What makes organizations so similar? We contend that the engine of rationalization and bureaucratization has moved from the competitive marketplace to the state and the professions. Once a set of organizations emerges as a field, a paradox arises: rational actors make their organizations increasingly similar as they try to change them. We describe three isomorphic processes-coercive, mimetic, and normative—leading to this outcome. We then specify hypotheses about the impact of resource centralization and dependency, goal ambiguity and technical uncertainty, and professionalization and structuration on isomorphic change. Finally, we suggest implications for theories of organizations and social change.

The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields (Chinese Translation)

Effective implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) remains a significant challenge. Numerous existing models and frameworks identify key factors and processes to facilitate implementation. However, there is a need to better understand how individual models and frameworks are applied in research projects, how they can support the implementation process, and how they might advance implementation science. This systematic review examines and describes the research application of a widely used implementation framework, the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework. A systematic literature review was performed to identify and evaluate the use of the EPIS framework in implementation efforts. Citation searches in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, ERIC, Web of Science, Social Sciences Index, and Google Scholar databases were undertaken. Data extraction included the objective, language, country, setting, sector, EBP, study design, methodology, level(s) of data collection, unit(s) of analysis, use of EPIS (i.e., purpose), implementation factors and processes, EPIS stages, implementation strategy, implementation outcomes, and overall depth of EPIS use (rated on a 1–5 scale). In total, 762 full-text articles were screened by four reviewers, resulting in inclusion of 67 articles, representing 49 unique research projects. All included projects were conducted in public sector settings. The majority of projects (73%) investigated the implementation of a specific EBP. The majority of projects (90%) examined inner context factors, 57% examined outer context factors, 37% examined innovation factors, and 31% bridging factors (i.e., factors that cross or link the outer system and inner organizational context). On average, projects measured EPIS factors across two of the EPIS phases (M = 2.02), with the most frequent phase being Implementation (73%). On average, the overall depth of EPIS inclusion was moderate (2.8 out of 5). This systematic review enumerated multiple settings and ways the EPIS framework has been applied in implementation research projects, and summarized promising characteristics and strengths of the framework, illustrated with examples. Recommendations for future use include more precise operationalization of factors, increased depth and breadth of application, development of aligned measures, and broadening of user networks. Additional resources supporting the operationalization of EPIS are available.

/pdf/systematic-review-of-the-exploration-preparation-77abyx35h5.pdf

Systematic review of the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework

Assessment of researchers is necessary for decisions of hiring, promotion, and tenure. A burgeoning number of scientific leaders believe the current system of faculty incentives and rewards is misaligned with the needs of society and disconnected from the evidence about the causes of the reproducibility crisis and suboptimal quality of the scientific publication record. To address this issue, particularly for the clinical and life sciences, we convened a 22-member expert panel workshop in Washington, DC, in January 2017. Twenty-two academic leaders, funders, and scientists participated in the meeting. As background for the meeting, we completed a selective literature review of 22 key documents critiquing the current incentive system. From each document, we extracted how the authors perceived the problems of assessing science and scientists, the unintended consequences of maintaining the status quo for assessing scientists, and details of their proposed solutions. The resulting table was used as a seed for participant discussion. This resulted in six principles for assessing scientists and associated research and policy implications. We hope the content of this paper will serve as a basis for establishing best practices and redesigning the current approaches to assessing scientists by the many players involved in that process.

/pdf/assessing-scientists-for-hiring-promotion-and-tenure-3j8jmmx0eb.pdf

Assessing scientists for hiring, promotion, and tenure.

