bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tensions in (re)presenting the self in reflexive autoethnographical research
Authors: Haynes Kathryn
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore a number of tensions arising in the presentation of autoethnographical research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a reflexive autoethnographical account of undertaking and publically presenting autoethnographical research.

Findings

The paper problematises the extent and form of disclosure; the voice and representation of the researcher; the difficulties in dealing with sensitive subjects; conflicts between public and private domains; questions of validity; the extent and form of theorisation of autoethnographical narratives; and emotion and performativity in presenting autoethnographical research.

Originality/value

The paper provides an analysis of the potential of autoethnography, while exploring the presentational and performative context of academia.
Reflexive guidelines for writing organizational culture
Authors: Mahadevan Jasmin
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines for reflexive ethnographic writing that transports the researcher's claims of having conducted participatory reflexive research to her audience.

Design/methodology/approach

Auto‐ethnographic vignettes from the author's own ethnographic research are used to establish five levels of reflexivity for writing organizational ethnography.

Findings

The author argues that the audience needs to be able to judge a researcher's claims to reflexivity through his/her writing. Yet, due to the participation mode of reflexivity while doing ethnographic research, the researcher is not in control over his/her own reflexive writing. Therefore, processes between three groups of stakeholders, namely researcher, field and audience, and their power relations need to be considered in reflexive writing. The author calls this process ethnographic triangulating and derives a five‐tiered model of reflexive writing from it.

Research limitations/implications

The paper offers a perspective on how to write organizational ethnography. Others will have to put this perspective into practice.

Originality/value

The paper moves the participation mode of reflexivity to the level of writing, thereby offering a fully conceived view on reflexivity that acknowledges the influence of field and audience on ethnographic writing.
Leadership in Local Government
Authors: Maddock Su
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this paper is to explore the connections between the individual philosophies of chief executives in local government and their approach to implementing change and service improvement, and how chief executives interpret their role in the improvement process, given the pressures from government and localities.
Executive Coaching and its Role in Effective Leadership Development
Authors: Jones Dilys
Published: August 2011

Executive coaching has a substantial role to play in the development of leadership in the public sector. It has been long espoused by the private sector, for this and for other uses. It is becoming used increasingly in the public sector. This article sets out how coaching benefits leadership development and gives examples illustrating the points.
Leadership Against Demand
Authors: Seddon John
Published: August 2011

This article focuses on leadership as a job: what challenges leaders actually face and what they need to do to meet them. It argues that leaders of organisations in the public sector need to focus on improvements to frontline services to the public, while also satisfying government agendas and targets. A leader's role should not focus on managing people but on improving the system with the people and this systems view requires leadership against demand.
It Must be so Different from Being in the NHS’: Working as Director of Oxfam
Authors: Stocking Barbara
Published: August 2011

Barbara Stocking relays her experience as Director of Oxfam and draws parallels, themes and differences with her time working for the NHS and the civil service.
Transforming or Transacting? The Role of Leaders in Organisational Transition
Authors: Peck Edward , Dickinson Helen , Smith Judith
Published: August 2011

Within accounts of and frameworks for organisational leadership, especially in the public sector, there is continuing enthusiasm for the distinction between transformational and transactional models, where the latter is typically compared unfavourably with the former. This paper reports on a review of the literature on organisation transition (that is mergers and acquisitions), which found this distinction helpful in ordering the material considered. Unexpectedly, the review found that more of the advice contained within the papers examined focused on interventions that could be broadly categorised as transactional rather than transformational. This seems an important finding in a context where the distinction continues to have salience and when transformational characteristics are often seen as being essential to leadership and transactional attributes are perceived as merely being suggestive of management.
Implementing the NHS Leadership Qualities Framework in the West of Berkshire Primary Care Trusts
Authors: Crowder Ros , Woods Maggie
Published: August 2011

The Leadership Qualities Framework (LQF) is a tool developed by the NHS Leadership Centre in 2002 specifically for NHS staff. It is based on research carried out with NHS trust chief executives to determine the relevant qualities that are required for effective leadership in the NHS. Although the initial research was focused on chief executives the tool was deemed applicable more widely to other staff working in the NHS
Coaching Psychology: Applying Integrative Coaching Within Education
Authors: Passmore Jonathan
Published: August 2011

Executive coaching has become a popular leadership development tool over the past decade. To be effective, coaches need to reflect on the lessons from counselling research from the past four decades and on the emerging coaching research to develop coaching models that are evidenced based.
Alan Griffin, Children's Services Manager at the Chilston Service at Barnardos in Tunbridge Wells
Authors: Clements Judy , Towl Graham
Published: August 2011

