Organizational Restructuring Research Articles

The Impact of Layoffs on Organizational Culture and Employee Morale in IT Companies

Within the context of Information Technology (IT) enterprises, this research article explores the multiple effects of layoffs on organisational culture and employee morale. As a deliberate reaction to economic constraints, technological developments, organisational restructuring, or both, layoffs have unfortunately become commonplace in today's ever-changing corporate environment. Beyond the short-term monetary benefits, however, such staff cutbacks have far-reaching effects on the culture of the company and the mental health of the surviving workers.This research seeks to shed light on the complex relationship between layoffs, organisational culture, and employee morale in IT organisations by doing a thorough literature review and analysing empirical data. It looks at how layoffs affect trust, how they affect established cultural norms, and how they make workers fearful and unsure using qualitative and quantitative methods. In addition, the study analyses how company executives may help their employees bounce back from layoffs by reducing their impact on morale and culture and increasing team spirit.This study provides valuable insights for organisational executives, human resource practitioners, and researchers by shedding light on the difficulties of layoffs in IT organisations. Organisations may maintain employee engagement, loyalty, and organisational success during challenging times by acknowledging the significant influence of layoffs on morale and culture. This will allow for more thoughtful and strategic workforce management strategies.

From centralization to decentralization: Organizational restructuring within a legislative context in the public sector

This literature review delves into the repercussions of decentralization reform on organizational frameworks worldwide. It scrutinizes the empirical correlation between past organizational setups in developing nations and current structures resulting from decentralization policies, combining various theoretical frameworks to enhance organizational architecture. The institutional reforms, short-term political motivations, instrumental incoherence, reformers’ incentives, and decentralization types (Faguet & Shami, 2022). Two principal objectives steer this research: first, to furnish a comprehensive comprehension of the historical trajectory of decentralization administration, and second, to proffer restructuring strategies for the public sector aimed at enhancing the provision of public services through decentralization strategies. This study contributes to organizational reform through decentralization initiatives, using qualitative methods and CiteSpace software. The literature review highlights the beneficial impact of administrative decentralization and innovative frameworks on system management. Furthermore, based on bibliometric analysis, the study elucidates international research collaboration among authors, organizations, and nations. Ultimately, this research sheds light on the strategic utilization of decentralization policies to restructure organizational frameworks akin to the precision of acupuncture effectively.

Technology for Good? Tencent’s Corporate Social Responsibility, Institutional Chameleon, and the Future of Platform Economies

There have been global regulatory debates and efforts aimed at holding digital platforms accountable for the public interest. Utilizing mixed methods of documentary research and expert interviews, this article examines how the Chinese digital giant Tencent leverages its adaptive capabilities for corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in response to increasingly stringent regulation in China. Specifically, it explores Tencent’s organizational restructuring, including the establishment of the sustainable social value (SSV) division, as well as the accompanying corporate practices and discursive strategies aimed at enhancing its legitimacy. As an exemplar of the “institutional chameleon,” Tencent has deftly navigated regulatory waters through organizational metamorphosis. However, while Tencent’s enhanced CSR initiatives have certainly yielded some social benefits, the SSV initiatives are increasingly emerging as a new business frontier for the company, leveraging its vast infrastructural capacities to capitalize on the very social fabric it purports to support. This underscores the complexities and contradictions inherent in its CSR practices and the significance of the intrinsic logic of digital platforms as a modern business.

