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Glimpsing the alternative: An anthropological exploration of the GAA as an alternative organisation
Get PDFWe are told ‘There Is No Alternative’. Yet in my life I cannot see the object of my business school education, the black hole from which we cannot seem to escape - the hard-nosed, ruthlessly commercial, amoral joint stock company. Perhaps that is because I am a GAA person, surrounded by an institution since birth that has inhabited my way of thinking about organised life. My thesis sets out to explore the organisation that I am a part of, tethered too, fêted in; and to reconcile this with what I have learned in the business school. As a process I undertook storytelling interviews with club leaders, hired-hand professional experts and the organisations Presidents and leaders to enrich, denaturalise, substantiate my own deeply held convictions about the organisation. This process of journeying into my own organisation was inspired by a phenomenological ontology and an epistemology of social constructionism, which aspires to give an uninterrupted voice to the participants understanding of their time and experiences. It is from this lived experience of organisation life that I build out an understanding of the unique crags of being in the GAA. This sets the scene for a discussion, a show down of sorts, between those from within the business school calling and scouring the earth for alternative ways of organising. This work aspires to contribute to that discourse with a report from strangers in a strange country of another way of doing things, one with a unique approach to kith, kin, blood, care, harmony, leadership and conflict. In this way, I build up a vision of another way of doing things, one that is hopefully of normative and inspiration use to those seeking alternatives
THE APPLICATION OF DISPERSIVE LIQUID-LIQUID MICROEXTRACTION TO PRECONCENTRATION OF TRACE COMPONENTS IN MILK FOR CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
Get PDFBovine milk is an important source of energy, protein, essential vitamins, and minerals for humans. It lends itself to the manufacture of a range of dairy products. The concentration of vitamins, fatty acids, and amino acids present in milk have a marked influence on the nutritional and processability qualities of milk. Given that milk is a complex biological fluid, the analysis of these compounds presents a significant analytical challenge. The overarching aims of this study were to develop microextraction methods and chromatographic separations for the determination of selected compounds from bovine milk which would then be analysed by both High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography (GC) coupled to various detectors (UV, PDA, MS, FID). As the selected compounds are present in trace amounts significant enrichment was required, it was for this reason that Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction (DLLME) was utilised for the analysis. DLLME involves the rapid injection of an immiscible extraction solvent into an aqueous sample in the presence of a third dispersive solvent. The third dispersive solvent must be miscible with both the extraction and aqueous phase. Typical examples of dispersive solvents include: ACN, methanol, acetone. This produces a stable emulsion of comprised of micro-droplets of extractant into which the analyte rapidly partitions. Centrifugation of the ternary mixture facilitates recovery of the sedimented extraction solvent prior to analysis. The DLLME methods were optimised using chemometric techniques. The results of the analysis were then used to investigate the changes in fatty acid content over the lactation period (palmitic acid increased from 5.73 mg/mL to 10.85 mg/mL), the effect seaweed supplementation had on the vitamin content of bovine milk (delta tocopherol increased from 3.82 to 5.96 μg/mL), and the differences in free amino acid content between different classes of commercial milk samples (alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid increased during storage)
The social life of a strategy document
Get PDFStrategy documents are curious artefacts of the modern organisation. They represent
formal strategic planning processes that have come under criticism, in part for not
representing the emergent strategy path that organisations follow in practice. This
criticism of formal planning’s efficacy has coincided with a marked decline of research
output in this field. This is at odds with the practice world of strategy, where formal
strategic planning has become a hallmark of good governance. A Strategy-as-Practice
(S-a-P) stream of research has emerged over the last fifteen years to counter this divide
between theory and practice and has largely focused on the micro-practices of strategy
making. This study is firmly rooted in this tradition of looking at the micro-practices of
strategy work to offer novel explication on new ways of organising. This study follows
the social life of a strategy document in an institute of higher education from its initial
conception, writing, consultation and use, to understand the role these curious
documents play in organisational life.
Philosophically, this work is inductive, phenomenological, and interpretive. As a
process, it presents an ethnography of strategy making, an autoethnography of strategy
consultations, a deconstruction of the strategy text produced as an output, and
interviews with all those in and around the strategy document’s life in the organisation.
Themes of power and dramaturgy emerged in the exploration of strategy making that
are further developed by reflecting on how the strategy interacts with organisational
life. The tightly controlled and somewhat inauthentic strategy-making, reveals a
surprising emancipatory aspiration that is reflected through the strategy in use. These
findings question the the lack of focus on the concept of power in the strategy research
agenda.