Numerous contributors to the BJLPS have commented about the importance of a conceptualisation of leadership at a range of organisational levels. For our interview in this issue Graham Towl was in conversation with Alan Griffin, Children's Services Manager at the Chilston Service at Barnardos in Tunbridge Wells. The Chilston project enjoys a national reputation as a centre for good practice in working with some challenging and vulnerable children. The high‐quality resources of the project are drawn upon from throughout the South East (and sometimes beyond). Such effective local leadership is probably one of the more demanding but hidden roles in public services.Alan Griffin has a background working in both the health sector and Social Services. Working for Barnardos has been his first job in the third sector. He is a qualified social worker and therapist.
Value‐based Leadership: A Third Sector View
Authors: Kirchner Astrid
Published: August 2011

If the third sector leadership style is to become the model for other sectors then the third sector needs to raise its game to fulfil this evolving role. As a whole the sector is taking leadership and leadership development more seriously, however, in order to raise the bar the sector needs to be seen to:• invest more in development• ensure effective recruitment and succession planning• provide robust governance.The Association for Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (Acevo) as an organisation is campaigning for greater professionalism and stronger leadership for the sector.
Developing Leadership Wisdom
Authors: Adams Anne
Published: August 2011

Leadership wisdom has been inadequately addressed until now because it has not been well‐defined or easily measured. This article explores the nature of leadership wisdom and its incorporation into the Leading Across Boundaries programme run by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and endorsed by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.It will be argued that leadership wisdom is an essential component of success in a fast‐paced, changing and complex environment and three questions will be answered.1. Why should you be interested in a case study about pharmacists?2. What is leadership wisdom?3. How did we develop leadership wisdom?
Developing Leadership Talent: Transforming St Mary's Hospital
Authors: Campbell Liz
Published: August 2011

This article provides a case study on the transformation programme undertaken by St Mary's NHS Trust on St Mary's Hospital. This programme developed a multidisciplinary leadership community and performance coaching culture to unlock staff potential under difficult operating constraints. Leaders from a range of multi‐professional groups were developed as coaches to support the transformation programme of St Mary's Hospital.In partnership with performance development consultancy Lane4, action learning groups and 360 degree feedback were used to create a more open culture where people felt they could air their opinions and suggest operational solutions. This caused a positive ripple effect throughout the hospital. Return on investment was demonstrated by cost savings and efficiency improvements, ultimately leading to better patient care.
Give me the Child and I'll Give You the Leader. What can attachment theory teach us about leadership?
Authors: Fraser Duncan
Published: August 2011

This paper considers John Bowlby's work on attachment theory as being a useful model for considering how our prelanguage needs influence the way we think, act, feel and behave as leaders and people. It considers the four types: secure and the three variations of insecure; ambivalent; avoidant and disorganised and how they inform the leader's view of self, view of others and how we are likely to behave under stress.It further offers the metaphor of ‘attachment’ and ‘loss’ to help us review and reflect on the way in which leaders and organisations ‘parent’ their staff, projects, organisations and are parented by their bosses, boards and funders.
A Leadership Model for Export
Authors: Kirchner Astrid
Published: August 2011

This article will explore the link between authority and leadership in a third sector context. It will outline acevo's leadership model and provide insights into the current challenges being faced by leaders in the third sector. The article emphasises the importance of acevo's code of conduct as a guarantee for great leadership.
Taking the Fear Factor out of Leadership in Public Services
Authors: McPherson Blair
Published: August 2011

The NHS has been accused of operating a ‘macho’ management culture and now there are claims that management bullying is endemic in social services. This article explores the origins of this culture. Is it caused by the performance‐driven, target‐obsessed and finance‐led government policy to assign blame or is it down to a lack of people management skills by managers? The article goes on to describe Lancashire County Council's management development programme, which has been developed as an ongoing scheme to give managers within the organisation the confidence and the competence to manage effectively.
First Nations and Inuit Mental Wellness Strategic Action Plan
Authors: Langlois Kathy
Published: August 2011

