Key Organizational Challenges Research Articles

Understanding the Impacts of Online Mental Health Peer Support Forums: Realist Synthesis.

Online forums are widely used for mental health peer support. However, evidence of their safety and effectiveness is mixed. Further research focused on articulating the contexts in which positive and negative impacts emerge from forum use is required to inform innovations in implementation. This study aimed to develop a realist program theory to explain the impacts of online mental health peer support forums on users. We conducted a realist synthesis of literature published between 2019 and 2023 and 18 stakeholder interviews with forum staff. Synthesis of 102 evidence sources and 18 interviews produced an overarching program theory comprising 22 context-mechanism-outcome configurations. Findings indicate that users' perceptions of psychological safety and the personal relevance of forum content are foundational to ongoing engagement. Safe and active forums that provide convenient access to information and advice can lead to improvements in mental health self-efficacy. Within the context of welcoming and nonjudgmental communities, users may benefit from the opportunity to explore personal difficulties with peers, experience reduced isolation and normalization of mental health experiences, and engage in mutual encouragement. The program theory highlights the vital role of moderators in creating facilitative online spaces, stimulating community engagement, and limiting access to distressing content. A key challenge for organizations that host mental health forums lies in balancing forum openness and anonymity with the need to enforce rules, such as restrictions on what users can discuss, to promote community safety. This is the first realist synthesis of online mental health peer support forums. The novel program theory highlights how successful implementation depends on establishing protocols for enhancing safety and strategies for maintaining user engagement to promote forum sustainability. PROSPERO CRD42022352528; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=352528.

Data-Driven Decision Making in Battery Technology – How to Compete in Global Battery Industry?

Battery technology is regarded as a crucial key technology for the energy transition and thus a sustainable future, as batteries can store and distribute renewable energy to cover electricity demand when energy sources such as sun and wind are not available. They also promote fossil fuel independency and play an important role in fostering zero-emission mobility. Driven by the urge to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and the Paris Climate Agreement, the battery industry is gaining increasing global interest in society, politics, industry and research.Strategic smart decisions for a sustainable and efficient resource allocation are particularly relevant in this context and are considered a key challenge for organizations to succeed through strong innovation in the competitive battery industry. Especially against the increasing competitive pressure for comparatively high-cost and heavily regulated industrial locations, such as Europe, due to the billion-dollar inflation reduction act in the U.S. and the resulting duty of policymakers to react, strategic decisions in the battery industry are coming more and more into focus.Data-driven research is of great importance for strategic decision making in battery technology. Given the enormous amount of Big Data available today, data science analyses are essential to identify and visualize relevant insights in terms of hidden patterns, relationships, and trends. Policy makers, executives, and R&D managers benefit from the advantages of data-driven approaches, as they are thus able to make informed decisions, enabling them to achieve the goals of the energy transition by advancing the development of battery technology.Therefore, supporting strategic decision-making in the battery industry using data-based analytics has high potential to strengthen the competitiveness and innovation power of organizations in the battery industry, as well as to empower their strategic direction, so that the research domain is also gaining increasing relevance and attention in academia.This study addresses the topic of data-driven strategic decision making in battery technology by pursuing the following research questions: Which data-driven research studies on strategic decision making in battery technology exist so far?Which gaps for future research can be identified along the battery design hierarchy in this area?Which geographic regions are regarded as technology leaders in the global battery industry in different technology areas?Which scientific recommendations have been identified in the literature for policy makers, researchers, and managers in battery technology? In a first step, a novel AI-based search methodology using machine learning and text mining was applied to identify 61 relevant publications on data-driven strategic decision making in battery technology at the interface of electrochemistry, data science and business/politics, which were structured and reviewed for further analysis within a next step.By conducting a bibliographic analysis using network analysis and descriptive statistics, to the best of the authors' knowledge, for the first time an overview of the entire research field of data-driven decision making in battery technology was provided and trends in intensity, geographic distribution, and knowledge diffusion of the research field were examined. This is an incrementally expanding, emerging research area that has attracted immense interest, particularly in recent years, as evidenced by a significant increase in research intensity. The USA could be identified as the most research-intensive country in this field, followed by Germany and Spain.In a following analysis of potential research gaps for future research, it became clear that the application and technology levels, especially electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries (LIB) have been the focus of the scientific literature, whereas battery components and materials, especially separators and safety devices, offer potential for future research.As part of a geostrategic analysis, it was possible to identify the technology leaders for each battery application, technology, component, and material. Asian countries (China, Japan, South Korea) and the USA tend to be the leaders in many technologies, but a differentiated view of individual technology segments provides insight that European countries, such as Germany and France, are also leaders in topics such as LIB electrolytes and certain LIB anode materials. In addition, the science-based recommendations were extracted from the literature at the application, technology, component, and material levels. Finally, implications for policy, industry and research could be derived from the combined consideration of the geostrategic analysis and the science-based literature recommendations.The analytical "outside of the box" research approach to efficient and sustainable resource allocation in battery technology presented in this research paper supports policy makers, managers and researchers in strategic decision making regarding technological areas and business strategies to strengthen the competitiveness and innovation performance of organizations in the battery industry.

