Strategic Change Research Articles

World‐makers and social justice: Strategies of (in)action?

AbstractThis article applies a Bourdieusian lens to a critical analysis of global power dynamics to argue that a field framework is useful for studying praxis and (in)action in complex and dynamic global spaces of decision‐making. It is argued that individuals with global power can interact strategically to change their actions for improved social and economic justice, but it requires resisting dominant practices that may maintain existing inequalities. By exploring the interrelations between positions within the global spaces of the World Social Forum and the World Economic Forum, we offer an original contribution to the field of strategic change. We show how the actors in these global spaces have the potential to provoke greater social justice but also risk perpetuating a status quo that continues to favor the few over the many. Participants are world‐makers who wield symbolic power and can create disruption in the “rules of the game,” but the strength of those who seek to defend the status quo can perpetuate inertia. The article offers a novel contribution to the research on global spaces and elite actors by critically analyzing accounts of strategic practices therein, thus offering a more nuanced understanding of world‐making in action or inaction.

Masculinist Actionism: Gender and Strategic Change in US Cyber Strategy

How do gender hierarchies inform processes of strategic change? Drawing upon feminist institutionalism and security studies, we argue that gender hierarchies form the boundaries of acceptability for strategic change. We conduct a qualitative feminist analysis of cyber strategy policy documents and expert commentary around a 2018 shift in US cyber strategy. We identify two ideal-typical modes of masculinity—military and “tech”—as influential in conditioning US cyber strategy. The interaction of these masculinities facilitated the emergence of “defending forward” and “persistent engagement” as proactive, dynamic, and suitably masculine new strategic concepts. The previously preferred strategic concept, deterrence, conversely, was constructed in line with feminized tropes as weak, passive, and reactive. Strategic change is facilitated by a change in the meaning of a specific gender norm—masculinized action—while still constrained by the continuation of a broader gender hierarchy of masculinities over femininities, and the associated valorization of action over passivity and dependence.

Internal Communication and Change Management at Cotton Web Private Limited

Cotton Web Private Limited (CW), an apparel company based in Lahore, was established in the late 1990s by entrepreneurs who faced limitations in resources and experience within the textile manufacturing and export sector. Despite these constraints, the directors successfully capitalized on a narrow window of opportunity, leveraging their entrepreneurial skills with the dedicated support of experienced employees and fostering a positive ‘can-do’ culture. By 2013, they had transformed the company from its inception in 1998 into a substantial enterprise with over 2,000 employees. At this juncture, the directors, particularly Daniyal and Waseem, decided to initiate a strategic change aimed at transitioning the flat, entrepreneurial structure of the company into a systematically managed organization. To facilitate this transformation, the directors enlisted the services of an external HR consultant to assess, design, and implement the strategic change process. Despite the positive intent behind the change process to foster organizational growth and enhance management systems, it encountered significant challenges. Communication breakdowns emerged at various levels and junctures, including between the directors and the HR consultant, between the consultant and the employees, and between the management and the workforce. The change process, unfortunately, resulted in thirteen resignations within a short timeframe, indicating its disruptive impact. This challenging situation left the directors in an uncomfortable position, compelling them to contemplate difficult decisions to address the issues at hand.

A Collective Action Formation to Address Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Health in Schools: The District 87 Wellness Collaborative

The District 87 Wellness Collaborative is a multi-dimensional, interprofessional initiative in the Midwest region of the United States that was co-designed to facilitate collaboration, civic engagement, and partnerships among university scholar-practitioners, community agencies, and school administrators and personnel. The primary aims of the Wellness Collaborative are to develop, enhance, and extend school initiatives that address mental, emotional, and behavioral health outcomes of school-age children, their families, and the education workforce. The Wellness Collaborative is composed of disciplinary expertise in kinesiology, school counseling and psychology, social work, nursing, geography, and community health. Broader campus and community partners include specialists from civic and community engagement offices, extension services, and healthcare providers. This ecologically framed initiative supports strategic and system-level change within the district (system) and individual schools (sub-systems). It addresses complex school-level organizational factors (i.e., environment, norms, organizational culture, incentives, etc.) that influence wellness behaviors that affect school and physical education workforce professionals.

