Unique Culture Research Articles

Tribal Tradition and Globalization: Critical Study of Mahasweta Devi’s Chotti Munda And His Arrow

Tribals are the different groups of people who residein forests, hills and far-flung areas in some isolated territories at different locations throughout the world.They have their own distinctand unique culture and dialects at different locations. Usually, they are socially and politically self-sufficient. They always keep their distance from mainstream civilized and cultured society and that is why they are uncivilized and uncultured groups from the perspective of modern development in spite of having their own cultural identity. It is important to knowabout globalization because it can be difficult to understand the world without knowing globalization. In essence, globalization is the process of interaction and integration among people, companies and governments worldwide. Globalization is about the world becoming increasingly interconnected. But in the current scenario of globalization tribal people are being exploited and erased from their existence and their tradition & faith also under threat as it is depicted in Mahasweta Devi’s novel ‘Chotti MundaAnd His Arrow’. In this novel critically analyzed the impacts of globalization on traditions, faith, existence, cultural & socio-economic structure ofMunda tribes of Jaharkhand & West Bengal andwild-biodiversity in tribal locations.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONAL SILENCE EDUCATION EXPERIENCED IN SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND SCHOOL CULTURE

Organizations can be thought of as small social examples created by people. In order for the organization to make progress in the rapidly changing and developing world, it may be necessary for the members of the organization to be in effective communication and to express their opinions without hesitation on every issue that concerns the organization. Silence is one of the most important factors preventing the development and change of the organization. Organizational silence may occur in organizations where there are members who cannot express their opinions and where effective communication is not dominant. However, just as different societies around the world have different cultures, each organization has its own unique culture. Culture is the most important organizational element that enables the organization to survive and maintain its existence against various changes in its environment. The cultures of organizations whose ultimate aim is to survive and adapt to every development can be affected by situations such as organizational silence and this effect can be reflected in the development of the organization. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between organizational silence in secondary education institutions and school culture according to teachers' opinions. The relationship between organizational silence and school culture was examined according to the variables of gender, type of school they work and professional seniority of teachers working in secondary education institutions. The population of the research consists of 859 teachers working in secondary education institutions in the Central district of Düzce, and the sample consists of 402 teachers working in 23 public schools in the Central district of Düzce. All of the general high schools in the central district of Düzce were included in the study, and the teachers to whom the measurement tool was applied were determined by easy sampling method. In the study, Organizational Silence scale and School Culture scale were used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed in the SPSS program. The role and relationship of organizational silence on school culture; independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance and kruskal wallis tests were applied to determine whether teachers differ according to gender, type of school and professional seniority. Pearson Correlation analysis was conducted to determine whether there is a significant relationship between organizational silence and school culture. The results obtained as a result of the research can be summarized as follows: According to the opinions of teachers working in secondary education institutions in the central district of Düzce, a low-level negative significant relationship was found between organizational silence and school culture. There is no significant difference between the views of teachers on organizational silence and its sub-dimensions and their gender. There was no significant difference between organizational silence and its sub-dimensions and school type. A significant relationship was found between organizational silence sub-dimensions, silence for the benefit of the organization and professional seniority. There is no significant difference between the views of teachers on school culture and all its sub-dimensions, and their gender. A significant difference was found between all sub-dimensions of school culture and the school type variable. A significant difference was determined between the other sub-dimensions of the school culture variable except the support culture sub-dimension and the professional seniority variable. Organizational silence and sub-dimensions were found to have a moderately significant negative relationship with success culture and support culture. A low-level significant positive correlation was found between organizational silence and sub-dimensions and bureaucratic culture. Organizational silence is not a significant predictor of task culture.

The Intangible Culture Illustrated by the Use of Clothing in Domestic Rituals of Traditional Sinhalese Society

In any society, all the physical (tangible) and immaterial (intangible) phenomena artificially created on the natural environment by the members of that society belong to its unique culture. Buildings, vehicles, food, clothes, dagobas, statues, etc. are examples of tangible culture and rituals, beliefs, folklore, etc. are examples of intangible culture. There is an inseparable relationship between the tangible and intangible aspects of a culture, even if such classifications have been made based on the prevailing theoretical and practical usage. In the creation of any physical product or material, appropriate technical knowledge and skill should be used, and in the implementation of any immaterial practice, physical products or materials should be used. This research investigates the way in which clothing belonging to tangible culture is used in rituals belonging to intangible culture. Accordingly, the objective of this research is to examine the way in which clothes were used in the main life events, such as birth, puberty, marriage and death, in the traditional Sinhalese society and the inseparable relationship between tangible culture and intangible culture. The research problem is “how the intangible side of Sri Lankan traditional culture is illustrated by the use of clothes in domestic rituals?”. The secondary source was widely used for data collection, and interviews and direct observation were slightly used to make the primary data more reliable. To analyze the data and draw conclusions, a qualitative research methodology was used.

