Organizational Complexity Research Articles

Justice at the Forefront: Cultivating felt accountability towards Artificial Intelligence among healthcare professionals

The advent of AI has ushered in a new era of patient care, but with it emerges a contentious debate surrounding accountability for algorithmic medical decisions. Within this discourse, a spectrum of views prevails, ranging from placing accountability on AI solution providers to laying it squarely on the shoulders of healthcare professionals. In response to this debate, this study, grounded in the mutualistic partner choice (MPC) model of the evolution of morality, seeks to establish a configurational framework for cultivating felt accountability towards AI among healthcare professionals. This framework underscores two pivotal conditions: AI ethics enactment and trusting belief in AI and considers the influence of organizational complexity in the implementation of this framework. Drawing on Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) of a sample of 401 healthcare professionals, this study reveals that a) focusing justice and autonomy in AI ethics enactment along with building trusting belief in AI reliability and functionality reinforces healthcare professionals’ sense of felt accountability towards AI, b) fostering felt accountability towards AI necessitates ensuring the establishment of trust in its functionality for high complexity hospitals, and c) prioritizing justice in AI ethics enactment and trust in AI reliability is essential for low complexity hospitals.

“God, whatever you do, don't tell people it's unsafe”: Public transport service providers' perspectives on women's safety from sexual violence on public transport

In Australia, one in two women have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime and one in five women has experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. Public facing organizations, such as public transport providers, have a role to play in providing safe environments and preventing violence.Our study examined the experiences and views of those working in public transport delivery organizations about the organizational challenges and opportunities to provide safe transport for women. Using Normalization Process Theory (NPT), our analysis of 19 semi-structured in-depth interviews with stakeholders focused on three key areas: making sense of safety of women on public transport; working towards women's safety on public transport; and monitoring the progress of safety initiatives.We found that public transport is delivered by multiple stakeholders, with individual and combined organizational and relational complexity. Participants highlighted the importance of leadership and the need for an overarching strategy for women's safety. Macro-level organizational and environmental barriers to implementing safety initiatives include a lack of proactive, consistent, and collaborative approaches. Differing understandings of what women's safety means can lead to conflicting strategies among organizations, but there are opportunities to develop and integrate enhanced and conceptually consistent training and policies in response to women's safety. At the micro-level, providers recognize the need to prioritize safety for women across public transport. Our findings indicate key opportunities to inform the development of interventions and policies for public transport, and public facing organizations more broadly, to provide for and sustain women's safety.

Complexity in Construction Projects: A Literature Review

Improper understanding of complexity can be a leading factor in the failure of construction projects. This study aims to provide a better understanding of the complexity of construction projects. For this purpose, this study uses the systematic literature review (SLR) approach to review the related literature and propose a definition for complexity and the criteria that affect the degree of complexity in construction. The results of analyzing 49 studies from the literature showed that, generally, complexity is understood in three ways: the meaning of the word “complexity”, system and organizational complexity, and project complexity. Within these three types of definitions, it was found that “interdependency” and “multiple parts/parties” are the most frequently used keywords. The results also showed that another look at the current lingual definition of complexity is needed. Regarding the criteria, the results showed that the “number of stakeholders”, “scope and project objectives”, and “management structure” are the most important criteria to assess construction project complexity. Accordingly, this study provides a set of recommendations and strategies to help manage complexity in construction projects.

#Trending: Environmental perception in US higher music education

This study measured the environmental perception (EP) of higher music education in the United States through the Higher Music Education Organizational Adaptation Survey. Music leaders were surveyed (n = 100) using items adapted from EP research in other disciplines. Diverse music units were found to exhibit moderate levels of EP and organizational complexity was found to be a significant factor in EP level. This study is highly significant for academic leaders in music due to the rapid evolution of the music industry and the need for higher music education to understand the complexity of its environment. Results also hold significance for all creative fields in higher education as a measurement of the relationship between academia and industry.

