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This paper explores the leadership of ECEC principals in the private sector in Chile, which is barely investigated worldwide. In Chile,10% of children attending ECEC are enrolled in private centres. Following a tradition of qualitative research, a multiple case study was carried out, allowing the exploration of four private ECEC settings. Different techniques were used for data collection: semi-structured interviews with principals, ECEC teachers, teaching assistants, and parents. In addition, a shadowing technique was used to observe principals in their daily activities. Findings show three types of leadership practices: pedagogical leadership, leadership distribution and leadership practices with families, in addition to a note about resource autonomy. All those practices were highly influenced by the nurseries' ownership status. Where principals were the owners of the nursery, much more autonomy for decision-making and resources was observed, together with a focus on pedagogical leadership. On this basis, we conclude that in the cases where the principals are not the nurseries' owners, it is essential to promote spaces to lead the pedagogical experiences children will have and to take decisions. Also, parents and the community must have opportunities to reflect collaboratively about education, which is also a task better promoted by the principal through fostering a shared vision in the nursery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Management international / International Management / Gestiòn Internacional is the property of Management International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This qualitative multiple-case study explored how Ata-Manobo natives maintain their language against all odds across five cases through in-depth interviews. The study also utilized data triangulation by interviewing individuals closely associated with the participants. The thematic analysis uncovered seven key themes related to language maintenance: language revitalization, erosion due to dominant language, struggles with social stigma, intergenerational transmission, cultural esteem, challenges in vocabulary acquisition, and tribal identity through language proficiency. Participants dealt with these challenges through various strategies. They emphasized language utilization across settings, intergenerational language transmission, cultural empowerment for language preservation, governance and community engagement, family-led language transmission, and cultural stewardship. While the cases shared similarities in language revitalization, language erosion due to dominant language, and cultural esteem through language preservation, differences emerged in dealing with social stigma, intergenerational language transmission, challenges in advanced vocabulary, and shaping tribal identity through language proficiency. Participants underscored language utilization across settings, cultural empowerment for language, and cultural leadership in addressing the challenges. They exhibited variations in intergenerational language transmission, governance, and community engagement, and family-led language transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Achieving social sustainability has become a critical challenge in global supply chain networks, particularly during complex crises such as terrorism. The purpose of this study is to explore how institutional forces influence the social sustainability approaches of logistics service providers (LSPs) in high terrorism-affected regions (HTAR). This then leads to investigating how the key factors interact with Institutional Theory. Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory multiple-case study research method was used to investigate six cases of different-sized logistics LSPs, each in an HTAR. The data was collected using semistructured interviews and triangulated using on-site observations and document analysis. Thematic analysis was used in iterative cycles for cross-case comparisons and pattern matching. Findings: The findings interact with Institutional Theory and the three final-order themes. First, management processes are driven by coopetition and innovation. Second, organizational resources, structure and culture lead to an ineffective organizational design. Finally, a lack of institutionalization creates institutional uncertainty. These factors are rooted in many other first-order factors such as information sharing, communication, relationship management, capacity development, new process developments, workforce characteristics, technology, microlevel culture and control aspects. Originality/value: This study answers the call for social sustainability research and enriches the literature on social sustainability, Institutional Theory and LSPs in HTARs by providing illustrations showing that institutional forces act as driving forces for social sustainability initiatives by shaping the current management processes. Conversely, the same forces impede social sustainability initiatives by shaping the current organizational designs and increasing institutional uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Latinoamericana de Metodología de la Investigación Social is the property of Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Sociologicos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Community-based tourism (CBT) operates on a paradigm of community self-governance wherein traditional communities assume the role of instigators and protagonists in the realm of tourism within their territories. Within this framework, CBT emerges as a means of realizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) articulated in the United Nations' Agenda 2030, outlined in 2015. The present study aims to compare three TBC communities with the SDG criteria and their contribution to the 2023 Agenda. To achieve this aim, we employed a methodological approach rooted in case study, leveraging secondary sources and adopting a qualitative methodology. The principal findings underscore that the three scrutinized CBT communities—Tekoá-Pirá, Chã de Jardim, and Amucafé, located in Brazil—directly contribute to the attainment of seven SDGs and indirectly influence two others. As prospective research avenues, we advocate exploring additional initiatives and implementing empirical studies to delve more profoundly into the realities of these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Aula Abierta. Revista de Investigación, Formación e Innovación en Educación (RIFIE) is the property of Universidad de Oviedo, Servicio de Publicaciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Digital transformation affects the back offices of incumbent insurance companies. Digital innovations are implemented to be able to offer customers new products and services. We conduct multiple case studies with four German insurance companies. We analyze the impact of digital transformations on company-internal stakeholders with the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework. We derive 12 influencing factors and corresponding practical implications. Back-office systems are updated using standard software, if available. The goal is to stay flexible for future developments, too. State-of-the-art technologies are tested and only carefully implemented. Necessary reorganizations have significant impacts and are accomplished best with a trusting company culture, good internal communication, and well-trained employees. Efficiency gains from automating routine functions can and are intended to counter labor shortages. After the implementations, skilled employees must handle more specialized and demanding tasks, which cannot be automated easily. Impulses for