‘In the air’ and below the horizon: migrant workers in UK construction and the practice-based nature of learning and communicating OHS

Local, tacit and normally unspoken OHS (occupational health and safety) knowledge and practices can too easily be excluded from or remain below the industry horizon of notice, meaning that they remain unaccounted for in formal OHS policy and practice. In this article we stress the need to more systematically and routinely tap into these otherwise ‘hidden’ communication channels, which are central to how everyday safe working practices are achieved. To demonstrate this approach this paper will draw on our ethnographic research with a gang of migrant curtain wall installers on a large office development project in the north of England. In doing so we reflect on the practice-based nature of learning and sharing OHS knowledge through examples of how workers’ own patterns of successful communication help avoid health and safety problems. These understandings, we argue, can be advanced as a basis for the development of improved OHS measures, and of organizational knowing and learning.

Blended learning in distance education: Sri Lankan perspective

The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of online learning in distance educational delivery at Yellow Fields University (pseudonymous) in Sri Lanka. The implementation of online distance education at the University included the use of blended learning. The policy initiative to introduce online for distance education in Sri Lanka was guided by the expectation of cost reduction and the implementation was financed under the Distance Education Modernization Project. The paper presents one case study of a larger multiple case study research that employed an ethnographic research approach in investigating the impact of ICT on distance education in Sri Lanka. Documents, questionnaires and qualitative interviews were used for data collection. There was a significant positive relationship between ownership of computers and students’ ability to use computer for word processing, emailing and Web searching. The lack of access to computers and the Internet, the lack of infrastructure, low levels of computer literacy, the lack of local language content, and the lack of formal student support services at the University were found to be major barriers to implementing compulsory online activities at the University

Fairtrade movement

An outline is provided of how the fair trade movement has developed and its success in stimulating the production, circulation and consumption of fair trade products. Critical debate over the core message of the fair trade movement, that buying fair trade products can transform producers’ lives in the global south, is highlighted. A body of ethnographic research contributes to this debate by examining the significance of fair trade in producers’ lives.

Understanding digital literacies: a practical introduction

Understanding Digital Literacies provides an accessible and timely introduction to new media literacies. It supplies readers with the theoretical and analytical tools with which to explore the linguistic and social impact of a host of new digital literacy practices. Each chapter in the volume covers a different topic, presenting an overview of the major concepts, issues, problems and debates surrounding the topic, while also encouraging students to reflect on and critically evaluate their own language and communication practices. Features include: coverage of a diverse range of digital media texts, tools and practices including blogging, hypertextual organisation, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, websites and games an extensive range of examples and case studies to illustrate each topic, such as how blogs have affected our thinking about communication, how the creation and sharing of digital images and video can bring about shifts in social roles, and how the design of multiplayer online games for children can promote different ideologies a variety of discussion questions and mini-ethnographic research projects involving exploration of various patterns of media production and communication between peers, for example in the context of Wikinomics and peer production, social networking and civic participation, and digital literacies at work end of chapter suggestions for further reading and links to key web and video resources a companion website providing supplementary material for each chapter, including summaries of key issues, additional web-based exercises, and links to further resources such as useful websites, articles, videos and blogs.

Gendered struggles over land: shifting inheritance practices among the Serer in rural Senegal

Although women's land rights are often affirmed unequivocally in constitutions and international human rights conventions in many African countries, customary practices usually prevail on the ground and often deny women's land inheritance. Yet land inheritance often goes unnoticed in wider policy and development initiatives to promote women's equal access to land. This paper draws on feminist ethnographic research among the Serer ethnic group in two contrasting rural communities in Senegal. Through analysis of land governance, power relations and 'technologies of the self', this article shows how land inheritance rights are contingent on the specific effects of intersectionality in particular places. The contradictions of legal pluralism, greater adherence to Islam and decentralisation led to greater application of patrilineal inheritance practices. Gender, religion and ethnicity intersected with individuals' marital position, status, generation and socio-ecological change to constrain land inheritance rights for women, particularly daughters, and widows who had been in polygamous unions and who remarried. Although some women were aware that they were legally entitled to inherit a share of the land, they tended not to 'demand their rights'. In participatory workshops, micro-scale shifts in women's and men's positionings reveal a recognition of the gender discriminatory nature of customary and Islamic law and a desire to 'change with the times'. While the effects of 'reverse' discourses are ambiguous and potentially reinforce prevailing patriarchal power regimes, 'counter' discourses, which emerged in participatory spaces, may challenge customary practices and move closer to a rights-based approach to gender equality and women's land inheritance.

On identity reformation and local transition: a case from Poland

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore and understand the process of successful introduction of total quality management (TQM) in Poland and the way in which it impacted on identity of Polish managers. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a combination of ethnographic research and repertory grid interviews. Findings – The process of TQM introduction and implementation is examined through the application of translation as a model incorporating cultural and socio-economical dimensions in addition to individual and organizational levels that shaped the development of TQM in Poland. It then draws on the idea of fantasy as theorized in Lacanian psychoanalysis in order to incorporate the unconscious element of translation process which is missing from Latour’s theorization and which forms an important aspect of adoption of new technology and the emergence of a new post-transition generation of managers in Poland. The paper argues that a complex combination of contextual factors, amongst them the notion of fantasy shaped the process of translation of TQM to Poland, the identity formation of Polish managers and to the emergence of a new post-transition generation of managers in Poland. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the literature on the post-command transition by illustrating this process through the fantasy of total quality management explored in a specific socio-cultural and geographical context and by combining the idea of Latour’s translation with Lacanian fantasy.

