An education system can only be successful if it can develop future-ready learners who can continue to learn after graduation, take on their future lifework and thrive in the…
Abstract
Purpose
An education system can only be successful if it can develop future-ready learners who can continue to learn after graduation, take on their future lifework and thrive in the future society and environment. This article examines the economic, social and environmental trajectories of Singapore and proposes that it is important for future-ready learners to develop habits of practices that will support the skills, knowledge and values that are pertinent to these trajectories.
Design/methodology/approach
School leaders are responsible for creating environments and implementing practices that are conducive for fostering habits of practices that are crucial for future-ready outcomes. The authors discuss the inadequacies of traditional teaching and learning practices in supporting these habits and elucidate how newer paradigms such as constructivism, connectivism, coagency and communities of practice might be more useful in achieving this. The authors also present a case study of a school leadership preparation programme that aims to develop future-ready learners.
Findings
This paper provides insights into how newer paradigms of teaching and learning can be supportive for developing desirable habits of practices for future readiness.
Originality/value
This discussion piece introduces a fresh concept – habits of practices – that is relevant in preparing future-ready learners in Singapore.
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Dong Thanh Nguyen, David Ng and Pui San Yap
The purpose of this paper is to explore the instructional leadership practices and structure in Singapore primary schools.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the instructional leadership practices and structure in Singapore primary schools.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a qualitative approach. Data were collected from interviews of 30 Singapore primary school principals and 25 working-day observations of five principals. A grounded theory method was utilized to analyze the qualitative data.
Findings
The instructional leadership roles of principals can be categorized into four key themes: vision development and implementation, physical and organizational structure, professional development, and leading and managing instruction. Importantly, the study illuminates a hybrid structure of instructional leadership in which both hierarchical and heterarchical elements exist.
Originality/value
The current study expands the global knowledge base on instructional leadership by providing indigenous knowledge of how instructional leadership is enacted in Singapore schools. Simultaneously, this study suggests an agenda for future research on instructional leadership.
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David Wai Lun Ng, Abel Duarte Alonso, Alessandro Bressan and Oanh Thi Kim Vu
The purpose of this study is to examine the significance of knowledge management as a tool for firms to adapt to an ongoing unprecedented crisis. Moreover, in considering the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the significance of knowledge management as a tool for firms to adapt to an ongoing unprecedented crisis. Moreover, in considering the knowledge-based view of the firm, the study will ascertain the impacts, lessons learnt and how firms envisage their future under the current unpredictable regime from the viewpoints of firm owners/managers.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative data collection approach was selected, with face-to-face and online interviews undertaken with owners/managers of 33 firms operating in Singapore.
Findings
The data analysis reveals as many as eight dimensions pertaining to impacts, lessons learnt and the envisioned future of the firms. The relevance of knowledge management emerged, for instance, in supporting firms and staff to overcome initial challenges after the crisis became apparent. Knowledge management was also an exemplar of lessons learnt, through new knowledge development, strengthening links with consumers, through operational skilfulness and awareness, as well as in explaining how firms envision their future. These findings also underscore key tenets of the knowledge-based view of the firm.
Originality/value
Conceptually, the proposed dimensions stemming from the three examined research questions, together with the propositions and theoretical framework, contribute to a deeper understanding of the links between knowledge management and how firms confront a severe crisis. Empirically, the findings’ highlighted associations with knowledge management elements to illuminate how firms address the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the lessons learnt and the envisioned future of firms operating under severe crisis conditions.
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David Wai Lun Ng, Abel Duarte Alonso, Alessandro Bressan, Oanh Thi Kim Vu, Thanh Duc Tran and Erhan Atay
The purpose of this study is to build an understanding of how firms operate under the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, the study examines the significance of firms’ survival for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to build an understanding of how firms operate under the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, the study examines the significance of firms’ survival for their surrounding community, business–community relations during this severe situation and factors helping firms address this unprecedented challenge. The conceptual tenets of stakeholder theory are considered.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative data collection approach was selected, with face-to-face and online interviews undertaken with owners and managers of 33 firms operating in Singapore.
Findings
Firstly, while survival during the current unprecedented crisis is perceived to be most important for the firms’ employees, owners/managers also perceive domino effects on other companies working alongside the participating firms, as well as effects on clients and suppliers. Secondly, increased collaboration with industry, stronger partnerships with suppliers and business partners and closer relationships with staff are highlighted during the crisis. Thirdly, key factors helping firms’ survival in the initial year of the crisis included: a clear goal; a cohesive/nimble staff team; reinventing, adapting and being resilient; and family support and management support.