digital transformation mainly result from continuously changing customer requirements and respective competitive pressure, while regulatory requirements often complicate implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Business Correspondent (BC) model is an IT-enabled business process outsourcing initiative to provide financial services to the unbanked. It is a complex banking system involving multiple actors, system elements and settings, intended to address financial exclusion. Given the BC-Model's potentially significant role in economic sustainability, it is important to evaluate its success. Efforts to measure the success of the BC-Model have been limited to date; this paper therefore presents a conceptual framework of BC-Model-Success consisting of six dimensions- economic, strategic, technological, customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and social, resulting from a three-phase study design. The relevance of the framework was empirically validated across four implementations of the BC-Model. The resulting framework provides strong theoretical foundations for understanding what BC model success is, for assisting practitioners with evaluating the success of the BC-Model and with identifying possible improvements, and for facilitating future research on the BC-Model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Blockchain technology has encouraged more transparent transactions process through decentralized protocols and has identified multi-dimensional benefits. However, value innovation–based blockchain for the particular industry requires further elaboration since there appears to be a vague understanding. Therefore, this study aims to provide a profound perspective of value innovation based blockchain, which has the potential to be applied in the halal industry. Design/methodology/approach: This study developed a typology model that describes a profound understanding of blockchain adoption for value innovation. Empirical research was conducted using multiple case studies to justify the model. The case selection in this study was based on the halal industry in Indonesia. This study employed few sources to derive sufficient data through in-depth interviews, direct observations, and archival records. In particular, this study drew upon specific theories to elaborate on the blockchain-enable value innovation. Findings: A blockchain is identified as having the opportunity to promote value innovation in the halal industry through its features. This study defines a typology model of value innovation-based blockchain for the halal industry that takes place on a particular spectrum. The model built in this study classifies blockchain adoption for the halal industry from specific dimensions: the degree of blockchain-based system complexity and the intensity of value innovation. Then, this study finds that these cases have different classifications and are evenly distributed in the quadrants of the model. Originality/value: The typology model in this study can be a reference for decision-making when considering blockchain to leverage a value innovation in particular systems. Although blockchain technology can potentially be applied in vast areas, the decision-makers should understand that technology adoption should provide distinct values to its stakeholders, notably in multi-dimensional areas such as the halal industry. Thus, this study contributes significantly to blockchain technology usage for the halal industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aims: Interaction and collaboration between researchers, patients/public, clinicians, managers and policy-makers are necessary to enhance the relevance and use of research, improve planning, and optimize healthcare delivery and outcomes. The Integrated Knowledge Translation Research Network (IKTRN) published four casebooks from 2019 to 2021, describing varied approaches to research co-production. Our aim was to examine the case studies to extend existing theoretical and empirical perspectives about how co-production works. Methods: We used metasynthesis, a qualitative research design that includes seven iterative steps (clarify the purpose, delineate the case studies included, extract and code the data, derive themes from the coded data, determine the relationships of the themes to research co-production, synthesize the concepts, and build theory). Results: A total of 35 cases was reviewed. The aggregate findings of this metasynthesis identified multiple contextual and process factors, barriers, and facilitators that influence integrated knowledge translation (IKT), and a range of IKT activities that increased the likelihood of success of co-production during research. In comparing the findings from the metasynthesis with existing literature, we found a number of consistencies, but also new information about barriers, facilitators, IKT activities and outcomes, thereby adding to our understanding about factors that influence co-production. Conclusions: This metasynthesis provided concrete examples to optimize co-produced clinical and health system research. More research is needed to fully understand how to overcome some challenging modifiable barriers, establish relationships, facilitate communication, overcome power differentials and create processes for knowledgeusers working across boundaries (clinical practice and research) to stay engaged and participate fully in research endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production research literature and industry practice have started to pay increasing attention to the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) phenomenon. Scholars and practitioners identified a strong link between this paradigm and the well-known Lean Production (LP) paradigm. Most studies consider LP as a prerequisite of I4.0 and I4.0 as a tool to overcome LP limits and boost its practices. However, so far, these effects have been studied only at a high level, without an in-depth and comprehensive pairwise analysis at a practice-technology level. Moreover, few empirical studies have been carried out on this topic. Our paper attempts to fill these gaps by conducting a multiple case studies research to explain the one-to-one relationships between LP techniques and I4.0 technologies, and vice versa. More specifically, the one-to-one analysis examines the enabling effect of LP on I4.0 and the empowering effect of I4.0 on LP. Based on the empirical analyses, we propose a framework on the relationships between the two paradigms structured into six areas drawn from previous research (i.e. manufacturing equipment and processes, shop-floor management, workforce management, new product development, supplier relationships, customer relationships). Such representation clarifies the interdependence of the two paradigms in the whole supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research aims to develop and test a model for measuring end-user satisfaction (EUS) in a practical manner and then statistically verify its reliability and validity. Design/methodology/approach: A comprehensive list of attributes using extensive literature review, focus group and brainstorming meetings were used to create a set of attributes for the model. These attributes were then used in a survey among the end-users (N = 687) of seven case studies with different characteristics (type, size and location) to assess the reliability and validity of the model. The statistical methods included reliability tests (Cronbach's alpha), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and correlation analysis), canonical discriminant analysis (CDA), item response theory (IRT) and model specification tests. Findings: EUS must be quantified before determining a project's overall performance. The analysis of repeatability and consistency (reliability and validity) performed on case studies (data collected from the end-users) strongly suggests that the EUS model is robust for a range of project types. Originality/value: Although many studies have proposed customer satisfaction models in the project success context, research on quantitative measurement tools is scarce. The paper departs from past research and develops and validates a new EUS model independent of project characteristics (while the study's limitations are acknowledged). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The link between the business model (BM) and sustainability is recognized in tourism research and practice, especially as far as its socioeconomic consequences are concerned. Moreover, prior studies have highlighted some key factors influencing the sustainable business models (SBMs) of tourism firms but have mainly done so by adopting static perspectives. Thus, how these firms can contribute to sustainability through their BMs with positive effects, particularly on natural resources, remains overlooked. Thus, we adopt coevolutionary lenses to explore the main processes surrounding tourism firms' SBM. Coevolution conceives the firm–environment relationship as both circular, with mutual influence and reciprocal changes, and dialectical. Accordingly, we analyze 28 Italian agritourism firms during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency period focusing on the dynamics of their relationship with various multilevel actors (including institutions, local communities, tourists) by considering internal and external factors influencing their SBM. The dialectical nature of this relationship is stressed. We find three new factors: sustainable tourism culture, tourist loyalty, and local natural resource setting. Moreover, from the coevolutionary analysis of the findings, we derive a framework that conceptualizes agritourism SBMs as a virtuous coevolutionary process through effective coadaptations between multilevel actors influenced by 12 factors. Tourism entrepreneurs and policy-makers should carefully consider the factors influencing SBMs and try to act upon them to effectively organize and manage relationships of mutual functionality in light of current challenges, especially environmental concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A key finding in the extant literature on adopting information systems has been the importance of management support and a champion. Further research has indicated that business managers need to have appropriate IT knowledge and skills to lead adoption adequately. In the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), this role is usually assumed by the owner/manager. This research aims to synthesise these two tenets by identifying and understanding the type of business intelligence and analytics (BI&A) leadership skills that owners/managers need to develop during the adoption of BI&A. Design/methodology/approach: Five BI&A knowledge areas are identified and connected to different types of BI&A leadership skills through qualitative in-depth case studies of fourteen Australian SMEs. Findings: The case studies reveal that several BI&A leadership skills need to be developed to bring SMEs to higher stages of BI&A adoption. Practical implications: This study proposes a BI&A leadership skills development framework that allows practitioners to develop progressive BI&A skills concerning managing data, analytical skills, business processes, social and cultural change, and investment decisions to achieve sustainable operational, management and strategic goals. Originality/value: The paper takes a unique approach that links five knowledge areas to BI&A leadership skills that owners/managers need to ensure for effective adoption and orchestration of BI&A in their organisations. The BI&A leadership framework includes a developmental approach that relates to the iterative and complex nature of BI&A adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper mainly aims to characterise project management (PM) practices of industrial Lean initiatives by analysing and comparing three main topics: PM approaches, PM teams, and project alignment with the company's strategy. This research encompasses two exploratory industrial case studies with an extensive literature review. Key professionals were interviewed to obtain an in-depth vision of the field. The study results allowed characterising project management practices of industrial Lean initiatives in industrial companies based on the following dimensions: 1. Understand the needs; 2. Find a suitable team; 3. Use visual tools; 4. Apply a continuous improvement (CI) approach; 5. Identify KPIs for the context; 6. Get support from the top management. This work fills a gap related to studying the PM practices applied during the implementation of Lean initiatives, proposing a schematic representation of PM variables and actors in industrial Lean initiatives. Identifying the main variables and actors that industrial companies use to develop Lean initiatives can be insightful for Lean practitioners in the context of project management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have marked difficulty with vocabulary, lack of language, or shortcomings with their ability to organize their oral expression; thus, they cannot effectively communicate with others. In particular, people with moderate or severe disabilities cannot systematically narrate an incident and cannot follow pragmatic rules provided by others. Their attempts at standard everyday conversation lead to cognitive problems. When children with ASD are faced with difficult circumstances, they are usually unable to seek help from others, which in turn can result in their being unable to communicate effectively. This research focused on three child participants with ASD and language disorders. The goal was to strengthen the effectiveness of their requesting help and to organize their oral expression, to use requesting help modules, to remove static key images, and to use augmented reality (AR) combined with the dynamic video clips in key partial video with action (KPV). This study developed request-assistance training in conjunction with an auto organizational menu (AOM), multiple case studies and withdrawal designs, training-response methods, and a comparison of outcomes. The proposed AR sentence intervention effectively increased the children's desire to communicate with others and the accuracy rate of their help requests, and increased their level of communication. We conclude that the interface of our requesting help modules is efficacious enough to assist children with ASD at different levels. The proposed AR sentence intervention helps them build scenarios by themselves, helps them organize communication with their peers, and assists them to request help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Indonesian Journal of Business & Entrepreunership is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper's purpose is to construct and propose a frugal innovation model by assimilating block-chain technology in the manufacturing SMEs’ of Bangladesh. The model showcases the linkages and relationships among the necessary components of the SMEs and triggers to enhance innovation performance of the SMEs. Mixed-method approach was adopted for the study to get its designed objective. In the first phase, sixty (60) SME owners and partners of Bangladesh participated in qualitative focused group discussion and later three (3) multiple case studies were included to make the study and result more reliable and transferable. Data has been analyzed through NVIVO and connections are established through soft