1,720,984 research outputs found
Does natural language perform better than formal systems? Results from a fuzzy agent-based model
No full textThe objective of the paper is to present the use of the March model on exploration and exploitation in organisational learning (1991) as a virtual laboratory of organisational design. The virtual laboratory, named CLOD (Computational Laboratory of Organisational Design), will be devoted to exploring the behaviour of organisational learning and evaluation systems under different external and internal conditions. The contribution of the paper would be twofold: firstly, the cellular automata model of March is transposed in an agent-based environment and then extended to be used as a virtual lab supporting organisational design; secondly, a fuzzy version of the model is proposed in order to analyse, through generative experiments, the differences between crisp and fuzzy organisational learning approaches to environmental complexity
How entrepreneurial role models impact on entrepreneurial outcomes: A gender perspective
Full text linkThis paper examines whether male and female students respond differently when exposed to predominantly masculine or feminine role models. Drawing on Social Cognitive Career Theory, we explore if the exposition of individuals to entrepreneurial role models can significantly influence their entrepreneurial outcomes in terms of entrepreneurial intentions (EI), entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial learning (EL). We collected data from 106 engineering students attending an entrepreneurial program in 2019/20 with an exposition to a prevalent male entrepreneurial role model, and from 88 engineering students attending the same program in 2022/23 where the exposition was a prevalent female entrepreneurial role model. A pre- and post-course survey was run in both years to measure differences in ESE, EI and EL. Results reveal a gender effect in EI, as female role models boost female students’ confidence and improve their intention to start entrepreneurial activities. EL increased independently by the gender. Finally, female role models impact the ESE of female students, while male role models impact both. This research extends intention-based analysis by incorporating gendered structural barriers, shedding light on their demonstrable influence on entrepreneurial outcomes
The ambiguity of natural language as resource for organizational design: A computational analysis
No full textThis paper intends to contribute, theoretically and methodologically, to the debate in organizational design's research on the need of new approaches and tools able to cope with the increasing complexity of the organizations and of the environments in which they operate. The article presents a set of simulative experiments carried out through an agent-based computational laboratory (Computational Laboratory of Organizational Design-CLOD), to explore the eventual benefits on organizational performances obtained through informal coordination mechanisms based on natural language. Main results of the research show that internal coordination mechanisms based on informal systems, like the natural language, allow organizations to achieve better performances under different external and internal conditions. Particularly, in turbulent environments the coordination through natural language provides the organizations with additional capabilities to adapt to changing external requirements
The effectiveness of ambiguity in the management of complexity
No full textThis paper is aimed at exploring the role of natural language in organizational learning performances,
particularly under conditions of high complexity of external environment. To address this issue, the
stylized representation of organizational learning proposed in the seminal paper of March of 1991
“Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning” is used as a reference model to build up an
agent-based computational laboratory. Through this lab simulative experiments have been settled and
performed to verify in which environmental conditions a cognitive system capable of managing vague
descriptions of reality is more effective than a formal system which instead provides precise
descriptions. Experimental results show that in stable environments the language-based management
of organizations does not offer significant advantages with respect to traditional approaches. In
turbulent environments, instead, the benefits of natural language are related to the ability of the fuzzy
organization to cope effectively with environmental complexity (modelled as turbulence) in the long
run
Interorganizational collaboration in innovation networks: An agent based model for responsible research and innovation in additive manufacturing
No full textThe significant progress in scientific research and innovation has led to the need for a new paradigm to legitimise the innovation process in society and politics. The European Union, with the Horizon 2020 framework program and Horizon Europe, institutionalises this change by defining the concept of responsible research and innovation (RRI), aiming at greater inclusiveness and sustainability in the research and innovation processes. This paper aimed to present an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate the dynamics between the different actors that cooperate within networks during the innovation process, taking the inclinations toward RRI practices into account. The different types of agent, their characteristics, and the different strategies that they follow have been formulated within the Horizon 2020 project I AM RRI-Webs of Innovation Value Chains (IVCs) of Additive Manufacturing (AM) under consideration of RRI. Besides, some experiments are reported to validate the model, ensuring its rigor and making our model a useful tool for policymakers, assisting them in defining strategic guidelines for disseminating and encouraging RRI best practices and defining the critical factors of the innovative cooperative process
Technological innovation-enabling industry 4.0 paradigm: A systematic literature review
No full textTechnological innovation and the Industry 4.0 paradigm have gained increasing attention from both the scientific community and practitioners, with the two themes being considered topical research avenues of great interest. Adopting a systematic literature review approach, this paper aimed to provide an overview of the existing scientific literature that focuses on the interplay between these two aspects. The analysis carried out offers an in-depth overview of the selected sources and a bibliometric analysis that highlights various aspects of the evolution of the scientific literature and the identification of five clusters: theories; technologies; methodologies and countries; research areas and sectors; and current and future impacts, from which the scientific debate has developed. On the basis of the clusters that emerged, a content analysis was performed to highlight the focus of the literature in the field of technological innovation under the Industry 4.0 paradigm. The paper also offers a research agenda in order to identify unexplored and promising research paths that can be of inspiration for those who intend to address these issues in the future and in relation to Industry 5.0
Can agent-based modelling support organizational design in a complex environment? The proposal of a computational laboratory
No full textOrganisations are increasingly considered Complex Adaptive Systems, made by multiple parts interacting with each other and the external environment. Such interactions typically produce complex and nonlinear emergent properties that are difficult to understand, predict, and manage. This perspective has outlined the need to adopt different theoretical and methodological approaches in organisational design, able to consider the presence of interdependencies among the diverse organisational aspects and the co-evolution processes between the organisation and the external environment. Therefore, this paper aims to present an agent-based computational laboratory named CLOD (Computational Laboratory of Organizational Design) to explore the advantages that agent-based approaches could offer scholars and practitioners in organisation research, particularly in organisational design. The laboratory’s conceptual architecture is based on March’s organisational learning model, appropriately reframed in the light of Complex Adaptive Systems. At this research stage, the CLOD lab is mainly theory-oriented and offers the possibility to better understand and interpret organisations’ collective behaviours and learning processes in complex environments. © 2023 The Operational Research Society
The evolution of student entrepreneurship: State of the art and emerging research direction
No full textIn the knowledge society, universities are asked to contribute to regional development and
economic growth through the direct exploitation of research products and, indirectly, through
enhancing entrepreneurial awareness in students. Student entrepreneurship (SE) gained
increasing relevance among scholars that suggest more research is needed and identify student
entrepreneurship as an emerging and growing phenomenon. In this paper, we present the results
of a systematization of the current literature to define the state of the art and identify possible
new research directions, analyzing 288 published articles in the main International Entrepreneurship
and Management Journals and the main journals in Education and Management Business
Accounting subject area. The results are presented in two macro sections. The first one is
related to the corpus overview and bibliometrics which explores articles by evolution on time,
author, citation analysis, and journals. The second section will involve a content analysis that
highlights the main issues that emerge from the analysis of the papers, such as the most frequently
used theories, data gathering methodologies and methods and mechanisms adopted by universities
to support and promote SE. We are confident that these topic areas will significantly help
any researcher approaching the study of SE by offering an overview of the different sub-fields in
this area. Our work offers suggestions to management educators and business schools administrators
to identify new ways to support student entrepreneurs by enhancing their entrepreneurial
activities, and institutional leader to rethink policies that encourage entrepreneurship among
students
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