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We draw on the grounded theory methodology to analyze an automation project in a global parcel delivery company, as implemented in three parcel sorting hubs in two countries, seeking to identify key factors in successful change and the role of the change leader. We show that a crucial—but often neglected—aspect of successful change is the detection and management of tensions stemming from uncertainty. By recognizing and managing uncertainty and tensions (in this case, manual vs. automated, corporate vs. site, and planned vs. emergent), the change leader, here the industrial engineering function, can orchestrate the differing views and expectations of corporate actors toward a successful implementation of a change program. In line with recent theories on paradoxes and tensions in organizational change, our empirical outcomes imply that effective leadership of change requires the conscious acceptance of uncertainty and tensions between opposite options in key decision areas.
Francesco Virili; Cristiano Ghiringhelli. Uncertainty and Emerging Tensions in Organizational Change: A Grounded Theory Study on the Orchestrating Role of the Change Leader. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4776 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Virili, Cristiano Ghiringhelli. Uncertainty and Emerging Tensions in Organizational Change: A Grounded Theory Study on the Orchestrating Role of the Change Leader. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):4776.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Virili; Cristiano Ghiringhelli. 2021. "Uncertainty and Emerging Tensions in Organizational Change: A Grounded Theory Study on the Orchestrating Role of the Change Leader." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 4776.
Purpose Implementing automatic sorting operations in the parcel delivery industry can dramatically improve both capacity and service quality but demands radical and complex organizational change. The present in-depth grounded theory study examined a change process of this kind within one of the few global companies in the parcel delivery sector, focusing on three European hubs where automatic sorting had recently been introduced. Design/methodology/approach Grounded theory methodology, which facilitates the gradual emergence and dialogical interpretation of empirically grounded theoretical concepts, was particularly suited to the current project's open-ended research design and the hybrid (prescriptive but also constructive) nature of the change process under study. The investigation comprised iterative cycles of data collection, open coding, selective coding and theoretical coding over a three-year period. Findings In keeping with the dual nature of the change underway, a set of tensions were identified between pairs of opposite poles: manual vs automated, planned vs emergent and corporate vs site. The management of these tensions, which leveraged both prescriptive and sensemaking approaches, was found to trigger knowledge production, facilitating a gradual transition from high to low uncertainty and, consequently, progressive movement along the continuum between each pair of competing poles. Within this process, the industrial engineering function acted as an agent of change with a key orchestrating role. Originality/value As one of the first in-depth grounded theory analyses of tension management, this study contributes to the relatively recent debate on the recognition, analysis and handling of tensions and paradoxes in organizational change, suggesting innovative criteria for successful change management and identifying promising new avenues for research. From a managerial perspective, the study outcomes suggest that explicit recognition of uncertainty and tensions in organizational change can pave the way for solutions based on agility and continuous organizational learning.
Cristiano Ghiringhelli; Francesco Virili. Organizational change as tension management: a grounded theory. Business Process Management Journal 2020, 27, 328 -345.
AMA StyleCristiano Ghiringhelli, Francesco Virili. Organizational change as tension management: a grounded theory. Business Process Management Journal. 2020; 27 (1):328-345.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristiano Ghiringhelli; Francesco Virili. 2020. "Organizational change as tension management: a grounded theory." Business Process Management Journal 27, no. 1: 328-345.
This work in progress aims to explore ethical dilemmas connected to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in financial portfolio management, and their managerial implications. In old school quantitative investing, portfolio allocation decisions are typically based on a well-defined investment strategy. Financial portfolio managers devise and apply investment strategies to maximize expected returns for customers’ portfolios. The introduction of AI-enhanced algorithms enables smart machines to automatically revise and update investment strategies, learning from the past. AI itself might produce significant effects on the gains and losses of the portfolio management strategies, raising ethical dilemmas connected with human versus machine responsibility, accountability, and risk. From the managerial point of view, a new dimension of performance measuring, competence evaluation and incentive allocation is required for managing AI software developers in this area. To explore such dilemmas, empirical evidence is drawn here from MDOTM, an innovative and successful young enterprise developing AI-driven investment strategies for financial markets.
