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The Pedagogy of Astra Zarina: Illuminating the Blind Spot in her Legacy: The Development of Long-Term Student Success though Student Agency
Full text linkUniversity of Washington (UW) Professor Emerita Astra Zarina’s legacy as a difference-maker is increasingly acknowledged in the profession, however the pedagogy she developed remains a blind spot. Colleagues and students have cited Zarina as one of the “primary influences on their professional practice and how they see and engage with the world” (Torrell, 2013). Zarina’s contribution to the professional and personal lives of her students has been recognized by academia as well as students and practicing design professionals; however, the pedagogy that has made this possible is yet to be researched, documented, and is still a blind spot.
References to the role of agency are found repeatedly in how her students describe her teaching methods and Zarina\u27s influence on their lives and work. The pedagogy of student agency is then a point of entry to understanding her legacy as a difference-maker for her students. This paper sheds light on how her use of agency as a teaching method led to her students\u27 personal and professional success as leaders in the design of the built environment.
Prof. Astra Zariņa | A Force of Nature
Full text linkProf. Astra Zarina teaching shaped the careers and perspectives of many students including renown architect Steven Holl. Astra Zariņa the director of the University of Washington architecture program in Rome, had been among Holl’s earliest mentors. He was one of six students to attend the 1970 inaugural program in Rome. Zariņa’s teachings shaped the careers and perspectives of many students and their careers..
Steven Holl identified seven key values that defined her approach to teaching architects thesevalues include the importance of urban space, field work, social agency, myth & ritual, nature and cuisine. Though her influence was international few know of her impact, and pioneering approach and methods to teaching design. In recent years a resurgence to investigate her pedagogical process and methodology has emerged.
In 1960, Zariņa was the first women to receive the Rome Price from The American academy in Rome and a year later received the Fulbright fellowship. Zariņa’s architectural focus shifted, she became deeply influenced by her time in Rome, where she re-evaluated her modernist convictions. Zarina initiated and directed the UW program in Rome for thirty years and later started parallel Italian hilltop village program in Civita di Bagnoregio..
Astra Zariņa\u27s created tripartite teaching methodology, which she developed throughout her career as: knowledge, action, and reflection. Zariņa’s pedagogical approach transcended the traditional classroom setting, bringing learning into real-world contexts and her pioneering methods preceded David Kolb’s, Experiential Learning Theory ( ELT). Experience and reflection are essential to the learning process and the subject on hand.
Zarina\u27s teaching legacy profoundly impacted her students, shaping both their lives and their careers as skilled architects. Today, a new generation of architecture students is being introduced to her pioneering tripartite experiential teaching method: knowledge, action, and reflection
Usage of the AHP method for evaluation of E-Commerce tools to increase the competence of SME specialists in Latvia
Full text linkThe use of e-commerce for sales and promotion of products and services has a positive influence on the development of any business. Statistical data show very low usage of e-commerce in the Latvian small and medium-sized business sector. The paper presents an analysis of reasons for low usage of e-commerce for business development in the SME sector and suggests the most effective methods for increasing entrepreneurs’ competence in new technologies in the digital environment. A survey of SME management and the analytic hierarchy process method were used in an analysis of the best methods to improve the lack of knowledge in this sector and factors influencing decision-making for lifelong learning among specialists in the digital environment. The findings of the research show that electronic courses in the digital environment with interactive presentations and video files can have a positive impact in solving this problem. The research results reveal serious factors influencing the decision to study e-commerce: it is the policy of local and central governments and European Union institutions. The results of the research have practical significance in improving the situation with e-commerce usage for business development in the SME sector. The article contains recommendations for involved parties and institutions influencing the process of entrepreneurs’ increase in competence to positively accelerate the economic situation. The study offers a new perspective on the use of e-commerce solutions
Digitization as a catalyst for business model innovation a three-step approach to facilitating economic success
Full text linkPurpose – Incorporating digitization and innovative digital approaches can make or break an organization. Companies need suitable instruments to identify and exploit digital value drivers. Decision makers need management tools that enable them to translate digital value drivers into sustainable economic success. This paper introduces an integrated framework for analysing the strategic potential of digitization in business model development.
Design/methodology/approach – The framework integrates Osterwalder and Pigneur’s Business Model Canvas, Parmar et al.’s five patterns for IT-facilitated value creation, and Kim and Mauborgne’s Blue Ocean Strategy. By applying the framework to three cases, digital innovation drivers and their strategic relevance are highlighted.
