Industrial Organization Research Articles

Ethical Leadership Behaviors and Employee Perceptions of Organizational Justice: A Qualitative Research

Objective: The study explores a crucial aspect of the service industry: how managers' leadership impacts employees' views on justice within the coffee shop industry, specifically focusing their views of justice perceptions. Theoretical Framework: This research study's theoretical foundation lies in the principles of leadership and organizational justice, incorporating theories such as climate and decision-making along with models of organizational justice, including distributive, procedural, and interactional justice. Method: The study employed a method in its research work involving 16 managers and staff members working at coffee shops in Ankara, selected through convenience sampling for the sample collection process. Data were gathered through direct observations and semi- structured interviews utilizing a questionnaire focused on ethical leadership and organizational justice concerns. Results and Discussion: The research findings showed that ethical leadership practices directly impact how workers view fairness in their environment. Effective communication and seeking input are components of leadership that significantly influence the perception of impartiality and equity among employees. Moreover, providing support, being fair, and demonstrating sincerity are characteristics that distinguish ethical leaders. The study also emphasized that when leaders exhibit these behaviors, they help cultivate an environment of justice and equity, leading to increased employee contentment and confidence. Research Implications: The study's findings indicate that it is essential for service industry organizations, such as coffee shops, to cultivate leadership practices that foster a culture of fairness within the workplace environment. Managers and leaders should strive to communicate with their teams and offer support while ensuring equal treatment for all employees to improve their perceptions of fairness. These results have implications as they may be implemented to establish a favorable work atmosphere that boosts employee engagement and loyalty while enhancing overall productivity within the organization. Originality/Value: This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by examining how ethical leadership practices impact justice in the coffee shop industry and provides information for managers and leaders to promote a culture of justice.

Automation and augmentation: a process study of how robotization shapes tasks of operational employees

Robotization shapes organizational structures and jobs, which may bring benefits or negative consequences. Yet, to date, it remains unknown how robotization projects in firms shape automation and augmentation and how exactly employees’ tasks evolve while being automated and augmented. Our findings from a process study of five robotization projects within one organization in the chemical industry show that the automation of tasks is inevitably intertwined with their augmentation. We observe a transformation of the operational tasks, temporarily increasing workload and affecting employees’ motivation levels while influencing potential automation bias. We present these findings as a theorized model of how robotization projects drive the automation and augmentation of operational tasks, and how this evolves. We advance the literature on digital transformation and robotization in three ways. First, we show how automation and augmentation affect operational employees’ tasks. We theorize that employees’ workloads and skill requirements first expand to implement robotization and then contract once workable configurations have been found. Second, we explain a temporal and causal link between automation and augmentation, where the beneficial outcomes are dependent on their temporal entwinement. Third, we posit that active inclusion of operational employees in defining task automation and augmentation safeguards their feeling of accountability in later stages.

Evaluation of product lifecycle management and digital twin integration in aviation field

In today's world, digital transformation is becoming increasingly crucial in industry. The Digital Twins and simulations become much more important with growing complexity of products, the need to accelerate product development processes while reducing costs. The increasing value of Digital Twins is prompting organizations in the aviation industry to actively utilize them in research and development efforts. However, due the idea of difficulties of using Digital Twins in the industries, product developers don’t have a clear idea where to begin. This article provides readers with a general overview of the current situation by offering an examination of the aviation sector. Initially, the concept of Digital Twin, its evolution, and relevant studies are explored, followed by an examination of the impact of creating Digital Twins for companies operating in aviation on the product development process. In this study, unlike other published works, the concept of Digital Twin is explained under three subheadings. These include the Design Digital Twin for design steps, the Production Digital Twin for manufacturing processes, and the Performance Digital Twin for post-delivery work related to the product. The final section of the study evaluates the contribution of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems to the process of creating Digital Twins and the advantages they provide to companies in product development processes. The present research work does not contain any studies performed on animals/humans subjects by any of the authors.

Philantrocapitalism and the languaging of empowered women in the Global South

Abstract This article explores the impact of market-driven corporate philanthropy on educational institutions and their social actors, with a focus on how ideas of English and women’s empowerment become institutionally entrenched with subject-making processes in the context of higher education in Bangladesh. While questions about how late capitalism as a global phenomenon shapes language education policy and practice have been raised and discussed widely within the applied linguistics and sociolinguistic literature, we argue that there has been less academic attention to how these logics penetrate institutions of higher education through partnerships between private universities, local governments, work industry and multinational philanthropic organisations. The potential social cost of accepting the offer or seeking social responsibility from the philanthrocapitalists for educational institutions, particularly for women in the Global South, has also evaded scholarly scrutiny in the language disciplines. Drawing from an ethnographic study of a group of women garment workers from socio-economically less privileged backgrounds studying in a private international university, the article addresses these gaps by examining the communicative modelling of the social persona of an “empowered woman”, with attention to the affects and effects involved in the process.

