External Engagement Research Articles

Managing proof-of-concept (PoC) programs in public research organizations: a dynamic capabilities perspective

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how the implementation of gap funding instruments such as Proof-of-Concept (PoC) programs can contribute to developing dynamic capabilities in Public Research Organizations (PROs). The research investigates the processes and practices underlying PoC programs that may provide potential foundations for dynamic capabilities (i.e. organizational microfoundations) in PROs operating within a technology transfer setting.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted an exploratory qualitative study through 37 interviews with the employees of PROs involved in the valorization of 155 technologies within 24 PoC programs. We iteratively triangulated those data with secondary sources.FindingsWe identified four key processes (i.e. management, selection, monitoring and valorization) and their associated practices that act as organizational microfoundations, enhancing the emergence of dynamic capabilities in PROs. We articulated six propositions to advance theoretical understandings about gap funding instruments and dynamic capabilities in technology transfer settings.Originality/valueThis study extends prior research on gap funding instruments by examining the less explored processes and practices underpinning PoC programs, demonstrating their role in enhancing PROs to foster external engagement and adaptation to fast-changing environments. Furthermore, it contributes to dynamic capabilities literature by unpacking those microfoundations that enable PROs to build sensing, seizing and reconfiguring capabilities when interacting with the external environment.

Refugees’ employment: Adapting a structural inequality framework for multinational corporations

Multinational corporations (MNCs), through action or inaction, directly and indirectly shape vertical, horizontal, or internal structural inequalities in labour markets. The refugee employment literature has given scant attention to the role of MNCs, and how these corporations can or do contribute to achieving equality in employment outcomes for diverse social groups such as refugees. In this paper, we explore how MNCs seek to address challenges associated with structural inequalities to achieve greater equality in employment outcomes for refugees. To do so, we draw on the refugee employment literature, industry evidence, and business reports. Our findings reveal that MNCs require global and national-level responses to address structural inequalities associated with vertical, horizontal, or internal inequalities. We synthesise these inequalities into a conceptual framework and illustrate the need for MNCs to balance standardisation vs localisation strategies in human resource and diversity management, sourcing and supply chain management, corporate social responsibility, marketing and branding, and external engagement. Such MNC strategies contribute to refugees’ ability to navigate structural factors that create employment inequalities.

Kerangka Kerja Inovasi Digital untuk Organisasi Skala Kecil: Integrasi Teori dan Praktik

This research proposes a framework designed to support digital innovation in small-scale organizations often constrained by limited resources and knowledge. This framework is built based on theoretical knowledge, which comes from literature reviews, and practical knowledge, which comes from focus group discussions involving several experts. The framework includes nine key processes: Leadership Commitment and Support; Culture of Innovation and Risk Tolerance; Cross-Functional Collaboration and Diversity; Agile and Flexible Process; Integration and Utilization of Digital Technology; Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Learning; Allocation of Resources for Innovation; External Engagement and Open Innovation; Performance Evaluation and Feedback. These processes were developed to be interrelated and form a comprehensive approach to fostering an innovative environment. In addition, this framework also integrates the ADKAR, a change management model, to facilitate the practical application of this framework in organizations. The existence of limited resources and knowledge in small-scale organizations demands particular strategies in adopting the framework, including more strategic resource allocation, intensive training for skill development, and collaboration with external institutions to support technology and innovation needs.

Out of sight, out of mind? The bipartisan Australian foreign policy on irregular migration

ABSTRACT Australian foreign policy traditionally claims middle power and good international citizenship credentials, although it also resorts to unilateral actions due to its deep-rooted condition of ‘frightened country’. This article argues that the country's irregular migration governance embodies this tension, and thus seeks to shed light on this increasingly-neglected aspect of Australian external engagement. Following a theoretical understanding of Australian foreign policy, it investigates the country's irregular migration policies between 2000 and 2024. The article finds that there is a strong continuity in such policies irrespective of the type of government in power, supported by foreign policy bipartisanship, resulting in specific foreign policy tools to stem seaborne arrivals. These include military missions; territorial excisions from the migration zone; offshore processing and/or externalisation agreements with Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka; pushback manoeuvres, and at-sea processing of asylum claims. Inevitably, such measures complicate Australia's international status as they emphasise the uneasy coexistence of both the globalist middle power and the self-interested nation images in its foreign policy, therefore warranting new research on this under-examined condition.

