Innovative Organizational Model Research Articles

Time to care: How a homecare model harnesses nurses' professional ethic and cultivates caring.

A persistent devaluation of care-work, difficult working conditions, and low salaries have led to challenges with staff recruitment and retention in the homecare sector in France. A new homecare organization adopting an innovative organizational model recently experimented an hourly payment method yielding positive outcomes. Using Tronto's caring framework, this paper analyzes the strategies used by the founders as they developed their innovative model and the nursing activities performed during home visits. A longitudinal qualitative study was conducted between 2017 and 2023. Homecare nursing teams were shadowed for 1-2 days per year yielding detailed field notes on caregiving activities, both before and after the new payment method. Secondary data included reports, videos, articles, and unpublished documents found online. While there is no requirement in France to obtain ethical approval in non-interventional research, verbal consent was obtained by all participants prior to their involvement in the study; confidentiality and anonymity were strictly maintained; and pseudonyms were assigned to protect identities. 63 interviews and 185h of shadowing and observations were conducted. Results revealed a virtuous cycle of caring facilitated and encouraged by new incentives that resonated with nurses' professional ethics. The favorable working environment and the hourly payment method enabled nurses to provide caregiving in accordance with their values. As the new hourly payment experiment is scaled-up nationally, it is imperative that it is not isolated from the organizational model. Without the underpinning values and principles, the hourly payment method alone is unlikely to shift the value attributed to caring.

Evolving Organizational Models: Microfranchises and the BOP 4.0 Paradigm in Post-Conflict Colombia

ABSTRACT Microfranchises (MFs), as an innovative organizational model, aim to enhance the productive capacity of the base of the pyramid (BoP) population in diverse contexts. We provide original insights into the underexplored role of MFs in the socioeconomic inclusion of victims of the conflict and former combatants in conflict settings while advancing theory-building in overlooked areas. To bridge these gaps, we use grounded theory in exploratory analysis of the total population sampling of 17 Colombian social enterprises/seven MFs financed by the United Nations Development Program and Inter-American Development Bank. Our results suggest that MFs were the most adopted organizational model in post-conflict Colombia, promoting the inclusion of victims and ex-combatants who collaboratively create contextualized solutions and prioritize community well-being, which has led to the development of a new iteration of the BoP model – BoP 4.0 - closely aligned with MFs, an innovative sustainable business typology developed. Its focus on Colombian social enterprises in post-conflict settings delimited this research. Thus, generalizing these findings beyond this context should be approached with caution. This study marks a significant contribution by revealing the pivotal role of MFs in promoting socioeconomic inclusion for victims in conflict-affected regions. Furthermore, it introduces the innovative concept of BoP 4.0, representing an evolution in sustainable business typology within the BoP framework.

Development of Guidelines on How to Practice Innovative Organization Model for Secondary School Administrators

Development of Guidelines on How to Practice Innovative Organization Model for Secondary School Administrators

TABLET TOSCANA to Develop Innovative Organizational Models for Tele-Rehabilitation in Subjects with Congenital and Acquired Developmental Disabilities: A Wait-List Control Group Trial Protocol.

Background/Objectives: In recent years, the advent of new technologies has fostered their application in neuro-psychomotor and language rehabilitation, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Tele-rehabilitation has emerged as an innovative and timely solution, enabling personalized interventions monitored by clinicians. TABLET TOSCANA project aims to develop innovative tele-rehabilitation organizational models in children, adolescents and young adults with congenital and acquired developmental disabilities, using the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) Home Kit and the MedicoAmico APP. Methods: The trial is designed according to the CONSORT statement guidelines. The project encompasses three phases: adapting the technologies for pediatric use, validating them through a wait-list study, and analyzing feasibility and effectiveness data to define new organizational models. A randomized wait-list-control study with 100 subjects aged 6 to 30 years will compare tele-rehabilitation versus prosecution of standard care. Discussion: Although literature highlights tele-rehabilitation benefits such as improved access, cost savings, and enhanced treatment adherence, practical implementation remains limited (i.e., the definition of standardized procedures). TABLET TOSCANA project seeks to address these gaps by focusing on multi-domain treatments for neurodevelopmental disabilities and emphasizing the integration of tele-rehabilitation into local health services. Conclusion: The project aims to improve the continuity and intensity of care through innovative models that integrate tele-rehabilitation into local health services. The results could inform healthcare policies and promote the development of innovative and collaborative models of care, paving the way for more effective and widespread tele-rehabilitation solutions and fostering collaborative networks among professionals.

