Block-Chain as a Governance Mechanism for Tackling Dysfunctional (Dark Side) Effects in Inter-Organizational Relationships

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debi Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Governance Mechanism ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Block Chain

Blockchain as a governance mechanism for tackling dark side effects in interorganizational relationships

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debi P. Mishra ◽  
Rasleen K. Kukreja ◽  
Arun S. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Textual Analysis ◽  
Interorganizational Relationships ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Decision Framework ◽  
Interorganizational Relationship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expert Opinions ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Research Propositions

Purpose This paper aims to investigate how the emerging blockchain technology can tackle dark side or dysfunctional effects at different stages of the interorganizational relationship life cycle. The rationale for this study stems from the somewhat paradoxical causes of dysfunctional effects. In particular, concepts such as trust and cooperation that typically result in positive relationship outcomes may also lead to negative effects under certain conditions. This contradiction creates a governance headache for organizations in their quest for initiating, developing, maintaining and enhancing efficient interorganizational relationships. Design/methodology/approach The study draws upon multiple organizational theories (agency, signaling, transaction cost, population ecology, institutional) and develops a conceptual understanding of how blockchain can serve as a safeguard for tackling dark side effects in interorganizational relationships. Primarily, the paper outlines a set of research propositions that provides a platform for developing an actionable managerial decision framework. In addition, the authors conduct an automated textual analysis of qualitative blockchain expert opinion using the ALCESTE software and uncover salient themes about blockchain governance. Findings The blockchain ledger distributes trust among participants and keeps dark side effects at bay. Hence, blockchain can transform conventional approaches for handling dark side effects into value creating activities. The results of an automated textual analysis on a corpus of expert opinions provides preliminary support for several aspects of blockchain governance. Furthermore, the study articulates a decision framework that managers can use for optimal relationship governance and identifies several areas for future research. Research limitations/implications This paper is conceptual in nature and draws upon multiple theoretical perspectives to outline a set of research propositions. Thus, lack of empirical testing is a current limitation. However, the findings from an automated textual analysis of expert opinions provide exploratory but encouraging support for the power of blockchain to tackle dark side effects. Practical implications Managers can deploy blockchain creatively while selecting interorganizational relationship partners. For example, provenance issues in organizations’ supply chains can be efficiently managed using blockchain. Likewise, organizations may also create efficient learning around blockchain to gain efficiencies in relationship management. Originality/value Conventional approaches for managing dark side effects in interorganizational relationships rely mainly on ex post governance strategies. By contrast, this paper supplements the extant approach by discussing ex ante strategies that can be deployed at different stages of the interorganizational relationship cycle, e.g. initiation, maintenance/development and termination to better address dark side effects.

The Dark Side of Inter-Organizational Relationships

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
pp. 12411
Author(s):  
Aks Zaheer ◽  
Nicholas Argyres ◽  
Ilgaz Arikan ◽  
Janet E.L. Bercovitz ◽  
Olivier Bertrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dark Side ◽  
Organizational Relationships

Corporate sustainability discourses in a Brazilian business magazine

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Franca Barros ◽  
Joao Felipe Rammelt Sauerbronn ◽  
Alessandra Mello da Costa
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Media Discourse ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Environments ◽  
Important Player ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Developed Nations ◽  
Business Media

Purpose – This paper seeks to explore corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Brazil through the “evolution” of the sustainability concept in one of the country's leading specialist business publications – the Exame Magazine. The idea is to understand how Exame portrays sustainable development and corporate sustainability in its Sustainable Corporation Guide. Design/methodology/approach – The authors collected material covering five years of the Exame Sustainable Corporation Guide, from 2005 to 2009. The data were analyzed using discourse analysis. Findings – The authors consider that the “evolution” promoted in this particular business media discourse on CSR and sustainability assumes, and stands for the economically dominant paradigm. In this sense, it cannot be viewed as an alternative that can realistically protect local environments. Despite the idea of a neutral journalistic approach, the concerns depicted in the publication still rely on profits and the chase for business opportunities. The authors also discuss to what extent this particular publication supports a specific hegemonic discourse. The different sustainability indexes adopted only reproduce practices that are desired and that align with the realities of the so-called developed nations. Research limitations/implications – The paper focuses on what kind of sustainability discourse is propagated by the business media, and more specifically, by a well-known Guide published by a popular Brazilian business magazine. Through this method of diffusion, a specific kind of CSR and sustainability are drawn up that support the capitalist business model. This analysis can raise issues, such as the existence of a “dark side” of sustainability. Further investigation of the diffusion of the CSR and sustainability relationship in business media discourse, as well as of the uncritical adoption of western CSR models, might invigorate the discussion and provide valuable insights. Originality/value – There is a distinct lack of studies on sustainability and CSR in emergent economies. Such initiatives can be developed in different ways because emergent countries' contexts may differ. Since Brazil is currently an important player in the economic and political arenas, understanding how the notion of sustainability is being discussed in the Brazilian business media can lead to important implications for corporate practices and organizational relationships with stakeholders, both internally as well as externally.