Many First Nations and Inuit communities in Canada confront historical, cultural, socioeconomic and geographic barriers that have a profound impact on mental wellness. In 2006, a Senate Committee reported on mental health, mental illness and addiction. A key result has been the creation of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). Around the same time, Health Canada established a Mental Wellness Advisory Committee (MWAC) in collaboration with the representative bodies of Canada's First Nations and Inuit ‐ the Assembly of First Nations and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami ‐ to develop a strategic action plan to improve mental wellness outcomes of First Nations and Inuit. A participatory, inclusive and consensus‐based approach to the MWAC work has been key to the successful development of the strategic action plan and has brought credence and legitimacy to the process. MWAC, the strategic action plan and the ready linkages with the MHCC are important guides for moving forwards to improve the mental wellness outcomes of Canada's First Nations and Inuit.
An IIMHL Leadership Exchange focusing on Indigenous Mental Health Issues
Authors: Mussell William
Published: August 2011

Bill participated in the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership exchanges in 2005 in Wellington New Zealand and in 2007 in Ottawa Canada. Bill was interviewed by Janet Peters (IIMHL) about his IIMHL experiences and the benefits for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Leadership in a Paradoxical Public‐sector Environment: The Challenges of Ambiguity
Authors: Tripathi Smita , Dixon John
Published: August 2011

At the heart of any public‐sector reform discourse are the conflicting contentions about what constitutes good public leadership. The battles fought ‐ and to be fought ‐ over public‐sector reform are over the appropriate role of the state. These contending perspectives are the traditional hierarchical model and the neo‐liberal managerialist model of public administration. The aspiration to build a responsive and cost‐effective public sector that appropriately balances public and private interests inevitably confronts the challenge of how best to impose neo‐liberal managerialist values and practices onto a hierarchical politico‐administrative system, grounded on the premise that the state is best placed to determine, protect and promote the public interest, without inevitably creating a counter‐productive paradoxical public‐management environment. In this public‐sector reform scenario, it is necessary to foster a form of leadership ‐ both political and organisational ‐ that demands of itself that it be capable of perpetual adaption in the face of ambiguity and which change. That is a great deal to ask of both shrewd politicians and consummate bureaucrats.
Ensuring the Capacity to Deliver ‐ New Labour and the Public Service Agreement Framework, 1997‐2007
Authors: Matthews Felicity
Published: August 2011

Since 1997, the Labour Government sought to respond to the dilemmas and consequences of the earlier New Public Management reforms, according to the two principles of joined‐up government and public service delivery. A key aspect of its reform programme has been the public service agreement (PSA) framework, a target‐based performance regime that acts as a vehicle for the majority of spending and policy decisions across government and on the ground. Analysing its implementation and success, the article suggests that, in theory, the PSA regime provides an important example of steering at a distance as a form of political leadership, wherein the role of the centre is to provide the strategic framework for policy delivery. However, there are several structural constraints that have impeded the effectiveness of the framework, such as the pervading Whitehall departmental culture, and the tensions between top‐down performance management and devolved autonomy on the ground.
Public Service Law: Individual Performance Appraisals and Target‐setting Processes
Authors: Mehde Veith
Published: August 2011

In the German Civil Service, a system of performance appraisals has played a pivotal role with regard to promotion. Therefore, individual appraisals have frequently been objects of far‐reaching judicial review. In addition, the modern target culture leads to an integration of elements of target setting and evaluation into the work of the civil service. Resulting tensions are an expression of a fundamental difference between traditional bureaucratic administrations based on the principles of the Rechtsstaat and the demands of a culture associated with the impacts of New Public Management. The article depicts that in an environment based on judicial scrutiny, performance‐related elements almost necessarily lead to more, rather than less, bureaucracy and possibly even to negative impacts on the motivation of the people evaluated. Consequently, the full‐scale Rechtsstaat might prevent the efficiency‐enhancing elements from taking effect.
Professionals as an Implementation Barrier to Change in Public Organisations: Political and Identity Perspectives
Authors: Fassauer Gabriele , Schirmer Frank
Published: August 2011

Professionals are often seen as an implementation barrier to change in public organisations. Although their commitment is judged to be crucial, they often behave rather reservedly and may even oppose change. The power models and micro‐political theories of change both conceptualise this resistance as a defence of their professional interests, their benefits and their power status. Acknowledging that political strategies, tactics and games played have a crucial role in the implement of change in public organisations, this paper expands this perspective by dealing with issues related to professional identity. Identity‐related conflicts often go beyond the issues of protecting and enhancing benefits and power. Therefore, this paper focuses on the central characteristics of identity and examines the identity‐related aspects of the political perspective of change management.
Outcomes of the New Zealand Blueprint Executive Leadership and Management Learning Programmes
Authors: Peters Janet , Pitts‐Brown Sally
Published: August 2011

