The role of social media in the collaboration, interaction, co-creation and co-delivery of a social venture in an uncertain conflict environment

This research case study examines the creation and development of a bottom-up social enterprise immediately after the outbreak of a civil war in an Arab country by a group of young patriots in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprisings in the 2010s. Drawing on Linders’ (2012) model of social action lifecycle, our study examines how different actors become involved and co-created a socially entrepreneurial venture (SEV), how these actors contributed to the coproduction and co-delivery of the social actions (values) over time, and how social media play roles in these processes. Drawing from the empirical evidences of citizen co-production within the existing literature, we found that SEVs operate in very different ways in which the role of social media is critical, both from their equivalents operating in a penurious but stable environment, and those intending to pursue political action within a conflict situation. In our case study, social media was not intended for mass-mobilisation, but for selected mobilisation amongst those within the network. This is due to the insecure environment and the fear of infiltration from opposing parties. We also examine how new actors were, over time, being carefully screened and selected, and potential harmful existing players being excluded, which in turn contributed to the evolving nature of the social enterprises

Path-and Place-dependence of entrepreneurial ventures at times of war and conflict.

Studies have previously examined the path development of entrepreneurs within a penurious environment but what if their path encounters a conflict situation? Does it make the place even more resource-poor and subsequently squeeze out any remaining life from entrepreneurism? Utilising Isaksen?s (2014) characterisation of path-dependence, we intend to examine how entrepreneurs negotiate their path through the ?double whammy? of penurious environment and conflict. Through an event-based approach examining the entrepreneurial paths of three wartime entrepreneurs, our study indicates that, whilst the immediate aftermath is chaos leading to limited path-extension and even path-exhaustion, once the initial fog is clear, entrepreneurial individuals find different ways to adapt, not only through path-extension, but also through path-renewal and path-creation. These opportunities are place-dependent, the recognition of which requires considerable local knowledge and resources acquired through experience and prior local investment as well as interdependent networks

Immigrant children in primary schools in Hong Kong: their adjustment and the role of civic education

This study investigated the adjustment of Newly Arrived Children (NAC) from Mainland China in three primary schools in Hong Kong and the role of civic education in the adjustment process. Questionnaires were delivered to five classes of primary five and six pupils to elicit information on various aspects of adjustment of these NAC as well as the patterns of interaction between the NAC and the local children. Interviews with school staff in these schools provided information on the aims, policies and other aspects related to the implementation of civic education in these schools, interviews with teacher trainees helped to provide further information on issues related to the implementation of civic education. Analysis of questionnaires results show that in general NAC have adjusted well to the school and social environment in Hong Kong. However, problems of interaction were found. Principal components analysis extracted nine factors from the questionnaire responses. There was evidence that the school was the organization which best helped the pupils to adjust to their new life in Hong Kong. The interview data show that teachers attributed interaction problems to the different cultural background and the age gap between NAC and the local pupils. However, fewer problems were reported in schools with a high proportion of NAC. The interview data also showed that personal habits, language and life style were reported as important aspects regarding the adjustment to life in Hong Kong. Based on the interviews, it appears that an important aim of civic education in the schools is to facilitate the adjustment of NAC to the life in Hong Kong. Compared with the formal curriculum, there is a greater reliance on the informal curriculum in implementing civic education. Problems encountered include the clear discretion of teachers to decide in what ways civic education is implemented through the formal curriculum. Another problem is the emphasis on assimilation

Processor-sharing queues and resource sharing in wireless LANs

In the past few decades, the processor-sharing (PS) model has received considerable attention in the queueing theory community and in the field of performance evaluation of\ud computer and communication systems. The scarce resource is simultaneously shared among all users in these systems. PS models are used for modeling resource sharing mechanisms and have many applications in communication networks, as well as in logistics and manufacturing