Elena Beccalli; Viktor Elliot; Francesco Virili. Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Portfolio Management. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities 2020, 19 -30.
AMA StyleElena Beccalli, Viktor Elliot, Francesco Virili. Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Portfolio Management. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities. 2020; ():19-30.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElena Beccalli; Viktor Elliot; Francesco Virili. 2020. "Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Portfolio Management." Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities , no. : 19-30.
This paper offers a literature investigation on Organizational Learning processes stemming from Organizational Change initiatives, based on SNA analysis of bibliometric data. The intentionally open, incomplete and question-provoking research outcomes offered by this initial literature analysis represent form one hand a limit, from the other hand they may be seen as an opportunity to listen to the voice of the research community, to collect new ideas and suggestions before proceeding forward towards a better understanding of the fascinating phenomena at the intersection of organizational change and learning.
Stefano Za; Cristiano Ghiringhelli; Francesco Virili. Organizational Change and Learning: An Explorative Bibliometric-Based Literature Analysis. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities 2019, 429 -442.
AMA StyleStefano Za, Cristiano Ghiringhelli, Francesco Virili. Organizational Change and Learning: An Explorative Bibliometric-Based Literature Analysis. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities. 2019; ():429-442.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Za; Cristiano Ghiringhelli; Francesco Virili. 2019. "Organizational Change and Learning: An Explorative Bibliometric-Based Literature Analysis." Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities , no. : 429-442.
In this paper, we explored the introduction of an automated parcel sorting system in a major company in the logistic and parcel delivery industry. Adopting a Grounded Theory approach, we carried out a study that highlighted profound and unexpected organizational implications and management challenges connected to the introduction of the new technology. Our analysis revealed the key role of the Industrial Engineering function as a change agent in devising and managing the introduction of the automated system. In particular, Industrial Engineering actually managed the organizational change by determining the right balance between several opposite dimensions (manual vs. automated; planned vs. emergent; local vs. global). Handling these tensions with a holistic approach may constitute a crucial factor for the change program effectiveness. Contrasting our findings with extant literature, we found resonance with latest works on ambidexterity, interpreted as a firm’s ability to manage tensions. The resulting outcome is a substantive grounded theory of ambidexterity in an automation enhancement program.
Francesco Virili; Cristiano Ghiringhelli. Automation as Management of Paradoxical Tensions: The Role of Industrial Engineering. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities 2018, 7 -21.
AMA StyleFrancesco Virili, Cristiano Ghiringhelli. Automation as Management of Paradoxical Tensions: The Role of Industrial Engineering. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities. 2018; ():7-21.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Virili; Cristiano Ghiringhelli. 2018. "Automation as Management of Paradoxical Tensions: The Role of Industrial Engineering." Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities , no. : 7-21.
Cecilia Rossignoli; Francesco Virili; Stefano Za. Introduction. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities 2017, 23, 1 -6.
AMA StyleCecilia Rossignoli, Francesco Virili, Stefano Za. Introduction. Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities. 2017; 23 ():1-6.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCecilia Rossignoli; Francesco Virili; Stefano Za. 2017. "Introduction." Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities 23, no. : 1-6.
This publication contains reprint articles for which IEEE does not hold copyright. Full text is not available on IEEE Xplore for these articles.
Daniela Isari; Andrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. Working with tweets vs. working with chats: an experiment on collaborative problem solving. IEEE Engineering Management Review 2016, 44, 55 -71.
AMA StyleDaniela Isari, Andrea Pontiggia, Francesco Virili. Working with tweets vs. working with chats: an experiment on collaborative problem solving. IEEE Engineering Management Review. 2016; 44 (4):55-71.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniela Isari; Andrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. 2016. "Working with tweets vs. working with chats: an experiment on collaborative problem solving." IEEE Engineering Management Review 44, no. 4: 55-71.