Enhancing thermal performance of cylindrical Li-ion battery packs: A 3D simulation with strategic phase change material integration and airflow control

This study conducts a three-dimensional simulation of the temperature of a cylindrical Li-ion battery (LIB) pack with nine cells. The cells are arranged in the pack in square and diamond configurations, and the pack is filled with phase-change materials (PCMs). The airflow enters the channel from two inlets at 90° with respect to the pack and is guided by two blades at the sides of the inlet toward the pack. Arc-shaped and linear blades were used for this study, which was carried out for 2500 s. The results indicate that the square arrangement of batteries, combined with the use of curved blades, has been more effective in reducing temperature. In this configuration, a more uniform distribution of air flow and better efficiency of the PCM in absorbing heat were observed, leading to a significant decrease in the overall temperature of the battery pack. Specifically, compared to the diamond arrangement, the temperature of the batteries in the square arrangement was up to 10 °C lower. This reduction in temperature plays an important role in enhancing the lifespan and safety of the batteries. By using machine learning and providing the optimal model for the maximum temperature of the battery surface, it was shown that this parameter was designed with the model and comparing it with the numerical results had an error of 2.01 %.

Resisting by not resisting: Constructing inconsistencies to resist dual mandated changes

This article explains how employees construct inconsistencies between two separate mandated changes and use these inconsistencies to progressively resist the realization of both changes. Specifically, they use three practices – (1) demonstrating interdependencies between change elements, (2) framing these change elements as inconsistent and (3) establishing the consequentiality of specific change elements by constructing poor outcomes for these – to build capacity to critique, revise and eventually reject elements of both changes. As a result of this resistance, neither mandated change is fully realized. Our findings contribute to the literature on strategic change by illuminating the specific processual dynamics through which actors construct and manipulate the relationship between changes. This also allows us to contribute to the literature on resistance to change by illuminating the dynamics that over time enable actors to resist even mandated – that is, externally imposed – changes, by camouflaging resistance as non-resistance.

Chartering policies and operational efficiency of shipping lines: exploring strategic changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Shipping is a highly cyclical, volatile, and unpredictable industry. In recent history, economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic have heavily disrupted supply chains and tested the resilience and adaptability of shipping lines from both operational and financial perspectives. Therefore, the commercial success of shipping lines is increasingly determined by an optimal balance between reliable logistics operations and financial performance. Given this, chartering strategies of shipping lines are pivotal in achieving fleet optimisation and financial sustainability. Using a Mann–Whitney U test and a data envelopment analysis (DEA), this study provides a view on chartering strategies and efficiency levels of shipping lines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal that chartering strategies have changed considerably since 2020 and that most shipping lines have pursued a peculiar strategy with a different mix in terms of chartered vessels’ size, age, and period of charter. Shipping lines which showed the most marked differences in chartering strategies also yielded higher efficiency scores under DEA, whereas those that did not sustain large changes scored lower in terms of efficiency. This study provides significant insights on and managerial guidance for understanding and benchmarking chartering strategies and their impact on efficiency gains.

Navigating AACSB accreditation with strategic leadership and change management: a systematic literature review

PurposeThis study aims to identify the strategic leadership and change management used to obtain the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditations as well as the research development on AACSB in the past decade.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a systematic literature review following Petticrew and Roberts’ study. The articles were limited to empirical studies published from 2013 to 2022, taken from the Dimensions AI database.FindingsThe findings suggested that two leadership styles were used to obtain AACSB accreditation: dominance-oriented transformational and financial leadership, alongside three traits of academic leaders: commitment, engagement and encouragement. Additionally, three change management models/processes were found in the articles: teaching evaluation framework, temporary isomorphism and authenticity. Finally, they discovered that the object of the studies on AACSB accreditation had been narrowed down from the organizational level to smaller objects consisting of schools’ identity, teaching, learning and business schools’ key players.Research limitations/implicationsAs this study only used Dimensions AI, potential articles related to the topic outside the database could not be obtained. Thus, it limits the scope of the findings of this paper.Practical implicationsThis study informs academic leaders in business schools about the role of strategic leadership and change management in obtaining AACSB accreditation.Originality/valueThrough a systematic scoping review, this study presented a decade of research development on AACSB in addition to the strategic leadership and change management needed to obtain it.

