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Informal Networks (informal + network)
Selected AbstractsCalling capital: call centre strategies in New Brunswick and New ZealandGLOBAL NETWORKS, Issue 2 2002Wendy Larner This article compares government promoted call centre initiatives in New Zealand and New Brunswick, Canada, thereby identifying differing policies and practices associated with ,globalization'. Both New Brunswick and New Zealand are small resource based economies in which policy makers aspire to attract foreign investment into call centres as a new means of economic growth and job creation. However there are significant differences between the two call centre strategies. In New Brunswick the provincial government plays a central role, most notably through the use of incentives to lure companies to the province but also through the coordination of education and training. In New Zealand an informal network made up of public and private sector actors drives the strategy, and the relevant government agency (Trade NZ) plays only a coordinating role. Despite these differences both call centre strategies aspire to link service sector activities into global flows and networks, and foster low wage and feminized forms of employment. [source] Supportive Relationships with Church Members Among African Americans,FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 4 2005Robert Joseph Taylor Abstract: This study proposed and tested a model of informal church support networks among African Americans. Consistent with research in family relations, age and gender were significantly associated with the frequency of interaction with church members. In addition, the degree of subjective closeness and the frequency of interaction were both significantly associated with the frequency of receiving support from church members, suggesting that conceptualizations of family solidarity may extend to church networks. Practice implications emphasize the importance of recognizing church members as integral members of the informal networks of African Americans. [source] Innovation and Innovators Inside Government: From Institutions to NetworksGOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2007MARK CONSIDINE Innovation and innovators inhabit an institutional space, which is partially defined by formal positions and partially by informal networks. This article investigates the role of politicians and bureaucrats in fostering innovation inside government and provides an empirical explanation of who the innovators are, whether this is mostly an attribute of position or role, or mostly an effect of certain forms of networking. The study uses original data collected from 11 municipal governments in Australia in order to define and describe the normative underpinnings of innovation inside government and to show the importance of advice and strategic information networks among politicians and senior bureaucrats (n = 947). Social network analysis is combined with conventional statistical analysis in order to demonstrate the comparative importance of networks in explaining who innovates. [source] The issue of gender within computing: reflections from the UK and ScandinaviaINFORMATION SYSTEMS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2001Maxine Robertson Abstract. Thispaper explores some of the reasons that may underlie the gender segregation and declining levels of female participation within the field of computing in Europe during the 1990s in both the professional (industrial) and academic spheres. The interrelationships between three areas , communicative processes, social networks and legitimizing claims to knowledge overlaid by gendered-power relations , are used to analyse and explain the existing situation. The paper draws upon statistical data to explore the extent of gender segregation and then focuses on the authors' own experiences within the UK and Scandinavia in order to explore some of the underlying causes. While direct discrimination does still occur, the paper suggests that indirect, deep-rooted discrimination is the major reason for the situation that currently exists. Drawing upon our own experiences in academia and business and acknowledging the importance of the institutional context, the paper offers a number of recommendations as to how the current situation may be improved. We suggest first that consideration is given to the pedagogical design and marketing of computing courses so that individuals are initially attracted to computing from far more diverse backgrounds, approaches and interests than at present. Second, we suggest that those with influence in the field reflect upon the constitution and behaviours of the informal networks in which they are involved and seek to include female researchers more actively here. Finally we suggest that consideration is given in more general terms to how the field may become more gender neutral and, thus, more inclusive in the future. Masculine discourses and ,hard' skills have dominated within computing for too long and contribute significantly to the declining participation of women within computing. [source] Networking characteristics of African-American managers: empirical validation and training applicationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2000Stéphane Brutus This article describes the impact of informal networks on managerial effectiveness in general and, more specifically, for that of African-American managers. Previous research has demonstrated that network characteristics conducive to increased performance for African-Americans differed significantly from those of white managers (e.g. Ibarra, 1995). These results are further validated in this study through the use of a different performance measure. Networking characteristics and multi-raters' performance information were collected from 185 managers. Results show that high performing African-American managers possess informal networks composed of a higher proportion of other African-Americans than their low performing counterparts. The reverse trend was found for white managers. A description of a training module based on these results is offered. [source] Elders' needs and experiences of receiving formal and informal care for their activities of daily livingJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2001Brenda Roe PhD, FRSH ,,Older people living in the community or institutional settings are more likely to require help with their activities of daily living, with women more likely than men to need some help. ,,The interviews in this qualitative study were conducted with a convenience and purposive sample of 20 elders living in Southeast Washington, USA, at home or in institutional settings, receiving informal or formal health care. ,,Findings related to personal and instrumental activities of daily living are reported and include elders' experiences and views relating to the help and assistance they receive. ,,The majority of elders needed help with their instrumental activities of daily living, provided by informal networks, whether living at home or in institutional settings. This help constituted social care. Formal health care with personal activities of daily living was required only by a minority of elders and constituted those with the greatest disability and dependency. [source] | ||||||||||