Towards a practice turn in critical management studies : manifesting a dream through NGO engagement with corporate social responsibility

This research takes an anamorphic gaze on how to influence the development of social responsible business practice by looking at how non-government organisations (NGOs) collaborate with corporations. The study proposed that a strategically motivated type of NGO engagement can uncover new attitudes to the practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR), and offer insights into how the application of Critical Management Studies (CMS) can change from a relatively static analytical exercise to a more dynamic critical form of enterprise practice. The study challenges the traditional business-centric understanding of CSR. Particularly, it shifts the focus. CSR is often thought of in business terms as a type of practice where corporations have a choice about how they might contribute to society. This is sometimes framed as a corporate duty to contribute to the economy, obey laws, be ethical and philanthropically contribute to society (Carroll 1991). This business-centric perspective of CSR is almost exclusively focused on the corporation and its own imperatives and inclinations to unilaterally address its social responsibilities. However, the more transformative perspective of CSR adopted in this research allows other sectors of society to contribute to a corporation’s socially responsible conduct. Motivated by their own interests, these sectors can be understood to have the capacity to exert a level of influence over corporations. This approach draws on a CSR tradition that Utting (2002) refers to as the ‘regulatory frame of CSR’. The regulatory perspective enables policy based entities, private firms, and civil society organisations to monitor – to “regulate” – corporate activity, to intervene when appropriate and to influence corporations in how they exercise their social responsibilities. This is depicted in Utting’s (2002) three dimensions of CSR: ‘command and control’, ‘corporate self-regulation’ and ‘stakeholder co-regulation’. The dimension of ‘stakeholder co-regulation’ forms the frame of this research. This regulatory perspective of CSR can be understood to have similar principles to Critical Management Studies (CMS). CMS is a research construct that challenges those management activities and practices that appear to subjugate human needs and desires to the institutional profit-seeking tendencies of corporations (Fournier & Grey 2000). Both CMS and the regulatory practice of CSR take a problem-centred focus on the question of corporation behaviour in society; and both have an agenda for change. These similarities draw a connection between the two theoretical frames, and this link provides a channel by which the regulatory frame of CSR could be imagined and understood in the context of CMS. In this regulatory frame of CSR, the research has focused specifically on how NGOs participated in ‘co-regulating’ corporations to work together on developing socially responsible business practice. In particular, the study concentrated on how NGOs use collaborative processes to do this. I developed a multi-phased action research framework to provide a scaffold for the collaboration between the NGOs and corporations, and to mitigate some of the risks associated with the NGOs being co-opted to the corporate perspectives. The framework included a synthesis of action learning and appreciative inquiry approaches. Three NGOs from Australia’s social services sector were recruited for the study. Each adapted the Action Research framework to suit their own needs and objectives for their engagement with the private sector. One of the NGOs used action learning and appreciative inquiry processes to support corporations to participate in community projects. Another chose to use appreciative inquiry for the same purpose. In contrast, the third NGO used action learning processes to resolve some of its internal challenges to corporate engagement. The NGOs were found to have drawn on action learning and appreciative inquiry as separate and distinct processes, but in interconnected and complementary ways. The research revealed that the NGOs were not seeking to ‘co-regulate’ corporate behaviour in the Utting (2002) tradition: they were not looking to monitor corporate activity and they were not looking to influence it for the purposes of improving the corporation’s social performance. Instead, the NGOs had sought to design and direct the manner in which corporations could participate in addressing community-based aims and objectives. This pointed to the existence of an additional frame of CSR; one that moved beyond the ‘regulatory’ frames, to adopt a ‘developmental agenda’ that was more visionary. This type of CSR offered scope to extend Utting’s (2002) regulatory-based framework to include a developmental dimension that I refer to as: ‘stakeholder-directive co-development’. The developmental frame denotes instances where stakeholders direct corporations about how they can participate in achieving stakeholder objectives. This study makes a contribution to knowledge by uncovering stakeholder-directive co-development as a new frame of CSR. This new frame offers an opportunity to challenge the dominant, problem-centred perspective of corporate activity adopted in CSR and CMS. The implications of this indicate that the ‘problem-centred heart’ of these frames may not advance the kind of social change dreamt of by those who pursue CSR and CMS. Through this dissertation I propose that the inclusion of a stakeholder-directive co-development agenda could confer the missing ‘link’ needed to transform those social dreams into a reality

