1,721,007 research outputs found
Organisational Resilience and the Roles of Learning and Unlearning - An empirical study on organizational capabilities for resilience during the COVID-19 crisis
No full textFaced with disturbances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations seek for ways to better anticipate, cope with, and adapt to them. Their aim is to emerge even more productively from the crisis external threats bring about - namely to stay resilient. This paper takes a capability approach to organizational resilience, focusing on the learning and unlearning capabilities. Using a quantitative survey research design, first, propositions from theory stating that learning has a positive effect on organizational resilience were empirically tested. Second, based on those insights, the role of unlearning - a concept that lately has received increased attention and may be beneficial for effective organizational learning - as a moderator in this relationship was tested. Results show that the learning capability positively affects organizational resilience, particularly the capacity of an organization to adapt to its environment. However, the hypothesis that unlearning moderates this relationship is not supported. This paper advances research on organizational resilience and unlearning by providing much needed empirical quantitative evidence in the context of a current crisis. It is suggested that organizations should enhance their learning capability to proactively develop organizational resilience. Moreover, the process of unlearning may be independent from organizational learning in a crisis context but also conceptually overlap with learning, and has to be further investigated, which provides ground for future research
Global Food Industry Supply Chains in Times of Crisis Through a Sustainable Supply Chain Lens - The reaction of the food industry in Western Europe
No full textThe impact of the current global pandemic is felt worldwide, across all industries. However, research has shown that the food industry has been particularly affected, exposing supply chain vulnerability, and therefore the need for resilience and proper management in future. The study aims to understand how supply chains in the food industry in Western Europe are managed and how they react to overcome challenges that relate to the existing crisis. Furthermore, it intends to use the current circumstances as a learning opportunity for sustainable supply chain development in the future. To analyse present conditions, interviews with professionals in food supply chains were conducted. These allowed the researchers to uncover the implemented practices and the difficulties faced and understand their relation to Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) and Supply Chain Resilience (SCRES), including how these professionals foresee the future of the food industry in the short- and long-term. The different organisations were divided in two groups: short and long supply chains, to understand the differences and commonalities among these. The analysis of the responses highlighted that the main focus of these organisations was the financial wellbeing of all stakeholders. This shared aim, ensured by collaboration, shorter supply chains, and digitalisation, enabled quick performance adaptation to new regulations and implementation of shared initiatives for collective survival. The researchers conclude that companies should implement sustainable supply chain practices holistically by considering environmental, social, and economic aspects, to address the future climate dilemma, with a special focus on resilience within the economic pillar of SSCM. To avoid the reiteration of a global supply chain collapse, the findings point to the need for better control of the supply chain network, more advanced planning for digital transformation, and building close relationships among all stakeholders, founded on trust and reciprocal collaboration. Further research to be considered is the need to uncover the rationale behind decision-making and to understand the suppliers’ perspective
Organizational learning in a cross-sectoral collaboration towards sustainable development - A case study of a “Partnership for Sustainability”
No full textIn this research the empirical case of the “Partnership for Sustainability”, a long-term partnership between a major player in the German grocery retail industry and one of the biggest environmental organizations in Germany, was explored in order to gain an understanding of organizational learning processes within non-profit and business collaborations towards sustainability. Using existing theoretical concepts about organizational learning and sustainability in the field of cross-sectoral collaboration these fields of research are brought together. As a result, organizational learning processes within the non-profit and between the partnering organizations were identified and the associated learning results were pointed out. Therefore, essential changes and adaptations in the Partnership for Sustainability could be explored throughout the
years of the collaboration. Furthermore, the contribution of organizational learning processes to a cross-sectoral collaboration has been illuminated
Sports and Social Sustainability: Female Empowerment through Physical Education in Sri Lankan High Schools
No full textUnderstanding employees’ perceptions towards advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an organizational context - A study of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) employees in Cape Town, South Africa
No full textSince the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, by the United Nations, several academic works have mainly sought to understand how larger organizations and governmental agencies are working towards advancing these goals. However, there is limited research on how Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are working towards these goals, especially in developing countries such as South Africa. The organizational incorporation of the SDGs is seen as part of the successful achievement of the goals. Given that employees are organizations’ primary internal stakeholders, this study seeks to understand the perceptions of SME employees towards the advancement of these goals - within an organizational setting. Using a qualitative inductive approach, the study utilizes semi-structured interviews as the primary source of data collection. The findings suggest that: (a) there is a multiplicity in the manner in which employees acquire their knowledge of the SDGs (b) even though no explicit information exists about the SDGs within organizations, SMEs are inherently working towards the SDGs but the efforts are insufficient (c) implementing the SDGs is filled with diversity of challenges (d) there is no clear consensus on which actor is responsible for driving SDG implementation in organizations. Without the SDGs being an organizational priority, implementation will always be secondary. There are several theoretical and practical implications of the study, which helps gain understanding of what is required for SMEs to contribute towards advancing the SDG. The study limitations are also presented, leading to recommendations for future studies
Global goals in a local context: Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals - A case study
