Information Systems (IS) research continues to contribute to a long list of technology adoption f... more Information Systems (IS) research continues to contribute to a long list of technology adoption factors from research studies conducted outside the Latin American (henceforth LAT) nations. These studies fail to appropriate the context of IS adoption in LAT. This is mainly because the context of existing studies, namely those aimed at North America for example, do not have the same technological facilities that LAT nations do. This greatly inhibits the ability of these studies to be applied to the LAT context. Further, uncertainty and an inability to predict outcomes of technology adoption creates variances in results due to the fact that context is not considered. The reasons for this are unclear from existing studies. To explore this problem further, a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) was applied to LAT economies to assess a refined set of drivers from existing technology adoption studies. A Fuzzy Logic process was used to refine these drivers. The research found that fourteen themes are candidates for future research purposes. The drivers provide LAT stakeholders, as well actors from other emerging economies, with a contextual frame that can be the basis for adopting technology more meaningfully within these nations.
The changing context of tertiary teaching is affecting all aspects of academic work. Mindful that... more The changing context of tertiary teaching is affecting all aspects of academic work. Mindful that formal programs, designed to address the need for continuing professional development in this context can yield disappointing results, some scholars are exploring ...
A nightmarish list of empirically proposed drivers affecting Information System (IS) adoption, an... more A nightmarish list of empirically proposed drivers affecting Information System (IS) adoption, and the limitation of measurements focusing their applicability in Latin America (LAT) economies is an issue. This causes uncertainty in the decision making process of which model and proposed drivers should be used to measure Successful Information System Adoption (SISA) in local public organizations, particularly in Public Ecuadorian Organizations (PEOs) as the focus case of the current study. Fuzzy QCA (fs/QCA), considered as a mechanism to evaluate empirical analysis based on qualitative approaches, was applied to reveal patterns of association across the set of 50 formed themes (as possible drivers), providing support for the existence of causal relations between these themes obtained from prevailing empirical literature and local primary and secondary sources. The Fuzzy logic of QCA applied in this study offers an easy way to systematically quantify various uncertainties in the selection of relevant themes as candidate drivers of SISA in local contexts and provides more realistic support to justify the decision.
International journal of online and biomedical engineering, Feb 14, 2019
Information Systems (IS) research continues to contribute to a long list of technology adoption f... more Information Systems (IS) research continues to contribute to a long list of technology adoption factors from many studies conducted outside the Latin American (LAT) nations. These investigations fail to appropriate the context of IS adoption in LAT. This fail is mainly due to the geographical scope of existing studies. Those aimed at North America for example, are out of context regarding a diverse technological approach when applied to LAT. Further, uncertainty and an inability to predict outcomes of technology adoption, create variances in results because the local contexts are not considered. The reasons for this are unclear from existing studies. To detailed explore this problem further, a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) was applied to LAT economies, expecting to assess a refined set of drivers from existing technology adoption studies. A Fuzzy Logic process was used to refine these drivers. The research found that fourteen themes are candidates for future study purposes. The drivers provide LAT stakeholders, as well as actors from other emerging economies, with a contextual frame that can be the basis for adopting technology more meaningfully within these nations.
Computer application users continue to argue that system developers are still not paying enough a... more Computer application users continue to argue that system developers are still not paying enough attention to making their products easier to use or "user-friendly." However, system developers might argue that the human computer interface (HCI) used for their systems are carefully designed and developed. They would also argue that the request for the services that an information system can provide normally outdrive the demand for 'ease-of-use'.. In spite of other aspects, that might change the attitude toward usage behavior. This directly influences the successful adoption of an Information Systems (IS). This paper presents a summary of the outcomes of a mix-method study proposing an adapted theory that empirically supported the identification of three main group of aspects affecting IS adoption in the public organizations of emerging countries. Public Ecuadorian organization is used as the analysis case. Using a reflexive analysis, we highlight in this article the effect of the subjective aspects such as Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness directly affecting Attitudes Toward Using and Usage Behaviour as critical factors influencing successful information system adoption (SISA) in specific local contexts. Therefore, the cautious design of human computer interfaces, must be the considered when developing an IS for public organizations due to their direct impact on attitude toward using and usage behaviour on SISA. CCS Concepts • Information systems➝ Information system applications. Human-centered computing➝ Human computer interaction (HCI)➝ Design and evaluation methods➝ User studies, Field studies.
