The concept of improvisation has become increasingly popular in the discourse of organizational theory. This paper explores several aspects of improvisation, in the context of musical, organizational, and everyday activities, in order to address some of the philosophical and practical issues relevant to this emerging interest. Connections are made between the modernist concept of organization and scholarly inquiry, and postmodern or complexity-based approaches that stress creativity as an emergent property of the relationship between order and disorder. It concludes by suggesting that the study of improvisation demands a profound immersion in (inster-)subjectivity, emotions, time, aesthetics, performance, and social creativity, none of which have traditionally been the focus of organization and management studies, or the social sciences in general. It also suggests that the practice of social sciences itself should reflect upon, and attempt to incorporate these elements.
Empirical research often lacks theory. This book progressively works out a method of constructing models which can bridge the gap between empirical and theoretical research in the social sciences. This might improve the explanatory power of models. The issue is quite novel, and it benefited from a thorough examination of statistical and mathematical models, conceptual models, diagrams and maps, machines, computer simulations, and artificial neural networks. These modelling practices have been approached through different disciplines. The proposed method is partly inspired by reverse engineering. The standard covering law approach is abandoned, and classical induction restored to its rightful place. It helps to solve several difficulties which impact upon the social sciences today, for example how to extend an explanatory model to new phenomena, how to establish laws, and how to guide the choice of a conceptual structure. The book can be used for advanced courses in research methods in the social sciences and in philosophy of science
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Over recent decades, population aging has become a truly global issue and has increasingly moved to the center of public attention. In this collection, leading international experts in the political and social sciences, demography, and history analyze the political and social consequences of demographic aging. The steadily rising share of retirees has put pension systems under increasing pressure and has provoked profound pension reforms in many industrialized countries. At the same time, aging societies experience significant changes both in the established patterns of transition from work to retirement and in the traditional concepts of retirement and old age. Running alongside the shift in the balance between younger and older people, the questions of generational justice have increasingly gained prominence in the Western world. This book is essential reading for all those concerned with the profound challenges faced by an aging world
Este artigo descreve a contribuição da metodologia Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo (DSC) para a pesquisa social, a partir dos resultados obtidos na tese do autor. O objetivo foi o de conhecer a representação social da criatividade no contexto das práticas psicoterápicas no âmbito público, social e privado, principalmente no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. O DSC é uma metodologia para realizar pesquisas sociais de enfoque qualiquantitativo que mantém forte articulação com a vertente sócio-histórica em que também se situa a Teoria das Representações Sociais (TRS). Articulada ao referencial teórico da tese, constituiu ferramenta processual e analítica para compreender como os profissionais constroem o conhecimento sobre a criatividade aplicada às psicoterapias. A representação social que foi resgatada por meio do DSC permitiu compartilhar e dar visibilidade à contribuição que a criatividade tem para o processo, para o cliente e para o terapeuta. This article describes the contribution of the Discourse of Collective Subject (DCS) methodology for Social Research by means of he results obtained in the thesis of the author. The objective was to know the social representation of creativity in the context of psychotherapeutic practice in public, social and private sectors, especially in state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The DCS methodology carries out quantitative and qualitative social research, maintaining strong links with the socio-historical aspects that is also located in the Theory of Social Representations (TSR). Articulated to the theoretical framework of the thesis, this work constituted a procedural and analytical tool to understand how professionals build awareness of creativity applied to psychotherapy. The social representation that has been redeemed through the DCS made it possible to share and give visibility to the contribution that creativity has for the process, for the client and for the therapist.
Social capital discourse has come to be the foremost and essential aspects in achieving sustainable development, participatory democracy and just cities. Indonesia is like most Asian countries where people spatially and socially co-live in a community that is related to a network of small clusters. However, the formal study related to social capital is hardly founded. Based on its characters, Gotong Royong which is a socio-cultural ethic of the togetherness philosophy in Indonesia can be perceived as an Indonesian social capital practice. Advancing social capital through participatory approaches will need a deep consideration about the role of professional and community engagement. Successful collaborations between wider actors in participatory approaches could lead to a fundamental transformation that can both preserve and nurture social capital values. High level of social capital within communities can potentially underpin the successful community participation towards communal goals.