Duet Lectorials: An Engaging Approach to Interdisciplinary Teaching

[EN] Duet Lectorials were delivered to third-year students undertaking their final ‘cap-stone’ unit by two experts straddling two inter-related but distinct biomedical disciplines. This interdisciplinary teaching approach was introduced for two reasons: firstly, to address a gap in integrated learning at the interface between biomedical disciplines; and secondly, to support non- teaching focused, research experts, in the engaging delivery of lectures. Compared with traditional lecture delivery, students who had received Duet Lectorials reported an increase in their enjoyment of learning, a greater interest and engagement with the subject content, and, most importantly, improved in-depth understanding of the topic through an integrated perspective of the two disciplines. This positive outcome in student learning was further validated by improved performance in objective assessment tasks. Lecturers delivering Duet Lectorials reported a deepening of their own interdisciplinary knowledge that stimulated their enjoyment of teaching. Thus, interdisciplinary teaching using interactive Duet Lectorials emerges as a powerful approach to improve both student and teacher engagement and learning in the classroom, and brings a strong contribution to breaking the discipline-specific “silo” mentality in the teaching of complex aspects of biomedical sciences.http://ocs.editorial.upv.es/index.php/HEAD/HEAD18Slattery, R.; Taylor, R.; Doerig, C. (2018). Duet Lectorials: An Engaging Approach to Interdisciplinary Teaching. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 951-959. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD18.2018.8125OCS95195

The Embedded Health Management Academic: A Boundary Spanning Role for Enabling Knowledge Translation; Comment on “CIHR Health System Impact Fellows: Reflections on ‘Driving Change’ Within the Health System”

Healthcare organisations are looking at strategies and activities to improve patient outcomes, beyond clinical interventions. Increasingly, health organisations are investing significant resources in leadership, management and team work training to optimise professional collaboration, shared decision-making and, by extension, high quality services. Embedded clinical academics are a norm in, and considered a strength of, healthcare organisations and universities. Their role contributes, formally and informally, to clinical teaching, knowledge sharing and research. An equivalent, but significantly less common role, addressing the management of healthcare organisations, is the embedded health management academic (EHMA). A stimulus encouraging this intertwined embedded academic role, in both clinical and managerial fields, is the demand for the translation of knowledge between academic and industry contexts. In this essay, we describe the EHMA role, its value, impact and potential for enabling healthcare organisation improvement. Focusing on the business of healthcare, the EHMA is a conduit between sectors, stakeholders and activities, enabling different organisations and experts to co-create, share and embed knowledge. The value and impact achieved is significant and ongoing, through the nurturing of an evidence-based management culture that promotes ongoing continuous improvement and research activities

Functional Cognition: An Opportunity to Highlight the Role of Occupational Therapy in Post-Concussion Care

As concern surrounding concussion and the associated long-term effects grow, a continued need for comprehensive, holistic concussion care emerges. Occupational therapists are well-equipped to address the wide variety of symptoms and deficits that clients may experience post-concussion. Functional cognition is one area in which occupational therapists can demonstrate their unique value on the interdisciplinary treatment team. In this Opinions in the Profession paper, we describe how occupational therapists are poised to further establish their role in post-concussion care by becoming the primary discipline for assessing and treating functional cognition. The aim of this paper is to outline the role of occupational therapy in post-concussion care in regard to becoming the primary discipline for assessing and treating functional cognition and distinguishing occupational therapists as experts in functional cognition. Implications for practice, education, and research are discussed

Measurement of Epstein-Barr virus DNA load using a novel quantification standard containing two EBV DNA targets and SYBR Green I dye

BACKGROUND Reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may cause serious, life-threatening complications in immunocompromised individuals. EBV DNA is often detected in EBV-associated disease states, with viral load believed to be a reflection of virus activity. Two separate real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assays using SYBR Green I dye and a single quantification standard containing two EBV genes, Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and BamHI fragment H rightward open reading frame-1 (BHRF-1), were developed to detect and measure absolute EBV DNA load in patients with various EBV-associated diseases. EBV DNA loads and viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG antibody titres were also quantified on a population sample. RESULTS EBV DNA was measurable in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) whole blood, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. EBV DNA loads were detectable from 8.0 × 10² to 1.3 × 10⁸ copies/ml in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (n = 5), 1.5 × 10³ to 2.0 × 10⁵ copies/ml in infectious mononucleosis (n = 7), 7.5 × 10⁴ to 1.1 × 10⁵ copies/ml in EBV-associated haemophagocytic syndrome (n = 1), 2.0 × 10² to 5.6 × 10³ copies/ml in HIV-infected patients (n = 12), and 2.0 × 10² to 9.1 × 10⁴ copies/ml in the population sample (n = 218). EBNA-1 and BHRF-1 DNA were detected in 11.0% and 21.6% of the population sample respectively. There was a modest correlation between VCA IgG antibody titre and BHRF-1 DNA load (rho = 0.13, p = 0.05) but not EBNA-1 DNA load (rho = 0.11, p = 0.11). CONCLUSION Two sensitive and specific real-time PCR assays using SYBR Green I dye and a single quantification standard containing two EBV DNA targets, were developed for the detection and measurement of EBV DNA load in a variety of clinical samples. These assays have application in the investigation of EBV-related illnesses in immunocompromised individuals.The Ausimmune Study is funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of the USA, the National Health & Medical Research Council (Project Grant 316901) and Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SALICYLALDOXIME, CYSTEINE AND BENZOTRIAZOLE AS INHIBITORS FOR THE ACTIVE CHLORIDE-BASED CORROSION OF COPPER AND BRONZE ARTIFACTS

