The reflexive modernization of Australian universities

The profound changes occurring in Australian higher education are viewed here in the context of the social, cultural, political and economic effects of globalization. Particular attention is paid to providing a theoretical foundation for understanding these effects using the reflexive modernization perspective. Highlighted are some of the challenges facing universities in Australia brought about by the corrosive influences of individualization and risk. This paper includes a call for a more critical and intentional approach to higher education policy and management

Australian Higher Education Reform: A Reflexive Modernisation Perspective

Globalisation is a major force driving the many profound changes occurring in policy-making in Australia.The far-reaching and deep transformations in the social, economic, political and cultural fabric brought about by globalisation are usefully conceptualised in the theory of reflexive modernisation. This aim of this paper is to use the reflexive modernisation thesis to examine the Nelson reform agenda for Australian higher education. The Nelson reforms are an intensification of a process begun in the 1980s that is opening the sector to competition, privatisation and marketisation. The trends identified have significant implications in that the Australian higher education sector is being fundamentally transformed, calling into question the nature and role of universities

Teaching business ethics to postgraduates Does it make a difference? An Australian viewpoint

There is a growing trend to increase business schools’ attention to teach business ethics, nonetheless, scholars continue to be at odds as to whether teaching business ethics, especially at the post graduate level might help or even make a difference. Deriving from a quantitative core component with a qualitative supplementary component, the aim of this paper is to provide empirical evidence from Australia that teaching business ethics (BE567) to post graduate students makes a difference and in the long term generates a shift in students’ mind sets. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through different methods including questions at the beginning of the semester, reflection at the end of the semester with an informal feedback provided during the semester, which provide evidence of a shift in students’ mind sets.Nonetheless, this paper will derive from the anonymous teaching and unit evaluation system in use by Curtin University ‘eVALUAte’ from 162 post graduate students of business ethics over five semesters in two different campuses. The analysis of this data suggests that there is an appreciation of the topic of business ethics at the postgraduate level making a difference and ultimately bringing in a shift in students’ mind sets. Through their evaluations of the unit and teaching, students highlighted the importance of such a unit, and how learning about issues of ethical nature is of importance to them personally and to businesses in general, which provides an assurance that the unit outcomes have been achieved in transforming students mind sets

Modernity and tradition in a global era: the reinvention of caste in India

Purpose - this paper aims to explore the re-interpretation and justification of caste in India in the face of modernising influences and the efforts of legislators to disassemble its structures and traditions.Approach - the concepts of de-traditionalisation and governmentality are deployed to illuminate the reconstruction of caste within the framework and imperatives of global industrial capitalism.Findings - caste now has a different source of justification in that it serves the functions and needs of the 'winners' of globalisation at the expense of the 'losers'. In traditional caste-based society each caste moved in separate social spheres. This is simply not possible in a modern capitalist state based on a web of social, economic, and political inter-dependencies. This has the potential to cause social dislocation, threatening India's economic and social well-being and development. This paper demonstrates that whilst caste is still prevalent in Indian society it can no longer appeal to tradition for legitimacy.Implications resource distribution and the creation of an inclusive environment is a critical policy issue. The challenge for social policy in India is tackling the entrenched inequality of the caste system in its emerging, contemporary form. Equal opportunities will remain imaginary, unless India takes adequate steps towards capacity building in disadvantaged social groups.Original value de-traditionalisation and governmentality have so far only been applied to developed or Western nations. This paper uses these concepts to provide a critical account of an important social issue in developing nations

Reflexive judgement, risk and responses: HIV/Aids in Africa and Asia

Despite global acknowledgement of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Deficiency Syndrome (Aids) reaching pandemic proportions with 37.8 million people (World Health Organisation, 2004) living with the infection, progress towards developing effective international responses to curb the spread of the disease has been slow. The focus of current debate tends to focus on the medical treatment and prevention of HIV/Aids, leading to emphasis being placed on the rapid increase in HIV infection as well as opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. The traditional view of responding to these challenges has been probing the high cost factors associated with antiretroviral treatment and burgeoning medical care needs. This paper argues that these responses are limited in their effect as they have a narrow, medical focus. This paper presents a broader perspective. It investigates the implications of HIV/Aids to the goals of national sustainable development using theoretical standpoints provided by reflexive modernization, namely the concepts of risk and reflexive judgement. Attention is given to those regions of the world - Africa and Asia where HIV/Aids are acute policy issues