Projectized Community of Practice: A Case Study of Globally Distributed Information Technology Organization

The execution of globally distributed information technology service projects (GDITP) by globally distributed teams, while inherently complex, offers the advantages of swift implementation and seamless service delivery to global clients. The numerous challenges including the intangibility of customer specifications, the iterative nature of information technology (IT) activities and coordination difficulties arising from diverse teams contribute to complexity in managing these projects. Moreover, the organizational complexity is compounded by competing power centres, turning project delivery into a politically contested process. In traditional projects such as construction or customized manufacturing, overcoming aforementioned challenges through strong top-down leadership is typical in many time-bound projects. However, in the realm of IT projects, which are inherently people-centric, enforcing a command-and-control environment is challenging. Communities-of-practice (CoP) offer an alternative structure that engages highly skilled employees in a collaborative community, navigating the challenges posed by IT projects. Our study explores this innovative approach, focusing on a product firm effectively leveraging CoPs to successfully execute global service projects. Delving into the functioning of CoPs, our research illustrates how they scale up using both formal and informal networks to meet diverse global customer requirements. Despite operating globally, CoPs exhibit emergent collective mindfulness, adapting tools, processes and products to the demands of the projects. The study also details how the organization manages complexity while adhering to product architecture and a uniform project framework.

Meso-Foundations of Experiential Education in Ontario Universities: A Content Analysis of the Province’s Strategic Mandate Agreements

Experiential education, the process of providing students with applied learning opportunities within and outside the classroom, is rife with organizational complexity. This article examines Ontario’s Strategic Mandate Agreements using qualitative content analysis to see how conceptions and communications of experiential learning have changed over time, and how universities have responded to government pressure to foster experiential learning. Drawing on frame analysis, findings reveal that universities have developed a considerable amount of institutional infrastructure and initiatives to support the expansion of experiential learning, and these efforts have been framed in relation to current discourse about graduate skill readiness. However, these outward signalling responses are not necessarily aligned with internal organizational processes (i.e., expansion of co-curricular learning). These mandate agreements represent official accounts of institutional priorities, which leave the door open for future research to examine micro-foundations of experiential learning through the perspectives of the faculty and staff inhabiting these institutions.

Supportive Interventions of Chinese Police in Domestic Violence: Do Officer Knowledge and Training Matter?

Policing domestic violence (DV) poses significant challenges in China due to cultural, legal, and organizational complexities. Policing DV in China favors mediation over assertive interventions, complicating law enforcement's role. While previous research has focused on coercive interventions by Chinese police, there is limited information on non-coercive, supportive approaches. This study investigates the relationship between police officers' knowledge and training regarding the Anti-DV law and their willingness to provide supportive services to DV victims in China. It also considers various individual and organizational factors. The data used in this study are derived from the Policing DV in China project, with a sample of 1,353 respondents who had experience dealing with DV cases within the past 3 years. The study focuses on three dependent variables representing supportive approaches to DV cases: Referral, Counseling, and Protection orders. Independent variables include officers' knowledge of the Anti-DV law and agency training. Control variables include the use of body-worn cameras (BWC) and attitudes toward Violence Tolerance, Male Dominance, and Gender Equality. Additionally, demographic variables, working environment, length of service, and police rank are considered. The analytical approach involves a three-step strategy, incorporating descriptive, bivariate analyses, and regression analyses. The results are interpreted using odds ratios and average marginal effects, and statistical software such as SPSS by IBM and R by Open-Source Model is utilized for data analysis. Key findings indicate that more than half of the officers referred intimate partner violence survivors to shelters and assisted victims in filing protection orders. Counseling practices varied across provinces and between male and female officers. Agency training and the use of BWC were positively associated with non-coercive and supportive approaches, while knowledge of the DV Act, male dominance score, and gender equality score did not predict the use of such approaches. Demographic characteristics, including police rank, length of service, and province of employment, influenced the utilization of non-coercive and supportive approaches. This study examines the challenges faced by Chinese police officers when responding to DV cases and their willingness to provide supportive interventions. The study highlights the complexities surrounding the initiation of protection orders due to officers' legal knowledge and discretion. The study emphasizes the importance of police support in addressing DV in China and the role of agency training in promoting non-coercive responses. It highlights regional variations in police support and underscores the need for addressing disparities in service provision across different provinces.

