Case Study Of Organization Research Articles

Strategic leadership, change and growth in not-for-profit, membership-based, value-driven organisations

PurposeThis research paper takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from empirical data, to explore the relationship between organisational change management and strategic leadership to promote growth in value-driven, membership-based organisations through a qualitative multi-case-based analysis and to provide a discussion on the philosophies and practices of leadership teams which underpin successful organisational change within such not-for-profit organisations.Design/methodology/approachEach participating organisation had 700+ members, had previously experienced prolonged periods of auditable membership growth and employed distinctly different organisational models to facilitate growth. A qualitative multi-case study approach was adopted informed by 32 interviews with eight leadership teams. A thematic analysis provided a comparative review of responses.FindingsAll case study organisations emphasised the significance of strategic leadership teams and clearly communicated vision and flexible organisational structures as central to their strategic planning and subsequent growth. This builds on previous research which has explored organisational change in not-for-profit organisations and strategic leadership in not-for-profit organisations, which explores the strong linkages between the roles and functions of strategic leadership, organisational structures designed with the adaptive capacity to manage continuous and convergent change and their impact on sustained growth. Such linkages are more specifically supported by extended tenure of office for those in senior leadership roles, clear delineation of roles and responsibilities, the adoption of an outward growth-oriented focus and adaptable structures that encourage wider participation in leadership and management functions for the fulfilment of the organisation's mission. Most significantly, these organisations plan with change and growth in mind.Practical implicationsThe findings of this research have transferable value to other not-for-profit, membership-based, value-driven organisations as well as other faith-based organisations, which will help to provide future linkages between leadership structures, decision-making and organisational design and its impact on the not-for-profit organisations' capacity for sustained growth.Originality/valueThis research challenges previous conceptions on UK church growth trends and observes that all the case organisations presented different organisational structures which were intentionally designed, context specific and developed by leadership teams with sustained growth in mind. Results from psychometric testing of participants confirmed that senior leaders of large value-driven organisations that have demonstrated a capacity for sustained growth are consistently likely to exhibit leadership characteristics which demonstrate a balanced capacity for personal humility and a committed resolve or professional will, which is also reflected in a pragmatic-type leadership style, building on previous psychometric testing research in this context.

Enabling grass roots activism and human rights-based education for sustainability: case studies of Australian youth organisations

Across Australia many young people are taking action to address the issue of climate change and educating others through leading grassroots activism on local and global issues of sustainability. This paper discusses findings from an online document analysis that investigated three case studies of how youth-led organisations in Australia are leading and developing human rights-based education for sustainability (EfS) to empower others to enjoy and exercise their rights in keeping with the guidance of the 2011 UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. This paper discusses how these organisations represent their activism online to empower young people to lead democratic action to achieve climate crisis justice. Drawing on a conceptual framework developed by Jensen & Schnack, the authors argue that the data suggests that the young activists in these case studies demonstrate high levels of ‘social action competence’ through raising awareness and taking action.

Embedding evaluation in non-profit organisations: Lessons from evaluation advocates

Integrating evaluation initiatives in organisations as part of routine operations to support organisational learning and development can be difficult; extant literature lacks detail on the factors enhancing sustainability. This article presents research undertaken with evaluation advocates attempting to embed evaluation in their Australian non-profit organisations. The research involved interviewing seventeen participants, four of whom also were the focus of organisational case studies. The researchers used social interdependence theory to understand participants’ strategies for embedding evaluation and found that some elements of cooperative teamwork were more prominent than others. Participants in high hierarchical positions, or those who had influence, worked intentionally and incorporated strategies that aligned with all five elements. Examples of those strategies and their use in context presented herein may help leaders and internal and external evaluators increase the likelihood of embedding evaluation in organisational systems.

No two-party game: how third-sector organizations alter administrative burden and improve social equity

ABSTRACT Administrative burdens limit access to government services and threaten social equity due to their disproportionate impact on disadvantaged groups. Third sector organizations can reduce administrative burdens and help individuals to overcome them. Both theoretically and empirically we know little about the different ways in which third-sector organizations do so. Through a longitudinal case study of the Dutch volunteer organization ‘Debt Aid Buddy’, we identify that third-sector organizations can alter administrative burdens as policy entrepreneurs, boundary spanners, co-producers, stewards, and crisis managers. Studying the implementation of these roles can integrate administrative burden research with literature on New Public Governance.

