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The scholarly literature on leadership has long been characterized by leader-centrism, in the sense of a focus on individual leaders, their characteristics and actions. This tendency has been strongly criticized, not least by scholars with a critical perspective. However, we still see a strong emphasis on leaders and managers in empirical studies of leadership. In this article, we suggest that this tendency is at least in part a consequence of common methodological blackboxing practices within leadership studies. We identify two such blackboxing practices: delegation, where identification of the core phenomenon is left to informants, and proxying, when more easily defined phenomena are taken to stand for leadership. We suggest that a consequence of such practices is an unintended focus on managers, and attempts to avoid leader-centrism that rely on these blackboxing practices therefore paradoxically might result in manager-centrism.

Drawing on previous research into evaluation use and sustainable development, this article investigates to what extent and how a national evaluation system can advance sustainable development. The data comprise interviews with key actors, observations at seminars where evaluations were discussed, and analysis of evaluation reports. The actors were divided into three categories (i.e. central, proximal, and peripheral) to indicate their closeness to the national policy cycle. The results indicate that the evaluations were used mainly by central and proximal actors, primarily because the evaluation knowledge met most of their knowledge needs, and very little used by peripheral actors, such as environmental and business organizations. The evaluation system’s main influence was to consolidate environmental work and provide guidance on the environmental dimension of sustainable development at the national level. The evaluation system also served as a recurring reminder for stakeholders about the national objectives, their achievement, and everyone’s responsibility for their implementation.

This article explores the relationship between management and leadership development and leadership practice. Critical studies of management and leadership development programmes have mainly focused on such programmes as spaces for identity work and/or identity regulation. This article extends the literature by investigating the notion of organisation, the organisational view, in a large management and leadership development programme and how it works as a source of authority for the participating managers. Our inquiry is based on ethnographic studies of both an in-house management and leadership development programme in a large Danish public organisation and of the managerial practice of six participating managers. Drawing on a communicative constitution of organisations perspective, we analyse how the management and leadership development programme (re)produces a unitarist organisational text, an organisational view that assumes the members of the organisation have the same goals and perspectives. We further analyse how this organisational text shapes the authority relationships that managers engage in in their leadership practice. The article demonstrates how the unitarist organisational text fails in authorising participating managers as it clashes with the plurality of perspectives and interests in the organisation and is not recognised as a source of authority by employees and collaborators.

Often, the space for agency and leadership for middle managers is understood to depend on their capacity to escape standardized controlling systems. In this paper, we challenge this view, and instead explore the possibility for middle managers to engage with and make systems enabling rather than constraining, thereby supporting locally relevant change initiatives. We specifically explore how managers engage with employee surveys, as organization wide standardized systems, and work to make these enabling. Based on interviews with 48 managers and observations of 10 meetings in 5 different organizations, we identify three main strategies: reinterpretation, prioritization, and embedding. Drawing on complexity leadership theory, we argue that through these strategies, the managers succeed in creating a temporary adaptive space, thereby facilitating development and innovation. Our findings contribute to the literature on middle managers by developing a detailed understanding of the possibility for enabling leadership in this position.

The concept of authentic leadership is increasingly the focus of much leadership scholarship, and many have called for a review of the basic assumptions that underpin it. Taking an interactional approach to authentic leadership (AL) and using naturally occurring workplace interaction as data, we seek to question two basic assumptions of AL scholarship, namely (1) that authentic leadership emanates from the atomized leader and (2) that there is a causal logic to it so that authentic leadership behaviours are the cause of follower outcomes. Addressing the research questions – what is the nature of the empirical phenomenon that is called AL and where can this be ontologically located? – our findings indicate that these two fundamental assumptions that underpin current AL research are not justified. Rather, what is taken to be AL is better understood as a collective and collaborative achievement, which can neither simply be attributed to the leader nor can the leader’s actions alone lead to follower outcomes.

This article studies the organisational view inherent in a public management and leadership development programme. Organisational views are important to study as they guide and frame the actions of the members of the organisation. In the management and leadership development programme under investigation the organisational view was a linguistic-discursive representation that was empirically inept, but which nevertheless was offered as a guide to the managers. Inspired by Clifford Geertz’s notion of religion we suggest conceptualising the presented organisational view as the deep organisation. The analysis contributes to the literature on public management and leadership development programmes by calling attention to the implicit concepts of organisation that on the one hand provide managers with the motivation and authority to carry out their daily ordering of the constantly fluctuating empirical organisation, while to some extent making managers immune to experience-based learning on the other. The notion of the deep organisation expands our understanding of the layered nature of assumptions about organisations, through which seeming contradictions can be handled. In the discussion we outline three important implications of the analysed organisational view.

