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Article
Publication date: 31 January 2024

Camille Washington-Ottombre

Studies have shown that higher education institutions (HEIs) need to achieve deep organizational learning to develop and implement long-term strategies for responding to the…

Abstract

Purpose

Studies have shown that higher education institutions (HEIs) need to achieve deep organizational learning to develop and implement long-term strategies for responding to the climate crisis. This study aims to analyze the sustainability efforts of HEIs, in particular those who use the sustainability tracking, assessment and rating system (STARS), to ascertain what type of organizational learning is being achieved.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper does this by analyzing perceptions of learning amongst this group of HEIs. More specifically, it analyzes survey data regarding perceptions of types and system levels of organizational learning achieved by 116 HEIs in the USA that currently use or have used STARS in the past. The approach also aims to develop a macro view of the relationships between practicing campus sustainability, using sustainability reporting tools and learning as an organization.

Findings

An examination of the practice of campus sustainability and its relationship to organizational learning reveals that the use of sustainability reporting promotes broad learning, but deep learning at the level of the organization is seldom achieved.

Practical implications

Given the success of using sustainability reporting tools to diffuse knowledge and foster broad learning, this paper argues that such tools should incorporate more metrics relative to soft organizational characteristics of HEIs to shift organizational cultures and foster deeper organizational learning.

Originality/value

This work constitutes one of the few studies analyzing empirical data on campus sustainability, sustainability reporting and organizational learning for a large number of HEIs.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 May 2023

Jasmin Godemann, Bich-Ngoc Nguyen and Christian Herzig

This paper aims to present the progress of the implementation of sustainability in business schools in line with the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present the progress of the implementation of sustainability in business schools in line with the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and its principles of responsible management education.

Design/methodology/approach

By analyzing the content of the Sharing of Information on Progress reports from PRME signatories, this study identified significant developments in the strategies business school use to implement sustainability. However, it seems that a framework that business schools can apply to accomplish that goal is still lacking. This paper proposes a framework that addresses four components of the integration process and stresses the important role of stakeholders. The authors discuss the results from 2021 in comparison to the results of a previous analysis of the first 100 signatories from 2010 and analyze the findings in relation to the developed framework.

Findings

This study shows that business schools have improved their sustainability engagement in many areas (e.g. education offerings and teaching methods, campus practices and engaging stakeholders). However, less attention has been paid to other aspects, such as reviewing and assessing, capability development or communication, which could slow the transformation process. The authors discuss further implications of the findings for enhancing the PRME signatories’ ability to implement the underrecognized aspects.

Originality/value

While the analysis focuses on the status and progress of the integration of PRME within business schools during the past decade, the framework may enable higher education institutions to analyze their potential to implement change and plan future transformation strategies.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 5 December 2023

Birgitta Schwartz and Karina Tilling

Research and experience show that evidence-based practice (EBP), i.e. using the best available knowledge in daily professional work, is difficult to achieve in social services…

Abstract

Purpose

Research and experience show that evidence-based practice (EBP), i.e. using the best available knowledge in daily professional work, is difficult to achieve in social services. The purpose of this study is to understand the development of organizational EBP learning processes in daily work through workplace education for staff and managers of supported homes for people with cognitive disabilities. The authors examine how the EBP model and new knowledge are understood and made actionable in the workplace, applying theories of organizational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used empirical material collected from an EBP workplace education pilot in Sweden, as well as documents on national EBP implementation in Swedish social services. Before the pilot, a focus group interview was conducted with regional senior managers. Participating managers and staff were individually interviewed two to three years after the pilot.

Findings

The study illustrates how knowledge-based action emerged from education where EBP was interpreted, understood, reflected on, and tested, supported by codified EBP tools in the work context. The participants, when supervised, and when observing and questioning their own behaviors in practice, contributed to double-loop learning (DLL) processes. Codification of EBP knowledge into useful tools and socialization processes during education and workplace meetings was crucial in developing individual and group DLL and knowledge-based actions.

Originality/value

The bottom-up approach to EBP development and the adaptive contextual learning at the workplace gave new insights into organizational learning in social service workplaces.

Article
Publication date: 28 December 2023

Anthony Bagherian, Mark Gershon and Sunil Kumar

Numerous attempts at installing six sigma (SS) have faced challenges and fallen short of the desired success. Thus, it becomes vital to identify the critical factors and…

Abstract

Purpose

Numerous attempts at installing six sigma (SS) have faced challenges and fallen short of the desired success. Thus, it becomes vital to identify the critical factors and characteristics that play a pivotal role in achieving successful adoption. In this study the research has aimed to highlight that a considerable number of corporate SS initiatives, around 60%, fail primarily due to the improper incorporation of essential elements and flawed assumptions.

