Collective Endeavour Research Articles

Two Years in the Making: Co-Learning Insights from the CSEAR’s Education Community of Practice

ABSTRACT As the imperative to address unsustainability grows, higher education institutions, individual academics, scholarly networks, and professional bodies are calling for sustainability to be (more prominently) embedded in curricula. Over the past 30 years, a strong body of work has been published related to social and environmental accounting education such as textbooks, academic articles, and teaching cases. Yet, the individual and collective endeavours scholars undertake to develop and embed social and environmental accounting education within their respective institutional contexts often remain invisible. Insights may be gleaned thanks to corridor conversations, informal networks, one-off workshops, or panel discussions. To further strengthen capacity to undertake such education, a community of practice approach might help connecting individuals and sharing experiences. This commentary outlines the aims of the CSEAR Education of Community of Practice, the process of establishing and running this community, and offers preliminary reflections following the first two years of its existence. Finally, we consider the next steps in the development of this initiative as means to enhance collective efforts to mobilize social and environmental accounting education to enable a more sustainable society.

What repoliticisation means and requires: Creating the climate for disagreement

This paper makes a conceptual distinction between repoliticisation and politicisation and evaluates what this means for post-foundational political geography and its collective endeavour of achieving a more egalitarian future. Post-foundational political geography is being consolidated as a distinct disciplinary subfield. Within the existing body of literature, significant attention has been directed towards depoliticisation and post-politicisation, but repoliticisation is yet to amass the same critical attention. While literature nonetheless considering repoliticisation treats it as almost synonymous with politicisation, in this paper, I argue repoliticisation is more specifically about enacting, or opening the door to, politicisations. To illustrate the case, I draw upon (auto)ethnographic, scholar-activist work, operating as a carbon accountant for the City of Manchester, UK, as part of a wider project evaluating the role experts (could) play in restricting and enabling political change. Taking post-foundational political geography's insistence that expert, technocratic modes of governance depoliticise seriously, and in mobilising this distinction between repoliticisation and politicisation, I explore what existing subjects like accountants can do to repoliticise. Doing so illustrates how repoliticisations could be triggered from within existing orders of politics and demonstrates how repoliticisation and politicisation are overlapping, related, yet distinct, concepts.

A Guideline Enabling Knowledge Managers to Communicate Better with Business Managers

Aligning Knowledge Management (KM) with overarching business strategies is considered as important for organizational success and sustainability. But this crucial element is often missing in the implementation and operation of KM. This paper explores the concept of "business alignment" within the context of KM, elaborating its critical role in enhancing collaboration, minimizing errors, and supporting optimal outcomes across the enterprise. We suggest a comprehensive definition of KM alignment, where KM activities are strategically integrated with business objectives, ensuring visible and measurable benefits to employees and executives. The research addresses key questions such as what constitutes an organization and how KM can facilitate its survival and growth. An organization is not merely a standalone entity but a collective endeavor that thrives on managing internal and external relationships. We argue that the effective alignment of KM with business strategies ensures that these relationships are optimized, thereby enhancing organizational resilience and adaptability. This holistic perspective visualizes the interconnected nature of businesses and highlights the essential role of KM. Our approach involves a systematic examination of business relationships and their alignment with KM practices. We analyze one case study from the construction industry, illustrating how strategic KM initiatives contribute to their sustained success. Additionally, we propose a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) derived from real-world scenarios, linking them to specific business needs and challenges. These KPIs serve as a roadmap for C-level managers, guiding them in integrating KM into their strategic frameworks. The findings underscore the value of KM in mitigating risks associated with poor relationship management. We provide a process and actionable insights for business leaders on leveraging KM to foster innovation, streamline processes, and enhance overall performance. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for implementing KM solutions tailored to different organizational maturity levels and industry contexts.

