Crisis management and institutional transformation: How China’s Communist Party ensured survival through military modernization, 1976–1992
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Author(s)Brandon SommerLink to ORCID Index: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0876-4553
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DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(3).2025.23
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Article InfoVolume 23 2025, Issue #3, pp. 310-327
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Type of the article: Reflexive Preface
Abstract
The survival of authoritarian institutions during periods of systemic crisis represents a critical challenge in understanding institutional transformation and organizational resilience. This theoretical paper aims to develop a critical realist framework for analyzing how institutions ensure survival through crisis learning processes during periods of systemic transformation. The theoretical basis draws on critical realism and the morphogenetic approach to theorize structure-agency interactions during critical junctures, introducing concepts of crisis learning cycles, systemic persistence, and facing/reacting mechanisms. Following an innovative theory of systemic persistence, the analysis centers on the ways in which the Communist Party of China ensured its own survival through successive rounds of crisis learning. The results demonstrate that military modernization, not economic development per se, constituted the central organizing principle of institutional transformation. The study reveals that economic reforms and the opening up of trade were components of a larger arrangement constructed by Deng Xiaoping, the primary focus of which was not benefiting the Chinese people, but another project essential to the Communist Party. The theoretical results demonstrate that crisis learning occurs through iterative cycles where agents progressively understand systemic elements and construct durable solutions. The framework offers practical value for understanding institutional transformation processes and organizational survival strategies during periods of fundamental change, with applications extending beyond authoritarian contexts to any institution facing an existential crisis.
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JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)P21, P30, O53, N45
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References54
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Industrial Revolutions and their impact on managerial practice: Learning from the past
Lucia Kohnová ,
Nikola Salajová
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.17(2).2019.36
Problems and Perspectives in Management Volume 17, 2019 Issue #2 pp. 462-478 Views: 5519 Downloads: 2293 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯTechnological changes that come with industrial revolution have largely affected businesses, as well as society. With the current technological shift and Fourth Industrial Revolution, many questions arise regarding the impacts and effects on current ways businesses operate. This study presents a retrospective analysis and overview of previous industrial revolutions. The aim of the retrospective analysis is to identify common characteristics that may lead to lessons learned for the forthcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution and thus complement the current debate on technological change. All previous industrial revolutions have led to change in business environments and new challenges for managers and owners. The findings show that all previous revolutions have led to increase in the number of service jobs created. The key approach of successful countries during the times of industrial revolution has included education as the source of new skills and knowledge necessary for adaption. Countries that were able to produce high skilled people could not only invent, but also adapt to new technologies sooner than others. Similarly, these approaches included introduction of new managerial practices in order to be able to utilize new technologies and new skilled workers effectively. The research article processes secondary data together with literature review on this topic.
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Fuzzy reporting as a way for a company to greenwash: perspectives from the Colombian reality
Orlando E. Contreras-Pacheco ,
Cyrlene Claasen
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.15(si).2017.06
Problems and Perspectives in Management Volume 15, 2017 Issue #2 (cont. 3) pp. 525-535 Views: 4185 Downloads: 962 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯDrawing on the legitimacy theory framework, this study introduces an alternative means to spot “fuzzy reporting” signals as a way to detect greenwashing at the firm level. Its approach is based on the way the sustainability reporting process can mislead stakeholders after critical incidents take place. In order to do so, a single environmental incident, which took place in Colombia, is analyzed in light of what happened before, during and afterwards, with special emphasis on the corporate disclosure process performed by the company involved. Results obtained give support to the assumption that fuzzy reporting can be objectively detected not only through the analysis of annual sustainability reports, but also by tracking other forms of corporate messages when a specific concern is carefully followed. This study’s contribution is two-fold. First, it builds on the theoretical notions of greenwashing and fuzzy reporting by illustrating a practical and objective way to identify some deceiving corporate practices. Second, it empirically evaluates this approach in a sensitive context in order to obtain better illustration and prepare the groundwork for further studies.
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The role of Fintech in predicting the spread of COVID-19
Mohannad Abu Daqar 
,
Milan Constantinovits ,
Samer Arqawi ,
Ahmad Daragmeh
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/bbs.16(1).2021.01
Banks and Bank Systems Volume 16, 2021 Issue #1 pp. 1-16 Views: 3255 Downloads: 1166 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯThis study aims to investigate the role of Fintech in predicting the spread of COVID-19 based on consumers’ Fintech perceptions and behavior before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. The study used a questionnaire-based survey distributed in different countries of the world using the LinkedIn platform for this purpose to reach the targeted population. The snowball sampling technique was used. The study targeted consumers with Fintech experience, especially in digital payments services. 507 samples were retrieved. For the analysis, the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used. The study revealed novel results in predicting COVID-19 spread; these three variables (Fintech Behavior before COVID-19, Fintech Behavior after COVID-19, and Fintech Perception after COVID-19) could predict 52.5% of the variance in the dependent variable (COVID-19 Spread) (R² = 0.525, p < 0.05). The findings show that Higher Fintech perception and behavior among Fintech users will help in reducing the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding the use of contact payment methods. Contactless payment methods are the main tools in Fintech that might help in avoiding the probability of COVID-19 spread. Consumers’ Fintech perceptions and behavior are the most influencing factors that could predict the spread of COVID-19 in this study, where digital payments are the main concern. It is recommended that consumers adopt digital payment methods and tools, especially contactless payment methods, to fulfill their financial services. Other researchers are also encouraged to use the same model to predict the spread of this virus in the Fintech context.