Peer interaction is a standard aspect of most leadership development programmes and is seen to be conducive to learning. Realising deeper and critical reflexivity in peer interaction is, however, challenging. This study employs conversation analysis to empirically explore peer interactions in a leadership development programme for first-line managers in the public sector in Denmark. The analysis shows that a socio-moral order, that is normative expectations inherent in interactions, guide peer discussions and shape the conditions for reflection and deeper reflexivity. The socio-moral order was based on a central principle of treating each other as experts on one’s own practice. This principle allowed for reflection but turned attention away from critical reflexive practices. As a result, peer discussions took a more conservative rather than a transformational orientation. The study extends the theoretical understanding of the conditions for critical reflexivity as it demonstrates how the socio-moral order of interaction regulates engagement in critically reflexive practices.

Followership research has increased recently, but little attention has been paid to the complexities and challenges of creating a followership identity. Researchers typically portray followership as a safe alternative to leadership identity, but we challenge this assumption by using naturally occurring workplace interactions to identify active contributions as well as risks associated with a follower identity. In this study, we use conversation analysis to examine how people collaboratively construct identities, and how identity development shapes and organizes interactions between people. The findings reveal the risks of misidentifying the task at hand, of being too authoritative, and of claiming too much knowledge. Also, our analyses highlight that leader and follower roles remain abstract in workplace interactions and, instead, people focus more on negotiated, task-oriented, practical identities.

Purpose – Complex organizations increasingly rely on middle managers as strategic linking-pins between the top and bottom levels of the organization. Using social identity theory and commitment theory as the foundation, this study evaluates a management and leadership development program (MLDP) intended to engage middle managers as strategy creators and implementers. We also evaluate the cascading effects of leadership development by assessing changes in subordinates’ identification with the leader, and commitment to the work unit and organization. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of 107 manager participants and 913 of their subordinates, this study measures differences in both manager and subordinate identification and commitment prior to and after the completion of a 6 months strategically oriented MLDP. Findings – Despite the organizations’ best intentions, manager identification with and commitment to the organization decreased after completion of the MLDP. Similarly, subordinates identification with the leader and commitment to the organization also decreased at Time 2. Research limitations/implications – The results paint a complex picture of the nuances of social identification as an outcome of MLDPs, and problematize the notion of cascading effects on subordinates within the organization. Researchers are encouraged to further examine organizational attitudes and perceptions as outcomes of MLDPs. Practical implications – Suggestions are offered regarding how practitioners can manage strategically oriented MLDPs in order to avoid identity confusion and promote strategic action. Originality/value – Strategically oriented MLDPs are increasingly popular in organizations. This study is one of the first to evaluate the theoretical mechanisms through which these programs may affect managers and problematize these effects for complex organizations, Research limitations/implications – The results paint a complex picture of the nuances of social identification as an outcome of MLDPs, and problematize the notion of cascading effects on subordinates within the organization. Researchers are encouraged to further examine organizational attitudes and perceptions as outcomes of MLDPs. Practical implications – Suggestions are offered regarding how practitioners can manage strategically oriented MLDPs in order to avoid identity confusion and promote strategic action. Originality/value – Strategically oriented MLDPs are increasingly popular in organizations. This study is one of the first to evaluate the theoretical mechanisms through which these programs may affect managers and problematize these effects for complex organizations

Interessen for ledelse, lederskab og lederskabsteori i offentlig sektor er steget betydeligt de seneste 20 år. I artiklen argumenteres fo, at den måde vi tænker om og taler om lederskab, kan have stor betydning for hvordan det kan udøves i praksis. Lederskab er en lille, men vigtig del af det at være leder, og handler dybest set om at skabe indflydelse, bevægelse og om at mobilisere mennesker. I såvel forskningslitteraturen som i mere populære tekster bliver begrebet lederskab brugt i mange forskellige betydninger. Oftest handler det dog om en enkelt person, det vil sige lederen. Ikke mindst i offentlige organisationer, som typisk tilbyder en kompleks og mangfoldig kontekst, er værdien af fokus på en enkeltperson dog begrænset. I stedet kan vi søge inspiration i den del af lederskabsforskningen, som mere fokuserer på elementer som delt lederskab og som lægger vægt på relationer og interaktioner, og som opfatter lederskab som en proces. I denne artikel gennemgår vi nogle af de centrale teoretiske retninger indenfor feltet, og illustrerer brugbarheden i at italesætte lederskab mere i termer af interaktioner og relationer, end i termer af personer.