The Executive Leadership and Management Programme (ELMP) and the advanced programme (AELMP) were founded in New Zealand in 2004. The Blueprint Centre for Learning was contracted by the then Mental Health Workforce Development Programme to develop and deliver a leadership and management programme for staff in the mental health and addictions sector. The programme is now managed under Te Pou (the National Center for Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development). The Blueprint Centre for Learning is the only New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and ISO 9001 accredited training provider focusing on mental health in New Zealand. Blueprint's focus is on ‘living the learning' and the organisation has a spirit of ‘passion for people and potential’. While some basic statistics indicate the success of the programmes, it is timely to conduct a more in‐depth qualitative evaluation of them. Thus, the aim of this project was to examine the outcomes (personal, professional and organisational) perceived to have occurred as a result of attending the programmes.
Interview
Authors: Davison Mark
Published: August 2011

Mark is a freelance consultant and a Director at The Centre for Public Innovation (www.publicinnovation.org.uk). He has worked in public services since 1986. Working across the statutory, voluntary and third sector Mark has led service delivery in children's services, community safety and housing and homelessness.As a consultant, Mark currently works directly with government departments and across the wider regional and local delivery infrastructure. His work includes strategy development and support to embed and encourage innovation in organisations. Mark specialises in developing and delivering outcome‐based commissioning and performance management products and leadership training. He is a highly experienced trainer, facilitator and coach and a Fellow of RSA.When not striving for better outcomes in public services, Mark studies horticulture, plays badminton, travels extensively and, as often as possible, watches movies with an annoyingly analytical critics eye and reads graphic novels.
Interview
Authors: Onyett Steve
Published: August 2011

Steve has a passion for leadership development and coaching that has taken him from heading clinical psychology services into a variety of roles in both provider and commissioning organisations in health and social care. He currently leads on leadership and teamwork development for the South West Development Centre and runs his own successful consultancy (www.steveonyett.co.uk) offering solution focused coaching, facilitation, research and training. He is also a Leadership Development Associate with the King's Fund and Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England.Steve has published widely and recently led a national survey of home treatment teams and the ‘Developing Effective Local Leadership for Social Inclusion’ initiative as part of the National Social Inclusion Programme. He is passionate about approaches to development that strengthen the fabric of relationships within complex systems. This sense of wonder in the random beauty of systems is also manifest in a passion for self‐indulgent jazz improvisations, and cycling, running or walking in beautiful places.
Engaging leadership part one: competencies are like Brighton Pier
Authors: Alban‐Metcalfe John , Alimo‐Metcalfe Beverly
Published: August 2011

Part one of this paper draws a distinction between the concepts of the personal qualities and values required of those occupying a leadership role, leadership competencies, and engaging leadership behaviour. On the basis of reviews of the literature and survey, empirical and case study data, it concludes that personal qualities and values, and leadership competencies are necessary, but not sufficient, for effective leadership. Part two goes on to consider the relationship between leader development and leadership development, and to present a ‘mental model’, which seeks to integrate these three concepts and to relate them to the distinction between leader behaviour and leadership behaviour, as well as the development of human and social capital.
Engaging leadership part two: an integrated model of leadership development
Authors: Alban‐Metcalfe John , Alban‐Metcalfe Juliette , Alimo‐Metcalfe Beverly
Published: August 2011

Part one of this paper (Alban‐Metcalfe & Alimo‐Metcalfe, 2009) concluded that personal qualities and values, and leadership competencies, are necessary, but not sufficient, for effective leadership. Part two considers the relationship between leader development and leadership development, and presents a ‘conceptual model’ that seeks to integrate three approaches to understanding leadership, and to relate them to the distinction between leader behaviour and leadership behaviour, and to the development of ‘human’ and ‘social capital’.
The Challenge of Simple Questions: Positioning Refugee Mental Health in the Global Health Agenda
Authors: Ager Alastair
Published: August 2011

To position refugee mental health more effectively on the developing global health and humanitarian agendas requires effective communication in policy‐making processes. The capacity to answer three simple but demanding questions arguably determines the readiness of those working in this field to seek such influence. Reviewing current knowledge on the global context of refugee mental health with respect to the questions ‘What is the need?’, ‘What can we do about it?’ and ‘Will it work?’ suggests significant conceptual advance in this area over the last decade, and increasing consensus on broad intervention strategy. It remains important to document impact more effectively, however, if policy‐makers are to be persuaded to invest more resources in promoting mental health interventions with displaced and war‐affected populations.
Urban Multilingualism and the Development of a Local Communication Support Strategy in Tower Hamlets: Fieldwork Report
Authors: Kassayie Berhanu
Published: August 2011

