Organizational Challenges Research Articles

Exploring Primary Education in China: Approaches to Improving Teachers' Job Satisfaction

The job satisfaction of primary school teachers in Shandong Province is an issue that demands urgent attention. Research has shown that teacher job satisfaction directly impacts their professional development and the quality of education, with the principal’s leadership style potentially exerting significant influence. Although transformational leadership is theoretically advantageous, its practical application within China’s basic education system requires further empirical validation. This study collected quantitative data from 389 primary school teachers in Shandong Province via an online survey to explore the relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction. The findings indicate that, first, significant differences exist between various dimensions of job satisfaction, suggesting that teachers have inconsistent perceptions regarding aspects such as working environment and compensation. Second, while certain aspects of transformational leadership, such as concern for the subordinates’ quality of life, received positive evaluations from teachers, other areas, like compensation and promotion opportunities, show considerable room for improvement. Lastly, the data reveal a strong positive correlation between transformational leadership and job satisfaction, particularly in leadership practices that promote teachers’ well-being and personal development. These results challenge the idealized view of transformational leadership as a panacea for all organizational challenges. The study suggests that while transformational leadership can motivate teachers, its effectiveness is limited when not aligned with broader organizational policies and practices. Therefore, for transformational leadership to be genuinely effective, it must be complemented by structural reforms, especially in addressing the specific needs and concerns of teachers.

The positive impact of women leadership in public sector settings: A case example in Virginia's state mental health system.

The role of psychology (and ergo, psychologists) within the public sector has shifted considerably over the preceding decades to include increasingly versatile and psychology-adjacent leadership positions. This publication focuses on brief leadership stories within a state mental health system, with an emphasis on the unique roles that women psychologists have advocated for over the years. The authors provide foundational knowledge of this state's mental health system in order to spotlight the ongoing need for effective leadership within this organization, identifying common ethical and public administration challenges, and ultimately using a structured questionnaire with women psychologists within this system to highlight their leadership roles. These stories expand upon the education and training they felt foundational to their growth in these roles, how they advocated for change and navigated organizational challenges, and how they hope their role can inspire junior (women) psychologists to take increasingly active roles in public service leadership. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

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.

Human resources management in the age of artificial intelligence

Today's businesses are operating in a complex environment, marked by the emergence of a digital culture that is transforming space and time, as well as relationships at work. These various transformations have given rise to a new concept: artificial intelligence. With the introduction of artificial intelligence, work is being transformed, creating new challenges for organizations and leading to new HR practices in terms of recruitment, training, compensation, talent management and so on.For all these reasons, the mobilization of collective intelligence is ultimately becoming a priority for HR, insofar as it makes it possible to support transformation within organizations by means of agile methods. Against this backdrop of changing organizational practices, a number of questions arise:-What is artificial intelligence and how does it impact organizations? -What role can collective intelligence and artificial intelligence play in the evolution of the HR function?The aim of this theoretical research is to underpin the various concepts linked to these notions. We will also try to understand what is at stake in collective intelligence for HR, and how artificial intelligence can impact organizational practices.

Upaya Pemerintah Dalam Mengelola Diversity Sumber Daya Manusia Di Kecamatan Gunungsitoli Barat

Kecamatan Gunungsitoli Barat is an area rich in cultural diversity, religion and strong customary traditions, and is inhabited by people with diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Batak and Malay. This diversity, although a great potential, also presents challenges for sub-district government organizations, especially in managing ethnic and cultural differences that can trigger social tensions. Issues of discrimination and unequal access to economic resources and employment opportunities are also issues that require serious attention. In addition, the limited political participation of some groups threatens the balance of representation in the sub-district government. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method to identify the challenges faced by the sub-district government in managing human resource diversity. The results show that appropriate strategies and policies are needed to create harmony in managing such diversity. Three main efforts that can be made by the sub-district government include: a) organizing cross-cultural training programs, b) implementing inclusive policies to ensure equal opportunities for all individuals, and c) building a monitoring and evaluation system to ensure effectiveness and transparency in managing HR diversity.

