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Diversity management is viewed as one of the sources of competitive advantage, but the relation between workforce diversity and organizational goals is not indisputable. In-depth analysis of literature in this field does not allow for a clear answer concerning the nature of this relation (there is not a lot of empirical research available, and more importantly, they have significant limitations). The paper presents the results of empirical research aimed at exploring the relation between workforce diversity and organizational performance, which seem to break through the major limitations of previous studies in this area, i.e. the association of organizational performance mainly with financial results and the domination of American authors (60% of studies were conducted in the USA, a country with a specific culture). The research subjects of this article are European football clubs, which can be treated as a model for the management of contemporary organizations (the study covers 166 clubs from 10 countries). The obtained results clearly indicate the lack of dependency between workforce diversity (considered using two dimensions of primary identity – nationality and age) and the achieved results (considered using their place in the final table of the 2016/17 season and the total number of points). It was concluded on this basis that, in organizations free from discriminatory prejudices (which is the case for most football clubs), diversity management is somewhat vacant

The article contributes to the discussion on the validity and ways of simplifying modern organisations. There is an increasing focus on simplifying organisations, especially their organisational structures. However, the environment of contemporary organisations is increasingly complex, dynamic and uncertain. Therefore, the postulate of simplicity seems to question Ashby’s law stating that one kind of variety must be balanced by a different kind of variety. To cope with the indicated discrepancy, it is assumed that the simplification of some elements of an organisation is only possible due to the excessive complexity of others. The paper aims to verify the concept of organisational simplexity developed by e Cunha and Rego, which postulates the fit between simple structural solutions, complex workforce and complex environment. However, organisational performance is a factor verifying the legitimacy of the fit. The literature study explored the contradiction inherent in the postulate on the simplification of modern organisations. The contingency theory provided a major framework for the study. The research hypothesis was developed and empirically verified. The empirical study targeted 1142 organisations operating in Poland and Switzerland, different by their industry, size and the form of ownership. To verify the hypothesis, a statistical analysis was carried out, and the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) method was used. The main result of the critical literature analysis is the finding that theoretical indications for simplifying modern organisations are fragmented, mainly focused on simplifying selected elements of an organisation, not considering the contradiction inherent in the postulate of simplicity related to environmental features and not verified empirically. The notion of the simplexity has been adopted, and it treats the simplicity and complexity as interrelated issues conditioned by situational factors. According to the empirical research results, the fit has been revealed between the degree of structure simplicity, the workforce complexity and the environment features.

Background and Purpose: This article refers to the relation between information technology (IT) reliability and types of innovations. The main objective of the article is to identify the role of reliability of IT (mainly information reliability) in shaping organization ability to develop different types of innovations, according to Oslo Manual. Design/Methodology/Approach: Theoretical concept of IT reliability is proposed as a one of innovation determinants. Authors proposed four hypotheses and developed a questionnaire to measure the relation between four types of innovation (product, process, organizational and marketing) and IT reliability. The hypotheses were verified using data collected in 2017 from 400 SMEs operating in Poland. Results: Information reliability as the whole notion is statistically significantly correlated with all four types of innovation in organization. Searchability, accuracy and relevance of information have significant relation with product, process, organizational and marketing innovation. Conclusion: The performed empirical research should be treated as the first step of the analysis of innovation determinants, however allowing to draw a set of conclusions useful for the development of next steps of the study.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between organizational learning (OL) and business sustainability (BS) and to carry out its empirical examination. Design/methodology/approach Extensive literature research was carried out. Then, an empirical study was conducted in 694 Polish and Danish companies. Two phenomena related to OL were adopted: OL processes and organizational learning capability (OLC). BS was examined through the concept of sustainable performance (SP). Research models were tested using structural equation modeling. Findings The empirical studies have shown a positive, statistically significant relationship between OL and BS. The research supports the view that the intensification of the OL processes is substantial for BS, whereas the OLC concept is less relevant to the development of BS. The effect of OL on total SP was stronger than on any SP dimension. OL supports the synergies of the results obtained by the organization for the benefit of BS. Research limitations/implications The model verification is based on the samples from two countries, and, therefore, the hypothesis requires further verification in different business contexts. In addition, there are different factors influencing BS, which have not been included in the research and should be analyzed in the future. Originality/value An in-depth, critical literature analysis shows that the theoretical foundation of the role of OL in shaping BS is fragmented and poorly empirically verified. The value of this paper is the presentation of large-scale empirical studies comparing the relationship between BS and two phenomena: OLC and the OL processes. The results obtained in the course of the research open up new research directions with respect to both the relationship between OL and BS as well as between OL and organizational performance.

The article refers to a valid and current research area, which is the role of information technology (IT) in the formation of business sustainability (BS). The main objective of this article is to identify the role of IT in shaping sustainable organization in the context of different, partly conflicting, approaches to BS and empirical verification of the proposed theoretical framework. The article describes key differences between BS approaches in case cognitive logic (reductionist versus integrative logic) and axiological (individualistic-egoistic versus holistic-altruistic axiology) distinction. Theoretical role of IT in shaping integrative logic for BS is identified and presented. The proposed theoretical concept is empirically verified. The verification is based on empirical studies conducted in 400 SMEs operating in Poland in 2017. (original abstract)

This paper refers to current research area, which is the relation between information technology (IT) and organizational performance. The main objective of this paper is to identify the role of IT reliability in shaping the organizational performance in SMEs. Proposed theoretical concept is empirically verified. The verification is based on empirical studies conducted in 400 SMEs operating in Poland in 2017.

