The disillusion of calculative practices in academia

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Argento ◽  
Dorota Dobija ◽  
Giuseppe Grossi
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Education Management ◽  
Audit Culture ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Complex Settings ◽  
Calculative Practices

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight and compare insights from research conducted in different disciplines on the effects of the use of calculative practices in academia. It also acts as an introduction to the special issue on “governing by numbers: audit culture and contemporary tales of universities’ accountability”. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews the findings and reflections provided in academic literature on the various types of consequences stemming from the diffusion of the “audit culture” in academia. In so doing, it draws upon insights from previous literature in education, management and accounting, and other papers included in this special issue of Qualitative Research in Accounting and Management. Findings The literature review shows that a growing number of studies are focussing on the hybridization of universities, not only in terms of calculative practices (e.g. performance indicators) but also in relation to individual actors (e.g. academics and managers) who may have divergent values, and thus, act according to multiple logics (business and academic logics). It highlights many areas in which further robust academic research is needed to guide policy and practice developments in universities. Research limitations/implications This paper provides academics, regulators and decision-makers with relevant insights into the critical issues of using calculative practices in academia. Despite the negative effects have been observed in various disciplines, there is an evident perpetuation in the use of those practices. Originality/value This paper contributes to the ongoing debates on the disillusion of calculative practices in academia. Yet, positive changes can be achieved within the complex settings of “hybrid” universities when the apparent class division between academics and managers is bridged.

Auto-, duo- and collaborative-ethnographies: “caring” in an audit culture climate

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Rinehart ◽  
Kerry Earl
Keyword(s):  
Research Method ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Research Culture ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Education Practice ◽  
Audit Culture ◽  
Qualitative Work

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to make a case for the strength of qualitative work, but more specifically for various kinds of ethnographies. Design/methodology/approach – The authors argue that global neoliberal and audit culture policies have crept into academic research, tertiary education practice, and research culture. Findings – The authors then discuss major tenets of and make the case for the use of auto-, duo-, and collaborative-ethnographies as caring practices and research method(ologies) that may in fact push back against such hegemonic neoliberal practices in the academy. Finally, the authors link these caring types of ethnographies to the papers within this special issue. Originality/value – This is an original look at the concepts of auto-, duo-, and collaborative-ethnographies with relation to caring practices.

The 3P model for creating sustainable educational reform: an epilogue to the special issue

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 571-584
Author(s):  
Thomas Peter Gumpel ◽  
Judah Koller ◽  
Naomi Weintraub ◽  
Shirli Werner ◽  
Vered Wiesenthal
Keyword(s):  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Educational Administration ◽  
Medical Model ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Global Movement ◽  
Inclusive Policy ◽  
3P Model

PurposeThis article presents a conceptual synthesis of the international literature on inclusive education while expanding upon, and incorporating, the articles in this special issue. The authors present their 3P model (philosophy, policy and praxis) and relate each paper in this special issue to different aspects of their model.Design/methodology/approachThis article serves as an epilogue to this special issue of the Journal of Educational Administration as well as a discussion of historical and conceptual distinctions between mainstreaming and inclusion while examining global trends in understanding the move toward inclusive education.FindingsThe authors examined the detrimental effects of ableism and a medical model of disability and their effects on the educational system. They conducted an analysis based on examining the philosophy, policy and practice of the inclusive movement, specifically by examining conceptual models and inclusive decisions, conceptual frameworks for describing inclusive policy and a focus of the application to educational administration. The authors examined the global movement from segregation/exclusion to integration and then to inclusionary praxis.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors maintain that the inclusion literature lacks a sound positivistic empirical base, and so they present throughout the article possible avenues for such research as well as future directions for comparative research.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the philosophical underpinnings of the inclusive movement is central to developing viable inclusive educational settings. The authors distinguish between inclusive schools and local educational authorities where stakeholders have moved toward an inclusionary system (the minority) versus locales who are reluctant to move systems to actual change.Originality/valueThis article takes a wider view of inclusionary practices, from one focusing on children with disabilities to one focusing on historical and traditional exclusionary practices. By widening the scope of the inclusion discussion, to one of exclusion, the authors present a viably wider lens to educational administration.

