Cultural Transformation Research Articles

Influences of VR technology on the effect of museum narrative based on embodied cognitive theory: a case study of the opium war museum

Purpose With an increasing array of new technologies and devices emerging as novel approaches to museum narratives, scholars are intrigued by the narrative effect they produce. Within this context, this study aims to conduct a quantitative case study on the influencing mechanisms among technology embodiment, technology attachment, museum narrative effect and perceived museum image based on embodied cognitive theory (ECT). Design/methodology/approach By introducing the Opium War Museum, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China, as an empirical case study, the authors collected data, through questionnaires, from 425 visitors who had experienced virtual reality (VR) technology in the museum. The data was then analyzed by using the maximum likelihood estimate for structural equation modeling. Findings Technology embodiment and technology attachment have significant positive correlations with the museum narrative effect. Technology attachment provides a partial mediating effect between technology embodiment and the museum narrative effect. The perceived museum image moderates such mediating effects of technology attachment. Originality/value This study brings the emerging idea of developing visitor experiences with VR through expanding the applications of ECT in the museum scenario. First, the authors identified the underlying interaction patterns between various factors that influence the museum narrative effect. Second, the authors verified that technology can optimize the museum narrative effect and help the creative transformation of cultural relics and culture. This study also provides practical recommendations to improve the technological service experience and strengthen the “audience-centric” management concept of museums

Sustained alterations in proximal tubule gene expression in primary culture associate with HNF4A loss

Primary cultures of proximal tubule cells are widely used to model the behavior of kidney epithelial cells in vitro. However, de-differentiation of primary cells upon culture has been observed and appreciated for decades, yet the mechanisms driving this phenomenon remain poorly understood. This confounds the interpretation of experiments using primary kidney epithelial cells and prevents their use to engineer functional kidney tissue ex vivo. In this report, we measure the dynamics of cell-state transformations in early primary culture of mouse proximal tubules to identify key pathways and processes that correlate with and may drive de-differentiation. Our data show that the loss of proximal-tubule-specific genes is rapid, uniform, and sustained even after confluent, polarized epithelial monolayers develop. This de-differentiation occurs uniformly across many common culture condition variations. Changes in early culture were strongly associated with the loss of HNF4A. Exogenous re-expression of HNF4A can promote expression of a subset of proximal tubule genes in a de-differentiated proximal tubule cell line. Using genetically labeled proximal tubule cells, we show that selective pressures very early in culture influence which cells grow to confluence. Together, these data indicate that the loss of in vivo function in proximal tubule cultures occurs very early and suggest that the sustained loss of HNF4A is a key regulatory event mediating this change.

Project-oriented strategic management of UK construction firms – towards corporate diversification: critical literature review

PurposeThe paper analyses the strategic management strategies of UK Construction Contracting Firms (CCFs) and their impact on the industry, highlighting their fragmentation, high-risk, low-profit nature and low profit returns. It suggests proactive strategies for sustainable growth and explores the potential of corporate diversification.Design/methodology/approachUtilising a thematic critical literature review, specific inclusion/exclusion criteria are used to select relevant literature together with a thematic qualitative synthesis data analysis approach to identify trends and challenges.FindingsUK CCFs primarily use reactive and project-based strategic management, which may not align with long-term success due to market volatility, reactive supply, fragmentation, high competition and lack of differentiation. The short-term business cycle makes medium- to long-term strategy development difficult. It is recommended that CCFs adopt proactive strategic management and consider corporate diversification for enhanced competitiveness, stability and performance. Although there are conflicting findings on the impact of diversification on firm performance, this research suggests that it is a viable strategy for achieving enhanced firm performance and competitive advantage.Research limitations/implicationsThe importance of proactive corporate strategies for CCFs is emphasised to overcome industry challenges, promote sustainable growth and enhance competitiveness. Corporate diversification, cultural transformation, management qualifications promotion and talent development collaboration are advocated, providing valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers and researchers.Practical implicationsThe practical implications of this research involve fostering a shift towards proactive and dynamic strategic management in the UK construction industry, addressing the historical neglect of broader strategic perspectives and empowering practitioners and academics to drive positive change and innovation within the sector.Social implicationsThe social implications of this research encompass the potential to enhance the overall efficiency, sustainability and collaborative dynamics within the UK construction industry, which can ultimately contribute to improved infrastructure development and the well-being of communities.Originality/valueProject-driven strategic management in the UK construction industry is explored, questioning the reactive approach used by CCFs. It provides insights, best practices and improvement areas, emphasising diversification, proactive corporate strategies, cultural shifts and industry improvement, spanning theory, practice and theory.