Rahvarõivakool Chicagos. Veebi vahendusel / National clothing course in Chicago, online

Between January 2021 and May 2023, the Estonian Cultural Society in Chicago collaborated with the NGO Rahvarõivas and provided a national clothing course for Estonians in the USA. The idea came from the Estonians in Chicago, building on NGO Rahvarõivas’ experience in providing national clothing schools since 2009. To unite the domestic and expatriate Estonian communities in understanding the intricate tradition of Estonian folk costumes, this comprehensive course spanned both theoretical and practical elements. The online format allowed participants from multiple U.S. states to join.
 This initiative attracted 12 people between the ages 13 to 76. Participants came from the states of Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Washington, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. At the final presentation, 12 exquisitely crafted ensembles representing 10 Estonian parishes were showcased. While most participants completed one ensemble, some accomplished two or even three sets of garments. The course encompassed 360 academic hours of classroom work, plus independent work. The curriculum was based on the supplementary education program established in Estonia in 2018.
 The course objectives were to ensure that both homeland and expatriate Estonian communities have the same understanding of Estonian folk clothing traditions. The curriculum included theoretical lectures from April to June to prepare participants for the practical phase beginning in September.
 The organisers and the teachers reviewed the entire curriculum together. Based on the technologies, they tried to anticipate possible obstacles and think of solutions ahead of time. Individual work plans were created, and materials were assembled. The participants who visited Estonia in the summer of 2021 had the opportunity to visit the museums with the teachers and were able to study the historical examples in their sets and determine the correct colors.
 The challenge of weaving patterned belts and skirt fabrics was addressed with innovative teaching methods. Video demonstrations, visual aids, verbal explanations, technique demonstrations, and drawn stitching patterns were employed to facilitate learning. The fact that the United States has a different type of loom made weaving the fabric difficult. The course’s most intricate aspect was understanding the weaving’s backside and its loose threads. The linen fabric and other materials were bought from Estonia, examples were made and sent to the USA. More work than usual was done with the preparation of work instructions and creating the outlines. 
 The last stitches, fitting and dressing properly sessions were already done all together in Chicago this June. This culminated in a presentation of the completed ensembles just a week before Midsummer’s Eve, documented through photographs and videos.
 Both students and teachers celebrated the joy of completing the garments. The teachers gained great and necessary experience. The students plan to continue the project by introducing the finished garments to other Estonian communities in North America, thereby further promoting Estonian culture and traditions.
 This endeavour demonstrates the significance of adapting traditional practices to the challenges. The emotional and educational impact of this project is evident in the pride and emotions of the graduates, who crafted lasting memories and now plan to extend this legacy by sharing their knowledge and completed sets with other Estonian communities in the United States. The project embodies the enduring strength and unity of the Estonian culture and heritage within and beyond its borders.

从文化生态主义来看儒家生命精神与性命合一的境界

The essay pays attention to an argument of cultural ecologism concerning the Neo-Confucian life-spirit and its sustainable horizon of unifying human nature and mandate, especially focusing upon Zhang-zai's model of qi doctrine. The keyword is “cultural ecologism” in which the principle of life and the value of morality are integrated in the grand stream of the life spirit of universe. Stemming from a reciprocal unity of ecology and culture, it can be characteristic of a conceptual framework as the organic structure of culture circumstances. For Neo-Confucianists, the reality of world is in the steam of myriad things under heaven and on earth. It is a coherent whole with a certain origin and unitary processes in the ecological circle of Nature. The process of maintaining the sustainability of culture within this world view can be approached from the holistic unity of “one force and its multiple manifestations.” It works implicitly as the basis for positing a unified total system to share a common way of thinking within the Neo-Confucian culture. Zhang-zai presents the doctrine of qi ontology as “one vital force and its many manifestations” to identically unify the Heavenly and the Humane. All the things of the world naturally form types with each other according to their apportionment of one yin and one yang. In their concrete manifestations, according to the thinking way of bentilun, things may have multiple distinctions and perform many different roles, but the principle remains unitary in that their differences are reciprocally related within a unifying system. This world view is closely associated with the process of sustainably cultivating the human virtue in operations of Confucian cultural ecologism. He incessantly seeks to institutionalize the moral canon of classical Confucianism on the triple line, namely, an identification of yiwuliangti, a succession of minbaowuyu, and an extension of xingmingheyi, which make a unity of coherence, interconnectedness and wholeness. As cultural beings with beliefs and values, human beings live their lives in complicated social networks. Consequently, the ecologismic concept of culture preserves as an open horizon of coexistence and cooperation for newly emergent order within an integral relationship of person and community.