This article reports the outcomes of a study on communication support, commissioned to develop a borough‐wide strategy in 2003 by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.The research stems from a recognition of communication as a key to successful delivery of public services and enhancement of a multicultural community.The focus is on ‘communication’ (rather than ‘language’), since it captures issues beyond the exchange of information through words: interpersonal interactions and relationships, techniques and modes of organising information exchange. Language is a key component within the broad ambit of communication mechanism and skills. Hence interpretation and translation are perceived as models of communications support alongside advocacy, integrated team, multilingual professional team, family/friends and minors, supported language, symbols and signs, and Plain English.While engaging in the debate and highlighting some of the broader issues concerning communication support services, the focus is on the following main issues:• policy frameworks and guiding principles in communication support• methods and techniques for needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation of communication support• communication support provision in Tower Hamlets including quantifying need, actual state of provision and users' perceptions.Probably among the first of its kind, the strategy draws on existing knowledge and good practice to develop a common framework for public services in Tower Hamlets. It is believed that it will serve a pioneering role in co‐ordinated existing and developing coherent approaches to communication support.
Mental Health: Facing the Challenges, Building Solutions
Authors: Robinson Kim
Published: August 2011

The constructive involvement of all actors, including persons with mental disabilities themselves, their families, politicians, the legal and medical professions and NGOs is vital. These actors are partners, not antagonists, and they all have a contribution to make. (Conclusion 13 from a seminar organised by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, hosted by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in February 2003 [p123])
Practice Report: Changes in the Eating Patterns of Asylum Seekers in Dispersal
Authors: Maffia Cath
Published: August 2011

This article examines the changes in the eating patterns of newly arrived asylum seekers in a dispersal area, and how these changes reflect the massive social changes in their lives. Some of the reasons for these changes are examined, and suggestions made for possible interventions by health care professionals.
Giving More than they Receive? Migrant Women and Welfare in Britain
Authors: Sales Rosemary
Published: August 2011

This article addresses contemporary presentations of migrants, particularly women, as dependents and a ‘burden’ on welfare. Focusing mainly on Britain, it shows that, while immigration policies increasingly restrict their access to official welfare, migrants are crucial to the provision of welfare both to their own family and community and in mainstream services, including professional roles as well as in informal employment. Migrants are involved in complex networks of caring relations, often across national boundaries, in which they may provide care to others in order to provide for dependents back home.
Providing Health Services to Migrants and Refugees Settling in Victoria, Australia: An Analysis of the Complexity, Cost and Policy Implications for Public Health
Authors: Renzaho Andre
Published: August 2011

The aim of the research was to identify factors related to the increased cost of providing health services to clients from a non‐English speaking background (NESB), using a cross‐sectional analysis of the administrative records of clients using community health services in the Northern Metropolitan region of Melbourne for the 2001/2002 financial year. The higher cost of providing services to NESB clients was influenced by four factors: increased consultation time, group attendance to an appointment, increased interpreting cost and the type of service provider. Family members and multilingual staff play a significant role in providing informal interpreting services or low‐cost support for NESB consultations, and these activities should receive appropriate support. Additional funding is needed to support interpreting requirements when dealing with the health needs of NESB clients. Vertical funding equity would provide a better solution than the current horizontal equalisation funding.
Moral and Cultural Boundaries in Representations of Migrant Women in Italy
Authors: Lyon Dawn
Published: August 2011

This article makes use of the concept of boundary‐work (Lamont, 2002) to explore representations of migrant women. The research is based on 35 life‐history interviews with Bulgarian and Hungarian migrant women resident in Italy, and on 18 semi‐structured interviews with Italian women, conducted between 2001 and 2003. The analysis compares the distinctions made about migrant women by ‘native’ Italian women and by migrant women themselves, along the dimensions of ‘moral’ and ‘cultural’ boundaries. The article demonstrates the analytical purchase of boundary‐work in disentangling the distinctions that underpin processes of inclusion and exclusion, and the construction of self and other. These findings have implications for debates on social and emotional well‐being.
Young Asylum Seekers' Conceptions of ‘Home’ at a Time of Transition to Adulthood
Authors: Sirriyeh Ala
Published: August 2011