Sensemaking and medical professional identity within the context of strategic change

Objective of the study: To identify how the physicians of a major Brazilian hospital perceive the proposed change in payment models for services provided and whether the proposed change affects elements of the professional identity of the physicians interviewed. Methodology / approach: This study draws on the sensemaking theory, medical professional identity and implementation of strategies in complex organizations. It was carried out a qualitative research through semi-structured interviews with a group of physicians who works in a large Brazilian hospital that was facing changes in the reimbursement model. Originality / Relevance: Research addressing the reasons why physicians tend to resist is important to help strategists to design an approach to obtain professional adherence. Main results: The research participants perceive threats to their autonomy in two attributes, Clinical Autonomy and Financial Autonomy. Regarding the change in the payment model for services rendered, some interviewees perceive their need, but demonstrate a desire for more active participation in the discussion and elaboration of new models, thus configuring the need to maintain their Political Autonomy. Theoretical / methodological contributions: This work contributes to the literature by advancing the process of understanding sensemaking triggers and demonstrating how and why threats to professional identity can hamper the process of implementing strategies in complex organizations. Social / management contributions: The implementation of strategies in hospital organizations is a topic of great relevance for the managers of the healthcare industry, due to its multiplicity of actors and interests, in addition to exponential technological evolution.

The effect of institutional pressures and dynamic managerial capability on strategic renewal: The case of strategic agility and digital readiness as mediators in healthcare industry

This research investigates the role of institutional pressures, dynamic managerial capabilities, strategic agility and digital readiness as mediating factors in the gap of the healthcare sector's post-pandemic digital transformation. This study employed strategic and managerial questionnaires involving 308 medium-sized private hospitals in Indonesia and LISREL 6.0 was used for the analysis. Findings indicated that strategic agility did not mediate dynamic managerial capability for strategic renewal. Moreover, the private healthcare sector was found to be influenced by pressures to imitate other hospitals and competitors, and digital readiness had a stronger mediating effect than strategic agility. The study enriches organization theory by investigating institutional pressures driving strategic renewal. It also enhances the literature on strategic management by exploring the mediating role of strategic agility and digital readiness in strategic change. Lastly, it highlights the association between digital readiness and managerial and organizational aspects resulting from strategic change and further emphasizes the need for integrated teams and digital health services in hospitals to achieve strategic renewal.

Decoding the Duterte Doctrine: Understanding Strategic Changes in Philippine Foreign Policy during Duterte Administration

This article employs a sophisticated neoclassical realist framework to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the intricate landscape of Philippine foreign policy under the administration of former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, elucidating the contours of the so-called “The Duterte Doctrine”. This encompasses a nuanced exploration of the nation's role as a middle power, focusing on the pillars of national security, economic diplomacy, and the safeguarding of overseas Filipinos. Employing an analytical lens that intricately weaves systemic pressures and domestic imperatives, the study meticulously unravels the historical trajectory of Philippines-USA relations and the evolving dynamics in the Philippines-China relationship. Methodologically, a discerning review of historical events, policy decisions, and diplomatic maneuvers is undertaken to unveil discernible patterns and strategic recalibrations within the nation's foreign policy landscape. The main findings underscore a diplomatic chess game in the Philippines-China relationship, marked by a strategic departure in defense posture with the cessation of joint military exercises with the U.S. Economic diplomacy, encapsulated in the Duterte Doctrine, manifests as a fervent pursuit of diversified economic partnerships, concurrently raising cogent concerns about potential economic dependence. The analysis accentuates the adaptive resilience of Philippine foreign policy in response to the evolving global landscape, thereby substantively contributing to regional stability. As a middle power, the Philippines astutely leverages its agency amid great power competition while assiduously upholding principles of international law and justice, necessitating nuanced and context-specific approaches to maintain a delicate balance between traditional alliances and emerging economic partnerships.

