Multilevel Perspective Research Articles

Market orientation and change capability on an Indonesian sharia banking performance: the moderating effect of leadership religiosity

Purpose Changes are required to improve the performance of Sharia banking in Indonesia. Using dynamic capability theory, this study aims to analyze organizational learning, change process and change context (OCC) in Bank Syariah Indonesia as influenced by market orientation (competitor and customer orientation) and moderated by religiosity and its impact on organizational performance (Maqashid Sharia) using a multilevel perspective. Design/methodology/approach To test the hypothesis, this research surveyed by distributing online questionnaires to managers and employees at 62 branch offices of Bank Syariah, the largest Sharia bank in Indonesia. Data processing involved multilevel structural equational modeling with Mplus analysis software. Findings Market orientation determines an organization’s ability to change significantly, which leads to organizational performance being significantly moderated by religiosity. In OCC, organizational learning influences change context through change processes, ultimately influencing organizational performance (Maqashid Sharia). Originality/value This research used a multilevel perspective by combining market orientation and OCC variables moderated by religiosity and its impact on Maqashid Sharia. This study was conducted at the largest Sharia bank in Indonesia, Bank Syariah Indonesia.

Mindfulness in the business context: a multi-level model

Purpose The study of mindfulness is still shown to be of interest in different aspects of organisations and/or businesses. Therefore, this study aims to present an integrative, multi-level model of mindfulness based on a holistic approach that can contribute to better governance practices and lead to competitive advantages. Design/methodology/approach To fulfil this aim, an extensive integrative review of the literature, from the main articles about this topic, was made. Findings This study shows that the concept of mindfulness, a conscious presence or full attention and its relation with organisations or firms’ personal, behavioural and social characteristics, in the current context of great adversity, uncertainty and unpredictability, is of interest at the individual, organisational and social level. Practical implications This conceptual study has important implications for both practice and theory. It demonstrates that mindfulness significantly impacts the manager/business person’s ecosystem at the individual, organisational and social levels, particularly in relation to Sustainable Development Goals. Originality/value This study introduces a comprehensive theoretical model that explains this relationship and organises information from a multi-level perspective. This approach can contribute to the advancement of theory by clarifying and discussing the role of mindfulness at the individual, organisational and societal levels. It also identifies opportunities and outlines future research directions, aiming to promote more sustainable development.

On the edge: a multilevel perspective on innovation complexities and dynamic attractors in the supply network

PurposeIn innovation management, the complexity inherited in the supply network may be necessary for success. This study aims to holistically examine innovation complexities and system attractors within a hierarchically nested supply network and explore how they dynamically interact and influence adaptive innovation processes.Design/methodology/approachTaking a complexity theory perspective, we employed a methodological bricolage approach using a single case study with multiple embedded units of analysis – namely, a supply network encompassing 36 firms. We drew upon primary data obtained from 42 interviewees and rich secondary data, and we employed a temporal exponential random graph model to examine the micro-foundations of the evolution of the sampled supply network over a decade.FindingsThis study presents a comprehensive overview of the innovation complexities—relational, temporal, dynamic, operational and structural – and how they manifest within a supply network. It also identifies three systemic attractors – point, periodic and strange – and elucidates their relationships with the complexities and their impact on innovative supply network dynamics. The resulting conceptual framework and working propositions provide a detailed perspective on the complex interplay between balanced order and chaos and the potentially unbalanced innovation states within a supply network.Originality/valueThis research offers an in-depth perspective on the innovation complexities and dynamic attractors within a supply network from a holistic, multilevel perspective. It advances complexity theory and deepens the understanding of supply networks as complex adaptive systems.