Nonprofit Chief Executive Compensation: Implications of Board Governance Activities

Using secondary data collected as part of a national survey of nonprofit organizations, this research examines compensation outcomes of 704 nonprofit Chief Executives (CEO), integrating and social and performative aspects of governing/governance to explain compensation (in)equity. Theorizing governance as a socially complex and functionally consequential arena, we examine the impact of social categorization and identity fit between CEO Ethno-Racial Demography and Board Ethno-Racial Variety prior to overlaying the influence of three forms of governance activity: Fiduciary Oversight, Internal Awareness, and External Engagement. We employ serial multiple mediation regression analysis to test direct and indirect effects of demographic diversity and governance activity for nonprofit CEO compensation outcomes. We found compensation of ethno-racialized CEOs is higher when their organizations have diverse boards. Therefore, boards of directors must be cognizant of board composition, the potential for subjectivity and bias, and the impact these factors can have on CEO compensation and compensation equity.

From media campaign to local governance transition: Lessons for community‐based conservation from an Amur falcon hunting ban in Nagaland, India

AbstractMedia campaigns can spur conservation action but may alienate local communities. Transforming such action into self‐sustaining community‐based conservation involves effective governance that rapidly integrates knowledge of resource dynamics, establishes flexible institutions, and fosters multilevel networks. This study examines the emergence of community‐based conservation in response to a media campaign to protect migratory Amur falcons, illustrating shifts in governance and power dynamics that enabled local community ownership. Although conservation developed in the absence of an adequate preparation phase, external engagement, incentives, and recognition of local institutions' legitimacy were instrumental in fostering collective action. This research showcases how community‐based conservation initiatives can be triggered by external social pressure but also how the long‐term sustainability relies on effective governance that respects local institutions and employs cooperative strategies to build trust and foster ownership among local communities.

Family’s childbearing challenges during transition to preschool: a qualitative study

Background: Time spent with children positively influences their behaviour and cognitive development, benefiting families as well. However, not all families, especially those in developmental transitions, can interact with their children equally. Objective: This study aimed to explore and describe the families’ childbearing challenges during the children´s transition to preschool. Method: Education and health professionals, paired with families with three-year-old children, participated in two focus groups. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and content analysis followed Bardin's assumptions. Findings: Three categories emerged: "time to be a child," "time to be a family" (with subcategory "time for routine and roles"), and "time for external engagement" (e.g., childcare and health systems). Increased time commitments and managing children's demands were cited as primary challenges. Consistent information from external sources was deemed essential for family well-being. Conclusion: Childbearing during transition to preschool presents families time-related challenges, calling for family support tailored to address them.

Examining China and Japan’s Narratives as Diplomatic Tools: Competitive Nature and International Influence

ABSTRACT In the new millennium, China and Japan have become eager to use narratives and discourses as diplomatic tools to manage external relations and enhance their international profiles. Although these trends have prompted research into the discourses and narratives of China and Japan, previous studies have not fully explored the competitive characteristics of the two states’ ideational visions. This article aims to unravel the nature and features of ideational competition between China and Japan by focusing on representative narratives in their diplomatic strategies. It argues that China has employed narratives as diplomatic tools for practical utility through integration with material capabilities, whereas Japan has disseminated narratives as part of its comprehensive external engagements, given its declining material capabilities. The narratives of China and Japan hold significant importance in the international system. Their effective use of narratives has a crucial impact on the western-dominated international discourse system, offering new perspectives to uphold an international order and global governance.

