Gioia Methodology Research Articles

Bridging Academia and Practice with Digital Boundary Objects

ABSTRACT Extant research emphasizes the need for research artifacts to span the academic boundaries, to result in societal benefits. Digital boundary objects (DBOs), with their inherent ability of boundary spanning, are the key to translate research artifacts for non-academic audiences like practitioners. We explore the creation and dissemination of DBOs as a mechanism to bridge the epistemic divide between academics and practitioners. We employ the Gioia methodology and conduct in-depth interviews, netnography and archival data analysis. This method is apt, given our exploratory research objective of understanding the creation of DBOs through the lens of Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) theory. Our findings reveal a three-phase cyclical process model, termed epistemic framing for DBO creation. We identify DBOs as key in bridging the epistemic divide and the novelty of our research lies in identifying the iterative epistemic framing process model that helps in knowledge translation for societal advancement.

Social Innovation Management to Support Integrated Care: Insights from an Italian Revelatory Case Study

This research deals with Social Innovation (SI) and integrated and connected care in the hospital care, presenting a successful experience of telemedicine's implementation within the Italian context. Nowadays integrated care and connected care are relevant concepts for delivering people-centered healthcare; though their operationalization is challenging and requires accounting for systems' complexity. In this regard, SI may be a catalyst, since it consists in a kind of innovation motivated by social needs. Extant research on SI in healthcare is scant and fragmentary, overlooking operational features and enabling conditions. Considering these gaps, the paper investigates the potential contribution of SI management to integrated and connected care. For the purpose, it offers a revelatory case study, concerning the pediatric research hospital Gaslini (Genoa, Italy), which is, to our knowledge, the first Italian public hospital to have hired a SI manager. By referring to a telemedicine pilot project, the study analyzes main features of the SI management process and its approach to promote integrated and connected care. Research data are analyzed by combining Gioia methodology and systems thinking. The resulting grounded theory model is causal loops-shaped and highlights virtuous mechanisms of SI unveiling generative voids and existing skills.

Exploring patterns in online discussions into the lingering impact of COVID-19, two years on

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore underlying patterns in the users’ discussions in an online community on the darker effects of COVID-19. Understanding these patterns is critical as they can provide new information in tailoring support to individuals facing specific post-pandemic issues.MethodsTwo methods were used to identify patterns in large volumes of publicly available responses (n = 23,957 posts; ~ 1,061,825 words) from an online community. Qualitatively (using Gioia methodology), 1000 random responses were manually coded by two coders and vetted by an investigator. As it was difficult to manually code such a big dataset, a quantitative approach building a topic model was employed with a language model.ResultsQualitative analyses revealed 20 themes, including mental health (13%), impacts of direct and indirect deaths on socio-economically vulnerable groups (e.g. children and elderly, 10.4%), increasing sociopolitical divide and vaccination debate (6.8%), and work-related issues (e.g. burnout and layoffs, 6%). Topic analyses resulted in similar categories (n = 30), including physical health, loss experiences during COVID-19 and suicide; sociopolitical impact and adaptations in pandemic lifestyle; mental health and vaccination; pandemic restrictions, youth and behavioral expectations; distrust for institutions and resource scarcity; staffing issues and personal crisis; disrupted careers; and childcare challenges and economic shifts.ConclusionAs researchers are harnessing vast amounts of real-time human interaction data to study a variety of public health issues, our study provides insights into the specific challenges that people experienced when it became convenient to share concerns online amid an overloaded healthcare system during the pandemic.