DEVELOPMENT AND SUBSTANTIATION OF PROMISING MODELS OF MEDICAL CARE FOR DISEASES OF CIRCULATORY SYSTEM IN INDUSTRIAL REGION. 2010–2023 RESULTS

HighlightsWe have identified regional peculiarities of traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors.We have defined and characterized clinical and organizational characteristics of the specialized care, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the circulatory system in the Kemerovo region - Kuzbass.Moreover, we have described the principles of innovative organizational models for improving care for patients with diseases of the circulatory system, focused on the needs of outpatient organizations. AbstractThe review presents the main research findings obtained at the Department of Optimization of Medical Care for Cardiovascular Diseases of the Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases over the past 13 years of work. The uniqueness of the obtained data lies in the fact that we have identified regional peculiarities of cardiovascular risk factors in residents of an industrial region (using the Kemerovo region data). Data on monitoring of health and risk factors served as the basis for the development of innovative organizational models for improving care for patients with diseases of the circulatory system from the stage of primary care to tertiary care using a systematic and integrated approach, and situational analysis. Management decisions within models are based on international quality standards that reaffirm that risk-based management, the role of personnel and the work environment are the integral to the improvement of performance and the achievement of the main goals of medical organization. Using the project approach, we have implemented management tools for internal quality control and safety of patients and personnel.

Workforce agility and employee performance: A conceptual framework

Due to the uncertainty, ambiguity, and volatility of business environments, companies are forced to search for innovative organizational and business models that will enable them to respond quickly and effectively to changes in the market. The answer to this uncertainty and volatility is workforce agility, which is the ability of the individual to continuously use abilities and resources to respond to unforeseen and shifting opportunities for the customer in order to maximize the value of the organization. This study is intended to understand the relationship between employee agility and employee performance. Through a review of the existing literature, this study found that there is a positive and significant relationship between both variables. This study suggests that in order to enhance workforce agility and boost employee performance, organizations should design employee development programs. This study also provides a conceptual framework for workforce agility and employee performance. The study also recommends that the managers of organizations give attention to human resource practices that promote workforce agility.

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDICAL CARE

The aim: to investigate changes in the interpretation of the content of the characteristics of the quality of medical care and medical service; to propose practical approaches to the formation of modern quality criteria and indicators in health care institutions.
 Materials and methods: sources of scientific literature from the databases PubMed, NICE, according to the selected research topic, were selected as research materials; methods: bibliosemantic; analysis and generalization of the obtained data.
 Results. Classic characteristics of quality – safety, quality of resources, quality of the medical care process, treatment outcome, patient satisfaction, timeliness, fairness, efficiency – are reviewed over time and acquire additional or radically changed content. The selection of relevant quality characteristics is important for health care managers to define quality criteria and indicators according to the requirements of the local context. In addition to the traditional components of infectious safety and the safety of medical interventions, the safety criterion is today complemented by the components of radiation, environmental, epidemic, physical, informational, and terrorist safety. Safety also refers to the ability of professionals to avoid, prevent and reduce harmful interventions or risks to themselves and the environment. Patient-centeredness must include respect for the relationship not only between physician and patient, but also between the patient and all providers of health care for that patient. Effective, safe health care is reflected in a culture of excellence that includes collaboration, communication, compassion, competence, advocacy, respect, accountability and reliability. The most relevant criteria and indicators of the quality of medical care must be developed in accordance with the structure of innovative organizational models of academic health care centers, where scientific, clinical and educational activities are integrated. This requires the formation of end-to-end quality criteria and indicators that cover all activities of academic centers.
 Conclusions: criteria and indicators of the quality of medical care and medical service are constantly supplemented with new components, in accordance with the achievements of medical science and practice. The transformation of the organizational structures of medical care into academic centers, where scientific and educational activities are added to traditional medical practice, requires the development and introduction of end-to-end criteria for the quality of medical care.