Identity-Conscious Scholar Formation: Shaping More Inclusive Academic Communities

As colleges and universities commit to creating and sustaining a more inclusive and equitable community, it is important to understand how the role of identity intersects with the existing processes of socialization and development. An identity-conscious practice is the process of realizing that who we are informs and impacts how we act, interact, and see the world around us. In particular, how identity should be considered as part of bidirectional socialization. Understanding socialization as bidirectional means that organizations can contribute to healthier communities that not only retain scholars but also engage with the identities and experiences of their students. This paper explores the ways in which doctoral students of color, in particular, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, experience the socialization and development processes through the lens of race; identifies the key organizational challenges; and provides recommendations for how colleges and universities can move towards a more inclusive and equitable community. This paper advances a framework for an identity-conscious model of the formation of scholars.

A scoping review of the impact of organisational factors on providers and related interventions in LMICs: Implications for respectful maternity care.

We have limited understanding of the organisational issues at the health facility-level that impact providers and care as it relates to mistreatment in childbirth, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). By extension, it is not clear what types of facility-level organisational changes or changes in working environments in LMICs could support and enable respectful maternity care (RMC). While there has been relatively more attention to health system pressures related to shortages of staff and other resources as key barriers, other organisational challenges may be less explored in the context of RMC. This scoping review aims to consolidate evidence to address these gaps. We searched literature published in English between 2000-2021 within Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect databases. Study selection was two-fold. Maternal health articles articulating an organisational issue at the facility- level and impact on providers and/or care in an LMIC setting were included. We also searched for literature on interventions but due to the limited number of related intervention studies in maternity care specifically, we expanded intervention study criteria to include all medical disciplines. Organisational issues captured from the non-intervention, maternal health studies, and solutions offered by intervention studies across disciplines were organised thematically and to establish linkages between problems and solutions. Of 5677 hits, 54 articles were included: 41 non-intervention maternal healthcare studies and 13 intervention studies across all medical disciplines. Key organisational challenges relate to high workload, unbalanced division of work, lack of professional autonomy, low pay, inadequate training, poor feedback and supervision, and workplace violence, and these were differentially influenced by resource shortages. Interventions that respond to these challenges focus on leadership, supportive supervision, peer support, mitigating workplace violence, and planning for shortages. While many of these issues were worsened by resource shortages, medical and professional hierarchies also strongly underpinned a number of organisational problems. Frontline providers, particularly midwives and nurses, suffer disproportionately and need greater attention. Transforming institutional leadership and approaches to supervision may be particularly useful to tackle existing power hierarchies that could in turn support a culture of respectful care.

‘Why can't they just evacuate early’ –a study of the effect of a virtual reality experience on residents' intentions related to a wildfire risk

Late evacuation during a wildfire is dangerous and potentially fatal. Yet it is surprisingly common and a key challenge for organizations who manage wildfire risks. Encouraging at-risk residents to make wise and timely protective decisions in response to wildfire threats is an important task. Using the protective action decision model and structural equation modelling, the research explored the relative importance of wildfire risk perception, protective action perception and stakeholder perceptions on predicting the intention to ‘leave early’ among participants who indicated they would ‘wait and see’ on a day forecast as severe fire danger. The effect of a virtual wildfire scenario which was designed to allow participants to experience the dynamic nature of wildfire was also investigated on predictors of intention. The results showed that the predictors of intention significantly strengthened the desire to leave early rather than ‘wait and see’ after exposure to the virtual experience. The results of the regression analysis indicated that situational perception of personal risk, its interaction with stakeholder perception, protective action and stakeholder perception significantly predicted the intention to leave early after experiencing the virtual scenario. Moreover, the results indicated that there is a statistically significant difference between male and female participants in their tendency to leave in response to the socio environmental cues embedded in the VR intervention. The study highlights the need for thoughtfully designed interventions for residents who tend to ‘wait and see’ in response to wildfire threats as well as the need for gender wise strategies.

