Talking About Organizations Podcast

In this enlightening discussion, William Starbuck, a visiting professor at the University of Oregon, shares insights from his groundbreaking work on knowledge-intensive firms. He highlights the challenges these organizations face in knowledge retention, especially in long-term projects like naval shipbuilding. Starbuck also critiques traditional quantitative research methods, emphasizes the importance of originality in academic work, and discusses how specialization and a long-term vision are key for success. Tune in for a rich exploration of knowledge management in business!

This is a Summary of our inaugural episode of Season 3 - the Journal of Management Studies Classics - where we were joined by Professor Mike Wright to discuss his work on international business and emerging economies.

Please join us and listen to our first Season 3 discussion on a 2013 work published in Journal of Management Studies, by Hoskisson, Wright, Filatotchev and Peng entitled “Emerging multinationals from mid-range economies: the influence of institutions and factor markets”. This episode also sees the participation of one of the authors of the paper, Mike Wright, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Imperial College London. Together, we review the key points of the paper, its importance as one of the classics of JMS, and its legacy.

Lucy Suchman, an expert on human-machine interaction, discusses her book 'Human-Machine Reconfigurations' which questions the assumptions about user behavior in technology. Topics include reconfiguring human-machine interface, the power of relationships in human-machine interaction, challenges of adopting technology in non-tech companies, developing perceptual capabilities in different cultures, and the importance of context and engaging with technology.

The slightly belated, yet highly anticipated discussion from after the Connections in Action event is here! Join Pedro, Katharina and Brian as they reflect on what they have learned during their time at the workshop/conference. A really fascinating discussion about methodology, fundamental issues to do with actions and practices, and a bit of philosophy!

What a treat! Joining us for this Special Episode from the fascinating 'Connections in Action' workshop at the University of Warwick are Katharina Dittrich and Brian Pentland (aka Doctor Decade)! To our great delight, Doctor Decade provided the live intro music for this episode and even performed one of his songs (Ruts in the Road)!

This is a summary of Episode 20, where we held two discussions broadly grouped under the umbrella title of High Reliability in practice. Broadly focused on the 1993 classic research by Karl Weick and Karlene Roberts which asked how do complex, high risk organizations manage to work safely and reliably, our discussion in Episode 20 featured an appearance by a very special guest! Basically, Weick and Roberts went aboard a US Navy Nimitz class aircraft carrier to collect data and observe how the flight deck crew launches and recovers aircraft. When they came aboard the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, guess who was there to welcome them? Commanding officer Rear Admiral Tom Mercer! Thanks to Ralph we managed to get in touch with Tom and he joined us for part one of the discussion, so definitely listen to that if you haven’t yet.

Discover practical insights into high reliability in organizations, from building a collective mind for performance to navigating complex operations. Explore the balance between bureaucratic rigidity and operational flexibility, revealing how creativity can thrive within structured environments. Hear about the vital role of continuous learning and mentorship in fostering collaboration, alongside personal anecdotes from high-stakes military training. Delve into the importance of shared norms and communication as essential components for ensuring safety and efficiency.

Retired Rear Admiral Tom Mercer, former commanding officer of the USS Carl Vinson, shares his wealth of experience in managing high-reliability organizations. He discusses the critical leadership lessons learned from his diverse naval journey, including the complexities of commanding large crews and the high-stakes art of underway replenishment. Mercer emphasizes the importance of teamwork and effective communication in high-pressure environments, along with fostering a transparent culture that encourages open dialogue and operational reliability.

Join Miranda and Ralph as they summarise our discussion of Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning by James March. This is an excellent little segment to introduce new people to the ideas developed in this classic text, as well as to help add structure to our discussion in the main episode. As a bonus, you will also get a special emphasis from Miranda on socialisation, and some useful tips from Ralph on employee learning!