Felicity Small, Michael Mehmet and Jodie Kleinschafer
People living with a disability (PWD) are often a marginalized vulnerable group who are economically and socially disadvantaged. This paper aims to explore the implementation of…
Abstract
Purpose
People living with a disability (PWD) are often a marginalized vulnerable group who are economically and socially disadvantaged. This paper aims to explore the implementation of new social and financial policy reforms aimed at transforming the disability sector. Using the capabilities approach, the authors explore the experience of carers and evaluate how this sector may have become more exposed and vulnerable as a consequence of the new policy.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative study with two rounds of semi-structured interviews; at initial-phase (n = 18) and post-phase (n = 14). Thematic analysis was applied to the capabilities and vulnerabilities framework to categorize and analyze the interview data.
Findings
The findings show that there are many ways PWD and carers are experiencing increased levels of vulnerability because of their capabilities. There is evidence of increased vulnerability in the intersections between PWD/carers’ inherent nature, the disruption to vital social relationships and conflicting values and interests of stakeholders and the complexity of situational policy changes.
Practical implications
Practical implications developed from the findings include identifying ways the government can improve its social marketing communication strategies. They also highlight the importance of building effective social support networks and provide guidelines for measuring capacity building to address some of the underlying factors leading to vulnerability.
Originality/value
This paper introduces into social marketing, the three-factor vulnerability framework, which conceptualizes the nature of vulnerability, and examines and evaluates the intersections of these factors in relation to the capabilities approach.
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Felicity Small, David Dowell and Peter Simmons
Teachers have access to a growing range of online tools to support course delivery, but which ones are valued by students? Expectations and satisfaction are important constructs…
Abstract
Purpose
Teachers have access to a growing range of online tools to support course delivery, but which ones are valued by students? Expectations and satisfaction are important constructs in the delivery of a service product, and how these constructs operate in a service environment, such as education where the student can also take on the role of the customer is unknown. This study focuses on the student perspective of online tools. The aim of this paper is to measure students' expectations and perceived importance of, and satisfaction with, a range of tools available in a virtual learning environment.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative survey (n=396) was conducted and descriptive measures and statistical analysis were produced.
Findings
Results show that the tools that enable instructors to communicate with students and vice versa are more important to students and more satisfying to them than tools that enable students to interact with each other. Also, business students appear to be different from non‐business students, with respect to desired communications tools.
Practical implications
The findings help us to understand business students' communication preference, which in turn helps teachers to create an educationally meaningful learning environment.
Originality/value
This work connects an established model for online interactions with students' expectations and level of satisfaction with tools that are currently being used in the online education environment.
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The elections are turning out to be a novel form of political contest for the country, as opposition parties jostle to create combinations to outflank President Recep Tayyip…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB233603
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Orla Hayes and Felicity Kelliher
This paper explores the role of social media data in enhancing business-to-business (B2B) omni-channel marketing (OCM) efforts in small businesses. B2B marketing strategy is…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper explores the role of social media data in enhancing business-to-business (B2B) omni-channel marketing (OCM) efforts in small businesses. B2B marketing strategy is explored through the lens of each business’s marketing manager’s insights. A novel social media data visualisation tool for B2B marketing campaign development is presented, adding contextualisation to OCM activities.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory study uses the qualitative interview method to consider the research question: what role does social media data play in enhancing B2B marketing efforts across the omni-channel in small businesses? The paper presents the findings of 25 in-depth interviews with small business marketing managers from a range of B2B industries, guided by a literature-informed interview template. Insights are developed using an open coding approach via traditional pen and paper methods, underpinned by thematic analysis.
Findings
Small business marketing managers recognise the importance of social media data in enhancing B2B OCM efforts in their organisations. They acknowledge online marketing channels as paths to enhanced brand awareness and relationship building and recognise social media’s growing influence on B2B customers’ decision-making processes. There is a dichotomy between the professed importance of social media data and its use among some small business marketing managers in their B2B OCM efforts. Others are capturing these data and integrating it with other data resources, thereby embedding social media data as a strategic resource within their business. Findings indicate that it is only in these small businesses that OCM strategy is evolving to meet B2B customer expectations of an integrated OCM experience, informed by social media data, across all channels and touchpoints.
Research limitations/implications
This work is of particular interest to marketing managers within small businesses seeking to improve their B2B marketing efforts across the omni-channel. It is of value to all B2B enterprises, given the rate of advancement of the B2B social media marketing landscape.
Originality/value
Recognised as an emerging area, research relating to B2B OCM is limited. This paper provides empirical data on OCM efforts in small businesses from a B2B perspective and considers the role of social media data in enhancing marketing efforts across the omni-channel. Underpinned by social network theory and based on insights gleaned from fieldwork, a social media data visualisation tool is presented, the first of its kind in this sphere.
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Sinead Mellett, Felicity Kelliher and Denis Harrington
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate key criteria underpinning network-facilitated green innovation capability development in micro-firms.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate key criteria underpinning network-facilitated green innovation capability development in micro-firms.
Design/methodology/approach
Micro-firms, those firms with less than ten full-time employees, need to continuously innovate in order to sustain their business in the emerging green economy. This study uses an interpretive multiple case approach to explore micro-firm owner-manager (O/M) green innovation activities, encompassing O/M views on facilitated network engagement in Ireland and Canada over a 12-month period.