The framework of “role conceptions” and Nigeria's external engagements

AbstractThis article relies on the intellectual framework of “national role conceptions” to explain Nigeria's wide‐ranging international obligations. Although Nigeria has a rich foreign policy literature, this framework is rarely directly employed in analyzing the country's many external engagements and the motives behind them. Nigeria has always assumed international roles that are in tandem with its fundamental foreign policy objectives. These roles are inspired by the identities that the country has constructed and projected for itself overtime and the expectations of peers (or other actors). Nigeria's constructive external engagements and role performance notwithstanding, there have been some misalignments. These include the sorry state of Nigeria's foreign missions, domestic contradictions, and the fact that Nigeria has sometimes behaved sluggishly in its role performance. This work recommends that Nigeria's diplomatic missions must be adequately financed, the domestic contradictions leading to disputation over foreign policy roles must be addressed, and Nigeria must overcome its occasional complacencies in Africa.

Design optimization of external engagement cylindrical gear flowmeter under uncertainty

Design optimization of external engagement cylindrical gear flowmeter under uncertainty

Investigation of Epicycloid Mechanism Dynamics

A dynamic analysis of a planetary mechanism with a satellite in external engagement is presented, where the central wheel is fixed. The trajectory of a driven link of such type of mechanism allows it to use it in machines, which provides technological processes where the executive or output link carries out pulsating motion which is required during of stop of the driven link. Mechanisms of this type mainly are used in the textile industry, where the processing of a material requires the actuator to be able to make minor fluctuations with respect to the temporal position. Here mentioned, determines the necessity of solution not only problems of kinematics but also here given system’s dynamic analysis, which would be used during design of such epicycloid mechanisms. Based on the mentioned, below is given the methodology of calculation of dynamic parameters of epicycloid mechanism

Interpersonal eye-tracking reveals the dynamics of interacting minds.

The human eye is a rich source of information about where, when, and how we attend. Our gaze paths indicate where and what captures our attention, while changes in pupil size can signal surprise, revealing our expectations. Similarly, the pattern of our blinks suggests levels of alertness and when our attention shifts between external engagement and internal thought. During interactions with others, these cues reveal how we coordinate and share our mental states. To leverage these insights effectively, we need accurate, timely methods to observe these cues as they naturally unfold. Advances in eye-tracking technology now enable real-time observation of these cues, shedding light on mutual cognitive processes that foster shared understanding, collaborative thought, and social connection. This brief review highlights these advances and the new opportunities they present for future research.

How consumers evaluate movies on online platforms? Investigating the role of consumer engagement and external engagement

This study examines how the causal patterns of consumers’ engagement and experts’ external engagement are associated with their online evaluation of movies. To this end, this study identifies the interplay of two dimensions (personal and interactive engagement) of consumers’ engagement and external engagement in their evaluation of movies and offers four propositions. This study utilizes fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on an original dataset of 264 movies released during 2018–2021 to test these propositions. Findings indicate seven configurations of consumers’ engagement behavior and external engagement that explain high movie ratings. This study presents fresh insights into how two dimensions of consumer engagement behavior and external engagement combine to explain movie ratings better. The findings accentuate the importance of synergies between dimensions of consumer engagement behavior and external engagement in driving the evaluation of movies.

Symphony of Digital Public Service Innovation in Indonesia: Evidence from Indonesia Public Service Innovation Competition 2014-2022

Investigating digital public service innovation in Indonesia is essential for improving practical applications and developing a unified theoretical understanding of digital innovation in the public sector. This research is particularly relevant in the global conversation about digital progress in both developed and developing nations. Indonesia's situation is uniquely instructive for several reasons: At the macro level, despite ambitions to become a digital economy, Indonesia faces the challenge of low internet penetration. At the meso level, governmental goals to digitize public services are hindered by unclear integration strategies within bureaucratic systems, revealing a gap between policy and execution. At the micro level, the need for digital literacy in the public sector is evident, but Indonesian civil servants currently fall short of the required standards, highlighting an urgent need for skill development. This study is crucial not only for enhancing local practices but also for contributing to a broader understanding of digital transformation in the public sector across different stages of national development. The research methodically reviews and maps digital public service innovation within the Indonesian context, employing a best practices approach and using the PRISMA flowchart for content analysis. Data was sourced from the Kemenpan-RB database on the Public Service Innovation Competition (KIPP) from 2014-2022. This database is a primary source of information on Indonesian Public Service Innovation and is noted for its reliability. The findings reveal a diverse range of strategies that balance interactivity with information delivery, internal efficiency with external engagement, and collaboration with self-reliance, providing a comprehensive view of the current state and potential future of digital public service innovation in Indonesia.

