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Book part
Publication date: 25 July 2012

Barry Sugarman

Here is a new conceptual framework for organizational learning (OL) that applies to both planned reform and emergent change. It integrates strategic and operational, micro and…

Abstract

Here is a new conceptual framework for organizational learning (OL) that applies to both planned reform and emergent change. It integrates strategic and operational, micro and macro perspectives. It has three parts: (a) a revised definition and typology of OL, (b) seven reform stories that define stages and tasks, (c) a management and assessment guide demarcating four areas of OL: (i) action learning within core operations; (ii) sharing learning and innovations across the organization; (iii) mission/s-beyond ambidexterity; (iv) integration-managing mission conflicts and other paradoxes, which ensure endogenous change. Dynamic capability is therefore intrinsic to this view of OL that is illustrated from two cases: NYPD and public school reforms.

Details

Research in Organizational Change and Development
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78052-807-6

Article
Publication date: 21 June 2013

Hugh Morrison

Education was an enduring feature of the modern Protestant missionary movement. Historiographically, however, scholarship on the subject is often fragmented geographically and…

Abstract

Purpose

Education was an enduring feature of the modern Protestant missionary movement. Historiographically, however, scholarship on the subject is often fragmented geographically and focused on the micro contexts in which missionary education occurred. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nuances of the missions‐education relationship, using a particular case study, in order to indicate alternative ways of conceptualising that relationship. It focuses on a small New Zealand evangelical mission working in Bolivia from 1908 and utilises the concept of “sites” to indicate the complexities that need to be considered in any particular study of missions and education.

Design/methodology/approach

Educational activities and explanatory factors pertaining to the Bolivian site of missionary education are re‐constructed from missionary archives. Different voices, agendas and readings are acknowledged in this re‐construction. In this way the article moves from a plain narrative about the mission and its educational activities to a more conceptual attempt to explain the application of education in the Bolivian context. The archives are read in the light of both historiography and theory.

Findings

The article indicates that a simple or monochrome reading of the missions‐education relationship is deficient. It grapples with the reasons why an explicitly evangelistic mission invested considerable energy and resources in education. Using the concept of “sites” it argues that this emphasis on education can be explained by a set of complex and overlapping factors reflecting historical timing, evangelical culture or mentalité, missionary geographical origins and local socio‐political context. While this will not explain all “sites” of missionary education, the approach is a model of how to construct a complex reading that enables us to discern multiple voices and motivations.

Originality/value

This article addresses a lacuna of conceptual scholarship on missionary education. Furthermore it attempts to shift the focus onto four relatively neglected aspects in missions‐education scholarship: missionary projects from colonial contexts, the South American context, the early twentieth century, and conservative evangelicalism.

Details

History of Education Review, vol. 42 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0819-8691

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 June 2021

Chiara Fantauzzi, Nathalie Colasanti, Gloria Fiorani and Rocco Frondizi

This study aims, first of all, to analyze the extent to which Italian higher education institutions declare their mission statements in their official documents; then, to examine…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims, first of all, to analyze the extent to which Italian higher education institutions declare their mission statements in their official documents; then, to examine their content; and finally, to investigate whether mission statements include considerations on sustainability dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

After a theoretical background on the new strategic approach adopted by higher education institutions and the related disclosure of their mission statements, the study deepens their sustainable perspective presenting the concepts of social engagement and knowledge transfer from a literary point of view. Then, a documentary analysis on the content of Italian universities’ official mission declarations will be conducted, to understand the role they play in society, by individuating their actual interest in sustainable dimensions.

Findings

Findings suggest that 36% of the 98 Italian universities state their engagement in societal issues, but only 3 of them mention sustainability targets in their mission declarations.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited, exclusively based on what higher education institutions share and, in terms of future perspective, the aim can be to investigate further official documents, especially for what concerns sustainability reports.

Practical implications

Practical implications regard the denounce of weak attention paid by Italian universities to sustainability, with the aim to foster them to increase connections with the external world, aware of the centrality of their role within society.

Originality/value

In a context that is not yet completely investigated, the originality of the paper regards the intent to study the sustainable propensity that characterizes the Italian higher education system.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 22 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2006

Larry J. Paxton

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of past experience in managing risk and technical innovation in NASA space programs with lessons learned for new unmanned space

2286

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of past experience in managing risk and technical innovation in NASA space programs with lessons learned for new unmanned space missions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines past performance of space missions and abstracts the lessons learned for the efficient development of cost‐effective space missions.

Findings

The paper finds that large organizations build and internalize a culture at odds with risk taking and the rapid deployment of innovative solutions. Actualized management goals are often at odds with the issues that determine or insure the long‐term survival of an organization. A key issue is the management of knowledge within that system: the extrinsic knowledge of the technologies as well as the intrinsic knowledge associated with the perception and acceptance of risk.

Research limitations/implications

Innovation can be seen as being dangerous to the organization. That perception must be managed. The NASA culture that is applicable to human spaceflight may not serve the community or the organization as well when applied to unmanned missions.

Practical implications

The paper provides a simplified and brief perspective on the issues inherent in managing a change in culture in an organization that has a highly public mission.

