Representations of Roman Catholic religious sisters’ responses to COVID-19 in the Zambian media

Despite the growing visibility of religious women’s responses to COVID-19 in the media, the discourses of religion and the pandemic in emerging scholarship were preoccupied with the responses of churches to COVID-19, and neglected the contributions of religious women to the pandemic in Zambia. This article, therefore, explores the interface between religion and COVID-19 through the representations of the responses of Roman Catholic religious sisters to the pandemic, in the media in Zambia, from a religious health asset (RHA) perspective. The study drew on two objectives, namely, to describe the representations of Roman Catholic religious sisters’ responses to COVID-19 in the media; and to explain the nature of the Roman Catholic religious sisters’ responses to the pandemic as represented in the media with a focus on the utilisation of RHAs. It drew on an interpretive case study in which data were collected through content analysis. It shows that the responses of the religious sisters were covered more in Catholic related media. These responses ranged from providing key COVID-19 messages, integrating COVID-19 in the existing programmes to providing basic equipment and food to the needy communities as shaped by the utilisation of RHAs at their disposal, and as informed by their prophetic mission. The article argues that the Roman Catholic religious sisters’ responses to the pandemic affirmed women’s active roles in combating the pandemic.Contribution: The article’s contribution lies in adding the narratives of women’s contributions to the pandemic in the early stages of the outbreak of COVID-19 to women theologies scholarship in Africa. And also, extending the utilisation of RHAs to the new pandemic and the implications it draws on the need for engendering religious responses to the pandemic by capturing women’s narratives during a pandemic as part of constructing women theologies in the face of COVID-19.

Redesigning Teacher Education in the Wake of Covid-19 and Future Emergencies: A Case of Zimbabwe

Globally, the need to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 had rendered the traditional face-to-face educational delivery systems of Higher Education (HE) irrelevant. In light of that, institutions of HE had abruptly introduced online teaching platforms as an alternative, though without auditing the lecturers’ capacities and skills. Informed by the Appreciative Inquiry Model (AIM), this interpretive case study used virtual meetings and WhatsApp discussions to explore the professional limitations of Zimbabwe university lecturers on using the online platforms and their reactions to Teachers Education Programmes in the wake of Covid-19 and future emergencies. 12 lecturers drawn from three purposively selected Zimbabwean universities participated in the case study. Data were generated from questions developed in a way that encouraged the appearance of the Appreciative Inquiry Model stages. Findings suggest that some lecturers in Zimbabwe and possibly in other developing countries are inadequately trained to use online platforms. Institutions of Higher Education are therefore suggested to regularly audit their lecturers’ skills and professionally capacitate them for re-tooling and aligning in order for the skills to match the dictates of future emergencies.

Learning From Doing

Software applications in educational technology have been a strong driving force for the success of online learning at all levels. These applications are created for various purposes and are used by a range of experts. The development of a successful educational technology software takes a deliberate team effort and thoughtful project management. This interpretive case study details the processes, successes, and challenges determined throughout the development of an educational web application, the Social Performance Optimization Tool (SPOT). In describing the evolution of SPOT, and the processes the heterogeneous team followed in the development of the web application, this study provides analysis and guidance to educational researchers who are interested in developing educational web applications in the future. The study described how authors mindfully adopted software design models, team management techniques, and communication tools. Additionally, the paper highlights practical and unique implications developers must account for when working in higher education contexts.

Using an inquiry-based approach to enhance grade 3 learners’ basic science concepts development

This study explored Grade 3 teachers’ use of an inquiry-based approach to mediate the development of basic science concepts among learners within the socio-cultural theory. This study adopted interpretive case study research of the qualitative type, using a sample of four (4) female teachers who use the home language of learners as the language of instruction. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide and observational schedule which was properly validated. Analysis of data was achieved through thematic data analysis. The result of the study revealed that the foundation phase teachers are aware of the importance of the use of the inquiry-based approach in mediating the development of basic science concepts by the learners, but only one out of the four participants implemented it. Thus, it was recommended that there should be a provision of further professional development spaces that promote a community of practice in using an Inquiry-Based Approach in the Foundation Phase. Keywords: Basic science concepts, Grade 3 teachers, Foundation Phase, Inquiry-Based approach

Spirituality, happiness and auditors' commitment: an interbeing perspective

PurposeThis study attempts to explore the meaning and implication of spirituality in an accounting firm by using a Buddhist perspective of interbeing. It explains how the happiness of individuals (auditors, partners, clients and auditor family members); organisational performance and growth and auditors' commitment are interconnected and impermanent.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed an interpretive case study in an Indonesian accounting firm. The researchers explored the collective and individual feelings, thoughts, actions and experiences of the firm's actors. The data collection methods were interviews, participant observations and documentary analysis.FindingsLeadership plays a major role in cultivating spirituality in an accounting firm. The spirituality increases auditors' commitment, (conditional) happiness and performance resulting in client satisfaction and the firm's growth. From an interbeing perspective, partners, auditors and clients are interconnected and impermanent. A firm's growth creates a growing sense of unhappiness due to the diminishing of auditors' comfort zone. Spirituality in the workplace can only engender conditional happiness and organisational commitment that offset the importance of material rewards and career prospects. To reach ultimate (unconditional) happiness, one requires a continuous spiritual development.Research limitations/implicationsThe insights gained from this study need enrichment from cases in different contexts, e.g. multinational firms with members from different countries and cultures.Originality/valueThis study develops the discourse of emancipation in the accounting literature by taking into account spirituality and happiness.

Multiple Roles of Middle Managers in Agile Project Governance: An Activity Theory Perspective

Project governance (PG) is an important activity in agile software development (ASD) projects. Middle managers (MMs) are part of the governance structure in ASD projects. PG and middle management phenomena in ASD projects are under-researched and not fully understood. This ongoing study aims to fill a gap by investigating the roles of MMs in agile PG through the lens of Activity Theory. The study adopts a qualitative and interpretive case study approach. To date, the study has identified 24 roles that MMs perform during agile PG.

The Wedding Music Industry: An Adaptation of Andy Irawan Music during the Covid-19 Pandemic

This study aims to identify, reveal, analyze and describe adaptation of Andy Irawan Music's efforts to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in the wedding music industry. The author uses an interdisciplinary approach, by borrowing theories and concepts from the disciplines of musicology, sociology, and economics. The object in this study is industry and adaptation, with the subject Andy Irawan Music. The research design uses an interpretive case study located in Semarang. The data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results show that Andy Irawan Music could adapt during the Covid-19 pandemic. Adaptation efforts made by Andy Irawan Music include appearing with new formations, optimizing the use of social media/ digital platforms, applying virtual music, following recommended health protocols, participating in wedding showcases, and creating Andy Irawan Disciples.