How Organizing Matters for Societal Grand Challenges

Abstract Societal grand challenges have moved from a marginal concern to mainstream issue within organization and management theory. How diverse forms of organizing help tackle – or reinforce has become centrally important. In this introductory paper, we take stock the contributions volume on Organizing for Grand Challenges identify three characteristics that require further scholarly attention: their interconnectedness, fluidity, paradoxical nature. We also emphasize need expand our methodological repertoire reflect upon practices as community. Keywords Impact Organization theory Management Methodology Research Teaching Citation Gümüsay, A.A., Marti, E., Trittin-Ulbrich, H. Wickert, C. (2022), "How Matters Challenges", (Ed.) (Research in Sociology Organizations, Vol. 79), Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0733-558X20220000079002 Publisher: Limited Copyright © 2022 Ali Aslan Emilio Hannah Trittin-Ulbrich Christopher Wickert License This chapter is published under Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate create derivative works article (for both commercial & non-commercial purposes), subject full attribution original publication authors. The terms licence be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode Turn Toward disciplines are not merely collection methods theories; they foster sense what questions “worth answering” (Davis, 2015, p. 314). Organizational scholars continuously rethinking reframing these how research addresses current important phenomena real world with view impacting society (Marti Scherer, 2016; Post, Doh, Prescott, Prencipe, 2021). been key construct motivated propelled efforts (Ferraro, Etzion, Gehman, 2015; George, Howard-Grenville, Joshi, Tihanyi, Claus, Amis, 2020). Resonating an enduring interest societal issues (Freeman, 1984; Walsh, Weber, Margolis, 2003), renewed intensified focus challenges, which proliferated past few years, based understanding organizations play role creating addressing challenges. On one hand, often part gives rise instance, when engage fuel “dark” problematic aspects digital transformation (Trittin-Ulbrich, Munro, Whelan, other can address such by promoting responsible innovations mitigate climate change (Scherer Voegtlin, papers consolidate organizational doing so, it shows exert impact through engagement practice. all around us. These “societal” insofar affect members environments. They “grand” effects large scale potentially global. Key include emergency, transformation, different inequality. As such, highly complex wicked nature never fully solved (Rittel Webber, 1973). commonly defined “specific critical barrier(s) that, if removed, would solve problem high likelihood global widespread implementation” (Grand Canada, 2011, iv). definitions suggest business-centric ensuring competitive advantage increasing innovation performance attempt overstretch agenda way weaken conceptual clarity value underlying construct. conceive “societal challenges” perspective rather than By perspective, mean expands worth answering scholars, offers ideas central concerns time, creates umbrella term facilitates interaction collaboration among (Hirsch Levin, 1999). At same must draw theories develop thorough theoretical contributions. new approach should motivate researchers rethink topic several cover. now turn overview volume. Volume Section I (“Diverse Forms Challenges”) features six examine II (“Scholarship includes five implications engaging scholarship. III (“Reflections Outlook”) concludes two reflective essays ponder seminal Ferraro et al. (2015) George (2016), respectively. cover organizing; consider entrepreneurial initiative, advocacy hub, platform, meta-organization. wide variety regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, South America multiple COVID-19 pandemic, decent work, hunger, inequality, poverty. Table 1 provides overview. 1. Papers Volume. Paper Core Argument Contribution Challenge Theoretical Perspective(s) Context Kroeger, Siebold, Günzel-Jensen, Saade, Heikkilä Value-driven sensegiving mobilizes heterogeneous stakeholders who ordinarily collaborate each Demonstrates centrality values mobilizing across boundaries collectively Gender inequality Sensegiving Entrepreneurial initiative Lebanon 2. Gegenhuber, Schüßler, Reischauer, Thäter Templates institutional infrastructures enable actors various field organize together private governance Pre-existing templates build emerging fields Decent work Institutional “Crowdwork Agreement,” jointly developed platforms trade union IG Metall Germany 3. Schoeneborn, Vásquez, Cornelissen Metaphorical communication coordinate Framework metaphorical metaphor’s vividness actionability pandemic Communication framework 4. Arciniegas Pradilla, Bento da Silva Reinecke problems present themselves manifestations over shape respond There “true” formulation challenge, only narrative construction informs responses Poverty Narratives Fe y Alegria (FyA) 5. Berkowitz Grothe-Hammer Different social orders interfere process meta-organizing, prevent meta-organization effectively tackling challenge meta-organizational decidability necessary ensure continuity collective action governance-mandated meta-organizations Marine ecosystem conservation Meta-organizational lens International Whaling Commission 6. Stjerne, Wenzel Svejenova temporalities shared narratives commit fluid Illustrates importance Hunger Narrative SDG2 Advocacy Hub 7. Kaufmann Danner-Schröder novel employed creatively A trichotomous relationship between SDGs Literature review 8. Dittrich Consider “scale” Researchers better understand meaning people contexts where necessarily static phenomenon Individual researchers’ 9. Rauch Ansari Using diaries uncover otherwise hidden perceptions about Evaluate analyzing valuable source illuminate innermost thoughts feelings forefront Doctors without Borders illustrative case 10. Gatzweiler, Frey-Heger, Ronzani core feature business school curricula Identifies barriers learning overcome them “Uncomfortable knowledge” Business Schools curricula; academic teacher 11. Friesike, Dobusch, Heimstädt Early career adopt postheroic Five common addressed early-career face strive Post-heroic conception impact; researcher, 12. Robust Three promising directions scaffolding, fictional expectations distributed actorhood action, pragmatism Reflection 13. Howard-Grenville Spengler needs explore construction, persistence, unintended consequences so far classified according justifying context, motivating theory, elaboration concept, introspection scholarship (2016) (2015, 365; see Gehman al., 2022) highlighted analytical facets challenges: complexity, uncertainty evaluativeness. Complexity refers entanglement feedback loops tipping points well nonlinearity. Uncertainty highlights difficulties predicting preparing. Evaluativeness relates plurality meanings, understandings, assessments due diversity evaluation criteria. argue participatory architecture, experimentation, multivocal inscription organizationally. Participatory architectures structures rules allow constructively pursue long-term plans. Distributed experimentation joint effort iteratively pathways generate small wins. Multivocal material discursive activity enables coordination despite interpretations consensus meaning. Extending considerations, themes common: (1) governance, partnerships, regulation; (2) fluidity temporality; (3) communication, imagination, narratives. Insights into complexity triggers emergence certain regulatory infrastructures. (2022) insightfully existing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). authors outline analyze relation segment communicational technological qualities. illustrate emerge response growing platform economy proliferation precarious work. recombining domains efforts. turn, notion investigate incompatible emerged, evolved, clashed its time. “nondecidability” controversial lead failure investigating regulation, provide insights deal demands temporal coordination. Along lines, Wenzel, support SDG#2 quite form organizing. commitment zero hunger 2030. value-driven allows make mobilize future vision values. Focusing Lebanese aims describe sensemaking successful temporality, evaluative showcasing narratives, metaphors, crucial coordinated organized attempts dimensions co-orientation attempting bolster capacity Ideally, authors, facilitate actors, metaphors indicate specific, tangible, ethically action. study Alegria, likely world’s largest nongovernmental organization, education poor 21 countries Latin Africa. empirically poverty potential solutions it. ongoing cycles narration helped adapt alleviation highlighting evaluativeness Reflecting Our Scholarly Practices Engaging requires us reflectively practices, employ go having beyond academia (Gümüsay Reinecke, regard, offer suggests considering treating accordingly examining experience levels analysis. author argues point view, scalar “local” “global” “big” “small” fundamental academics practitioners Yet, taken-for-granted rarely question critically concept used methodologies. To this, seeks seeing epistemological frame participants everyday of, navigate, Looking angle, useful yet underappreciated tool studying ways compiling “deep analysis individuals’ internal processes practices” (Radcliffe, 2018, 188), thus gained cannot gleaned sources data, interviews observations. essence, serve enrich toolkit capturing think feel behind scenes but express display public. Two making combine teaching research, discuss uncomfortable knowledge related recent programmatic advance “responsible education” schools, cognitive overload, emotional detachment, obliviousness. Ultimately, seek contribute discussion more attuned transformational specifically quest reconcile duties, own aspirations ambitions achieve impact. many prospect However, add, come hand faced paper reflection light authors’ alongside sketch “postheroic” impact, seemingly mundane activities interlinked aggregated meaningful way. Finally, avenues research. Etzion revisit award-winning Studies (Ferraro 2015). refine argument robust then termed actorhood. influential 2016 editorial starting forward citation find introspection. Future argue, scrutinize Moving Forward Based volume, outlook move impactful. Outlook still considerable promise researching perspective. particular, conceptually (complexity, uncertainty, evaluativeness) (2015). First, interconnected. just individually complex, (2015), interwoven. Tackling another being negatively reinforced. result, while lists United Nations SDGs, guiding categories, treated caution. rigidity image mutually exclusive individual exhaustive. universal spread shown rapidly appear. Sachs (2019) highlights, 17 grouped 6 larger categories deep transformations pertaining social, health, energy, ecological, community, concerns. intertwined, makes difficult. coordinated, collaborative, Thus, encourage case-study explores exploring trends digitalization sustainability positive negative repercussions. Second, fluid. dynamic evade simple demarcation. 2015) n-order consequences. For example, crowdsourcing platform-organized fueling precarious, self-employed, low-paid undermining welfare systems endangering modern democracies (Bauer Karanović, Berends, Engel, 2021; Morozov, Similarly, arguably new, efficient big data techniques promote racism, discrimination reducing (O’Neil, 2016). lack theorizing double-edged outcomes society. pay close attention organizing, solution called dark side attention. One possible pathway involves memberships (Gümüsay, 2012). Dobusch Schoeneborn specific criteria, namely interconnected decision-making, actorhood, identity. introduce “organizationality” collectives link mechanisms. More needed cause 2nd nth-order dynamic, engagement. Third, paradoxical. entail contradictory interrelated parts jointly. Paradoxes “persistent contradiction interdependent elements” (Schad, Lewis, Raisch, Smith, 2016, 10). facet highlighted. criteria contradictory. Hence, developing strategic ambiguity (Jarzabkowski, Sillince, Shaw, 2010) elastic Smets, Morris, 2020) embrace perspectives approaches. paradox mindset (Miron-Spektor, Ingram, Keller, 2018). mechanism “both-and” strong applying strategies wonder whether suited given hybrids, paradoxes inherent existence. Practice Addressing striving Several those section entitled “Scholarship Challenges,” food-for-thought practice enhance Methodological creativity shine underexplored While do wish away established quantitative qualitative toolbox, complementary opportunities leave comfort zone. attest benefits endeavors (Dittrich, 2022; Ansari, 2022). generally, concur Eisenhardt phenomena, expense rigorous methodology. appreciate complexities empirical settings parcel type repertoire, will show highest degree transparency thoroughly justify choices credible appreciated audience want reach. anticipate reviewers familiar explain pathways. open expecting properly. considerations collect calls problem-driven phenomenon-oriented (de Bakker Hoffman, takes “complication” inquiry subsequent theorizing. (2021, 303) suggest, contribution end itself, means solving least raising awareness real-world problem. stand opposition opposite true. accompany impactful raise bringing classroom (Wickert 2021) openly available nonstudent learners like ideal position conversations leaders tomorro