Case Study Of Organization Research Articles

Using Programme Theory to evaluate Lean interventions in healthcare

Lean in healthcare has continued to attract practitioner and research interest over the past two decades yet lacks evidence of sustained application. This longitudinal case study examines Lean healthcare interventions through the lens of Programme Theory, to provide an understanding of the design and implementation of a Lean programme. Through a qualitative single case study of an NHS organisation implementing Lean, content analysis of 70 reports from a 6-year period was undertaken and supported by interview data from 12 respondents involved in Lean initiatives. Through Programme Theory, we identify contextual moderators, internal and external, informing the design and development of Lean efforts. The key to successful and sustained Lean efforts is staff acceptance of the Programme Theory for delivering and maintaining outcomes. This has been identified as a key social determinant for Lean sustainability. Results from the research provide practical implications for designing a programme that accommodates resource challenges while incorporating multiple contextual drivers. The case study highlights an organisation’s Lean journey and the best practices that evolved; however, further longitudinal investigations are required to validate the findings.

The Affective Dimension of Social Protection: A Case Study of Migrant-Led Organizations and Associations in Germany

This article follows the recent ‘affective turn’ in social sciences and migration scholarship by analyzing the role of emotions in the handling of social risks by people with different migration biographies. The study is based on large-scale research with migrant organizations in Germany, which are important, though often neglected, sources of social protection, identity development, and community building. Interviews and egocentric network diagrams with people using services in various organizations demonstrate the impact of emotions on social protection practices. Contrasting these practices among adult movers, the German-born, and the 1.5 generation with different migration biographies, we shed light on the processual, material, and relational nature and the emotional dimensions of dealing with social risks. In doing so, this work aims to engage in discussions on emotions in migration and settlement processes and to increase the understanding of their impact on social protection.

Physiotherapy as part of primary health care, Italy.

To describe the Family and Community Physiotherapist model, which aims to incorporate rehabilitation services within primary health care in Tuscany, Italy. The Department of Health Professions of the Central Tuscany local health authority designed the model during 2020-2021. We describe the four phases of the organizational case study implementation of the model, namely: (i)analysis of the political and organizational framework, as well as determination of changing health-care needs; (ii)model co-design and training of multiprofessional health-care workers (local general practitioners, physiatrists and geriatricians); (iii)delivery and surveillance of rehabilitation services; and (iv)evaluation. During the initial roll-out of the project in April-December 2021, general practitioners referred 165 patients with a mean age of 83.7years (standard deviation: 11.1) to the Family and Community Physiotherapist. Interventions were mainly activated for patients with comorbidities (64/165; 38.8%), followed by those with long-term immobilization issues (36/165; 21.8%). The most commonly provided intervention was counselling, contributing to the achievement of objectives for 127 patients (77.0%). A full rehabilitation path was proposed for only 10 patients (6.1%). No additional costs were incurred by the health authority during the implementation of the model. Our model facilitated the provision of rehabilitative care in the community, preventing the exacerbation of chronic conditions and meeting the population health needs in non-hospital environments. The model overcame the typical lack of integration within health-care services with flexibility, promoting care proximity solutions to cope with health challenges such as an ageing population and the coronavirus disease.

Implementing Agile Testing Methodologies in Banking Software Project

Agile software development has been increasingly popular in a number of sectors in recent years. Financial businesses are used to this tendency since it requires them to respond to changes in their business environments more swiftly. Agile approaches have emerged to address the limitations of old ones. In response to the ever-changing and dynamic nature of the business environment, software development businesses are increasingly implementing agile methodologies. The word "Agile" originally arose in the disciplines of software development and project management around thirty years ago. It is used to research with wide-ranging implications, and it is utilized at different levels and in different circumstances. Scrum, kanban, large-scale scrum (LeSS), spotify model, continuous integration, Scaled Agile Lean Development (SCALeD), and many more variations of the agile methodology have emerged. Initially implemented at the individual software development and team level, agile has developed into projects, programs, solutions, and portfolios over time, ultimately reaching full-service growth into an enterprise level framework. In order to examine agile methodologies, models, and practices in a less researched area of the banking and financial services industry—from software development and modelling to large-scale case study organization levels—a unique methodology to surveying the literature has been presented in this paper. The study's conclusion outlines the contributing variables, best practices, advantages, and lessons that professionals in the banking and financial services industries may apply to create a simplified, agile deployment.

