Collaborations complexes : modèle théorique et vérification empirique préliminaire en contexte de projets interdisciplinaires et interorganisationnels

La collaboration constitue une stratégie efficace pour aider les organisations et les individus à évoluer dans des environnements dynamiques et complexes, et génère de nombreux avantages cognitifs, affectifs et pécuniaires. De plus en plus, les équipes de travail sont impliquées dans des collaborations complexes, lesquelles requièrent de transiger à travers les frontières nationales, organisationnelles et disciplinaires. Bien que les collaborations complexes soient de plus en plus courantes en milieux organisationnels et étudiées par les scientifiques, peu d’études empiriques ont été réalisées sur le sujet et la documentation inhérente est disséminée dans divers silos parallèles de connaissances, donnant lieu à des modèles conceptuels divergents et incomplets. L’importance croissante de ces formes de collaboration crée l’impératif scientifique et pratique d’en acquérir une meilleure compréhension ainsi que d’identifier et d’évaluer les conditions et les facteurs qui favorisent leur succès et leur efficacité. Cette thèse vise à combler les lacunes susmentionnées et permettre un avancement des connaissances sur le sujet par l’entremise de deux articles répondant à divers objectifs de recherche. Le premier article avance une définition claire des collaborations complexes, en vue de réduire la confusion entourant ce construit. Il présente également la première revue de documentation sur les facteurs favorisant le succès des collaborations complexes, unifiant les résultats issus de divers contextes et disciplines scientifiques. Cette démarche a permis d’identifier 14 variables clés provenant de 26 études empiriques. À partir de ces données, un modèle conceptuel fondé sur des assises théoriques solides et reconnues en psychologie du travail et des organisations est proposé, offrant ainsi un canevas systémique et dynamique du phénomène ainsi qu’une orientation détaillée des pistes de recherches pertinentes. Le deuxième article part des résultats obtenus dans le premier article afin d’évaluer empiriquement les relations entre certains facteurs clés ayant un impact sur des extrants importants de collaborations complexes. L’étude multiphasique est réalisée auprès de 16 équipes de projets (N=93) interdisciplinaires et interorganisationnelles prenant part à des sessions de travail intensives visant la production de concepts novateurs en design intégré lié au développement durable. Les analyses corrélationnelles montrent des liens positifs entre l’ouverture à la diversité, les processus collaboratifs, la viabilité, la performance d’équipe et la performance de projet, ainsi que des liens négatifs entre les conflits et ces mêmes extrants. De plus, les analyses de médiation multiple révèlent qu’une plus grande ouverture à la diversité influence positivement la viabilité, la performance d’équipe et la performance de projet en favorisant les processus collaboratifs efficaces et en réduisant les conflits. Les implications théoriques et pratiques découlant de ces résultats sont discutées.

A regulação descentralizada da governança corporativa: uma análise da criação dos segmentos de listagem do mercado organizado de valores mobiliários administrado pela Bovespa

