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1 – 10 of over 21000One area in which strategy and organizational ecology converge is organizational change. This essay weaves together salient themes in my (and my co-authors’) various writings on…
Abstract
One area in which strategy and organizational ecology converge is organizational change. This essay weaves together salient themes in my (and my co-authors’) various writings on organizational change, and is anchored in the research literature of the last twenty years. Among other ideas developed here, I point out that there is now a convergence of agendas in strategy and ecology, with an important role being played by intraorganizational ecology. I develop the distinction between strong and weak selection approaches to organizational ecology. While the strong selection view does not find empirical support, there is stronger support for the weak selection view. I lay out some key features of an emerging evolutionary synthesis for the study of strategy and organization, and develop an evolutionary approach to organizational change.
Yuni Tri Hewindati, Sri Kurniati Handayani, Aminudin Zuhairi and Raflen Aril Gerungan
This article presented the results of studies that examined the appropriateness of the content, readability of printed learning materials and the effectiveness of external…
Abstract
Purpose
This article presented the results of studies that examined the appropriateness of the content, readability of printed learning materials and the effectiveness of external resources in ecology course offered at Universitas Terbuka. To integrate external resources, links to their websites were provided in the printed materials.
Design/methodology/approach
An in-depth interview with a content expert was employed to review the course content, while digital and printed learning materials were reviewed for readability and to determine the usefulness of the external resources. A total of 47 students completed surveys and a focus group discussion that included in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 selected students.
Findings
The results revealed that the content of ecology course was conceptually valid. However, two key aspects needed to be emphasized, including the application of ecology phenomena for further development of the science and its applications in real-life situations. Regarding readability, students stated that the course materials were easily comprehended. In terms of the benefit, 79% of the students found the external resources interesting and helpful in understanding the learning materials.
Practical implications
Printed learning materials were crucial for students, specifically those residing in remote areas. Therefore, the institution should ensure that the materials were high-quality, easy to comprehend and enriched with up-to-date content/materials through scannable links to external resources.
Originality/value
The value added to the findings of this study was that the provision of links to external resources within printed learning materials improves students' understanding of the course content.
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Samuel Ssekajja Mayanja, Joseph Mapeera Ntayi, John C. Munene, James R.K. Kagaari, Waswa Balunywa and Laura Orobia
The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between positive deviance (PD) and entrepreneurial networking among small…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between positive deviance (PD) and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey design using quantitative approach was employed in this study. Data were collected with the help of self-administrated questionnaires from 228 SMEs. Systematic sampling technique was used. Multiple regression data were analysed with the help of SPSS software.
Findings
The results indicated that ecologies of innovation partially mediate the relationship between PD and entrepreneurial networking. Besides, PD and entrepreneurial networking are significantly related.
Research limitations/implications
The data were cross-sectional in nature, thus limiting monitoring changes in resources accessed from social networks by entrepreneurs over time.
Practical implications
Managers of SMEs and policy makers should pay more attention to the views of employees with divergent views, ecologies of innovation in creating a conducive environment for creativity and innovation among SMEs.
Originality/value
The study of PD, ecologies of innovation and entrepreneurial networking using complexity theory among SMEs in Uganda is a contribution to literature.
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Satu Pekkarinen, Mervi Hasu, Helinä Melkas and Eveliina Saari
The purpose of this paper is to examine and reinterpret information ecology in the context of the changing environment of services, which has been strongly affected by…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine and reinterpret information ecology in the context of the changing environment of services, which has been strongly affected by digitalisation and increasing citizen engagement. Here, information ecology refers to the interaction and co-evolution of technologies, human beings and the social environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The data consist of 25 thematic interviews conducted in a public Finnish organisation responsible for organising welfare services, and in its collaborating organisations. The interviews were analysed qualitatively. The analytical framework is based on Nardi and O'Day's five components of information ecology: system, diversity, co-evolution, keystone species and locality.
Findings
The analysis shows that these basic components still exist in the digitalisation era, but that they should be interpreted and highlighted differently, for example, stressing the openness of the information system instead of closed systems, as well as emphasising the increasing meaning of diversity amongst digitalisation, and the dynamic co-evolution between the elements of the system. New capabilities, such as the ability to combine various kinds of information and knowledge, are needed in this adaptation.
