Analysing the Communication Process Between Middle and top Managers Through the Concept of 'Ba'

In the last few decades the relevance of knowledge management to organizations has become increasingly apparent. However, there are varying levels of emphasis on researching different aspects of this multidimensional construct. One such dimension is knowledge sharing, which is extensively researched from an impact perspective but with limited research on understand dynamic interactions of actors. In this research, we aim to explore factors influencing knowledge sharing among top and middle managers during the strategy communication process. We further draw on the concept of ‘ba’ as an alternative interpretive tool for understanding managerial interaction dynamics. Adopting a qualitative approach, 32 semi-structured interviews were conducted across a single case Kuwaiti public sector ministry and collated data presented as a thematic narrative to capture managerial perspectives. The findings indicate that organizations benefit more from aligning heterogenous groups within common collective spaces, and that social spaces or contexts are critically important for sharing knowledge pertinent to successful execution of strategies. Furthermore, the propensity to share knowledge was found to be dependent on the tribal affiliations of individual actors, and knowledge sharing dispositions was impacted by prejudices and social stereotypes. The research proposes practical considerations for organization management to foster knowledge exchange among the workforce.

Changing national health values of Russian youth aged 13-17

The article is devoted to the study of the attitudes of contemporary Russian youth to a healthy lifestyle, healthcare in general, and physical culture and sports. As a result of a qualitative sociological study, the main trends and perspectives in the perception of a healthy lifestyle, physical culture, and sports in Russian regions are discovered and defined. The study specifies the motivational aspects of young Russians’ attitudes to a healthy lifestyle, healthcare, physical culture, and sports. The specific features of the development of regional physical culture and sports in Russia, as well as the characteristics of the perception of physical culture and sports by various groups of Russian youth in the regions of the country, are identified. The attitudes to social stereotypes concerning a healthy lifestyle and sports in the minds of Russian citizens are discovered. The practical significance of the study results: the conclusions of the project can be used for the development of youth policy, as well as the development of new programs for the optimization of young people’s lifestyle and the development of physical culture and sports in Russia. The study results can be utilized for the innovation of courses on the sociology of health and disease.

Parenthood, altruism, and the market: a critique of essentialist constructions of women’s nature in commercial surrogacy

Commercial surrogacy has become an increasingly popular path to parenthood around the world. Yet, critics have raised concerns about the practice’s implications for gender inequality. This paper critically assesses commercial surrogacy’s reliance on, and reinforcement of, common narratives about women’s natural disposition to sacrifice themselves for others. These narratives have historically served to justify disadvantages for women as workers, both within and outside the household. Their presence in commercial surrogacy agreements suggests that, even if we can characterise commercial surrogacy as an alternative (as opposed to traditional) method for family formation, the same social stereotypes that have historically entrenched women’s inequality in traditional families are still highly relevant for the practice’s functioning.

Is There a Gender Imbalance in the Italian Labor Market?

Women who decide to enter the labor market should, at least in theory, have access to any profession. Actually, it is something that does not always happen and their ambitions are relegated to few jobs (i.e., teachers, nurses, cashiers,) often linked to social stereotypes characterized by low wages, tasks that are inappropriate to their educational qualifications and of course with few career prospects. All that creates a gender imbalance of individuals in the labor market known as segregation. The objective of this paper is to focus on the aforementioned issue through a qualitative and quantitative survey based on the analysis of statistical indicators compared in two years (2009 and 2020), taking into account the social variations of the time span that elapses between the two years observed. The results show that gender employment segregation has been opposed over time, but not adequately resolved by concrete policies that can counter the phenomenon under consideration. Therefore, it is not enough to increase women's employment without pursuing a path of qualitative growth in women's work.

INTELLIGENCE AS AN OBJECT OF RESEARCH

The article deals with an overview of research on intelligence from the pre-scientific to post-neoclassical periods of the development of science. The continuity of knowledge is shown, the purpose of which is to determine the boundaries of human cognition of objective reality to create an optimal model of society, in which the maximum realization of intellectual potential is possible. A retrospective analysis shows that researchers have defined the basis of intelligence in different ways, designating the biological or environmental components as the dominant. The use of logical-deductive or experimental-inductive methods as a methodological basis had a decisive influence on the researcher while choosing methodological tools to solve the problem posed. The article notes that despite the task of studying intellectual development throughout ontogenesis, the period of gerontogenesis has been less studied. Empirical studies of intellectual development during this period prove that intellectual decline is largely the result of insufficient intellectual activity, the monotony of activity and a person's unwillingness to acquire new competencies in later life due to a number of objective and subjective reasons. It is noted that the decisive importance in ascending intellectual development has the level and quality of a person's subjectivity. This is expressed in the need for purposeful random activity, in which a person can abstract from social stereotypes about an unconditional decrease in intellectual development during the period of gerontogenesis.

