Coopetition in Temporary Contexts: Examining Swift Trust and Swift Distrust in Humanitarian Operations

Purpose – By drawing on commitment-trust theory, we examine the role of swift trust and distrust in supporting coopetition under conditions of uncertainty and interdependence in the setting of humanitarian disaster relief organisations. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents findings from case studies of 18 international humanitarian relief organisations based on 48 interviews and the analysis of publicly available documents. Findings – We find that both swift trust and swift distrust support coopetition. As coopetition is simultaneous cooperation and competition, in this study we show how swift trust and swift distrust also occur simultaneously in coopetitive contexts. Research limitations/implications – Coopetition as a strategic choice is well-researched in the private sector, yet has received less attention in the nonprofit sector, particularly in contexts that are shaped by interdependence and uncertainty. We show the importance of swift trust and swift distrust in coopetitive relationships by drawing on commitment-trust theory. Practical implications – In focusing on a competitive environment in which cooperation is essential, we find limited choice of coopetitive partners. Humanitarian relief organisations must often simply work with whichever other organisations are available. We highlight how trust and distrust are not opposite ends of a spectrum and detail how both contribute to coopetitive relationships. Originality/value – Our findings contribute to commitment-trust theory by explaining the important role of distrust in forging coopetitive relationships. Furthermore, we contribute to prior work on coopetition by focusing on an uncertain and interdependent nonprofit environment

The smiling assassin?: Reconceptualising redundancy envoys as quasi-dirty workers

Despite redundancies having far reaching consequences for organisations, relatively limited attention has been paid to the conflicting experiences of those implementing the redundancy process; the redundancy envoys. By drawing on theories of cognitive dissonance and ‘dirty work’ we explain how individuals implementing redundancies can experience a disconnect between their outward and inner emotions. We reconceptualise redundancy envoys as quasi-dirty workers as they intermittently perform ‘dirty work’ tasks that may be perceived as morally tainted, whilst recognising their conventional role incorporates tasks perceived as contrary to that of ‘dirty work’. Our study draws on insider research access to redundancy envoys over a five-year period during the implementation of four consecutive redundancy programmes, providing the opportunity to observe decisions and actions in ‘real time.’ By building on the work of Ashman (2015, 2016), we offer a contemporary conceptualisation of the redundancy envoy. This reconceptualisation permits a deeper understanding of the negative impact on redundancy envoys and offers opportunities to examine how this can be reduced. In addition, it is anticipated that the results of this study will offer support to HR functions in reducing the stigma of ‘dirty work’ for redundancy envoys with the intention of enhancing the management of redundancy implementation

A netnographic study exploring the impact of consecutive redundancy programmes on employee exhaustion, cynicism and organisational detachment

This netnographic study explores the impact on employees subjected to the implementation of four consecutive redundancy programmes over a period of 26 months within an engineering organisation in the private sector. Our research highlight the extent of the presence of the key components identified by the multidimensional theory of burnout (Maslach, 1998); exhaustion, feelings of cynicism and job detachment and feelings of organisational ineffectiveness and failure (Maslach and Leiter, 2006). The research draws on employee perceptions during and post consecutive implementation redundancy implementation. Data from 2033 comments from an intranet-based ‘mood indicator’ is analysed along with engagement survey results

The Use of Technological Innovations in Promoting Effective Humanitarian Aid

The number and scale of natural and man-made disasters is increasing at an unprecedented rate, leading to devastating consequences for citizens, governments, and entire economies. In response, humanitarian supply chains (HSC) are used as a means of reducing suffering and saving lives. HSCs manage and deliver aid to those in need after a disasterstrikes and exist only for the period of the relief operation. With reduced budgetsthere is an impetusto investigate technological innovationsthat offer increased efficiencies and reduced costs. One such innovation is information and communications technology (ICT), which is currently under-utilized by HSCs. This paper investigates the benefits, barriers, and enablers of increased ICT adoption in HSCs and offers solutions most suited to their needs. The study develops a matrix that identifiesthe enablers and barriers of implementing innovative ICT and highlights associated managerial implications and suggested areas for future research