Alternative Organizational Models Research Articles

Coordination and complex policy problems – experiences of de-sectorized municipalities in Sweden

The article highlights the growing contradiction in public policies managing complex policy problems in political systems characterized as sectorized. Utilizing a case study, this article analyzes how Swedish municipalities have attempted to introduce alternative organizational models, replacing a sector-based model to improve coordination values. The local self-government in Sweden has traditionally been organized as a sector-based model, i.e., a political organization that consists of standing committees organized functionally with sector-based responsibilities. In the last two decades, several municipalities have introduced de-sectorized models motivated by arguments concerning coordination and producing seamless municipal services. The article aims to describe and analyze the introduction of de-sectorized models in Swedish municipalities. The most significant results of the analysis show: Firstly, 66 out of a total of 290 municipalities in Sweden have created de-sectorized municipal organizations since the end of the 1990s. Secondly, the de-sectorized organizations introduced imply that the number of elected representatives decreases significantly. The interviewed actors regard this as a negative democratic side-effect. Thirdly, the results of conducted interviews also indicate that the de-sectorized model enhances coordination values at an overall level and has the potential to create cost efficiency in administrative expenses. Finally, more research needs to bring forward analyses on how to introduce alternative political organizing to manage complex policy problems vis-a-vis an institutionalized system of local self-government.

Not a black or white issue: choosing alternative organizational models for delivering early childhood services

ABSTRACT This article investigates how municipalities choose their organizational arrangements for delivering early childhood services and the interplay among the regional framework, local legacies, and agency factors influencing these choices. We answered these questions through a mix-method approach and a comparative analysis of four European regions in the same country (Italy). Our data shows that a variety of hybrid organizational models for service delivery is possible, and the fundamental role played by the regional framework in affecting organizational choices – with local factors such as legacy and agency compensating in the event of its absence.

Radical Republican Citizenship for a Mobile World

Migrants invariably and unavoidably experience domination under the nation-state centered concepts, categories, and institutions that structure our political thinking. In response, we need to build new forms of citizenship, including local, regional, transnational, and supranational forms of belonging, accompanied by meaningful, democratic, political power. In this paper, I examine historical and present-day alternative models of political organization as possible viable alternatives to state-centric liberal democracy. It begins the task of assessing these models using radical republican theory that grounds non-domination in the active and equal participation of people subject to power.I have three broad aims. First, we need to break down the native-migrant dichotomy to highlight commonalities and search for solidarities among migrants and other marginalized and oppressed groups, including indigenous groups. Second, I seek to awaken the political imagination. Many people do not believe there are viable alternatives to liberal democracy centered around the nation-state. In response, we should draw attention to the ways in which the nation-state’s hegemony is fragile and fragmented and the ways in which sovereignty is complex and contested. Most importantly, we need to consider alternative models for inspiration. Third, we need tools for assessing the desirability of alternatives and for building new forms of citizenship.In what follows, first I explain why the dominant, nation-state centered model of political organization is unable to deliver justice in today’s world, or, indeed, address the collective dangers that humanity faces. I next provide a sketch of a radical republican vision that provides normative guidance our thinking about alternative institutions. I end by using this radical republic vision to reflect on possibilities to guide efforts to remake the world.

Another organization is possible: New directions in research on alternative enterprise

AbstractInterest in alternative enterprises is again high, yielding a wave of popular experimentation with alternative organizational models, and new scholarship. From an organizational studies perspective, what have we learned about alternative enterprises since the last prior round of such experimentation in the 1970s, and what questions remain unanswered? Reflecting historical research legacies, scholarship often remains focused on micro‐aspects of internal organizational dynamics, but recent research at the meso scale has advanced our understanding of alternatives’ field‐level construction, and their relationship to external forces and other organizational forms. Less is known, however, at the macro scale about how or why these enterprises develop and are sustained in certain contexts, although work on this front is emerging. Meanwhile, many new alternative organizational forms/practices have not been well‐studied. Future research can remedy this oversight, while also seeking to improve our understanding of the effect of external, macro and meso‐scaled dynamics of alternative enterprises. It can also seek to better explain variations in alternatives’ institutional development and effectiveness in different sectoral contexts and domains, most notably across today’s crisis‐related fronts of climate change, housing precarity, and technological change. In so doing, it could more directly speak to a rising generation’s concerns, and better enable their effective deployment of alternatives in practice.

