Research Methods for Non-Representational Approaches to Organizational Complexity: The Dialogical Mediated Inquiry

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 769-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Lorino ◽  
Benoît Tricard ◽  
Yves Clot
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Semiotic Mediation ◽  
Syntactic Complexity ◽  
Work Safety ◽  
Organizational Complexity ◽  
Narrative Thinking ◽  
Inquiry Process ◽  
Specific Contribution

This paper explores the methodological implications of non-representational approaches to organizational complexity. Representational theories focus on the syntactic complexity of systems, whereas organizing processes are predominantly characterized by semantic and pragmatic forms of complexity. After underlining the contribution of non-representational approaches to the study of organizations, the paper warns against the risk of confining the critique of representational frameworks to paradoxical dichotomies such as intuition versus reflexive thought, or theorizing versus experimenting. To counter this difficulty, we suggest the use of a triadic theory of interpretation, and more particularly the concepts of semiotic mediation, inquiry and dialogism. Semiotic mediation dynamically links situated experience and generic classes of meanings. Inquiry articulates logical thinking, narrative thinking and experimenting. Dialogism conceptualizes the production of meaning through the situated interactions of actors. A methodological approach based on these concepts, the ‘dialogical mediated inquiry’ (DMI), is proposed and tested with a case study about work safety in the construction industry. This interpretive view requires the researcher to complicate the inquiry process rather than the mirroring models of reality. In DMI, the inquiry process is complicated by establishing pluralist communities of inquiry in which different perspectives challenge each other. The paper ends with a discussion of the specific contribution of this approach compared with other qualitative methods, and its present limitations.

scholarly journals A Methodological Approach to Evaluate Structural Building Projects Through the Environmental Economic Index

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Manuel Romo Orozco ◽  
Julio Contreras ◽  
José Ramón Corona Armenta ◽  
Luis Fernando Morales Mendoza
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Economic ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Economic Index ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Economic Function ◽  
Support Decision Making

Abstract The construction industry has a relevant social and economic function and has become fundamental to achieving the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This industry contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions due to embodied and operating energy. There are methodologies to evaluate them, but they lack integration with other variables. In the case of buildings and assessing safety and costs, environmental assessment needs to be incorporated; current methodologies are complex to implement and, in general, costly in terms of economic and human resources. This research proposes the Environmental Economic Index (EEI) to evaluate structural building projects and support decision-making, obtained from a simplified methodology. In the case study, located in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the same building structure was designed to subject to different operational loads and lateral forces, with structural concrete and structural steel. For this building, the concrete structure subject to seismic actions had a better result when estimating the EEI and comparing it with the other structural alternatives. The contribution of this work is to develop a simplified methodology to evaluate structural projects in the design phase, which integrates economic, environmental, and safety variables and supports decision-making in designers and real estate developers.

Science Fiction and Administrative Truths: The Short Story and Novella as Administrative Cases

Public Voices ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Nolan J. Argyle ◽  
Lee M. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Short Story ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Organizational Complexity ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Hands On

Pre-service and in-service MPA students share a common desire for hands-on, real world instruction related to their professional career goals, leading to a pedagogic discounting of fiction as an appropriate tool for analyzing and "solving" problems. However, several factors weigh heavily in favor of using science fiction short stories and novellas in the MPA classroom setting. These include the need for interesting case scenarios exploring various administrative issues; leveling the playing field between the two types of students by de-emphasizing the use of "contemporary" cases; access to literature that explores the future shock of increasing organizational complexity; and the desirability of Rorschach type materials that facilitate discussion of. values and administrative truths. The discussion proceeds by tracing the development of the case study technique, its advantages and disadvantages in the classroom, addressing the utility of "fiction" as an educational resource, and showing how the science fiction literature has matured to the point where it can be applied in all of the major sub-fields of public administration. Several outstanding examples are detailed, and a thorough bibliography is provided.

