Notion Of Participation Research Articles

The Influence of Open Strategizing on Organizational Members’ Commitment to Strategy

Abstract Wider organizational actors’ integration in strategy making should plausibly result in increased identification and Commitment to Strategy. Yet, there is a dearth of studies exploring employees’ involvement in strategizing let alone their commitment to strategy. Open Strategy (OS) is a recent trend in strategy research that facilitates such broader participative inclusion in strategizing. This conceptual paper contributes to strategy research by advancing understanding of Open Strategy, specifically shedding light on how OS promotes organizational actors’ cultivation of a higher commitment to strategy. It also explicates the mediating roles of the Individual Empowerment and Sensemaking constructs between the relationship of actors’ participation in OS and their commitment to strategy. Overall, the study extends the notion of participation to include broader organizational actors, contending that their engagement in organization-wide strategy making highly influences their commitment to strategy.

Co-constructing Meaning and Negotiating Participation: Ethical Tensions when ‘Giving Voice’ through Digital Storytelling

This article reflects on the process of conducting a project that involved creating digital stories with people who are predominately housebound, and sharing the stories on a public display at a community event. The project aimed to ‘give voice’ to people who are normally invisible in their community, and to explore the role of digital technologies in helping to foster social inclusion for people who are housebound. We explore how the meaning of the stories was co-constructed by multiple stakeholders and interrogate the aim of ‘giving voice,’ which was complicated by the mediating role we played in crafting and sharing the stories. We reflect on how notions of participation had to be negotiated in light of our participants’ experiences and abilities. By reflecting on how participation and construction of meaning were configured in this project, we contribute to ongoing discussion about the relationship between designers/researchers and participants in participatory and sensitive human–computer interaction (HCI).

Using ‘design thinking’ to enhance urban re-development: a case study from India

ABSTRACTThe discourse on urban planning and development has evolved over the last century with top-down methods of planning urban spaces giving way to bottoms-up approaches that involve residents and other stakeholders in the design process. While the notion of participation and user involvement is considered critical to the design of appropriate and acceptable urban forms, there is no clear consensus in the literature on the methodology to be used to involve users and stakeholders in the design process. In this paper, we propose that the use of ‘Design-Thinking’ – a methodology for Human-Centred Design that is often used in product design and related industries – may be an effective methodology for engaging stakeholders in the urban design domain. The Design-Thinking approach iteratively encompasses an empathizing phase where deep-dive studies are conducted to understand the users’ needs, a project brief definition phase, an ideation phase and rapid-prototyping and testing phases to arrive at an appropri...

Women's participation in democratic innovation apparatuses: the case of the autonomous region of the Basque country, Spain

Since 1990, many democratic regimes have seen an increasing number of democratic innovation apparatuses that have been the subject of many of the reflections of democratic theory. Furthermore, the notion of participation has been a priority since the early stages of the institutionalisation of gender studies. Many analyses of the presence and the voice of women in representative spaces and in social movements have been made. However, both areas of study seem to have developed in parallel, giving rise to a knowledge gap when it comes to the participation of women in public affairs by the democratic innovation apparatuses. This article is situated at the intersection of those areas. It analyses the relationship between women's participation and the extension of the public sphere in terms of obstacles. Based on the analysis of the participatory biographies of 42 women and six men who participate in 15 democratic innovation apparatuses implemented between 1978 and 2014 in the Autonomous Region of the Basque Country (Spain), five discussion groups and two direct observations, the obstacles met by the women when carrying out their participatory project in those governance apparatuses are identified. The article concludes by highlighting the currency of the public versus private and reason versus emotion categories to explain the objectivized and incorporated structure of the obstacles. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

University Access and Social Justice

This article provides an analysis and critique of contemporary practices and debates concerning inclusion and university access programmes from a social justice perspective. Agarwal, Epstein, Oppenheim, Oyler and Sonu (2010:238) indicate that social justice has “proliferated in education in recent years and is an umbrella term encompassing a large range of practices and perspectives”. It has become evident that students in some quarters of the education system frequently experience ‘negative and inequitable treatment’ (Brown, 2006; Ladson-Billings, 1994). Inclusion calls for students never to be seen in isolation from the broader societal changes and constitutional imperatives (Coates, 2007; Alexander, 2009). According to Bornman and Rose (2009), what is central to the understanding of inclusion is the notion of participation. The article addresses and examines university access programmes as social structures and institutional contexts or spaces with specified rules and regulations. Some of these rules are clearly known and well articulated; others are not so clear, whilst some are largely invisible. These institutional rules govern students’ behaviour, their thoughts and the shape of their lives.

