Contemporary Work Research Articles

Exploring representations of human resource management as moral dirty work: A film study

AbstractIt has been claimed that the HR “profession” suffers from a chronic shortage of social legitimacy. In this article, we advance the idea that HR is also to some extent subject to public stigmatization for being immoral. In other words, we maintain that certain aspects of contemporary HR work can be conceptualized as morally dirty work. We provide empirical support for this contention by analyzing a set of 28 films portraying HR practitioners at work. The research results comprise both task‐related and method‐related filmic representations of HR work as immoral, thus furnishing a comprehensive and nuanced picture of the moral issues that can affect the HR profession. Furthermore, the results show that some of the HR characters analyzed—typically those who hold a role as (co‐)protagonists in the story—realize the immorality affecting their work and decide to distance themselves from it by either exiting the role, trying to reform it, or openly raising resistance against their employer. These research results suggest the need to integrate dirty work scholarship into study of the HR profession, while they provide important indications in terms of future HR research, practice and education.

Exploring Talent Management Practices and Corporate Social Responsibility in Finnish Companies

AbstractThe contemporary work landscape is characterized by rapid change and many evolving challenges. Therefore, companies are in increasing need for acquiring fresh knowledge and skills and human capital is acknowledged being a crucial asset for success in business world. The challenge persists in attracting, retaining and managing skilled employees. Though, the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in talent management has been recognized, still there remains a gap in understanding how talent management is integrated into CSR of companies, particularly at the multilevel investigation level. A directed content analysis method was employed on CSR reports of 25 major Finnish companies to explore key talent management practices at normative, strategic, and operational levels, as well as the integration of talent management components into CSR reports. Normative values such as diversity, equity, and inclusion were consistently emphasized in the reports. However, the translation of these values into practical implementation often yielded abstract strategic principles rather than clearly defined operational practices. The companies have placed over reliance on standardized reporting methods rather than providing comprehensive insights into talent management practices.

Prevalence of Presenteeism, And Multitasking and Polychronicity in the Contemporary Work Environment: Groundwork for Teacher Needs-Based Professional Mentoring Framework

Prevalence of Presenteeism, And Multitasking and Polychronicity in the Contemporary Work Environment: Groundwork for Teacher Needs-Based Professional Mentoring Framework

Exploring Gender Dynamics in Indian English Poetry: A Feminist Literary Study

This research paper offers an extensive exploration of gender dynamics within Indian English poetry. The study adopts a chronological approach, tracing the evolution of gender portrayal from the early to the contemporary phase. The research objectives are to identify recurring themes and narratives related to gender, to compare these findings with existing literature, and to analyze their broader implications. The methodology involves a thematic analysis of selected poems, drawing from various literary periods. The key findings reveal a transformative shift in gender portrayal, from stereotypical depictions in early poetry to nuanced narratives in contemporary works. The study identifies specific themes such as the emerging female voice, exploration of gender identity and intersectionality, evolving portrayal of masculinity, and the depiction of female empowerment and feminine spaces. The findings also fill gaps in the existing literature by identifying new themes such as caste and gender intersectionality and queer narratives. The research has significant implications for understanding the evolution of gender portrayal and feminist discourse within Indian English poetry. It also offers a richer understanding of the gender dynamics within the South Asian context, thereby contributing to the fields of literary studies, gender studies, and feminist theory.

Placing community at the heart of community sport development: introducing the community sport development framework (CSDF)

It is widely accepted that the primary purpose of community sport development (CSD) is to increase participation rates in sport and build capacity to facilitate sporting opportunities. However, in England, Government funding for community sport has often been legitimised on the basis that it can also address a range of broader policy concerns. Despite this, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the precise boundaries of CSD, which has led to a variety of frameworks being presented to conceptualise and illustrate how CSD delivery might best occur. The aim of this paper is to reconceptualise CSD by proposing a model that places community at the heart of efforts to utilise sport to address wider social concerns. Our aim is to highlight the social, political, and economic interconnections that impact contemporary CSD work, and to underline the importance of maintaining a central focus on communities as the basis for CSD.

Narratives of a Nation: Iraqi Literature in the Post-2003 Era

This review study offers developments of post-2003 Iraqi literature towards the concept of national identity while relieving socio-political turmoil. As such, the review study notices the synthesis of different scholarly approaches emphasizing themes and narrative shifts in contemporary works of Iraqi fiction. In such a context, diasporic literature and ethno-religious identity by Yasmeen Hanoosh in 2019 are differed from Al-Musawi in 2020 and Abbas in 2020 while discussing trauma and displacement both within Iraq and its diaspora. Khudayir 2017 looks at narrative techniques since the year 2003, Ali 2019 looks at literature as a preserving medium of the national identity from foreign influence, Ghareeb 2018 is more concerned with the cultural memory, and Abbas 2020 with displacement. Generally, it is apparent that Iraqi literature transforms from the pre-2003 dominant secular credentials to diversification in the marginalised identities, in addition to the role played by diasporic writers who brought about changes to what previously was a single-mode narrative. In such a nuanced analysis, it allows the representation of the way in which most of those themes are narrated by Iraqi authors-trauma, resilience, identity : contemporary Iraqi fiction is full of a life and transformative potential in building up cultural resilience and social justice.

