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Akter, R., Rathnayaka, S. & Ahmadi, Z. (2023). The effect of leadership and organisational culture on organisational innovation. International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 28(5/6), 360-388
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The effect of leadership and organisational culture on organisational innovation
2023 (English)In: International Journal of Services Technology and Management, ISSN 1460-6720, E-ISSN 1741-525X, Vol. 28, no 5/6, p. 360-388Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to explore the impact of company leadership and organizational culture in the development of organizational innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative approach is applied via 12 interviews from six different organizations, encompassing both service providers and product manufacturers, in the countries of Sweden and Sri Lanka.

Findings

Leadership and organizational culture together influence the development of innovation. The findings suggest that process- and job-oriented culture, as well as transactional leadership, have both positive and negative impacts in developing innovation. Result-oriented, employee-oriented, pragmatic culture and an open system, together with transformational leadership, are found to be more effective.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to six organizations, specific industries and national cultures. Researchers could explore in depth to identify which factors particularly lead to the failure or success of innovativeness in a particular industry, through comparing national cultures.

Practical implications

This study helps managers decide how to serve best within the organizational and national culture, while learning about the influential result of the culture and leadership on innovation. With the aid of this study, organizations will be able to identify factors that may help them to be innovative and competitive in the market.

Originality

This study highlights the importance of leadership and organizational cultures effect on an organization's innovation, as well as showing how it improves the companies ability to both meet consumer expectations and contribute to their national economy. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Inderscience, 2023
Keywords
well-being, organizational culture, transactional, transformative, leadership, innovation
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-43224 (URN)10.1504/IJSTM.2023.135084 (DOI)2-s2.0-85179154356 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2023-11-09 Created: 2023-11-09 Last updated: 2023-12-18Bibliographically approved
Jabbari, M., Ahmadi, Z. & Ramos, R. (2022). Defining a digital system for the pedestrian network as a conceptual implementation framework. Sustainability, 14(5), Article ID 528.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Defining a digital system for the pedestrian network as a conceptual implementation framework
2022 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 14, no 5, article id 528Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

In cities today, the digitalization of mobility is one of the most crucial tools that link each single mobility service providers (e.g., ride sharing, public transportation, air travel, etc.) to users. Based on the smart pedestrian network model, the purpose of this study is to initially provide the requirements towards the digitalization of a pedestrian network model and subsequently to draft an institutional framework towards the effective implementation and management of pedestrian mobility that will develop/create a pedestrian network as a new structure in the city. The methodology is applied in three phases, with three separate approaches: “desk approach” for a data gathering standard that is knowledge-based and connected to walkability; a “digitalization approach” for citizen and stakeholder participation in policy co-creation; and a “business approach”. A business approach is defined as a set of operations that takes one or more types of input and produces a customer-valued outcome. In this case, customers are citizens and the business approach by applying a digital system is assessing policies and finding/defining an optimized combination of shared applicable/effective policies to implement the pedestrian network. By boosting an innovative linkage of these three phases, digitalization of the pedestrian network has great potential to improve the walkability planning process and therefore to create more sustainable and livable urban spaces.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2022
Keywords
pedestrian network; digital system; urban planning process; citizen; business strategy
National Category
Other Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Research subject
Sustainable Urban Development
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-38008 (URN)10.3390/su14052528 (DOI)000771246400001 ()2-s2.0-85125359831 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2022-02-23 Created: 2022-02-23 Last updated: 2022-03-31Bibliographically approved
Edström, A., Nylander, B., Molin, J., Ahmadi, Z. & Sörqvist, P. (2022). Where service recovery meets its paradox: Implications for avoiding overcompensation. Journal of service theory and practice, 32(7), 1-13
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Where service recovery meets its paradox: Implications for avoiding overcompensation
Show others...
2022 (English)In: Journal of service theory and practice, ISSN 2055-6225, E-ISSN 2055-6233, Vol. 32, no 7, p. 1-13Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose

The service recovery paradox (SRP) is the phenomenon that happens when customer satisfaction level post-service failure and recovery surpasses the customer satisfaction level achieved at error-free service. The aim of this study was to identify how large the size of compensation has to be at recovery for customer satisfaction to surpass that of error-free service (i.e. to identify a threshold value for SRP). The purpose of this is to inform managers how to restore customer satisfaction yet avoid overcompensation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper covers two studies. Study 1 used the novel approach of asking participants who had experienced a service failure in the hotel industry what amount of money (recovery) would make them more satisfied than in the case of error-free service. Study 2 then tested the compensation levels expressed by Study 1 participants to be sufficient for the service recovery paradox to occur.

