title: Communication challenges of web development SMEs: The benefits and challenges of organizational tensions

authors: Sheffer, Bridget Reynolds

subjects: management communication

abstract: This thesis examines the communicative constitution of organisations (CCO) through the communication challenges faced by web development small and medium enterprises (Cooren, Kuhn, Cornelissen, & Clark, 2011; Putnam & Nicotera, 2009). Using grounded theory method (GTM) (Charmaz, 2014; Glaser & Strauss, 1967), research was conducted in the Silicon Slopes, a high-tech industry pocket in Utah, in the United States of America. The data was collected by conducting 33 interviews in 26 web development firms. Ten of the firms were small firms as defined by the OECD (2005), and the remaining 16 were medium-sized organisations.  Within the firms, several communication challenges emerged from the data in the form of entangled tensions.  
Entangled tensions are imbricated dialectical tensions interwoven with knotted tensions (Sheep, Fairhurst, & Khazanchi, 2016), and were identified in this research through the use of GTM (Dey, 1999; Martin & Turner, 1986). Knotted tensions result from entanglements of organisational conflict related to innovation and the accompanying complexities of technology (Sheep et al., 2016, p. 4). Dialectical tensions result when two opposite interests simultaneously pull against each other (Putnam, 2015). Combining these two tension orientations assisted in understanding the process of constituting an organisation through communication practices (Kuhn & Schoeneborn, 2015). The primary entangled tensions presented in this research project are metacommunication tensions, ambidexterity, expectations, constrained creativity, and trust. In conjunction with the entangled tensions in these high-tech firms, the data also revealed strategies used by small- and medium-sized web development firms to reconcile the tensions.  
Tension reconciliation in small and medium high-tech firms was a layered experience. Tension reconciliation strategies consisted of three approaches. The first approach involved incorporating soft skills training into the organisation. Soft skills comprise interpersonal communication (people) skills, such as listening, and conflict resolution among organisational members. The second approach involved encouraging the development of organisational literacy. Organisational literacy is the enactment of knowledge management in the organisation as the organisational members teach stakeholders how the web development process occurs. The third approach involved working to simplify highly-technical languages and processes used in the firm for nontechnical stakeholders such as clients, organisational members in nontechnical roles, or investors.  
The findings from this research investigation have several theoretical implications for those studying CCO and organisational tensions. First, I argue that entangled tensions are a new contribution to CCO and organisational tension theory development. Second, I claim that firm members reactively and proactively resolve organisational tensions. Reactive reconciliation occurs during a communication crisis while proactive tension resolutions occur during meetings or other formal organisational communication practices. Third, and finally, the practical implications of the research demonstrate that small and medium-web development firms should be proactive in their translation and improvement of web development literacy practices as these are critical management communication strategies.

text: Communication challenges of web development SMEs: The benefits and challenges of organizational tensions This thesis examines the communicative constitution of organisations (CCO) through the communication challenges faced by web development small and medium enterprises (Cooren, Kuhn, Cornelissen, & Clark, 2011; Putnam & Nicotera, 2009). Using grounded theory method (GTM) (Charmaz, 2014; Glaser & Strauss, 1967), research was conducted in the Silicon Slopes, a high-tech industry pocket in Utah, in the United States of America. The data was collected by conducting 33 interviews in 26 web development firms. Ten of the firms were small firms as defined by the OECD (2005), and the remaining 16 were medium-sized organisations.  Within the firms, several communication challenges emerged from the data in the form of entangled tensions.  
Entangled tensions are imbricated dialectical tensions interwoven with knotted tensions (Sheep, Fairhurst, & Khazanchi, 2016), and were identified in this research through the use of GTM (Dey, 1999; Martin & Turner, 1986). Knotted tensions result from entanglements of organisational conflict related to innovation and the accompanying complexities of technology (Sheep et al., 2016, p. 4). Dialectical tensions result when two opposite interests simultaneously pull against each other (Putnam, 2015). Combining these two tension orientations assisted in understanding the process of constituting an organisation through communication practices (Kuhn & Schoeneborn, 2015). The primary entangled tensions presented in this research project are metacommunication tensions, ambidexterity, expectations, constrained creativity, and trust. In conjunction with the entangled tensions in these high-tech firms, the data also revealed strategies used by small- and medium-sized web development firms to reconcile the tensions.  
Tension reconciliation in small and medium high-tech firms was a layered experience. Tension reconciliation strategies consisted of three approaches. The first approach involved incorporating soft skills training into the organisation. Soft skills comprise interpersonal communication (people) skills, such as listening, and conflict resolution among organisational members. The second approach involved encouraging the development of organisational literacy. Organisational literacy is the enactment of knowledge management in the organisation as the organisational members teach stakeholders how the web development process occurs. The third approach involved working to simplify highly-technical languages and processes used in the firm for nontechnical stakeholders such as clients, organisational members in nontechnical roles, or investors.  
The findings from this research investigation have several theoretical implications for those studying CCO and organisational tensions. First, I argue that entangled tensions are a new contribution to CCO and organisational tension theory development. Second, I claim that firm members reactively and proactively resolve organisational tensions. Reactive reconciliation occurs during a communication crisis while proactive tension resolutions occur during meetings or other formal organisational communication practices. Third, and finally, the practical implications of the research demonstrate that small and medium-web development firms should be proactive in their translation and improvement of web development literacy practices as these are critical management communication strategies.