European notary public at windflow

The author of the paper analyzes the reasons and consequences of vulnerability of notary profession in European countries with a Latin-type notarial system, which in recent years lurk serious threat, which could influence in the nature of this profession. The European Commission has had several persistent attempts to attack the notary: through commencing six proceedings before the European Court of Justice and six Judgments in 2011 against member States that have not abolished the requirement of citizenship for admission to the profession, and then over the proposal for revision of Directive 2005/36 / EU in which it included the expanding of the field of application of professional qualifications recognition to the notaries public, all to the Green Book on treatment in this process, with explanation that with the new means should be supported the functioning of the internal market and stimulates economic growth in the EU. The Commission has always been guided by the findings that the reforms aimed at simplifying the environment of business entities and the removal of restrictions in certain sectors and in regulated professions were not allowed to remove barriers and restrictive behavior in a number of sectors, among which are expressly mentioned notaries, and that therefore the EU suffers economic decline. This was followed by strong reactions, which were not only the expression of a desire of notary public profession and science, but came from the highest authorities in France, Germany, and other countries. The complete jurist's population in these member States recognized the insincerity of the Commission in demanding liberalization of notary public services, under the expression of reviving economic activity in the EU. All actors of the protest considered the Commission's explanation was only a reflection of the ideological prejudices and a concession to satisfy the hegemonic aims of supporters of the Anglo-Saxon model of deregulation. The doctrine also points to a restrictive conception of the notion of participation in the exercise of public authority by persistently promoting the European Court of Justice in relation to the notary service, although the authoritative modern science of administrative law as well as practice of developed countries today clearly show that the concept of the social function of the state and administration in exercise of power makes the totality of authoritative and non-authoritative activities by which the government achieves its social goals. Contrary to the idea of liberalization of notary public services represented by the Commission, the legal doctrine today currently more rises the question of the right of magnification of public authorizations of European notaries, because the phenomenon of the spreading of the principle of separation of powers, and especially the analysis of the status and powers of the independent regulatory bodies, opened new horizons in relation to the expansion of the scope of notary public authority. Strong offensive to European Latin notary's contribution was made by Serbia, where the introduction of the notary public services, Jurists experienced as competition to the lawyers profession and after the strong protest of lawyers, which jeopardized the functioning of the judiciary, to notary public was denied making the biggest forms of notary public documents - public notary record - for the most risky and most important legal affairs, contracts on real estate transactions. In conclusion the author indicates how devastating consequences of the liberalization of the traditional tasks of notaries and drastically narrowing their responsibilities would be both for judicial construction and the economic activities of the Roman-Germanic law.

L’engagement (scientifique) sensible

Starting from a qualitative research concerning the management of the secret of the HIV among immigrant women from sub-Saharan origins living in Switzerland, this article focuses on the methodological and ethical issues requested from such kind of survey. The notions of posture, commitment and participation are here explored. In order to illustrate the ethical dimensions and methodological difficulties, the article is organized in two parts. The first one analyses the institutional constraints due to the research in a public hospital. The second one concerns the political dimension during the delicate stage of the results’ feedback and its impact on women life. Here, the notion of participation in the production of scientific (sociological) data shows the emergence of the concept of scientific citizenship.

