From unrequited love to sleeping with the enemy: COVID-19 and the future relationship between UK universities and professional accounting bodies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Al Mahameed ◽  
Umair Riaz ◽  
Lara Gee
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Academic Freedom ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Teaching Styles ◽  
Accreditation System ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Unrequited Love ◽  
Accounting Curriculum ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the relationship between UK universities and professional accounting bodies (PABs) in the context of the accreditation system and how well prepared this relationship was to observe and respond to the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The research draws on 10 semi-structured interviews and correspondence, with six English universities in the context of their relationship with three PABs to build an extended analytical structure to understand the nature and extent of the accreditation system in light of COVID-19. Findings The study shows that COVID-19 has highlighted pedagogical and ideological conflicts within the PAB–university relationship. The analysis shows that, in an attempt to resolve these conflicts, universities demonstrate “unrequited love” for PABs by limiting changes to assessments to meet the PABs’ criteria. Indeed, PABs face very little resistance from universities. This further constrains academics by suppressing innovation and limiting their scope to learn and adopt new skills, habits and teaching styles. Originality/value The paper highlights the weakness of the PAB–university relationship. Moreover, it shows that rather than using the pandemic crisis to question this relationship, PABs may seek to promote their accounting pedagogy and retain greater control of the accounting curriculum. This can entail the transformation of academics into translators of PABs’ accounting pedagogy rather than exercising academic freedom and promoting critical thinking.

Exploring the relationship between dispositions to think critically and sustainability concern in HESD

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerry Shephard ◽  
Qudsia Kalsoom ◽  
Ritika Gupta ◽  
Lorenz Probst ◽  
Paul Gannon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Higher education is uncertain which sustainability-related education targets should be sought and monitored. Accepting that something needs to be measurable to be systematically improved, the authors explored how measures relate to potential targets. This paper aims to focus on dispositions to think critically (active open-minded thinking and fair-minded thinking in appraising reasoning) as measures and explored how they related to sustainability concern as an indicative educational target. Design/methodology/approach This research included the development and testing of research instruments (scales) that explored dispositions to critical thinking and sustainability concern. Authors researched these instruments within their own correspondence groups and tested them with university students and staff in Pakistan, the USA, Austria, India and New Zealand. The authors also asked a range of contextualising questions. Findings Respondents’ disposition to aspects of active, open-minded thinking and fair-minded thinking do predict their concern about facets of sustainability but their strength of religious belief was an important factor in these relationships and in their measurement. Practical implications This research demonstrates the complexity of monitoring dispositions to think critically and sustainability concern in educational systems, particularly in circumstances where the roles of religious beliefs are of interest; and suggests ways to address this complexity. Originality/value This research integrates and expands discourses on ESD and on critical thinking in diverse disciplines and cultures. It investigates measurement approaches and targets that could help higher education institutions to educate for sustainable development and to monitor their progress, in ways that are compatible with their culture and values.

Making and measuring “good” HR practice in an SME: the case of a Yorkshire bakery

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Doherty ◽  
Ann Norton
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Original Model ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how “good” HR practice is characterised in SMEs and what the drivers are for adopting this good practice. The paper also explores methods for measuring the impact of HR practice which are helpful and realistic in the context of an SME. Design/methodology/approach – The research was carried out in one SME, a bakery based in South Yorkshire. It was an action research project which utilised semi-structured interviews, participant observation on the factory floor and analysis of company documentation in the diagnosis phase. In addition, reflections on action interventions have informed the findings, together with post-project, semi-structured interviews with key actors three years after the completion of the project. Findings – The drivers of good HR practice were found to be size, market position, external “coercive networks”, presenting issues, the ideology of the managing director and the energy of an HR champion. The findings demonstrate that the impact of “good” HR practice can be best evaluated in SMEs through one-shot, cost-based metrics or more strategic qualitative measures. Originality/value – The paper develops an original model to show the relationship between the drivers, the HR practices adopted and measurable outcomes. This makes an important contribution to the debate about HRM within SMEs and it has practical value for informing the development of good HR practice in SMEs.

Make it work! Creating an integrated workplace concept

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mari Ekstrand ◽  
Geir Karsten Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Questionnaire Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Continual Improvement ◽  
Secondary Material ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between organisational flexibility and individual adaptation in the implementation of integrated workplace concepts. The focus is on the interconnectedness between different concepts and organisational aspects, as well as on overcoming challenges to fully achieve the intended ends. Design/methodology/approach The discussion builds on a triangulated research design including: semi-structured interviews, observation studies and analysis of secondary material in the form of internal evaluation reports and quantitative questionnaire data. Findings To fully achieve the intended ends, organisational, cultural and managerial aspects need to be aligned with the interconnected workplace concept. To create alignment, the concept also needs to be supported by a process of continual improvement and organisational learning. Research limitations/implications The case study was conducted in one organisation. Additional empirical research is needed to provide more definite conclusions, guidelines and theories. Practical implications The findings highlight the importance of applying a socio-material perspective towards implementation and development of integrated workplace concepts. Emphasising change, learning and development rather than standardisation and equality, may, in the end, allow for better concept interconnectedness. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in the perspective of studying the implementation of integrated workplace concepts from a socio-material perspective, shedding light on employee and managerial adaptation to different interrelated aspects and measures.

