Traditional Organization Research Articles

Minilateralism and the new Indo-Pacific order: theoretical ambitions and empirical realities

ABSTRACT The introductory paper sets the stage for the research essays in the special issue. It provides an overview of the concepts of minilateralism and the context in which minilateralism has become an alternative form of collective action by states in the international arena, in particular in the Indo-Pacific region that has emerged as the new centre of gravity in world politics. How has minilateralism become a prominent feature of inter-state cooperation in the early twenty-first century, and how is it often used to complement (and in some cases, even substitute for) traditional international organisations, which are based on more liberal and inclusive multilateral norms and principles, but suffering from functional deficits? In a world of more diffuse power, how can minilateralism offer states an expanded toolset for pursuing their policy preferences and advancing their interests? At the same time, the paper also highlights the potential negatives of (or challenges to) minilateralism, including difficulties emanating from a narrowly framed agenda that perpetuates certain narratives, a leadership vacuum that could emerge from non-hierarchical arrangements, and questions about how to achieve support and legitimacy with low institutionalisation.

Building the social. A query into the societal impact of the Pompeian water supply

This study explores the importance of the means of ensuring water supply in the formation of the architectural profile and basic social organization of Pompeii. It sees the city’s domestic water supply, for over two centuries ensured through rainwater-harvesting areas, basins and cisterns situated mainly in and below the many atria, as a stabilizing factor of both cityscape and household. Through the introduction of the city aqueduct in the 1st century AD and the creation of a generous network of public fountains this situation changes and the need to maintain the traditional organization of the “houseful”, comprising enlarged family, slaves and dependents of various kind including shopkeepers, is lessened; the physical proximity between those of different status renegotiated. This development, witnessed in adaptations of the architecture, can be followed through close study of the standing structures in Insula V 1. The hallmarks are the creation of upperfloor living quarters seemingly independent from the life of the large households of the atrium houses, and in parallel the introduction of private water lines from the city aqueduct. The remodelling that resulted in the creation of the double-atrium house of Caecilius Iucundus is focal to the discussion since it offers a coeval chronological fix point in the AD 40s for both remodelling and obtention of piped water. Given that the change in the domestic architecture observed was merely in its embryonic state in AD 79, the tenability to attribute a lower dating than that traditionnaly attributed not just to the private lines, but to the city’s distribution system of public aqueduct water as well, is reasoned. The particularities of Pompeii’s geomorphological situation and political status and how they impacted the discussed change in social relationships are also raised.

The Ecological Modernization Paradigm applied to fiduciary donations to traditional peoples organizations in the Brazilian Cerrado Biome

This article aims to understand the modus operandi used by the Center for Alternative Agriculture in Northern Minas Gerais (CAA), an non-governmental organization of traditional peoples from the northern region of the state of Minas Gerais, in the course of the implementing the Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples, Quilombolas and Traditional Communities of the Brazilian Cerrado Biome (DGM Brazil Project). Based on an empirical study carried out while I was an employee of a non-governmental organization, I propose a differentiated theoretical-methodological format for interdisciplinary research, combining professional experience, documentary analysis and bibliographic review. The article is concerned with linking this experience to other economic and political contexts, with emphasis on the recent dynamics of management and implementation of fiduciary donations by non-governmental organizations in Latin America. It supports the hypothesis that these experiences reproduce the Ecological Modernization Paradigm, based in the belief in efficiency as a means of achieving sustainable development.

Tropopause Height Inferred from Twilight Photometry

Abstract The tropopause height has been measured by sounding balloons for more than 70 years. More recently, lidar has found the tropopause height by detecting aerosols or subvisible cirrus that accumulate at the tropopause. Here we present a twilight photometer technique to detect the tropopause height with results close to the traditional World Meteorological Organization (WMO) method from sounding balloon measurements. The twilight intensity (I), although radiometrically uncalibrated, can be normalized by the derivative of log(I) with respect to time (t), or I’(t)/I(t), to infer stratospheric aerosol layer properties using Earth’s shadow to orderly shield the sunlight below different altitudes. A conventional twilight photometer detects the twilight glow from atmospheric aerosol scattering with a photodiode detector equipped with a near-infrared optical filter. We have replaced the photodiode and optical filter with a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) that functions as a wavelength-dependent photodiode with a narrow-band response near 1050 nm. We found that the layer height from twilight photometer observations is highly correlated with the tropopause height. 76 twilight tropopause heights during the first six months of 2024 at Geronimo Creek Atmospheric Monitoring Station (GCAMS) in Central Texas agree well with those reported by sounding balloons launched from Corpus Christi, Texas, 207 km from GCAMS (standard deviation of 265 m). The twilight method is inexpensive, easily implemented, and has potential for use at remote sites with solar power and developing countries that lack resources for sounding balloons. It can also provide a learning tool for students of meteorology and the atmospheric sciences.

