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Article
Publication date: 19 September 2022

Richard Olley

The themes that emerged from the qualitative data of a mixed methods study that explored the effects of leadership style on the job satisfaction of aged care workers.

782

Abstract

Purpose

The themes that emerged from the qualitative data of a mixed methods study that explored the effects of leadership style on the job satisfaction of aged care workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a mixed methods study with the qualitative approach informing the interpretative phenomenological analysis from the transcripts of semi-structured interviews.

Findings

Three themes related to the effects of leadership style on job satisfaction of aged care employees emerged from the IPA. These themes were, The Context of Aged Care, Employee Engagement and Voice and Leader Behaviour. Job burnout and organisational disengagement were prevalent in participants of the qualitative study.

Research limitations/implications

The research deployed quantitative measurements to determine the differences between aged care leaders and their followers and used these to explore participants’ lived experiences and how they made sense of their personal and social worlds at work. In the quantitative study, there may be an overstatement of the strength of the relationship between variables among those motivated to participate in the study. The qualitative study requires the researcher to be thorough in describing the research context, and it may be that those who wish to transfer the results of this study to a different one are responsible for making the judgement on the suitability of the transferability of findings.

Practical implications

Decreasing job disengagement and burnout will positively impact reducing attrition and turnover and, thus, the availability of the aged care workforce. It will inform leadership development programs and training in aged care and other health and social care sectors.

Social implications

The workforce is a primary consideration for aged care in Australia and globally. Reducing burnout and disengagement will reduce workforce attrition, thus, improving the care for some of the most vulnerable in the population.

Originality/value

This report is from original research with ethical clearance from a university human research ethics committee contributing to the knowledge of leadership practice in aged care in Australia.

Details

Leadership in Health Services, vol. 36 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1879

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Article
Publication date: 28 May 2024

Sonal Nakar and Richard G. Bagnall

Vocational education and training (VET) in Australia has for some time been driven by an agenda of “reasonable adjustment”, in which practices are modified to ensure equitable…

103

Abstract

Purpose

Vocational education and training (VET) in Australia has for some time been driven by an agenda of “reasonable adjustment”, in which practices are modified to ensure equitable access and participation by disadvantaged students. However, the growing marketization of VET has instead encouraged the use of more flexible approaches to attract and retain students from diverse backgrounds. They have thus paralleled and confounded reasonable adjustment practices for inclusive development. This study sought to identify the moral dilemmas experienced by VET teachers arising from implementing reasonable adjustment practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This phenomenological research project used in-depth conversational interviews with 19 experienced VET teachers from a diversity of teaching fields to identify moral dilemmas experienced as arising from changes in their workplace contexts.

Findings

One of the identified dilemmas was responding flexibly to heightened student diversity, to which study participants largely responded by prioritising the economic imperative over social inclusion. Well-intended actions thus led to unintentionally damaging outcomes, raising important ethical questions about the relative value of economic and social development outcomes and the role of reasonable adjustment in their attainment. The study also highlights the lack of appropriate VET teacher training in managing ethical conflicts to minimise risks to themselves and their employing organizations.

Originality/value

As a case study of inclusive development policies in practice, this research may be seen as a cautionary tale for inclusive development policies in other countries with similarly strong VET economic and socially inclusive development policies for sustainability. The paper thus opens a dialogue for critical reflection on the current problems in a reasonable development approach in the field of comparative and international education. Those two parallel agendas have presented VET teachers and trainers with ethically challenging situations in which the economic and social development imperatives are experienced as being conflict with each other.

Details

International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2396-7404

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Article
Publication date: 17 April 2007

Richard L. Griffith, Tom Chmielowski and Yukiko Yoshita

The purpose of this article is to empirically test whether applicants fake their responses to personality based employment inventories.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to empirically test whether applicants fake their responses to personality based employment inventories.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized a within subjects design to asses whether applicants elevated their scores in an applicant conditions. Subjects who applied for a job were later contacted and asked to complete the same personality measure under an honest instructional set. The within subjects design allowed the researcher to examine faking behavior at the individual level of analysis rather than draw inferences between applicant and incumbent groups.