Users' Perspectives on Crisis Helplines in Relation to Professional Mental Health Services.

Background: Crisis helplines aim to provide a short-term intervention or guide users to professional mental health services, but many users return to helplines despite having professional mental health contacts. Aims: To contribute knowledge on users' perspectives on the role of crisis helplines in relation to their professional mental health contacts, we aimed to investigate how online helpline users describe such services. Methods: We used thematic analysis of 100 naturally occurring interactions from a Swedish online crisis helpline. Results: The users viewed the helpline as a safe space, a partner, or an alternative to bad professional services. Users oriented to ongoing helpline usage as crucial for their well-being while they described using professional mental health services to be able to stay alive. Limitations: The findings are limited to the nature of the different themes. Conclusion: The view on crisis helplines as a short-term intervention relies on an idealized view on crisis intervention that does not represent users' views. User control is at the core of the appeal of helplines, but it is also a key challenge for organizations and volunteers.

Identifying barriers and facilitators of translating research evidence into clinical practice: A systematic review of reviews.

Translating research into clinical practice is a global priority because of its potential impact on health services delivery and outcomes. Despite the ever-increasing depth and breadth of health research, most areas across the globe seem to be slow to translate relevant research evidence into clinical practice. Thus, this review sought to synthesise existing literature to elucidate the barriers and facilitators to the translation of health research into clinical practice. A systematic review of reviews approach was utilised. Review studies were identified across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science databases, from their inception to 15 March 2021. Searching was updated on 30 March 2022. All retrieved articles were screened by two authors; reviews meeting the inclusion criteria were retained. Based on the review type, two validated tools were employed to ascertain their quality: A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2 and International Narrative Systematic assessment. The framework synthesis method was adopted to guide the analysis and narrative synthesis of data from selected articles. Ten reviews met the inclusion criteria. The study revealed that the translation of new evidence was limited predominantly by individual-level issues and less frequently by organisational factors. Inadequate knowledge and skills of individuals to conduct, organise, utilise and appraise research literature were the primary individual-level barriers. Limited access to research evidence and lack of equipment were the key organisational challenges. To circumvent these barriers, it is critical to establish collaborations and partnerships between policy makers and health professionals at all levels and stages of the research process. The study concluded that recognising barriers and facilitators could help set key priorities that aid in translating and integrating research evidence into practice. Effective stakeholder collaboration and co-operation should improve the translation of research findings into clinical practice.

Towards Design and Development of a Data Security and Privacy Risk Management Framework for WBAN Based Healthcare Applications

Assuring security and privacy of data is a key challenge for organizations when developing WBAN applications. The reasons for this challenge include (i) developers have limited knowledge of market-specific regulatory requirements and security standards, and (ii) there are a vast number of security controls with insufficient implementation detail. To address these challenges, we have developed a WBAN data security and privacy risk management framework. The goal of this paper is trifold. First, we present the methodology used to develop the framework. The framework was developed by considering recommendations from legislation and standards. Second, we present the findings from an initial validation of the framework’s usability and effectiveness of the security and privacy controls. Finally, we present an updated version of the framework and explain how it addresses the aforementioned challenges.

Understanding the Socioeconomic and Health Challenges of the Medicaid Expansion Population in Oregon.

Following the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Medicaid eligibility in the United States expanded to include low-income adults. One key challenge for organizations and providers serving the Medicaid population was predicting if and how this change would alter the composition of enrollees. This study characterized demographics, socioeconomic challenges, and health of the expansion and non-expansion Medicaid populations in a metropolitan area in Oregon using a survey and Medicaid claims. Results showed that the expansion population has more men and non-English speakers than the non-expansion population. They also have greater education and employment, but face similar socioeconomic challenges including struggling to meet basic needs and housing instability. This study also found comparable self-reported physical and mental health, but lower prevalence of physical or mental health diagnoses and several ambulatory care reactive conditions including hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The authors concluded that expansion and non-expansion populations differ in sex, language, education, employment, and health, but they face similar socioeconomic challenges. This information is useful for organizations coordinating and providing care to Medicaid members so they can understand the needs of the population and set appropriate population health management strategies.

Shaping Creative Contexts: How Creative Leadership Modes Affect Innovation Behavior and Satisfaction

Organizing and leading creative collaboration is a key challenge for organizations producing innovative outcomes. In a large-scale review, Mainemelis, Kark, and Epitropaki (2015) identified three d...

