1522 research outputs found
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EXPLORING THE SOCIAL PROCESSES OF INDIVIDUAL-TO-INDIVIDUAL COLLABORATION IN BAHRAIN’S OIL AND GAS SECTOR
No full textThe aim of this research is to explore the social processes of individual-to-individual collaboration in Bahrain’s oil and gas sector, in pursuit of two research questions; 1. how does individual-to-individual collaboration occur in Bahrain’s oil and gas sector and 2. how do social processes facilitate, or hinder individual-to-individual collaboration in Bahrain’s oil and gas sector? Through the theoretical lens of social network theory, the social processes of one-to-one, role-to-role and local community networks with innate social capital is explored. This study adopts an interpretivist interview research design involving semi-structured interviews with participants from private and semi state-owned firms across Bahrain’s oil and gas sector and professional sub-networks, supported with insights gleaned from archival data and researcher reflective diaries. Cognisant of the cultural context and the researcher’s outsider status, two cultural insiders with close proximity to the social context, are recruited as counsel and co-creators in the research process. The findings reveal strong ties over casual ties are preferred in the pursuance of individual-to-individual collaboration in this sector. In the formation of new relationships, social network engagement is an important social lubricant to building rapport and trust between network actors. This research unveils the broker role in bridging weak ties to dense networks, while a refined conceptual framework illustrates innate socio-cultural nuances and norms facilitating collaboration in this sector. This research adds to emerging discourse on the value of closed-diverse networks and social networks in Middle Eastern commercial contexts. The findings have practical implications for international professionals and native new entrants by drawing attention to the multifaceted social mechanisms and structures underpinning collaborative relationships in this sector. There is further scope to explore the value of native community networks and brokers to commercial activity in similar contexts. The inclusion of cultural insiders enhances rigor in the research process and the development of the cultural insider research protocol has practical relevance for other researchers in similar context laden environments
Promoting physical inactivity and car dependence: the case of Waterford city’s suburbs
Get PDFIntroduction To paraphrase the WHO GAPPA (2018), Irish citizens do not have access to safe places and spaces in their suburban communities in which to engage in regular physical activity (PA). Less than half of all Irish adults meet the recommended PA levels (46%: HI, 2018) and a meagre 17% of primary school and 10% of secondary school children do so (CSPPA, 2018). In addition, 74% of all journeys nationally are made by car (CSO, 2016), of which 26% are less than 2 km, a distance easily walked, and 57% are less than 8 km, a distance easily cycled; only 2% report cycling to school or work. None of this is surprising as the suburban environment, where the majority live, actively discourages PA for recreation or transport. We have, in fact, systematically designed physical activity out of our suburban areas because mobility, social connectivity and housing have not been planned together. Approach The DTTAS Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS, 2013 & 2019) is founded on four key principles: connected streets, multi-functional streets, pedestrian focus and multi-disciplinary approach. It acknowledged that the design of roads and streets in the past has prevented sustainable mobility, and, by inference, PA. However, despite DMURS applying equally to the suburbs, the guidance has not been applied here and car dependence continues to be built-in to the design of new residential areas, as the norm. This is euphemistically known as ‘carchitecture’ and takes the following form: 1. large, wide, open ‘distributor roads’ providing ‘free flow’ conditions for vehicles that segregate and separate residential areas; 2. single-entrance, cul-de-sac design housing estates that lack connectivity, permeability, and proximity to adjoining estates or any services at all, including public transport. Findings Such designs effectively prevent walking and cycling because destinations (friends’ houses, schools, shops, workplaces) are too far away, and the surrounding roads are full of traffic. So all residents are car dependent: they are left with no choice but to drive everywhere. This often prevents children from playing outdoors – because the street space is blocked with parked cars or dangerous because of moving cars. Such designs also lead to social isolation, as those without access to a private car (e.g., migrants, low SEG’s, young people) can struggle to access recreation facilities, employment and education. Young people in particular, can become entirely dependent on their parents to chauffer them everywhere. Social implications We have prioritised cars over people in Irish suburbs, to the detriment of the physical and social health of the people that live there. We cannot expect people to be physically active, whether for transport, or recreation, when inactivity is so strongly reinforced by the design of their environment. We are currently in the midst of a housing crisis, a gradually unfolding climate catastrophe and twin physical inactivity and obesity epidemics. It is essential, therefore, that we don’t try and fix the first problem by building more of what exacerbates the other ones