New approaches to Pictet–Spengler-type cyclisation reactions

A modified Pictet–Spengler synthesis has been developed, which alleviates the problems associated with the classical synthesis. A-methoxyurethanes were used as precursors, and cyclisation initiated under mild Lewis acid conditions in non-aqueous media at room temperature. Precursors with unactivated aromatic ring systems could be cyclised. The presence of various substituents at the C-1 position of the new compound was made possible by investigating different methods of synthesising the α-methoxyurethane precursors. Two general routes were used; the first utilising the reaction between imines and chloroformates and the second using the anion of secondary urethanes. The generality of the methodology was explored. The use of different cyclising reagents was investigated; it was found that the counter-ion involved in these reagents was of great significance in these reactions. Studies on the effect of substituents on the aromatic rings in the N-(α-methoxy-α-phenylmethyl)-N-methoxycarbonylamide precursors were also undertaken with interesting results. Attempts to carry out the cyclisation of related precursors—trifluoroacetamides and tosylates—were unsuccessful. Protected 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylic acids, novel α-amino acid systems, were synthesised; and the methodology was also applied to the syntheses of isoindoline and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-2-benzazepine ring systems with partial success. A preliminary examination of the diastereoselective and enantioselective synthesis has also been undertaken

Dysprosody in Cantonese Parkinson's disease

Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 2008.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 26-30).A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, June 30, 2008.Also available in print.published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science

How entrepreneurial are social entrepreneurship education providers? The role of universities’ entrepreneurial ecosystems in the provision of elective social entrepreneurship courses to business students

With the growing emphasis on social entrepreneurship (SE), many universities are delivering social entrepreneurship courses (SECs) to develop students’ social awareness and aspirations, and socially-entrepreneurial behaviors. This study investigates the extent to which the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE), entailing entrepreneurism at individual, university and regional levels, may impact on universities’ decisions to offer SECs to business students. Using data from 501 US-based, AACSB-accredited business schools, the finding indicates the importance of the universities’ EE and entrepreneurialism at multi-levels in their commitment to SECs

The Role of Entrepreneurship and Spirituality in the Provision of Elective Social Enterprise Courses in Business Schools

The final chapter in this section, chapter ten, Cherry Cheung, Sujun Fieldhouse and Caleb Kwong examine the extent to which the spirituality of a university may impact its decision to offer social enterprise courses as part of their business curriculum. Universities face increasing pressures from stakeholders to produce moral, civically aware and socially responsible citizens who will create positive change in their societies. Because of their concern and focus on social, economic, environmental and now spiritual ‘bottom-lines’, social enterprises courses are seen as one way of engaging in the conversations to examine transformational shifts in society. Using data from 494 business schools accredited by AACSB in the US, Cheung, Fieldhouse and Kwong found that, alongside structural differences, universities with higher entrepreneurship orientation, as well as the presence of spirituality markers, such as sustainability, diversity and religious orientations, are more likely to be offering social enterprise courses for business students, after controlling for other factors. This is an important finding, confirming that spirituality has a role to play in supporting a broader education experience that has the potential to develop socially responsible citizens who have the awareness to create transformational social changes. Thus, the study alerts the wider academic community of the contributions that social enterprise courses can make in creating social change, particularly for those without a strong emphasis of spirituality that may struggle to see the need to offer such courses

Does social performance contribute to economic performance of social enterprises? The role of social enterprise reputation building. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research

Purpose Literature on the relationship between social performance and economic performance of social enterprises has long been inconclusive. This paper aims to investigate whether and, if so, how social performance contributes to economic performance of social enterprises. Specifically, drawing from the resource-based view and signalling theory, the study examines how the development of reputation, which enables social enterprises to signal the enterprises' stakeholders' commitment towards social causes, mediates the relationship between the two. Design/methodology/approach Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from a sample of 164 social enterprises in the UK and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings The results illustrate that whilst the direct relationship between social and economic performance is inconclusive, social performance contributes indirectly to improve economic performance through improving social enterprise reputation. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first of this kind in the context of social enterprises which sheds light on the long-standing conflicting literature on the relationship between the dual objectives (i.e. social and economic) by providing reputation as the mediating variable