CHALLENGES OF TEACHING IN A DIFFERENT CULTURE: AN AUTO-ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Personal Observation ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Teaching in a different culture and environment is always a challenging issue. This may last from few months even to few years, depending upon the consequences of personal characteristics and environmental situations. Based on a personal experience, this paper investigates the possible cultural differences between the lecturer and students in a teaching environment and understanding how the student perceptions may gradually change and the student–lecturer interaction may evolve until the semester ends. In a methodological way, the conclusions were drawn out of a mixed–method approach that is composed of a personal observation of the lecturer (etic), and expressions, both verbal and written, and memories of other persons (students) within the same class (emic). In lights of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, the study addresses a list of practical implications as the “lessons learned” – presumably the best way to cope with the challenges of teaching in a different culture.

Conditionality & Coercion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabela Mares ◽  
Lauren E. Young
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Policy Preferences ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Vote Buying ◽  
Private Benefits ◽  
Public Benefits ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Democratic Systems ◽  
Method Approach

In many recent democracies, candidates compete for office using illegal strategies to influence voters. In Hungary and Romania, local actors including mayors and bureaucrats offer access to social policy benefits to voters who offer to support their preferred candidates, and they threaten others with the loss of a range of policy and private benefits for voting the “wrong” way. These quid pro quo exchanges are often called clientelism. How can politicians and their accomplices get away with such illegal campaigning in otherwise democratic, competitive elections? When do they rely on the worst forms of clientelism that involve threatening voters and manipulating public benefits? This book uses a mixed method approach to understand how illegal forms of campaigning including vote buying and electoral coercion persist in two democratic countries in the European Union. It argues that clientelistic strategies must be disaggregated based on whether they use public or private resources, and whether they involve positive promises or negative threats and coercion. The authors document that the type of clientelistic strategies that candidates and brokers use varies systematically across localities based on their underlying social coalitions, and also show that voters assess and sanction different forms of clientelism in different ways. Voters glean information about politicians’ personal characteristics and their policy preferences from the clientelistic strategies these candidates deploy. Most voters judge candidates who use clientelism harshly. So how does clientelism, including its most odious coercive forms, persist in democratic systems? This book suggests that politicians can get away with clientelism by using forms of it that are in line with the policy preferences of constituencies whose votes they need. Clientelistic and programmatic strategies are not as distinct as previous studies have argued.

scholarly journals Assessing a Decision Support Tool for SOC Analysts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jassim Happa ◽  
Ioannis Agrafiotis ◽  
Martin Helmhout ◽  
Thomas Bashford-Rogers ◽  
Michael Goldsmith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
User Study ◽  
Situational Awareness ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Visualization Tool ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Method Approach

In recent years, many tools have been developed to understand attacks that make use of visualization, but few examples aims to predict real-world consequences. We have developed a visualization tool that aims to improve decision support during attacks. Our tool visualizes propagation of risks from IDS and AV-alert data by relating sensor alerts to Business Process (BP) tasks and machine assets: an important capability gap present in many Security Operation Centres (SOCs) today. In this paper we present a user study in which we evaluate the tool's usability and ability to deliver situational awareness to the analyst. Ten analysts from seven SOCs performed carefully designed tasks related to understanding risks and prioritising recovery decisions. The study was conducted in laboratory conditions, with simulated attacks, and used a mixed-method approach to collect data from questionnaires, eyetracking and voice-recorded interviews. The findings suggest that providing analysts with situational awareness relating to business priorities can help them prioritise response strategies. Finally, we provide an in-depth discussion on the wider questions related to user studies in similar conditions as well as lessons learned from our user study and developing a visualization tool of this type.

An evaluation of the impacts of construction professionals’ conflict on performance in the Nigerian construction industry

