Critical Incident Technique Research Articles

Exploring critical incidents technique on social justice themes with Brazilian physical education teacher-researchers

This research is qualitatively oriented and aims to analyze themes of social justice—according to the methodology proposed by the international project EduHealth—based on critical incidents in physical education classes. The incidents have been identified by six physical education teacher-researchers who produced vignettes from the situations. Three of them are Master’s students from the Postgraduate Program in Physical Education at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (PPGEF-UFRN) and three are from the Professional Postgraduate Program in Physical Education in National Network at the Federal University of Ceará (ProEF-UFC). Both universities are located in the Northeastern region of Brazil. Findings point to themes related to gender inequality, trans invisibility and/or homophobia, socioeconomic inequalities, reflective-critical issues about democracy and social inclusion, the struggle for social rights, bullying, religions and empathy, intellectual and physical disabilities, diversity, identity, and low self-esteem. A critical education based on social justice is essential in facing the analyzed situations. In conclusion, the notion of social justice can help to promote the knowledge that teacher-researchers mobilize to teach physical education’s thematic subjects in a contextualized and engaged way. This perspective helps to understand the privileges and unjust power relations present in Brazilian society, pointing out subsidies for reflection and deepening of the teaching and learning processes.

Challenges to well-being in critical care.

Paediatric critical care (PCC) is a high-pressure working environment. Staff experience high levels of burnout, symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and moral distress. To understand challenges to workplace well-being in PCC to help inform the development of staff interventions to improve and maintain well-being. The Enhanced Critical Incident Technique (ECIT) was used. ECIT encompasses semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. We identified 'critical incidents', challenges to well-being, categorized them in a meaningful way, and identified factors which helped and hindered in those moments. Fifty-three nurses and doctors from a large UK quaternary PCC unit were consented to take part. Themes generated are: Context of working in PCC, which examined staff's experiences of working in PCC generally and during COVID-19; Patient care and moral distress explored significant challenges to well-being faced by staff caring for increasingly complex and chronically ill patients; Teamwork and leadership demonstrated the importance of team-belonging and clear leadership; Changing workforce explored the impact of staffing shortages and the ageing workforce on well-being; and Satisfying basic human needs, which identified absences in basic requirements of food and rest. Staff's experiential accounts demonstrated a clear need for psychologically informed environments to enable the sharing of vulnerabilities, foster support, and maintain workplace well-being. Themes resonated with the self-determination theory and Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which outline requirements for fulfilment (self-actualization). Well-being interventions must be informed by psychological theory and evidence. Recommendations are flexible rostering, advanced communication training, psychologically-informed support, supervision/mentoring training, adequate accommodation and hot food. Investment is required to develop successful interventions to improve workplace well-being.

Dysfunctional tourism behaviors in national parks: An exploration of causes, typologies, and consequences in the case of Saharan tourism

This study explores a seldom explored area of inappropriate tourist behavior in African national parks in the Sahara through a case study to support the management and promotion of tourism activities. Using the critical incident technique, 09 frontline employees of the Tassili N'ajjer National Park in Algeria were interviewed to identify tourist behavior that deviates from generally accepted social norms. Based on the survey results, a theoretical framework consisting of seven causes, nine categories of inappropriate behaviors, and three consequence dimensions was constructed. This theoretical framework provides elements for critical discussion of the sustainability of tourism in national parks, as well as a basis for further research. The results also enrich the literature on the subject and provide a basis for the study of North-South tourism dynamics. Theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed. Managerial implicationsThis research study significantly enhances the strategies employed in the management of national parks and protected areas in several ways. Identifying incentives for Jaycustomer behaviorPoor enforcement of regulations, lack of supervision, low prices, lack of knowledge, ambiguity of experience, egocentricity (common tragedy), anonymity and ethnocentrism are the underlying motivations for inappropriate tourist behavior. Expanded Understanding of Jaycustomer BehaviorIn addition to the categories of jaycustomer behavior identified in previous studies, this research unveils tourist behaviors that have been rarely documented in the literature. These include disengagement, dishonesty, pollution, noise, and waste. Influential Situational FactorsThe study finds that the perceived legitimacy of regulations and the level of supervision are the most influential situational factors affecting jaycustomer behavior. The necessary actions include the need for solid regulation, enforced through vigilant control measures and sanctions, and the improvement of guide performance through staff education and training. Impact of Poor Assimilation and Lack of InformationThe research highlights that poor assimilation of park regulations and a lack of information about them exacerbate cognitive biases in judgment formation, shedding light on the importance of effective communication and education strategies.