Design/methodology/approach

To validate the influence of critical success factors (CSFs) on SS accomplishment, the study employed a research design combining exploratory and mixed-methods approaches. A Likert-scale questionnaire was utilized, and a simple random sampling method was employed to gather data. Out of the 2,325 potential participants approached, 573 responses were received, primarily from Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden. The analysis focused on 260 completed questionnaires and statistical methods including structural equation modeling (SEM), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were utilized for data analysis.

Findings

The study acknowledged four essential components of CSFs that are imperative for sustaining the success of SS: (1) Competence of belt System employees; (2) Project management skills; (3) Organizational economic capability and (4) Leadership commitment and engagement. These factors were identified as significant contributors to the maintenance of SS’s success.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this research imply that institutions, practitioners, and researchers can utilize the four identified factors to foster the sustainable deployment of SS initiatives. By incorporating these factors, organizations can enhance the effectiveness and longevity of their SS practices.

Originality/value

The investigation's originality lies in its contribution to assessing CSFs in SS deployment within the European automobile industry, utilizing a mixed-methods research design supplemented by descriptive statistics.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 June 2023

Anthony Bagherian, Mark Gershon and Sunil Kumar

The effectiveness of Six Sigma programs has varied across different industries and organizations, and leadership styles have been identified as a critical success factor for the…

Abstract

Purpose

The effectiveness of Six Sigma programs has varied across different industries and organizations, and leadership styles have been identified as a critical success factor for the installation of Six Sigma initiatives. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the specific elements of leadership styles that are linked with the successful deployment of Six Sigma programs in the automobile industry.

Design/methodology/approach

To conduct the study, the researchers utilized a Likert scale questionnaire with a rating system of 1–7 and a simple random sampling method. The survey was distributed to 2,325 potential participants, with 573 responses received, mostly from Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden. Out of those responses, 260 completed questionnaires were received. The study utilized a mixed-methods research design and exploratory research approaches to investigate the implication of leadership style on the success of Six Sigma implementation. The research employed several analysis techniques, including Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Survey methods.

Findings

Through various SEM methods, such as EFA and CFA, the study revealed two vital leadership elements: (1) the long-term success of Six Sigma depends on leadership’s support and recognition of it as an improvement strategy and (2) leadership must commit to the organization’s suppliers to ensure quality and the provision of defect-free products.

Practical implications

By incorporating the identified key elements of leadership into their strategies, organizations and researchers can ensure the sustainable implementation of Six Sigma.

Originality/value

This research presents a distinct contribution to the evaluation of leadership style components within the European automotive sector, utilizing a mixed-methods research design and incorporating a variety of descriptive statistics.

Details

Journal of Advances in Management Research, vol. 20 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0972-7981

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 April 2024

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

Higher education institutions can utilize sustainability reporting tools as a means of increasing organizational learning and strengthening sustainability. Finding ways to deepen and broaden the nature of learning will help better equip these institutions to address complex challenges like climate change.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Details

Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, vol. 38 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7282

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 September 2023

Sultan Alzyoud and Ruba Abuzaid

Inevitably, there is no free-mistakes organization. The hotel industry can be considered a dynamic and labor-intensive sector where mistakes can occur frequently. Therefore…

Abstract

Purpose

Inevitably, there is no free-mistakes organization. The hotel industry can be considered a dynamic and labor-intensive sector where mistakes can occur frequently. Therefore, learning from failure or mistakes is considered a crucial component of learning in the workplace. This study aims to explore leaders' behaviors that can encourage employees to engage in learning from failure endeavors.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study where five semi-structured interviews were undertaken with heads of departments in four-and five-star hotels in Manchester, the UK. Thematic analysis was performed to analyze the collected data.

Findings

The results revealed that three leader behaviors were suggested to encourage employee learning from failure in hotels, namely: being open and accessible to employees, encouraging them to speak up and share their experiences, particularly their mistakes, and giving them constructive feedback instead of criticisms. These behaviors were found to be related to a construct in past studies called leader inclusiveness.

Originality/value

This is an exploratory study that tries to enhance the understanding of what encourages learning from failure at work, particularly in the hotel industry where this has received little attention.