Public relations strategies employed by the Ghana Health Service to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: a qualitative inquiry

BackgroundStrategies for developing and advancing good public relations can be recognized in nearly all fields of life without making an exception for the healthcare industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, matters of public health have gathered more force. The importance of effective public relations for improving healthcare is highlighted by the position that immediate access to reliable health information should be the hallmark of a just society. However, the strategies available for addressing major threats to the uptake of public health services such as mass vaccination campaigns are not properly studied and documented in the Ghanaian context. This organizational case study explored strategies used by healthcare professionals working with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to address COVID-19-related vaccine hesitancy in the country.MethodsWe performed a qualitative inquiry with semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with 25 public health officials of the GHS. The interviews were timed to coincide with the mass deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in four Regions. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Data collected included demographic characteristics, perspectives on public relations strategies used in the past year to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake as well as successes and pitfalls. Thematic analysis was performed with NVIVO software to generate themes from interview transcripts.ResultsFour main themes emerged from the data analysis and these are presented. Healthcare workers perceived vaccine hesitancy to be a threat with the potential to undermine an important strategic organizational goal related to COVID-19 illness. In terms of PR strategies, we determined that a combination of informative, motivational, persuasive and coercive public relations strategies was employed by the Ghana Health Service to address the challenge of vaccine hesitancy. We further found that PR strategies were deployed across both traditional (print, radio, TV) and emerging/social media networks. Officials were optimistic that the strategies would produce results, but were uncertain whether they could attribute current successes or failures to the PR strategies used.ConclusionSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, public relations strategies which have been employed by the Ghana Health Service to address vaccine hesitancy are characterized and catalogued. The nature of the audience and PR strategies employed suggests that the effect of these strategies may be short-lived unless they are constantly reinforced by the GHS. These findings show that effective PR strategies exist for addressing vaccine hesitancy in public health practice.

Organizational team formation: projects, structures, and transactive memory

Abstract Team formation brings together organizational members with complementary capabilities to address projects. This study examines how project-based organizations form teams in response to an ongoing stream of different projects. We consider team formation a phenomenon shaped by organization structure, project attributes, and learning from project experience. We address the effects of two alternative organization structures (functional and team-based) and four project attributes (project size, heterogeneity, decomposability, and ambiguity) on the efficiency of project team staffing. We build these features into two agent-based models grounded on nine case studies of project-based organizations. These models highlight how organizations achieve efficiency in team formation over time as transactive memory develops in response to ongoing project variation. Our models explain how organization structure and particular project attributes affect the development and application of transactive memory.

Public Governance Mechanisms and Organizational Performance Case Study: Cameroon Military Engineering

Public Governance Mechanisms and Organizational Performance Case Study: Cameroon Military Engineering

Public Governance Mechanisms and Organizational Performance Case Study: Cameroon Military Engineering

Reflecting on governance mechanisms and organizational performance of the Cameroon Military Engineering raised some questions on the role of the Army in society in general, developing countries in particular and in the same vein, the efficiency thereof. The questions arising from this thinking are: How can governance mechanisms influence the organizational performance of Military Engineering? A tentative answer to this question is one based on an institutional approach and stakeholder theory to enable the analysis of Military Engineering’s (ME) exposure to several factors and actors. Through qualitative research method, key data was collected from ME documents and interview protocols from 10 executives of the said military organization, including 5 representatives of civilian bodies engaged directly in the projects covered by this research. Data analysis was done using N’VIVO, thematic content analysis software. Results indicated varied and complementary governance mechanisms. These results first cut across every aspect of national defence mission, display trends on gender-based specificities and civil-military relations and provide information on the role played by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). By so doing, they contribute in improving the organizational performance of Cameroon Military Engineering.

Achieving operational resilience through kaizen practice: a case in a commercial livestock farm in Nigeria

PurposeThis study is focused on achieving operational resilience through the practices of kaizen across the operational structure. The research is based on a case study of a commercial livestock farm in Nigeria. The study views the practice of kaizen from the perspective of the commitment of the members of the case study organisation who are directly involved with the operations of the organisation.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies a qualitative approach to explore the topic, engaging members of the case study organisation in the research to gather relevant data on the implementation of kaizen practices and the drive to attain resilience in the case study organisation. Semi-structured personal interviews and workshops were used for data collection. The study adopts systems theory to explore the topic, identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders.FindingsParts of the findings relating to kaizen are the issues with the livestock production process, aggressive leadership and the issue of livestock mortality in the case study organisation. These were discussed based on extant literature. The study affirms the importance of organisational members' commitment and adequate leadership support to achieve sustainable kaizen practices. The study highlights the need to align kaizen practices with relevant organisational practices, such as reward systems and contextual requirements for its implementation in an operational process. The study suggests that further study can focus on the dynamics of the legal system on the implementation of kaizen, especially from a developing economic background like Nigeria, where this study was conducted.Originality/valueThe study projects learning about the spatial factors that can affect the practices of kaizen in critical sectors like livestock management.