Access, security and diplomacy

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on the perceptions of Qatar’s suitability to act a successful sports event host and, in doing so, look ahead to some of the key organisational challenges facing Qatar leading up to the World Cup in 2022. This paper is framed around the perceptions of nation branding and soft power and draws on the experiences of various key demographics who offer valuable insight into Qatar’s World Cup.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with football journalists, experienced tournament staff and volunteers, football supporters and expatriates working in the Gulf region. The paper is longitudinal in nature, with data collected between January 2010 and June 2018 including seven FIFA and FIFA-affiliated confederation events, namely, the 2011 Asia Cup in Qatar, the 2011 Gold Cup in USA, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the 2015 Copa America in Chile, the 2016 European Championships in France, the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.FindingsThe paper uncovers several concerns and considerations connected to hosting a first Middle Eastern World Cup in Qatar in 2022. The findings demonstrate some of the key organisational challenges facing the event which were found to include supporter access, security and the fan experience.Originality/valueThis paper examines Qatar in the context of the 2022 World Cup and its connection to soft power and nation branding. This particular event is so significant, not simply because it is the showcase tournament of the globe’s most popular sport from both a spectator and participation perspective, but because it represents such a notable divergence from previous editions. The majority of preceding World Cups have/will be hosted by highly populated countries with relatively developed football traditions and/or infrastructures. As a change to this pattern, the unique position of Qatar’s World Cup renders it as an important case study. This paper, which examines informed perspectives relating to access, security and diplomacy, provides a number of issues for Qatar’s World Cup organisers to consider.

Technology Adoption and Diffusion: A New Application of the UTAUT Model

Diffusion of innovation is a key challenge for organizations; it brings social change that alters a system's structure and how it operates. Most of the studies in this area have focused on the information and communication technologies sector (ICT). In this paper, we have sought to understand the acceptance and use of wood-based technology in the non-residential construction sector. For this purpose, we conducted a web survey of 28 engineers in Quebec's construction industry. Upon examining the survey results using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) theory, we have proposed a conceptual framework specific to the use of wood in non-residential construction and identified the main similarities and differences according to the basic UTAUT model. We have also identified some constraints regarding the use of wood-based technology.

Management challenges in creating value from business analytics

The popularity of big data and business analytics has increased tremendously in the last decade and a key challenge for organizations is in understanding how to leverage them to create business value. However, while the literature acknowledges the importance of these topics little work has addressed them from the organization's point of view. This paper investigates the challenges faced by organizational managers seeking to become more data and information-driven in order to create value. Empirical research comprised a mixed methods approach using (1) a Delphi study with practitioners through various forums and (2) interviews with business analytics managers in three case organizations. The case studies reinforced the Delphi findings and highlighted several challenge focal areas: organizations need a clear data and analytics strategy, the right people to effect a data-driven cultural change, and to consider data and information ethics when using data for competitive advantage. Further, becoming data-driven is not merely a technical issue and demands that organizations firstly organize their business analytics departments to comprise business analysts, data scientists, and IT personnel, and secondly align that business analytics capability with their business strategy in order to tackle the analytics challenge in a systemic and joined-up way. As a result, this paper presents a business analytics ecosystem for organizations that contributes to the body of scholarly knowledge by identifying key business areas and functions to address to achieve this transformation.

Formal and legal aspects of the projects financed from EU funds

A key challenge for organizations in the contemporary world is a successful balance between current business and change business. The article presents a different approach to project management, with particular focus projects co-financed from EU funds. It highlights the key provisions of the grant agreement, focusing mainly on the obligations of the beneficiary underwith the provisions of the agreement, the fulfillment of which determines the possibility of spending of EU funds.

Work environment and employee motivation to lead

Purpose– A key challenge for organizations is identification of candidates for development as organizational leaders. While selection criteria may vary, one important consideration is the extent to which an employee is motivated to lead. Previous studies have restricted investigation of the antecedents of these motivations to individual differences such as personality, self-efficacy, and previous leadership experiences, suggesting that leadership capacity may depend largely on employee selection. However, employee assessments of numerous aspects of the work environment may also have a substantial role in determining an employee’s motivation to lead (MTL), suggesting that an organization’s leadership capacity may depend on many other human resource practices. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– In this study, the authors explored the role of employee assessments of work experiences as determinants of three types of MTL. This paper investigates the impact of a value-oriented organizational culture and the employee’s assessment of the work environment (pay satisfaction, promotion possibilities, recognition, job design, internal communication, and employee’s relationship with his/her current leader). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses.Findings– Based upon the results of 210 respondents the strength of relationship varies among the three alternative types of leadership motivation. The results suggest that besides individual differences, the perceived work environment may be a significant determinant of motivation to become an organizational leader. Employee assessments of pay, promotion opportunities, recognition, job design, quality of organizational communications, and workplace spirituality all play a role in determining employee MTL.Originality/value– This paper offers a number of implications for human resource management practices, hiring, and leadership development.