Details

Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, vol. 38 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7282

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2024

Alireza Goudarzian and Rohallah Pourbagher

Conventional isolated dc–dc converters offer an efficient solution for performing voltage conversion with a large improved voltage gain. However, the small-signal analysis of…

21

Abstract

Purpose

Conventional isolated dc–dc converters offer an efficient solution for performing voltage conversion with a large improved voltage gain. However, the small-signal analysis of these converters shows that a right-half-plane (RHP) zero appears in their control-to-output transfer function, exhibiting a nonminimum-phase stability. This RHP zero can limit the frequency response and dynamic specifications of the converters; therefore, the output voltage response is sluggish. To overcome these problems, the purpose of this study is to analyze, model and design a new isolated forward single-ended primary-inductor converter (IFSEPIC) through RHP zero alleviation.

Design/methodology/approach

At first, the normal operation of the suggested IFSEPIC is studied. Then, its average model and control-to-output transfer function are derived. Based on the obtained model and Routh–Hurwitz criterion, the components are suitably designed for the proposed IFSEPIC, such that the derived dynamic model can eliminate the RHP zero.

Findings

The advantages of the proposed IFSEPIC can be summarized as: This converter can provide conditions to achieve fast dynamic behavior and minimum-phase stability, owing to the RHP zero cancellation; with respect to conventional isolated converters, a larger gain can be realized using the proposed topology; thus, it is possible to attain a smaller operating duty cycle; for conventional isolated converters, transformer core saturation is a major concern, owing to a large magnetizing current. However, the average value of the magnetizing current becomes zero for the proposed IFSEPIC, thereby avoiding core saturation, particularly at high frequencies; and the input current of the proposed converter is continuous, reducing input current ripple.

Originality/value

The key benefits of the proposed IFSEPIC are shown via comparisons. To validate the design method and theoretical findings, a practical implementation is presented.

Details

Circuit World, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0305-6120

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 January 2024

Benjamin Biesinger, Karsten Hadwich and Manfred Bruhn

(Digital) servitization, referring to service-driven strategies and their increasing implementation in manufacturing, is one of the most rapidly growing areas in industrial…

Abstract

Purpose

(Digital) servitization, referring to service-driven strategies and their increasing implementation in manufacturing, is one of the most rapidly growing areas in industrial service research. However, the cultural change involved in successful servitization is a phenomenon that is widely observed but poorly understood. This research aims to clarify the processes of social construction as manufacturers change their organizational culture to transform into industrial service providers.

Design/methodology/approach

This research takes a systematic approach to integrate disparate literature on servitization into a cohesive framework for cultural change, which is purposefully augmented by rationale culled from organizational learning and sensemaking literature.

Findings

The organizational learning framework for cultural change in servitization introduces a dynamic perspective on servitizing organizations by explaining social processes between organizational and member-level cultural properties. It identifies three major cultural orientations toward service, digital and learning that govern successful servitization.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the servitization literature by presenting a new approach to reframe and explore cultural change processes across multiple levels, thus providing a concrete starting point for further research in this area.

Details

Journal of Service Theory and Practice, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2055-6225

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 December 2023

Nuri Gökhan Torlak, Taylan Budur and Noor Us Sabbah Khan

This study aims to investigate the relationships between affective commitment (AC), innovative work behavior (IWB) and organizational socialization strategies (training, coworker…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationships between affective commitment (AC), innovative work behavior (IWB) and organizational socialization strategies (training, coworker support, understanding and future prospects) to ensure the viability and prosperity of businesses in Iraq.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology includes demographic analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

Findings

An analysis of survey data based on a random sample of participating employees shows that training, understanding and future prospects all significantly and positively affect employee AC. Coworker support does not significantly affect AC. Employees’ AC to their companies significantly positively affects their IWB. Employees’ AC to their companies significantly mediates the relationships between training, understanding, future prospects and IWB. Company practices regarding training, understanding, coworker support and future prospects do not affect employees’ IWB.

Research limitations/implications

The authors conducted the study in Sulaymaniyah. The results may not apply to Iraq and other nations. Researchers from various industries and countries can evaluate the model. The research ignores company age, size and fit between individuals and organizations.

Originality/value

The study closes a research gap in organizational behavior by exploring the association between managerial socialization strategies, AC and creative work behavior in Iraq.

Details

The Learning Organization, vol. 31 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-6474

Keywords

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