Staff experiences of a novel in-reach rehabilitation and recovery service for people with profound and enduring mental health needs.

This organizational case study addresses the research question: What are the experiences of staff who work in a novel in-reach rehabilitation and recovery service for people with profound and enduring mental health needs? Fifteen purposefully sampled staff were recruited from across a novel mental health service that embeds the community sector within inpatient provision. The sample comprises twelve National Health Service and three community voluntary organization staff (four men and eleven women). Data were generated via photo-elicitation in which interviews focused on the photographs participants brought to help convey their experiences of the Service. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. The analysis demonstrates that participants are oriented towards five 'meta-questions': What is recovery? Who is valued and how is it demonstrated? Why are you frustrated in doing the best job you can and what support do you need? How can change occur in staff practices and approaches in an environment embedded in history? and How do we make the Service work in the context of constraints? Eight paired themes were also identified regarding staff experience of the Service: hope and individuality; culture and power; communication and confidence; accountability and limitations. The conclusions of this organizational case study have wide relevance to clinical practice: staff (i) place importance on promoting and developing greater awareness of different approaches to care; (ii) aspire to develop better communication across multidisciplinary teams and (iii) desire greater awareness of the complexities of risk to improve staff confidence.

The interplay of strategic management accounting, business strategy and organizational change: as influenced by a configurational theory

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss the interplay between strategic management accounting (SMA) and three organizational change configurations: strategy, structure and restructuring. This explication occurs within a context that is characterized by organization restructuring and corporate strategy changes within Jordan Customs Organization (JCO).Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a qualitative research approach and presents an interpretive case study of the JCO public sector organization. To collect data, it uses methodological triangulation, which includes interviews, historical and statistical analyses, documents and archival records. It is informed by the theoretical lens of configurational theory and strategic typologies to interpret the influences of organizational change configurations on SMA as it relates to the interplay of strategy, structure and restructuring.FindingsThe study findings agree with the related literature that SMA practices have developed management accounting from important operational transactions to gain a more strategic orientation through integrating customers, human resources, processes and financial departments. This paper concludes that specific SMA techniques have been used for strategizing by organizations in the public sector, providing a valuable counterpoint to the private sector adaptation that has dominated SMA research. This study finds that organizational restructuring has also contributed to decentralization and delegation, which has led to the distribution of tasks and specialization in accounting departments. It also concludes that SMA may facilitate or delay organizational change configurations in JCO. SMA can play a significant role in ensuring that the institution learns in response to organizational changes. On the contrary, this paper also concludes that organizational practices led to changes in SMA rules and routines.Research limitations/implicationsA general criticism of case-study methods is that they lack rigor and provide little basis for generalization. First, case studies tend to be specific and individual, posing significant issues regarding generalization. Therefore, several comparative case studies involving various organizations should be conducted to ascertain if these practices have become more commonplace, especially in the public sector. Second, considering the nature of a government entity and the sensitivity of the information that required confidentiality, certain strategizing imperatives could not be directly examined, such as meetings between top management to make important decisions of strategic significance. This paper has important implications because it highlights the shortcomings of a supercilious singular relationship between strategic choices and the design of SMA practices.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the growing literature by focusing on the relationship between SMA and three organizational change configurations: strategy, structure and restructuring. This paper is informed by the configuration theory perspective commonly used in accounting research. The empirical evidence in this study is provided in an SMA field, where empirical research is needed to be comparable with traditional accounting practices.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES FOR MANAGING TALENT SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR IN NIGERIA, FOCUSING ON RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT

In the rapidly evolving landscape of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, effective talent management has emerged as a pivotal component for organizational success. This systematic review delves into the strategies and practices employed for managing talent within this sector, with a concentrated focus on recruitment, retention, and development. Utilizing a comprehensive search of peer-reviewed journals, industry reports, and organizational case studies, the methodology encompassed qualitative analysis. The main findings revealed that while recruitment strategies are increasingly leveraging technological advancements and localized content, retention efforts are centered around competitive remuneration, career progression, and fostering a conducive work environment. Furthermore, development initiatives prioritize continuous learning, leadership training, and skill enhancement. The implications of these findings underscore the necessity for organizations to adapt to the unique challenges of the Nigerian context, emphasizing the importance of aligning talent management strategies with broader business goals to ensure sustainability and growth in the sector.