An examination of artefacts in market-oriented firms
Get PDFPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature and influence of artefacts in market-oriented firms. Design/methodology/approach – Document analysis, direct observation and 14 key informant interviews were undertaken in 6 case study of companies. Findings – The research investigated the nature and influence of four categories of artefacts in market-oriented firms, specifically, stories, arrangements, rituals and language. The four categories of artefacts were found to embody, reinforce, create and compliment the values, norms and behaviours of a market-oriented culture. Market-oriented artefacts are thus core to a market-oriented culture and in developing a market orientation. Research limitations/implications – The four categories of artefact, namely, stories, arrangements,rituals and language embody a market-oriented culture; these artefacts are necessary to implement market-oriented behaviours. Artefacts play a significant cultural and behavioural part in creating a market-oriented culture. Practical implications – To be a market-oriented firm means implementing a market-oriented culture. This paper requires managers to assess the degree to which they have developed and used market-oriented artefacts in the establishment and strengthening of a market-oriented culture. Originality/value – This paper addresses the limited understanding of market-oriented artefacts as anelement of a market-oriented cultur
Collaborative New Product Development: Modelling Inter-Organisational Intensity
Get PDFThe increased pace of global change combined with the inherent risks that exist in the innovation and NPD process has accelerated the move towards more integrative models of innovation. This move has been broadly welcomed by innovation scholars and practitioners. However, successful collaborative innovation is still proving difficult to achieve.
Previous research in this area has suggested that the intensity of collaboration plays an important role in achieving innovation success with more intense collaboration driving better outcomes. But to date, the concept of collaborative innovation intensity (CII) has not been fully operationalised. Because of this gap in our understanding of what constitutes CII, empirical studies have provided only limited insight into how intensely partners should be involved and so practitioners’ experience and unsubstantiated prescriptions remain the best guide to determine appropriate collaborative intensity levels.
Utilising a positivistic philosophy, a measure was developed for the CII construct. Further modelling was undertaken to test the relationships between hypothesised predictor constructs, CII, and hypothesised outcome constructs. The population of interest was all Irish industrial firms involved in collaborative NPD in the B2B context. The unit of analysis was the dyad from one side of the partnership only. The methodology involved a cross sectoral postal survey of NPD managers and or CEOs. This resulted in 185 usable responses. These key informants completed the survey based on their perceptions of their relationship with their closest NPD partner. Goodness-of-fit indices for the CII scale development model were excellent with good to excellent indices reported for the predictor-CII-outcome model. Two rival models were rejected in favour of the second order factor model adopted for the CII scale. One rival predictor-CII-outcomes model (TCE) was rejected in favour of the SET developed model.
The major theoretical implication of the results of this research is the development of a rigorous measure for the construct of CII. This scale was developed using a SET
lens, consequently, this research makes a substantial contribution to both SET and RET. It is envisaged that this scale will aid managers in the development of a roadmap to more successful collaborative NPD
An investigation into the bioactivity of the red seaweed Polysiphonia lanosa
Get PDFThis research involved an investigation into the bioactivity of an aqueous P. lanosa extract against a hospital isolate of MRSA. It encompassed an evaluation of the effect of abiotic stress on anti-MRSA activity, isolation and characterisation of the antibacterial compounds, MIC, MBC and BBC determination, as well as antioxidant and cytotoxicity potential assessment. Visual observations of MRSA growth permitted speculation of the mechanism of anti-MRSA activity.