Managerial coaches' enacted behaviors and the beliefs that guide them: perspectives from managers and their coachees.

Managerial coaching is considered a powerful developmental intervention in the workplace that has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. A growing base of scholarship examining the efficacy of this form of coaching has identified numerous benefits, primarily for employees receiving this form of coaching, and some limited attention has focused on benefits for managers who coach. However, an important topic related to managerial coaching that has gone under-explored is the beliefs that managers have about coaching. Since beliefs often guide behaviors, obtaining a more robust understanding of the beliefs that guide managers who serve as coaches is warranted and several scholars have called for more research on this aspect of managerial coaching. Therefore, the study reported here presents a subset of findings that relate to the coaching behaviors that managers enact along with a comprehensive understanding of their guiding beliefs. These specific findings are drawn from a larger qualitative multi-case study employing an adaptation of the critical incident technique that was designed to examine the beliefs, behaviors, and learning and development outcomes for both managers who coach and their respective coachees. This larger study obtained perspectives about these aspects of managerial coaching from both the coaches and coachees which also reflects an approach seldom taken when researching managerial coaching. Four research questions are addressed here: 1) What are the behaviors enacted by managers who coach (facilitate the learning of) their employees from the perspective of managers; 2), what are the behaviors enacted by managers who coach (facilitate the learning of) their employees from the perspective of employees; 3) What are the beliefs held by managers who coach (facilitate the learning of) their employees from the perspective of managers; and, 4) What are the beliefs held by managers who coach (facilitate the learning of) their employees from the perspective of their employees (coachees)? In addition to thick rich descriptions that illustrate these findings, implications for theory, research, and practice are also discussed.

Identification of academic teacher competencies using critical incident technique

Identification of academic teacher competencies using critical incident technique

The Influence of Closeness on Japanese-English Translation

In the evolving dynamics of cross-cultural communication, understanding the biases that play a role in language translation is crucial. This research, using the Critical Incident Technique, delved into the nuances of how bilingual Japanese individuals provide translations to non-Japanese speakers, based on the relationship between the translator and the recipient. The findings reveal a notable distinction: bilingual Japanese individuals tend to offer a more positive and intricately detailed translation for non-Japanese-speaking friends as compared to non-Japanese-speaking strangers. This behavior suggests a predominant inclination among Japanese to "protect the face" of those they share closer bonds with, by casting the original message in a more positive light or providing more comprehensive translations. This observed phenomenon not only underlines a cultural aspect of Japanese communication, which prioritizes harmony and face-saving, but also indicates a willingness among Japanese speakers to invest greater effort in the translation process for their friends. The study underscores the inherent biases that can shape Japanese to English translations based on relational closeness, thereby emphasizing the importance of understanding socio-cultural contexts in cross-linguistic interactions.