Documentation as a tool for participation in German early childhood education and care

The aim of the study presented in this article is to find out whether the documentation practices in German early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres are compatible with the notion of participation by children. Children's participation has to be seen as a general educational issue in the context of democratic and inclusive education, but also as a specific aim to foster the learning and reflective competencies of the individual child. This makes it all the more important to know whether participation can be found in early childhood key practices – for example documentation. The research examines the documentation practices in 40 ECEC centres in Germany. On this basis, the article outlines what the main forms of documentation are (portfolio, documentation panels, presentations of children's work) and what importance children's participation has for these forms. It shows that participation is of minor relevance in the documentation practices in most of the ECEC centres examined. Only a few centres involve children extensively in documentation and include documentation in their daily work. If participation is part of the documentation practices, a ‘pedagogy of listening' as conceived by the Reggio approach can be found.

Blind spots in music therapy. Toward a critical notion of participation in context of children with visual impairment

Visual impairment results in a different way of perceiving the world. The consequences of the absence of vision in early childhood determine individual capacities for participation in a sighted world, but, at the same time, possibilities for participation are determined by society. The purpose of this theoretical paper is to explore and develop a critical notion of participation within the context of music therapy and children with visual impairment, and to examine theoretical ideas that are relevant for practice, research, and further theoretical discussion. Music therapy with children with visual impairment appears to be an underdeveloped field where the focus has been on the individual. The frameworks of community music therapy and disability studies provide a theoretical background to link individual capacities such as protomusicality and musicianship with the social and cultural dimension of music. In discussing possibilities and barriers for participation for children with visual impairment, we argue that a values-based and resource-oriented approach to health musicking might allow for mutual participation with context-transforming potential, by providing a space that is shaped by the universal design of instruments, activities, and environments.

Focus on participation for children and youth with disabilities: Supporting therapy practice through a guided knowledge translation process

Introduction Participation in community leisure occupations of children with disabilities is important, yet poorly integrated into practice. This knowledge translation strategy tested an intervention to increase clinicians' awareness and to bring about change in practice toward a focus on participation. Method During this qualitative study, 14 clinicians participated in six learning sessions facilitated by a knowledge broker. Three months post-intervention, clinicians were individually interviewed, by drawing on the Professional Evaluation and Reflection on Change Tool, to evaluate potential change in practice. Two researchers independently performed thematic data analysis. Results Impact on practice emerged in both the personal and professional levels (for example, empowerment, validation of clinical wisdom, change in thinking and behavior). Clinicians suggested strategies for integrating participation in their day-to-day practice, illustrating a substantial intention for change, while describing barriers and facilitators for implementation (for example, organizational mandate). Two additional themes described the overall experience of the intervention: motivation to learn (for example, desire to link research to practice) and elements of the learning environment (for example, meeting informational needs). Conclusion This strategy was effective in redirecting clinicians' focus toward the notion of participation and establishing readiness for change. This shift can potentially facilitate new programs in occupational therapy that are participation-based and community-focused.

O produtivismo acadêmico e seus impactos na pós-graduação stricto sensu: uma ameaça à solidariedade entre pares?

O produtivismo acadêmico, entendido neste ensaio como um fenômeno derivado dos processos de avaliação da pós-graduação, se caracteriza pela excessiva valorização da quantidade da produção acadêmica, tendendo a desconsiderar a sua qualidade. Já a solidariedade acadêmica é entendida aqui como um compromisso mútuo entre os pesquisadores, que voluntariamente dedicam-se à avaliação de produtos da atividade de um programa de pós-graduação. Entre essas atividades, escolhemos a avaliação de artigos por pares como "paradigma exemplar" da solidariedade acadêmica. Objetiva-se, com este texto, discutir os impactos do produtivismo na pós-graduação stricto sensu e avaliar o quanto o produtivismo ameaça a solidariedade acadêmica que o torna possível. A partir da distinção entre os conceitos de colaboração e solidariedade, forjados pelos autores, chama-se a atenção para o risco de o produtivismo corroer a noção de solidariedade acadêmica. Mesmo que isso ocorra, não haverá produtivismo sem colaboração, sem o trabalho silencioso e anônimo de um sem-número de avaliadores de periódicos que disponibilizam o seu tempo e sua expertise para avaliar os trabalhos de seus pares. Tal colaboração, entretanto, ocorreria de forma algo alienada, sem a noção de participação em uma comunidade de pesquisadores. Em suma, não pode existir produtivismo sem colaboração, embora possa haver produtivismo sem solidariedade.

