Shaping nursing praxis : some registered nurses' perceptions and beliefs of theory practice : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Educational Administration at Massey University

This thesis investigates the beliefs and perceptions of registered nurses in relation to the theory practice gap. In order to discover these perceptions and beliefs, this qualitative study used critical ethnography, a framework and process in which the paiticipants share in the journey of discovery which sets out to explore, describe and transform these beliefs and perceptions of theory-practice. The theory-practice debate has been highlighted in nursing for some time and is interpreted in many ways. This multiple interpretation causes confusion and has an impact on the development of the discipline of nursing. The participants were six nurse clinicians and six nurse educators from a large metropolitan hospital and a School of Nursing and Midwifery within a tertiary educational institution. Within the critical framework, the research methods used were interviews, observation, paiticipants' personal logs and triangulation between methods and within methods. Data analysis was through content analysis using themes, patterns, and categories arising from the data. The analysis of data indicated that through reciprocal dialogue, the paiticipants' theory-practice perceptions and beliefs had been transformed. This transformation was being premised on an assumption of the existence of a theory-practice gap to an acceptance of the theory-practice relationship as an integrated concept where nursing praxis is shaped by an ongoing development process. Empowering strategies and recommendations for the development of nursing praxis include coaching, clinical supervision, mentoring, case management, ongoing education, research, faculty practice, joint appointments and reciprocal advisory groups. These strategies provide opportunities for nurses to come together, and reflect on practice in that by becoming aware of their beliefs and perceptions, they gain the confidence and knowledge to begin transforming conditions of power and control, thereby promoting change which results in praxis and professional autonomy

Character of Educational Leadership: A Critical Educational Study of Leadership in Local Wisdom

This research critiques the practice of educational leadership and explains leadership in Balinese local wisdom. Leadership in schools is the managerial activity of the principal in carrying out the educational process. School management in Bali generally adapts leadership styles in the Western theory. However, is rarely understood in Balinese local wisdom and has the concept of leadership appropriate to socio-cultural conditions and education in Bali. This qualitative research uses data analysis techniques: data reduction, data presentation, and data verification. Based on the research findings, the concept of Balinese local wisdom leadership is full of values and religious character. Balinese local wisdom requires leaders to know their character and to form good leaders’ attitudes and behaviors. In comparison, Geguritan Niti Rajasesana has the concepts of catur pariksa, brata nembelas, and satya, the principle of leading. In the Geguritan Dharma Sesana text, there is a concept of 12 principles for leaders. The concept of leadership does not directly discuss leadership in education but is relevantly integrated into the management of education and organization by school principals in Bali. This study aims to strengthen the concept of educational leadership based on local wisdom and can be a reference for studies related to educational leadership. Keywords: educational leadership, local wisdom, principal, leadership characte

Implementing a knowledge management system within an NHS hospital:a case study exploring the roll-out of an Electronic Patient Record (EPR)

This research aims to contribute to understanding the implementation of knowledge management systems (KMS) in the field of health through a case study, leading to theory building and theory extension. We use the concept of the business process approach to knowledge management as a theoretical lens to analyse and explore how a large teaching hospital developed, executed and practically implemented a KMS. A qualitative study was conducted over a 2.5 year period with data collected from semi-structured interviews with eight members of the strategic management team, 12 clinical users and 20 patients in addition to non-participant observation of meetings and documents. The theoretical propositions strategy was used as the overarching approach for data analysis. Our case study provides evidence that true patient centred approaches to supporting care delivery with a KMS benefit from process thinking at both the planning and implementation stages, and an emphasis on the knowledge demands resulting from: the activities along the care pathways; where cross-overs in care occur; and knowledge sharing for the integration of care. The findings also suggest that despite the theoretical awareness of KMS implementation methodologies, the actual execution of such systems requires practice and learning. Flexible, fluid approaches through rehearsal are important and communications strategies should focus heavily on transparency incorporating both structured and unstructured communication methods

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PRACTICES THROUGH SYSTEMS THINKING: A CASE STUDY IN A NHS HOSPITAL (26)