scholarly journals Assessment of the photovoltaic potential at urban level based on 3D city models: A case study and new methodological approach

Solar Energy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 264-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Romero Rodríguez ◽  
Eric Duminil ◽  
José Sánchez Ramos ◽  
Ursula Eicker
Keyword(s):  
Methodological Approach ◽  
3D City Models ◽  
Urban Level ◽  
City Models

scholarly journals A Case Study of a Negotiated Tender within a Small-to-Medium Construction Contractor: Modelling Project Cost Variance

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 260
Author(s):  
James Ellis ◽  
David John Edwards ◽  
Wellington Didibhuku Thwala ◽  
Obuks Ejohwomu ◽  
Ernest Effah Ameyaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Open Book ◽  
Competitive Tendering ◽  
Construction Contractor ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Insight Into

This research explores the failure of competitively tendered projects in the UK construction industry to procure the most suited contractor(s) to conduct the works. Such work may have equal relevance for other developed nations globally. This research seeks to teach clients and their representatives that “lowest price” does not mean “best value”, by presenting a case study of a successfully negotiated tender undertaken by a small-to-medium enterprise (SME) contractor; SME studies are relatively scant in academic literature. By applying the “lessons learnt” principle, this study seeks to improve future practice through the development of a novel alternative procurement option (i.e., negotiation). A mixed philosophical stance combining interpretivism and pragmatism was used—interpretivism to critically review literature in order to form the basis of inductive research to discuss negotiation as a viable procurement route, and pragmatism to analyse perceptions of tendering and procurement. The methods used follow a three-stage waterfall process including: (1) literature review and pilot study; (2) quantitative analysis of case study data; and (3) qualitative data collection via a focus group. Our research underscores the need to advise clients and their representatives of the importance of understanding the scope of works allowed within a tender submission before discounting it based solely on price. In addition, we highlight the failings of competitive tendering, which results in increased costs and project duration once the works commence on site. These findings provide new contemporary insight into procurement and tendering in the construction industry, with emphasis on SME contractors, existing relationships, and open-book negotiation. This research illustrates the adverse effects of early cost estimates produced without first securing a true understanding of project buildability and programming. Our work concludes with a novel insight into an alternative procurement option that involves early SME contractor involvement in an open-book environment, without the need for a third-party cost control.

scholarly journals Bioclimatic and Regenerative Design Guidelines for a Circular University Campus in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8238
Author(s):  
Noemi Bakos ◽  
Rosa Schiano-Phan
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Regenerative Design ◽  
Governmental Institutions ◽  
Social Environmental

To transform the negative impacts of buildings on the environment into a positive footprint, a radical shift from the current, linear ‘make-use-dispose’ practice to a closed-loop ‘make-use-return’ system, associated with a circular economy, is necessary. This research aims to demonstrate the possible shift to a circular construction industry by developing the first practical framework with tangible benchmarks for a ‘Circular University Campus’ based on an exemplary case study project, which is a real project development in India. As a first step, a thorough literature review was undertaken to demonstrate the social, environmental and economic benefits of a circular construction industry. As next step, the guideline for a ‘Circular University Campus’ was developed, and its applicability tested on the case study. As final step, the evolved principles were used to establish ‘Project Specific Circular Building Indicators’ for a student residential block and enhance the proposed design through bioclimatic and regenerative design strategies. The building’s performance was evaluated through computational simulations, whole-life carbon analysis and a circular building assessment tool. The results demonstrated the benefits and feasibility of bioclimatic, regenerative building and neighbourhood design and provided practical prototypical case study and guidelines which can be adapted by architects, planners and governmental institutions to other projects, thereby enabling the shift to a restorative, circular construction industry.

scholarly journals Methods for conducting international Delphi surveys to optimise global participation in core outcome set development: a case study in gastric cancer informed by a comprehensive literature review

