1,119 research outputs found
Student Perceptions of Grit, Emotional-Social Intelligence, and the Acquisition of Non-Cognitive Skills in the Cristo Rey Corporate Work Study Program
p\u3eThe Catholic Church has long emphasized an “option for the poor” and relied heavily on its schools to assist in providing the education necessary to help families escape poverty (Benson, Yeager, Guerra & Manno, 1986; Bryk, Lee, & Holland, 1993; Buetow, 1988; Convey, 1992; Greeley, 1982; Neal, 1997; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, 1998; York, 1996). Catholic schools in the United States are closing at a steady rate from a lack of funding, and this has created an ongoing problem for the outreach efforts of the Church and the low-income families with the greatest need (Brinig & Garnett, 2014; United States Department of Education, US DOE, 2008). In addition, families living in poverty have difficulty meeting the financial requirements and tuition demands of the schools that remain after taking care of basic needs for survival (Hudley, 2013; Rumberger, 2013). The Society of Jesus created Cristo Rey schools to provide one solution to this crisis facing the poor.
Of paramount importance to low-income students seeking success in their educational and professional endeavors are non-cognitive skills such as grit and emotional-social intelligence (Bar-On, 2006; Bar-On & Parker, 2000; Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, & Kelly, 2007; Duckworth & Quinn, 2009; Gardner, 1983; Goleman, 1995; Salovey & Mayer, 1990; Tough, 2012). With regards to the aforementioned non-cognitive abilities and traits, the purpose of this study was threefold. First, it measured perceptions of grade 11 and 12 students from three Cristo Rey schools regarding their non-cognitive skills of grit and emotional-social intelligence (intrapersonal, interpersonal, stress management, and adaptability). Secondly, it explored the extent to which these skills are perceived to be utilized and enhanced through their participation in the Cristo Rey Network’s (CRN) Corporate Work-Study Program (CWSP). Finally, it identified what further skills and training the CRN students identified as necessary to ensure their success in the workplace.
The results indicated the students had a mean level of grit (M = 3.5) indicating responses on the Likert-style scale directly between “Somewhat like me” and “Mostly like me.” For the ESI subscales, students recorded a mean score for intrapersonal (M = 13.47) approximating the choice “Just a little true of me,” and mean scores for interpersonal (M = 19.24) that placed most student responses for this subscale between the values “Pretty much true of me” and “Very much true of me,” and mean scores for stress management (M = 17.22) and adaptability (M = 16.05) that were above the middle point ESI subscale value of 15 and just below the choice “Pretty much true of me.”
The three categories marked by the students with the highest frequency as “developed in the CWSP” were: social responsibility, interpersonal relationships, and flexibility. The categories least often chosen by the students included: self-awareness, self-regard, assertiveness, independence, empathy, and impulse control.
Finally the students most often responded they would like training in the intrapersonal and interpersonal domains, with communication, social, and computer skills as the most frequently requested skill sets. The participants indicated they would like additional training, workshops, classes, tutorials, and practice for what they are facing in the workplace in additional to training they already receive
Commercialization Analysis of SBIR Funded Technologies
The United States Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program invests 1 billion of that investment; of which the Air Force accounts for 25%. Commercialization, either the transfer to programs of record or further industrial investment, is the program’s objective. Data from this research indicates that Air Force programs have a 7.6% commercialization rate; representing an opportunity to improve. Leveraging best practices from industry; this research provides a method to align investments with needed capabilities. This method exploits established user need taxonomies, the DoD Joint Capability Area (JCA) listing and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s SBIR taxonomy, to categorize SBIR efforts. This categorization allows for needs based innovation portfolio management. Metrics are developed that identify several technologies of interest that over perform and underperform relative to the overall portfolio. This development of metrics and visualization tools provides managers a new means to control and improve their innovation investments. This needs based mapping facilitates sharing and coordination amongst aerospace SBIR stakeholders. This thesis concludes by recommending improvements to the existing JCAs, the SBIR topic development process and the establishment of an aerospace SBIR community of interest
An exploration of factors affecting participation in U.S. health information exchange networks : a dual network participation theory based case study.
