Institutional Context Research Articles

Exploring the influence of green inclusive leadership on green creativity: examining the underlying mechanisms

PurposeThis study aims to explore the impact of green inclusive leadership (GIL) on green creativity (GCRY) within the context of higher education institutions (HEIs) in China. Specifically, it aims to examine the mediating roles of green intrinsic motivation (GIM), environmental knowledge (EK) and green thinking (GT) according to the componential theory of creativity (CTC).Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a series of questionnaire surveys to collect data at three different time points from various sources. A total of 583 leader-faculty matched samples were obtained from two universities in China. The hypothesized relationships were tested using PROCESS macro in SPSS.FindingsThe findings indicate a beneficial influence of GIL on GCRY, mediated by GIM, EK and GT. Noteworthy interaction effects were observed, with GIM fostering EK and GT, and EK laying the groundwork for GT.Practical implicationsThis research contributes to the existing literature by confirming the implementation of GIL and supporting the CTC, offering insights into the motivational processes driving GCRY and with practical implications discussed for the effective management of GIL and GCRY in higher education settings.Originality/valueThe novelty of this research model lies in its operationalization of environmental sustainability within the CTC. This study is the initial investigation highlighting the role of GIL in fostering GCRY within HEIs. The key contribution of the study is the investigation of GIM, EK and GT as potential mediators in the relationship between GIL and GCRY. This expands the theoretical boundaries of the CTC framework.

Economic Sociology and Management in the spectrum of modern managerial and economic ideas

The article is devoted to the radical transformation of the structure of knowledge in modern economic sociology and managerial theory, to the transition from slender hierarchies of ideas (the top of which consists of a small number of axioms, and the base of which consists of multiple specific recommendations) to the postmodern market of concepts. The authors made a comparative analysis of such transformation in economic sociology and managerial theory, revealed general regularities and specific factors that determined the difference between the scientific fields of these science. The latter include: 1) subjects conducting scientific research (in managerial theory, along with scientists, managers, consultants, people somehow connected with business were engaged in such practice), 2) a terminology of sciences (in managerial theory, a specific language for communication between managers and employees was actively created), 3) the use of marketing and PR-technologies to promote ideas. The totality of these factors determined a special “landscape” of the subject areas of economic sociology and managerial theory.The article concludes that despite the existing problems caused by multiparadigmality, the emerging “flexible” format of socio-humanitarian knowledge opens new opportunities for creativity in rapid changes of social reality, obsolescence of classical approaches to its cognition, as well as the realization of the variety of phenomena and processes in the field of economics and management.In such situation, each scientific team should choose its own special place in the exhibition of ideas, create its own “exhibits” attractive to the scientific community and the general public. Among the variety of topical and demanded research directions, the article identifies three key thematic blocks reflecting the scientific priorities of the Department of Economic Sociology and Management of Moscow University: 1) institutional changes and institutional context of socio-economic and managerial processes, 2) aging population and digitalization as key factors of economic and management transformation, 3) socio-economic processes and phenomena in the mirror of digital communication.

Cultivating Care in the Classroom: Bridging Cultural Approaches in Malaysian and UK Higher Education

This paper investigates the role of care in the classroom by examining the impact of a care-infused virtual drama approach on English as a Second Language (ESL) learners at two Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), incorporating teacher reflections and insights from student interviews. Due to the prevalence of power imbalances (Nawi, 2014) and authoritarian practices (Tee et al., 2018) in Malaysia, this paper further explores the perspectives of three Malaysian Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at the University of Warwick to understand their experiences and understanding of the notion of care within the context of a UK higher education institution. Through one-on-one semi-structured and pair interviews conducted online via Microsoft Teams, these GTAs shared how they manifest care and provide support for their learners at the University of Warwick. The insights from Malaysia and the UK accentuate the significance of fostering care in diverse educational environments, revealing its potential to enhance students’ engagement and well-being across cultural and institutional settings.

Multidimensional gender ideologies: How do they relate to work-family arrangements of mothers with dependent children in Poland and western Germany?

This study uses a multidimensional approach to identify gender ideologies and investigate their association with work-family arrangements among mothers of dependent children in Poland and western Germany. Based on data from the Generations and Gender Survey, we apply ordinal latent class analysis and identify five gender ideology classes: (1) traditional, (2) intensive parenting, (3) ambivalent, (4) moderately egalitarian, and (5) strongly egalitarian. In both countries, we find that the intensive parenting class resembles the traditional class in terms of lower maternal employment, a more gendered division of housework and childcare, and a smaller probability of using formal childcare, whereas the ambivalent respondents mostly practice work-care arrangements that are similar to the moderately egalitarian class. With respect to informal care, mothers who identify with strong egalitarianism significantly differ from the traditional class in western Germany, but they do not in Poland—thus highlighting the role of the cultural and institutional context in explaining the complex links between mothers’ gender ideologies and work-family arrangements.