Musical coordination in a large group without plans nor leaders

A widespread belief is that large groups engaged in joint actions that require a high level of flexibility are unable to coordinate without the introduction of additional resources such as shared plans or hierarchical organizations. Here, we put this belief to a test, by empirically investigating coordination within a large group of 16 musicians performing collective free improvisation—a genre in which improvisers aim at creating music that is as complex and unprecedented as possible without relying on shared plans or on an external conductor. We show that musicians freely improvising within a large ensemble can achieve significant levels of coordination, both at the level of their musical actions (i.e., their individual decisions to play or to stop playing) and at the level of their directional intentions (i.e., their intentions to change or to support the music produced by the group). Taken together, these results invite us to reconsider the range and scope of actions achievable by large groups, and to explore alternative organizational models that emphasize decentralized and unscripted forms of collective behavior.

МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ ФОРМ РОЗВИТКУ ЗЕЛЕНОГО ТУРИЗМУ В УКРАЇНІ

The article analyzes the ways to increase the efficiency of small forms of tourism in rural areas. The importance of tourism business as a factor in promoting socio-economic development of regions is noted. The necessity of development of practical recommendations on increase of efficiency of economic activity of small forms of tourist business is substantiated. The importance of green tourism as a component of the national tourism business is pointed out. The model of the organization of tourist activity in the form of a green estate on the basis of a peasant economy is developed. The purpose of the project is the organization of maintenance of effective functioning of a green estate of a basic category as a basis for the further development. It is planned to use 0.3 hectares of land for this form of economic activity. It is also planned to involve the available material, technical and labor resources of a peasant family for the organization of this area of entrepreneurial activity. The main idea of the project is to implement on a regular basis a wide range of cultural and entertainment activities for client groups of 40 to 60 people. In particular, it is assumed that the amount of current costs in general will not change, only in the autumn-winter period will increase slightly utility bills. Alternative models of organization of economic activity of green estates are developed. The first option involves the presence of 1 working person who performs all production and economic, maintenance, accounting and management and other functions, receiving 20,000 hryvnias each month. In this case, the employee must have a wide range of professional competencies, which in some way negatively affects their practical implementation. The comparative analysis of efficiency of functioning of a peasant economy in the field of green tourism and other kinds of activity is carried out. The greater attractiveness of green tourism for the peasant economy as a use of available resource potential has been proved. It is noted that the proposed models should be considered as a starting project for the further development of this form of rural family business.

Arab Tribalism and Urban Environments: Alternative Models of Social Organization

ABSTRACTThis article surveys the reasons that Arab tribalism, or qabaliyya, has been traditionally associated with nomadism, deserts, and rural populations. This commonplace is present not only in the West, but also in the mentality of urban dwellers in the Arab countries of the Middle East. Despite this misconception, it is well known that tribal people have been settled in cities and towns for decades. Building on this fact, the author argues that Arab tribes have assumed urban models of social organization in order to adapt to their relationships and assure the preservation of personal identity, protection, group solidarity and their capacity for collective action.

Comparative analysis of models of organization of providing accounting services: outsourcing, insourcing, co-soursing

The organizational structure of an enterprise should provide a system of effective management of operational processes, which can not function without optimal organization of accounting, which is a set of interacting units aimed at the holistic activity and development of the entity. The urgent issue is to study the qualitative and effective organization of accounting at the enterprise, to find alternative models of accounting organization through the use of services of external providers, to identify the relationship between them and differences in their application. The article focuses on such models of accounting organization as the organization of accounting by internal units and on a contractual basis by an external provider, i.e. the transfer of the maximum possible number of accounting processes and procedures to crowd technology (outsourcing, intsourcing, co-sourcing) in terms of accounting transactions’ organization. The essence of the concepts of outsourcing, offshoring, insourcing, outstaffing, co-sourcing is defined. A comparative analysis of these crowd technologies is conducted and their advantages and disadvantages for the purposes of qualitative organization of accounting transactions in the structure of the enterprise are determined. It is emphasized that the choice of any model of organization of accounting processes (outsourcing, insourcing, co-sourcing) is a strategic decision for the enterprise, since this decision is directly related to all aspects of enterprise management. In terms of digital economy formation, by means of information technologies and platforms, business models are dramatically changing. The use of an outsourcing/insourcing/co-sourcing strategy enables the company not only to reduce costs and increase the company’s capitalization, but to grow and develop at a faster rate.