Healthcare System Sustainability Challenges in Nepal and Opportunities Offered by Alternative Healthcare Delivery Arrangements.

The burden of chronic diseases in Nepal is increasing due to demographic and epidemiological transitions; alongside the persistent impact of communicable, maternal, newborn, and child health diseases, this critical situation acts as the precursor to rising healthcare costs. Nepal struggles to sustain its healthcare system amidst political instability, pandemics, natural disasters, and slow economic growth, particularly when healthcare funding is mainly dependent on out-of-pocket payments. Nepal requires lower-cost alternative healthcare delivery arrangements to provide high-value care while relieving economic sustainability pressures. Alternative healthcare delivery arrangements have a broad potential scope; they can involve strategic changes in how care is delivered and by whom, or they can also involve the application of information and communication technologies, e.g., telemedicine. This paper highlights the specific challenges to healthcare system sustainability in Nepal and the potential for high-value, lower-cost alternative healthcare delivery models to improve system performance in the longer term.

The Impact of Strategic Change on Digital Governance: An Analytical study in Iraqi Interior Ministry

Abstract: This research seeks to clarify the impact of strategic change with its four dimensions (readiness for change, change goals, change plan, and change management) on digital governance in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, where this organization has a well-established and stable organizational culture due to the nature and requirements of the security sector and its employees, who are characterized by high respect for the organization’s culture, under conditions that require to adapt to rapid changes by choosing modern means and methods such as digital governance to achieve goals accurately and quickly. The research tested a group of departments and directorates that express a variety of military and civilian categories . The main role of the ministry is to maintain security and provide services. The research was applied to a sample of the research community, which was about 324 individuals from various specializations, including commanders and their assistants from the military ranks, managers, and their assistants from the civilian employees in the ministry. A questionnaire was used in the researchas the main tool for collecting data. Several statistical tools are used for analyzing the data obtained . The most prominent result is that there is a statistically significant impact for strategic change on digital governance. Paper type: Research paper

Swedish crisis preparedness planners' understanding and sense‐making of preparedness work in a public organisation: Implications for future development

AbstractThe sometimes rapid development of (new) threats and extraordinary events calls for a robust, flexible, and well‐equipped civil crisis preparedness system to respond and limit the damage of crisis events. To achieve this, Swedish municipalities and regions are required by law to regularly perform and report risk and vulnerability analysis ‘bottom up’ to governmental agencies. When performed in large and complex public organisations, crisis preparedness planning activities require negotiation, coordination, and cooperation among large numbers of people. Crisis preparedness planners facilitate and produce this proactive crisis preparedness work. However, research has revealed that preparedness planners face organisational and practical challenges when performing their work.This study aims at increasing the knowledge of crisis preparedness planners' understandings and sense‐making of their work in one Swedish region when fulfilling the requirements set by the Swedish national regulations. The objectives of this paper are to present findings on (1) how the preparedness planners understand and make sense of their crisis preparedness work; (2) which major enablers and barriers that affect their work; and, based on the results, (3) forward possibilities for improvement.Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with the 10 crisis preparedness planners. A narrative stepwise analysis approach was applied. The analysis results revealed challenges in the crisis preparedness work due to uncommitted managers, unclear goalsetting, and the planners' sometimes limited skills in crisis preparedness work. It also report on managers' autonomy and varying focus on crisis preparedness, planners' unclear individual work space, and many different and sometimes strong voices about the work performance and content. This raises the question whose interest that in practice sets the agenda for crisis preparedness planning in the organisation.The study demonstrates needs for increased organisational sense‐making on the concept of crisis preparedness and how it should be performed, and for conceptual and technical skills to perform the preparedness work. To increase sense‐making and strengthen generic subjectivity on crisis preparedness work, further discussions are needed about enablers and barriers in preparedness work and an increased joint focus on possible internal and external threats. There are also needs for increased manager‐coworker‐planner cooperation when developing the preparedness work, and strategic changes in the organisational development involving goalsetting for crisis preparedness ‘top‐down’ as well as ‘bottom‐up’.

