss the findings of a multi-case study that examines in more depth how five Canadian public sector organizations are implementing PM. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative multi-case study approach was used in this study. Structured interviews were carried out in each public sector organization and the interview data were analyzed using NVivo8. Individual case profiles were also written. A cross-case analysis was carried out using data from these five cases. Findings – The cross-case analysis of the data focussed on the major themes emerging from the data with respect to challenges and barriers, success factors, context and implications for practice for PM in public sector organizations. Three contextual factors are identified and discussed in explaining some of the findings. Conclusions are drawn for making PM more effective in achieving performance improvement in public sector organizations and future directions for research. Research limitations/implications – The research findings and implications for practice are based on five Canadian public sector organizations so may limit its generalizability to public sector organizations in other countries. Practical implications – Some practical implications are discussed with respect to implementing PM more successfully in public sector organizations. This included the better integration of PM to corporate strategy, leadership in developing a positive PM culture and employee buy-in and commitment to the process. Originality/value – This qualitative multi-case study of PM in Canadian public sector organizations has not previously been done. This approach allows for a more close-up look at PM in public sector organizations especially how it is implemented and the experiences of organizational members. The paper also presents new insights on context as an important variable in explaining the findings from the cross-case analysis and points to future new directions for research and in developing a contingency theory approach to PM.

Emotions during executive succession in a public board

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 766-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Humera Manzoor ◽  
Nancy Johnson ◽  
Mehboob ur Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Change Process ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Executive Succession ◽  
Ethnographic Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Sector Organizations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address a significant gap in the literature as it explores challenging emotions in the context of forced executive succession in a public sector board by re(conceptualizing) executive succession as a change process. Design/methodology/approach This study is empirical in nature and uses a combination of an ethnographic case study and narratives to understand emotions in the context. Findings The authors show that the emotional complexities emerged when executive succession was enforced from outside due to multiple interpretations of the emergent situations. It further shows how shame, guilt and embarrassment were produced when actors realized that they had failed to deliver responsibility; issues of trust and betrayal emerged when actors were not taken into confidence whilst taking certain actions; and the way actors manipulated situations and managed unwanted emotions by finding excuses and shifting blame. Research limitations/implications Future research can explore the political nature of emotions and can take into account the emotions of other stakeholders, such as staff and general public during forced succession in public sector organizations. Originality/value The re(conceptualizing) of executive succession as an emotive change process is an important contribution, since the current literature concentrates mainly on the changes and subsequent emotions triggered by new executive in the public sector. Through the lens of emotions, multiple interpretations of the situated emotions are revealed that influences board members relationships and interactions. This will help to create a better understanding of what happens inside public boards when executive succession is enforced from outside.

scholarly journals The Effect of Complaints on Public Services Performance a Case Study of Public Sector Organizations of Bahrain

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
pp. 127-129
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Services ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Practical Implications

the purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of complaints as a tool to improving the public services performance in the organizations of public sector. The main findings of this paper is to focus on complaints that present from citizens about performance of public services as an important tool to public sector of Bahrain in order to the implementation and development solutions to improve and enhance performance of public services. Moreover, practical implications, this can increase the possibility of restoring satisfaction and trust of citizens in public services performance

scholarly journals An information classification model for public sector organizations in Sweden: a case study of a Swedish municipality

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan-Halvard Bergquist ◽  
Samantha Tinet ◽  
Shang Gao
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Information Security ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Classification Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Classification ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Tailored Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this study is to create an information classification model that is tailored to suit the specific needs of public sector organizations in Sweden. Design/methodology/approach To address the purpose of this research, a case study in a Swedish municipality was conducted. Data was collected through a mixture of techniques such as literature, document and website review. Empirical data was collected through interviews with 11 employees working within 7 different sections of the municipality. Findings This study resulted in an information classification model that is tailored to the specific needs of Swedish municipalities. In addition, a set of steps for tailoring an information classification model to suit a specific public organization are recommended. The findings also indicate that for a successful information classification it is necessary to educate the employees about the basics of information security and classification and create an understandable and unified information security language. Practical implications This study also highlights that to have a tailored information classification model, it is imperative to understand the value of information and what kind of consequences a violation of established information security principles could have through the perspectives of the employees. Originality/value It is the first of its kind in tailoring an information classification model to the specific needs of a Swedish municipality. The model provided by this study can be used as a tool to facilitate a common ground for classifying information within all Swedish municipalities, thereby contributing the first step toward a Swedish municipal model for information classification.

