Salizar Mohamed Ludin and Paul Andrew Arbon
The purpose of this paper is to develop government and community-level critical thinking, planning, and action for improving community disaster resilience by reporting a study…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop government and community-level critical thinking, planning, and action for improving community disaster resilience by reporting a study that sought to evaluate the possibility of using the Torrens Resilience Institute Australian Community Disaster Resilience (CDR) Scorecard in the Malaysian context.
Design/methodology/approach
A participatory action research approach (done in 2015) encouraged key people involved in managing the 2014 Kelantan floods in Malaysia’s north-east to participate in discussions about, and self-testing of, the CDR Scorecard to measure and improve their communities’ disaster resilience.
Findings
The CDR Scorecard can be useful in the Malaysian community context, with some modifications. Self-testing revealed that participating communities need to strengthen their disaster resilience through better communication, cross-community cooperation, maximizing opportunities to compare their plans, actions and reactions with those reported in research publications, and aligning their community disaster management with reported best practice internationally while acknowledging the need to adapt such practice to local contexts.
Research limitations/implications
There is a need for a Malaysia-wide, simple-to-use, standardized disaster resilience scorecard to improve communities’ quality, self-efficacy, and capability to facilitate improved disaster resilience.
Practical implications
The adaptation of Australian CDR Scorecard for used in the country.
Social implications
Awareness of CDR level will enhance community and government preparedness, mitigation, and responses to flood disaster.
Originality/value
This project is the first of its kind in Malaysia. It provides an example of the possibilities of using the CDR Scorecard globally in the form of a context-specific toolkit. The engagement of key people in the community in self-testing the Scorecard provides genuine, on-the-ground, real life data, giving others an understanding of local assessment of each community’s resilience level.
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Paul Arbon, Malinda Steenkamp, Victoria Cornell, Lynette Cusack and Kristine Gebbie
This paper aims to discuss the development of two toolkits that were designed to help communities and households measure their level of disaster resilience and provide practical…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the development of two toolkits that were designed to help communities and households measure their level of disaster resilience and provide practical tools to help them increase and maintain these levels.
Design/methodology/approach
The toolkits were developed across two studies, with the community toolkit development being undertaken first. A literature review was conducted to develop a definition and model of community disaster resilience; and a Scorecard was designed to assess levels of existing community disaster resilience. The definition and Scorecard were reviewed and refined with the help of two communities before a final version was trialled in four communities across Australia. The household toolkit project followed a similar approach, with trialling being undertaken in conjunction with two non-government organisations that carry out outreach work in the community.
Findings
The development and trial of the Scorecards was extremely valuable. The conclusion voiced by communities and reached by the study project teams was that the user-friendly Scorecard is a workable tool for people to assess their household and community disaster resilience and to come together to plan what might further strengthen resilience. Critical to the Scorecards’ success was an understanding of the purpose of the assessment tool and the meaning of resilience.
Originality/value
The toolkits take an all-hazards approach and help community members, individuals and local policymakers to set priorities, allocate funds and develop emergency and disaster management programmes that build local community resilience.
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The last two years have witnessed what may justly be described as a revolutionary change in the packaging and marketing of goods, of which pre‐packed food constitutes a…
Abstract
The last two years have witnessed what may justly be described as a revolutionary change in the packaging and marketing of goods, of which pre‐packed food constitutes a substantial part, but as far as public reaction goes, it has largely been a silent witness. There has been none of the outcry such as accompanied metrication, sufficient to call a halt to the process, and especially to the introduction of the decimal currency, of which most shoppers are convinced they were misled, “conned”. Every effort to make the changeover as smooth as possible was made; included was the setting up within the Department of Trade of a National Metrological Co‐ordinating Unit charged with co‐ordinating the work of 91 local weights and measures authorities in Great Britain in enforcing the new law, the Weights and Measures Act, 1979. This Act replaced the net or minimum system of the old law, the traditional system, re‐enacted in the Weights and Measures Act, 1963 with the average system, implementing EEC Directives and bringing weights and measures into line with Member‐states of the European Community.
Tony d’Arbon, Patrick Duignan and Deirdre J. Duncan
There is growing evidence of a worldwide shortage of persons willing to apply for vacant principal positions in schools. Reports a study about why more persons are not applying…
Abstract
There is growing evidence of a worldwide shortage of persons willing to apply for vacant principal positions in schools. Reports a study about why more persons are not applying for principal positions in Catholic schools in New South Wales, Australia. An analysis of the career aspirations of those eligible and likely to apply at some stage for a principal position revealed a high level of “unwilling” respondents. Ranks and discusses ten factors identified from a study of their perceptions of issues that would discourage or encourage them to apply. The most significant negative factor is the impact on family and personal life. Others include gender issues and the nature of the selection and interview process. The significant positive factor is that principals have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. Reflections on the findings include addressing the changing nature of school culture, the implications for the principalship and the need to develop a culture of leadership in schools.
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A monthly feature giving news of recent Government and professional appointments, industrial developments and business changes, etc.
