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Showing papers in "Journal of Management Studies in 1983"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the concept of organizational learning systems is proposed and developed, which are the mechanisms by which learning is perpetuated and institutionalized in organizations, and they are used as a basis for developing a typology of learning systems.
Abstract: This paper synthesizes research on the organizational learning phenomenon. The concept of organizational learning systems is proposed and developed. Learning systems are the mechanisms by which learning is perpetuated and institutionalized in organizations. Findings from an exploratory study of organizational learning are used as a basis for developing a typology of organizational learning systems.

918 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors advocate the use of grounded theory as a way of handling the problem of non-standard data generated by qualitative social research, which makes analysis problematic. The approach is illustrated, in the context of organizational research, by three cases of grounded theoretical analyses: (a) a study of face-to-face interaction in a hospital between nurses and patients' relatives; (b) a field-study based on the complex organizational interrelationships associated with small batch production manufacturing; and (c) a documentary-based analysis of the organizational pre-conditions
Abstract: Qualitative social research generates large amounts of non-standard data which make analysis problematic. This discussion advocates the use of grounded theory as a way of handling these problems. The approach is illustrated, in the context of organizational research, by three cases of grounded theoretical analyses: (a) a study of face-to-face interaction in a hospital between nurses and patients’ relatives; (b) a field-study based on the complex organizational interrelationships associated with small batch production manufacturing; and (c) a documentary-based analysis of the organizational pre-conditions of large-scale accidents. The discussion of the cases stresses the manner in which the qualitative data collected were manipulated in order to give them theoretical shape.

290 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, an approach to collecting data about managers' experience of their work is described, involving having them "think aloud" while doing their work, and re-live' episodes soon afterwards.
Abstract: An approach to collecting data about managers’ experience of their work is described, involving having them ‘think aloud’ while doing their work, and ‘re-live’ episodes soon afterwards. Some of the epistemological and methodological issues relating to this research approach are discussed. Examples of data are given, and 37 episodes of managerial work are analyzed for evidence relating to the question of how managers learn naturally from everyday experience. The analysis suggests that the concept of levels of learning proposed by Bateson (1973) is useful. An initial categorization of processes of learning, arising from the data, are presented. Some evidence that the profounder forms of learning are incremental rather than sudden is presented, and the issue of the functionality of profounder versus more superficial forms of learning in relation to everyday managerial work is raised.

179 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, some of the currently popular qualitative tools of organizational research emphasizing the complementary nature of qualitative and quantitative approaches in most settings are discussed. But they do not discuss the relationship between the two approaches.
Abstract: Qualitative and quantitative approaches to the study of organizations are not mutually exclusive. Yet, over the last several years they have tended to become as such. Also, the interest in qualitative research of organizations seems to be renewing in the recent years. The present paper looks at some of the currently popular qualitative tools of organizational research emphasizing the complementary nature of qualitative and quantitative approaches in most settings.

108 citations




Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe how that theory was tested when three consultants, together with a number of their clients, explained why they thought their work together had been successful and the cases illustrate both the ways in which the relationships were built and the extent to which they were perceived as having been important ingredients in the outcomes achieved.
Abstract: Although frequently represented as a critical aspect of consultancy, the relationship between consultants and their clients and its relevance to the achievement of successful outcomes are subjects to which few writers have devoted serious attention. In an earlier piece of research, the author concluded that an ‘interdependent’ relationship was likely to be an important factor in successful consulting assignments. He identified eight facets of this type of relationship. This paper describes how that theory was tested when three consultants, together with a number of their clients, explained why they thought their work together had been successful. The cases illustrate both the ways in which the relationships were built and the extent to which they were perceived as having been important ingredients in the outcomes achieved. The relationships described were characterized by high levels of mutual trust and interaction as well as contingency on the part of the consultants. In several respects the relationships were seen as interdependent. A feature of this study was that the extent to which the consultants found the research useful in a personal sense seemed to depend on the quality of the relationship between the author and the consultants. In the cases described the exercise seems to have been mutually beneficial. In another example this seems not to have been the case and the explanation seems to lie at least partly in a lack of interdependence.

