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1 – 10 of 10This ethnographic revisit of a general hospital aims to critically explore and describe the mechanisms of corporate culture change and how institutional excellence is facilitated…
Abstract
Purpose
This ethnographic revisit of a general hospital aims to critically explore and describe the mechanisms of corporate culture change and how institutional excellence is facilitated and constrained by everyday management practices between 1996/1997 and 2014/2015.
Design/methodology/approach
A five-month field study of day-to-day life in the hospital's nursing division was conducted by means of an ethnographic revisit, using participant-observation, semi-structured interviews, free conversations and documentary material.
Findings
Using labour process analysis with ethnographic data from a general hospital, the corporate culture is represented as faceted, complex and sophisticated, lending little support to the managerial claims that if corporate objectives are realised, they are achieved through some combination of shared values, beliefs and managerial practices. The findings tend to support the critical view in labour process writing that modern managerial initiatives lead to tightened corporate control, advanced employee subjection and extensive effort intensification. The findings demonstrate the way in which the nursing employees enthusiastically embrace many aspects of the managerial message and yet, at the same time, still remain suspicious and distance themselves from it through misbehaviour and adaptation, and, in some cases, use the rhetoric against management for their own ends.
Practical implications
What are the implications for clinical and managerial practitioners? The recommendations are to (1) develop managerial practitioners who are capable of managing change combined with the professional autonomy of clinical practitioners, (2) take care to practise what you preach in clinical and managerial reality, as commitment, consent, compliance and difference of opinion are signs of a healthy corporate culture and (3) consider the implications between social structures and human actions with different work behaviours on different levels involved.
Originality/value
This ethnographic revisit considers data from a labour process analysis of corporate culture change in a general hospital and revisits the ways in which contradictory expectations and pressures are experienced by nursing employees and management practitioners spread 17 years apart.
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Chong Guan, Ding Ding, Jiancang Guo and Yun Teng
This paper reviews the extant research on Web3.0 published between 2003 and 2022.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper reviews the extant research on Web3.0 published between 2003 and 2022.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a topic modeling procedure latent Dirichlet allocation to uncover the research themes and the key phrases associated with each theme.
Findings
This study uncovers seven research themes that have been featured in the existing research. In particular, the study highlights the interaction among the research themes that contribute to the understanding of a number of solutions, applications and use cases, such as metaverse and non-fungible tokens.
Research limitations/implications
Despite the relatively small data size of the study, the results remain significant as they contribute to a more profound comprehension of the relevant field and offer guidance for future research directions. The previous analysis revealed that the current Web3.0 technology is still encountering several challenges. Building upon the pioneering research in the field of blockchain, decentralized networks, smart contracts and algorithms, the study proposes an exploratory agenda for future research from an ecosystem approach, targeting to enhance the current state of affairs.
Originality/value
Although topics around Web3.0 have been discussed intensively among the crypto community and technological enthusiasts, there is limited research that provides a comprehensive description of all the related issues and an in-depth analysis of their real-world implications from an ecosystem perspective.
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Reem Marzouki and Wafa Belkahla
The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of lead users (LUs) on innovation success by proposing and validating an integrative model that links LUs, innovation success and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of lead users (LUs) on innovation success by proposing and validating an integrative model that links LUs, innovation success and knowledge sharing (KS) variables.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors research is quantitative in nature and data were collected through a survey conducted among 30 information technology Tunisian companies. The authors preliminary analysis was explored using the “SPSS” software and processed through exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis methods.
Findings
Results showed that LUs who possess advanced skills and valuable knowledge can contribute to enhance new successful innovations, and hence, enable companies to gain short and long-term profits. Besides, the authors confirmed that the impact of LUs on innovation success is mediated by the “KS” behavior.
Practical implications
An integrative framework that links LUs, innovation success and a third variable called KS is presented to see beyond the intended importance of this type of user regarding the development of new innovations.
Originality/value
The paper offers new insights to the topic of LUs by emphasizing the role of “KS” variable in strengthening the LUs – innovation success relationship.
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David Peetz, Olav Muurlink, Keith Townsend, Adrian Wilkinson and Madeleine Brabant
The purpose of this paper is to explore differences in the degree of innovation in employment relations (ER) between emerging and established firms,
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore differences in the degree of innovation in employment relations (ER) between emerging and established firms,
Design/methodology/approach
A large national telephone survey (N=1,416) of both emerging (<5 years) and established firms was conducted.
Findings
Emerging firms were more casualised, less unionised, and experiencing higher levels of market expansion and unpredictability. Despite these differences, younger firms showed otherwise remarkable similarity to older firms across a range of ER practices, and both categories showed a reliance on business networks, rather formal training, for ER knowledge. While introducing ER changes more rapidly than older (and larger) firms, they were converging towards a suite of ER practices similar to that adopted by older firms. The results suggest that, if anything, established firms may have been engaged in greater innovation in more unusual ER practices.