Selected Golgi-Localized Proteins and Carcinogenesis: What Do We Know?

The role of the Golgi apparatus in carcinogenesis still remains unclear. A number of structural and functional cis-, medial-, and trans-Golgi proteins as well as a complexity of metabolic pathways which they mediate may indicate a central role of the Golgi apparatus in the development and progression of cancer. Pleiotropy of cellular function of the Golgi apparatus makes it a "metabolic heart" or a relay station of a cell, which combines multiple signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis. Therefore, any damage to or structural abnormality of the Golgi apparatus, causing its fragmentation and/or biochemical dysregulation, results in an up- or downregulation of signaling pathways and may in turn promote tumor progression, as well as local nodal and distant metastases. Three alternative or parallel models of spatial and functional Golgi organization within tumor cells were proposed: (1) compacted Golgi structure, (2) normal Golgi structure with its increased activity, and (3) the Golgi fragmentation with ministacks formation. Regardless of the assumed model, the increased activity of oncogenesis initiators and promoters with inhibition of suppressor proteins results in an increased cell motility and migration, increased angiogenesis, significantly activated trafficking kinetics, proliferation, EMT induction, decreased susceptibility to apoptosis-inducing factors, and modulating immune response to tumor cell antigens. Eventually, this will lead to the increased metastatic potential of cancer cells and an increased risk of lymph node and distant metastases. This chapter provided an overview of the current state of knowledge of selected Golgi proteins, their role in cytophysiology as well as potential involvement in tumorigenesis.

The correct setting to improve the quality of health care process: a retrospective study in Internal Medicine Department

The definition of the role of hospitals and communities in terms of the response to patients’ health care needs is essential in the Lombardy region health-care reform development (LR. 23/2015). The stratification of patients according to clinical severity and care complexity for adequate clinical health care, is achieved by delineating care settings, staff standards, required technical equipment and crucial aspects of clinical pathways. An observational and retrospective study at Manerbio Hospital Internal Medicine Unit (IMU) was carried out to define: i) characteristics of IMU patients; ii) role of IMU physician in management of poly-pathological patients; iii) alternative organizational models. After a Literature review, clinical severity was defined by modifying early warning score, complexity and co-morbidities by cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) and by intensity of care through care intensity index (IIA). All medical records of patients admitted in the first quarter of 2016 were analyzed. A total of 393 medical records were examined: 199 M/194 F, median age 81 years. Critical patients (requiring continuous monitoring using advanced equipment): 27% of the sample (10% with intensive care transfer criteria). Co-morbidity: between 5 and 6 active diseases for most of the sample; 53% with CIRS between 7 and 12. Elevated care intensity (IIA) was found in 46% of the sample, remaining constant throughout hospital stay. Medium stay: 9.35 days. 27% of IMU patients needs subintensive care. About a quarter of patients has unresolved social problems contributing to acute presentations in the emergency room. Agreement on appropriate links between hospital and community care structures is advisable to reduce hospital stay, adequately responding to patients’ needs.

Reframing the university as an emergent organisation: implications for strategic management and leadership in higher education

ABSTRACTFor the most part, the organisational forms that are currently being adopted by higher education institutions are grounded in the traditional corporate models of organisation that take a rational approach to organisational change management. Underlying this account is an assumption of organisational autonomy and the capacity of designated leaders to direct such change processes. However, a case is now being made for the consideration of alternative organisational theories or models that offer a different perception on the sources and patterns of organisational change in higher education. These theories perceive organisations more as emergent entities in which change is continuous, often unpredictable and arising mainly from local interactions. The paper surveys the implications that acceptance of the alternative paradigm might have for strategising and change leadership in higher education institutions. It suggests that the accommodation of these alterative paradigms of institutional development in higher education may itself be an emergent process.