Asymmetrical update of beliefs about future outcomes is driven by outcome valence and social group membership

People are eager to update their beliefs, such as a perceived risk, if they receive information that is better than expected but are reluctant to do so when the evidence is unfavourable. When estimating the likelihood of future outcomes, this phenomenon of asymmetrical belief update helps generate and maintain personal optimism bias. In this study, we investigated whether asymmetrical belief update also extends to estimating the future of other individuals. Specifically, we prompted respondents to assess the perceived likelihood of three social targets experiencing future positive and negative events: an in-group, a mild out-group and an extreme out-group. We then provided the respondents with feedback about the base rates of those events in the general population and prompted them to re-assess their initial estimates for all social targets. Respondents expected more positive than negative outcomes for the in-group and the mild out-group, but more negative outcomes for the extreme out-group. We also found an asymmetrical update of beliefs contingent on the valence of the future event and the social target. For negative outcomes, respondents updated more following good news than bad news, particularly for the mild out-group. For positive outcomes, respondents equally updated their beliefs following good news and bad news for the in-group and the mild out-group. However, they updated their beliefs significantly more following bad news than good news for the extreme out-group member. Our data thus reveal the strong and robust influence of social stereotypes on future expectancies for others.

Gender, Language and Indian Reality Television: Locating Social Stereotypes and Linguistic Sexism

Aim. The reality genre has gained much popularity in last few years across the globe. In India too, this genre has reportedly surpassed other genres in recognition and acceptance. However, its format and content intrigue controversies at both social and academic level, but its mass appeal gets bigger each day. The study examines gender, language and issues of gendered language in Indian reality show Bigg Boss. While keeping in view the format and claim of the genre, the study observes how under thorough surveillance, housemates negotiate with their real self and grapple with their language practice. Influence of neoliberalism on society, culture and identity has been very much discussed, the paper attempts to highlight how this transitions in gender identity is depicted in a show taking non-actors and common people. Concept. For the purpose of the study, scripted transcription of Bigg Boss (Season 11) has been used, wherein all the episodes of have been watched back and forth carefully, and detailed notes prepared for the analysis. Housemates’ language practice, voice pattern and preference of words and statements have been observed. Results and conclusion. The study finds that game reality show Bigg Boss substantially adheres to social stereotypes and standards and while doing so, it also imitates the language practice prevalent everywhere. Although active participation of women in the show is visible butt while exhibiting their true self, sometimes gender prejudice embedded deep inside also comes out, which in case of men is very frequent. The study concludes that as a globally acclaimed genre, reality show, like other genres, is very much commercialized and consumer oriented. Originality. A number of studies related to reality shows have been conducted, but in Indian context, this genre has been inadequately explored. Also, it is very difficult to find studies focusing any specific season of an Indian reality show, so it would not be incorrect to mention that the present study is one of the primary works on this subject, which aims at making some significant contribution related to this genre, in academia.

Review of employment and disability: bibliographic analysis

Purpose The social and work inclusion of people with disabilities is an important area of public action and research today. Future trends in the economy and lifestyle represent new challenges for the inclusion of disabled people. This paper aims to provide a bibliometric analysis of the growing amount of research publications currently dealing with problems associated with people with disabilities in employment. The papers are analysed to gain a perspective on any changes in the field. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the analysis is conducted using a literature review and bibliometric analysis techniques in particular. The bibliographic source supporting this analysis resulted from a search of Scopus using Disability, Employment and Work as search terms, which yielded 750 publications spanning the previous nine years. VOSviewer was applied to facilitate the analysis. Findings The findings indicate that up until 2016, the conversation revolved around health and employment, and from 2017 onwards the research has become more focused on the employment of people with disabilities. Socioeconomic factors affecting people with disabilities appear as one of the causes impairing their inclusion, such as the different intellectual disabilities curtailing their employment and education for work. Research limitations/implications This analysis limited itself to only one database and open access articles. Therefore, further research is needed with a larger bibliographic base covering other aspects related to the future of disability employment. Practical implications This review may serve as a valuable source of information for researchers for further investigations in this area. And to aid in the development of effective policies to address existing social stereotypes. Originality/value This research illustrates, through the use of VOSviewer, the present studies in the area of disability and employment and sets the foundations for further research.