A PRÁXIS SOCIAL DA IGREJA: ANÁLISE DAS PRÁTICAS SOCIAIS DA IGREJA BATISTA INDEPENDENTE NO CONTEXTO BRASILEIRO

No mundo globalizado vivenciamos o agravamento das questões sociais relacionadas às concepções do mercado neoliberal, do Estado mínimo, da privatização dos serviços públicos e, as organizações não-governamentais e o advento do chamado Terceiro Setor. Esta pesquisa contempla uma análise do fenômeno religioso, referente à inserção pública da Igreja por meio das práticas sociais institucionalizadas vinculadas as suas organizações neste contexto social, na perspectiva de enfrentamento dos problemas sociais. No desenvolvimento da pesquisa utilizamos o método histórico para descrever e analisar a inserção pública da Igreja Batista Independente no contexto brasileiro, a partir do estudo de documentos relacionados às primeiras iniciativas e o desenvolvimento das práticas sociais desta Igreja no contexto brasileiro. Com a descrição analítica deste fenômeno verifica-se a incidência de práticas de transformação social, caracterizando-se como práxis social e, ainda, elementos que contribuem para o exercício da cidadania estão no bojo das práticas sociais da Igreja. A pesquisa apresenta a análise das práticas sociais da Igreja, na perspectiva da interdisciplinaridade, apontando elementos que influenciaram as transformações sociais nos últimos anos e relaciona a contribuição da práxis social para o exercício da fé cidadã.(AU)

ENTRADA NA PROFISSÃO: ESCOLHA PESSOAL OU IMPOSIÇÃO SOCIAL?

O estudo procura identificar os fatores que contribuem para que os alunos, ao final do Ensino Médio, façam sua escolha profissional, se a escolha que fazem se baseia em algum programa de orientação profissional específico, se seguem uma orientação da família, de amigos, professores ou profissionais da área, ou se é uma imposição situacional, em função da classe social da qual o jovem faz parte. Pode-se encontrar várias respostas, a depender da classe socioeconômica ocupada pelo indivíduo; para cada parcela da população, talvez ocorra a reprodução de seu quadro socioeconômico, visto que os fatores que influem naquela escolha podem variar entre as diferentes camadas da sociedade. A pesquisa bibliográfica inclui autores como Pierre Bourdieu, Jean-Claude Passeron, Maria Alice Nogueira e Alípio Casali, entre outras. O estudo se completa com uma pesquisa de campo, em que foram entrevistados alunos de duas instituições de Ensino Médio, uma da rede pública e outra da rede privada, ambas situadas na cidade de São Bernardo do Campo. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa bibliográfica e qualitativa. Os dados empíricos foram coletados por meio de questionário para respostas diretas, e também com uma questão aberta, para que os alunos envolvidos pudessem contribuir com novos elementos para a análise final.