PurposeThis paper aims to fill the existing gaps in literature which deal with both the application of a socially oriented philosophy to the theme of strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) integration and to the systematic analysis of the processes of strategic CSR management, and to create a connection between social management philosophy and the dynamic approach to CSR integration based on the strategic management processes. In particular, this study aims at creating a conceptual model to highlight, in a structured and organic way, the dynamic relationships, based on a social management philosophy, characterizing the integration of CSR in the different strategic management processes: formulation and implementation of both intended and emergent strategies. In relation to these goals, the following research questions are formulated: What are the most important strategic management processes in which to integrate CSR following a social management philosophy? How does integration (strategic CSR) based on social management philosophy impact these processes? How do strategic CSR processes based on social management philosophy determine strategic change? Which are the management tools which support integration based on social management philosophy?Design/methodology/approachThe work is a conceptual paper. The paper has been developed as follows: the identification of the theoretical gaps; the definition of the research objectives; the literature review about both CSR integration and strategic management in a dynamic perspective; the formulation of the research questions; the conceptual analysis, based on social management philosophy, of the relevant propositions related to the dynamic approach to CSR integration; the building of the conceptual model based on the propositions; and the description and the analysis of the model.FindingsIn this model, three circles of change that are able to describe the integration of CSR into strategic management have been identified: A, the circle for achieving the strategic intent; B, the circle for formulating the strategic intent; and C, the circle of bottom-up innovations.Practical implicationsFrom a managerial perspective, it is possible to point out the following implications related to the integration of CSR into strategic management and the achievement of a strategic CSR: as for change dynamics which are linked to the formulations of the intended strategy, it is fundamental to develop a social management philosophy; to achieve the strategic intent, it is necessary to incorporate CSR actions into core activity of value chain; to favour the socially oriented bottom-up innovations, it is necessary to define a favourable organizational context; the strategic CSR must be supported by integrated tools and methodologies that make the rationalization of processes of change possible; and the application of tools and processes, even sophisticated ones, which are not based on social management philosophy may lead, in the long run, to negative tensions among stakeholders, as well as to serious repercussions on the firm's management and its performance.Social implicationsIt is possible to pinpoint other implications for the society: the circle for achieving the strategic intents, with the aim of improving the execution phase, increases the positive externalities and reduces the negative externalities of the economic activities; the circle for formulating strategic intents allows to identify a win–win solution for CSR issues; and the bottom-up entrepreneurship increases the chances to find innovative solutions which combine social aspects and competitive aspects.Originality/valueThe analyses provide an integrated approach, connecting strategic management and CSR in a dynamic perspective.
The crossing of national state borders is one of the most-discussed issues of contemporary times and it poses many challenges for individual and collective identities. This concerns both short-distance mobility as well as long-distance migration. Choosing to move - or not - across international borders is a complex decision, involving both cognitive and emotional processes. This book tests the approach that three crucial thresholds need to be crossed before mobility occurs; the individual's mindset about migrating, the choice of destination and perception of crossing borders to that location and the specific routes and spatial trajectories available to get there. Thus both borders and trajectories can act as thresholds to spatial moves. The threshold approach, with its focus on processes affecting whether, when and where to move, aims to understand the decision-making process in all its dimensions, in the hope that this will lead to a better understanding of the ways migrants conceive, perceive and undertake their transnational journeys. This book examines the three constitutive parts discerned in the cross-border mobility decision-making process: people, borders and trajectories and their interrelationships. Illustrated by a global range of case studies, it demonstrates that the relation between the three is not fixed but flexible and that decision-making contains aspects of belonging, instability, security and volatility affecting their mobility or immobility.--