Using Generative AI for Strategic HR Planning: How AI Can Elevate Your People Strategy

This article explores how generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as machine learning and deep learning can be applied to enhance strategic human resource (HR) planning. Drawing from academic literature and industry case studies, the article outlines key techniques of gen AI and principles for responsible implementation. It then discusses specific opportunities for gen AI to elevate HR processes like recruiting, training, performance management, compensation planning, and cultural transformation from descriptive to prescriptive levels through data-driven decision making and insights. Aligning AI goals with organizational values around diversity, ethics and worker well-being is emphasized. The essay aims to translate technical concepts into practical recommendations while arguing that when guided properly, gen AI shows strong potential to empower HR leaders and elevate their people strategy through personalization, prediction, continuous improvement and robust measurement of ROI.

She is so (post)human: doctoral students’ perceptions of response-ability of their becoming-supervisors through caring/careful practices

ABSTRACT In this article, I propose that caring/careful practices of becoming-supervisors are practices of response-ability within neoliberalized academia. These practices, based on a feminist ontology of reciprocity, active co-presence, sensitivity and receptive openness, created a friendly atmosphere where students’ feelings and needs were taken into account and enabled their academic development in a rationalist-individualist competitive context. I present interviews with 15 doctoral students at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) regarding their relationship with their becoming-supervisors. The analysis showed that students’ perceptions of assemblage-professors’ caring/careful practices included: post-human treatment, facilitating the research, mentoring, and sheltering. Caring/careful practices allowed the students to be inspired and build trusting relationships. However, care is complex and is co-opted by the neoliberal system, which means that a complete transformation of the academic culture is necessary.

Research on the Development Strategy of Cultural and Creative Products of Libraries from the Perspective of Consumer Behavior

ABSTRACTIn recent years, there has been a notable trend and exemplary practice among libraries in effectively developing cultural and creative products. This endeavor not only foster the creative transformation and innovative development of culture, but also meets the escalating demand for high‐quality cultural consumption. Focusing on the consumption behavior of library culture and creative products in China, underscores the critical consideration for libraries, including the evolution of the consumption themes, addressing the symbolic consumption demands, creating new consumption scenarios, enhancing product quality, and augmenting consumer service awareness. Our findings highlight the importance of product diversity and aesthetic appeal, the fulfillment of commemorative value and social value, and the balancing of emotional and cognitive satisfaction in consumer demand. Moreover, the effective integration of both online and offline channels and leveraging the influence of Key Opinion Leader (KOL) are recommended marketing strategies. Regarding pricing, consumers are sensitive to price, preferring products of high quality and originality within reasonable price ranges. Finally, the study highlights the significance of enhancing the overall purchase experience and service quality, which significantly influence subsequent consumption behavior.

Book Theft as Social Deviance in Modern China: An Elegant Offense or the Intellectual Robin Hood

During China’s transition from pre-modern to modern society, book theft, as a form of social deviance, reflected the multifaceted cultural metaphors of books in modern Chinese social life. The shift from the notion that “common thieves do not steal books” to book theft as a representation of cultural power struggles exemplifies the media cultural transformation in modern Chinese society. Contemporary attitudes towards book theft reveal complex tensions between economic order, publishing supply and demand, social mentality, cultural capital, knowledge power, media discourse, and public opinion during this period of societal change. In this context, book theft can be seen as a dual phenomenon, embodying both a clever and sophisticated act that challenges dominant norms and values on one hand, and a form of rebellion that seeks to redistribute power and knowledge, akin to the legendary outlaw Robin Hood, on the other.