systems techniques. Findings of the study assist the necessary components to flourish and others to diminish. The study has been dealt with original data, collected from the manufacturing SMEs’ of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Championing is key to the success of an IT implementation. Recently, changes in the nature of technologies used in organizational contexts and changing organizational structures call for a renewed focus on IT championing to explain its distributed nature. Following an analytic induction approach and drawing from semi-structured interviews with 37 practitioners (physicians, residents, nurses, IT staff, and administrators) in three healthcare-related settings, the study conceptualizes distributed IT championing as a process constituted of multiple individuals’ behaviors, unfolding over time, that proactively go beyond formal job requirements in support of an IT implementation. While multiple individuals may enact similar championing behaviors, the data indicate that multiple individuals may also enact distinct, yet complementary, championing behaviors over the course of the IT implementation. Overall, distributed IT championing evolves through cycles of distinct stages of bridging-in, bonding, and bridging-out, with each stage being shaped by different dimensions of social capital. Also, IT artifacts that are particularly generative appear more conducive to distributed IT championing than closed ones. This article contributes to extant literature on IT championing by developing a process model of distributed IT championing in the context of an IT implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Internacional de Investigación en Ciencias Sociales is the property of Universidad Autonoma de Asuncion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Management international / International Management / Gestiòn Internacional is the property of Management International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

How farms can create and maintain sustainable agritourism is yet to be fully addressed. Given its link with sustainable development, research on agritourism sustainability, while highlighting the positive consequences, has neglected the theoretical perspectives. We thus find a lacuna in holistically understanding its driving processes and, consequently, its conceptualization. In response, this article draws extensively on the ecological economics co-evolutionary framework to explain the intertwined dynamics underlying sustainable agritourism and its determinants. Co-evolution conceives the organizations–environments relationship as circular, with mutual influence, and dialectical. We analyze the dynamics of the farm–rural destination relationship through a longitudinal analysis of 20 Italian agritourism farms. We find that sustainable agritourism emerges within rural destinations through diffused multilevel interactions and feedbacks resulting in organizational practices that enhance the farm and region's identities, and thus competitiveness. We offer an interpretative framework that conceptualizes sustainable agritourism through effective multilevel co-evolutionary adaptations and identify four determinants: strategic intentionality, rural lifestyle experience, systemic approach, and social responsibility. This approach may help farmers and policymakers develop destinations through sustainable agritourism. Implications for future research and practice in the sustainable tourism field emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal substance exposure is a serious public health concern given that such exposure is associated with deficits across various neurodevelopmental domains. Mothercraft's Breaking the Cycle (BTC) is a child maltreatment prevention and early intervention program in Canada for pregnant and parenting women who use substances and their children (0–6 years). Case studies of three substance-exposed sibling groups that received services at BTC are described to depict the spectrum of clinical progress that can be observed. The purpose of this study was to use our clinically and theoretically grounded, cross-domain cumulative risk and protection framework, previously developed for quantitative analyses, to qualitatively describe cumulative risk and protection. Using this framework within a qualitative case study approach yields insights into how contexts of risk and protection contribute to clinical progress. This study offers direction for future research to enhance understanding of the spectrum of clinical progress in substance-exposed families accessing early intervention. We discuss the clinical utility of this qualitative framework for case formulation and treatment planning. Understanding the balance between contexts of risk and protection qualitatively, and the link with neurodevelopment and clinical progress, can inform evidence-based, multisystemic early interventions that target key risk factors and promote salient protective factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the processes involved in scaling technologically-mediated pedagogical innovations has moved into understanding how wider contexts relate to qualitative outcomes (depth, shift in reform ownership and spread). Understanding patterns in this relationship has been complicated by the diverse outcomes for a single innovation. This study examined the processes involved in scaling innovations, using the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory to view process as object, relating outcomes with the roles played by stakeholders in multiple layers of the school ecosystem (teachers, school leaders and cross-school personnel). The idea of multiple meanings in language facilitated the conceptualization of qualitatively different roles and outcomes. Multiple school cases (from different innovations) underwent cross-case comparison to create a typology of approaches to scaling. Three scaling models—sets of role combinations and related outcomes, were described: (1) Tech-Tools and Artifacts En Masse focused on across-the-board adoption of technology. (2) Deep Roots selected a core team to overhaul teaching approaches, with accompanying structural changes (in schedule, personnel involvement and professional learning communities). (3) Networks established partnerships among schools from the onset. The roles for each ecosystem level, for each model, were further explicated to relate roles and outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of foregrounding the process objects—the meta-level—of scaling, articulating the processes that affect outcomes. The models offer school leaders and those involved in innovation implementation (e.g., innovation designers, academic consultants, teacher educators working across schools) a framework to dialog, evaluate existing implementation strategies, and articulate next steps in school innovation trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this contribution is to pinpoint the practices of users' interactions with sharing economy platforms in Russia, as well as explore the source of motivation to use such platforms on the three cases of sharing economy platforms in Russia: Darudar [Gift-to-gift] (sharing goods), Bank Vremeny [Timebank] (sharing time and services) and Couchsurfing (sharing accommodation and leisure). Design/methodology/approach: Empirical data were gathered from 25 in-depth interviews conducted for active users of the platforms and ethnographic observations of users' offline meetings as well as digital observations. Findings: The results reveal that participants of the platforms tend to establish their own rules and norms of interaction, thus, fostering social connection. Findings suggest that users of sharing economy platforms