89 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the design, implementation, and accompanying conceptual developments of a course in the behavioural sciences at the Israel Defence Forces Command and General Staff College (IDGSC).
Abstract: This paper describes the design, implementation, and accompanying conceptual developments of a course in the behavioural sciences at the Israel Defence Forces Command and General Staff College. The objective of the course is to improve the effectiveness of the student as a problem-solver, decision-maker and crisis-manager. The two basic assumptions underlying the course are: (1) That the latter objective can be achieved by helping the student put into practice certain ideas, models and methods from the areas of descriptive epistemology, problem-solving, decision-making under uncertainty, and decision-making under stress; (2) That the likelihood of utilizing acquired knowledge is directly related to its concreteness and relevance. On the basis of the latter assumption, the methodology of experiential learning was adapted for teaching conceptual material. Results of final examinations indicate that the instructional method of the course is comparable to traditional methods for the purpose of teaching conceptual knowledge. It is still too early to judge its effectiveness vis a vis the more ambitious goals of the course. The experience gained in implementation revealed two problematical issues which must be resolved if these goals are to be achieved. The first issue concerns the over-all coherence of the course, the other, the emotional reactions of resistance and defensiveness which characterized the learning process. In an attempt to resolve these issues, a new conceptual framework was developed, which embeds the subjects of problem-solving and decision-making within descriptive (or lay) epistemology. The framework is centred around the concept of reality images, defined as the way in which an individual perceives his external situation and internal condition, and the meanings which he selects or attributes to them. It is argued that the effectiveness of problem-solving, decision-making and crisis-management are a function of the reality image construction process. Furthermore, normative models of problem-solving and decision-making will be utilized most effectively if they are conceived as tools for the construction of reality images. Finally, it is suggested that the most important aids for constructing reality images of high fidelity are exercising reflection and inquiry. The paper concludes with a discussion of several basic questions, raised by the course, which are relevant to the applicability of recent developments in cognitive psychology.

70 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed an approach to make-buy decisions through a transactions cost model and exemplified the augmenting processes in three case studies from branches of the engineering industry.
Abstract: The concept of a managed market is developed and is seen as especially suitable for complex transactions as an alternative to internal hierarchical organization. It is argued that a number of augmenting processes, namely trust, routinization and mutual adjustment, usually associated with internal organization, can be used to good effect in a market. Hence the paper develops an approach to make-buy decisions through a transactions cost model and exemplifies the augmenting processes in three case studies from branches of the engineering industry.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, two approaches to the conceptualization of responsibility in organizations are suggested: (1) seen as an objective statement of employees' responsibilities as defined for them in formal terms; (2) as a subjective belief held by employees regarding their role and obligations in relation to specific events.
Abstract: Two approaches to the conceptualization of responsibility in organizations are suggested. (1) Seen as an objective statement of employees’ responsibilities as defined for them in formal terms. (2) As a subjective belief held by employees regarding their role and obligations in relation to specific events. The significance of the subjectivist conceptualization for understanding employee motivation is considered, especially where employees place a negative value on the moral implications of their formal role. Management theory, incorporating the objective definition, typically serves to manipulate persons’ subjective sense of responsibility. The case for countering or replacing such control-oriented theory through the enhancement of persons’ critical moral awareness is considered. Although the ethical appeal is considerable, scepticism is raised as to the possibility of doing more than sensitize theorists and practitioners to the issues involved.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, decision-making processes are compared in American and British subsidiaries in Britain to investigate how far processual characteristics as distinct from structural features, may be implanted in subsidiaries abroad.
Abstract: decision-making processes are compared in American and British subsidiaries in Britain to investigate how far processual characteristics as distinct from structural features, may be implanted in subsidiaries abroad. Managements in the British owned subsidiaries tend to route their biggest decisions through the formalities of standing committees in conformity with customary procedures, taking a comparatively long time to do so. Managements in the American owned subsidiaries tend to rely on informally assembled working groups which help to arrive at a decision comparatively rapidly through a process which does not ostensibly follow any recognized procedure. The British mode is formal within a non-formalized customary pattern, the American mode informal within a formalized frame.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, mutual perceptions were obtained of 113 Japanese and 100 British managers working in the London offices of 18 Japanese companies, and 18 semantic differential items were used to permit each respondent to report his auto stereotype of his own nationality of manager, his hetero stereotype of the other nationality, and his meta stereotype (his opinion as to how they would assess his own group).
Abstract: The mutual perceptions were obtained of 113 Japanese and 100 British managers working in the London offices of 18 Japanese companies. Eighteen semantic differential items were used to permit each respondent to report his auto stereotype of his own nationality of manager, his hetero stereotype of the other nationality, and his meta stereotype (his opinion as to how they would assess his own group). The degree of agreement between the auto stereotype of each group and the hetero stereotype held of it by the other group is discussed, and the accuracy of the meta stereotypes is examined. It is also shown that the 18 semantic items can be reduced to 3 principal components which, after rotation, are consistent in meaning between the two nationalities. The three rotated factors are interpretable as ‘approval’, ‘open style’ and ‘functional’. The factors permit a more concise comparison of the stereotypes.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an investigation into some of the apparent similarities between what certain kinds of researchers and consultants do in organizations using a facet analysis approach (Foa, 1965), an instrument was devised with the purpose of identifying and delineating overlaps between organizational research and consultancy.
Abstract: This paper describes an investigation into some of the apparent similarities between what certain kinds of researchers and consultants do in organizations Using a facet analysis approach (Foa, 1965), an instrument was devised with the purpose of identifying and delineating overlaps between organizational research and consultancy Sixty-six British researchers and consultants took part in the study The results highlight certain specific similarities and suggest that these may represent aspects of research and consultancy which are crucial to their success The facets of the two activities which emerged from the study as being common are described by reference to the qualitative data which were generated by participants A number of important implications for the successful conduct of research and consultancy are discussed with particular reference to the process of managing the relationship between investigators and those with whom they work