“Oh no! all my money is gone”: the detrimental consequences of participating in stokvels among women entrepreneurs within the South African township economy

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the detrimental consequences of participating in stokvels among women entrepreneurs within the South African township economy.Design/methodology/approachThe research used the Gioia methodology, involving the implementation of a qualitative inquiry with an inductive approach. Semi-structured interviews served as the primary method for data collection. The study had a sample comprising 20 women entrepreneurs located in Johannesburg, South Africa.FindingsNarratives on the detrimental consequences of participating in stokvels among women entrepreneurs within the South African township economy included fraudsters, misunderstanding and dishonesty among stokvel partners, year-end robbery and theft, stokvels being dominated by men, operating outside of formal regulatory frameworks, exclusion and limited funding.Research limitations/implicationsSample size challenges feature as a notable limitation, including the research being conducted in only one province of South Africa. Caution should be exercised when seeking to generalize the findings in other contexts.Originality/valueWhile there is an array of literature on the impact of stokvels on entrepreneurship, there are deficiencies in studies that have looked at the detrimental consequences of stokvels on women entrepreneurs. As a result, the goal of this research is to add to the present corpus of African entrepreneurship literature, specifically in the context of South Africa.

Unveiling the assessment process behind an integrated flood risk management plan

In the context of the European Floods Directive, flood risk assessment is a critical component for the definition of an integrated management plan that operates within a multidimensional landscape shaped by intricate interactions. This study explores this complex interplay using a comprehensive framework, aimed at enlightening the non-linear pathways that flood risk assessments can traverse. It adopts the Gioia Methodology within the Grounded Theory approaches, enabling a nuanced exploration of flood risk assessment dynamics. Utilizing data from an Italian case study in the Po River District, this study unveils the flood risk assessment process framework by identifying 13 first-order codes, 6 s-order themes and 3 aggregate dimensions. It introduces a qualitative self-assessment tool to facilitate integration across dimensions and enhance Directive alignment, offering valuable insights for future flood risk assessment implementations.

Building brand identity in b2b markets: Co-creation of content with suppliers via storytelling

ABSTRACT The purpose of the paper is to understand the process of content co-creation between b2b (Business-to-Business) businesses and suppliers through storytelling techniques to strengthen the organization’s brand identity. To achieve the purpose of the research, the paper integrated stages of storytelling with sensemaking theory by using the corporate brand identity matrix. Employing a Market-Oriented Ethnography (MOE) approach, guided by the Gioia methodology, the study analyzes real-time interactions and narratives at business sites, offering a nuanced grasp of the co-creation process. The study uncovers that co-creation among b2b businesses and suppliers yields a unified brand narrative, enhancing brand identity through authentic, emotionally resonant stories. The study proposes a framework for the role of suppliers and b2b businesses at various stages of brand storytelling to strengthen brand identity. The study found that the suppliers inject authenticity and relevance to the outside-in approach of corporate brand identity. Whereas, by enabling suppliers to participate in the co-creation process, the business creates a lasting impression of the brand, taking an inside-out approach to creating a distinct brand identity.

Digital Twin Stakeholder Communication: Characteristics, Challenges, and Best Practices

Digital Twins (DT) encompass virtual models interconnected with a physical system through data links. Although DTs hold significant potential for positive organisational impact, their successful adoption in industrial practice remains limited. Whereas existing research predominantly focuses on technical challenges, more recent studies underscore the importance of addressing organisational and human factors to overcome implementation barriers. One central aspect in this context is stakeholder communication, especially given the ambiguous nature of the term DT in academic and industrial discussions. To expand the limited understanding of the factors causing challenging DT stakeholder communications, this article presents findings from an extensive exploratory study. It involves 27 in-depth interviews and two focus groups with highly experienced DT professionals. By employing grounded theory and the Gioia methodology, a grounded model for DT stakeholder communication challenges is derived. This model reveals the complex communication dynamics within DT projects, emphasising the emergence of novel stakeholder communication patterns that heavily rely on multidisciplinary collaboration. In total, 28 communication challenges were identified, grouped into eight theoretical themes and categorised into two aggregate dimensions: human- and organisation-centric challenges. Additionally, the study identified 15 practices, e.g., defining clear objectives, and starting small and building gradually, that organisations are following to mitigate these challenges. As a result, this article provides the theoretical groundwork for a comprehensive understanding of DT stakeholder communication and its associated challenges by revealing distinctive features and offering practical guidance to overcome critical challenges in DT projects.