Effective Strategic Organisational Transformation and Change Management for The South African Financial Services Sector

Effective Strategic Organisational Transformation and Change Management for The South African Financial Services Sector

A Guide for Leaders in Higher Education: Core Concepts, Competencies, and Tools

"A Guide for Leaders in Higher Education: Core Concepts, Competencies, and Tools" authored by Brent D. Ruben, Richard De Lisi, and Ralph A. Gigliotti, is a comprehensive exploration of leadership in the complex landscape of higher education. The book begins by establishing the foundational importance of leadership development and adeptly guides leaders through the dynamic challenges inherent in the ever-changing higher education environment. The authors address organizational and strategic challenges, offering practical insights derived from their extensive experiences. Notably, the book delves into the missions, purposes, and principles shaping colleges and universities, acting as a practical compass for leaders to navigate diverse stakeholder expectations. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to an in-depth examination of leadership concepts and competencies, providing practical tools and strategies for leadership development. The authors explore university cultures, communication skills, and the roles of leaders, empowering them not just to survive but thrive in their roles. The final section presents a panorama of leadership development models, offering a diverse array of approaches, characteristics, and programs. The inclusion of supplementary materials, such as communication behavior scales and leadership competency scorecards, adds a practical dimension. Beyond theoretical exploration, the book showcases real-world implications, exemplified by leadership programs from the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Tailored for higher education leaders, administrators, and educational professionals, the book serves as a companion in the challenging journey of leadership. The academic tone ensures a depth of understanding matching the complexity of the subject matter. In a higher education landscape undergoing continual transformations, this guide stands as a beacon, addressing broader themes like strategic planning, change management, communication, and leadership development. It emerges as a cornerstone in literature on higher education leadership, leaving an indelible mark by empowering leaders with the knowledge and wisdom needed to navigate complexity and foster positive change.

Key Performance Indicators and Data Envelopment Analysis in Greek Tourism: A Strategic Planning Tool for Destinations and DMMOs

Over the years, the tourism sector has constantly been a driving force in strengthening the Greek economy. Therefore, being capable of leveraging a tourism business’s performance can be of great importance in many aspects for destinations and destination management and marketing organizations (DMMOs). For this very purpose, this study’s methodology consists of a combined application of the key performance indicators and data envelopment analysis. The research conducted is quantitative, aiming to analyze the efficiency of the Greek hotels by region and determine the effective ones, as well as the strategic and managerial changes which should be considered by the non-effective. As a result, it shall become possible for each set of hotels to know the ideal turnover and the tourism nights spent that they should achieve, based on their current capacity in terms of beds and employees. Ultimately, this process could play a pivotal role in a region’s strategic planning, both from a resource management perspective, as well as in establishing an effective, measurable strategy that can be implemented by regional policy makers and destination managers in a real-time benchmarking process.

An integrative model of enterprise architecture value: a grounded theory study to position its artifacts

PurposeDespite the relevance of how enterprise architecture (EA) contributes to organizational performance in contemporary digital technology-driven strategic renewal, little is known about the position of EA artifacts. Therefore, this study aims to build an integrative model of EA artifact-enabled EA value supplemented with a research agenda to enhance our understanding further.Design/methodology/approachThis study leveraged grounded theory techniques and a systematic review approach to develop the integrative model and research agenda.FindingsWe inductively build a model of the position of EA artifacts in EA value creation. Additionally, we elaborate a research agenda that proposes (1) an investigation of the role of an EA practice in successful strategic change, (2) an examination of how to manage EA practice value generation and (3) longitudinal research to gain insight into the evolution of value creation by EA practices.Originality/valueThis study presents a model of EA artifact-enabled EA value, thereby contributing to our understanding of the mechanisms, inhibitors and success factors associated with EA value. Following our model, the proposed research agenda contains future research areas to help us better understand the mechanisms and interrelatedness of EA practices in highly dynamic environments.