중국 영진(寧鎮)지역 토돈묘 조영 모델의 검토

The construction model of the ‘one tomb in one mound’ mound tomb of Ningzhen area is classified as ‘flat burial’, ‘pad soil digging and burial’ and ‘pile burial’. The construction model of ‘Multi-tomb in One Mound’ mound tomb is classified as ‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’. The nature of the mound tomb under different construction models belongs to the ‘tomb’ and ‘cemetery’. The ‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’ construction models are complex of ‘flat burial’, ‘pad soil digging and burial’ and ‘pile burial’. It reflects the inherent unity of mound tomb culture in Ningzhen area. The construction mode of mound tomb reflects the realistic consideration of the ancestors of Wu area to bury high and avoid floods. In addition, many tombs coexist in a pier of burial custom, reflect that the family members are buried in one place. The existence of the central tomb reflects the concept of worshiping the middle position. The ‘vertical’ construction mode was a new form of burial by gathering the family members under the social development background of the Zhou Dynasty, especially the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in Ningzhen area. It was the same as the ‘one-tomb in one mound’ mound tomb with huge sealing earth, reflecting the funeral concept of ‘high tomb’ pursued by the society at that time.

Tourism Development Strategy in Mundeh Kangin Village Sub District Selemadeg Barat, District Tabanan Bali

Mundeh Kangin Village has natural resource potential that can be developed into agrotourism. The MundehKangin Village farmer group transformed the village into a durian village. The unique nature and culture attracttourists to visit the village. In improving the quality of tourism, of course there needs to be an effective strategyso that the tourism ecosystem in Mundeh Kangin Village can become a leading tourism destination in TabananRegency, Bali. The focus and aim of this research is to formulate a development strategy for Mundeh KanginVillage. Using the SWOT analysis method (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats) in analyzing thestrategic environment in the management of Tourism Villages. This research uses a qualitative research typeusing sources from Mundeh Kangin Village, namely the village head (perbekel), the Tourism Awareness Group(POKDARWIS) and farmer groups. Based on the IFE and EFE matrix tables, the total weighted scores are 2.75and 3.12. This shows that agrotourism in Mundeh Kangin Village is relatively strong in overcoming weaknessesand taking advantage of existing opportunities to overcome threats. The internal strategic factor in MundehKangin Village which is the main strength is that it is one of the horticultural commodities which has reachednational and international markets and the garden products in the form of local fruits such as durian, salak,buni, chocolate, coffee, coconut, porang grow abundantly in Mundeh Kangin Village 0.64, while the mainweakness is capital and infrastructure which is still lacking with a total value of 0.33. The external strategicfactor in the development of Mundeh Kangin village which is the main opportunity is the lifestyle of the peoplewho want to return to nature with a value of 0.57, while the main threat faced is the unpredictable climate witha value of 0.30. The research results show that the strategy that can be used by Mundeh Kangin Village is aGeneric expansion strategy. Meanwhile, Strategy variations are, concentric diversification, market penetration,market and product development and backward integration.Keywords: SWOT analysis, development, tourist villages

Developing Social Skills in Early Childhood: A Study of Riverside Communities in Banjarmasin, Indonesia

