Search results
1 – 10 of 76Karin Berglund, Helene Ahl, Katarina Pettersson and Malin Tillmar
In this paper, women entrepreneurs are seen as leaders and women leaders as entrepreneurial, making both groups an easy target of postfeminist expectations, governed by calls to…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, women entrepreneurs are seen as leaders and women leaders as entrepreneurial, making both groups an easy target of postfeminist expectations, governed by calls to embody the entrepreneurial self. Acknowledging that the entrepreneurial self has its roots in the universal, rational and autonomous subject, which was shaped in a male form during the Enlightenment, the purpose of this study is to conceptualise feminist resistance as a process through which the autonomous subject can be de-stabilised.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirically, this study draws on an extensive research project on women’s rural entrepreneurship that includes 32 in-depth interviews with women entrepreneurs in rural Sweden. This study interpreted expressions of resistance from the women by using an analytical framework the authors developed based on Jonna Bornemark’s philosophical treatise.
Findings
Feminist resistance unfolds as an interactive and iterative learning process where the subject recognises their voice, strengthens their voice and beliefs in a relational process and finally sees themselves as a fully fledged actor who finds ways to overcome obstacles that get in their way. Conceptualising resistance as a learning process stands in sharp contrast to the idea of resistance as enacted by the autonomous self.
Research limitations/implications
This study helps researchers to understand that what they may have seen as a sign of weakness among women, is instead a sign of strength: it is a first step in learning resistance that may help women create a life different from that prescribed by the postfeminist discourse. In this way, researchers can avoid reproducing women as “weak and inadequate”.
Originality/value
Through the re-writing of feminist resistance, the masculine entrepreneurship discourse including the notion of the autonomous self is challenged, and a counternarrative to the postfeminist entrepreneurial woman is developed. Theorising resistance as a learning practice enables a more transforming research agenda, making it possible to see women as resisting postfeminist expectations of endless competition with themselves and others.
Details
Keywords
Learning and development occur in many spaces both within and outside formal education settings. This chapter explores progress and possibilities of a knowledge exchange programme…
Abstract
Learning and development occur in many spaces both within and outside formal education settings. This chapter explores progress and possibilities of a knowledge exchange programme with a third sector organisation involved with community development, playwork and youth work in an urban area of the East Midlands. Theoretical concepts draw on a growing international interest in intergenerational play (Graves, 2002) and ‘cultural circles’ (Gill, 2020) as a method of challenging power and communication barriers between practitioners and families from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Using Foucault, post-structuralist feminism and autoethnography, as well as insight from a knowledge exchange partnership – the chapter offers a critique of a national initiative aimed at addressing ‘holiday hunger’ and community engagement. Practitioners in international contexts may benefit from the chapter’s attempt to address a series of co-constructed questions that include:
How do we raise the profile of children’s play as a non-negotiable starting point for universal service provision to children and young people?
What can be done to ‘connect’ diverse communities living in close proximity and sharing amenities within urban areas?
How can we celebrate differences whilst designing universal services, which promote social cohesion through play and leisure spaces?
How do we raise the profile of children’s play as a non-negotiable starting point for universal service provision to children and young people?
What can be done to ‘connect’ diverse communities living in close proximity and sharing amenities within urban areas?
How can we celebrate differences whilst designing universal services, which promote social cohesion through play and leisure spaces?
Details
Keywords
Bullying at the school or college level can have much more serious repercussions for students than educators may be aware of. Neuroscience research is suggesting more than ever…
Abstract
Bullying at the school or college level can have much more serious repercussions for students than educators may be aware of. Neuroscience research is suggesting more than ever that traumatic childhood is associated with the theory of vulnerability – in other words, a greater likelihood of psychiatric disorder spanning across a lifetime. This is the heart-wrenching story of the author’s younger sister, for whom racial school bullying at a school in England wreaked havoc. Almost four decades on she is marked by deep, indelible scars. Since the author’s life is inextricably intertwined with hers, this evocative autoethnographic account is the author’s story too.