The quest for quality: translation of a mythical idea in a global corporation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the model of the translation of particularly important ideas for the organization and its context, called mythical ideas. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on ethnographic research. Findings – It is found that change processes based on mythical ideas are especially dynamic but also very vulnerable. The consequences of failure can be vital for the organization and its environment. Originality/value – The paper explores the outcomes to which the translation of a mythical idea can lead. The findings are of value for people involved in organizational change processes.

Medicines and other Resources Utilized in Order to Cope Infants Diseases in the Family Daily Life: a qualitative study

Medicines and other Resources Utilized in Order to Cope Infants Diseases in the Family Daily Life: a qualitative study. The study proposes to investigate the use of medications, medicinal plants and other therapeutic resources to cope infants diseases in the domestic realm in an urban area. The ethnographic research method was utilized as referential, guiding the study for 10 months with 20 fortnight meetings in the domicile of 15 families. The study followed up 180 episodes of disease, 74,5% were treated, in a first instance, at home, resulting in the use of 212 therapeutic resources. The main type of therapeutic resource utilized was industrialized medicines, differing considerably from its clinic recommendations. The realm of the health services was more mobilized as a second treatment option. In the community realm, treatment of diseases known from the popular culture was performed via blessings and prayers. The families use medicines as cultural practices and the acceptance of some type of treatment depends on the expectations and experiences of the family.

Carismáticos luteranos e católicos : uma abordagem comparativa da performance dos rituais

Esta dissertação procura compreender como a performance ritual contribui na elaboração e sustentação do ethos carismático em duas distintas instituições religiosas: a Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil e a Igreja Católica Apostólica Romana. Para isso, procuro verificar que recursos de performance são acionados no ritual de cada um destes grupos carismáticos. Centro a análise na compreensão de como os artificios da performance agem sobre os participantes do ritual. A fim de alcançar este entendimento, são usados os pressupostos de teorias sobre ritual e performance. Além de estudar o fenômeno supracitado nas duas igrejas separadamente, esta dissertação propõe uma análise comparativa entre as mesmas. O trabalho foi construído com base na pesquisa etnográfica realizada junto a comunidades carismáticas das instituições religiosas em referência, situadas em algumas cidades da Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre.

As mudanças na cultura organizacional de uma instituição pública federal sob um olhar estético

A despeito do esforço despendido pelos pesquisadores e estudiosos organizacionais em compreender e acompanhar as mudanças e transformações ocorridas no cotidiano das organizações, sabe-se que ainda existem variáveis que a corrente racionalista positivista, hegemonicamente presente nos estudos realizados no século passado, ainda não conseguiram desvelar. Com o objetivo de avançar em estudos e pesquisas que admitam a subjetividade que permeia os integrantes das organizações, buscou-se identificar, sob a ótica da abordagem estética, como os servidores do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) apreenderam as mudanças na cultura organizacional ocorridas na instituição a partir da década de 90 do século passado. A partir da perspectiva fenomenológica hermenêutica, realizou-se pesquisa tipo etnográfica e, como a pesquisadora pertence ao quadro de servidores da organização estudada, a pesquisa possui também caráter autoetnográfico. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada em quatro órgãos singulares e a coleta dos dados ocorreu por meio da observação participante e em 57 entrevistas. As anotações de campo e as entrevistas foram transcritas e submetidas à análise de conteúdo. As revelações do campo foram apresentadas em 11 categorias que representam os juízos estéticos dos servidores, pertencentes ao grupo pesquisado, acerca das mudanças ocorridas na cultura organizacional nas últimas décadas: o belo, o sagrado, o pitoresco, o gracioso, o sublime o cômico, o feio, a tristeza, o trágico o ritmo, o indizível. O estudo concluiu que o conhecimento adquirido pelos integrantes da organização, a partir de suas experiências sensoriais e seus juízos estéticos, tanto é influenciado quanto possui influência sobre sua cultura.