Top management team attributes and corporate entrepreneurship: A meta‐analysis

AbstractHow do the attributes of a firm's top management team (TMT) influence corporate entrepreneurship across organizational and national contexts? Drawing on upper echelons theory and the managerial discretion perspective, this meta‐analytic study examines the dynamic relationship between TMTs' attributes and corporate entrepreneurship, focusing on the moderating role of managerial discretion arising from organizational and national‐level factors. To provide insights into the micro‐foundations of firm behavior, we explore how key TMT attributes—diversity, size, transformational leadership, tenure, general human capital, and entrepreneurial human capital—affect corporate entrepreneurship. A comprehensive meta‐analysis of 57 primary studies reveals that the effect of a TMT's attributes is context‐dependent and is significantly influenced by the approach to managerial discretion taken by the country in which the firm operates. By showing that transformational leadership and the TMT's entrepreneurial human capital and size affect corporate entrepreneurship, while attributes like tenure, diversity, and general human capital have limited or no impact, our findings challenge the prevailing view that a standardized approach to the TMT's composition drives corporate entrepreneurship. The study also underscores the role of the national‐level managerial discretion and finds that firms in institutional environments that feature low managerial discretion must align their TMT strategies with local institutional contexts to maximize their corporate entrepreneurship. These findings advance upper echelons theory by demonstrating that managerial discretion acts as a boundary condition in shaping how the TMT's attributes influence corporate entrepreneurship based on the national context. This research contributes to the fields of strategic and innovation management and offers practical insights for leaders who seek to harness the full potential of their TMTs.

Tailoring Learning Analytics for Success

Learning Analytics systems are emerging as a powerful tool for student success, optimising curricula, and informing data-driven decisions. However, these will not be achieved without effective implementation strategies tailored to institutional contexts. This study compares the learning analytics practices of five diverse Australian universities, offering a nuanced exploration of the similarities, differences, and patterns that characterise their adoption journeys. We will work to identify the factors that contribute to successful implementation and enhanced impact. Our findings emphasise the importance of aligning learning analytics initiatives with institutional contexts, student demographics, and unique needs, emphasising the necessity of tailored approaches that resonate with stakeholders and address specific challenges. Our intention is to provide a practical roadmap for Higher Education Institutions seeking to benefit from learning analytics, giving them the means to harness the full potential of these tools.

Economic impact of retirement on the elderly population: a literature review

ABSTRACT This literature review examines the economic impact of retirement policies on the elderly, focusing on labor supply, consumption, and health. The aging global population pressures public pension systems, prompting reforms like increasing retirement age and reducing benefits, which significantly affect labor supply, demand, and economic growth. The review discusses the effects of retirement age and pension changes on labor supply, the ‘retirement-consumption puzzle,’ where consumption declines at retirement due to changes in time cost and health shocks, and mixed health outcomes post-retirement influenced by health behaviors. China’s fixed retirement policy offers a unique context for studying these effects, highlighting gender-specific impacts. The review emphasizes the need for balanced retirement policies that consider financial sustainability and health implications, promoting retirees’ consumption levels. This comprehensive analysis aids in evaluating retirement policy reforms’ costs and benefits across different institutional contexts.

Mundane Technologies and Community Informatics

In this short paper, I explore how my academic journey through Social Informatics (SI) and Science and Technology Studies (STS) has guided me toward the field of Community Informatics (CI), emphasizing the critical distinctions among these disciplines. While SI and STS primarily address the theoretical dimensions of science and technology within various institutional and cultural contexts, CI centers on the practical applications of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within specific communities. Bringing this interdisciplinary foundation and drawing on a decade of critical ethnographic research, I present the framework of "Mundane Technology," which investigates how marginalized individuals appropriate everyday technologies to navigate and resist systemic oppression. This framework, which was originally introduced in my book “Technology of the Oppressed” (2022, MIT Press), is grounded in a decolonial perspective and enhances our understanding of how ordinary artifacts, processes, and spaces contribute to the agency and aspirations of oppressed communities. This framework also critiques traditional utilitarian approaches in Information Systems and ICT for Development, advocating for a shift towards recognizing the intangible benefits of technology in marginalized contexts. Ultimately, it underscores the importance of incorporating these narratives into CI research, reinforcing democratic values and expanding the scope of technology studies to include the voices and experiences of those historically excluded from power and representation.

