Scaffolding: Using Formal Contracts to Build Informal Relations to Support Innovation

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iva Bozovic ◽  
Gillian K. Hadfield
Keyword(s):  
Informal Relations

Informal relations as a tool for socialization and adaptation of state and municipal employees

2022 ◽  
pp. 12-23
Author(s):  
N. S. Lapin ◽  
N. N. Pokrovskaia ◽  
M. B. Perfilyeva 
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Psychological Climate ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Informal Leadership ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Legal Method ◽  
Municipal Employees ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Methods And Techniques ◽  
Informal Relations

The article proposes an algorithm for assessing the environment of informal relations between employees of state and municipal institutions. The purpose of the study is to improve management processes by assessing informal relations as a tool for socialization and adaptation of employees of state and municipal institutions. Based on a literature review, objectives for managing informal relationships were set. Further, the characteristics of the environment of informal relations are revealed, for the assessment of which the methods and techniques of domestic and foreign authors can be applied. The paper offers recommendations on the application of methods and techniques for studying the environment of informal relations between staff of state and municipal institutions. Applied methods: analysis of sources, comparison, legal method. The novelty of the work lies in the substantiation of the application of methods and techniques for assessing the psychological climate in the team, the level of job satisfaction, conflict, informal leadership to study the environment of informal relations. The practical significance of achieving the desired level of the environment lies in the ability to increase the level of retention of employees, to provide flexibility in making managerial decisions and their implementation.

The Historical, Economic, and Political Bases of France's African Policy

1985 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Martin
Keyword(s):  
Central Africa ◽  
Western World ◽  
Fifth Republic ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Colonial Policy ◽  
Historical Factors ◽  
Political Interests ◽  
West And Central Africa ◽  
Informal Relations

A Quarter of a century has elapsed since France granted independence to her former colonies in West and Central Africa. Yet to this day, France continues to wield considerable power and influence in these countries politically, economically, socially, and culturally, thanks to a tightly-knit network of formal and informal relations. France's African policy has been remarkably constant and stable through the various successive governments of the Fifth Republic. How can this persistent situation of dominance/dependency and this continuity in foreign policy be accounted for? More specifically, the present study tries to analyse the main characteristics and essential mechanisms of France/s post-colonial policy in Africa, all too often shrouded under a veil of secrecy, albeit premised on a number of historical factors for its ideological foundation. On this basis, a variety of economic and political interests have been developed which constitute the main elements of this policy and its principal explanatory variables. Eventually, it is concluded that a neo-colonial strategy has been adopted in order to preserve a status quo that is clearly favourable to the conservative interests of the western world in general, and to France in particular.

Conflict resolution practice in public procurement: evidence from Russia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuliya Rodionova
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conflict Situations ◽  
Judicial Proceedings ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Conflict Handling ◽  
Informal Relations ◽  
First Time

Purpose This paper aims to analyze conflict resolution practice in public procurement. The specific feature of this sphere is the presence of the state and the resulting differences in assessing the chances of protecting one’s interests in court, as well as the effectiveness of judicial conflict resolution mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on the findings of a large-scale survey of suppliers conducted in 2017. To identify the characteristics of suppliers that use different conflict resolution mechanisms, probit-models were evaluated. For robustness check, combined mechanisms for resolving conflict situations were also considered and multi-nomial logistic regression was used. Findings The survey results showed that the majority of suppliers prefer to resolve conflicts in public procurement using an out-of-court negotiation with procurers while only 31% of respondents resort to judicial proceedings. At the same time, suppliers potentially involved in informal relations with procurers, are less likely to go to court and less often use negotiations. Practical implications The results of the study can be used as a justification for the development of a regulatory and organizational framework for the use of negotiations, mediation, arbitration and other alternate methods of conflict resolution in public procurement. Originality/value This paper makes an important contribution to the conflict-handling strategies of businesses and government by presenting for the first time a quantitative assessment of the prevalence of mechanisms for resolving conflicts in public procurement and factors influencing the choice of a conflict resolution mechanism.

