Communitarian perspectives on social enterprise

Concepts of social enterprise have been debated repeatedly, and continue to cause confusion. In this paper, a meta-theoretical framework is developed through discussion of individualist and communitarian philosophy. Philosophers from both traditions build social theories that emphasise either consensus (a unitarist outlook) or diversity (a pluralist outlook). The various discourses in corporate governance reflect these assumptions and create four distinct approaches that impact on the relationship between capital and labour. In rejecting the traditional discourse of private enterprise, social enterprises have adopted other approaches to tackle social exclusion, each derived from different underlying beliefs about the purpose of enterprise and the nature of governance. The theoretical framework offers a way to understand the diversity found within the sector, including the newly constituted Community Interest Company (CIC).</p

A hierarchy of wants : towards an integrative framework for counselling, psychotherapy and social change

The aim of this monograph is to develop an integrated framework for understanding, and facilitating, psychological and social wellbeing. It is based on the assumption that our wants are a core element of our being; and that the pursuit, and attainment, of these is a defining characteristic of psychological health. It is suggested that our wants can be conceptualised as existing in a hierarchy, in which higher order wants are attained through lower order wants; and that psychological difficulties emerge when our means of attaining our highest order wants are either in conflict with each other (horizontal incoherence), or are ineffective within our present context (vertical incoherence). The monograph argues that this framework can be used to conceptualise, and draw together, a wide range of psychotherapeutic theories and practices; with the therapist construed as a facilitator of more synergetic, and more effective, means of want attainment. In addition, the monograph argues that the extent to which people can progress towards, and attain, their wants may be very dependent on the resources available in their particular life-context, such that improvements in psychological wellbeing may require social and political change. To understand how this might happen, it is argued that the present framework can be transposed to the interpersonal plane, with increased synergies in the ways that people strive to attain their wants leading to a more rewarding and fulfilling socio-political context

DEVELOPMENT OF A RESEARCH MODEL TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES USING COLLABORATION TECHNOLOGIES

The purpose of this paper is to explore the current research focused upon collaboration technologies and propose a research model. A brief summary of the underlying theories is presented, followed by a discussion of themes and factors which are thought to influence the successful outcomes associated with technology use. A proposed model extends the current research stream on collaboration technologies by examining the constructs of trust, technology quality, and collaboration as a behavior

Building Schools of Character: The Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a School-Based Character Education Programme Designed to Promote Cooperative Learning and Reduce Anti-Social Behaviour

Background: The issue of behaviour management, particularly as it pertains to addressing anti-social behaviour and improving learning and life outcomes for children and adolescents in schools has become a primary topic of discussion among educational stakeholders. The current perception among educational stakeholders is that as schools and society in general continue to experience an increase in anti-social behaviour, general indiscipline is becoming the normal behavioural pattern within classrooms. This study considers the relationship between personality, behaviour, and educational outcomes rooted in a socio-cultural perspective that emphasizes the role of socially mediated learning in the development of prosocial behaviour, resilience, personality, and character adaptations that support positive life outcomes. With this in mind, the primary aim of this study focused on developing an understanding of personality, behaviour management, and pro-social development through a synthesis of psychological and educational research and theory within the framework of the socio-cultural perspectives to design a character education programme targeted at improving prosocial behaviour within schools. Therefore, the primary question of the study is: Can a holistic programme be designed, effectively implemented in schools, and facilitated by teaching staff to enhance pro-social development and decrease anti-social behaviour among school-aged children? Methods: A sequential approach was used to address the complexity of the phenomena under investigation. The cycle of enquiry developed for this investigation was based on a grounded theory perspective within an action research framework. The cycle of scientific research used for this study was an in-depth investigation that informed real-world field investigations, followed by the simultaneous collection of both quantitative and qualitative data from archival records, open-ended and semi-structured interviews, observations and surveys. This process achieved data saturation and allowed for the emergence of descriptive themes that were used to develop analytical themes so that each subsequent phase of enquiry was informed by the data. Cycle of enquiry: The first phase of the research design involved a systematic literature review that focused on the discovery and formulation of the theory underpinning the development of the educational innovation that became the central avenue of investigation This phase was directed by asking the question; What is the relationship between personality, educational outcomes, and the ability to overcome adversity, and what role can a teacher-mediated cooperative-learning programme focusing on the development of social competence, cooperative communication, restorative processes, and inclusive practice play in supporting the development of beneficial character adaptations in children? To test the initial theories that arose from the literature review, the second phase of study involved a quasi-experiment that investigated the relationship between self-concept and social competence and how these could be influenced by mediated adventure-based learning (MABL) within an outdoor education framework. This quasi-experiment used a control-group, pre-test/post-test, mixed-methods design. The second quasi-experiment investigated the role of Mediated Activity-Based Cooperative Learning (MABCL) on cooperative communication during activity-based group problem-solving challenges and task completion. Following a synthesis of the findings from the MABL and MABCL investigations and a further review of the literature, a multiple-component character education programme was designed. Following the design of the character education programme a pilot study was designed and conducted. Upon concluding the pilot study data analysis, a Random Control Trial (RCT) was designed and participant recruitment conducted. Of the 10 schools that volunteered to take part in the RCT, five were assigned to the control group and five to the experimental group. However, the RCT proved impossible to complete for a variety of reasons and therefore this investigation used a multiple case study design to conclude the cycle of research, with the five schools assigned to the experimental group becoming the cases of the study. Data collected from the multiple case studies were analysed to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the character education programme. Results: Data collected in the final cycle of research, which included 5 schools participating in a multiple case study investigation showed that a character education programme designed within a sociocultural understanding of development can have a positive effect on teacher talk, pupil on and off task behaviour and antisocial behaviour. Both qualitative and quantitative data evidenced an increase in pupil on-task behaviour during lessons and an improvement in the teachers‘ ability to focus their time on content delivery during lessons. In addition, office referrals to senior staff for inappropriate behaviour showed a statistically significant decrease following the implementation of the character education programme. Discussion: Previous research into the impact of character-education programmes has yielded neither a clear guideline regarding what character education should provide nor discussed how a character-education programme can be effectively implemented school wide to promote pro-social development among school-aged children. The data collected in this study from school staff and pupil interviews, observations, and school records indicate that following the implementation of the designed character education programme, Building Schools of Character (BSC), in five primary schools, pupil behaviour and school climate improved. This study found that a socio-culturally framed behaviour-management programme facilitated through the delivery of mediated cooperative-learning activities and designed to enhance responsibility, respect, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and honesty can have a positive impact on pupil behaviour and self-regulation. This finding, coupled with an understanding of the importance of self-regulation, suggests that future school-based behaviour-management programmes and socio-emotional learning initiatives should consider the role of mediated cooperative-learning activities in developing beneficial character adaptations that promote self-regulation and positive educational and life outcomes