Navigating new waters: China's strategic responses to the Indo-Pacific economic framework for prosperity

ABSTRACT The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) represents a significant pivot in the economic and strategic orientations of the Indo-Pacific region, reflecting a collective endeavor to foster economic integration, sustainability, and security among its member states. This shift has profound implications for China, a main regional power with vested interests across the economic, political, and security spectrums. This paper delves into the multifaceted options available to China in response to the IPEF, analysing the strategic, economic, and diplomatic avenues Beijing might pursue to safeguard its interests and maintain its regional presence. Through a comprehensive examination of official statements, policy adjustments, and strategic engagements, the paper outlines China's nuanced approach towards the IPEF, ranging from competitive economic policies and regional partnerships to diplomatic overtures aimed at reshaping the narrative around regional cooperation and development. By dissecting these strategies, the paper sheds light on the evolving dynamics of regional power play, offering insights into how China navigates the challenges and opportunities posed by the IPEF. The analysis concludes with a discussion on the potential ramifications of China's strategies for the regional order, suggesting pathways for future research and policy considerations.

Advancing Graduate Leadership Education for Institutional Alignment

Building a future pipeline of leaders in higher education remains a topic of importance given the challenges and pressures facing colleges and universities. The current article introduces one initiative dedicated to graduate leadership education, the PreDoctoral Leadership Development Academy at Rutgers University, and highlights points of connection to other similar national programs. In response to the symposium theme, we advance three linkages to the power of place, including an emphasis on graduate leadership education as (1) a shared or collective endeavor, (2) a reflection of institutional values, and (3) a laboratory for analyzing organization‐specific challenges and opportunities.

Using Of Artificial Intelligence In The Cultural And Creative Industries: A Public Administration Perspective

The purpose of this article is to explore the specific aspects of implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in the cultural and creative industries from a public administration perspective. The article analyses the main opportunities and directions for incorporating AI into public management for the development of these sectors in Ukraine. It highlights that digital transformation, facilitated by AI technologies, requires adherence to structural-functional, informational-communicative, and organizational-technological approaches. These approaches ensure decentralization, modernization of information infrastructure, and optimization of management processes. The article outlines the prospects and directions for AI integration into public administration in the cultural and creative sectors in Ukraine. It identifies the main benefits of AI, such as the ability to analyse large volumes of data, predict trends, automate routine processes, and support informed decision-making. These benefits can enhance the quality and accessibility of cultural products and create new channels and consumption models. This includes applications like the digitization of cultural heritage, management of cultural institutions, and the creation of personalized experiences for visitors. The article also identifies potential risks associated with implementing AI in public administration for the cultural and creative industries in Ukraine. These risks include issues related to copyright protection, ethics, and transparency in decision-making. Despite the significant potential, the integration of AI in public administration is still in its early stages. It faces numerous challenges, such as a lack of clear methodological approaches and practical tools, as well as risks related to privacy, algorithm transparency, and employment impacts. The article emphasizes that using AI in creating creative products raises important considerations regarding the value-based foundations of the cultural and creative sectors. It transforms creativity from an individual to a collective endeavor, where the role of machine systems becomes comparable to that of humans. Additionally, the article proposes a refined definition of «creative industries» in Ukrainian legislation, considering the specificities of creating creative products with AI.

Challenging assumptions: "unveiling meritocracy's reality in neurosurgery".