THE ORIGINS OF FORMATION OF THE UNION OF TATARIA’S SOVIET WRITERS IN THE 30s OF THE XX CENTURY

On July 29, 2024 the Union of Writers of the Republic of Tatarstan celebrated the 90th anniversary of its formation. In this connection, the background of the Writers’ Union formation and its activities are of particular importance. Under these conditions, the need for a comprehensive study of this topic has become urgent. The Union of Tataria’s Soviet Writers has a long history, throughout its existence it has played and continues to play an important role in public life of the Republic of Tatarstan, in development of the Tatar literature and consolidation of the literary community. The purpose of the study is to examine the history of evolvement and activities of the organizing committee to create the Union of Tataria’s Soviet Writers in the period from 1932 to 1934. Materials and methods. The methodological foundation for the study of the research subject is made by the principles of historicism and objectivity and consistency, as well as the descriptive and narrative method. Based on the results of analyzing archival documents and periodicals of the 30s of the XX century, the article examines the history of the emergence and activities of the Organizing Committee for the creation of Tataria’s Union of Soviet Writers. Research results. The article considers and analyzes the main activities of the Organizing Committee for the creation of the Union of Soviet Writers of the Tatar ASSR in the period from 1932 to 1934. The activities of the Organizing Committee, created in May 1932 in pursuance of the resolution of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of April 23, 1932 “On the restructuring of literary and artistic organizations”, were multifaceted: literary circles were created at plants, factories, collective farms; trips of writers’ teams to the countryside were organized, which aroused great interest among young writers. The Organizing Committee of the Union of Soviet Writers of Tatarstan worked with young writers within the framework of literary circles, and was also engaged in the methodological support of literary circles, carried out work with young writers, conducted literary consultations by convening creative meetings, as well as literary evenings, discussions on literary criticism, satire, artistic language and the value of literary works, organized writers’ performances on the radio and their publication Thus, he created all the conditions for the realization of the creative potential of the writers of the Tatar ASSR.. Conclusions. Over the years of the Organizing Committee’s activity, the ranks of young writers from among the workers significantly expanded and the structure of Tataria’s Union of Soviet Writers was formed. In terms of structure and main activities, the Organizing Committee was the prototype of the future Union of Tataria’s Soviet Writers.

Competition, capital accumulation, and the geographical organization of production in the North Atlantic offshore wind energy industry

As offshore wind energy development expands throughout the advanced industrial world, the wind turbine manufacturing industry has been passing through a process of organizational and geographical restructuring. In terms of the dynamics of industrial organization, highly concentrated industrial conglomerates have gained a stronger position within the industry as the ownership of capital has been centralized through bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions. Geographically, some regions are maintaining their pre-eminence within the international division of labour while other longstanding industrial clusters are being dismantled as production processes are being fragmented, transformed and dispersed to new regions. This article illuminates these dynamics of geographical organization through an analysis of (offshore) wind turbine manufacturing in Europe for deployment in Europe and the United States, advancing a unified approach to understanding changing modes of industrial organization and the development of the spatial division of labour. This unified approach is rooted in the examination of material transformations in the process of production, with attention to the specificities of wind energy as a natural resource. Taking up scientific advances made by Marx, radical industrial geographers and contemporary critics of political economy, the article demonstrates that the centralization of capital and the simultaneous spatial consolidation and dispersal of production have been necessary concrete forms of the development of the productive forces of social labour. The article concludes by reflecting on some of the barriers to the increasing fragmentation of wind turbine manufacturing and the potentialities for working-class organization borne by the centralization of capital and the consolidation of production.

Driving innovation through organizational restructuring and integration of advanced digital technologies: a case study of a world-leading manufacturing company

Driving innovation through organizational restructuring and integration of advanced digital technologies: a case study of a world-leading manufacturing company

Organizational restructuring, precarious employment and work intensification: Women managers’ experience of work under neoliberalism

In recent decades there has been a perceptible rise in employment precarity across professions, industries, institutions and economies, including for managerial grades. In this article the authors contend that this emanates from an implicit neoliberal governance agenda promoting deepening career uncertainty amidst transformative digital innovation and radical corporate restructuring. Among the effects of such changes have been managers experiencing longer working hours, greater work intensification and worsening work–life balance. The authors argue such effects have been particularly acute for women and notably under the institutional (economic, political and social) constraints of the coronavirus pandemic. Presenting quasi-longitudinal information from three qualitative studies (based on data collected variously in Japan, the UK and USA in 2002–2006, 2015–2019 and 2020–2021) the article considers not only women managers’ experiences of work since the millennium, but also their occupational prospects for the future. The authors conclude that under neoliberalism the enduring interaction of organizational restructuring, precarious employment and work intensification will continue to affect adversely the equilibrium between women managers’ personal lives and their professional work, given many confront increasing demands of corporate availability and work-related connectivity whilst simultaneously dealing with significant parenting and care responsibilities.