Selecting the most appropriate research methodology for a study in the Information System (IS) fi... more Selecting the most appropriate research methodology for a study in the Information System (IS) field, is an ongoing concern. Particularly, to identify and justify choice of drivers influencing Successful IS Adoption (SISA) in public organizational environments from an extensive and convoluted pre-existing set and similar proposed related theoretical models remains an issue. On the other hand, due to a paucity of evidence of IS adoption studies in Latin America (LAT) organizations, with no evidence in Public Ecuadorian Organizations (PEOs), this is the focus case of this research. This paper accomplishes two objectives. First, it highlights the effectiveness of using a pluralistic methodology as a guiding methodology in complex IS adoption studies. Second, it identifies a refined list of candidate drivers of SISA in PEOs, for the construction of an adapted theory to measure SISA in different LAT contexts.
Systemic Practice and Action Research, May 23, 2019
A large online first year management course has the potential to present the perfect learning and... more A large online first year management course has the potential to present the perfect learning and teaching 'storm'. This journey, uses continual (action) learning as an action research methodology to develop and improve studentcentred approaches (Biggs & Tang, 2011; Prosser & Trigwell, 2014). Qualitative student feedback and aggregated data are presented through the theoretical positions, of student-centred pedagogy and organization development theories to build social construction. Technology, the 'shiny toy' of online education is often emphasised in place of a balance between pedagogy, technology and content knowledge (Mishra and Koehler, 2009). This research demonstrates the regaining of balance across these dimensions through the application of action learning sets. The outcome of this research reveals the practical benefits of a student-centred focus that is underpinned by the student's sense of belonging and overall satisfaction. These benefits improve students' learning experience and theoretically advance the importance of continual learning and teaching in higher education.
Advances in public policy and administration (APPA) book series, 2017
The suitability of current Information System (IS) adoption models is anachronistic when uniforml... more The suitability of current Information System (IS) adoption models is anachronistic when uniformly applied across regions in developing economies, including Latin American (LAT) countries where the context varies from the accepted norm. From the premise that the major ingredients of adoption studies are drivers whose relationships are encapsulated into theoretical models, this chapter present a comprehensive Systematic Literature Review (SLR) process convergent towards the critical selection of reliable scholarly sources in order to identify empirically supported drivers of IS adoption successes and assesses their applicability in public organizations situated in LAT, as not for profit environments. Participants from Public Ecuadorian Organizations were sought out as a focus case to gather opinions and scrutinize identified drivers to demonstrate the depth of this problem. The study offers an overall comprehensive rationalization of proposed drivers, and the identified need for an adapted IS adoption theory for LAT contexts.
Systemic Practice and Action Research, Nov 18, 2016
The engagement model for problem solving was developed as a response to soft systems methodology ... more The engagement model for problem solving was developed as a response to soft systems methodology being difficult to implement in certain circumstances. In the years since the original paper was published, the model has developed into an iterative problem solving approach for the assessment, creation and implementation of new ideas in difficult problem situations. This case study paper exemplifies the kind of work undertaken through the use of the model and provides a practical scenario for how one might apply it. The case study takes place in a higher education environment and relates to the development of a capstone course for management majors. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research.
Information Systems Adoption is a multi-faceted and complex investigation area that can cross dis... more Information Systems Adoption is a multi-faceted and complex investigation area that can cross disciplinary boundaries, combine multiple research methods and consider different methodological approaches to analyse emerging IS Adoption phenomena. In order to generate valuable and reliable outcomes a research methodology has to be carefully determined. A persistent concern of the IS discipline is choosing which research design and methodology is most appropriate for a particular study. This article uses the research into "Factors Affecting Information System Adoption in Public Organizations in Latin American Countries: The Case for Ecuador" as a practical illustration of the effective use of a pluralist methodology to investigate the reality of IS adoption in local government institutions. Moreover, new practical studies, evidencing that results obtained from a pluralistic approach can be richer and more reliable than one method alone, will contribute to the quality and success of IS adoption scholarly research.