Dynamic Capabilities for Business Model Innovation in Logistics: The Role of Digital Technologies

The rising competition among firms necessitates new ways of doing business, especially in this digital era. This is fundamentally true of logistics companies as they strive to innovate their business models using digital technologies. Nevertheless, the dynamic competence gained by logistics firms while using digital technologies for BMI has not received sufficient research attention. Driven by the expedient research question, how do firms leverage digital technologies to develop dynamic capabilities for BMI, this study teases out the pathways to BMI by investigating how logistics companies engage digital resources to gain dynamic capabilities. Following the procedures established in Gioia methodology, we perform thematic analysis on qualitative data from the whitepapers of 20 logistics companies prominent for technology-enabled business models. Results reveal that while engaging digital technologies for their business processes, logistics businesses and their managers can sense opportunities for business expansion; seize these opportunities by mobilizing digital resources as well as reconfigure their processes to continue to take advantage of the recognized opportunities.  Our results contribute to the dynamic capabilities theory by building on its core arguments to explicate the theoretical foundations of BMI development. Additionally, three propositions emerge regarding the sources of dynamic capabilities in the utilization of digital technologies by digital logistics.

Navigating the Complexity of Generative AI Adoption in Software Engineering

This article explores the adoption of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools within the domain of software engineering, focusing on the influencing factors at the individual, technological, and social levels. We applied a convergent mixed-methods approach to offer a comprehensive understanding of AI adoption dynamics. We initially conducted a questionnaire survey with 100 software engineers, drawing upon the Technology Acceptance Model, the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, and the Social Cognitive Theory as guiding theoretical frameworks. Employing the Gioia methodology, we derived a theoretical model of AI adoption in software engineering: the Human-AI Collaboration and Adaptation Framework. This model was then validated using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling based on data from 183 software engineers. Findings indicate that at this early stage of AI integration, the compatibility of AI tools within existing development workflows predominantly drives their adoption, challenging conventional technology acceptance theories. The impact of perceived usefulness, social factors, and personal innovativeness seems less pronounced than expected. The study provides crucial insights for future AI tool design and offers a framework for developing effective organizational implementation strategies.

From hype to impact: How companies can leverage the metaverse technology for business models

This study explores the impact of metaverse technology on business models (BMs). Despite increasing academic and practical interest, the adoption and seamless integration of this technology poses substantial challenges for businesses. This study adopts a grounded-theory approach to explore how firms can incorporate this technological innovation within their existing BMs. Drawing upon insights from 20 interviews, the data were structured using the Gioia methodology, uncovering 5 dimensions that elucidate how companies can leverage metaverse technology to augment value creation, capture, and delivery, both internally and externally, within their BMs. These dimensions serve as a roadmap for firms seeking to embrace the metaverse, offering insights into potential adaptations to their existing BMs. This study contributes to the theoretical discourse surrounding the metaverse by delineating specific components within BMs that can be tailored to accommodate metaverse integration. Furthermore, our findings offer invaluable guidance and recommendations to firms and ventures, highlighting the diverse areas within the value creation process where metaverse integration can be strategically applied. This research lays the foundation for a more comprehensive understanding of metaverse technology's role in shaping the business landscape.