Digital Communication in work and family life in Europe

ABSTRACT This special issue brings together innovative research on the use and implications of digital communication in work and family life. It examines the context dependence of the use of digital communication and the consequences for work-family integration and conflict in a comparative design. It also broadens the perspective to new technological developments. The editorial gives an overview of the existing literature and presents the main findings of the articles in this special issue. It also provides initial descriptive information on digital communication with children, parents, line managers and colleagues, based on the initiated module on ‘Digital Social Contacts in Work and Family Life’ in the European Social Survey Round 10. There are apparent differences across European countries, social groups (age, gender, migration background, class) and with respect to the inclusion in the labor market (in paid employment, working from home, occupational status). Overall, the special issue demonstrates that digital communication in work and family life is interrelated, is inherent to gendered strategies to combine work and family, and is also a matter of digital skills, emotional and physical closeness and the institutional context. Work-family conflict enhancing implications are identified but do not seem to be an indispensable attribute.

The Effect of Institutional Context, Distance, and Routine Complexity on the Transfer of Routines Across Borders

Transferring routines and practices within Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) is a prevalent and, at times, tedious process. New institutional context imposes forces for local adaptation, which disrupts the stability of the routine - stability due to the interplay between ostensive (the codified and/or abstract version of the routine) and performative (the practiced version) aspects of the routine. Change in routines is then needed to ensure local adaptation and the routine reaches a new state of stability. Our study focuses on the micro-processes of the transfer process and the pertinent states of stability and change in the focal routines and practices. We use simulation experiments and examine the effect of intuitional pressures for local adaptation. The local adaptation speed of ostensive routine is shown to matter. Slow enactment of the revised version of the ostensive routine (i.e. implementation of the locally adapted routine) at the subsidiary level can disrupt the stability of the routine.

Closing a gap or creating a new one? Comparing support for participatory instruments among different stakeholders

AbstractRepresentative democracy is perceived to be in crisis in many Western countries. Increasing citizen participation is often considered to be a remedy to close this gap between government and the people. Which instruments should be used to realize this remains, however, open for discussion. In this article, we compare attitudes of citizens, politicians and civil servants towards a number of participatory instruments. We assess to what extent these attitudes are influenced by ‘interests’ (operationalized as the formal position one takes: either politician, citizen or civil servant) and ‘ideas’ (measured as ideological beliefs), while holding the institutional context constant (the local level in Flanders [Belgium]). Analyses based on a large‐scale survey (N = 4,168) show that although the ideological position of the respondents to some extent affects attitudes towards particular participatory instruments, especially their formal position has a considerable impact on how participatory instruments are appreciated. Indeed, different stakeholders distinctly advance different instruments as the best way to enhance citizen participation. This raises questions about the potential of citizen participation to narrow the gap between citizens and policymakers, as diverging attitudes towards particular instruments might create a new gap rather than closing one.

The professional logics of accounting education in MENA countries: evidence from Egypt and KSA

PurposeThis study investigates the influence of the surrounding institutional context, with a particular focus on the professional perspective, on accounting education in two leading developing countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), by focusing on public universities’ undergraduate level in the two countries.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an interpretative approach, this study uses data collected mainly through interviews with the members of the key accounting professional and regulatory bodies, accounting professors and accounting graduates in Egypt and KSA. Theoretically, this study uses insights from the institutional theory to understand the institutional context shaping accounting education in the two examined settings.FindingsDespite sharing several cultural aspects, we noticed differences in accounting education in the two MENA countries. We explained how the dominant institutional perspective in these contexts (i.e. the professional perspective) affects accounting education, resulting in various implications for accounting graduates and the accounting profession. In Egypt, we noticed a retreatment of the professional perspective due to the dominance of an economic perspective informed by the worse economic conditions in the country, negatively affecting accounting education. In contrast, accounting education in KSA is primarily driven by the professional context aided by the availability of facilities and resources as well as the centrality of the role played by professionals and regulators in accounting education, which has directed accounting educators towards incorporating professional knowledge into accounting curricula.Practical implicationsBy highlighting the influence of the professional context on accounting education in a particular developing country, the findings of this study can guide regulators and policymakers in other developing countries concerning developing their accounting education programmes. Furthermore, professionals should allow accounting academics to contribute to developing the accounting profession and employers should support accounting students’ training and development.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by examining the situation of accounting education beyond Western developed contexts, presenting an extensive theoretical explanation of the salient institutional perspectives shaping that situation.

