Carol L. Langer, Debra K. Anderson, Rich Furman and James R. Blue
To discuss one child welfare agency's efforts to construct an image and identity in the era of privatization that reflects its mission to holistically serve its constituents. The…
Abstract
Purpose
To discuss one child welfare agency's efforts to construct an image and identity in the era of privatization that reflects its mission to holistically serve its constituents. The study documents the nature of organizational image and organizational identity, elements of change, and the particular nature of the structural and image changes that the agency has integrated.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a case study of CEDARS of Lincoln, NE, a child welfare agency and key participant in the changes in child welfare due to privatization of service delivery systems.
Findings
Privatization imposes certain challenges for child welfare providers that can be creatively addressed. Management can be encouraged to think outside the box when managing these challenges.
Originality/value
As a key participant, CEDARS is a model for other similar child welfare agencies that might be facing similar issues with privatization.
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Gloria Likupe, Carol Baxter and Mohamed Jogi
There is a recognition in Europe and in the western world of a demographic shift in the ageing population. While the overall ageing of the general population is growing, the…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a recognition in Europe and in the western world of a demographic shift in the ageing population. While the overall ageing of the general population is growing, the numbers of immigrants getting old in their host countries is also increasing, thereby increasing the racial and ethnic proportion of older people in these countries. This changing landscape calls for understanding of issues related to health care provision, policy and research regarding ethnic minorities. Communication is seen as a key factor in understanding the needs of ethnic minority elders (EMEs). The purpose of this paper is to explore health care workers’ (HCWs) perceptions and experiences of communication with EMEs. In this paper the term HCW includes qualified nurses and health care assistants.
Design/methodology/approach
A descriptive qualitative study design using semi-structured interviews was employed. Ten HCWs, who had ethnic minorities in their care were individually interviewed to explore their perceptions and experiences of communication when caring for EMEs.
Findings
Analysis of data revealed that in common with all older people, EMEs experience stereotyped attitudes and difficulties in communication. However, EMEs face particular challenges, including cultural differences, different language and stereotyping of care based on misunderstood needs of EMEs. Facilitators of communication included appropriate training of HCWs and appropriate use of interpreters.
Research limitations/implications
Only homes willing to take part in the study gave permission for their staff to be interviewed. In addition, the HCWs came from various settings. Therefore, views of staff in homes who did not give permission may not be represented.
Practical implications
The diversity of older people needing care in nursing homes and the community calls for training in culturally competent communication for effective provision care provision for EMEs.
Originality/value
Training of health care staff in culturally appropriate communication requires effective practice.
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By considering the stories of crime victims, this chapter demonstrates the fluid and contextual nature of narrative. It draws upon research that investigates narratives of…
Abstract
By considering the stories of crime victims, this chapter demonstrates the fluid and contextual nature of narrative. It draws upon research that investigates narratives of individuals who have lost loved ones to homicide (co-victims) by pairing intensive interviews with concurrent participant observation in a wide array of settings in which co-victims share their stories, such as fundraisers, memorials, self-help group meetings, advocacy events and celebratory gatherings. It highlights the benefit of two related methodological strategies for a narrative approach to victimology specifically and narrative criminology more generally: persistent observation of stories and prolonged engagement with storytellers. In doing so, it emphasises three key features of narrative that are especially useful in uncovering the nature, power and potential of crime victims' stories: speaker, audience and timing.
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Current issues of Publishers' Weekly are reporting serious shortages of paper, binders board, cloth, and other essential book manufacturing materials. Let us assure you these…
Abstract
Current issues of Publishers' Weekly are reporting serious shortages of paper, binders board, cloth, and other essential book manufacturing materials. Let us assure you these shortages are very real and quite severe.
The purpose of this paper is to propose the activity‐based focus group as a useful method with which to generate talk‐in‐interaction among pre‐schoolers. Analytically, it aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose the activity‐based focus group as a useful method with which to generate talk‐in‐interaction among pre‐schoolers. Analytically, it aims to illustrate how transcribed talk‐in‐interaction can be subjected to a discourse analytic lens, to produce insights into how pre‐schoolers use “Coca‐Cola” as a conversational resource with which to build product‐related meanings and social selves.
