To deliver an “introduction to life coaching” workshop to local government lawyers and the benefits they could get from life coaching.
Abstract
Purpose
To deliver an “introduction to life coaching” workshop to local government lawyers and the benefits they could get from life coaching.
Design/methodology/approach
The nature of the interactive workshop is outlined and the responses of the delegates examined.
Findings
The findings of the paper focus on the benefits to the delegates at both personal and professional levels. The holistic approach of life coaching impacting on how difficulties are viewed and the consequent reduction in stress.
Originality/value
A case study on the experiences of delegates exposed to life coaching. This paper will be of value to HR in local government and high stress business environments.
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Beatrix F. Perez and Harriett D. Romo
Purpose – Mobility of youth in multiple foster care placements contributes to diminished life chances and outcomes. Foster care youth mobility during care results in numerous…
Abstract
Purpose – Mobility of youth in multiple foster care placements contributes to diminished life chances and outcomes. Foster care youth mobility during care results in numerous school changes within one academic year which hinders educational achievement. This qualitative study examines a group of Latino alumni of foster care and their experiences related to housing and education.
Methodology – Interviews with 25 young Latino adults ranging in age from 18 to 22 examined foster care placement, transitions to independence, and experiences after foster care. Researchers used a semi-structured interview guide, and tape-recorded interviews transcribed and coded for emergent themes.
Findings – Results suggest that as youth experience school mobility, social capital aids in promoting positive educational experiences. This research emphasizes the importance of positive social capital for Latino foster care youth and their educational achievement, evidenced in both adult and peer social networks. Few studies have examined Latino foster care youth experiences, and currently there are no studies that address educational experiences of these youth.
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Matthew Walker, Melanie Sartore and Robin Taylor
Outsourcing has been promoted as one of the most powerful trends in the modernization of marketing operations. The rationale for such an undertaking includes a variety of factors…
Abstract
Purpose
Outsourcing has been promoted as one of the most powerful trends in the modernization of marketing operations. The rationale for such an undertaking includes a variety of factors but is generally predicated on fiduciary considerations. The purpose of this article is to examine the issues with, and the empirical consequences of, outsourcing within the intercollegiate marketing context.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an exploratory mixed‐methods study incorporating qualitative and quantitative data to investigate outsourcing specifically related to the communication‐employee commitment relationship.
Findings
Results from study 1 reveal that marketing directors perceive outsourcing as critical but also experience dissatisfaction with the level, frequency, and direction of communication. Results from study 2 indicate that an explicit and positive relationship exists between employee satisfaction with communication and their resultant commitment to the organization.
Research limitations/implications
Owing to the exploratory nature of the study and a relatively small sample, the conclusions are tempered until subsequent studies have been performed. As well, specific moderating variables (e.g. size, culture, budget) were not included in this initial inquiry and as such may add considerable variance explained to the proposed relationship.
Practical implications
First, the authors suggest that managing the “right commitment” is essential for marketing departments when working with an outsourcing agency. Second, the authors call attention to the importance of certain contextual factors (e.g. shared knowledge, mutual dependency, and organizational linkage) that may serve to improve the outsourcing partnership.
Originality/value
Few papers have explored the communication‐commitment relationship, particularly with regards to outsourcing. Consequently, this study adds to the research by examining how intercollegiate marketing employees perceive and react to an outsourcing partnership. Building on additional work in this area, the research focuses on several aspects of the communication‐commitment framework not previously examined.
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Rongjin Huang, Angela T. Barlow and Melanie E. Haupt
The purpose of this paper is to examine how teachers improve core instructional practices in teaching mathematics for problem solving through lesson study (LS). The core practices…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how teachers improve core instructional practices in teaching mathematics for problem solving through lesson study (LS). The core practices included launching a task, implementing a task, and orchestrating students’ solutions.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted multiple case study and survey methodologies. Each of three LS groups developed a research lesson on problem solving in algebra through Chinese LS, which includes collaborative planning and repeated teachings/debriefings of the research lesson with support from experts. The data collected included lesson plans, videotaped research lessons and debriefing meetings, and an end-of-project survey. Case studies supported by survey data were utilized to describe how research lessons were improved and what teachers learned from LS.
Findings
A fine-grained analysis of the data revealed that the participants improved their strategies for teaching for problem solving, which included effectively launching tasks, strategically implementing tasks, and productively orchestrating students’ solutions to the tasks. Further, analyses revealed that the feedback from experts during debriefing meetings played crucial roles in making these changes. Moreover, participants learned how to implement these core instructional practices and changed their views about students’ learning.
Originality/value
The study uncovers the mechanisms about how teachers improve teaching and their expertise in teaching through Chinese LS. The importance of the dynamic between repeated teaching and immediate feedback from knowledgeable others is highlighted.
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Melanie Baier, Gernot Graefe and Ellen Roemer
Much research has been dedicated to the screening of new product ideas. Far less is known, however, about how to select the most promising new service ideas. Moreover, the…
Abstract
Purpose
Much research has been dedicated to the screening of new product ideas. Far less is known, however, about how to select the most promising new service ideas. Moreover, the specific characteristics of business services are rarely taken into account. This paper aims to investigate this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on an extensive literature review and on a case study in the business‐to‐business information technology industry, this paper therefore develops a screening method with which to assess and select new business service ideas.