How does response to work communication impact employees’ collaborative performance? A view of the social connectivity paradox

Contemporary digital work practices increasingly necessitate prompt responses by employees to work-related communication. The impact of employees’ response behavior to work communication (RBWC) on collaborative performance remains underexplored. To address this gap, we propose a theoretical model integrating the theories of person-environment fit, social support, and conservation of resources. RBWC is conceptualized as the degree of communication response (in)congruence, representing the (mis)fit between rapid response expectations and the employee's ability to respond rapidly. We investigate the diverse effects of various states of response congruence on collaborative performance, mediated by the social connectivity paradox manifested as social support and social overload, while grounding this work on social support theory. The results from surveying 268 professionals and employing polynomial regression and surface response analysis demonstrate that different response congruence states significantly influence the social connectivity paradox and subsequently impact collaborative performance. Social support mediates the relationship between response congruence and collaborative performance, while social overload mediates the linear association between response ability and collaborative performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Imagining the End of Official Social Work: Thinking Beyond the Possible and Probable

Abstract This article seeks to critically engage Chris Maylea’s 2020 provocative call to end official social work by suggesting that the debate it sparked has the potential to expand the contemporary social work discourse. This article explores the complexities and potential dangers of Maylea’s radical call, particularly its susceptibility to co-option by neo-conservative agendas. Whilst the idea of calling for the end of official social work may seem absurd, the article maintains that it might serve as an intellectual tool to overcome the ‘imaginary inertia’ that arguably plagues discussions about reforming the profession. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concept of ‘episteme’ and Gaston Bachelard’s ‘categories of the real’, it suggests that Maylea’s call for abolition challenges the established boundaries of what is considered possible and probable in the critical social work discourse. This might open new avenues that might otherwise remain invisible to reimagine the future of the profession. Consequently, it is posited that imagining the end of official social work may align with and expand opposing calls for reformation of the profession.

A short review on deciphering Vyadhikshamatva: insights from HLA-B27-ankylosing spondylitis relation.

Various aspects of the concept of Vyadhikshamatva have been thoroughly explored, highlighting its profound significance in resisting disease manifestation, particularly in the context of Ankylosing spondylitis. Investigated the relationship between HLA-B27 and Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by examining current knowledge and hypotheses Furthermore, efforts were made to portray the influence of prakruti (constitution) and balam (strength) on disease manifestation and progression. Ayurvedic literature along with contemporary research works was analyzed for correlating various aspects like vyadhikshamatva,oja (The final essence of all body elements), and balam along with their influence on the defensive mechanism of the body. A thorough literature search was conducted to explore the strong association between HLA-B27 and AS by examining various hypotheses like the Arthritogenic peptide hypothesis, the Misfolding hypothesis, the Surface Homodimer hypothesis, and the β2 microglobulin hypothesis that attempts to explain the pathogenic role of HLA-B27 in AS. Alongside classical Ayurvedic texts, databases like PubMed and Scopus were searched using keywords such as Immunity, Ankylosing spondylitis, Vyadhikshamatva, HLA-B27, Balam, and Autoimmune disorder with the help of Boolean operators. The review highlighted the critical role of Vyadhikshamatva in disease prevention, particularly in influencing the manifestation of conditions like AS despite genetic predisposition (HLA-B27). Further, the understanding of the Ayurvedic concepts can clearly explain the conflict that has arisen in the determination of the positive HLAB27 gene in Ankylosing Spondylitis as a definite diagnosing criteria. This comprehensive understanding will uplift the need for personalized medicine in disease management. Further research must be needed to understand the interaction between genetic factors (HLAb27), individual constitution, and their vyadikshamatva.