Exploring the diverse nature of business processes in organisations in Industry 4.0/5.0

The article investigates the differentiation of business processes in contemporary organisations based on their dynamics (predictability). It presents and summarises research on the nature of business processes in Industry 4.0/5.0 conducted by researchers from 7 Polish universities. The study combines a systematic literature review based on the SCOPUS database and a survey of 466 respondents with an analysis of 12,573 processes. Filling the cognitive gap in Industry 4.0/5.0 organisations, the study reveals that nearly 60% of all BPs are semi-structured processes. At the same time, it shows a strong relationship between the importance of processes for the organisation and the dynamics of their execution. This finding highlights the importance of adaptability and flexibility in organisational dynamics, reflecting the nuanced nature of most BPs. The article presents original research on a diverse sample of Polish enterprises based on the simplified Business Processes Nature Assessment Framework. The presented research results indicate the need to update the essential elements of the BPM concept, such as BPM Lifecycle, BPM implementation method, or BPM maturity assessment, to consider various assessment criteria and implementation methods depending on the nature of BPs. The study contributes to advancing both theoretical knowledge and practical applications in the field of BPM, providing valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers alike.

How economists influence antitrust: the contributions of Tim Bresnahan, Janusz Ordover, Steve Salop, and Bobby Willig

Abstract Economists influence antitrust policy through theoretical and empirical economic research, translation and synthesis of that research, direct participation in policy development, and participation in the adversarial process. To illustrate these channels, this article profiles the antitrust-related work of four industrial organization economists who have played important roles in the development of antitrust economics and policy: Tim Bresnahan, Janusz Ordover, Steve Salop, and Bobby Willig. The article also evaluates three overarching theories about the role of economics in antitrust: a public interest theory, capture by big business, and influence tied to the ascendancy of neoliberalism.

Industrial Organizations Adapting to the Novel EU Taxonomy While Developing Socio-Technical Systems: A Literature Review

The EU taxonomy defines criteria for economic activities committed to a net zero emission by 2050, and other environmental goals. Its overall goal is to direct investments to economic activities aligned with the European Green Deal and, thereby, classified as sustainable. For industrial organizations, there is an urgent need to develop adaptive capabilities to meet the requirements set by the new taxonomy. The present scoping review contributes by analyzing academic publications on this topic through the lens of a complex science and systems approach. It analyzes academic publications on the EU taxonomy, related to industrial organizations and their development of socio-technical systems. At the initial stage, 526 scientific publications were retrieved from three web repositories (Scopus, World of Science, and Scholar). Only eight publications matched the selection criteria and constitute the data of this study. Results indicate that there is a lack of holistic perspectives and an unbalanced system response to the EU taxonomy. Adopting a systems approach can help industrial organizations navigate the intricate dynamics of a sustainable transition, striking a balance between adhering to the EU taxonomy and maintaining market competitiveness. The findings emphasize the importance of trans-disciplinary approaches and the need for agile and adaptive ways of learning inside industrial organizations.

Investigating the adoption of building information modeling of small-medium sized organizations in the construction industry: from a configuration perspective

ABSTRACT Building Information Modeling (BIM) is considered to be one of the most promising innovations in the construction industry, and the building industry is beginning to use and benefit from it. However, the full adoption of BIM in the construction industry is still challenging as small and medium-sized organizations (SMOs) are lagging in BIM adoption. Although existing studies have explored many influencing factors of BIM adoption, most of them are focused on a single relationship and cannot explain why certain factor that works for one organization fails in others. This study aims to respond to the research gap in previous studies on BIM adoption in SMOs by highlighting the importance of the combination of influencing factors rather than single correlations, thereby clarifying the realization mechanisms of BIM adoption in SMOs. Using the qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) approach and fsQCA3.0, this study connects the factors from technological, organizational, and environmental aspects under the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, five configurations leading to the high BIM adoption and two configurations leading to the low BIM adoption are identified with 36 SMO cases through the configurational lens. As one of the earliest attempts to investigate SMOs’ BIM adoption decisions using the QCA method, this study expects to offer a holistic understanding of BIM adoption in SMOs and contribute to the full BIM diffusion in the construction industry by providing valuable suggestions to industry practitioners. Highlights BIM adoption in SMOs results from a combination of technological, organizational, and environmental conditions, and no necessary conditions lead to BIM adoption behavior. More than one configuration is leading to high or low BIM adoption in SMOs. Under specific contexts, BIM capability can substitute for financial capability, while financial capability will substitute for government pressure. When conditions are missing on both the technological and organizational aspects, government or market pressure alone cannot lead to BIM adoption behavior in SMOs.