Meaningful acknowledgement: how to evaluate acknowledgement in transitional justice interactions using deliberative reciprocity?

ABSTRACT Acknowledgment of wrongdoing is considered necessary for relationship transformation in processes of transitional justice. However, the concept has only been studied in the institutional and legal context. Its social and interpersonal dimensions at the micro level remain poorly understood. This article addresses this gap by studying interactions between ordinary citizens across ethnic lines in response to war crimes trials. The article uses deliberative reciprocity to create a novel typology to identify meaningful acknowledgement in 162 inter-ethnic exchanges derived from focus groups in four former Yugoslav countries. The study also identifies what triggers this ideal type and finds that the triggers are related to conversational changes in identity constructions and knowledge claims. But the triggers only occur when individuals also endorse each other’s views across ethnic lines. The article thus shows how relationships transform in inter-ethnic interactions, even when individuals hold differing views and arguments about transitional justice.

Critical crisis management competencies: Perspectives from universities of technology leadership

AbstractThe South African Higher Education sector has faced challenging times recently, notably the #FeesMustFall student protest crisis, which inflicted damages exceeding R1 billion, and the COVID‐19 pandemic, claiming over 102,000 lives in the nation. Against this backdrop, a critical investigation has been initiated to discern the indispensable crisis management competencies required by executive management members of Universities of Technology (UoT) in South Africa. This exploratory study emphasises the higher education landscape, recognising its pivotal role in national development. Employing qualitative face‐to‐face interviews, the research aims to delve into the experiences of executive management members, providing insights into the nuanced demands of crisis management within the higher education context. In response to the challenges posed by the COVID‐19 pandemic, the study adapted by utilising online face‐to‐face meetings, ensuring a thorough exploration of crisis management competencies. Beyond mere identification, the research attempts to elucidate the profound significance of these competencies within the unique context of higher education institutions during crises. The findings contribute not only to the broader understanding of crisis management but also underscore the particular relevance and implications for the resilience and adaptability of South African UoT in the face of multifaceted challenges.

Toward a Typology of Business Groups: A Qualitative Content Analysis

By facilitating wider communication networks and improving the performance of their affiliated businesses in complex environments, businesses can increase their competitiveness. Understanding the characteristics and diversity of business groups is necessary for developing and implementing them. In this study, we examined the question of how business groups can be classified. What criteria can be used to separate them? We conducted a qualitative analysis of the content of 48 scientific journals published between 1999 and 2020 and selected 215 articles based on purposive sampling during two stages of screening. As a result of the content analysis, three main themes were identified: "origins of group control and ownership", "groups' institutional origins", and "intergroup relations". Also, at the first subtheme level, six categories were identified: group control level, group ownership type, diversity of group relations, dependence and cooperation level, relationship structure, and institutional contexts. There are 12 subcategories included in the second-level subthemes. "origin of corporate governance", "type of group ownership", "type of institutional contexts", "intra-group diversification", "extra-group diversification", "internal cooperation", "formalization ratio", "length of relations", "external cooperation", "geographical area", "depth of cooperation", "group maturity level". Lastly, axis factors related to the diversity of business groups were used to develop a set of typologies.

Bringing research into policy: understanding context-specific requirements for productive knowledge brokering in legislatures

Background: Knowledge brokering is suggested as an instrument to improve productive use of research in policy organisations. Previous research asserted that research utilisation is dependent on dynamics of knowledge exchange in institutional settings, but these claims have not received substantial empirical attention (Saarela et al, 2015; Akerlof et al, 2019; MacKillop et al, 2020). Viewing knowledge brokering as the involved role, three specific challenges are identified: high legitimacy requirements for the brokered knowledge and the broker; the need to cater for a wide range of topics, audiences and uses; and the need to compete with other evidence suppliers. Aims and objectives: The research question of the article is: how do legislative knowledge brokers navigate context-specific knowledge transfer challenges presented by their institutional context? Methods: An in-depth interpretive case study of the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. The analysis includes interviews with parliamentary actors, shadowing and participant observation. Findings: The results substantiate the challenges of legislative knowledge brokering in the UK context and inductively identify a further challenge of demonstrating impact. Legislative knowledge brokers employ multiple strategies to navigate the challenges: co-shape and adhere to the norms of impartiality, mobilise external expertise, collaborate with in-house and external research support actors, employ anticipation techniques, build broker chains, seek understanding of own role and impact. Discussion and conclusion: The article contributes to the understanding of knowledge brokering as a context-dependent role. The conclusions discuss influence of knowledge brokers’ work remit and positionality in deploying strategies to overcome the legislative challenges.