New forms of innovation: critical issues for future pathways

foresight ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl-Heinz Leitner ◽  
Philine Warnke ◽  
Wolfram Rhomberg
Keyword(s):  
Information Technologies ◽  
Innovation Policy ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Innovation Capacity ◽  
Recent Debate ◽  
Negative Impacts

Purpose Although new forms of innovation such as open innovation, user innovation or crowdsourcing have been intensively discussed in the past decade, there is little systematic exploration of their wider positive and negative effects on economy, society and environment. Based on the recent debate in the literature and findings from a European foresight project, this paper aims to discuss the critical aspects of new forms of innovation such as increased participation, the use of information technologies and the increased pace of innovation and their challenges for innovation policy. Design/methodology/approach Based on a collection of international practice examples from industry and society, innovation visions have been generated and assessed by different experts across whole Europe. Findings A generic trend identified can be best described as open, distributed and networked innovation process. Although many new innovation models accelerate the innovation process, there are also some counter trends which in some fields may slow down the innovation process. In addition, the increased use of web-based tools, algorithms and information technologies raises new questions concerning the protection of intellectual property and data security. This reveals new questions for policymaking, which have not gained much attention on the European level so far. Originality/value Although there is an established discourse around potentially negative impacts of the outcomes of the innovation processes notably in the field of technology assessment, innovation capacity is usually seen as a desirable characteristic of innovation systems. In this paper, the possible negative aspects of new innovation models, an issue hardly addressed in the innovation literature so far, are discussed.

What do we know about social media and firms’ financial outcomes so far?

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Kizildag ◽  
Mehmet Altin ◽  
Ozgur Ozdemir ◽  
Ilhan Demirer
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Outcomes ◽  
Operating Income ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality

Purpose This paper aims to understand the emergence, the revolution and the relevant knowledge of academic research concentrating on social media (SM) and hospitality and tourism firms’ financial performance. The authors not only identified the gaps and critical issues in research but also re-conceptualized profound directions for the future research in technology and finance in the hospitality and tourism field. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted an in-depth review analysis to investigate and review previous scholarly papers published in hospitality, tourism and hospitality and tourism journals from January 2011 to the present. The authors thoroughly analyzed and reviewed peer-reviewed/refereed, blind-reviewed, full-length published articles and working papers within SM and hospitality firms’ financial performance. Editor notes, prefaces, research notes, industry articles, internet publications, conference preceding, books and book chapters were excluded. Findings Having examined the empirical content of 26 peer-reviewed scholarly articles, the authors clearly observed that none of the papers went beyond analyzing the effect of SM on hotels’ revenue per available room, revenues, net profit, average daily rate, occupancy rates, net operating income, etc., and all papers ignored the analysis of many critical financial proxies. Research limitations/implications This critique and review paper is limited to the relationship between SM and firms’ financial performance within the hospitality and tourism context. Practical implications This review provides a blueprint to guide future research, facilitate knowledge accumulation and create a new understanding and awareness in practice as well as SM and financial performance research. Social implications This paper complements and adds to previous work by demonstrating various aspects, evidences, findings and inferences regarding the association between online SM platforms and firms’ financial performance and by proposing rigorous abstract and specific future extensions to both practice and discipline-specific knowledge. Originality/value There is an absence of the most updated review study of published papers on SM and hospitality and tourism firms’ financial performance. Although how SM contributes to firms’ financial performance is clear to academicians and industry professionals, no solid consensus or theoretical certainty about what the authors know and do not know has been achieved.

