Translating models of organization: Can theMittelstandmove from Bavaria to Geelong?

Abstract

In this paper we examine the increasing global attention being given to the German organizational form of the Mittelstand over the past decade. We do so, especially, in consideration of the construction of Australian analogues to the Mittelstand. Such translations have been posited as a solution to the current crisis facing Australian manufacturing. Translation out of context always poses problems: Can a specifically national form of organization, such as the German Mittelstand, be something that can, potentially, be translated to other nations and industrial contexts? The Australian case offers an empirical setting in which to explore understandings of transnational translation of management innovations. Our findings demonstrate how globally theorized models subject to translation align abstract value orientations with local templates. Our discussion focuses on the translation of a Bavarian model of organization into very different locations, such as Geelong, Australia.

How incentive systems arrived in Sweden - a tale of travelling ideas and ghost myths in action

“…We suggest that the transition can be described in terms of travelling ideas by imitation (Czarniawska and Joerges, 1996;Czarniawska and Sevon, 1996;Czarniawska and Sevon, 2005;Logue et al, 2015;Røvik, 1996;Røvik, 2000) but that the ghost myth concept (Jönsson and Lundin, 1977) is an important part of the explanation, since it clarifies how and why incentive systems could become a natural part of the Swedish national business system at that particular time. The argument here is that theories of travelling ideas can be complemented with the concept of ghost myths.…”

“…The translation concept is being applied more and more frequently to explain this process (Buck et al, 2004;Czarniawska and Sevon, 2005;Örtenblad, 2010). Hence translation is not merely a process of changing languages, but an adaptation and sense-making process in which some thoughts and ideas travel through time and space to new places (countries, companies) in new times, fitted into a new context (Latour, 1986;Logue et al, 2015). A basic component of such a translation is imitation (Sevon, 1996).…”

A Black-Box yet To Be Opened: Multi-level Processes During Migrants’ Organizational Socialization

“…This applies in particular to Germany. Nearly 60% of German SMEs, also called the German Mittelstand (Logue et al, 2015), are struggling to fill positions for qualified personnel. Thus, an increasing number of SMEs are dependent on the retention of skilled migrants in order to tackle the long-term issues of demographic change (OECD, 2018).…”

Innovation in Family Firms: An Agency and Resource‐Based Lens on Contingencies of Generation and Management Diversity

“…The generalizability of our findings might also be limited due to our sample comprising just German family firms, which have been shown to have a special form of corporate governance (Berghoff, ; Logue et al ., ), or unique agency and resource‐based considerations. The innovation advantage of later‐generation family firms or those with TMT diversity due to non‐family managers may therefore not be observable in other countries.…”