El presente trabajo analiza las relaciones entre movimientos sociales, Estado y gobierno, desde la óptica teórica propuesta por René Zavaleta, a partir de sus conceptos de 'forma primordial' y de 'momento constitutivo'. A partir de un trabajo de campo con observación y entrevistas en profundidad con dos movimientos sociales de matrices político ideológicas autonomista y nacional-popular, el resultado del análisis confirma la profunda reformulación en las relaciones entre movimientos sociales y Estado que tuvo lugar desde la relegitimación institucional, acontecida en el marco de los gobiernos de Néstor Kirchner y de Cristina Fernández de Kirchner entre 2003 y 2015 en el país. El artículo concluye entonces que, allende la inscripción político-ideológica de los movimientos sociales, la etapa kirchnerista se constituyó como un nuevo 'momento constitutivo' en la relación entre el Estado y los movimientos sociales, modificando aspectos estratégicos y tácticos de los vinculamientos en éstos respecto de la esfera institucional. ; This paper analyzes the relationship between social movements, state and government, from the theoretical perspective proposed by René Zavaleta, on the basis of his concepts of 'primary form' and 'constitutive moment'. Based on fieldwork with observation and in-depth interviews with two social movements, one of them autonomist and the other one national-popular, the result of the analysis confirms the profound reformulation in the relationship between social movements and State which took place since the institutional relegitimation that occurred under the governments of Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner between 2003 and 2015 in Argentina. Hence the article concludes that, beyond the political-ideological inscription of social movements, the kirchnerist phase constitutes itself as a new 'constitutive moment' in the relationship between State and social movements, changing strategic and tactical aspects of the relationship of these movements regarding the institutional sphere. ; Fil: Longa, Francisco Tomás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación. Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales; Argentina
From a legal point of view, there may be doubts as to the legal qualification of food obtained in vitro from animal cells. An opinion is expressed in the article that meat from animal cells obtained using the in vitro method does not fall within the classical legal concepts of meat or agricultural production. However, meat products from cells produced by the in vitro method may satisfy the criteria established for novel food. If this is considered to be the correct way of qualification, then they should be subject to the EU market authorisation procedure regulated in Regulation 2015/2283, and a subsequent assessment of their safety. From a legal, economic and social point of view, it is reasonable to produce food using atypical methods if these methods are capable of ensuring food safety. ; Da un punto di vista giuridico potrebbero sorgere dubbi sulla qualificazione giuridica di alimenti ottenuti in vitro da cellule animali. L'autrice afferma che ottenere carne da cellule animali usando il metodo "in vitro" non si colloca nei limiti dei classici concetti giuridici di carne o produzione agricola. I prodotti a base di carne derivati dal metodo "in vitro" possono soddisfare i criteri stabiliti dal legislatore per i novel food. Ritenendo quest'ultimo il modo corretto di qualificazione, anche loro, di conseguenza, dovrebbero essere soggettialla procedura di ammissione al mercato dell'UE, così come disciplinata dal regolamento 2015/2283, e quindi valutati sulla base della loro sicurezza. È del tutto razionale, dal punto di vista giuridico, economico e sociale, produrre cibo con metodi diversi da quello normale, specie se servono a garantire la sicurezza alimentare. ; Z prawnego punktu widzenia mogą wystąpić wątpliwości co do kwalifikacji prawnej żywności uzyskiwanej metodą in vitro z komórek zwierząt. Autorka stwierdza, że uzyskiwanie mięsa z komórek zwierząt metodą "in vitro" nie mieści się w klasycznych pojęciach prawnych mięsa czy produkcji rolnej. Produkty mięsa wytworzonego z komórek metodą "in vitro" mogą odpowiadać kryteriom ustalonym przez prawodawcę dla novel food. Jeśli uznać, że jest to prawidłowy sposób kwalifikacji, to powinny być one poddawane procedurze dopuszczania na rynek unijny uregulowanej w rozporządzeniu 2015/2283, a co za tym idzie – ocenie ich bezpieczeństwa. Racjonalne z prawnego, ekonomicznego i społecznego punktu widzenia jest wytwarzanie żywności nietypowymi metodami, jeśli mogą one służyć zapewnieniu bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego.
Social media have become conduits through which audiences can challenge elites in media and politics. Recent updates to cascading activation, originally developed to explain how frames flowing from powerful figures gain public dominance, give greater theoretical scope for audiences to exert influence. Yet empirical understanding of how and in what circumstances this happens with respect to agenda-setting—another core media effect—is not well-developed, especially given the affordances of digital technologies. We address this gap by connecting theorization on cascades to developments in intermedia agenda-setting. Specifically, we analyze the dynamics surrounding the perceived reluctance by ARD-aktuell, the newsroom of Germany's public broadcasting consortium, to use its prime-time broadcast "Tagesschau" to report the arrest of a refugee accused of murdering a German woman in December 2016. By presenting finely grained timelines linking content analysis of 5,409 Facebook comments with Tagesschau editorial responses and parallel media coverage of this event, we contribute further conditions under which audience-informed cascades may occur: notably, when publicly funded news organizations are involved, and the issue at stake invokes both domestic and international aspects which sustain disagreement.