THE UTAUT CONCEPT IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS – RESULTS OF AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Changes in social, political, economic, and demographic fields are making public sector organizations look for new ways to deliver public services. Simultaneously, the cultural transformations that occurred during the final decade of the 20th century, resulting from the transition from an industrial civilization to a knowledge civilization and the dominance of information-communications technologies (ICTs), have profoundly impacted not only the extent and caliber of interactions among individuals but also the conditions under which organizations operate. Consequently, the public sector is forced to undergo extensive digital transformation. To achieve a successful transformation, however, the changes must be embraced by the end users, specifically those employed in the public sector. In this article, the results of a study on the acceptance of modern technology by public organizations in Poland are presented. The study uses the UTAUT model.

Analysis of the Impact of Digital Communication Tools on Organizational Culture and Communication Effectiveness Within Enterprises

The issue of improving the organizational culture of enterprises is becoming increasingly relevant in light of the need to enhance the effectiveness of human resources policy and employees’ motivation. Being aware of the importance of developing organizational culture and the effectiveness of internal communication, managers of enterprises very rarely have an information basis for a model of their effective construction. The study aims to analyze the current role of digital transformation tools within the communication process to optimize organizational culture and increase communication effectiveness. The research was conducted using the general methods of scientific cognition, in particular, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, abstraction, specification, and formalization. The study identified the potential of digital communication tools for the cultural and communication optimization of companies. The authors have analyzed the factors of insufficiently effective development of organizational culture. The article substantiates the need for the synergy of process, system-behavioral, adaptive-situational, psychodynamic, and competence approaches. The authors have proposed ways of digital transformation of organizational and communication culture. Based on this, the main vectors for optimizing the concept of organizational management of the transformation of the communication sphere of companies have been identified. It has been proved that the conceptual model of an effective organizational culture is based on long-term measures to implement the strategic goals of enterprise development through continuous self-development and continuous improvement of communication skills using modern and innovative digital tools.

From Liberating Leader to Shared Leadership: A Process of Role Distribution

A liberated company is an emerging concept, which is based on trust and autonomy and is radically opposed to hierarchical principles. The empirical literature describes liberation as a complex process of cultural and organizational transformation, wherein managerial functions are questioned or even eliminated, and blind spots are a source of numerous pitfalls. Against this backdrop, the central issue of transforming leadership, and the roles it entails, remains underexplored in liberated companies, whereas reflections are primarily focused on the liberating leader. Using a single case study and a processual, multilevel approach to liberation, this study analyzes the evolution of key leadership roles at the individual (supporting), collective (catalyst), and organizational (driving) levels. The results show that the distribution and sharing of leadership roles is an evolutionary and dynamic process rather than a tipping point and question the opportunities and limits of role distribution at different stages of the process.

Nursing care aspects and indicators impacted by information and communication technology: Systematic review

Background: Information technology is used in healthcare to solve the problems of an aging population, an increase in chronic illnesses, and the growing need for autonomy, independence, and quality of life. The adoption rate of IT applications among professionals such as nurses is relatively low, and it appears that not using them is the norm. Finding nursing care aspects and indications that have been altered by IT was our goal in doing this research. Method: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement (9) was adhered to in this systematic review. Our search objective was to locate papers that addressed nursing care aspects and indicators that were changed by IT. The search method was used in the Google Scholar, CINAHL, and PubMed databases between 2015 and 2023. Result: Five publications were included in this systematic review. Four studies found elements related to teams that affect the adoption of telemedicine. The organizational and team culture is one of the main determinants of technology adoption. One study found that creative companies support employees in adjusting to new circumstances and that telemedicine implementation requires cultural transformation in enterprises. Implementing telemedicine in a company can be hindered by working in a changing environment and resisting change. Employees felt overwhelmed by all of the changes they experienced at work. Workloads increased as other advances were sometimes considered more significant than the use of telemedicine. Conclusion: When technology is used improperly, nurses can get disillusioned with its use for tasks that are traditionally completed by humans. Therefore, if healthcare professionals want to include telemedicine into their regular workflow, they must remove hurdles.