No full textThe purpose of this thesis is to explore a local organization’s adoption of global sustainability policy, in terms of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda is a response to global sustainability challenges which require action by international cooperation and actors on all levels. For such a policy to fulfill its purpose, means of implementation must be ensured. This study aims to answer both why and how a small organization located in Malmö, Sweden, has adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, and what it implies for its operations. More specifically, the focus is on the perceptions of people involved in the selected case organization. These perceptions have been captured by interviews. In addition to the interviews, the case data also consists of a document that directs parts of the organization’s operations. Furthermore, to connect the global and local levels, the case data is supplemented with the 2030 Agenda. By conducting a thematic analysis, our main findings indicate that the SDGs are adoptable to a local organization, but that their main function seems to be to frame and legitimize already existing activities in a context of sustainable development
Sustainability in lodging, a great challenge or utopia? An on-site case study in Sri Lanka
No full textThe purpose of this research is to explore the challenges of leaders (lodging owners) when implementing sustainable practices in the lodging industry in Sri Lanka. The authors have used two established models (SPM3 & STM) to create the new model called SLM3, which was used to extract data and measure the perceptions of leaders with a sustainable narrative, when implementing sustainable practices within their lodging in Sri Lanka. This was done in order to bridge a gap for the authors, since there was no established model yet, that could be used for the purpose of this research. After using the model for the current research in the context of Sri Lanka, the authors conclude that the model mostly fulfilled the aim that it was created for, although some minor alterations were made to improve its simplicity and make it more understandable. The main findings are that the main challenges of lodging owners with a sustainable narrative, when implementing sustainable practices are gender equality, lack of collaboration and networks, limited influence, the hierarchical system and long-term thinking related to education. The reported challenges prevent the lodging owners in Sri Lanka from implementing sustainable practices to the extent to which they would like to
Leadership for Sustainability is Female - Or is it? A critical gender perspective on sustainability consciousness
No full textThis Master’s thesis argues for leadership for sustainability as a role consisting of skills that can be learned, and re-examines the notion that female leaders are better for sustainability. While gender socialisation may equip women and girls with competencies required for considerate and holistic problem solving and seeing beyond purely economical benefits, it hinders men and boys to develop the same skills. The world needs leaders with the necessary skills, regardless of gender. Through a survey, sustainability consciousness (SC) and leadership skills are established in working adults in Sweden. Regarding SC, the mean average of (N=218) is 3.9 on the Likert Scale, pointing towards decent awareness of sustainability in the sample. Gender did show to have an effect on SC, but gender had no effect on leadership skills. Regarding the correlation between leadership skills and SC, the human and conceptual skills correlate well with all the components of SC, but the technical skill correlate least with all. These results disprove many gender stereotypes and highlight issues with research claiming one gender over another as a better leader for sustainability
The Cross-Sectoral Efforts of an NGO-Business Collaboration for Social Development in El Salvador
No full textThis study aims to investigate how cross-sector collaborations facilitate social development stemming from weapon destruction programmes that address peacebuilding and the enhancing of human security (socio-economic and political security) in regions afflicted with armed violence. The authors aim to contribute to the literature by demonstrating the viability of previous theoretical methods on designing and implementing a cross-sector collaboration. The research entails a case-study of the HM initiative, a combined effort between three NGO’s from Sweden and El Salvador that involves melting down seized illegal weapons and repurposing them into valuable products for consumers, to ultimately bring about social development in the conflict-prone communities in El Salvador. Through interviews with the involved actors of the NGO’s and documentation of the initiative, this study focuses on the formation of a cross-sector collaboration, the building of internal and external legitimacy by NGO-business partnerships, and the practices that aim to assess public value creation.
This study provides insights on antecedent and linking conditions for the formation of a cross-sector collaboration, collaborative processes and structures that foster trusting relationships with both partners and stakeholders, and an implemented accountability framework for the measurement of public value creation. The researchers close with a discussion of further suggestions for relevant research
Organizational Resilience: Key Factors to overcome and survive a Business Crisis. Learnings from a family owned business in Crisis.
No full textBACKGROUND: Organizations are not prepared for crisis and are vulnerable to disruptive changes. SMEs, and organizations in general, are key elements of our society and need to learn how to be resilient, in order to be sustainable. A case study was used to explore key organizational resilience factors to overcome a business crisis.
OBJECTIVE: Explore through the theoretical lense of organizational resilience, how the studied SME was lead and organized during crisis towards a sustainable business outcome. With the aim to present learnings and recommendations for organizational resilience and sustainability.
THE CASE: Business crisis, generated by a fire, consumed 90% of the production plant of an SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) in Colombia. This SME (Susi Bakery) managed to recover completely from the crisis in 7 months. Different perspectives of the stakeholders across the bakery’s network were analyzed to understand the strategy of this SME, to overcome the crisis and be resilient.
METHODS: Single case-exploratory case study, with in-depth semi-structured interviews to different stakeholders across the Bakery’s network. A theoretical framework in organizational resilience was built and used to answer the research questions: What are the factors that make the analyzed SME (Susi Bakery) a resilient organization? What moved key stakeholders towards engaging the recovery of the business crisis? The analysis of the collected data is based on phenomenography, since stakeholders present different subjective perceptions.
THEORETICAL CONTRIBUTION: Organizational resilience’ theory explored through the case of an SME in Colombia.
CONCLUSIONS: Resilience strengthens the capabilities to adapt and see disruptive changes as opportunities. Organizations can learn to be resilient through the development of resilient business models' and their enabling factors. Currently, 11 enabling factors for organizational resilience can be found in resilient business models theory: Adaptability and innovation, Motivation, Diversity, Collective efficacy, Effective communication, Loosening of control, Sustained relationships, Minimize layoffs, Financial slack, Competence and Acceptance. 3 Additional enabling factors were found in this case: Leadership, Reciprocity and Reputation. There is a research gap regarding the relations and causalities of the resilient enabling factors, and the relationship between organizational resilience and business crisis management
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