A global perspective on school leadership: Evidence from a latent class analysis on OECD TALIS data

Previous research highlighted the existence of multiple educational leadership styles; however, evidence on their multidimensional application is limited. The current study defines an innovative cross-national classification for school leaders along the two dimensions of instructional and distributed leadership. We apply a three-step Latent Class Analysis to transnationally generalizable Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Teaching and Learning International Survey 2013 data, with N = 9384 school principals surveyed across 32 countries. From here, we identify four sub-groups of leaders: integrating leaders (64.9% of the sample), who adopt instructional and distributed leadership in an integrated way, participative leaders (22.2%) and supportive leaders (8.5%), who are respectively high only on distributed or instructional leadership, and contingent leaders (4.4%), without a specific a priori leadership approach. Features specific to the principals, the schools and the school context are significantly related to leadership sub-group membership and important moderators of the correlation between types of leadership and students’ test scores, as analyzed for a subset of countries. As implications for leadership policy and practice, the cross-country prevalence of integrating leaders might increase the level of organizational complexity, while the geographical distribution of leadership classes highlights the important role played by cultural aspects in influencing leadership practices.

New horizons in frailty identification via electronic frailty indices: early implementation lessons from experiences in England and the United States.

Frailty represents an integrative prognostic marker of risk that associates with a myriad of age-related adverse outcomes in older adults. As a concept, frailty can help to target scarce resources and identify subgroups of vulnerable older adults that may benefit from interventions or changes in medical management, such as pursing less aggressive glycaemic targets for frail older adults with diabetes. In practice, however, there are several operational challenges to implementing frailty screening outside the confines of geriatric medicine. Electronic frailty indices (eFIs) based on the theory of deficit accumulation, derived from routine data housed in the electronic health record, have emerged as a rapid, feasible and valid approach to screen for frailty at scale. The goal of this paper is to describe the early experience of three diverse groups in developing, implementing and adopting eFIs (The English National Health Service, US Department of Veterans Affairs and Atrium Health-Wake Forest Baptist). These groups span different countries and organisational complexity, using eFIs for both research and clinical care, and represent different levels of progress with clinical implementation. Using an implementation science framework, we describe common elements of successful implementation in these settings and set an agenda for future research and expansion of eFI-informed initiatives.

Enhancing Public Financial Management through Performance Evaluation and Cost Systems

Purpose: This study aims to explore public financial management (PFM) through performance evaluation and cost systems, seeking to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of managing public funds. The study highlights the importance of integrating performance evaluation and cost systems to achieve optimal resource allocation and transparency in attaining societal objectives. Research Design and Methodology: This research employs a qualitative approach through a literature review. The research process involves systematic searches of relevant literature, thematic analysis, and synthesis of findings from various studies. The focus is on the design, implementation, and impact of performance evaluation and cost systems in PFM and the challenges and opportunities encountered in their application. Findings and Discussion: The findings indicate that integrating performance evaluation and cost systems can improve public financial management by providing more comprehensive information for decision-making. This integration enables governments to allocate resources more efficiently, identify areas for improvement, and enhance transparency and accountability in managing public funds. However, the study also identifies challenges related to data availability, organizational complexity, and cultural resistance to change. Implications: This study has a practical impact on governments and policymakers in optimizing public financial management. Investment in data infrastructure, capacity-building, and change management strategies is necessary to overcome challenges in implementing integrated performance evaluation and cost systems. Furthermore, the study encourages further research to explore these integrated systems' long-term impact and sustainability in different contexts.

Can digital transformation reduce R&D investment disruption during the top executive transition period?

