Dmitrijs was the creator and founder of the podcast and served as the managing editor from the podcast’s inception in October 2015 until October 2020. He currently serves as Assistant Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Latvia.
Dmitrijs joined the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga as Assistant Professor in 2019, having previously worked at the University of Warwick and the University of Sussex. Prior to this, he completed an ESRC-funded Doctorate in Management from the University of Warwick Business School, focusing on the development of practice-based theory of organizational memory. He remains affiliated with the Innovation, Knowledge and Organisational Networks Research Unit at the Warwick Business School.
His primary research interests revolve around understanding the effects of collective knowledge and memory on organizations and on the process of organizing; looking at questions such as ‘who decided what qualifies as knowledge’ and ‘how is information and knowledge perpetuated through time’. His secondary research interest lie in exploring the impact of digital technologies on organizational design (i.e. what happens when people begin working for algorithms etc.). Dmitrijs is a versatile qualitative researcher with experience in both public (NHS) and private (architecture and construction) sectors, using a range of different methods. His current research looks at the role of collaborative technology in (re)shaping institutionalised regimes of practices. He is also part of Horizon 2020 research project (DISCE) that looks into the sustainability of creative economies in the EU.
Outside of academia, Dmitrijs is very much interested in history of conflict, existential philosophy and literature, comedy, as well as mythology and theology. He enjoys long walks in the nature with his partner and thinks that life is best taken one moment at a time.
Topics of interest
Organizational memory and knowledge management
Automated decision-making and organizational design
Impact of digital technology on work practices in complex settings
History of management and organizing
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Warwick Business School, UK
Selected publications
Kravcenko, D. (2018) Digital economy in Latvia: A case of paradigmatic misalignment. In: Ranft, F, O’Reilly, J. and Neufeind, M. (eds.) Work in the digital age: challenges of the fourth industrial revolution. Maryland, USA: Rowman & Littlefield.
Ferlie, E, D’Andreta, D, Nicolini, D, Ledger, J, Kravcenko, D and de Pury, J. (2017) NHS top managers, knowledge exchange and leadership: the early development of academic health science networks. Health Services and Delivery Research, NIHR Journals.
Kravcenko, D. and Swan, J. (2016) Talking through objects: the socio-political dynamics embodied in boundary objects in architectural work. In: Tell, F, Berggren, C, Brusoni, S. and Van de Ven, A (eds.) Managing Knowledge Integration Across Boundaries. Oxford: Oxford University Press
How I got involved with the podcast
About two years into my PhD at the University of Warwick, I first came across podcasts while trying to find ways to make productive use of my commute time. A couple of these proved to be a complete game-changer for me so, when my wonderful partner, Elina, encouraged me to start one of my own it was only a matter of time until the formed idea and the original cast of Pedro, Ralph and Miranda was in place. It’s been hugely enjoyable and it’s been incredibly challenging, but many years later the show is not only still going strong but is also reliably exceeding our wildest expectations!
Some of my favourite episodes
- Episode 3: Theory of Human Motivation – Abraham Maslow. A lively episode where we collectively ‘discovered’ that Maslow did not create the (in)famous pyramid of needs. I talked about the three schools of psychoanalysis and raised some philosophical questions about ‘what the hierarchy is pointing at’.
- Episode 13: Banana Time – Donald Roy. I really enjoyed the overall conversation here, and got to talk about different epistemologies of time, so never a bad episode when that happens! The reading itself was also fantastic – Donald Roy managed to convey a rich picture of his experience thus giving us plenty of space for a varied discussion.
- Episode 26: Enacted Sensemaking in Crisis Situations. This one featured an animated discussion with one of our former hosts, Joe, and one of my all-time favourite guests – Thomas Roulet. Lots of fun talking about submarines, Weick’s ontology, high reliability and the nature of sensemaking.
- Episode 41: Images of Organization. I wasn’t actually part of this one but Gareth Morgan’s book was absolutely key to my formation as organizational scholar at one time, and the cast did a great job of talking through the book and the idea of metaphors.
Other podcasts I recommend
- History of Philosophy without Any Gaps. One of the original inspirations for TAOP, Peter Adamson’s (Special Guest on Episode 37) podcast is pressing forward with its Herculean effort of covering the entire history of philosophy with as few gaps as possible in weekly 20 minute instalments.
- Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History. In this most epic history podcast introduced to me by Elina, Dan Carlin explores historical events in incredible length and detail. His series on WW1 – Blueprint for Armageddon – is one of my all-time favourites!
- You Made it Weird, with Pete Holmes. Yet another gem from Elina, who, curiously enough, doesn’t really listen to podcast. Ever since I was introduced to this podcast, which is basically a series of loooong conversations with other comedians for the most part, Pete Holmes has become my comic of choice. Happy times!
- Partially Examined Life. One of my favourite podcasts from a few years ago (before the paywall, ads and conveyor belt of episodes) that was another key inspiration for TAOP, especially in terms of format. Still lot’s of good stuff on there if you’re willing to look or subscribe for a very reasonable amount.