A terminal assessment of stages theory : introducing a dynamic states approach to entrepreneurship

Stages of Growth models were the most frequent theoretical approach to understanding entrepreneurial business growth from 1962 to 2006; they built on the growth imperative and developmental models of that time. An analysis of the universe of such models (N=104) published in the management literature shows no consensus on basic constructs of the approach, nor is there any empirical confirmations of stages theory. However, by changing two propositions of the stages models, a new dynamic states approach is derived. The dynamic states approach has far greater explanatory power than its precursor, and is compatible with leading edge research in entrepreneurship

Performing the repentant lover in the courtroom: An analysis of Oscar Pistorius’ recreation of hegemonic masculinity

Michel Foucault (1980) presented social theorists with a consideration of power as existing everywhere. Furthermore, Jonathan Heaney (J Polit Power 6:355–362, 2013) recently asserted that emotions and power should be considered conceptual counterparts. I propose that what Foucault referred in terms of the omnipresence of power refers to its deeply social connection to emotions. One emotion, in particular, romantic love, has captured the sociological imagination not only at the level of personal relationships but also in connection with capitalism, as an ideology spurring consumption and influencing the construction of discourses and places. This chapter presents an analysis of the trial of Oscar Pistorius and the analysis plays on two levels: (a) firstly, through his courtroom interactions with members of the defence, and (b) through my eyes as a viewer, witnessing the trial on television. The televised South African courtroom becomes a space for the portrayal of a power-suffused masculine identity, which is emotionally constituted through emotional control and emotional release

Relations at Three Early Stages of Marriage as Reflected by the Use of Personal Pronouns

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71573/1/j.1545-5300.1970.00069.x.pd

Re-imagining the growth process: (co)-evolving metaphorical representations of entrepreneurial growth

We investigate the role and influence of the biological metaphor ‘growth’ in studies of organizations, specifically in entrepreneurial settings. We argue that we need to reconsider metaphorical expressions of growth processes in entrepreneurship studies in order to better understand growth in the light of contemporary challenges, such as environmental concerns. Our argument is developed in two stages: first, we review the role of metaphor in organization and entrepreneurship studies. Second, we reflect critically on three conceptualizations of growth that have drawn on biological metaphors: the growing organism, natural selection and co-evolution. We find the metaphor of co-evolution heuristically valuable but under-used and in need of further refinement. We propose three characteristics of the co-evolutionary metaphor that might enrich our understanding of entrepreneurial growth: relational epistemology; collectivity; and multidimensionality. Through this we provide a conceptual means of reconciling an economic impetus for entrepreneurial growth with an environmental imperative for sustainability

Extrovert Followership and its Impact on Agreeable Leadership

This study recons the need for research on effective role of followership in mentoring a leader to set pattern or direction for leader. A reinvented concept of leader being a team man needs active participation from followers in changing business dynamics. The sample consisting of middle level management having leader (heads/ supervisors from education sector) above it has been taken and results are achieved using inferential statistics, so to verify the need of followers for result oriented leadership. The results depict that certain personality traits backed by “Big Five Model” are found to be important for followers to have an impact on leader’s decision making. As this study analyses the mutual characteristic of leader follower relation statistically while putting follower on the fore front, the originality of study is ensured. As for limitation, this study may show different results as per variant geographical and economical regions in which followers’ expectations may vary accordingly

Innovation in curriculum: An overview

Innovation in curriculum is gaining its thrust from a new set of value priorities—humanism, concern for racial and socioeconomic minorities, support of pluralism and diversity, increased interest in affective development, education for the very young, and legitimization of the search for value. These priorities are coupled with new understandings of how learning takes place, which cast the learner in an active, responsible, self-actualizing role and, at the same time, support the development of precise, highly organized sets of learning materials designed to achieve clearly defined objectives as efficiently as possible. Implications of these factors are examined in relation to curriculum design, instructional materials, professional roles, and the need for in-service education. L'innovation des programmes d'étude est activée par une nouvelle échelle de priorités des valeurs: esprit d'humanisme, intérêt manifesté à l'égard des minorités raciales et socio-économiques, appui accordé au pluralisme et à la diversité, intérêt accru envers le développement affectif, éducation des très jeunes, et légitimisation de la recherche des valeurs. Ces priorités vont de pair avec de nouvelles connaissances sur le processus d'acquisition du savoir, connaissances qui lancent l'élève dans un rôle actif et responsable dans son épanouissement personnel et qui, en même temps, contribuent à la mise au point d'une série de textes éducatifs précis et hautement organisés conçus en vue de la poursuite, d'une manière aussi efficace que possible, de certains objectifs clairement définis. L'auteur étudie les répercussions provoquées par ces facteurs sur la conception des programmes, les textes d'étude, les rôles professionnels et la nécessité d'une éducation en cours d'exercice.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42937/1/10780_2005_Article_BF02137640.pd

Quantifying unpredictability: A multiple-model approach based on satellite imagery data from Mediterranean ponds.

Fluctuations in environmental parameters are increasingly being recognized as essential features of any habitat. The quantification of whether environmental fluctuations are prevalently predictable or unpredictable is remarkably relevant to understanding the evolutionary responses of organisms. However, when characterizing the relevant features of natural habitats, ecologists typically face two problems: (1) gathering long-term data and (2) handling the hard-won data. This paper takes advantage of the free access to long-term recordings of remote sensing data (27 years, Landsat TM/ETM+) to assess a set of environmental models for estimating environmental predictability. The case study included 20 Mediterranean saline ponds and lakes, and the focal variable was the water-surface area. This study first aimed to produce a method for accurately estimating the water-surface area from satellite images. Saline ponds can develop salt-crusted areas that make it difficult to distinguish between soil and water. This challenge was addressed using a novel pipeline that combines band ratio water indices and the short near-infrared band as a salt filter. The study then extracted the predictable and unpredictable components of variation in the water-surface area. Two different approaches, each showing variations in the parameters, were used to obtain the stochastic variation around a regular pattern with the objective of dissecting the effect of assumptions on predictability estimations. The first approach, which is based on Colwell's predictability metrics, transforms the focal variable into a nominal one. The resulting discrete categories define the relevant variations in the water-surface area. In the second approach, we introduced General Additive Model (GAM) fitting as a new metric for quantifying predictability. Both approaches produced a wide range of predictability for the studied ponds. Some model assumptions-which are considered very different a priori-had minor effects, whereas others produced predictability estimations that showed some degree of divergence. We hypothesize that these diverging estimations of predictability reflect the effect of fluctuations on different types of organisms. The fluctuation analysis described in this manuscript is applicable to a wide variety of systems, including both aquatic and nonaquatic systems, and will be valuable for quantifying and characterizing predictability, which is essential within the expected global increase in the unpredictability of environmental fluctuations. We advocate that a priori information for organisms of interest should be used to select the most suitable metrics estimating predictability, and we provide some guidelines for this approach