A case study of child sexual abuse within a Church community

A case study is presented of child sexual assault within a church community. How does a church community deal with the accusation of an adolescent female that-as a 13-year old-she was sexually victimised and assaulted by her then 18-year old boyfriend, five years her senior? Practical and pastoral issues, as well as ethical and legal concerns are addressed. Consideration is also given to the theological context of the church environments in which the situations arise. The implications for victims, perpetrators, leaders, and the church community of our actions-and failure to take appropriate action-are described, along with recommendations for prevention, and best practice in dealing with the sexual abuse of minors within church communities.

Relational ethics in global commerce

This article identifies the fragility of relationships and ethical practices in the context of global commercial relationships and reflects upon the centrality of human relationships in commerce. The connections between people in global business are underpinned by ethical actions and outcomes and influenced by the degree that information and communication technology are part of the commercial relationship. Issues of trust, privacy, sharing, communication, security, anonymity, and learning emerge as relevant. This analysis positions relational ethics into the field of commerce, exposes the critical issues, and makes recommendations for ways to work with and further develop the link between commerce and relational ethics at the global level, especially in the light of developing technologies and the growth of e-commerce.

Hair braiding : working the boundaries of methodology in globalisation research

This paper engages the constitutive as well as the representative role of metaphor in research. Metaphors are understood to provide possibilities for representations and conceptualisations. The use of metaphorical redescription permits us to 'use familiar words in unfamiliar ways' (Rorty, 1989, p. 18) and provides new language that deters the use of repeated ways of knowing. It invites us to see things differently and to act differently. Lakoff and Johnson (1980) argue that metaphor does more than represent: 'New metaphors have the power to construct a new reality' (p. 145). I have drawn on both these understandings of metaphor. In qualitative research, metaphorical analysis has a well-established history. Researchers analyse metaphors used by research participants and apply metaphors to participant actions and understandings (Koro-Ljungberg, 2001; Gregory & Noblit, 1998). Researchers also use metaphors to reflect or represent their methodological decision-making (Richardson, 2003; Gadamer, 1989). In this article, I have nudged the conceptual boundaries of methodology. I have argued the constructive nature of metaphor in methodological positioning and decision making. I use the writing of a doctoral thesis to argue this role of metaphor. There, the metaphor of hair braiding constructed and communicated my methodological decision-making and my researcher stance as a braider.

Encouraging SMEs to participate in the management of common pool resources

In this paper we contribute to an understanding of how small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can be encouraged to participate in the management of environmental common pool resources. We do this by applying ideas from general theories about collective actions and, using evidence from interviews of people with experience dealing with SMEs, show how the ideas are relevant to SMEs. In line with previous research, we present evidence that communication is also necessary to help ensure SME participation. We conclude noting some evidence that suggests that local networks may contribute to successful management of global common pool resources.

Critical care nurses' haemodynamic decision making

For cardiac surgical patients, the immediate 2-hour recovery period is distinguished by potentially life-threatening haemodynamic instability. To ensure optimum patient outcomes, nurses of varying levels of experience must make rapid and accurate decisions in response to episodes of haemodynamic instability. Decision complexity, nurses’ characteristics, and environmental characteristics, have each been found to influence nurses' decision making in some form. However, the effect of the interplay between these influences on decision outcomes has not been investigated. The aim of the research reported in this thesis was to explore variability in critical care nurses' haemodynamic decision making as a function of interplay between haemodynamic decision complexity, nurses' experience, and specific environmental characteristics by applying a naturalistic decision making design. Thirty-eight nurses were observed recovering patients in the immediate 2-hour period after cardiac surgery. A follow-up semi-structured interview was conducted. A naturalistic decision making approach was used. An organising framework for the goals of therapy related to maintaining haemodynamic stability after cardiac surgery was developed to assist the observation and analysis of practice. The three goals of therapy were the optimisation of cardiovascular performance, the promotion of haemostasia, and the reestablishment of normothermia. The research was conducted in two phases. Phase One explored issues related to observation as method, and identified emergent themes. Phase Two incorporated findings of Phase 1, investigating the variability in nurses' haemodynamic decision making in relation to the three goals of therapy. The findings showed that patients had a high acuity after cardiac surgery and suffered numerous episodes of haemodynamic instability during the immediate 2-hour recovery period. The quality of nurses' decision making in relation to the three goals of therapy was influenced by the experience of the nurse and social interactions with colleagues. Experienced nurses demonstrated decision making that reflected the ability to recognise subtle changes in haemodynamic cues, integrate complex combinations of cues, and respond rapidly to instability. The quality of inexperienced nurses' decision making varied according to the level and form of decision support as well as the complexity of the task. When assistance was provided by nursing colleagues during the reception and recovery of patients, the characteristics of team decision making were observed. Team decision making in this context was categorised as either integrated or non integrated. Team decision making influenced nurses' emotions and actions and decision making practices. Findings revealed nurses' experience affected interactions with other team members and their perceptions of assuming responsibility for complex patients. Interplay between decision complexity, nurses' experience, and the environment in which decisions were made influenced the quality of nurses' decision making and created an environment of team decision making, which, in turn, influenced nurses' emotional responses and practice outcomes. The observed variability in haemodynamic decision making has implications for nurse education, nursing practice, and system processes regarding patient allocation and clinical supervision.