scholarly journals "SOFT POWER": THE DARK SIDE (ON THE CASE OF GERMANY)

2016 ◽  
pp. 144-153
Author(s):  
M. M. Lebedeva ◽  
L. R. Rustamova ◽  
M. V. Sharko
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Public Diplomacy ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Positive Image ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

Despite of the fact that numerous researches on the concept of soft power were conducted by Russian as well as by foreign scholars, negative aspects of soft power, especially concerning actors that implement it, were almost disregarded. This article focuses on possible adverse consequences for such actors and illustrates them with the example of Germany that intensively forms its attractive image in the international arena. The authors affirm in particular that actors should form their comprehensive positive image rather than attractiveness of distinct spheres and features. They should also consider side-effects of soft power and harmonize NGO's activities in implementation of this policy. The latter is becoming more relevant against the background of broader application of soft power through public diplomacy with the help of non-governmental organizations. In addition, the article emphasizes the necessity of further theoretical and empirical researches on the issue.

Governance Mechanism and Structural Power Fit: Evidence from an Information System Development Project

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (04) ◽  
pp. 2050006
Author(s):  
Sojung Kim ◽  
Seonyoung Shim
Keyword(s):  
System Development ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Governance Mechanism ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Relational Governance ◽  
Organizational Relationships ◽  
Structural Power ◽  
Quantitative Performance ◽  
Contractual Governance ◽  
Project Level

This study identifies how relational and contractual governance mechanisms differently influence the distinct output of information systems development (ISD) performance at the project level. This study also reveals how the consequence of two modes of inter-organizational relationships (IOR) governance mechanism is affected by the gap of a dyadic partner’s centrality within the network — the client’s structural power (CSP). We collected dyadic samples of clients and vendors for 107 ISD projects and explored their governance mechanisms and project performances, all of which were evaluated by both parties. Our results first reveal a positive relationship between relational (or contractual) governance and qualitative (or quantitative) performance, respectively, but not vice versa. Second, the results incorporating a structural position within the network reveal that CSP facilitates the efficacy of relational governance to lead the quantitative performance, but surprisingly, CSP also mitigates the efficacy of contractual governance.

The dark side of cultural heritage protection

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-510
Author(s):  
Frederik Rosén
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Negative Side ◽  
Future Action ◽  
War And Conflict ◽  
Heritage Protection ◽  
Negative Side Effects ◽  
The Many

AbstractThis article introduces the concept of the dark side of cultural heritage protection. It points out how the many and mostly honorable efforts to protect cultural heritage against the harms of war and conflict sometimes contribute to make cultural heritage vulnerable or even to cause its destruction. The more we talk about cultural heritage and its value and the importance of protecting it, the more interesting it becomes for some groups to target it. This article argues that states, international organizations, and the heritage community need to recognize these negative side effects and make sure to consider them in future action.

scholarly journals The Dark Side of Detracking: Mixed-Ability Classrooms Hurt Low-Achievers’ Math Motivation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Fleischmann ◽  
Nicolas Hübner ◽  
Benjamin Nagengast ◽  
Ulrich Trautwein
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Low Achievers ◽  
High Achievers ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
School Reforms ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Educational Equality ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Math Motivation ◽  
Negative Side Effects

We tested how detracking school reforms, which abolish ability grouping and introduce mixed-ability classrooms, affect students’ math motivation. To do so, we made use of data from two unique natural experiments (N Study 1 = 78,376, N Study 2 = 2,257) and compared student cohorts before and after detracking. In both studies, we found low achievers’ math motivation to be substantially lower after the reform, whereas this was not the case for high achievers. Our study reminds researchers and policymakers that detracking school reforms can have unintended side effects on student motivation. Only when such negative side effects are reduced or eliminated, detracking school reforms can unfold their full potential in establishing educational equality.

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