The cultivation (tank storage) conditions of harvested seaweed was monitored and compared with anti-MRSA activity in a baseline study. This is the first time that an epiphytic seaweed was cultured unattached to determine the effect on antimicrobial activity. Temperature and light exposure duration conditions were investigated with retention of anti-MRSA activity confirmed for a period of 8 days post harvesting. Slight recovery in anti-MRSA activity was evident at lower temperatures but deterioration occurred for all light conditions, indicating the photosensitive nature of the bioactive compounds.
Extraction, isolation and identification of the anti-MRSA compounds was pursued using bioautography and well diffusion to ensure bioactivity against planktonic MRSA with isolation of a semi-pure extract achieved. A bromo indole with heterocyclic substitution of carboxylic acid and/or nitrile functionalities or a bromo substituted bi or bis(indolyl) structure was proposed.
MIC, MBC, BBC and DPPH IC50 of the crude and semi-pure P. lanosa extracts were determined. Exceptional DPPH radical scavenging activity of the crude P. lanosa extract contrasted with that of the semi-pure fraction confirming that their bioactivities were due to different compounds.
The crude P. lanosa extract displayed significant cytotoxicity against HT-29 colonic epithelial cells using an xCELLigence real-time cell analysis system, whilst no cytotoxicity was observed in the MTT assay using liver carcinoma HepG2 cells.
Anti-MRSA activity visualisation was explored at sub-inhibitory concentrations of crude and semi-pure P. lanosa extract (staphyloxanthin pigment), together with MRSA colony-spreading inhibition by crude P. lanosa extract
An Evaluation of Sialorrhoea Management Practices in Residential Older Adult Care Settings
Get PDFBackground: Sialorrhoea (drooling) is the unintentional loss of saliva from the mouth; it is a common and upsetting problem amongst people with certain neurological disorders. It can lead to complications, especially infection, dehydration and fatigue. Saliva can also collect at the back of the throat which causes coughing and may lead to a higher risk of aspiration. In addition, complications from sialorrhoea may cause psychological complications, such as embarrassment, social isolation and feelings of rejection. All these consequences of sialorrhoea can subsequently impact on quality of life. However, there is limited research available in relation to the optimal management of sialorrhoea and subsequently there is no consensus on best practice.
Aim: Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate practices in the management of sialorrhoea in older adult residential care settings and to, consequently, make recommendations for sialorrhoea management so as to improve quality of life and enhance the person-centred care approach to sialorrhoea management
Methods: The study adopted a two phase mixed methods design involving a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational survey and an exploratory, descriptive qualitative design. Sixteen older adult residential care settings in the South East region of Ireland were used as the study sites. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants in both study phases. The first phase of this study involved two concurrent strands, one strand involved a survey of older adults experiencing sialorrhoea to identify the impact of sialorrhoea regarding their care needs and their views on sialorrhoea management. The parallel strand involved focus group interviews with the multidisciplinary healthcare team involved with the care of older adults with sialorrhoea to explore and identify current sialorrhoea management practices. The second phase of this study involved one to one in-depth interviews with caregivers (nurses or healthcare assistants) in care of older adults to further explore and confirm findings from the first phase of this study, and to identify changes required to current care and management of sialorrhoea.
Findings: Phase 1 questionnaire survey findings revealed that sialorrhoea has quite a significant impact on older adults’ quality of life, relationships were identified between quality of life and impact of sialorrhoea. However, both phase 1 and phase 2 findings also revealed a lack of awareness and knowledge of the underlying issues and management strategies for sialorrhoea in these older adults’ residential care settings. These findings indicate the need for more structured care provision complying with the person-centred care approach. Findings identified that first line healthcare professionals strive to provide care to older adults suffering from sialorrhoea with the utmost empathy and compassion. However, findings demonstrated that first line healthcare professionals face challenges due to a lack of guidelines and, training and education provision.
