Lorraine Khan, Michael Parsonage and Elena Rosa Brown
Behavioural problems in childhood often lead to poor long-term outcomes, including increased risk of adult mental illness, unemployment, criminality and shorter life expectancy…
Abstract
Purpose
Behavioural problems in childhood often lead to poor long-term outcomes, including increased risk of adult mental illness, unemployment, criminality and shorter life expectancy. Most parents of affected children ask for help, usually from teachers or general practitioners, but only a small minority go on to access well implemented evidence-based programmes of early intervention. A strong body of research demonstrates the effectiveness of these programmes, but much less is known about the practicalities of identification and referral which are among the key ingredients of good implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adds to existing knowledge on these topics, drawing on a wider empirical study of the delivery of parenting programmes in this country, based on detailed case studies in four local areas and a national survey of parenting leads.
Findings
Identification and referral is a complex process, requiring parents to acknowledge challenges in the management of a child's behaviour, overcome feelings of failure or stigma risking disclosure to professionals. It relies on professionals understanding the significance of what they see or hear, knowing where to refer families and having effective motivational skills to promote the willingness of parents to engage with programmes. Different perceptions of poor childhood behaviour delay access to appropriate help, particularly for those with severe problems. Referral pathways are often complex and not well understood by professionals in routine contact with families or working with high-risk groups.
Originality/value
Although there is a strong body of research outlining what works to promote better outcomes for children with early behavioural difficulties, there is less detailed understanding of identification, help seeking and “real world” barriers preventing parents and children benefitting from effective parenting support.
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Senda Belhaj Slimene, Hela Borgi and Hakim Ben Othman
The study aims to investigate the relationship between E-government and corruption. It also examines the moderator role of national culture through Hofstede’s dimensions on the…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate the relationship between E-government and corruption. It also examines the moderator role of national culture through Hofstede’s dimensions on the association between E-government and corruption.
Design/methodology/approach
In addition to panel regression techniques, the authors use the random forest method to assess the order of importance of all significant variables in determining corruption. The sample of this study consists of 55 countries during 2008–2020 period.
Findings
The results show that E-government is negatively correlated with corruption. The authors also find that both economic and cultural variables play an important role in determining corruption. However, religion has no impact on corruption. The results can potentially assist regulators and policy-makers when trying to control corruption as they should take into consideration the cultural background of citizens when making rules and procedures that aim at reducing corruption.
Originality/value
The current study uses random forests model, which allows the regression of variables based on the construction of a multitude of decision trees. The main contribution of using this model compared to the other regression models used in prior studies is to extract the relative importance of each significant variable. More precisely, it evaluates the rank of importance for each significant variable that drives corruption rather than merely identifying variables that drive corruption regardless of their relative importance.
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Samina Saifuddin, Lorraine Dyke and Md Sajjad Hossain
The purpose of this paper is to create a nuanced understanding of the barriers women high-tech professionals face in Bangladesh. The main aim is to identify the extent to which…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to create a nuanced understanding of the barriers women high-tech professionals face in Bangladesh. The main aim is to identify the extent to which these barriers are common across different contexts and to explore the barriers that are unique and situated in the local socio-cultural context.
Design/methodology/approach
In-depth interviews with high-tech professionals were conducted to identify and explore the barriers.
Findings
Although some of the barriers are common across different contexts, most of the barriers women professionals face arise due to the interaction between situated socio-cultural practices and gender. The dynamics of socio-cultural and patriarchal norms reinforce gender biases and gendered practices that afford men with greater control over resources and systematically limit women’s access to opportunities.
Research limitations/implications
The study recruited 35 participants using snowball sampling. From a methodological perspective, future research could benefit from recruiting a larger, more varied sample using random sampling.
Practical implications
Women experience barriers due to both internal organizational features and external contextual barriers. The findings suggest that some of these barriers can be removed through governmental and organizational policies and through appropriate intervention strategies delivered in partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Originality/value
The study makes a unique contribution by using a macro-social lens to analyze the meso-organizational practices and micro-individual phenomena thereby providing a holistic view of the barriers faced by women professionals in Bangladesh.
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Maha Khalifa, Haykel Zouaoui, Hakim Ben Othman and Khaled Hussainey
The authors examine the effect of climate risk on accounting conservatism for a sample of listed companies operating in 26 developing countries.
Abstract
Purpose
The authors examine the effect of climate risk on accounting conservatism for a sample of listed companies operating in 26 developing countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors employ the Climate Risk Index (CRI) developed by Germanwatch to capture the severity of losses due to extreme weather events at the country level. The authors use different approaches to measure firm-level accounting conservatism.
Findings
The authors find that greater climate risk leads to a lower level of accounting conservatism. The results hold even after using different estimation methods.
Research limitations/implications
Although the authors' analysis is limited to the period 2007–2016, it could be helpful for standard setters such as International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and International Sustainable Standards Board (ISSB) as they may consider the potential effect of climate risk in their international standards.
Practical implications
The negative impacts of climate risk on the quality of financial reporting as proxied by accounting conservatism could trigger regulators and standard setters to require disclosure of information relating to climate risks and to incorporate climate-related risks in their risk management systems. In addition, for policymakers, incorporating accounting conservatism as a financial quality reporting standard could help promote greater transparency, accuracy and reliability in financial reporting in the context of climate risk.