This study investigates the development of early childhood social skills within Banjarmasin, Indonesia’s riverside communities. Social skills are crucial for the holistic development of children, facilitating better interaction, cooperation, and communication, which are essential for their personal and social growth. The unique socio-cultural dynamics of the riverside communities in Banjarmasin provide a distinctive environment for examining how these skills are nurtured. Utilizing a qualitative research design, this study aims to comprehend the socio-cultural context, identify specific social skills developed in early childhood, and assess the effectiveness of various community-based initiatives designed to foster these skills. The purposive sampling method was employed to select informants who could provide in-depth and relevant data. Data collection involved a combination of observations, semi-structured interviews, and active participation in community activities, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the processes involved. The findings reveal that children in these communities enhance their social skills through a learning process deeply embedded in community values, emphasizing interaction and play. Community values, interactive learning, and cultural integration contribute to social skill development. Reinforcing community values such as togetherness, sharing, and mutual respect plays a critical role in socialization. Activities that promote interaction and play are central to developing social skills, with group activities such as cooperative games, creative arts, and storytelling sessions proving particularly effective in encouraging children to work together, communicate effectively, and build confidence. Additionally, the unique Banjar River culture significantly influences social behaviors, with activities specific to the river culture, including riverboat play and traditional storytelling, imparting cultural values and enhancing social competencies among children. The study concludes that leveraging the cultural uniqueness of the Banjar River communities is essential in building social skills in early childhood. Children in Banjarmasin’s riverside communities develop essential social skills more effectively by integrating community values and interactive learning within this cultural context. This research highlights the importance of culturally relevant approaches in early childhood education and suggests that similar methodologies could be adapted to other cultural settings to support social skill development.

중국 특색의 권력은 어떻게 구축되는가?

This paper analyzes ‘power or politics with Chinese characteristics’ focusing on the papers and books of Chinese scholar Fan Wei. The perception that ‘China and the West are (or should be) different’ has existed since the late 19th and early 20th centuries – when China was overwhelmed by the power of the West. However, that challenged perception could not be revealed throughout the 20th century due to the Chinese Communist Party's core ideology of Marxism-Leninism. After entering the 21st century, as ‘China’s rise’ began, awareness of the need to create a ‘political system with Chinese characteristics’ began to spread among Chinese intellectuals. It should be said that Pan Wei's writings and papers also reflect this perception. However, there is still a lack of consideration of how a ‘political system with Chinese characteristics’ can be established and whether it is truly possible. Accordingly, this paper first examines the core of ‘modern politics’, which the political system with Chinese characteristics sets as its counterpart. And based on those issues, we look at power or politics with Chinese characteristics raised by Pan Wei. The core of Panwei's perspective can be summarized as illiberal democracy. Panwei pointed out the problems of liberal democracy - social division, lethargy on corruption issues, etc. - and pointed out that in order to overcome the weaknesses of liberal democracy, China, or put it more specifically Chinese intellectuals, needs to create a political culture. Additionally, he is looking for China’s unique political culture in ‘the rule of law.’ However, the ‘rule of law’ he is talking about is different from that of the West. However, the ‘rule of law’ he is talking about is different from that of the West. Pan Wei is creating a political culture with Chinese characteristics, based on the premise that China's society and people are fundamentally different from those of the West.

STUDY ON ARTS, HANDICRAFTS AND DANCES OF THE KUTIA KANDHA TRIBE OF KANDHAMAL DISTRICT IN ODISHA

The aim of paper is to highlight the traditional arts, handicrafts and dances of the Kutia Kandhas of Kandhamal District in the state of Odisha. The Kutia Kandha, a primitive tribe primarily belongs to the Kandhamal district areas like Balliguda sub-Division, Tumudibandha Block area, Gumma, Belghar and Bilamala and Jhiripani Gram panchayats. The people of Kutia Kandha tribe live in the hilly region and identify unique culture and customs. The art form has a deep cultural significance for the Kutia Kandha people, who view it as a way to preserve their traditional way of life and express their cultural identity. The research delves into the unique art forms, traditional crafts and vibrant dance practices that are integral to the Kutia Kandhas' way of life. Through ethnographic research methods, this study documents and analyses the symbolic meanings, social functions and the processes of preservation and transformation of these cultural expressions in the context of modern influences. The findings aim to contribute to the understanding of the Kutia Kandhas' cultural identity and the broader discourse on indigenous art and traditions. The study employs a qualitative research approach, primarily using ethnographic methods. Fieldwork was conducted in various villages within Kandhamal District, where participant observation, in-depth interviews and visual documentation were utilized to gather data. The participants include tribal elders, artisans and performers who provided insights into the traditional practices. Additionally, archival research was conducted to compare historical records with current practices. Data analysis was done through thematic coding, focusing on recurring patterns and cultural motifs in the art, crafts and dances of the Kutia Kandhas of Kandhamala in Odisha.