Conclusion: An understructured care provision plan, and the lack of estalished coordination of care among the multidisciplinary healthcare members indicated a deficit in a person-centred care approach to sialorrhoea management within the Irish context. Therefore study findings recommend that current practices would benefit from a structured systematic care protocol regarding sialorrhoea, so as the person-centred care approach could be augmented by such protocols. These include systematic assessment of sialorrhoea, wider multidisciplinary engagement and networking, and continuous professional development training and education programmes focusing on non-invasive management techniques. In order to improve care for older adults with sialorrhoea in residential care setting, policy makers, stakeholders and researchers should work together to further develop national evidence based guidelines to direct the management of sialorrhoea, specifically to develop protocols for nurses to follow in everyday care of the older adults
Social Media Brand Participation: Modelling the Major Determinants of Customer Retention from a Marketing Capabilities Perspective
No full textWhile social media provides rich opportunity for brand and consumer engagement, companies struggle to overcome the paradox of attempting to manage activity that is seemingly beyond their control. This study examines how the organisation can leverage influence over customer social media brand interaction and engagement, with the ultimate goal of enhanced customer retention. Examination of the Resource-based View (RBV) and the social media marketing and customer retention literature has yielded three key marketing capabilities: customer linking, brand management, and social media management, which are proposed to be critical in channelling an organisation’s influence on consumer social media brand interaction, and act as firm-level determinants of customer retention. As the population of interest is consumers who interact with brands on various social media platforms and have purchased the brand before, an online survey was distributed in two phases across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Reddit, resulting in 670 usable responses. The findings provide empirical support for a model of marketing capabilities optimising customer retention through the mediators of customer social media brand interaction, brand engagement and affective commitment, with 56% of the variation in customer retention explained. Surprisingly, social media capability does not have an effect in the model. This study makes a significant contribution in providing insight into a number of important theoretical issues: confirming the role of the organisation in influencing social media brand interactions; empirically testing an integrated model of customer retention in the social media context, the conceptualisation of customer brand engagement, and identifying both firm-level and customer-level antecedents to customer retention. There is also an addition to the RBV and marketing capabilities literature through providing theoretical support for a relationship between marketing capabilities and unbiased measures of performance. This stems from the measurement of customer retention, and the capabilities, from the customer perspective. The findings provide guidelines for marketing managers on how organisations can enhance customer retention through the development of key marketing capabilities. Limitations of the research relate to the data collection method, including a lack of inference due to non-probability sampling, and a difference in findings between phases of data collection. Finally, a platform is established for future research on identifying firm level antecedents to customer-brand interaction online; the determination of other mediators between marketing capabilities and customer retention, and further empirical examination of the model in an online brand community context
Exploring the influence of cognitive communication factors on the preparation of financial narrative board reports
No full textThis Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) thesis is an exploration of the influence of cognitive communication factors (CCFs) on the preparation of financial narrative board reports. Internal communication of financial information to boards is a key element of corporate governance. Literature is reviewed relating to financial communication for governance and cognitive factors influencing communication. Drawing from this communications literature, the researcher proposes that a number of factors have the potential to affect or influence, often unconsciously, the judgement of managers preparing internal financial board reports. The research objective is to explore these factors and gain a better understanding as to whether such factors give cause for concern. Given the subjective nature of the topic, a qualitative research approach was chosen, using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis of the data. Interviews with 24 senior finance executives, from a range of industry sectors, were conducted. This study provides new insights into the CCFs that influence the preparation of financial narrative board reports. It is found that communication between management and non-executive directors is facilitated and influenced by a range of factors including: common ground and shared intentionality; the curse of knowledge and knowledge illusion; intuition; perception; and context. Some of these CCFs are considered necessary for good communication and have a positive effect; the effect of others can be either positive or negative depending on circumstances. The study culminates with a model illustrating the influence web of these CCFs. If management are unaware of these factors, or have not considered them, the result can be an unconscious effect on their judgement regarding what information to provide to directors and how to present it. An enhanced awareness and understanding of these factors, and how they interact, should lead to improvements in practice in the preparation of board reports and the overall communication between management and non-executive directors. This research study provides insights and recommendations of interest to all those involved in internal financial board reporting, making a contribution to both academic knowledge and the practice of financial reporting and corporate governance