The work follows a single strategy document’s life and therefore has a limited claim to
generalisability, however, in presenting an all-encompassing view of strategy work
through the strategy document, the work presents a totalising account of the role of this
document in an organisation. This is a coherent account of the social life of a strategy
document from in inception to its life in the organisation. The work adds to an emerging
critical perspective on strategy practices and is of interest to managers and strategists
alike in considering the process of writing, consulting and calling upon their strategy
documents. The study adds a new perspective to the meaning of strategy work in the
modern ideal of the university.
Keywords: Strategy-as-Practice, Open Strategy, Higher Education Strategy,
Ethnograph
An Investigation of Social and Economic Aspects of Structural Embeddedness in an ICT Research Network Based in the European Union
Get PDFThe objective of this research is to investigate social and economic aspects of structural embeddedness in an ICT research network based in the European Union. This research adopts a case study approach examining an EU funded research network, called AquaSmart1 (Aquaculture Smart and Open Data Analytics as a Service). It is a high-tech2 information communication technology (ICT) network funded by the EU Horizon 2020 research programme over the period 2016-2018. AquaSmart is using ICT to improve its data utilization and operations. The collaborative European funded research and development landscape has changed in recent years. Funding competitiveness and compulsory public private partnership (PPP) has significantly altered the dynamics of research networks, how they operate, collaborate, and acquire new knowledge and products. The emergence of the academic entrepreneur has also changed the focus of educational institutions to that of quasi-businesses (Etzkowitz, 2003; Perkmann et al., 2013; Bolzani et al., 2014). Consequently, there is an emerging gap between research and market adoption, and university-industry relations and commercialization (Maughan et al., 2013; Perkmann et al., 2013; Bozeman et al., 2013). Thus, these, research networks provide a rich setting to analyse structural embeddedness. Structural embeddedness refers to the nature of relationships, links and nodes within a network, specifically their structure, configuration and quality. The effects of network embeddedness are recognized in the literature as pertinent to innovation and the economy (Gilsing et al., 2008; Owen-Smith and Powell, 2004; Rowley et al., 2000). Central to this research are the theories of Granovetter (1973), Burt (2009), Coleman (1988) and Bourdieu (2011), who present dyadic arguments for structural and relational embeddedness. Thus, there is an opportunity to investigate the core research network within a research project to further our understanding of the social and economic aspects of structural embeddedness. An initial paper (Paper 1) presented in this series presented a conceptualisation of structural network embeddedness. A methodological design paper (Paper 2) and an initial findings paper (Paper 3) followed. The final paper (Paper 4) in the paper series details the full research findings through the phases of description, analysis and synthesis offering insights for this context. The research presents significant findings divided into three major themes; Structural Embeddedness Composition; Economic Aspects and Social Aspects. The significance of the findings are presented within the thesis and briefly stated here. The identification of a positive role for weak ties and structural holes in the AquaSmart network. It is evident that diversity of the industry focus initially created tensions in the AquaSmart network but also contributed significantly to the network output. The results show that the depth of interpersonal relationships and cultivation of friendships had a positive impact on research output and network satisfaction. Competition in the network configuration had a negative impact on research output. Industry jargon and trust during network incubation illustrated a lag in network cohesion and increased network tensions. Openness and trust were explicitly boosted at events where network individuals had an opportunity for informal dinners, breaks and exercise. The challenges encountered in the network were impacted by the quality and configuration of inter-relationships. The effect of network formation and prior relationships was significant. Trust within the network emerged as both an enabler and a barrier. The research contributes to theory in three ways, it provides rich qualitative insights and guidelines in relation to structural embeddedness and network member roles in research networks. It provides evidence to highlight the challenges encountered by the network in relation to language and jargon. It suggests measures toward resolution of language ambiguity. The research gives insight to Competitive nodes within the network and proposes actions to recognise and manage the challenges of EU Open Data Policy. The contribution to practice highlights the importance of network formation with guidelines for network structure, configuration and composition, assessment of implementation challenges post grant award, and longitudinal nature of research networks. It also provides recommendations for intra-network challenges in relation to open data, competition, friendships and competency enhancement. The limitations of study include resource constraints, timeframes for scheduling data collection, opportunity for generalising findings and the use of a single network as the research dataset. This study presents recommendations for future studies to include monitoring research impact beyond the formal network funding period, exploration of network reuse (appropriability) and network hopping. Additionally, it suggests future work to consider research policy for research networks, friendships and personal relationships in research networks and research entrepreneurs
Femoroacetabular Impingement: Injury etiology and performance outcomes following arthroscopic surgery
Get PDFIntroduction: Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI) is a recently described pathophysiological deformity of the hip joint which has been cited as a possible risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis of the hip in later life. It is highly prevalent in young athletes (Ellis et al., 2011; Philippon et al., 2007; Philippon et al., 2013), and surgical intervention is often recommended to remove impinging bone and repair damaged intra-articular tissue. There are many outcome measuring tools to determine the efficacy of treatment, although the vast majority are subjective in nature and rely heavily on patient opinion. There is a paucity of research which objectively examines the effect of surgical intervention on athletic performance. The aim of phase one of this research was to determine the effect of FAI syndrome on functional performance among athletes and quantify the changes in these measures following arthroscopic surgery.