Relationships among employee-friendly organization, performance, and turnover intention in the maritime industry: the mediating role of organizational happiness & collective efficacy

ABSTRACT The concept of an employee-friendly workplace has emerged as a novel area of discussion within the human resources departments of organizations, coinciding with the adoption of employee-centric management strategies. Due to its recent inception, literature on this subject remains relatively sparse. However, existing studies suggest that workplace happiness significantly influences various aspects of work dynamics, including job performance, turnover intention, and collective efficacy. This study seeks to elucidate the interrelation between employee-friendly workplace amenities, employee happiness, collective efficacy, turnover intention, and individual performance within a maritime organization context. Data collected from six hundred onshore office employees of a Turkish ship-owner and port operator organization via an online questionnaire were subjected to structural equation modelling using the LISREL version 8.8 statistical package programme. The findings reveal that organizational happiness serves as a mediating factor in the relationship between employees’ perceptions of work type and workplace amenities and individual performance. Through this investigation, the study aims to offer valuable insights into the mediating roles of organizational happiness and collective efficacy in the workplace.

Views from Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies on Allocation of Clinical Trials in Saudi Arabia-Qualitative Study.

Clinical trials conducted by pharmaceutical companies are essential for bridging local research efforts with broader populations, facilitating the transfer of valuable insights and solutions. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators affecting clinical trials in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of key personnel within the pharmaceutical industry and Contract Research Organizations (CROs). We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine participants, which provided a holistic understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping the landscape of clinical trials in the country. The analysis revealed three prominent themes: operational challenges, complexities in navigating approval hurdles, and the unique value proposition for conducting clinical trials in Saudi Arabia. The participants expressed pride in the local infrastructure but acknowledged existing flaws, particularly in regulatory processes that contribute to delays in trial initiation. They emphasized the importance of conducting clinical trials in areas such as diabetes, crowd management during pilgrimages, and rare diseases, which are prevalent in the region. Despite the limited number of clinical trials registered (354 from 2009 to 2020, with only 1% being phase 1 studies), Saudi Arabia's total pharmaceutical market exceeds SAR 13 billion, positioning it as the largest market in the region. Stakeholders recognized the country's potential as a research hub, particularly within the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) region. However, to attract more trials and enhance the medical research landscape, it is crucial to address the identified barriers, streamline processes, and improve stakeholder alignment. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to overcome these challenges and leverage Saudi Arabia's investments in healthcare infrastructure since its transformation program launched in 2010. By enhancing the regulatory environment and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, Saudi Arabia can solidify its role as a key player in international clinical research.

Investigation of the effectiveness of the implementation of gender equality strategies: a case study of an Australian public sector organization in a male-dominated industry

Investigation of the effectiveness of the implementation of gender equality strategies: a case study of an Australian public sector organization in a male-dominated industry

The Role of Knowledge Management Requirement in Achieving Institutional Excellence: A field Study on Industrial Organization in the Hadhramaut Coast.

The Role of Knowledge Management Requirement in Achieving Institutional Excellence: A field Study on Industrial Organization in the Hadhramaut Coast.

The Influencing Factors of Knowledge Hiding Among Employees in the Construction Industry: A Psychological Contract Perspective

This study explores the factors influencing employee knowledge hiding in construction industry organizations. Utilizing quantitative methods, the research examines the impact of demographic factors, including gender, age, educational level, marital status, and duration of service, as well as psychological contract breaches on employee knowledge hiding. An independent samples t-test and multiple comparisons using the least significant difference (LSD) test were conducted to analyze the demographic factors. At the same time, a simple linear regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between psychological contract breach and knowledge hiding. The results indicate that demographic factors significantly affect employee knowledge hiding, with females, older employees, those with lower educational levels, divorced or widowed individuals, and employees with longer service durations tending to hide knowledge more frequently. Furthermore, psychological contract breach is found to have a strong and positive relationship with employee knowledge hiding, suggesting that employees are more likely to engage in knowledge-hiding behaviors when they perceive a violation of their psychological contract. The findings have important managerial implications, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to address knowledge hiding among different employee groups and maintaining a strong psychological contract with employees to foster a culture of knowledge sharing and innovation.

Principles for Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Ceramic Dental Implants in Japan.

