Managing BPM life cycle transition risks in a small educational company to support change management

PurposeThis article aims to present a methodology applied to the transition between the “as-is” and “to-be” stages of the Business Process Management (BPM) life cycle, supporting its implementation and maintenance for the organizational stability, using techniques from Operations Research and Information and Decision Theories, applied by a gamified system.Design/methodology/approachThe study used Design Science Research, considering the following methodological elements: (1) artifact model, after initial analysis of the organization; (2) problem relevance, incorporating components to the Markov transition matrix and the integer programming model for resource optimization; (3) model evaluation, establishing mechanisms to validate the methodology created; (4) research contributions, showing benefits found; (5) systematic approach, detailing methods used; (6) model's research process, revealing the means for execution; and (7) final presentation of results.FindingsAfter planning three scenarios for the company, containing zero, one or two implemented processes, the matrix of states in the Markov chain effectively identified the states of greater and lesser transition uncertainty. At the same time, the optimization model guided the organization toward a stable change in its operational and financial areas.Practical implicationsThe company's planning capacity has increased, as its managers now have a methodology to promote rational decisions about the development of plans. Before, managers believed that the methodology used was only for large companies. However, this view changed with the results, showing a structured view of the ability to absorb new customers, relocate established ones, increase the comfort level for employees and increase profitability for the company's business.Originality/valueThe study showed that the combination of techniques opens a new perspective to the incorporation of BPM in organizations, allows a smooth change between the current and future state, making it possible to predict the evolution of transition scenarios.

Walking the Walk or Just Talking the Talk? VMRO-BND’s Efforts to Become a Mass Party

Many populist radical right parties compete on a regular basis in the Bulgarian legislative elections. Among these, the VMRO–Balgarsko Natsionalno Dvizhenie (VMRO-BND, IMRO–Bulgarian National Movement) enjoys the greatest organizational stability and maintains a regular presence in politics and society despite volatile electoral performance. Using qualitative content analysis of official party documents (programs, statutes, and policy papers) and media reports, this article argues that the organizational stability of the VMRO-BND stems from its grassroots efforts to establish deep links in society. While its membership is limited, the local activities of the party between and during elections, and its network of loosely-affiliated organizations create a grandiose impression of presence across Bulgaria. Through this presence, VMRO-BND fosters a sense of belonging for its members which in turn supports the party’s goal of achieving a so-called “national cultural unity” and the preservation of Bulgarian traditions. Internally, VMRO-BND provides room for non-member participation and bottom-up initiatives from local activists, while remaining strongly centralized at the top around its leader, Krasimir Karakachanov. Overall, VMRO-BND reveals the importance populist radical right parties place on social presence, even when membership numbers are low.

IDENTIFYING THE CULTURE OF THE MUHAMMADIYAH ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOL

This study aims to determine the organizational culture at the Muhammadiyah Islamic Boarding School. This research method includes qualitative research with the object of research is the Islamic Boarding School Modern Imam Syuhodo Sukoharjo. This study's collection method was obtained by seeking information from high-ranking informants and distributing questionnaires filled out by respondents at the Muhammadiyah Islamic Boarding School. Data collection techniques are carried out by interview, observation, and documentation supported by OCAI instruments. The results of the Leadership Research show that from the point of view of the leadership's assessment of the current dominant organizational culture, namely clan culture (40) and hierarchy (23). The data obtained shows that there is a significant difference between clan and hierarchy. The research results concluded that clan is the dominant culture for the current organizational culture and the dominant culture for the expected culture. At the same time, the hierarchy becomes the dominant culture in the second position. Then the organization needs a greater sense of kinship and better regulations to maintain organizational stability.

Religion as a Dominant Logic for Entrepreneurial Activities: Theorizing the Dynamics in and Around ‘We’d Meat Burger, Kazakhstan’

As religion gains prominence in several countries, research to understand the dynamics between religion and business becomes critical. Extant research paid scant attention to the influence of religion on entrepreneurial activities. To develop insights into this phenomenon, we conduct reflexive field-based case study research on a family business in Kazakhstan that experienced the inclusion of religion as a dominant logic in the management. Kazakhstan provides an interesting context to study the phenomenon as religion gained prominence in post-Soviet Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Our study reveals how religion can influence the entrepreneurial mind and activities and transform the family business. Our inductive theorization offers a process model of entrepreneurial journey under the influence of religion and its impact on the organizing of family business. The model consists of influenced disruption, creative combination and pragmatic adaptation through which the entrepreneur with religion as a dominant logic can transform the family business and attain organizational stability. For academia, the study contributes to extend the scholarly understanding of religion as an influencer in entrepreneurship and family business. For practice, our work shows how religious principles as constraints can enact creativity and innovation in organizational transformation.

The International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI): 2020 Report

Summary Objectives: To summarize the major activities of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI) in the 2020 time period and to welcome its 2020 Class of Fellows. Method: Report from the members of the Academy’s Board. Results: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, both Plenary meetings in 2020 had to be organized as virtual meetings. Scientific discussions, focusing on mobilizing computable biomedical knowledge and on data standards and interoperability formed major parts of these meetings. A statement on the use of informatics in pandemic situations was elaborated and sent to the World Health Organization. A panel on data standards and interoperability started its work. 34 Fellows were welcomed in the 2020 Class of Fellows so that the Academy now consists of 179 members. Conclusions: There was a shift from supporting to strategic activities in the Academy’s work. After having achieved organizational stability, the Academy can now focus on its strategic work and so on its main objective.

Comparative genomic analysis of Polypodiaceae chloroplasts reveals fine structural features and dynamic insertion sequences

Background Comparative chloroplast genomics could shed light on the major evolutionary events that established plastomic diversity among closely related species. The Polypodiaceae family is one of the most species-rich and underexplored groups of extant ferns. It is generally recognized that the plastomes of Polypodiaceae are highly notable in terms of their organizational stability. Hence, no research has yet been conducted on genomic structural variation in the Polypodiaceae. Results The complete plastome sequences of Neolepisorus fortunei, Neolepisorus ovatus, and Phymatosorus cuspidatus were determined based on next-generation sequencing. Together with published plastomes, a comparative analysis of the fine structure of Polypodiaceae plastomes was carried out. The results indicated that the plastomes of Polypodiaceae are not as conservative as previously assumed. The size of the plastomes varies greatly in the Polypodiaceae, and the large insertion fragments present in the genome could be the main factor affecting the genome length. The plastome of Selliguea yakushimensis exhibits prominent features including not only a large-scale IR expansion exceeding several kb but also a unique inversion. Furthermore, gene contents, SSRs, dispersed repeats, and mutational hotspot regions were identified in the plastomes of the Polypodiaceae. Although dispersed repeats are not abundant in the plastomes of Polypodiaceae, we found that the large insertions that occur in different species are mobile and are always adjacent to repeated hotspot regions. Conclusions Our results reveal that the plastomes of Polypodiaceae are dynamic molecules, rather than constituting static genomes as previously thought. The dispersed repeats flanking insertion sequences contribute to the repair mechanism induced by double-strand breaks and are probably a major driver of structural evolution in the plastomes of Polypodiaceae.