Enhancing HR Technology Through Traceability and Auditing: Navigating Challenges and Legal Complexities for Operational Efficiency

This comprehensive study emphasizes the crucial need for holistic Human Resources (HR) management systems. These systems should ensure transparency, traceability, and alignment with strict regulatory standards, promoting organizational growth. The study highlights the essential role of time and attendance systems in managing hourly employees, ensuring compliance with wage laws and efficient payroll processes. By examining recent legal issues, including class-action lawsuits and key Supreme Court decisions, it illuminates the complex legal framework surrounding HR technology. The study promotes a solution-focused approach, advocating for improvements in data integrity, user interface design, and system interoperability. Additionally, it underlines the importance of including robust reporting and analytics features in time and attendance systems. These suggested strategic changes aim to reduce compliance liabilities, increase productivity, improve data retention practices, and promote a streamlined, legally compliant HR operational framework. This research plays a pivotal role in contributing to the ongoing discourse about enhancing technological infrastructures within Human Resources (HR). It provides insightful perspectives and robust data, serving as a valuable resource for HR professionals, leaders, and decision-makers. The ultimate objective of this study is to attain unparalleled operational excellence and rigorous legal compliance. This not only elevates the standard of HR management systems to new heights but also paves the way for future advancements in this critical field. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, this research can inspire the development of more efficient, effective, and legally compliant HR management systems.

Genomic analysis of inbreeding and coancestry in Nordic Jersey and Holstein dairy cattle populations

In recent years, Genomic Selection (GS) has accelerated genetic gain in dairy cattle breeds worldwide. Despite the evident genetic progress, several dairy populations have also encountered challenges such as heightened inbreeding rates and reduced effective population sizes. The challenge has been to find a balance between achieving substantial genetic gain while managing genetic diversity within the population, thereby mitigating the negative effects of inbreeding depression. This study aims to elucidate the impact of GS on pedigree and genomic rates of inbreeding (ΔF) and coancestry (ΔC) in Nordic Jersey (NJ) and Holstein (NH) cattle populations. Furthermore, key genetic metrics including the generation interval (L), effective population size (Ne), and future effective population size (FNe) were assessed between 2 time periods, before and after GS, and across distinct animal cohorts in both breeds: females, bulls, and approved semen-producing bulls (AI-sires). Analysis of ΔF and ΔC revealed distinct trends across the studied periods and animal groups. Notably, there was a consistent increase in yearly ΔF for most animal groups in both breeds. An exception was observed in NH AI-sires, which demonstrated a slight decrease in yearly ΔF. Moreover, NJ displayed minimal changes in yearly ΔC between the periods, whereas NH exhibited elevated ΔC values across all animal groups. Particularly striking was the substantial increase in yearly ΔC within the NH female population, surging from 0.02% to 0.39% between the periods. Implementation of GS resulted in a reduction of the generation interval across all animal cohorts in both NJ and NH breeds. However, the extent of reduction was more pronounced in males compared with females. This reduction in generation interval influenced generational changes in ΔF and ΔC. Bulls and AI-sires of both breeds exhibited reduced generational ΔF between periods, in contrast to females that demonstrated an opposing pattern. Between the periods, NJ maintained a relatively stable Ne, 29.4 before and 30.3 after GS, while NH experienced a notable decline from 54.3 to 42.8. Female groups in both breeds displayed a negative Ne trend, while males demonstrated either neutral or positive Ne developments. Regarding FNe, NJ exhibited positive FNe development with an increase from 40.7 to 57.2. The opposite was observed in NH, where FNe decreased from 198.8 to 42.7. In summary, it was evident that the genomic methods could detect differences between the populations and changes in ΔF and ΔC more efficiently than pedigree methods. GS implementation yielded positive outcomes within the NJ population regarding the rate of coancestry but the opposite was observed with NH. Moreover, analysis of ΔC data hints at the potential to decrease future ΔF through informed mating strategies. Conversely, NH faces more pressing concerns, even though ΔF remains comparatively modest in contrast to what has been observed in other Holstein populations. These findings underscore the necessity of genomic control of inbreeding and coancestry with strategic changes in the Nordic breeding schemes for dairy to ensure long-term sustainability in the forthcoming years.