Through the Patient's Eyes: Understanding and Promoting Patient-Centered Care

This thesis makes a contribution to the knowledge of open access through a
historically and theoretically informed account of contemporary open access policy
in the UK (2010–15) It critiques existing policy by revealing the influence of
neoliberal ideology on its creation, and proposes a commons-based approach as an
alternative The historical context in Chapters 2 and 3 shows that access to
knowledge has undergone numerous changes over the centuries and the current push
to increase access to research, and political controversies around this idea, are part of
a long tradition The exploration of the origins and meanings of ‘openness’ in
Chapter 4 enriches the understanding of open access as a concept and makes
possible a more nuanced critique of specific instantiations of open access in later
chapters The theoretical heart of the thesis is Chapter 5, in which neoliberalism is
analysed with a particular focus on neoliberal conceptions of liberty and openness
The subsequent examination of neoliberal higher education in Chapter 6 is therefore
informed by a thorough grounding in the ideology that underlies policymaking in the
neoliberal era This understanding then acts as invaluable context for the analysis of
the UK’s open access policy in Chapter 7 By highlighting the neoliberal aspects of
open access policy, the political tensions within open access advocacy are shown to
have real effects on the way that open access is unfolding Finally, Chapter 8
proposes the commons as a useful theoretical model for conceptualising a future
scholarly publishing ecosystem that is free from neoliberal ideology An argument is
made that a commons-based open access policy is possible, though must be carefully
constructed with close attention paid to the power relations that exist between
different scholarly communities

Open Access Policy in the UK: From Neoliberalism to the Commons

2016 top trends in academic libraries A review of the trends and issues affecting academic libraries in higher education

/pdf/2016-top-trends-in-academic-libraries-a-review-of-the-trends-2bu75aa09z.pdf

2016 Top trends in academic libraries: A review of the trends and issues affecting academic libraries in higher education

Proper implementation of evidence-based interventions is necessary for their full impact to be realized. However, the majority of research to date has overlooked facilitators and barriers existing outside the boundaries of the implementing organization(s). Better understanding and measurement of the external implementation context would be particularly beneficial in light of complex health interventions that extend into and interact with the larger environment they are embedded within. We conducted a integrative systematic literature review to identify external context constructs likely to impact implementation of complex evidence-based interventions. The review process was iterative due to our goal to inductively develop the identified constructs. Data collection occurred in four primary stages: (1) an initial set of key literature across disciplines was identified and used to inform (2) journal and (3) author searches that, in turn, informed the design of the final (4) database search. Additionally, (5) we conducted citation searches of relevant literature reviews identified in each stage. We carried out an inductive thematic content analysis with the goal of developing homogenous, well-defined, and mutually exclusive categories. We identified eight external context constructs: (1) professional influences, (2) political support, (3) social climate, (4) local infrastructure, (5) policy and legal climate, (6) relational climate, (7) target population, and (8) funding and economic climate. This is the first study to our knowledge to use a systematic review process to identify empirically observed external context factors documented to impact implementation. Comparison with four widely-utilized implementation frameworks supports the exhaustiveness of our review process. Future work should focus on the development of more stringent operationalization and measurement of these external constructs.

/pdf/defining-the-external-implementation-context-an-integrative-1981gcl6ny.pdf

Defining the external implementation context: an integrative systematic literature review

The importance of research data has grown as researchers across disciplines seek to ensure reproducibility, facilitate data reuse, and acknowledge data as a valuable scholarly commodity. Researchers are under increasing pressure to share their data for validation and reuse. Adopting good data management practices allows researchers to efficiently locate their data, understand it, and use it throughout all of the stages of a project and in the future. Additionally, good data management can streamline data analysis, visualization, and reporting, thus making publication less stressful and time-consuming. By implementing foundational practices of data management, researchers set themselves up for success by formalizing processes and reducing common errors in data handling, which can free up more time for research. This paper provides an introduction to best practices for managing all types of data.

https://riojournal.com/article/56508/download/pdf/

Foundational Practices of Research Data Management

Employers need a workforce capable of using data to create actionable information This requires students to develop data information literacy competencies that enable them to navigate and create meaning in an increasingly complex information world This article examines why data information literacy should be integrated into program curricula, specifically in the instances of business and public health, and offers strategies for how it can be accomplished We approach this as a comparative case study within undergraduate business and master of public health programs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis These case studies reveal several implications for practice that apply across social and health sciences programs

Heather L. Coates

Papers

2016 top trends in academic libraries A review of the trends and issues affecting academic libraries in higher education

2016 Top trends in academic libraries: A review of the trends and issues affecting academic libraries in higher education

Defining the external implementation context: an integrative systematic literature review

Foundational Practices of Research Data Management

Data information literacy instruction in Business and Public Health Comparative case studies