New Technologies, Older Workers in Banking and Nursing

ABSTRACTThe article examines how technological change and organisational restructuring interacts with population ageing and policies that extend working life, and how older workers understand these trends. Using organisational and contextual approaches and qualitative research on nurses and bankers in Czechia, we investigate older workers' experiences with digitalisation. The age disadvantage older workers experience in digitalising workplaces is produced by three processes: responsibilisation, production of insecurity and ontological precarisation. The responsibilisation of employees for their own digital training is disadvantageous for older workers both in banking and nursing. Digitalisation and restructuring make older bankers feel insecure. To decrease their insecurity, nurses construct a boundary between technology and personal care. The sectoral labour market context is important, as exemplified by a shortage of nurses decreasing insecurity. The precarisation of older workers is further shaped by how the organisational context in which digitalisation occurs intersects with individuals' household situation and welfare state provisions.

RESEARCH ON VALUE-ADDED INTERNAL AUDITING IN ENTERPRISES BASED ON VALUE CHAIN THEORY

With the continuous development of the market economy, the business environment of enterprises has become increasingly complex. As a critical component of corporate governance, internal auditing plays a vital role in regulating business operations. However, traditional compliance-based internal auditing can no longer meet the development needs of modern enterprises. Researching value-added internal auditing to provide more effective value-added services for enterprises has become a significant topic in current internal auditing research and practice. Based on value chain theory, this paper introduces the concept of value-added internal auditing, explores the differences between traditional internal auditing and value-added internal auditing, analyzes existing problems in the implementation of value-added internal auditing in enterprises, and proposes a framework for constructing a value-added internal auditing system through organizational restructuring, institutional improvement, and the optimization of operational mechanisms. KEYWORDS: Value Chain, Internal Auditing, Value-Added Auditing

‘You’d Die if You Didn’t Have Fun’: Interpreting the Experiences of Long-Term Unemployed Men as Bakhtinian Death–Rebirth

Death is a well-established metaphor for how individuals experience and cope with change: from organisational restructuring to job loss. However, the critical potential of death metaphors, particularly relating to job loss and unemployment, has not been fully realised. Drawing on dialogues between long-term unemployed men and their case workers at a Work Club in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, this article addresses a lack of theorisation of situated relational jobseeker resistance. Interpreting these experiences through Bakhtin’s concept of death–rebirth, metaphorical death can be understood as a feeling induced by stigmatising unemployment discourse. Rebirth represents the temporary resistance of this death through carnivalesque laughter, parody and grotesque humour. It is concluded that the men resist the stigma of blame for their own unemployment by using humorous carnivalesque reversals between death and rebirth as a form of relational jobseeker resistance.

Analysis of Current Management Strategies on Business Operations of Two State Enterprises

The study sought to establish how effective were the business management strategies currently being used by two state enterprises in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development namely, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). The study was prompted by the negative media reports and the complaints from key stakeholders about the operations of these institutions. The main theory underpinning the study was the Resource-Based Entrepreneurship theory (RBET) by Hussain et al. (2019) complimented by the organisation theory (Oyibo and Gabriel, 2020). The pragmatism philosophy was applied to ensure that both quantitative and qualitative aspects of study were accommodated. The study used the mixed methods paradigm and the explanatory sequential design. The target population was made up of 97 managers from both the GMB and the ZINWA, as well as government officials from the parent ministry from which a sample of 46 respondents was used to obtain quantitative data responses. A self -administered structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview guide were used. The major findings were that the two parastatals had several strategies which if fully utilised could improve their operations such as outsourcing some non-key services, holding of regular meetings to get updates on the economic activities which might impact on the entities and working with reputable partners to build business growth. The major recommended strategies are that both parastatals should conduct research to facilitate innovation and development, creating and enforcing prudent and transparent financial management systems, adoption of sound corporate governance framework (practices), as well as carrying out organisational restructuring, nurturing appropriate organisational culture and having effective performance management systems.