Unveiling driving disparities between satisfaction and equity of ecosystem services in urbanized areas

Rapid urbanization intensifies the challenges of achieving satisfaction and equity in ecosystem services (ESs). Beginning with a theoretical overview, we identify five pivotal challenges in managing urban ESs, forming the basis for our integrative analysis. Employing a multi-level analytical perspective, our research quantifies ESs satisfaction through supply–demand ratios and evaluates ESs equity via supply–demand Gini coefficient. Simultaneously explored the driving force relationship between these two dimensions. This study uses Guangdong Province, a typical urbanized area in China, as a case study to assess the supply and demand relationships of four regulating ESs: water retention, soil retention, carbon storage, and water purification. Our results highlight the disparity in ES management effectiveness across different scales while the overall assessments might suggest adequate or equitable ESs, localized assessments within cities and regions often uncover specific ESs issues. A pivotal aspect is that single-factor critical to ESs satisfaction or equity dimension may have limited or opposing importance in another, but interactive effects of multiple factors can effectively mitigate these divergent impacts through non-linear synergies. These insights not only reveal the multiplex impacts of natural–social–economic drivers on urban expansion but also guide the targeted development in different management scale, multi-dimensional management strategies to address these disparities. This approach enriches the discourse on sustainable urban development and provides a robust framework for addressing the nuanced challenges of urban ESs management.

Principles, barriers and enablers to agroecological animal production systems: a qualitative approach based on five case studies

Agroecology is among the most promising options to alleviate the negative impacts of animal farming on the environment and build local food systems based on ethically-acceptable production methods. So far, most of the research on agroecological animal production systems was conducted at farm scale, and the potential of agroecological principles addressing social dimensions and food system level approaches has been underexplored. Here, we analyze how the whole set of agroecological principles was mobilized in five case studies on grassland-based, silvopastoral or integrated crop-livestock systems in Switzerland, Guadeloupe, French uplands, Bulgaria and Andalucía. Following a multilevel perspective, we propose a new eight-category framework to categorize barriers and enablers in these different socioecological contexts, and discuss the implications of these results for scaling out and scaling up agroecological niche innovations in animal production areas. Though we could observe activities related to each agroecological principle in each case study, the relative importance of each principle differed. For instance, in Switzerland the focus was on ecological processes operating in multi-species mixtures, and therefore on mobilizing principles of input reduction, synergy, soil health and biodiversity, while in Andalucía, a civil society organization, a regional agricultural office, researchers, and farmers mainly mobilized transformational principles at the food system level, e.g. social values, connectivity and participation. Such contrasts highlight how agroecology allows different equilibria among principles, adapting to the needs of farmers and local communities. Inadequate infrastructure and lack of technology were frequently reported as barriers to agroecological transitions. Policy needs to go beyond the mere support of agroecological practices on livestock farms and adopt a systems approach looking downstream and upstream if it is to enable a large-scale agroecological transition with EU public policies. Market as an enabler was linked to direct sales and short distribution circuits, generating added value to the benefit of local communities. Most agroecological systems benefited from a positive image among citizens and consumers, but cultural barriers resulted from change in product characteristics, e.g. veal meat color in dairy system that promote long-lasting cow-calf contact. All case studies were very advanced in the social dimensions of agroecology, and cooperation networks were always reported among the enablers for scaling out. The multi-actor network approach fostered knowledge exchange between farmers, researchers and citizens, and allowed participants to share values. Long-term commitment from local practitioners is required so that co-designed solutions are implemented, which can strengthen the economic and social viability of animal production areas.

Exploring the Digital Transformation of Generative AI-Assisted Foreign Language Education: A Socio-Technical Systems Perspective Based on Mixed-Methods

This study investigates the complex dynamics and impacts of generative AI integration in foreign language education through the lens of the Generative AI-assisted Foreign Language Education Socio-Technical System (GAIFL-STS) model. Employing an integrated mixed-methods design, the study combines qualitative case studies and hybrid simulation modeling to examine the affordances, challenges, and implications of AI adoption from a multi-level, multi-dimensional, and multi-stakeholder perspective. The qualitative findings, based on interviews, observations, and document analyses, reveal the transformative potential of generative AI in enhancing language learning experiences, as well as the social, cultural, and ethical tensions that arise in the process. The quantitative results, derived from system dynamics and agent-based modeling, provide a systemic and dynamic understanding of the key variables, feedback loops, and emergent properties that shape the trajectories and outcomes of AI integration. The integrated findings offer valuable insights into the strategies, practices, and policies that can support the effective, equitable, and responsible implementation of AI in language education.