AbstractThis study examines whether digital transformation can reduce research and development (R&D) investment disruption during the top executive transition period. Using panel data of A‐listed firms in China from 2007 to 2021, we find that top executive turnover (TET) generally leads to a remarkable reduction in R&D investment, while digital transformation can significantly mitigate the negative impact of TET on R&D investment. Moreover, the smooth management transition effect of digital transformation is more pronounced for firms with outside succession and high organizational complexity. We further divide R&D investments into exploratory and exploitative R&D investments. Compared to exploitative R&D investment, exploratory R&D investment is more adversely affected by TET, and digital transformation has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between them. Our findings suggest that digital transformation enables companies to maintain continuous R&D investment during the top executive transition by improving communication efficiency and enhancing organizational learning.

Development of a project complexity measurement model for metro rail projects

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to develop a project complexity index (PCI) model using the best and worst method (BWM) to quantitatively analyze the impact of project complexities on the performance of metro rail projects.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a two-phase research methodology. The first phase identifies complexities through a literature review and expert discussions and categorizes different types of complexities in metro rail projects. In the second phase, BWM, a robust multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique, was used to prioritize key complexities, and a PCI model was developed. Further, the developed PCI was validated through case studies, and sensitivity analysis was performed to check the accuracy and applicability of the developed PCI model.FindingsThe analysis revealed that location complexity exerted the most substantial influence on project performance, followed by environmental, organizational, technological and contractual complexities. Sensitivity analysis revealed the varying impacts of complexity indices on the overall project complexity.Practical implicationsThe study's findings offer a novel approach for measuring project complexity's impact on metro rail projects. This allows stakeholders to make informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently and plan strategically.Originality/valueThe existing studies on project complexity identification and quantification were limited to megaprojects other than metro rail projects. Efforts to quantitatively study and analyze the impact of project complexity on metro rail projects are left unattended. The developed PCI model and its validation contribute to the field by providing a definite method to measure and manage complexity in metro rail projects.

Assessing project complexity factors for railway megaprojects: a Delphi-BWM approach

Purpose Project complexity (PC) governs project success, but the project management literature primarily focuses on performance measures and rarely examines the complexity factors, especially for megaprojects. This paper aims to determine the most significant complexity factors for the railway megaprojects in India. Design/methodology/approach A mixed approach using the Delphi and best–worst method (BWM) helped to identify, validate and determine the most critical factors that require intervention to diminish variance from project performance. Findings The BWM resulted in stakeholder management, followed by organizational and technological complexity as significant complexity factors, and the varied interests of the stakeholder as the most important among the 40 subfactors. Practical implications The finding indicates the necessity for strategic, tactical and operational-level interventions to effectively manage the complexity affecting project efficiency because of the varied stakeholders. This paper will guide the project and general managers to prioritize their resources to handle complexity for effective project performance measured in terms of time, cost and quality and help them make strategic decisions. The research findings of this study are expected to help researchers and practitioners in better planning and smoother execution of projects. In addition, this study would help the researchers formulate policies and strategies for better handling of the projects. Originality/value This study adds significant value to the body of knowledge related to PC in megaprojects in developing countries. The result of the investigation underlined that nine complexity factors and seven unique subfactors, namely, the sustainable environment, timely availability of information, communication in both directions, interdepartmental dependency and coordination, design, statutory norms, site challenges, socioeconomic conditions, the tendency of staff to accept new technology and the frequent changes in the requirements of stakeholders are significant in railway megaprojects. The BWM is applied to rank the complexity factors and subfactors in the case area.