A MeanShift-guided oversampling with self-adaptive sizes for imbalanced data classification

The imbalanced data classification has gained popularity in machine learning research domain due to its prevalence in numerous applications and its difficulty. However, the majority of contemporary work primarily focuses on addressing between-class imbalance issues. Previous researches have shown that combined with other elements, such as within-class imbalance, small sample size and the presence of small disjuncts, the imbalanced data significantly increase the difficulties for the traditional classifiers to learn. Therefore, we propose a novel MeanShift-guided oversampling with self-adaptive sizes for imbalanced data classification. The proposed MeanShift-guided oversampling technique can simultaneously consider the distribution of minority class and majority class within the sphere with the current minority instance as its center, which can favor addressing small sample size and avoiding overlapping issues often caused by the nearest neighbor (NN)-based oversampling techniques. The incorporation of random vector and flexible cut-off mechanism for vector length can enhance the diversity among the generated synthetic minority instances and avoid overlapping, which makes it suitable for small sample size and small disjuncts problems. To address between-class and within-class imbalance issues, we also introduce a self-adaptive sizes assignment strategy for each minority instance to be oversampled, where the assigned size is inversely proportional to its density and its distance from the majority class. In addition to eliminating within-class imbalance, the strategy can ensure that the informative border minority instances have more opportunities to be oversampled, thus improving classification performance. Extensive experimental results on some datasets with different distributions and imbalance ratios show the proposed algorithm outperforms other compared ones with significant difference.

Avatars and organizational knowledge sharing

We study how organizational knowledge sharing behavior is affected by avatar use during computer-mediated communication (CMC) with an unknown co-worker. Experimental results from two ethnically different samples provide theory-consistent evidence that outgroup discrimination—manifested as refusal to share knowledge—can get magnified in the ‘virtual world’ when avatars are used for self-representation. In supplemental analysis, we use eye-tracking data to provide preliminary evidence for behavioral differences—in terms of gaze fixation—when knowledge sharing requests accompanied by avatar profiles as opposed to photo profiles are processed and further explore how individuals' choice of using avatars vs. photographs for their online profile affects their co-workers' perception. Our study contributes to understanding cooperative organizational behavior in the virtual space. Managing cooperative organizational behavior in the virtual space is becoming increasingly important as digital work further penetrates contemporary work arrangements.

Experimentally validated predictive PI-PD control strategy for delay-dominant chemical processes

Controlling delay dominant chemical processes is a challenging control problem. Hence, a new method for designing a Smith predictor (SP)-based proportional-integral proportional-derivative (PI-PD) control strategy is proposed in this study. The inner-loop PD parameters are determined using the phase margin (PM) and maximum sensitivity (Ms) specifications. To determine the outer-loop PI parameters, the moment matching technique is augmented with maximum sensitivity considerations. The performance and robustness of this design is compared with that of its contemporaries using four benchmark chemical process models including that of a stirred tank reactor and a heat exchanger. The resilience of this control strategy amid uncertainties in process parameters is studied and performance improvement achieved over contemporary works is quantified. Finally, the proposed design is also experimentally validated on a two-tank level control loop.

Synthesis of Fused [1,2,3]-Triazoloheteroarenes via Intramolecular Azo Annulation of N-Tosylhydrazones Catalyzed by 1,8-Diaza-bicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene.

The structural diversity of triazoloheteroarenes render this moiety an attractive synthon for drug discovery, C-H functionalization, and complexant design for minor actinide separations. While contemporary work has demonstrated the capacity to leverage downstream functional group interconversion of the triazolopyridine, a broadly applicable method tolerant of diverse heteroaryl constructs and pendant functionality to obtain triazoloheteroarenes remains under reported. In this work, the serendipitous discovery of a metal, azide, and oxidant free transformation of various heteroaryl N-tosylhydrazones of carbaldehydes and ketones to the corresponding [1,2,3]-triazoloheteroarene via intramolecular azo annulation using a substoichiometric amount of 1,8-diaza-bicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene is described. These results substantively improve upon previous approaches offering efficient access to the described heterocycles. Discovery of reaction conditions, method optimization, complexant, pyridine, and heteroarene substrate scope, as well as relevant scale-up reactions are reported herein.

Contemporary Magic’s Reflection of Religion in Garth Nix's Sabriel

Since the late nineteenth century, with the formalization of religious studies as an academic discipline, the notion of "magic" has assumed a pivotal role in delineating the outlines of religion. Eminent scholars in these fields have engaged in rigorous debates concerning the intricate interplay between magic and religion. Nevertheless, endeavors to establish precise distinctions between these domains have proven to be remarkably unpredictable, subject to persistent scrutiny and deconstruction. The concept of magic has obstinately retained its elusive and enigmatic character. This paper aims at analyzing Garth Nix’s Sabriel as a contemporary work of fantasy, published in 1995. Nix’s intention to incorporate religious elements into the novel was to reflect on the world people live in by including a coherent magical system. He was able to step beyond the novel’s direct meaning to convey what his symbolic elements connote. In this paper, the main characteristics of high fantasy are presented and thoroughly explained. The magical system in the novel takes the spotlight with a descriptive and analytic approach tackling its significance and specifications with regards to the religious roots that it stems from. The religious elements including baptism, sacrifice, Dante’s inferno and the gates of death, bells, and charter stones are also introduced with their defining qualifications compared to the elements in Sabriel.