Human resource management practices in corporate restructuring: a review and agenda for future research

PurposeAlthough corporate restructuring has the potential to provide performance benefits to firms, it can also bring upheaval and challenges to the restructuring firms’ employees. Further, the frequency of corporate restructuring across the business landscape shows no signs of abating. The purpose of this review paper is to identify and synthesize what is known about the selection, implementation and outcomes of the human resource management (HRM) practices that firms deploy in the context of corporate restructuring, with the additional aim of distilling fertile research areas for scholars and best-practice guidance for practitioners.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based upon a systematic review of 110 articles published in highly-ranked, peer-reviewed journals from 2003 to 2023.FindingsThis review surfaces the predominant ability-, motivation- and opportunity-enhancing HRM practices employed by restructuring firms. It further elucidates the major themes and challenges associated with the use and outcomes of these practices across firms and restructuring settings. The analysis illuminates gaps and opportunities in the literature to suggest future directions for the study of HRM practices and corporate restructuring.Originality/valueThis paper identifies, categorizes and integrates the extant literature on HRM practices and outcomes in corporate restructuring, which is a topic that is salient to both researchers and managers. Papers are classified using the Ability, Motivation and Opportunity framework. An inclusive definition of corporate restructuring, which includes organizational, portfolio, governance and financial restructuring, is applied across two decades of research to provide a comprehensive and holistic assessment.

Management of adverse effects of construction digitalization on the quantity surveying key roles: a qualitative Delphi study

Purpose Digitalization has significantly impacted the job roles of construction professionals globally. This study aims to investigate how to manage the adverse effects of digitalization on roles of quantity surveyor (QS) by assessing the level of digitalization of quantity surveying key roles identifying the adverse effects of digitalization on key roles and proposing mitigation strategies to manage adverse effects. It addresses a critical gap by providing a nuanced understanding of adverse effects faced by QSs due to digital advancement. Design/methodology/approach Adopting an interpretive stance, the research involved three rounds of 16 semistructured interviews with experts selected through heterogeneous purposive sampling. The data were analyzed using code-based content analysis with NVivo12. Findings The study identified ten quantity surveying key roles adopting digital technologies. While digitalization has enhanced efficiency and accuracy, it has also introduced adverse effects such as increased workload, potential burnout due to skills shortages, resistance to digital tools and data security concerns. Effective mitigation strategies include task prioritization, balancing traditional and digital skills and investing in continuous training. The study underscores the need for ongoing professional development for QSs and organizational restructuring to support digital integration, enhance workflow efficiency and reduce resistance to technological changes. Research limitations/implications This study’s novel contribution lies in its exploration of the adverse effects of digitalization on the QSs, usage and the level of adaptation of digital tools by QSs and strategies to manage them. Therefore, the findings of this study serve as precious steerage for QSs to have an in-depth understanding of digitalization’s usage and level of adaptation, its adverse effects and mitigation of the adverse effects. Originality/value This study’s novel contribution lies in its exploration of the adverse effects of digitalization on the QSs, usage and the level of adaptation of digital tools by QSs and strategies to manage them. Therefore, the findings of this study serve as precious steerage for QSs to have an in-depth understanding of digitalization’s usage and level of adaptation, its adverse effects and mitigation of the adverse effects.

From hopelessness to hope: using a desire-based approach to investigate the perspectives of museum specialists in Ghanaian museums

ABSTRACT Drawing on Eve Tuck's (2009. “Suspending damage: A letter to communities.” Harvard Educational Review 79 (3): 409–428. doi:10.17763/haer.79.3.n0016675661t3n15) desire-based research framework, we investigate the perceptions and aspirations of experts within Ghana's museums regarding the future development and improvement of museums in Ghana. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews of nine museum experts who work in Ghanaian museums. While the study’s findings revealed the museums experts’ challenges, including, lack of training, technological deficiencies, and underfunding, their narratives also revealed a profound desire for community engagement, external collaborations, organizational restructuring, and the support of the next generation and the government, all resources they believe will transform their institutions into vibrant, inclusive spaces that are prepared to serve their communities. This study contributes to the literature on museum education and organization in West Africa by moving beyond the prevailing narratives of damage and challenges present in the literature and highlighting the optimism and eagerness of museum specialists who can drive the transformation of these cultural institutions.