Produtividade às custas de assédio moral: a indústria bancária sob a ótica dos trabalhadores do setor

Esta pesquisa avaliou o fenômeno assédio moral no Banco Credit S.A., considerando de que maneira esta prática se revela no ambiente de trabalho, seus efeitos físicos e psicológicos e, por fim, a repercussão psicossocial do assédio moral no ambiente organizacional dessa empresa; acrescentando que a nomenclatura dada a este Banco é fictícia, uma vez que não obtivemos autorização formal desta instituição apontada como objeto de estudo da pesquisa. As conclusões são baseadas numa pesquisa etnográfica qualitativa através de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com relatos de 10 (dez) respondentes, empregados do Banco Credit S.A., acerca do fenômeno assédio moral. Como forma de validação dos dados captados foi aplicada uma pesquisa etnográfica virtual, de cunho quantitativo a 103 (cento e três) respondentes, todos empregados dessa instituição, através do survey. Por fim, foi realizada uma entrevista com o Presidente do BancáRio - Sindicato dos Bancários do Rio de Janeiro, ator social apto a descrever o fenômeno assédio moral no setor bancário holisticamente, ajuizando assim, as análises relativas ao perfil do Banco Credit S.A., sobretudo àquelas semelhantes ou divergentes do senso comum. Os tópicos da discussão estão circunscritos a partir dos anos 80-90 quando se dá a estabilização da economia brasileira, através da implantação do plano real, no governo FHC. Nesse contexto, o setor bancário passou por um processo de reestruturação produtiva, marcado pelas privatizações e a adoção de novas formas de gestão que resultaram em conflitos no ambiente de trabalho. Essas modificações levaram a uma ruptura nos processos das transaçoes bancárias, reconfigurando o setor, se estabelendo de forma cristalizada admitindo assim, o assédio moral como uma pratica corriqueira e institucionalizada. Esta pesquisa conclui que, diante deste cenário o assédio moral revelou-se um fenômeno corriqueiro que foi incorporado à cultura organizacional desta empresa como mecanismo de punição aos empregados que não atingem as metas estabelecidas. O clima organizacional do Banco Credit S.A. é tenso e propício as práticas de assédio moral; que esse fenômeno reduz a capacidade produtiva do empregado, induzindo ao aumento de custos com improdutividade e baixa eficiência para o próprio banco. O assédio moral, nas relações entre os empregados do banco Credit S.A. se revela mais comumente de forma vertical descendente, sua prática é fortemente percebida pelos empregados desta instituição.

Telhado de Vidro: uma reflexão sobre os processos de inventário de patrimônio imaterial do IPHAN-RJ a partir do caso do inventário da Festa de Nossa Senhora da Conceição-RJ

Esta pesquisa tem como objeto a análise do inventário da festa de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, do Morro da Conceição, Rio de Janeiro, realizado por mim para a Superintendência do Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional no Rio de Janeiro (IPHAN-RJ) entre julho de 2009 e março de 2010. Através de uma metodologia que envolve pesquisa documental e etnografia, estabeleço uma comparação entre o que é determinado oficialmente para a realização de um inventário de referências culturais e o que, na prática, é feito pelos técnicos e pesquisadores em relação à pesquisa e às demandas das comunidades. O trabalho engloba não apenas a investigação do processo de pesquisa do inventário, mas também os objetivos do referido instituto e as contrapartidas para a comunidade envolvida. Ainda, permite compreender as táticas utilizadas pela comunidade para alcançar seus objetivos frente ao IPHAN-RJ e aos pesquisadores e, em contrapartida, as estratégias desenvolvidas pela instituição e seus representantes para que seus intuitos políticos fossem alcançados.

Entre malucos e milicos: etnografia estereótipos familiares e papel da mulher nas relações de cuidado

Com base em etnografias desenvolvidas com pacientes psiquiátricos e com oficiais do exército, este artigo discute representações sociais sobre família, a partir de um enfoque epistemológico. Neste contexto, as discussões sobre métodos e técnicas de pesquisa etnográfica e sobre papeis sociais assumidos por mulheres nas relações familiares, ganham destaque.

O "espetáculo do cabra macho" : um estudo sobre os vaqueiros nas vaquejada no Rio Grande do Norte

This body of work discusses the gender meanings associated with cowboys while endorsing contemporary rodeos in Rio Grande do Norte as a recreational sport and a form of ludic expression. As a result, this research has focused on rodeo practices, aiming to understand the different aspects emphasizing masculinity: these associations being constructed through relationships, contexts and the competitiveness between participants. These gender meanings hinge on the desire for a wining performance and on the behaviour exhibited among cowboys outside the competitive ring in specific social settings such as parties and recreational time. The latter were the focus of the ethnographic research; direct observation and semistructured interviews with cowboys in rodeo stadiums were also used. Through qualitative analysis of the collected data, it was revealed that historically and socially different trajectories do not immediately cause a gender crisis in cowboys, but the assignment of new significance by the social acts in each historical context. However, the presence of cowboys leads to other models of masculinity configured by expressions and the insertion of new personas, not coming directly from field activities, but imbued by the symbolic elements of the cowboy persona, constructed throughout history

Etnografia visual das mangabeiras nas matas do tabuleiro costeiro.

This work is an ethnographic research with collectors women of Mangaba in the village of Ponta Negra in Natal - RN. This Women also known as Mangabeira's women reproduce a practice learned with their ancestors, collecting this fruit in the coastal tablelands forests and latter commercializing it in the local markets. This research uses the methodology of oral history and visual anthropology with presentation of collected images on board. It is intended to emphasize the botanical and environmental aspects of the Mangabeira plant, its ecosystem, territorial, economic and historical aspects of it, also the knowledge of this extractive practice of our immaterial culture.