title: Spontaneous singing in early childhood: An examination of young children’s singing at home

authors: Dean, Bronya

abstract: Spontaneous singing is widely acknowledged as an important part of young children’s everyday musical experience. However, its fleeting and often private nature makes it difficult to study. Research into young children’s singing at home frequently relies on data gathered through parental reporting, and studies are often limited to small sample sizes. In this article, I explore the nature, extent and contexts of spontaneous singing among 15 three- and four-year-old children at home. Continuous audio recording was used to collect naturalistic data during the children’s normal everyday routines. This innovative method resulted in data that could be analysed quantitatively to provide a comprehensive overview of spontaneous singing in young children’s everyday home lives that has so far been missing from the literature. Analysis showed that all the children sang spontaneously. The singing behaviours they displayed were similar to those described in the literature, but contrary to some of the literature, the most prevalent singing behaviours were improvisatory. Spontaneous singing occurred during many everyday activities; however, the strongest influence on singing was found to be the social context in which it took place. The children used different ways of singing when interacting socially or when playing on their own, with most singing occurring when children were on their own, potentially unnoticed by adults.

text: Spontaneous singing in early childhood: An examination of young children’s singing at home Spontaneous singing is widely acknowledged as an important part of young children’s everyday musical experience. However, its fleeting and often private nature makes it difficult to study. Research into young children’s singing at home frequently relies on data gathered through parental reporting, and studies are often limited to small sample sizes. In this article, I explore the nature, extent and contexts of spontaneous singing among 15 three- and four-year-old children at home. Continuous audio recording was used to collect naturalistic data during the children’s normal everyday routines. This innovative method resulted in data that could be analysed quantitatively to provide a comprehensive overview of spontaneous singing in young children’s everyday home lives that has so far been missing from the literature. Analysis showed that all the children sang spontaneously. The singing behaviours they displayed were similar to those described in the literature, but contrary to some of the literature, the most prevalent singing behaviours were improvisatory. Spontaneous singing occurred during many everyday activities; however, the strongest influence on singing was found to be the social context in which it took place. The children used different ways of singing when interacting socially or when playing on their own, with most singing occurring when children were on their own, potentially unnoticed by adults.

year: 2020

title: Combining Capabilities: A Resource Based Model of ICT Advantage

authors: Rastrick, Karyn Christine

subjects: resource based view

abstract: Significant levels of interest and organisational spending on information and communication technologies (ICT's) have triggered debate as to whether these investments are worthwhile.  While there has been some acknowledgement that investments result in positive returns, little is known about how ICT's may lead to competitive advantage.  This thesis starts to inform this gap, by investigating how ICT's are combined with other organisational resources in the context of an exemplar organisation.  The resource based view (RBV) is used as a framework to guide this study.  The RBV is an appropriate lens to guide this research due to its focus on resources and capabilities as sources of advantage.  This research employs an interpretive case study design based in an organisation with a long history of innovation and success with regard to ICT's.  

A grounded integrated model of advantage is presented based on two distinct groupings of integrated capabilities: lifecycle and embedded foundational capabilities.  The integrated model of advantage, along with key actions outlined to support such capabilities, provides researchers and practitioners with a new way of understanding ICT based advantages.  In essence, this research demonstrates how the total ownership of ICT's, within the case studied, presents a potential advantage.  The advantage is realised through the combination of capabilities and the inclusive approach to ICT development employed in the case organisation.  The research finds support from propositions of the RBV, in that the model demonstrates sources of advantage are based on organisational capabilities which are valuable, firm specific, and socially complex.  As such, the integration of capabilities evident in the integrated model of advantage is a likely source of sustained competitive advantage.  This means advantages gained from the integration of capabilities are not easily imitated or competed away.  Furthermore, advantages have an even greater potential to be a source of sustained advantage than any single resource or capability.  The research has important implications for theory and practice.  While many individual sources of advantage have been empirically examined, this research provides one of the first in-depth case studies which identify integrated capabilities.  Understanding such sources of advantage will help practitioners better understand and protect key organisational capabilities to sustain or extend competitive advantages.

text: Combining Capabilities: A Resource Based Model of ICT Advantage Significant levels of interest and organisational spending on information and communication technologies (ICT's) have triggered debate as to whether these investments are worthwhile.  While there has been some acknowledgement that investments result in positive returns, little is known about how ICT's may lead to competitive advantage.  This thesis starts to inform this gap, by investigating how ICT's are combined with other organisational resources in the context of an exemplar organisation.  The resource based view (RBV) is used as a framework to guide this study.  The RBV is an appropriate lens to guide this research due to its focus on resources and capabilities as sources of advantage.  This research employs an interpretive case study design based in an organisation with a long history of innovation and success with regard to ICT's.  

A grounded integrated model of advantage is presented based on two distinct groupings of integrated capabilities: lifecycle and embedded foundational capabilities.  The integrated model of advantage, along with key actions outlined to support such capabilities, provides researchers and practitioners with a new way of understanding ICT based advantages.  In essence, this research demonstrates how the total ownership of ICT's, within the case studied, presents a potential advantage.  The advantage is realised through the combination of capabilities and the inclusive approach to ICT development employed in the case organisation.  The research finds support from propositions of the RBV, in that the model demonstrates sources of advantage are based on organisational capabilities which are valuable, firm specific, and socially complex.  As such, the integration of capabilities evident in the integrated model of advantage is a likely source of sustained competitive advantage.  This means advantages gained from the integration of capabilities are not easily imitated or competed away.  Furthermore, advantages have an even greater potential to be a source of sustained advantage than any single resource or capability.  The research has important implications for theory and practice.  While many individual sources of advantage have been empirically examined, this research provides one of the first in-depth case studies which identify integrated capabilities.  Understanding such sources of advantage will help practitioners better understand and protect key organisational capabilities to sustain or extend competitive advantages.

year: 2008

title: The experience of homemaking in unaffordable and precarious housing

authors: Barrett, Patrick

abstract: Housing is the platform on which people build their lives. The experience of homemaking in unaffordable and precarious housing (Barrett, P., Cram, F. & James, B, 2024) is a new monograph from the Affordable Housing for Generations programme. Across 110 pages, 10 housing researchers share experiences from different groups of people in Aotearoa, burdened by the insecurity of unaffordable housing. The findings show how institutional, social and market dynamics impacting on life circumstances can cause people to be in precarious housing situations. Yet people continue to love homemaking and being contributors to their communities. Reinforcing the pivotal nature of housing in supporting all peoples’ health and wellbeing, this research demonstrates how much more can be achieved through improving access to stable, affordable housing and by understanding what is at the heart of a home.

text: The experience of homemaking in unaffordable and precarious housing Housing is the platform on which people build their lives. The experience of homemaking in unaffordable and precarious housing (Barrett, P., Cram, F. & James, B, 2024) is a new monograph from the Affordable Housing for Generations programme. Across 110 pages, 10 housing researchers share experiences from different groups of people in Aotearoa, burdened by the insecurity of unaffordable housing. The findings show how institutional, social and market dynamics impacting on life circumstances can cause people to be in precarious housing situations. Yet people continue to love homemaking and being contributors to their communities. Reinforcing the pivotal nature of housing in supporting all peoples’ health and wellbeing, this research demonstrates how much more can be achieved through improving access to stable, affordable housing and by understanding what is at the heart of a home.

year: 2024