Understanding of labelling and sustaining of innovation in construction: a sensemaking perspective

Over the last few decades, innovation has been investigated in a variety of ways, reflecting upon different orientations and interests. However, the question of how organizational activities become recognized as innovations remains under-examined. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to understand and explain how narratives of innovation are mobilized by construction sector practitioners. In order to achieve the aim, 30 semi-structured interviews were carried out with UK construction sector practitioners who have engaged with the Constructing Excellence organization. A sensemaking perspective is adopted as a theoretical lens for explaining the interview data. The empirical findings suggest that organizational activities become labelled as innovations through the process of collective inter-subjectivity. Organizational activities become labelled as innovations retrospectively and make sense prospectively. As narratives of innovation can be repeated and recalled, storytelling lends to the process of sustaining legitimacy

Housing support workers as equilibrists between instrumentality and situation : a qualitative study in congregated housings for people with smi

Community-based psychiatry as an arena for studying work efforts is relatively unexplored. The professional role of a housing support worker (HSW) in congregated supported housings for people with severe mental illness (SMI) is fairly new. The role has emerged due to major changes in Swedish mental care and services. Our aim was to describe the work experiences of HSWs and to understand the conditions provided when work assignments are being constructed. By doing this we provide an important piece of the puzzle in understanding the processes in contemporary congregated supported housings for people with SMI. Four focus group interviews were conducted and included 25 participants. Four different facilities of congregated supported housings for people with SMI were represented in the material. The interpretation of the material was inspired by a constructionist approach. The work of an HSW is experienced as complex and ambiguous. Together with different significant actors (including objects), the HSWs are negotiating the content of the responsibilities. Thus, different actors help co-construct the work content. Furthermore, the HSWs are caught between two different logics, one that is related to a complex practice and one that is related to instrumental and routine-based ideas. The complex emotional work of an HSW is often not supported by the principles of the organization. The findings can be helpful when organizing the work in congregated supported housings for people with SMI. This paper highlights the importance of bridging the gap between organizational demands and expectations and the individual preconditions and basic needs

Reconsidering theoretical progress in organizational and management research

Theory development is a high priority in organizational and management research. However, theory development is often equated with building new theory, a practice that is rewarded in the publication process and encouraged by norms that pervade the field. This practice has produced a proliferation of theories, most of which are not exposed to rigorous empirical research that probes core propositions and puts theories at risk. In the interest of theory development, management and organizational research would make better progress if we devoted more attention to theoretical refinement, conducting research that identifies the boundaries and limitations of theories, stages competitive tests between rival theories, and increases the precision of theories so they yield strong predictions that can be falsified. These issues are addressed by the articles that constitute this feature topic, with the goal of enhancing theoretical progress in management and organizational research

What We Share Is Who We Are and What We Do: How Emotional Intimacy Shapes Organizational Identification and Collaborative Behaviors

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155930/1/apps12208_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155930/2/apps12208.pd

Dynamic Modeling with Structural Equations and Stochastic Differential Equations: Applications with the German Socioeconomic Panel

Reinecke J, Schmidt P, Weick S. Dynamic Modeling with Structural Equations and Stochastic Differential Equations: Applications with the German Socioeconomic Panel. Quality and Quantity. 2005;39(4):483-506