The unbearable lightness of participating? Revisiting the discourses of “participation” in archival literature

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how archivists, records managers and scholarly literature in the field(s) analyse how “participation” is discussed in the context of archives and records management, and to explore practical and theoretical implications of the disclosed discursive practices.Design/methodology/approach– The analysis is based on a discourse analysis of a body of archival literature and a sample of posts collected from the archival and records management blogosphere.Findings– The analysis shows that instead of discussing one notion of participation, the archival science literature is referring to nine different and partly conflicting types of participation from three broad perspectives: management, empowerment and technology. The discourses have also conflicting ideas of the role of engagement and enthusiasm, and of that what do the different stakeholder communities see as real options.Research limitations/implications– The analysed material consists of a limited sample of mainly English language texts that may not capture all the nuances of how participation is discussed in the archival literature.Practical implications– A better understanding of how different claims of the benefits and threats endorsing “participation” in archives helps to develop effective and less contradictory forms of collaboration between different stakeholders.Originality/value– In spite of the popularity of the notion of “participation”, there little, especially critical, research on how participation is conceptualised by archives professionals and researchers.

German participatory settings and their common regulatory design principles

Participation today is perceived as a key component of democracy. A democratic political system must offer its citizens opportunities to take part in the law-making process and governance. Consequently, in a society that is governed by the rule of law, examples of participation can be found in the fields of constitutional and public law. But company law also offers fairly comparable participatory opportunities when it comes to the representation of shareholder interests towards a company's management, here as the expression of ownership. This paper conducts a structural examination of two mass-participatory settings with limited time frames governed by German law: federal elections and stockholders meetings. It thereby gives the notion of participation rooted in the political and social sciences a legal turn. By comparing how the law not only enables but guides participation, common regulatory design principles are developed. It proves the assumption that - despite their different logics and constraints - mass-participatory settings governed by German law inherently follow similar regulatory structures and ideas. We hope not only to trigger further comparisons but also to contribute to the practical regulatory design of future participatory settings in the private as well as the public sector.

Practices of Participation and Voluntarism among Older People in Rural Wales: Choice, Obligation and Constraints to Active Ageing

AbstractRural ageing is a significant issue for policy makers and academics, with the increasing proportion of older residents in rural areas placing heightened demands on service provision at a time of economic austerity. In this context, participation and volunteering in older age has been drawn into policy focus. Alongside broader discourses of social capital and active citizenship, the prospect of active ageing has emerged as a key component in the delivery of community‐based services under neoliberal welfare agendas. However, moves to formalise participation among the elderly are at risk of undermining everyday practices of voluntarism. Furthermore, the diversity of the older population means that the willingness and capacity of rural communities and individuals to undertake forms of voluntarism will vary considerably. These issues arise in rural Wales, where notions of participation have become intertwined with Welsh Government initiatives for community regeneration. Through empirical research, this article considers the different motivations of older people for engaging in forms of community participation, as well as constraints to these activities. In concluding, we reflect on the implications for local civil society in Wales.

The “return” of performance art from a glocal perspective

Various authors have characterized the contemporary world through the notion of "structural hybridization" (Pieterse 2001; Canclini 2001, among others). This notion refers to the mixing of different times and spaces that gives rise to "spatiotemporal" hybrid configurations. One of the factors of this process is usually translated by the term "hybrid cycles" (Stross 1999), through which a new cycle recovers historical and social characteristics of previous cycles, sometimes distant in time. Through this theoretical framework, which combines concepts such as hybridity, cyclicality, mimesis, reflexivity and performativity, this paper intends to problematize issues such as the so-called "social turn" (Bishop 2006)or "return to the real" (Foster 2001) in art or, more generally, the "performative turn" (Alexander 2006), with the aim of analyzing the cyclical dynamic of performance (social) art (an art that relies on notions of participation and even performative intervention in a public space) from a global perspective – from Portugal to the world and vice versa.