Whether the movement patterns associated with a field sport are associated with the onset of a hip pathology is unknown. There are many measurement techniques available to quantify movements during training and match play. Previous use of video and optoelectronic analysis together is limited (Bartlett, 2001), furthermore the kinematic patterns of a joint throughout the entirety of a field sport have not been quantified. The aim of the second phase of research was to quantify hip movement patterns throughout an entire competitive hurling game.
Methods: Competitive sportsmen with symptomatic FAI syndrome were compared to age, gender and activity-level matched controls. Patients were tested at baseline (n=59), 12 weeks post-surgery (n=47) and 1-year post surgery (n=35), while controls were tested initially (n=66), 12 weeks (n=32) and one year later (n=23) with no interruption to customary levels of training or competition. Participants carried out functional tests which included a 10-m sprint, a modified agility T-test, a maximal deep squat test, and a single leg drop jump test (reactive strength index). Hip range of motion was also assessed by measuring maximal hip flexion, hip abduction and hip internal rotation (at 900 hip flexion). Patients were also asked to report any presence of anterior groin pain throughout the testing. At the 1-year follow-up, data was recorded regarding the return to play status of the patients.
For the second phase of research, 10 intercounty hurlers were video recorded during the National Hurling league and all movements of the game were quantified and categorised using Dartfish software. Three hurlers were recorded using an optoelectronic system while carrying out the movements identified during the video analysis while wearing 43 reflective markers on joint segments. Kinematic data for the hip joint was generated and percentage game time spent in predetermined zones of hip movement were calculated.
Results: At baseline, the FAI syndrome group was significantly slower during the 10-m sprint (3%, p=0.002) and agility T-test (8%, p<0.001); and had lower hip ROM levels (p<0.001). Twelve weeks post-surgery; the patient group had significantly improved on the agility T-test (p<0.001), and in all three measures of ROM (p<0.001). At the 1-year analysis, further improvements were recorded among the patients for squatting depth and RSI (p<0.05). No significant changes were noted among the control group scores after 12 weeks or 1 year compared to baseline and significant time x group interaction effects for acceleration, agility, squat depth and ROM were recorded. Additionally, at 1-year there were no significant differences between the groups for the athletic variables measured. The percentage of patients reporting pain reduced from baseline to 1-year for the 10m-sprint (47% to 8%), agility (60% to 8%) and during the squatting depth measure (52% to 8%). At one year, 83% of patients had returned to full training/competition at an average time of 17 weeks (range 8 – 52 weeks).
Hurlers spend the majority of a hurling game carrying out low intensity movements such as walking interspersed with high speed running. Based on the analysis of the discrete movements of hurling, the side-line cut displays high levels internal rotation with increased flexion (approximately 25o and 45o respectively) in the lead leg as well as increased external rotation in abduction in the contralateral leg and places the hip in an “at risk” position.
Conclusion: The results of this prospective study demonstrate the negative impact of symptomatic FAI syndrome on range of hip motion, speed and agility of competitive athletes, compared with matched controls. Arthroscopic surgical correction of FAI syndrome results in significant improvements in athletic function with reduction in pain as early as 12 weeks post-operation. Continued improvement was evident at one year, with performance now comparable to that of healthy controls for speed, agility, power and squatting depth. Arthroscopic correction of FAI syndrome is recommended for athletes who wish to continue sports participation and improve athletic performance.