The sport industry in growing economies: critical issues and challenges

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. Zhang ◽  
Euisoo Kim ◽  
Brandon Mastromartino ◽  
Tyreal Yizhou Qian ◽  
John Nauright
Keyword(s):  
Research Method ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Sport Industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to encourage scholarly inquiries to critically examine broad perspectives of marketing and business operations in the sport industry of growing economies. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive review of literature was the primary research method to introduce the following critical questions, “what are the major challenges in the sport industry of developing economies in a globalized market environment and what to do?”. Findings Seven articles are selected based on their theoretical and practical contributions. Originality/value This special issue is committed to trigger more investigations into sport businesses in developing countries and ultimately advancing theories and seeking solutions.

scholarly journals Evaluating the effectiveness of corporate boards

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 372-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald Nordberg ◽  
Rebecca Booth
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Corporate Boards ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Evaluators ◽  
Policy Direction ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine how board evaluations have emerged as an important tool in public policy and corporate practice for enhancing board effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach The authors review the extensive literature on effectiveness and the emerging literature on board evaluation to identify ways to assess the current policy direction for external evaluation of corporate boards. Findings The paper develops an integrated framework of effectiveness that can be used as a tool for board evaluation, in particular for externally facilitated exercises. Research limitations/implications Through its integration of prior conceptual work this paper advances our theoretical understanding of this emerging part of policy and practice, with to-date lack much empirical basis. Practical implications The framework that is developed shows ways to focus how the practice is conducted by boards and external evaluators alike. Social implications It can also help policy formation by pointing out the limitations as well as benefits of various policy options. Originality/value In pointing to ways to develop study of the field through empirical research, it provides direction for future academic research. It also identifies a need for and direction toward the professionalization of practice.

Sport business in China: current state and prospect

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongfeng Liu ◽  
James J. Zhang ◽  
Michel Desbordes
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Sports Marketing ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Journal Issue ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Sport Industry ◽  
Business In China

Purpose Growth of China’s sport industry has brought tremendous opportunities to sport and non-sport organizations domestically and globally; nonetheless, the enlargement has also raised many challenges. To a great extent, China has chartered into unprecedented new sport business territories. Because of social, cultural, historical, and governmental differences, many theories and knowledge, professional experiences, best practices, and lessons learned in Western countries may or may not be directly applicable to the diverse setting(s) in China. Until now, only limited empirical evidence is available to address these challenges. Thus, formulating a special issue in the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship to examine contemporary subject matters and concerns would be significantly meaningful to help understand, stimulate, and improve sport business operations in China, provide guidance to transnational organizations for doing sport-related business in China, offer constructive suggestions for Chinese corporations going global, and ultimately build up theories and best practices to address unique perspectives of China’s sport industry. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper is conceptual and presents a review of literature. Findings In addition to this leading paper, there are a total of eight manuscripts selected for this special issue inquiring on contemporary matters and development of China’s sport industry, including four short articles that were formulated based on qualitative research information derived from case studies and interviews and four full-length articles that adopted a quantitative research protocol or a mixed research design involving both qualitative and quantitative information. Research limitations/implications While it is impossible to capture all contemporary topics in the development of China’s sport industry within one journal issue, articles selected in this special issue of the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship have provided useful highlights into some of the critical issues faced by the industry and research directions by academicians. It is sincerely expected that studies in this special issue would help inspire more scholarly inquires and ultimately improve the continued formulation and advancement of a strong sport industry in China. Practical implications While it is impossible to capture all contemporary topics in the development of China’s sport industry within one journal issue, articles selected in this special issue of the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship have provided useful highlights into some of the critical issues faced by the industry and research directions by academicians. It is sincerely expected that studies in this special issue would help inspire more scholarly inquires and ultimately improve the continued formulation and advancement of a strong sport industry in China. Social implications While it is impossible to capture all contemporary topics in the development of China’s sport industry within one journal issue, articles selected in this special issue of the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship have provided useful highlights into some of the critical issues faced by the industry and research directions by academicians. It is sincerely expected that studies in this special issue would help inspire more scholarly inquires and ultimately improve the continued formulation and advancement of a strong sport industry in China. Originality/value While it is impossible to capture all contemporary topics in the development of China’s sport industry within one journal issue, articles selected in this special issue of the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship have provided useful highlights into some of the critical issues faced by the industry and research directions by academicians. It is sincerely expected that studies in this special issue would help inspire more scholarly inquires and ultimately improve the continued formulation and advancement of a strong sport industry in China.