Exploring Cultural Conservatism in Moroccan Family Businesses: Implications for Strategic Behaviors and Organizational Dynamics

This paper explores the cultural conservatism of family businesses in Morocco and its implications for strategic and organizational behaviours. Drawing on the Gioia methodology, qualitative data were collected from twelve Moroccan family businesses representing diverse industries, sizes, generations, and locations. The findings reveal that cultural conservatism in Moroccan family businesses is characterized by a collective culture that promotes solidarity, internal coordination, and blurred boundaries between family and work. A culture of conformity is prevalent, leading to increased stability of relationships and a shared vision and values within family businesses. In addition, the culture of conservation emphasizes the protection of identity, preservation of tradition, and continuity of family control. These cultural characteristics shape the strategic decisions and behaviors of family businesses, contributing to their unique competitive advantage. This paper highlights the importance of balancing tradition with adaptation in achieving sustainable performance in family businesses. The findings offer valuable insights for practitioners and scholars interested in understanding the impact of cultural conservatism on family businesses in the Moroccan context. Further research is recommended to validate the findings quantitatively and explore the role of other stakeholders in family businesses.

Business intelligence and business analytics in tourism: insights through Gioia methodology

Although Business Intelligence (BI) and Business Analytics (BA) have been widely adopted in the tourism sector, comparative research using BI and BA remains scarce. To fill this gap in the literature, the present study explores how BI and BA contribute to strategic innovation, address operational challenges, and enhance customer engagement. To this end, using a dual-method approach that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, we first conduct a bibliometric analysis using SciMAT. This sets the stage for the subsequent application of the Gioia methodology. Specifically, we perform an in-depth qualitative examination of a total of 12 scholarly articles on the tourism sector, evenly split between BI and BA. Upon synthesizing the findings on the roles of BI and BA, we outline distinct pathways through which they influence tourism sector management solutions. Based on the obtained evidence, we argue that, while BI focuses on technological advancement and operational integration, BA is more aligned with predictive analytics and data-driven customer engagement. These insights provide managers with a better understanding of the roles of BI and BA, serving as a guide for their strategic applications, from improving service quality to innovating in customer engagement. The novelty of this approach lies in its use of the Gioia methodology, in a comparative analysis to evaluate the separate yet complementarily roles of BI and BA, and in enhancing tourism industry practices.

Leveraging Business Intelligence Systems for Enhanced Corporate Competitiveness: Strategy and Evolution

This study contextualizes the transformative role of Business Intelligence (BI) over the past two decades, emphasizing its impact on business strategy and competitive advantage. Employing a dual-method approach, it integrates a bibliometric analysis using SciMAT with a qualitative examination of six key articles from the Web of Science (WoS), analyzed through the Gioia methodology, focusing on BI and competitiveness. The aim is to examine the metamorphosis of Business Intelligence (BI) and how it has evolved from a traditionally supporting role to a central strategic player in shaping corporate strategy and business competitive advantage over the past two decades. It discusses the overall transformation of BI and provides an in-depth examination of the specific ways in which Business Intelligence tools have redefined the landscape in contemporary business practices. Key findings reveal BI’s pivotal role in enhancing knowledge management, innovation, and marketing capabilities. Challenges in BI implementation, such as the necessity for skilled personnel and adaptability to swift technological shifts, are also highlighted. Results advocate for a dynamic BI approach, adaptable to market trends and technological evolutions. The research demonstrates that BI tools, especially when integrated with technologies like AI, IoT, and machine learning, significantly enhances decision making and efficiency in socio–technical and management systems, leading to a paradigm shift in handling complex systems and adapting to changing environments.

Environmental, Technical, and Resources Challenges Facing Agroforestry: A Case of Sustainable Land Management in Malaysia

Sustainable Land Management (SLM) plays a crucial role in mitigating land degradation and fostering food security. While previous research has primarily concentrated on SLM's scientific application, there remains a lack of insight into the specific challenges encountered in agroforestry practices. Addressing this knowledge gap, our qualitative research employed a multimethod approach, integrating Gioia methodology with case studies, to investigate the obstacles within agroforestry. We utilized diverse data sources, including surveys, interviews, and field observations. A total of ninety-eight respondents contributed to the survey, the results of which underwent descriptive analysis. Furthermore, we conducted three focus group interviews involving stakeholders from government bodies and private plantation sectors. Our findings indicate that agroforestry stands as a vital strategy for food security. However, its implementation faces several barriers, notably environmental challenges such as climate change impacts and soil fertility degradation. Technical hurdles, including deficiencies in expertise and knowledge, were significant, as were constraints in resources like land availability, labor force, and financial investment. Two primary conclusions were drawn from our research: Agroforestry is substantially beneficial for food security, yet it encounters several challenges that restrict its full potential within the agriculture industry. Consequently, there is an urgent need to address the environmental, technical, and resource-related challenges to optimize the advantages of agroforestry in achieving sustainable land management and bolstering food security.