Among the desirable features of an organizational structure is simplicity. Its opposite, i.e. complexity, expresses a lack of order and entanglement, which are the source of waste. Although the desire for the simplicity of a structural solution is not new, in recent years it has been more clearly emphasized. Therefore, Ashby’s law stating that variety has to be balanced by a different kind of variety, is questioned. The purpose of this article is to present the concept of simplifying an organizational structure. The concept of a simple organizational structure offered in this paper is the result of a thorough analysis of the literature on this topic. However, the views concerning the level of simple structure centralization were verified by means of a fractal calculus. The article presents the results of the study concerning the factors influencing the simplicity of the structural solution as well as the procedure of simplifying the organizational structure.

Celem artykułu jest prezentacja wyników badań empirycznych odnoszących się do efektów wdrożenia zarządzania wiedzą w przedsiębiorstwach funkcjonujących w Polsce, jak również osiągania tych efektów w kontekście współwystępowania omawianej metody z innymi metodami/koncepcjami zarządzania. We wstępie, w ujęciu teoretycznym omówiono zarówno zależności między zarządzaniem wiedzą a efektami w organizacji jak i te dotyczące wpływu na efekty organizacyjne współwystępowania metod zarządzania. W dalszej części artykułu omówiono wyniki badań dotyczących efektów współwystępowania zarządzania wiedzą z innymi metodami zarządzania (stanowiących część badań prowadzonych w Zakładzie Systemów Zarządzania i Marketingu Instytutu Organizacji i Zarządzania Politechniki Wrocławskiej). Ostatnią część artykułu poświęcono podsumowaniu otrzymanych wyników badań w kontekście doniesień literaturowych. (abstrakt oryginalny)

Jedną z zalet struktury organizacyjnej powinna być prostota, ponieważ jej przeciwieństwo - złożoność wyraża skomplikowanie i brak porządku będące źródłem marnotrawstwa. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań empirycznych dotyczące czynników kształtujących prostotę struktury organizacyjnej oraz poddano weryfikacji logikę współwystępowania charakterystyk strukturalnych (hierarchii, centralizacji, specjalizacji, formalizacji i standaryzacji). Wskazano na konsekwencje barier systemowego myślenia dla kształtowania prostoty struktury organizacyjnej dla kształtowania relacji między charakterystykami strukturalnymi oraz relacji między strukturą organizacyjną i pozostałymi elementami organizacji, a także jej otoczeniem. (abstrakt oryginalny)

The aim of the article was the analysis of the relations of the coexistence of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and selected management methods: Benchmarking, Business Process Management (BPM), Business Process Reengineering (BPR), Balanced Scorecard (BSC), Competency-based Management (CBM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Knowledge Management (KM), Lean Management (LM), Outsourcing, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM). Contemporary organisations invest more and more in enterprise systems, including ERP systems, and high growth of these investments is still predicted. The complexity and dynamics of modern management systems in fact determine the simultaneous and sequential application of many management concepts and methods. In the main, however, the coexistence of implemented solutions should be beneficial for an organisation. The theoretical views on the relations of ERP and selected management methods have thus been empirically verified in the analysis of differences in the assessment of a number of effects of using the selected management methods in pairs with ERP as well as separately (business, efficiency, management, social and environmental effects) were investigated. One-way ANOVA was used for a sample of 167 Polish organizations.

Autor stawia tezę, że wszystkie przedsiębiorstwa się uczą, jednak wykazują różne zdolności uczenia się. Przedstawia czynniki kształtujące zdolność uczenia się przedsiębiorstwa. Zwraca uwagę na zdolność uczenia się przedsiębiorstwa jako integrację zmienności i ciągłości organizacyjnej.

The aim of the article was the analysis of the relations of the coexistence of Controlling and other management methods (Benchmarking, BPM, BPR, BSC, Competency-based Management, CRM, ERP, KM, LM, Outsourcing, Six Sigma, TQM). The complexity and dynamics of modern management systems in fact determine the simultaneous and sequential application of many concepts and methods of management. Controlling is a comprehensive method of interdisciplinary character which is the integrating plane for many methods and techniques. The coexistence of Controlling with other management methods depends on the type of relationship between Controlling and these methods. In the main, however, the coexistence should be beneficial for an organisation. The theoretical views on the relations of Controlling and other methods have thus been empirically verified in the analysis of differences in the assessment of a number of effects of using the selected management methods in pairs with Controlling as well as separately (business, efficiency, management, social and environmental effects) were investigated. One-Way ANOVA was used for a sample of 167 Polish organizations.

The paper is focused on the issue of reporting for sustainable development. Two terms—sustainability reporting and integrated reporting, used in relation to reporting for sustainable development, are defined. They are discussed in the context of different, partly conflicting, approaches to business sustainability. It was shown that more and more often reporting frameworks refer to sustainability and sustainable development, but none of them supports a holistic approach to business sustainability (for which the organization has a potential to contribute to sustainable development of the world). Most of reporting standards are the manifestation of the win-win approach to business sustainability (which in reality makes the role of the organization unclear in the sustainable development). Particularly worthy of attention is the GRI’s Framework. It seems to be constructed by the holistic-altruistic values that condition the organizational participation in sustainable development. However, in business practice, this standard is the manifestation of individualistic-egoistic values. The GRI’s Framework shows that there are conditions (other than the reporting standard itself), which have to be investigated. The paper is a part of the current discussion about whether (if any) sustainability and integrated reporting create transparency about organizations’ sustainability commitment.