Organizational Models of Alternative Food Networks within the Rural–Urban Interface

Alternative food networks (AFNs) represent local food systems and short supply chain networks alternative to global food systems. These networks are often developed within rural–urban interfaces and take various forms, due to the high propensity towards the innovative organization of the network. The aim of our study is to map the currently applied, distinctive innovative organizational models of alternative food networks by identifying the organizational innovations of these networks in available case studies. Adopting the lens of organizational sociology and using space-filling visualization, the study compares various forms of localized and spatially extended AFNs. The results of our comparative analysis suggest that main aspects of AFNs’ differentiation are the models of network organization, applied coordination models, competences structures of the involved actors, nature of the intermediaries and their roles within the AFNs, and the level of customer engagement. Innovation processes within short food networks can be driven by the producer, intermediaries, and communities of consumers. We identified three types of AFNs defined with regard to the predominant direction of flows in the urban–rural interface: (1) AFNs localized within the borders of the city, (2) AFNs based on interconnecting the rural farmers located within rural settlements adjacent to the city and to the consumers in cities, and also (3) AFNs localized in peri-urban interfaces with distant customers.

Potential of the digital ecosystem for the sustainable development of the tourist destination

Sustainable development is a key concept in the twenty-first century that aims to achieve a balance between present resource usage and responsibilities to future generations. The paradigm began in the field of environment protection but rapidly moved its attention and oriented itself to a variety of economic sectors, including tourism. The purpose of this paper is to explore the evolution of the concept of sustainable tourism development and to investigate the possibilities of the digital ecosystem in achieving this sustainability. The publication presents findings from an author’s research on the state of digital transformation in destination Veliko Tarnovo. As a result of the research, the indicators for measuring sustainable tourism, the main goals of the sustainable tourist development and the possibilities offered by the digital ecosystem for their achievement have been derived. The challenges facing DE in political, organizational, technological and ethical aspects are also reported. As a result of the analysis, we concluded that the digital ecosystem as an innovative organizational and business model successfully supports the sustainable development of the tourist destination.

The Influence of Organizational Culture On Employee Performance In Sukabumi City

Organizational culture in the sub-district environment will influence the behavior of organizational members so that it has an impact on employee performance. This study aims to determine the effect of organizational culture on employee performance in Gunungpuyuh District, Sukabumi City. In this study, a quantitative approach was used with the associative/relationship research method. The population in this study was all employees in the Gunungpuyuh District Office, Sukabumi City, totaling 26 people. The results showed that 16% of employee performance in Gunungpuyuh District, Sukabumi City, was influenced by Organizational Culture. An organizational culture based on an innovative work system needs to be developed at the Gunungpuyuh District Office, Sukabumi City. Thus, this innovative organizational culture model needs to be applied in an effort to improve the performance provided by employees.

Improving the Integration between Palliative Radiotherapy and Supportive Care: A Narrative Review.