Excellence models in the public sector. Relationships between enablers and results

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendry Raharjo ◽  
Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion ◽  
Henrik Eriksson ◽  
Ida Gremyr ◽  
Laura Di Pietro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Performance Excellence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Main Contributor ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Cross Case Analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to identify possible correlations between the stated “enablers” and “results” in excellence models, and to explain how different variables contribute to the “enablers” and “results”. A cross-case study of two different excellence models, the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) in Italy and the Swedish Institute for Quality (SIQ) model for performance excellence, is proposed. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on the evaluation of assessment reports of public organizations across two countries, Italy and Sweden. Canonical correlation was used for data analysis. Two hypotheses were formulated: There is a correlation between “enablers” and “results” in the CAF model, and there is a correlation between “enablers” and “results” in the SIQ model. Findings – The results show that the hypotheses are supported. It turned out that the correlation is higher for the SIQ model than for the CAF model. For the CAF model, “strategy and planning” is the main contributor to the “enablers”, and for the SIQ model, “human resource development” is the main contributor. For the “results” set, similar criteria provide the strongest contributor for both models; these are “customer/citizen-oriented results” for the CAF and “customer satisfaction” for the SIQ. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the knowledge gained from a cross-case analysis of two different excellence models applied in public sector organizations, the CAF in Italy and the SIQ model for performance excellence in Sweden. The paper also contributes to an ongoing discussion of a need of excellence models being adapted specifically for the public sector; from this study, no support for such a sector-specific model is shown.

scholarly journals Innovation and cross-functional teams

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 84-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Marasquini Stipp ◽  
Márcio Lopes Pimenta ◽  
Daniel Jugend
Keyword(s):  
Single Case ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Incremental Innovation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Tax Management ◽  
Functional Teams ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The aim of this paper is to characterize how innovation may happen through cross-functional teams (CFT) in an organization of the public sector. Design/methodology/approach A case study helped to characterize several behavior patterns, team structures and respective links with generating innovation in internal processes and public answering contexts. Findings The results highlight that formal-temporary teams present a higher capacity to generate incremental innovation in products, whereas permanent-informal teams have a higher capacity to generate innovation in the internal processes and public answering contexts. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this research relate to the fact that this is a single case study, and although it is an important case to examine innovation and CFTs, by its very nature, it is not possible to extend and generalize the obtained data to other organizations. The evaluation of its propositions was merely qualitative, and future research is needed to validate its characteristics. Practical implications Several settings of CFTs are presented, as well as their ability to generate different types of innovation, such as the computerization of documents, petitions and papers, which decreases the time to answer the taxpayer. Moreover, CFTs can help to create products, such as computer programs that can be used not only locally but also in several public organizations related to tax management. Originality/value The field research provides the perceptions of the respondents regarding CFT characteristics that can lead to specific types of innovation, as well as the types of products or services that can be generated by these processes.

Leveraging business intelligence systems to enhance management control and business process performance in the public sector

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Z. Elbashir ◽  
Steve G. Sutton ◽  
Vicky Arnold ◽  
Philip A. Collier
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Process Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Sector Organizations

Purpose Recent research and policy reports indicate public sector organizations struggle to leverage information technology-based performance measurement systems and fail to effectively evaluate performance beyond financial metrics. This study aims to focus on organizational factors that influence the assimilation of business intelligence (BI) systems into integrated management control systems and the corollary impact on improving business process performance within public sector organizations. Design/methodology/approach The complete Australian client list was acquired from a leading BI vendor; and the authors surveyed all public sector organizations, receiving 226 individual responses representing 160 public sector organizations in Australia. Using latent construct measurement, structural equation modeling (SEM)-partial least squares is used to test the theoretical model. Findings When top management promotes knowledge creation among the organization’s operational level employees and support their activities with strong BI infrastructure, the same knowledge and infrastructure capabilities that are critical to assimilation in private sector hold in the public sector. However, public sector organizations generally have difficulty retaining staff with expertise in new technologies and attracting new innovative staff that can leverage smart systems to effect major change in performance measurement. When top management effectively manages knowledge importation from external entities to counteract deficiencies, public sector organizations effectively assimilate BI knowledge into performance measurement yielding strong process performance. Research limitations/implications When top management promotes knowledge creation among the organization’s operational level employees and support their activities with strong BI infrastructure, the same knowledge and infrastructure capabilities critical to assimilation in the private sector hold in the public sector. However, public sector organizations generally have difficulty retaining staff with expertise in new technologies and attracting new innovative staff that can leverage smart systems to effect major change in performance measurement. The research extends the theory behind organizational absorptive capacity by highlighting how knowledge importation can be used as an external source facilitating internal knowledge creation. This collaborative knowledge creation leads to affective assimilation of BI technologies and associated performance gains. Practical implications The results provide guidance to public sector organizations that struggle to measure and validate service outcomes under New Public Management regulations and mandates. Originality/value The results reveal that consistent with the philosophies behind New Public Management strategies, private sector measures for increasing organizational absorptive capacity can be applied in the public sector. However, knowledge importation appears to be a major catalyst in the public sector where the resources to retain skilled professionals with an ability to leverage contemporary technologies into service performance are often very limited. Top management team knowledge and skills are critical to effectively leveraging these internal and external knowledge creation mechanisms.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document