The multi-level politics of countering democratic backsliding: state of the art and new research directions

ABSTRACT After more than a decade of inaction or, at best, using soft instruments, the EU has become more assertive against democratic backsliding in member states. This special issue adopts a multi-level perspective to tackle the new research avenues that arise from this change in EU policy. Its contributions investigate two broad questions: first, the causes of this policy change, and second, its potential domestic impact in the backsliding countries. Focused on the EU level, a first set of articles revisits and refines existing accounts of EU inaction in order to explain the EU’s recent turn towards greater assertiveness. A second set of contributions concentrates mainly on the domestic level to explore the potential impact of the EU’s efforts to counter democratic backsliding in the member states that are the targets of EU actions. This introduction identifies the main themes of this new research agenda, provides an overview of the individual contributions to the special issue and their main insights, and sketches avenues for further research on countering democratic backsliding in the EU.

9.N. Practice session: From Data to Action – Joining forces to close the inequity gap in adolescent health

Abstract Persistent adolescent health inequalities exist in Europe, necessitating interventions that address both individual and societal factors, especially those pertinent to youths in unfavourable contexts. Collaborative efforts involving cross-sectoral partnerships and adolescent engagement are crucial in identifying and mitigating these disparities. Three case studies exemplify this approach. Case study 1: Effective intervention development hinges upon the translation of epidemiological insights into tangible actions. Heiko Schmengler will discuss how individual and contextual-level data is made actionable for the development of ePro-schools, an e-health intervention to promote healthy dietary habits and physical activity amongst adolescents in socially disadvantaged settings. ePro-schools brings together stakeholders from academia, the health sector, the education system, and local communities. This collaborative approach ensures that the intervention is not only grounded in solid scientific evidence but also fits the specific cultural, social, and economic contexts of the adolescents it aims to serve. Case study 2: Adolescents are not passive consumers of interventions, but active agents who frequently understand best what they need to improve regarding their health. Lourdes Cantarero Arevalo will share innovative methodologies and best practices for involving adolescents in data collection, intervention design, and policy development processes with the final aim to empower the voices of adolescents in vulnerable situations while addressing problems that are relevant for them. Case study 3: Filipa Alves da Costa will draw attention to the health concerns of adolescents resulting from incarceration. This talk will outline the development of a policy brief derived from UN global study data, which highlights the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in developing actions to safeguard access to high quality healthcare for adolescents within the criminal justice system. A cross-sectoral approach is critical given that criminal justice systems typically fall outside the direct oversight of health ministries. The goal is to encourage policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to consider inter-sectoral strategies to address the complex health challenges these adolescents face. Following the presentations, we will facilitate a dynamic discussion with the audience, encouraging an exchange of ideas on strategies to address adolescent health inequalities from a multilevel perspective. This discussion aims to draw on the collective expertise of participants from diverse backgrounds, including practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. This dialogue aims to identify common barriers and opportunities, fostering a collaborative approach to tackling inequalities. The goal is to emerge from the workshop with a richer understanding of effective strategies that can be leveraged to close the gap in adolescent health across Europe. Key messages • Health inequalities among adolescents must be tackled collaboratively across different sectors and with participation of adolescents. • Participants will gain valuable insights on innovative solutions and effective methodologies from the case studies to inform their own efforts in addressing adolescent health inequalities.

How does psychosocial safety climate affect safety behavior in the construction industry? A cross-level analysis.

The unsafe work of construction workers directly contributes to frequent accidents in workplaces. However, the factors influencing the safety behavior of Chinese construction workers are not yet clear. Data from 381 construction workers were analyzed to test our hypotheses.This study aimed to investigate the impact of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) on safety behavior through a cross-level model, focusing on the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating effect of safety-related stress. The results indicated that (1) PSC was positively associated with psychological resilience and safety behavior; (2) psychological resilience mediated the relationship between PSC and safety behavior; (3) the link between PSC and safety behavior was negatively influenced by safety-related stress; and (4) all three sub-dimensions of safety-related stress moderated the effect of PSC on safety participation. These findings elucidate the mechanisms underlying the connection between PSC, psychological resilience, safety-related stress, and safety behavior from a multi-level perspective. Additionally, strategies for enhancing the safety behavior of construction workers were discussed.

