The fact that the Colleges of Advanced Technology had come under the university grants system did not mean any dilution of their technical status, said the Secretary of State for…
Abstract
The fact that the Colleges of Advanced Technology had come under the university grants system did not mean any dilution of their technical status, said the Secretary of State for Education and Science, Mr Anthony Crosland, speaking in a Commons debate on Higher Education. He said that the Robbins Committee, when recommending university status, stressed this, and added that it would be appropriate for it to be recognised in their titles and charters. That should not, of course, inhibit them from developing work in pure science as well as social studies, but technology and the application of science to economic needs should remain the core of their work. It was in that spirit that the Government, like the former Government, had welcomed the development of the colleges. He was glad to note that the first of the new draft charters to be submitted was for one of them to be called the Loughborough University of Technology.
Manlio Del Giudice, Elias G. Carayannis, Daniel Palacios-Marqués, Pedro Soto-Acosta and Dirk Meissner
Joe Christopher, Sarath Ukwatte and Prem Yapa
This study aims to examine how government policies have influenced the governance paradigm of Australian public universities from a historical perspective. In doing so, it…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine how government policies have influenced the governance paradigm of Australian public universities from a historical perspective. In doing so, it addresses current uncertainty on government-governance connectivity.
Design/methodology/approach
The study draws on Foucault’s concept of governmentality and governance and uses a developed framework of three constituents of governance to explore government–governance connectivity through a critical discourse analysis.
Findings
The findings reveal that government policies have influenced the three constituents of governance differently since 1823, resulting in three distinct governance discourses. In the third governance discourse, the findings reveal a deviation from policy directions towards corporate managerialism, resulting in a hybrid governance control environment. This scenario has arisen due to internal stakeholders continuing to be oriented towards the previous management cultures. Other factors include structural and legalistic obstacles to the implementation of corporate managerialism, validity of the underlying theory informing the policy directions towards corporate managerialism and doubts on the achievability of the market based reforms associated with corporate managerialism. The totality of these factors suggests a theory practice gap to be confirmed through further empirical research. There are also policy implications for policymakers to recognize the hybrid control environment and ascertain the risk the hybrid control environment poses towards the expected outcomes of corporate managerialism.
Research limitations/implications
The findings are limited to a critical discourse analysis of data from specific policies and journal publications on higher education and a developed framework of constituents of governance.
Originality/value
The study is the first to examine government–governance connectivity in Australian public universities and also the first to introduce a three-constituent governance framework as a conduit to explore such studies. The findings contribute to the literature in identifying a theory-practice gap and offer opportunities for further research to confirm them.
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The purpose of this paper is to critique the book Galileo's Mistake: The Archaeology of a Myth by Wade Rowland; providing additional insights into the subject of the work and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to critique the book Galileo's Mistake: The Archaeology of a Myth by Wade Rowland; providing additional insights into the subject of the work and trial of Galileo Galilei in the seventeenth century and its relevance to the modern world.
Design/methodology/approach
The case of Galileo is presented as a case study in modern change management.
Findings
The story of Galileo as passed down to us through the centuries has become mythologized and distorted as an example of a clash between religion and science. The facts as they are presented by the author reinforce this myth by applying modern arguments about the relative scope, practice and meaning of both science and religion in a situation where such arguments could not have been applied and were not relevant. Careful consideration of the wider global context reveals more plausible dimensions to the story.
Practical implications
The Galileo case study is a useful vehicle for teaching concepts about truth, knowledge, complexity theory and the potential and reasons for resistance to new ideas.
Originality/value
The paper aims to teach the importance of critically examining facts as they are presented, in terms of both content and context; of considering the wider, global implications and the motivations, strengths and weaknesses of the various players involved in any situation.
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Christopher Rees, Rossilah Jamil and Kate Rowlands
The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitudes of two key groups of stakeholders (n=22) from academia and industry toward the nature of business ethics and their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitudes of two key groups of stakeholders (n=22) from academia and industry toward the nature of business ethics and their integration and inculcation in MBA programs in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative study based on n=22 interviews with stakeholders from academia and industry.
Findings
The main findings of the study indicate that respondents in this context tended define business ethics with reference to factors such as the interests of organizational stakeholders, environmental issues, property rights, and religion. It was also found that the respondents tended to consider ethical business practice to be primarily a social and religious obligation rather than representing a specific requirement of the workplace which could and should be developed during an MBA program.
Research limitations/implications
The implications of the study are discussed in relation to some of the barriers that may exist to integrating business ethics into MBA programs in Malaysia.
Originality/value
The study highlights the widely held view among the respondents that employees’ business ethics are primarily attributable to family upbringing, including religious instruction thus limiting the perceived need for and effect of later training and education in business ethics.
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Rodney McAdam and Daniel McCormack
This paper presents a qualitative study of the integration of supply chain management and business process management activities. It reviews published literature in both fields…
Abstract
This paper presents a qualitative study of the integration of supply chain management and business process management activities. It reviews published literature in both fields and a number of supporting areas, revealing a minimal overlap in the research. A number of case studies of progressive organisations are examined, including an in‐depth study of Nortel Networks Corporation’s recent market repositioning and current supply chain integration activities. The study concludes that, while there is little evidence of research exploring the integration of processes extending throughout supply chains, some businesses are gaining competitive advantage by maximising the efficiency of their “global” supply chains or “virtual” organisations. A conceptual model of an integrated business process, derived from the case study, is presented, which highlights the importance of communication between processes and between partners in the supply chain.
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David C. Redfern, Christopher J. Rees and Kate E. Rowlands
The main aims of this paper are to: explore current views about the nature and causes of occupational stress as portrayed in the publications of employers and employee…
Abstract
Purpose
The main aims of this paper are to: explore current views about the nature and causes of occupational stress as portrayed in the publications of employers and employee associations; and consider the implications of these current views in relation to the work of training and development specialists.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study builds on the findings of a similar study which the authors published in this journal in 2000. A library and internet‐based search was conducted to obtain publications and statements about occupational stress issued by trade unions and employers' representatives since 2001.
Findings
The analysis of publications and statements from trade unions and employers' representatives revealed an emerging consensus surrounding definitions of occupational stress based upon the UK Health and Safety Executive's definition. However, the analysis of the trade union and employer representatives' publications also revealed ongoing differences in views about the main causes of occupational stress.
Practical implications
The implications of the study are discussed in relation to the role of HRD (human resource development) professionals in devising policies and strategies designed to create healthier workplaces by minimizing work and family conflicts.
Originality/value
The study offers a topical insight into how issues surrounding occupational stress are presented by influential parties and, further, how knowledge of these views can be used by training and development specialists.
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Barrie O. Pettman and Richard Dobbins
This issue is a selected bibliography covering the subject of leadership.
Abstract
This issue is a selected bibliography covering the subject of leadership.