are driven by the potential of minimising transaction costs and intrinsic motivation, such as getting experiences which have no market alternatives, upcycling and disposal of belongings, self-promotion and self-realisation. Original/value: In this study, sharing as based in the sharing economy is conceptualised as a separate principle of resource allocation. The theory was applied to the empirical material of three Russian platforms, which has not been done previously in the paradigm of sharing. The current literature on the sharing economy is largely switched to the for-profit North American platforms, while case studies from other settings are lacking. This article aims to fill this gap by providing insights into non-profit platforms' operation in Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Producao Online is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Engenharia de Producao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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: Agri-food cooperatives can find significant areas to gain competitive advantage by utilizing the differences in management, organizational structure, and innovative culture compared to more traditional corporations. Originality/value: The briefing saves busy executives, strategists 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to deepen the global sourcing (GS) phenomenon from the acquiring firms' viewpoint by analyzing the Italian craft beer sector. This industry has been chosen since it represents a perfect context for the GS activities' analysis. Notably, different features characterizing this business force Italian breweries to turn to suppliers, located outside their national borders, to purchase the necessary raw materials. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts a multiple case study concerning four Italian agricultural breweries located in the Marche region. Findings: Results identify the main motivations, drivers, risks, obstacles and costs related to the adoption of the GS activities, by corroborating a positive interconnection with the GS literature findings. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation is related to the fact that the study is based on a survey carried out on a specific region and product category. Therefore, future research could analyze other Italian regions and/or different types of products. Practical implications: The study identifies different gaps characterizing the Italian supply market. Managerially these gaps can be converted into critical opportunities for the future development of the entire Italian brewing sector. Moreover, the results detect several actions the investigated breweries will seek to develop in the near future, which could strongly support the growth of the Italian beer sector. Originality/value: The study deepens a topic little explored by literature, especially with reference to the supply activities of the Italian agricultural breweries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Following positive results of Lean implementation in manufacturing environments, Lean has become an emerging philosophy for clients and suppliers of information technology (IT) services. However, how to implement Lean in IT outsourcing relationships has been addressed sparsely in academic literature. The purpose of this paper is to investigate critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing Lean in IT outsourcing relationships. Key findings, implications and avenues for future research are discussed. Design/methodology/approach: Six IT outsourcing relationships were qualitatively investigated by means of 36 semi-structured interviews. CSFs were identified based on interview transcription analyses, selection techniques and expert reviews. Findings: In total, 16 CSFs for Lean implementation in IT outsourcing relationships are identified and described. Practical implications: The CSFs presented in this paper indicate key areas that deserve managerial attention to steer Lean implementation efforts in IT outsourcing relationships in a favorable direction. Originality/value: This study is the first to describe the phenomenon of "Lean IT outsourcing" and provides researchers and practitioners with a foundation to further examine Lean implementation in IT outsourcing relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important aspect of competitiveness between destinations concerns the way in which historical and cultural heritage is used. Thus, the relationship between territories and firms grows stronger, shifting the focus on the innovation processes within and across destinations. To increase our understanding of how these processes take place in a tourism destination, more theoretical and empirical research is required. This paper aims to respond to this call by examining the central role played by the Italian phenomenon of Albergo Diffuso (AD) through a co-evolutionary approach, fertilized by the evolutionary economic geography literature. The study focuses on the dynamics of the relationship between this new hospitality model, territories and tourists, by analysing 14 case studies of ADs rooted in historical villages. Findings show that AD can be considered as a new sustainability-oriented hospitality model which, by creating synergies with its territory, positively affects the competitiveness of the destinations where ADs are located. The theoretical implications suggest that the creation and development of these innovative firms are the result of effective multi-level co-evolutionary adaptations, adding new elements to the existing literature on innovation in tourism. Moreover, implications for both entrepreneurs and policy-makers emerge, together with suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance measurement systems are a critical element of managing performance. Despite the potential of big data analytics (BDA) to improve performance measurement systems (PMSs), its real impact is still not entirely clear. This paper investigates the potential of BDA to enhance PMSs. We use two short case studies to investigate such impact. The results show that descriptive and predictive analytics boost performance analysis. The use of external non-structured data challenges the companies regarding the data veracity. Business and operations management professionals should pay attention to both the employees' capability in data science and data management. They are critical issues when seeking to enhance PMS using BDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Existing studies of information systems development (ISD) control commonly examine controller-centric considerations, such as the antecedents and performance impacts of control mode choices. In contrast, little is known about the controllee-centric factors that may influence the effectiveness of control activities. Drawing on institutional theory, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of control legitimacy to the ISD literature – a concept that past organizational research has linked to outcomes such as employee commitment and performance. Specifically, the authors explore how different dimensions of control activities (mode, degree, style) relate to controllee perceptions of control legitimacy in terms of justice, autonomy, group identification, and competence development.Design/methodology/approach Interviews were conducted with 20 practitioners across three companies. A structured data coding approach was employed and analysis was conducted within and across each case study.Findings The authors find that the control degree and control style can help explain control legitimacy perceptions better than control modes alone. For example, the results suggest that formal controls enacted in a bilateral