Adventure sport, Media and Social/Cultural Change

Abstract The turn of the millennium has heralded an explosion in the popularity of adventure sports often also referred to as alternative lifestyle sports or extreme sports. These are offering both new avenues and potential challenges to the traditional ways of conceptualising and practicing sport. This thesis analyses the development of adventure sports, in particular climbing and kayaking, as a subculture. It delivers a socio-economic history of climbing, analyses the role of the media in its development, its participation and its lived experience. Further it investigates the impact of globalisation, commercialisation and consumerism on adventure sports, and considers to what extent they are being brought into the mainstream as a result. The economic impact of participation in adventure sports is reviewed along with a study of how the make up of its participants has changed as the activities have become more accessible. Particular focus is placed on the analysis of the gender order, specifically looking at the experiences of women in adventure sports. For this purpose the sports culture found in climbing and kayaking is examined and the implications for the reconstruction of gender relations are considered. This study employs an ethnographic approach including both semi-structured and structured interviews with both adventure sports experts and participants, document and media analysis, participant observation and the more recent nethnography approach. One of the significant contributions of this thesis has been to provide a comprehensive review and analysis of the social, cultural and media environment of arguably one of the most popular lifestyle sports in the UK. It has also shown the strong interrelationship that exists between the media and adventure sports, and has demonstrated how the increased commercialisation and commodification of the activity has resulted in economic development particularly in some remoter parts of the UK through the packaging and provision of the climbing experience. At the same time some participants see this is ‘selling out’. This research has demonstrated how women’s participation in adventure sports has been subject to marginalisation, sexualisation and trivialisation similar to other mainstream sports. However, this work has also highlighted that there is room for optimism as new discourses of femininity contrary to the traditional male hegemony are emerging. Further research opportunities have been identified concerning issues of ethnicity and participation; the social, cultural and economic relationships between adventure sportspeople and rural communities. Emerging feminist discourses also warrant further investigation

Framework for Quantitative Digitalization Measurement in Supply Chain Planning

Measurement is a central element for any effective management. The megatrend of digitalization enables new possibilities, but also requires research on its appropriate monitoring considering digital transformation. In supply chain planning, todays methods are mostly qualitative. Thus, this study analyzes how the impact of digitalization can be quantified scoped to this field of application.Based on the literature streams supply chain planning performance measurement, digitalization assessment and digital technologies the authors develop a holistic framework for quantitative digitalization measurement (QDMF). The framework comprises three dimensions: ‘Man’, ‘Technology’, and ‘Organization’. These itemize to 22 measurands specific to the context. The logic allows the comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of digitalization projects and provides reliable, informative value for decision-making by the quantitative scaling. The framework is applied by conducting expert interviews for customization and data collection, whereon analytics calculates the measurands. In the end, experts interpret the results.For verification and validation, the framework is deployed to the empirical use case of Infineon Technologies AG, Europe’s largest semiconductor manufacturer. The study concludes that quantitative digitalization monitoring is promising and can deliver new insights for effective managerial decision-making. Obstacles as limited data availability and constrained explanatory power are investigated and provide options for further studies.Measurement is a central element for any effective management. The megatrend of digitalization enables new possibilities, but also requires research on its appropriate monitoring considering digital transformation. In supply chain planning, todays methods are mostly qualitative. Thus, this study analyzes how the impact of digitalization can be quantified scoped to this field of application.Based on the literature streams supply chain planning performance measurement, digitalization assessment and digital technologies the authors develop a holistic framework for quantitative digitalization measurement (QDMF). The framework comprises three dimensions: ‘Man’, ‘Technology’, and ‘Organization’. These itemize to 22 measurands specific to the context. The logic allows the comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of digitalization projects and provides reliable, informative value for decision-making by the quantitative scaling. The framework is applied by conducting expert interviews for customization and data collection, whereon analytics calculates the measurands. In the end, experts interpret the results.For verification and validation, the framework is deployed to the empirical use case of Infineon Technologies AG, Europe’s largest semiconductor manufacturer. The study concludes that quantitative digitalization monitoring is promising and can deliver new insights for effective managerial decision-making. Obstacles as limited data availability and constrained explanatory power are investigated and provide options for further studies

ENTWICKLUNG, BEWERTUNG UND KOMMUNIKATION EINES FRAMEWORKS ZUR DARSTELLUNG DES UMFANGS VON RPA

Der vorliegende Beitrag beschreibt die Entwicklung und Validierung eines Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Frameworks unter Anwendung des Design Science Research (DSR) Prozesses. &nbsp

StratIT – A Framework Describing the Contents of IT Strategies. Background and Approach

Until today no consensus has been found regarding the contents of IT strategies. This results in uncer-tainty when formulating the topical areas of IT strategy documents. The Special Interest Group (SIG) “Strate¬gisches Informationsmanagement (SIM)” (Strategic Information Management) of the “Gesellschaft für Informatik” (German Informatics Society)” addresses this gap by developing a framework that defines generic perspectives, domains, and elements of an IT strategy. Within the group, researchers and practi¬tioners bundle their insights and experiences in the development of the framework named “StratIT”. We report on the current status of work and develop a structured basis for discussion. In addition, we de¬scribe the methodical and scientific foundations and the “modus operandi” of the SIG. Our intent is to communicate the perceived problem, our approach, and the developed artifact to an international audi¬ence, to get feedback and also to exchange ideas

