European Journal of Workplace Innovation

Editorial

Richard Ennals — 2024-05-31

Editorial: Introduction, Scientific Articles, Discussion Forum

The Correlation between Work Engagement and the Positive Organizational PRIDE Index Provides Perspectives on Workplace Development

Päivi Haapakoski — 2024-05-31

In the rapidly changing world of work, more research is needed on the impact of organization-level factors on personal-level work engagement and the mediating mechanisms between them. In this study, we adopted an organization-level perspective to work engagement, applying the positive organizational PRIDE theory as the research framework. The purpose of this research was to investigate the levels of work engagement among employees working in the public sector in North Finland and their association with the positive organizational PRIDE index. The following research question guided the research: What is the relationship between the PRIDE index and work engagement? This was a quantitative survey-based study, in which the data were collected through an online survey. The data collection occurred between October 6, 2020, and February 3, 2021, among public organization employees (N=606 respondents). The factors of PRIDE were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA). Further, the analysis focused on the connections between background factors and PRIDE and work engagement. A t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine the statistical significance between different groups. The results of this study indicated that there was at least a moderate correlation between all PRIDE index elements and work engagement, and each element of the index was associated with work engagement. When considering the entire index, the correlation was strong. Based on the results of this study, we recommend that the observation, identification, and utilization of strengths be systematically supported through leadership and organizational practices.

Organisational ambidexterity across multiple levels of analysis – The importance of routinization for promoting innovation

Mattias Berglund — 2024-05-31

The concept of organizational ambidexterity, balancing act between the conflicting demands of exploit and explore, has been a part of the discussion in innovation research for a long time. Managers ability to balance tensions is a crucial capacity for organisations to be able to promote and support innovation. However, there is still a lack of research which takes multiple levels of analysis into account, how organisations can become ambidextrous, and which focuses on a single organisation.

The study is a qualitative case study which investigates the balancing of tensions in a Swedish municipality and the connections between the organisational and individual levels of contextual ambidexterity. The article identifies a low ambidextrous environment, how this is affected by the interplay between the two levels of analysis where the organsational mechanism enforce routines which contributes to a lack of ability to balance tensions amongst individuals and at a group level. Further, in low ambidextrous environments, behaviors amongst individuals does not appear to be enough to promote organisational ambidexterity.

The article finds the routinization of innovation to be an important step for organisations which wish to improve the environment for ambidexterity. The article contributes to the understanding of ambidexterity by the need to focus on both mechanisms and behaviors, as well as the aggregated group level, to further develop the understanding of how public sector organisations promote and support innovation.

Making place for sustainable welfare in rural settings

Caroline Ärleskog — 2024-02-20

This article deals with how welfare organisations address challenges to foster public places that are capable of accommodating sustainable development. The overall aim of the study is to increase our understanding of the innovative states of mind among employees in rural welfare organisations, guiding how they forge places for the provision of legitimate sustainable welfare. Data were collected through ethnographic field studies in a public housing company in a rural municipality in southern Sweden. As we investigate the daily making and shaping of place in a rural public housing company, assigned to provide sustainable welfare, we will set out to analyse how employees act to create legitimate forms of sustainable welfare. Our unit of analysis concerns employees’ innovative state of mind as they engage in identifying placemaking activities recognised as able to provide appropriate contributions to sustainable everyday life for the rural population. The results show nuances due to place, forming patterns in the innovative states of mind that guide the property managers’ actions as they create legitimate, sustainable welfare in rural settings. The findings further suggest that placemaking, the daily making and shaping of places, in welfare organisations may sustain existing recognition of rural areas as peripheries or deprioritised places, reproducing a distinction between centre and periphery.

The Norwegian Cooperation Model as a Framework for Innovation in an Industrial Company

Anne Inga Hilsen — 2024-05-14

Based on a case study in a major Norwegian industrial company, this article explores the role of skilled workers in innovation. The framework for this case is the Norwegian cooperation model of established cooperation at the company level between managers and employees and their representatives. This form of cooperation, together with broad participation from all levels of employees, has proven to be important for innovation work, and this case explores why and how.

The article is based on data material that was also used in Hilsen and colleagues (2022). The case study is based on 6 first-time interviews in spring 2020, and 5 second-time interviews in spring 2021 with managers, union leaders, operators and apprentices, a total of 11 interviews. The interviews lasted approximately 45 – 60 minutes each. The taped interviews were transcribed, and it is this material that forms the basis for our analyses.

Through the systematic involvement of all levels of the company, two examples of process innovation were developed. Through the interviews, it became clear that this form of participation in improvement work and innovation rests on three conditions: that there is a structure for improvement work with meeting places and working methods, that the company has developed a culture for innovation with trust between the parties and open communication, and that both formal and informal cooperation on development has been established.

How trade unions can influence the adoption of new technologies

Peter Totterdill — 2024-05-31

In June 2023, Bridges 5.0 partner Valeria Cirillo and her colleagues at the University of Bari (Italy) published an article¹ on trade union responses to the adoption of new technologies. Peter Totterdill talked to her about the article and its implications for Industry 5.0.

Review Article: Quality and Workplace Innovation

Richard Ennals — 2024-05-31

The article reviews three books by David Hutchins (Hutchins 2006, 2019, 2023).

Book Review Science meets Philosophy

Richard Ennals — 2024-05-31

Recent book by Hans Christian Garmann Johnsen.

The Future of Workplace Innovation: EUWIN International Conference

Egoitz Pomares — 2024-05-31

This international conference calls upon researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to engage in a dialogue. As we discuss, debate, and learn from each other’s experiences, the conference will underscore the imperative of participation and learning, ensuring that workplace innovation remains central to Europe's competitive edge.

For those interested in contributing to or attending this discussion, registration and call for abstracts are now open. Please visit The Future of Workplace Innovation for registration details and Call for Papers to submit your abstracts.