Complementary Models of University Organization

What is the nature of college and university organization? How are the dynamics of higher education to be explained? How are the tradition~! departments and divisions to be understood and why does conflict between them arise? Are recent interdisciplinary ventures which cross traditional lines destined for success or failure? What is the significance of these questions for the practice of university administration? Answers to these perplexing questions about higher education are often given within the framework of a theoretical model which attempts to describe or explain the facts or phenomena with which the model is concerned. Besides providing a unique conceptual orientation, which in turn influences the selection of problems, the model may be useful in bringing to light some aspectsof the situation which otherwise would remain hidden or obscure. When the same data are approached by different models, the question of choice arises: which is the more adequate? Thus, underlying the question of how best to represent a body of facts is the more fundamental one of the status of contending models and their compatibility or incompatibility. This question will be explored through a critical consideration of some alternative models of university and college organization.

On the Value of Narratives in a Reflexive Digital Humanities

This paper returns to the relationship of “narrative versus database” (an argument originally made by Lev Manovich in 2001) as one that can be further addressed. A specific issue persists in text analysis research in the digital humanities: the difficulty of representing the figurative meaning of narratives through digital tools. Towards an accommodation, this paper adopts a narratological framework in order to propose alternative models of content management and organization that more closely resemble figurative meaning making in human language. These alternative models therefore better allow for the computational representation of figurative elements that N. Katherine Hayles describes as “the inexplicable, the unspeakable, the ineffable” of narrative literature. This paper argues that the construction of figurative meaning through paradigmatic substitution (as part of an imaginary vocabulary that is drawn from in the process of meaning making) is difficult to account for in the relational database—arguably still the most culturally prominent database model. By focusing on NoSQL (“no” or “not only” Structured Query Language) databases, this paper explores how layers of figurative meaning can be represented together through these flexible and non-relational models. In particular, the ability of non-relational databases to group together multiple values—encouraging their association, comparison, and juxtaposition—can be analyzed as a computational albeit imprecise counterpart to the formation of paradigmatic and figurative meaning. Thus, towards accounting for a word, image, or idea’s layers of meaning as expressed in literature, this paper offers a study of the limitations of digital tools and their critical negotiation with humanities research and reflection.

Institutional research as a bridge

Purpose This paper explores the roles of institutional research (IR) units in higher education, examining both internal and external responsibilities and demands. The purpose of this paper is to encourage a broader strategic discussion of the missions and capacities of such academic institutional entities. Design/methodology/approach The methodology employed begins with a review of relevant literature, followed by critical observations of an experienced reflective practitioner. Beginning with the premise that academic institutions are central, the paper discusses the external environment of institutions and the requirements placed on their internal IR operations. A core question is presented: research for whom? Both traditional and alternative organizational models are discussed in this light. The paper then explores ways in which data needs might be aligned in order to provide accountable, useful and transparent information to all stakeholders, internal and external. Findings Findings show that the linking of internal information needs with those of external actors is key to effective operations; that IR units should seek to be a bridge between their institution and its environment so that effective information can be provided to all who need it. The paper is not designed as a detailed operational roadmap, but rather to highlight issues for examination within the context of specific institutional and agency situations. Originality/value Its originality stems from the focus on such linkages and the call for organizational leaders to recognize the full value of IR both within and across organizational boundaries.