Intellectual disability in South Africa: the possibilities and limits of democratic rights

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 204-212
Author(s):  
Judith Anne McKenzie ◽  
Toni Abrahams ◽  
Colleen Adnams ◽  
Sharon Kleintjes
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Progressive Policy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the history, current status and possible future directions for intellectual disability (ID) policy and practice in South Africa (SA). Design/methodology/approach The paper was developed by academics and practitioners in the field of ID in SA. A review of the literature, accompanied by a joint writing and discussion process was carried out to identify critical issues in the development of ID services, specifically facing the challenge of moving from racially based provision towards equitable services for all citizens with ID. Findings Progressive policy has replaced practices of scientific racism which were previously used to support the establishment of white supremacism. This positive move is still in process and has not resulted in the immediate establishment of human rights. A vibrant civil society is engaging with this task currently. Research limitations/implications The findings point to the need for a human rights approach that takes into account the postcolonial context of SA. Practical implications There is a need for continued advocacy that is inclusive of people with ID and their families. Social implications Continuing engagement between government and civil society is recommended to ensure the achievement of human rights for citizens with ID. Originality/value This paper is of value to ID researchers and practitioners from the global South as it describes a non-western context that might have resonance with other low and middle income countries.

scholarly journals The power of place in public leadership research and development

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 209-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Collaborative Governance ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Leadership ◽  
Leadership Research

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to foreground place as a critical and central concern for public leadership research, development and practice. Design/methodology/approach This invited essay draws on the author’s own research and development work engaging in collaborative place-based interventions with academics, policy makers and practitioners. Findings Place is one of six heuristic lenses in a Leadership Hexad that has been developed to interrogate and better understand leadership in a multi-dimensional manner. Place can provide an important theoretical and practical fulcrum for bridging both collaborative governance and collective leadership and public and political leadership as well as facilitating cross-sectoral leadership. Practical implications This essay argues that more time and effort should be invested into researching and developing place leadership to complement the already extensive efforts to promote collaborative governance and place-based policy initiatives. Place leadership development should be genuinely cross-sectoral in its ambition and should focus on developing emerging and established leaders from the public, private, not-for-profit and indigenous sectors to tackle place-based problems and opportunities. Originality/value This essay draws on experience undertaking academic research and conducting leadership development that draws from and feeds into policy and practice. It utilises research from geography, leadership studies, public management, public policy and political science to gain a more sophisticated understanding of the relationship between place and public leadership and how this can be harnessed to improve economic and social impact.

Latest research on brand relationships: introduction to the special issue

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Fetscherin ◽  
Francisco Guzman ◽  
Cleopatra Veloutsou ◽  
Ricardo Roseira Cayolla
Keyword(s):  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Brand Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Relationship ◽  
Current State ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
As Relationship

PurposeThis paper aims to outline the role of brands as relationship builders and to offer a better understanding of the recent developments and key literature in the area of consumer–brand relationships.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is an editorial based mainly on a literature review on consumer–brand relationships. It uses the sentiment range and passion intensity to position various brand relationship constructs. This work follows the same bibliometric-analysis approach used by Fetscherin and Heinrich (2014) and looked for publications in the Web of Science on brand relationships, with reference to Fournier’s (1998) seminal work and data collected for the period between January 2010 and November 2018.FindingsFirst, this work presents the key consumer–brand relationship terms and positions the work on brand love, brand like, brand hate, brand dislike and brand indifference. In addition, the bibliometric analysis offers a number of insights into the current state of the academic research in the area of consumer–brand relationships, including a clear indication that the research on consumer–brand relationships is increasing.Originality/valueThis work and the whole special issue together help in the understanding of brands as relationship builders, clearly explaining the continuum from strong positive or negative relationships with brands to no relationship with brands and the current state of research in the area.

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