Deputy corps of district soviets of Leningrad during the Great Patriotic War: staff composition and activity

The object of this research is the deputy corps of district soviets of Leningrad, while the subject is the quantitative and qualitative changes in its staff composition and activity of the deputies during the Great Patriotic War. Despite the fact that during the wartime, the responsibilities of local self-government were taken on by the executive committees of district soviets, the examination of everyday activity of the deputies is important for understanding the situation in the besieged society. The study relies on the record keeping and statistical materials from the funds of St. Petersburg State Central Archive, many of which have not been previously introduced to the scientific discourse; as well as published sources. For the first time in historiography, analysis is conducted on the staff composition of the deputy corps of district soviets and its changes during the wartime using the quantitative methods. It is established that majority of the deputies had poor economic and administrative experience, as they worked at production sites. After evacuation, conscription into the Red Army, work transfer to other regions, population losses, the number of people’s deputies has decreased by more than 2/3 by the end of the war. However, due to the shortage of qualified personnel, the process of nominating them for the senior positions in the executive branch ramped up. Using the historical-comparative and historical-chronological methods, the author determines the stages in the work of district soviets depending on the flip of events in the city: prior to the winter of 1941, the deputies took active part in the economic and political campaigns; in December 1941 – April 1942, their work virtually ceased; later, their main activity lied in single assignments of the district executive committees. The standing committees, in practice were mostly nominal.

The Future of Catholic Higher Education

After many years of scholarship, administrative experience, and leadership in Catholic higher education, the author has written a book that draws upon many academic disciplines to paint a picture of the past and the current situation (challenges, strengths, and weaknesses) of Catholic universities. After identifying the foundational pillars of Catholic higher education, he points the way to a future that is open to modern culture without capitulating to it, embraces Catholic intellectual traditions without fossilizing them, and presents a vision of its relationship to the hierarchy that is respectful, independent, faithful, and dynamic.

Women’s scarcity in academic governance. Gendered identity or gendered processes?

This article contributes to the empirical evidence for women’s scarcity in academic governance. The study evaluates to what extend women lean towards non-management careers and dismiss opportunities to attain executive roles in Colombian public universities, as well as the support received when they break the paradigm. The purpose was to determine whether gendered practices are ingrained in the designation process or whether women’s scarcity is the outcome of individual attributes/choices and collective perceptions of inadequacy. Data was collected from universities’ proceedings, opinion polls of rectors’ designations, and candidates’ curricula. Findings show low female candidacy rate but high public support for female candidates to the rector’s seat among all universities examined. Also, curricula’s in-depth analyses display women’s preference for male-dominated careers and analogous academic/administrative experience to that of male candidates. Hence, the results challenge explanations presented by human capital and congruity prejudice theories, while leaning towards gendered processes and identities.

Leadership Preparation and the Career Paths of Black Principals

Leadership training and administrative experience are key components of sponsored mobility as the candidate’s participation in district- or school-sponsored training for aspiring school principals combined with the opportunity to avail of administrative experiences effectively constitute a pipeline to the principalship. The literature reveals that principals are the primary sponsor of teachers entering into the principalship pipeline. We conceptualize two of the above key areas (leadership training & administrative experience) as components of contest mobility and the other two (participation & opportunity) as components of sponsored mobility. Contest mobility encompasses academic credentialing and management experience and assumes every candidate has an equal chance and the same opportunity as any other candidate to contest for a school leadership position. These actions are not sponsored by the candidate’s district or school. In contrast, sponsored mobility encompasses the informal process used to facilitate transition to leadership for some teachers, but not for others. We use restricted data from the 2011 to 2012 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) to discern whether there were differences between Black and White principals’ exogenous contest mobility and endogenous sponsored mobility prior to the attainment of their principalships.

