The Socio-Structural Drivers of Strategic Improvisation in Emergency Services: An Exploratory Study of the Royal Malaysia Police

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Hodgkinson, Ian R.; Hughes, Paul; Arshad, Darwina; Ghosh, Swapan; Ainul, Mohd Sharizal
• 署名单位: Loughborough University; Lancaster University; Universiti Utara Malaysia; California State University System; California State University Northridge
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3298
• DOI: 10.1111/padm.70022
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: Public management; performance; CAPABILITY; ORGANIZATION; orientation; managerial; sector; roles

摘要

Strategic improvisation often occurs in fast-paced decision-making environments. Yet, improvisation has received little scholarly attention in public administration and management. This knowledge gap leads to the study's research question: what drives strategic improvisation in the emergency services of a developing country? To answer this research question, the article examines the socio-structural pathways to strategic improvisation by drawing on survey questionnaire data collected from serving police officers in the Royal Malaysia Police. Data is analyzed using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) and this configurational approach reveals key socio-structural recipes for strategic improvisation to materialize. Specifically, the analysis reveals a core set of socio-structural conditions-top management support and knowledge collecting and donating-that can be further augmented in two different ways, either by (i) the presence of self-efficacy among decision-makers or (ii) through an information communication technologies capability and management status as a peripheral condition for strategic improvisation. Improvisasi strategik sering berlaku dalam persekitaran pembuatan keputusan yang pantas. Namun begitu, improvisasi masih kurang mendapat perhatian dalam kajian pentadbiran awam dan pengurusan. Kekurangan pengetahuan ini membawa kepada persoalan kajian berikut: apakah yang mendorong improvisasi strategik dalam perkhidmatan kecemasan di negara membangun? Bagi menjawab persoalan kajian ini, artikel ini mengkaji laluan sosio-struktural ke arah improvisasi strategik dengan menggunakan data soal selidik yang dikumpul daripada pegawai polis yang sedang berkhidmat dalam Pasukan Polis Diraja Malaysia. Data dianalisis menggunakan analisis perbandingan kualitatif set-kabur (fsQCA) dan pendekatan konfigurasi ini mendedahkan resipi sosio-struktural utama bagi membolehkan improvisasi strategik dimaterialisasi. Secara khusus, analisis ini menunjukkan satu set teras keadaan sosio-struktural-sokongan pengurusan atasan serta pengumpulan dan perkongsian pengetahuan-yang boleh ditambah baik melalui dua cara berbeza, sama ada dengan (i) kehadiran kecekapan kendiri dalam kalangan pembuat keputusan atau (ii) melalui keupayaan teknologi komunikasi maklumat serta status pengurusan sebagai keadaan periferal, bagi improvisasi strategik.