Knitting together the strands of my life: The secret pleasure that trans/in/forms my work

The craft of knitting serves multiple apparent purposes, from the construction of warm garments to engagement in the mathematical calisthenics required to master both design and fit. But this academic knitter finds satisfactions that are not so apparent to the observer, although they are profound and vital. As knitters gain in proficiency, they may also grow more self-confident, more generous, calmer, and more subversive. As knitting is integrated into one’s life, the process and products may become the outward expression of attitudes, emotions, and aspirations, well before these are articulated in words. The work of professors is nearly always expressed in spoken or written language. In contrast, the act of knitting is an opportunity to create and express ideas visually rather than verbally, to learn from our senses, to engage in active loving even while at work, to inspire others by actions and beauty. In these ways, the world of knitting opens doors for new insights in teaching, research, and selfunderstanding

Moral reasoning in organizations : a study of men and women managers.

ManagementDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.

The value of values in business purchase decisions

Permission to archive accepted author manuscript.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop and test a theoretical framework to examine business purchase decisions using the concept of “values” (personal values (PV), organizational values (OV) and values-congruency). Design/methodology/approach: The data for the study were collected from members of the Supply Chain Management Association of Canada. The relationships between perceived PV/OV/ values-congruency (IVs) and perceived role values played in business purchase decisions (DV) were hypothesized. Three factors, namely, humanity, bottomline and convention were identified using exploratory factor analysis. The hypotheses were tested using polynomial regression, which is a preferred method for measuring congruency or fit (Edwards, 1994). Findings: Perceived humanity (humaneness or benevolence) values of an organization were found to have a positive relationship with the perceived role that humanity and convention (risk aversion or compliance) values played in business purchase decisions. Perceived purchase function formalization within buying organizations was also found to have a positive relationship with the perceived role of humanity, bottomline and convention values played in business purchase decisions. Research limitations/implications: The study drew a relatively small convenience sample from a single industry association/country with a low response rate. It used the perceived role of values instead of behavioral intention or actual behavior to measure business purchasing behavior. McDonald and Gandz’s (1991; 1993) list of values may be more suitable to measure OV than PV. The study only considered the buyer side of purchase decisions and values to have positive characteristics. Practical implications: Buying organizations may consider formalizing their purchase functions, clarifying their humaneness/benevolence and risk aversion/compliance values to their employees and vendors and incorporating them in the purchasing criteria/process. Similarly, selling organizations may benefit from considering these values of customers to position their products and services for better sales outcomes and business relationships. Originality/value: The study explores the role of values in business purchase contexts by proposing and testing a theoretical framework. The study has implications for practitioners and academics in the field and identifies several areas for future research.Ye

Cross-Cultural Differences in a Global "Survey of World Views"

Saucier G, Kenner J, Iurino K, et al. Cross-Cultural Differences in a Global "Survey of World Views". Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. 2015;46(1):53-70.We know that there are cross-cultural differences in psychological variables, such as individualism/collectivism. But it has not been clear which of these variables show relatively the greatest differences. The Survey of World Views project operated from the premise that such issues are best addressed in a diverse sampling of countries representing a majority of the world's population, with a very large range of item-content. Data were collected online from 8,883 individuals (almost entirely college students based on local publicizing efforts) in 33 countries that constitute more than two third of the world's population, using items drawn from measures of nearly 50 variables. This report focuses on the broadest patterns evident in item data. The largest differences were not in those contents most frequently emphasized in cross-cultural psychology (e.g., values, social axioms, cultural tightness), but instead in contents involving religion, regularity-norm behaviors, family roles and living arrangements, and ethnonationalism. Content not often studied cross-culturally (e.g., materialism, Machiavellianism, isms dimensions, moral foundations) demonstrated moderate-magnitude differences. Further studies are needed to refine such conclusions, but indications are that cross-cultural psychology may benefit from casting a wider net in terms of the psychological variables of focus

Cross-cultural differences in a global "survey of world views"

We know that there are cross-cultural differences on psychological variables, such as individualism/collectivism. But it has not been clear which of these variables show relatively the greatest differences. The Survey of World Views project operated from the premise that such issues are best addressed in a diverse sampling of countries representing a majority of the world’s population, with a very large range of item-content. Data was collected online from 8,883 individuals (almost entirely college students based on local publicizing efforts) in 33 countries that constitute over 2/3 of the world’s population, using items drawn from measures of nearly 50 variables. This report focuses on the broadest patterns evident in item data. The largest differences were not on those contents most frequently emphasized in cross-cultural psychology (e.g., values, social axioms, cultural tightness), but instead on contents involving religion, regularity-norm behaviors, family roles and living arrangements, and ethnonationalism. Content not often studied cross-culturally (e.g., materialism, Machiavellianism, isms dimensions, moral foundations) demonstrated moderate-magnitude differences. Further studies are needed to refine such conclusions, but indications are that cross-cultural psychology may benefit from casting a wider net in terms of the psychological variables of focus