Exploring Intercultural Insights Through the Critical Incident Research Method

The Critical Incident Technique (CIT) has become a renowned approach in qualitative research, offering a systematic framework for exploring interactions, revealing human perception and conduct in different scenarios. The technique analyses significant incidents that emerge from either observations or narrations within specific contexts and helps to scrutinise thoughts, emotions, attitudes or actions. CIT uncovers cultural discrepancies within intercultural communication and has been implemented in various disciplines. Originating from aviation research, CIT has proved to be adaptable to other areas and has thus been successfully integrated into intercultural training and research. Regardless of its utility and popularity, some critics suggest it can oversimplify complexity. Nevertheless, recent publications have demonstrated the ongoing significance of CIT. These publications use linguistic approaches that broaden its horizons, encompassing narrative methodologies and multi-perspective analyses. While CIT provides significant insights, it is important to acknowledge its limitations in terms of subjectivity and generalisability. In conclusion, CIT continues to be a valuable qualitative research approach that enhances our understanding of human behaviour and experiences through the systematic analysis of key events.

Extending the job demands-resources theory beyond the work domain: narratives of Chinese senior executives

PurposeExtensive research has demonstrated the influence of job resources on mitigating the impact of high job demands on individual well-being. Still, little is known about how individuals use job resources to cope. This study advances job demands-resources (JD-R) theory by investigating the process of job resource utilization from a coping perspective.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on in-depth interviews with 32 Chinese senior executives using a Critical Incident Technique (CIT) for data collection and thematic analysis for data analysis.FindingsData analysis reveals a 2x2 matrix model of resource utilization, highlighting the relevance of internal and external job resources in coping and resource creation.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that work stress intervention should look beyond the organizational domain and assist senior executives in exploring and developing external resources for coping. Additionally, organizations should equip senior executives with sufficient support to create new job resources that effectively manage complicated job demands.Originality/valueThe results of this study extend the understanding of job resources by distinguishing internal and external job resources. It also provides a dynamic view of resource utilization, emphasizing the role of job crafting in creating adaptable job resources to meet job demands.

A Qualitative Study of Systems-Level Factors That Affect Rural Obstetric Nurses’ Work During Clinical Emergencies

Maternal morbidity and mortality is rising in the United States. Previous studies focus on patient attributes, and most of the national data are based on research performed at urban tertiary care centers. Although it is well understood that nurses affect patient outcomes, there is scant evidence to understand the nurse work system, and no studies have specifically studied rural nurses. The authors sought to understand the systems-level factors affecting rural obstetric nurses when their patients experience clinical deterioration. The research team used a qualitative descriptive approach, including a modified critical incident technique, in interviews with bedside nurses (n = 7) and physicians (n = 4) to understand what happens when patients experience clinical deterioration. Physicians were included to better understand the systems in which nurses work. Clinicians were interviewed at three rural hospitals in New England, with a mean births per year of 190. Six systems-level factors/themes were identified: (1) shortages of resources; (2) need for teamwork; (3) physicians' multiple conflicting and simultaneous responsibilities, such as seeing patients in the office while women labor on the hospital floor; (4) need for all team members to be at the top of their game; (5) process issues during high-acuity patient transfer, including difficulty finding available beds at tertiary care centers; and (6) insufficient policies that take low-resource contexts into account, such as requiring two registered nurses to remove emergency medications from the medication cabinet. Rural nurses need policies and protocols that are written with their hospital context in mind. Hospitals may need outside support for content expertise, but policies should be co-created with clinicians with rural practice experience.

UnDerstandIng the cauSes of mediCation errOrs and adVerse drug evEnts for patients with mental illness in community caRe (DISCOVER): a qualitative study.