"Using the case study of the Philippines, this book provides a path-breaking account of civil society. Critically engaging with theoretical, methodological and policy debates on the analysis of civil society in the development studies, political science and sociology literature, it offers a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, empirically-based, and national-level portrait of civil society. In challenging the widespread belief that civil society is an institutional arena in which the poor and marginalized can challenge and reverse their social, economic and political disempowerment, the book argues that civil society is characterised by structural inequalities that echo spatial and income inequalities. It thus compounds poverty and primarily empowers urban-based professionals and their families. Focusing on the Philippines, a country renowned for a vibrant civil society which first emerged under American colonial rule (1898-1946) and which re-emerged from 1986 after 14 years of authoritarian rule, the book traces the reasons for this extensive civil society and it's [sic] political, economic and social implications, and draws comparison to other developing countries"--Supplied by publisher
Now more than ever, the issue of access to higher education for all is a matter of global importance. As colleges and universities worldwide increasingly extend their academic programs abroad, develop internationally mixed research teams and create international curricular initiatives, it is essential to ensure that equitable access to a high quality education remains a key component of the research and policy agenda transnationally. In this book, leading scholars from around the globe offer the most current knowledge about postsecondary access and success, offering fertile ground for new directions in higher education. A critical read for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, this book offers interdisciplinary perspectives on key priorities and action steps for the higher education community to help mitigate economic, social, and political inequality.
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This document reflects the work that has been carried out in the project the last nine months, in which two of the today's most emergent technologies have been combined: Near Field Communication (NFC) and the social networks. The project appeared from the will of the companies where the project has been carried out (IHG and nfc studio) of making a demonstration in the Mobile World Congress 2009 of a tool that allowed the combination of the two technologies quoted before. This demonstration was performed in the stand of the company NXP. On one hand, the very short distance data transmission technology NFC has been used. This technology is already implemented to perform payments using the mobile telephone in public transport in many cities from all over the world, and a pilot test has already made in the Barcelona underground. On the other hand, the social networks, and especially Facebook and Twitter, are becoming more important in our societies. If few months back they were only an additional way to be in touch with our friends, in the present they are an indispensable tool of communication: the great brands have their spaces there, the radio and television channels use them to provide interactivity to the programmes, and even some governments they have opened a new communication channel with the citizens using the social networks. The result of the project is a system that allows, from the ease of use that provides NFC technology, to be able to send information to Twitter and Facebook avoiding the need to type the text by hand. When approaching the mobile phone to an information point, an application will be launched and will send a SMS to the social network to update the user status. Besides, two additional functionalities have also been added: being able to know the song that is playing on any of the iCatFM radio channels and being able to issue a vote using the mobile telephone.
This document reflects the work that has been carried out in the project the last nine months, in which two of the today's most emergent technologies have been combined: Near Field Communication (NFC) and the social networks. The project appeared from the will of the companies where the project has been carried out (IHG and nfc studio) of making a demonstration in the Mobile World Congress 2009 of a tool that allowed the combination of the two technologies quoted before. This demonstration was performed in the stand of the company NXP. On one hand, the very short distance data transmission technology NFC has been used. This technology is already implemented to perform payments using the mobile telephone in public transport in many cities from all over the world, and a pilot test has already made in the Barcelona underground. On the other hand, the social networks, and especially Facebook and Twitter, are becoming more important in our societies. If few months back they were only an additional way to be in touch with our friends, in the present they are an indispensable tool of communication: the great brands have their spaces there, the radio and television channels use them to provide interactivity to the programmes, and even some governments they have opened a new communication channel with the citizens using the social networks. The result of the project is a system that allows, from the ease of use that provides NFC technology, to be able to send information to Twitter and Facebook avoiding the need to type the text by hand. When approaching the mobile phone to an information point, an application will be launched and will send a SMS to the social network to update the user status. Besides, two additional functionalities have also been added: being able to know the song that is playing on any of the iCatFM radio channels and being able to issue a vote using the mobile telephone.
