scholarly journals Owner Situationally Specific Motivation, And Organisational Citizenship Behaviour: A Study of New Zealand Entrepreneurs

Author(s):  
Saifon Chairungruang

<p>Despite the extensive developments in entrepreneurship theory over recent decades, there is a lack of empirical studies examining the influence of owner situationally specific motivation on firm performance focusing on small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in New Zealand. The present study attempts to bridge this gap. At the same time, it responds to calls to extend performance measures to include non-financial outcomes by using organisational citizenship behaviours – OCB – as a performance measure. This is based on the observation that OCBs are consistently presented in the literature as a cornerstone of good performance and competitive advantage. The study uses mixed methods, combining surveys and semi-structured interviews. Multiple regression is used to analyse data on entrepreneurial situationally specific motivation (i.e. communicated vision, self-efficacy, and goals) provided by a sample of 107 firms. In addition, 107 pairs, each comprising an owner-manager plus a random employee from the same firm, also supplied data on organisational citizenship behaviours. Finally, nine qualitative interviews were conducted with owners to further enhance understanding. The study highlights the statistical significance of the positive relationship of entrepreneurial situationally specific motivation and OCB. This finding suggests that owners who have confidence in their abilities [self-efficacy] and who have communicated their vision [communicated vision] are more likely to encourage in their employees the behaviours that are required in order to function well in their organisations. The implications of this finding for potential future research are discussed.</p>

2021 ◽  
pp. 104420732110275
Author(s):  
Alex Nester Jiya ◽  
Maxwell Peprah Opoku ◽  
William Nketsia ◽  
Joslin Alexei Dogbe ◽  
Josephine Nkrumah Adusei

Deplorable living conditions among persons with disabilities and the need to improve their living conditions cannot be overemphasized. This has triggered international discussion on the need for deliberate social policies to bridge the poverty gap between persons with and without disabilities. In Malawi, expansion of financial services has been identified as an essential tool to accelerate economic and inclusive development. However, empirical studies are yet to explore the preparedness of financial institutions to extend their services to persons with disabilities. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from commercial banks in Malawi to understand their perspectives on extending financial services to persons with disabilities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a descriptive thematic analysis was performed. Although participants reiterated the need to provide persons with disabilities with financial services to improve their well-being, few initiatives have been undertaken to improve their participation. Particularly, participants stated that barriers, such as a lack of financial literacy and adaptive technologies, communication barriers, and high rates of unemployment, explained the reluctance of commercial banks to extend financial services to persons with disabilities. The limitations, recommendations for future research, and implications of the study for policymaking have been highlighted.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Nelson Chan

<p>The following study explores and investigates the current methods New Zealand (NZ) Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) firms use to enable effective BIM coordination in their projects. The purpose was to gain and contribute knowledge of the various methods for successful BIM delivery, as well, as to bridge the gap between academia and industry for a greater understanding of BIM use in an NZ context.  A qualitative research approach was carried out and comprised of semi-structured interviews in which eight industry participants across the design-to-construction supply chain were selected and interviewed. From the results, the different methods identified were: BIM-to-fabrication; change of procurement methods; and incorporating BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) plugin platforms. These methods identified contribute to knowledge for future researchers to undertake; predominantly to provide direction and recommendations to explore each method in an NZ industry context further.  Further discussions of the results identify that although the different methods can contribute to better BIM coordination, the success of a BIM model to be delivered effectively is dependent on two significant factors. The factors are; firstly, to capture the BIM requirements and needs of the client to establish well-defined deliverables in the BEP; and secondly, to ensure that the project team are to understand their role and responsibilities right throughout the project. This was a crucial finding in this thesis as although the methods are effective in enabling greater BIM coordination; ultimately it comes down to BIM understanding and expertise from key project stakeholders; which brings the notion of the issue back to the root of the problem. Other key findings from this thesis indicate a positive future for BIM within the NZ AEC industry, with many of the participant firms recognised to be proactive and open to incorporating BIM into their projects. Though the signs are encouraging, discussions with industry participants still express their concerns on needing to align the understanding of BIM between key project stakeholders. Therefore, an education piece which focuses on the client and their understanding of BIM in an NZ context is suggested for future research. This thesis also presents academia with valuable industry BIM workflow diagrams which the author has either illustrated or been provided by participants.</p>