Originality/value
This study contributes empirically and conceptually to the literature on firm adaptation and firm–community relationships during a severe crisis. Empirically, the findings and related dimensions provide practical guidance concerning the interdependence between firms and their stakeholders. Conceptually, the inductive analysis, which enabled the development of a theoretical framework, illustrates the relationships between the study’s emerging dimensions and those predicated by stakeholder theory, namely, the descriptive, instrumental, normative and managerial.
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Dong Nguyen, Alma Harris and David Ng
The purpose of this paper is to outline key findings from a contemporary review of the international empirical literature focused upon teacher leadership. It synthesises what is…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to outline key findings from a contemporary review of the international empirical literature focused upon teacher leadership. It synthesises what is currently known about the nature, practice, conditions and impact of teacher leadership and to outline patterns in the contemporary empirical research base.
Design/methodology/approach
This review is based on an analysis of 150 empirical articles published in Scopus/SSCI-indexed journals between January 2003 and December 2017.
Findings
The paper draws upon this contemporary knowledge base to explore: contextual and methodological patterns of teacher leadership research; definitions of teacher leadership; and evidence on the enactment of teacher leadership, factors influencing teacher leadership and impacts of teacher leadership.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the progress and issues of the empirical research on teacher leadership since 2003 and identifies gaps in the knowledge base as well as areas for future scholarly enquiry.
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George Gao, Qingzhong Ma and David Ng
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine whether corporate insiders extract information from activity of outsiders, specifically the short sellers.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine whether corporate insiders extract information from activity of outsiders, specifically the short sellers.
Design/methodology/approach
Using portfolio approach and Fama-MacBeth regressions, this study examines the relation between short interest and subsequent insider trading activities.
Findings
The following results are reported. First, there is a strong inverse relation between short selling and subsequent insider trading, which is partially due to common private information and same target firm characteristics. Second, insiders extract information from shorts. This information extraction effect is more pronounced for firms whose insiders have stronger incentives to extract shorts information (insider purchases, higher short sale constraints, and better information environments). Third, during the September 2008 shorting ban, the information extraction affect disappeared among the large banned firms, whose shorting activities were distorted.
Research limitations/implications
The findings contradict the of-cited accusations corporate executives hold against short sellers. Instead, corporate insiders appear to trade in the same direction as suggested by shorting activities.
Practical implications
Among the vocal critics of short sellers are corporate insiders, who allege that short sellers beat down their stock prices. Many corporations even engage in stock repurchases to show confidence that the stock will perform well going forward despite the short sellers’ actions. This paper’s analysis on their personal portfolios suggests the other way around.
Originality/value
By focusing on how corporate insider trading is related to shorts information, this paper sheds new light on whether corporate decisions convey the true information the corporate insiders possess.
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Moyosade Omolade Oguntuase, David O. Okhakhu and Joseph Kehinde Fasae
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of leadership styles on collection development practices in academic libraries within Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of leadership styles on collection development practices in academic libraries within Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
The research used a survey research design, using a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The study encompassed 86 library personnel selected from six academic libraries in Ekiti State.
Findings
The study’s findings revealed a notably high level of engagement in collection development practices within the academic libraries under investigation. In addition, the library managers exhibited a blend of leadership styles, with the democratic style being the most frequently used, followed by autocratic and laissez-faire styles. Furthermore, the research identified a significant influence of leadership styles on collection development practices, with evidence suggesting a collective impact when considering various leadership styles together.
Social implications
The study implies that effective leadership plays a crucial role in realizing the overarching objectives of academic libraries, and a well-informed leadership approach positively impacts the library’s ability to meet its collection development goals and serve its academic community effectively.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by shedding light on the intricate relationship between leadership styles and collection development practices in academic libraries. The identification of a predominant democratic leadership style and its implications on library practices provides a nuanced understanding of leadership dynamics in this context.
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Cristina S. Judge and David McMenemy
This chapter introduces a model for school libraries in Scotland, based on best practices as identified in the literature, and on five case studies undertaken in schools, two in…
Abstract
This chapter introduces a model for school libraries in Scotland, based on best practices as identified in the literature, and on five case studies undertaken in schools, two in the United States and three in Scotland. The research design was qualitative, and used grounded theory and multiple case study methods. The model represents an ideal set of circumstances for school libraries in Scotland, highlighting the interconnected web of influences that affect the success of a school library in meeting professional standards. These influences primarily fall in three areas: the school librarian, the school environment, and the professional support available to the librarian. The school librarian is the primary leader of the school library program, but factors in these other two areas can provide opportunities and barriers that can help or hinder the success of the library service. For instance, the findings suggest that school-based factors such as curriculum, scheduling, technology facilities, and staffing can have significant influence over the access the librarian has to teachers and students. Our model includes all three areas in describing a set of circumstances that would allow a school library program to thrive and meet the highest professional standards.