Background: Failure to achieve their goals of over 200 U.S. Health Information Exchange Networks (HIENs) which formed or operated in the U.S. from 2004 to 2010, lost time, capital and opportunity at individual, organizational and societal levels, and a lack of theory driven research on HIENs underscores a need for research to better understand factors affecting development of these kinds of large, complex collaborations. Purpose: A new dual network participation theory is developed by combining three source theories. The new theory supports integrated consideration of organizational and technological factors which affect participation by individuals and their affiliated organizations in complex collaborations like HIENs. Research questions are formulated focused on advancing knowledge about: types of participation in HIENs; validity of variables used to operationalize the theory; barriers and enablers to participation in HIENs; and implications for theory and research. Method: A retrospective, theory-driven, multi-level, multi-case, mixed methods case study is done using a convenience sample of 6 HIEN sites (network level), 109 individuals (individual level) and 125 organizations (organizational level). Qualitative data is analyzed to develop valid ordinal variables and test hypotheses for each case. Valid ordinal variables are entered into SPSS. A principle component analysis is done to create combined predictor variables. An OLS regression analysis supports identification of predictor effects on intent to participate. Network level analyses identify key influences on the predictors. Findings: Network level barriers to participation include heterogeneity of participants, lack of HIEN resources, lack of qualified leadership, lack of training and education and lack of stable Network IT. Individual/organizational level barriers include lack of support from influential others, low benefit expectancy, lack of knowledge, and high cost expectancy. Recommendations are made for future research studies with enough statistical power for hypothesis testing across larger populations of sites/participants (e.g., 100-300 sites; 1,000 - 3,000 participants). Conclusions: While the use of a small, non-random sample of sites/subjects implies caution regarding generalization, the research yields new insights with implications for both practice and theory. These include preliminary recommendations for improving the success of HIENs and new opportunities for research on barriers and enablers of participation in large scale collaborations
Communication risk and strategy in temporary organizations
Communication is a critical and emerging metric for successful outcomes in the high-stakes field of project management. Professional management societies have quantified financial losses caused by ineffective communication. Consulting project management exemplifies a maximum communication risk environment - misunderstanding threatens project finances, strict deadlines, and technical benchmarks - exacerbated by the complexity of a temporary organization structure.
The context of work in a temporary organization adds layers of ambiguity to project communications - an ill-structured domain in technical communication terms. Formal study of communication in temporary organizations is relatively new. Recent studies are derived from engineering and business management perspectives.
This baseline study investigates risk and strategy in temporary organizations from a communication perspective. Project management consultants dialogue about their experiences of project risk and communication strategy in a critical incident interview.
This research identifies the communication complexities of work in these temporary contexts. Contrasting the base communication models of professional project management, this study proposes rhetorical analysis as a systems thinking strategy for project communication. This thesis argues that professional technical communication is strategic expertise and advocates humanistic strategies to mitigate the elevated sociotechnical communication risk within a temporary organization
Informal economy and welfare state programs in Kosovo
The purpose of our study is to explore an assumed negative relationship between
economic informality and welfare state expenditure in the case of Kosovo. We do that
by comparing Kosovo‟s indicators of informal economy and welfare state policies with
those of 28 other European countries. We then zoom in on Kosovo‟s case by using
relevant studies, reports and material gathered in eight semi-structured interviews with
representative of institutions whose work is related to the subjects of study.
We discuss informal economy in relation with welfare state policies, institutional
asymmetry and social capital in post-socialist societies. We provide statistical evidence
that countries with larger informal economy are more likely to have poorer welfare state
programs, lower social capital and higher institutional asymmetry. Results show that
Kosovo fits the theoretical model.
Nevertheless, although data do suggest that such a relationship exists, we could not
provide evidence disentangling causal directions or their relative intensities
Global Title X Series \u2714
At the direction of the Air Sea Battle (ASB) Office, and with the concurrence of the Chief of Naval Operations, Global ’14 continued to focus on the Air-Sea Battle (ASB) Concept. While Global ’12 looked at the war fighting implications associated with concept implementation, Global ’13 and Global ’14 examined the command and control (C2) of cross-domain operations (XDO) in future Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) environments. After evaluating the three possible C2 structures developed in Global ’13 – a functional component commander based model, a “Domain Commander” based model, and a “Cross-Domain Commander” based model – a fourth “hybridized” system was proposed using the current functional component C2 structure incorporating specific features identified during Global ’13
Air Force Institute of Technology Research Report 2010
This report summarizes the research activities of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. It describes research interests and faculty expertise; lists student theses/dissertations; identifies research sponsors and contributions; and outlines the procedures for contacting the school. Included in the report are: faculty publications, conference presentations, consultations, and funded research projects. Research was conducted in the areas of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electro-Optics, Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Systems and Engineering Management, Operational Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics and Engineering Physic
Strategies for New Product Development in an Emerging Market
Some organizational leaders in emerging markets lack strategies for successful development of new products. By 2025, emerging markets will account for 50% of global consumption and represent significant opportunities for organizational leaders to steer their organizations toward market dominance. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that organizational leaders used to successfully develop new products. The target population comprised leaders of 3 organizations in Nigeria who have successfully developed new products. The conceptual framework for this study was the disruptive innovation theory. Data were gathered from semistructured interviews with the organizational leaders and review of company documents. Data analysis involved the compilation of data, coding to organize the data, identification of themes that emerged, and linking those themes with the research. Triangulation and member checking were used to help ensure the trustworthiness of interpretations. Four themes emerged from data analyses relating to strategies used by organizational leaders to successfuly develop new products: leadership and business models, organizational structure and culture, target population and market needs, and affordability. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to improve the standard of living in Nigerian communities, which might enhance the participation of the rural people and local businesses in the global economy. Furthermore, the findings of the study may provide knowledge for organizations to become more profitable in emerging markets
Chasing impact - how hybrid new ventures shape markets for sustainability
This study contributes to the market-shaping research in the field of business-to-business marketing. Market shaping refers to the purposeful efforts of actors to change market characteristics or to construct new markets. Existing research has focused on incumbent firms or collectives striving to improve their commercial viability through market shaping. However, few studies focus on market shaping undertaken explicitly for the renewal of existing markets towards sustainability. Moreover, we have scant understanding of how market shaping is conducted by hybrid new ventures despite the unprecedented opportunities that digitalization is providing for small actors to exercise their agency. Hybrids refer to entrepreneurial ventures designed from start to equally pursue commercial and sustainability goals, and who seek to drive industrial and/or societal change.