Design/methodology/approach
Fourteen activity‐based discussion groups with pre‐schoolers aged between two and five years have been conducted in a number of settings including privately run Montessori schools and community based preschools in Dublin. The talk generated through these groups has been transcribed using the conventions of conversation analysis (CA). Passages of talk characterized by the topic of Coca‐Cola were isolated and a sub‐sample of these are analysed here using a CA‐informed discourse analytic approach.
Findings
A number of linguistic repertoires are drawn on, including health, permission and age. Coca‐Cola is constructed as something which is “bad” and has the potential to make one “mad”. It is an occasion‐based product permitted by parents for example as a treat, at the cinema or at McDonalds. It can be utilised to build “age‐based” social selves. “Big” boys or girls can drink Coca‐Cola but it is not suitable for “babies”.
Originality/value
This paper provides insight into the use of the activity‐based focus group as a data generation tool for use with pre‐schoolers. A discourse analytic approach to the interpretation of children's talk‐in‐interaction suggests that the preschool consumer is competent in accessing and employing a consumer artefact such as Coca‐Cola as a malleable resource with which to negotiate product meanings and social selves.
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Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way…
Abstract
Investigates the differences in protocols between arbitral tribunals and courts, with particular emphasis on US, Greek and English law. Gives examples of each country and its way of using the law in specific circumstances, and shows the variations therein. Sums up that arbitration is much the better way to gok as it avoids delays and expenses, plus the vexation/frustration of normal litigation. Concludes that the US and Greek constitutions and common law tradition in England appear to allow involved parties to choose their own judge, who can thus be an arbitrator. Discusses e‐commerce and speculates on this for the future.
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Jiseul Kim, Can Chen and Carol Ebdon
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the additional infrastructure information in US state financial statements improves infrastructure quality.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the additional infrastructure information in US state financial statements improves infrastructure quality.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on institutional theory, the authors developed six models and estimated them on a state panel data set.
Findings
The authors found that the implementation of the Government Accounting Standard Board (GASB) Statement No. 34 improved state highway infrastructure quality, and the states using the modified approach had a larger effect compared to the states using depreciation accounting. The authors further used a two-step path analysis and found that the implementation of GASB 34 indirectly improved highway quality through increasing state highway maintenance expenditures. From the empirical results, the authors conclude that the exercise of collecting and developing systems to track the additional data has provided the opportunity for officials to use the information to prioritize limited funding and improve their asset management practices.
Practical implications
Future research may extend this research by exploring the detailed micro-mechanisms of how decision makers use infrastructure information in their asset management practices, as well as by increasing the number of years in the panel data set to fully capture changes in behavior.
Social implications
In addition, governments currently using depreciation should be encouraged to move to the modified approach.
Originality/value
This is the first attempt to empirically examine the effects of GASB 34 on infrastructure condition.
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Mercedes Luque-Vílchez, Michela Cordazzo, Gunnar Rimmel and Carol A. Tilt
This paper aims to investigate the current state of knowledge in key reporting aspects in relation to sustainability reporting in general and to reflect on their relevance to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the current state of knowledge in key reporting aspects in relation to sustainability reporting in general and to reflect on their relevance to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in particular. In doing so, the major gaps in that knowledge are identified, and the paper proceeds to suggest further research avenues.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conduct a review of papers published in leading journals concerning sustainability reporting to analyse the progress in the literature regarding three important reporting topics: materiality, comparability and assurance.
Findings
The review conducted in this study shows that there is still work to be done to ensure high-quality and consistent sustainability reporting. Key takeaways from the review of the extant literature are as follows: there is ongoing debate about the nature of sustainability reporting materiality, and single versus double materiality. Clearer guidance and better contextualisation are seen as essential for comparability, and, as GRI suggests, there is an important link to materiality that needs to be considered. Finally, assurance has not been mandatory under the GRI, but the current development at EU level might lead to the GRI principles being incorporated in the primary assurance standards.
Practical implications
In this paper, the authors review and synthesise the previous literature on GRI reporting dealing with three key reporting aspects.
Social implications
The authors extract some takeaways from the literature on materiality, comparability and assurance that will all be key challenges for GRI in the future.
Originality/value
This paper provides an updated review of the literature on GRI reporting dealing with three key reporting aspects.