Agile Leadership - A Comparison of Agile Leadership Styles

Leadership has been the focus of research in the social sciences since the early 1930s. However, no generally valid theory exists to date. In recent years, theories relating to agile leadership have also increasingly emerged. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the current state of research on agile leadership. For this purpose, a systematic literature analysis is conducted. The different terms used in the context of agile leadership are restricted by means of selection criteria. Furthermore, characteristics of agile leadership will be analyzed and consolidated. This results in a catalogue of criteria with which the selected leadership styles. The evaluation shows that there are overlaps in the styles, which also can be identified in the research

DESIGN AND EVALUATING A TOOL FOR CONTINUOUSLY ASSESSING AND IMPROVING AGILE PRACTICES FOR INCREASED ORGANIZATIONAL AGILITY

Many organizations struggle to measure, control, and manage agility in a manner of continuous improvement. Therefore, we draw on Design Science Research to develop and test a tool for Continuously Assessing and Improving Agile Practices (CAIAP). CAIAP helps agile practitioners to monitor the alignment of “as is” agile practices on individual, team levels with the overall agile strategy of the organization. To develop CAIAP, we first empirically gather requirements, draw on the ICAP framework to base the tool development on a solid conceptual and theoretical basis. CAIAP helps agile practitioners to constantly monitor their agile practices on individual and team levels and to identify areas for improvement to gain greater organizational agility. To researchers, CAIAP helps to make the unit of analysis of agile work explainable, predictable and helps researchers to guide their own empirical research as well as serve as a basis for designing further tool support

Conceptualizing the Agile Work Organization: A systematic literature review, framework and research agenda

The ongoing discussion of the Agile Work Organization (AO) in research and practice permeates a multitude of research areas. However, no clear conceptualization of the AO has been provided. In this paper, we conduct a Systematic Literature Review to investigate what constitutes and defines the AO. The SLR reveals three dimensions in the research field of the AO: Strategic, Functional and Operative Agility. These dimensions define the AO through different unique capabilities by influencing and enhancing the overall goal of the AO in adaptation and flexibility. Building up on the insights from the review, we develop proposition which describe the interrelationship between the dimensions and towards the AO. Furthermore, implications for academia and practice as well as a research agenda are provided in order to trigger and guide further discussions and research surrounding the AO

Transforming Work Organization with Internal Crowds: a Process Theory

Internal crowdsourcing showed a substantial increase of use in recent years, since it describes a promising alternative to traditional orchestration of employees in today’s digital era. However, literature falls short in explaining the transformation process that is enacted by such approaches of platform-based work organization. We apply a process ontology on internal crowdsourcing as platform-based mode of work organization, following two organizations employing internal crowdsourcing in a case study approach for over four years. On a macro level, our theory describes the transformation process enacted by internal crowdsourcing as three-phased process. On the micro-level, we illustrate that this transformation process is driven by specific design choices on single elements. In so doing, our process theory contributes to a better understanding of internal crowdsourcing as means for transformation work organization and to STS theory by showing that the emergence and constitution of STS is mainly driven by processes on a micro-level

HOW COVID-19 PROMOTES ORGANIZATIONAL AGILITY - A PUNCTUATED SOCIO-TECHNICAL CHANGE PERSPECTIVE

The ability to sense and respond in a rapidly, unpredictably, and continuously changing digital environment requires a high degree of organizational agility and consequently requests a fundamental change in the organizational socio-technical system. Especially when socio-technical systems are punctuated by critical incidents like the COVID-19 pandemic. We apply a process ontology on transformational changes of socio-technical systems in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, following 13 organizational paths through in-depth interviews with top-tier managers. Our theory describes the transformation process enacted by COVID-19 as four-phased process. We illustrate that this transformation process changed the composition of the socio-technical system elements through the critical incident of the COVID-19 pandemic. In so doing, our process theory contributes to a better understanding of the embodied change in the individual components of the STS through critical incidents. In addition, we provide useful practical insights on what decisions and activities during the process elicted favourable changes towards organizational agility

Targeting to Endothelial Cells Augments the Protective Effect of Novel Dual Bioactive Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory Nanoparticles

Oxidative stress and inflammation are intertwined contributors to numerous acute vascular pathologies. A novel dual bioactive nanoparticle with antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties was developed based on the interactions of tocopherol phosphate and the manganese porphyrin SOD mimetic, MnTMPyP. The size and drug incorporation efficiency were shown to be dependent on the amount of MnTMPyP added as well as the choice of surfactant. MnTMPyP was shown to retain its SOD-like activity while in intact particles and to release in a slow and controlled manner. Conjugation of anti-PECAM antibody to the nanoparticles provided endothelial targeting and potentiated nanoparticle-mediated suppression of inflammatory activation of these cells manifested by expression of VCAM, E-selectin, and IL-8. This nanoparticle technology may find applicability with drug combinations relevant for other pathologies

The Clinical Utility of Health-Related Quality of Life Screening in a Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic

BACKGROUND: Adjusting to symptom flares, treatment regimens, and side effects places youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems and adverse disease outcomes. Implementation of psychosocial screening into clinical practice remains a challenge. This study examines the clinical utility of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) screening in predicting disease outcome and healthcare utilization. METHODS: One-hundred twelve youth 7-18 years diagnosed with IBD and their parents. Youth completed standardized measures of HRQOL and depression. Parents completed a proxy-report of HRQOL. Pediatric gastroenterologists provided the Physician Global Assessment. Families were recruited from a pediatric gastroenterology clinic. Retrospective chart reviews examined disease outcome and healthcare utilization 12-months following baseline measurement. RESULTS: Linear regressions, controlling for demographic and disease parameters, revealed that baseline measurement of youth and parent proxy-reported HRQOL predicted the number of IBD-related hospital admissions, gastroenterology clinic visits, Emergency Department visits, psychology clinic visits, telephone contacts, and pain management referrals over the next 12 months. Disease outcome was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Lower HRQOL was predictive of increased healthcare utilization among youth with IBD. Regular HRQOL screening may be the impetus to providing better case management and allocating resources based on ongoing care needs and costs. Proactive interventions focused on patients with poor HRQOL may be an efficient approach to saving on healthcare costs and resource utilization