Traditional Self-Governing Institution of the Co Ho Sre People in Lam Dong in Current Social Life

The Co Ho Sre people, the largest local group within the Co Ho ethnic group, had a long-standing culture, highlighted by developed wet rice farming and stable settlements in their villages. The village of the Co Ho served as a traditional social organization with essential functions in organizing, managing, and operating the community regarding economy, society, culture, and ethnic consciousness in a context of low development. The traditional self-governing institution of the Co Ho village relied on customary laws and the prestige of the village chief to govern all activities within the village. Although there have been many changes in social management, the self-governing institution of the Co Ho Sre still retained many positive elements, playing an essential role in building the Co Ho Sre community in particular and minority ethnic communities in Lam Dong in general. The article applied synthesis and analysis methods along with survey and interview methods to reconstruct the traditional self-governing institution and evaluate its role in the current life of this ethnic group.

Practices and attitudes of herbalists regarding informed consent in Uganda: a qualitative study

BackgroundInformed consent (IC) is a fundamental principle in medical ethics that upholds respect for patient autonomy. Although widely applied in healthcare, its feasibility and implementation in herbal medicine have been underexplored. This study therefore aimed to explore the practices and attitudes of herbalists regarding informed consent.MethodsTo achieve these objectives, a qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2020. Twenty-one in-depth interviews with herbalists and four key informant interviews with leaders of the different traditional medicine organizations were conducted. The data were analyzed thematically using NVivo version 12 software.ResultsSixteen of the twenty-one participants acquired oral herbal medicine knowledge from their relatives. Although a positive inclination toward obtaining IC was evident, the focus was on disclosing basic information. Discussions of alternative treatments and herbal specifics were less frequent. Disease management decisions often involve shared responsibility within families or societies. Documented IC procedures are rare among herbalists, who deem consent forms unnecessary, although they recognize the potential benefits of IC in fostering trust and professionalism. Challenges hindering IC implementation included regulatory gaps, inadequate skills, and the absence of mechanisms to protect the intellectual property rights of herbal medicine.ConclusionThis study illuminates how educational, cultural, familial, and regulatory factors influence herbalists’ practices and attitudes toward informed consent.

Navigating the Challenges of Digital Transformation in Traditional Organization

Digital transformation has become a critical strategy for traditional organiza- tions to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly technology-driven market. Technologies such as fintech, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing have significantly reshaped operational efficiency and customer en- gagement within these organizations. However, traditional organizations, characterized by their legacy systems and hierarchical structures, encounter various challenges in adopting these technologies. This study primarily aims to explore the key barriers that hinder digital transformation in traditional organizations and to propose effective strategies for overcoming these challenges. Utilizing a comprehensive literature review from 2018 to 2023, this research examines key studies on digital transformation in traditional business contexts. The find- ings reveal major challenges, including organizational inertia, skills gaps, de- pendency on outdated systems, and leadership deficiencies. To address these barriers, the study proposes strategies such as leadership development, work- force retraining, and investment in modern digital infrastructure. The results suggest that successful digital transformation requires a multifaceted approach, aligning technological adoption with organizational culture and sustainability goals. This research provides valuable insights for traditional organizations nav- igating the complexities of digital transformation.

The Application of Dewey Decimal System in Traditional Libraries

The Dewey Decimal System, created by Melvil Dewey in the late 19th century, has been a linchpin of traditional library classification systems for well over a century. This abstract provides a concise overview of the historical significance, principles, and enduring relevance of the Dewey Decimal System in traditional library settings. The Dewey Decimal System revolutionized the way libraries organized their collections, simplifying the process of locating and accessing books and materials. This paper traces the historical development of the Dewey Decimal System and its profound impact on traditional library cataloging and information retrieval. Key principles, such as the use of decimal notation and hierarchical classification, are explored in detail, highlighting their pivotal role in enhancing library management efficiency. Despite its enduring utility, this abstract also acknowledges the system's limitations. Traditional libraries have faced significant challenges in adapting the Dewey Decimal System to accommodate digital resources, multimedia materials, and non - traditional formats. Furthermore, questions have arisen regarding the system's cultural biases and its ability to adequately represent the diversity of knowledge and perspectives. In today's digital age, traditional libraries confront a unique set of challenges, necessitating a reevaluation of the Dewey Decimal System's role and adaptability. This abstract underscores the ongoing dialogue surrounding the system's relevance and its capacity to meet the evolving needs of modern libraries and information seekers. In conclusion, the Dewey Decimal System remains a cornerstone of traditional library organization, albeit with notable adaptational challenges. This abstract serves as a foundation for understanding the historical and contemporary significance of the Dewey Decimal System within the context of traditional libraries, setting the stage for a more comprehensive examination of its impact and future prospects in the full paper.

