Call My Bluff: Multiple Interpretations of an Organizational Process

This paper attempts to illustrate the value of interpreting organizational processes from a variety of perspectives. It demonstrates that this approach reflects the natural richness of organization and avoids the rather blinkered search for single-paradigm explanations. It does not seek to offer the answer, but rather some possible insights. By combining both actor and researcher frames, it sheds light upon a particular process of social interaction within an organization. Both the context, an NHS trust hospital, and the content, a significant change scenario, brings richness and relevance to the debate.
The paper outlines the macro and micro context before focusing on the interpretative methodological approach. The research involved collecting and analysing over thirty hours of taped, semi-structured interview discourse with senior and middle management and some junior staff. After describing the change initiative, an attempt at multi-skilling and the response of recipient actors to the proposals, the paper outlines three readings which seek to explain the events that occurred. The reader is invited to play the game 'Call my Bluff' and to choose the scenario that represents the most plausible explanation. The three interpretative frames employed are a managerial, a cultural and a political perspective. The paper concludes by raising some important issues in research, organizational change and the NHS.     

数字素养是乡村生活数字化转型的驱动力吗?——基于山东省1 037位农村居民的调研数据

从数字技术应用素养、数字内容社交素养、数字媒体创新素养和数字安全保护素养4个维度构建农村居民数字素养评价指标体系,探讨数字素养对农村居民数字生活参与的影响效应和作用机制。研究发现,农村居民数字素养总体偏低。数字素养显著正向影响农村居民数字消费、数字文娱、数字出行、数字教育、数字医疗和数字生活参与度。社会网络、社会学习和自我效能感在上述影响中发挥部分中介作用,并且对不同领域数字生活的影响有较显著差异。进一步研究发现,数字素养通过强弱社会关系网络对农村居民各领域数字生活影响存在差异,尤其是弱关系网络对参与复杂数字生活有显著影响。据此提出建立健全数字教育培育体系,提高农村居民自我效能感,统筹协调强、弱社会网络,提升社会学习能力等对策建议。     

融合型治理:县域城镇化何以助推基层治理有效

基层治理有效是国家治理现代化的重要目标,有赖于对基层社会和民众的多元化需求的及时回应与满足。当前,基层治理大多聚焦于治理资源的整合,而对于治理资源如何转化为治理效能的过程和机理则关注不够,在实践层面也忽视了不同单元、类型和需求下基层治理的差异性和非均衡性。县域城镇化与基层治理在场域、过程和目标上具有耦合性,县域城镇化助推基层治理的关键在于,以要素整合为基础实现资源要素与治理需求有效对接,平衡治理场域内的供需关系,以实现治理资源向治理效能的转化。从供需关系的视角出发,重点关注治理资源向治理效能转化的过程与机制,构建“资源整合-供需平衡-治理有效”的融合型治理分析框架,探析县域城镇化助推基层治理有效的实践路径和运行逻辑。四川省邛崃市的实践表明,借助治理要素、治理单元、治理路径和治理效能的有机融合,融合型治理能推动“供需对接-供需适配-供需调节-供需平衡”的供需关系转换,力求实现基层均衡型善治,为县域内不同治理单元撬动城乡发展资源、促进城乡融合、助推基层治理提供支撑。为此,未来要进一步细化县域城镇化进程中基层单元的类型,挖掘基层治理资源与要素,拓展县域城镇化与基层治理的链接方式,不断推动县域城镇化与基层治理的契合和互促。     

论弱势群体的社会法保护

弱势群体的大量存在引发一系列的社会问题,成为构建和谐社会的一大障碍。社会法作为兼具公法与私法双重属性的第三法域,可以为弱势群体提供最佳的保护。我国保护弱势群体的法律制度还不健全,对弱势群体的保护仍存在不足,应进一步完善社会法,向弱势群体倾斜,保障和促进弱势群体享有劳动权、社会保障权、结社权等各项基本人权。     

A global meaning of supply chain social sustainability

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to help reduce tensions in supply chain social sustainability (SCSS) decisions by providing a common global, contextual definition of social sustainability. This exploratory study utilised an inductive structured interview method to capture SCSS concept meanings. Those interviewed are from, have lived, and worked in developed economies, emerging economies and the base of the pyramid (BOP) economies. The results present a new global baseline definition of SCSS to inform theory and practice by finding that SCSS meanings differ not only between the different levels of economic development, but also within the levels as well. Culture, community and whether basic human needs are met all weigh into perspectives of what this concept is and should entail; a broad, contingent definition is most appropriate moving forward for sustainability planning and execution. Further research with stakeholders in more countries and communities is needed to validate our proposal.     

试论继续教育对教师素质的现代转换

继续教育是我国为实现现代化尤其是教育现代化、人的现代化所进行的新型教育。本文从知识经济与教育现代化的背景上论述了继续教育对教师素质进行转换的必要性、基本内涵、基本内容以及转换的方向。     

A praxis and Research Agenda for Multicultural Human Services Organizations

Human services organizations in the United States are currently faced with the problems of a diminishing and shifting resource base coupled with increasing demands for services. In addition, national demographic changes with increasing social diversity, and a rise in racial, ethnic, gender and other group-based tensions have posed special challenges for human service organizations. By tracing the history of social work approaches to working with ethnic minorities, this paper argues that responses to environmental flux have in fact been inadequate in addressing issues of social inequalities and injustices. We articulate a vision of socially just and diverse human services organizations that are both empowering and empowered. We call these Multicultural Human Services Organizations (MHSO). We spell out praxis and research agendas that continue the social justice-social diversity mission that is central to our vision.     

Identifying and implementing pathways for organizational change – using the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families as a case example

Change within social work organizations is incessant. This has implications for senior managers and elected members who have to manage these changes. The Department of Health has introduced new guidance entitled the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families ( Department of Health 1999a ). The guidance is based on a number of principles that require an attitudinal shift in terms of assessing ways of safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. This paper describes strategic approaches to the effective introduction of the framework within social services departments and other child welfare organizations. Two models have been adapted from practice: the actual framework for assessing children and their families and the Protchaska and DiClementi model of change. These models complement each other. The adapted Assessment Framework provides a structure to assess the readiness of the organization for the implementation of the new framework. The model of change provides a schema for planning, implementing and reviewing the introduction and operation of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. Although the focus of the paper is the introduction of the new guidance , the models can be utilized by senior managers in any social care organization who are facilitating major changes in the organization.     

From Birth to Death: A Social Monitoring Framework from New Zealand

The paper begins by outlining the development of social indicators work and social monitoring at the national level in New Zealand and comments on how this relates to the international movement. It describes the 'key' indicators/life stage approach developed by the New Zealand Planning Council in the early 1980s. This exercise continues from a university base and the fourth report in the series, entitled Tracking Social Change in New Zealand was published in early 1998. Examples are presented to show how the results can be used to highlight the policy implications of changing social trends.     

Social Sources of Failure in Education: The Case in East and Southeast Turkey

The efficiency of education in East and Southeast Turkey (E&SE) has long been a subject of debate. Both regions are similar to each other and different from the other regions in terms of economy, culture, ethnic origin, and languages spoken. Sahin (1997) studied the efficiency of education in the E&SE and proposed that illiteracy is significantly the highest in both regions, the female student population is significantly lower, and students are significantly less successful in nationwide general proficiency examinations (OSS and OYS) compared to all the other regions. Social sources of failure were studied in terms of the distinguishing characteristics of both regions, from both practical and theoretical standpoints. The findings indicated inequality of educational opportunity rooted in geographical, economical, social (cultural, linguistic), and political factors.