THE method of conducting some of the Library Association professional examinations at provincial centres this year has given rise to a certain degree of adverse comment. We have…
Abstract
THE method of conducting some of the Library Association professional examinations at provincial centres this year has given rise to a certain degree of adverse comment. We have received a letter from the National Union of Clerks, signed Mr. Herbert H. Elvin, the General Secretary, in which it is stated that “If it is intended that the Library Association examination should take a place amongst the recognised professional examinations some enquiry should be made as to the methods adopted in the various local centres for the supervision of the candidates.” After giving some particulars, the letter proceeds: “If examinations are to be held, would it not be better to abolish local centres altogether, and hold the examination in London, where all candidates might be sure of receiving the same treatment?” At the Annual Meeting of the Library Assistants' Association at Nottingham the other day, numerous complaints of a similar nature were made, of which particulars are given in the current Library Assistant. No doubt special local circumstances affected the administration of the examinations to a considerable extent, but even making allowances for this, there seems to be plenty of room for reform and improvement.
Kadir Beycioglu, Niyazi Ozer and Celal Tayyar Ugurlu
Literature on vice‐principals that aims to get a better understanding of their roles, role perceptions in school management, and their attitudes towards school management have…
Abstract
Purpose
Literature on vice‐principals that aims to get a better understanding of their roles, role perceptions in school management, and their attitudes towards school management have revealed that the vice‐principalship is one of the least researched and least discussed. The purpose of this paper is to explore the facets of job satisfaction among Turkish vice‐principals.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected via a survey administered to 159 vice‐principals working for elementary schools in a city in the eastern part of Turkey and results were gathered by May 2010. A two‐part survey questionnaire was used to elicit responses from vice‐principals. The instrument consists of 31 items and asks respondents to indicate the extent of their agreement with each of the items on a four‐point Likert scale. In this study items were designed as a five‐point scale. There is a section to collect personal information. It was included together with an item asking for their career orientation.
Findings
The results confirmed that the job satisfaction of vice‐principals had four job facets: “professional commitment”, “sense of synchrony”, “sense of efficacy”, and “level of personal challenge”. The results showed that the facets of “sense of efficacy” and “sense of synchrony” were major sources of job satisfaction, and that the vice‐principals who had any educational administration degree felt themselves more effective and more synchronic. The vice‐principals who did not plan to be a principal felt themselves less effective when coping with work stress and balancing their work and personal lives.
Originality/value
The paper provides a better understanding of vice‐principals’ roles, role perceptions in school management, and their attitudes towards school management, and extends knowledge about the facets of job satisfaction among Turkish vice‐principals.
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This article aims to set the scene for this Special Issue on beginning principals and to inform one's understanding of how new principals manage their work lives to make a…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to set the scene for this Special Issue on beginning principals and to inform one's understanding of how new principals manage their work lives to make a difference in their schools.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on recent literature on beginning principals, the paper draws together and analyses issues encompassing principals' formal preparation, recruitment, licensure and socialisation.
Findings
This article outlines the broader context that frames the lives of beginning principals across societies. It does this through focusing on three fairly general topics: the current expectations of principals and potential principals, which also touches on a shortage of principal candidates in some societies; the life of beginning principals, including strategies suggested by research for “surviving” those hectic first years; and issues related to principals' preparation and learning. These topics encapsulate the focuses of the articles that follow.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the understanding that the quest for beginning principalship cannot be restricted by national or societal borders; it is one that calls for greater international cooperation and insight.
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This article aims to review business and academic literature on the topic of business succession planning (BSP). The purpose is to allow the vast quantity of evidence and opinion…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to review business and academic literature on the topic of business succession planning (BSP). The purpose is to allow the vast quantity of evidence and opinion to be contextualised, and enable a better understanding of the key themes within BSP, particularly with respect to small, family‐owned businesses.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive literature search of business magazines, journal databases, textbooks, and relevant reports and citations was carried out. A categorisation of the evidence, involving over 400 articles, allowed informed discussions on the key themes surrounding BSP.
Findings
Key findings include family succession, legal, financial, and fiscal components, barriers against implementation, and methods for managing the process. A detailed summary of these and other topics is given, which together constitute the critical themes which should be borne in mind by businesses facing BSP.
Research limitations/implications
The main weakness of this paper is the lack of theoretical development. However, the findings prompt key areas for future research, and help to contextualise the topic for any potential new developments in succession planning.
Practical implications
Despite the need for further scientific and validated studies, businesses are urged to devote sufficient resources and attention towards succession to promote long‐term survival and prosperity.
Originality/value
This paper allows researchers and business practitioners to obtain a wholesome reflection on the key themes within BSP, which are often exacerbated by the sheer volume of diverse opinion. The value of this paper is that it amalgamates the available evidence and offers a detailed, informed insight into the current state of research and practice in business succession.
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The purpose of this article is to report a study of the strategies members of principal selection panels use to select the best candidate for a principal position.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to report a study of the strategies members of principal selection panels use to select the best candidate for a principal position.
Design/methodology/approach
The study draws on both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative analysis drawn on data collected from school supervisors and school principals confirmed a four‐factor structure and qualitative interview data was used to supplement findings.
Findings
In order of importance the strategies employed by selection panels were: panel professionalism, the interview, making the cut and pre‐interview.
Practical implications
Findings indicate that the selection component of principal recruitment remains at best an uncertain science. Tensions endure between beliefs and perceptions of panel members from different backgrounds. These include beliefs about competence and level of involvement in important activities such as short‐listing. Relational ties, religious affiliation and values congruence are important to members of selection panels, but we are unsure of the influence these have on the quality of successful applications. It seems that at a minimum they may reduce the pool of “real” applicants.
Originality/value
The study provides useful information on the strategies members of principal selection panels use to select the best candidate for a principal position.