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1 – 10 of 41The main aim of this article is to broaden the notion of strategic intent in public relations. It also develops an understanding of the social value of what can be defined as the…
Abstract
Purpose
The main aim of this article is to broaden the notion of strategic intent in public relations. It also develops an understanding of the social value of what can be defined as the first modern health communication campaign in Europe based on strategic intents and the development of modernity.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on both historical research and empirical material from the Norwegian tuberculosis campaign from 1889 up to 1913, when Norwegian women achieved suffrage. The campaign is analysed in the framework of modernity and social theory. The literature on lobbying and social movements is also used to develop a theoretical framework for the notion of strategic intent.
Findings
The study shows that strategic intent can be divided into two layers: (1) the implicit strategic intent is the real purpose behind the communication efforts, whereas (2) the explicit intent is found directly in the communication efforts. The explicit intent may be presented as a solution for the good of society at the right political moment, giving an organisation the possibility to mobilise for long-term social changes, in which could be the implicit intent.
Originality/value
The distinction between explicit and implicit strategic intent broadens our understanding on how to make long-term social changes as well as how social and political changes occur in modern societies. The article also gives a historical account of what is here defined as the first modern health communication campaign in Europe and its social value.
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Judith de Haan, Paul Boselie, Marieke Adriaanse, Sicco de Knecht and Frank Miedema
Research excellency has long been the dominant paradigm in assessing academic quality and hence a prime determinant of academic careers. Lately, this approach to academic…
Abstract
Research excellency has long been the dominant paradigm in assessing academic quality and hence a prime determinant of academic careers. Lately, this approach to academic performance has come under higher scrutiny for its narrow focus on the individual, promoted an exclusive, performance-oriented talent management and inhibiting collaboration, transparency and societal involvement.
As a response to the limitations of the excellency policy, this chapter examines the emergence of open science as a transformative force in the academic world. Open science represents a paradigm shift, emphasizing the importance of transparency, and increased societal engagement in the academic process. It opens up the possibility to include the context dimension, multiple stakeholders and a more diverse set of development and performance indicators.
This chapter stresses the urgent need to realign our system of recognition and rewards with the premise of open science and with talent management. By highlighting the disconnect between current recognition mechanisms and the values of universities, this chapter emphasizes the necessity of transformative changes at institutional and systemic levels.
To provide concrete insights into the implementation of these changes, this chapter explores a case study of Utrecht University. This specific example showcases how strategic decisions at an institute level allow navigation of the complexities of recognizing and rewarding open science practices. The Utrecht University case study serves as an inspiration for other institutions seeking to embrace open science and adapt their policies and practices accordingly.
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Spirituality and leadership, both have an intrinsic goal where they incorporate clarity of understanding, vision and collective action and both have the potential to empower an…
Abstract
Spirituality and leadership, both have an intrinsic goal where they incorporate clarity of understanding, vision and collective action and both have the potential to empower an individual or a team, with commitment and productivity. It is one of the rapidly growing areas of leadership. It takes responsible policymakers and leaders to build a nation that benefits multiple stakeholders and all citizens. The aim of the chapter is to explore the concept of spirituality and show how applied spirituality can provide moral and practical guidance for leaders of public policy to take bold and enlightened steps towards achieving sustainable development (SD) goals. We define spirituality as a way of understanding, inner awareness, personal integration, and a source of values that give ultimate meaning or purpose beyond the egoic self. As such the chapter will go beyond existing discussions of ethical, moral, or values-based leadership and raise issues of how a deeper spiritual understanding of human nature can guide leaders. Some helpful practices like mindfulness are also covered in this chapter. There are various relevant leadership styles including transformational leadership, servant leadership, moral leadership and participatory leadership. Although each of these has some positive characteristics, this chapter with the help of those characteristics would try to get a deeper insight and understanding of how spirituality can stimulate and add more value, and bring integrity, motivation and strong leadership qualities. This chapter covers the existing gap in the literature on applied spirituality and leadership and concludes that leadership when incorporated with spirituality plays a vital role in honing the skills of the leaders and changing their perspective towards the team. The chapter will conclude with ideas for discussion among faculty and students and suggestions for further research into the use of applied spirituality for leadership in sustainable development policy.
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Sarah Bowman and Heather Yaxley
This paper aims to develop an original Café Delphi historical method to research women's individual and collective experiences of sex, sexuality and sexism in public relations…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop an original Café Delphi historical method to research women's individual and collective experiences of sex, sexuality and sexism in public relations (PR) in 1990s’ Britain.
Design/methodology/approach
An original Café Delphi historical method is shaped by an interpretive paradigm providing a conceptual framework to model sex, sexuality and sexism. This approaches history as a social science drawing on hermeneutic phenomenology, reflexivity and ethics of care. A case study, employing oral history and participatory action research (PAR), is used to develop and test the practicality of the original Café Delphi historical method to research women's individual and collective experiences of PR in 1990s’ Britain.
Findings
Three main findings are identified. (1) Developing a new method is complex, time-consuming and surfaces practical problems; however, the Café Delphi historical method is a viable way to explore individual and collective experiences. (2) Undertaking methodological innovation and innovating research methods involves action learning and requires agility, reflexivity and ability to navigate messiness and order. (3) Testing the multiphase mixed method study revealed its power and potential as an ethical and collaborative co-research approach.