It is estimated that 237 million medication errors occur in England each year with a significant number occurring in the community. Our understanding of the causes of preventable medication errors and adverse drug events (ADE) affecting patients with mental illness is limited in this setting. Better understanding of the factors that contribute to errors can support the development of theory-driven improvement interventions. Remote qualitative semi-structured interviews with 26 community-based healthcare professionals in England and Wales were undertaken between June-November 2022. Recruitment was undertaken using purposive sampling via professional networks. Interviews were guided by the critical incident technique and analysed using the framework method. Any data that involved speculation was not included in the analysis. Independent analysis was carried out by the research team to extract themes guided by the London Protocol. A total of 43 medication errors and 12 preventable ADEs were discussed, with two ADEs having an unknown error origin. Prescribing errors were discussed most commonly (n = 24), followed by monitoring errors (n = 8). Six contributory factor themes were identified: the individual (staff); the work environment; the teams/interfaces; the organisation and management; the patient; and the task and technology. The individual (staff) factors were involved in just over 80% of all errors discussed. Participants reported a lack of knowledge regarding psychotropic medication and mental illnesses which accompanied diffusion of responsibility. There were difficulties with team communication, particularly across care interfaces, such as ambiguity/brevity of information being communicated and uncertainty concerning roles which created confusion amongst staff. Unique patient social/behavioural contributory factors were identified such as presenting with challenging behaviour and complex lifestyles, which caused difficulties attending appointments as well as affecting overall clinical management. These findings highlight that the causes of errors are multifactorial with some unique to this patient group. Key areas to target for improvement include the education/training of healthcare professionals regarding neuropharmacology/mental illnesses and enhancing communication across care interfaces. Future research should explore patient perspectives regarding this topic to help develop a holistic picture. These findings can be used to guide future intervention research to ameliorate medication safety challenges for this patient group.

Enhancing Traffic Management in Lahore: A Comprehensive Analysis of Drivers' Perspectives on Interactions with City Traffic Police

The purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges faced by drivers while interacting with City Traffic Police (CTP) in Lahore, Pakistan. CTP plays a vital role in maintaining traffic flow and improving road safety. The study used a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative interviews using Critical Incident Techniques (CIT) to explore issues, affinity diagrams for thematic analysis, and frequency analysis to quantitatively identify the most important transportation issues based on their occurrence. The study identified 32 different traffic problems and classified them into four categories of drivers. Thematic analysis reveals eight overarching themes, including road conditions, behavioral issues of traffic police, license issuance hurdles, traffic tickets and challans, grievance redressal procedures, signal malfunctions, discriminatory conduct, and corruption within the CTP domain. Quantitative analysis highlights road conditions, behavioral issues, and license-related problems as the most frequently reported concerns. Theoretical implications draw on Social Exchange Theory (SET) to analyze drivers' interactions, emphasizing the pivotal role of trust in shaping satisfaction and compliance. Practical implications urge policymakers to prioritize road maintenance, enhance communication skills of traffic wardens, and address corruption and discrimination for improved traffic management. Limitations include potential bias from convenience sampling, reliance on subjective recollections in CIT, and the study's exclusive focus on drivers. Recommendations for future research advocate rigorous sampling methods, broader geographical scope, diverse stakeholder involvement, and the incorporation of quantitative surveys.

Enhancing Traffic Management in Lahore: A Comprehensive Analysis of Drivers' Perspectives on Interactions with City Traffic Police

The purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges faced by drivers while interacting with City Traffic Police (CTP) in Lahore, Pakistan. CTP plays a vital role in maintaining traffic flow and improving road safety. The study used a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative interviews using Critical Incident Techniques (CIT) to explore issues, affinity diagrams for thematic analysis, and frequency analysis to quantitatively identify the most important transportation issues based on their occurrence. The study identified 32 different traffic problems and classified them into four categories of drivers. Thematic analysis reveals eight overarching themes, including road conditions, behavioral issues of traffic police, license issuance hurdles, traffic tickets and challans, grievance redressal procedures, signal malfunctions, discriminatory conduct, and corruption within the CTP domain. Quantitative analysis highlights road conditions, behavioral issues, and license-related problems as the most frequently reported concerns. Theoretical implications draw on Social Exchange Theory (SET) to analyze drivers' interactions, emphasizing the pivotal role of trust in shaping satisfaction and compliance. Practical implications urge policymakers to prioritize road maintenance, enhance communication skills of traffic wardens, and address corruption and discrimination for improved traffic management. Limitations include potential bias from convenience sampling, reliance on subjective recollections in CIT, and the study's exclusive focus on drivers. Recommendations for future research advocate rigorous sampling methods, broader geographical scope, diverse stakeholder involvement, and the incorporation of quantitative surveys.