AVALIAÇÃO DA ANSIEDADE E DO ENFRENTAMENTO DE EXECUTIVOS EM SITUAÇÃO DE DESEMPREGO

O presente estudo teve por objetivos, investigar a presença de ansiedade em executivos após a quebra de vínculo empregatício; identificar as principais estratégias de enfrentamento utilizadas por esses sujeitos; e relacionar a influência do nível de ansiedade no enfrentamento da situação de desemprego. Participaram 35 sujeitos, de 35 a 56 anos, sendo 27 homens e oito mulheres, desempregados há mais de um (1) mês e em processo de recolocação em uma consultoria em São Paulo. Utilizou-se o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado e a Escala de Modos de Enfrentamento de Problemas EMEP. Os dados foram submetidos ao Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS), versão 13.0 para Windows. Os resultados indicaram que o grau de ansiedade encontrava-se dentro da média esperada e houve correlação positiva significativa entre Ansiedade-Traço e Estado o que é esperado, pois quanto maior o traço ansioso maior será o estado, para essa população. Quanto ao enfrentamento e grau de ansiedade, houve correlação negativa entre ansiedadeestado e o uso de estratégias de enfrentamento focalizadas no problema, ou seja, quanto mais ansiedade, menos os sujeitos orientam-se para resolver problemas; sendo o contrário verdadeiro, pois existiu correlação positiva entre ansiedade-estado e estratégias focalizadas nas emoções desagradáveis, indicando que quanto maior o estado ansioso mais os sujeitos se utilizam estratégias que inibem ações habilidosas e adaptativas. Enfrentamentos baseados em práticas religiosas e pensamentos fantasiosos também estiveram correlacionados com estratégias focalizadas na emoção (sentimentos negativos) podendo sugerir caráter adaptativo menos eficaz. As correlações entre as estratégias de enfrentamento baseadas na emoção e idade mostraram-se negativas, principalmente para sujeitos mais velhos. Não foi encontrada correlação entre desemprego e ansiedade, porém quanto maior tempo de desemprego, menor a utilização de práticas religiosas ou pensamento fantasioso. A análise de confiabilidade do instrumento para esse estudo, através do Alpha de Cronbach foi 0,79; a análise de variância (Anova) entre os fatores de enfrentamento e sexo indicou uma diferença significativa para os fatores de enfrentamento focalizados na emoção e religiosidade/ pensamento fantasioso (p < 0,05). Concluiu-se que a variável ansiedade é presente quando relacionada ao enfrentamento focalizado na emoção e busca de práticas religiosas ou pensamento fantasioso entre sujeitos em situação de desemprego; fato que sugere dificuldades de equilíbrio adaptativo. Sugerem-se outros estudos com amostras maiores e que possam verificar com mais precisão a relação entre tempo de desemprego, sexo, faixa etária e dados do agrupamento familiar entre desempregados de cargos de gerência ou altos executivos

Challenges for expatriate managers:an exploration of cross-cultural management, adjustment, and training issues faced by Anglo-American managers in Hong Kong

This field work study furthers understanding about expatriate management, in particular, the nature of cross-cultural management in Hong Kong involving Anglo-American expatriate and Chinese host national managers, the important features of adjustment for expatriates living and working there, and the type of training which will assist them to adjust and to work successfully in this Asian environment. Qualitative and quantitative data on each issue was gathered during in-depth interviews in Hong Kong, using structured interview schedules, with 39 expatriate and 31 host national managers drawn from a cross-section of functional areas and organizations. Despite the adoption of Western technology and the influence of Western business practices, micro-level management in Hong Kong retains a cultural specificity which is consistent with the norms and values of Chinese culture. There are differences in how expatriates and host nationals define their social roles, and Hong Kong's recent colonial history appears to influence cross-cultural interpersonal interactions. The inability of the spouse and/or family to adapt to Hong Kong is identified as a major reason for expatriate assignments to fail, though the causes have less to do with living away from family and friends, than with Hong Kong's highly urbanized environment and the heavy demands of work. Culture shock is not identified as a major problem, but in Hong Kong micro-level social factors require greater adjustment than macro-level societal factors. The adjustment of expatriate managers is facilitated by a strong orientation towards career development and hard work, possession of technical/professional expertise, and a willingness to engage in a process of continuous 'active learning' with respect to the host national society and culture. A four-part model of manager training suitable for Hong Kong is derived from the study data. It consists of a pre-departure briefing, post-arrival cross-cultural training, language training in basic Cantonese and in how to communicate more effectively in English with non-native speakers, and the assignment of a mentor to newly arrived expatriate managers.

Stakeholder accountability or stakeholder management: a review of UK firms? Social and ethical accounting, auditing and reporting SEAAR practices

The main aim of this study is to undertake an evaluation of the initial wave of stand-alone social reports issued by the major market players in the UK using AA1000 as an evaluative tool, or benchmark, in order to ascertain the extent to which they conform to the provisions of AA1000, in particular the core principles of accountability and inclusivity. Applying the lens of the stakeholder model the paper examines to what extent contemporary SEAAR practices in the UK are likely to promote stakeholder accountability, or whether they are simply exercises in stakeholder management.