No Country for Middle-Aged Men? An intersectoral approach to explore sources of psychological distres and patterns of support seeking among middle-aged men considered of risk at suicide in Ireland
Get PDFAbstract In many high-income countries, the rate of suicide is highest among middle-aged men. Despite this, few studies have explored the factors that underpin psychological distress and support-seeking among this cohort. This qualitative study used an intersectional approach to account for the plurality of middle-age masculinities and to offer deeper insights into middle-age men’s mental health experiences. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with nine demographic groups of middle-aged men considered ‘at risk’ of suicide in Ireland (n=34). Data collection and data analysis were informed by the principles of grounded theory. A master code list and conceptual maps were developed from which four themes emerged. Theme 1 Reconciling Increasing Expectations with Diminishing Capacities to Achieve at Middle-Age captures various tensions that emanated from expectations on men to have acquired mastery of various gendered norms by middle-age that coincided with a reality of different manifestations of middle-aged vulnerability as well as large scale societal change in Ireland. Theme 2 Isolation at Middle-Age broadly describes a sense of loneliness at middle-age as a result of narrowing social circles, a lack of social outlets, relationship breakdown and living alone. For those men who experienced discrimination, prejudice or racism, their isolation tended to be more deep-rooted and multifaceted and was a particular source of psychological distress. The notion of a ‘double burden’ was central to Theme 3 Barriers to Support Seeking, and encapsulated men’s sense of shame in having to ask for help and ‘failing’ to manage their own problems. Theme 4 Catalysts for Change & Strategies for Improved Self-Care highlights what were seen as the foundations of good mental health for middle-aged men, as well as the value of educational programmes and social contact. The use of an intersectional approach in this study fostered a deeper understanding of the blended identities and wide range of mental health experiences of middle-age men which have informed training and resources currently being implemented under the auspices of ‘Connecting for Life’, Ireland’s strategy to reduce suicide
Influences on external stakeholder engagement and its measurement in Irish HEIs
Get PDFEngagement implies thoughtful interaction with the world external to the higher education institutions (HEI) and has been depicted using words such as partnering and mutual benefit. Such engagements occur with stakeholders who are described as any group or individual who can affect or are affected by the achievement of an organisation. HEIs are now engaging with a wide set of stakeholders in a variety of interactions relating to graduate formation, workforce development, research and innovation, social enhancement, and market advancement. However, HEIs cannot attend to all claims on their organisation from external stakeholders.
This study combines stakeholder theory and new institutional sociology (NIS) to explore influences on HEI engagement with external stakeholders and measurement of these interactions. Measurement of engagement interactions has become more prevalent in recent years, driving HEIs to further consider external engagement. Stakeholder salience based on three attributes: power, legitimacy, and urgency is significant in determining stakeholder prioritisation. Correspondingly, NIS proposes that coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphic pressures within the institutional environment shape HEI engagement with external stakeholders. This research adopts a qualitative approach using case study method to collect data from semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis.
Findings from the study highlight the variety of external stakeholders with whom the case HEI engages. They confirm that combined stakeholder and institutional influences have determined the types of HEI engagement interactions and their measurement in HEIs. The results verify both macro influences including institutional, influences such as policy, culture and norms, and micro influences including stakeholder proximate needs such as local employer and prospective students concerns. Institutions can mediate stakeholder pressures by legitimating a stakeholder’s claim. Conversely, stakeholders can mediate the isomorphic institutional effects proposed by NIS, by acting as buffers or amplifiers of institutional pressures. Hence, the findings show that institutional and stakeholder pressures have influenced external stakeholder engagement and its measurement