Details
Keywords
Reshmini Maharajh, Shepherd Dhliwayo and Abdella Kosa Chebo
Family businesses have a dual objective of profit making and providing opportunities for family members. This duality leads to a conflict that may bring poor team work and…
Abstract
Purpose
Family businesses have a dual objective of profit making and providing opportunities for family members. This duality leads to a conflict that may bring poor team work and communication, which is difficult to reconcile. Thus, the study looked into how the performance of family enterprises is affected by family dynamics. Additionally, it examines the relationship's ability to be mediated by effective leadership.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a quantitative, explanatory research approach. The study population was family-owned enterprises in KwaZulu-Natal's South Durban Basin, of which 236 were chosen using a snowball and convenience sampling technique. Data was analysed using various descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, namely, multiple regression and the standard deviation.
Findings
The finding of the study shows that family dynamics significantly influenced business performance both directly and indirectly through effective leadership. Besides, the family firms with larger employee sizes have better effective leadership that positively contributes to the business performance.
Research limitations/implications
The study recommends that family businesses should train their members to ensure leadership effectiveness.
Originality/value
This study is unique in that it was conducted in Black Townships and focusses mainly on businesses owned by families of Indian descent that need to prepare for leadership/ownership. It also contributes to academic literature on family dynamics and will encourage families to recognise the importance of strong leadership in controlling family dynamics to improve business success.
Details
Keywords
Janet Haddock-Fraser and David Gorman
Anyone seeking to influence another is a potential leader. Within higher education, determining what an institution should undertake on sustainability can be daunting…
Abstract
Anyone seeking to influence another is a potential leader. Within higher education, determining what an institution should undertake on sustainability can be daunting. Sustainability leaders face labyrinthine, multifaceted sub-cultures, influencers and viewpoints across staff, students, government, business and alumni all with an opinion on whether, how and in what order of priority sustainability should be taken forward. In this paper we take on this challenge by synthesising and critically evaluating core principles and working models for influencing and leading for sustainability in higher education. We identify a series of eight challenges affecting delivery of sustainability and seek to understand how conceptual models and principles in sustainability decision-making and leadership could address these. We draw on the experience of both authors, in tandem with comments from workshop and leadership training programme participants who attended the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) Leadership Lab training in the UK, as well as reflections arising in a detailed case study from the University of Edinburgh. We bring key insights from theory and practice for the benefits of individuals or teams seeking to influence and persuade key decision-makers to embrace the sustainability agenda.
Details
Keywords
Hoong Sang Wong and Chen Chen Yong
This chapter provided systematic and comprehensive analysis on trawl fisheries management and conservation measures in the Straits of Malacca. Detailed analysis is conducted on…
Abstract
This chapter provided systematic and comprehensive analysis on trawl fisheries management and conservation measures in the Straits of Malacca. Detailed analysis is conducted on Malaysian fishery management framework particularly domestic country's trawl fishery status, legal structure, input-control strategies, ecosystem protection plan, pollution, law enforcement, and complementary measures that designed to reduce and prevent overfishing in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Malacca Straits. Gaps and challenges found in existing trawl fisheries literature are presented followed by recommendations for improvement in the management and conservation of trawl fisheries.
Details
Keywords
Kaizheng Zhang, Jian Di, Jiulong Wang, Xinghu Wang and Haibo Ji
Many existing trajectory optimization algorithms use parameters like maximum velocity or acceleration to formulate constraints. Due to the ignoring of the quadrotor actual…
Abstract
Purpose
Many existing trajectory optimization algorithms use parameters like maximum velocity or acceleration to formulate constraints. Due to the ignoring of the quadrotor actual tracking capability, the generated trajectories may not be suitable for tracking control. The purpose of this paper is to design an online adjustment algorithm to improve the overall quadrotor trajectory tracking performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors propose a reference trajectory resampling layer (RTRL) to dynamically adjust the reference signals according to the current tracking status and future tracking risks. First, the authors design a risk-aware tracking monitor that uses the Frenét tracking errors and the curvature and torsion of the reference trajectory to evaluate tracking risks. Then, the authors propose an online adjusting algorithm by using the time scaling method.
Findings
The proposed RTRL is shown to be effective in improving the quadrotor trajectory tracking accuracy by both simulation and experiment results.
Originality/value
Infeasible reference trajectories may cause serious accidents for autonomous quadrotors. The results of this paper can improve the safety of autonomous quadrotor in application.
Details