Degrowth and collaborative value creation: Reflections on concepts and technologies

The concept of degrowth aims fundamentally at reducing material and energy throughput equitably, while questioning the desirability of further economic growth. In order to achieve this reduction of society’s throughput, radical changes in the ways goods and services are produced, distributed and used are required. In this think piece, concepts of consumer integration into the value creation process and (new) enabling technologies are discussed as possible constituting elements of alternative organizational models in a degrowth society. To date, collaborative value creation concepts, such as crowdsourcing and mass customization, have been discussed almost exclusively as business model patterns for companies in economies that are set to grow. The same applies to the assessment of (new) technologies, such as additive manufacturing, web-based user interfaces for co-creation, and other flexible production technologies that allow for collaborative and individualized production. Potential positive and negative effects of these concepts and technologies with regard to the objectives of degrowth are discussed in order to initiate a debate about the inclusion of CVC for the design of alternative organizational models that are in line with degrowth thinking. This think piece illustrates that several elements of collaborative value creation and its enabling technologies coincide with degrowth objectives but do not lead per se to their attainment. Thereby, a starting point for future (empirical) work in this area is generated.

Innovación Organizativa en organismos de investigación

La renovación organizativa de los organismos públicos de investigación (OPIs) es un fenómeno complejo y de creciente importancia, dada la transformación en la que se encuentra inmersa la actividad científica. Este estudio de caso longitudinal analiza el diseño e introducción de innovaciones organizativas en un OPI pertenenciente al CSIC. El artículo ofrece evidencia sobre el potencial de ciertas innovaciones en el diseño organizativo y los valores del trabajo como agentes habilitadores del cambio en un entorno laboral rígido. Asimismo, muestra que la adaptación e introducción de determinadas prácticas de gestión tomadas de las organizaciones privadas a las circunstancias de los OPIs puede proporcionar una base sólida sobre la que desarrollar un modelo organizativo colaborativo para la ciencia.

The Concepts of Great Feminine Governance and Age of Holy Spirit, in the Axiological Re-Ordering of the XXIst Century Global Society

The present paper focuses on searching for a comprehensive definition of the “Great Feminine Governance” and “The Age of the Holy Spirit” paradigm. In addition, it attempts to make an approach on some of their features, such as there are connected to concepts of ”power” and ”authority” that can be re-defined in a completely new manner. The Age of Holy Spirit is the Era of the Great Change, when human beings become aware of exploiting and discriminatory, unjust effects (for the freedom of women) of insisting on believing in a patriarchal-imperial type of system. It is an Era of moving towards alternative models of human society organization, based on perspectives that have abandoned the imperial-patriarchal old vision about the world, about human being and about God. The pattern of Absolute Father, as “absolute patriarch/tyrant”, Who wants only a perfect obedience and Who is isolated from His Creation (a hypothetical divine attitude, from which derives the schizoid, fragmented lifestyle of humans, such as living in a continuous “state of a generalized war”) becomes obsolete, being replaced with visionary and creative, fertile and positive conceptions about the world, about the relation God-mankind and with new types of gender relations. The article focuses on analysing the transfer from the model of a punishing and banishing divinity, to a divinity of inspiration, forgiveness and universal peace.

The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons, and the Eclipse of Capitalism

The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons, and the Eclipse of Capitalism

Plasma membrane organization and function: moving past lipid rafts

“Lipid raft” is the name given to the tiny, dynamic, and ordered domains of cholesterol and sphingolipids that are hypothesized to exist in the plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells. According to the lipid raft hypothesis, these cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched domains modulate the protein–protein interactions that are essential for cellular function. Indeed, many studies have shown that cellular levels of cholesterol and sphingolipids influence plasma membrane organization, cell signaling, and other important biological processes. Despite 15 years of research and the application of highly advanced imaging techniques, data that unambiguously demonstrate the existence of lipid rafts in mammalian cells are still lacking. This Perspective summarizes the results that challenge the lipid raft hypothesis and discusses alternative hypothetical models of plasma membrane organization and lipid-mediated cellular function.

User satisfaction and the organization of local public transport: Evidence from European cities

In recent decades, market-opening policies in local public transport (LPT) have impacted most European countries. However, we can observe a high degree of variability in possible LPT arrangements, from public monopolies to open markets. This work addresses the following research question: How does user satisfaction correlate to alternative organisational models of LPT service provision? We use the results of a large survey conducted in 2009 in 33 European cities to analyse the likelihood of satisfaction with standard probit models. Results show that the highest levels of satisfaction correlate with the presence of a single LPT provider, as opposed to an industry structure in which multiple providers operate in the same market area.