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Article
Publication date: 9 August 2021

Ilesanmi Daniyan, Vincent Balogun, Oghenetano Kilter Ererughurie, Lanre Daniyan and Bankole Ibrahim Oladapo

The purpose of this study is to develop a robot for non-destructive testing of the pipelines to improve its reliability and reduce the loss of products due to cracks, corrosions…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a robot for non-destructive testing of the pipelines to improve its reliability and reduce the loss of products due to cracks, corrosions, etc.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, an inline inspection robot was developed for crack and corrosion detection in the pipeline. The developed robot consists of ultrasonic sensors to avoid obstacles, a visual aid with high resolution to view real time images and colour sensors for corrosion detection. The Autodesk inventor software was used for the drafting and solid modelling of the robot. A dummy pipe of 500 mm diameter and 2,000 mm length with induced cracks and corrosion was fabricated to test the robot. The colour sensors placed at each side of the robot were used to detect corrosion in the dummy pipe whilst the image processing was done to analyse the crack, as well as the type and depth of corrosion present in the dummy pipe.

Findings

The results obtained show the ability of the developed robot to detect cracks and determine the crack growth in the pipeline in addition to its ability to determine corrosion.

Practical implications

Hence, the study provides a diagnostic tool for detecting pipeline defects and analysing the extent of defects to determine the fatigue rate and the useful life of the pipeline.

Originality/value

The novelties of this study is based on the fact that it was designed to avoid obstacles and check for cracks, leakage and corrosion in pipelines autonomously. It has visual aid that makes it possible to see the interior of the pipe. This makes it easier to identify the defect and the location of the defects before a catastrophic failure. The device is also equipped with sensors, which can detect defects and send the signal to a control system, as well as a Bluetooth device so the operator can have real time information about the state and integrity of the pipelines. The system is also integrated with a Bluetooth device, which permits its compatibility with Android and other mobile applications. Thus, the enabled user can send a command to query the state of the pipeline at any location with the feedback received in the form of short message service. Hence, this study offers contribution in the development of an independent (self-governing) system with the capability to autonomously detect defects in pipe walls and effectively communicate feedback to the authorised users. The prototype model for the evaluation of pipeline integrity will bring about a more proactive way to detect pipeline defects so that effort can be geared towards its restoration before it becomes a major problem, which will subsequently affect productivity and incur losses.

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Journal of Facilities Management , vol. 20 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1472-5967

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Publication date: 21 July 2016

Tobias Fredberg and Johanna Pregmark

A reason why industry incumbents seldom survive technology transitions is their strong reliance on an efficient, but inflexible organizational system. We studied three digital…

Abstract

A reason why industry incumbents seldom survive technology transitions is their strong reliance on an efficient, but inflexible organizational system. We studied three digital transformation initiatives that created fast progress in a struggling newspaper group by working against the industry logic and established thinking in the area. This chapter argues that management succeeded in introducing a new strategic practice through these transformation initiatives. We focus on three factors contributing to the success: complexity management, short time development of a long-term vision, and the introduction of impossible goals.

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Research in Organizational Change and Development
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78635-360-3

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Publication date: 4 October 2019

Kristina Lauche

While inter-organizational collaboration concerns processes of organizing between firms, it is always initiated and enacted by individual people who perceive a need for…

Abstract

While inter-organizational collaboration concerns processes of organizing between firms, it is always initiated and enacted by individual people who perceive a need for collaboration. This chapter takes the perspective of these actors and their efforts to seek collaboration as they pursue an agenda for change. Collaboration processes are thus conceptualized as path creation and internal strategizing. The chapter focuses specifically on how actors sell the need for collaboration internally and how they draw on their external network to promote change. It illustrates this process of issue selling and collaboration with six case studies in the area of new product development, new forms of network governance, and network-wide change of business practices. Comparing these more or less successful trajectories highlights the relevance of the relational context in issue selling, the role of intentionality within emerging processes, and interplay between external collaboration and internal strategizing.