Background The purpose of this study was to compare the cumulative incidence of postoperative periprosthetic fracture (PPF) in a cohort of femoral neck fracture (FNF) patients treated with two commonly used cemented stems: either a collarless, polished, tapered Exeter stem or the anatomic Lubinus SP2 stem. Methods In this retrospective multicenter cohort study of a consecutive series of patients, we included 2528 patients of age 60 years and above with an FNF who were treated with either hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty using either a polished tapered Exeter stem or an anatomic Lubinus SP2 stem. The incidence of PPF was assessed at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. Results The incidence of PPF was assessed at a median follow-up of 47 months postoperatively. Thirty nine patients (1.5%) sustained a PPF at a median of 27 months (range 0–96 months) postoperatively. Two of the operatively treated fractures were Vancouver A (5%), 7 were Vancouver B1 (18%), 10 were Vancouver B2 (26%), 7 were Vancouver B3 (18%), and 13 were Vancouver C (32%). The cumulative incidence of PPF was 2.3% in the Exeter group compared with 0.7% in the SP2 group (p p Conclusions The Exeter stem was associated with a higher risk for PPF than the Lubinus SP2 stem. We suggest that the tapered Exeter stem should be used with caution in the treatment of FNF. Trial registration The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT03326271).

Fatal road traffic crashes are often related to speeding, non-use of a seatbelt, and alcohol/drug-impaired driving. The aim of this study was to examine associations between driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and driver-related risk factors that have been reported as significantly contributing causes of fatal road traffic crashes. The data were extracted from Norwegian road traffic crash registries and forensic toxicology databases. Drug/alcohol investigated car and van drivers and motorcycle riders fatally injured in road traffic crashes in Norway during 2005–2015 were included in this study (n = 772). Drug and alcohol concentrations corresponding to 0.5 g/kg alcohol in blood were used as the lower limits for categorising drivers/riders as impaired; 0.2 g/kg was the upper limit for being categorised as sober. Associations between driver-related risk factors and impairment from specific substance groups were calculated using multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for other substance groups, age, and sex, and were reported when the confidence intervals did not contain the value 1 or lower. Substances found in concentrations above the impairment limits were mainly alcohol (20%), medicinal drugs (10%: benzodiazepines, opioids, z-hypnotics), stimulants (5%: amphetamines, methylphenidate, and cocaine), and cannabis (4%: THC). The drug/alcohol-impaired drivers had compared to the sober drivers more often been speeding (68% versus 32%), not used a seatbelt (69% versus 30%), and been driving without a valid driver license (26% versus 1%). Logistic regression analysis showed that impairment from alcohol or stimulants (mainly amphetamines) was associated with all three risk factors, medicinal drugs with all except speeding, and impairment from cannabis (THC) with not having a valid driver license. Among motorcycle riders, drug/alcohol impairment was associated with not having a valid driver license and non-use of a helmet. At least one of the risk factors speeding, non-use of a seatbelt/helmet, and driving without a valid license were present among the vast majority of the drug/alcohol-impaired fatally injured drivers and riders, and also among more than half of the fatally injured sober drivers.

This research explores the relationship between participation in leadership development programmes and disengagement from the employing organization. Based on repeated interviews with 10 managers participating in an open leadership development programme, our analysis shows that half of the participants reflected a sense of distancing themselves from how their organizations practiced leadership, and for some, an emotional disengagement with their home organization which we see as analogous to changes in social identity. We problematize the role of management and leadership development programmes with regard to the relationship between organizations and employees. A series of paradoxes are reflected in our critique of this relationship. The most prominent in terms of implications is that a successful management and leadership development programme – recognized by employees and employers – can generate dissatisfaction with the home organization as a consequence of the purpose of the programme: to increase confidence and enhanced agency. This paradox has significant implication to the leadership development industry and we explore these implications.