Sensory modulation implementation strategies within inpatient mental health services: an organisational case study

PurposeSensory modulation is an emerging approach that aims to reduce distress and agitation in mental health service users and potentially avoid the necessity for coercive practices such as seclusion and restraint. Despite the growing use of this intervention, there has been limited research exploring the implementation of sensory modulation at an organisational level, both internationally and within the New Zealand context. The purpose of this study is to investigate the implementation of a sensory modulation programme in two New Zealand inpatient mental health services using an exploratory organisational case study design.Design/methodology/approachOrganisational case study design methodology was used to explore the implementation of a sensory modulation programme in two New Zealand acute adult inpatient mental health services. This study explored how key organisational and staff factors (including policies and practices related to de-escalation and seclusion reduction) influence sensory modulation implementation. Cases were described and examined the pattern of findings.FindingsStrategies found to support implementation were identified at environmental, organisational, group and individual staff levels. Aspects highlighted as being particularly important included taking an inter-professional approach in leadership and training, rostering flexibility and leeway in staffing levels to support training attendance and responsiveness to crises.Practical implicationsThe facilitators and strategies highlighted in this study may be used to support the design and implementation of future sensory modulation programmes in New Zealand and internationally.Originality/valueThe complexity of factors that influenced the implementation of the sensory modulation approach within an inpatient setting made determining the effectiveness of the approach challenging. However, the general principles and strategies identified in this study offer useful insights for the design and implementation of future sensory modulation programmes.

Social enterprises in culture and the arts: institutional trajectories of hybridisation in the Portuguese changing cultural mix

ABSTRACT Arts and culture gained multiple presence in individual and social life, with economic presence gaining relevance. We focus on social enterprises (SE) in arts and culture standing between the economic-oriented focus on arts and culture, and its socio-political and cultural roles and embeddedness. SEs are characterized by the centrality of a social mission instead of profit and participatory governance. We asked what are SEs in arts and culture and how they are influenced and aim at influencing institutional contexts. We place the research in the context of the Portuguese cultural mix. Based on five in-depth case studies of organisations oriented to the promotion of arts and culture that have social and community interventions, organisations where arts and culture are the main tools for social intervention and social welfare organisations with arts and culture projects, we describe their trajectories and organisational social, economic and governance characteristics. We argue that there is a mix of institutional entrepreneurship, public policies (and their lack) and societal trends influencing SEs pathways towards hybridisation.

Organizational Resistance to Automation Success: How Status Quo Bias Influences Organizational Resistance to an Automated Workflow System in a Public Organization

A number of recent studies have examined the impact of advanced technologies on organizations. However, many (particularly those in developing countries) still face challenges when it comes to the adoption of mature technologies and have also continued to repeat many of the mistakes of early adopters, primarily in relation to automated workflow systems. The current paper analyses a case study of a public organization in the developing country of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of understanding its resistance to change brought about by the implementation of a mature technology, i.e., automated workflow systems. The study undertook semi-structured interviews with employees to establish the nature of this resistance, identifying their preference for familiar processes and systems, alongside their unwillingness to embrace the new system. Furthermore, the study highlighted a number of issues experienced during the implementation of automated workflow systems, including job security; changes in laws and rules; an inability to understand, and/or trust, the technology; the perceived risks and costs associated with change; and the transformation of business processes. It also cited factors related to organizational structure and power, and the discomfort involved in making difficult decisions. This study, therefore, aims to assist organizations to create a sound foundation for change prior to the adoption of more advanced technologies.

Putting context at the forefront: a critical case study of journalists’ layoffs in Mexico

At a time of crisis in news media organizations, with changes in the world of work occurring in different regions, a significant number of newsrooms have been affected by the mass firing of journalists. Multiple layoffs can be understood as part of a broader process of organizational change that is linked to deterioration in the working conditions of media workers and a transformation of journalistic modes of production. To understand the processes of organizational change in news organizations with multiple layoffs, this critical case study of news organizations in a western Mexican city relied on the analysis of data from multiple sources of information. It was found that the processes deriving in multiple layoffs do not develop homogeneously, but take shape according to context-specific characteristics such as, in the Mexican case, the institutional fragility of journalism and the uneven protection of rights across the territory. The collected data set illustrates how the processes of downsizing, convergence and precarization ⎼commonly studied separately⎼ may occur simultaneously and in an integrated fashion. Specific interplays of global and local trends found in this case study include pressure from governments and lack of tools for claiming labor rights.

