Journeying together towards goodness: participant understanding of practices and narratives in a University of the Nations Discipleship Training School

This study develops a new hybrid theoretical framework and uses it for an empirical moral inquiry. By investigating participants’ understandings of social practices and narratives in the University of the Nations (UofN) Discipleship Training School (DTS) using a multiple individual case study approach, this research infers how processes of moral development and identity formation may be working. Alasdair MacIntyre’s philosophical framework for the rationality of virtue formation in a particular tradition is deepened by inserting Vygotsky’s theories of genetic analysis and mediation in the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and Wertsch’s unit of analysis of mediated human action to research how students use cultural tools to negotiate the intermediate steps of becoming virtuous. Learning and identity formation are explored in an alternative model of higher education using Lave and Wenger’s social learning theory of Legitimate Peripheral Participation (LPP) in a Community of Practice (CoP). Resources in practical theology, such as works by Dykstra and Bass, ground this study in the Christian tradition. Particular attention is given to DTS participants’ pursuit of moral purpose, action in the world, and virtuous character as they learn to relate to those who are ‘other’. A composite summary of participants’ understanding of a good learning community may guide attempts to cultivate virtuous learning communities that nurture non-coercive rearrangements of desire and human freedom. Rising interest in the place of spirituality and religion in the post-secular academy, the global growth of educational institutions in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement, and the under-researched expression of UofN education taking place in 112 countries in 55 languages indicate potential international impact. This study enables MacIntyre’s virtue ethics framework to be applied in empirical research using sociocultural and activity theories to investigate the processes of learning to become good persons together

Studies on the enchytraeidae of moorland soils

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A simplex-like search method for bi-objective optimization

We describe a new algorithm for bi-objective optimization, similar to the Nelder Mead simplex algorithm, widely used for single objective optimization. For diferentiable bi-objective functions on a continuous search space, internal Pareto optima occur where the two gradient vectors point in opposite directions. So such optima may be located by minimizing the cosine of the angle between these vectors. This requires a complex rather than a simplex, so we term the technique the \cosine seeking complex". An extra beneft of this approach is that a successful search identifes the direction of the effcient curve of Pareto points, expediting further searches. Results are presented for some standard test functions. The method presented is quite complicated and space considerations here preclude complete details. We hope to publish a fuller description in another place

Improving root cause analysis through the integration of PLM systems with cross supply chain maintenance data

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a system architecture for integrating Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems with cross supply chain maintenance information to support root-cause analysis. By integrating product-data from PLM systems with warranty claims, vehicle diagnostics and technical publications, engineers were able to improve the root-cause analysis and close the information gaps. Data collection was achieved via in-depth semi-structured interviews and workshops with experts from the automotive sector. Unified Modelling Language (UML) diagrams were used to design the system architecture proposed. A user scenario is also presented to demonstrate the functionality of the system

Transactional or Transformational? Leadership Preferences of Division III Athletic Administrators

Leadership research within sport management has yielded inconsistent results when examining transactional and transformational leadership. In addition, there has been a paucity of research comparing leadership behaviors between men and women based on leadership style. Therefore, this study examined whether leadership style (transactional, transformational) led to more positive perceptions of organizational outcomes in intercollegiate athletic administration and whether gender of the leader influenced these perceptions of leaders. Ninety-eight Division III athletic directors evaluated either a male or female transactional leader or a male or female transformational leader on extra effort, effectiveness, and satisfaction. Findings indicated transformational leadership was related to more positive organizational outcomes, specifically extra effort and satisfaction. However, gender of the leader did not influence these perceived outcomes

Organizational Culture Mediates the Relationship Between Transformational Leadership and Work Outcomes

The objectives of this study were to examine the mediating effect of group and developmental organizational culture types on the relationship between transformational leadership and three outcome variables—affective organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and job search behaviors. Senior administrators (n = 188) working in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic departments completed a survey assessing perceptions of leadership behavior of their athletic directors, the culture of their athletic departments, and their affective organizational commitment, turnover intentions, and job search behaviors. Results indicate that group culture partially mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and affective organizational commitment, and fully mediates turnover intentions and job search behaviors. Developmental culture partially mediates affective organizational commitment but has no influence on turnover intentions and job search behaviors. Findings contribute to the understanding of the important mediating role of organizational culture on the relationship between transformational leadership and outcome variables in the intercollegiate athletics context

Sport-for-development: A comprehensive analysis of theoretical and conceptual advancements

© 2019 Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand Over the past decade, the field of sport-for-development (SFD) has experienced significant growth and diversification across research and practice. In this review paper, the authors provide a comprehensive analysis and discussion of the theoretical and conceptual developments within SFD, addressing a gap in the literature. Following a sport-focused review of SFD literature, the authors first identify five theoretical and conceptual frameworks that have emerged from within the SFD space. As a second step, they analyze and discuss scholarly work that has utilized these theories and frameworks. Building on a comparison of key messages, themes, and concerns, the authors highlight that to date, limited SFD scholarship has truly applied, extended, or challenged existing frameworks and conceptualizations. Motivated by this review, they posit several conceptual advancements, and offer directions for future research and theoretical development