Taking part: Engaging knowledge on health in clinical encounters

Clinical encounters are the most widely shared form of engagement of citizens with health care and medical knowledge and a major setting for the constitution of the health-aware, somatic citizen and are included in the repertoire of participation in the field of health. Following Joelle Zask's notion of participation, we propose to look at clinical encounters as an instances of “taking part” in the field of health through the mutual engagement of diverse forms of knowledge and experience. Through interviews with health professionals and patients diagnosed with asthma, we explore clinical encounters as settings where physicians and patients mutually engage in a process of contesting, sharing and appropriating medical knowledge and information, while recognizing the normative authority of medical knowledge and expertise and the status of biomedicine as a form of veridiction. Clinical encounters are described as processes where citizens qua patients appropriate biomedical knowledge and health information for coping with health problems and the disruptions they generate in their lives, even if their outcomes are uncertain concerning the binding power of medical authority. Patients' engagements with health care services and health professionals and their use of biomedical knowledge for the (self) management of their condition offers a privileged entry point into a neglected dimension of citizen participation in the field of health.

Young people’s voices: disciplining young people’s participation in decision-making in special educational needs

In recent years, education and family policy in the UK has sought to incorporate the views of children and young people through an active participation agenda, in the fulfilment of children’s rights under the obligations of the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child. Drawing on empirical evidence, this paper suggests that this aspiration is flawed. The inclusion of young people’s voices in decision-making is context dependent, and influenced by individual relationships, both positive and negative. It is framed by policies that subjugate children within disciplinary technologies that determine a regime of ‘truth’ about effective and appropriate participation. Drawing on data gathered as part of a wider study on the relationships between services users and services providers in special educational needs, this paper demonstrates that active inclusion of the voice of the child can be illustrated to be at least variable, and at worst prejudiced. It is suggested that the notion of participation produces tacit forms of ‘government’ that further classify and divide young people, magnifying their marginalization.

Drive-by Wi-Fi and digital storytelling: development and co-creation

This paper offers a critique of two examples of innovative uses of information and communication technologies that seek to build social, economic and cultural connections in India. We compare and contrast the development approaches that underpin these projects and explore their consequences on the ground. The first approach follows a Bottom of the Pyramid model, while the other adheres to a Human Development and Capabilities Approach. While both examples use ICT innovatively, their underlying conceptions of development, notions of participation, and their project goals are fundamentally different. We explore these differences in terms of what constitutes participation and co-creation in order to think critically about the role of ICT in development.

Writing as method: Depth psychological research and archetypal voice

A depth psychological approach to research offers a new way to understand issues of voice, reflexivity, collaboration, presentation, and representation in writing up qualitative and mixed methods studies. It expands the notion of participants in the research to include the activated archetypal images who are present and speaking and with whom, we might say, the research is being conducted. This unusual approach to research pivots around a statement by Jung, in which he says that creative work 'consists in the unconscious activation of an archetypal image and in elaborating and shaping this image into the finished work .... The archetype ... summons up a voice stronger than our own' (Jung, 1966, p. 82). What is this voice and when does it appear? How can a person attuned to psyche discover, recognize, welcome, and ultimately write with this voice? The author suggests that the researcher's voice and the activated archetypal image work in tandem, each engendering the other. What emerges as the finished work is a collaboration of psyche and scholar that molds the text in deep and sometimes unnamable ways and speaks to readers of the deep, unfathomable psyche.

Being part, being involved: the adult's role and child participation in an early childhood learning context

This paper begins with some general comments regarding the concept of participation in educative processes as it has developed in the preceding decades from a rights-based perspective, following the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In order to discuss the notion of participation, the authors introduce a project developed in an infant-toddler centre in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Starting from this project, particularly focusing on the role of adults in engaging with children, the discussion aims to offer new insights into participation of young children from a care and educative point of view. Based on this experience, it was found that adults' ‘power’ has a positive impact on children's ideas and should be positioned as an important resource for children's development rather than an obstacle to their participation