scholarly journals Supporting student innovation through an engagement, employability and employment ecosystem

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Walsh ◽  
Philip Powell
Keyword(s):  
Education Institution ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Extra Curricular Activities ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
Uk Higher Education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how students, full-time and part-time, may be supported in becoming ambidextrous – developing “intrapreneurial” skills and capabilities, as well as being introduced to more typical “entrepreneurial” activities. It is proposed that both perspectives will be necessary for future graduates. Design/methodology/approach The paper highlights the fast-changing nature of the economic and employment context and the future requirements for graduate skills. It analyses and evaluates a framework of curricular and extra-curricular activities which has been developed to address future skills needs. The paper uses a case study to illustrate the issue. Findings The paper concludes that with increasingly flexible career paths, there is a need for graduates to be prepared for portfolio careers in which they move between employment and self-employment. The development of an independent mindset which can identify and exploit innovation is therefore important. Practical implications The paper outlines an approach that has been implemented in a UK higher education institution to the development of innovation skills which is responsive to a wider range of students than the conventional cohort of young, full-time students. Originality/value The paper highlights the importance of designing educational experiences which directly address students’ situations and experiences. It also identifies the role of work-based research in the development of an innovative mindset.

scholarly journals Exploring producers' motivations and challenges within a farmers' market

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (7) ◽  
pp. 2089-2103
Author(s):  
Rosario Michel-Villarreal ◽  
Eliseo Luis Vilalta-Perdomo ◽  
Martin Hingley
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Supply Chains ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Short Food Supply Chains

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore food producers' motivations and challenges whilst participating in short food supply chains (SFSCs). This paper compares findings with previous literature and investigates the topic in the context of producers' motivations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper includes a literature review concerning producers' motivations to engage in SFSCs. A case study was designed to investigate motivations underlying producers' engagement in SFSCs, as well as the challenges that they face. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a farmers' market located in Mexico. Thematic analysis is used to identify the principal issues for producers'. Propositions based on findings are presented.FindingsFindings suggest that small, large, part-time and full-time producers are willing to engage with farmers' markets for diverse primary economic and non-economic motivations. Individual and collective challenges were also identified.Originality/valueThis research helps to explain producers' motivations and challenges within SFSCs in an under-researched context, namely a focus on producers' and in the Global South.

Flexibility trap – the effects of flexible working on the position of female professionals and managers within a corporate environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Formánková ◽  
Alena Křížková
Keyword(s):  
Full Time ◽  
Flexible Work ◽  
Corporate Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flexible Working ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Managerial Positions ◽  
Female Professionals

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyse the experience of female part-time professionals with employee and managerial positions with the utilisation of flexible work arrangements in a corporate environment in the country with a full-time dominated work culture. The data represent a rare case study of the work environment in a Czech branch of one multinational company. This paper focusses on the position of female employees working part-time in professional and managerial positions. The reason for such an arrangement is their attempt to combine career and care for pre-school children. This paper evaluates the effects of flexible work policies in an environment where part-time work for female professionals is rarely available and, therefore, precious. In particular, this paper discusses conditions under which these arrangements are available and its impact on gender equality. Design/methodology/approach – The paper represents a rare case-study of an organisational environment. The seven analysed interviews derive from a larger study on the corporate environment which included 35 interviews and a series of participatory observations. In the analysis, the following questions are discussed: What is the position of employees working within flexible working arrangements in a specific corporate culture? Which aspects of flexible working arrangements affect the professional recognition and evaluation of the employees? To what extent and how do flexible working arrangements affect employee satisfaction with their working and private lives? Findings – The data reveal the diverse and often subtle forms of discrimination and exploitation of working mothers, who use the flexible working arrangement as a work-family reconciliation strategy. Female employees working with alternative working arrangements do not have equal bargaining power in comparison to other employees, regardless of whether they are professionals, and sometimes in managerial positions. At the formal level, the part-time professionals are restricted in pay and in access to the company benefits. In the informal relations within the workplace, their work lacks of sufficient recognition of colleagues and superiors. Overall, part-time work for female professionals and managers leads to an entrapment between the needs of their family and the expectations of their employer. Practical implications – The research reveals the practical limitation in introducing policies the work-life reconciliation policies. The results show the need to focus on promoting better conditions for employees working part-time. Also, it shows that managerial and highly demanding professional positions can be executed on a part-time basis if the work environment is open towards accepting this arrangement. Moreover, the findings outline the possibilities of developing workplace practices in the Czech Republic in a woman-friendly direction. Social implications – Specific legislative arrangements should be enacted, providing better protection for employees in non-standard employment. At the same time, the incentives for employers to enable part-time working arrangements should be provided. Originality/value – The amount of research on female professionals working part-time or from home is rather limited in context of the post-communist countries. The paper discusses the “double” tokenism of the women working in the leadership positions and at the same time in flexible working arrangements in the full-time working culture.