Originality/value

While the NASA “faster, better, cheaper” program has been considered elsewhere, this paper focuses on the lessons that are applicable to the management of space missions and the development of new, cost‐effective programs. These lessons retain their value, as the new administrator Michael D. Griffin attempts to manage the transition of NASA from an organization that has been in maintenance mode to one that must embrace innovation and stay within a highly constrained funding profile.

Details

Journal of Knowledge Management, vol. 10 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1367-3270

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 November 2015

Dennis R. Young and Choony Kim

The purpose of this paper is to adapt concepts from resiliency theory to understand the conditions under which social enterprises may remain true to form and purpose or are likely…

4590

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to adapt concepts from resiliency theory to understand the conditions under which social enterprises may remain true to form and purpose or are likely to change their character. This leads us to consider issues of governance, economic incentives associated with different organizational forms of social enterprise and the effects of the financial environment, the role of organizational slack and the influence of organizational leadership on the dynamics of social enterprises. Three case studies of organizations in the USA are analyzed to illustrate the application of resiliency theory to the stability of social enterprises. The fact that all forms of social enterprise must reconcile the tensions of social purpose and market raises important questions about the dynamics of these enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

Theory and case study analysis.

Findings

Governance, financial incentive structure, organizational slack and leadership influence the stability of social enterprises.

Originality/value

First application of resiliency theory to the analysis of social enterprise stability.

Details

Social Enterprise Journal, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-8614

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 1992

James M. Levin and Brian H. Kleiner

Identifies some of the background costs and causes of turnovers andabsenteeism in business organizations. Argues that the primary functionof the manager in the control of turnover…

3023

Abstract

Identifies some of the background costs and causes of turnovers and absenteeism in business organizations. Argues that the primary function of the manager in the control of turnover and absenteeism is observation of employee′s behaviour and performance to detect any changes representing job dissatisfaction. Stresses the need for managers to keep a close eye on employees, the importance of proper employee selection, maintaining employee satisfaction, and management and organizational commitment to employees.

Details

Work Study, vol. 41 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0043-8022

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2006

Charlotte Linde

Knowledge management for space exploration is part of a multi‐generational effort. Each mission builds on knowledge from prior missions, and learning is the first step in

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Abstract

Purpose

Knowledge management for space exploration is part of a multi‐generational effort. Each mission builds on knowledge from prior missions, and learning is the first step in knowledge production. This paper aims to use the Mars Exploration Rover mission as a site to explore this process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents an observational study and analysis of the work of the MER science and engineering team during rover operations, to investigate how learning occurs, how it is recorded, and how these representations might be made available for subsequent missions.

Findings

The paper finds that learning occurred in many areas: planning science strategy, using instruments within the constraints of the Martian environment, the Deep Space Network, and the mission requirements; using software tools effectively; and running two teams on Mars time for three months. This learning is preserved in many ways. Primarily it resides in individuals' memories. It is also encoded in stories, procedures, programming sequences, published reports, and lessons learned databases.

Research limitations/implications

This paper shows the earliest stages of knowledge creation in a scientific mission, and demonstrates that knowledge management must begin with an understanding of knowledge creation.

Practical implications

The paper shows that studying learning and knowledge creation suggests proactive ways to capture and use knowledge across multiple missions and generations.

Originality/value

This paper provides a unique analysis of the learning process of a scientific space mission, relevant for knowledge management researchers and designers, as well as demonstrating in detail how new learning occurs in a learning organization.

Details

Journal of Knowledge Management, vol. 10 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1367-3270

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 23 June 2022

Jiaxiang Li

The aim of this paper is reviewing the discipline development course of the history of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics and recognising the changes of its…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is reviewing the discipline development course of the history of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics and recognising the changes of its development and its historic mission in the new stage will be beneficial to the construction of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics from the perspective of doctrinal history.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper from the aspect of discipline formation and development, the history of China’s socialist political economy has experienced two stages: emergence and formation (the first stage) and steady development (the second stage). It has explored new research fields and improved the quality of research levels. However, the role of studying the history of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics has not been fully played regarding satisfying the needs of constructing socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics.

Findings

In this study when the construction of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics entered a new era, the study of the history of socialist political economy also entered a new stage, showing new features in terms of research objectives, principles, scale and methods.

Originality/value

Therefore, the research on the history of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics should be highly emphasised, and the focus on serving the construction of socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics should be its historic mission and core task. Also, researchers should pay attention to changing ideas, laying a good foundation, highlighting key points, building platforms and broadening horizons.

Details

China Political Economy, vol. 5 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2516-1652

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 June 2006

John Ramsland

By 1901 in New South Wales the blueprint for the relationship between Aborigines and Europeans had been established: Aborigines were ‘in a far better condition when living in…

1589

Abstract

By 1901 in New South Wales the blueprint for the relationship between Aborigines and Europeans had been established: Aborigines were ‘in a far better condition when living in small communities comparatively isolated and removed from intimate contact with Europeans’. This article provides a study of the Purfleet School on the Aboriginal Reserve near Taree township in the Manning Valley until the implementation of the assimilation policy by the Aboriginal Welfare Board. The key questions asked are: what schooling for children was provided? How were they equipped for adulthood? How did they suffer from being isolated from the mainstream of public education? The Biripi Aboriginal people remain a strong community in the region today.