Tanzanian midwives’ clinical practices and experiences in caring for women with antepartum hemorrhage: a critical incident technique study

BackgroundAntepartum hemorrhage (APH) is an obstetric emergency that complicates pregnancy worldwide and continues to lead to hemorrhagic conditions in parts of Tanzania. Midwifery education received by midwives consists theoretical knowledge on the subject but with no or minimal practical skills in the laboratory, which may reduce their practical capacity as graduated midwives. This study therefore aimed to explore midwives’ clinical actions and experiences regarding the care of women with APH in Mwanza region.MethodQualitative, inductive approach with critical incident technique was used. Data were analysed using the critical incident technique, and a question guide consisting of eleven open-ended questions was used to collect data from 44 out of 60 midwives who graduated not less than one year. A total of 522 critical incidents, with 199 actions and 323 experiences, were identified and categorized into five main areas. Ethical approval was obtained.ResultsMidwives’ clinical actions and experiences in caring for women with APH are affected by the knowledge and skills obtained during training at school. They have insufficient theoretical knowledge and practical skills, leading to inadequate identification of the problem and the implementation of care. A need for additional preventive care is described and structural issues, such as co-operation, referral to other instances, access to equipment and relevant treatments need to be improved.ConclusionThe actions taken to provide care for women with APH were related to their ability to identify problems, implement care and carry out structural initiatives. However, the midwives’ experience was influenced by an attempt to understand the seriousness of the situation and the existence of an organizational challenge. The results can provide knowledge and tools to improve midwives’ education and clinical practice and in the long run, prevent complications, improves health and minimize suffering in women with APH.

Exploring the challenges to development and institutionalization of E-learning content as perceived by faculty members of medical schools in Iran: A qualitative content analysis study

Electronic learning (E-learning) is a method of acquiring knowledge by using information technology. In this regard, faculty members of medical schools play an important role in the design, development and institutionalization of electronic content education and face many challenges. Hence, the present study was performed to explore the challenges to the development and institutionalization of e-learning content as perceived by faculty members of medical schools in southern Iran. The present study is a descriptive qualitative study. Purposeful sampling was performed. Based on this, 23 individual and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 faculty members of medical schools. Granheim and Lundman's approach was used for data analysis. Three themes and eleven subthemes were extracted based on the qualitative data analysis results. Three main themes included individual challenges, organizational management challenges, and course design challenges. Based on the results of the present study, we should keep in mind that electronic teaching methods and preparation of e-learning content by professors are different from traditional educational methods. Hence, the senior managers of educational system should make necessary arrangements and plans for methodological support, technological and technical support, and all kinds of organizational support and create continuous professional development opportunities for professors to minimize the negative effects caused by the rapid changes of electronics era and educational environments on professors, and consequently on the quality of educational contents and processes.

Innovating Sustainability: Digital Marketplaces as Catalysts for Circular Economy in Electronic Device Reuse

This study delves into the synergy between innovation management, the circular economy, and the development of digital marketplaces, with a particular focus on the reuse of electronic devices. It highlights how digitalisation within the circular economy can spur innovation in managing the reuse of electronic gadgets through digital platforms. Drawing on a robust quantitative analysis of data from over 400 Finnish and Baltic companies, this research is pioneering in its holistic integration of these sectors, addressing the critical need for insights into the operational and managerial dynamics of circular economy digital marketplaces. Employing a comprehensive quantitative approach, our investigation uncovered significant insights regarding the perceived opportunities, challenges, and value-added features of these marketplaces for electronic device reuse. Environmental protection, cost savings, and enhanced recycling opportunities were identified as major advantages by participants. However, the study also pointed out significant barriers to effective marketplace operation, including IT system integration, organisational culture challenges, and resource limitations. A noteworthy contribution of this research is its elucidation of the influence of company size on engagement in the circular economy, pinpointing large and micro-enterprises as potential pioneers in this domain. It also sheds light on the business-to-business (B2B) dynamics within digital marketplaces, exploring the interactions among sellers, buyers, and service providers. Our findings underscore digital marketplaces as pivotal enablers for sustainable practices in electronic device reuse, whereas digital platforms may expedite the transition towards a circular economy. This aligns with principles of innovation management by promoting collaboration, minimising waste, and fostering new business models. The conclusion emphasises the digital marketplace not just as a platform for transactions but as a vital ecosystem enabler, providing a wide array of value-added services. It underscores the importance for businesses, especially in the electronics sector, to integrate circular economy principles strategically, leveraging digital marketplaces to achieve sustainability goals while gaining competitive advantages. The research has directly influenced the launch of a pilot digital marketplace for electronic product reuse, showcasing the practical application of its findings. This emphasises the study’s role in advancing innovation management practices by demonstrating the transformative potential of digital marketplaces in promoting circular economy practices.