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Managing Inter-organizational Collaborations: Process Views
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78756-592-0

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Article
Publication date: 7 March 2016

Benedict M. Uzochukwu, Silvanus J. Udoka and Femi Balogun

Managing product life cycle data is important for achieving design excellence, product continued operational performance, customer satisfaction and sustainment. As a result, it is…

337

Abstract

Purpose

Managing product life cycle data is important for achieving design excellence, product continued operational performance, customer satisfaction and sustainment. As a result, it is important to develop a sustainment simulator to transform life cycle data into actionable design metrics. Currently, there is apparent lack of technologies and tools to synthesize product life time data. The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of how a product sustainment simulator was developed using fuzzy cognitive map (FCM). As a proof of concept, and to demonstrate the utility of the simulator, an implementation example utilizing product life time data as input was demonstrated.

Design/methodology/approach

The sustainment simulator was developed using visual basic. The simulation experiment was accomplished using a FCM. The Statistical Analytical Software tool was used to run structural equation model programs that provided the initial input into the FCM and the simulator. Product life data were used as input to the simulator.

Findings

There is an apparent lack of technologies and tools to synthesize product life time data. This constitutes an impediment to designing the next generation of sustainable products. Modern tools, technologies and techniques must be used if the goal of removing product design and sustainment disablers is to be achieved. Product sustainment can, therefore, be achieved using the simulator.

Research limitations/implications

The sustainment simulator is a tool that demonstrates in a practical way how a product life time generated data can be transformed into actionable design parameters. This paper includes analysis of a sample generated using random numbers. The lack of actual data set is primarily due to reluctance of organizations to avail the public of actual product life time data. However, this paper provides a good demonstration of how product life time data can be transformed to ensure product sustainment.

Practical implications

The technique used in this research paper would be very useful to product designers, engineers and research and development teams in developing data manipulation tools to improve product operational and sustainable life cycle performance. Sustainment conscious organizations will, no doubt, benefit from a strong comparative and competitive advantage over rivals.

Originality/value

Utilizing the simulator to transform product life time data into actionable design metrics through the help of an efficient decision support tool like the FCM constitutes a step in supporting product life cycle management. The outcome of this paper alerts product designers on parameters which should be taken into account when designing a new generation of a given product(s).

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 23 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

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Book part
Publication date: 16 April 2014

Simona Giorgi, Margaret E. Guider and Jean M. Bartunek

We discuss a recent effort of institutional resistance in the context of the 2008–2011 Apostolic Visitation of U.S. women religious motivated by Vatican concerns about perceived…

Abstract

We discuss a recent effort of institutional resistance in the context of the 2008–2011 Apostolic Visitation of U.S. women religious motivated by Vatican concerns about perceived secularism and potential lack of fidelity among Catholic sisters. We examined the process of and women’s responses to the Visitation to shed light on the institutional work associated with productive resistance and the role of identity and emotions in transforming institutions.

At a time when the male leadership can be blamed for leading the church to a state of crisis – a time when the voices of women are needed more than ever – even the modest roles accorded to female clerics have come under attack. The specific reasons for the investigation are unclear (or, more probably, not public), but the suspicion, clearly, can be put in the crassest terms: too many American nuns have gone off the reservation.

– Lisa Miller, Female Troubles, Newsweek, May 27, 2010

At a time when the male leadership can be blamed for leading the church to a state of crisis – a time when the voices of women are needed more than ever – even the modest roles accorded to female clerics have come under attack. The specific reasons for the investigation are unclear (or, more probably, not public), but the suspicion, clearly, can be put in the crassest terms: too many American nuns have gone off the reservation.