Findings
The study surprisingly reveals that the customers' view is rarely included into the valuation of new service ideas in management practice, although customer involvement is largely claimed in the literature. The supposition is that customer involvement is seen as difficult and costly in practice.
Originality/value
The paper proposes an effective and manageable tool to assess new business service ideas that also allows for easy involvement of customers into the screening process.
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Melanie Hill, Heather Gluyas, Martinique Sandy and Andrew Wingate
The purpose of this paper is to understand the perceptions and experiences of healthcare managers working within a community and ambulatory health service who manage poorly…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the perceptions and experiences of healthcare managers working within a community and ambulatory health service who manage poorly performing staff and, to identify the supports, and gaps in supports, that are available to these managers.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected via two focus groups using a semi-structured schedule. The data were transcribed, themed and conclusions summarised.
Findings
On analysis of the discussion of the line managers’ experiences and perceptions of competence, six themes were identified, five themes common to both groups. When discussing the availability and gaps in supports available when managing poor performance, managers were aware of the majority of the supports available to them in the workplace but there was a disconnect between managers and the HR department.
Research limitations/implications
Though the results of this study are not generalisable, as the participants came from programs within a single hospital, they may be transferrable to other healthcare environments. Future research should attempt to replicate these findings using other research techniques.
Practical implications
The findings in this paper indicate that methods should be identified to build better relationships between managers and HR departments, develop clear management learning pathways, and to support managers to manage their emotional responses. These strategies will support organisations to achieve improved outcomes from the performance management processes.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the current literature by identifying key themes that may have an impact on the outcome of performance management processes. These themes would benefit from further exploration.
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Deborah Greenblatt and Melanie D. Koss
The purpose of this paper is to show how the impact of White Supremacy and Christian hegemony on the educational system. By highlighting interconnectedness across targeted groups…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show how the impact of White Supremacy and Christian hegemony on the educational system. By highlighting interconnectedness across targeted groups, the authors assert that through coalition building, groups are stronger than they would be working alone. Solidarity gives hope to combating hatred of all kinds. Learning that there is a long history of antisemitism is an important component of fighting bias. With book banning and controversy over teaching critical race theory in schools, it is important that educators reflect on their social justice education.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyze the definitions and enactment of multicultural, culturally responsive and anti-bias education as well as critical theory. They then investigate how antisemitism is of concern to all identities targeted by White Supremacy and Christian Nationalism (LGBTQIA+, minoritized races, non-Christians, etc.) and the importance of education in fighting hate and influencing policy and practice.
Findings
Although 2 % of the US population identifies as Jewish, 11% of incidents educators reported were classified as antisemitic. Education is the key to fighting antisemitism and Holocaust denial (Greene et al., 2021; Stanton and Marcus, 2019). The authors make recommendations for addressing antisemitism, including addressing antisemitic incidents, the importance of Holocaust studies, the need for religious literacy, fighting the banning of books and narrowing the school curriculum. The authors ended by reinforcing the need for Jewish people to be included in multicultural, culturally responsive, anti-bias education and the need for “Heb-crit” as a sub-study of critical race theory.
Social implications
Anti-bias education must include antisemitism and show how connected hatred is rather than having groups compare their struggles. The authors explained the diversity among Jewish people to highlight the complexity of an identity group that is often inaccurately oversimplified.
Originality/value
There is a need for scholarship on modern-day antisemitism and internalized antisemitism and reflective narratives as commonly used in Black and Latinx studies (Rubin, 2020). With the rise in Holocaust denial and antisemitic groups (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2024), it is important to advocate and teach about these topics, which are not often discussed in PK-12 or Schools of Education (Muller, 2022).
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Melanie Jay Narayanasamy, Louise Thomson, Carol Coole, Fiona Nouri and Avril Drummond
There has been little research into the use and efficacy of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) across UK workplaces. This paper aims to investigate the implementation of MHFA across…
Abstract
Purpose
There has been little research into the use and efficacy of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) across UK workplaces. This paper aims to investigate the implementation of MHFA across six UK organisations, identifying key barriers and facilitators.
Design/methodology/approach
Twenty-seven workplace representatives were recruited from six organisations through purposive sampling and took part in semi-structured interviews exploring their experiences of workplace MHFA. The data underwent thematic analysis, identifying key themes around implementation.
Findings
Implementation varied across organisations, including different reasons for initial interest in the programme, and variable ways that MHFA-trained employees operated post-training. Key barriers to successful implementation included negative attitudes around mental health, the perception that MHFA roles were onerous, and employees’ reluctance to engage in the MHFA programme. Successful implementation was perceived to be based on individual qualities of MHFA instructors and good practice demonstrated by trained individuals in the workplace. The role of the inner organisational setting and employee characteristics were further highlighted as barriers and facilitators to effective implementation.
Research limitations/implications
MHFA is a complex intervention, presenting in different ways when implemented into complex workplace settings. As such, traditional evaluation methods may not be appropriate for gaining insights into its effectiveness. Future evaluations of workplace MHFA must consider the complexity of implementing and operationalising this intervention in the workplace.
Originality/value
This study is the first to highlight the factors affecting successful implementation of MHFA across a range of UK workplaces.