Meritocracy, a concept revered as the cornerstone of fairness and equal opportunity, is critically examined in the context of neurosurgery. This article challenges the notion that success in this demanding field is solely determined by individual abilities and effort. It reveals that factors such as background, gender, and socioeconomic status significantly influence one's career trajectory. By investigating how these systemic barriers impact admissions to neurosurgical training programs and professional advancement, the paper underscores the complexity of meritocracy in neurosurgery, suggesting that the meritocratic ideal is more nuanced and influenced by external variables than commonly believed. Certain universities deemed elite offer a curriculum divergent from that of their counterparts in low and middle-income countries. Students at these "elite" institutions gain exposure to new technologies and research incentives, which brings us to the realm of research. Remarkably, 75% of articles originating from developed nations account for just 25% of traumatic brain injury cases. This disparity highlights a significant research imbalance, and the common refrain underscores the need to bolster research capabilities in low-income countries. For neurosurgeons in the developing world, engaging in research often becomes a luxury due to multifaceted challenges. Financial barriers, including publication costs and paywalls for accessing articles, pose significant hurdles. Comparing salaries between countries underscores the glaring divide according to "Neurosurgeon Salary" in 2024. Neurosurgeons in the United States receive a median salary of $412,000 dollars per year, compared to $13,200 dollars in Latin America, as of June 2023. Given such incongruities, the prospect of even attending conferences or workshops abroad remains difficult for neurosurgeons from developing nations. Research isn't cast aside due to a lack of interest but due to resource limitations. The present landscape demands reconsideration. We underscore the journey towards a more inclusive and equitable future in neurosurgery as not just a goal, but a dynamic process fuelled by resilience, collaboration, and a commitment to diversity. The narrative promotes a collective endeavour to dismantle barriers and embrace innovation, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, cross-institutional collaboration, and the amplification of underrepresented voices.

“The Art of Producing Something with the Capabilities of the Other”: Love and Pleasure, Editorship, Colleagueship, and Friendship

Jack Amariglio was the founding editor of Rethinking MARXISM (as it was then typographically rendered) in 1988. He held the post for nine years, followed by many more years on the editorial board. During his nine years of editorship, nothing appeared in RM under Jack’s name alone. His work was deeply embedded in a collective endeavor and can only be understood in relation to the others in the collective; at the same time, Jack’s work was an attractive force that did much to hold the collective together. Simultaneously, and for an additional two decades beyond his editorship of RM, Jack was a member of the Merrimack College faculty. In both of these roles, Jack was an exemplar of a claim from an early issue of RM. The editors’ introduction in volume 1, number 2, invited readers to quote the Herr Keuner stories by Bertolt Brecht, newly translated by Lee Baxandall: “Love,” wrote Brecht-as-Keuner, “is the art of producing something with the capabilities of the other.” This sort of love has been Jack’s work.

Cooperation of the School With the Family and the Local Community – Selected Aspects

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The article describes the conditions, assumptions and benefits regarding the process of cooperation of the school with the family and the local community in the context of selected educational aspects. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research questions were as follows: for what purpose should the school cooperate with the family and the local community, and what are the conditions for and the benefits of this cooperation? Analysis of scientific literature and analysis of existing data was used. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: Referring to scientific studies, the key concepts for the analysis were defined descriptively and the meaning and conditions of multi‑stakeholder school cooperation were characterized in view of contemporary human needs in the context of lifelong education. RESEARCH RESULTS: The analysis shows that school is one of the most important social institutions to promote the ideas of continuous learning and the value of education. It provides education for knowledge society. The quality of education depends on the school’s openness to the family and community. Building a culture of cooperation requires partnership and involvement of everyone, an activity based on dialogue, shared goals and values and mutual benefits. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: Education is not an individual activity, but a collective endeavor, and the changes in civilization generate new challenges in this area, so multi‑stakeholder cooperation of the school, family and local community is necessary, based on the identification of resources, needs and social capital of the actors, in order to meet the intellectual and moral challenges. Educational leaders – the school principal and teachers – play a key role here.