The impact of administrative efficiency on SME Growth and Sustainability

enterprises (SMEs). This review examines the relationship between efficient administrative processes and the long-term success of SMEs, emphasizing how streamlined operations, resource management, and decision-making can enhance business performance. SMEs often struggle with limited resources, resulting in operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies that hinder their capacity to scale and sustain growth. By improving administrative efficiency through the adoption of technology, organizational restructuring, and optimized processes, SMEs can achieve greater productivity, reduce costs, and make informed decisions that promote sustainability. The review employs a case study approach, analyzing SMEs across different sectors—manufacturing, retail, and services to demonstrate the tangible benefits of administrative efficiency. The research includes qualitative interviews, operational data analysis, and performance evaluations before and after implementing efficiency-enhancing measures. Key findings highlight improvements in areas such as time management, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction, all contributing to accelerated growth and competitive advantage. Additionally, the study explores how administrative efficiency supports sustainable practices, such as resource optimization and risk management, leading to long-term business viability. Despite these advantages, challenges such as resistance to change, lack of skilled personnel, and financial constraints pose barriers to achieving administrative efficiency in SMEs. The review concludes by offering practical recommendations for overcoming these challenges, including investing in digital tools, employee training, and organizational restructuring. Ultimately, the research underscores the importance of administrative efficiency as a critical factor for SME growth and sustainability, providing insights for policymakers, business owners, and managers aiming to enhance the operational performance of small businesses in a competitive market.

Cross-sector collaboration to reduce health inequalities: a qualitative study of local collaboration between health care, social services, and other sectors under health system reforms in England

BackgroundPolicymakers across countries promote cross-sector collaboration as a route to improving health and health equity. In England, major health system reforms in 2022 established 42 integrated care systems (ICSs)—area-based partnerships between health care, social care, public health, and other sectors—to plan and coordinate local services. ICSs cover the whole of England and have been given explicit policy objectives to reduce health inequalities, alongside other national priorities.MethodsWe used qualitative methods to understand how local health care and social services organizations are collaborating to reduce health inequalities under England’s reforms. We conducted in-depth interviews between August and December 2022—soon after the reforms were implemented—with 32 senior leaders from NHS, social care, public health, and community-based organizations in three ICSs experiencing high levels of socioeconomic deprivation. We used a framework based on international evidence on cross-sector collaboration to help analyse the data.ResultsLeaders described strong commitment to working together to reduce health inequalities, but faced a combination of conceptual, cultural, capacity, and other challenges in doing so. A mix of factors shaped local collaboration—from how national policy aims are defined and understood, to the resources and relationships among local organizations to deliver them. These factors interact and have varying influence. The national policy context played a dominant role in shaping local collaboration experiences—frequently making it harder not easier. Organizational restructuring to establish ICSs also caused major disruption, with unintended effects on the partnership working it aimed to promote.ConclusionsThe major influences on cross-sector collaboration in England mirror key areas identified in international research, offering opportunities for learning between countries. But our data highlight the pervasive—frequently perverse—influence of national policy on local collaboration in England. National policymakers risked undermining their own reforms. Closer alignment between policy, process, and resources to reduce health inequalities is likely needed to avoid policy failure as ICSs evolve.

Patient safety in the pandemic: Experiences of charge nurses.

The aim of this study was to identify charge nurses' experiences ensuring patient safety during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The research was conducted with charge nurses between July 2021 and February 2022. Research data were collected using a semi-structured interview with two main questions, six sub-questions and an audio recording. Interviews were conducted with 12 charge nurses and lasted ≈30 min. The content analysis method was used to transfer the collected data to written documents and define them to analyse the individual interview data. Content analyses were conducted independently by three different researchers. Inclusion and exclusion criteria for content were established to ensure consistency among all researchers. Researchers independently developed a coding scheme for content analysis based on the research objectives and applied it to the content. Intercoder reliability was assessed with Cohen's kappa coefficient to measure the consistency of coding among researchers. Three main themes were identified as a result of the content analysis. The themes identified after independent examination by the three researchers were 'ensuring safety and protection', 'sustaining motivation and resilience' and 'organizational restructuring and challenges'. This study highlights the challenges faced by charge nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and their critical role in maintaining patient safety. The findings emphasize the importance of organizational adaptability, continuous motivation and comprehensive risk management strategies. Charge nurses played a key role in enhancing safety measures and fostering a culture of resilience among healthcare staff. Moving forward, these insights should guide health policies and practices to better prepare for future public health crises, ensuring the safety of both patients and staff.