Trust and Technologies: Implications for Information Technology Supported Work Practices

In this paper we empirically investigate the concept of trust using organizational work practices in three groups: within the team, between teams and when interacting with technology. This study adopts Repertory Grid methodology as an interview based technique to elicit important constructs of trust to team members working in two organizations within the energy distribution industry. Thirteen key constructs of trust were identified using content analysis. Drawing on the understanding gained, this paper discusses the implications for theories on trust within teams working with information technology and provides a grounded perspective that could be used as a basis for further research

Trust and Privacy Permissions for an Ambient World

Ambient intelligence (AmI) and ubiquitous computing allow us to consider a future where computation is embedded into our daily social lives. This vision raises its own important questions and augments the need to understand how people will trust such systems and at the same time achieve and maintain privacy. As a result, we have recently conducted a wide reaching study of people’s attitudes to potential AmI scenarios with a view to eliciting their privacy concerns. This chapter describes recent research related to privacy and trust with regard to ambient technology. The method used in the study is described and findings discussed

The multi-dimensionality of trustworthiness of banks midst a confidence crisis : the case of retail banks in Zimbabwe

The strategic importance of a well-established banking sector in an economy and the pivotal role trust plays in this sector is well-documented in banking literature. Given this accepted importance of trust, it is surprising that some banks are still exhibiting more signals of distrust than of trust as expected, shattering consumer trust and confidence in the process. In response, governments, through their central banks, occasionally resort to implementing policies that focus heavily on regulation and control. These interventions are usually designed to restore consumer confidence in the banks’ future behaviours as well as providing assurance that exchanges taking place within a banking sector are safe and secure. Surprisingly, consumer trust and confidence are still elusive in some banking sectors, despite all these measures. This mixed-methods, sequential explanatory study explores the concept of trustworthiness by investigating trustworthiness dimensions of banks that drive consumer trust in the Zimbabwean banking sector that is experiencing low trust and confidence levels. To fulfil the objectives of this study, a quantitative research approach (survey) was first employed to explore bank customers’ trustworthiness perceptions on a sample of 400 customers. A qualitative research approach (semi-structured interviews), was then employed to gain a better understanding and clarification of the survey findings. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied to determine the statistical model that sought to explain the relationship among the variables. Hypotheses were then tested between model constructs to determine their influence on one another. Study findings revealed that shared values, structural assurance and integrity (consistency) are the trustworthiness determinants with the highest positive influence on bank trustworthiness. A negative relationship was found between communication and bank trustworthiness. Competence was found to have an insignificant correlation with trustworthiness. Additionally, both behavioural intentions and affective commitment (relational outcomes) were found to positively influence bank trustworthiness. This study has brought to light how trustworthiness of banks is perceived in a banking sector that is not only experiencing a confidence crisis but also in a country that is experiencing an uncertain economic and political environment within an African banking context. The final model presented in this study can be applied in trustworthiness studies in the financial services sectors, particularly in sectors that are operating in similar uncertain environments. In order to reignite consumer confidence in the banking sector, the RBZ is advised to set tighter corporate governance measures that can put a stop to activities such as insider lending that end up defrauding depositors within the banks. It is also imperative that departments such as Treasury, Risk and Credit within the RBZ and in banks are managed by competent personnel who adhere to the prudential standards of banking. Bank custodians are advised to continuously exhibit trustworthiness behaviours because customers’ trust and confidence can only be restored if there is evidence of sincere behaviours that are regarded as reflecting a trustworthy image. Planning for peak periods in terms of cash and personnel, to avoid prolonged queues and cash shortages that have