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-193
Author(s):  
Aya Shibata ◽  
Dianne Forbes

This article reports on the key findings of a recent study undertaken by Aya Shibata, exploring teachers' and counsellors' perceptions of gifted children and of gifted education policy in New Zealand and Japan. The study took the form of qualitative, comparative case studies, and involved semi-structured interviews with teachers and school counsellors in New Zealand and Japan. Key findings highlight a lack of official support for gifted education in Japan, while acknowledging the place of out-of-school, private programmes as a form of gifted education. The study offers insight into Japanese cultural concepts relevant to gifted and talented education, and suggests directions for future research.


Author(s):  
Coady Babin ◽  
Terry Humphreys

The purpose of the current study was to explore first sex experiences in lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals (LGB) using the Virginity Beliefs Framework ( Carpenter, 2001 ; Humphreys, 2013 ; Eriksson & Humphreys, 2014 ). The specific focus was on LGB individuals who have had both a sexual experience with a member of a different sex and a member of the same sex. This phenomenon is what the current study is defining as second virginity loss. Participants consisted of 275 self-identified LGB individuals; the sample was approximately half women (57%) between the ages of 18 and 56. Further, six semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain a clearer understanding of LGB individuals first sex experiences. Two primary research questions were proposed: (1) how do the virginity belief frames map onto the two “first” sexual experiences of LGB individuals? and (2) are there differences in the virginity belief frames between the two “first” times? Results found that LGB individuals hold stronger process beliefs than gift or stigma beliefs for both of their “first” times. The qualitative interviews suggested that the process of understanding virginity was enmeshed with a larger exploration, and eventual validation, of sexual identity. There was also a significant drop in the strength of some of the gift, process, and stigma beliefs from different-sex experience to same-sex experience for many in the gay and bisexual samples, but not in the lesbian sample. The current study is the first to explore the phenomenon of second virginity loss in LGB individuals and could be used as a foundation for future research on LGB first sexual experiences.


2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 612-627
Author(s):  
Michael Alexander Fauchelle

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the different aspects of language that are present in the signage, handouts and websites of public libraries. It discusses the extent to which this language reflects the varying demographics of library clients. Design/methodology/approach This paper reports on a qualitative study, which took a document analysis approach and utilised an inductive-coding technique to analyse data collected from four lower North Island libraries in New Zealand. Findings Five language aspects were identified from the collected data: monolingual, bilingual and multilingual language; language context; welcoming and prohibitive language; language consistency; and jargon. The nature and incidence of these aspects were evaluated for each of the four libraries. In some cases, the libraries achieve an accurate reflection of client demographics through their language. However, each library could make some changes to their use of language to better accommodate their distinct communities. Practical implications This paper suggests that modifying library language to better reflect client demographics will contribute to an atmosphere of inclusion, welcome and acceptance. Such an atmosphere will promote information access for all members of the community. Recommendations for change are made, as well as suggestions for future research. Originality/value This paper contributes to the body of knowledge on communication and language in libraries, particularly in a New Zealand context where there is a paucity of research on this topic. This paper benefits libraries and clients by identifying patterns, contrasts and potential improvements.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (03) ◽  
pp. 1550018 ◽  
Author(s):  
GLORIA L. SWEIDA ◽  
JEREMY ALAN WOODS

The aim of this paper is to examine the potential differences in the entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) of female entrepreneurs who own businesses in gender congruent and incongruent industries. Through the lens of social role theory the four antecedents of efficacy are examined. The results of ten in-depth, qualitative interviews show there are overarching similarities in all factors between the groups but nuanced differences in the areas of mastery experiences, social persuasion and vicarious learning. Differences were also found in the areas of social comparisons and perceived gender stereotypes. The paper discusses how ESE manifests for female entrepreneurs based on the gender congruency of the industry in which her business operates. Last, areas for future research are discussed.