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar pela perspectiva da regulação descentralizada a criação dos segmentos de listagem do mercado de valores mobiliários administrado pela Bovespa. O objetivo de analisar a criação dos segmentos de listagem inclui a descrição do fenômeno para apontar fatores que levaram as companhias e controladores a alterarem seus comportamentos e a construção de um argumento normativo formulado a partir do reconhecimento desses fatores. No debate sobre regulação da Governança Corporativa, o conceito de regulação normalmente assume uma definição centrada no Estado. Grande parte da análise da criação dos segmentos de listagem do mercado administrado pela Bovespa seguiu essa perspectiva. A criação dos segmentos de listagem, então, foi classificada como um fenômeno autorregulatório, privado e de mercado. Dessa análise seguiu a formulação de um argumento normativo, o qual prescreveu o uso da autorregulação a atores que visassem estabelecer regras específicas de Governança Corporativa. Contudo, a perspectiva da regulação descentralizada questionou o pressuposto da centralidade do Estado no conceito de regulação. A perspectiva da regulação descentralizada sustentou que não só atores estatais estão cada vez mais envolvidos com atores não estatais em complexas colaborações e delegações para o exercício da regulação, como também sustentou que atores não estatais exercem regulação, incluindo, a formulação, monitoramento e enforcement de regras. Para lidar com essa complexidade dos fenômenos empíricos regulatórios, Julia Black, baseando-se na teoria dos sistemas e na literatura de Governança, formulou o conceito de regulação descentralizada. Pelo conceito de regulação descentralizada, a regulação é exercida por uma rede de atores interdependentes, estatais e não estatais, que utilizam mecanismos legais e extralegais para o exercício do poder e do controle. Diante disso, adotando esse conceito de regulação descentralizada de Julia Black, o presente trabalho pretendeu descrever a criação dos segmentos de listagem e formular um argumento normativo baseado nessa descrição. Como resultado da pesquisa realizada, foi possível concluir que a criação dos segmentos de listagem não se restringiu às partes que celebraram o Contrato de Participação, mas envolveu diversos atores, estatais e não estatais, os quais tinham uma relação de interdependência entre si e compartilharam diversos mecanismos no exercício da regulação. Com isso, não se pode resumir os fatores que fizeram com que companhias e controladores alterassem seus comportamentos e adotassem algumas regras de Governança Corporativa à voluntariedade e ao aspecto autorregulatório. Desta análise segue que, se é possível apontar para um argumento normativo do caso da criação dos segmentos de listagem, o argumento normativo não é a prescrição da autorregulação, mas sim a prescrição do uso do poder regulatório fragmentado entre diversos atores, estatais e não estatais.

A model for integrating clinical care and basic science research, and pitfalls of performing complex research projects for addressing a clinical challenge

The collaboration of clinicians with basic science researchers is crucial for addressing clinically relevant research questions. In order to initiate such mutually beneficial relationships, we propose a model where early career clinicians spend a designated time embedded in established basic science research groups, in order to pursue a postgraduate qualification. During this time, clinicians become integral members of the research team, fostering long term relationships and opening up opportunities for continuing collaboration. However, for these collaborations to be successful there are pitfalls to be avoided. Limited time and funding can lead to attempts to answer clinical challenges with highly complex research projects characterised by a large number of "clinical" factors being introduced in the hope that the research outcomes will be more clinically relevant. As a result, the complexity of such studies and variability of its outcomes may lead to difficulties in drawing scientifically justified and clinically useful conclusions. Consequently, we stress that it is the basic science researcher and the clinician's obligation to be mindful of the limitations and challenges of such multi-factorial research projects. A systematic step-by-step approach to address clinical research questions with limited, but highly targeted and well defined research projects provides the solid foundation which may lead to the development of a longer term research program for addressing more challenging clinical problems. Ultimately, we believe that it is such models, encouraging the vital collaboration between clinicians and researchers for the work on targeted, well defined research projects, which will result in answers to the important clinical challenges of today.

Complimentary collaborations: Teachers and researchers co-developing best practices in art education

Australia is currently experiencing a huge cultural shift as it moves from a State-based curriculum, to a national education system. The Australian State-based bodies that currently manage teacher registration, teacher education course accreditation, curriculum frameworks and syllabi are often complex organisations that hold conflicting ideologies about education and teaching. The development of a centralised system, complete with a single accreditation body and a national curriculum can be seen as a reaction to this complexity. At the time of writing, the Australian Curriculum is being rolled out in staggered phases across the states and territories of Australia. Phase one has been implemented, introducing English, Mathematics, History and Science. Subsequent phases (Humanities and Social Sciences, the Arts, Technologies, Health and Physical Education, Languages, and year 9-10 work studies) are intended to follow. Forcing an educational shift of this magnitude is no simple task; not least because the States and Territories have and continue to demonstrate varying levels of resistance to winding down their own curricula in favour of new content with its unfamiliar expectations and organisations. The full implementation process is currently far from over, and far from being fully resolved. The Federal Government has initiated a number of strategies to progress the implementation, such as the development of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to aid professional educators to implement the new curriculum. AITSL worked with professional and peak specialist bodies to develop Illustrations of Practice (hereafter IoP) for teachers to access and utilise. This paper tells of the building of one IoP, where a graduate teacher and a university lecturer collaborated to construct ideas and strategies to deliver visual arts lessons to early childhood students in a low Socio- Economic Status [SES] regional setting and discusses the experience in terms of its potential for professional learning in art education.