Recent progress in materials chemistry has resulted in the development of several ceramic materials that are now being used in dental implants. The advantages of ceramic materials over conventional metallic materials are that they do not induce allergic reactions in individuals with metal allergies, they do not interfere with magnetic resonance imaging, and they provide improved esthetics. In addition, some ceramic materials are tougher than metallic materials and less brittle. However, despite these advantages, few ceramic dental implant materials are currently approved for use in Japan. In FY2022, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan commissioned a project called the "Project for the Development of a Guideline for the Evaluation of Ceramic Dental Implants," the goal of which was to consider how best to facilitate swift clinical development and approval of emerging ceramic dental implant materials. At a meeting of experts from professional societies, related industry organizations, and government agencies, the issues related to evaluation of the efficacy and safety of ceramic implant were discussed. Here, we summarize the outcomes of that meeting as a set of principles for the premarketing evaluation of ceramic dental implant materials in Japan.

GUIDELINES TO CREATE WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DIGITAL ERA

Objective: Approaches to achieving work-life balance in industrial organizations during the digital era are investigated, with the aim of developing a structural equation model to enhance managerial effectiveness and competitiveness. Theoretical Framework: Survey research and mixed-methods statistical frameworks are employed, integrating qualitative and quantitative data to explore work-life balance in industrial organizations. Descriptive, inferential, and multivariate statistics are used to assess relationships and evaluate structural equation model's fit with the data. Method: Qualitative research is conducted through in-depth interviews with 9 experts and focus group discussions with 11 specialists. Quantitative research is conducted via a survey of 500 industrial business executives. Data are analyzed using descriptive, inferential, and multivariate statistics. Results and Discussion: Four key components to achieving work-life balance are identified: 1) Discipline and Motivation (X̅ = 4.32), 2) Innovative Activities (X̅ = 4.31), 3) Work Environment (X̅ = 4.29), 4) Organizational Support (X̅ = 4.22). A significant difference (p < 0.05) in approaches is revealed between small-to-medium sized businesses and large organizations. Statistical analyses indicated the structural equation model met the evaluation criteria and aligned well with observational data. Research Implications: This research provides practical guidance for implementing effective work-life balance strategies in industrial organizations while advancing theoretical understanding of key factors influencing employee morale, productivity, and competitiveness. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by developing a structural equation model for work-life balance in digital-era industrial organizations, offering new insights into compensation, innovation, and workplace dynamics, with the potential to reshape organizational practices and enhance managerial effectiveness.

Don’t put all your legs in one basket: Theory and evidence on coopetition in road cycling

We study competition between two groups of individuals with team affiliations, where each group solves a coopetition problem to outperform the other group. Our analysis suggests the presence of a strategic benefit of diversification that goes beyond merely reducing outcome uncertainty. We outline applications in industrial and workplace organization and provide a detailed model of road cycling races, which naturally feature this strategic setup. We find that asymmetric groups tend to cooperate better. Also, having team members in two competing groups is beneficial for a team, as it increases free-riding opportunities in both groups. By analyzing data from over 40 seasons of professional road cycling races, we find empirical evidence in favor of these results. In particular, having a teammate in a group behind positively impacts win probability.

Revealing the influence of food industry actors in relation to nutritional policies in Belgium

Abstract Unhealthy food is one of the prevailing risk factors of NCDs and cancers, making the food industry a key player in their prevention. However, evidence-based public health policies aimed at reducing consumption of unhealthy food, may threaten industry sales. In response, food industry actors try to influence the development and implementation of these nutritional policies by engaging in corporate political activities (CPA). As part of the Joint Action PreventNCD, the CPA of relevant food industry actors in relation to public health nutritional policies will be assessed. In Belgium, strategies of Fevia, the umbrella organization of the food industry, are examined. This study analyses publicly available information collected from Fevia’s website, social media accounts (i.e. X and LinkedIn), newsletters and newspapers. A thematic qualitative analysis is conducted using established frameworks to categorize both framing and action strategies used by the industry. The categorization of framing strategies reveals how the food industry presents the actors, problems, and solutions. The framework of action strategies categorizes the CPA of the food industry under the following six strategies: information and messaging; financial incentives; constituency building; legal action; policy substitution; opposition fragmentation and destabilization. Preliminary results indicate that the industry often frames itself as ‘the good actor’ and primarily uses strategies such as ‘information and messaging’, ‘constituency building’ and ‘policy substitution’ to influence policies in Belgium in their favor. In the next phase, interviews with stakeholders (e.g. policymakers, politicians,...) will be performed to collect undocumented information. Overall, this research sheds light on the ongoing CPA of the food industry and will increase transparency in their influence on the development and implementation of effective nutritional policies aimed at reducing the burden of NCDs and cancers. Key messages • This study reveals how the umbrella organization of the food industry in Belgium influences public health nutritional policies through various corporate political action and framing strategies. • Identifying these CPA increases awareness of the industry’s influence, but also promotes their transparency and accountability, which is crucial for reliable and effective nutritional policy.