Palliative radiotherapy (PRT) is known to be effective in relieving cancer related symptoms. However, many studies and clinical practice show several barriers hindering its use and worsening the quality of patient support during PRT. Various solutions were proposed to overcome these barriers: training on PRT for supportive and palliative care specialists and training on palliative care for radiation oncologists, and introduction of pathways and organizational models specifically dedicated to PRT. Evidence on innovative organizational models and mutual training experiences is few and sparse. Therefore, the aim of this literature review is to present a quick summary of the information available on improving the PRT quality through training, new pathways, and innovative organizational models. The majority of studies on the integration of PRT with other palliative and supportive therapies present low levels of evidence being mostly retrospective analyses. However, it should be emphasized that all reports uniformly showed advantages coming from the integration of PRT with supportive therapies. To actively participate in the integration of PRT and palliative care, providing comprehensive support to the needs of patients with advanced cancer, radiation oncologists should not only plan PRT but also: (i) assess and manage symptoms and stress, (ii) rapidly refer patients to specialists in management of more complex symptoms, and (iii) participate in multidisciplinary palliative care teams. To this end, improved education in palliative care both in residency schools and during professional life through continuous medical education is clearly needed. In particular, effective training is needed for radiotherapy residents to enable them to provide patients with comprehensive palliative care. Therefore, formal teaching of adequate duration, interactive teaching methods, attendance in palliative care services, and education in advanced palliative care should be planned in post-graduated schools of radiotherapy.

Place4Carers: a multi-method participatory study to co-design, piloting, and transferring a novel psycho-social service for engaging family caregivers in remote rural settings

BackgroundFamily caregivers are key actors in the ageing society. They are mediators between practitioners and patients and usually provide also essential daily services for the elders. However, till now, few services have been deployed to help caregivers in their care tasks as in improving their mental health which can experience sever burden due to caregiving duties. The purpose of the study is to implement a community-based participatory research project to co-design an innovative organizational model of social services for family caregivers of elderly health consumers living in remote rural areas in Italy.MethodsThis is a community-based participatory research project in the remote area of Vallecamonica involving four main phases. These included a quantitative analysis of caregiver needs, a scoping review on existing services for caregivers, co-design workshops with local stakeholders and caregivers to create a novel service the piloting and a first implementation of the service and the assessment of project transferability to other contexts.ResultsAs the hours dedicated to elder care increases, both objective and developmental caregiver’s burden significantly increases. Conversely, higher levels of engagement were associated with lower physical and emotional burden, and caregiver engagement was positively correlated with their perceived self-efficacy in managing disruptive patient behaviours. Based on these preliminary results, four co-design workshops with caregivers were conducted and led to the definition of the SOS caregivers service, built on four pillars structured upon the previous need analysis: a citizens’ management board, training courses, peer-to-peer meetings, and project and service information. We found that co-design is an effective means of creating new services for family caregivers, whose experiential knowledge proved to be a key resource for the project team in delivering and managing services. Less positively, the transferability analysis indicated that local municipalities remain reluctant to acknowledge caregivers’ pivotal role.ConclusionsA dedicated support service for caregivers can ameliorate caregiving conditions and engagement levels. The service has resulted a successful co-productive initiative for a psycho-social intervention for family caregivers. For the future, we suggest that family caregiver should be considered an active partner in the process of designing novel psycho-social services and not just as recipients to enhance a better aging-in-place process.

The Participatory Approach: A Specific French Organizational Model at the Department Level to Serve the Quality of Work Life of Healthcare Providers and the Quality of Care in Pediatric Oncology

BackgroundCare providers ‘psychological health at work is an important issue because it directly affects the quality of patient care. So far, few studies have studied the psychological health at work of care providers in paediatric oncology. The participatory approach (PA) is an innovative organizational model of department specific to France and previously associated with quality of work life (QWL) and job performance. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationships between the participatory approach, care providers’ QWL and quality of care of children in pediatric oncology departments in France.MethodsA multicentre survey was carried out in pediatric cancer units in France. Care providers completed a questionnaire assessing PA, QWL, consequences of QWL, and their perception of quality of care. The children or their parents completed a questionnaire assessing their perception of quality of care.ResultsFive hundred and ten healthcare professionals working in French pediatric oncology centres (more than 40% of the healthcare staff in paediatric oncology in France), 142 children and 298 parents responded to the survey. PA was associated with the care providers’ QWL (β = 0.274; p <0.001), work engagement (β = 0.167; p<0.001), job satisfaction (β = 0.166; p<0.001) and perception of quality of care (β = 0.236; p<0.001). PA was also related to patients’ perception of quality of care notably regarding quality of communication (β = 0.161; p<0.001) and information (β = 0.226; p<0.001).ConclusionPA is an innovative organizational model that appears to play a role in all aspects of healthcare providers’ QWL, and in the quality of care perceived by both care providers and patients.