Providing a Framework for Aligning Human Resource Practices with Knowledge Management Strategy in the Context of Organizational Restructuring

In all organizations, human resource management occupies a significant and special place, to the extent that it has been referred to as the main concern of managers. The necessity of human resource management is evident, as the productivity of human resources can be equated with the productivity of the organization, which is the very essence of an organization. In the last decade, the role of the human approach in development has received great attention from researchers. The importance of this topic can be seen in the role this factor plays in the development process. The greatest competitive advantage of countries is having a capable workforce. The aim of the present study is to provide a framework for aligning human resource practices with knowledge management strategy in the context of organizational restructuring. The research method is descriptive-correlational. The results of the research, using structural equation modeling software, showed that increasing global interactions and developing the level of companies’ engagement with their environment encourage organizations to undertake activities that lead to gaining competitive advantage and adapting to complex and dynamic environmental conditions, thus meeting current and future needs. Many companies claim that the pressures from competitive forces due to globalization are increasing, and an organization’s ability to cope with these pressures depends on their superior use of human resources. With the growth of industries and knowledge workers, the pressure on the human resources sector has intensified, posing serious challenges to organizational structure.

From Barista to Bytes: How Starbucks Brewed a Digital Revolution

This study examines Starbucks' digital transformation journey, analyzing its strategies, implementation, and impact on performance and competitive positioning. Using a qualitative case study approach, the article explores how Starbucks leveraged an interconnected ecosystem of mobile applications, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data analytics to enhance customer engagement and optimize operations. The research investigates how these technologies synergistically contribute to Starbucks' "Digital Flywheel" framework, driving personalization, streamlining operations, and creating a seamless omnichannel experience. Drawing on company reports, academic literature, and industry analyses, this study provides a comprehensive view of Starbucks' digital initiatives and their collective impact. Findings reveal that Starbucks' success stems from a holistic approach to digital transformation, encompassing technological implementation, organizational restructuring, and cultural change. The study critically examines the effectiveness of the "Digital Flywheel" framework, comparing it with similar models in digital transformation literature. While highlighting the significant impact of these initiatives on Starbucks' financial performance, customer engagement, and operational efficiency, the research also explores challenges in data privacy, technology investment costs, and potential risks associated with digital transformation. The study provides a nuanced analysis of how Starbucks navigated these challenges, offering valuable insights for practitioners. This research contributes to the growing literature on digital transformation in retail, offering a balanced perspective on both the opportunities and challenges of digital innovation. By examining Starbucks' journey, the study critically assesses how traditional retailers can adapt to the digital age, while acknowledging the variability in outcomes across different sectors.

Revolutionising customer service: Shifting from order management to customer experience

This paper aims to explore the critical transition from traditional customer service to a comprehensive customer experience (CX) approach. A Henkel Adhesive Technologies case study, it highlights how integrating a customer-centric mindset within the supply chain can significantly enhance business performance and customer satisfaction. The paper outlines Henkel’s journey in collaboration with Bluecrux to implement a CX-focused strategy, emphasising the importance of state-of-the-art technology, process optimisation and a people-centric culture. Readers will gain insights into the necessity of understanding customer expectations and the impact of emotional engagement on loyalty. The paper provides practical knowledge on developing a CX transformation programme, including key elements such as digital platforms, process documentation, organisational restructuring and employee training. Additionally, it underscores the importance of performance measurement through customer and employee feedback to ensure continuous improvement. By prioritising CX as a strategic imperative, companies can differentiate themselves in a competitive market, foster deeper customer relationships, reduce churn and drive sustainable growth. This comprehensive approach to CX promises tangible business outcomes, such as increased revenue, higher customer satisfaction and enhanced brand loyalty.