“One of these things is not like the others”: the role of authentic leadership in cross-cultural leadership development

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore a possible relationship between the presence of authentic organisational leadership and the leadership development experience.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a qualitative exploratory hybrid research design which draws on data from multiple sources. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews, document analysis and non-participant observations across two case study organisations in Saudi Arabia.FindingsThe authors' findings suggest that the presence of authentic leadership (AL) within an organisation is a significant factor in the leadership development experience. This study also highlights the key importance of advancing leadership development theory that is holistic and comprehensive.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted as case studies within a specific social context. Findings cannot be generalised but offer valuable direction for future research.Originality/valueThe research advances leadership development theory by highlighting the inadequacy of the person-focussed perspective and offering exploratory evidence for the role of social context, organisational leadership and organisational artefacts in the leadership development process.

Resilient supply management systems in times of crisis

PurposeThis study investigated how organizations can maintain their supply chain (SC) resilience in situations where high-impact shocks cannot be absorbed and what capabilities are needed. The article is an empirical exploration of a socio-ecological view of resilience in the SC context.Design/methodology/approachThe case under study in this article is that of Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) and MSF's reconfiguration of its supply management processes in response to the supply shocks during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In total, 503 internal documents and ERP extractions from six databases from late 2019 to September 2020, 43 semi-structured interviews and a 3-round policy Delphi process were used to investigate this phenomenon.FindingsThe authors' results show that throughout the pandemic, MSF adapted its procurement and supply processes to cope with supply shortages at both the international and local levels of the SC. This was possible due to the organization's capacity to use its exploitation and exploration capabilities of the organization at the same time.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is based on the single in-depth case study of a medical aid organization. Further research should investigate this phenomenon in commercial companies with similar or different organizational structures.Originality/valueThis study constitutes a first attempt to empirically demonstrate that the four phases of the adaptive cycle put forth in the panarchy theory constitute a suitable representation of the reconfigurations that SCs follow in response to a high-impact shock. The study also adds to the growing body of knowledge on resilience by including ambidexterity as a mechanism to achieve resilience.

Sustainability objectives and collaboration lifecycle in cluster organizations

In our paper, we combine two issues, collaboration in cluster organizations and sustainability, aiming to answer the question: Does complex governance structure of cluster organizations support members in formulating and reaching sustainability objectives? Based on four case studies of cluster organizations and a still novel abductive approach, we present the ways in which sustainability was executed in their functioning. Our study shows that the role of cluster organizations in formulating and reaching sustainability objectives varied with regard to their collaboration life cycle. The “Formation” stage laid the foundations for collaboration and relational governance, the “Growth” stage aimed at improving the economic performance of cluster members, while the “Extension” stage impacted more cluster stakeholders with regard to the economic, social and environmental sustainability objectives. Nevertheless, stakeholders’ self-interest induced collaboration, whereas relational governance was its essential feature. Moreover, the potential of cluster organizations’ governance structures was not fully exploited in the context of sustainability, their structures have played a role in raising awareness, but it was more the competitive factors that drove companies to engage in an activity because they wanted to stay in the market, change the conditions and keep up with trends. Our research also provides practical implications for various cluster organizations’ stakeholders.

Staff perceptions of organisational performance measurement implementation in a health charity.

The non-acute health charity sector forms part of the global health services industry. Organisational Performance Measurement (OPM) is fundamental for modern business to achieve sustained excellence yet is under-utilised by non-acute health charities. The Non-Acute Health Charity Performance Implementation Framework (NCPI Framework) was developed to support non-acute health charities undertaking OPM. A non-acute health charity case study undertook a 12-month OPM implementation process using the NCPI Framework. This study had three aims. Firstly, to understand the perceptions of staff employed by the case study organisation regarding their experience of the 12-month NCPI Framework implementation process, secondly to identify whether an interrelationship existed between the NCPI Framework's implementation elements and the staff's perspectives, and thirdly, identify areas of strength and improvement which could enhance the NCPI Framework's effectiveness. Data were collected post implementation and analysed thematically from open-ended question responses from an anonymous survey and semi-structured interviews. Participants supported the introduction of OPM and valued the NCPI Framework's structured implementation guidelines. Six interrelated themes were identified: clarity, adaptability, alignment, transparent communication, capability and accountability. Participants suggested adaptations to enhance the NCPI Framework's impact. A culture aligned with organisational learning was identified as potentially having a positive impact on the NCPI Framework's implementation. The NCPI Framework may also have relevance and application to the non-profit industry beyond non-acute health care and for use in program development and service quality initiatives.