PCN216 An Innovative Organization MODEL to Face Risks Reduction Challenges in an Italian Cancer Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Risk Reduction Estimation Study

In this Covid-19 pandemic, onco-hematological patients are at higher risk of severe infection because of both their immunosuppressive state caused by malignancy and treatments and their recurrent hospital accesses. At our cancer centre (IRST), following national authorities and scientific societies recommendations, we set up a model for reduction of risk of Covid-19 positive accesses through sequential actions on patients, caregivers and workers. In this work we give an estimate of reduction of risk of Covid-19 positive accesses.

New organizational model to foster good practice. Central venous access management in cancer patients

Abstract Issue Central Venous Access positioning is a common practice in cancer patients, however improper devices' management lead to complications and multiple accesses to hospital services, increasing costs. Assessment and certification of Central Venous Access insertion site at hospital so as proper dressing at home, are required; patient empowerment in management of complex technologies is desirable to improve outcomes. Problem Description To tackle the abovementioned issues, PICC project was drawn up in joint action between the Strategic Health and Social care Agency and the Research Institute on Cancer in Puglia. The aim is to pilot an organisational model for central venous access positioning and remote monitoring barely technology driven and based on safe storage of outcomes pictures, patient/care-givers empowerment, integrated care approach. A sistematic review of good practices for Central Venous Access management was conducted in june 2019; besides an analysis of medical devices public procurement procedures was performed at national scale; a survey was edited to probe the existence of diverse organisational models to insert and manage Central Venous Access. Results Very preliminary data are avalaible. Procurement analysis showed: around 15 companies of Central Venous Access and related medical devices' producers; a spread of Central Venous Access location medical devices/supply of services based on few firms (including consumables). The analysis helps to identify the “least common multiple” in technologic equipment to support Central Venous Access management to develop a standard and applicable model, not driven by a conditioning “starting choice” (catheter selection, tip location, dressings). Lessons A standard Central Venous Access management certification procedure can be realized regardless of potential technology driven approach. A Central Venous Access remote monitoring model based on images and empowered patients can allow daily review fostering integrated care. Key messages Patients’ proper training, even in complex technologies usage, can increase self awareness and empowerment and promote compliance to innovative organizational models. Collaboration among patients – caregivers and professionals, set up of a dynamic pictures store to record Central Venous Access management procedures can improve oucomes avoiding added costs.

Bourdieu, strategy and the field of power

• Bourdieu’s theories offer a new way of thinking about strategy. • Institutional change is negotiated by hyper-agents within the field of power. • Abundant symbolic capital is the mark of elite strategists. • Elite strategists use symbolic violence to dominate fields. • Non-elite strategists subvert the existing order to gain ground. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concept of the field of power , we examine the cross-national translation of organizational models and the strategic processes induced in recipient institutional contexts. By means of an in-depth historical case study, we demonstrate how elite strategists mobilized networks and symbolic capital to disrupt field relations and embed the US community foundation model of philanthropy in North East England. Our findings suggest that instead of simply copying alien field-level practices, strategic actors within the philanthropic field adapted and modified them to deliver fit-for-context change legitimated by support from the regional power elite. Our main contribution is to show how strategic elites drawn from different life-worlds build coalitions within the field of power to modify institutional infrastructures and embed innovative organizational models, simultaneously bolstering their legitimacy and symbolic capital. We hold that the field of power construct offers uniquely valuable insights into how strategic elites accomplish institutional change.

