Thesis and Research Data Repository Leeds Beckett University
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Corporate social responsibility and community development : a study of Nigerian telecommunications industry
No full textThis study sets out to investigate the extent to which embracing corporate social responsibilities (CSR) within the telecommunications industry has contributed to the development of the Nigerian community using a comparative case study of four telecommunications companies in Nigeria, and covering the period 2008 to 2012. The study also investigated the CSR expectations of Nigerians most of whom patronize at least one of the case study companies and the motivations for CSR engagements of the case study telecommunications companies. The study adopted the use of qualitative research approach while the philosophical consideration that guided the research adopted subjectivist ontology and interpretivists epistemology which was informed by social constructivism. The data used came from primary and secondary sources. The study employed a semi-structured interview instrument to gather data from the study companies and beneficiary communities using snowball sampling technique to determine the beneficiary communities.
The study employed the use of content analysis method to analyse the data and identified the relationship between what the CSR contributions of the case study telecommunications companies are to the development of the communities where the companies operate. This is complemented with documentary analysis of the telecommunications companies’ annual accounts. Key concepts that emerged from the research findings are educational development, health care provision, economic empowerment, poverty alleviation and sports development. The research findings suggest that CSR practices of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria tilted towards corporate philanthropy. The findings also indicates that some of the CSR projects undertaken by the study telecommunications companies may not 2 be the essential needs of the community, therefore there is need to conduct prior stakeholder engagement with community in order to determine the needs of the community before implementation of CSR programmes. The thesis concluded by drawing attention to the reciprocal responsibility of the CSR benefiting communities by way of giving social licence for continued operations of the telecommunications companies in their community of operations.</p
Cognitive Leadership: Relationships Between The Cognitive Styles And Leadership Styles Of Academic Leaders
No full textEffective leadership is particularly crucial in British Universities during a period in which the sector is facing a number of significant challenges, not least government policy changes and rising student consumerism. Playing a key role in the leadership process are academic leaders who are responsible for influencing and motivating their academic communities. It is the behaviour of these University academic leaders towards their followers, manifested in their leadership styles, which provides the focus for the study. More specifically, relationships between academic leaders’ leadership styles and the way in which they prefer to process information and solve problems, their cognitive styles, are evaluated.
To that end, the investigation is set within the emerging research area of cognitive leadership and seeks to build on the findings of a small number of studies which have explored relationships between the cognitive style and leadership style constructs. None of these focussed on academic leadership in Universities however, and a knowledge gap is therefore evident. Furthermore, whilst the majority of these studies reported some significant associations between cognitive and leadership styles, their findings were not uniform.
The empirical research involved academic leaders in two post-1992 UK Universities. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered comprising two established instruments, chosen on the basis of their high validity and reliability, as reported in the literature. These were the Multi-factor Leadership Questionnaire, measuring transformational, transactional and passive-avoidant leadership, and the Cognitive Style Index, measuring analysis, intuition and, unlike previous studies, style flexibility.
Results were analysed using SPSS and revealed that academic leaders with a flexible cognitive styles were more likely to demonstrate positive leadership behaviours towards followers than their more analytic and intuitive counterparts. The study therefore introduces a new perspective for cognitive leadership research, in that it asserts that cognitive versatility may contribute, not only to effective leadership task behaviours, but also to effective leadership social behaviours.
As findings are based on the responses of academic leaders from two Universities, future research is recommended to validate the results, drawing on a larger sample of academic leaders, as well as potentially the perceptions of their followers. Nonetheless, the outcomes increase understanding of the leadership process and in practical terms, may be used to underpin improved strategies for academic leader development.</p
How Is Tourism Reshaping the World?
No full textWhat do tourists want nowadays? Is it to travel the world and experience new cultures and other ways of living completely different to their own? MacCannel (1973) considers the tourist a product of modernisation, searching for ‘authenticity’ but the result is the creation of 'authenticity’ being staged by host cultures to attract tourists. This critical reflection will also explore how the concepts globalisation and consumerism also appear to have an impact on how tourism is shaping the world.</p
A critical discussion of the provision of public space for young people in the UK with analysis of international best practice.