This paper discusses findings from qualitative research exploring young asylum seekers' (aged 18‐25) definitions and experiences of ‘home’ and ‘belonging’ at a time of transition to adulthood and adjustment to life in a new country. Previous research on refugees and asylum seekers has focused largely on either children or adults, often failing to highlight the particular experiences of those in young adulthood. It will be argued that young asylum seekers of this age have specific needs and experiences associated with the dual transition they face, in both adapting to life in the UK and becoming adults, and the changing support network and entitlements available to them as they go through this process.
Cross‐sectional Study on Psychiatric Symptoms in Immigrant Patients in a First Aid Setting: The Situation at Padova Hospital, 2003‐2004
Authors: Sessa F , Campagnola N , Marini M , Toniolo I , Cremonese C
Published: August 2011

Italy has recently become a country of net immigration, posing new challenges for health care, particularly psychiatry. Previous studies on migration and mental health have focused predominantly on individual psychopathologies or individual immigrant populations. The aim of this work is to determine the demand by foreign citizens for intervention at Padova‐based psychiatric services and to assess any differences in presentation of psychopathological symptoms in the various immigrant groups, with a view to developing adequate organisational and clinical responses. We reviewed 3,385 psychiatric consultations with Italian and immigrant patients, conducted between 2003 and 2004. Eleven per cent of these consultations were for immigrants, who were younger than their Italian counterparts. The most common geographical area of origin was Eastern Europe. North African immigrants were mainly male, while Eastern Europeans and Americans were chiefly female. Eastern European immigrants had a similar psychopathological pattern to Italians; North and Sub‐Saharan African and Asian patients presented more psychotic symptoms. The results of this study may contribute to planning treatment and prevention of psychotic disorders and to improving management of somatoform disorders by strengthening access to psychiatric treatment in the community.
Racism in Brazilian Aquarelle ‐ The Place of Denying
Authors: Martins Francisco
Published: August 2011

This article examines Brazilian racism through the idea of negation. The psychoanalytical concept of denial is present and recognised in current Brazilian racist statements. It is analysed in examples which occur in Brazilian speech in everyday life and allow racist thoughts and words to remain in Brazilian minds and actions.
Field Report: Perceptions of Social Stratification and Well‐being in Refugee Communities in North‐Western Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerackody Chamindra , Fernando Suman
Published: August 2011

This paper reports findings of a study that was undertaken as a part of a wider programme of research and capacity building in Sri Lanka. The analysis of individual aspects of well‐being and how they had been affected by displacement provides a basis for the planning of interventions by helping agencies, and for training people who work with refugees.
The Safety of Asylum‐Seeking Women
Authors: Kramer Sander
Published: August 2011

This article presents a study on the safety of women and girls in asylum seekers' centres in the Netherlands. The study is part of a series of studies conducted in order to answer questions raised in Parliament about the safety of women in asylum seekers' centres and trafficking of women. It focuses on a study conducted in 2003 by Pharos, a centre of expertise on refugees and health, and TransAct (now Movisie), a centre of expertise in gender‐specific care and sexual violence. The article provides some figures and context, discusses reported incidents, gives a sketch of the daily life of women and girls at the centres, analyses sources of danger and protection, and presents an overview of the strategies women use to protect themselves.
Community Activism and Empowerment of Turkish‐Speaking Migrant Women in London
Authors: Hatzidimitriadou Eleni , Çakir Sakine
Published: August 2011

Post‐migration hardship often affects the integration processes of migrants from non‐English speaking countries and in particular of migrant women who often come as ‘dependents’ of male migrants. Institutional, social and cultural barriers make integration for migrant women slow and difficult to achieve. Involvement in community self‐help and mutual aid is an important strategy for disadvantaged groups in overcoming hardship and building social networks and capital. Community organisations are a bridge for migrants to access welfare rights and benefits, and to communicate with host local communities. This paper discusses the findings of a small‐scale study on the community activism of Turkish‐speaking women in London. Focus group meetings were conducted with self‐help/mutual aid groups run by Turkish‐speaking migrant women, using a typology of group political ideology and focus of change. Analysis showed that group participation was an empowering experience and a crucial strategy for integration in the host society. Depending on the type of the group, women acknowledged personal or social benefits from group participation. Implications for promoting service user empowerment and involvement of migrant communities through mutual aid activities are considered.
Making Sense? The Support of Dispersed Asylum Seekers
Authors: Brown Philip , Horrocks Christine
Published: August 2011