PECULIARITIES OF THE APPLICATION OF EVENTS IN THE MARKETING TOOLS SYSTEM IN UKRAINE

The article examines the distinctive characteristics of the utilisation of events within the marketing tools system in Ukraine. Furthermore, it analyses the prevailing global trends in the deployment of events within the marketing tools system. In particular, the annual increase in event budgeting is highlighted as a key trend, enabling organisations to plan more significant and better events in order to achieve their marketing goals. The implementation of technology in event marketing, whereby companies invest in events and utilise technology to create memorable experiences for customers and facilitate long-term growth, represents a significant trend. However, there is a shortage of qualified professionals in the field of event marketing, which presents a challenge for organisations seeking to engage with target audiences. Research indicates that 40% of event organisers perceive attracting new participants as their primary marketing challenge. Additionally, the popularity of remote and combined events, alongside the recognition of the effectiveness of live offline events in event marketing, represent noteworthy developments. It has been demonstrated that marketing tools have undergone substantial modifications and adaptations in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. One of the most instrumental tools to emerge in this context is that of events. Notwithstanding the challenging circumstances, event marketing continues to represent a potent instrument for communication and persuasion among target audiences. The organisation of events in the context of armed conflict necessitates a high degree of vigilance and consideration for the safety of all participants. Those responsible for organising such events are compelled to give due consideration to the potential risks and to devise contingency plans in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Concurrently, such occurrences serve as a conduit for bolstering the populace's morale, disseminating crucial intelligence, and fortifying national unity. It is imperative to acknowledge that the war has compelled businesses to reassess their marketing strategies, resulting in the implementation of more adaptable and flexible approaches to event organisation. Online and hybrid formats have become indispensable tools for enabling continuous customer engagement despite physical constraints. Consequently, events in Ukraine's marketing tool system during wartime have been demonstrated to be highly efficient, flexible, and adaptable. Such events play a pivotal role in sustaining business stability, fostering new forms of audience interaction, and strengthening social bonds.

Navigating cybersecurity challenges: Legal implications and organizational strategies

The increasing frequency and sophistication of cybersecurity incidents—such as data breaches, ransomware attacks, and system violations—highlight significant legal and organizational challenges. Despite rising investments in cybersecurity, these incidents continue to evolve, presenting complex issues for both corporations and regulators. Traditional legal frameworks, primarily focused on financial damages, fail to address non-financial harms like emotional and psychological impacts on consumers. Studies by Teichmann and Wittmann (2022) and Kilovaty (2021) reveal gaps in current cybersecurity laws, emphasizing the need to incorporate psychological damages and enhance corporate liability standards. Research by Frank, Grenier, and Pyzoha (2021) demonstrates the increasing litigation risks for boards of directors following cybersecurity incidents. Their findings suggest that prior cyberattacks raise the likelihood of being held liable, though implementing frameworks like the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) risk management guidelines can mitigate these risks. Additionally, Eijkelenboom and Nieuwesteeg (2020) analyze the disclosure of cybersecurity information in Dutch annual reports, finding a lack of transparency despite legal requirements. Their study underscores the need for better self-regulation or potential legal mandates to improve cybersecurity reporting. Falowo et al. (2022) examine the impact of digital interconnectedness on cybersecurity risks, noting that malware and phishing attacks are prevalent. Their research highlights the importance of organizational preparedness and adherence to frameworks such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines for effective incident response. Sen (2018) identifies ongoing technical, economic, legal, and behavioral challenges that hinder effective cybersecurity, advocating for new strategies to overcome these barriers. Overall, enhancing cybersecurity resilience requires a comprehensive approach, integrating improved legal frameworks, organizational transparency, and proactive risk management.

