Meso-level Research Research Articles

Protest now: A systems view of 21st century movements

The 21st century has seen unprecedented levels of mass protest all over the world. Protest is a dynamic interplay of actions over time, across levels of society (e.g., individual, interpersonal, group, intergroup), and across domains (e.g., social, cultural, political, economic). To illustrate this systems view, we first describe the local and global ecology of protest as it operates in the world now. We rely mainly on macro-level social science research to describe the scale and scope of specific movements (e.g., Black Lives Matter) as well as temporal trends in protest across the world. Second, we offer an expansive conceptualization of the types of protest, and the consequences of protest, based on an integrative review of micro- and meso-level research in psychology, and macro-level research in social science. Third, we present a temporal social network analysis of the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement as an empirical example of a systems approach.

Designing inclusive organizational identities

Organizational identity can be a key instrument in designers’ pursuit to build organizations that employ individuals from diverse social groups and create inclusive workplace cultures that support all members’ belonging, regardless of their status in society. We define an inclusive organizational identity as the belief (held by internal or external stakeholders) that inclusivity is one of the defining characteristics of an organization; that the organization intentionally incorporates diverse individuals—including those with historically marginalized social identities—into its governance, operations, and outputs. Building on studies in different literatures—ranging from micro-level research in psychology of belonging, meso-level research on sensegiving, and macro-level research on how organizations are perceived by their audiences—we develop a design-based approach to organizational identity. In order to create inclusive identities, designers will need to address trade-offs around whether to make identity claims, claim inclusivity as an identity feature, and affiliate with ideologies of inclusion (assimilation versus multiculturalism). If they choose to make identity claims, designers can bolster those claims by developing managers as stewards of the organization’s identity, facilitating employee participation to define inclusivity, and being transparent about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) efforts.

11.A. Workshop: Leveraging meso-level data to advance population health in Europe: further directions

Abstract Health services and public health researchers provide timely and critical evidence to answer real-world policy questions and work extensively with policymakers at the macro, meso and micro levels of government. One goal shared by researchers and policymakers is to foster evidence-informed policy and program development to ensure that policy initiatives provide the greatest benefit possible to individuals and society. Among other sources of data, meso-level datasets are usually comprising contextual data aggregated at various geographical areas such as cities, counties, and regions. Although meso-level data are sometimes used as proxies for individual level data, they can also be used to explore complex questions at the population level. This workshop aims to provide a unique, interprofessional, European conversation about how to translate meso-level research evidence into meaningful insights or recommendations. It brings together a group of high-level people from academia, think tanks, and companies who are involved in generating, transferring, or using meso-level evidence to inform public health and health care policy in Germany and France. In the first presentation, Schüttig et al. use district-level data from Germany to suggest that increased spending and improved continuity of care may be effective ways to reduce the rate of potentially avoidable hospitalizations among patients with type 2 diabetes. Then, Mercier et al. analyze department (district)-level data from France to quantify the impact of the population-based prevalence of diabetes and psychiatric conditions, of air pollution, of socio-economic variables, and of meteorological factors on the spread of COVID-19 during the first lockdown. Rodts et al, in a collaboration between a think tank and a small company, use a broad set of district-level variables to classify French ‘departements’ into homogeneous clusters in terms in needs and explore the discrepancies between total health care spending and needs at the population level. Finally, Mâlatre-Lansac et al. build on these studies to discuss how data can be used to inform public health and health care policy making in Europe. In addition, they suggest future directions to improve meso-level data-driven policy at the local, national, and European levels. Beyond methodological points, the discussion will address ethical issues in the use of meso-level data, and how to improve the availability of data, and the ability of local, regional, and national policymakers to use research evidence efficiently. It is designed as a regular workshop with 4 presentations (10 minutes each), ample audience interaction through Q&A after each presentation and one freehand poll in the introduction of each presentation. Key messages • Meso-level data can be efficiently leveraged to inform health care policy. • Further efforts need to be taken to address the information needs of policymakers.

Evolution of Digital Capital in Organizations: A Quantitative Assessment

This study analyzed the evolution of resources in organizations towards digital capital using the example of Russia, by analyzing data on the development of technological infrastructure. It concluded that, over the past decade, there were moderately favourable conditions in terms of technological orientation in the Russian Federation. However, only a third of Russian organizations have mastered digital transformation in the context of digital interaction in the online environment using relatively simple information technologies. At the same time, a downward trend was noted for the pace of digitization of business processes and management decisions through dedicated software, reducing the global competitiveness of such organizations. The quantitative assessment of the evolution of digital resources demonstrated that Russian organizations have only a basic level of mastery of digital technologies, with some additional capabilities. This level is characterized by the use of relatively simple digital technologies and standard software. Thus, Russian economic entities in almost all areas use information and communication technology as a component of digital capital for the production of added value, but within limited professional competencies. The study results can be used by organizations’ management for meso-level research and by policymakers for evaluating the digital economy.

Policies to nurture Dwarf and infant SME job creation and productivity of Indian policymakers: a narrative policy framework

ABSTRACTIndia is facing a difficult economic situation of low economic growth and job creation. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in it. However, Indian manufacturing SMEs are not able to contribute enough. The paper thus explores policy level modifications required to enhance the contribution of SMEs critical to the growth of the Indian economy. The study uses the narrative policy framework (NPF) by using non-experimental content analysis to present findings. The meso level research explains how policy narrative influences the policy outcome. The study thus presents the benefits as well as challenges of shifting policy focus as per the requirement of ever-changing business ecosystem. The study finds that NPF can be an important tool for scholars to understand the policy problems. This study is unique as it broader policy process scholarship by expanding NPF theory using content analysis and dealing with questions relevant to strategic policy actors and solutions for the first time.