Architecture in the UK: a study in professional entry-routes and entry-gates

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stan Lester
Keyword(s):  
Professional Education ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Evolving Context ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThis paper examines architecture as an example of the evolving context of qualifying routes in UK professions.Design/methodology/approachThe background and current state of architectural education, qualifying routes and regulatory frameworks in the UK is presented as a case-study, and compared with practices in professional education and qualifying more generally including the use of Degree Apprenticeships.FindingsArchitecture has since the 1960s maintained an entry-route that is premised on periods of full-time academic study plus full-time practice. While a minority part-time version of this route has always existed (and is now being expanded through Degree Apprenticeships), variations seen in other professions such as experienced practitioner entry and accelerated routes from cognate fields have so far been lacking. Pressures for reform are emerging both from external changes affecting the profession and from the high cost of qualifying in relation to median incomes in the sector.Practical implicationsThere is a need for more flexible and less expensive routes to qualifying as an architect, with substantial scope to use practices from other professions and areas of higher education to recognise existing levels of competence and improve crossover with other design and construction fields.Originality/valueThis is the first review of architectural qualifying requirements that has been made in the context of professional entry more generally.

Black entrepreneurship: a case study on entrepreneurial activities and ambitions in a South African township

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Preisendoerfer ◽  
Ansgar Bitz ◽  
Frans J. Bezuidenhout
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Black Population ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structural Problems ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Black Entrepreneurship ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to investigate the current self-employment rate as well as entrepreneurial intentions of the township’s population on the basis of an empirical case study of a single township. It is often assumed that the black population of South Africa (mostly living in townships) has a low participation rate in entrepreneurial activities and a low level of entrepreneurial ambitions. Besides the level of entrepreneurship, personal and socio-economic factors affecting participation in entrepreneurship are explored. Design/methodology/approach – The article uses a face-to-face survey of about 350 adult residents of the township under investigation. Findings – Contrary to the common assumption, entrepreneurial activity, which also includes all kinds of informal business ventures, cannot be qualified as low in the township under investigation. The same holds true for entrepreneurial ambitions, that is, people’s intentions to start their own business in the near future. The factors influencing the probability of self-employment are similar to what we know from many other studies in the field of entrepreneurship. Socio-demographic attributes (gender, age), human capital factors (schooling, health) and social network resources (membership of organizations, self-employed friends) are significant predictors of entrepreneurial activity. It proves to be difficult, however, to explain who, in fact, articulates entrepreneurial ambitions. Practical implications – The findings show that the basic prerequisites for expanding black entrepreneurship in South Africa are in place. Politically, it seems appropriate to initiate more public support programs for black entrepreneurship, as such programs can help to translate entrepreneurial ambitions into action. However, to stay realistic, the contribution of entrepreneurship to overcome the structural problems of deprivation and poverty of the black population of South Africa should not be overestimated. Originality/value – The article is based on a careful survey in a township using a random sample. Given the rare access to a disadvantaged township community, the result that there is no evidence of “lack of entrepreneurial impetus” deserves scientific and political attention.

Satisfactions comparisons: women with families, full-time and part-time self-employed

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Ebbers ◽  
Alan Piper
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Participation Of Women ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Employed Women ◽  
Part Time ◽  
New Perspective

Purpose In spite of numerous political initiatives, the proportion of self-employed women in Germany has stagnated. This paper aims to offer a new perspective on this problem. The investigation and data gathered about job and life satisfaction of women with families can provide information on the reasons for starting a business, and the low participation of women in entrepreneurial activity. Design/methodology/approach After a literature review, representative German panel data is analysed to investigate the job and life satisfaction of full- and part-time self-employed women with a family. Findings Self-employed women with families who work full-time are more satisfied with their jobs than those who work part-time. There is no statistically significant difference between these two groups with respect to their life satisfaction. Research limitations/implications An implication of the results suggests new ideas and a new focus by policy makers and politicians when trying to increase the quantity of women with families engaging in self-employment. A limitation is that a lack of “within” variation in the data means that the panel nature of the survey cannot be usefully incorporated into the investigation. Originality/value Until now, there is limited research about the work and life satisfaction of women with a family comparing full- and part-time self-employment. This analysis is potentially valuable because the number of part-time self-employed women is substantially higher than the number of full-time self-employed women. We find evidence that such women may instead prefer full-time self-employment.

scholarly journals Best of Both Worlds? Persistent Hybrid Entrepreneurship

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (04) ◽  
pp. 339-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anmari Viljamaa ◽  
Elina Varamäki ◽  
Sanna Joensuu-Salo
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Small Minority ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
Near Future

Hybrid entrepreneurs (HEs) represent a considerable share of all entrepreneurial activity. Yet little is known about the phenomenon. In this study we examine the differences between transitory HEs, who expect to make the transition to full-time entrepreneurship, and persistent HEs, who view their part-time status as permanent. With data collected from 848 academic HEs we find that only a small minority considers full self-employment likely in the near future and that self-fulfillment is the most significant motive for entrepreneurial activities. The results suggest that persistent hybrid entrepreneurship should be viewed as a form of entrepreneurship in its own right, and that even partial entrepreneurship has the potential to lengthen careers and improve wellbeing at work. Hybrid entrepreneurship offers the entrepreneurially inclined employees the best of both worlds.