style correspond with higher perceptions of justice and autonomy, when compared to formal controls enacted in a unilateral style.Originality/value The study results imply that ISD managers should be increasingly mindful of enacting controls in a way that is perceived to be legitimate by subordinates, thereby potentially enhancing both staff well-being and ISD performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grantmaking organizations in the United States play an increasingly important role in philanthropic giving toward international development issues. Champions of strategic philanthropy have encouraged grantmakers to set clear goals, use evidence‐based strategies, and monitor programs. This exploratory study delves into grantmaking in one of the largest emerging economies; India. Although India is a major recipient of private philanthropy, it continues to perform below average on various socio‐economic indicators. The impact of grantmaking has been unclear. We conducted in‐depth interviews with managers and leaders (n = 9) engaged in decision‐making within U.S. based grantmaking organizations, including nonprofit intermediaries and philanthropic foundations. We examine how the concept of strategic philanthropy is operationalized by participant organizations. Although the participants acknowledge the importance of starting out with a well‐defined strategy, they also face several challenges. We identify some of these challenges, outline how they are being addressed, and discuss implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These multiple case studies show what in divorced mother-headed families of South Korea, mothers experience with regard to parenting their children aged 6 to 12 years. Data were collected from participant observations and semi-structured interviews with the participants, including mothers and their children in four divorced mother-headed families in South Korea, for a span of 11 months. Each case shows how divorced mothers’ parenting experiences are mobilized through their financial status and post-divorce coparenting patterns. The findings of this study are as follows. First, the mothers’ relationships with their children were formed by their current relationships with the ex-spouse. Secondly, mothers showed low expectations of children’s academic achievement and future career. Thirdly, mothers had ambivalent feelings towards their children due to financial difficulties and cumulative stress with the added strain of single parenting. Financial stability as well as cooperative parenting with ex-spouses after divorce helped lighten the mothers’ burdens of raising children in a divorced family and thereby reduced psychological vulnerability. Fourthly, mothers’ different communication styles differently played out in their relationships with children, which further affected interactive occasions in children’s in-home experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In recent decades, concepts such as sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness have become fundamental for the development of tourist destinations, and thus, particularly, for the generation of value co-creation processes. To understand the role of tourism firms in these processes, more theoretical and empirical research is required. This paper addresses this need by examining the increasing role played by religious accommodations, adopting a co-evolutionary approach to sustainability and the resulting value co-creation processes. The study focuses on the dynamics of the relationship between this new hospitality model, territories, and tourists, through the analysis of six case studies localized in the historic centre of Rome (Italy). Findings show that religious accommodations can be considered as a new sustainability-oriented hospitality model that, by creating effective multi-level co-evolutionary adaptations with its territory and tourists, positively affects sustainable development as well as the generation of value co-creation processes. The paper contributes significantly both to sustainability literature and to the study of new hospitality models. Thus, theoretical and managerial implications emerge, together with suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the contribution of small and medium enterprises to the national economic development, employment opportunities generation and total manufacturing output, their role cannot be overemphasized. SMEs have more ability to innovate and flexibility as compared to large organizations irrespective of their size as well as organizational structure. Therefore, it is important to improve their competitiveness and performance. This may be done by the implementation of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM), because it plays a vital role in SMEs from all aspects of competitiveness both in terms of products and production techniques. An effort has been made in this paper to develop a model by considering four parameters such as top-management support and strategic alliance, business structure, structural attributes and integration of systems. Furthermore, multiple case studies have been conducted in British SMEs to explore the potential of CIM with the help of the proposed model. The result shows that there is lack of long-term strategic vision of the top management in HHW company. Whereas, a survey of SMEs have pointed out increase in reliability of delivery date, throughput/production volume, level of product customisation, reduction in manufacturing costs, WIP inventory and improvement in the image of the companies with the implementation of CIM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate inconsistent findings regarding motivations for the implementation of information technology (IT) in the supply chain. Two main theoretical perspectives emerge from the literature. The first predicts a logical progressive implementation of technology over time. The second views situational factors as moderating progressive implementation over time. The authors propose a third, calculative IT implementation model and empirically assess the validity of these diverging models. Design/methodology/approach – The authors took a qualitative, theory-testing approach. Cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2001 and 2011 – yielding responses from 62 matching firms – showed dynamic IT implementation patterns over time and allowed the selection of nine case studies for comparison. Findings – Results provide substantial support for a calculative model alongside the situational and progressive perspectives. This model addresses three problematic assumptions that underpin the progressive and situational perspectives: that IT implementation will follow logical stages; that implementation of these technologies represents a rational choice; and that managers implement these technologies to improve the performance of entire supply chains. Research limitations/implications – The empirical investigations were limited to Australian manufacturers. Further studies should extend the generalisability of the findings and study the phenomenon in different contexts. Practical implications – The study enhances practitioners’ understanding of the difficulties and complexities of IT implementation decisions among supply chain partners. Such an understanding may motivate managers to pursue IT adoption that goes beyond addressing locally focused performance metrics. Originality/value – The findings make a significant theoretical and practical contribution and provide the basis for isolating and operationalising the calculative model for further empirical testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Many Brazilian organizations have adopted total quality management (TQM). However, this model has lost prominence in academic and business environments. The purpose of this paper is to determine which aspects of TQM have endured over 20 years. Design/methodology/approach – With descriptive and exploratory objectives, this study used case studies of four companies that have adopted TQM, using temporal and comparative approaches in Brazil. The analysis explores the transcendence of disseminated aspects of TQM. Findings – The results revealed 19 percent disuse of TQM practices, 28 percent disuse of TQM tools and 57 percent disuse of TQM methodologies. However, the principles of TQM showed an average use of 96 percent, i.e. the predominant management philosophy remains part of the organizational environment of the companies. Although many practices, tools and methodologies are not described or named in the same way, their essence remains preserved and other practices, tools and methodologies have been incorporated into the automated systems of the companies. Research limitations/implications – Simple statistical tools are used as we use an exploratory and qualitative approach (with just four samples), making generalizations impossible. For future research the authors suggest a more quantitative approach using more complex statistical tools. Originality/value – The originality is demonstrated by the investigation of the cases of disuse, which contradicts most studies that analyze success stories. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of how certain aspects of the models or “fads” survive or disappear over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars increasingly recognise that business contributions to sustainable development are founded in new business models. However, most research in this field remains conceptual and offers a rather static view of a complex and dynamic reality. This article contributes to understanding how new business models for sustainability are fashioned through the interactions between individuals and groups inside and outside companies. Based on two case studies, our findings show that three elements contributed to the path of transformation toward business models for sustainability: building networks and collaborative practices for learning and action around a new vision, the deployment of new concepts drawn from outside the company, and elaborating an implementation structure within a reconfigured network. Our findings reveal the complexity of the process, which went through four subprocesses: identifying, translating, embedding, and sharing. Our results also highlight the importance of considering value destruction as well as new ways to create and capture value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Research on inclusive education issues in Malaysian general education is primarily dominated by a focus on teachers' and parents' perspectives. Qualitative approaches in getting to know the social experience of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Malaysian mainstream classroom is sparse. There is a need for more rigorous research to examine the effect of adolescents with learning disabilities' contact with typically developing peers on their social participation in mainstream learning, such as in inclusive classrooms. This paper discusses the many challenges and opportunities faced in designing and undertaking a qualitative research study in two secondary schools in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. This study reflects project experience from the completed Ph.D. study in 2020. By using a qualitative multiple case study approach, the Ph.D. study applies semi-structured interviews as the main approach to examine the social participation of adolescents with ASD in an inclusive environment, bolstered by several features' combination of observation procedure, inside and outside of the classrooms. The larger study aims at exploring the benefit of general education in the lives of adolescents with ASD participating in inclusive environments. A central focus of this paper is to engage with the adolescents with ASD themselves and to understand how they construe their school lives and social experiences. Due to the widened population of learning disabilities in Malaysian education settings, there are various diagnoses and characters of disability to face in the research processes. This paper discusses two issues that are of central concern to the projected challenges in talking, especially with adolescents with ASD, and the appropriateness of the research methods towards students with disabilities. Research epistemology of study concentrated social experience by adolescents with ASD was the contemporary phenomenon and inclusive classrooms in Malaysian secondary schools was the real-life context. Semi-structured interviews with adolescents with ASD were challenging because they were unable to elaborate extensively on their thoughts and required additional support information or from a close person to clarify the information. Data analysis used inductive and deductive thematic processes. Findings of the study demonstrated adolescents with ASD might be vulnerable at most of the unstructured activities and settings, as a consequence both adolescents with ASD showed no real friends in their respective inclusive classrooms. Additionally, interactions with adolescents with ASD and without ASD required careful and sufficient support from the adults. The current research provides a depth insight into the experiences and perceptions of two adolescents with ASD, and which chances to support their meaningful social experiences. In addition, the exploration of the social experience of adolescents with ASD filled the knowledge gaps in inclusive education practice research from developing systems of education, like Malaysia. The researcher needed to take precautions when interpreting this kind of qualitative data and clarify the interview information from other sources, such as multiple perspectives and observations of data. Future research recommended an alternative self report data collection method such as to look at photovoice methodology in discussing their experience by explaining the places pictured within the school area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research investigates the development of new products within cultural and creative industries resulting from the use of traditional elements. In particular, we analyse methods facilitating the recombination of traditional elements into new products. Accordingly, we conducted an inductive qualitative research, based on five case studies represented by Italian restaurants awarded with three Michelin stars. Findings reveal how traditional elements may be combined with elements coming from different and distant cultures. In addition, the elements of tradition may be the only source of innovation if atypical links are established among them. Our results mainly contribute to shed new light on the dynamics which allow to achieve the equilibrium between familiarity and novelty in cultural and creative industries where products suffer a rapid obsolescence. Finally, we advance the debate on tensions created by the inclusion of novelties in traditions by proposing method facilitating combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Processes of servitisation will lead providers to change their service delivery structures, but they also need to transform broader organisational attributes including contractual and relational capabilities. Based on case studies in the European healthcare sector, we investigate the influence of increasing levels of service complexity on this transformation. Our findings are potentially counter-intuitive, suggesting that contractual capabilities do not increase with