Systemic Practice and Action Research, Oct 1, 2004
This paper presents an approach to understanding problem solving and innovation from the perspect... more This paper presents an approach to understanding problem solving and innovation from the perspective of engagement. The approach is derived primarily from two research projects undertaken over the last 5 years. The first one into the apparent "Comparison Paradox" in Soft Systems Methodology, and the second an 18-month research program into the social reality implied by Soft Systems Methodology. "Engagement" is argued to be the innovation of a framework of ideas within a social context. In this sense engagement is an extension of the nature in which humans take ideas and place them inside a social context and use this as a platform to make sense of their environment and take action in such surroundings with an eye to understanding, learning, meaning, adaptation, innovation, and interpretation of such situations. Therefore, this paper presents a conjectured model of Engagement that is argued to be useful in helping to manage social complexity and real-world problem-solving activity. The paper positions engagement as a purely theoretical approach with multidisciplinary applications for whoever would like to use it.
Australasian Journal of Information Systems, May 1, 2002
Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a potentially powerful tool for improving the management of the... more Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a potentially powerful tool for improving the management of the complex social systems aspect of Information Systems. Yet if it is to be employed effectively IS managers need to understand the theory of social systems that makes SSM a meaningful practical approach. However finding out about that social theory is not straightforward. It is 20 years since the first discussions of the social reality implied by Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and the area has been given little attention since. Yet SSM itself has progressed dramatically since those first critiques of its underpinning social theory were first developed. This paper revisits the area in order to provide a contemporary perspective and foundation for future development. It reveals apparent weaknesses in the research debate about SSM and social theory, and shows how the evolution of SSM has apparently been affected by that debate. SSM is introduced and examined according to the primary literature and re-evaluated using Burrell and Morgan's four-paradigm matrix of social theory paradigms in order to understand the social reality implied by SSM. The paper examines criticisms of SSM, the recent evolution of SSM, and suggests future directions for development.
Higher education research and development, Nov 12, 2014
There is growing interest in the role Communities of Practice (CoPs) play in continuing professio... more There is growing interest in the role Communities of Practice (CoPs) play in continuing professional development of academics. However, very little research has explored how CoP theory is applied in practice in academic settings. Using the concepts of resonance and micro-mobilisation from social movement theory, we explore academic engagement (and disengagement) in the online aspects of a community of practice in a large, multi-campus, multidisciplinary university business school. Our findings demonstrate that while some found this environment useful and minor patterns of micromobilisation emerged, there were challenges in developing resonance using online technologies. Difficulties in finding technologies fit for purpose, concerns about confidentiality online, and time jealousy were key issues that need further exploration.
ABSTRACT Lave and Wenger’s conceptualisation of communities of practice (CoPs) has had a profound... more ABSTRACT Lave and Wenger’s conceptualisation of communities of practice (CoPs) has had a profound impact on the way many think about learning at work. In universities, CoPs have the potential to meet the continuing professional learning (CPL) needs of academics in ways that formal structured programmes cannot. However, participating in CoPs can be a disempowering experience, depending on the way power is exercised within and outside of the community. Using narrative methods here, we explore the nature of CPL in a faculty-based teaching community of practice, paying particular attention to the links between the individual and extra-individual. Although all 15 CoP members interviewed for this study spoke of becoming more innovative and confident teachers since joining the community, noteworthy differences emerged in their descriptions of their engagement. Long-term and new members’ stories were qualitatively different: old-timers told stories of praxis, of personally transformative CPL that involved them in collective action in the wider socio-cultural context of teaching, while newcomers spoke of a more individualistic and pragmatic approach focused on professional survival. Implications for further research and practice are discussed.
We argue that modern approaches to teaching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rely heavily on... more We argue that modern approaches to teaching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rely heavily on abstract descriptions of poorly framed problems. Such problems often point to a reality that does not favour the development of CSR. Instead it creates a level of abstraction between "business" and "social responsibility" because there is no real experience of the challenges of integrating CSR into business practice. The number one challenge of making CSR work is integrating it into culture and business practices. To assist in helping the future leaders of tomorrow understand their studies, we propose that a deeper integration between theory and practice is important. In this paper it is argued that this deeper integration can be achieved using small simulations in which students attempt to integrate CSR into real world situations and reflect on this experience. The reflection enables them to capture insights that are often absent from abstractions such as case studies. We offer an action research study to demonstrate how this reflective cycle works in two separate courses where this approach was applied. From this, these lessons are developed into a discussion where future directions are discussed.