Autochthonous heritage languages and social media:writing and bilingual practices in Low German on Facebook

This article analyses how speakers of an autochthonous heritage language (AHL) make use of digital media, through the example of Low German, a regional language used by a decreasing number of speakers mainly in northern Germany. The focus of the analysis is on Web 2.0 and its interactive potential for individual speakers. The study therefore examines linguistic practices on the social network site Facebook, with special emphasis on language choice, bilingual practices and writing in the autochthonous heritage language. The findings suggest that social network sites such as Facebook have the potential to provide new mediatized spaces for speakers of an AHL that can instigate sociolinguistic change.

Negotiating regional futures:the successes and failures of the West Midlands Regional Development Agency Network

The introduction of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in the English regions in 1999 presented a new set of collaborative challenges to existing local institutions. The key objectives of the new policy impetus emphasise increased joined-up thinking and holistic regional governance. Partners were enjoined to promote cross-sector collaboration and present a coherent regional voice. This study aims to evaluate the impact of an RDA on the partnership infrastructure of the West Midlands. The RDA network incorporates a wide spectrum of interest and organisations with diverse collaborative histories, competencies and capacities. The study has followed partners through the process over an eighteen-month period and has sought to explore the complexities and tensions of partnership working 'on the ground'. A strong qualitative methodology has been employed in generating 'thick descriptions' of the policy domain. The research has probed beyond the 'rhetoric' of partnerships and explores the sensitivities of the collaboration process. A number of theoretical frameworks have been employed, including policy network theory; partnership and collaboration theory; organisational learning; and trust and social capital. The structural components of the West Midlands RDA network are explored, including the structural configuration of the network and stocks of human and social capital assets. These combine to form the asset base of the network. Three sets of network behaviours are then explored, namely, strategy, the management of perceptions, and learning. The thesis explores how the combination of assets and behaviours affect, and in turn are affected by, each other. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge and understanding surrounding policy networks and collaborative governance.

Families 'at risk' and the family nurse partnership:the intrusion of risk into social exclusion policy

This article considers why the family nurse partnership (FNP) has been promoted as a means of tackling social exclusion in the UK. The FNP consists in a programme of visits by nurses to low-income first-time mothers, both while the mothers are pregnant and for the first two years following birth. The FNP is focused on both teaching parenthood and encouraging mothers back into education and/or into employment. Although the FNP marks a considerable discontinuity with previous approaches to family health, it is congruent with an emerging new approach to social exclusion. This new approach maintains that the most important task of social policy is to identify quickly the most 'at-risk' households, individuals and children so that interventions can be targeted more effectively at those 'at risk', either to themselves or to others. The article illustrates this new approach by analysing a succession of reports by the Social Exclusion Unit. It indicates that there is a considerable amount of ambiguity about the relationship between specific risk-factors and being 'at risk of social exclusion'. Nonetheless, this new approach helps to explain why British policy-makers may have chosen to promote the new FNP now. © 2009 Cambridge University Press.

Building cliques and alliances as practices to 'make things happen' in complex networks

The Roma population has become a policy issue highly debated in the European Union (EU). The EU acknowledges that this ethnic minority faces extreme poverty and complex social and economic problems. 52% of the Roma population live in extreme poverty, 75% in poverty (Soros Foundation, 2007, p. 8), with a life expectancy at birth of about ten years less than the majority population. As a result, Romania has received a great deal of policy attention and EU funding, being eligible for 19.7 billion Euros from the EU for 2007-2013. Yet progress is slow; it is debated whether Romania's government and companies were capable to use these funds (EurActiv.ro, 2012). Analysing three case studies, this research looks at policy implementation in relation to the role of Roma networks in different geographical regions of Romania. It gives insights about how to get things done in complex settings and it explains responses to the Roma problem as a „wicked‟ policy issue. This longitudinal research was conducted between 2008 and 2011, comprising 86 semi-structured interviews, 15 observations, and documentary sources and using a purposive sample focused on institutions responsible for implementing social policies for Roma: Public Health Departments, School Inspectorates, City Halls, Prefectures, and NGOs. Respondents included: governmental workers, academics, Roma school mediators, Roma health mediators, Roma experts, Roma Councillors, NGOs workers, and Roma service users. By triangulating the data collected with various methods and applied to various categories of respondents, a comprehensive and precise representation of Roma network practices was created. The provisions of the 2001 „Governmental Strategy to Improve the Situation of the Roma Population‟ facilitated forming a Roma network by introducing special jobs in local and central administration. In different counties, resources, people, their skills, and practices varied. As opposed to the communist period, a new Roma elite emerged: social entrepreneurs set the pace of change by creating either closed cliques or open alliances and by using more or less transparent practices. This research deploys the concept of social/institutional entrepreneurs to analyse how key actors influence clique and alliance formation and functioning. Significantly, by contrasting three case studies, it shows that both closed cliques and open alliances help to achieve public policy network objectives, but that closed cliques can also lead to failure to improve the health and education of Roma people in a certain region.

