The problematic of strategy: a way of seeing is also a way of not seeing

The paper aims to question the post-rational observations and traditional constructions of strategy in terms of what they achieve and what they fail to achieve, and seeks to reconstruct strategy as a multi-dimensional, dynamic concept. For this purpose, the study uses and interrelates the dualities between continuity principle and discontinuity principle, knowledge and imagination, opportunity exploitation and opportunity exploration, and conformist innovation and deviant innovation. The paper makes explicit, through the notion of performance paradox, the context for the framework that results from the mutual relation of these four dualities. The paper finds that failure to understand these dualities and their interrelatedness will ensure that strategy will remain largely an illusive, unexplained and rhetorical concept. It demonstrates that the greatest benefit of understanding these dualities and their interrelatedness is that it can show how organisations should be by illuminating who they might be. The paper identifies opportunities for innovation, research and reflection by establishing the need for balancing the seemingly conflicting opposites of these interrelated dualities and ways in which they can be located on their strengths. The paper suggests that the understanding that emerges from the treatment of strategy as a multi-dimensional, dynamic construct, allows organisations to align the corporate, business and functional dimensions more effectively in making progress and receiving more in terms of the results they want to achieve. The paper introduces a radical shift in thinking, arguing for a move away from simplified, unbalanced, static constructions of strategy that focus on one-dimensionality, asymmetry and post-rationalisation

Collective creativity: wisdom or oxymoron?

The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate ways in which collective creativity and individual creativity exist in an “and/both” rather than in an “either/or” relationship. This study uses and interrelates a number of dualities using “metalectics”, the principal task of which is to balance seemingly conflicting opposites by revealing them and locating them on their strengths. Collective creativity, as a bridging metaphor, renders itself as an oxymoron, both literally and as an outcome: where individual and collective creativity are dichotomised, diversity is treated as a constraint, and collaboration is confused with coordination. An essential of creativity is deviancy, and that this has to be valued to bring about change. Heterogeneous communities of practice should not be confused with homogenous communities of practice because this causes artificial dialogues that destroy the very creativity they claim to ignite. The paper offers an alternative way of thinking, arguing for a move away from simplified, unbalanced perspectives of creativity that focus on one-dimensionality and asymmetry

Intellectual capital: direction, not blind faith

This study questions the coupling of “intellectual” with “capital” and the assumption that such a coupling legitimises measurement. It suggests this coupling presents intellectual capital as an uncontested construction that attracts a broad audience. However, this study lays bare intellectual capital by revealing its contestability and multiple meanings using rational and non-rational management perspectives as examples. Such contestability can be seen both as a strength and weakness in making intellectual capital a meaningful or meaningless construction. Using a metalectic framework, a process is presented that exposes a variety of attitudes of mind so that the integration of rational and non-rational management perspectives becomes a possibility. Using this framework, intellectual labour is captured operating within an eco-work system, which relies on the human attributes of independency and interdependency working simultaneously. It suggests that intellectual capital can only indicate a direction when imagination, creativity and learning are at work. The intention is not to provide yet another management model that will control or change people’s behaviours. This paper simply presents an alternative thinking process that accommodates a variety of attitudes of mind and argues that such a process is more appropriate than what is currently on offer if intellectual capital is to become more meaningful

Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with ADHD

Background: Self-reported studies showed that physical activity is associated with health-related quality of life in children with ADHD. Considering the limitations of self-reporting methods, we aimed to assess the association between accelerometer-measured physical activity and health-related quality of life among children with ADHD.Methods: 68 participants (28 girls, mean age of 10.22±1.55 years) wore the accelerometer for seven consecutive days. PedsQL was used to measure health-related quality of life. Mann-Whitney U, Spearman correlation test, and regression analysis were used to analyze data.Results: On average, the daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was 36.46 minutes, which is below the WHO guideline. Boys engaged significantly more in daily MVPA than girl. Moreover, gender significantly predicted health-related quality of life (F = 4.58, p = 0.03, Adjusted R2 = 0.08, β = 0.75). Sedentary time% has inversely predicted health-related quality of life (F = 2.81, p = 0.04, Adjusted R2 = 0.03, β = 0.53). Finally, daily MVPA predicted health-related quality of life (F = 5.73, p = 0.02, Adjusted R2 = 0.09, β = 0.13).Conclusion: These finding indicate that physical activity and quality of life are critical concerns for children with ADHD. Accordingly, it is necessary to adopt appropriate strategies to develop more active lifestyles among this populatio

