B. Shackel, D.J. Pullinger, T.I. Maud and W.P. Dodd
This paper describes the progress after 2 years of a 3½ year experimental programme organised jointly by two Universities as the Birmingham and Loughborough Electronic Network…
Abstract
This paper describes the progress after 2 years of a 3½ year experimental programme organised jointly by two Universities as the Birmingham and Loughborough Electronic Network Development (BLEND). The aims of the programme are to explore and evaluate alternative forms of user communication through an ‘electronic journal’ and information network, and to assess the cost, efficiency and subjective impact of such a system. After summarising the background leading to this research, the project is described which involves the development of various types of ‘electronic journal’ with a community of initially about 50 scientists (the Loughborough Information Network Community—LINC). In this project, the journal procedures involving authors, editors and referees are being studied, up to the point at which editors accept pages for publication. The scientific subject area of this experimental programme is ‘Computer Human Factors’. Each member is expected to contribute at least one research article and one shorter note in each year of the project, and may also use other forms of communication such as messages, newsletters, annotated abstracts, workshop conferences, co‐operative authorship, etc. Considerable problems have been experienced with the hardware available to LINC members, with communications equipment, with modifying and developing software to obtain an acceptable operating system, and with various unexpected bureaucratic and organisational difficulties. These problems and the results to date will be reviewed. Nevertheless, more than 20 papers are in the system and the first number of the ‘Computer Human Factors’ experimental electronic journal was open to LINC members on 1st October 1982.
One of the tasks of the special librarian is to facilitate current awareness: services are set up to encourage user groups to keep up‐to‐date with developments in their own and…
Abstract
One of the tasks of the special librarian is to facilitate current awareness: services are set up to encourage user groups to keep up‐to‐date with developments in their own and related subject areas. The librarian advocates current awareness as an essential prerequisite for members of that user group to remain effective practitioners, researchers or teachers within their subject area. The librarian encourages and advocates because unfortunately some of those practitioners, researchers and teachers are either unconvinced of the need for current awareness or haven't the time/are not interested/cannot be bothered.
IT is always something of an embarrassment for a West German librarian to address his British colleagues on the problems of public libraries. What is there of interest in a system…
Abstract
IT is always something of an embarrassment for a West German librarian to address his British colleagues on the problems of public libraries. What is there of interest in a system which in almost every respect is years behind the development of the English libraries? When I begin to think along these lines of the considerable and, indeed, natural role which the library plays in British society (almost a traumatic experience for a German librarian), then the inequalities of the situation become particularly clear. Even though there are many historical and political causes for this state of affairs, it is still impossible for any correspondent to free himself of a certain psychological handicap.
This article describes the current status of the Success Likelihood Index Method (SLIM) approach to the quantification of human reliability in risk and reliability assessment. The…
Abstract
This article describes the current status of the Success Likelihood Index Method (SLIM) approach to the quantification of human reliability in risk and reliability assessment. The technique has now been implemented using an interactive computer program called MAUD to give a stand‐alone package (SLIM‐MAUD) which can be easily used by engineers without specialist knowledge of human reliability assessment. The article describes the use of the technique to provide design recommendations. The application of SLIM‐MAUD to a series of nuclear power plant tasks is described.
THE idea of a central service and supplies organisation for libraries—a “Library Centre”— such as exist abroad and are described in Library Supply agencies in Europe, is like most…
Abstract
THE idea of a central service and supplies organisation for libraries—a “Library Centre”— such as exist abroad and are described in Library Supply agencies in Europe, is like most ideas in librarianship, not a new one, even taking into account the establishment of Norway's Biblioteksentralen over 60 years ago in 1902, which at that time was called Folkeboksamlingenes Ekspedisjon. This idea, like so so much else, seems to have originated in the fertile brain of Melvil Dewey, taking its final and lasting form as the Library Bureau, established by Dewey himself in 1882.
The proposals of the White Paper Reform of Local Government in England are an improvement on the proposals of the Redcliffe‐Maud Royal Commission because they include a further…
Abstract
The proposals of the White Paper Reform of Local Government in England are an improvement on the proposals of the Redcliffe‐Maud Royal Commission because they include a further reduction in the number of education authorities. In August last year I commented that the proposed metropolitan authorities of Merseyside, Selnec and West Midlands, and not their constituent distruct authorities should be the education authorities for their areas, and the Government agrees. In addition the White Paper proposes the two further metropolitan authorities of West Yorkshire and Hampshire.
Maud van Merriënboer, Michiel Verver and Miruna Radu-Lefebvre
Drawing on an intersectional perspective on racial, migrant and entrepreneurial identities, this paper investigates the identity work of racial minority entrepreneurs with…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on an intersectional perspective on racial, migrant and entrepreneurial identities, this paper investigates the identity work of racial minority entrepreneurs with native-born and migrant backgrounds, confronted to experiences of othering in a White entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Design/methodology/approach
The study takes a qualitative-interpretivist approach and builds on six cases of racial minority entrepreneurs in nascent stages of venture development within the Dutch technology sector. The dataset comprises 24 in-depth interviews conducted over the course of one and a half year, extensive case descriptions and online sources. The data is thematically and inductively analysed.
Findings
Despite strongly self-identifying as entrepreneurs, the research participants feel marginalised and excluded from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which results in ongoing threats to their existential authenticity as they build a legitimate entrepreneurial identity. Minority entrepreneurs navigate these threats by either downplaying or embracing their marginalised racial and/or migrant identities.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the literature on the identity work of minority entrepreneurs. The paper reveals that, rather than “strategising away” the discrimination and exclusion resulting from othering, racial minority entrepreneurs seek to preserve their sense of existential authenticity and self-worth, irrespective of entrepreneurial outcomes. In so doing, the study challenges the dominant perspective of entrepreneurial identity work among minority entrepreneurs as overly instrumental and market-driven. Moreover, the study also contributes to the literature on authenticity in entrepreneurship by highlighting how racial minority entrepreneurs navigate authenticity threats while building legitimacy in a White ecosystem.