Demands, identities and repertoire of protest: an analysis of the Mexican cannabis movement

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-116
Author(s):  
Edgar Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeIn this paper, the author analyzed the repertoire of protest that cannabis activists employ in marches and mass demonstrations. The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between key demands and identities surrounding cannabis movement and the repertoire of protest they normally use.Design/methodology/approachThe work was designed as a qualitative case study to build a deep understanding and detailed description of the cannabis movement’s dynamics and an analysis of its repertoire of protest. Data collection was carried out in two fieldwork periods in 2016 and 2017. This phase mainly consisted of ethnographic work and semi-structured interviews. An exploratory study was also carried out in May 2016. Information was mainly collected through interviews that delved into various issues regarding the movement’s internal composition and dynamics. As such, the author conducted 23 interviews with participants in marches and mass demonstrations, as well as with current non-governmental organization members. The compiled information was analyzed according to the “documentary method.”FindingsAlthough the Global Marijuana March brings together users, activists, civil society organizations and politicians, the Mexican cannabis movement has non-articulated demands, it lacks a strong common identity and limited resources for mobilization. These features find an echo in a poor repertoire of protest.Originality/valueThis is the first scholarly and systematic analysis of the Mexican cannabis movement in the academic literature. Further, there is a systematic analysis of the cannabis movement repertoire of protest and how cannabis activists are able to translate their demands and identities into banners, chants, performances, masks and costumes, performances, pamphleteering, and demonstrations.

scholarly journals Accessible authentication: dyslexia and password strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Renaud ◽  
Graham Johnson ◽  
Jacques Ophoff
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Authentication Mechanism ◽  
Volunteer Bias ◽  
Reported Data ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Depth View

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal the lived experiences of dyslexics in engaging with all kinds of alphanumeric authentication mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach A significant proportion of the world’s population experiences some degree of dyslexia, which can lead to spelling, processing, sequencing and retention difficulties. Passwords, being essentially sequences of alphanumeric characters, make it likely that dyslexics will struggle with these, even more so than the rest of the population. Here, this study explores the difficulties people with dyslexia face, their general experiences with passwords, the coping strategies they use and the advice they can provide to developers and others who struggle with passwords. This paper collects empirical data through semi-structured interviews with 13 participants. Thematic analysis was used to provide an in-depth view of each participant’s experience. Findings The main contribution of this paper is to provide evidence related to the inaccessibility dimensions of passwords as an authentication mechanism, especially for dyslexics and to recommend a solution direction. Research limitations/implications There is a possible volunteer bias, as this study is dealing with self-reported data including historical and reflective elements and this paper is seeking information only from those with self-declared or diagnosed dyslexia. Furthermore, many expressed interest or curiosity in the relationship between dyslexia and password difficulties, for some a motivation for their participation. Finally, given that the participants told us that dyslexics might hide, it is possible that the experiences of those who do hide are different from those who chose to speak to us and thus were not hiding. Originality/value A few authors have written about the difficulties dyslexics face when it comes to passwords, but no one has asked dyslexics to tell them about their experiences. This paper fills that gap.

Savouring place: cheese as a food tourism destination landmark

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc Fusté-Forné
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
European City ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Leisure ◽  
Food Tourism ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Cheeses convey the identity of a region. The origin of milk, the pastures, the land, the cheesemakers and the traditional recipes transmit the ways a cheese is produced and consumed. This background links to food tourism practices, particularly to cheese-oriented tourism. In this sense, people can buy cheese at a range of selling points, and markets are being one of the most appreciated social, leisure and experience spaces. From a tourist and marketing perspective, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between cheese consumption and place identity, drawing from a study into the cheeses sold in a medium-sized European city. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on 17 semi-structured interviews with cheese vendors in markets and specialist food shops, the provenances of cheeses sold in the city of Reus – south-eastern Catalonia, northeastern Spain – were studied. Findings Local, national and international cheeses were analysed. Results show the type of identity that derives from cheese offer and its opportunities for food tourism planning and development. Practical implications Outcomes of this paper may lead cheese producers to explore new arenas of cheesemaking and cheese distribution. Also, the results inform food tourism stakeholders of what consumers – both locals and tourists – gather when they buy cheese in a medium-sized European city. Originality/value This research offers an innovative approach to the study of the links between food and place. Based on the understanding of the origin of products, this paper leads to further comprehension of specialist food tourisms from the offer perspective, which may also drive to the development of a more robust destination gastronomic identity – in this case, through the particular provision of cheeses.