Findings – The findings suggest that the three-step approach has the potential to guide decisionmaking. The research revealed the categories “enabling”, “complementary”, and “functional”, indicating the scope for strategic action.
Research limitations/implications – The limitations lie in the empirical relevance, as the framework is limited to three cases. The revealed categories might encourage future research activities that develop corresponding generic strategies.
Practical implications – The paper offers strong practical recommendations for organizations confronted with digitization challenges. The framework offers a strategic perspective for practitioners by offering an instrument to systematically encourage innovation.
Social implications – Digitization is an important economic factor for job creation, GDP growth, and productivity and has a strong impact on society.
Originality/value – Business model research is of undiminished interest for academics and practitioners. This paper aims to provide a model that can be applied in industry and contribute to model building. The integration of three existing models is a new approach
The development of medium-sized human resource marketing enterprises in Latvia
Full text linkResearch on the development of human resource (HR) marketing is very topical because HR marketing as a function of human resource management is a novelty in Latvia; rapid digitalization and growth of the number of Internet users are taking place; there is an obvious shortage of qualified labour in the world’s economy, and an inability to attract human resources using the traditional methods can be observed. The purpose of the research is to study the development of HR marketing in Latvia (Boitmane, 2016).
The proposal is to research the development of human resource marketing in Latvia and the prospects of development of the use of human resource marketing tools.
The methodology includes the study of theoretical literature and a survey prepared by the authors of the study, \u27Human Resource Marketing in an Organisation\u27, which includes 9 sets of clauses with 73 clauses. The authors performed a target-driven, focused observation with a non-representative sampling of 15 respondents selected by the authors. Descriptive and conclusive methods of statistics were used in the data analysis. The research sampling consists of juridical entities – organisations that have a corporate website where the job advertisements of the organisation are published and that have their own strategy and activities in the sphere of human resource management. The probable sampling of the research constituted 90% of the population, that is, 62 respondents. A sampling of 79 respondents participated in the research.
The findings revealed by the research were comparatively little competence and knowledge on the part of organisations in the sphere of human resource marketing. In organisations where the process of strategic human resource management is organized purposefully, the competence and knowledge of the management is higher, which, as a result, shows that human resource marketing is not being identified as a term, but the authors of the research concluded this based on the human resources marketing tools used currently by the organisations. The results of the research show that it is the shortage of labour that will motivate the application of human resource marketing.
Research limitations. In performing the research, the authors faced the fact that out of 415 organisations or respondents, valid survey questionnaires were filled out by 79 respondents. Many of the survey forms were filled out partially or incompletely, showing evidence of the lack of information and knowledge. The empirical part took place over 3 months, which was 1 month longer than anticipated in the research plan. The extraction of the research data was complicated by the large volume of survey clauses.
Practical implications of the research: as a result of human resource marketing research, theoretical material has been created that will encourage organisations to implement human resource marketing functions in their business activities. The data, materials and conclusions obtained from the research provide motivation for the creation of a handbook for leaders of organisations and human resource managers on putting human resource marketing into practice in an organisation.
The social implications of the research provide knowledge and vast information for the public about human resource marketing, its development and opportunities. From the scientific perspective, nowadays, the term \u27human resource marketing\u27 indicates new developmental directions that are connected with rapid technological development and changes in public thinking and traditions. It is a transformation of organisational thinking from product marketing to human resource marketing.
The originality is determined by the uniqueness of the research, since there has been little study of human resource marketing in Latvia and no research has been performed on the function of human resource marketing in Latvia
Development of Latvian pension system in changing economic environment
Full text linkLatvia, like any European country, is facing challenges in pension system organization due to the population age structure. In the 1990s, during the reform of the social sector, Latvia introduced a threelevel pension system aimed at reducing the effect of demographic risks and demonstrating the country’s intention to provide a viable public and private combination in old-age provision. The potential impact of demographic change on the age structure and size of the population is dramatic and the main problem is the ability of pension schemes to provide retirement incomes which fully correspond with previous employment income without reducing quality of life. Thus, personal investments in retirement income schemes are also important.
The aim of this research is to investigate what the possible solutions are for developing the existing pension system in Latvia and incentives for personal investment to ensure provision of an appropriate retirement income level.
The paper addresses the efficiency of the Latvian private pension system. The current situation is described, the efficiency of private voluntary pension schemes is estimated taking into account the Latvian demographical situation with a flow of emigration, and the impact of existing tax incentives for employees is analysed.
Qualitative methods (statistical data analysis, forecasting and other financial calculations) are used for theoretical comparison and analysis of pension systems. Interviews with experts and personal observations are used to reveal the problems in the current pension system of Latvia.