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bilal Alkhaffaf ◽  
Jane M. Blazeby ◽  
Aleksandra Metryka ◽  
Anne-Marie Glenny ◽  
Ademola Adeyeye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Vascular Malformations ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Core Outcome Set ◽  
Core Outcome ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
International Participation

Abstract Background Core outcome sets (COS) should be relevant to key stakeholders and widely applicable and usable. Ideally, they are developed for international use to allow optimal data synthesis from trials. Electronic Delphi surveys are commonly used to facilitate global participation; however, this has limitations. It is common for these surveys to be conducted in a single language potentially excluding those not fluent in that tongue. The aim of this study is to summarise current approaches for optimising international participation in Delphi studies and make recommendations for future practice. Methods A comprehensive literature review of current approaches to translating Delphi surveys for COS development was undertaken. A standardised methodology adapted from international guidance derived from 12 major sets of translation guidelines in the field of outcome reporting was developed. As a case study, this was applied to a COS project for surgical trials in gastric cancer to translate a Delphi survey into 7 target languages from regions active in gastric cancer research. Results Three hundred thirty-two abstracts were screened and four studies addressing COS development in rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, vascular malformations and polypharmacy were eligible for inclusion. There was wide variation in methodological approaches to translation, including the number of forward translations, the inclusion of back translation, the employment of cognitive debriefing and how discrepancies and disagreements were handled. Important considerations were identified during the development of the gastric cancer survey including establishing translation groups, timelines, understanding financial implications, strategies to maximise recruitment and regulatory approvals. The methodological approach to translating the Delphi surveys was easily reproducible by local collaborators and resulted in an additional 637 participants to the 315 recruited to complete the source language survey. Ninety-nine per cent of patients and 97% of healthcare professionals from non-English-speaking regions used translated surveys. Conclusion Consideration of the issues described will improve planning by other COS developers and can be used to widen international participation from both patients and healthcare professionals.

Preliminary Benefits of Big Data in the Construction Industry: A Case Study

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Bernard Tuffour Atuahene ◽  
Sittimont Kanjanabootra ◽  
Thayaparan Gajendran
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Big Data Applications ◽  
Data Application ◽  
Construction Firm ◽  
Big Data Application ◽  
Tangible Benefit ◽  
Design Construction

Big data applications consist of i) data collection using big data sources, ii) storing and processing the data, and iii) analysing data to gain insights for creating organisational benefit. The influx of digital technologies and digitization in the construction process includes big data as one newly emerging digital technology adopted in the construction industry. Big data application is in a nascent stage in construction, and there is a need to understand the tangible benefit(s) that big data can offer the construction industry. This study explores the benefits of big data in the construction industry. Using a qualitative case study design, construction professionals in an Australian Construction firm were interviewed. The research highlights that the benefits of big data include reduction of litigation amongst projects stakeholders, enablement of near to real-time communication, and facilitation of effective subcontractor selection. By implication, on a broader scale, these benefits can improve contract management, procurement, and management of construction projects. This study contributes to an ongoing discourse on big data application, and more generally, digitization in the construction industry.

Dissemination and Cultural Change as an Alternative Business Value Proposition in the Construction Industry: Manni Group Case Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 239496432110497
Author(s):  
Umberto Tinazzi
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Business Value ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Group Case ◽  
The Right

There is a gap of knowledge between practitioners about the off-site construction. For this reason, the Manni Group case study presented in this article highlights the positive role of dissemination as business value proposition support in the context of off-site construction industry. The Manni Group involved opinion leaders, professionals, universities and industrial partners in a network of dissemination that, going beyond the concept of advertising, it generated a multiple effect of value creation between the direct and indirect involved stakeholders. Dissemination emerges as a model of action that creates impacts on cultural change. It is scalable and applicable in many areas where actors have the right competences to manage the dissemination. Wherever there is a knowledge gap or friction towards new techniques and methodologies, the model is able to create value for companies and stakeholders involved in the emerging network.

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