Pathways to Developing Digital Capabilities within Entrepreneurial Initiatives in Pre-Digital Organizations

To enable new digital business models, pre-digital organizations launch entrepreneurial initiatives. However, in developing the required digital capabilities, pre-digital organizations often face challenges as they are marked by the ways they have historically established their organizational identity. Research on how pre-digital organizations can develop digital capabilities remains scarce. This study draws on a single case study to illustrate potential pathways for the development of digital capabilities. Two key characteristics are identified: the source of digital capability development and the set-up of the actors involved. The authors synthesize four possible pathway manifestations, discuss the dynamic nature of pathway combinations, and suggest that managing a portfolio of pathways may be crucial for pre-digital organizations. Therefore, the study contributes to a better understanding of digital transformation in pre-digital organizations. Furthermore, it provides guidance for practitioners to reflect on when deciding which pathways to follow.

Multinational Enterprise Organizational Structures and Subsidiary Role and Capability Development: The Moderating Role of Establishment Mode

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) develop structural configurations for managing their geographically dispersed and disaggregated activities. These structures can be classified as (a) simple headquarters configurations (involves corporate, regional, divisional headquarters and mandated units) involving few direct reporting relationships; (b) network organizations involving no direct reporting relationships; and (c) matrix configurations involving multiple reporting relationships. While these structures are built for handling various complexities and purposes, it is unclear how they influence subsidiary role and capability development. We hypothesize how these structures influence subsidiary development and propose a moderating role of MNE establishment mode on the direct structure-subsidiary development relationship. Based on data from 429 foreign subsidiaries in New Zealand, our results show that subsidiary development varies across the structures such that simple headquarters configurations experience the least opportunities to develop. While the matrix and network structures as complex configurations offer distinct paths to subsidiary development, subsidiaries managed under the former are more likely to follow the developmental path of networking and interunit learning, and the subsidiaries managed under the latter are more likely to follow the path of autonomy and innovation. Furthermore, the positive association of network structure with subsidiary initiatives and autonomy is stronger for greenfield subsidiaries, whereas the positive association of matrix structure with subsidiary mandates is stronger for acquired subsidiaries.

Capability development by educational technology

The capability to identify and make a judgement about the quality of own and work of others is known as evaluative judgement. Such capability is crucial for learners and their learning trajectories, allowing them to become job-ready graduates and life-long learners. The overall concept is newly named but existed in different forms and shapes in the literature. There is sporadic literature investigation of evaluative judgement development by educational technology. Self-assessment, peer-assessment and portfolios in the online learning environment bring various educational values and benefits. Each of these pedagogical activities can contribute to the development of evaluative judgement in an online environment enhanced by educational technology. The primary purpose of this paper is to expand the discussion about the development of evaluative judgement using educational technology. This paper provides some rationale for the inclusion of selected pedagogical activities in the curriculum and actively using them in student-centred education.

Enhancing performance in Turkey's logistics firms

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper concentrates on the link between dynamic capability development, strategic management, and environmental performance in third party logistics (3PL) companies. The results revealed that dynamic capabilities – namely, in order of descending importance, the sub-dimensions of sensing, coordinating, learning, and integrating – do drive company performance. In turn, where more environmental munificence is present, dynamic capabilities and strategic management are elevated in their quality and business value delivery. A balance of accessing their market's big picture, tailoring strategy to operational targets, and elevating dynamic capabilities cross-functionally within the company forms a triad for performance-enhancing success among the 3PL manager population. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

The Capability and Social Justice Theories: Developing a Second-Generation Model for Enhancing Epistemological Access in Flood-Prone Schools in Kenya

This paper draws from a larger doctoral study, conducted between 2013 and 2016 in five flood-prone schools of the Budalang’i division of western Kenya. The mixed-methods study was based on empirical data drawn from twenty-three in-depth interviews from parents, senior school managers, and Sub County Education officers. Fifteen of these interviews were with males and eight with females. A questionnaire was completed by a total of 191 Standard Eight pupils, 49.2% boys and 50.8% girls across the five schools. Focus group discussions (FGDs) consisting of ten pupils from each of the five schools were also conducted. The study investigated the extent to which flood-prone schools can generate equitable epistemological access (EEA) and how they are committed to delivering a socially just educational experience. The research was embedded in the 'critical realism framework' as the overarching philosophy, premised on Sen's capability approach and Nancy Fraser's social justice framework. The two theories offer competing predications that: 1) the development of individual capabilities improves lives 2) the development of individuals should be based on a socially just approach. Findings suggested that to develop individual capabilities, schools need to embark on a socially just approach, especially to learners who are subjected to deprivation. The paper models a capabilities and social justice approach, as a substantial contribution to our understanding of the extent to which flood-prone schools of Kenya may improve individual capability development. Apart from its implications for policy, we suggest that the model should be implemented in schools to determine its efficacy.

Air defense of the Baltic states. Looking toward the future

The article offers the discussion of the origins, current state and the future of air defence of the Baltic states. It tries to relate developments in the field of air defense to changes in security environment, and defence polices of the Baltic states. The article starts with a retrospection on origins and developments of air defence of the Baltic states before they joined NATO. Then it focuses on early years of integration with NATO Integrated Air Defense System and implications for air defence of the Baltic states related to changes in the security of the Euro-Atlantic region stemming from Russian aggressive actions. An assessment of current posture of air defence of the Baltic states serves as a starting point for the discussion on requirements for future developments, and predicting possible outcomes. The research uses unclassified, publicly available documents and analytical reports to provide background information for the discussion on the future of air defense of the Baltic states. The Baltic states are aware of the limitations of their air defense, and try to develop this capability within available resources. Changes to security environment after 2014 gave new impetus to the development of air defense of the Baltic states, both for the efforts undertaken by NATO and for national capability development.

Research Capability: Early-Career Academics’ Perception of Doctoral Studies

<p style="text-align: justify;">The purpose of doctoral education is not only to produce a thesis but also to develop graduates who are highly competent in research, publications and the norms and values of being a researcher. Only a handful of studies have examined early-career academics’ perceptions of doing research at the doctoral level. This exploratory qualitative study sought to fill the gap and contribute to understanding of factors contributing to early career academics’ research capability development. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore in-depth the issues concerning research, publication, supervision, and networking among early career academics. The data were collected from 19 early-career academics in the first year of their career, who are attached with different universities and in different disciplines in Malaysia. The findings from the thematic analysis identified that supervision, individual’s participation in scholarly research activities, and institutional formal learning supported the development of the participants’ research capabilities. Although the PhD programme lay emphasis on independent learning, it should be seen as a process that occurs in phases; hence, the research courses offered and support from the supervisor are important to assist the transition to becoming an independent scholar. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that universities be more sensitive to the demands and expectations of academic career so that the PhD programmes offered do not merely focus on research but also develop the skills required of future academics at university.</p>