This is the first study to quantify hip movements for the entire duration of a field sport. This was necessary to gain a greater understanding of the overall movement patterns the hip joint carries out. This can serve to educate coaches, doctors and physiotherapists so appropriate load management protocols can be ensured
Assessing historic woodlands on Gurteen demesne, Co. Waterford using an interdisciplinary approach developed from theory in landscape studies
Get PDFThis research aims to investigate the wooded landscape at Gurteen de la Poer demesne (hereafter Gurteen), Co. Waterford during the 19th century. It proposes a new approach to the study of demesnes by developing an interdisciplinary assessment of cultural and ecological factors impacting its evolution and spatial organisation. It has been discussed how demesne landscapes require more suitable protection, planning and management measures in Ireland and this research argues that in devising suitable measures for the demesne, an interdisciplinary approach is needed. Owing to the complexity of landscape, interdisciplinary approaches are widely advocated for developing knowledge relating to its history for informed future management and planning decisions. Landscape-related disciplines that concern the reading and assessing of the demesne in this research are primarily that of historical geography, landscape architecture, and landscape ecology, as these subjects consider landscape’s cultural and ecological aspects by examining its spatial and temporal dimensions. Interdisciplinary perspectives are difficult to achieve owing to barriers in theoretical knowledge and methodological applications. This research takes a two-tiered approach by first arguing for and developing a conceptual model as a means to transcend these disciplinary theories and methods and link ideas on a common platform, both intellectually and practically, at a local level. Second, it applies this conceptual model to the demesne landscape of Gurteen estate with a specific focus on woods as a case study. It proposes two tools to assist integration of both the conceptual model and the onward methods of data collection and analysis: GIS and an historic timeline. The resultant assessment method provides new interdisciplinary readings that have potential to ascribe a greater range of significance to woodlands (and landscape) of demesne at Gurteen
Enabling quality, sustainable physical activity change in older adults – a study of barriers, facilitators and interventions
Get PDFBackground
In the recent census (2016) the 65+ age group saw the greatest increase, rising by 19.1% (Central Statistics Office, 2016). The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) found that 34% of older adults in Ireland report low levels of physical activity (Donoghue, 2016).
Methodology
This study sought to identify barriers and facilitators to PA for older adults (Phase I) in a convenience, sample (n=300) of community dwelling older adults. These were stratified by age, urban and rural location, gender, and physical activity (PA) level (high, medium or low / inactive). They completed a questionnaire in May 2015 which was based on social ecological theory. Following consultation with stakeholders in various settings, a series of interventions were developed and implemented in Phase II. Pre and Post questionnaires were administered (March 2016) to those who took part in the interventions (n=45). Analysis of interventions was conducted using the REAIM framework (Glasgow, 1999). Additionally, qualitative interviews were conducted with stakeholders (n=5) to further examine enablers and barriers to implementation.
Results
Phase I found the majority of older adults were not sufficiently active (69%) nor sufficiently aware of PA guidelines (61%). Knowing the guidelines is a facilitator to PA. The main barriers to PA were poor knowledge of PA guidelines, antipathy towards gym, perceived high cost of PA and lack of basic walking programmes. In Phase II Reach (programme uptake) was low. It varied between 0.085% to 0.2% in urban areas and from 3.9% to 8% in rural areas. In total, 65 participants took part across 5 selected settings. The interventions increased PA frequency from 3.09 days per week (SD 1.72) pre intervention to 3.36 days (SD 1.5) post intervention. Muscle strengthening activities increased significantly from 1.33 days per week pre intervention to 1.88 days per week post (p=.001). The interventions had mixed success but all stakeholders indicated a willingness to continue the programmes.
