Organizational democracy at work. Shaping participation through strategic planning in university

Titolo Rivista STUDI ORGANIZZATIVI
Autori/Curatori Carmela Barbera, Roberto Lusardi, Stefano Tomelleri
Anno di pubblicazione 2024 Fascicolo 2023/2
Lingua Inglese Numero pagine 32 P. 162-193 Dimensione file 565 KB
DOI 10.3280/SO2023-002007
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This article discusses whether and how strategic planning can promote the development and dissemination of organizational democracy in knowledge-intensive organizations. This research is inspired by the theoretical approach known as strategy-as-practice, in which strategic planning is considered a process of co-construction of meanings and actions involving multiple actors engaged in negotiation dynamics, through situational interactions in daily practice. Adopting a strategic ethnography approach from a methodological point of view, we examine the participatory strategic planning process conducted from January 2022 to April 2023 at the University of Bergamo. By analyzing ethnographic reports, formal documents, and working drafts, four strategic practices (Collective decision making, Platform and process alignment, Emotional coordination, and Organizational diplomacy) are identified as connected to two key enabling factors (synergic approach and consensus on organizational change) that can support and facilitate the spread of work environments more sensitive to the principles of organizational democracy. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed.

In questo articolo si indaga se e come la pianificazione strategica possa favorire lo sviluppo e la diffusione della democrazia organizzativa in contesti ad alta intensità di conoscenza. La ricerca si ispira all’approccio teorico denominato strategia come pratica (“strategy-as-practice”), secondo il quale la pianificazione strategica viene considerata un processo di co-costruzione di significati e azioni attraverso il coinvolgimento di diversi attori impegnati in dinamiche di negoziazione, attraverso interazioni situazionali nella pratica quotidiana. Adottando la prospettiva metodologia dell’etnografia strategica, viene esaminato il processo di pianificazione strategica partecipativa realizzato da gennaio 2022 ad aprile 2023 presso l'Università degli Studi di Bergamo. Analizzando i resoconti etnografici, i documenti formali e le bozze di lavoro, vengono identificate quattro pratiche strategiche (Processo decisionale collettivo, Allineamento della piattaforma e del processo, Coordinamento emotivo e Diplomazia organizzativa), a loro volta connesse a due rilevanti fattori abilitanti (l’approccio sinergico e il consenso al cambiamento organizzativo) che possono sostenere e facilitare la diffusione di ambienti di lavoro maggiormente sensibili ai principi della democrazia organizzativa. Il contributo fornisce implicazioni sia di natura teorica sia pratica.

Keywords:Pianificazione strategica; strategia come pratica; democrazia organizzativa; università; ricerca azione

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Carmela Barbera, Roberto Lusardi, Stefano Tomelleri, Organizational democracy at work. Shaping participation through strategic planning in university in "STUDI ORGANIZZATIVI " 2/2023, pp 162-193, DOI: 10.3280/SO2023-002007