Anomalous evaporation behavior of ZnO powder milled mechanically under high-energy conditions

ZnO powder showed anomalous evaporation behavior after its mechanical milling treatment under high-energy conditions. The amount of generated vapor is about 10 times higher in the first 15 min of annealing at 1300 °C than that of unmilled ZnO powders. The strong ball impacts are responsible for the greatly enhanced evaporation ability. Low-energy ball milling involving shearing actions and rare weak impacts leads only to a small evaporation rate enhancement. The possible explanation of the high evaporation rate of the heavily milled material is the existence of large fraction of weakly bonded atoms in grain boundaries, surface defects and strained areas.

It's all a bit wishy washy : the challenge of building partnerships for effective mental health evaluation

Mental wellbeing and social connectedness is a key health priority in Victoria. Actions and interventions that may contribute to the promotion of community level mental wellbeing and social connectedness often occurs in other, non-health sectors. Including evidence from these sectors in evaluations of community based interventions around mental wellbeing and social connectedness is important to ensure comprehensive evaluation, and the development of best practice in this health priority area. However, published evaluation material of community based interventions around this health topic is limited, and rarely captures information from non-health sectors. This pilot study investigated the capacity of health promotion practitioners and other key stakeholders working in this area in Victoria to undertake evaluation of community based mental wellbeing and social connectedness interventions, issues and barriers faced in evaluation, and practitioners’ needs to be able to conduct effective and comprehensive evaluations.

Qualitative methods including semi-structure interviews and document analysis were used. Data was coded and analysed inductively, and key themes developed.

Results indicate that evaluating such interventions is challenging for practitioners due to the broad nature of the topic, and the measurement tools available. Many practitioners would like to conduct more comprehensive evaluation and include evidence from other sectors. Managerial and organizational support to develop partnerships both within the health sector and inter-sectorally was identified as a need in order to develop evaluation skills and facilitate more comprehensive evidence gathering.

This study underscores the importance of inter-sectoral partnerships for developing best evidence-based practice in community health. Partnerships are necessary for conducting comprehensive and effective evaluation to contribute to the evidence base. However, developing effective partnerships is challenging, and acts as a barrier to effective evaluation in a key health area for some community health practitioners. The findings also highlight an agenda for more action by managers to facilitate the development of relevant inter-sectoral partnerships.

The role of support mechanisms in the process of identity transition of HIV-positive people

This study examines identity transit ion in HIV-positive people through their engagement with various support mechanisms. The findings demonstrate that identity transition is the result or how consumers rework, negotiate and transform their roles, actions, and cultural meanings through their consumption of sporting mechanisms.

You can spend your life dying or you can spend your life living : identity transition in people who are HIV-positive

This article examines, through the lenses of HIV-positive people, the unique phenomenon of identity transition. This research proposes that life-changing illnesses, such as HIV, are an undesired 'possession' that people accept to varying degrees, which we refer to as 'ownership'. While illnesses, such as HIV compel individuals to undergo a transformation process that usually begins with a deep feeling of detachment, and then proceeds to acceptance of their illness, and to feeling empowered and in control of their HIV status and lives, this process is very complex and non-linear as it involves many iterative progressions in identity transition. These transitions are highly individualistic; however, the underlying theme is that the more positive trajectories were those of people who focus on their new lives, living with HIV (i.e. taking ownership of their illness), rather than focusing on what they have lost when they became HIV-positive. The findings demonstrate that identity transition is a result of the ways that individuals rework, negotiate and transform their roles, actions and behaviours through their active engagement with support mechanisms. This study suggests that it is vital to promote positive interactions with support mechanisms to ensure that those with HIV view themselves positively.