How I Obtained My PhD Admission Letter: A Reflective Interaction-Based Autoethnography

This account utilises autoethnography to explore how the “one-child generation’s” cultural context influences behaviours and character traits, focusing on the first author’s experiences during a 5-month doctoral program application. It examines interactions with the employer, unacquainted individuals, intermediaries, and family, encapsulated in three Episodes, to analyse the personality traits of this generation. The findings reveal that, though deeply rooted in traditional culture, character traits such as risk aversion, caution, and family dependency are not immutable. It highlights the potential for personal transformation through inward growth, proactive external engagement, and the support of families who challenge traditional norms. In terms of subjective meaning, the process involves expanding one’s world perspective outwardly, and it involves inward self-growth and self-establishment for working youth and generates value throughout life. It also provides a profound opportunity to understand and interpret our own cultural imprints. In terms of social interaction, this process vividly captures the emotional fluctuations and the proactive choices and changes demonstrated by individuals in their interactions with different subjects. This research offers valuable insights for individuals grappling with uncertainties and doubts in navigating their life and career paths.

Not seeing the forest for the trees? A systems approach to the entrepreneurial university

The idea and practice of the entrepreneurial university has emerged in response to growing expectations of universities contributing to economic development and has, in turn, been subject to a growing body of research. However, much of the work is focused on individual activities or institutions, typically overemphasising commercialisation activities and certain types of universities. Furthermore, much of this research is de-contextualised and does not consider the systems in which universities operate. As a result, we have a variety of unit theories of constituent parts of the entrepreneurial university without considering the wider (feedback) effects and implications — in other words: we are, in effect, not seeing the forest for the trees. Drawing on in-depth quantitative and qualitative field work and the literature, we develop a programmatic theory of the entrepreneurial university and the institutionalised entrepreneurial activities. Using causal loop diagrams, we capture the systemness and the interdependencies between universities’ entrepreneurial activities and their dynamic capabilities. The model highlights how universities are part of a larger system and how this influences their external engagement activities. The result is a more holistic understanding of entrepreneurial universities that reconciles existing work and guides future research. We discuss practical implications and policy levers derived from this systemic perspective.

Too Little, Too Late: the Catalan Debacle in Light of the Slovenian Attainment of Independence

The failed Catalan sovereignty process, launched in 2012 and then crushed by the intervention of the Spanish central government in 2017, relied to a certain extent on a discursive framework based on the evocation of previous secessionist experiences in Europe. Among these, the case of Slovenia (successfully completed in 1992) stood out. A close examination of these cases outlines the limitations of these analogies, notably through their differences in terms of political and social articulation and, in particular, the diverging success of external engagement. Beyond political and social articulation and the degree of economic development (heterogeneous aspects in many successful statehood processes), the comparison of these cases demonstrates that a sound internationalization strategy is essential for statehood attainment. The success of such a strategy does not solely depend on the secessionist actors’ ability to reach out to the relevant international players, but also on the latter’s readiness to provide necessary support. While the Slovenes managed to promptly engage with the rapid geopolitical changes in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War, the Catalan bid for secession found receptiveness only among marginal actors within major powers, all together unwilling to push for border changes of a state located in a sensitive area of the Euro-Atlantic security complex.