IMPROVING ORGANIZATIONAL PROCEDURES TRAINING FOR CNC MACHINE OPERATORS

The article is devoted to the issues of improving methodological tools and procedures for conducting organizational training of workers at primary sites in the conditions of modernization of production processes. The introduction of modern, high-tech equipment, digitalization of production, transition to new work standards, as well as optimization of the technological process create the need for a more rapid response to the requests of performers, in particular operators of numerically controlled machine tools. Based on the analysis of theoretical sources, the features of traditional and learning organizations are considered, their distinctive characteristics are presented, the factors influencing the need to invest in in-house training are studied, the sequence of stages in the implementation of in-house training of production workers is shown, and their brief characteristics are given. The study of the existing in-house training system at the enterprise made it possible to identify its shortcomings and propose a number of measures to improve the procedure and methodological tools. In particular, it is proposed to create a training sector on the basis of a mechanical assembly shop for operators of numerically controlled machine tools, which will minimize existing problems with organizational training for this category of workers and reduce the load on the training center, the personnel service of the enterprise, and also presents draft improved training program. The proposed activities will ultimately contribute to the fact that operators of machine tools with numerical control will receive deeper knowledge and skills related to the specifics of software and machining stages on new type equipment, as well as in the process of work will be able to more fully analyze the situation and select the best machining modes, taking into account the available tools.

Developing innovation culture in traditional Asian corporations – the case of four large business organisations in Thailand

ABSTRACT This study investigates factors affecting innovation culture in ASEAN economies and proposes a model for building innovation culture in traditional organisations. Using multiple-case analysis, the research examines four large Thai businesses across conglomerate, retail, communication, and support service sectors. We employ qualitative methods, including interviews with innovation centre directors, mid-level management, and staff, to gather insights. The study identifies key strategies for fostering innovation culture in traditional Asian organisations by analysing commonalities. The resulting model emphasises leadership, strategy, and resource allocation as crucial elements for building and maintaining an innovative culture. This research contributes to both theoretical understanding of innovation culture in traditional Asian business organisations and practical application in organisation development. The findings provide valuable insights how to overcome cultural obstacles and foster innovation in traditional ASEAN economies to improve their global competitiveness by creating a corporate culture favourable for innovation.

Banned in sports, ignored in media, stigmatized in society: transgender athletes in Turkey

ABSTRACT Social, cultural, and political ideologies have a significant impact on gender policies. In traditional societies, gender identities beyond those determined by an individual’s biological sex at birth are disregarded and stigmatized. In this respect, sport is of great significance for transgender individuals as a field of visibility and struggle. However, political decisions taken by international and national federations on sporting grounds lead to the exclusion of transgender athletes from sports activities. The present study examines the reactions of X users to the decision of World Athletics to ban transgender women from competing in the women’s category. In this direction, comments posted on the X accounts of traditional mass media organizations (n = 7) and digital news producers (n = 14) operating in Turkey who reported on World Athletics’ decision on X were analyzed through qualitative and quantitative content analysis. As a result of the study, it was determined that traditional mass media avoided reporting the event. Moreover, while most of the comments posted by users (93.35%) consisted of content in support of the decision, it was found that cultural (18.50%) and religious (17.44%) themes also stood out. It was also found that transgender athletes were stigmatized with discourses including keywords such as “mutant.”

The role of patient and family advisory boards in promoting greater attention to patient social needs by U.S. acute care hospitals.