Memorable interactive experiences between hosts and guests in B&Bs and their generation process: The host perspective

Experiences of bed and breakfast (B&B) hosts during guest interactions profoundly affect both guest experiences and the hosts' business passion. However, research on hosts' memorable interaction experiences (MIEs) is still limited. This study, using the critical incident technique and thematic analysis, examines MIEs among B&B hosts in Yangshuo, China, within the framework of interaction ritual chains theory. It identifies that MIEs of B&B practitioners vary from negative to positive, underpinned by two primary experiences: social interaction and novelty. Preventing negative MIEs hinges on service outcomes, decent work, and emotional experience. MIEs, emerging from both successful and broken interaction rituals around positively distinctive daily interactions and problematic crisis events, impact practitioners' well-being and professional passion through the accumulation of emotional energy and sacred symbols. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of tourism host-guest relations and supports the sustainable growth of the B&B industry.

Understanding the causes of preventable medication incidents for patients with mental illness in primary care

Abstract Introduction A recent scoping review has highlighted that whilst patients with mental illness are commonly affected by medication errors and preventable adverse drug events in primary care, there were limited data regarding their causes1. By understanding why these preventable events occur, targeted interventions can be developed. Aim To understand the nature and contributory factors that lead to medication errors and preventable adverse drug events amongst patients with mental illness in primary care. Methods This study used a qualitative design. A researcher remotely interviewed 26 healthcare professionals (14 pharmacists, 5 GPs, 5 nurses, 2 psychiatrists) working in primary care between June-November 2022, guided by the critical incident technique. Professionals were recruited via social media, research team networks, and snowballing. Data were analysed using the framework method and any data that involved speculation as to the causes of errors was not included. The data were organised into themes based on the London protocol error framework, which describes the contributory factors leading to care delivery problems2. Themes generated were validated by other members of the research team and a patient advisory group. This study was approved by the University of Manchester Ethics Committee 1 (reference 2022-13735-23555). Results Forty-three medication errors and twelve preventable adverse drug events were discussed during interview. Prescribing errors were discussed most commonly (n=24) and administration errors least commonly (n=4). Six contributory factors were identified which were: the individual (staff) (n=37); the work environment (n=31); the teams/interfaces (n=28); the organisation and management (n=24); the patient (n=23); and the task and technology (n=15). Primary care clinicians reported a lack of knowledge regarding psychotropics and mental illness which accompanied diffusion of responsibility. The responsibilities of staff were also confused by limited clinical information communicated between teams and across care interfaces. Service demand was reported to exceed capacity, creating stress for the staff, as well as limiting the time available for staff to undergo training. Complicated patient lifestyles and behavioural challenges were reported as unique contributory factors. Discussion/Conclusion Lack of knowledge amongst primary care clinicians regarding psychotropics and mental illness was a key issue. This was exacerbated by a mental health service structure placing considerable pressure on primary care leaving clinicians to support patients with needs perceived to be outside their areas of confidence and competence. There is a need to support this workforce by upskilling them to effectively manage patients by addressing the educational needs regarding neuropharmacology and communication skills. These changes may have a positive effect in reducing error rates for this patient group in primary care. Study limitations include recall bias, social desirability bias, as well as the majority errors discussed were made by another clinician within a chain therefore critical details may be missing in the series of events. This is the first study to identify the nature and contributory factors of preventable medication incidents for patients with mental illness in primary care. Future research should focus on exploring this topic from the perspective of patients to better understand the causes of preventable medication incidents.