Transformation of national identity in the context of globalization

In thearticle a comprehensive analysis of the intricate transformations occurring in human society during the era of globalizationwas presented. These changes, characterized by widespread integration globally, encompass socio-philosophical, political, and cultural dimensions. The evolving demands of globalization have brought about substantial shifts in the fields of culture, politics, religion, economy, and various scientific disciplines within the country. Given that transformations are occurring concurrently in multiple areas, pinpointing the root of these changes poses a considerable challenge. It necessitates efforts to anticipate the subsequent consequences of this multifaceted process.Over the next two decades, globalization is anticipated to rapidly advance worldwide. Widely acknowledged as a science addressing new, large-scale challenges for humanity, globalization is an ongoing process that is yet to reach its culmination. This process signifies a collective endeavor to formulate a unified human culture across all countries globally. Consequently, culture and national identity have swiftly succumbed to this transformative process, losing their distinctive and valuable original states.As a result, the scope of this cultural-social phenomenon extends beyond the confines of individual nations, peoples, cultures, civilizations, or continents; it manifests itself on a global scale. Hence, the pressing question emerges in the era of globalization: can we effectively preserve our country, culture, language, values, and national identity? Research has been conducted to delve into this challenging inquiry.

Lengua de Signos Española (LSE) y léxico especializado de las peluquerías. Análisis y propuestas de mejora

This work aims to share the process developed to determine the lexical availability in lexicographic materials of Spanish Sign Language (LSE) for 47 concepts within a specialized field of knowledge: hairdressing. Sign languages, such as LSE in our case, encounter the ongoing necessity, akin to oral languages, of devising novel lexical entities for those concepts devoid of them. To accomplish this, languages have lexical creation mechanisms. Once the search, analysis and discussion process designed for this study was completed, it is determined that LSE dictionaries do not include a Sign for 71.1 % of the concepts examined. Nonetheless, as a result of this study, we present an audiovisual material that captures, in LSE, the 47 Spanish words examined. This outcome owes its realization to the collective endeavor of hairdressing professionals, Deaf individuals, LSE interpreters, and hearing individuals endowed with profound understanding of LSE and the procedures entailed in creating novel Signs. Consequently, it is demonstrated that LSE is a living and rich language capable of addressing any communication needs, regardless of the specialization of the field.

ANALYZING AND FORECASTING CO2 EMISSIONS IN THE ALUMINUM SECTOR USING ARIMA MODEL

The urgent and pressing challenge posed by global climate change underscores the critical need for immediate and decisive action, particularly in the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to facilitate a trajectory towards sustainability. The significance of the aluminium industry, characterized by its notable carbon footprint, accentuates the importance of conducting comprehensive and environmentally conscious analyses within this sector. Heightened environmental apprehensions surrounding aluminium production necessitate the development of effective approaches for emission forecast. The primary aim of the article is to elucidate the present situation and future predictions of carbon emissions within the global aluminium industry, particularly in the context of escalating concerns regarding global climate security. The research concluded that there will be a decrease in CO2 emissions within the aluminium industry in the future as a result. Through meticulous assessments and exhaustive forecasts of CO2 emissions across the global aluminium industrial chain system, this study employed the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model to scrutinize data spanning from 2005 to 2030. By furnishing valuable insights into prospective emission patterns and providing guidance for the formulation of sustainable policy measures, this research assumes a pivotal role in shaping data-driven strategies aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of aluminum production. Consequently, it contributes significantly to the collective endeavor to combat climate change and foster a more resilient and sustainable future for humanity.

It’s Not All About the Self: Exploring the Interplay Between Self-leadership and the Social Work Environment

ABSTRACT Self-leadership has traditionally been positioned as an individual-level phenomenon, putting strong emphasis on individuals’ responsibility to influence themselves in order to achieve positive outcomes. However, this perspective may oversee that individuals are embedded in a social system, and that self-leadership may be best achieved as a collective endeavour that involves the individual and their interaction with the social environment. The present research thus aims to understand how individuals and their social environment at work (i.e. managers, co-workers) play together in order to enable self-leadership. The question was addressed using an inductive coding approach to qualitative data that stem from 73 semi-structured interviews with job newcomers from one organization in Germany. The findings showed that newcomers’ self-led behaviour could be enabled by two key aspects of their social environment (i.e. individualized support for learning; team members acting as partners), which shaped and were shaped by newcomers’ internal process of becoming aware of their task and relations-oriented contributions at work. Overall, our findings point to the role that the social environment plays for self-leadership. We discuss the implications for self-leadership theory. MAD statement Self-leadership is of increasing importance in today’s complex and rapidly changing work environment. As individuals do not operate in a social vacuum, but are constantly impacted by and are impacting their social environment themselves, it is important to explore how an individual’s social environment at work (i.e. their leaders and co-workers) can encourage individual self-leadership. Based on qualitative interviews, we describe the interplay between job newcomer’s perceptions of leader and co-worker behaviour, their internal awareness processes, and self-led behaviour. Thereby, we provide specific aspects of how leaders and co-workers can encourage individual self-leadership at work.