Bahasa Dan Identitas Dalam Novel Segala Yang Diisap Langit Karya Pinto Anugrah: Pendekatan Antropolinguistik

This study explores the relationship between language and identity in the novel Segala yang Diisap Langit by Pinto Anugrah using an anthropolinguistic approach. Through qualitative analysis, the research focuses on how language is used to reflect and shape the identity of the Minangkabau community. The findings reveal that the use of the Minangkabau language in the novel serves not only as a communication tool but also as a rich cultural identity symbol. The combination of Minangkabau and Indonesian lexicons reflects the characters' struggles with their identities amidst social change. Additionally, the representation of traditions and customs through language acts as a means to preserve inherited cultural values. In this context, language plays a crucial role in maintaining Minangkabau identity and responding to modernization and globalization. This study contributes to understanding the role of language as a medium for negotiating identity within a society undergoing cultural transformation.

Wulfila, the Gothic Bible, and the Mission to the Goths: Rethinking the ‘Apostle to the Goths’ in Terms of Homoian Theology, Conversion as a Strategy of Empire, and Fourth Century Social and Cultural Transformations

Wulfila, the Gothic Bible, and the Mission to the Goths: Rethinking the ‘Apostle to the Goths’ in Terms of Homoian Theology, Conversion as a Strategy of Empire, and Fourth Century Social and Cultural Transformations

Renewal of Modern Arabic Poetry: The Culture-Creativity Controversy

The present research raises critical issues regarding modern Arabic poetry, wondering about the limits of creativity starting from awareness about poetry writing to its reading prospects. It observes how the Arab poet is torn between focusing on the depth of culture (with what it imposes in terms of conforming to the prevailing poetic model) and between the temptations of creativity, which requires a level audacity and aspiration to different and renewed written models. The research disassembles the structure of poetry as a cultural system rooted in the Arab memory and discusses the question of identity in its relationship to creativity. It stresses the centrality of the traditional Arab poetic model while pointing to attempts at transcending such model. The most prominent of these attempts was that accomplished by the Arab poetic modernity movement in the forties and fifties of the last century (free poetry and prose poem). The research explores the rationale behind this decisive shift in the history of Arabic poetry at the levels of its creative and cultural foundations. In this regard, the research raised the question of leadership, the call for renewal, and defense of the pioneering poets of their innovative achievement against the successive creative booms. The research also discussed the controversy over tradition versus creativity, the question of dialogue in texts, the prospects for critical poetry reading with its scientific and cultural transformations, and the distribution of its theoretical and methodological references between Arab heritage and Western culture.

Culture Transcends the Ocean: Research on Chinese-style Games as a New Carrier for International Communication of Chinese Culture —Taking the global impact of Black Myth: Wukong as an Example

In the context of exploring the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese culture, this paper focuses on how Chinese-style games can help the international dissemination of the "culture +" strategy. Through an in-depth analysis of the current status of Chinese online games going overseas, this paper reveals the competitiveness and cultural influence of domestic games in the global market. This paper specifically analyzes the market size and growth trend of Chinese online games, and elaborates on the distribution of games in overseas markets. Taking "Black Myth: Wukong" as an example, it demonstrates the successful experience of Chinese-style games in cross-cultural communication. This paper proposes strategies and suggestions for Chinese online games going overseas, including clarifying the target market, localizing adjustments, choosing appropriate distribution channels, and formulating effective marketing strategies. In addition, this paper emphasizes the important role of Chinese-style games in inheriting and innovating Chinese culture and promoting the "going out" of culture, and looks forward to the future development trend of Chinese online games going overseas.

Representation of Saudi Culture in Digital Poetry

In today's world, characterized by technology and artificial intelligence, societies have become interconnected, and the global community resembles a small village. Within this digital realm, the identities of nations and their inhabitants manifest through their expressive tools and artistic forms. The recipient perceives, through the digital space, a portrayal of these societies. In the case of Saudi society, a progressive community, its artistic and literary expressions are prominently featured on social media platforms and other online spaces, both official and unofficial. These platforms serve to depict the components and cultural backgrounds of the society, which it leans upon. The digital space becomes a canvas for its aspirations, emotions, and the diverse spectrum of its orientations and tendencies. The study tracked the most prominent transformations in Saudi culture through the digital poetic text, relying on digital poetic models through which the meeting of the past with the present was presented, and monitoring the manifestations of Saudi culture and its presence in the digital poetic text. The study concluded a number of results, the most important of which is that the Saudi poetic text presented a picture of the elements of Saudi culture, and the digital poetic models were able to show the meaning and deepen it in the mind of the recipient and evoke all those elements to embody the image of Saudi culture.