Navigating organizational change through a processual perspective on the transition toward the circular economy: Save The Duck case study

PurposeBy rooting our study in Lewin’s change management theory, we conduct an in-depth case study of a medium-sized fashion firm transitioning toward a CE. Through adopting a multi-level and processual perspective, we offer empirical evidence of the change process and elucidate the drivers and resistance to change factors.Design/methodology/approachWe opt for a single in-depth longitudinal case study of a fashion firm that was born with a sustainable business model and that is in transition toward the CE. We involve multiple informants, and we adopt a processual approach to uncover the drivers and resistance to change factors at different organizational levels (i.e. top and middle management and operational levels).FindingsOur findings enable us to highlight novel key drivers and resistance factors at the organizational level. Regarding the former, we reveal the involvement of top and middle management in the decision-making process and the recruitment of young people. For the resistance factors, we identify adaptation to structural change, reluctant mindset, internal divergence of ideas, and commitment of all organizational levels to the CE.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper presents some limitations. First, our research is based on a single in-depth case study, which, while allowing for rich, detailed exploration, inherently limits the statistical generalizability of our findings. Focusing just on one organization located in a specific industry and geographical context means that our results may not be directly applicable to all organizational settings. Firms belonging to other industries would probably show different patterns of change due to industry-specific drivers and barriers. Also, the institutional and geographical contexts of our case study inevitably influence the cognitive and cultural aspects of the drivers and barriers we identified. Then, our research provides a processual yet not longitudinal view of OCCE, thus not fully capturing the long-term dynamics of the phenomenon.Practical implicationsOur findings underscore the critical role of visionary leadership, particularly stemming from the CEO, in driving CE transition. Leaders should articulate a clear vision for sustainability, foster a culture of experimentation and actively identify opportunities for CE implementation. Moreover, our results suggest that organizational culture plays a fundamental role in supporting CE transition. Creating a dedicated sustainability team to coordinate CE initiatives and counter the internal resistance, fostering the engagement of all organizational levels in CE initiatives, developing training programs to enhance CE knowledge and skills throughout the organization and recruiting young talents are some of the key recommendations we posit to firms aiming to start the process of CE transition.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the emerging literature on “Organizational Change toward a Circular Economy” (OCCE) by providing a processual analysis of organizational change toward the CE. Through an in-depth exploratory study of a fashion firm in transition toward the CE, we were able to identify drivers and resistance factors and to offer a visual map of our findings to graphically show the change toward the CE and the drivers and resistance to change factors that have thus far been under-investigated from an organizational level (Graessler et al., 2024).

Developing a codebook to characterize barriers, enablers, and strategies for implementing learning health systems from a multilevel perspective

AbstractIntroductionLearning health systems (LHSs) play a crucial role in improving healthcare delivery and outcomes through continuous learning and data‐driven decision‐making. Implementation of LHSs spans individual, organization, and systemic levels of healthcare. This paper outlines a systematic approach for developing a comprehensive codebook to identify barriers, enablers, and strategies associated with the establishment and operation of LHS from a multilevel perspective.MethodsThe codebook development process was divided into two phases and employed a coding team. Phase 1 involved the synthesis of previous literature, which drove the development of initial codes. Phase 2 included the testing of the codebook with a pilot dataset to derive new codes or iterative refinement, ensuring robustness, and validity.ResultsThe literature search revealed 12 papers that detailed the barriers, enablers, and strategies for LHS implementation. Micro‐level codes were derived from a mixture of existing literature and our pilot dataset. Most meso‐level codes barriers and enablers were derived from the literature, with some subcodes derived from participant interviews. All strategies for implementation at the meso‐level were identified in the literature. At the macro‐level, all codes and subcodes were from the literature.ConclusionsThe codebook contributes to the advancement of implementation science in LHS. The codebook facilitates effective analysis and understanding of the key factors influencing the success of LHS implementation, offering practical insights for policymakers, healthcare practitioners and researchers engaged in the ongoing evolution of LHS.