The infiltration of LGBTQ+ safe spaces

PurposeLGBTQ+ spaces are often considered as safe havens for the LGBTQ+ community, as they can gather free from prejudice and fear. This research explores the effect that heterosexual people attending LGBTQ+ venues have on this community. This paper considers the impacts on the community, the importance of their safe spaces and identifies practical implications to be considered in protecting these spaces.Design/methodology/approachThe study implemented a multi-method qualitative data collection approach with LGBTQ+ community venue attendees in the UK. Stage 1 utilised an online qualitative survey and collected data from 558 respondents. Stage 2 saw critical incident techniques (CITs) used with 12 participants. The data collected were analysed using a thematic system.FindingsThe LGBTQ+ community has experienced an increase in frustration and fear as a result of more heterosexual attendees infiltrating their safe spaces. Both participants and respondents discussed the importance that security personnel play in ensuring safe spaces. Finally, the findings demystified that not all attendees in LGBTQ+ venues are allies, and that there is a need for those outside the community to better understand the importance of these spaces for the LGBTQ+ community, as many heterosexuals do not consider how they should act.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations associated with the implementation of the CIT were identified. Further training is advised for researchers employing this method to prepare them for dealing with the emotional impact of participants’ experiences.Practical implicationsThis study highlighted the need for security and staff working at LGBTQ+ venues to undergo extensive inclusivity training, and for stricter door policies. Participants also argued for LGBTQ+ venues to educate heterosexual attendees about the community and their historical and present-day struggles and culture.Originality/valueThis paper is of practical value to those who organise and manage LGBTQ+ events, bars and nightclubs. An enhancement to the four types of space framework originated by Castilhos and Dolbec (2018) has been identified.

An exploratory study on emotional consequents of visceral food pleasure

Purpose This study aims to explore the phenomenon of visceral food pleasure, described as a unitary experience that, after an initial sense of pleasure and relief generated by the satisfaction of eating impulses, is followed by negative feelings – such as guilt and worry – linked to the consumption of hedonic or unhealthy foods. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory approach has been adopted. In particular, the critical incident technique among 87 individuals has been used to extract insights about visceral food pleasure. Findings Contrary to previous research results, this study shows that viscearl food pleasure is not a unitary phenomenon, identifying four types of different facets, two of which have a negative valence in terms of felt emotions post-consumption and psychological well-being (i.e. the “greedy” and the “maladaptive” experiences). More importantly, the other two facets are associated with positive consequences in terms of emotions felt post-consumption and perceived psychological well-being (i.e. the “social” and the “fair sin” experiences). Practical implications Companies that provide food experiences can prime meanings that influence consumers’ perceptions of the episode to elicit positive emotions post-consumption and psychological well-being. Social implications Promoting a more holistic view of food consumption and psychological well-being can free consumers from negative emotions during food consumption episodes. Priming a particular meaning can be a way to do that. However, as visceral experience can still lead to health issues, this must be combined with an education process that makes consumers aware of their food habits. Originality/value This research challenges the idea that visceral food experiences are always negative. Indeed, when associated with particular meanings (i.e. social and reward), they have a positive valence post-consumption.

Laypeople in fire protection: Their motivation, their emotions, their value

Fire events, a specific type of emergency situation, occur regularly and often cost people's lives. Early fire detection and involvement of (trained) laypeople in very early stages is essential, especially in fire-prone historical buildings. In an interview study (N = 25) and a quantification study (N = 238), we examined laypeople's motivation to help, their emotions, and their value – especially regarding behaviors – during fires. In Study 1, based on in-depth interviews using the critical incident technique, we inductively developed three category systems: 1) Key motivators included one's emotional bond to the object, altruism, self-protection, and self-efficacy. 2) Laypeople's emotions, such as stress at first but also calmness, were categorized. 3) We found that laypeople's primary value during fire incidents was their ability to provide support, e.g., knowledge of the building. In Study 2, we found quantitative support for the findings derived from Study 1. Additionally, we compared laypeople's and experts' assessments and compared reactions depending on fire size. Thus, our research shifts the focus from evacuation to active – and safe – involvement of laypeople. Our results are helpful for executives in emergency management, as they may find value in including laypeople when coping with emergencies.