The capitalization of property rights to groundwater

AbstractThere is limited empirical evidence on the value of formal property rights to natural resources when they are not transferable, and there is regulatory uncertainty about enforcement. This paper takes a hedonic approach to understanding how three core features of groundwater property rights—access, allocation, and seniority—are capitalized into agricultural land values in the High Plains Aquifer region of Kansas. We find that groundwater access rights confer an average land value premium of 71%, or $1445/acre in 2019 dollars. Water rights having larger allocations and more seniority are more highly valued in the land market. The seniority effect is small but is consistent with more junior rights facing greater regulatory risk of curtailment. Taken together, these results suggest that the land market capitalizes constraints to groundwater pumping provided by groundwater property rights. We use our empirical estimates to quantify the distributional costs of modifying existing patterns of pumping, a common challenge of groundwater management organizations seeking to improve the sustainability of extraction.

What AI Knows: Shaping Work and Pushing Ideas on Changing Organizations

The rise of generative AI presents both opportunities and challenges for organizations as they navigate unprecedented societal, political, and technological transformations. AI's growing influence brings fundamental questions about work, expertise, decision-making, and organizational behavior. This Special Forum on “What AI Knows: Shaping Work and Pushing Ideas on Changing Organizations”, explores the transformative influence of AI on the organization of change and organizations that change. Through a collection of thought-provoking contributions, it explores how organizations can navigate these challenges, balancing the risks and opportunities presented by AI. Ultimately, the forum aims to push the boundaries of understanding how AI will shape the future of work, organizational change, and leadership practices, and urges ongoing inquiry into AI's future impact on organizations, pushing boundaries for innovation and strategic thinking.

Digital Transformations Through the Lens of the Collaborative, Co-Generative and Domesticative

We explore digital transformation and socio-technical systems through the perspectives of collaboration, co-generation, and domestication. Building on Morten Levin’s influential work, we discuss how digital technologies are integrated into work environments, emphasising the necessity for democratic, participatory approaches. We discuss how his ideas of collaborative, democratic practice originating in the 1990s hold up to today’s organisational challenges like digital and sustainability transitions. Are the ideas and practices still valid, or do we need to update them? We identify the grand challenges that must be met: Ensuring sustainable digital transitions and developing educated, skilled workers in digitally transformed organisations.

Investigating the Reasons behind Companion Animal Relinquishment: A Systematic Content Analysis of Shelter Records for Cats and Dogs, 2018-2023.

The relinquishment of companion animals to shelters presents significant challenges for animal welfare organizations and has substantial implications for the well-being of both the animals and their owners. This study aims to investigate the reasons for voluntarily relinquishing animals to shelters, to examine species-specific differences (cats and dogs), to compare initial relinquishments to returns (re-relinquishments or readmissions), and to identify potential changes over a 6-year period framing the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis of owner relinquishment records from an open admission shelter in the US was conducted using content analysis, a novel approach in this area of research. A total of 13 relinquishment reason categories were identified, as well as 9 separate categories for specific behavioral issues. Among 2836 randomly selected records, the most frequent reasons cited were Behavior Issues (28%), Housing/Moving (18%), Unable to Care (16%), Too Many Pets (10%), Financial (6%), and Owner Allergies (5%). The most common behavioral reasons reported were Aggression (32% of behavioral surrenders), Social Conflict (28%), and Soiling (13%). However, differences were observed in the pattern of relinquishment reasons based on statistical analyses of species, type of relinquishment, and year. Regarding temporal trends, Housing/Moving and Financial reasons were not found to have changed significantly since the pandemic, but the relative frequency of the category Unable to Care increased significantly in 2022 and 2023. Collectively, these findings partially replicate those from research spanning the past several decades in this area that has employed less systematic methodology and can further be used to help identify and understand the primary drivers of owner relinquishments.

The Practice of Predictive Identification: Optimising for Organisational Needs

The advent of predictive policing systems demonstrates an increased interest in more novel forms of data processing for the purpose of crime control. This paper draws on interviews with police practitioners in the Netherlands and the UK to deconstruct the rationalities that are embedded within the turn to predictive identification. Debates on predictive policing have predominantly centred data in the analysis of the institutional and societal implication of prediction, linking its use to the premise of efficiency and accuracy and foregrounding issues around bias and discrimination. Yet, little is known about its actual practice. In policing, I find that studying data as practice surfaces new insights into the relationship between risk and the ways in which crime priorities are operationalised and the security mandate of the state is negotiated. Drawing on Harcourt’s (2008) observation that the desire to predict crime says more about the police than it does about a potential offender, I argue that predictive identification is not about prediction, nor about efficiency, but rather it is about optimisation. Here, datafication serves to overcome self-defined organisational challenges within the police.