The paper aims to contribute to the understanding of Knowledge Transfer (KT) through implementing a Knowledge Management System (KMS) as a case study in the field of healthcare, leading to theory extension. The concepts of system thinking were used to explore in what way a hospital practically achieves and implements a KMS. To do so, a case study was conducted as a qualitative approach, and data was collected by in depth semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders, including strategic management, technicians and end users, in addition to reviewing related documents and observation. Template analysis was also used as data analysis method. This case study provides evidence that system thinking provide benefit for KMS at both planning and implementation stages. Moreover, an emphasis on the understanding of KT would be to bring about the integration of care. Also, the findings illustrate that implementing KMS requires not only the theoretical awareness of the concept, but also requires learning through practice for a smoother implementation process. Flexibility, distributed leadership and end-user involvement are important, and communication technologies and strategies should focus strongly on the transparency, including communications tools and methods

Intellectual capital in action: Australian studies

The overarching objective of this thesis is to investigate and examine several contemporary IC theories and how they are utilised in practice so that understandings of the IC concept can be developed, in order to answer in part the main research question of “How does IC in action influence organisations?” The content of the thesis is based on a review of IC from both a theory and practice perspective and four empirical papers that examines IC theory as it is implemented in practice. In combining these papers into a coherent piece of work, a critical research perspective, as outlined by Alvesson and Deetz (2000), has been utilised as the theoretical framework. The term ‘critical’ is used in this thesis not to find fault with contemporary theory and practice of IC but rather to examine and question the application of IC theory into practice. The end result of doing so is the narrowing of an identified gap between IC theory and practice. A ‘critical’ analysis of IC in action is justified because the development of the concept of IC parallels that of ‘critical’ theory in that both have evolved from changing conditions in society as technology and the proliferation of knowledge that have fundamentally altered the conditions under which organisations operate. The overarching findings of the thesis are based on three outcomes of critical research being insight, critique and transformative re-definitions. Insight into IC is developed by examining contemporary IC frameworks as they have been applied. Critique is developed by putting to the test the implications for organisations as a result of implementing these contemporary IC frameworks. Last, transformative re-definition is achieved by opening a discourse on the impact of implementing IC practices so that academics and practitioners can develop critical, relevant and practical understandings that begins the process of change and develops practical managerial skills. More importantly this thesis identifies how the development of tools to reduce ‘causal ambiguity’ about how intangible resource help create (or destroy) value has the potential to raise the profile of IC as a strategic management technology. But from the wider view of the critical perspective, it is not the intention of this thesis to prescribe specific formulae for the measuring, management and reporting of IC, nor does it intend to further develop theory. So while the individual papers may proffer that certain avenues proved productive in developing insights, critique and transformative re-definition, these avenues are not offered as the preferred way of investigating IC. More specifically the goal of a critical perspective is to open a discourse. The opprurtinity for academics and practitioners to engage in discourse is enabled by the thesis’ focus on the issues identified by highlighting the gap between IC theory and practice. Furthermore, each of the included papers offers the opportunity for further discourse by way of the opportunities that remain for future research. Additionally, the thesis achieves exemplifies a number of different approaches to conducting research into IC practice that puts to the test particular aspects of IC theory in order to develop insights and understandings of IC in practice. As the empirical material only examines a fraction of contemporary IC theory there is scope for further research and thus discourse into the implementation of IC theory into IC practice. This future research should not be constrained by a particular method of research as exemplified in the variety of methods employed to gather the empirical material for the papers which stretches along the continuum of qualitative and quantitative research. This too provides an avenue of for future discourse

BOR WORN home, temple and school (HTS) organisation : the learning organisation in the communities of Thailand