Stock solutions of the compounds under study were prepared by dissolving the drug in 113 buffer p... more Stock solutions of the compounds under study were prepared by dissolving the drug in 113 buffer pH 7.4 and the volumes of 100 µL were placed in the donor chambers of the inserts (see 114 Abstract graphic). The acceptor compartments contained phosphate buffer solution (600 µL). The 115
International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making
This study aims to adapt the Expectation Disconfirmation Theory and Technology Adoption Model to ... more This study aims to adapt the Expectation Disconfirmation Theory and Technology Adoption Model to unveil provocative roles in patients’ satisfaction cognitions and subsequent continuity behaviors pertaining to telemedicine services in rural Bangladesh. A quantitative research model is developed and validated using a two-staged deep neural network and partial least squares structural equation modeling approach. The findings of this study provide evidence that five salient determinants; expectations, disconfirmation, performance, usefulness, and ease of use dominantly contribute to predicting patients’ satisfaction concerning continuity with telemedicine. This contributes to health informatics and behavioral literature by clarifying the complex interplay between patients’ satisfaction and determinants of continuity behavior in telemedicine’s domain. The findings provide novel insights into predictions of complex patients’ attitudes toward telemedicine continuity, and dynamic changes in...
This chapter explores the potential of communities of practice (CoPs) in universities to foster a... more This chapter explores the potential of communities of practice (CoPs) in universities to foster academic identity and social learning through a critical, reflective account of a faculty-based teaching community of practice (T-CoP). This ‘T-CoP’ is situated in a multi-disciplinary, multi-campus business faculty in a large Australian university. Our chapter begins by situating the T-CoP within its disciplinary, faculty, institutional and national contexts, and explaining how and why we intentionally designed it in order to foster inclusion and shared ownership. Key findings from our ongoing critical participatory action research project conducted in, and with the T-CoP are interrogated in order to address the following three questions. Firstly, how can we develop leaders, and a practice of distributed leadership, appropriate to the work of CoPs in universities? Secondly, how might CoPs in universities counter the still dominant traditional paradigm of ‘professional development’ as acquisition, and encourage their members to move towards more transformational approaches to professional learning? Thirdly, how do we negotiate the tensions between the need for a CoP to develop its own distinctive identity as a community and domain of practice and yet remain open and accessible to new members?
Information Systems (IS) research continues to contribute to a long list of technology adoption f... more Information Systems (IS) research continues to contribute to a long list of technology adoption factors from research studies conducted outside the Latin American (henceforth LAT) nations. These studies fail to appropriate the context of IS adoption in LAT. This is mainly because the context of existing studies, namely those aimed at North America for example, do not have the same technological facilities that LAT nations do. This greatly inhibits the ability of these studies to be applied to the LAT context. Further, uncertainty and an inability to predict outcomes of technology adoption creates variances in results due to the fact that context is not considered. The reasons for this are unclear from existing studies. To explore this problem further, a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) was applied to LAT economies to assess a refined set of drivers from existing technology adoption studies. A Fuzzy Logic process was used to refine these drivers. The research found that fourteen themes are candidates for future research purposes. The drivers provide LAT stakeholders, as well actors from other emerging economies, with a contextual frame that can be the basis for adopting technology more meaningfully within these nations.
The changing context of tertiary teaching is affecting all aspects of academic work. Mindful that... more The changing context of tertiary teaching is affecting all aspects of academic work. Mindful that formal programs, designed to address the need for continuing professional development in this context can yield disappointing results, some scholars are exploring ...
A nightmarish list of empirically proposed drivers affecting Information System (IS) adoption, an... more A nightmarish list of empirically proposed drivers affecting Information System (IS) adoption, and the limitation of measurements focusing their applicability in Latin America (LAT) economies is an issue. This causes uncertainty in the decision making process of which model and proposed drivers should be used to measure Successful Information System Adoption (SISA) in local public organizations, particularly in Public Ecuadorian Organizations (PEOs) as the focus case of the current study. Fuzzy QCA (fs/QCA), considered as a mechanism to evaluate empirical analysis based on qualitative approaches, was applied to reveal patterns of association across the set of 50 formed themes (as possible drivers), providing support for the existence of causal relations between these themes obtained from prevailing empirical literature and local primary and secondary sources. The Fuzzy logic of QCA applied in this study offers an easy way to systematically quantify various uncertainties in the selection of relevant themes as candidate drivers of SISA in local contexts and provides more realistic support to justify the decision.