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of salicylaldoxime and cysteine as potential replacements to benzotriazole, the widely used but environmentally unfriendly and not always effective copper corrosion inhibitor. Coupons of modern copper, 5% tin bronze, and 12% tin bronze samples were corroded using an accelerated electrochemical procedure, which involved anodically polarizing the coupons in a solution of 0.5M NaCl + 0.1M CuCl2.2H2O. X-ray diffraction analysis of the corrosion products showed the presence of copper (I) chloride (CuCl) on the surfaces of the three reference materials. Tin (IV) oxide (SnO2) was also detected on the surface of the 12% tin bronze.The interaction of the corrosion inhibitors with the corrosion products was investigated by visual examination and scanning electron microscopy. Benzotriazole and salicylaldoxime formed a surface adherent and aesthetically acceptable green complexes for the corroded copper and bronze, while cysteine formed grey patches that cover the green corrosion on copper and bronze. Accelerated corrosion in an environmental chamber of high relative humidity and temperature (84% RH and 38oC) showed that salicylaldoxime was the most effective inhibitor for the three reference materials against corrosion in these severe environmental conditions. However, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy's results showed that the benzotriazole was the most effective inhibitor in chloride solutions, and that the effective of cysteine increases with the increase of tin content in the alloy. It was concluded that salicylaldoxime presented a relevant and effective corrosion inhibitor for most conservation applications on corroded copper and bronze, while cysteine presented an environmentally friendly replacement for benzotriazole to protect uncorroded or previously treated by reduction back to metal artifacts

Composing for the interactive medium

We present a discussion of the role of the composer when developing content for the composer when developing content for the interactive, participatory medium. We describe compositional tensions which emerged during the creation and enactment of our interactive performance, humanaquarium, and discuss how the intertwined nature of interactive and aesthetic concerns inspired our creative innovation in the composition process

An Assessment of Funding and Other Capacity Needs for Health Equity Programming Within State-Level Chronic Disease Programs

Background: Chronic diseases are an important contributor to morbidity and mortality among racial/ethnic minority, low-income, and other under-resourced populations. Given that state health departments (and their chronic disease programs) play a significant role in providing population and preventive health services, their capacity to promote health equity is an important consideration in national efforts to address chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine capacity needs of state chronic disease programs with respect to promoting health equity. Methods: In 2015, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) conducted a survey of its members that work within a state chronic disease division (CDD) or the larger state health department. The survey was structured to provide information on major funding sources for chronic diseases, the extent to which key funders required a focus on health equity, dedicated staffing for health equity, and training and technical assistance needs of practitioners to support health equity integration in chronic disease programming. All data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0. Findings: A total of 147 chronic disease directors and practitioners responded to the survey from 43 states, the District of Columbia and three of the U.S. Affiliated Territories and Commonwealths. Forty-two percent (N=25) of the 59 directors of state, territorial and tribal chronic disease programs at the time of the study responded. Only 52% of respondents believed their CDD adequately addressed health inequities. Among the 70 respondents who did not know or did not believe their health departments adequately addressed health inequities, barriers identified include insufficient funding (62%), inadequate training (54%), and health inequities not being a priority (22%). Respondents also identified opportunities to strengthen funding requirements to address health disparities Conclusions: Overall, the data highlight some opportunities to enhance the capacity of state CDDs to promote health equity, such as through more direct funding requirements for health equity integration, staff training, increased funding, and specialized technical assistance. Because the response rate was less than 100%, we cannot generalize the findings to every state chronic disease program. However, the responses are relatable to their collective experience

(De)Constructing The “Lazy Indian”: An Historical Analysis of Welfare Reform in Canada

Since their official inception in the mid 1800s, Indigenous-aimed welfare policies in Canada have presupposed and entailed a racialized subject: the “lazy Indian.” This paper highlights continuities in how Indigenous subjects have been constructed in welfare policy discourse from 1867 to the present. Building from this historical overview, we analyze how today’s neoliberally inflected federal welfare regime at once recodes and reinscribes preexisting ethical narratives of “productive” and “unproductive” citizens, effectively casting Indigenous peoples as non-workers and thus “undeserving” of welfare relief. As our analysis indicates, further reform of welfare policies for Canada’s First Nations must first puncture the persistent myth of the “lazy Indian” in order to attend to the lasting legacy of colonial governance, contemporary barriers to self-sufficiency, and ongoing struggles for politico-economic sovereignty