In interviews, Jamie Lee Curtis positions Halloween (2018) as a #MeToo film. As merely self-serving publicity, this reading is far too simplistic. In Halloween (1978) Laurie…
Abstract
In interviews, Jamie Lee Curtis positions Halloween (2018) as a #MeToo film. As merely self-serving publicity, this reading is far too simplistic. In Halloween (1978) Laurie Strode is victimised; she then assumes the role of quintessential Final Girl as described by Carol J. Clover, providing the template for the entire sub-genre of horror slasher films birthed in its wake. However, in the similarly titled 2018 film, Laurie is no longer a victim. Instead of following the role of the stereotypical Final Girl of slasher films, she falls more in line with one of Yvonne Tasker's Warrior Women.
This chapter investigates Laurie Strode's transformation throughout the Halloween franchise. Once passive and victimised, Laurie has evolved: No longer the Final Girl – or victim – her position and behaviour in this film is much more in line with the neoliberal Warrior Woman of action films. Thus, the film assigns her the role of action heroine as a vehicle for responding to the concerns of the #MeToo era – and in this era, women are no longer victims. Women can and will fight back.
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Ranjan Vaidya and Michael D. Myers
This paper aims to highlight the importance of the study of emotions in the successful implementation of information systems projects in developing countries. This paper studies…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to highlight the importance of the study of emotions in the successful implementation of information systems projects in developing countries. This paper studies one emotion, namely, anger, and discusses its detrimental impact on information system interventions. This paper suggests that controls are necessary for the management of anger emotion.
Design/methodology/approach
This research study explores the case of an Indian agricultural marketing board that implemented an information systems project on the integration of agricultural markets. The data was collected through semistructured interviews from four stakeholder groups. This paper uses a qualitative approach and analyzes the data using thematic analysis. Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice is used to study emotions in the case.
Findings
This paper finds that anger is the prominent emotion displayed at public sector organizations in India. This paper permeates all aspects of public organizations and has a detrimental impact on successfully implementing the information systems projects. Successful implementation of the information systems (IS) projects in India will need to have a framework for managing the anger emotion.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper within the information systems discipline that focuses on anger and its detrimental impact on successful IS interventions. A unique contribution of this paper is a framework for the study of emotions. This paper also introduces the idea of controls for emotional management.
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Abstract
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The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the progress that has been made in qualitative research in the field of information systems (IS) and across management and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the progress that has been made in qualitative research in the field of information systems (IS) and across management and organizational studies more generally.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is an opinion piece based on the author’s experience as a qualitative researcher.
Findings
Qualitative research in the fields of IS and management and organizational studies has come of age. Almost all of the top journals publish qualitative research.
Research limitations/implications
Given that this paper is an opinion piece, it does not contain empirical data. However, this not detract from the strength of the argument.
Originality/value
This paper provides a high-level assessment of the state of qualitative research across business and management for the special anniversary issue of the journal.
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Michael D. Myers and Leslie W. Young
A number of researchers have drawn attention to the way in which information systems development is an inherently political activity. Using the critical social theory of Jurgen…
Abstract
A number of researchers have drawn attention to the way in which information systems development is an inherently political activity. Using the critical social theory of Jurgen Habermas, discusses the development of an information system in mental health. Using critical ethnography, reveals otherwise hidden agendas, power and managerial assumptions to be deeply embedded in the project. Raises broader questions about the extent to which information systems can be seen as “colonizing mechanisms”.
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E‐Teaching as the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education is of growing importance for educational theory and practice. Many universities and other…
Abstract
E‐Teaching as the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education is of growing importance for educational theory and practice. Many universities and other higher education institutions use ICT to support teaching. However, there are contradicting opinions about the value and outcome of e‐teaching. This paper starts with a review of the literature on e‐teaching and uses this as a basis for distilling success factors for e‐teaching. It then discusses the case study of an e‐voting system used for giving student feedback and marking student presentations. The case study is critically discussed in the light of the success factors developed earlier. The conclusion is that e‐teaching, in order to be successful, should be embedded in the organisational and individual teaching philosophy.
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Haniye Sadat Sajadi, Mohammadreza Maleki and Steve Michael
A university of medical sciences (UMS) is governed by a board that serves analogously as a board of trustees or a governing board in the western countries. In Iran, however, such…
Abstract
Purpose
A university of medical sciences (UMS) is governed by a board that serves analogously as a board of trustees or a governing board in the western countries. In Iran, however, such boards operate under the broad leadership of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) but still wield enormous power over their universities. Given the influence boards have in the affairs of an UMS, the question remains how the medical university board can be improved so as to improve the overall effectiveness of these institutions. The purpose of this article is a response to this question by focusing on criteria necessary for reviewing board performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a qualitative approach, the study solicited data from 37 key informants that were purposefully chosen from 52 medical science universities across Iran. Semi-structured face-to-face and phone interviews as well as a review of relevant document were the main means of the data gathering. We performed the framework analysis using software ATLAS-ti (version 5).
Findings
The analysis identified 32 overlapping indicators that must be considered in a board performance. These indicators were reclassified and summarized into six categories, including trustees, trustees' leadership, board structure, board process, board output (short-length results) and board outcomes (long-length results).
Originality/value
Our study findings confirmed the role of the context and its relationship with the effective board performance. Here, the governing arrangement of all institutions including UMS is shadowed by the social, economic, cultural, political and technological status of the country. So, special attention is recommended to identify what should be considered to evaluate the performance of the board given the context.
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Michelle Soakell‐Ho and Michael D. Myers
The introduction of competitive tendering and contracting and a lack of transparent funding processes has seen a move towards greater contestability of services in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The introduction of competitive tendering and contracting and a lack of transparent funding processes has seen a move towards greater contestability of services in the nongovernment organization (NGO) sector. To ameliorate this situation requires a sound understanding of knowledge management (KM) practices. However, not all NGOs have been equally successful at embracing KM principles. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to explore the KM challenges faced by New Zealand NGOs in the health and disability sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Using qualitative research methods, specifically interpretive case study research, the authors studied the KM practices of nine NGOs in the health and disability sector in New Zealand. Qualitative data were obtained from documents and semi‐structured interviews following a dramaturgical approach.
Findings
The findings suggest many barriers to successful implementation of KM in NGOs; some of the most important ones being related to organizational structure and culture. Specifically, tensions between local and national organizational branches, difficulty integrating volunteers and complex funding arrangements are key challenges faced by NGOs in the health and disability sector.
Originality/value
Existing literature suggests that volunteer turnover is a serious impediment to successful KM implementation. The authors' research suggests that volunteer integration, more so than turnover, is an issue. The research also reports on an underlying tension between commercialization and the inherent service culture of the sector. This paper makes recommendations for improved volunteer management and suggests that there is a clear opportunity for better KM systems and practices in the NGO sector.
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Karin Olesen and Michael D. Myers
Discusses the use of information technology to facilitate communication and collaboration. In this action research project a groupware product called Lotus NotesTM was implemented…
Abstract
Discusses the use of information technology to facilitate communication and collaboration. In this action research project a groupware product called Lotus NotesTM was implemented to facilitate communication and collaboration amongst the senior management team. Although there was a real need for change, and the project received strong support from senior management on the basis that it would enable radical changes in coordination within the workgroup, these radical changes did not occur. The authors analyse the reasons for failure, and suggest that the project failed because of institutional forces which inhibited dramatic changes in work habits.