Sceptical Employees as CSR Ambassadors in Times of Financial Uncertainty

This chapter offers new insights into the understanding of internal (employee) perceptions of organizational corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and strategies. This study explores the significance of employees’ involvement and scepticism upon CSR initiatives and focuses on the effects it may have upon word of mouth (WOM) and the development of employee–organisation relationships. Desk research introduces the research questions. Data for the research questions were gathered through a self-completion questionnaire distributed in a hardcopy form to the sample. An individual’s level of scepticism and involvement appears to affect the development of a positive effect on employees’ WOM. Involvement with the domain of the investment may be a central factor affecting relationship building within the organization, and upon generation of positive WOM. The chapter offers a conceptual framework to public relations (PR) and corporate communications practitioners, which may enrich their views and understanding of the use and value of CSR for communication strategies and practices. For-profit organisations are major institutions in today’s society. CSR is proffered as presenting advantages for (at macro level) society and (micro level) the organization and its employees. Concepts, such as involvement and scepticism, which have not been rigorously examined in PR and corporate communication literature, are addressed. By examining employee perceptions, managers and academic researchers gain insights into the acceptance, appreciation and effectiveness of CSR policies and activities upon the employee stakeholder group. This will affect current and future CSR communication strategies. The knowledge acquired from this chapter may be transferable outside the for-profit sector

Defining extreme sport: conceptions and misconceptions

One feature in how sport is defined is the distinction between extreme and non-extreme. BASE jumping is an example of an ‘extreme sport’ because it involves a high degree of ‘risk’, whilst swimming is classified as ‘non-extreme’ because the risks are minimal. This broad definition falls short of identifying the extent of risk and ignores the psychological, social-demographic and life style variables associated with engagement in each sport

StratIT– Ein Rahmenwerk zu den Inhalten von ITStrategien. Grundlegung und methodische Fundierung

Bis heute ist kein Konsens über die Inhalte von IT-Strategien vorhan-den. Daraus folgt eine gewisse Unsicherheit, wenn es gilt, die Themenbereiche einer IT-Strategie festzulegen. Dieser Missstand soll durch den Entwurf eines Rahmenwerks/Frameworks behoben werden. Die Fachgruppe Strategisches In-formationsmanagement der Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI-Fachgruppe SIM) hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, ein entsprechendes Rahmenwerk zu entwickeln. Dieses dient dazu, die Erstellung von IT-Strategien zu unterstützen. Der vorlie-gende Beitrag beschreibt den aktuellen Stand der Arbeit und zeigt im Sinne einer Diskussionsgrundlage auf, in welche thematischen Perspektiven, Domä-nen und Elemente sich IT-Strategien gliedern lassen. Darüber hinaus werden die methodische und wissenschaftstheoretische Fundierung sowie der „modus operandi“ der Arbeitsgruppe beschrieben. Das Rahmenwerk „StratIT“ entsteht in Zusammenarbeit von Forschern und Praktikern

The search for freedom in extreme sports: A phenomenological exploration

Participation in extreme sports is continuing to grow, yet there is still little understanding of participant motivations in such sports. The purpose of this paper is to report on one aspect of motivation in extreme sports, the search for freedom. The study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology. Fifteen international extreme sport participants who participated in sports such as BASE jumping, big wave surfing, extreme mountaineering, extreme skiing, rope free climbing and waterfall kayaking were interviewed about their experience of participating in an extreme sport. Results reveal six elements of freedom: freedom from constraints, freedom as movement, freedom as letting go of the need for control, freedom as the release of fear, freedom as being at one, and finally freedom as choice and responsibility. The findings reveal that motivations in extreme sport do not simply mirror traditional images of risk taking and adrenaline and that motivations in extreme sports also include an exploration of the ways in which humans seek fundamental human values. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd

Adventurous Physical Activity Environments: A Mainstream Intervention for Mental Health

Adventurous physical activity has traditionally been considered the pastime of a small minority of people with deviant personalities or characteristics that compel them to voluntarily take great risks purely for the sake of thrills and excitement. An unintended consequence of these traditional narratives is the relative absence of adventure activities in mainstream health and well-being discourses and in large-scale governmental health initiatives. However, recent research has demonstrated that even the most extreme adventurous physical activities are linked to enhanced psychological health and well-being outcomes. These benefits go beyond traditional ‘character building’ concepts and emphasize more positive frameworks that rely on the development of effective environmental design. Based on emerging research, this paper demonstrates why adventurous physical activity should be considered a mainstream intervention for positive mental health. Furthermore, the authors argue that understanding how to design environments that effectively encourage appropriate adventure should be considered a serious addition to mainstream health and well-being discourse

Human MCTS1-dependent translation of JAK2 is essential for IFN-γ immunity to mycobacteria.

Human inherited disorders of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) immunity underlie severe mycobacterial diseases. We report X-linked recessive MCTS1 deficiency in men with mycobacterial disease from kindreds of different ancestries (from China, Finland, Iran, and Saudi Arabia). Complete deficiency of this translation re-initiation factor impairs the translation of a subset of proteins, including the kinase JAK2 in all cell types tested, including T lymphocytes and phagocytes. JAK2 expression is sufficiently low to impair cellular responses to interleukin-23 (IL-23) and partially IL-12, but not other JAK2-dependent cytokines. Defective responses to IL-23 preferentially impair the production of IFN-γ by innate-like adaptive mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) and γδ T lymphocytes upon mycobacterial challenge. Surprisingly, the lack of MCTS1-dependent translation re-initiation and ribosome recycling seems to be otherwise physiologically redundant in these patients. These findings suggest that X-linked recessive human MCTS1 deficiency underlies isolated mycobacterial disease by impairing JAK2 translation in innate-like adaptive T lymphocytes, thereby impairing the IL-23-dependent induction of IFN-γ