Teacher learning communities (TLCs) formed within subject departments are conceptualized as reform platform for facilitating school improvement and teacher development. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Teacher learning communities (TLCs) formed within subject departments are conceptualized as reform platform for facilitating school improvement and teacher development. The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which three TLCs were structured and managed for generating change capability in secondary schools in Hong Kong.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of the literature on the contribution of learning communities to teacher professional development, and the functions and styles of subject leadership provides the theoretical background of the study. Participant observations and semi-structured interviews were employed as the main instruments for the investigation into the potentials of TLCs for enhancing professional renewals. Narrative accounts were obtained from a total of 21 teachers (including three subject leaders) on the nature and process of their participation in the renewal projects.
Findings
The findings of the interview study reveal the landscape of subject leadership orientations that shaped the collaborative practices, power relations and knowledge representations within TLCs. Variability is noted in the subject leaders’ concerns for harmonious relationship, executive control, professional growth and leadership empowerment. The spectrum of knowledge structure in these communities is marked by a hierarchical relationship on one end, and a heterarchical relationship on the other.
Research limitations/implications
This paper portrays the dynamics within three TLCs, and depicts a continuum of three leadership styles. The literature on subject leadership in TLCs could be enriched with further investigations into the contextual variables and sources of influence that affect the choice of leadership orientations of subject leaders who grapple with a balance between managerial imperative for control and accountability and a learning imperative for participative explorations that satisfy teachers’ aspirations for autonomy and creative investments in their own professional enhancement.
Practical implications
Subject leadership training should emcompass reflective discourse on epistemological beliefs and assumptions on teacher learning and development, and leadership orientations that shape collaborative professional renewal practices.
Originality/value
While research studies conducted in the Western world show that reflective and collaborative inquiries within professional communities have helped to improve classroom practices and teacher development (e.g. Hord, 1997), yet little is known about the management practices of subject leaders that shape the internal cultural conditions, power relations and knowledge representation within their departments in the context of Hong Kong.
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Alice J.M. Tan, Raymond Loi, Long W. Lam and CherisW.C. Chow
Service employees often encounter jaycustomer behavior in their daily interactions with customers. This paper aims to investigate the influences of day-to-day jaycustomer behavior…
Abstract
Purpose
Service employees often encounter jaycustomer behavior in their daily interactions with customers. This paper aims to investigate the influences of day-to-day jaycustomer behavior on service employees’ performance and behavior, as well as the managerial practice to buffer its negative impacts in the retail industry.
Design/methodology/approach
Diary survey data was collected from 73 service employees in 10 consecutive working days. Multi-level modeling analyses were used to analyze the data.
Findings
Daily jaycustomer behavior triggered daily anger and daily anxiety, which, in turn, led to daily sabotage and shrunken daily service delivery, respectively. Procedural justice weakened the jaycustomer behavior – anger relationship but did not buffer the relationship between jaycustomer behavior and anxiety. The indirect effect of jaycustomer behavior on sabotage via anger was stronger when employees perceived low rather than high procedural justice.
Research limitations/implications
Future research can explore other types of contextual factors to alleviate the negative impacts of jaycustomer behavior.
Practical implications
Considering the importance of procedural justice in reducing negative consequences of jaycustomer behavior, retail organizations should develop fair decision-making procedures.
Originality/value
This study has several contributions. First, this study advances understanding on detrimental impacts of jaycustomer behavior by distinguishing employees’ acute emotional responses and explaining the differential behavioral outcomes on service quality. Second, the authors apply a daily research paradigm to better capture the daily-happening nature of jaycustomer behavior. Third, the authors add to the insufficient knowledge of buffering the negative effects of jaycustomer behavior on service employees by investigating procedural justice as a moderator.
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It has often been said that a great part of the strength of Aslib lies in the fact that it brings together those whose experience has been gained in many widely differing fields…
Abstract
It has often been said that a great part of the strength of Aslib lies in the fact that it brings together those whose experience has been gained in many widely differing fields but who have a common interest in the means by which information may be collected and disseminated to the greatest advantage. Lists of its members have, therefore, a more than ordinary value since they present, in miniature, a cross‐section of institutions and individuals who share this special interest.
Cheuk Hang Au and Kevin K.W. Ho
The impact of ideological polarization has been a serious concern, given its damages to society. In addition, Schadenfreude is increasingly common in the era of ideological…
Abstract
Purpose
The impact of ideological polarization has been a serious concern, given its damages to society. In addition, Schadenfreude is increasingly common in the era of ideological polarization. Previous literature may have discussed the cause and outcomes of schadenfreude in general but not specifically related to ideological polarization. This study aims to serve to establish a more informed understanding of online schadenfreude as an outcome of ideological polarization and help society recover from the damages.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors adopted a case research method with netnography for our study, given that the authors are exploring the phenomena of online schadenfreude, which involves multiple dimensions.