Findings

Results suggest that a significant number of applicants do fake personality based selection measures. Depending on the confidence interval used between 30 and 50 percent of applicants elevated their scores when applying for a job. The results also show that applicant faking behavior resulted in significant rank ordering changes that impacted hiring decisions.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of the study is the exclusion of a job performance criterion measure. Without this measure definitive statements regarding the decay in the criterion validity of the measure cannot be made. While the study demonstrated rank ordering changes, decrements in criterion validity cannot be demonstrated without measuring job performance.

Practical implications

The practical implications of the paper are that personality measures should not be used alone. Rather they should be included in a test battery of measures that are less susceptible to faking behavior. In addition, applied researchers must continue research efforts to address the faking issue.

Originality/value

Empirical research has supported the notion that respondents can fake when instructed, however, other research has suggested that applicants do not fake in applied settings. This study is the first to provide substantial evidence that faking does occur in applicant settings and that is disrupts rank ordering of applicants.

Details

Personnel Review, vol. 36 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0048-3486

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Article
Publication date: 1 December 1999

Richard B. Sappey and Jennifer Sappey

This article explores the relationship between an Australian financial institution’s training programme and its commercial fortunes, in particular its mix of technical skills and…

1933

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between an Australian financial institution’s training programme and its commercial fortunes, in particular its mix of technical skills and social skills training. In this industry, price and product differentiation are limited, and customer service is the principal determinant of competitive advantage. Social skills training should theoretically be crucial to gaining competitive advantage. This study involved interviews with the bank’s state and national managers, observations of different types of training courses and analysis of training programme documentation. It was found that during periods of intense pressure from the marketplace, managerial perceptions and budgetary constraints placed a higher priority on technical skills training over social skills training. This had significant implications for employees’ personal and career development in internal and external labour markets.

Details

Employee Relations, vol. 21 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0142-5455

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Article
Publication date: 22 April 2010

Graeme H. Coetzer and Richard Trimble

A recent national survey of the US workforce suggests that adult attention related disorders are producing a wide range of negative outcomes in the workplace. The symptoms…

423

Abstract

A recent national survey of the US workforce suggests that adult attention related disorders are producing a wide range of negative outcomes in the workplace. The symptoms typically associated with the disorder (difficulties with activation, concentration, effort, emotional interference and accessing memory) suggest that team work may represent a problematic situation for adults with the disorder. Subjects were one hundred and fifty‐five student teams (subjects=628) from universities in both Canada and the United States. The study begins by confirming a hypothesis arising out of previous qualitative research that team members with adult attention deficit have relatively greater difficulty with necessary but uninteresting tasks. The hypothesis that team members with the disorder will be extraordinarily reliant on their teammates was also supported. The need to secure situations of particular fit, and to do so without undermining the support of fellow teammates, suggests that cooperative conflict management styles are especially important for clinical AAD vs. non‐clinical team members. The specific hypotheses, that cooperative styles (problem solving and compromising) are especially important for producing positive team experiences/expectations and efficacy for working in teams, were supported. Future research needs to sample more workplace teams.

Details

American Journal of Business, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1935-519X

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Article
Publication date: 8 June 2015

Sarah Sloan, Kelli Bodey and Richard Gyrd-Jones

The purpose of this paper was to explore the role knowledge sharing plays in both firm-sponsored (FS) and user-generated (UG) Online Brand Communities (OBCs) on Facebook. Branding…

4979

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to explore the role knowledge sharing plays in both firm-sponsored (FS) and user-generated (UG) Online Brand Communities (OBCs) on Facebook. Branding through online mediums is an under-researched area that is slowly gaining attention in the literature. In some ways, action has come first as theory struggles to catch up with technological advances. Given that social sharing behaviours (i.e. online social networking) are arguably driving the strategic direction of marketers, it is important to understand the discourse that is being communicated. One such avenue is through participation in an OBC. While it is apparent that research is growing in the OBC area, there are still areas of interest that have gained little attention.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using netnography, an appropriate yet under-applied methodological technique used to investigate the consumer behaviour of cultures and communities present on the Internet. Specifically, Facebook Pages relating to five OBCs based on the cruise-liner P & O Australia have been chosen for this case study.