Quality Management System in Education: Application of Quality Management Models in Educational Organization—Case Study from the Slovak Republic

The main mission of the internal quality system in educational institutions is to develop the importance of quality in all processes, create suitable conditions for increasing the loyalty and professional development of faculty staff, continually improve student satisfaction, and achieve recognition of educational institutions in the eyes of the public. In the Introduction, this paper covers the current state of the field of quality assurance of higher education in Slovakia. Quality management models that can be used appropriately and effectively in university conditions are identified in the next section. The aim of this overview section was to summarize the advantages and disadvantages resulting from the implementation of quality management models. The paper also includes a case study in which selected models of quality management implemented at a private university in Slovakia are described, especially the process model ISO 9001 and the common assessment framework (CAF) model. The self-assessment within the CAF model was carried out by a questionnaire survey; the obtained data were assessed by classical CAF scoring. The aim of the self-assessment was to identify problem areas and opportunities for improvement and to propose corrective actions. The specifics of the implementation of quality management models at a private university and the benefits resulting from the application are also been defined at the end of the article.

Managing business model innovation uncertainties in 5G technology: a future‐oriented sensemaking perspective

It is well‐established that technology – and particularly the uncertainties caused by emerging disruptive technologies – has an impact on industrial dynamics, forcing organizations to reimagine their business models. The in‐depth qualitative case study of a Nordic telecom organization shows that the uncertainties created by disruptive technologies initiate a process of sensemaking and business model innovation, while the new business model becomes manifested at the final phase of the process (i.e., enactment). The newly developed business model has three dimensions reflecting value‐centric activities, internal changes, and attempts to capitalize on external opportunities. Investigating the way in which managers handle uncertainties related to 5G, this research argues that business model innovation emerges from a future‐oriented sensemaking process. The process model developed in this study entails three distinct phases disaggregated into eight underlying dimensions. The present study contributes in two ways: first, it advances our understanding about managing future uncertainties regarding business model innovation by identifying future‐oriented sensemaking as a mechanism to manage these uncertainties. Second, it sheds light on the process model underpinning future‐oriented sensemaking for business model innovation.

Investigating the ‘Mission and Profit’ Paradox: Case Study of an Ecopreneurial Organisation in India

Based on a case study of a waste management services provider in India, this paper sets out to investigate how an ecopreneurial organisation balances the competing demands of environmental mission and profit generation. Results indicate that two internal organisational mechanisms, namely Leadership, and Organisational Processes, are instrumental in achieving the dual goals. The paper highlights the role of contextual factors in supporting such organisations, and in doing so, it responds to the call for research to examine social entrepreneurship in wider contexts including Asia, Latin America, and Africa, to address ‘marginalisation’ of studies in the field.

Exploring the work and organisation of local Healthwatch in England: a mixed-methods ethnographic study

BackgroundLocal Healthwatch organisations are an important part of the landscape of health and care commissioning and provision in England. In addition, local Healthwatch organisations are a key means by which users of services are given voice to influence decisions about health and care commissioning and provision.ObjectiveWe aimed to explore and enhance the operation and impact of local Healthwatch in ensuring effective patient and public voice in the commissioning and provision of NHS services.DesignWe used mixed methods, including a national survey (96/150 responses, 68%); actor network theory-inspired ethnographic data collection in five local Healthwatch organisations (made up of 75 days’ fieldwork, 84 semistructured interviews, 114 virtual interviews, observations during the COVID-19 pandemic and documentary analysis) and serial interviews about experiences during the pandemic with 11 Healthwatch staff and four volunteers who were members of a Healthwatch Involvement Panel (which also guided data collection and analysis). Finally, we ran five joint interpretive forums to help make sense of our data.SettingOur five Healthwatch case study organisations are of varying size and organisational form and are located in different parts of England.ResultsWe found significant variation in the organisation and work of Healthwatch organisations nationally, including hosting arrangements, scale of operations, complexity of relationships with health and care bodies, and sources of income beyond core funding. Key points of divergence that were consequential for Healthwatch activities included the degree of autonomy from host organisations and local understandings of accountability to various constituencies. These points of divergence gave rise to very different modes of operation and different priorities for enacting the nationally prescribed responsibilities of Healthwatch organisations locally. Large variations in funding levels created Healthwatch organisations that diverged not just in scale but in focus. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, Healthwatch found new approaches to giving voice to the views of the public and formed effective relationships with other agencies.RecommendationsWe identified generalisable principles of good practice regarding the collection and communication of evidence. Policy implications relate to (1) the overall funding regime for Healthwatch and potential inequalities in what is available to local populations and (2) the development of Healthwatch’s role given the evolution of local health and care systems since 2012.Future workFuture studies should explore (1) the consequences of the development of integrated care systems for local Healthwatch organisations, (2) Healthwatch in an international comparative perspective, (3) how the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has reconfigured the voluntary sector locally and (4) how Healthwatch responds formally and informally to a newly emerging focus on public health and health inequalities.LimitationsThe survey sought only self-reported information on impact and we were unable to recruit a Healthwatch that hosted several contracts.ConclusionsThe diversity of the Healthwatch network belies its otherwise unitary appearance. This diversity – especially in differential funding arrangements – has considerable implications for equity of access to influencing health and care planning and provision for residents across England.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme and will be published in full inHealth and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 10, No. 32. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Recovery Colleges Characterisation and Testing in England (RECOLLECT): rationale and protocol