Skills building seminar: How to enhance collaboration between primary care and public health?

Abstract Many countries in Europe and beyond have recognized that improved collaboration between public health and primary care can yield substantial benefits to populations and patients (e.g. through improved chronic disease management, communicable disease control, and maternal and child health), but it is in practice unclear how this improved collaboration can be achieved. Furthermore, collaboration is often hampered by the way that both sectors are organized and financed, with substantial differences across and sometimes within countries. In most European countries primary care already performs some public health functions, while public health can help to make the provision of primary care more effective. Screening and immunization, for example, as well as interventions to support healthy lifestyles, are public health functions that are nowadays commonly provided in primary care, although with wide variations between countries in the number of preventive care services provided in primary care. The question is how to expand and further develop existing collaborations. This workshop investigates the types of initiatives that have been undertaken, the factors that can enhance or hinder the collaboration between primary care and public health, and what can be undertaken to increase the chances of successful collaboration. It identifies organizational models of primary care that are conducive to collaboration with public health (e.g. through integrating primary care and public health in the provision of care for individuals), as well as systemic, organizational and interpersonal factors that can hinder or facilitate collaboration. The workshop draws on the findings of a forthcoming Observatory policy brief on enhanced primary care and public health collaboration, covering such areas as community engagement and participation, health promotion, health education, prevention activities, chronic disease management, screening, immunization and communicable disease control, information systems activities, development of best practice guidelines, conducting needs assessments, quality assurance and evaluation, and professional education. The workshop will begin with a presentation of the main findings of the policy brief, followed by a panel discussion involving European experts and policy-makers. In addition to sharing the experience of their countries, panelists will reflect on how generalizable or transferable examples of successful collaboration are and what it takes to overcome existing barriers. The workshop is designed to provide ample opportunity for the audience to comment on and discuss presentations and the contributions of panelists and to consider what lessons can be transferred across countries. It will be of interest to public health researchers, practitioners and policy-makers from across Europe. Key messages The workshop provides a forum for discussing how to enhance collaboration between public health and primary care. It explores innovative approaches, organizational models, and policy options.

Higher Education in an Era of Digital Competition: Emerging Organizational Models

Growing demand among learners for improved accessibility and convenience, lower costs, and direct application of content to work settings is radically changing the environment for higher education in the United States and globally. In this rapidly changing environment, which is increasingly based within the context of a global, knowledge-based economy, traditional universities are attempting to adapt purposes, structures, and programs, and new organizations are emerging in response. Organizational changes and new developments are being fueled by accelerating advances in digital communications and learning technologies that are sweeping the world. Growing demand for learning combined with these technical advances is in fact a critical pressure point for challenging the dominant assumptions and characteristics of existing traditionally organized universities in the 21st century. This combination of demand, costs, application of content and new technologies is opening the door to emerging competitors and new organizations that will compete directly with traditional universities and with each other for students and learners.This paper describes and analyzes seven models of higher education organization that are challenging the future preeminence of the traditional model of residential higher education. These models are emerging to meet the new conditions and to take advantage of the new environment that has created both opportunity and risk for all organizations, and which demands experimentation of structure, form, and process.Each of the seven models discussed offers an alternative to traditional residential higher education. Several models are in their infancy. Several others operate at the margin of organizations with other core businesses or priorities. At least one of the models depends upon extensive collaborations. All of the models incorporate features that are designed to enable universities to better respond to new educational demands and opportunities at a national and international level. Taken together, these organizational models are emerging as significant forces in providing education and training, and as powerful competitors to traditional universities. They offer the prospect of rapidly changing where, when, how and for what purpose education is organized within both the corporate and the higher education communities in the United States and throughout the world. The result is a dynamic competitive environment among traditional universities that are adapting learning processes and administrative procedures, alternative nontraditional universities that are adapting technologies to better serve their existing primarily adult constituencies, and new universities that are being formed around the promise of virtual environments. The thesis of this paper is that growth in worldwide demand for learning is combining with improved learning technologies to force existing universities to rethink their basic assumptions and marketing strategies. This new digital environment is further encouraging and enabling the creation of new and innovative organizational models of that are challenging traditional residential universities to change more quickly and dynamically.