Findings

Results indicate that in both the FS and UG OBCs, knowledge-sharing was seen to have an important influence on pre-purchase decision-making. It also acted as a mechanism for trust building and sharing brand experiences and as an important encouragement to developing a sense of community among community members. A particularly interesting outcome of this research was the way in which consumers have taken on an active role in co-creating brand identity, which seemingly illuminates the role of brand management in social media.

Practical implications

Given that this research was conducted with a real brand, with real customers, in a real OBC, the findings also point to some important practical applications. This study has found that the role of brands in their online forums is paramount, and as such, highlights the importance of effective brand governance. The rise of technology brings increased opportunities for a brand to reach out to their consumers. This study makes a further contribution by providing insights into how the consumer–brand relationship is shaped by the communication that occurs between consumers. To this end, consumers see it as the brand’s responsibility to monitor such online platforms, thus indicating the management of OBCs needs to be at the forefront of brand management practices.

Originality/value

This study represents one of the earliest investigations of brand communities facilitated by social media, specifically focusing on Facebook as the communication platform. Importantly, this study increases our knowledge of consumer interaction in social media, with an emphasis towards the role that knowledge sharing contributes to OBCs and the differences prevalent between FS and UG online communities.

Details

Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1352-2752

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Article
Publication date: 2 February 2010

Richard Niesche and Robyn Jorgensen

The purpose of this paper is to report on research into the challenges for leadership in implementation of a new curriculum in a remote region of Queensland, Australia.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on research into the challenges for leadership in implementation of a new curriculum in a remote region of Queensland, Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the research were gathered through an online survey and semi‐structured interviews with teachers and principals involved in the reforms.

Findings

Results show that there were substantial differences in the views of teachers and principals in their perceptions of the implementation process. The vast differences in the implementation strategies and leadership approaches between the schools suggested that the effect of the reform on leadership practices was more positive in schools in which elements of productive leadership were present.

Originality/value

This research highlights the importance of leadership throughout reform processes, particularly in terms of the different experiences and perceptions teachers and principals have during the policy implementation process. As a result, this paper offers an important perspective on the complex dynamics of leadership processes and how curriculum reform is enacted at the local level.

Details

Journal of Educational Administration, vol. 48 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-8234

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Article
Publication date: 12 August 2014

Martine B. Powell, Peter Cassematis, Mairi S. Benson, Stephen Smallbone and Richard Wortley

– The purpose of this paper is to explore police officers’ perceptions of the challenges and work stressors of working in Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) investigation.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore police officers’ perceptions of the challenges and work stressors of working in Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were a heterogeneous sample of 32 ICE investigators across nine Australian jurisdictions. Officers’ perceptions of ICE work were elicited via individual, open-ended, anonymous, telephone interviews, which focused on both the nature and impact of work-related stressors and challenges.

Findings

Thematic analysis revealed that viewing ICE material was not perceived to be a major stressor or particularly traumatic facet of ICE investigation. Rather, the challenges related to three areas; work relationships, workload and resources and the physical environment. Participants also suggested some improvements to their work environment which could reduce the impact of these challenges.

Practical implications

The stressors identified by ICE investigators in this study place physical, psychological and social restrictions on investigative capacity. Modifications to the workplace environment that facilitate more effective professional collaboration, reduce workload and enhance investigator efficiency and functionality of the physical work environment would likely reduce the potential for harm associated with ICE investigation and improve ICE investigators’ capacity to perform their role.

