VIURRSpace (Royal Roads University and Vancouver Island University)
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Using recognition to foster employee engagement at Rimbey Family and Community Support Services
No full textThis action-oriented research thesis was informed by the action research engagement model (Rowe et al., 2013) to address the inquiry question: How can recognition efforts foster engagement amongst the health care aides at Rimbey Family and Community Support Services? Arts-based research, focus group, and interview methods were used to collect qualitative data. Four themes emerged: the need for a sense of belonging, meaningful work, feeling valued, and individualized recognition. The following conclusions arose from the inquiry: individualized recognition can enhance a sense of belonging, meaningful work resulted in feeling valued, and trusting relationships are essential. Recommendations included building engagement through individualized recognition that promotes a sense of belonging, utilizing staff interests and strengths to design work assignments, nurturing trusting relationships, and incorporating characteristics of love-led leadership into leader practices. How relationships build engagement and the impact of love-led leadership on recruitment and retention arose as areas for further study
Working through ambiguity - a phenomenographic study
No full textLeaders are dealing with unprecedented volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). This study explores how leaders from multinational firms navigated ambiguity. A phenomenographic approach was used to understand nine respondents’ thinking and feelings regarding ambiguity and their ability to move beyond the situation. This occurred through semi-structured interviews, flashcards, and shared stories. When individuals find themselves in ambiguous situations, they tend to sit in them for a while, until something triggers new behaviours or actions. An outcome space presents varied ways in which individuals can work through ambiguity. It also shows that when they found alignment with their values, they experienced movement, resulting in an awakened life. Findings may be of value to leaders for their own work and for their mentoring of employees. Executive coaches could use findings to formulate new coaching questions. Further research is encouraged to fully understand this phenomenon from cross-cultural and Indigenous perspectives.
Keywords: ambiguity, phenomenography, coaching, story-telling, uncertainty, leader
Positive pedagogical relationships: a self-study
No full textPedagogical relationships are an important part of the educational process. Field research and student and teacher experiences indicate these relationships' valuable impact. Positive pedagogical relationships support the experience and development of all students, regardless of their needs. Positive pedagogical relationships can also support academic, emotional, and social growth. Therefore, it is vital to understand how teachers develop and maintain these relationships in their practice. This research study utilized self-study methodology to reflect on my practice related to pedagogical relationships, literature on student-teacher, and the potential of self-study research methods for practice improvement. The process included journalling for four months, focusing on ongoing assessment of practice via classroom experience, literature review, and conversations with my critical friend. The role of the critical friend is to challenge, question, and present alternate perspectives. Themes emerged related to the key concepts of love and care, nature and personality, and guidance and instruction. Love and caring require an authentic commitment and dedication to a student and the teacher on their behalf. A selfless and open teacher's personality supports the development of pedagogical relationships. Lastly, teachers must guide and instruct students to demonstrate care for the impacts on the student now and future to have lasting effects. The knowledge created by this study contributes to identifying and highlighting strategies and skills with intentions, developing a language, and reaffirming my belief about the possible profound and lasting impacts of positive pedagogical relationships on students, both in my practice and potentially transferable to others interested in this topic. In addition, the study contributes to the field of knowledge. Lastly, it suggests avenues for further research and opportunities to share the knowledge acquired with professionals in the field of education.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/27262/Paziuk.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=
Mapping Soil and Plant Communities: Shifting Western Culture’s Perspectives of Ecological Land Management
No full text2023Civilizations historically share a common trajectory of soil degradation through cyclical technological advancements and soil productivity. A living soil food web provides a holistic approach to eco-regenerative properties as an expression of the soil microbial community (SMC) in relationship to plants and other organisms. Acknowledging soil ecology’s identification of plant-SMC-plant signalling, this study’s mixed methodology addressed the question of how an eco-centred perspective of living soil and plant relationships can contribute to this understanding. Using quantitative field analysis, Cornus alternifolia was identified to curate a SMC at a lower than anticipated fungal:bacterial (F:B) ratio, across three different seral stages in a southwestern Ontario mixed deciduous forest. Qualitative interviews and analyses of three land management industry discussion groups, using Grounded Theory methodology, affirmed a variable understanding of a SMC-plant eco-context, and identified challenges and leverage potentials for industry eco-regeneration focused on land management and cultural changes, as well as ecology
Applying an appreciative process to explore environmentally sustainable resource use in Northern Health Authority (NHA).
No full textAbstract
This action-oriented research appreciatively explored the perspectives of healthcare workers in the Northern Health Authority (NHA) and their approaches to creating environmental wins through initiative and creativity within their work environment. The research involved an anonymous online survey with thematic content analysis, a focus group, and interviews, which adhered to the research ethics policies for both Royal Roads University and Northern Health Authority. An extensive literature review compared and contrasted the themes that emerged in the findings of this inquiry and generally supported the research findings. A scan of the literature on sustainability actions for local health organizations identified topics such as comparing single-use versus cleaning and recycling multi-use equipment, such as PPE. A few studies supported improved ecological outcomes for multi-use items—these outcomes were preferred by NHA participants in this study. There were many studies in the literature showing that a move to single-use equipment, for items such as PPE, may not only be superior for safety reasons but also environmental sustainability. Participants want to see NHA become a leader in environmental sustainability. Staff have initiated several highly practical environmental sustainability projects on their own and with little fanfare. The individual health practitioners are proud of their initiatives and can point to savings and improved ecological outcomes. This project has the potential to be scaled up across the North West Health Services Delivery Area region and possibly even across NHA. Further research across NHA is needed to understand how different lenses may be best applied throughout the system for success in environmental sustainability
Hyperconnected : brand building in a decentralized world
No full textHistorically, brand building was closely controlled, relying on top-down hierarchies to ensure consistency, and brand communications was delivered through one-way channels i.e., newspaper, radio, and TV. However, digital technology is transforming and fragmenting communications channels, creating a world that is hyperconnected yet decentralized. A world where stakeholders are intrinsically interconnected, and they have shifted from passive audiences to active participants. Consequently, old brand strategies may no longer be relevant as brands now have to contend with a dynamic ecosystem where there has been an increase in transparency and the movement of control from the few to many.