Using technical assistance to bridge evidence‐to‐action gaps in biodiversity conservation

AbstractThe field of biodiversity conservation is in the midst of a cultural and practical transformation around evidence use, but the necessary institutional and technical support is still emerging. Over the past decade, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has invested in building institutional capacity for evidence use in its biodiversity conservation projects through technical assistance. We interviewed 34 technical assistance staff supporting biodiversity programming at USAID to explore how technical assistance is used to support evidence use and the extent to which technical assistance can fulfill the functions of “evidence bridges”—intermediaries who help practitioners access and use bodies of evidence for decision‐making. We found that the current technical assistance model supporting evidence employs varied strategies to support evidence use, some of which are more closely aligned with the functions of evidence bridges than others. We conclude that the current technical assistance model could strengthen support for evidence use through engagement with evidence bridges to promote uptake of synthesized evidence. We suggest that technical assistance and evidence bridges are needed to facilitate high‐quality evidence use at the scale necessary to achieve conservation impact, and more collaborative spaces at the boundary between research and practice are needed.

Arte como catalisadora da mudança social: Diálogo intercultural, empatia e construção de um futuro mais justo

This article explores the intrinsic relationship between art, culture, and identity, highlighting the role of art as a catalyst for social change. Art, as a form of human expression, transcends the mere reproduction of reality, acting as a mirror, a mold, and a transformer of culture. Through art, individuals and communities express their worldviews, construct and renegotiate their identities, and challenge norms and values. Representation in art is essential to ensure that the voices and stories of all social groups are heard and valued, combating invisibility and exclusion. Art also promotes social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and empathy, contributing to the construction of a more just and equitable future. However, the valorization of diversity in art faces challenges such as prejudice, discrimination, and lack of access to culture. To overcome these obstacles, it is essential to articulate public policies, educational programs, and collective action aimed at democratizing access to art and valuing cultural diversity.

Transitions across borders: Migration aspirations of young people from Kinmen, Taiwan

AbstractThis paper examines the migration aspirations of young people from the remote border area of Kinmen, Taiwan and their migratory trajectories—internal migration to the main island of Taiwan and cross‐border migration to China. Located between Taiwan and China, Kinmen is an offshore island with a long history of migration. Based on multi‐site ethnographic data from 30 young people, this paper explores their migratory trajectories and aspirations concerning the instability of socio‐political context and the growing social and cultural inequalities of today's globalised world, China's rise in particular. It contributes to the population geography literature by using migration aspiration as a critical lens to analyse how young people negotiate their borderland identity through mobility under the changing cross‐strait political economy. The paper emphasises the importance of considering the transformation of regional economy and culture when analysing youth migration experiences. In recognising the socially grounded aspects of migration aspiration, it highlights the fluid and transformative nature of migration to enrich our knowledge of how marginalised youth form subjectivities and negotiate complex identities through migration. The distinctive experiences of peripheral youth shed new light on the conceptualisation of border crossing, place and desires under the sway of globalisation.

Cinema, censorship, and consumerism: mass culture and discursive transformations in film censorship in late 1970s South Korea

ABSTRACT The emergence of ‘erotic films’ (ero yeonghwa) in the 1980s has generally been discussed in the context of the Chun Doo-hwan regime’s ‘3S Policy,’ a series of policy changes that relaxed the stringent censorship regulations first implemented under Park Chung Hee’s military rule. Rather than a distinct rupture, this article argues that these changes were part of a larger shift in the perception of films that began in the late 1970s – a new conception of films as a commercial product. Whereas film audiences had long been dismissed as faceless masses with ‘vulgar’ tastes by both film personnel and government officials, the growing commercial power of films underscored the importance of the audience as consumers. Through a close reading of various newspapers and Performance Ethics (Gongyeon yulli), the official newsletter of the Public Performance Ethics Committee, this article traces the development of various discourses around film, the public audience, and mass culture. Ultimately, this article argues for a more nuanced approach towards examining censorship practices by looking beyond the state and its regulatory institutions and accounting for an array of continuously shifting discourses around medium-specific characteristics, structural changes in society and economics, and the general public.