Details

Religion and Organization Theory
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78190-693-4

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Article
Publication date: 4 January 2018

Gudbjörg Erlingsdottir, Anders Ersson, Jonas Borell and Christofer Rydenfält

The purpose of this paper is to describe five salient factors that emerge in two successful change processes in healthcare. Organizational changes in healthcare are often…

5487

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe five salient factors that emerge in two successful change processes in healthcare. Organizational changes in healthcare are often characterized by problems and solutions that have been formulated by higher levels of management. This top-down management approach has not been well received by the professional community. As a result, improvement processes are frequently abandoned, resulting in disrupted and dysfunctional organizations. This paper presents two successful change processes where managerial leadership was used to coach the change processes by distributing mandates and resources. After being managerially initiated, both processes were driven by local agency, decisions, planning and engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The data in the paper derive from two qualitative case studies. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations and document studies. The cases are presented as process descriptions covering the different phases of the change processes. The focus in the studies is on the roles and interactions of the actors involved, the type of leadership and the distribution of agency.

Findings

Five factors emerged as paramount to the successful change processes in the two cases: local ownership of problems; a coached process where management initiates the change process and the problem recognition, and then lets the staff define the problems, formulate solutions and drive necessary changes; distributed leadership directed at enabling and supporting the staff’s intentions and long-term self-leadership; mutually formulated norms and values that serve as a unifying force for the staff; and generous time allocation and planning, which allows the process to take time, and creates room for reevaluation. The authors also noted that in both cases, reorganization into multi-professional teams lent stability and endurance to the completed changes.

Originality/value

The research shows how management can initiate and support successful change processes that are staff driven and characterized by local agency, decisions, planning and engagement. Empirical descriptions of successful change processes are rare, which is why the description of such processes in this research increases the value of the paper.

Details

Journal of Health Organization and Management, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7266

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Article
Publication date: 19 June 2019

Eva Norrman Brandt, Sofia Kjellström and Ann-Christine Andersson

The purpose of this paper is to examine people’s experience of a change process and if and how post-conventional leadership principles are expressed in the change process.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine people’s experience of a change process and if and how post-conventional leadership principles are expressed in the change process.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a retrospective exploratory qualitative design. In total, 19 semi-structured interviews and 4 workshops were conducted and analyzed in accordance with a thematic qualitative analysis.

Findings

The post-conventional leadership appears to have facilitated an organizational transformation where explorative work methods aimed at innovation and improvement as well as holistic understanding was used. Dispersed power and mandate to employees, within set frames and with clear goals, created new ways of organizing and working. The leader showed personal consideration, acknowledged the importance of the emotionally demanding aspects of change and admitted the leader’s own vulnerability. Balance between challenge and support created courage to take on new roles and responsibilities. Most employees thrived and grew with the possibilities given, but some felt lack of support and clear directions.

Practical implications

Inspiration from this case on work methods and involvement of employees can be used on other change efforts.

Social implications

This study provides knowledge on leadership capabilities needed for facilitation of transformational change.

Originality/value

Few transformational change processes by post-conventional leaders are thoroughly described, and this study provides in-depth descriptions of post-conventional leadership in transformational change.

Details

Leadership & Organization Development Journal, vol. 40 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7739

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 19 June 2020

Collins Afriyie Appiah, Faustina O. Mensah, Frank E. A. Hayford, Vincent A. Awuuh and Daniel Edem Kpewou

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of child undernutrition and anemia among children 6–24 months old in the East Mamprusi district, Northern region, Ghana.

2504

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of child undernutrition and anemia among children 6–24 months old in the East Mamprusi district, Northern region, Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study recruited 153 children and their mothers. Weight, height and hemoglobin levels of the children were measured. A structured questionnaire based on the World Health Organization's indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices was used to collect data on parents' socioeconomic status, household characteristics, hygiene and sanitation practices, mothers' knowledge on feeding practices such as child's meal frequency and dietary diversity and child morbidity within the past two weeks. Predictors of child nutritional status were determined using multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Findings

Underweight in the children was significantly predicted by maternal knowledge on protein foods (AOR = 0.045, p = 0.008), time of initiation of complementary feeding (AOR = 0.222, p = 0.032) and maternal age (AOR = 9.455, p = 0.017). Feeding child from separate bowls (AOR = 0.239, p = 0.005), minimum meal frequency per child's age (AOR = 0.189, p = 0.007) and time of initiation of complementary feeding (AOR = 0.144, p = 0.009) were significant determinants of stunting among the children. Exclusive breast feeding (AOR = 7.975, p = 0.012) and child's past morbidity (AOR = 0.014, p = 0.001) significantly contributed to anemia among the children.