Findings
The findings show that proactive implementation of green innovation is influenced by the O/M’s natural environment orientation and the potential for economic gain, while facilitated networks provide an additional resource that the O/M can draw from that allows the O/M to test new ideas, comprehend new and existing legislation and identify potential supports in pursuit of green innovation capability development within the micro-firm.
Research limitations/implications
This study offers a contribution to knowledge in the areas of green innovation, micro-firm capabilities and facilitated network engagement. However, the sample size is small and distance was a challenge, yet data and case protocols are in place which allow for replication of the study. As the research is embedded in the resource and capability theories, alternative theoretical frameworks may shed a different light on the research question.
Originality/value
Prior studies have found that facilitated networks have a positive impact on micro-firm sustainability as these networks enhance the firm’s constrained resource base. The proposed framework can be used as a guideline for support organisations including facilitated networks in assisting micro-firms in reaching their green innovation goals and objectives. It can also be used by micro-firms in the attainment of the green innovation capability.
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Computing has become the classic example of the philosophy that ‘small is beautiful’ — currently known as the Felicity Kendall syndrome. As the hardware has become smaller so it…
Abstract
Computing has become the classic example of the philosophy that ‘small is beautiful’ — currently known as the Felicity Kendall syndrome. As the hardware has become smaller so it has, paradoxically, become more powerful; and, more important still, the price has come down in, if anything, an even greater ratio. The progression can be summed‐up — if a certain well‐known company will excuse the plagiarism — by the acronym 3M: mainframe, mini, micro.
Felicity Kelliher, Monica Murphy and Denis Harrington
This paper explores the role of goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in embedding strategic learning plans in small firms. The research question asks, does an…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper explores the role of goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in embedding strategic learning plans in small firms. The research question asks, does an external learning intervention influence how strategic learning plans are embedded in small firms?
Design/methodology/approach
Insights from in-depth action research carried out with three small firm owner-managers (OMs) inform the study.
Findings
Findings present valuable insights into how small firms learn strategically, and the link between OM goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in pursuit of embedded learning. A framework for embedding strategic learning plans in small firms is presented.
Research limitations/implications
This study offers a contribution to knowledge in the areas of small firm learning, strategic planning and social learning theory. While the sample size is small, data and case protocols are in place which allow for replication of the study. As the research is embedded in social learning theory, alternative theoretical frameworks may shed a different light on the research question.
Practical implications
The study will be of interest to practitioners working in the design, development, delivery and evaluation of learning interventions for small service firms. Given the importance of the small firm sector to the global economy, the research may also be of interest to government agencies, who strive to protect the survival and growth of small firms generally and who set aside resource amounts each year to fund training programmes for small firm OMs.
Originality/value
The research contributes to the body of existing knowledge in the small firm setting concerning social learning theory and small firm learning strategies. It has identified a link between OM goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in pursuit of sustainable organisational learning in small firms and offers a framework for embedding strategic learning plans in small firms. The study answers calls for a more robust framework to advance understanding of how OMs learn and whether that learning is consequently embedded in the organisation. The proposed framework can be used as a guideline for support organisations in assisting small firms in reaching their learning potential. It can also be used by small firms in the attainment of strategy learning capability.
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Felicity Kelliher, Monica Murphy and Denis Harrington
This paper explores the role of goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in embedding strategic learning plans in small firms. The research question asks, how are…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper explores the role of goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in embedding strategic learning plans in small firms. The research question asks, how are strategic learning plans embedded in small firms?
Design/methodology/approach
Insights from in-depth action research carried out with three small firm owner-managers (OMs) inform the study.
Findings
Findings present valuable insights into how small firms learn strategically, and the link between OM goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in pursuit of embedded learning. A framework for embedding strategic learning plans in small firms is presented.
Research limitations/implications
This study offers a contribution to knowledge in the areas of small firm learning, strategic planning and social learning theory. While the sample size is small, data and case protocols are in place which allow for replication of the study. As the research is embedded in social learning theory, alternative theoretical frameworks may shed a different light on the research question.
Practical implications
The study may be of interest to practitioners working in the design, development, delivery and evaluation of learning interventions for small service firms. Given the importance of the small firm sector to the global economy, the research may also be of interest to government agencies, who strive to protect the survival and growth of small firms generally and who set aside resource amounts each year to fund training programmes for small firm OMs.
Originality/value
The research contributes to the body of existing knowledge in the small firm setting concerning social learning theory and small firm learning strategies. It has identified a link between OM goal setting and external accountability mechanisms in pursuit of sustainable organisational learning in small firms and offers a framework for embedding strategic learning plans in small firms. The study answers calls for a more robust framework to advance understanding of how OMs learn and whether that learning is consequently embedded in the organisation. The proposed framework can be used as a guideline for support organisations in assisting small firms in reaching their learning potential. It can also be used by small firms in the attainment of strategy learning capability.
Details
Keywords
A view of Islam as a comprehensive way of life for its adherents ispresented. The spiritual and ethical reconstruction of individuals,societies and the world order are given in a…
Abstract
A view of Islam as a comprehensive way of life for its adherents is presented. The spiritual and ethical reconstruction of individuals, societies and the world order are given in a socio‐economic framework. The principles of Islam and brotherhood, with reference to the Quran, are explained in some detail.