Reforms of the system for the accommodation and support needs of asylum seekers entering the United Kingdom (UK) during the twentieth and early twenty‐first centuries have meant that the support of asylum seekers has largely moved away from mainstream social work to dedicated asylum support teams. This article investigates how the workers engaged as ‘asylum support workers’ understand and make sense of their participation in the support of asylum seekers dispersed across the UK. By drawing on qualitative research with asylum support workers, this paper looks at how such workers make sense of their roles and how the ‘support’ of asylum seekers is conceived. The paper concludes that, by working in this political and controversial area of work, workers are constantly finding ways to negotiate their support role within a dominant framework of control.
Rural to Urban Migration: A District‐Level Analysis for India
Authors: Mitra Arup , Murayama Mayumi
Published: August 2011

Using the 2001 Census data, this paper analyses district‐level rural‐to‐urban migration rates (both intra‐state and inter‐state) among males and females separately. Though many of the relatively poor and backward states actually show large population mobility, male migration is also prominent in the relatively high‐income states. Rural women, on the other hand, usually migrate within the boundaries of the states. The social networks effects are prevalent among the short‐distance migrants, and the North/South divide in the Indian context is indeed a significant phenomenon, with the exception of a few metropolitan cities. Looking at the effect of factors at the place of destination, prospects for better job opportunities are a major determinant of male migration. Low castes, minority groups and women show network effects. The paper finally brings out the effect of migration on health.
Developing youth's cultural and social skills through a social‐virtual curriculum
Authors: Eteokleous Nikleia
Published: August 2011

Purpose

This study seeks to evaluate the application of a social‐virtual curriculum delivered through in‐classroom and web‐based activities, aiming to develop youth's social‐cultural skills, cultural competency and multicultural awareness. Specifically, the study evaluates the overall impact of the curriculum to the participating youth's Universality‐Diversity Orientation, diversity of contact, relativistic appreciation (RA) and comfort with differences. It examines the influence of gender, ethnicity and religion to the aforementioned variables. Finally, it aims to identify the role of the curriculum and the Web 2.0 in promoting multiculturalism and multicultural education and in changing youth's perceptions, and attitudes towards others.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was applied, using the Miville‐Guzman Universality‐Diversity Scale that measures an individual's Universal‐Diverse Orientation. Descriptive (frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and Cronbach's alpha) and inferential (the independent t‐test, the paired‐sample t‐test and the one‐way analysis of variances) statistics were conducted. Questionnaires were given to 303 students. The pre‐measurement took place in April 2008 (70 per cent response rate) and the post‐measurement took place in June‐July 2009 (45 per cent response rate).

Findings

The study discusses the impact of the social‐virtual curriculum, the influence of gender, ethnicity and religion, the role of the social‐virtual curriculum and the Web 2.0 tools in promoting multiculturalism and multicultural education and in changing youth's beliefs, perceptions and attitudes towards others and the new learning, collaboration and communication culture established.

Originality/value

The study constitutes the foundation for further research to be conducted regarding the educational use of Web 2.0 tools, the in‐depth examination of the application of the educational networking within the school curriculum.
Gender and the production of elites in the Nordic countries: new directions in research
Authors: Hovden Jorid , Kvande Elin , Rasmussen Bente
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The paper criticizes current directions in research on women and management. The purpose of this paper is to propose new directions for such research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual and is based on a review of recent literature on elites and the gendering of elite positions internationally and in the Nordic countries. This literature is discussed using studies of changing power dynamics and the development of welfare state services in a context of globalization.

Findings

The paper argues that one needs to move away from the focus on individual traits and “female management” to study the processes and practices that (re)produce power differences between men and women in the organisations where they take place. Two contextual factors make new directions in research necessary. The first is the knowledge economy changing organisations from bureaucratic towards democratic forms at the level of production and the financialization of the economy centralizing power at corporate level. The second is the challenging of Nordic welfare states by globalization of the economy. The welfare state results in a “democratization of motherhood” that increases women's participation in the economy, but may limit their opportunity to obtain elite positions.

Originality/value

To understand women's exclusion of elite positions, new research should combine multidimensional analyses of gender and power to explore the symbolic connections between masculinity and “big money”.
Health and work locus of control during women managers' careers
Authors: Muhonen Tuija
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine subjective health among women managers and professionals during their careers. Further, the role of work locus of control (WLC) for women managers' health is analyzed in a longitudinal perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a follow‐up study among 38 women managers and professionals who participated in an earlier investigation in 1996. Data were collected by means of interviews and two short questionnaires.