Conclusion
Reach could be improved by specific targeting of older adults. Important success factors for implementation of older adult programmes should include capacity building (audit of staff and facilities, appropriate instructor training, buy in from key management personnel in the settings. Sustainability of programmes can be achieved by the availability of sustainable funding which allows for long term implementation of programmes
Market Oriented Behaviours' Influence on Organisational Culture
Get PDFThis paper examines the influence of the market oriented behaviours of generating, disseminating and responding to market intelligence on the values, norms and artifacts of a market oriented culture. Analysis of data from 251 respondent companies to a questionnaire survey using multiple regression demonstrates the higher the degree of market oriented behaviours the higher an organisation is likely to score on its market oriented values, norms and artifacts. Thus the implementation of market oriented behaviours in organisations will encourage the development of a market oriented culture. This is desirable due to the strong, positive relationship between market orientation and organisational performance. Organisations are advised to assess and if necessary proactively strengthen the degree to which they implement market oriented behaviours
An examination of the literature on Market Oriented Artifacts,
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to present a review of the literature on market oriented artifacts. Artifacts are one of the components of a market oriented culture as well as values, norms and behaviours (Homburg and Pflesser, 2000). Market oriented artifacts have been argued to have four categories; stories, arrangements, rituals and language (Schein 1984; Homburg and Pflesser, 2000). The importance of artifacts is their ability to indicate the degree to which an organisation is market oriented. Furthermore, artifacts have been argued to have symbolic meaning because they strengthen the degree of market oriented behaviours in the organisation. However at this point research relating to the artifacts of a market oriented culture is limited (Farrell, 2005; Byrne, 2014; Tiernan, 2015). Thus, this paper concludes that considering the importance of market oriented artifacts there is scope for further investigation. Specifically, in relation to the categories of artifacts; stories, arrangements, rituals and language (Homburg and Pflesser, 2000)
The impact of cycle skills training on skills, confidence, attitudes and rates of cycling
Get PDFOverview: There has been a steady decline in the numbers of children cycling to school over the last few decades in America (Emond & Handy, 2011) and Peters, (2016), UK (Department of Transport, 2013) and Ireland (O‟Driscoll, 2015; Woods et al., 2009). Over the same time period, cycling is recognised as the main mode of transport for school children in Denmark (Cooper et al, 2006) and Holland (Wagenbuur, 2011), two countries who have a structured cycle training programme in place for school children. The general fall in cycling levels has also coincided with an increase in childhood obesity with the WHO (2009) listing obesity and lack of physical activity as two of the five leading global risks for mortality.
Confidence (Wegman et a, 2010; Ducheyne et al. 2012; O‟Driscoll, 2005; Trapp et al. (2011) and Lorenc et al., 2011) is a key factor in people cycling for transport but there is a lack of research into the impact of cycling training programmes on cycling for active travel, particularly within Ireland. With the evolution of the car as a main form of transport, children and adults attitudes have become less positive due to safety fears with the bike now seen more as a childrens toy than a possible form of transport. There is a lack of research on the impact parental attitudes have towards cycling and how to improve parent and childrens‟ confidence levels for cycling to be deemed a safe and viable transport option.
Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study with both intervention and control groups. This involved both quantitative and qualitative data collection from two locations, one with cycling infrastructure and one without. Quantitative data was collected from 631 primary and secondary children from 22 classes over five time periods. The intervention group also received five one hour sessions of cycling training where they were tested on eight cycling skills pre and post training. Qualitative data was collected from 270 primary and secondary school children at five time periods from 10 classes. Focus group discussions also took place with 14 adults over three time periods. Cycling tutors were trained to deliver five cycling sessions and were involved in focus group discussions immediately post training.
Results: The results of this research indicate that on road cycling skills training has a positive impact on improving attitude and confidence levels for children and parents. Children stated cycle skills training improved both confidence levels „it was fun and improved my confidence‟; „I‟m not afraid any more‟ and also increased cycling frequency „I cycle more now because of training‟. Parents said „I‟d be more confident of them cycling now but it‟s the environment around them‟. This training improved cycling skills dramatically with general cycling skills improving by 62% and road skills by 83%. Children‟s confidence towards cycling to school increased by 7.5% and there was a 36% reduction in the fear of traffic at twelve months post training. There was a sustained improvement of cycling levels to school which was not affected by gender. Results indicated that the impact of on road training is more significant when delivered to primary school children. A lack of „safe‟ cycling infrastructure is often cited as a barrier to childrens‟ cycling levels. Infrastructure did positively impact cycling levels and confidence, but on road cycling confidence and childrens‟ cycling levels to school were higher in an area with no cycling infrastructure. This suggests that improving cycling skills and confidence through on road cycling training is more effective than providing safe infrastructure.
Conclusion: The study found that improving children and parents‟ confidence levels in overcoming fears led to improved attitudes towards cycling and an increase in cycling levels. The delivery of cycling training improves confidence, but other initiatives are also needed to address other children and parent fears, particularly the fear of cars. Providing infrastructure does improve confidence levels, but to increase childrens‟ cycling to school levels, on road cycling training is of more importance than providing cycle friendly infrastructure. The funding of a progressive cycle training programme for primary school children could have a more substantial and sustained impact on cycling levels and motorists perception of cyclists than the provisions of cycling infrastructure