Research limitations/implications
The study illustrates a wider, updated information-ecology concept with the help of empirical research. Technology affects care organisations' information ecologies in numerous – often invisible – ways, which this study brings into light.
Originality/value
So far, information-ecology research has overlooked social and healthcare, but this study provides findings concerning this societally important sector.
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Grant Samkin, Annika Schneider and Dannielle Tappin
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the development of a biodiversity reporting and evaluation framework. The application of the framework to an exemplar organisation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the development of a biodiversity reporting and evaluation framework. The application of the framework to an exemplar organisation identifies biodiversity-related annual report disclosures and analyses changes in the nature and levels of these over time. Finally, the paper aims to establish whether the disclosures made by the exemplar are consistent with a deep ecological perspective, as exemplified by New Zealand conservation legislation.
Design/methodology/approach
Viewing the framework developed by the paper through a deep ecological lens, the study involves a detailed content analysis of the biodiversity disclosures contained within the annual reports of a conservation organisation over a 23-year period. Using the framework developed in this paper, the biodiversity-related text units were identified and allocated to one of three major categories, 13 subcategories, and then into deep, intermediate and shallow ecology.
Findings
Biodiversity disclosures enable stakeholders to determine the goals, assess their implementation, and evaluate the performance of an organisation. Applying the framework to the exemplar revealed the majority of annual report disclosures focused on presenting performance/implementation information. The study also found that the majority of disclosures reflect a deep ecological approach. A deep/shallow ecological tension was apparent in a number of disclosures, especially those relating to the exploitation of the conservation estate.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to develop a framework that can be used as both a biodiversity reporting assessment tool and a reporting guide. The framework will be particularly useful for those studying reporting by conservation departments and stakeholders of organisations whose operations impact biodiversity.
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The purpose of this paper is to show how industrial ecology can facilitate the achievement of sustainable development through its incorporation into an engineering curriculum.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show how industrial ecology can facilitate the achievement of sustainable development through its incorporation into an engineering curriculum.
Design/methodology/approach
A model has been developed for assessing sustainability learning outcomes due to the incorporation of the concept of industrial ecology into undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programs. This model assesses how the Engineering Faculty at Curtin University has included a core engineering unit (Engineering for Sustainable Development) and four postgraduate units (Cleaner Production Tools, Eco‐efficiency, Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Technology) in its undergraduate and postgraduate engineering program, to enable modern engineering education to reflect the benefits of industrial ecology in the implementation of sustainable engineering solutions and decision‐making processes. Using this model, this paper demonstrates how the syllabus, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary assignment tasks, lectures and tutorials have been developed since 2006 in order to develop the concept of industrial ecology in undergraduate and postgraduate engineering education. The paper has also analysed the different teaching methods that have been applied since 2006 to generate increased student satisfaction in these new and challenging subjects.
Findings
The university environment can temper the potential outcomes from increasing the sustainability content in engineering education, given the general lack of student maturity in understanding the value of sustainability objectives together with course limitations on sustainability content and the arduous and lengthy processes involved in changing course curricula.
Research limitations/implications
Since the Engineering for Sustainable Development unit has been introduced only recently, it was beyond the scope of the research to interview graduate engineers who completed this unit to investigate how they have applied the concept of industrial ecology to achieve sustainability outcomes in their workplaces.
Originality/value
This research is distinct in that it investigated the implications of the incorporation of industrial ecology into the engineering curriculum.
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Mark D. Griffiths, Lisa Gundry, Jill Kickul and Angeles Muñoz Fernandez
The purpose of this paper is to examine the governmental, economic, and technological factors contributing to a country's innovation ecology that have an impact on sustainable…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the governmental, economic, and technological factors contributing to a country's innovation ecology that have an impact on sustainable economic growth.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper investigates governmental, economic, and technological supports that comprise the innovation ecology of 34 nations using ordinary least squares, discriminant analysis, and mediated regression. It is proposed that the strength of a country's innovation ecology is associated with greater sustainable entrepreneurial growth opportunities. Innovation indicators and trend analyses were collected from Eurostat Yearbook 2007, Science and Technology, and Global Financial Data over the 1995‐2005 period.