Findings
The authors identified a three-level model that illustrates how schadenfreude is driven as an outcome of ideological polarization, i.e. macro-environment, camp/partisan and target. These factors of different levels involve political viewpoint differences, perceived appearance, personal conduct, aggressive norms and polarized environment with a lack of conventional opinion expression channel. Moreover, attackers may demonstrate a belief in Karma, creativity and a sense of humor and may call for actions.
Originality/value
While previous literature focused on the relationship between fake news, echo chambers and ideological polarization, this study is a relatively earlier one on studying schadenfreude as an outcome of ideological polarization, which would facilitate to formulate the solution to repair the damages created to ideological polarization. The authors also discussed the enablers as well as the self-reinforcing nature of ideological polarization, and provided some practical implications for politicians and government officials.
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The result of our enquiries (see April issue Library World) as to the present storage of local documents in Public Libraries or Museums, and the existing arrangements therein for…
Abstract
The result of our enquiries (see April issue Library World) as to the present storage of local documents in Public Libraries or Museums, and the existing arrangements therein for their preservation is somewhat disappointing. Some librarians have not replied, and some give scanty information.
David Sánchez and Alexandre Viejo
The purpose of this paper is to propose a privacy-preserving paradigm for open data sharing based on the following foundations: subjects have unique privacy requirements; personal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a privacy-preserving paradigm for open data sharing based on the following foundations: subjects have unique privacy requirements; personal data are usually published incrementally in different sources; and privacy has a time-dependent element.
Design/methodology/approach
This study first discusses the privacy threats related to open data sharing. Next, these threats are tackled by proposing a new privacy-preserving paradigm. The main challenges related to the enforcement of the paradigm are discussed, and some suitable solutions are identified.
Findings
Classic privacy-preserving mechanisms are ineffective against observers constantly monitoring and aggregating pieces of personal data released through the internet. Moreover, these methods do not consider individual privacy needs.
Research limitations/implications
This study characterizes the challenges to the tackled by a new paradigm and identifies some promising works, but further research proposing specific technical solutions is suggested.
Practical implications
This work provides a natural solution to dynamic and heterogeneous open data sharing scenarios that require user-controlled personalized privacy protection.
Social implications
There is an increasing social understanding of the privacy threats that the uncontrolled collection and exploitation of personal data may produce. The new paradigm allows subjects to be aware of the risks inherent to their data and to control their release.
Originality/value
Contrary to classic data protection mechanisms, the new proposal centers privacy protection on the individuals, and considers the privacy risks through the whole life cycle of the data release.
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Marya L. Besharov and Rakesh Khurana
This paper explores how Selznick’s approach to leadership can inform contemporary organizational theory and research. Drawing on Selznick’s writing in Leadership in Administration…
Abstract
This paper explores how Selznick’s approach to leadership can inform contemporary organizational theory and research. Drawing on Selznick’s writing in Leadership in Administration and related works, we characterize organizations as simultaneously technical entities pursuing economic goals and value-laden entities pursuing non-economic goals arising from their members and their role in society. These two aspects of organizations are deeply intertwined and in continual tension with one another, and the essential task of leadership is to uphold both – protecting and promoting values while also meeting technical imperatives. To do so, leaders establish a common purpose that includes values and ideals not just technical imperatives, they create structures and practices that embody this purpose, and they make organizational decisions and personal behavioral choices that are consistent with this purpose. We consider each task of leadership in turn, showing how Selznick’s ideas enrich and extend contemporary research on competing institutional logics, organizational design, culture, and identity, leadership, and meaningful work.
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Catherine White Berheide and Susan Walzer
This research explores whether gender affects faculty satisfaction with opportunity for advancement in rank at two elite liberal arts colleges in the United States.
Abstract
Purpose
This research explores whether gender affects faculty satisfaction with opportunity for advancement in rank at two elite liberal arts colleges in the United States.
Methodology
We analyze survey data from associate and full professors to identify predictors of satisfaction with advancement. Focus group and interview data supplement our interpretations of regression results.
Findings
The two colleges differ in the impact of gender, rank, perceptions of the full professor promotion process, and quality of department relationships on satisfaction with advancement. At one college, there is no gender difference, while at the other, women are less satisfied than men. The effect of gender at this college is fully mediated by department relationship quality.
Research limitations
This cross-sectional study was conducted at only two colleges. Interpretations of the quantitative results are inductively generated and not tested in the analysis.
Practical implications
We make recommendations to improve processes and pathways for promotion that recognize the role of department climates in fostering or hindering career progression. Gender may be less salient in contexts in which associate professors have positive department relationships and in which promotion criteria value their administrative service and other institutional contributions sufficiently.
Originality
Previous research about promotion to full professor has focused on research universities while we examine the issue at liberal arts colleges, institutions that emphasize undergraduate study.
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How does ownership of units of home capital affect time use? What are the determinants of ownership of home capital? The objective of this paper is to inquire into the nature of…
Abstract
How does ownership of units of home capital affect time use? What are the determinants of ownership of home capital? The objective of this paper is to inquire into the nature of these relationships.