Entre les connaissances et la pratique de santé publique : un monde de collaborations

La santé publique n’échappe pas au courant actuel qui valorise le développement d’une culture de décision et d’action axée sur l’utilisation des données probantes. Des études qui portent sur les services de santé et les politiques publiques en lien avec les services de santé proposent diverses stratégies interactives entre les producteurs et les utilisateurs de connaissances pour favoriser le passage de la théorie vers la pratique. Dans ce contexte, une place importante est accordée aux activités de partage et d’utilisation des connaissances (PUC) au sein des organisations de santé. Or, la mise en œuvre de ces stratégies est peu documentée dans le cadre particulier de la pratique de la santé publique. Pour dégager les processus qui œuvrent au cœur du phénomène dans la pratique de la santé publique sur le territoire montréalais, des cadres au niveau de la direction régionale ont été interrogés sur leurs expériences et leurs perceptions relatives aux activités de PUC. L’analyse du corpus par théorisation ancrée a permis l’émergence de certains concepts clés qui ont été intégrés de manière à formuler une théorie substantive du partage et de l’utilisation des connaissances. La synergie entre le savoir, le savoir-faire et le savoir être se traduit par un savoir agir complexe des acteurs et des organisations qui implique avant tout un climat propice à la collaboration. L’importance accordée à la dimension relationnelle au cœur des activités de PUC témoigne de la volonté de mettre en place des structures collaboratives et de s’éloigner graduellement d’une gestion hiérarchique des savoirs dans la pratique de la santé publique à Montréal. Cette analyse démontre que les défis relatifs à la mise en œuvre d’activités de PUC dépassent les préoccupations reliées aux étapes du processus de transfert des connaissances tel que présenté par la plupart des modèles conceptuels traditionnels.

Building trust in cross-sector R&D collaborations : the role of credible commitments

This paper reports selected findings from a study of one form of cross-boundary relationship: cross-sector R&D collaboration under the Australian Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Programme. The study sought to explain project partners’ collaboration experience using a theoretical model which was empirically tested with a survey of CRC project leaders. It was hypothesised (H1) that the higher the level of relational trust (measured, following Sako, in terms of contractual, competence, and goodwill trust) amongst the partners in a collaborative project team, the more positive would be the partners’ experience of the project. The construct of credible commitments (the making of pledges, or the economic equivalent of the taking of hostages, which bind partners to a relationship) was posed in the model as an antecedent of relational trust. Accordingly it was hypothesised (H2) that the more that credible commitments are made by the project partners, the higher would be the level of relational trust between them. Data from the achieved sample (n = 156, 51% response rate) were analysed using PLS Graph. The results of the analysis provided support for hypothesis 1 but not for hypothesis 2. It was concluded that this latter finding could be due to the specific context of the study (cross-sector R&D collaborations under the CRC Programme differ markedly from inter-firm strategic alliances), or it could be due to the complex nature of credible commitments which was not adequately captured by our measure of this construct. Further research is required in this area to clarify the nature credible commitments, and the circumstances under which they contribute to a spiral of rising trust, in different cross-boundary contexts.

Raman spectroscopy of some complex arsenate minerals—implications for soil remediation

The application of spectroscopy to the study of contaminants in soils is important. Among the many contaminants is arsenic, which is highly labile and may leach to non-contaminated areas. Minerals of arsenate may form depending upon the availability of specific cations for example calcium and iron. Such minerals include carminite, pharmacosiderite and talmessite. Each of these arsenate minerals can be identified by its characteristic Raman spectrum enabling identification.