Showcasing The Uniqueness Of A Marine Destination By Adopting Local Wisdom

Development based on local wisdom and indigenous practices can be particularly effective since local wisdom is often the only asset the local people control, and certainly one with which they are very familiar. Yet, literature on marine tourism development shows a scarcity of studies that draw from local wisdom, even though local community participation is underlined as one of the most important factors in successful marine tourism development. This paper explores the role of adopting local wisdom and indigenous practices in marine tourism development in showcasing the uniqueness of marine tourism destinations, with the case study of Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Misool is one of the islands in Raja Ampat which attracts marine tourists from around the world due to its abundance marine life. Using a conversational method for data collection, this paper analyzes how the integration of local wisdom and indigenous practices in tourism takes place and how tourists appreciate them. Findings from conversations with local people who worked as tour guides and dive guides show that the guests expressed appreciation when being asked to follow specific things according to their local wisdom and indigenous practices when visiting some of the tourist attractions or dive sites. Some of their guests stated that Misool is unique because of these practices. These findings reveal that adopting local wisdom and indigenous practices in a marine tourism destination emphasizes the uniqueness of the place. Moreover, the unique culture of the local community can also be an added value to the total tourism experience.

재한 중국인 대학(원)생 학습자의 한국어 관용표현에 대한 이해도 및 이해 전략 연구

The purpose of this paper is to find out the recognition, understanding, and comprehension strategies of Undergraduate/Graduate Students Chinese learners' idiomatic expressions who are learning Korean language and live in korea. An idiomatic expression is an expression that is difficult to grasp the meaning of as a component and reflects the unique culture and social and cultural experience of the target language. Therefore, it is a difficult expression for foreign learners to understand. This paper was surveyed how Chinese learners recognitze the idiomatic expressions and how they understand them, and which understanding strategies they used. As a result of this survey, Chinese learners say that they lack of education or learning about idiomatic expressions, and among the four types of idiomatic expressions as the type of the same form but different meanings in Korean and Chinese has to have the lowest percentage of correct answers.And as the understanding strategy, a literal strategy or an inference strategy from the context is mainly used. Based on this, it is intended to suggest the necessity of idiomatic expression education targeting Chinese learners and to search for efficient educational methods.

2022년 개정 교과과정상 민주시민교육의 의미와 민주주의 역사 활용 가능성

The 2022 revised curriculum pursues self-directed students with inclusivity and creativity in an ideal way. This is because, amid the advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution artificial intelligence era due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, a new change to a practical educational paradigm such as on-site acceptance, diversity, and student-customization of school education was required. However, the importance of democratic citizenship education, which intends to promote community self-discovery, awareness of social participation, and practice solidarity, has increased. This paper examines the contents of the 2022 revised curriculum from the perspective of democratic citizenship education and compares the history of student democracy, a characteristic of the region's historical culture, with the contents of the new curriculum as the subject of democratic citizenship education that can be conducted by the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education. To this end, I introduce the purpose of the revision and future talent appearance in the general overview of the 2022 revised curriculum announced by the Ministry of Education (2021), and analyzes the relationship between the four tasks and democratic citizenship education. In addition, I explore whether the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education can educate students in the history of participating in social issues in the Japanese colonial era independence movement and the post-liberation democratization movement in light of the 2022 revised curriculum. As a result, it is argued that the unique culture of the regional level can be the subject of democratic citizenship education necessary for the formation of students' community self.

Community-Based Ecotourism Development Planning in Bukit Lawang Plantation Village, Bahorok District, Langkat Regency

This study explores the development of community-based ecotourism in Perkebunan Bukit Lawang village, Langkat Regency. Emphasizing active community involvement in decision-making, the research highlights its effectiveness in ensuring both positive economic impacts and environmental sustainability. Local residents manage tourism-related income independently, fostering a self-sustaining model without imposing burdens on the government. Community engagement extends to roles as vendors and cleanliness officers, creating new employment opportunities and cultivating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. The success of Perkebunan Bukit Lawang's ecotourism is evident through multifaceted economic benefits, including direct, indirect, and sustainable impacts. Active community participation enhances the destination's image, portraying a locally friendly and open attitude, contributing to a comfortable atmosphere for tourists. The study underscores the importance of preserving the unique local culture and character. Initiatives such as supporting traditional institutions, facilitating and supporting community needs, respecting diverse activities, allowing creative space for locals, and implementing cultural preservation programs are crucial for maintaining the area's distinctiveness.While highlighting strengths such as pristine natural conditions and a strategic location, challenges persist, including inadequate visitor awareness of environmental cleanliness and ambiguous regulatory frameworks. Lack of clear regulations results in overlapping responsibilities, requiring collaborative agreements to define sustainable tourism responsibilities. In conclusion, active community participation is crucial for successful community-based ecotourism. Strengthening synergies, empowering communities, raising environmental awareness among tourists, and continuous cultural preservation efforts are vital for sustainable development, transforming Perkebunan Bukit Lawang into an environmentally sustainable tourist destination, empowering the local community sustainably.