Local management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway: a longitudinal interview study of municipality chief medical officers

Objective To explore the experiences and views of Norwegian Municipality Chief Medical Officers (MCMOs) on preparedness, collaboration, and organization during the COVID-19 pandemic to gain insight into local crisis management of value for future pandemic responses. Design Longitudinal qualitative interview study. We conducted semi-structured digital interviews with nine MCMOs working in different municipalities in Norway from September to December 2020. Five MCMOs were re-interviewed from January to April 2021. We used thematic analysis to analyze the data. Results Through the analysis, three major themes were identified in the material; 1) The view of preparedness changed from being low-priority and dormant to the desire to strengthen preparedness as a permanent measure; 2) The nature of the pandemic forced a change in internal and external communication and collaboration for the MCMOs towards direct dialogue, teamwork and digital networking; 3) The pandemic changed the role and position of the MCMO within the municipal organization. Although most MCMOs were given a leading role in the municipal pandemic response, some MCMOs experienced that they were not positioned to fully exercise their intended role. In our material, de-authorization of the MCMO role seemed to coincide with the increasing size and organizational complexity of the municipality. Conclusions The Norwegian pandemic response and outcome have been regarded as successful internationally. Although the MCMOs managed to implement flexible and quick responses facilitated by teamwork, dialogue, and joint sensemaking, they also identified several challenges and shortcomings of the Norwegian pandemic preparedness requiring organizational and financial changes to sustain future health system resilience.

Gaps in strategic problem‐solving methods: A systematic literature review

AbstractStrategic problem‐solving enables organizations to pursue opportunities and address emerging threats proactively. However, traditional problem‐solving methods often rely on business processes and organizational procedures, which may not be available at the strategic level. This article investigates potential gaps in strategic problem‐solving methods through a Systematic Literature Review. The study analyses the existing literature on the potential of current problem‐solving methods to identify and resolve root causes of strategic problems when formal business processes and procedures are unavailable. A rigorous literature search process guided by focused research questions examines Problem Structuring Methods, Lean Thinking, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints, Balanced Scorecard, SWOT Analysis, and other techniques. The synthesis of findings reveals limitations in strategic root cause analysis. In addition, the study introduces a supplementary decision‐making frame of reference to aid the selection of appropriate methods across problem‐solving, decision‐making, and solution implementation stages. This framework addresses the common challenges decision‐makers face in navigating organizational complexity and choosing suitable approaches, as well as visually maps methods to stages based on Content, Organizational, and Analytical complexity dimensions. The framework builds on the study's findings that using a single methodology may be insufficient for a complete decision process. The proposed decision‐making framework also offers valuable guidance for integrating diverse methods aligned to decision situations.

Examination of the Role of Ethics-Based Auditing in the Development of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (Case Study: Auditing Firms in Tehran)

Objective: The study aims to examine the role of ethics-based auditing in the development of trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) within auditing firms based in Tehran. Methodology: The research is applied in its objective and descriptive-survey in its execution. The study utilizes thematic content analysis to identify the necessity and importance of the research. A meta-analysis is conducted to review the literature. In-depth interviews with experts were carried out until theoretical saturation was achieved, followed by data coding. The model was tested using structural-interpretive equations and a questionnaire as tools to apply the research findings to the studied population. The sample includes managers of auditing firms in Tehran, selected using the snowball sampling method. Data were collected using both open and closed questionnaires and structured interviews. Findings: The study identified 14 key indicators of ethics-based auditing influencing the development of trustworthy AI, including technical issues, organizational complexity, legal issues, increased transparency, reduced information asymmetry, stakeholder participation and cooperation, decentralization, ease of traceability, trustworthiness, infrastructure, real-time accounting, audit data security, flexibility, and cybersecurity. These indicators were categorized into four groups based on their influence power and dependency: independent, linkage, autonomous, and dependent variables. Conclusion: The findings suggest that ethics-based auditing can significantly influence the development of trustworthy AI in auditing firms. From an agency theory perspective, blockchain technology and AI increase the difficulty of data manipulation and enhance process automation, improving transparency and reducing fraud. From a stakeholder theory perspective, blockchain technology promotes an open and inclusive environment, enhancing collaboration and business opportunities. The integration of blockchain and AI in accounting practices can meet the diverse needs of different users, improving trust and reliability in financial reporting.