This papers aims to explore how \"working with tweets\" differs from \"working with chats\". With eight experimental sessions involving 120 Italian students, we investigate how the well known 140-characters limit and other subtle differences between Twitter and a typical instant messenger affect group problem solving performances. In our laboratory experiment, teams of the same size carry out a problem solving task communicating via Twitter or Skype instant messaging. Comparative group performance is measured in terms of successful task completion time. Our results show that the lower number and volume of text messages exchanged via Twitter does not negatively affect group performance: Twitter teams are just as effective as Skype instant messaging teams. These results can be interpreted in accordance with the latest developments in multiple media choice and virtual team effectiveness theories, disclosing interesting windows of opportunities for \"working with tweets\" in the forthcoming organizational settings. We compare Twitter with a typical Instant Messenger in group problem solving.Do Twitter's features (including its short text window size) actually matter?Twitter groups produced a lower volume of text messages than chat groups.Twitter group performance was not significantly different.Reduced-length conversations can effectively enrich teamwork communication.
Daniela Isari; Andrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. Working with tweets vs. working with chats: An experiment on collaborative problem solving. Computers in Human Behavior 2016, 58, 130 -140.
AMA StyleDaniela Isari, Andrea Pontiggia, Francesco Virili. Working with tweets vs. working with chats: An experiment on collaborative problem solving. Computers in Human Behavior. 2016; 58 ():130-140.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniela Isari; Andrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. 2016. "Working with tweets vs. working with chats: An experiment on collaborative problem solving." Computers in Human Behavior 58, no. : 130-140.
This chapter tells the story of the “Eiderdown project”, a graphical twodimensional map exploring the evolution of Organization and Information Systems, that Marco promoted and distributed with a group of friends, evolving it from a playful sensemaking tool to a smart interdisciplinary means of connecting people and generating ideas. The first release of Eiderdown appeared as a gigantic white-background table, and was therefore named “Lenzuolo” (= bedsheet). After several additions, the bedsheet grew in content and size, earning the name of “Eiderdown” (= duvet, continental quilt). The story is structured in four sections: 1) the reasons and background of the project, the founding group and its first objectives; 2) the underlying structure and principles; 3) the evolution and the contributions collected over time; 4) the final outcome, its use and some paths for further evolution.
Francesco Virili. The Eiderdown Project. Emerging Themes in Information Systems and Organization Studies 2011, 3 -10.
AMA StyleFrancesco Virili. The Eiderdown Project. Emerging Themes in Information Systems and Organization Studies. 2011; ():3-10.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Virili. 2011. "The Eiderdown Project." Emerging Themes in Information Systems and Organization Studies , no. : 3-10.
Daniela Isari; Andrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. Working Together in Organizations Using Social Network Sites: A Laboratory Experiment on Microblog Use for Problem-Solving. SSRN Electronic Journal 2011, 1 .
AMA StyleDaniela Isari, Andrea Pontiggia, Francesco Virili. Working Together in Organizations Using Social Network Sites: A Laboratory Experiment on Microblog Use for Problem-Solving. SSRN Electronic Journal. 2011; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniela Isari; Andrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. 2011. "Working Together in Organizations Using Social Network Sites: A Laboratory Experiment on Microblog Use for Problem-Solving." SSRN Electronic Journal , no. : 1.
This research analyzes network effects in technology acceptance. The hypothesis is that the size of the user network affects technology acceptance. Even today, empirical measurement of network effects is challenging and there is a lack of experimental evidence. In order to investigate and measure the relationship between network size (number of adopters) and user acceptance, technology acceptance research needs to broaden its scope and approaches. To overcome this limitation we reproduce a particular type of technology acceptance process in a laboratory experiment, controlling for user network size and testing its influence on user perceptions and, ultimately, on acceptance decisions. We measured user perceptions and analyzed the data using consolidated and tested technology acceptance models. The results confirm our hypothesis, showing a significant effect of user network size on user perceptions. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of our approach and findings.
Andrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. Network effects in technology acceptance: Laboratory experimental evidence. International Journal of Information Management 2010, 30, 68 -77.