Meso-level institutional and journal related indices for Malaysian engineering research

The literature considers a journal's h-index as a compared measure, however the relation between institutional level h-index (IHI) and journal related indices (JRI) has not been explored in previous studies at meso-level research assessment. This study applies the scientometric approach to meso-level data to examine the association, functional relationship and correlation analysis to evaluate the reliability of IHI with respect to JRI. For this purpose, data from the Web of Science, journal citation report and time cited features were used. The unit of analysis was Malaysian engineering research with a wider time span of 10 year's data (2001---2010) and a larger set of journals (1381). We explored the inter-correlation of IHI with a set of eight JRI and applied principle component analysis, regression analysis, and correlation. At the institutional level, the component analysis and functional relationship of the cumulative impact factor and 5 years IF yielded a more strong association with IHI. Cumulative impact factor is a strong predictor for IHI followed by cumulative 5 years impact factor. Correlation matrix results show that average impact factor (AIF) is correlated with immediacy index and Eigenfactor only. AIF and median impact factor (MIF) have no correlation with each other and IHI is correlated with all indices except AIF and MIF. This study puts forward a better understanding in considering new impact indices at meso level for performance evaluation purpose.

Racial Formation in Perspective: Connecting Individuals, Institutions, and Power Relations

Over the past 25 years, since the publication of Omi & Winant's Racial Formation in the United States, the statement that race is socially constructed has become a truism in sociological circles. Yet many struggle to describe exactly what the claim means. This review brings together empirical literature on the social construction of race from different levels of analysis to highlight the variety of approaches to studying racial formation processes. For example, macro-level scholarship often focuses on the creation of racial categories, micro-level studies examine who comes to occupy these categories, and meso-level research captures the effects of institutional and social context. Each of these levels of analysis has yielded important contributions to our understanding of the social construction of race, yet there is little conversation across boundaries. Scholarship that bridges methodological and disciplinary divides is needed to continue to advance the racial formation perspective and demonstrate its broader relevance.

The making of a ‘business case’ for environmental upgrading: Sri Lanka’s eco-factories

There is a growing emphasis on environmental sustainability and ‘business case’ approaches in corporate social responsibility programs. As part of an effort to become a world leader in sustainability, British retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) piloted more environmentally friendly apparel factories. This paper examines the politics of environmental upgrading in Sri Lanka, where suppliers for M&S built three of ‘the world’s first’ apparel eco-factories in 2008. Drawing on multi-sited, meso-level research in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom, I investigate how and why these factories originated in Sri Lanka and how a business case for environmental upgrading was formulated. However, despite cost savings and exceptionally favorable circumstances for environmental upgrading in Sri Lanka, I found that suppliers were ambivalent about whether there was a sufficient business rationale for investing in environmental upgrading. Therefore, I argue that the business case for environmental upgrading is limited by the lack of mechanisms for ensuring that suppliers can obtain a return on investments. Contributing to debates about ethical trade and upgrading in global value chains (GVCs), this case suggests that power dynamics in GVCs shape the extent to which suppliers can capture a share of the gains from environmental upgrading that is proportional to their share of investment in upfront costs.

Enhancing Meso Level Research in Sustainability Science—Challenges and Research Needs

Growing numbers of promising visions of the future and scenarios that may lead toward building sustainable societies are being developed. At the same time, advanced technologies and research seeds that could increase the likelihood of achieving such visions are also being rigorously conceived. Even so, we face challenges and barriers in achieving these visions due to large gaps between individual technology seeds and shared visions. In this paper we propose a “vision-meso-seeds” model as a practical framework for addressing sustainability transition and demonstrate meso level research whose primary aim is to design a matching of promising seeds at the micro level and societal visions at the macro level, facilitating an achievement of the set visions with quantified targets. In particular we highlight the importance of matching various strategies and measures derived from the top-down (vision-oriented) approach and bottom-up (seeds-oriented) approach in the meso level research. We argue that the meso level research shall constitute one of the emerging core fields in sustainability science and suggest that accumulation of knowledge through case studies be needed to enhance and verify theory, specific methods and approach necessary for advancing the meso level research in the context of sustainability science.

Nizu Chushin no Fukushi Shakai e--Tojisha Shuken no Jisedai Fukushi Senryaku (Towards a Needs-Based Welfare Society--Next Generation Individual Autonomy Welfare Strategies)

Since the late 1990s, Japan's social welfare systems, including those for children, the elderly and the disabled, have shifted from institutional to contractual systems across the board. Institutional systems are those in which the government assesses needs and provides services, while contractual systems refer to those in which users select services through a quasi-market. This shift has been both positively and negatively evaluated, but the issue that is becoming increasingly important is the extent to which the particular needs of individuals are reflected in the social welfare system. This book is ‘a joint product born from a constructive process of mutual sharing and critical examination of the authors' ideas over the course of several intensive research meetings’ (p. 4) and is clearly not just a collection of articles. It integrates research employing several different approaches based on the common objective of creating a ‘needs-based welfare society’. These approaches include micro- and meso-level research on family care, care work and welfare institutions; macro-level research on social policy and welfare state theory and research conducted on different eligible groups such as the disabled and the elderly. The authors also integrate experiential and theoretical approaches in their analysis. A unique feature of this book is the care the authors took as they developed their argument to contrast the needs of welfare service recipients with those of their families and/or the ‘experts’, as well as to analyze the disparities between the needs of service recipients and the systems and policies in place, focusing primarily on the particular needs of recipients. The problem of family members and ‘experts’ controlling the needs of recipients has been stressed in disabled activist movements and in the field of disability studies in Japan. The same type of problem also exists in welfare for the elderly, and this book shows that this is a problem that Japan's entire social welfare system faces.