Revitalizing Colleague‐Specific Human Capital: Boomerang and Pipeline‐Based Hiring in a 41‐Year Multilevel Study of Employee Mobility

ABSTRACTAmidst the decline of permanent employment contracts and the rapid shortening of career cycles, organizations often face challenges in fully capitalizing on employee mobility. This study adopts a multilevel perspective to explore how mobility impacts both individual and team performance, focusing on acquiring colleague‐specific human capital through two talent acquisition strategies: boomerang hiring and pipeline‐based hiring. Using a unique Major League Baseball database spanning 41 years, including 19,927 player‐year records and 1156 team‐year records, our analysis reveals that individuals engaged in boomerang and pipeline‐based hiring and possessing higher levels of individual colleague‐specific human capital, experience greater benefits from mobility in terms of individual performance. Moreover, these hiring strategies allow organizations to effectively harness colleague‐specific human capital. Specifically, team performance is positively influenced by a greater proportion of boomerang hiring through team colleague‐specific human capital resources. Similarly, a higher ratio of pipeline‐based hiring, alongside other recurrent hiring practices, positively impacts team performance through team colleague‐specific human capital resources. Our findings provide valuable insights for organizations aiming to rejuvenate their colleague‐specific human capital resources through strategic hiring practices to achieve sustained success.

Brazilian Portuguese wh-clefts in a multilevel analytic perspective

Brazilian Portuguese <i>wh</i>-clefts in a multilevel analytic perspective

Broadening project studies to address sustainability transitions: Conceptual suggestions and crossovers with socio-technical transitions research

Academic and socio-political interest in sustainability transitions, which are decades-long change processes in socio-technical systems, is rapidly increasing. To further engage with this topic, this essay suggests that project studies should continue its trend of conceptual broadening that has characterised the field in the past decade. Using the Multi-Level Perspective on socio-technical transitions as a meta-framework, this essay identifies and discusses the important roles of incremental improvement projects, exploratory projects, deployment projects, reorientation projects, and decommissioning projects in sustainability transitions. The essay also discusses crossovers with socio-technical transitions research and makes specific conceptual suggestions for broadening research on the different kinds of projects, programmes and portfolios.

Physical activity and social-emotional learning in Canadian children: Multilevel perspectives within an early childhood education and care setting

Early childhood education and care programs can support physical activity and socio-emotional skills development. However, limited research has investigated the longitudinal associations between these constructs and whether they vary across child-specific and classroom-wide levels of analysis. The present study evaluated three-month trajectories of social and emotional competencies, with an emphasis on associations with physical activity. Participants were children enrolled in a licensed not-for-profit early childhood education and care provider in Canada. Educators (n = 37) across 22 classrooms completed monthly assessments of children (N = 235) from January–March 2020. Intraclass correlation coefficients revealed that significant variability in socio-emotional strengths could be attributed to between- and within-classroom differences (21 % and 47 %, respectively), and change over time (32 %). In three-level random-slopes growth curve models, socio-emotional strengths increased over time, with significant between-classroom differences in initial averages and rates of change. Child-specific and classroom-average levels of physical activity were also associated with socio-emotional strengths. These findings underscore the importance of considering child and classroom differences in early learning contexts. Moreover, incorporating physical activity in these settings holds promise as an accessible strategy to support children’s social and emotional development.