No full textCurrent UK Government economic and social policy is adversely affecting young people's rights, access to space and provision of, and within space, such as the closure of adventure playgrounds, and the erosion of play policy.
This thesis examines young people’s access to public space in the UK. Is it restricted, and if so why? The thesis uses the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the ‘right to the city’ theory as well as youth needs established through a literature review as a broad theoretical framework. The thesis considers the cultural, socio-economic, environmental and policy factors affecting young people’s access to and provision within public space. It explores ideas for transforming space to better suit young people’s needs. These include concepts produced by the Situationist International, Amsterdam’s municipal Public Works Department in the postwar period, and approaches such as, the playful city and tactical urbanism. Case study method is used to focus on participatory practices and on conceptual and policy insights that may prove beneficial in improving UK practice. Projects include Superkilen and Super Street, Denmark; Schouwburgplein, Rotterdam; Cathedral Gardens, Manchester; the Wrexham Play Sufficiency Assessments; and an analysis of Kyttä’s use of affordances applied to SoftGIS mapping.
The case studies illustrate that sites exist that are context-driven, playful, allow for freedom of expression, and that recognise young people’s needs and provide space for them in central urban areas. Progressive leadership and visionary practitioners sympathetic to young people’s rights and needs have made these spaces a reality. Yet the ability to participate in the production of, and adapt public space remains constrained. UK national and local governments should promote and encourage participatory practice and adopt a more inclusive and less negative attitude towards young people in planning policy. A diverse range of networked spaces is required, including adaptable and informal spaces that provide places to play and socialise for young people. Designs that promote intergenerational sharing of space are critical as urban populations increase.</p
The implementation of innovation in events in China: a relational perspective
No full textMany commentators consider innovation to be a vital source of competitive advantage and critical to explanation of why some organisations flourish and others flounder. Although various aspects of innovation have been examined in detail, the implementation of innovation is, as yet, the least understood aspect of the innovation process. This research takes a relational perspective to understand the implementation of innovation within the burgeoning Chinese music festivals sector. Social exchange theory is used as a framework to explain the development of relationships within this research context.
Adopting a qualitative research strategy, six detailed case studies were conducted. These involved undertaking one hundred and thirty five in-depth semi-structured interviews with senior staff, junior staff, volunteers, partners and suppliers at six modern music festivals in China. In addition, direct observation, participant observation, and observation of online group discussion and Weibo micro blogs (a Chinese type of Twitter) were also employed.
This research enriches the body of knowledge in innovation, social exchange, and event studies by providing a conceptual framework of the role and influence of relationships on the implementation of innovation within the context of Chinese events. Exchange rules and norms, and exchange resources, were found to influence the development of relationships that affected the implementation of innovation in Chinese events. Five sub-factors, namely, identity, equality, social capital (guanxi), event contexts, and the Chinese socio-cultural context, were found to affect people’s choice of exchange rules and norms, and exchange resources. A combination of these factors influenced the development of relationships, resulting in four types of relationships. A combination of these relationships had impacts on the implementation of innovation by influencing the acquisition and use of knowledge and resources that were essential in this process. Four categories of implementation outcomes were identified and incorporated into the conceptual framework. Such combined effects of different relationships were complex, because the impact between harmonious relationships and conflicting relationships was not equal. Although harmonious relationships exerted certain positive influences on the implementation of innovation, conflicting or malfunctional relationships were more dominant. Such influences were also found being mediated by certain event contexts, including the temporary time and organisational structure, and the employment of unpaid staff.</p
English Grammar Achievement Level Among Secondary School Leavers In Saudi Arabia
No full textThis study aims to investigate the researcher’s hypothesis that the achievement level of grammar among secondary school leavers in Saudi Arabia is unsatisfactory, and to investigate teachers’ perceptions of grammar teaching. In the first phase of the study, the researcher attempts to answer the following question:
1. What is the level of grammar achieved by Saudi students upon completing secondary school?
The question above is based on the following hypotheses:
1. The overall achievement in English of Saudi secondary school leavers is an unsatisfactory basis upon which to pursue higher education.