With that in mind, this thesis was undertaken to explore the question “what strategies do corporations founded before 2000 need to adopt in order to build a strong brand in a hyperconnected yet decentralized world?" The paper begins with a literature review that starts with a high-level discussion of brand strategy to provide an overview of how organizations have traditionally approached brand building. With the foundation set, the review examines business-to-business (B2B) research, as B2B organizations are used to operating in complex environments to build relationships with multiple stakeholders across decentralized networks. Public relations research is explored next, as the field has a long history of discussing the importance of two-way communications with multiple stakeholders, and the focus on stakeholder theory may provide answers to how companies should communicate across diverse and complex communication networks. To examine the relevance of the literature review, an exploratory qualitative study was undertaken, which involved interviews with ten senior marketing and public relation professionals. These interviews were then compared with the literature to explore the emergent trends and their potential impact on developing brands. The thesis concludes with implications and recommendations for further research
Exploring collaborative and inclusive practices: the perceptions and experiences of educational staff, educational support staff and district specialists who assist students with complex needs
No full textThis research explored notions of collaborative and inclusive practices utilized by educators and District Specialists who assist students with complex needs, within regular classrooms. This research casted the participants as informants which gave local voice and “power to inform the data collection” (Rumrill, 2011, p. 145) as well as providing a descriptive analysis which tells the story from a local view, while also honouring the experiences and perceptions of educators. This study offered a snapshot of a small school district in British Columbia and may act as a baseline and/or needs based assessment. Using a descriptive mixed methods approach that is based on a pragmatist ontology, careful interpretation, integration and open coding of data and descriptive approaches were used to fully answer the research question with the intention of gaining a broader understanding and insider’s perspective. Data was collected through a randomized survey given to both school-based and district staff within one district, followed by a one-on-one interview where a small number of participants were individually selected to answer open-ended questions which was then analyzed for patterns and themes and then reported on. Survey and interview questions provided information regarding various collaborative practices, inclusive practices, understanding of evidence-based practices, Individual Education Plan (IEP) planning, Understanding by Design Learning (UDL), differentiated instruction (DI), Response to Intervention (RTI) and characteristics of students with complex needs. The aim of this research was to illuminate local needs, trends, commonalities, participant perceptions and experiences, and identify the barriers and bridges as they relate to collaborative and inclusive practices that can then be actioned upon.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/27351/Thompson.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=
Supporting students with exceptionalities through outdoor learning
No full textThe purpose of this study was to answer the research question: How can we maximize the benefits of outdoor education for supporting students with exceptionalities in our school district? A scan of the existing literature reveals that outdoor learning helps students in developing self-regulation strategies, promotes stronger mental health, and provides improved opportunities for students to interact with peers in a positive way. Using Appreciative Inquiry as a framework with the dual purpose of building a community of practice and better understanding their experiences with outdoor learning, teachers in a Vancouver Island school district met for a focus group discussion and suggested strategies for teaching students with exceptionalities in an outdoor setting. The teachers also discussed strategies for finding support for taking their classes outside. While participants in this study found benefits for students learning in outdoor settings, suggestions were made for the support that is still needed to promote inclusive outdoor education in their district.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/27321/Wood.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=
Our shared resilience: The collaboration of First Nations and local governments for flood mitigation in the Cowichan Valley
No full textFlooding and the effects of climate change are increasing in frequency and intensity—the November 2021 atmospheric river is a stark reminder of the lasting impact on BC communities. This thesis explores the intersectionality between flood mitigation and the collaboration of First Nations and local governments in the Cowichan Valley. Findings conclude that flood mitigation must be integrated with holistic watershed management, rather than reactive emergency management measures—integrating Indigenous knowledge and decision-making is pertinent. Effective watershed governance begins with relationships that are inclusive of all levels of society: Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, senior levels of government, community organizations, industry, and the public. This includes recognition of the effects of colonialism and the different governance systems for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Canada. Relationships in the Cowichan Valley illustrate a strong network of collaborative community-level initiatives for flood mitigation, watershed management, and leadership.https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/27330/YeeThesis.pdf?sequence=6Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Community Planning in the Department of Community Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, Vancouver Island University
Bringing life to liver wellness through wisdom seeking conversations : conceptualizations of liver health with Indigenous communities
No full textHepatitis C disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities. Due to the predominantly Western biomedical approach and current health inequities stemming from historical and continued trauma, many community members do not complete screening or treatment for this curable disease. This transdisciplinary Wisdom Seeking project aimed to include traditional Indigenous perspectives on liver wellness in public health messaging to increase awareness about hepatitis C among Indigenous community members. Working within an Indigenous framework, this research enacted principles of respect, relationality, reciprocity, responsibility, and relevance during semi-structured interview conversations with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, who shared their knowledge through stories and perspectives on liver wellness. As a result of the research, oral tradition and storytelling shaped the cocreation of a culturally relevant infographic and a DocuStory script for increasing hepatitis C awareness that reinforced the need for balance in spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the journey toward wellness. As a Wisdom Seeker, learnings resulted in enhanced self-understanding, awareness of the origins and meaning of wholistic wellness, the role we can each play in decolonizing approaches to health promotion, and how to facilitate access to supportive and relevant health information and healthcare services