Benefitting from virtual customer environments: An empirical study of customer engagement

Customer engagement has been labeled as a prerequisite for the success of virtual customer environments. A key challenge for organizations serving their customers via these environments is how to stimulate customer engagement. This study is among the first to shed light on this issue by examining customer engagement and its drivers. Using the theory of uses and gratification as theoretical lens, we develop a model that relates characteristics of virtual customer environments, perceived benefits of using these environments and customer engagement intentions. The model is validated using partially least squares structural equation modeling on three samples of real users of different virtual customer environments in the Dutch telecom industry. The results provide clear support for the validity of the hypothesized relationships and show high robustness of the findings across the three datasets. An important finding of this study is that cognitive, social integrative and hedonic benefits appear to be significant in their influence on customer engagement intentions. Overall, the findings add to the underexplored field of customer engagement study and hold implications for research into and the management of virtual customer environments.

Asociaciones de inmigrantes mexicanos en Estados Unidos: logros y desafíos en tiempos recientes

En el contexto del creciente debate público y político sobre la migración de mexicanos hacia Estados Unidos, debido principalmente a su alta densidad, permanencia y vasta distribución, ha habido también una creciente atención pública, política y académica hacia las organizaciones comunitarias formadas por estos inmigrantes. Este artículo examina el desarrollo y la paulatina centralidad de asociaciones y federaciones de migrantes mexicanos en Estados Unidos, basadas en el lugar o región de origen en México. El texto evalúa su desarrollo inicial y la importancia de sus logros en ambos países durante las últimas décadas, así como los retos que enfrentan en su futuro desarrollo organizativo.

The change imperative: creating the next generation NGO

1) Introduction: In the Midst of a Revolution 2) Globalization and INGOs 3) A New Era in International Relations 4) Factors Driving the Increased Size and Influence of INGOs 5) External Challenges: Responding to a Rapidly Changing Context 6) Key Organizational Challenges for INGOs 7) The Governance and Management of INGOs 8) The Change Imperative: Can large INGOs Adapt to a Rapidly Changing International Environment? 9) Conclusion - Viva La Revolucion.

Managing Innovation Champions: The Impact of Project Characteristics on the Direct Manager Role*

A key challenge for organizations seeking to improve the management of innovation lies in determining when to lend direct managerial support, and how much support, to those championing such projects. This research provides insights into the connection between project characteristics and the type and frequency of direct manager involvement. As such, it addresses the following research question: how does the level of project innovativeness, strategic relatedness, and resource requirements impact the level of empowerment of innovation champions and the sponsor or supervisor role played by managers? The research method involves a survey of 89 project champions from four divisions of large, multinational Korean companies. The results show that when innovativeness was high but projects were strategically related, there was greater project champion empowerment but also a more frequent managerial sponsor role. This suggests it may be best to allow innovators, who are close to the project's markets, technologies, and industry conditions, to have greater freedom over objectives and decisions. Yet they may also need the advice and support of their managers to function optimally under the highly uncertain conditions that characterize innovative projects. This combination of empowerment and a sponsor role, though appropriate for highly innovative projects, may also require high strategic relatedness, however. On the other hand, when projects are less strategically related and when resource requirements are high, the analysis suggests managers are more likely to exert control. Managers may therefore need to become more closely involved in decision making for costly ventures representing new strategic directions for their organizations. Overall, this research suggests that both empowerment and manager roles are relevant to the management of innovation. These results offer academic value in recognizing the nature of the direct manager role under different innovation project conditions. It further reveals a need for academics to recognize both the supervisor and sponsor roles in the management of innovation. For managers, the findings suggest that for organizations to effectively develop and commercialize innovations managers need to recognize when certain projects call for different levels and types of involvement.

Marketing Specialty Hogs: A Comparative Analysis of Two Firms from Iowa

We study business organization and coordination of specialty-market hog production using a comparative analysis of two Iowa firms marketing niche pork. We analyze each firm's management of five key organizational challenges: planning and logistics, quality assurance, process verification and management of “credence attributes,” business structure, and profit sharing. Although each firm is engaged in essentially the same activity, there are substantial differences across the two firms in the way production and marketing are coordinated. These differences are partly explained by the relative size and age of each firm, but also by the formal organizational separation between marketing and production activities in one of the firms.