service complexity. Instead, we observed increased levels of relational capabilities, manifest in the visibility of the provider on the customer site, the number of ‘non-requested’ site visits and increasingly informal information exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to capture the up-to-date development of quality management (QM) programs in China’s manufacturing landscape. The study aims to gain understanding on the current state-of-the-art QM programs adopted by Chinese manufacturing companies. Furthermore, the study investigates the key drivers and organizational characteristics that may shape the decisions on QM program adoption. Design/methodology/approach – To gain a deep understanding of QM in China’s manufacturing landscape, in-depth interviews were conducted with production managers, quality managers, and/or executives of 12 manufacturing companies in four cities in China in May and June 2012. Each interview lasted about two hours and covered all aspects of QM in the business, including what quality programs are in place and why the business adopts and implements these programs. Grounded theory approach is used to conduct qualitative analysis on the interview transcripts using NVivo 9, a qualitative data analysis program. Findings – Two categories of QM programs adopted by Chinese companies emerged from the analysis, namely, QM systems and QM certifications. QM systems include Total Quality Management (TQM), Six Sigma, and Lean. QM certification includes ISO 9000 series standard certificates, ISO 14000 certificate, OHSAS heath certificates, government regulatory certificates, and industry certificates. The authors found while Six Sigma and Lean adoption is related to parent company requirement, TQM adoption is related to internal quality improvement and control, quality assurance, leadership ideology, culture, and employee commitment. QM certification adoption is significantly related to external drivers. Regarding the effect of organizational characteristics, the study reveals that while corporate governance and ownership influence parent company requirements as an adoption driver, industry, product, and market segmentation influence industry requirements and government regulations as adoption drivers. Research limitations/implications – The findings and proposed conceptual framework are based on qualitative data collected from 12 companies in four cities in China, which may be limited to represent and reveal every aspect of QM programs adopted in Chinese manufacturing industries. The findings provide theoretical propositions that can be verified using a large sample set in future studies. In addition, although the study identified a variety of QM programs adopted, how these programs are implemented warrants further investigation. Practical implications – This study gives a status update and in-depth investigation on the development of QM programs adopted in Chinese manufacturing companies. How internal drivers, external drivers, and organizational characteristics shape companies’ decision on program adoption were explored. The study results provide implications not only for companies that are involved in supply chains with operations in China, but also for Chinese domestic companies competing in global markets to have QM systems in place to ensure quality performance. Originality/value – This study used multiple case study approach and grounded theory approach to conduct in-depth investigation on the current state of QM landscape in China’s manufacturing companies. It contributes to the body of knowledge on QM programs in China by uncovering the linkages between program adoption, key drivers, and organizational characteristics in an integrated framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is little guidance as to what general information processing capabilities are required to support organizations' cross-border business initiatives. We draw on the organizational information processing view to identify ways to enhance fit between information processing capabilities and needs, thereby reducing uncertainties. Using a multiple case study method, we examine four projects in an effort to uncover how organizations can innovate across borders to reduce these uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- In reference to increasing consumerization, this article investigates how organizations react to employees' adoption and use of personal devices at work, such as by incorporating innovative, individual, IT-driven changes into their corporate practices. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach -- Four in-depth, longitudinal case studies, conducted between 2006 and 2010, feature 92 interviews and observations to ensure triangulation. Findings -- We identify three types of organizational reactions (induction, normalization, and regulation) that depend on specific dimensions and affect the nature of subsequent IT-based organizational change. Research limitations/implications -- Continued research into the consumerization of IT can explore how it affects organizations today and whether different effects might arise in other contexts and with different kinds of organizations. Practical implications -- Reversed IT adoption logics have deep consequences for organizations; companies could achieve great gains from them, if carefully considered and managed. Originality/value -- This article addresses a topic that has been analyzed only scarcely and rarely, namely, the consumerization of IT and the tactics organizations use to incorporate user-driven IT innovation. Although this article presents only a few cases, it constitutes an initial attempt to explore this research area theoretically and investigate the ways organizations can harness employees' personal IT adoption logics to promote creative, IT-driven change in firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This purpose of this paper is to investigate how to implement a combined assurance program. Design/methodology/approach -- This paper uses qualitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews with six multinationals at different stages of combined assurance implementation maturity. Findings -- The paper finds that organizations are still learning through combined assurance implementation because no organization seems to have attained a mature combined assurance program. Nevertheless, our descriptive findings reveal that a successful combined assurance implementation follows six important components. Research limitations/implications -- One limitation of this study is that, as the organizations studied are at different stages of combined assurance program implementation, data may have comparability issues. Another limitation is that different interviewees were studied from one case to another. Practical implications -- The results have implications both for organizations that do not yet have a combined assurance program in place and for those currently at the implementation stage. It has also implications for chief audit executives who are good candidates to lead a combined assurance implementation and for regulators, as the study describes combined assurance as an important accountability mechanism that helps boards and audit committees exercise their oversight role properly. Originality/value -- The study is the first to address combined assurance implementation. It complements the study of the Institute of Internal Auditors UK and Ireland (2010), which identifies the reasons for failed attempts to coordinate assurance activities, by illustrating combined assurance implementation through six international case studies of organizations at different combined assurance implementation stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]