Ricerc@Sapienza

The essence of resilience is the intrinsic systems ability to dynamically maintaining or regaining their equilibrium, preserving their viability after a major mishap and in the presence of continuous stress. Differently, resistance is the systems¿ ability to resist to damage remaining substantially unchanged until it breaks. Resistance does not ensure the systems access to alternative resources, nor the recovery of its essential functions. Thus, the more a system strengthens its boundaries, the higher the risk it becomes rigid, the lesser it absorbs change, the greater the speed with which this loss occurs in a feedback towards vulnerability. Starting from the literature review on resilience, the research aims at deepening complex socio-organizational systems and the variety of behavioral responses they elaborate under uncertainty, along the resilience-vulnerability range. Then, the project will investigate how complex socio-organizational systems - specifically PAs - govern this non-linearity.

Methods.
- "On field" data collection and analysis;
- Modelling and conclusion.

Research on the field.
A survey in complex socio-organizational contexts institutionally devoted to governing uncertainty (e.g. PAs), where is particularly evident in the balance between change and institutional goals, particularly if rigidly codified. Reference will be made to a significant sample of public institutions. This phase will focus on in-depth "face to face" interviews and focus groups. After data collection, the research will examine the data to find links between research objectives and findings (using data triangulation).
Modelling. Based on literature review and on empirical results, an original model of resilient response in PAs will be elaborated.

Originality/implications.
The project investigates how complex socio-organizational systems govern the non-linear tension between adaptability and transformability, along the resilience - resistance - vulnerability range.