V. N. Kokovtsov and the Russo-Japanese Society in St. Petersburg (the then Petrograd): Investigating Historical Lacunas

Статья посвящена теме, актуальной для изучения биографии видного представителя правящих кругов поздней Российской империи, министра финансов и председателя Совета министров В. Н. Коковцова, его деятельности по организации Русско-японского общества в Петербурге (Петрограде) в 1911–1917 годах и руководству этой ассоциацией. Обширная современная историография, ставящая своей задачей оценку личности министра, его исторической роли и проводимой им политики, по существу исключает этот сюжет из своего проблемного поля. Между тем политическая биография Коковцова оказывается неполной без комплексного изучения указанной деятельности, сочетавшей секретную и публичную стороны и ставшей постоянным поприщем экс-министра после его отставки. Развернувшись на фоне русско-японского сближения накануне и в годы Первой мировой войны, она отразила как сложную динамику самого этого процесса, так и специфику понимания его Коковцовым, сумевшим благодаря своему административному опыту и личному авторитету привлечь к этой работе многих представителей политической, деловой, культурной элиты как в столице, так и за ее пределами. Целью организации стало развитие не только торговых, но и культурных связей между двумя странами, что отразилось в контактах Русско-японского общества с Японо-русским обществом в Токио, также представленным ведущими японскими политиками и придворными. Дипломатические способности и личные качества В. Н. Коковцова и здесь сыграли во многом определяющую роль. Автор ставит задачу включить данный сюжет в круг историко-биографических исследований на основе введения в научный оборот соответствующих источников — как архивных документов, так и материалов периодики начала XX столетия, не интерпретировавшихся прежде историками. The article focuses on the investigation of a prominent representative of the ruling eliteof late Imperial Russia, a minister of finance and a chairman of the Ministerial Council V. N. Kokovtsov and his role in the foundation of the Russo-Japanese Society in St. Petersburg (the then Petrograd) in 1911–1917. When attempting to assess the minister’s personal and professional qualities, his role in history, and his policies, modern historiography often neglects this episode in the minister’s life. However, without due consideration of the aforementioned activities, performing which Kokovtsov managed to juggle secrets and publicity and which became his primary concern after retirement, the minister’s political biography seems incomplete. Kokovtsov’s interest in the matter can be traced back to Russo-Japanese rapprochement before World War I. Due to his administrative experience, his personal authority and credibility, Kokovtsov managed to recruit numerous members of the political, religious and cultural elites both in the capital and elsewhere. The organization promoted the development of trade and cultural cooperation between the two countries, hence the cooperation with the Japanese-Russian Society in Tokyo and with leading Japanese politicians and courtiers. V. N. Kokovtsov’s personal qualities and his diplomatic abilities were a valuable asset. The author of the article underlines the importance of investigating archival documents and periodicals of the early 20th century, which have never been investigated before, in order to shed light on the underinvestigated but undoubtedly important episode in Kokovtsov’s biography.

Financial Constraints to Entrepreneurial in Sudan: An Applied Analytical Study: المعوقات التمويلية لريادة الأعمال في السودان: دراسة تحليلية تطبيقية

The study aimed to measure the impact of the financing obstacles related to entrepreneurs on the financing obstacles related to financing institutions, and vice versa, to achieve policy recommendations that help in overcoming those obstacles that face the financing of entrepreneurial in Sudan. The study followed the descriptive and analytical approach using the multiple linear regression and A nova analysis method to estimate the study models and test the hypotheses. The study relied on primary data from a questionnaire distributed to (54) employees of entrepreneurship financing institutions in Sudan. The study recommends the necessity of restructuring and empowering institutions were working in entrepreneurship and microfinance so that to finance the operations directly by enacting new laws and legislations, reviewing existing legislation and laws, and finding a new financing formula for entrepreneurship that is compatible with the culture and legacies of Sudanese community through reviewing the legislative and legal frameworks. A coordination between entrepreneurial projects, microfinance institutions and banks, and other relevant one, also recommended. In addition to providing a database and adequate information on entrepreneurship, providing the necessary guidance and training before yielding finance and raising the level of administrative experience and awareness.

Perceived Leadership Capacities of Elementary School Head Teachers: Potential Differences of Gender and Experience

Successful leadership mainly depends upon the knowledge and understanding about various leadership skills together with leader’s personal capacity to execute these skills efficiently. Elementary school head teachers, therefore, require notable expertise to professionally perform their important administrative responsibilities for achieving the school goals and objectives. In this context, this survey study was mainly conducted to investigate the extent of the leadership capacities of elementary school head teachers’ they possessed and differences in their views when grouped by their gender and administrative experience. To achieve the objective, a questionnaire comprising 24-items with six subscales developed by Ng (2010) was adapted with minor changes. The questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 363 head teachers randomly selected from 1014 elementary schools of Multan division and finally 336 (92.6%) responded. Results of descriptive statistical analyses suggest that the participants believed with high consensus that they were not well equipped with needed leadership skills in four areas specifically in the area of ‘quality assurance and accountability’. Inferential statistical tests revealed no significant differences in participants’ perceptions based on their gender. Significant differences, however, were found in their views based on their administrative experience. The conclusions of this study point to the relevant strategies for planning continuous professional development of elementary school head teachers in Pakistan.

