What Do Organizations Learn From Conflict? A Grounded Meta-Analysis Approach to Developing an Integrated Conflict System Roadmap

Organizational systems from a variety of fields and industries have begun to investigate and evaluate the skills, strategies, and lessons learned from conflict. Yet, many of the findings are isolated to their specific organizations or industries, decreasing the impact of the newly emerging knowledge. Due to the lack of interconnectedness in the fields and industries, this study poses the following research question: How do organizations develop skills and strategies to respond to internal and external conflict within systems? The purpose of this grounded meta-analysis was to discover what skills and strategies organizations learn through the process of managing conflict and to utilize the findings to develop a comprehensive integrated conflict development model to aid organizations in the development of their systems. The study utilized Hossler and Scalese-Love’s (1989) grounded meta-analysis methodology. Theories such as systems theory, social constructivism, and frame analysis were used to inform the development of the new theoretical framework: the roadmap for organizational conflict management systems (ROC framework). From an initial sample of 33 reports from 1990 to the present indicating conflict, I reviewed 12 executive reports and publications relating to conflict in organizations (before, during, or after conflict). Data analysis produced a framework including a holistic, transparent, and innovative context for learning, using strategies of communication, knowledge sharing, support, and collaboration. The resulting ROC framework is presented in the form of a chart to assist organizations in developing an integrated conflict management system resulting in organizational effectiveness, cooperative conflict management, and a culture of openness and trust

Private & public good research and extension (R&E) roles in precision farming

Background: Precision dairy technologies are principally developed by private companies. Research has shown these companies can lack farm systems expertise to support on-farm use and adaptation, leading to uncertainty about how to best use technologies on-farm. Support structures are required to facilitate learning and reduce uncertainty for farmers, however this currently represents an area of market failure. Methods: A timeline analysis methodology was used to explore roles of public and private organisations in the development of precision dairy farming in New Zealand. This timeline method facilitates documentation and understanding of the important stages of an innovation processes. We used a meta-analysis and expert knowledge to identify and describe these important stages. These were then analysed using the seven-stage Hekkert framework for innovation systems functions. Results: There were several key events in the development of PD in New Zealand. These included the Greenfields Robotic Milking project, instigation of the livestock traceability scheme (NAIT), evolution of dairy technology start-ups, and the influence of multi-national dairy technology companies. Discussion: PD technologies are complex in nature and require a collaborative approach for successful innovation and adoption. Commercial organisations vary in their ability to support the technologies on farm. Historically, physical technologies (such as sensors) were the main focus, however in recent years there has been significant activity in development on online platforms for collating and analysing data for farm management decision support. Successful uptake of these products by farmers will require enhanced data integration and transfer to minimise ‘computer time’ for farmers and maximise useability. Conclusion: The PD innovation system in New Zealand remains relatively immature and requires greater industry-level leadership to improve performance across the various innovation system functions. In the rapidly evolving agri-tech sector, a focus is required on more open innovation structures and building farmer skills and knowledge about technology options

On-line Point-of-Click Web Usability Mining with PopEval_MB, WebEval_MB and the C-Assure Methodology