Findings

Study 1 indicated that the threshold for the SRP was (on average) around 1,204 SEK, or just over 80% of the original room reservation price of 1,500 SEK (approx. $180). Study 2 found that (on average) the customer satisfaction of participants who received 1,204 SEK in compensation for service failure marked the point where it surpassed that of error-free service. Participants who received 633 SEK were less satisfied; participants who received 1,774 SEK were more satisfied.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are context-specific. Future research should test the findings' generalizability.

Practical implications

The approach used in this paper could provide managers with a tool to guide their service recovery efforts. The findings could help hotel managers to make strategic decisions to restore customer satisfaction yet avoid overcompensation, given a legitimate service failure in which the organization is at fault.

Originality/value

Numerous previous studies have investigated the occurrence or absence of the SRP at predetermined compensation levels. This paper used a novel approach to find a quantitative threshold at which the magnitude of the recovery effort makes customer satisfaction surpass that of error-free service

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald, 2022
Keywords
Service recovery paradox, Compensation, Hotel industry, Customer satisfaction
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Intelligent Industry
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-37189 (URN)10.1108/JSTP-06-2021-0120 (DOI)000797177300001 ()2-s2.0-85130453760 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2021-10-20 Created: 2021-10-20 Last updated: 2022-12-05Bibliographically approved
Ahmadi, Z. & Berggren, B. (2020). Public housing companies in transition: from governmental tools to profit-making organizations. In: : . Paper presented at 26th Annual Pacific Rim Real Estate Society (PRRES) conference, 19-22 January 2020, Canberra, Australia.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Public housing companies in transition: from governmental tools to profit-making organizations
2020 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30750 (URN)
Conference
26th Annual Pacific Rim Real Estate Society (PRRES) conference, 19-22 January 2020, Canberra, Australia
Available from: 2019-10-09 Created: 2019-10-09 Last updated: 2020-08-19Bibliographically approved
Sundström, A., Ahmadi, Z. & Mickelsson, K. (2019). Implementing social sustainability for innovative industrial work environments. Sustainability, 11(12), Article ID 3402.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Implementing social sustainability for innovative industrial work environments
2019 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 11, no 12, article id 3402Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Industrial companies are in a situation that requires them to reconsider their social sustainability agenda in order to attract new employees. Building upon interviews with CEOs and HR managers in 20 small medium enterprises (SMEs), this study aims to analyze how high-tech companies and industrial engineering companies define and implement social sustainability into business strategies and operations. Data was collected from 20 interviews and secondary information coded for categorical data analysis in SPSS Statistics 22 software. The findings show that although the companies have adopted several kinds of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, social sustainability is still absent from their operational activities and is considered of lower importance than environmental sustainability. Thus, the implementation of social sustainability can be considered symbolic rather substantive. The study also shows differences between the two groups of companies. The high-tech company group pays little attention to social sustainability aspects, instead focusing on product innovation development. While the industrial engineering group has some interest in social sustainability, their focus is primarily on issues linked to health and safety in order to meet increasing demands from supply chain compliance. Neglecting social aspects of sustainability, such as addressing gender equality and diversity, may cause difficulties in attracting a new workforce.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI AG, 2019
Keywords
social sustainability; high-tech companies; industrial engineering companies; preparation; environmental sustainability
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Intelligent Industry
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30567 (URN)10.3390/su11123402 (DOI)000473753700172 ()2-s2.0-85069766872 (Scopus ID)
Note

Funding agency:

- University of Gävle

Available from: 2019-08-23 Created: 2019-08-23 Last updated: 2022-02-10Bibliographically approved
Ahmadi, Z. (2019). Moderating effects on the market orientation and strategic performance relationship in public housing. Baltic Journal of Management, 14(4), 559-577
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Moderating effects on the market orientation and strategic performance relationship in public housing
2019 (English)In: Baltic Journal of Management, ISSN 1746-5265, E-ISSN 1746-5273, Vol. 14, no 4, p. 559-577Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine how external factors moderate public housing companies’ market orientation and strategic performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach – The quantitative method was applied to data from a survey sent to 289 public housing companies in Sweden. A hierarchical, multicollinearity diagnostics–moderated regression analysis is used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings – The results reveal moderating factors. The companies take several initiatives to inform themselves about customers’ needs and distribute the information within the company, but economic conditions, as well as market and technological turbulence in the municipalities, moderate the relationship between market orientation and strategic performance. Economic conditions make it difficult for public housing companies to strategically act based on market needs when making decisions and planning construction strategies (strategic performance).

Research limitations/implications – This study is limited by focusing on public housing companies, a sector that differs radically from the open market. The study highlights the effects of moderating factors that are important for companies’ strategic performance and long-term construction strategies. From this limited focus, researchers might use the results to compare both similar and different market situations.

Practical implications – The results of the study are useful for companies facing a similar market situation of external moderating constraints. The result might be used in future research related to the area in focus.