Findings
The results reveal that while the influence of government and the economic environment encourage innovation ecology, having resources at the research and development levels, human capital, and early seed funding were key indicators of innovation. The greater the degree of research and development, the availability of a highly skilled labor force, and the amount of private and public venture capital funding, the more likely it is that a strong national innovation ecology will emerge leading to the creation of new business ideas and growth opportunities.
Originality/value
The results contribute to the understanding of the significant role of innovation investment for new business development and growth.
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Lan Yi, Wenhui You, Chuan Li and Xuemou Wu
The purpose of this paper is to state the pansystems ecology, management and related principles and methods of knowledge rediscovery. Related contents include: generalized life…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to state the pansystems ecology, management and related principles and methods of knowledge rediscovery. Related contents include: generalized life, vitality, resource, circulation, environs, periodicity, phenology, eco‐niche in pansystems space, evolution, intelligence development, philosophy of science, epistemology, psychology, pedagogy and teaching.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is an application of pansystems principles to approach an ecology‐styled world outlook and methodology, related topics include: pansystems rediscovery to ecology and the world; generalized relativity, resource, environs, ecology, circulation, life; pansystems models on evolution, eco‐niche, pyramid law, recap law, phenology, management and knowledge rediscovery.
Findings
All of the logoi concerned with are reduced to the actualization of pansystems variational principle and related OR‐concretion. The pansystems ecology presents a new outlook to world, society, management, methodology, pedagogy and knowledge rediscovery.
Originality/value
Provides the framework and concretion principles of pansystems research on generalized resource, circulation, environs, ecology and related applications. They lead to some new comprehension of evolution, psychology, epistemology, society, management.
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Xinhuan Huang and Wenping Wang
This paper aims to construct evaluation index system of industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development based on “driving-force-pressure-state-impact-response” conceptual…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to construct evaluation index system of industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development based on “driving-force-pressure-state-impact-response” conceptual model. Grey target theory is introduced to evaluate industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development level and identify its key influencing factors. On that basis, the countermeasures are proposed to improve industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development in China.
Design/methodology/approach
Bull's-eye degree of grey target theory is introduced to evaluate industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development level of 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. The contribution degree of influence factors is analyzed by contribution degree theory.
Findings
The results show that first, the overall level of industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development in China is not high, there is a big gap of coordinated development level between provinces, municipalities and autonomous region, and there is still a large room to improve the status quo. Second, the major factors affecting industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development are gross industrial output value (GIOV) share of investment completed in the treatment of industrial pollution, common industrial solid wastes produced per GIOV, sulphur dioxide emission per GIOV, energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of gross regional product.
Originality/value
This paper constructs evaluation index system of industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development and applies grey target theory to evaluate industrial economy-ecology-coordinated development level and identify its key influencing factors.
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Manjula S. Salimath and Raymond Jones
The paper has dual objectives. First, the paper aims to consolidate prior research in the area of population ecology theory and provide a review and critique of this influential…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper has dual objectives. First, the paper aims to consolidate prior research in the area of population ecology theory and provide a review and critique of this influential organizational theory. The review is both broad and extensive, covering all major theoretical streams in population ecology. Second, the paper aims to highlight a new and hitherto unexplored area for future research, which lies at the intersection of population ecology and sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
The extensive and broad review included all salient published scholarly work on the topic of population ecology from 1996‐2010. Findings are reported in nine separate tables, classified by primary research focus, chronology, author, etc. Additionally, a brief summary of prior research on sustainability is provided.
Findings
Population ecology continues as a valuable and influential perspective for organizational scholars. In comparison, sustainability is a relatively new entrant in the organizational literature, since 2008. Several areas of convergence between population ecology and sustainability exist (construct dimensions, levels of analysis and outcomes). An important gap in the literature allows future research agendas to be pursued.
Practical implications
The major, and most widespread, global implication is that unsustainable organizational practices and strategies may be selected by ecological pressures, and that such organizations may face a decline in population density, or mortality. Sustainable practices may allow for greater firm density and a rise in survival rates for organizational populations. Future research directions investigating population ecology links to sustainability are provided.
Originality/value
This is the first instance where the potential contribution of population ecology to sustainability in organizations is provided.
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