International journal of online and biomedical engineering, Feb 14, 2019
Information Systems (IS) research continues to contribute to a long list of technology adoption f... more Information Systems (IS) research continues to contribute to a long list of technology adoption factors from many studies conducted outside the Latin American (LAT) nations. These investigations fail to appropriate the context of IS adoption in LAT. This fail is mainly due to the geographical scope of existing studies. Those aimed at North America for example, are out of context regarding a diverse technological approach when applied to LAT. Further, uncertainty and an inability to predict outcomes of technology adoption, create variances in results because the local contexts are not considered. The reasons for this are unclear from existing studies. To detailed explore this problem further, a Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) was applied to LAT economies, expecting to assess a refined set of drivers from existing technology adoption studies. A Fuzzy Logic process was used to refine these drivers. The research found that fourteen themes are candidates for future study purposes. The drivers provide LAT stakeholders, as well as actors from other emerging economies, with a contextual frame that can be the basis for adopting technology more meaningfully within these nations.
Computer application users continue to argue that system developers are still not paying enough a... more Computer application users continue to argue that system developers are still not paying enough attention to making their products easier to use or "user-friendly." However, system developers might argue that the human computer interface (HCI) used for their systems are carefully designed and developed. They would also argue that the request for the services that an information system can provide normally outdrive the demand for 'ease-of-use'.. In spite of other aspects, that might change the attitude toward usage behavior. This directly influences the successful adoption of an Information Systems (IS). This paper presents a summary of the outcomes of a mix-method study proposing an adapted theory that empirically supported the identification of three main group of aspects affecting IS adoption in the public organizations of emerging countries. Public Ecuadorian organization is used as the analysis case. Using a reflexive analysis, we highlight in this article the effect of the subjective aspects such as Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness directly affecting Attitudes Toward Using and Usage Behaviour as critical factors influencing successful information system adoption (SISA) in specific local contexts. Therefore, the cautious design of human computer interfaces, must be the considered when developing an IS for public organizations due to their direct impact on attitude toward using and usage behaviour on SISA. CCS Concepts • Information systems➝ Information system applications. Human-centered computing➝ Human computer interaction (HCI)➝ Design and evaluation methods➝ User studies, Field studies.
Selecting the most appropriate research methodology for a study in the Information System (IS) fi... more Selecting the most appropriate research methodology for a study in the Information System (IS) field, is an ongoing concern. Particularly, to identify and justify choice of drivers influencing Successful IS Adoption (SISA) in public organizational environments from an extensive and convoluted pre-existing set and similar proposed related theoretical models remains an issue. On the other hand, due to a paucity of evidence of IS adoption studies in Latin America (LAT) organizations, with no evidence in Public Ecuadorian Organizations (PEOs), this is the focus case of this research. This paper accomplishes two objectives. First, it highlights the effectiveness of using a pluralistic methodology as a guiding methodology in complex IS adoption studies. Second, it identifies a refined list of candidate drivers of SISA in PEOs, for the construction of an adapted theory to measure SISA in different LAT contexts.
Systemic Practice and Action Research, May 23, 2019
A large online first year management course has the potential to present the perfect learning and... more A large online first year management course has the potential to present the perfect learning and teaching 'storm'. This journey, uses continual (action) learning as an action research methodology to develop and improve studentcentred approaches (Biggs & Tang, 2011; Prosser & Trigwell, 2014). Qualitative student feedback and aggregated data are presented through the theoretical positions, of student-centred pedagogy and organization development theories to build social construction. Technology, the 'shiny toy' of online education is often emphasised in place of a balance between pedagogy, technology and content knowledge (Mishra and Koehler, 2009). This research demonstrates the regaining of balance across these dimensions through the application of action learning sets. The outcome of this research reveals the practical benefits of a student-centred focus that is underpinned by the student's sense of belonging and overall satisfaction. These benefits improve students' learning experience and theoretically advance the importance of continual learning and teaching in higher education.