Remote work in the Finnish Defence Forces: Employees’ experiences of changes in organisational culture

This paper investigated what changes took place in the organisational culture of the Finnish Defence Forces during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also afterwards when remote work has remained permanently available to staff. A total of 468 employees of the Finnish Defence Forces participated in the study by reporting their experiences of changes in organisational culture. In the analysis of qualitative data, the Gioia methodology, which classifies the data into categories and themes, was used. Remote work creates challenges for leadership, and more equality, changed management competence, and remote work management skills were expected from management. However, it would seem that the organisational culture in the Finnish Defence Forces has developed in such a way that trust within the organisation is even stronger than before. Remote work has developed the personnel’s skills in managing digital tools as well as the employer image of the Finnish Defence Forces in the eyes of their personnel. This is the first study to map employees’ experiences of remote work from the perspective of changes in organisational culture in the Finnish Defence Forces. The research provides novel information that can be utilised in developing the operations and management of organisations. The Finnish Defence Forces have taken significant steps towards a modern work community. There are still some challenges to be solved in terms of how to improve leadership of remote work. A particularly important resource in resilience to change is the trust that is manifested in the organisational culture of the Finnish Defence Forces.

Elastic manufacturing: provisioning and deprovisioning production capacity to vary product volume and mix

PurposeAdvancements in responsive manufacturing have been supporting companies over the last few decades. However, manufacturers now operate in a context of continuous uncertainty. This research paper explores a mechanism where companies can “elastically” provision and deprovision their production capacity, to enable them in coping with repeated disruptions. Such a mechanism is facilitated by the imitability and substitutability of production resources.Design/methodology/approachAn inductive study was conducted using Gioia methodology for this theory generation research. Respondents from 20 UK manufacturing companies across multiple industrial sectors reflected on their experience during COVID-19. Resource-based view and resource dependence theory were employed to analyse the manufacturers' use of internal and external production resources.FindingsThe study identifies elastic responses at four operational levels: production-line, factory, company and supply chain. Elastic responses that imposed variable-costs were particularly well-suited for coping with unforeseen disruptions. Further, the imitability and substitutability of manufacturers helped others produce alternate goods during the crisis.Originality/valueWhile uniqueness of production capability helps manufacturers sustain competitive advantage against competitors during stable operations, imitability and substitutability are beneficial during a crisis. Successful manufacturing companies need to combine these two approaches to respond effectively to repeated disruptions in a context of ongoing uncertainties. The theoretical contribution is in characterising responsive manufacturing in terms of resource heterogeneity and resource homogeneity, with elastic resourcing as the underlying mechanism.

Algorithmic Evaluations in Breast Cancer: the Case of Champalimaud Foundation

Algorithmic evaluations are increasingly used to make decisions thanks to the perception of objective measures of quality and performance. However, little is known about how the current evaluation methods change with ML algorithms and with what consequences for the actors and organizations being evaluated. We conducted an exploratory case study in the breast unit of the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon. Gioia methodology guided the collection and analysis of semi-structured interviews and archival data. Our results show that besides generating visible and direct changes (e.g., extraction and quantification of relevant criteria with systematic approaches), algorithmic evaluations trigger indirect and less visible dynamics (e.g., adding a new dimension - aesthetic score – in the evaluation of research units), which have profound implications on how institutions operate and how resources are allocated based on the ranking lists. We contribute to digital undertow and institutional displacement and human ML collaborations by explaining the processes through which the new methods are used in medical communities and their less visible yet impactful consequences.