At the heart of the unspeakable: when the soul is shattered, how do you get sexuality out of the turmoil?

Sexological problems are rarely highlighted in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder. Beyond the direct clinical symptoms of this disorder, sexual dysfunction is one of the most common co-morbid signs in psychotraumatic clinics. In the specific context of the military institution, and particularly the Foreign Legion hospital, the sexological approach represents both a challenge and an opportunity to contribute to the reconstruction of these young men, overwhelmed by the unspeakable effects of war and their intimate difficulties.

Decoding the impact of political uncertainty on IPO underpricing in China

PurposePolitical factors play a crucial role in China's initial public offering (IPO) market due to its distinctive institutional context (i.e. “economic decentralization” and “political centralization”). Given the significant level of IPO underpricing in China, we examine the impact of local political uncertainty (measured by prefecture-level city official turnover rate) on IPO underpricing.Design/methodology/approachUsing 2,259 IPOs of A-share listed companies from 2001 to 2019, we employ a structural equation model (SEM) to examine the channel (voluntarily lower the issuance price vs aftermarket trading) through which political uncertainty affects IPO underpricing. We check the robustness of the results using bootstrap tests, adopting alternative proxies for political uncertainty and IPO underpricing and employing subsample analysis.FindingsLocal official turnover-induced political uncertainty increases IPO underpricing by IPO firms voluntarily reducing the issuance price rather than by affecting investor sentiment in aftermarket trading. These relations are stronger in firms with pre-IPO political connections. The effect of political uncertainty on IPO underpricing is also contingent upon the industry and the growth phase of an IPO firm, more pronounced in politically sensitive industries and firms listed on the growth enterprise market board.Originality/valueLocal government officials in China usually have a short tenure and Chinese firms witness significantly severe IPO underpricing. By introducing the SEM model in studying China IPO underpricing, this study identifies the channel through which local government official turnover to political uncertainty on IPO underpricing.

Digital Empowerment for Administrative Staff in Private Higher Education Institutions

This study aims to analyze if work flexibility mediates the relationships between technology leadership, digital skills, organizational culture, and digital adaptation of administrative staff in private Higher Education Institutions City of Bandung, Indonesia. This research is targeting 138 private higher education institutions. Of 1325 eligible administrative staff to be surveyed, 203 gave their response to the questionnaire. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the data collected. The findings suggest that technology leadership, digital skills, and organizational culture significantly affect the digital adaptation of administrative staff. Work flexibility mediates the impact of the three independent variables on digital adaptation. This research, however, has several limitations including sample limitation and baseline on the context of the private higher education institutions in Bandung’s city. Recommendations would be to improve training a technology leader and digital skills and strengthen an organizational culture that supports innovative culture and work flexibility. Further research should broaden the scope of the sample and other factors in the context.

Exploring the Link Between Roommate Compatibility and Academic Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Personality-Based Matching Systems

The collegiate experience significantly influences students’ academic, personal, and social development. Roommate relationships, a central part of shared living arrangements, are crucial for students’ psychosocial well-being and academic success. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of personality-based roommate matching systems in improving roommate compatibility, fostering personal development, and enhancing academic performance. A comprehensive search of the Google Scholar and Scopus databases was conducted to identify studies on automated and personality-based systems. Selected studies were screened and analyzed to assess the impact on resource allocation, student satisfaction, and housing efficiency. Personality-based systems - such as fuzzy clustering models, genetic algorithms, and rule-based algorithms - significantly outperform traditional methods in enhancing compatibility and resource allocation. Findings highlight the positive impact of roommate compatibility on students’ self-confidence, communication, and independence, with female students facing unique challenges. Positive relationships, especially among students with high extraversion and conscientiousness, correlate with improved academic outcomes, while negative interactions and depressive symptoms are linked to lower performance and well-being. Personality assessments, like the Open Four Temperaments Scales Test, show promise in reducing conflicts and increasing satisfaction. The study suggests that integrating personality profiling with technology can provide supportive living environments in higher education. However, gaps remain in understanding their impact across different institutional and cultural contexts. Further research is needed to explore the long-term efficacy of these systems. This review provides insights for institutions seeking to optimize hostel management practices and support student development.