The Reality of The Training Programs Introduced to The Principals of Private Schools in The Province of North Batinah In the Sultanate of Oman: واقع البرامج التدريبية المقدمة لمديري المدارس الخاصة في محافظة شمال الباطنة في سلطنة عُمان

The present study aimed to identify the reality of the training programs of private school principals in the province of North Batinah in the Sultanate of Oman and to know the significance of the differences in the effectiveness of the training programs provided to the principals of private schools in the province of North Batinah in the Sultanate of Oman, depending on the variables of gender, Years of administrative experience), the researcher selected 26 managers from private schools in the North Al Batinah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman. After searching for information it became clear that (3) schools with principals are charged by the schools and have no data at the Directorate. Thus, the study sample consisted of (23) managers To analyze the results of the study, the arithmetic mean and standard deviations were extracted, the T test was used for the independent samples, and the ANOVA test was used to analyze the mono-variance. The most important findings of the study: • There is effectiveness of the training programs provided to the principals of private schools in the province of North Batinah in the Sultanate of Oman. • There were statistically significant differences at a level of significance less than (0.05) due to the gender variable in the dimension (training environment) and in favor of males compared to females and the absence of differences in the other dimensions of the study instrument • There were no statistically significant differences at a level of significance less than 0.05 among the study sample members in the dimensions of the study instrument according to the variable of the scientific qualification. • There are statistically significant differences at a level of significance less than 0.05 among the study sample members in the objectives of the training program and for their experience of 5-10 years. There are no statistically significant differences in the other dimensions according to the variable years of experience. The study concluded with a number of recommendations, the most important of which are: • Utilize managers' views on the evaluation aspects of training programs that feel that they need to further evaluate their training programs to achieve a higher level of productivity. • Clear criteria should be adopted for selecting staff to participate in training courses

Financial incentives to motivate workers during the civil war (on the example of Tula Cartridge Plant)

The subject of this research is the questions of motivating the workers of Tula Cartridge Plant during the civil war. Based on methodology of economic and social microhistory, the author analyzes the practice of using methods of war communism and monetary measures to encourage worker of Tula Cartridge Plant in accomplishment of strenuous government contracts. The research results can be valuable in training management professionals in the context of comprehension of the phenomenon of national economy through the prism of social practices, particular administrative experience in crisis conditions. Writing company’s history necessitates the inclusion of methodology of economic and social microhistory into the research process. Scientific analysis of life of the company as a holistic socioeconomic phenomenon allows determining corporate practices that are essential for understanding the functionality of national economy in a specific historical period. The conclusion is made that objectively, the differentiated plant production significantly adjusted to mobilization regime of war communism using special mechanisms. Among them is the unlimited efficiency wage, non-tariff ways of incentivizing skilled workers, and determination of the urgent work areas with accord wages. At the same time, the war communism method of mobilization of industrial production implemented specific measures of financial incentives for workers. It included the guaranteed minimum of means for each employee, bargain-collective forms of bonuses, and simultaneously, directive allocation of major operations and byworks with due remuneration. The contradictory combination of all these methods of financial incentives ensured a specific effectiveness criterion reflected in the material items of military consumption.

Games-based trust: Role-playing the administrative experience of immigrants

Measures of social capital such as trust have been declining in America for the better part of a century, while an influx of racial and ethnic diversity has apparently quickened the decline. Direct interactions with diversity still contribute to feelings of trust, only demographic differences now prevent the requisite contact from occurring. New means of creating shared experiences have thus become more vital, and the present study tests the value of games-based role-playing for fostering trust in immigrant populations. Students in an online American Government class at a major southeastern university were asked to create a fictional persona from Mexico, India, or China, and seek US citizenship. Their success or failure factored into their overall grade. Results suggest that role-playing the administrative experience of immigrants contributes to trusting them over time. This has value for life in a diversifying society.