Examining the Contemporary Worker and the Workplace From a Leadership-as-Practice Perspective: A HRD Opportunity

In this article the author uses the lens of leadership-as-practice (L-A-P) to analyze the concerns of the worker in the contemporary workplace and proposes both new insights and potential remediations through a post-humanistic leadership centered on practice. L-A-P is designed to probe underneath the accepted or “natural” human resource practices to uncover the power dynamics in the workplace that have led to challenges to the worker in the form of burnout, lack of autonomy, and detachment. After introducing the practice approach to the workplace, the paper interrogates the potential value of leadership being viewed as a collaborative agency constituting changes in the trajectory of prefigured work practices that can have affirmative consequences via its ethical and critical approach to human resource development.

A Time When Bubbles Burst

An expanding body of work demonstrates that American food writing is extending its reach beyond pleasure and abundance to address systemic problems. It has gradually moved away from the practice of assigning status and value to certain foodways, a task predominantly performed by food authorities who did not reflect diverse backgrounds. Instead, recent food journalism engages in discussions regarding class, race, colonialism, ableism, weight stigma, labor rights, and immigration policies, among other pertinent social and political issues. Self-scrutiny is one of its distinguishing features. Much of this change was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which created the circumstances in which food writing became more self-reflexive and more likely to take a political stance. The central aim of this article is to center writings on restaurants to explore key insights from chefs and authors who explicitly reorient their work toward social justice. This shift can be identified in the Best American Food Writing series (2020–2021) and is supported by other contemporary works that discuss food and sociopolitical issues with an emphasis on the restaurant critic’s positionality. The article closes with a consideration of the long-term impact of the main reckoning that occurred in 2020.

The Russian priority in development of general intravenous anesthesia (Report II)

The article considers evaluation of works of colleagues and contemporaries of N. P. Kravkov, the creator of "Russian narcosis" with hedonal. The hidden and explicit, objective and subjective factors that prevented spreading of application of discovery of Russian scientists, both in Russia and abroad, are established. The dependence of self-esteem of Russian surgeons of XIX - early XX centuries on recognition of their scientific efforts in Germany is emphasized.

Integration of Ethnic Music in Contemporary Choral Works: A Study of Chinese Musician Liu Xiaogeng

This study uses the "Analysis-Synthesis Method" to analyse Liu Xiaogeng's integration of ethnic music elements of Yi and Dai culture into contemporary choral works. The two selected choral works were analysed using a case analysis method to reveal the ingenious integration of traditional Yi and Dai musical elements and modern composition techniques. Through in-depth interviews, we deepened music experts’ evaluation of Liu Xiaogeng’s works. This study highlights Liu Xiaogeng's unique artistic language and the impact of his works on national choral music. Through this exploration, the research highlights the significance of reinterpreting national music within choral genres, promoting cultural preservation and cross-cultural understanding through creative expression. These discoveries celebrate a rich cultural heritage while enriching the global landscape of choral music, inspiring further appreciation and exploration of diverse musical traditions within the choral genre.

Innovative Approaches in Social Work Education: Exploring Strategies to Enhance Learning and Practice Preparation

This paper explores innovative approaches to teaching in social work education aimed at enhancing both learning outcomes and practice preparation. Drawing upon a review of current literature and best practices in pedagogy, this study examines various strategies that have been implemented to enrich the educational experience for social work students. The article begins by outlining the challenges faced in traditional social work education models and underscores the need for creative teaching methodologies to better equip students for the complexities of contemporary social work practice. It then delves into several innovative approaches, including experiential learning techniques, technology integration, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement initiatives. Each approach is examined in terms of its potential benefits and challenges, as well as its applicability to different learning environments and student populations

Deep Learning for Plant Disease Detection and Classification: A Systematic Analysis and Review

Detection and classification of leaf and crop diseases in a traditional way is a very laborious task as it involves a significant amount of physical work, huge expert manpower, and valuable time. Automatic systems are more accurate and require less time, labor, and physical work. Artificial intelligence and deep learning-based systems can help in the rapid detection and classification of plant leaf and crop diseases as they occur and help to reduce the hostile effects of disease on food security and the economy. In this systematic and state-of-the-art review, an in-depth study was performed to find and assess the use of different deep learning methods in leaf disease detection and classification. In this study, we exhaustively reviewed contemporary research work on leaf and plant disease detection and classification using deep learning methods performed by several researchers worldwide. Various deep-learning techniques with intermediate steps, public datasets, types of diseases detected and classified, types of plants used, performance metrics used to evaluate models, and achieved results are summarized. Finally, various challenges encountered in using deep learning methods were summarized along with some guidelines that will be helpful for future researchers in this area.