Recommendations for possible incentives for development of private pension investments are made. Also, conclusions on possible development directions are drawn.
Research pape
Strategic innovation application in creative industries in Latvia
Full text linkThe purpose of the research is to identify if the companies operating in the Creative industries (CI) in Latvia are aware of the importance of Strategic innovations (SI) and the role of SI in contributing to a company’s sustainability and, consequently, its competitiveness.
Design/methodology/approach - The chosen research method is the quantitative one that will enable to measure the hypothesis basing on statistical data. The survey of the research work sticks to a questionnaire, which contains 19 questions. The survey has been sent out to around randomly selected 500 creative industries companies, whereby the number of respondents comprises 58.
Findings - In order to successfully implement directions towards SI introduction and further development in CI companies, a focus could be set on the leadership activities, HRM team, and also professional associations. These three factors are able to crucially impact on the SI development in Latvia.
Research limitations/implications - The necessity of more advanced and comprehensive application of SI in CI is evident. Therefore, it would be important to extendedly provide further research evidence on the essence and positive effects of SI on business performance in CI.
Practical implications - For the implementation of SI a leadership team should distinctively communicate the company’s commitment to the particular innovation and underline the logic behind it. To enable that, leadership should illustrate clear and adequate signals concerning the significance of the activities and eradicate unnecessary ones.
Originality/value - The conducted research enabled to define the level of SI application within the framework of CI in Latvia
Functions and features of controlling in multinational corporations
Full text linkEra of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) started in early 2000’s and immediately the role of controlling within corporations became topic of scientific discussions. During financial crisis of 2007-2009 companies have focused main attention on their survival. Economical stabilization and renewal drew attention to effective management of subsidiaries again. “The German model of controlling” which is under consideration in this article, as namely “management of management of the company” was currently described in scientific literature in comparison to human immune system. This point of view was significantly reduced scope of controlling concept. The approach largely narrows down understanding focusing only on risks missing out opportunities.
Methods of analysis and synthesis have been applied, within the Grounded Theory and The Evolutionary Theory of the Multinational Corporation. The aim is to extend scope of controlling concept via analogy of human nervous system. This will help to extend approach with additional functions and features, such as reverse knowledge transfer as well as define metrics to measure controlling effectiveness. Based on theoretical studies the hypothesis of new scope of well performed controlling and additional indirect parameters for its effectiveness measurement was presented.
As main novelty a highlighting of controlling concept incompletion need to be mentioned, and presentation of an approach which will be able to cover this gap which provides a possibility for future development of controlling concepts in management science
Method for measuring the effects of firms’ restructuring program
Full text linkThe application of statistical methods in connection with the systematized knowledge of the restructuring program in a significant way reinforces the efficiency of the implemented restructuring processes. The objective of this paper is to compare several statistical methods and to reveal the possibilities of their application in measuring the effects of the implemented restructuring programs in firms. The examples shown refer to a very thorough analysis of the case study of Volkswagen, where quarterly results covering the period of 10 years were examined. Statistical method of multiple regression was applied in the calculations and additionally there were performed calculations with the use of the SPSS 20 feature for ten models, for three time intervals on a quarterly basis (48 periods). The obtained results confirmed the results that were acquired when studying regression
Foreword
No full textA portfolio of the 9th issue of The Journal of Business Management consists of papers presented at an online scientific conference “Business Psychology – Gateway to Sustainable and Successful Business” as well as papers submitted in the first half of 2015. Accordingly, the new issue is divided into two sections: business psychology (six papers) and management (five papers).
Business psychology is one of the cornerstones of successful and sustainable business. Understanding of the science of human behaviour coupled with experience and knowledge of management and working environment ensures effective and sustainable performance for both individuals and organisations.
The online scientific conference “Business Psychology – Gateway to Sustainable and Successful Business” brought together junior and senior researchers to discuss their academic interests and applied business cases in an innovative way.
Topics covered in the selected papers include: organisational culture and climate, occupational stress, professional deformation and burnout, leadership, innovations, and idea management, amongst others.
The papers devoted to management problems cover such issues as acquisition of firms, system of innovation management, idea management, etc. underpinning their theoretical and practical significance.
Every paper went through the double-blind peer review process. Eleven papers were shortlisted as a result.
Head of the Editorial Board,Professor Dr. Vulfs Kozlinskis
Member of the scientific virtual conference“Business Psychology - Gateway to Sustainableand Successful Business” organising committeeDr.Maija Zakrizevsk