Exploring circular economy strategies of SMEs in the Italian tanning cluster of Arzignano: A multilevel perspective of reactive and proactive strategies

While the Circular Economy predominantly affects large companies and multinationals, its impact on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) is an emerging research area. This research aimed to unfold the Circular Economy strategies implemented by SMEs within an industrial cluster context. Ten companies from the Italian tanning cluster of Arzignano were selected as case studies. Thematic analysis, pattern-matching, and multi-value Qualitative Comparative Analysis techniques were used to analyze primary and secondary data. Main findings revealed that CE strategies taken by the studied companies were characterized by the economic and efficiency benefits provided, such as resource-saving, waste management, energy use reduction, and materials selection for further recycling. SMEs' management is targeting compliance with environmental regulations/certifications, market pressures, and cost-benefit assessments, evidencing an adaptive behavior to external exigencies. Novel findings came from the meso level, such as a ‘symbiotic circularity’ strategy taken by two SMEs and their value chain for co-production, and the chain actions related to recycling, remanufacturing, and reusing wasted products by partner companies. A cascade chain of interdependent actions toward Circular Economy practices was also identified within the cluster level. Reactive and proactive Circular Economy strategies were identified in a multilevel framework.

Combating Food Waste: Legal Analysis and Fiscal Solutions in the Italian and European Context

This contribution aims to analyze the new measure of Food Income, an Italian legislation that has been introduced recently to combat food poverty. This tool enables the free distribution of food parcels made from unsold commercial products, donated by participating businesses to people in absolute poverty. Beginning with the analysis of the measure, which is currently being tested in some Italian municipalities, the goal of this contribution is to provide a comprehensive overview of current practices and developments in addressing food waste within the Italian legal system, offering a comparative and multilevel perspective on the multiple purposes that can be served by a sustainable food chain.

Niche Sustainable Agricultural Production in Colombia: The Case of Territorial Development Agendas and Development Planning in the Province of García Rovira

This article addresses the emergence of a niche for sustainable agricultural production in the province of García Rovira, Colombia. It examines the intervention of the Colombian planning regime, which implements agendas for sustainable territorial development. However, these agendas are not adequately aligned with provincial realities, resulting in a productive decline. From a multi-level perspective, a production niche linked to the landscape has been identified, emphasizing sustainable practices and innovation. This study aimed to explore how planning influences the emergence of such niches and identified factors that promote their transition towards sustainability. Through a mixed methodology, growing sectors were accentuated and the profiles of the producers involved were outlined. The main conclusion is that the planned intervention is inefficient as the niche of sustainable production emerges without a clear influence. Therefore, it is proposed to re-evaluate planning using alternative analysis frameworks to detect emerging productive dynamics, serving as a basis for future plans.

Exploring the Factors Leading to Diffusion of Alternative Fuels Using a Socio-Technical Transition Approach—A Case Study of LNG as a Marine Fuel in Norway

The maritime shipping sector needs to transition towards a low- or zero-emission future to align with the 1.5 °C temperature goal and the recently adopted and revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A significant research gap exists in understanding how socio-economic and socio-political processes can lead to the adoption of alternative marine fuels that will be essential in meeting the aforementioned goals. The aim of this paper is to use a case study of an existing transition to understand how diffusion takes place, specifically how the adoption of liquified natural gas (LNG) in Norway has unfolded and what lessons can be learnt from this process. To answer this question, a combination of semi-structured interviews with key maritime stakeholders and documentary evidence was collected covering the period from 1985 to 2015. The collected data were analysed through a content analysis approach applying the multilevel perspective (MLP) as a heuristic. The qualitative results paint an interesting picture of the changing attitudes towards LNG as a marine fuel in Norway. In the early years, the adoption of LNG was primarily driven by air pollution and political considerations of using Norwegian natural gas, which over time, evolved into a more focused maritime paradigm painted through the lens of the Norwegian maritime industry under wider regulatory developments such as emission control areas (ECAs). By the 2010s, these drivers were superseded by GHG considerations such as methane slip concerns and a less favourable natural gas market leading to a slowdown of LNG adoption. These findings provide valuable insights for understanding future adoption dynamics of alternative zero-emission fuels, particularly in relation to the role of strong technology champions, institutional modification requirements, and starting conditions for a transition.

A Multilevel Perspective of Organized and Intentional Corporate Social Irresponsibility

A Multilevel Perspective of Organized and Intentional Corporate Social Irresponsibility