become an everyday occurrence in the Zimbabwean banking sector is one way banks can improve trust and confidence. Banks should also consider providing services such as financial hardship advisory services and extended loan repayment options that can go a long way in not only assisting their customers to manage their debts, but also to show that banks are taking into consideration their customers’ current challenges and needs. Key stakeholders in the banking sector are also encouraged to share information on key developments integral to the smooth functioning of the banking sector. This information should then be disseminated to the banking public in a unified voice to avoid distortion of information that leads to financial anxiety and further erosion of trust. In the absence of formal timeous communication, bank customers may resort to relying on the grapevine and engage in speculative behaviours which can be very destructive and difficult to correct.Business ManagementD.B.L

Advances in cognitive-socialpersonality theory : applications to sport psychology

Many theories and intervention techniques in sport psychology have a cognitive-behavioral emphasis, and sport psychologists have long been interested in individual differences. Recent developments in cognitive social personality theory offer new opportunities for understanding sport behavior. The finding of stable individual differences in situationbehavior relations has helped resolve the person-situation debate of past years, and idiographically-distinct behavioral signatures have now been demonstrated for coaching behaviors across differing game situations. Moreover, coaching behaviors are differentially related to athletes' liking for the coach, depending on whether they occur during winning or losing game situations. Mischel and Shoda's (1995) Cognitive-Affective Processing System offers a new template within which to study sport psychology constructs, such as achievement goal orientations and anxiety. Just as social cognitive theory can inform research, theory development, and interventions in sport psychology, research in sport settings can advance the future development of cognitive social personality theory

The Role of Organizational Humanistic Social Support in Decreasing the Interference of Work Problems on Employees’ Family Conflict

Despite an increased interest in humanistic touch in global organizational support, the nature of helping processes rendered by supervisor and coworkers is still vague. The study was performed to examine the relationship between organizational humanistic social support and work interference with family conflict using 100 usable questionnaires gathered from academic staff in a Malaysian public institution of higher learning in Borneo. The findings of SmartPLS path model indicated that humanistic touch in term of supervisory support significantly correlated with work interference with family conflict. Similarly, humanistic touch of coworker support significantly correlated with work interference with family conflict. This result shows that the readiness of supervisors and coworkers to amply offer material and moral support in performing task have reduced the intrusion of work problems in employees&rsquo; family affairs and enriched their skills to decrease family conflicts. In addition, discussion, implications and conclusion are elaborated. &nbsp

Collective IT artifacts: Toward Inclusive Crisis Infrastructures

This paper investigates a previously overlooked phenomenon in crisis response information systems, namely inclusive crisis infrastructure. By expanding the well-acknowledged infrastructure concept with alternatives to understand the nature and scope of inclusive crisis infrastructures, this paper contributes to closing the gap between theory and practice by raising some research questions critical to the study of inclusive crisis infrastructures. The emerging literature on crisis response information systems suggests that external sourcing of information increasingly influences crisis response operations. To contribute to this discourse, the paper draws on Pipek and Wulf’s (2009) definition of work infrastructures and Palen and Liu’s (2007) conceptualization of peer-to-peer communications to develop a better understanding of the crisis response arena as a whole. In doing so, this paper goes beyond the emphasis on event-based technologies that currently dominate the crisis response information systems literature and instead argues why crisis infrastructures need to be both inward-looking and accommodating to technological and social outcomes parallel to formal response contexts. The novel conceptualization captures the fact that the crisis context contains collections of collective IT artifacts that are not aligned or related but that are, for autonomy reasons, interlinked to crisis organizations’ current IT infrastructure and may be of great value to such organizations if infrastructure capability options are considered