Originality/value
The authors add to the literature on international differences in accounting conservatism by showing that climate risk significantly affects unconditional and conditional conservatism. The authors' results provide fresh evidence of the dark side of climate change. That is, climate risk is shown to decrease financial reporting quality.
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Noor Muhammad, Farid Ullah and Lorraine Warren
In this paper, an institutional perspective is used to examine the different kinds of pressures on entrepreneurs manifest in a conflict environment. The purpose of this paper is…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, an institutional perspective is used to examine the different kinds of pressures on entrepreneurs manifest in a conflict environment. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how they respond to the conflict and establish legitimacy for their entrepreneurship in the challenging context of the north western areas of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, a qualitative approach is taken based on semi-structured interviews from 16 different firms in the Swat valley.
Findings
The entrepreneurs undertake different strategies towards dealing with conflict and establishing legitimacy. These strategies are identified and examined in relation to the interactions between entrepreneurial behaviour and institutional pressures.
Research limitations/implications
Qualitative research on a small sample inevitably presents a limitation on the generalisability of this work. Further research could employ quantitative methods to address this issue. One particular location is studied, so future research could be carried out in other countries or regions with similar problems.
Practical implications
The study may have value for policymakers who need to know more about how to support ongoing businesses in difficult regions.
Social implications
Better understanding of the needs of small business may in time contribute to a better business climate in difficult regions.
Originality/value
A new dimension is added to institutional theory through its application in the very uncertain environment between all-out war and ongoing violence, identifying the possibility of weak agency for institutional change. Further, the study contributes to the growing body of literature on entrepreneurship in conflict environments.
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Vinita P. Ambwani, Louise Heslop and Lorraine S. Dyke
The purpose of this paper is to identify and explain barriers to differentiation for minority focused advertising agencies and propose modification to the existing framework of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and explain barriers to differentiation for minority focused advertising agencies and propose modification to the existing framework of agency selection process.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with key industry personnel. The data from these were augmented with proprietary research conducted by the relevant organizations and extensive review of the literature.
Findings
Few advertising agencies differentiate themselves by specializing in campaigns targeting minority populations. Several barriers to differentiation exist which can be explained using Institutional Theory and Economic Detour Theory. Rational Goal model and the Learning and Effectiveness Paradigm of diversity are used to suggest modification to current approaches.
Research limitations/implications
Future studies should test the validity of the proposed framework.
Practical implications
The proposed framework for agency selection will lead to differentiation opportunities for advertising agencies and potential business for clients.
Originality/value
The paper identifies the theoretical drivers of the barriers that exist for minority focused advertising agencies. The modified framework proposed uses theoretical rationale to addresses these barriers.
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Enzo Ferrari, Lorraine Whitmarsh, Paul Haggar, Kaloyan Mitev and Alice Lowe
Climate change (CC) poses significant risks to society, but there are ways people can address it – including in their personal and professional lives. One professional context �…
Abstract
Purpose
Climate change (CC) poses significant risks to society, but there are ways people can address it – including in their personal and professional lives. One professional context – higher education – has a unique role in tackling CC through educating future leaders and researching potential solutions. This study aims to identify the predictors that determine climate action in the university.
Design/methodology/approach
The predictors of climate action (including both personal behaviour change and academic subject choice) are examined amongst both university students and staff at a UK university. The authors present the results of an online survey (N = 3,326).
Findings
Climate education and research were associated with early and mid-career researchers, years working/studying and academic field, with engineering staff/students most involved. Climate anxiety and awareness of university climate emergency declarations and credible climate information sources significantly explain academic behaviour among students and academics. In addition, activities with substantial carbon footprints, such as driving and eating ruminant meat, could be associated with CC research and teaching.
Originality/value
These results highlight the importance of improving climate literacy, and sustainability initiatives within higher education. To address the urgent issues of CC, higher education institutions must integrate climate education, research and sustainable practices.
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Patricia Lewis and Yvonne Benschop
This paper aims to examine the discursive constitution of leadership identities by senior women leaders working in the City of London. This study draws on postfeminism as a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the discursive constitution of leadership identities by senior women leaders working in the City of London. This study draws on postfeminism as a critical concept to explore this constitution, as it has produced the cultural conditions for the reconfiguration of masculine and feminine gender norms in leadership.
Design/methodology/approach
In a qualitative study, 13 women leaders in positions of power in the City of London were interviewed. Discourse analysis techniques were used to unpack the postfeminist shaping of leadership identities
Findings
At the heart of the leadership identities that senior women leaders construct is a gendered hybridity that is a multifaceted calibration of masculine and feminine attributes and behaviours. Postfeminist discourses of individualism, choice and self-improvement are entangled with discourses of authenticity, relatability and connectivity as particular leadership assets. The gendered hybridity of leadership identities unfolds the possibility for a fundamental makeover of leadership by opening-up space for a transformative change that accommodates women leaders.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the very few studies that foreground the leadership identities that women leaders construct within the confines of postfeminist gender regimes. It shows how these women invoke authenticity, unfolding possibilities for the transformational change of and political challenge to traditional gendered leadership in their organizations.