AMA StyleAndrea Pontiggia, Francesco Virili. Network effects in technology acceptance: Laboratory experimental evidence. International Journal of Information Management. 2010; 30 (1):68-77.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. 2010. "Network effects in technology acceptance: Laboratory experimental evidence." International Journal of Information Management 30, no. 1: 68-77.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has helped to drive increasingly intense global competition. In turn, this intensity increases the need for flexibility and rapid changeability in ICT to support strategies that depend on organisational agility. We report a comparative, cross-cultural case study of the implementation of Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) at a Scandinavian bank and a Swiss bank. The strategic rewards in the adoption of SOA appear to go beyond marketplace issues of ICT capability acquisition, and unexpectedly arise in the creation of an extensible organisational ICT architecture. The extensibility of the ICT architecture that results from the adoption of SOA provides potential for greater organisational agility (and thereby competitiveness).
Richard L. Baskerville; Marco Cavallari; Kristian Hjort Madsen; Jan Pries Heje; Maddalena Sorrentino; Francesco Virili. The strategic value of SOA: a comparative case study in the banking sector. International Journal of Information Technology and Management 2010, 9, 30 .
AMA StyleRichard L. Baskerville, Marco Cavallari, Kristian Hjort Madsen, Jan Pries Heje, Maddalena Sorrentino, Francesco Virili. The strategic value of SOA: a comparative case study in the banking sector. International Journal of Information Technology and Management. 2010; 9 (1):30.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRichard L. Baskerville; Marco Cavallari; Kristian Hjort Madsen; Jan Pries Heje; Maddalena Sorrentino; Francesco Virili. 2010. "The strategic value of SOA: a comparative case study in the banking sector." International Journal of Information Technology and Management 9, no. 1: 30.
Andrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Questionnaire--Adapted. PsycTESTS Dataset 2010, 1 .
AMA StyleAndrea Pontiggia, Francesco Virili. Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Questionnaire--Adapted. PsycTESTS Dataset. 2010; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Pontiggia; Francesco Virili. 2010. "Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Questionnaire--Adapted." PsycTESTS Dataset , no. : 1.
This paper sets the basis for a research project focused on collaborative social network’s genesis and dynamics. It introduces a research framework for the empirical investigation of a network focused on the design of a shared artifact, the so-called “Web services architecture.” Our hypothesis is that network artifact’s characteristics, seen as the final outcome of a collaborative process, influence and drive the genesis and the structure of the social network that is designing it. We embraced this view in order to avoid a limitation of the traditional perspectives that consider the network structure as exogenous and stable. Instead, in our perspective, we consider the reciprocal influence between the artifact and the social network structure, with a phase in which the desired artifact may shape the network genesis and a phase in which the emergent network’s structure may drive the artifact design.
F. Bolici; Francesco Virili. Network Outcome as Trigger for the Evolution of a Design Network: Coordination Processes Between Actors and Objects. Information Systems: People, Organizations, Institutions, and Technologies 2009, 73 -80.
AMA StyleF. Bolici, Francesco Virili. Network Outcome as Trigger for the Evolution of a Design Network: Coordination Processes Between Actors and Objects. Information Systems: People, Organizations, Institutions, and Technologies. 2009; ():73-80.
Chicago/Turabian StyleF. Bolici; Francesco Virili. 2009. "Network Outcome as Trigger for the Evolution of a Design Network: Coordination Processes Between Actors and Objects." Information Systems: People, Organizations, Institutions, and Technologies , no. : 73-80.
Value generation in e-government from service-based IT integration
Francesco Virili; Maddalena Sorrentino. Value generation in e‐government from service‐based IT integration. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy 2009, 3, 227 -247.
AMA StyleFrancesco Virili, Maddalena Sorrentino. Value generation in e‐government from service‐based IT integration. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy. 2009; 3 (3):227-247.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Virili; Maddalena Sorrentino. 2009. "Value generation in e‐government from service‐based IT integration." Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy 3, no. 3: 227-247.
This study presents a grounded theory analysis of a case study in the banking industry with a view to showing the enabling role of “Web services” technology in information system development practices. The grounded theory analysis of the Cashier Management System development project at the Central Europe Bank (a pseudonym) shows that Web services technology is a key technological enabler for more agile forms of IS development, characterized by incremental analysis, requirements revision, requirements emerging in use and incremental implementation. In particular, an initial in-depth analysis phase, conducted in a traditional way, is then followed, during system development, by several iterative phases of requirements revision/addition, in fulfilment of emerging or previously unplanned user needs discovered along the way. Such system development practices, enabled by the Web services technology and influenced by a variety of contextual factors, cover a middle ground between methodical and amethodical development processes.