2. In particular, the level of grammar achieved by secondary school leavers in Saudi Arabia is very low.
In this phase the researcher used a self-devised test and a standardized test to measure the grammar competency level of more than 400 students who newly joined Jubail Industrial College upon completing their secondary school education. These students were randomly chosen as the sample of the research population. The tests’ results were analyzed and in light of this analysis, the researcher proceeded to the second phase of the research in which he collected a lot of data through various instruments. By using this data, the researcher attempted to answer the following main questions:
1. What are the most important grammar items that Saudi secondary school leavers need to learn before they join higher institutions where English is the medium of teaching?
2. What are the most appropriate approaches to teaching grammar to Saudi students?
3. What is the appropriate sequence for presenting grammar items in the secondary school English course-books?
In the second phase of the study, the population consisted of teachers who taught students at the secondary schools and at the post-secondary school educational institutions. The researcher used the triangulation method to collect data from various resources. To achieve this, the researcher used three questionnaires and two semi-structured interviews to collect the necessary data to answer the questions above. The first questionnaire was specially designed for the students, the second questionnaire was designed for the postsecondary school teachers, and the third questionnaire was designed for the secondary school teachers. More data were collected by the semi-structured interviews which were conducted on the secondary school and the post-secondary school teachers. The data which were collected by the research instruments were analyzed and explained on charts and histograms in order to be easily accessed by the reader. The research recommendations were based on the research findings which were extracted from these data. There are three chapters in the research dealing with data analysis, research findings and research recommendations. The research findings were also enhanced by different points from the literature review chapter which included a lot of opinions, suggestions and discussion of various researchers and linguists who have made a remarkable contribution to the research area.</p
Love at First Type
No full textThis critical reflection will examine the way social relationships are changing alongside the growth of technology, focusing particularly on Castells” (2005) Network society but also considering globalisation, risk, and intimacy. When discussing ideas of changing intimacy and risk, this critical reflection will not examine “online dating” per se, but will however, discuss the idea that individuals are now able to create social and romantic relationships online through the use of social networking websites, chat rooms and the like, with people they have never met, and often never will meet – and the dangers involved with creating such relationships.</p
The Holidays Are Coming!: Consumerism and Post-Fordist Society
No full textChristmas is perhaps the most celebrated religious holiday in the world, with over 1.8 billion Christmas cards sent in the UK alone every year. Christmas is a Christian holiday that takes place on the 25th December annually to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ but has now extended across the whole of December with celebrations lasting well over a month and finishing early January. This critical reflection depicts the transition from a Fordist Society of mass production and consumption of identical products, to a Post‐Fordist society distinguished by flexible specialization.</p
Preface
No full textSociology has long had the potential to have a transformative impact on the way we learn about the world around us. As a Lecturer in Sociology, I have had the pleasure in seeing many social science students 'grow' intellectually as they become more actively engaged with studying, understanding and motivated to change the society in which they live. Undergraduate students here at Leeds Metropolitan University have the potential to be more than simply the 'consumers' of a higher educational product. Indeed, what the academic staff in the Social Science group are committed to, is providing genuine, exciting opportunities for students to be the 'producers' of new knowledge. We want the students we work with to be active, motivated individuals who are able to employ their own 'sociological' imagination in examining the social problems and challenges that surround them.</p
The Changing Faces of Fordism: the Nature of Service Work Today
No full textSeveral theorists have attempted to describe society as it is today, from Post‐Fordist and Post‐Industrial perspectives to theories of the knowledge economy, which for the most part overlap or can be contrasted in a coherent way. This critical reflection considers contemporary workplaces, with particular emphasis on the service sector industry and what it means for our society.</p