The struggle of sensor-based digital servitization: analysis and perspectives for organizational digital transformation in SMEs

PurposeThe organizational digital transformation (ODT) in companies presents small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – who remain at the beginning of this transformation – with the challenge of offering digital services based on sensor technologies. Against this backdrop, the present paper identifies ways SMEs can enable digital servitization through sensor technology and defines the possible scope of the organizational transformation process.Design/methodology/approachAround 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from different hierarchical levels across the German manufacturing SME ecosystem. Using the Gioia methodology, fields of action were identified by focusing on influencing factors and opportunities for developing these digital services to offer them successfully in the future.FindingsThe complexity of existing sensor offerings must be mastered, and employees' (data) understanding of the technology has increased. Knowledge gaps, which mainly relate to technical and organizational capabilities, must be overcome. The potential of sensor technology was considered on an individual, technical and organizational level. To enable the successful implementation of service offerings based on sensor technology, all relevant stakeholders in the ecosystem must network to facilitate shared value creation. This requires standardized technical and procedural adaptations and is an essential prerequisite for data mining.Originality/valueBased on this study, current problem areas were analyzed, and potentials that create opportunities for offering digital sensor services to manufacturing SMEs were identified. The identified influencing factors form a conceptual framework that supports SMEs' future development of such services in a structured manner.

Mystical Veiled Configuration of Agile Operant Resources for Profitability in Family Businesses of Pakistan

Resources act as an arm which often facilitates firm’s sustainable performance in volatile business markets. Few studies have emphasized the agile operant resources that propel family-owned firm’s profitability. The aim of this article is to show the concealed role of agile operant resources of firm owners that expedite family-owned businesses in profitability to ensure a firm’s sustainability. This research uses relativistic perspective based on interpretive worldview. For data collection, purposive sampling is used. While directing interviews, open-ended questions (interview guide) along with observations are used. Abductive research accompanied by Gioia methodology has been utilized for broader themes of discussion. The findings indicated relationship proneness, reputational resources, religious resources, agile soft skills, performance efficiency and excellency as hidden agile intangible resources which facilitate family firms of catering profitability. The paper presents a conceptual framework that highlights how family-owned firms can ensure profitability. The proposed research framework contributes to the present literature of family-owned firms by inspecting the mystical role of agile resources. It opens new avenues for practitioners to work on these resources that support to enhance profitability.

Procurement 4.0: How Industrial Customers Transform Procurement Processes to Capitalize on Digital Servitization

The rapid development of digital technologies can revolutionize industrial companies’ operations through the procurement and application of digital solutions following a logic of digital servitization. However, industrial customers must refine their internal processes to exploit the potential servitization. In this transition, the procurement organization is pivotal in orchestrating relationships between its internal functions and supplier's ecosystems. Yet, traditional procurement processes are poorly suited to the evaluation and procurement of digital servitization offerings, hampering value cocreation between suppliers and customers. The purpose of this article is to investigate how procurement process models can be adapted to address the opportunities and challenges of digital servitization for industrial customers. The investigation is based on a case-study design, drawing on data collected through in-depth interviews with informants from 11 leading customers and 8 global suppliers. Based on the data analysis following the Gioia methodology, in this article, we describe key challenges with the traditional approach and identify novel procurement practices to capture value from digitalization. The article's key contribution is to propose a process model for Procurement 4.0, highlighting four phases: mapping digital opportunities, selecting digitalization partners, codeveloping digital solution contracts, and promoting continuous digital innovation. Furthermore, we define three overarching principles for procurement 4.0: nurture digital ecosystem generativity, orchestrate cross-functional integration, and leverage supplier capabilities through agile cocreation.