Improve construction knowledge management system by using the soft system methodology

The construction industry has a poor record in the management of its knowledge and results into huge wastage of resources and detrimental effect to quality. Research has shown that data and information management system plus knowledge management are a critical part of today's project management practice for construction projects. Few people will deny that 'quality information' and 'useful knowledge' are extremely important to any decision-making. However, the current processes of handling information and knowledge in the construction industry and increasingly costly. One of the major reasons is the nature of this industry is not conducive to good knowledge management and the traditional data/information systems used in the industry has long been critisized. It is very common that information is often duplicated, inconsistent and not current. In turn, making knowledge becomes difficult to manage properly. Project managers have in the past found it very difficult to source and analyse data in order to make sound decisions. This paper is part of a doctoral research project which summarizes three exploratory surveys; namely ERP system, Partnering strategy and Leadership impact of a knowledge management system in a construction company. Those findings are described by using the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) which later becomes the basis for actions research. SSM is useful to reveal complexities of the knowledge management situations that occur in construction industry. The first stage was to conduct interviews of the different practices in knowledge and reporting process. Then, the SSM rich picture was developed to present the problematic areas including difficulties in inputting data to enable the knowledge platform in place. The research then develops root definition and CATWOE, and a conceptual model was formed. Interviewees were conducted with structured questions to identify prioritized actions and activities that can be undertaken to improve and manage the knowledge platform.

Common sense versus intuition in management decision-making

The increasingly complex organisational environment has made certainty in decision-making difficult. Sometimes careful consideration comes before decisions, but sometimes rushed decisions are made. Successful outcomes can often follow from either process, but exactly why each approach works needs to be examined. A return to the epistemological bases of common sense and intuition can help to clarify the decision process for managers in the current environment. The paper starts with perspectives on the similarities and differences between common sense and intuition, drills down to the rational and empirical foundations of each, and then introduces a decision-making matrix that portrays the conceptual basis of intuition and common sense in the actions and reactions of the decision-makers. Primarily, this is a theoretical paper incorporating literature review and authors’ analysis of the interaction of common sense and intuition when making decisions. We conclude that it is pertinent to accept intuition as a valuable complement to common sense, and it is anticipated that the different perspective can facilitate the merging of critical countervailing concepts in the management decision-making process.

Tuning fork: Shopfront

The audience of this performance got to view actions and installations building and evolving over time, and a projected time-lapse video.
In this iteration of Tuning Fork, James Cunningham & Joncli Keane continue the development of their two pronged approach to finding the watering hole of stillness and action, collabora tion and orientation.Originating from a showing in the Bell Tower II series, in the Judy's new Shopfrontspaoe, Tuning Fork will Fuks accentuate the durational aspect of movement through time-lapse video, heighten the trans formative potential of objects using three-metre long carbon rods as instruments of sense, sound and support and alter the space through the numerous tape measures which take on a life of their own. James Cunningham and Jondi Keane inhabit the Shopfront from Friday 7 November, eJqJioring, measuring, filming and projecting, in order to fine tune their interactions for the performance season commencing 19 November.

Meaningful mathematics in the middle years

This paper describes an action research project that investigated issues concerning the teaching and learning of numeracy in the middle years. Building on research concerning the middle years of schooling, and their own experience of teaching mathematics in years 5 - 8, a group of teachers, drawn from four schools, trialed strategies intended to improve the engagement, attitudes and outcomes of their students in mathematics. The group recommended at the end of the study that mathematics needs to be meaningful for young adolescents. The concept of meaningful mathematics is explored through a description of the actions and findings of the teachers participating in this project.

Monkey in a cage : the complicated loyalties of mid-level academic women working in higher education

Loyalty raises a dilemma for women’s career progression and leadership because it signals confidence in the organisation, despite the ongoing constraints that organisations present for women and their leadership aspirations. The research investigates women’s loyalty in the context of higher education. Focussing on a select group of mid-level female academics, the paper will argue against a common sense understanding of loyalty as an expression of female care. A critical reconsideration of loyalty as care is made possible by analysing the ‘utility of loyalty’ and how it becomes a legitimate organising principle that operationalises institutional and personal objectives. How women enact loyalty draws on agency theory to explain and analyse the way loyalty is appropriated by women. The results show contradictory actions around loyalty, however, these can be clarified by agency theory to demystify loyalty and critically analyse how specific work actions and practices shape explain seemingly contradictory and emotive responses. The complications around women and loyalty are expressions of a substantive rationality through which mid-level female academics respond to the uneven opportunities, limitations and constraints that influence their work, profession and relationships.

KM value creation : evidence from a case

One of the fundamental knowledge management questions is how organizations can use their knowledge to create value. There is general agreement that knowledge management should add value. It is not clear, however, what value means in the context of knowledge management and how it is created. This fundamental question is complex as value has different meanings to different people. Understanding value in the context of KM will lead to better understanding of the potential sources of value creation from knowledge management and better management of knowledge assets. It will inform the measurement of knowledge and its impacts on organizations. It will lead to recognition of the contribution of knowledge assets to organizational success.

This paper provides a review of prior research on value creation and how this can improve the understanding of value in the context of knowledge management. Based on this review it poses questions to explore value creation in the context of knowledge management. It then reports on preliminary analysis of a case study of a process-based knowledge management system and the expressions of value, value creating actions and value capture as perceived by different stakeholders.