Advances in public policy and administration (APPA) book series, 2017
The suitability of current Information System (IS) adoption models is anachronistic when uniforml... more The suitability of current Information System (IS) adoption models is anachronistic when uniformly applied across regions in developing economies, including Latin American (LAT) countries where the context varies from the accepted norm. From the premise that the major ingredients of adoption studies are drivers whose relationships are encapsulated into theoretical models, this chapter present a comprehensive Systematic Literature Review (SLR) process convergent towards the critical selection of reliable scholarly sources in order to identify empirically supported drivers of IS adoption successes and assesses their applicability in public organizations situated in LAT, as not for profit environments. Participants from Public Ecuadorian Organizations were sought out as a focus case to gather opinions and scrutinize identified drivers to demonstrate the depth of this problem. The study offers an overall comprehensive rationalization of proposed drivers, and the identified need for an adapted IS adoption theory for LAT contexts.
Systemic Practice and Action Research, Nov 18, 2016
The engagement model for problem solving was developed as a response to soft systems methodology ... more The engagement model for problem solving was developed as a response to soft systems methodology being difficult to implement in certain circumstances. In the years since the original paper was published, the model has developed into an iterative problem solving approach for the assessment, creation and implementation of new ideas in difficult problem situations. This case study paper exemplifies the kind of work undertaken through the use of the model and provides a practical scenario for how one might apply it. The case study takes place in a higher education environment and relates to the development of a capstone course for management majors. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research.
Information Systems Adoption is a multi-faceted and complex investigation area that can cross dis... more Information Systems Adoption is a multi-faceted and complex investigation area that can cross disciplinary boundaries, combine multiple research methods and consider different methodological approaches to analyse emerging IS Adoption phenomena. In order to generate valuable and reliable outcomes a research methodology has to be carefully determined. A persistent concern of the IS discipline is choosing which research design and methodology is most appropriate for a particular study. This article uses the research into "Factors Affecting Information System Adoption in Public Organizations in Latin American Countries: The Case for Ecuador" as a practical illustration of the effective use of a pluralist methodology to investigate the reality of IS adoption in local government institutions. Moreover, new practical studies, evidencing that results obtained from a pluralistic approach can be richer and more reliable than one method alone, will contribute to the quality and success of IS adoption scholarly research.
Systemic Practice and Action Research, Oct 1, 2004
This paper presents an approach to understanding problem solving and innovation from the perspect... more This paper presents an approach to understanding problem solving and innovation from the perspective of engagement. The approach is derived primarily from two research projects undertaken over the last 5 years. The first one into the apparent "Comparison Paradox" in Soft Systems Methodology, and the second an 18-month research program into the social reality implied by Soft Systems Methodology. "Engagement" is argued to be the innovation of a framework of ideas within a social context. In this sense engagement is an extension of the nature in which humans take ideas and place them inside a social context and use this as a platform to make sense of their environment and take action in such surroundings with an eye to understanding, learning, meaning, adaptation, innovation, and interpretation of such situations. Therefore, this paper presents a conjectured model of Engagement that is argued to be useful in helping to manage social complexity and real-world problem-solving activity. The paper positions engagement as a purely theoretical approach with multidisciplinary applications for whoever would like to use it.
Australasian Journal of Information Systems, May 1, 2002
Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a potentially powerful tool for improving the management of the... more Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a potentially powerful tool for improving the management of the complex social systems aspect of Information Systems. Yet if it is to be employed effectively IS managers need to understand the theory of social systems that makes SSM a meaningful practical approach. However finding out about that social theory is not straightforward. It is 20 years since the first discussions of the social reality implied by Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and the area has been given little attention since. Yet SSM itself has progressed dramatically since those first critiques of its underpinning social theory were first developed. This paper revisits the area in order to provide a contemporary perspective and foundation for future development. It reveals apparent weaknesses in the research debate about SSM and social theory, and shows how the evolution of SSM has apparently been affected by that debate. SSM is introduced and examined according to the primary literature and re-evaluated using Burrell and Morgan's four-paradigm matrix of social theory paradigms in order to understand the social reality implied by SSM. The paper examines criticisms of SSM, the recent evolution of SSM, and suggests future directions for development.
Higher education research and development, Nov 12, 2014
There is growing interest in the role Communities of Practice (CoPs) play in continuing professio... more There is growing interest in the role Communities of Practice (CoPs) play in continuing professional development of academics. However, very little research has explored how CoP theory is applied in practice in academic settings. Using the concepts of resonance and micro-mobilisation from social movement theory, we explore academic engagement (and disengagement) in the online aspects of a community of practice in a large, multi-campus, multidisciplinary university business school. Our findings demonstrate that while some found this environment useful and minor patterns of micromobilisation emerged, there were challenges in developing resonance using online technologies. Difficulties in finding technologies fit for purpose, concerns about confidentiality online, and time jealousy were key issues that need further exploration.