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamen Sunkanmi Adeyemi ◽  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Quantitative Method ◽  
Professional Organization ◽  
Southwestern Part ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Great Performance ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate impacts of construction professionals (CPs) conflict on performance in the Nigerian construction industry (NCI).Design/methodology/approachA quantitative method was used for this research. Questionnaires were sent to various CPs in Southwestern part of Nigeria. A total of 150 questionnaires were sent out, while 135 were gotten back from the partakers. The data received from the partakers were computed by applying descriptive and exploratory factor analysis.FindingsIn this study, conflict leads to the abandonment of the CPs’ task being rated highest by the participants. This was followed by conflict that results in insufficient communication, generates job pressure, results to frustrations and displeasure among the CPs, helps in early problem identification, causes work damage among professionals, helps in solving professional organization problems, improves productivity of professionals, improves communication among the professionals and so on.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is limited to CPs that are members of professional bodies in Nigeria, and only 135 participants participated. Though, this paper suggests that a mixed-method approach should be utilized in further studies with a wider coverage.Practical implicationsThe findings from this paper will increase the understanding of CPs in Nigeria on various impacts of conflict on performance in the construction industry, most specifically the professional bodies. Moreover, this study will increase the knowledge of CPs to always avoid whatever that leads to the abandonment of their tasks. Additionally, this study will benefit the CPs to avoid insufficient communication among themselves, in order to accomplish great performance and efficiency in their respective professional bodies.Originality/valueSince previous studies on impacts of construction conflict in Nigeria were only focused on contractors and consultants in construction project, this current study filled the gap by evaluating the impacts of CPs’ conflict on performance in the NCI. Also, the method of analysis used for this study is exemptional because previous studies have overlooked the method. However, it is recommended that CPs must communicate more with others so as to ensure favorable conflict effects on performance.

Expatriate assignments: the “same” job may require different tasks

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-239
Author(s):  
Scott Martin ◽  
Reynold James
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Task Differences ◽  
Expatriate Assignments ◽  
Development And Management ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Given a specific job, this paper aims to examine if the tasks change when moving from one country to another, and if so, whether such changes are at least partly a function of environmental factors. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method approach (surveys and interviews) with professional-level expatriates based in the UAE. Findings The results indicated that the “same” job often required different tasks depending on the country. Given a matching job between home and host countries, 66 per cent of respondents indicated that the job was different and on average, 20 per cent of the job was perceived to be different. Environmental forces did account for meaningful task differences. Legal and regulatory forces were a particularly important driver of task differences. Practical implications It is important to consider potential task differences in connection with expatriate assignments. Attending to task differences can have a positive impact on staffing, development and management processes. Originality/value Given the “same” job, the specific tasks may be different depending on the country.

scholarly journals Exploring how teachers suggest informing designs for learning

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Hrastinski
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Design For Learning ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeAn issue that has received limited attention is how teachers make informed decisions when designing learning activities, which makes effective use of resources and technologies. The aim of this paper is to explore how teachers suggest informing their designs for learning.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on documentation from workshops where adult education teachers were encouraged to suggest how a design for learning can draw on what is known, how the design can be evaluated and how the design and lessons learned can be shared. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsMost teachers did not explicitly suggest how to inform their designs for learning, although some suggested to draw on learning theories. The teachers were able to provide many examples of how their designs for learning could be evaluated based on student perceptions and assessment. They primarily suggested to discuss and share their designs and lessons learned at the school.Practical implicationsThe workshop format could be adapted and used in practice.Originality/valueRelatively little attention has been paid to how teachers inform their designs for learning. A key challenge for teachers is to understand design for learning as an informed practice, which could be integrated as part of their daily work.

scholarly journals Using complexity and volatility characteristics to guide hybrid project management

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Costantini ◽  
Jon G. Hall ◽  
Lucia Rapanotti
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe paper aims to provide methodological support for hybrid project management, in which the discipline of predictive methodologies combines with the flexibility of adaptive ones. Specifically, the paper explores the extent complexity and volatility dimensions of organisational problems inform choices of PM methodologies both theoretically and in current practice, as a first step towards better methodological support for hybridisation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes a mixed method approach, including both secondary research and primary research with practitioners. Primary research consists of a small scale survey (n = 31) followed by semi-structured interviews, with findings triangulated against secondary evidence.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights on how complexity and volatility of organisational problems can inform hybrid project management practices. Specifically, it suggests a mapping between volatility and complexity dimensions and predictive and adaptive risk controls as a first step towards the systematisation of hybrid combinations in projects.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the small participant sample, the research results may lack generalisability.Practical implicationsThe paper includes implications for the development of methodological support for setting up hybrid projects in practice.Originality/valueThe paper addresses a gap acknowledged both in the literature and by practitioners.