Conflicts and online community social capital:the influence of conflict management practices

Conflicts are part and parcel of online community dynamics (De Valck 2007; Harrison and Jenkins 1996; Kozinets 2001) – from flames about publishing inappropriate content (De Zwart and Lindsay 2009) to battles to win high status positions (Campbell, Fletcher and Greenhill 2009) and stigmatization of illegitimate insiders (Tikkanen, Hietanen, Henttonen, and Rokka 2009) up to bashing and smearing campaigns (Bocij 2002). As the concept of community presumes unity, marketers may be inclined to suppress any dissonance in their online brand communities thinking that it may hurt brand image or community attractiveness. However, Fournier and Lee (2009) advise marketers to embrace the conflicts that make communities thrive. As tensions and conflict cannot be avoided this seems logical advice. Nevertheless, are all tensions and conflicts created equally? Are some not more constructive (or destructive) than others? Thus, should all tensions and conflicts really be embraced, and what can be done to channel tensions and conflicts such that they do not become destructive? These questions form the starting point of this paper.

Translation practices at the European Central Bank with reference to metaphors

The European Union institutions represent a complex setting and a specific case of institutional translation. The European Central Bank (ECB) is a particular context as the documents translated belong to the field of economics and, thus, contain many specialised terms and neologisms that pose challenges to translators. This study aims to investigate the translation practices at the ECB, and to analyse their effects on the translated texts. In order to illustrate the way texts are translated at the ECB, the thesis will focus on metaphorical expressions and the conceptual metaphors by which they are sanctioned. Metaphor is often associated with literature and less with specialised texts. However, according to Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) conceptual metaphor theory, our conceptual system is fundamentally metaphorical in nature and metaphors are pervasive elements of thought and speech. The corpus compiled comprises economic documents translated at the ECB, mainly from English into Romanian. Using corpus analysis, the most salient metaphorical expressions were identified in the source and target texts and explained with reference to the main conceptual metaphors. Translation strategies are discussed on the basis of a comparison of the source and target texts. The text-based analysis is complemented by questionnaires distributed to translators, which give insights into the institution’s translation practices. As translation is an institutional process, translators have to follow certain guidelines and practices; these are discussed with reference to translators’ agency. A gap was identified in the field of institutional translation. The translation process in the EU institutions has been insufficiently explored, especially regarding the new languages of the European Union. By combining the analysis of the institutional practices, the texts produced in the institution and the translators’ work (by the questionnaires distributed to translators), this thesis intends to bring a contribution to institutional translation and metaphor translation, particularly regarding a new EU language, Romanian.

'Family' ownership, tunnelling and earnings management:a review of the literature

In this review paper, we bring together a number of aspects of family firms that are ubiquitous in a number of institutional contexts, often as part of larger business groups. We pay particular attention to the mechanisms by which families retain control over firms, and the incentives of the families in control to expropriate other stakeholders by way of tunnelling. We examine the role of earnings management in facilitating tunnelling, and evidence about the incidence of earnings management in family firms. Our review suggests that while the literature on these aspects of family control is rich, the contexts in which the empirical exercises are undertaken are relatively few, and hence there is considerable opportunity to expand it to other contexts, in particular in the form of cross-country comparisons of the relative impact of agency conflicts and institutions on these issues.