Strategic Objectives of CoPs and Organizational Learning

2011 ◽  
pp. 497-501
Author(s):  
Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Specific Form ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Work Processes ◽  
Organizational Processes ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Informal Relations ◽  
Forms Of Knowledge

There is more and more interest in different forms of knowledge creation and management, and the conditions necessary to succeed in such initiatives from the point of view of individuals and organizations. A great deal of this interest stems from the fact that organizations expect substantial gains from knowledge. Knowledge management is seen in many organizations as a source of potential competitiveness and innovation. The concept of communities of practice stems from this interest, but is viewed as a specific form of knowledge development, in principle more centred on the individuals and their exchanges than on “management” by the firm, although the firm does seem to have a role to play in fostering such initiatives. Thus, the use of communities of practice has emerged as a way to develop collective skills and organizational learning, in order to foster innovation and success for the organization. Organizational learning is part of a broader concern related to the development of collective skills. We know that a large proportion of effective relations within organizations are informal, a characteristic that relates to the concerns of the communities of practice, which are usually based on informal relations. Organizational learning goes beyond individual learning, which can lead to relatively permanent changes in the individual’s behavior, because it results in the development of a knowledge base which could translate into a more significant change of another kind within the organization. The knowledge is disseminated throughout the organization, is transmissible between members, is subject to consensus, and is integrated into the work processes and the structures of the organization. From this perspective, organizational learning is closely linked with “meaningful” organizational processes, which are basically routines used by decision makers to detect certain problems, define priorities, find solutions, and attempt to improve performance. In this article, we will present research results on some strategic objectives of CoPs and the attainment of these objectives, from the viewpoint of organizational learning.

Survey of formal and informal labour relations in contemporary Russian businesses

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-224
Author(s):  
Yulia Chilipenok ◽  
Olga Gaponova
Keyword(s):  
Content Type ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
The Social ◽  
Informal Labour ◽  
Complete Rejection ◽  
Formal Relations ◽  
Informal Relations ◽  
Modern Russian

Purpose This paper aims to address issues related to informal relationships in modern Russian organisations, namely, the extent of these relationships, the conditions of their existence and their connection with formal relations. Design/methodology/approach The paper contains a discussion of the relevant theoretical issues and a presentation of empirical research conducted by the authors through a survey of the staff of a number of businesses based in major cities of the Russian Federation. The study also includes an analysis of an expert survey of top managers and an assessment of the role of the informal component in the social and labour cooperation of workers and employers in modern Russian organisations. Findings It is concluded that with the further advancement of Russia towards establishing an effective market economy, there is a general trend towards a reduction in the role of personal relationships in social and labour relations, although a complete rejection of protectionism in this area is not possible because of certain peculiarities of the Russian mentality. Practical implications Knowledge and understanding of the Russian national identity and its influence on the informal component of workplace labour issues will enable managers to be more effective in building and developing modern international business relations. Originality/value The paper studies a unique set of empirical data obtained by using authoring tools carefully tailored to the specific conditions of Russia. The results of the study will enable more effective management of informal relations in modern organisations.

Small Firm Survival and Innovation

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Dobson ◽  
Dermot Breslin ◽  
Louise Suckley ◽  
Rachel Barton ◽  
Liliana Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Innovation Networks ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽  
Informal Relations ◽  
Group Structures ◽  
Creativity And Innovation ◽  
Interpretative Framework

This paper explores ‘evolution’ as a means of complementing our understanding and interpretation of creative innovation networks in small firms. The abstracted evolutionary mechanisms of variation, selection and retention (VSR) are employed to add a more dynamic interpretative framework to the reading of social networks and group structures. The paper thus presents a lens through which to appreciate creativity as an evolving and shared process. The principal aim of this research is to illustrate otherwise tacit informal relations within a small business through the application of a qualitative approach to social network analysis (SNA) and, in doing so, to present intra-firm relations as central to creativity and innovation – particularly as the organizational structure moves beyond the dominance of the founding entrepreneur.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document