Francesco Virili; Maddalena Sorrentino. The enabling role of Web services in information system development practices: a grounded theory study. Information Systems and e-Business Management 2008, 8, 207 -233.
AMA StyleFrancesco Virili, Maddalena Sorrentino. The enabling role of Web services in information system development practices: a grounded theory study. Information Systems and e-Business Management. 2008; 8 (3):207-233.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Virili; Maddalena Sorrentino. 2008. "The enabling role of Web services in information system development practices: a grounded theory study." Information Systems and e-Business Management 8, no. 3: 207-233.
A new technological standard, called ‘Web services’ has recently made its first appearance in the Web technologies arena. Our question here is: what is the role of Web services for eGovernment? In the present contribution, the concept of ‘political value chain’ is introduced and the process of value reconfiguration is illustrated, evidencing one of the potential roles of IT on administrative activities: the facilitation of ‘citizen value’ creation activities connection. A brief illustration of the Web services technology is then given, finally exploring its potential for e-Government activities and the related research issues.
Francesco Virili; Maddalena Sorrentino. Reconfiguring the Political Value Chain: The Potential Role of Web Services. Privacy Enhancing Technologies 2007, 2456, 61 -68.
AMA StyleFrancesco Virili, Maddalena Sorrentino. Reconfiguring the Political Value Chain: The Potential Role of Web Services. Privacy Enhancing Technologies. 2007; 2456 ():61-68.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Virili; Maddalena Sorrentino. 2007. "Reconfiguring the Political Value Chain: The Potential Role of Web Services." Privacy Enhancing Technologies 2456, no. : 61-68.
Two basic questions are investigated in this contribution: 1) How can we explain the value generation process in the public sector? 2) What is the potential role of Web services technology in this process? Our approach has been to make use of the process theory on business value generation developed by Soh and Markus (1993), adapting the original framework of analysis to the public sector. According to these authors, IT can generate business value through a three-phase process: conversion, use and competitive deployment. We focus on the first stage of the model, where IT expenditures are converted into IT assets. The role of Web services technology in this conversion process is then depicted, evidencing some implications connected to its adoption in e-Government (e-Gov) projects. The analysis is intentionally limited to the intra-organizational level (i. e. we do not consider inter-agency systems) and to the first phase of the value generation process. In the future it may be possible to delineate a more complete picture of the e-Gov value generation process and the potential role of the Web services technology.
Maddalena Sorrentino; Francesco Virili. Web Services and Value Generation in the Public Sector. Computer Vision 2004, 489 -495.
AMA StyleMaddalena Sorrentino, Francesco Virili. Web Services and Value Generation in the Public Sector. Computer Vision. 2004; ():489-495.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaddalena Sorrentino; Francesco Virili. 2004. "Web Services and Value Generation in the Public Sector." Computer Vision , no. : 489-495.
Francesco Bolici; Franca Cantoni; Maddalena Sorrentino; Francesco Virili. Cooperating Strategies in e-Government. Computer Vision 2003, 313 -318.
AMA StyleFrancesco Bolici, Franca Cantoni, Maddalena Sorrentino, Francesco Virili. Cooperating Strategies in e-Government. Computer Vision. 2003; ():313-318.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Bolici; Franca Cantoni; Maddalena Sorrentino; Francesco Virili. 2003. "Cooperating Strategies in e-Government." Computer Vision , no. : 313-318.
Maddalena Sorrentino; Francesco Virili. Socio-technical Perspectives on e-Government Initiatives. Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency XV 2003, 91 -94.
AMA StyleMaddalena Sorrentino, Francesco Virili. Socio-technical Perspectives on e-Government Initiatives. Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency XV. 2003; ():91-94.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaddalena Sorrentino; Francesco Virili. 2003. "Socio-technical Perspectives on e-Government Initiatives." Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency XV , no. : 91-94.