There is growing attention to individual-level patient social needs such as unstable housing and food insecurity. Such considerations, however, have historically been the purview of public health and have not been a priority of more traditional health care delivery organizations, such as acute care hospitals. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the presence of patient and family advisory boards (PFABs) among acute care community hospitals was associated with screening for and programs to address patient social needs. We used a secondary data set derived from the American Hospital Association's 2020 and 2021 annual surveys, along with multinomial and negative binomial regression models to assess the relationship between the presence/absence of a PFAB and the likelihood of offering and the number of areas addressed by social needs screening programs. More than half (55.9%) of all responding hospitals reported having a PFAB in 2020 (55.9%) and 2021 (52.7%). The presence of a PFAB among hospitals was significantly associated with patient social needs screening, more areas addressed by programs, and more types of partners to address these needs. Community hospitals with a PFAB have more robust programs and partnerships to address patient social needs. Hospital leaders should consider going beyond simply establishing programs to address social needs but also consider comprehensiveness of these programs to recognize the intersectionality of social needs. One way to do this is to formally establish a PFAB to help hospitals better identify and prioritize the needs in local communities and design social needs programs/solutions that are patient- and family-centric.

Filling the theoretical gap: Analyzing the nature of platform profits by integrating the rent perspective and Marxian circulation theory

The significant increase in profits generated by platforms has sparked considerable debate regarding the nature of this income. These discussions center on two perspectives: the value-creating perspective suggests that their profits result from new forms of exploitation in the platform economy, while the rent perspective argues that the platforms extract and transfer value from other value-creating activities. While the latter perspective acknowledges that platforms do not directly engage in value creation, it fails to analyze their functions from the standpoint of Marxian circulation theory. Viewed from this standpoint, platforms represent a new form of commercial capital that propels circulation. Through their capacity to collect and process user behavior data, they attain a higher level of centralization than traditional commercial organizations, and extract value created by productive activities.

Disruptive innovations and defence procurement: a study of the Brazilian Navy Case

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the study of the challenges that disruptive technologies represent for industrial defence strategies and procurement policies. It focuses on the incorporation of drones into military arsenals and will be based on a study of the Brazilian Navy case. Drones are a disruptive technology both for the defence industrial base and for their implications for military tactics and the organisational structure of the armed forces. The analysis addresses the main difficulties encountered in incorporating these technologies into traditional military structures and acquisition systems. We explore the ways in which defence procurement adapts (or fails to adapt) to the emergence of disruptive technologies: are traditional military organisations and procurement structures capable of introducing disruptive technologies and engaging in the organisational and operating practices required to do so? Some lessons are drawn from this experience: even when the military relevance of drone technology is widely acknowledged and even officially recognized, procurement strategies and practices have not been able to shift from their focus on incumbent suppliers and conventional systems.

Epistemic justice as energy justice: reflections from a transnational collaboration on hydropower and Indigenous rights

ABSTRACT Addressing the climate crisis requires renewable energy, however, developing renewable energy should be equitable. In this article, we analyze a 15-year-old transnational hydroelectric power development conflict involving Indigenous rights in Mapuche-Williche territory, Chile and a Norwegian state-owned company, Statkraft. We seek to advance the field of energy justice by evaluating injustices in this transnational conflict. At the heart of the conflict is a threatened Ngen Kintuantü (the spirit guardian Kintuantü), which is part of a ceremonial and pilgrimage site of utmost importance in Williche territory. We argue that epistemic justice – the radical inclusion of different ways of knowing – can be a central tenet to understanding and redressing the harms connected to energy development, especially via networks of solidarity with Indigenous rights claims. Yet currently, the right to consent for energy projects, – which is informed by the international legal mechanism Free, Prior, and Informed Consent and Chile’s codification of a less stringent Indigenous consultation – is limited by its formation within liberal legality. Despite these limitations, the Traditional Organization of the Ayllarewe of Ngen Mapu Kintuantü, an organization of Mapuche-Williche communities, is crafting and demanding their own form of territorial consultation. Drawing from a solidarity network of research across the Global South and North, we find that existing tools like FPIC can and must be strengthened through Indigenous and local guidance, but that justice, in a broader sense, cannot be achieved without returning land and broader legal reforms.

