A novel type of artistic Artificial Life environment is introduced and where evolving agents, who have the ability to make and listen to sound, populate a synthetic world are…
Abstract
A novel type of artistic Artificial Life environment is introduced and where evolving agents, who have the ability to make and listen to sound, populate a synthetic world are described. An evolvable, rule‐based system which drives agent behaviour and where agents compete for limited resources in a virtual environment that is influenced by the presence and movement of the artwork's audience is discussed. It is shown that through a link between the real and virtual spaces, virtual agents evolve implicitly and try to maintain the interest of the human audience.
Details
Keywords
Paul T. Bartone, Jarle Eid, Bjorn Helge Johnsen, Jon Christian Laberg and Scott A. Snook
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of psychological hardiness, social judgment, and “Big Five” personality dimensions on leader performance in US military…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of psychological hardiness, social judgment, and “Big Five” personality dimensions on leader performance in US military academy cadets at West Point.
Design/methodology/approach
Army cadets were studied in two different organizational contexts, i.e. summer field training and during academic semesters. Leader performance was measured with leadership grades (supervisor ratings) aggregated over four years at West Point.
Findings
After controlling for general intellectual abilities, hierarchical regression results showed leader performance in the summer field training environment is predicted by Big Five extroversion, and hardiness, and a trend for social judgment. During the academic period context, leader performance is predicted by mental abilities, Big Five conscientiousness, and hardiness, with a trend for social judgment.
Research limitations/implications
Results confirm the importance of psychological hardiness, extroversion, and conscientiousness as factors influencing leader effectiveness, and suggest that social judgment aspects of emotional intelligence can also be important. These results also show that different Big Five personality factors may influence leadership in different organizational contexts.
Practical implications
The study identifies personality factors related to leader performance in different types of work environments or contexts. Results can be used to improve leader selection and development programs.
Originality/value
This is the first study to examine the influence of psychological hardiness together with Big Five personality factors on leader performance. It identifies hardiness as an important predictor of leadership, while also showing that organizational context makes a difference for what Big Five personality factors influence leader performance: extroversion appears to be more influential in highly social and active work environments, whereas conscientiousness has greater salience in academic and business settings.
Details
Keywords
John W. Newstrom and Jon L. Pierce
Numerous business books have become popular (in terms of sales inthe US) in the 1980s. Assuming that there is value in them fororganisational managers, one issue to be addressed…
Abstract
Numerous business books have become popular (in terms of sales in the US) in the 1980s. Assuming that there is value in them for organisational managers, one issue to be addressed is how management development programmes can best incorporate these materials. The pros and cons of reading popular business books are summarised, a series of alternative pedagogical designs and the underlying assumptions they must adapt to are presented, a set of contingency factors for differentiating among the designs is proposed, and a set of operational suggestions to guide the use of these books is offered. A rough typology for classifying business books is suggested and guidelines are provided for discussion of the books.
Details
Keywords
The author explores the contemporary logics of branding and authenticity among contestants in the reality television show, RuPaul’s Drag Race. In the chapter, the author points to…
Abstract
The author explores the contemporary logics of branding and authenticity among contestants in the reality television show, RuPaul’s Drag Race. In the chapter, the author points to the inherent tension in performing a drag persona that is perceived as authentic by audiences whilst at the same time looking to take advantage of any financial opportunities that being on the show may generate. This tricky balancing act is examined in relation to the case of the drag persona, Tina Burner, who was criticised for not being authentic enough and overbranding herself. The chapter highlights the competing demands that contestants on a high-profile reality show must deal with and the difficulty of deciding ‘when to keep it real in reality TV’.
Details
Keywords
The teaching of English and academic writing in universities has largely been explored in western higher education settings by native English speakers from the UK, USA or…
Abstract
Purpose
The teaching of English and academic writing in universities has largely been explored in western higher education settings by native English speakers from the UK, USA or Anglo-countries. The purpose of this paper is to use action research as a methodology to unravel local complexities in power relations within and beyond her ESL academic writing classroom, in a British Malaysian university setting.
Design/methodology/approach
Power relations are examined in conjunction with the lens of Academic Literacies as a theory to think about teaching academic writing. The author’s action research cycles allow her to gain an insider perspective on her students’ academic writing and learning problems.
Findings
Through the use of stories collected from diaries, interviews and letters, the author is able to make sense of their learning experiences in a way that connects the individual with the social.
Research limitations/implications
Although time-consuming, the action research cycles helped the author to gauge what does or does not work in the classroom and how she can best improve her practice and the students learning, once she reflected on the findings. However, given the oppressive nature of hierarchical institutions that can deter the raising of issues, the limits of action research in making more widespread changes to teaching and English language usage in a former colony’s institution are explored.
Originality/value
It appears that the internal power relations between teacher and student can alter somewhat, although not massively, within the confines of one classroom, but there is less potential for effecting broader institutional change from the positioning of one junior lecturer.
Details
Keywords
Chris Igwe, Bettina von Stamm and and Meltem Etcheberry
Amanda Carr, Gwen Gilmore and Marcelle Cacciattolo
The purpose of this paper is to discuss that in 2012, a small group of teaching staff in a new diploma of Education Studies program came together to critically reflect on teaching…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss that in 2012, a small group of teaching staff in a new diploma of Education Studies program came together to critically reflect on teaching approaches that either hindered or encouraged learners to thrive in the transition environment in higher education (HE).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reports on the use of case writing as a methodological tool for engaging in reflexive inquiry in a HE cross-faculty setting; it also adds a further dimension to the work of (Burridge et al., 2010). The team used a systematic coding activity, known as “threading,” to unpack over-arching themes that were embedded in each other’s narratives.
Findings
Throughout the two years of the project, 12 cases were presented on key critical teaching moments that the researchers had experienced. The themes varied and included topics like student reflections on why they found learning challenging, teachers’ mixed emotions about failing students, difficulties for teachers in having to persuade students to read academic texts, teacher/student confrontations and student resilience amidst challenges linked to their personal and student lives.
Social implications
A central theme to emerge from the research was that complexities arise for teachers when they are faced with learners who are apparently not suited to the career pathway they have signed up for.
Originality/value
Through using a collaborative practitioner research framework, enunciating concerns were raised and different interpretations of the same incident were shared. The paper concludes that case writing can assist academics to be more informed of teaching approaches that lead to successful learning outcomes.