Originality/value
This study expands the repertoire of research methods in PR historiography and provides a new approach to capture collective as well as individual experiences. This study develops a feminine analytic tool employing metamodern oscillation to connect past, present and future.
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Evgenia Kanellopoulou, Aggelos Panayiotopoulos and Savvas Alexandros Pavlidis
This paper aims to propose a research agenda towards a holistic, grounded and flexible approach to cultural heritage that can address social challenges and transformations in the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a research agenda towards a holistic, grounded and flexible approach to cultural heritage that can address social challenges and transformations in the context of place. It critiques the dominant/hegemonic cultural heritage narratives, deriving from juridification and calls for a grounded approach in the way cultural heritage is framed and experienced.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is conceptual, focusing on the need to open a line of enquiry into the relationship between legal texts, cultural heritage narratives and social challenges and transformations. It follows the letter of the international conventions on cultural heritage against the worked example of the medieval town of Rhodes in Greece.
Findings
The paper sets the relevant research priorities for the investigation of the effective relationship between cultural heritage and social challenges in the context of place, and further stretches the need to evaluate the role of legal and regulatory texts to that effect.
Originality/value
The paper identifies new priorities for thinking about the effects of juridification/the law, cultural heritage and social challenges/transformations in a place-specific context. It seeks to open new avenues of scientific explorations and new interdisciplinary dialogues between a variety of disciplines that are relevant to the way a place engages and addresses social challenges and transformations.
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The purpose of this article is to summarize three Luhmannian critiques on morality, illustrate new roles for morality and add constructive interpretations.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to summarize three Luhmannian critiques on morality, illustrate new roles for morality and add constructive interpretations.
Design/methodology/approach
Luhmann has recently been described as downright negative toward morality, resulting in a refusal to use ethics as a sociologist, thus leading to a limited use of his theory in moral issues. A constructive interpretation could support a more functional use of morality in social system theory.
Findings
First, Luhmann signals that morality can no longer fulfill its integrative function in society but also that society has recourse to moral sensitivity. Second, Luhmann describes how anxiety is crucial in modern morality and indicates which role risk and danger could play. The author builds further on this and proposes the concept of “social system attention” that can provide answers to individual and organizational anxiety. The author proposes that institutionalized socialization can support an integrative morality. Third, Luhmann states that ethics today is nothing more than a utopia but also that the interdiction of moral self-exemption is an essential element. The author adds that a relational ontology for social systems theory can avoid ethics as utopia.
Practical implications
This article is a programmatic plea to further elaborate morality from a system theory perspective in which meaning is relationally positioned.
Originality/value
This article could potentially provide a more functional application of morality in social systems, thus leading to improvements of attempts of ethical decision-making. The originality of the approach lies in the interpretation of basic assumptions of Luhmann social system theory that are not core to his theory.
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The aim of the study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of interrelations of structural systems and main planning considerations in supertall buildings (≥300 m).
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of interrelations of structural systems and main planning considerations in supertall buildings (≥300 m).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 140 contemporary supertall towers using the case study method to analyze structural systems in the light of the key design considerations to contribute to the creation of more viable supertall building projects.
Findings
Central core typology, outriggered frame system, composite material and tapered prismatic and free forms were the most preferred features in supertall building design. Shear walled frame and tube systems occurred mostly in the 300–400 m height range, while outriggered frame systems were in the range of 300–600 m in height. Asia, the Middle East and North America mainly preferred outriggered frame systems, followed by tube systems. Considering the building function and form, the most preferred structural system in each of these groups was outriggered frame system, while mixed-use function stood out in all structural systems except in shear walled frame system.
Originality/value
To date, there has been no comprehensive study in the literature of the interrelations of structural systems and important planning considerations in the design of contemporary supertall towers through a large set of study samples. This critical issue was multidimensionally explored in this paper in light of 140 detailed case studies of supertall buildings around the world.
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Allahyar Beigi Firoozi, Mohammad Bashokouh, Naser Seifollahi and Ghasem Zarei
The rising complexity of business changes has increasingly highlighted the requirements to provide a comprehensive and empirical framework for the supply chain agility (SCA). A…
Abstract
Purpose
The rising complexity of business changes has increasingly highlighted the requirements to provide a comprehensive and empirical framework for the supply chain agility (SCA). A review of extant studies shows that the results are complicated and ambiguous. Moreover, this study is a meta-analytical review of previous empirical studies to identify SCA antecedents and effects of SCA on firm performance.
Design/methodology/approach
According to the protocol, 64 studies were chosen as the sample to survey the relationships between five clusters of SC allopoietic properties (SCAPs) (SC connectivity, symbiotic relationship (SR), cognitive openness (CO), homeostasis and collaboration) and SCA, as well as its effects on firm performance.
Findings
Among antecedents, horizontal collaboration’s effect on SCA is the strongest, and the relationship between SR-SCA and CO-SCA is less than moderate. SCA affects firm performance and its dimensions, with a stronger effect on financial performance (FP). Furthermore, the SCA study in the framework of allopoietic systems is a good starting point for future research.
Practical implications
Managers are advised to constantly review repetitive interactions between the company and its environment and to learn about interactions between SC and the environment. Learning from these interactions and disseminating their explicit knowledge among company members lead to a quick response to the environmental instability.
Originality/value
As the first meta-analysis on SCA antecedents and its effects on firm performance, this study contributes to the SCA literature and provides research directions for the future.
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