Findings

The results of the analysis showed that nine women had maintained their health during their career, whereas others had various health problems and some women had also suffered from burnout syndrome. There was no significant change in WLC between the two investigations. The healthy women were characterized by stability in their WLC beliefs, rather than externality or internality.

Research limitations/implications

Even though the results are based on a limited number of participants, the study points out factors that can be crucial for women managers' and professionals' health. Further research is needed to corroborate the findings in the study.

Originality/value

The paper contributes further understanding of factors that are important for professional women's health. It also suggests that the role of WLC beliefs for health might be more complex than the internal‐external dimension.
The second shift: working women in India
Authors: Desai Malavika , Majumdar Bishakha , Chakraborty Tanusree , Ghosh Kamalika
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The study aims to establish the effect of personal resourcefulness and marital adjustment on job satisfaction and life satisfaction of working women in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 300 women are studied – 100 each in the working women, home‐based working women, and homemakers categories – using the following scales: socio economic status scale, general health questionnaire, self‐esteem inventory, life satisfaction scale, perceived stress scale, marital adjustment scale, the self‐control schedule, and job satisfaction questionnaire.

Findings

It is found that the home‐based working women are the least stressed, most well adjusted, and the most satisfied with their careers among the groups studied. Their ways of perceiving and handling stress are found to be more effective than those used by women in the other two groups.

Practical implications

The study implicates women friendly work policies – like flexible job hours and home office – as well as a cooperative home environment and assistance for housework. Stress relief programmes, yoga and an overall change of attitude towards housework, female employees and sex roles are needed.

Originality/value

The study shows that a positive attitude towards their work in the family and adoption of practical family‐friendly policies by organizations is likely to enhance productivity for the female workforce. Various need‐based interventions are suggested.
User acceptance of hedonic versus utilitarian social networking web sites
Authors: Pillai Anandan , Mukherjee Jaydeep
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The technology acceptance model (TAM) was developed by Davieset al.to understand the utilitarian benefits of web sites. In recent times, scholars have extended TAM as theoretical underpinning to understand user acceptance of social networking web sites (SNWs) that were hedonic in nature, which seemed inappropriate. The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences in the user acceptance phenomenon of hedonic versus utilitarian SNWs, and highlight that it is essential to provide justice to varying value propositions offered by SNWs.

Design/methodology/approach

As the research study was variance based and followed a positivistic paradigm, the authors used survey methodology and collected data through online and offline questionnaires. In total, 181 usable responses were subjected to mediation analysis using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The perceived usefulness emerged as a significant mediator in the case of utilitarian SNWs and perceived enjoyment emerged as a significant mediator in the case of hedonic SNWs user acceptance phenomenon.

Research limitations/implications

One web site each from hedonic and utilitarian SNWs was considered for the study. Future studies may be conducted by incorporating multiple web sites in each category to further emphasize the findings. Also, future studies might study the user acceptance phenomenon on the theoretical underpinning of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, which is much comprehensive than TAM.

Practical implications

There seems to be a notion that SNWs need to be hedonic and offer entertainment value proposition to attract large number of users. However, SNWs with valuable utilitarian value propositions built around appreciable ideas would also be accepted by users as an efficient networking tool.

Originality/value

Research on user acceptance of SNWs has been focused mostly on hedonic SNWs likeFacebookandMySpace, while user acceptance of utilitarian SNWs likeLinkedInandRyzehas remained an unexplored domain.
Mammoth market: the transformation of food retailing in Canada, 1946‐1965
Authors: Boothman Barry E.C.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to appraise the spread of supermarkets in Canada during the mid‐twentieth century. It examines how corporate chains altered the organization of distribution, reconfigured shopping experiences, and promised gains realized through greater business volume.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes a mix of primary and secondary sources to compare how companies responded to opportunities for mass marketing that emerged in the post‐war era. The perspective is grounded in the theory of managerial capitalism, which was originally elaborated by Alfred D. Chandler.

Findings

The paper highlights how mass food retailing in Canada shared some attributes normally associated with the rise of managerial capitalism, but it also reviews the variations and highlights the difficulties faced by firms despite their jump to giant size. In particular, it stresses how the leading companies did not build secure positions.

Research limitations/implications

Corporate archives in Canadian retailing either did not survive or remain inaccessible. The essay therefore draws upon a mix of sources including company publications and government investigations. The paper highlights the inability of companies to realize permanent gains commonly associated with large firm size or mass retailing. It stresses that there was no one “model” of corporate development.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates the complexities associated with developing strategic leadership in retailing and therefore should be valuable to educators and practitioners.