From gavels to algorithms: The Vidhii Partners GenAI evolution

Learning outcomes This case study exposes students to the process of decision-making given the market uncertainty, evolving shareholder expectations and other variables that executives and managers must consider ensuring business continuity and growth and helps students develop an appreciation of the impact emerging technologies are having on organizational digital transformation. This case study evaluates the strategic considerations for whitespace digital solutions into existing organizational operations, balancing innovation with core operating principles; exposes the students to the drivers of fostering a culture of innovation and employee buy-in during strategic digital transformation initiatives; and evaluates and appreciates the role of key stakeholders, such as customers, employees and executive management, in shaping a successful digital transformation strategy and promoting sustained business growth. Case overview/synopsis Vidhii Partners, a leading Indian law firm, grapples with the burgeoning demand for legal services in a rapidly evolving market. Traditional methods may struggle to keep pace, prompting Vikram Wadehra, a partner, to champion the adoption of Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology. Vidhii Partners embarks on the development of two GenAI tools: VidAI, an AI-powered chatbot designed to democratize access to legal information, and VidAI Pro, a business-to-business offering aimed at streamlining legal research and drafting. Wadehra envisions these tools not only enhancing efficiency but also fostering a culture of legal awareness and generating new business opportunities. However, crucial decisions remain. Can Vidhii Partners bridge the potential gap between innovation and the firm’s established practices? How can they effectively integrate GenAI into their operations while ensuring user trust and employee buy-in? This case study presents a rich opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with digital transformation in the legal sector. Students will grapple with themes such as navigating market uncertainty, fostering a culture of innovation within a traditional organization and developing effective strategies for stakeholder management during change initiatives. Through the lens of Vidhii Partners’ GenAI journey, students gain valuable insights into the complexities of embracing disruptive technologies within a dynamic business landscape. Complexity academic level This case study is designed for masters level (MBA). Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.

Features of the personnel motivation system in innovative organizations

This article is devoted to the study of the issues of innovative organizations personnel motivation. The author describes the features of innovative organizations: stimulating scientific research, innovation and the search for non–standard solutions, therefore their principles of motivation should be aimed specifically at the implementation of these tasks. The article is related to the issues of increasing the productivity and efficiency of companies. Often in traditional organizations, staff motivation systems are created without taking into account the opinions of employees and have little correlation with the company’s values. According to the author, for productive innovation, it is important to develop and implement a policy that encourages innovative approaches, as well as creativity and initiative of employees. A well thought out staff motivation system plays a key role in the application of this policy, which ultimately contributes to the successful implementation of ambitious projects, increasing profits and the image of the organization. The article presents the characteristics of motivational incentives, namely monetary and non–monetary. The author substantiates the thesis that in order to stimulate innovative activity to employees needs to choose an individual approach, and non–monetary motivation in this case turns out to be more important than the monetary component.

Repositioning Religious Organization Activism in The Digital Era

The rise of the digital world poses a challenge to the position of religious organizations. This is evident in the emergence of new authorities, both individuals and groups, outside traditional religious structures. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), a mainstream traditional organization, has also been impacted by this shift. However, several studies indicate that NU has effectively adapted to various challenges and situations over time. This analysis focuses on how NU, as a representative of traditional mainstream Islamic organizations, has repositioned itself in response to the digital era, using the example of its activities in Mojokerto. This work addresses two key issues: first, how NU adapts to the presence of social media; second, what strategies NU employs to reposition itself in the face of these new challenges on social media. To explore these questions, this work employs a qualitative methodology, collecting data through interviews, observations, and documentation. The data is then analyzed and presented using a digital religion approach. The findings suggest that NU has repositioned itself in two main ways. First, through adaptation, by adopting and actively using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube via the organization’s official accounts. Second, through a form of resistance, by having NU activists engage on social media without prominently displaying their organizational affiliation.

How Leadership in Higher Education Is Different from Leadership in Traditional Business Organizations

How Leadership in Higher Education Is Different from Leadership in Traditional Business Organizations

Preparing future nonprofit social enterprise leaders: a research-based instructional needs analysis

ABSTRACT Nonprofit social enterprises (NSEs) have the potential to alleviate social issues significantly through entrepreneurial means. However, their unique mission and challenges require a distinct type of leadership compared to traditional nonprofit organizations. This leadership model must integrate social work and business management competencies. Unfortunately, research suggests that finding leaders with this combination of competencies can be challenging for NSEs. This raises the question of whether master’s degree programs in public administration (MPA) and nonprofit management (MNM) adequately equip students with the necessary competencies to lead NSEs. In response to this question, researchers surveyed MPA and MNM faculty using a 14-item online questionnaire. The results indicate that there are significant gaps in the current curriculum, with neither program placing strong emphasis on NSE leadership competencies. However, MNM programs cover some of these competencies more extensively than MPA programs. The findings suggest curricular and pedagogical improvement opportunities in public and private universities’ MPA and MNM programs.