Organizational complexity and road safety: dialectical contradiction and its behavioural interpretation

The main organizational and technical idea implemented in recent years in Russia in the field of road safety is to reduce the conflict of traffic and pedestrian flows. This is realised through the use of multiphase traffic light cycle modes. The consequence of this is a sharp increase in the duration of the traffic light cycle (up to 180-200 sec) and a decrease in the capacity of the street and road network. However, more surprisingly, it does not lead to an increase in road safety. The article presents the author’s view on the non-obvious effectiveness of such attempts to reduce the conflict of traffic and pedestrian flows and the author’s reflections on the dialectical contradiction between the organizational complexity of traffic light cycles and the behaviour of road users.

Artificial Intelligence Adoption in the Manufacturing Sector: Challenges and Strategic Framework

In today’s competitive business landscape, manufacturing organizations are increasingly recognizing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Despite AI’s transformative applications across various sectors, its adoption within the manufacturing industry remains underexplored, with many firms facing unique challenges such as organizational complexity, legacy systems, and a shortage of specialized digital skills. This study conducts a comprehensive literature review to identify the key factors influencing AI adoption in manufacturing, categorizing them into technological, organizational, and external dimensions. Technological factors include perceived benefits, system compatibility, data quality, cost and IT infrastructure, while organizational factors encompass top management support, employee competencies, and organizational readiness. External influences involve government regulations, competitive pressures, and vendor support. By synthesizing findings from multiple empirical studies, we develop a conceptual framework based on the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) model, highlighting how these dimensions interact to shape AI adoption decisions. The proposed framework highlights the critical role of leadership commitment, strategic alignment of AI initiatives, and the necessity for robust technological infrastructure. It also emphasizes the impact of external factors such as supportive government policies and market competitiveness on accelerating AI integration. The study’s implications are significant for academics seeking to fill research gaps, industry practitioners aiming for successful AI implementation, and policymakers interested in fostering an environment conducive to technological advancement. While the framework offers a structured approach to understanding AI adoption in manufacturing, the study acknowledges the need for empirical validation. Future research should test the framework across different manufacturing sectors and regions to account for industry-specific factors and regional variations. By addressing these areas, organizations can better navigate the complexities of AI adoption, enhancing competitiveness and innovation in the manufacturing sector.

Avaliação da cultura organizacional em centros de saúde pública de diferente complexidade no Chile

Abstract The article analyzes the organizational culture in public health institutions in Chile, establishing the relationship between the organizations’ cultures and their level of complexity and coverage using the Denison Organizational Culture Scale. The scale was applied to a sample of 156 workers from four institutions. The results reveal that institutions with low complexity and coverage showed higher cultural levels in all dimensions: involvement, consistency, adaptability and mission; as well as in the perspectives of flexibility/stability and internal/external focus. Alternatively, responses from workers in institutions with high coverage but different complexity did not show significant differences regarding their understanding of the organizational culture. In addition, the findings highlight the relationship between the functional characteristics associated with the complexity of health organizations and their cultural features, evidencing particular differences according to the level of coverage or intensity of demand for the services they provide, as well as perspectives of flexibility and stability according to the Denison model.

Investigating Cultural and Structural Influences on Optimizing Engineer-to-Order Project Delivery and Sustainability

Several culture theories, which explain the formation, embedment, and propagation of organizational culture, suggest that certain organizational culture practices of an executing organization may enable sustainable outcomes in project manufacturing. However, practices that support sustainability may not support project delivery, and vice versa. We explore the effects of organizational culture practices and structural complexity on the ability of manufacturing projects to optimize both sustainability and project delivery. We use data envelopment analysis to calculate a sustainability-delivery quotient—a measure of each organization's ability to optimize both sustainability and project delivery outcomes—for 186 projects conducted in the U.K. By conducting generalized linear modeling and censored regression of the sustainability-delivery quotient, we estimate the effects of the GLOBE organizational culture dimensions, principal components of culture dimensions, and project structural complexity indicators. Results indicate a noteworthy gap between the delivery of projects and their sustainability performance, which is worse. Both institutional and in-group collectivism may support the optimization of each. However, neither the principal components of culture dimensions nor structural complexity indicators are likely to be significant. We discuss the managerial implications.