In this paper we describe a new tool for planning, creating and conducting wide-ranging usability data acquisition throughout the system life cycle from inception to replacement. This aids sub-culturally targetable, on-line mass-consultation applicable to usability studies and change management. Usability and web data intelligence mining is made possible by the system capturing data from users, asynchronously on a distributed network, with minimised annoyance and judgement distortion effects. Previous research has shown that human judgements, particularly retrospective as distinct from real-time evaluations of painful experiences, are fundamentally flawed when superseded by other experiences. In evaluation studies as in any knowledge elicitation exercise (whether for requirements specification, expert systems prototyping or IS impact analysis) it is vital that unarticulated or poorly articulated data is captured as completely as possible whilst minimising distortion bias effects and annoyance of the user. A monolithic data elicitation method often proves inadequate for requirements acquisition or usability data whereas a dynamic planning framework can provide the execution monitoring and contextually-aware control of the enquiry process, as prescribed in Llemex_rb (Badii 1986/87/88). Such meta-level reasoning needs meta-methodological knowledge of the situated applicability of methods so as to choose suitable techniques to capture user data. Such data can range from simple static IDs to highly dynamic data on underlying patterns of multi-modal user behaviour; with various life-cycle models, sub-languages, semiotics and dispositional attitudes (Badii 1986, 1999a,b,c). PopEval_MB as an unobtrusive, on-line, mass-personalisation tool replaces the traditional paper-based survey methods, which suffer from problems of usability data distortion and acquisition management. It serves an enquiry methodology, which is contextually sensitive to the capture problems of the particular data type(s) being targeted at any time thus guiding the selection of suitable elicitation techniques along the way (Badii 1986/96). The enquiry methodology itself is a sub-system within a meta-methodology of frameworks and tools for IS/IT impact analysis and IS cultural compatibility management. This meta-methodology is referred to as Cultural Accommodation Analysis with Sensitised Systems for User/Usability Relationships and Reachabilities Evaluation (C-Assure); under a research programme directed by P3i at UCN (Badii et al 1996, 1999a,b,c). This paper describes the motivation for C-Assure in researching applicable meta-models that minimise the risks in IS development and adoption. It gives an overview of the tools that C-Assure seeks to incorporate into an integrated IS Planning, Development and Diffusion Support Environment (IPDSE) of which the tools for usability evaluation, mass-personalisation and web intelligence ie PopEval_MB and Web_Eval_AB are the focus of this work. The paper explains the theoretical foundations and the hypotheses to be tested in terms of the human Judgement and Decision Making, and, the Pleasure and Pain Recall, or (J/DM)-PPR theoretic effects which also motivated the design of PopEval_MB. Our results support the recent findings from cognitive psychology studies in applying the research on Pleasure and Pain Recall (PPR) to Human Computer Interaction (HCI). In this context we have validated the influence of factors modifying J/DM; specifically the effects of \u27duration neglect\u27 and \u27peak-and-end evaluations’. Thus the empirical studies, as performed here, have provided the first supportive evidence for the J/DM and PPR results from earlier research in psychology as can be applied to the fields of software engineering; in particular to Web Mediated Systems (WMS) for on-line shopping as an exemplar. We maintain that more expressive causal models of usability are needed for the increasingly more volatile user environments of emergent interactive systems such as WMS. We propose a new definition and a process model for dynamic usability, distinguishing instantaneous and steady state usability. The results indicate that PopEval_MB and WebEval_AB deliver their intended functionality with minimal user annoyance and distortion bias. We show how PopEval_MB can be used to by-pass, interpret and exploit natural J/DM-PPR biases; to enable the elicitation of least-distorted usability data intelligence; to reveal the precise root causes of, and the routes to, perceived user (dis)satisfaction. This study also confirms the validity of our new dynamic usability process model, which exploits the natural J/DM–PPR saliencyrecency effects and is thus more relevant to the emergent click-happy WMS user environments. The results can be exploited in interpretivist-iterative approaches to IS deployment, diffusion and change management, enterprise health analysis, marketing, design of WebAds and culturally inter-operable systems generall

