Ash Amin and Joanne Roberts (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199545490
- eISBN:
- 9780191720093
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199545490.001.0001
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Organization Studies, Knowledge Management
It has long been an interest of researchers in economics, sociology, organization studies, and economic geography to understand how firms innovate. Most recently, this interest has begun to examine ...
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It has long been an interest of researchers in economics, sociology, organization studies, and economic geography to understand how firms innovate. Most recently, this interest has begun to examine the micro-processes of work and organization that sustain social creativity, emphasizing the learning and knowing through action when social actors and technologies come together in ‘communities of practice’; everyday interactions of common purpose and mutual obligation. These communities are said to spark both incremental and radical innovation. This book examines the concept of communities of practice and its applications in different spatial, organizational, and creative settings. Chapters examine the development of the concept, the link between situated practice and different types of creative outcome, the interface between spatial and relational proximity, and the organizational demands of learning and knowing through communities of practice. More widely, the chapters examine the compatibility between markets, knowledge capitalism, and community; seemingly in conflict with each other, but discursively not.Less
It has long been an interest of researchers in economics, sociology, organization studies, and economic geography to understand how firms innovate. Most recently, this interest has begun to examine the micro-processes of work and organization that sustain social creativity, emphasizing the learning and knowing through action when social actors and technologies come together in ‘communities of practice’; everyday interactions of common purpose and mutual obligation. These communities are said to spark both incremental and radical innovation. This book examines the concept of communities of practice and its applications in different spatial, organizational, and creative settings. Chapters examine the development of the concept, the link between situated practice and different types of creative outcome, the interface between spatial and relational proximity, and the organizational demands of learning and knowing through communities of practice. More widely, the chapters examine the compatibility between markets, knowledge capitalism, and community; seemingly in conflict with each other, but discursively not.
Jonathan Michie
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- April 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780198870708
- eISBN:
- 9780191913334
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198870708.003.0017
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Corporate Governance and Accountability
Chapter 17 describes how the concept of mutuality extends well beyond that of mutually owned businesses. Mars itself is entirely owned by the Mars family. Many of the companies described in the book ...
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Chapter 17 describes how the concept of mutuality extends well beyond that of mutually owned businesses. Mars itself is entirely owned by the Mars family. Many of the companies described in the book are stock corporations with external shareholders. One of the ways in which family firms can retain a focus on the common purpose of the business after the family has withdrawn or sold out to other shareholders is through ‘industrial foundations’ that confer a substantial fraction of the ownership of firms on foundations. These are particularly commonplace in Denmark and Germany, and some of the most successful companies in the world, such as the shipping company Maersk and the media firm Bertelsmann have these ownership forms. The principle of the Economics of Mutuality is about aligning the interests of diverse parties to a common purpose. This can be adopted in companies with any type of ownership but where it takes the form of, for example, mutuals or foundations, then it creates a commitment to the common purpose that may not be observed to the same degree elsewhere.Less
Chapter 17 describes how the concept of mutuality extends well beyond that of mutually owned businesses. Mars itself is entirely owned by the Mars family. Many of the companies described in the book are stock corporations with external shareholders. One of the ways in which family firms can retain a focus on the common purpose of the business after the family has withdrawn or sold out to other shareholders is through ‘industrial foundations’ that confer a substantial fraction of the ownership of firms on foundations. These are particularly commonplace in Denmark and Germany, and some of the most successful companies in the world, such as the shipping company Maersk and the media firm Bertelsmann have these ownership forms. The principle of the Economics of Mutuality is about aligning the interests of diverse parties to a common purpose. This can be adopted in companies with any type of ownership but where it takes the form of, for example, mutuals or foundations, then it creates a commitment to the common purpose that may not be observed to the same degree elsewhere.
John Kenneth Galbraith
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2018
- ISBN:
- 9780691171654
- eISBN:
- 9781400889020
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691171654.003.0006
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Behavioural Economics
This chapter examines how the bureaucratic syndrome is influenced by the pursuit of contentment. One of the most ubiquitous features of life in the late twentieth century is the complicated and ...
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This chapter examines how the bureaucratic syndrome is influenced by the pursuit of contentment. One of the most ubiquitous features of life in the late twentieth century is the complicated and multilayered organization. As economic and public operations become more complex, it is necessary to unite varying skills, different experience, different education, resulting specialization and different degrees of intelligence. The chapter first provides an overview of the bureaucratic syndrome before discussing how modern organization cultivates acceptance of what comfortably exists in the age of contentment. It then explores how the role of thought is diminished in the bureaucratic syndrome and goes on to describe a large organization's sense of common purpose. It also looks at the immunity of corporations to the adverse impact of bureaucracy and concludes with an assessment of the private sector as a form of escape from the bureaucratic syndrome.Less
This chapter examines how the bureaucratic syndrome is influenced by the pursuit of contentment. One of the most ubiquitous features of life in the late twentieth century is the complicated and multilayered organization. As economic and public operations become more complex, it is necessary to unite varying skills, different experience, different education, resulting specialization and different degrees of intelligence. The chapter first provides an overview of the bureaucratic syndrome before discussing how modern organization cultivates acceptance of what comfortably exists in the age of contentment. It then explores how the role of thought is diminished in the bureaucratic syndrome and goes on to describe a large organization's sense of common purpose. It also looks at the immunity of corporations to the adverse impact of bureaucracy and concludes with an assessment of the private sector as a form of escape from the bureaucratic syndrome.
Sue Kilpatrick, Karen Willis, and Sophie Lewis
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9781447315162
- eISBN:
- 9781447315186
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781447315162.003.0005
- Subject:
- Political Science, Public Policy
This chapter explores how communities come together in the face of externally imposed challenges and the social processes and resources that shape community action in response to these challenges. ...
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This chapter explores how communities come together in the face of externally imposed challenges and the social processes and resources that shape community action in response to these challenges. Collectively described as ‘difficult times’, prolonged drought, floods, increasing financial and occupational stress, labour intensification, government regulations, and a widening division between rural and urban communities in Australia, have had a serious and detrimental impact on the physical and mental health of farmers and fishers in recent times. The responses of five farming and fishing communities in Australia to the challenge of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing while facing various environmental, economic and regulatory pressures on their industries reveal the key role of industry organisations and social processes, including people we term ‘boundary crossers', in the incubation of community action.Less
This chapter explores how communities come together in the face of externally imposed challenges and the social processes and resources that shape community action in response to these challenges. Collectively described as ‘difficult times’, prolonged drought, floods, increasing financial and occupational stress, labour intensification, government regulations, and a widening division between rural and urban communities in Australia, have had a serious and detrimental impact on the physical and mental health of farmers and fishers in recent times. The responses of five farming and fishing communities in Australia to the challenge of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing while facing various environmental, economic and regulatory pressures on their industries reveal the key role of industry organisations and social processes, including people we term ‘boundary crossers', in the incubation of community action.