Objective: Norway introduced a "Vision Zero" strategy in 2001, using multiple approaches, aiming toward a future in which no one will be killed or seriously injured in road traffic crashes (RTCs). Official statistics show that the number of fatally injured road users has declined substantially from 341 deaths in 2000 to 117 in 2015. In-depth crash investigations of all fatal RTCs started in Norway in 2005. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fatal crash characteristics, vehicle safety features, and prevalence of drugs and/or alcohol among fatally injured drivers and riders has changed during 2005-2015, accompanying the reduction in road fatalities. Methods: Data on all car/van drivers and motorcycle/moped riders fatally injured in RTCs during 2005-2015 were extracted from Norwegian road traffic crash registries and combined with forensic toxicology data. Results: The proportion of cars and motorcycles with antilock braking systems and cars with electronic stability control, increased significantly during the study period. The prevalence of nonuse of seat belts/helmets and speeding declined among both fatally injured drivers and riders. In addition, the prevalence of alcohol declined, though no significant change in the total prevalence of other substances was noted. Conclusion: The observed changes toward more safety installations in cars and motorcycles and lower prevalence of driver-related risk factors like alcohol use, speeding, and nonuse of seat belts/helmets among fatally injured drivers/riders may have contributed to the decrease in road traffic deaths.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has embarked on a review and revision of the system of Radiological Protection that will update the 2007 general recommendations in ICRP Publication 103. This is the beginning of a process that will take several years, involving open and transparent engagement with organisations and individuals around the world. While the system is robust and has performed well, it must adapt to address changes in science and society to remain fit for purpose. The aim of this paper is to encourage discussions on which areas of the system might gain the greatest benefit from review, and to initiate collaborative efforts. Increased clarity and consistency are high priorities. The better the system is understood, the more effectively it can be applied, resulting in improved protection and increased harmonisation. Many areas are identified for potential review including: classification of effects, with particular focus on tissue reactions; reformulation of detriment, potentially including non-cancer diseases; re-evaluation of the relationship between detriment and effective dose, and the possibility of defining detriments for males and females of different ages; individual variation in the response to radiation exposure; heritable effects; and effects and risks in non-human biota and ecosystems. Some of the basic concepts are also being considered, including the framework for bringing together protection of people and the environment, incremental improvements to the fundamental principles of justification and optimisation, a broader approach to protection of individuals, and clarification of the exposure situations introduced in 2007. In addition, ICRP is considering identifying where explicit incorporation of the ethical basis of the system would be beneficial, how to better reflect the importance of communications and stakeholder involvement, and further advice on education and training. ICRP invites responses on these and other areas relating to the review of the System of Radiological Protection.

There is a lack of quantitative data regarding the determination of minimum distances between weld joints in offshore structures. Existing welding standards, codes and specifications provide recommendations for minimum distances between two adjacent weld joints. The issue arises when violations of the minimum recommendations are discovered in the field or need to be exceeded during construction. This paper is a continuation on a previous paper by the same authors, where the focus was to study the mechanical and material properties of welds in close proximity. The interest in this paper is to study the residual stresses that appear during the welding process, where metal undergoes heating and cooling cycles. This process induces significant levels of residual stresses, leading to increased fatigue failure potential during the operational phase of the structural elements. The measurements were obtained by using ultrasound measurement technique. The results were later verified using X-ray Diffraction and Incremental Centre-Hole Drilling. The ultrasound measurement technique detected a distinct change in residual stresses in the weld joints, with max peaks in the weld centre line. One interesting observation from the Incremental Centre-Hole Drilling measurement in one of the as-welded specimens weld joints was that the longitudinal residual stress was in tension while the transverse direction was in compression, which was also shown in the ultrasonic measurement. In the future, a contour plot measurement would be useful to confirm the results. Another interesting observation was the high compression stresses induced locally on the specimen’s surface likely due to manual grinding with abrasive paper. The outcome of this specific experimental setup can provide a baseline for performing further investigations.

This manuscript presents the results from an experimental investigation performed to study the material and mechanical properties of two weld joints manufactured within close proximity. The experiment has been designed using seven welded S420G2 + M 500 × 300 × 15 mm structural steel plates, with varying distances between two parallel adjacent weld toes at 44, 12 and 1.3 mm. All these distances were less than the distance that has normally been recommended in standards, codes and specifications. A common requirement is four times the plate thickness, which in this experiment is 60 mm for a 15-mm-thick plate. The scope of the study was to analyze the effect the variation of distance had on the mechanical and material properties. A welding procedure specification was created and approved for the manufacturing of the weld joints. All subsequent welds were based on this welding procedure specification, in order to maintain conformance and uniformity. The non-destructive and destructive testing included: visual testing, radiographic examination, bending testing, Vickers hardness testing, Charpy V impact testing, tensile testing, as well as macro and microscopic examination. The results from the testing showed no adverse effects on the mechanical properties in the initial weld joint. This includes a complete heat-affected zone overlap in the specimen with 1.3 mm between the weld toes. These findings challenge the notion that the minimum distance requirements are based on metallurgical reasons. The outcome of this specific experimental setup can provide a baseline for performing further investigations.