Information needs when deciding to start a new line of therapy for advanced cancer: Are patients, caregivers, and oncologists aligned?

315 Background: Effective decision-making on whether to start the next line of therapy for advanced cancer requires comprehensive, tailored information aligned with needs and preferences of patients and caregivers. Our study aimed to compare patient and caregiver information needs to information that oncologists consider and share when discussing prognosis before starting a new line of therapy. Methods: Our study used Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA)-based topic modeling, a text mining method, to extract topics embedded in semi-structured interview transcripts from patient and caregiver (n=20) and oncologist (n=10) participants. Transcripts were collected as part of a larger study to design an interface for a prognostic tool. Patients and caregivers were asked to identify information needs when deciding to start a new line of therapy. Oncologists were asked through critical incident technique to recall a recent patient encounter and, with probing questions, describe information they consider and how they communicate expected survival time. Two members of the study team identified extracted topics using an interactive, intertopic distance map, then compared topics between patient/caregiver and oncologist datasets. Results: Results revealed 6 distinct topics from patients and caregivers and 6 distinct topics from oncologists that we grouped into 3 overall themes (Table 1). While topics across both participant groups were similar, two notable differences were found in patient and caregiver interviews: 1) the desire for information about support-related resources, which was not noted by oncologists, and 2) topics included keywords like “helpful” and “clear” to describe information needs, highlighting the importance of how information is presented by oncologists. Conclusions: LDA-based topic modeling was useful to identify topics from transcripts, highlighting information needs and what is shared when discussing prognosis and starting a new line of therapy. Limitations include use of self-reported descriptions and lack of actual conversations between patients and oncologists. However, findings show the ongoing gap in communication about support-related resources when discussing prognosis. Opportunities exist to enhance communication about prognosis and promote access to resources using decision support tools.[Table: see text]

Hiring college and university presidents: communication, agency, and culture

ABSTRACT The presidency in higher education is becoming a revolving door, with ever-shortening tenures. One reason for this trend is difficulties when presidents and governing boards interact. Scholars have recommended improving how these actors communicate and share information to remedy this, yet problems persist. This study primarily focused on exploring the communication competencies that college and university board members sought when selecting new presidents and the degree of alignment between boards and presidents on their importance. Mixed methods consisting of qualitative data collected using Flanagan’s Critical Incident Technique preceded a survey and statistical analysis. Qualitative data was used to design the quantitative phase. We found that board members sought passion for the school, communal and thorough communication, credibility and trust, interpersonal relationship skills, and listening. Presidents underestimated the board’s emphasis on most of these. Results conform with expectations derived from leadership communication competency models, agency theory, homophily, cultural matching, and three perspectives on organizational culture. Differing prioritizations of communication competencies and behaviors and the cultural ambiguities they represent may be complicit in increasing turnover and shortening tenures of presidents in higher education.

The journey to work of young adults with mobility disability: a qualitative study on the digital technologies that support mobility

Mobility is essential in navigating familiar and unfamiliar environments. People with disability may experience vulnerability in navigating the external environment, when mobility is hindered by discomfort, commodification, or disorientation. Independent commute, choice, and control can be enhanced with appropriate aids, technology, and infrastructure. Self-determination can also be seen to enhance mobility through the realisation of strengths and limitations of the individual and the opportunity to act with self-regulation, in a way that responds to events in an empowered way. Utilising a critical incident technique, this qualitative study examines the enabling and disabling factors that impact self-determination of young adults with mobility disability in the context of their journey to work and explores the role digital technologies can play in this journey. Key findings related to the importance of mobility planning, transport options and communication in the journey to work are discussed. The importance of digital technologies is highlighted including the proposed features of digital enabling platforms.