Research limitations/implications

This is a cross-sectional study and cannot establish causality. The small sample size also limits the generalizability of study findings. However, findings of the study highlight factors which could potentially influence the high rate of child undernutrition in the study setting.

Practical implications

This study identifies determinants of undernutrition in the East Mamprusi district, an underresourced area in Ghana. This information could inform the development/reformulation of locally sensitive key messages and targeted intervention strategies to curb the high levels of child undernutrition in the East Mamprusi district of Ghana.

Originality/value

This study identifies maternal care practices as key potential drivers of undernutrition in a low-resource setting known for high prevalence of child undernutrition. It suggests insight for large-scale studies on the predictors of child undernutrition in Northern Ghana and other resource-poor settings.

Details

Journal of Health Research, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0857-4421

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Article
Publication date: 20 September 2011

Michael S. Lehman, Jerry R. Hudson, George W. Appley, Edward J. Sheehan and Dennis P. Slevin

As companies grow and evolve, they inevitably face an influx of new personnel and changing responsibilities of existing staff members, often resulting in an increasingly complex…

2388

Abstract

Purpose

As companies grow and evolve, they inevitably face an influx of new personnel and changing responsibilities of existing staff members, often resulting in an increasingly complex organizational design. During periods of rapid organic growth, new layers of management and labor may be created as a reactionary, rather than a planned activity. This often results in redundancy of responsibility and confusing communication channels within the company, ultimately impacting financial performance. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case study of significant organizational change that was accomplished using assessment center philosophy, combined with web‐based technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), a research and development professional services organization that rapidly grew its workforce to over 1,400 was faced with these challenges, resulting in direct labor billings losses. Upon strategically designing a new organizational structure, CTC was faced with making critically important staffing changes. A modified assessment center approach using web‐based technology was employed to rapidly select the best candidates for these new positions.

Findings

It is the authors' contention in this paper and practice in the implementation of this organizational realignment that practicing managers who have extensive experience with middle managers can effectively evaluate them on assessment center dimensions without observing them in assessment center simulations. These enlightened assessments leveraged web‐based technology, while avoiding the costly and time‐intensive simulation and exercise phases of the traditional assessment center.

Originality/value

Based on the authors' experience with CTC, combining this modified assessment center approach (evaluating managers on competencies without using simulations and exercises) with web‐based technology can provide organizations with a powerful tool for implementing fast and effective organizational change. This new and original approach can support executives in evaluating managerial talent and realigning organizational structure.

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Article
Publication date: 15 December 2020

Ama Lawani

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the critical realism (CR) philosophical viewpoint and how it can be applied in qualitative research. CR is a relatively new and viable…

5650

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the critical realism (CR) philosophical viewpoint and how it can be applied in qualitative research. CR is a relatively new and viable philosophical paradigm proposed as an alternative to the more predominant paradigms of positivism, interpretivism and pragmatism. This paper reviews the concept, its benefits and limitation. It goes further to provide an example of how CR is used as a philosophical and methodological framework with the systems thinking theory to applied qualitative research.

Design/methodology/approach

A study of project management challenges in a Nigerian government organisation is used to demonstrate a qualitative research approach, which includes a coding process and data analysis that is consistent with CR ontology and epistemology.

Findings

CR focuses primarily on closed systems. However, a more accurate explanation of reality is obtained in addition to the identification of contextual causal mechanisms in the context of study when a general systems theory is applied.

Research limitations/implications

The knowledge about the nature of relationships obtained in the context of study may not necessarily be replicated in another context. However, this paper elucidates a CR process that is generalisable by demonstrating how a theory is applied in a different context.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates how systems theory is used to understand interactions in a CR paradigm. It engages with CR approach critically and illustrates a clear example of how CR can be applied in social research.

Details

Qualitative Research Journal, vol. 21 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1443-9883

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