BackgroundRecovery Colleges are a relatively recent initiative within mental health services. The first opened in 2009 in London and since then numbers have grown. They are based on principles of personal recovery in mental health, co-production between people with lived experience of mental health problems and professionals, and adult learning. Student eligibility criteria vary, but all serve people who use mental health services, with empirical evidence of benefit. Previously we developed a Recovery College fidelity measure and a preliminary change model identifying the mechanisms of action and outcomes for this group, which we refer to as service user students. The Recovery Colleges Characterisation and Testing (RECOLLECT) study is a five-year (2020–2025) programme of research in England. The aim of RECOLLECT is to determine Recovery Colleges’ effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, and identify organisational influences on fidelity and improvements in mental health outcomes. MethodsRECOLLECT comprises i) a national survey of Recovery Colleges, ii) a prospective cohort study to establish the relationship between fidelity, mechanisms of action and psychosocial outcomes, iii) a prospective cohort study to investigate effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, iv) a retrospective cohort study to determine the relationship between Recovery College use and outcomes and mental health service use, and v) organisational case studies to establish the contextual and organisational factors influencing fidelity and outcomes. The programme has been developed with input from individuals who have lived experience of mental health problems. A Lived Experience Advisory Panel will provide input into all stages of the research.DiscussionRECOLLECT will provide the first rigorous evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Recovery Colleges in England, to inform their prioritising, commissioning, and running. The validated RECOLLECT multilevel change model will confirm the active components of Recovery Colleges. The fidelity measure and evidence about the fidelity-outcome relationship will provide an empirically-based approach to develop Recovery Colleges, to maximise benefits for students. Findings will be disseminated through the study website (researchintorecovery.com/recollect) and via national and international Recovery College networks to maximise impact, and will shape policy on how Recovery Colleges can help those with mental health problems lead empowered, meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Guiding organisational decision-making about COVID-19 asymptomatic testing in workplaces: mixed-method study to inform an ethical framework

BackgroundWorkplace programmes to test staff for asymptomatic COVID-19 infection have become common, but raise a number of ethical challenges. In this article, we report the findings of a consultation that informed the development of an ethical framework for organisational decision-making about such programmes.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-method consultation – a survey and semi-structured interviews during November–December 2020 in a UK case study organisation that had introduced asymptomatic testing for all staff working on-site in its buildings. Analysis of closed-ended survey data was conducted descriptively. An analysis approach based on the Framework Method was used for the open-ended survey responses and interview data. The analyses were then integrated to facilitate systematic analysis across themes. Inferences were based on the integrated findings and combined with other inputs (literature review, ethical analysis, legal and public health guidance, expert discussions) to develop an ethical framework.ResultsThe consultation involved 61 staff members from the case study organisation (50 survey respondents and 11 interview participants). There was strong support for the asymptomatic testing programme: 90% of the survey respondents viewed it as helpful or very helpful. Open-ended survey responses and interviews gave insight into participants’ concerns, including those relating to goal drift, risk of false negatives, and potential negative impacts for household members and people whose roles lacked contractual and financial stability. Integration of the consultation findings and the other inputs identified the importance of a whole-system approach with appropriate support for the key control measure of isolation following positive tests. The need to build trust in the testing programme, for example through effective communication from leaders, was also emphasised.ConclusionsThe consultation, together with other inputs, informed an ethical framework intended to support employers. The framework may support organisational decision-making in areas ranging from design and operation of the programme through to choices about participation. The framework is likely to benefit from further consultation and refinement in new settings.

Hoshin Kanri Process: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis on the Connection of Theory and Practice

The review assesses the Hoshin Kanri process from the point of view of theory and practice implementations in different organizations. There are several adaptations of Hoshin Kanri and a wide range of tools used in each organization. This review aims to determine which and how companies have implemented the afore-mentioned methodology into their strategic management. The PRISMA statement was the framework for the present research. The structure for this study was obtained through a review of articles from two of the most important databases (Scopus and Web of Science). The review focuses on three parts: the theoretical basis of the methodology, a bibliometric overview of the selected articles, and practical insight into the implementation of Hoshin Kanri within the case-study organizations. Since the study’s purpose is to determine not only the companies where Hoshin Kanri was implemented but also the reasons and results of those implementations, therefore, 26 journal articles covering detailed implementations were selected.