THE OPENING OF HISTORICAL FUTURES*

ABSTRACTWith a touch of irony, the project‐closing piece of the “Historical Futures” collective research endeavor pulls together the threads of its four years of explorative work by showcasing an opening of historical futures. Against the persisting myth of the closure of the future in contemporary societies, it claims that, as long as the future remains contested by virtue of the multiplicity of historical futures that societal practices and discourses entail or advocate, there can be no closure of the future. In support of this claim, the project‐closing piece outlines the reasons why the future is more radically open than ever and surveys the findings of the project contributions with the frame provided by the contemporary opening of historical futures.

Shaping global health promotion: a comprehensive analysis of the 10 Global Conferences on Health Promotion Conferences (1986‒2021)

ObjectiveThis study analyzed how the 10 Global Conferences on Health Promotion have played a significant role in shaping and promoting a worldwide consensus and actions on health promotion, effectively addressing diverse health challenges that evolved over different periods. MethodsThe textual analysis method was used in this study and text encoding was conducted to systematically examine the declarations and reports presented by the 10 Global Conferences on Health Promotion held during 1986‒2021. We summarized the themes and key achievements, and key vocabulary in the conference declarations was extracted and analyzed to construct the global health promotion consensus and actions. ResultsThe fundamental principles of the conferences are to foster consensus and initiate actions in the realm of health promotion on a global scale. The primary purpose and goal are to promote health from regional to global. Significantly, our findings highlight a transition in the primary actors driving health promotion. It underscores a shift in health promotion from being driven primarily by organizations like the World Health Organization, governments, and international bodies, to a more inclusive approach involving non-governmental organizations and the general public. This development implies that health promotion has evolved into a collective global endeavor, demanding the proactive involvement of various stakeholders, and forging new alliances in public health. Meanwhile, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further shaped the landscape of health promotion, underscoring the need for intensified focus on areas including disease prevention, health education, and the integration of digital health technologies, and emphasizing the importance of a multidimensional, responsive approach in public health initiatives. ConclusionsSustained collaboration and innovative strategies are pivotal to advancing health promotion globally. Countries, together with public and private entities, should intensify cooperation. Multisectoral collaboration among partners such as healthcare, education, social security, and the industry is vital for health promotion and achieving global health goals.

Enabling futures? Disability and sociology of futures

Much envisaging of the future is inherently ableist. Euro-American cultural imaginaries traditionally have emphasised the narrative of medical progress, assuming the end of impairment. Disability is a frequent trope for and in dystopias, whereas more positive or progressive futures ignore the presence and aspirations of disabled people who are frequently excluded from individual and collective endeavours to articulate and shape the future. They are presumed to be in effect ‘futureless’, lacking a future of value, leaving an unoccupied space for existing inequalities and privileges to flourish. This paper brings disability studies and sociology of futures into dialogue and makes the case for creating crip space(s) within sociologies of the future. Foregrounding disability can trouble and enrich sociological engagements with futurity, while analytic perspectives from sociology of futures can inform scholarship in disability studies.

