Code smells reflect sub-optimal patterns of code that often lead to critical software flaws or failure. In the sameway, community smells reflect sub-optimal organisational and socio-technical patterns in the organisational structure of the software community. To understand the relation between the community smells and code smells we start by surveying 162 developers of nine opensource systems. ...

Organisational learning, knowledge transfer and knowledge sharing are core components of the retail internationalisation process. However, organisational learning is not solely derived from examples of success – we also learn from failure. Divestment is an intrinsic feature of retail internationalisation, and has recently become a focus for academic research. This paper considers the growing bo...

This paper examines the latest of paradigms-the Virtual Network(ed) Organisation-and whether geographically dispersed knowledge workers can virtually collaborate for a project under no central planning. Coordination , management and the role of knowledge arise as the central areas of focus. The Linux Project and its development model are selected as a case of analysis and the critical success f...

The factors that influence the ultimate level of success or failure of systems development projects have received considerable attention in the academic literature. However, previous research has rarely targeted different instances of a common type of system within a homogeneous organisational sector. This paper presents the results of a survey of IM&T managers within Community Trusts to gain i...

This paper tells the story of work using Systems thinking to study failure. It describes the methodological developments that have taken place in this area at the Open University and looks at how the emphasis has shifted from the examination of past failures to the prediction and prevention of future failures and the facilitation of organisational learning through the analysis of failures. It e...

This paper tells the story of work using Systems thinking to study failure. It describes the methodological developments that have taken place in this area at the Open University and looks at how the emphasis has shifted from the examination of past failures to the prediction and prevention of future failures and the facilitation of organisational learning through the analysis of failures. It e...

he interpretation and cultural nuances behind the concept of leadership are not only questionable but are subject to different meanings to different people. Yet, within the organisational context, there are specific boundaries that must be adhered to in order to inculcate certain values. Leadership at a political level is not excluded from democratically instated norms. The failure to maintain ...