Dignity and Ethics in Research Photography

The aim of this paper is to provide new conceptual and practical insights about the issues associated with ethics and dignity when undertaking research involving the collection of photographic data. Case studies of photographs taken as part of a research project in Chennai, India, are employed to illuminate the significance of dignity. The case studies reveal that dignity-in-context provides a useful conceptual tool that encapsulates the range of ethical issues that might be encountered. This concept has two dimensions. The first, dignity-in-outcome, assists deciding what and whether to photograph by drawing attention to the need for those being researched to benefit from the research, to present an authentic view of the situation and to ensure that participants are not demeaned or reduced. The second is dignity-in-process that helps researchers decide why and how to photograph in terms of involving those being researched in the way an image is captured, choosing the right angle for the image and the impression the image will give if and when it is published

Ethical climate of Public Sector organizations in Australia

The aim of this paper is to identify and analyse the ethical climate in the Australian Public Sector organizations. Using a mixed method design, data was collected from 158 employees of all ranks using an online survey. Data analysis suggests that public servants rate highly such values as integrity, honesty, support and compassion that act as a positive force for making the workplace more tolerable, flexible, and most importantly, in support of an ethical climate that is accountable. However, some respondents expressed concerns that management do not necessarily maintain or display such values. This is reflected in the doubt cast by respondents that an individual with a self-serving (selfish) ethical mindset can be changed for the better. This suggests that there are a number of different possible ethical climates. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that respondents display a high level of respect for belief systems different to their own.While there are those who stated that they do not ‘wear their beliefs on their sleeves’, those belief systems come out in the way they treat others and the way they view the world. To improve the ethical climate of public service organizations, the data suggests that it is important to combat feelings amongst staff that favouritism is being practiced. Interestingly, respondents concede that this too is in the hands of management who they say ‘set the ethical scene’. Though limited to Australia, this research potentially adds to the developing business ethics literature generally and more specifically to the evolving theoretical perspectives on ethical mind-sets with the identification and development of ethical climate in organizations raising some interesting theoretical questions worthy of further research

Correlated decays of pair-produced scalar taus

We study the quantum mechanical correlation between two identical neutralinos in the decays of minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) scalar tau (stau) pair produced in e+e- annihilation. Generally, the decay products of scalar (spinless) particles are not correlated. We show that a correlation between two neutralinos appears near pair production threshold, due to a finite stau width and mixing of the staus and/or neutralinos, and because the neutralinos are Majorana. Because the correlation is significant only in a specific kinematical configuration, it can be observed only in supersymmetric models where the neutralino momenta can be kinematically reconstructed, such as in models with R-parity violation.Comment: revtex, 10 pages, 8 eps figures; references added, version to appear in PR

Theorising creative industry management: rebooting the woolly mammoth

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the paradox inherent in the term “Creative Industry Management”. The challenges of applying creative industry experiences within a managerial context are explored through a careful selection of papers that identify linkages between creative industry practice and management theories. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a narrative commentary using the Jurassic Park franchise to highlight the potential application of management theory to explain the success or failure of a creative venture. The analogy of filmmaking and the creation of blockbuster movie sequels is useful in determining the tensions between creative production and management of a profitable franchise. Findings – This paper identifies opportunities for theory building at the meso level in the management domain, born of the experiences of those in the creative industries. The papers presented add to the continuing discovery of ways of applying management theory in the creative industries. However, there remain opportunities for a cross-pollination of theory from the creative industry to management domains. Research limitations/implications – It is not possible to claim more than observation and exploratory inference from the selection of papers presented. The special issue has only uncovered one half of the theoretical perspective, namely management theory that can be applied in the creative industries. Originality/value – The approach taken to liken the challenge of managing creativity to the production of creative works in moviemaking is novel and highlights the dearth of creative industry experiences that currently influence management theory