Top government hands-on megaproject management: the case of Istanbul’s grand airport

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore top government hands-on megaproject management model applied to Istanbul’s new airport megaproject. The study aims to find an answer to this research question: “How is the organizational design and management of a megaproject that has been alive in a confrontational socio-political environment and whose national strategic importance is high?”Design/methodology/approachOrganizational theory and critical theory perspectives are used in this study. Istanbul’s grand airport is chosen as the case study. Interview, focus group and document analysis methods are used together. The research yields data from qualitative resources. Verbal and written materials are organized into three major themes and 27 key subjects for content analysis.FindingsA top level of organizational management can be attained in the state in order for the mega projects with high national strategic importance to survive without problems and with high performance. The top government-level organizational structure implemented at Istanbul’s new airport has reduced complexity, risk and uncertainty; increased performance and product quality; and strenghtened inter-organizational compatibility and communication within the megaproject organization. However, this structuring also increased centralization, reduced transparency and direct public participation in the decision-making process.Research limitations/implicationsThe megaproject is run in strict confidence and limited information is shared gradually in a controlled way with public by the megaproject organization. Therefore, a qualitative methodology is followed and the usage of quantitative data remained limited in the research.Practical implicationsThe study presents an exemplary top government-level megaproject management model for countries experiencing strong socio-political conflicts and aiming to perform megaprojects with high national strategic importance.Social implicationsThe organization of Istanbul’s new airport megaproject offers an exemplary, flexible and innovative organizational management model for countries that want to realize mega projects with high national strategic importance and experience strong socio-political conflicts. The questions of how to cope with challenges, how to build management capabilities and how to improve the cooperation and coordination within megaprojects have found some answers with this study. In addition, this study provides an insight into how to make more effective objections to wrong megaproject practices and the right strategies that the opposing organizations can follow.Originality/valueThis empirical research widens and deepens the theoretical foundations of top government hands-on megaproject management. The study, which includes a process analysis, allows to better understand the philosophy, nature, success, planning process, social organization and dynamics of megaprojects and to explain them through the values and strategies of organizations.

Short Food Supply Chains in Urban Areas: Who Takes the Lead? Evidence from Three Cities across Europe

Short food supply chain (SFSCs) initiatives have developed throughout Europe as an alternative to the long industrialized chains characterizing the contemporary global food industry. They are often driven by small‐scale actors belonging to different phases of the chain (producers, retailers, consumers) and rooted in specific territorial contexts. Innovative organizational models of SFSCs are attracting interest in the academic field (Jarosz, 2008, Khan and Prior, 2010, Aubry and Kebir, 2013) and beyond (RUAF, 2015). This work contributes to the debate with a focus on the logistics of SFSCs in urban and peri‐urban areas across Europe, specifically on the role of local intermediaries in facilitating connections between urban consumers and peri‐urban and rural farmers. The structure of three small/medium enterprises (SMEs) acting as local SFSC intermediaries has been analyzed by a research network involving researchers and entrepreneurs in a mutual learning process. The aim was to identify the main business objectives of local intermediaries in SFSCs, the elements that from the SMEs point of view characterize SFSCs and their vision of sustainability. A simple theoretical model has been developed to look at leadership of SFSCs in urban and peri‐urban areas. The research process provided interesting insight into the contribution that qualitative research can give to SMEs’ reflection on their organizational model (Zakic et al., 2014).