ABSTRACT Lave and Wenger’s conceptualisation of communities of practice (CoPs) has had a profound... more ABSTRACT Lave and Wenger’s conceptualisation of communities of practice (CoPs) has had a profound impact on the way many think about learning at work. In universities, CoPs have the potential to meet the continuing professional learning (CPL) needs of academics in ways that formal structured programmes cannot. However, participating in CoPs can be a disempowering experience, depending on the way power is exercised within and outside of the community. Using narrative methods here, we explore the nature of CPL in a faculty-based teaching community of practice, paying particular attention to the links between the individual and extra-individual. Although all 15 CoP members interviewed for this study spoke of becoming more innovative and confident teachers since joining the community, noteworthy differences emerged in their descriptions of their engagement. Long-term and new members’ stories were qualitatively different: old-timers told stories of praxis, of personally transformative CPL that involved them in collective action in the wider socio-cultural context of teaching, while newcomers spoke of a more individualistic and pragmatic approach focused on professional survival. Implications for further research and practice are discussed.
We argue that modern approaches to teaching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rely heavily on... more We argue that modern approaches to teaching Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rely heavily on abstract descriptions of poorly framed problems. Such problems often point to a reality that does not favour the development of CSR. Instead it creates a level of abstraction between "business" and "social responsibility" because there is no real experience of the challenges of integrating CSR into business practice. The number one challenge of making CSR work is integrating it into culture and business practices. To assist in helping the future leaders of tomorrow understand their studies, we propose that a deeper integration between theory and practice is important. In this paper it is argued that this deeper integration can be achieved using small simulations in which students attempt to integrate CSR into real world situations and reflect on this experience. The reflection enables them to capture insights that are often absent from abstractions such as case studies. We offer an action research study to demonstrate how this reflective cycle works in two separate courses where this approach was applied. From this, these lessons are developed into a discussion where future directions are discussed.
Stock solutions of the compounds under study were prepared by dissolving the drug in 113 buffer p... more Stock solutions of the compounds under study were prepared by dissolving the drug in 113 buffer pH 7.4 and the volumes of 100 µL were placed in the donor chambers of the inserts (see 114 Abstract graphic). The acceptor compartments contained phosphate buffer solution (600 µL). The 115
International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making
This study aims to adapt the Expectation Disconfirmation Theory and Technology Adoption Model to ... more This study aims to adapt the Expectation Disconfirmation Theory and Technology Adoption Model to unveil provocative roles in patients’ satisfaction cognitions and subsequent continuity behaviors pertaining to telemedicine services in rural Bangladesh. A quantitative research model is developed and validated using a two-staged deep neural network and partial least squares structural equation modeling approach. The findings of this study provide evidence that five salient determinants; expectations, disconfirmation, performance, usefulness, and ease of use dominantly contribute to predicting patients’ satisfaction concerning continuity with telemedicine. This contributes to health informatics and behavioral literature by clarifying the complex interplay between patients’ satisfaction and determinants of continuity behavior in telemedicine’s domain. The findings provide novel insights into predictions of complex patients’ attitudes toward telemedicine continuity, and dynamic changes in...
This chapter explores the potential of communities of practice (CoPs) in universities to foster a... more This chapter explores the potential of communities of practice (CoPs) in universities to foster academic identity and social learning through a critical, reflective account of a faculty-based teaching community of practice (T-CoP). This ‘T-CoP’ is situated in a multi-disciplinary, multi-campus business faculty in a large Australian university. Our chapter begins by situating the T-CoP within its disciplinary, faculty, institutional and national contexts, and explaining how and why we intentionally designed it in order to foster inclusion and shared ownership. Key findings from our ongoing critical participatory action research project conducted in, and with the T-CoP are interrogated in order to address the following three questions. Firstly, how can we develop leaders, and a practice of distributed leadership, appropriate to the work of CoPs in universities? Secondly, how might CoPs in universities counter the still dominant traditional paradigm of ‘professional development’ as acquisition, and encourage their members to move towards more transformational approaches to professional learning? Thirdly, how do we negotiate the tensions between the need for a CoP to develop its own distinctive identity as a community and domain of practice and yet remain open and accessible to new members?
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Papers by Luke Houghton