Examining the Relationship between Prophetic Leadership and Cultural Intelligence (CQ): Lessons from the Cultural Diplomacy of Anṣār and Muhājirūn

The Muslim world is at a crossroads in that genuine leadership is almost obliterated. Research has shown that there were leaders who lacked values-based competencies which are paramount in any leadership style. Although a handful of Muslim worlds/nations are making progress in nurturing and managing leaders, the over-arching picture is incredibly worrying and depressing. Undoubtedly, understanding Cultural Intelligence (CQ) can benefit leadership, and cognisance of others’ cultural practices is pertinent. The greatest leadership practices that we could strive to follow is the leadership of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and how the Caliphates learned from the Prophet (PBUH) to build not only human civilisation but also the personalities that form a unique culture for a sustainable society, especially during the time of Sayyidina Umar Al-Khattab. A dearth of studies on the relationship among CQ, Values-Based Competencies (VBR) and Prophetic Leadership is apparent. Thus, the main purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between prophetic leadership and Cultural Intelligence and most importantly to unveil how leaders can grasp and learn from the diplomacy shown by the Anṣār and Muhājirūn; in that, the prophetic leadership qualities were aptly applied. Additionally, there is an urgent need for education, cultivation, and coaching of current and emerging leaders at all levels, from socio-political to organisational leaders, on how to be quality, judicious, and diplomatic leaders, if we are to build better organisations, societies, and a better world. Prophetic leadership qualities are authentic, timeless, and universal. It genuinely involved the social, economic, and political realities of the communities they serve.

Determining the Importance of Shaping Requirements Constructing Enterprise Culture Based on QFD

To effectively improve the core competitiveness of construction enterprises, it is necessary to build a unique enterprise culture. In this paper, the adaptability of the quality function deployment (QFD) method in the process of construction enterprise culture construction is analyzed, and the construction process can be divided into three stages: cultural planning, process planning, and implementation planning. Furthermore, an analysis method of shaping requirements of internal and external customers in the formation of construction enterprise culture is proposed, which allows customer representatives to define shaping requirements using preferred phrases. Finally, an example is given to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method.

A Study on the Culture at Manufacturing Sector through OCTAPACE Model

Every organization develops and maintains a unique culture, which provides guidelines and boundaries for the behaviour of the members of the organization. In the recent times OCTAPACE Culture has been gaining importance. The eight dimensions of OCTAPACE culture are openness, confrontation, Trust, Authenticity, pro-action, autonomy, collaboration and experimentation which are essential for a strong and successful organization. Where Openness – It signifies the transparent environment in the organization. Confrontation Signifies facing the problems and challenges boldly and not shying away. The trust factor come with Openness which includes maintaining the confidentiality of information shared by others and company. Authenticity is the congruence between what one feels and says. Taking initiative, preplanning and taking preventive action is the measures of term Proactive. Autonomy is the willingness to use power without fear and helping other to do same. Collaboration - involves working together in a team for a common cause. Experimenting involves using and encouraging innovate approaches to solve problems. The study reveals that over all, there is no statistically significant difference in the perception of employees with respect to the various dimensions of OCTAPACE culture. Hence we can conclude that all the dimensions are equally important. The study further reveals that Autonomy, Authenticity, Openness and Experimentation are very high, where as Collaboration, Trust and Confrontation are moderately high and Proaction is quite low. Therefore we can infer that the four dimensions of OCTAPACE namely Collaboration, Trust and Confrontation and mainly the Proaction needs to be improved upon. This can be done by encouraging two way communication in the organisations and empowering the employees. Further, in order to understand the attitude of employees regarding the different facets of culture, the organisations can conduct a job satisfaction survey at regular intervals