This study investigates BOR WORN-HTS Organisation as a learning organisation which is the way to provide knowledge, education and learning to the community and also transfer Thai local knowledge and culture to the next generations to achieve the goals for learning and strengthening the community with knowledge and morality. This study is a qualitative research in cultural anthropology. An ethnographic research method with unstructured interviewing and participant observation were used to gather qualitative data from four communities in rural areas across Thailand where HTS organisation has been operating and is still alive. The gathered information is presented in four main themes (BOR WORN-HTS Organisation, OL/LO, LIC, and TLK&CT. The community of practice was the research concept used to analyse data, together with qualitative document analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the HTS Organisation has been in Thailand for many years. It is an ideal organisation that represents the collaboration between people from three main institutions in the community; home, temple and school. HTS Organisation occurs automatically in the social context when the members of the community come to take part in the activities created by three mains institutions (H-T-S). The people participate in community activities for two reasons: because they respect their religion so try to sustain and carry its values on to the future generation and because they trust and believe in an individual person such as a monk or community leader. HTS Organisation is a learning organisation (LO). The learning process, both individual and social learning, as well as global knowledge and local knowledge (OL), happens when members of an organisation join together in community activity. Theory of learning and social practice in communities of practice is the fundamental process of HTS. Thus, HTS Organisation acts as a community of practice in a unique combination of three fundamental elements: the domain, the community and the practice. HTS Organisation encourages people of all ages to communicate, participate and create learning processes within the social context and apply the concept of communities of practice as a management tool to explore and help people to achieve the expected outcomes of the community, that is, learning and strengthening community and maintain the national heritage in Thai society and transmitting it to the further generations. As a result, application of the concept of HTS Organisation brings many benefits while needing little investment. The advantages of the HTS Organisation are not only the benefit for the community (knowledge based society, well-being, strengthening, sufficiency economy and sustainable community) but it is also good for people, especially the country’s children and youths, who have great potential in the future to be skilled, talented, proficient people and be filled with knowledge and morality or Kwam Roo Koo Kun-Na-Tha

The Practice of Hibah in Marcel Mauss’View at The National Library of The Republic of Indonesia

This research is an attempt to conduct an in-depth analysis of the essence of hibah (grant activities) of library material at the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia. This study uses a qualitative-interpretive approach. Peirce\u27s semiotic analysis is used as an analytical method to reveal the syntagmatic and paradigmatic relationships that occur in the grant process. Marcel Mauss\u27 Gift Theory is used as a theoretical basis to explain the ongoing practice of grants. The research focus is in the field of acquisition under the Center for Collection Development and Processing of Library Materials, the National Library of Indonesia. Purposive sampling method is used as a technique to determine informants by selecting the right individual so that they can specifically provide an understanding of the problem of this research. The results showed that reciprocity in the context of the grant giver means that the books they grant will become library collections. Meanwhile, in the context of the librarian as the grant recipient, reciprocity is manifested in the implementation of grant management in accordance with established procedures. Structurally, the concept of reciprocity identified in the practice of grants in the National Library occurs partially and exclusively on the side of the National Library as the grant recipient. The results of this research can be considered in formulating policies both on a local (in-house) and national scale and their role in collection development

The development of advanced practice nursing in Thailand : passage and process

This thesis examined the development of advanced practice nursing in Thailand. The research focused on the perceptions of advanced practice nursing among Thai health care professionals and the factors affecting Thai nurses who are in the process of preparing to become advanced practice nurses (APNs).Although a large amount of literature about APN has been published, only one study has reported on the situation of the APN in Thailand. Other papers have been conducted with developing countries which employed different health services and nursing service systems. Various issues arose and were reported since the concept of APN was implemented in those countries, e.g. definition, qualifications, examination, registration, boundaries, incentive schemes and scope of practice. It was argued that nurses had encountered various obstacles during the preparation and transformation in becoming APN. Nevertheless, Thailand was only at the beginning of adopting this concept into the health service system. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the development of APN in Thailand, which has never been explored. The study concentrated on the development of APN in nurses who are working in intensive care units (ICUs) because the model and the role of APN in this clinical area lack clarity in the published literature.Triangulation of two research methods was employed to address the research questions. The sample included staff nurses, head nurses, doctors and master degree students in an APN preparation programme. In the quantitative study, 226 questionnaires developed by the author were posted to 23 hospitals and 28 master degree students, yielding 156 usable responses. Qualitative data were collected from five focus group interviews with 28 master degree students using a semistructured interview schedule developed and piloted by the author.Factor analysis of quantitative data revealed five expected roles of the APN in ICU: extended roles, ensuring standards, patient management, nursing roles and academic roles. Regression analysis explained that there were significant relationships between being a head nurse and ensuring standards (P<O.5), age and nursing roles (P<O.5) and being a doctor and patient management (P<O.5). Being a head nurse, age and being a doctor appeared to be strong predictors of ensuring standards, nursing roles and patient management respectively.Qualitative data were analysed following Miles and Huberman and Strauss and Corbin's guidelines. Two central categories emerged: passage and process of the development of APN. Finally, a paradigm model was constructed, explaining the development of APN. Some concepts in the paradigm model were consistent with published literature, e.g. the readiness to change, transition and role theory. Other concepts were reflections of the unique Thai context, e.g. preparations for the development and anticipation of the role of APN. Thus, the development of APN in Thailand is a combed model. The thesis concludes with suggestions for the future research