Agricultural activities reduce the risk of requiring long-term care among older Japanese

Abstract Introduction Controlling the risks that lead to requiring long-term care for the older adults is a crucial medical and socio-economic issue. This study investigated the impact of agricultural activities (AAs) on the risk of requiring long-term care. Methods A 5-year follow-up was conducted on 1,009 healthy individuals aged 65-80 years (mean age 72 years; 44% men) living in a rural area (Wakayama, Japan). Requiring long-term care was assessed as requiring support or nursing care (RSNC) according to the Japanese criteria. Health status including frailty and metabolic syndrome were also assessed using Japanese criteria. Work status and lifestyle habits were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. The main outcome was the probability of RSNC. COX proportional hazards regressions were performed, stratified by occupation (agricultural worker or other) or frequency of AAs (none, less than or >150 days/year), adjusted for sex, age, frailty, metabolic syndrome and household as possible confounding factors. Results Approximately 35% of the participants were in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries as occupation, and 78% engaged in AAs. A total of 85 participants RSNC and 39 deaths were observed during the follow-up. The cumulative survival probability did not differ according to occupation or frequency of AAs, whereas the probability of RSNC was significantly lower in participants engaged in AAs (hazard ratio 0.37 [95% CI 0.22, 0.62]; <150 days/year, 0.29 [95% CI 0.17, 0.50]; >150 days/year). Participants engaged in AAs were significantly more likely to engage in low- and vigorous-intensity physical activity, and to participate in industry and community organizations and relating events. Conclusions These findings suggest that AAs may promote a physically and socially active lifestyle, independent of frailty or metabolic syndrome, and reduce the risk of RSNC. Key messages • Prevention of long-term care is important in the older population. • A lifestyle associated with agricultural activities may contribute to healthy aging.

Learning organizations and sustainability outcomes in tourism: the mediating role of sustainable practices

Purpose This study aims to investigate the influence of learning organization characteristics on sustainability outcomes in the tourism sector, with a specific focus on sustainable tourism practices. It seeks to gain insights into how organizations in the tourism industry contribute to sustainability efforts. Design/methodology/approach This research used a survey method to gather data from employees working in five leading Indian tourism companies. The study was designed based on the theoretical frameworks of triple bottom line theory and organizational learning theory, with quantitative analysis conducted using structural equation modeling through Smart PLS 4 software. Findings This study reveals that learning organizations play a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices and yielding positive sustainability outcomes in the tourism sector. The results demonstrated significant positive relationships and mediation effects, highlighting the substantial impact of learning organization characteristics on enhancing sustainability efforts within the industry. Research limitations/implications This study’s findings provide actionable insights for refining organizational strategies and formulating policy recommendations to strengthen sustainability initiatives within the tourism sector. In addition, this research contributes valuable knowledge to the expanding field of sustainable tourism management and best organizational practices. Originality/value This study contributes to the field by offering empirical evidence on the interplay between learning organization characteristics, sustainable tourism practices and sustainability outcomes within the tourism sector. Its focus on addressing sustainability challenges in this industry context provides valuable insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers, guiding them in formulating effective strategies and decisions to enhance sustainability efforts.

Green agricultural technology extension strategies considering industrial organization impacts: Direct subsidy VS indirect incentive

Considering an agricultural production and consumption system composed of the government, enterprise, farmers and consumers, this paper constructs models for green agricultural technologies (GATs) extension based on the contract farming and cooperative, so as to investigate the interaction mechanism between promotion strategies and agricultural industrial organizations (AIOs) as well as its effect on GATs extension. The results show that direct subsidy and indirect incentive both can promote GATs, but the incentive mechanisms of the two promotion strategies are different; under the two AIOs, the optimal promotion strategy to the government is related to the coefficient of indirect incentive cost, and the direct subsidy and indirect incentive both have advantage intervals; given promotion strategies of the government, the combination of direct subsidy and the cooperative can increase the profit of green farmers, while the combination of indirect incentive and the contract farming can increase the amount of green farmers; based on interaction mechanism, the combination of indirect incentive and the contract farming as well as the combination of direct subsidy and the cooperative both can achieve Nash equilibrium from perspectives of the government and enterprise, however, the maximum promotion effect of GATs can be achieved only within its advantage interval. Thus, our research can provide theoretical guidance for governments to make better decisions on promotion strategies, and also is helpful to enterprises to choose optimal AIOs in the process of green transformation of agriculture.