Originality –This research adds new knowledge to market research by including the impact of economic conditions, which provide insight into how to develop and use market knowledge in real estate and public housing markets.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2019
Keywords
Market orientation, moderating, strategic performance, public housing, construction strategies
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-27974 (URN)10.1108/BJM-08-2018-0309 (DOI)000492757600003 ()2-s2.0-85067044265 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2018-09-26 Created: 2018-09-26 Last updated: 2019-11-22Bibliographically approved
Sundström, A. & Ahmadi, Z. (2019). The Mediating Role of CSR on the Market Orientation and Strategic Performance Relationship: A Study of the Public Housing Companies in Sweden. Sustainability, 11(6), Article ID 1537.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The Mediating Role of CSR on the Market Orientation and Strategic Performance Relationship: A Study of the Public Housing Companies in Sweden
2019 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 11, no 6, article id 1537Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This article serves to analyze the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on (1) the market orientation and strategic performance relationship related to public housing companies’ choice of construction strategies and (2) the companies’ responsiveness to gathered and disseminated customer information. The quantitative method is applied, with data analyzed by the PROCESS analysis. The result is based on a survey sent to 289 public housing companies in Sweden. Previous research suggests a positive relationship between market orientation and strategic performance, which was not confirmed by this study. When testing the mediation effects of CSR on the market orientation and construction strategies relationship, these hypotheses were confirmed related to social and environmental dimensions—not economic ones. This study was limited to public housing companies, a sector that radically differs from the situation of companies in the open market. The study increases public housing companies’ knowledge of CSR effects on the market orientation and strategic performance relationship. This result contributes useful information for companies implementing CSR in their activities. The study highlights the importance of integrating CSR into an organization’s market orientation work and shows how CSR improves the companies’ ability to meet customers’ strategic needs.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2019
Keywords
market orientation, mediating, CSR, strategic performance, public housing companies, construction strategies
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-27975 (URN)10.3390/su11061537 (DOI)000465613000032 ()2-s2.0-85063497984 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2018-09-26 Created: 2018-09-26 Last updated: 2022-02-10Bibliographically approved
Ahmadi, Z. (2019). The role of competitive strategy and market orientation: the effect of innovation and sustainability - a study of public housing companies. In: : . Paper presented at International Conference on Economics and Business Management (ICEBM), 7-8 Augsut 2019, London, UK.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The role of competitive strategy and market orientation: the effect of innovation and sustainability - a study of public housing companies
2019 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30751 (URN)
Conference
International Conference on Economics and Business Management (ICEBM), 7-8 Augsut 2019, London, UK
Available from: 2019-10-09 Created: 2019-10-09 Last updated: 2019-10-09Bibliographically approved
Ahmadi, Z. (2018). Moderating effects on market orientation and strategic performance: A study of public housing companies in Sweden. In: : . Paper presented at 2nd International COnference on Advances in Business, Management and Law (ICABML), 24-25 November 2018, Dubai.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Moderating effects on market orientation and strategic performance: A study of public housing companies in Sweden
2018 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation only (Refereed)
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30753 (URN)
Conference
2nd International COnference on Advances in Business, Management and Law (ICABML), 24-25 November 2018, Dubai
Available from: 2019-10-09 Created: 2019-10-09 Last updated: 2019-10-09Bibliographically approved
Ahmadi, Z. & Lind, H. (2018). Sustainable strategies in a declining housing market: a comparative study. Paper presented at International Conference on a multidisciplinary View on Sustainable Life and Business: Sus-Lab’, November 2016, Bangkok, Thailand. International Journal of Management Practice, 11(4), 400-421
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Sustainable strategies in a declining housing market: a comparative study
2018 (English)In: International Journal of Management Practice, ISSN 1477-9064, E-ISSN 1741-8143, Vol. 11, no 4, p. 400-421Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The purpose of this study is first to examine and comparesustainable strategies within public and private housing companies in decliningmarkets in central Sweden. Then, the study evaluates the impact of newlegislation that requires public housing companies to act in a ‘businesslike’way, in the same way as a long-term private company. A quantitative studywas conducted based on a survey sent to 72 housing companies. The resultsshow that public housing companies are more strategy oriented than privatehousing companies. The results can be viewed as an on-going interactionprocess, where a company’s strategies affect its profit. The study aims toincrease the understanding of activities within housing companies in adeclining market that engage the companies in sustainable strategies toimprove their market knowledge and profit.

Keywords
sustainable strategy; declining market; construction; renovation; demolition; social corporate responsibility.
National Category
Business Administration
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-27857 (URN)10.1504/IJMP.2018.095169 (DOI)2-s2.0-85054501997 (Scopus ID)
Conference
International Conference on a multidisciplinary View on Sustainable Life and Business: Sus-Lab’, November 2016, Bangkok, Thailand
Available from: 2018-09-06 Created: 2018-09-06 Last updated: 2019-10-08Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0003-0084-007x

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