There is insufficient information available in existing welding standards, codes and specifications regarding the implications of having two or several adjacently fabricated weld joints in close proximity. This has introduced fatigue life performance uncertainties, due to a lack of understanding of the inherent behaviour of weld joints in the presence of adjacent welds. Hence, it is vital to investigate the fatigue life performance and obtain quantitative data for future assessments. This experiment has been designed using six welded, and one unwelded, S420G2+M 500 × 300 × 15 mm structural steel plate. Two of these plates were used for fatigue testing, having 44 mm and 12 mm between the adjacent weld toes. These distances were less than normally recommended in standards codes and specifications. The preparation of the samples was conducted in accordance with ASTM E466-15 for homogenous materials subjected to high-cycle fatigue. The experiment was not able to detect any detrimental effect by having welds in close proximity using this specific preparation method and weld setup. The weld metal and corresponding heat-affected zones had a higher fatigue strength than that of the surrounding base material. All tested specimens failed in the base metal. The material and welding method did not seem to introduce any degrading effect on the weld joint. Important to note is that the fabrication method required a surface roughness of 0.2 µm and had likely introduced an outer layer of compressive residual stresses at yield point level 50 µm into the surface and bottom surfaces of the specimens. This might have improved the resistance to crack formation in the surface. The residual stress was obtained by using ultrasonic stress measurement technique and x-ray diffraction presented in a parallel study by the same authors.

Background Gastrointestinal atresias and urological defects are main causes of pediatric surgery in infants. As copy number variants (CNVs) have been shown to be involved in the development of congenital malformations, the aim of our study was to investigate the presence of CNVs in patients with gastrointestinal and urological malformations as well as the possibility of tissue‐specific mosaicism for CNVs in the cohort. Methods We have collected tissue and/or blood samples from 25 patients with anorectal malformations, esophageal atresia, or hydronephrosis, and screened for pathogenic CNVs using array comparative genomic hybridization (array‐CGH). Results We detected pathogenic aberrations in 2/25 patients (8%) and report a novel possible susceptibility region for esophageal atresia on 15q26.3. CNV analysis in different tissues from the same patients did not reveal evidence of tissue‐specific mosaicism. Conclusion Our study shows that it is important to perform clinical genetic investigations, including CNV analysis, in patients with congenital gastrointestinal malformations since this leads to improved information to families as well as an increased understanding of the pathogenesis., We detected pathogenic aberrations in 2/25 patients with gastrointestinal and urological malformation and report a novel possible susceptibility region for esophageal atresia on 15q26.3. CNV analysis in different tissues from the same patients did not reveal evidence of tissue‐specific mosaicism.

Australia’s regulatory framework has evolved over the past decade from the assumption that protection of humans implies protection of the environment to the situation now where radiological impacts on non-human species (wildlife) are considered in their own right. In an Australian context, there was a recognised need for specific national guidance on protection of non-human species, for which the uranium mining industry provides the major backdrop. National guidance supported by publications of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (Radiation Protection Series) provides clear and consistent advice to operators and regulators on protection of non-human species, including advice on specific assessment methods and models, and how these might be applied in an Australian context. These approaches and the supporting assessment tools provide a mechanism for industry to assess and demonstrate compliance with the environmental protection objectives of relevant legislation, and to meet stakeholder expectations that radiological protection of the environment is taken into consideration in accordance with international best practice. Experiences from the past 5–10 years, and examples of where the approach to radiation protection of the environment has been well integrated or presented some challenges will be discussed. Future challenges in addressing protection of the environment in existing exposure situations will also be discussed.

This paper presents the results of a study which was conducted by 32 participating forensic laboratories, mainly from Europe. In this EU-funded study the prevalence of the most common types of Gunshot Residue (GSR) particles was investigated in various subpopulations. Specimens were collected from the hands of more than 1300 persons using carbon stubs. Subsequently the stubs were analysed for the presence of PbBaSb particles using scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDS). An in-depth statistical evaluation of the obtained results was performed to estimate the prevalence of gunshot residue in specific sub-groups as well as in the general population. A customized logit model was applied on the present data set in order to identify important population characteristics and differences between the various subgroups. The observed variability of the results due to laboratory, country and sample effects was found to be significant indicating that these parameters should be taken into account in the interpretation of the results in casework.