The Impact of AI in Sustainable Development Goal Implementation: A Delphi Study

Artificial intelligence emerges as a powerful catalyst poised to reshape the global sustainability landscape by facilitating the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This comprehensive Delphi study meticulously probes the insights of domain experts, shedding light on the strategic utilization of AI to advance these critical sustainability objectives. Employing rigorous statistical techniques, encompassing measures of central tendency and interquartile deviation, this research scrutinizes consensus dynamics among experts and elucidates potential variations in their viewpoints. The findings resoundingly convey experts’ collective positive perspective regarding AI’s pivotal role in propelling the SDGs forward. Through two iterative rounds of extensive discussions, a compelling consensus crystallizes—AI indeed exerts an overall positive impact, exemplified by a robust mean score of 78.8%. Intriguingly, distinct SDGs manifest varied propensities toward AI intervention, with Goals 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, and 15 basking in the radiance of highly positive impacts. Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, and 12 exhibit positive impact scores, indicating a juncture ripe for positive advancements. Meanwhile, Goal 16 and Goal 17 languish with neutral scores, signifying a juncture demanding nuanced deliberations about AI’s impact on peace, justice, and strong institutions as well as on partnerships for the goals, respectively. This paper underscores AI as a formidable instrument poised to address humanity’s most pressing challenges while harmonizing seamlessly with the overarching SDG objectives. It gracefully dovetails into established practices across pivotal domains such as health, education, and resilient infrastructures, amplifying the collective global endeavor to navigate the path toward a more sustainable future.

‘All for one and one for all?’ Business angel groups as collective action

Angel investing has been transformed over the past two decades into a collective endeavour as angels have increasingly organised themselves into professionally-managed angel groups. A key role of the manager, typically termed the gatekeeper, is to undertake the initial screening of investment opportunities that the group attracts. We examine this activity through the lens of collective action using principal-agent theory to understand whether the gatekeeper (agent) acts in the best interests of the members (principal). Our study examines the gatekeeper’s approach to initial screening. Two different data gathering techniques were used to collect evidence from 21 gatekeepers representing 19 angel groups. First, verbal protocol analysis, which involved gatekeepers ‘thinking out loud’ as they undertook the initial screening of a potential funding opportunity, indicated that the majority did consider the shared interests of the members of the group, although in many cases this comprised only a small proportion of their overall comments. This could indicate the potential for moral hazard; however, the interview questions demonstrate that the gatekeepers focus on actions which increase the benefits for members. This requires that gatekeepers have a strong social relationship with group members to match their investment preferences with the types of investment opportunities that they ‘screen in’.

Structures of Oppression or Inclusion: What Systemic Factors Impact Inclusion in Disability and Rehabilitation Research?

This manuscript considers the drivers towards inclusive research in the field of disability and rehabilitation; including some of the tools and frameworks that may support its realisation. We, a group of researchers engaged in rehabilitation research from lived experience and ‘conventional’ (non-lived experience) positions, reflect on our collective endeavours to bring about inclusion in research and specify the systemic factors constraining inclusion in research. We conclude by asking the following: how might we reimagine systems where the mechanisms of research production are in the hands of those impacted by the research, and where are intersectionalities both sought and valued?

HS2: Delivering a climate change adapted and resilient railway

The impacts of climate change are already evident. Like all infrastructure, High Speed Two (HS2) needs to be climate resilient so it can function in a future where there will be warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, and more extreme weather. Without resilience measures, climate change could affect HS2 through an increased construction programme, network performance impacts and service delays with associated costs, as well as affecting staff and passengers. The policy for HS2 is to build a ‘climate-resilient railway’, taking part in the collective endeavour to combat climate change by setting ambitious carbon dioxide reduction targets for HS2’s overall operations to be net zero from 2035 and embedding adaptation measures to increase resilience to climate change. HS2 is one of the first projects to take a holistic approach to incorporating climate change into planning, design and construction. Learning from the approach used for HS2 is set out in this article. The key outputs of this paper are descriptions of how climate resilience thinking has been embedded into all project stages, how bespoke and innovative processes have fed into industry-leading best practice, reporting and guidance, and examples of climate-resilient design solutions. It is vital to integrate climate resilience and adaptation into infrastructure projects now to ensure infrastructure is prepared for our changing climate.