Details

History of Education Review, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0819-8691

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 June 2021

Cezary Jerzy Szczepanski and Raja Purushothaman

The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) entered into their development stage when different applications became real. One of those application areas is agriculture. Agriculture and…

280

Abstract

Purpose

The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) entered into their development stage when different applications became real. One of those application areas is agriculture. Agriculture and transport currently follow infrastructure as the top industries in the world UAV market. The agricultural UAV can be acquired as a ready-made, built by its future user or UAV-as-a-service (UaaS) way. This paper aims to help the UAVs’ users to choose the right sensors for agricultural purposes. For that sake, the overview of the types and application areas of onboard sensors is presented and discussed. Some conclusions and suggestions should allow readers to choose the proper onboard sensors set and the right way of acquiring UAVs for their purposes related to the agricultural area.

Design/methodology/approach

The agricultural UAVs’ onboard specialised sensors have been analysed, described and evaluated from the farmer’s operational point of view. That analysis took into consideration the agricultural UAVs’ types of missions, sensor characteristics, basics of the data processing software and the whole set of UAV-sensor-software operational features. As the conclusions, the trends in the onboard agricultural UAVs’ sensors, their applications and operational characteristics have been presented.

Findings

Services performed by the UAVs for the agriculture businesses are the second in the UAV services world market, and their growth potential is around 17% compound annual growth rate in the next years. As one of the quickest developing businesses, it will attract substantial investments in all related areas. They will be done in the research, development and market deployment stages of that technology development. The authors can expect the new business models of the equipment manufacturers, service providers and sellers of the equipment, consumables and materials. The world agricultural UAVs’ services market will be divided between the following two main streams: the UAVs’ solutions dedicated to the individual farmers, systems devoted to the companies giving the specialised services to individual farmers, in the form of UaaS. It will be followed by the two directions of the agriculture UAV set optimisation, according to each of the above streams’ specific requirements and expectations. Solutions for the individual users will be more straightforward, universal and more comfortable to operate but less effective and less accurate than systems dedicated to the agricultural service provider. UAVs are becoming important universal machines in the agriculture business. They are the newcomers in that business but can change the processes performed traditionally. Such an example is spraying the crops. UAVs spray the rice fields in Japan on at least half of them every year. The other is defoliating the cotton leaves, which only in one China province takes place on a few million hectares every year (Kurkute et al., 2018). That trend will extend the range of applications of UAVs. The agricultural UAV will take over process after process from the traditional machines. The types and number of missions and activities performed by agricultural UAVs are growing. They are strictly connected with the development of hardware and software responsible for those missions’ performance. New onboard sensors are more reliable, have better parameters and their prices are reasonable. Onboard computers and data processing and transmitting methods allow for effective solutions of automatisation and autonomy of the agricultural UAVs’ operation. Automatisation and autonomous performance of the UAVs’ agricultural missions are the main directions of the future development of that technology. Changing the UAV payload allows for its application to a different mission. Changing the payload, like effectors, is quite simple and does not require any special training or tooling. It can be done in the field during the regular operation of the agricultural UAV. Changing the sensor set can be more complicated, because of the eventually required calibrating of those sensors. The same set of sensors gives a possibility to perform a relatively broad range of missions and tasks. The universal setup consists of the multispectral and RGB camera. The agricultural UAV equipped with such a set of sensors can effectively perform most of the crop monitoring missions. The agriculture business will accept the optimised sensor-computer-software UAV payload set, where its exploitation cost and operational simplicity are the critical optimisation factors. Simplicity, reliability and effectiveness of the everyday operation are the vital factors of accepting the agricultural UAV technology as a widespread working horse.

Research limitations/implications

Performed research studies have been done taking into consideration the factors influencing the real operational decisions made by the farmers or companies offering UAV services to them. In that case, e.g. the economical factors have been considered, which could prevail the technical complexity or measuring accuracy of the sensors. Then, drawn conclusions can be not accurate from the scientific research studies point of view, where the financing limits are not so strict.

Practical implications

The main goal of the paper is to present the reasons and factors influencing the “optimised” solution of the configuration of agricultural UAV onboard sensors set. It was done at the level useful for the readers understanding the end-users expectations and having a basic understanding of the sensors-related technologies. The paper should help them to configure an acceptable agricultural UAV for the specific missions or their servicing business.

Social implications

Understanding the technology implications related to the applying of agricultural UAVs into everyday service is one of the main limits of that technology market deployment. The conclusions should allow for avoiding the misunderstanding of the agricultural UAVs’ capabilities and then increasing their social acceptance. That acceptance by the farmers is the key factor for the effective introduction of that technology into the operation.

Originality/value

Presented conclusions have been drawn on the base of the extensive research of the existing literature and web pages, and also on the own experience in forestry and agriculture and other technical applications of the onboard sensors. The experience in practical aspects of the sensors choosing and application into several areas have been also used, e.g. manned and unmanned aeroplanes and helicopters applied in similar and other types of missions.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 94 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

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