Critical thinking, information literacy and quality enhancement plans

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacalyn E. Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quality Enhancement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Enhancement Plan ◽  
Specific Standard ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the relationship between information literacy and critical thinking. Specifically, the connection between the elements of critical thinking as expressed in one university’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and the advancing learning transforming scholarship (ACRL) Information Literacy Competency Standards (ACRL IL Standards). Concrete examples of how librarians support information literacy and critical thinking were examined. Design/methodology/approach – Following a literature review, the ACRL IL Standards were mapped to the elements of a university’s QEP (critical thinking + core values = decision-making). A wiki was then created to illicit specific examples from librarians regarding how they incorporate the elements of critical thinking in their reference/instruction work. Findings – Considerable correspondence was found between the ACRL IL Standards and the elements of critical thinking in the QEP, but this varied with the specific standard and the specific QEP component. Wiki results revealed that librarians used many concrete activities that supported QEP critical-thinking elements. Research limitations/implications – In this study, mapping the ACRL IL Standards to QEP components was subjective, performed by only one individual. Future research, perhaps involving the forthcoming ACRL IL Standards, might be better carried out by a larger group, thereby enhancing objectivity. Originality/value – The literature review showed a lack of specificity in how critical thinking is defined and integrated into library reference/instruction work. The present study compared eight specific elements of critical thinking to the ACRL IL Standards and found 108 concrete examples of their application.

Shared meaning at the intersection of NPO reputation and trust: a personification perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Selin Türkel ◽  
Ebru Uzunoğlu ◽  
Sema Misci Kip
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Semantic Network ◽  
Semantic Network Analysis ◽  
Shared Meaning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Trust And Reputation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to unearth common perceptions of non-profit organization (NPO) trust and reputation, with a specific focus in their overlaps and intersections. Examining the two concepts in tandem allows a more comprehensive approach offering new insights.Design/methodology/approachThis study is devoted to the analysis of the interplay of NPO trust and reputation combining semantic network analysis with a personification approach. The data are collected via semi-structured interviews with 482 individuals.FindingsThe present results reveal both common (e.g. charitable, credible) and unique (e.g. illuminating, nice) personality traits. Findings also demonstrate that reputation is a broader concept than trust, with more characteristics. Moreover, it is possible to state that NPOs deemed reputable have a 50% chance of being trusted.Research limitations/implicationsClearly delineating the relationship between the concepts of NPO trust and reputation has certain conceptual significance and practical value. As traits are grouped in the existing taxonomy categories based on the analysis, it could contribute to improving understanding of these constructs, as well as a modification in the existing classification.Practical implicationsThis study aims to assist NPO managers by providing a list of ideal traits for NPO reputation and trust. It can serve as a guide for managers to assess their own perceptions, for comparison with those of competitors.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge, this study is the first attempt to provide an interrelated perspective to the study of NPO trust and reputation through semantic network and personification approach.

Emergency responders’ experiences of and expectations regarding decontamination

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Elisabeth Carter ◽  
John Drury ◽  
G. James Rubin ◽  
Richard Williams ◽  
Richard Amlôt
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Emergency Planning ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Emergency Responders ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – There is an assumption in emergency planning that the public will “panic” or refuse to comply in the event of mass decontamination. This assumption has serious implications for how the public will be managed. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The authors carried out semi-structured interviews with 13 emergency responders, six of whom had experience of incidents involving decontamination. The authors asked them, first, about their experiences of these events and, second, about their expectations for decontamination involving a large crowd. The aim was to explore the extent to which responders perceived non-compliance and anxiety as (crowd) problems during decontamination, and if so, how they felt that they could be addressed. Findings – Responders with experience of decontamination perceived non-compliance and excessive anxiety to be rare, and suggested that orderly behaviour was more common. However, the majority of emergency responders with no experience of decontamination said they expected panic and non-compliance. They therefore emphasised the importance of “controlling”, rather than communicating with, the public. Research limitations/implications – The authors argue that “control”-based emergency management strategies can impact negatively on the relationship between the public and responders, and hence hinder effective management of an incident. It would therefore be beneficial to provide training for emergency responders on likely public behaviour during incidents involving decontamination. Originality/value – This research extends previous research by facilitating a detailed understanding of emergency responders’ experiences and perceptions of managing incidents involving decontamination, and showing how these experiences and perceptions can affect the way in which such incidents are managed.

Conceptualization and challenges: examining district and school leadership and schools as learning organizations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Welsh ◽  
Sheneka Williams ◽  
Karen Bryant ◽  
Jami Berry
Keyword(s):  
School Improvement ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Learning Organization ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Learning Organizations ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Conceptualizing schools as learning organizations provides a potential avenue to meet the pressing challenges of school improvement in the USA. District and school leaders play an important role in creating and sustaining the conditions for a learning organization, yet little is known about how leadership responds to learning-resistant contexts in their mission to improve schools. This study aims to examine the relationship between the district and school leadership and schools as learning organizations. The focus is on the conceptualization of schools as learning organizations and the challenges involved in creating and sustaining conditions and processes in which to improve schools. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses semi-structured interviews with district and school leaders in the state of Georgia and data from completed dimensions of a learning organization questionnaire (DLOQ) study to analyze how district and school leaders conceptualize or make sense of schools as learning organizations and overcome challenges associated with creating and sustaining a learning organization in learning resistant contexts. Findings The analyzes find that participants perceive their school or district as a learning organization when the structure allows others to work together to learn and grow for the benefit of students. Originality/value This study is unique in that it adds to a growing number of studies that examine schools as learning organizations using the DLOQ and sheds light on the nature of learning resistant contexts.

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