This thesis thereby sets out to explore how the two processes of market shaping and hybrid new venture development are interrelated. To gain a holistic understanding, I draw from research on market shaping, hybrid entrepreneurship, and new venture development. The research process is abductive, iterating between theory and empirical data. Empirical knowledge is acquired through qualitative inquiry from a follow-up case study in the market for Guarantees of Origin (GO) for renewable electricity.
As the main theoretical contribution, this study presents a process model of the intertwinement of hybrid new venture development and market shaping. The model shows this intertwinement as driven by four continuous, interrelated, and reciprocal subprocesses: visioning, legitimizing, engaging, and equipping. The findings illustrate that market shaping extends to the early stages of hybrid new ventures, and that their initial market shaping actions are taken long before they become legal business entities. Furthermore, the study extends current knowledge on the content of market shaping (i.e., what it is exactly that market shapers strive to shape and how) and provides a more nuanced understanding of the market shaping activities taken by the focal actor. The study also produces important implications for entrepreneurs and managers, enabling them to make more informed decisions related to their market shaping and to better navigate complex institutional environments.--
Markkinoiden muokkaamisella tarkoitetaan toimijoiden määrätietoista pyrkimystä muuttaa markkinoiden ominaisuuksia tai rakentaa uusia markkinoita. Nykytutkimus yritysten välisen markkinoinnin alalla on keskittynyt vakiintuneiden yritysten pyrkimyksiin parantaa kilpailullista asemaansa, jättäen huomiotta markkinoiden muokkauksen, jonka päämääränä on olemassa olevien markkinoiden uudistaminen kestävämpään suuntaan. Lisäksi ymmärrämme vain vähän siitä, kuinka uudet hybridiyritykset muokkaavat markkinoita, vaikka digitalisaatio luo ennennäkemättömiä mahdollisuuksia pienten yritysten muutostoimijuudelle. Hybrideillä tarkoitetaan uusia yrityksiä, jotka tavoittelevat sekä kaupallisia, että kestävään kehitykseen liittyviä päämääriä ja jotka myös pyrkivät ajamaan teollista ja/tai yhteiskunnallista muutosta.
Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena onkin ymmärtää, kuinka markkinoiden muokkausprosessi ja hybridiyrityksen kehitysprosessi ovat sidoksissa toisiinsa. Kokonaisvaltaisen ymmärryksen saamiseksi työssä hyödynnettiin markkinoiden muokkaamista, hybridiorganisaatioita ja uusien yritysten kehittämistä koskevaa tutkimusta. Tutkimusprosessi oli abduktiivinen, liikkuen iteratiivisesti teorian ja empiirisen aineiston välillä. Empiirinen aineisto kerättiin osana laadullista tapaustutkimusta, jossa seurattiin reaaliajassa uusiutuvan sähkön alkuperätakuiden markkinoita muokkaamaan pyrkivää hybridiyritystä.
Tärkeimpänä teoreettisena kontribuutiona tutkimus esittää prosessimallin uuden hybridiyrityksen kehittämisen ja markkinamuokkauksen yhteen nivoutumisesta, jota edistää neljä jatkuvaa ja vastavuoroista osaprosessia: visiointi, legitimointi, sitouttaminen ja varustaminen. Tulokset osoittavat, että markkinoiden muokkaaminen alkaa jo uuden yrityksen alkuvaiheista. Lisäksi tutkimus laajentaa nykyistä ymmärrystä markkinamuokkauksen sisällöstä (eli mitä toimijat tarkalleen ottaen pyrkivät muokkaamaan ja miten), sekä tarjoaa monimuotoisemman käsityksen päätoimijan toteuttamista markkinoiden muokkaustoimista sekä niihin vaikuttavista kontekstuaalisista tekijöistä. Tutkimuksen tulokset auttavat myös yrittäjiä ja yritysjohtajia tekemään tietoisempia päätöksiä pyrkiessään muokkaamaan markkinoita ja luovimaan monimutkaisissa institutionaalisissa ympäristöissä
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