An examination of strategy development and strategic management processes within growth-seeking small businesses

This doctoral thesis responds to the need for greater understanding of what constitutes effective strategic management practice in successfully developing small firms. And an associate need to enhance the strategic management capability of small business owner managers and ability of support providers to deliver sound, pragmatic strategy development assistance. The study in its action research mode of investigation recognises and attempts to address the numerous shortcomings and pitfalls associated with small business management. Integral to this approach is a longitudinal business development project-orientation to facilitate the fulfilling of parallel academic and small business development practice objectives. The research approach is based upon the premise that there is a glove-tight relationship between advances in knowledge and the research methodology which facilitate those knowledge advances. An overarching aim of this study is thus the development of a creative and innovative research approach to enable production not only of advances in small business strategic management knowledge and practical small business development, but also a base research methodology capable of ongoing refinement and use by others in the future. The origins of the methodology lay in the non-acceptance of traditional philosophical positions in epistemology and ontology, with a philosophical standpoint of constructive alternativism underpinning the research and the use of a drive theory which builds out of that standpoint. As part response to that philosophical positioning, the concept of epistemological bootstrapping is used to develop a ‘partial research framework’ to foothold and inform the qualitative action research process. The key insights highlighted by the ‘bootstrap’ facilitate design and development of the innovative methodology, integral to which is a close ‘rich’ working partnership interface with the participant small business owner managers. A novel attempt at linked multi-level and processual (contextualist) analysis was attempted within an action research approach which is underpinned and driven by personal construct theory. Both researcher and the researched are thus treated as ‘man the scientist’ who is progressively seeking to refine and enhance his own personal constructions of phenomenon, issues and circumstances facing him throughout his life. Such conceptualisation facilitates the build up of dual working partner investigation using live, longitudinal practical business development projects to produce tangible outputs for both parties - academic small business management knowledge for the researcher and world of academia and practical strategic development and associate knowledge and enhanced abilities for the owner manager

Driving Change Within Local Governments In The Netherlands: A Perspective On Administrative And Political Leadership

This thesis explores the impact of political and administrative leadership on the digital transformation process within local government institutions in the Netherlands, employing a qualitative research approach through three in-depth case studies in the middle region of the country. I utilized a within-case and cross-case analysis methodology supplemented by validation interviews, conducting a total of 12 semi-structured interviews with key representatives from the selected institutions. The research uncovers the complex dynamics and tensions between political and administrative leadership and their consequential effect on digital transformation. I scrutinized critical factors such as power dynamics, role conflict, change management, leadership transition, interpersonal conflict, and stakeholder management. I found that these elements significantly influence organizational effectiveness and the resource-based view, a fundamental concept that local governments rely on for their digital transformation. The study's findings suggest that the interaction between political and administrative leadership significantly affects the direction, speed, and effectiveness of digital transformation initiatives in local government institutions. Furthermore, it demonstrates how intra-organizational dynamics and tensions, coupled with the existing political and administrative structure, can either facilitate or hinder digital transformation, thus offering vital insights for both theory and practice. These conclusions contribute to the growing body of literature in the fields of digital transformation, public administration, and political science, providing practical implications for local governments considering embarking or accelerating their digital transformation journeys. Furthermore, it underlines the importance of effective leadership and collaboration, enhancing the understanding of digital transformation in the context of public sector institutions and the inherent complexities therein