‘The uses of ethnography in the science of cultural evolution’. Commentary on Mesoudi, A., Whiten, A. and K. Laland ‘Toward a unified science of cultural evolution’

There is considerable scope for developing a more explicit role for ethnography within the research program proposed in the article. Ethnographic studies of cultural micro-evolution would complement experimental approaches by providing insights into the “natural” settings in which cultural behaviours occur. Ethnography can also contribute to the study of cultural macro-evolution by shedding light on the conditions that generate and maintain cultural lineages

Toward a Social Practice Theory of Relational Competing

This paper brings together the competitive dynamics and strategy-aspractice literatures to investigate relational competition. Drawing on a global ethnography of the reinsurance market, we develop the concept of micro-competitions, which are the focus of competitors’ everyday competitive practices. We find variation in relational or rivalrous competition by individual competitors across the phases of a micro-competition, between competitors within a micro-competition, and across multiple micro-competitions. These variations arise from the interplay between the unfolding competitive arena and the implementation of each firm’s strategic portfolio. We develop a conceptual framework that makes four contributions to: relational competition; reconceptualizing action and response; elaborating on the awareness-motivation-capability framework within competitive dynamics; and the recursive dynamic by which implementing strategy inside firms shapes, and is shaped by, the competitive arena

Towards practice-based studies of HRM: an actor-network and communities of practice informed approach

HRM may have become co-terminus with the new managerialism in the rhetorical orthodoxies of the HRM textbooks and other platforms for its professional claims. However, we have detailed case-study data showing that HR practices can be much more complicated, nuanced and indeed resistive toward management within organizational settings. Our study is based on ethnographic research, informed by actor-network theory and community of practice theory conducted by one of the authors over an 18-month period. Using actor-network theory in a descriptive and critical way, we analyse practices of managerial resistance, enrolment and counter-enrolment through which an unofficial network of managers used a formal HRM practice to successfully counteract the official strategy of the firm, which was to close parts of a production site. As a consequence, this network of middle managers effectively changed top management strategy and did so through official HRM practices, coupled with other actor-network building processes, arguably for the ultimate benefit of the organization, though against the initial views of the top management. The research reported here, may be characterized as a situated study of HRM-in-practice and we draw conclusions which problematize the concept of HRM in contemporary management literature

Translational research as an integral part of work–based learning

Shelagh Keogh, Northumbria University, UK This paper explores the concept of translational research as an appropriate strategy for work based learning. Translational research as the name suggests it is about the translation of research findings into practice. Practice and practice development are integral to the learning in the work place and translational research is therefore an excellent mechanism for work based learning. Medicine is its main exponent but it is becoming increasingly commoner in other areas. Traditionally translational research refers to the translating of laboratory based findings to clinical practice as such is a highly prescriptive and regulated approach. More recently, Public Health has explored ways of translating findings of epidemiological studies into clinical practice and education has also explored strategies which can be used in the translation of research into both curriculum design and classroom practice. Although clearly it is applicable to a range of practices and disciplines There are two main issues which need to be considered in translational research, the nature of knowledge and the roles involved in the translation of research findings into practice: The knowledge valued in different disciplinary areas can differ for example in medicine and the health professions application of research is highly regulated and controlled, novel and innovative ideas go through a rigorous testing process. Whereas in many business settings and in the creative industries novel and innovative ideas are the starting point. Having determined the knowledge which is valued the tensions which are inherent in the work place need to be explored. Traditional ways of doing things can be challenged and this can draw on skills The roles played are important and central to the translation. In work based learning much will depend on the programme and the stage involved, for instance in doctoral programme the students may take the lead whereas in undergraduate programmes the student will be part of a highly supervised and supported team It is an approach which if planned and correctly executed develops practice and it can be a very powerful tool for learning to demonstrate this the paper will conclude with a case study of a translational research project. Involved the translation of research study into practice in a care environment. The stages involved will be discussed and outlined in some detail. The benefits and drawbacks of the approach, as a learning tool will also be outlined and considere

A history of the convergence of ethnography, cultural studies and digital media

Book review: A history of the convergence of ethnography, cultural studies and digital medi

Managing clinical uncertainty: an ethnographic study of the impact of critical care outreach on end‐of‐life transitions in ward‐based critically ill patients with a life‐limiting illness

© 2018 Crown copyright. Journal of Clinical Nursing © 2018 John Wiley & Sons LtdRapid response teams, such as critical care outreach teams, have prominent roles in managing end-of-life transitions in critical illness, often questioning appropriateness of treatment escalation. Clinical uncertainty presents clinicians with dilemmas in how and when to escalate or de-escalate treatment. Aims and objectives: To explore how critical care outreach team decision-making processes affect the management of transition points for critically ill, ward-based patients with a life-limiting illness. Methods: An ethnographic study across two hospitals observed transition points and decisions to de-escalate treatment, through the lens of critical care outreach. In-depth interviews were carried out to elucidate rationales for practices witnessed in observations. Detailed field notes were taken and placed in a descriptive account. Ethnographic data were analysed, categorised and organised into themes using thematic analysis. Findings: Data were collected over 74 weeks, encompassing 32 observation periods with 20 staff, totalling more than 150 hr. Ten formal staff interviews and 20 informal staff interviews were undertaken. Three main themes emerged: early decision-making and the role of critical care outreach; communicating end-of-life transitions; end-of-life care and the input of critical care outreach. Findings suggest there is a negotiation to achieve smooth transitions for individual patients, between critical care outreach, and parent or ward medical teams. This process of negotiation is subject to many factors that either hinder or facilitate timely transitions. Conclusions: Critical care outreach teams have an important role in shared decision-making. Associated emotional costs relate to conflict with parent medical teams, and working as lone practitioners. The cultural contexts in which teams work have a significant effect on their interactions and agency. Relevance to practice: There needs to be a cultural shift towards early and open discussion of treatment goals and limitations of medical treatment, particularly when facing serious illness. With training and competencies, outreach nurses are well placed to facilitate these discussions.Peer reviewe

Access to multiliteracies: A critical ethnography

This paper reports the key findings of a critical ethnography, which documented the enactment of the multiliteracies pedagogy in an Australian elementary school classroom. The multiliteracies pedagogy of the New London Group is a response to the emergence of multimodal literacies in contemporary contexts of increased cultural and linguistic diversity. Giddens' structuration theory was applied to the analysis of systems relations. The key finding was that students, who were culturally and linguistically diverse, had differential access to multiliteracies. Existing degrees of access were reproduced among the student cohort, based on the learners' relation to the dominant culture. Specifically, students from Anglo-Australian, middle-class backgrounds had greater access to transformed designing than those who were culturally or socio-economically marginalized. These experiences were influenced by the agency of individuals who were both enabled and constrained by structures of power within the school and the wider educational and social systems

Case studies: understanding players and the contexts in which they play. Workshop on Crossing Domains: Diverse Perspectives on Players

Over recent years, the study of games and players has become an established domain with HCI research. However, while a range of methods has been employed within this area, questions remain as to how to develop in-depth understandings of players and the contexts they play within. Drawing upon the social sciences, this paper proposes case studies as an additional methodology for player research. We discuss the approach by referring to an example of how case studies were used to investigate the relationship between gaming involvement and learning