Originality/value

This is the first study to use a broad research framework to examine the full range of stressors that ICE investigators face (both organisational and operational). The findings are important for developing comprehensive theories regarding workplace traumatisation as well as holistic intervention models to assist the prevention and management of stress related to ICE investigation.

Details

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1363-951X

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Article
Publication date: 5 April 2011

Colin Williams, Steve Goodhew and Richard Griffiths

The purpose of the paper is to explore the structural feasibility of substituting traditional thick joint mortars with earth slurry mortars modified with varying amounts of sand…

721

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore the structural feasibility of substituting traditional thick joint mortars with earth slurry mortars modified with varying amounts of sand. Thin jointing of earth blocks would reduce the cost of sustainable earth construction.

Design/methodology/approach

Compressive strength of earth‐block cubes was determined. Flexural strength was measured using the BRE electronic bond wrench, which enables block couplets to be tested quickly and accurately. Three samples of earth block, one from southwest England and two from East Anglia, together with nine examples of earth slurry mortar jointing were studied, including the effect of reinforcing the joint and or the block using hessian.

Findings

The 28‐day cube characteristic compressive strengths were determined for Appley soil, Norfolk lump and Beeston soil, the last with 0 per cent sand, 25 per cent sand and with 25 per cent sand with hessian. The flexural strengths of Appley and Beeston earth slurries were determined, along with Thermalite thin jointed cement and cement mortar for comparison. The Beeston soil flexural strength increased with increasing sand content. Earth slurry with 40 per cent sand and hessian present in the joint gave the greatest strength. It is important to use blocks and slurry mortars of the same soil. Extruded and compressed earth blocks are best suited to slurry jointing.

Originality/value

This work successfully demonstrates the structural feasibility of carefully reducing the thickness of earth mortars when constructing sustainable earth block walling. Characteristic flexural strengths are suggested where the test results were sufficiently consistent, and of a magnitude likely to be useful in design.

Details

Structural Survey, vol. 29 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-080X

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Article
Publication date: 24 August 2012

Richard Griffiths and Steve Goodhew

Dwellings constructed before 1920 often had solid brick walls with poor thermal performance. Today there is a drive to reduce both energy demand and carbon dioxide production. The…

1283

Abstract

Purpose

Dwellings constructed before 1920 often had solid brick walls with poor thermal performance. Today there is a drive to reduce both energy demand and carbon dioxide production. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that mixtures of chopped hemp straw with lime based binders added to the external surface of brick walls can substantially reduce the air to air thermal transmittance, or U‐value W/m2 K, and that these mixtures provide a sustainable remedial treatment for solid brick walls. The aim is to achieve wall U‐values as good as, or better than, the current UK Building Regulations design value of 0.30 W/m2 K.

Design/methodology/approach

Several Microsoft Excel spread sheets have been constructed to determine the steady state and transient thermal properties of various brick walls. These spread sheets are validated by comparing their output with the published thermal data to be found in the CIBSE Design Guide. The sustainable aspects of a number of different externally hemp‐lime insulated Victorian brick walls are described and discussed.

Findings

The U‐values and the transient thermal properties of solid brick walls with thickness 110 mm, 220 mm and 340 mm are presented. The transient properties include the admittance, decrement factor and lag time. These walls are then considered with various added external layers of hemp‐lime ranging in thickness from 50 mm to 300 mm. Some solid brick walls have an added air cavity, created with studding and plywood sheathing, before the layer of hemp‐lime. Walls with external tile hanging for sites with high exposure to driving rain are also discussed.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates the advantages of the energy saving and carbon dioxide sequestration achieved by adding 200 mm of a hemp‐lime binder insulation to the exterior of Victorian brick walls of terraced dwellings.

Details

Structural Survey, vol. 30 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-080X

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