Association between Physical Activity and Motor Proficiency among Primary School Children

Background: Self-reported instruments have suggested that physical activity correlates with motor proficiency in children. However, due to inherent biases and low accuracy of self-reported instruments, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between objectively measured physical activity (via accelerometer) and motor proficiency in children.Methods: This study is a descriptive-correlational investigation involving 384 children (comprising 192 boys and 192 girls), aged 7 to 9 years (with a mean age of 7.96±0.73 years). These participants were in the first and second grades from regular primary schools in Tehran, Iran, during 2022, and were selected through a convenience sampling method. We employed the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer for an objective measurement of physical activity. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency’s short form was used to evaluate the children’s motor proficiency. Data were analyzed using Independent t-test, Pearson correlation test, and multiple linear regression analysis.Results: The children did not meet the WHO guidelines recommending 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day. Boys had significantly more MVPA than girls (P<0.001). The results revealed that sedentary time had a significant inverse relationship with both gross (r=-0.681, P<0.001) and fine (r=-0.584, P<0.001) motor skills. Moreover, objectively measured physical activity (via accelerometer) showed a direct and significant correlation with gross motor skills (r=0.710, P<0.001), but not with fine motor skills (r=0.064, P=0.307). Sedentary time significantly and inversely impacted both gross (β=-0.68) and fine motor skills (β=-0.58). Furthermore, objective physical activity (measured by accelerometer) had a direct and significant impact on gross motor skills (β=0.71).Conclusions: These findings underscore the necessity to enhance the level of physical activity in children, particularly in girls. We also recommend that physical education teachers and sports coaches incorporate programs in their physical education lessons designed to facilitate motor skills development in children

Effects of Peer Acceptance on Participation of Children with ADHD in Physical Activity: Mediating Role of Physical Self-Efficacy

Background: Previous studies have shown that peers play an important role in the participation of children in physical activities. Nevertheless, peers’ effects on physical activity participation of children with ADHD have been rarely examined. Thus, this study aimed to examine the effects of peer acceptance on the participation of children with ADHD in physical activity with a consideration of physical self-efficacy as a mediator. Method: In this study, we followed the descriptive-correlational method. The participants were 92 children with ADHD aged 9 to 12 years old who attended a special school for children with ADHD. Peer acceptance, physical activity, and self-efficacy were measured by the use of standard questionnaires. Data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: Overall, the level of physical activity in children with ADHD was very low (0.98 out of 7). Peer acceptance positively influenced physical activity (T=7.769) and physical self-efficacy (T=6.967). Moreover, physical self-efficacy significantly mediated the association between peer acceptance and physical activity (P<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that it is necessary to adopt appropriate strategies to increase the level of physical activity among children with ADHD. Moreover, peers play an important role in the participation of children with ADHD in physical activity and physical self-efficacy can be considered as a plausible mediator in this relationshi

A report on Platyceps ventromaculatus (Colubridae) from Fereydan County in Isfahan province-Iran

Snakes are among the predatory reptiles in the wild. Due to the importance of knowing the habitats of these reptiles and their distribution, this study has been done. During the study, the specimen snake was found in the garden of a house in the region of Afus, of Fereydan County, in the west of Isfahan province. The city of Afus is 2800 meters above the sea level, on the roof of Iran. Afus is located at 50°5’, 646 East longitude, and at 33°1’, 464 North Latitude. Afus is a mountainous region with a moderate climate, its winters are cold and snowy while its summers are mild and pleasant. The mountainous nature of Afus and the sudden changes in temperature cause seasonal winds to blow. Temperature changes in this city are such that in winter and especially in January reaches minus 30°C and in summer and on the hottest day of the year will be 31°C. This suitable climate and soil type cause the growth of varieties of herbaceous plants and medicinal herbs in this region. The presence of these plants causes Afus land to be green and fertile in the hot season. After initial identification of this species according to the available sources, its photos and videos were presented to a high expert herpetologist who confirmed the identity of the snake. On the basis of morphological characters, the specimen was Platyceps ventromaculatus belong to the Colubridae family and is considered as a non-venomous snake