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)

Author Ray Pawson presents a devastating critique of the dominant approach to systematic review namely the 'meta-analytic' approach as sponsored by the Cochrane and Campbell collaborations. In its place is commended an approach that he terms 'realist synthesis'. On this vision, the real purpose of systematic review is better to understand program theory, so that policies Author Ray Pawson presents a devastating critique of the dominant approach to systematic review namely the 'meta-analytic' approach as sponsored by the Cochrane and Campbell collaborations. In its place is commended an approach that he terms 'realist synthesis'. On this vision, the real purpose of systematic review is better to understand program theory, so that policies can be properly targeted and developed to counter an ever-changing landscape of social problems. The book will be essential reading for all those who loved (or loathed) the arguments developed in Realistic Evaluation (Sage, 1997). It offers a complete blueprint for research synthesis, supported by detailed illustrations and worked examples from across the policy waterfront.

Evidence-based Policy: A Realist Perspective

The American Review of Public Administration

What is total quality control? : the Japanese way

legitimacy一词多义,应根据术语单义化的原则分别翻译,而放弃“百分之百对应冶“涵盖其所有意义冶的称名预期.作为政治学核心术语,legitimacy有“合法性冶“正当性冶等多种译名.但应避免使用“合法性冶之译,以免与legality混淆;应慎重使用“正当性冶之译,以免与justness混淆.legitimacy本义为主权或政权为人民肯定、认可、接受,故可用“肯认性冶或“认受性冶,并根据语境灵活处理.

Legitimacy：多义、本义及汉译

Understanding social entrepreneurship: A cultural perspective in business research

The ability of Industry 4.0 to help solve complex economic and social problems and implement complex concepts is assessed. Currently, one of the greatest challenges is the integration of the circular economy (CE) into real business practices. However, the link between these two ideas is not fully recognised, causing an interpretative dilemma. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify the relationships between the CE and Industry 4.0. For this purpose, we performed a systematic literature review and content analysis of selected articles indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO. In total, 32 papers published during the period 2017-2020 were analysed. The findings show a one-way relationship, i.e., Industry 4.0 leads to a CE, and a two-way relationship, indicating synergy between these concepts. The key spheres of the CE in terms of Industry 4.0 are the recycle and reuse strategy applied in smart production and a sustainable supply chain. This study demonstrates the importance of company (micro) and industry (meso) levels as application areas. The most promising digitalisation tools of Industry 4.0 are the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data Analytics. The article concludes with the limitations of the study and a formulation of directions for future research.

/pdf/circular-economy-and-industry-4-0-one-way-or-two-way-36do1fky01.pdf

Circular Economy and Industry 4.0: One-Way or Two-way Relationships?

Purpose
Despite increasing interest in digital services and products, the emergence of digitalization in the logistics and supply chain (L&SC) industry has received little attention, in particular from organizational theorists. In response, taking an institutionalist view, the authors argue that the emergence and adoption of digitalization is a socially constructed phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper shows how actor-level frameshifts contribute to an emergence of an overarching “digitalization logic” in the L&SC industry at the field level. Building on a longitudinal analysis of field actors' frames and logics, the authors track the development of digitalization over the last 60 years in the L&SC sector.

Findings
The authors classify specific time periods by key field-configuring events, describe the relevant frameshifts in each time period and present a process that explains how and why digitalization has emerged, been adopted and manifested itself in the L&SC industry.

Originality/value
The findings of the study provide insights about the evolution of a digitalization logic and thus advance the institutional view on digitalization in the L&SC industry.

/pdf/the-emergence-and-adoption-of-digitalization-in-the-4cfszebtqf.pdf

The emergence and adoption of digitalization in the logistics and supply chain industry: an institutional perspective

The adaptiveness of the healthcare system to the fourth industrial revolution: A preliminary analysis

Purpose – Digital freight forwarder (DFF) start-ups and their associated business models have gained increasing attention within both academia and industry. However, there is a lack of empirical research investigating the differences between DFFs and traditional freight forwarders (TFF) and the impact of digital start-ups on incumbents’ companies. In response, this study aims to examine the key business model characteristics that determine DFFs and TFFs and propose a framework illustrating the extent to which digital logistics start-ups influence incumbent logistics companies.
Design/methodology/approach – Based on the primary data gathered from eight interviews with experts from start-ups’ and incumbents’ logistics companies, as well as secondary data, the authors identify the main factors of DFFs start-ups that have an impact on TFFs and analyze the similarities and differences in regard to the business model components’ value proposition, value creation, value delivery and value capture.
Findings – The results show that differences between DFFs and TFFs appear in all four business models’ components: value proposition, value creation, value delivery and value capture. In particular, the authors identify three main factors that need to be considered when assessing the impact of DFFs on TFFs: (1) the company size, (2) the market cultivation strategy and (3) the transport mode.
Originality/value – This is one of the first studies to specifically examine the key business model differences between DFFs and TFFs and to propose a conceptual framework for understanding the impact of digital logistics start-ups on incumbent companies.

/pdf/the-impact-of-digital-logistics-start-ups-on-incumbent-firms-w1nzhi9v3u.pdf

Marek Ćwiklicki

Papers

Understanding social entrepreneurship: A cultural perspective in business research

Circular Economy and Industry 4.0: One-Way or Two-way Relationships?

The emergence and adoption of digitalization in the logistics and supply chain industry: an institutional perspective

The adaptiveness of the healthcare system to the fourth industrial revolution: A preliminary analysis

The impact of digital logistics start-ups on incumbent firms: a business model perspective