Psychological distress and workplace risk inequalities among conservation professionals

AbstractWorkplaces can be sources of both stress and support, affecting employees' mental health and productivity. Yet, little research has investigated variability in workplace risk factors for poor mental health in conservation. We aimed to explore how patterns of psychological distress—a state of emotional disturbance—and associated workplace risk factors vary between conservation job roles. Working with three case study organizations in India, South Africa, and Cambodia, we surveyed 280 field‐based, office‐based, and research staff. Moderate or severe psychological distress was reported by 28.9%. Field‐based practitioners reported a greater imbalance between workplace efforts and rewards (0.35 standard deviation (SD), 95% credibility interval (CI) 0.03–0.67) than their colleagues, which was associated with greater psychological distress (0.24 SD, 95% CI 0.10–0.39). After controlling for this mediated relationship, researchers reported greater psychological distress than field‐based practitioners (0.37 SD, 95% CI 0.02–0.72). However, when accounting for all direct and indirect effects, there was no overall difference in distress between roles. Employers, funders, professional societies, and other institutions seeking to support conservationists' mental health should understand and offer support tailored to role‐specific challenges. Doing so might enhance conservationists' wellbeing while strengthening their ability to reverse global nature loss.

Artificial Intelligence and the Indian Media Industry: the Future is now

The Indian media industry is currently undergoing a significant transformation with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI has the potential to revolutionize the way news stories are produced and consumed, providing new opportunities for innovation and growth. However, it is also important to consider the challenges that come with implementing AI in the Indian media industry. This research aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the future of the Indian media industry in the age of AI. The study will analyse the current state of AI in the Indian media industry, focusing on its impact on efficiency, costeffectiveness, personalization, multilingual news production, real-time news generation, and combat against misinformation. Additionally, the research will also explore the challenges that come with the adoption and implementation of AI in the Indian media industry, such as job losses, ethical concerns, and lack of understanding, data, and infrastructure. The study will use both primary and secondary data sources, including interviews with industry experts, case studies of media organizations that have implemented AI, and a review of relevant literature. The research will provide valuable insights for media organizations, policymakers, and researchers on the opportunities and challenges of AI in the Indian media industry, and how it is shaping the future of the industry.

What can outliers teach us about entrepreneurial success?

PurposeStudies of unicorns and gazelles can offer detailed information about the process of enterprise development but are unrepresentative as examples of entrepreneurial success. In presenting a novel method for outlier analysis, this article combines insights from case studies of unusual organizations with explanatory frameworks that management scholars have applied to broader samples of firms, irrespective of their survival.Design/methodology/approachThe authors illustrate the approach to outlier analysis using a prominent case from economic history: the House of Rothschild, founded during the 18th century, which became the most famous investment bank in Europe. Following the iterative refinement of mechanisms using comparison data on Jewish enclave firms, this analysis sheds light on the sources of dissimilarity in outcomes between Rothschild and the comparison group.FindingsThe study results suggest that the House of Rothschild's longevity can be explained via the mechanisms of risk sequencing, intergenerational transfers and spatial brokerage. The authors show that these mechanisms are not idiosyncratic to one enterprise but instead generalize to other family firms.Originality/valueOutlier analysis encourages a rapprochement between case study and large-N research. The high failure rate of new organizations means that those yielding a large amount of information to researchers tend to be exceptional. By obtaining data on a comparison group of startups founded by similar entrepreneurs, analysts can probe the mechanisms of success identified for unicorns or gazelles.

How Can Management Accounting Contribute to Risk Management Strategies Within Organization Case Study of Small and Medium Enterprises: Evidence from Emerging Countries

Purpose: Current study aimed at exploring the impact of management accounting in supporting risks management strategies within Small and Medium Enterprises in Jordan and GCC countries during the fiscal year 2021-2022. Theoretical framework: Competency of management accounting was chosen as the independent variable which included (Strategic Management, Professional Ethics and Values, Reporting and Control, Leadership, Technology and Analytics, Business Acumen and Operations), while the variable of risk management strategies was chosen to be the dependent variable. Design/methodology/approach: Through quantitative approach and distributing a questionnaire on (257) financial and accounting managers within Small and Medium Enterprises in Jordan and GCC countries. Findings: Based on screening the data through SPSS; results of study was able to identify and accept the main hypothesis which argued that "Management accounting competency has a statistically positive influence on risk management strategies within Small and Medium Enterprises in Jordan and GCC countries " with R= 0.877 and a variance of influence that reached 76.9%. As for sub-variables, it was seen through statistical processing that business acumen and operations and leadership were the most influential variables on risk management strategies with a high variance that indicated a statistical influence of 72% and 42.3% respectively. Research, Practical & Social implications: Study recommended developing and increasing awareness of the importance of management accounting in organizational risk management by promoting the comprehensive and integrated perspective and abandoning the individual perspective of management accounting in the organization; further recommendations were presented in the study. Originality/Value: These finding could be used as a reference for Small and Medium Enterprises in Jordan and GCC countries