Do board friendliness and economic development affect firm’s abnormal earnings? An evidence of quantile regression

This study delves into the intricate impact of board social networks and local economic development on abnormal earnings within the financial statements of listed companies in Vietnam. The unique focus lies in internal board linkages, differentiating it from external engagements with other firms. Employing quantile regression, from a dataset encompassing 4449 observations from 241 listed companies in Vietnam, our findings reveal that firms with educational-professional linked managers tend to have low earnings quality at quantiles 0.05 and 0.10 but exhibit better earnings quality at quantiles 0.90 and 0.95. Executives sharing professional ties contribute to more accurate profit reporting at quantiles 0.05 and 0.10, whereas lower quality is observed at quantiles 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75. Executives sharing educational ties contribute to more accurate profit reporting at quantile 0.05 only, whereas lower quality is evident at quantiles 0.75, 0.90, and 0.95. Furthermore, the development of local GDP can enhance corporate financial reporting accuracy at quantiles 0.05, 0.20, and 0.25 but diminishes the quality of financial statements at quantile 0.10. These findings offer valuable insights into the complex interplay between board networks, economic development, and financial reporting quality in the Vietnamese corporate landscape.

Non-fungible tokens as a framework for sustainable innovation in pharmaceutical R&D: a smart contract-based platform for data sharing and rightsholder protection

ABSTRACT Research and development (R&D) in the pharmaceutical sector traditionally operated with in closed, siloed institutional settings, driven by intellectual property rights concerns that viewed data sharing as a threat. However, the evolving scientific landscape demands a more collaborative approach involving external engagement and dynamic partnerships. To address this, a hybrid contractual framework combining smart contracts, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and traditional licensing schemes is introduced. This framework was developed through an experimental pilot platform that adhered to FAIR data principles, allowing participants to store, find, and reuse data related to drug discovery. The platform utilizes blockchain technology to document real-world assets in an immutable digital ledger. Smart contracts and NFTs offer an open and global collaborative platform for advancing drug research assets, overcoming hurdles related to standardization, interoperability, and disclosure. This framework aims to reconcile the conflict between the demand for greater data sharing and the protection of rightsholder interests in pharmaceutical R&D. By providing mechanisms for resolving practical challenges, it facilitates further cooperation and innovation in the field.

Development of a Measure of Parent Concussion Management Knowledge and Self-Efficacy.

Abstract Assessing parent readiness to support their child's post-concussion management requires valid and reliable measures. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and conduct preliminary tests of reliability and validity of survey measures of parent concussion management knowledge and self-efficacy. Additionally, we tested the hypothesis that among parents of youth who had sustained a concussion, higher scores on measures of knowledge and self-efficacy would predict greater likelihood of engaging in recommended concussion management behaviors during their child's recovery. Measure development occurred with reference to parenting behaviors included in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Management Guidelines. A multi-stage mixed- methods approach was employed, including expert review, cognitive interviews with parents, quantitative item reduction, and tests of reliability and validity. All participants were English-speaking parents of school-aged children in the United States. A stepwise measure development process was followed, with different participant groups across steps (including opt-in web-based survey panels and in-person recruitment from the population of parents of pediatric patients seen in a large pediatric emergency department). In total, 774 parents participated in study activities. The final knowledge index had 10 items, and the final self-efficacy scale had 13 items across four subscales (emotional support, rehabilitation support, monitoring, and external engagement). Internal consistency reliability was 0.63 for the knowledge index and 0.79-0.91 for self-efficacy sub-scales, and validation tests were in the hypothesized directions. In a test of predictive validity, we observed that among parents of youth patients with recent concussion, higher self-efficacy scores at the time of discharge from the pediatric emergency department were positively correlated (r = 0.12) with greater likelihood of engaging in recommended support behaviors at 2-week follow-up. There was no association between concussion management knowledge at discharge and parenting behaviors at follow-up. Parents have the potential to play an important role in concussion management. The measures of knowledge and self-efficacy developed in this study can help identify parent needs and evaluate interventions aiming to support parenting post-concussion.