Academic business librarians' assistance to community entrepreneurs

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Mort Feldmann
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
National Study ◽  
National Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Multi Method Approach ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to examine on a national scale how academic business librarians are working with community organizations and other libraries to assist local entrepreneurs with their information needs. Design/methodology/approach – A multi method approach was used to gather information. In spring 2012, a survey and follow-up interviews were conducted with academic business librarians. Additionally, business consultants who have worked with librarians were interviewed. Findings – The survey had 53 respondents. Of those, 40 percent indicated that they collaborate to assist entrepreneurs. Five interviewees confirmed the findings of the survey and discussed their collaborative arrangements. The consultants discussed best practices in working with entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implications – This research studied academic business librarians and reached those who monitor the buslib-l and brass-l listservs. Not all librarians have the time or take the time to respond to a survey. Additionally, this research only explored collaborations to assist local entrepreneurs and did not specifically focus on campus entrepreneurs and outreach to business schools. Practical implications – This study provides information on academic business librarians' efforts to assist community entrepreneurs. It also provides some information on lessons learned. Originality/value – A national study of academic business librarians' outreach to entrepreneurs has not been conducted in the past.

scholarly journals Integrated solutions for total asset management through “RIVANS”

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedley Smyth ◽  
Aaron M. Anvuur ◽  
Illona Kusuma
Keyword(s):  
Asset Management ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Total Asset ◽  
Technical Solution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Lifecycle ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Examine the extent of integration in delivering value from design and construction (DC) activities for total asset management (TAM) and operations post-completion. DC and operations and management (OM) are both addressed. The problem owners are those in roles and organisations responsible for integrating DC with OM. The purpose of this paper is to show the extent of integration between actors along the project lifecycle. Relationally integrated value networks (RIVANS) provide the conceptual lens for the analysis. Design/methodology/approach A mixed method approach was used. A questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews were employed. Findings There is a lack of engagement between DC and OM. The trend is moving counter to integration. BIM is not found to be a technical solution. Research limitations/implications The mixed method helps extend the RIVANS perspective. Further research to understand and support integration is needed, especially qualitative research to provide greater granular understanding. Practical implications The identified trend away from integration poses management challenges in delivery and for sustainability in use. Supply chains engage specialists, yet internal and inter-organisational collaboration require management attention to value creation. This includes the DC-OM interface. Both sides can benefit from increased engagement. Social implications Infrastructure and property provision will continue to fall short of user and environmental functionality without improved integration. Originality/value A contribution to the project and asset management interface is made, showing low integration, disengaged asset management. BIM is unable to plug the gaps. The RIVANS analytical lens provides a perspective for improvement.

scholarly journals Proposing a Library Consortium Model for National Development in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Resource Sharing ◽  
National Development ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Digital Content ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
National Library ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
Library Consortium ◽  
Method Approach

Globally library cooperation and collaboration is transforming the scholarship landscape as academic libraries battle to survive amidst escalating costs of subscriptions. Zimbabwe is no exception to this phenomenon as evidenced by the development of local consortia for resource sharing. The main purpose of the research is to gather the views of librarians on the need for a library consortium to support national development in Zimbabwe. The researcher used a mixed method approach. Zimbabwe does not have national library consortium for nationwide access to information. Such a consortium is key to harnessing the collective buying power of member institutions to negotiate and guarantee license agreements for digital content. The study recommends a federated library consortium model built on lessons learned from other countries. The model elevates library consortium principles of cooperation and collaboration into Zimbabwe’s national development agenda.

scholarly journals Building control (amendment) regulations 2014: integration and compliance in large Irish construction organisations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Dennehy ◽  
Bobby Kennedy ◽  
John Spillane
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Building Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Buildings ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the factors relating to the integration and compliance of Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (BC(A)R 2014) in large Irish construction organisations.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the aim, a mixed method approach is adopted, initially, providing a critique of the literature review, followed by a combination of 7 semi-structured interviews and 30 questionnaires from industry practitioners.FindingsFindings demonstrate that BC(A)R has had a significant positive effect on the industry, eliminating previous bad practice, by increasing the accountability for professionals signing-off on new buildings, and highlights the emphasis on certification in successfully achieving practical completion on projects.Practical implicationsThe findings provide further justification on the need for compliance, and integration, of BC(A)R in the Irish construction sector, offering further evidence, where needed, on the benefit of its adoption.Originality/valueThe originality and value of this research lies in the limited number of studies in the area, particularly in the context of large Irish construction projects, which this study aims to fulfil.

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