Procurement performance improvement: A case study of non-profit organization in Myanmar

Procurement performance improvement: A case study of non-profit organization in Myanmar

The appropriation of conversational AI in the workplace: A taxonomy of AI chatbot users

There is an exponential growth of the use of AI applications in organisations. Due to the machine learning capability of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, it is critical that such systems are used continuously in order to generate rich use data that allow them to learn, evolve and mature into a better fit for their user and organisational context. This research focuses on the actual use of conversational AI, in particular AI chatbot, as one type of workplace AI application to answer the research question: how do employees experience the use of an AI chatbot in their day-to-day work? Through a qualitative case study of a large international organisation and by performing an inductive analysis, the research uncovers the different ways in which users appropriate the AI chatbot and identifies two key dimensions that determine their type of use: the dominant mode of interaction and the understanding of the AI chatbot technology. Based on these dimensions, a taxonomy of users is presented, which classifies users of AI chatbots into four types: early quitters, pragmatics, progressives, and persistents. The findings contribute to the understanding of how conversational AI, particularly AI chatbots, is used in organisations and pave the way for further research in this regard. The implications for practice are also discussed.

Tourism and Biodiversity: A Paradoxical Relationship

Biodiversity has a vital role to play in tourism and yet a paradox lies at the core of the relationship between tourism and biodiversity. On the one hand, biodiversity is at the heart of what drives the tourism industry, while on the other hand tourism activities contribute to the continuing loss of biodiversity, This commentary paper explores the relationships between tourism and biodiversity, and includes an outline of the basic characteristics of biodiversity, and of tourism, a short review of some of the project and policy reports and the academic literature on the relationship between tourism and biodiversity, a cameo case study of the recent United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (2020) ‘One Planet Vision for a Responsible Recovery of the Tourism Sector’, and some concluding reflections. Keywords: tourism, biodiversity, tourism industry, sustainability, COVID-19 pandemic

Benefits, challenges, critical success factors and motivations of Quality 4.0 – A qualitative global study

Purpose – Quality 4.0 (Q4.0) is nascent, but many organisations have started their journeys on Q4.0. This study seeks to investigate the real-time organisational benefits and motivations for deploying Q4.0 and understand current Q4.0 initiatives along with the skills, challenges, and critical success factors required to implement Q4.0. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative interview approach was utilised by interviewing a global panel of senior management, and operational excellence professionals from leading companies deploying Q4.0. Findings – This study provides a theoretical base for the organisational adoption of Q4.0 and understanding the benefits, challenges, critical success factors, motivations, and skillsets required. The challenges to Q4.0 identified include gaining management commitment to invest in technology and guide the organisational strategy to implement Q4.0. The skillset required for Q4.0 includes data science, data analysis, and knowledge of Industry 4.0 technology in order adapt to the increased world of digitalisation and smart factories. Research limitations – Most of the interviewees who participated in this study represent four continents. There is an opportunity for a detailed longitudinal study, analysis, and case studies in individual organisations. Originality/value – This is the first global study on Q4.0 that captures the viewpoints of senior management professionals deploying Q4.0.

Exploring the antecedents of shared leadership in event organisations

This research explores the antecedents of sharing leadership throughout an event management organisation. Previous research into shared leadership has been shown to improve team performance and effectiveness in organisations with team-based structures, involved in knowledge work and operating within high pressured environments. We propose therefore that shared leadership offers a useful solution to the problems presented by the rapidly changing and challenging event industry environment. However, little is known about how shared leadership happens within project multi-teams and research into the antecedents of shared leadership is still in its infancy. To enrich the current understanding, we employed exploratory qualitative research involving three case study organisations. Our findings were drawn from 34 in-depth interviews and 33 h of observation with participants from all layers of the management hierarchy and employees from across experiential event management agencies. We identified the antecedents of shared leadership at all levels of management: at the leadership team level, organisational leaders must communicate a clear vision, and act with transparency whilst empowering staff to enact leadership. At the project multi-team level, team members must be willing to collaborate with, and recognise the expertise of other team members and, at an individual level, employees must interact with empathy and good communication. Our findings illuminate how the sharing of leadership relies on multi-level interactions in which management, teams and individuals participate. Based on the findings, the implications for both theory and management practice are discussed and, given the exploratory, qualitative, nature of the study, future research directions are recommended.