Research limitations/implications
Only managers were surveyed. The data are cross-sectional rather than longitudinal. As the study was undertaken in only one country, replication in other settings would be desirable.
Originality/value
The results raise major doubts about the notion that new firms represent the cutting edge of innovation, and highlights the degree to which newer firms match or mimic older firms’ ER architecture.
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Paige M. Hulls, Frank de Vocht, Richard M. Martin and Rebecca M. Langford
Around 400,000 working days per year are lost in the construction industry due to stress, depression or anxiety, but a large proportion of the industry – those primarily not based…
Abstract
Purpose
Around 400,000 working days per year are lost in the construction industry due to stress, depression or anxiety, but a large proportion of the industry – those primarily not based “on-site” – is not included in these statistics. Little research has been conducted in this group about their experiences of occupational stress. The authors explored how stress was experienced and managed by construction professionals and its perceived impact on health.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors interviewed 32 construction professionals in a British construction company, with varying levels of seniority and years in the industry. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed thematically.
Findings
Stress was viewed an inevitable and increasing part of the construction industry, exacerbated by recent economic challenges. Participants talked about a culture of stress and overwork but often felt unable to challenge it due to job insecurity. Senior management acknowledged stress was a problem within the industry and something that potentially threatened company productivity. Company-wide initiatives had been implemented to address stress levels (e.g. Mental Health First Aiders), but were criticised for ignoring underlying issues. Informal means of managing stress were identified, such as careful consideration of team dynamics, which allowed employees to form close bonds and using “banter” and camaraderie to relieve stress. However, the persistence of a macho male image meant some participants were reluctant to talk about their feelings at work. Participants described individual coping strategies, such as exercise, but these were hard to prioritise in challenging times.
Originality/value
There is growing recognition that health and well-being must be given greater priority in the construction industry. Industry pressures and competitive practices undermine efforts to improve staff well-being. Action must be taken at senior levels to address this conflict, while building on existing informal mechanisms of support and stress relief.
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Stefano Torresan and Andreas Hinterhuber
This literature review explores the potential of gamification in workplace learning beyond formal training. The study also highlights research gaps and opportunities for scholars…
Abstract
Purpose
This literature review explores the potential of gamification in workplace learning beyond formal training. The study also highlights research gaps and opportunities for scholars to develop new theories and methodologies to enhance the understanding and application of gamification in workplace learning. It provides guidance for managers to use gamification to enhance learning and engagement. Ultimately, this review presents gamification as a promising field of study to increase individual and organizational performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Literature review of 6625 papers in the timeframe 1990–2020, with an update to include papers published in 2023.
Findings
This article examines the impact of gamification beyond formal learning and its potential to enhance employee productivity and well-being in the workplace. While there has been extensive research on gamification in formal learning contexts, little is known about its impact on informal learning. The study argues that the context of gamification is crucial to extending its effects and discusses the role, antecedents and consequences of game design elements in the workplace. The article also explores how the learning context relates to employee learning during work. Further research is necessary to investigate the impact of individual characteristics on work experience and performance.
Research limitations/implications
Intended contribution of the present study is the development of a theoretical framework exploring the benefits of gamification in a work context.
Practical implications
For practicing managers, this paper shows how to use gamification to increase workplace learning and employee engagement, not just in the context of formal learning—as some companies already do today—but also systematically, in the context of informal learning.
Originality/value
This study explores the impact of gamification on informal workplace learning and emphasizes the significance of the context of gamification in extending its effects to improve individual and organizational performance.
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Deniz Tuzcuoğlu, Bauke de Vries, Dujuan Yang and Aslı Sungur
This paper aims to explore the meaning of smart office environments from a user perspective by investigating user preferences and expectations.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the meaning of smart office environments from a user perspective by investigating user preferences and expectations.
Design/methodology/approach
Eleven semi-structured interviews with the users after moving into a smart office building of a Dutch Municipality and an observation as complementary data were conducted. The data were analysed based on the grounded theory and thematic analysis, combining a reflexive approach to the literature review.
Findings
Two main themes were revealed addressing user expectations and preferences for smart office environments: “enhanced interaction” with the social and physical office environment and “sense-making” of the smart concept (or smartness). Within these themes, basic and smart office aspects were identified and classified based on their association with smart office concepts or technology.
Practical implications
The findings reveal the meaning of the smart office concepts from a user perspective by highlighting the importance of user experience on enhanced interaction and sense-making of the smart office concept, equipped with basic and smart aspects.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to qualitatively examine drivers underlying the meaning of smart office concepts from a user point of view. Organisations, environmental psychologists, designers and managers can use the findings of this study to develop guidelines for a successful smart office design.
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