year: 2018

title: Welfare reform: its impact on women as mothers and workers

authors: Scott, Bronwyn

subjects: welfare reform

abstract: Introduced in 1973, the Domestic Purposes Benefit was designed to give single mothers the opportunity available to partnered mothers, to provide full time care to their dependent children. However, families headed by lone mothers soon became a major social policy problem, both internationally and in New Zealand. Mimicking changes seen internationally, New Zealand’s fifth National Government introduced dramatic welfare reforms in 2012 and 2013, with the stated aim of reducing long-term welfare dependency. Single mothers have been identified as a ‘priority group’, and have consequently been the focus of much of the reforms including stricter workfare policies, so called ‘social obligations’ and a punitive sanction regime. This thesis explores the impact recent welfare reforms have had on single mothers, as mothers and as workers, and the resulting conflict between these roles. The theoretical framework for this research is informed by feminist social constructionism. Using discourse analysis, Work and Income publications and Amendment Bill reading speeches, were collected and analysed. These were then compared to analysed transcripts from semi-structured interviews with nine single mothers and seven key informants. Findings reveal that despite the numerous barriers single mothers face to entering paid employment, within Work and Income publications and ministerial speeches they are constructed as androcentric ideal workers. Single mothers’ caregiving responsibilities are rendered invisible, and are addressed only as they serve to restrict their ability to be in paid work. Although single mothers echoed much of this discursive construction, they ultimately rejected it by concluding that their caregiving responsibilities were more important than paid work. Reforms have also attacked the character of women raising children on welfare, deploying discourses that construct single mothers as lazy non-contributors, who are happy to live a supposedly lavish lifestyle at the expense of the hardworking New Zealand taxpayer. Although single mothers believed that the stereotypical mother on welfare existed, they deployed a number of tactics to resist these, and show how their circumstances and characters differed. This study contributes to a growing body of research in the wake of recent reforms in New Zealand, offering women’s experiences as a legitimate source of knowledge.

text: Welfare reform: its impact on women as mothers and workers Introduced in 1973, the Domestic Purposes Benefit was designed to give single mothers the opportunity available to partnered mothers, to provide full time care to their dependent children. However, families headed by lone mothers soon became a major social policy problem, both internationally and in New Zealand. Mimicking changes seen internationally, New Zealand’s fifth National Government introduced dramatic welfare reforms in 2012 and 2013, with the stated aim of reducing long-term welfare dependency. Single mothers have been identified as a ‘priority group’, and have consequently been the focus of much of the reforms including stricter workfare policies, so called ‘social obligations’ and a punitive sanction regime. This thesis explores the impact recent welfare reforms have had on single mothers, as mothers and as workers, and the resulting conflict between these roles. The theoretical framework for this research is informed by feminist social constructionism. Using discourse analysis, Work and Income publications and Amendment Bill reading speeches, were collected and analysed. These were then compared to analysed transcripts from semi-structured interviews with nine single mothers and seven key informants. Findings reveal that despite the numerous barriers single mothers face to entering paid employment, within Work and Income publications and ministerial speeches they are constructed as androcentric ideal workers. Single mothers’ caregiving responsibilities are rendered invisible, and are addressed only as they serve to restrict their ability to be in paid work. Although single mothers echoed much of this discursive construction, they ultimately rejected it by concluding that their caregiving responsibilities were more important than paid work. Reforms have also attacked the character of women raising children on welfare, deploying discourses that construct single mothers as lazy non-contributors, who are happy to live a supposedly lavish lifestyle at the expense of the hardworking New Zealand taxpayer. Although single mothers believed that the stereotypical mother on welfare existed, they deployed a number of tactics to resist these, and show how their circumstances and characters differed. This study contributes to a growing body of research in the wake of recent reforms in New Zealand, offering women’s experiences as a legitimate source of knowledge.

year: 2014

title: [Review of Sociocultural realities: exploring new horizons by Angus Macfarlane, Sonja Macfarlane and Melinda Webber]

authors: McNae, Rachel Elizabeth

abstract: This article reviews the book "Sociocultural realities: exploring new horizons", by Angus Macfarlane, Sonja Macfarlane and Melinda Webber, Christchurch, New Zealand, Canterbury University Press, 2015, 220 pp., $45 (softcover), ISBN 9781927145722

text: [Review of Sociocultural realities: exploring new horizons by Angus Macfarlane, Sonja Macfarlane and Melinda Webber] This article reviews the book "Sociocultural realities: exploring new horizons", by Angus Macfarlane, Sonja Macfarlane and Melinda Webber, Christchurch, New Zealand, Canterbury University Press, 2015, 220 pp., $45 (softcover), ISBN 9781927145722

year: 2017