Virtual presence, real connections: Exploring the role of parasocial relationships in virtual idol fan community participation

The reconstruction of idol worship culture is evident with the rise of virtual personas, especially within the realm of AI-powered entities. It is important to consider cultural specificities, particularly in regions like China, where unique fan culture practices intersect with the proliferation of AI technology. Virtual idols, born from digital media technologies, authentically emulate real idols in performances and human interactions. While existing research primarily focuses on real-life idols in the interaction between celebrities and fans, limited attention has been given to understanding why fans gravitate toward virtual idols. Adopting the perspective of parasocial relationships (PSRs) and employing the survey method, this study explores the factors that drive fan community participation in virtual idol fandom within the context of Chinese society. The findings reveal that both interpersonal attractiveness and feelings of loneliness significantly influence the development of parasocial relationships between virtual idols and fans, and these PSRs positively impact fan community participation. Furthermore, this study elucidates that both the perceived interpersonal attractiveness of virtual idols and the loneliness experienced by fans directly contribute to increased fan community participation through the mediating effect of PSRs. This investigation scrutinizes the pivotal factors sustaining the relationship between virtual idols and fans, particularly in an era where AI-powered entities increasingly mirror human-like qualities and adeptly engage with audiences. This study highlights the characteristics of Chinese subculture and provides evidence for the “de-stigmatization” of subcultures in the era of AI, which contributes to a broader discourse on the impact of AI on diverse cultural practices. It underscores the necessity for global and contextual approaches in comprehending the evolving dynamics between virtual idols and their fan communities, enriching our understanding of AI’s influence on cultural phenomena.

Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Show Business Industry for Cultural Export as a Means of Creative Economy Development and Tourism Promotion in the Future New Normal Era: The Case of Thailand

The tourism industry is considered the greatest economic generator in Thailand. Nonetheless, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic thoroughly shifted its image of tourism stability and trustworthiness. The show business industry is an element of Thai tourism that attracts more than a million tourists nationwide. The show business industry not only attracts quality multinational tourists as visitors, but also indirectly establishes ‘soft power’ with audiences. This research aimed to (1) study the alternative future scenario of Thailand’s cultural show business industry with respect to cultural export and the creative economy; (2) determine the competitive potential of Thailand’s show business industry by comparing it with the global show business industry; (3) examine the market demands and behaviors within Thailand’s cultural show business industry for cultural export and the creative economy; and (4) present a strategy for elevating the competitive potential of the show business industry for cultural export, promoting a creative economy and fostering tourism in the post-pandemic ‘New Normal’ era. The results of this study found that the ‘Alternative Future Scenario’ of Thailand’s cultural performance industry with respect to cultural exports and the creative economy consists of three scenarios: (1) a mass show business tourism industry, (2) an exclusive show business tourism industry, and (3) a new mega show business tourism industry. It also revealed the competitive potential of the Thai show business industry. By comparing it with the international performing arts industry in terms of competitiveness, it was found that the show business industry in Thailand meets world-class standards. Given its clear, outstanding, and unique culture and traditions, Thailand is ready to serve as a major cultural exporter via cultural performance. Furthermore, the data analysis revealed a total of 10 significant strategies for enhancing the competitiveness of the show business industry in Thailand.

Traditional Practices Pertaining to Sustainable Agriculture in North East India: A Review

Agriculture is the backbone of India’s rural economy. Sustainable agriculture needs to emerge at an accelerated pace integrated with technical and traditional knowledge. The advent of the concept of sustainable agriculture in the late eighties in the Indian agricultural scenario has evoked interest in indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) that uses natural products to solve the problems pertaining to agriculture and allied activities. Since the past centuries, farmers have grown food and survived in harsh environments through the knowledge gained from their ancestors, where such a rich tradition of indigenous traditional knowledge has been interwoven with the agricultural practices followed by them. The northeast region is known for its rich natural scenic beauty, diversity, ethnicity, rare and unique wildlife, people, and culture. The traditional knowledge that the people possess in these regions is a precious resource that is shared through generations. However, such knowledge remains largely unreported, especially from the northeastern region, and has slowly been lost over time. Such knowledge needs to be harnessed along with some technical inputs to make sustainable development faster. There is a need to document and record such traditional knowledge which can act as a foundation for the creation of modern technology. This paper highlights the role and challenges of agriculture to the economy, the indigenous cultivation practices, and the traditional practices in Northeast India for sustainable agriculture.