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, single and double-loop organizational learning are discussed in the context of retrenchment in higher education, and a model of the research university illuminates impediments to internal resource reallocation, programme elimination and integrative leadership, and suggests the need for alternatives to usual efforts to increase efficiency while retaining existing norms, goals and organizational structures.
Abstract: Single- and double-loop organizational learning are discussed in the context of retrenchment in higher education. A model of the research university illuminates impediments to internal resource reallocation, programme elimination and integrative leadership, and suggests the need for alternatives to usual efforts to increase efficiency while retaining existing norms, goals, and organizational structures.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the appropriateness of qualitative methodologies for the retrospective evaluation of programs of organizational change is discussed, and the potential of these perspectives as a blueprint for activity in applied social science is considered.
Abstract: This paper is concerned with the appropriateness of qualitative methodologies for the retrospective evaluation of programmes of organizational change. Certain reviews of our re-evaluation of a new philosophy of management, which was introduced within a major oil refining company in the mid 1960's, indicate that qualitative research is seen as inappropriate by many social scientists. However other reviewers argue that good qualitative evaluation necessarily entails close and continuing involvement with the process of change. Having outlined our methodology we consider the potential of these perspectives as a blueprint for activity in applied social science. We conclude by suggesting that advocates of such differing paradigms of practice should recognize that, unlike some natural science paradigms, competing paradigms should not be thought of as mutually exclusive.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors use an ethnography of rehabilitation of the elderly to investigate the ways in which organizational rules may be defeased, manipulated or suspended with reference to nurses working on geriatric wards.
Abstract: The data on which this paper is based come from an ethnography of rehabilitation of the elderly. Two main themes, methodological and substantive, predominate. Some methodological issues surrounding ethnographic techniques are highlighted. These include gaining access, establishing relationships and the researcher having a number of roles rather than just one. The ethnomethodological perspective on organizations as a constellation of rules informs the substantive theme of the paper. Within this perspective rule use is situated and the meanings of particular rules are discerned from their use in specific contexts. This approach enables attention to be directed to the practical problems with which individuals are confronted in doing organizational work and how actors orient to them in action. The ways in which organizational rules may be defeased, manipulated or suspended are detailed with reference to nurses working on geriatric wards.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the priority scaling method is used to elicit a weighted scale of individual and group priorities between options from paired-comparison exercises, together with a measure of internal consistency of judgment.
Abstract: This paper reports the application of the priority scaling method to financial cutback decisions in a social services organization, and provides an overview of the priority scaling method. The method is used to elicit a weighted scale of individual and group priorities between options from paired-comparison exercises, together with a measure of internal consistency of judgment. The weighted scale of option priorities may be adjusted to align with the relative values individuals and groups assign to the multiple criteria which guide their judgments, and a measure of internal coherence of judgment obtained. Decision-makers’ allocations of resources may be inferred from their priority weightings together with budgets for each option. Applying the method in reverse, decision-makers’ implied priorities may be directly inferred from proposed budget cuts. A set of reliability tests are incorporated in rigorous versions of the method.