scholarly journals Organisation and supply chain for quality control in luxury companies

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Brun ◽  
Antonella Moretto
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Elements ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Quality Issues ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
The One

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the organisation of the quality department and the management of the supply chain (SC) used by luxury companies to achieve quality requirements. Design/methodology/approach – The paper follows an exploratory approach using a case-based methodology. Data are collected through eight case studies with French luxury companies. Findings – The paper offers insights into the management of quality for luxury companies. The paper illustrates the main determinants of the adoption of the specific quality organisations; moreover, the paper identifies the main approaches adopted by luxury companies at the SC level to control the quality along the whole chain. For example, the paper raised that all accessible and aspirational luxury companies present a full-time quality department whereas a part-time approach is identified for high-luxury companies. In high-luxury companies, quality issues are perceived as critical elements to be monitored not just by one specific department but by each and every company employees; on the contrary, in the other companies the approach towards quality is more similar to the one of mass-market companies. Research limitations/implications – The research provides initial insights into the important role of quality in luxury companies. To date, the analysis is predominantly qualitative and not sufficiently statistically significant to generalise the results. Practical implications – This paper raises a number of important issues for luxury companies who are not advance yet in structurally managed quality issues into their companies but especially their SCs. Originality/value – This paper is one of the first attempts to study quality management specifically applied to luxury companies, with a main focus on the organisation of the quality department as well as the SC.

E-portfolios and personal development: a higher educational perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary McKenna ◽  
Gavin Baxter ◽  
Thomas Hainey
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Educational Perspective ◽  
Uk Higher Education ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes of staff and students towards adopting the use of e-portfolios for the purposes of supporting the concept of personal development planning (PDP). The study compares and contrasts the views and opinions of staff and students at one UK Higher Education Institution (HEI) about whether e-portfolios can support PDP. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a case study approach, this study presents empirical data gathered from two surveys involving 460 students and 182 lecturers from one UK HEI, collected from four different campuses across the West of Scotland. Findings The results of the surveys showed that the framework the authors used in the research to collect information about students and staffs attitudes was effective and that further research is merited for a more extensive investigation into PDP e-portfolio usage within HEI. Research limitations/implications The research was conducted at only one UK HEI so at this stage of the research, it is difficult to assess how generalisable the findings are. Practical implications This study provides useful empirical evidence to educators who may be considering employing e-portfolios within an educational context. For example, the views of students and staff identified in this paper can aid towards informing educators about some of the issues that might impact on using e-portfolios for supporting PDP in higher education. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work that presents survey data on both students’ and lecturers’ attitudes towards e-portfolio use to support and facilitate PDP.

Does deliberate learning lead to dynamic capability? The role of organizational schema for Kodak, 1993-2011

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Wang ◽  
Eric Ping Hung Li ◽  
Xiaoya (Sara) Ding
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Environmental Turbulence ◽  
Dynamic Capability ◽  
Organizational Studies ◽  
Managerial Cognition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Deliberate Learning ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Purpose The process of building dynamic capabilities remains understudied, although deliberate learning is posited to be the key to developing and maintaining dynamic capabilities in turbulent environments. Based on the case study of Kodak’s responses to the shift from traditional to digital technology in the imaging industry (1993-2011), the purpose of this paper is to examine the role of managerial cognition in building dynamic capabilities. Design/methodology/approach The paper employs case study and qualitative method approach. Findings The results reveal that, when facing environmental turbulence, deliberate learning is subject to routine disruptions through entrepreneurial activities, and these organizational routines and activities are determined by organizational schema. Organizational schema itself is updated as a result of managers’ ongoing interpretation of the organization’s fit with the environment. The study findings contribute to the organizational studies and management literature by highlighting the role of managerial cognition into the microfoundation of dynamic capabilities. Originality/value The results demonstrate managerial cognition, and organizational schema in particular, as a microfoundation of dynamic capability.

scholarly journals “Otherwise it would be nothing but cruises”: exploring the subjective benefits of working beyond 65

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Reynolds ◽  
Alexandra Farrow ◽  
Alison Blank
Keyword(s):  
Personal Development ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Personal Control ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Private Pensions ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
Part Time

The age at which statutory and private pensions are being paid is increasing in many countries and hence more people will need to work into their late 60s and beyond. At present, relatively little is known about the meanings of work for people who actively choose to work into their later life. This qualitative study examined the subjective benefits of continuing in a paid job or self-employment beyond the age of 65 in the United Kingdom. Thirty-one participants were interviewed, aged 65-91 years (median age 71), with 11 females and 20 males. Fourteen were working full-time and seventeen part-time. Interview transcripts were subject to thematic analysis. Although financial reward was acknowledged (more so by the female participants and the males who had young second families), there was more elaboration of the role of work in maintaining health and enabling continuing personal development. Work was framed as increasing personal control over later life, lifestyle choices and active participation in wider society, an antithesis to ’’cruising’’.

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