Author(s):  
Judith J. M. Rijnhart ◽  
Jos W. R. Twisk ◽  
Dorly J. H. Deeg ◽  
Martijn W. Heymans

AbstractThere is an increasing awareness that replication should become common practice in empirical studies. However, study results might fail to replicate for various reasons. The robustness of published study results can be assessed using the relatively new multiverse-analysis methodology, in which the robustness of the effect estimates against data analytical decisions is assessed. However, the uptake of multiverse analysis in empirical studies remains low, which might be due to the scarcity of guidance available on performing multiverse analysis. Researchers might experience difficulties in identifying data analytical decisions and in summarizing the large number of effect estimates yielded by a multiverse analysis. These difficulties are amplified when applying multiverse analysis to assess the robustness of the effect estimates from a mediation analysis, as a mediation analysis involves more data analytical decisions than a bivariate analysis. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview and worked example of the use of multiverse analysis to assess the robustness of the effect estimates from a mediation analysis. We showed that the number of data analytical decisions in a mediation analysis is larger than in a bivariate analysis. By using a real-life data example from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, we demonstrated the application of multiverse analysis to a mediation analysis. This included the use of specification curves to determine the impact of data analytical decisions on the magnitude and statistical significance of the direct, indirect, and total effect estimates. Although the multiverse analysis methodology is still relatively new and future research is needed to further advance this methodology, this paper shows that multiverse analysis is a useful method for the assessment of the robustness of the direct, indirect, and total effect estimates in a mediation analysis and thereby to inform replication studies.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajad Fayezi ◽  
Ambika Zutshi ◽  
Andrew O'Loughlin

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address an important question which centres on investigating how do manufacturing businesses perceive and understand the concepts of agility and flexibility in their supply chains (SCs). Design/methodology/approach – A case study approach was utilised and data were gathered from semi-structured interviews with ten organisations in the Australian manufacturing sector. Data analysis was conducted using analytic techniques based on, for example, pattern matching and cross-case synthesis. Findings – Findings confirmed that there is some ambiguity concerning the understanding of the terms agile and flexible, both within and between organisations. The implications are that there is often little consistency in the way the terms are operationalised and then applied. In this regard, and to inform future research, the paper offers empirically grounded definitions for SC agility and flexibility. Moreover, four propositions are developed and discussed which shed light on the dynamics of agility and flexibility in the SC. Originality/value – This is one of the first empirical studies to address some of the apparent inconsistencies between organisational applications of agility and flexibility, and their impact on SC operations.


Author(s):  
Colleen M. Berryessa

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how judges perceive High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders (hfASDs) and the disorders’ effects on an offender's ability to formulate criminal intent and control behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews on topics related to offenders with hfASDs were conducted with 21 California Superior Court Judges. A coding scheme was developed and an iterative qualitative coding process was used for analysis. Findings – Analysis yielded three major themes on how an hfASD diagnosis affects an offender's ability to regulate actions and criminal behaviour. Interviewed judges reported beliefs that hfASD offenders view the world in a different way and that much of their behaviour is not under their direct control. Judges reported these perceptions likely affect how they criminally process and make legal decisions regarding offenders with hfASDs. Research limitations/implications – The sample size was small and therefore no statistical significance can be drawn from results; findings cannot be applied to perceptions or experiences of the entire California Superior Court Judge population. Originality/value – Past academic research reports that individuals with hfASDs that offend often do so because of specific symptoms associated with the disorder. This presents a complex dilemma for the criminal justice system regarding how best to understand the disorder and process these offenders. This study and its findings aim to shed light on issues judges encounter in determining these offenders’ responsibility and sentencing, in what ways this information might be integrated into judicial decision making, and areas where future research is needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 498-519
Author(s):  
Guo Jing-ying

There have been abundant empirical studies identifying risk factors associated with inmate suicide. However, little attention has been turned to the voices of inmates who have experienced suicide. This article, based on semi-structured interviews with 14 incarcerated adults who have committed suicide and survived in prisons in Zhejiang Province, China, tries to explore how suicide is presented, constructed and oriented to in interaction. Implications for future research and suicide intervention are also discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document