Catholic Ecological Organizations in Poland and Italy: History, Actions, and Organizational Challenges

The paper characterizes four Polish and Italian Catholic organizations that operate within the ecological field. The study of these organizations zooms in on the process of “greening of Catholicism” in Poland and Italy taking place. Studied Catholic organizations in Poland and Italy operate within different social and religious contexts. They face challenges, including resistance from traditionalists who view ecology as a leftist notion. To overcome this, the organizations studied frame ecological issues as religious duties, drawing on diverse traditions within Catholicism and emphasizing figures like John Paul II. They use religious resources such as Catholic identities, values, and symbols to appeal to a broader audience beyond traditional activists. Yet, their emphasis on Catholicism hinders cooperation with secular environmental groups and limits engagement with left-wing environmental politics.

A Comprehensive Study on the Resilience of Organizational Leadership in the VUCA Era

In the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) era, organizations face high unpredictability and challenges, rendering traditional management and leadership theories insufficient to address this era s complexity and rapid changes. To survive and maintain competitiveness in such a turbulent environment, organizational leaders must exhibit a high degree of resilience. Resilient leadership refers to the ability of leaders to quickly recover and continuously drive the organization forward when faced with pressure, adversity, and change. This paper explores the critical role of resilient leadership in addressing VUCA environments, analyzing how leaders can maintain stability and flexibility amidst uncertainty and enhance organizational adaptability and competitiveness through game theory and adversity coping strategies.

Управление на кризи в социалните медии

The provided text contains excerpts from the monograph Crisis Management in social media. The passage examines the crucial role of social media in contemporary crisis management, particularly in the context of public relations (PR). It emphasises that the rapid rise of social media has created new challenges for organisations, requiring them to adapt their crisis communication strategies to this dynamic digital environment. In the full text of the monograph, the author explores various types of crises that can emerge online, such as cyberattacks, misinformation, and consumer activism, and offers strategies for effectively managing these situations. The monograph also underscores the importance of developing a well-structured crisis communication plan that incorporates digital tools and platforms to ensure a timely and appropriate response. This excerpt highlights the necessity of continuous social media monitoring and real-time engagement with stakeholders to mitigate the impact of crises on an organisation’s reputation. Additionally, the text provides practical guidelines for creating and implementing crisis management tactics, including press releases, virtual press conferences, temporary crisis websites, and more.

Fast Forward to Freedom: Unveiling the Realities of Early Retirement of Teachers

Early retirement among teachers is on the rise, creating a shortage of experienced educators and potentially hindering the quality of education. This trend requires investigation into the reasons behind it and the development of effective strategies to retain teachers in the workforce. This qualitative study aims to explore the phenomenon of early retirement among teachers in primary schools, employing a case study approach and drawing upon theories such as Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, Social Identity Theory (SIT), and the Beehr Retirement Model. Through purposive selection of a resourceful participant and qualitative data synthesis, the study uncovers the multifaceted nature of factors influencing teachers' decisions to retire early. Key findings reveal that organizational challenges, including administrative burdens, workload, and dissatisfaction with school management, significantly impact teachers' retirement intentions. Personal considerations such as health concerns, work-life balance, and career satisfaction also play pivotal roles in shaping early retirement decisions. Proposed interventions to address these challenges include fostering a positive organizational culture, providing career advancement opportunities, and prioritizing health and safety measures to mitigate the adverse effects of early retirement on the education field. The study advocates for collaborative approaches involving policymakers, educational stakeholders, and teachers to formulate and implement policies that value teacher perspectives and expertise, ultimately improving educational outcomes. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the complexities of early retirement among primary school teachers, emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive strategies to address organizational, personal, and systemic factors influencing early retirement intentions. Recommendations for further research suggest involving participants from diverse backgrounds to generate a more comprehensive understanding of teacher early retirement dynamics.

An Assessment of the Challenges of Public and Private Security Organisations in Nigeria

An Assessment of the Challenges of Public and Private Security Organisations in Nigeria