Governance for sustainability: learning from VSM practice

Purpose – While there is some agreement on the usefulness of systems and complexity approaches to tackle the sustainability challenges facing the organisations and governments in the twenty-first century, less is clear regarding the way such approaches can inspire new ways of governance for sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to progress ongoing research using the Viable System Model (VSM) as a meta-language to facilitate long-term sustainability in business, communities and societies, using the “Methodology to support self-transformation”, by focusing on ways of learning about governance for sustainability. Design/methodology/approach – It summarises core self-governance challenges for long-term sustainability, and the organisational capabilities required to face them, at the “Framework for Assessing Sustainable Governance”. This tool is then used to analyse capabilities for governance for sustainability at three real situations where the mentioned Methodology inspired bottom up processes of self-organisation. It analyses the transformations decided from each organisation, in terms of capabilities for sustainable governance, using the suggested Framework. Findings – Core technical lessons learned from using the framework are discussed, include the usefulness of using a unified language and tool when studying governance for sustainability in differing types and scales of case study organisations. Research limitations/implications – As with other exploratory research, it reckons the convenience for further development and testing of the proposed tools to improve their reliability and robustness. Practical implications – A final conclusion suggests that the suggested tools offer a useful heuristic path to learn about governance for sustainability, from a VSM perspective; the learning from each organisational self-transformation regarding governance for sustainability is insightful for policy and strategy design and evaluation; in particular the possibility of comparing situations from different scales and types of organisations. Originality/value – There is very little coherence in the governance literature and the field of governance for sustainability is an emerging field. This piece of exploratory research is valuable as it presents an effective tool to learn about governance for sustainability, based in the “Methodology for Self-Transformation”; and offers reflexions on applications of the methodology and the tool, that contribute to clarify the meaning of governance for sustainability in practice, in organisations from different scales and types

Applying the business process and practice alignment meta-model: Daily practices and process modelling

Background: Business Process Modelling (BPM) is one of the most important phases of information system design. Business Process (BP) meta-models allow capturing informational and behavioural aspects of business processes. Unfortunately, standard BP meta-modelling approaches focus just on process description, providing different BP models. It is not possible to compare and identify related daily practices in order to improve BP models. This lack of information implies that further research in BP meta-models is needed to reflect the evolution/change in BP. Considering this limitation, this paper introduces a new BP meta-model designed by Business Process and Practice Alignment Meta-model (BPPAMeta-model). Our intention is to present a meta-model that addresses features related to the alignment between daily work practices and BP descriptions. Objectives: This paper intends to present a meta-model which is going to integrate daily work information into coherent and sound process definitions. Methods/Approach: The methodology employed in the research follows a design-science approach. Results: The results of the case study are related to the application of the proposed meta-model to align the specification of a BP model with work practices models. Conclusions: This meta-model can be used within the BPPAM methodology to specify or improve business processes models based on work practice descriptions

Organic agriculture and climate change mitigation - A report of the Round Table on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change

Summary and next steps Participants of the workshop were able to draw from their discussions and from the input of guest speakers and synthesize a set of conclusions that can be used to guide future activities concerning LCAs and other activities that seek to identify and quantify the potential contributions of organic agriculture to climate change mitigation. - LCA is the best tool for measuring GHG emissions related to agricultural products. - There is a risk of oversimplification when focusing on climate change as a single environmental impact category. - Farm production and transport (at least for plant products) are important hotspots for agricultural products. - Studies have shown no remarkable difference in GHG emissions between organic and conventional but, traditionally, soil carbon changes have not been included – which can have a major impact, especially for plant products. - The challenges of LCA of organic products – accounting for carbon sequestration and interactions in farming systems, including the environmental costs of manure – need to be addressed. - Attempts should be made to secure a consistent LCA methodology for agricultural products, including organic products

The P3 platform: an approach and software system for developing diagrammatic model-based methods in design research

Many issues in design and design management have been explored by building models which capture the relationships between different aspects of the problem at hand. These models require computer support to construct and analyse. However, appropriate modelling tools can be time-consuming to develop in a research environment. Reflecting upon five design research projects, this paper proposes that such projects can be facilitated by recognising the iterative and tightly-coupled nature of research and tool development, and by attempting to minimise the effort of solution prototyping within this process. Our approach is enabled by a software platform which can be rapidly configured to implement many conceivable modelling approaches. This configurability is complemented by an emerging library of modelling and analysis approaches tailored to explore design process systems. The platform-based approach enables any mix of modelling concepts to be easily created. We propose it could thus help researchers to explore a wide range of questions without being constrained to existing conventions for modelling – or for model integration