Vocational dancers are anecdotally regarded as a group ‘at risk’ of compromised health. Yet little is known of the antecedents of variability in positive and negative indicators of dancers’ welfare. Grounded in the basic needs theory (Deci and Ryan, 2000), a mini-theory of the self-determination framework (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000) this thesis examined the social-psychological predictors of indices of well- and ill-being among vocational dancers. In study one, the inter-relationships between dancers’ perceptions of the social environment, basic psychological need satisfaction (BPNS) and reported affective states and exhaustion were explored via structural equation modeling. In study two, changes in autonomy support and BPNS were modeled as predictors of changes in dancers’ burnout during the academic year. Multilevel modeling techniques were employed to examine a) perceptions of autonomy support and BPNS as predictors of dancers’ daily affective states in learning and performance contexts (study three); and b) whether BPNS was relevant to dancers’ cognitive appraisals and hormonal and emotional responses in ‘real life’ performance settings (study four). Overall, this thesis partially supports the tenets of basic needs theory. Findings point to the importance of need supportive environments if elite performers are to experience sustained and optimal physical and psychological health.

This thesis re-conceptualises civil society as a process of cross-sectoral networking and alliance building among individual activists and organisations. Civil society networks are built on personal connections and develop into flexible, often informal structures that engage in path-breaking advocacy with authorities and elites. In the challenging political contexts of China and Vietnam, civil society networks have brought about significant social change. The findings of extensive fieldwork in both countries demonstrate a wider range of advocacy techniques and strategies than previously documented in one-party authoritarian political systems. Four in-depth qualitative case studies are presented to illustrate a range of network structures, histories and advocacy strategies: the Bright Future Group of people with disabilities (Vietnam), Women’s Network against AIDS (China), the Reunification Park public space network (Vietnam), and the China Rivers Network. Research questions concern how civil society networks form, how they operate, and what strategies they select to influence and interact with state actors and other stakeholders, as well as how network members evaluate the effectiveness of their actions. The thesis concludes with comparative evaluations of the case studies and recommendations for donors and international partners to support networks that form organically.

This study explores online consumer complaining behaviour (CCB) on Facebook. The main objectives are: (1) to understand how Facebook is being used as a medium for consumer complaining, and (2) to understand why consumers complain on Facebook. An interpretative research position and multi-method qualitative design was adopted. Netnography, a form of online ethnography, is employed as the research design. First, participant-observational methods examined posts and discussions on Facebook’s official company pages, user-created pages/groups and user profiles. Then, online in-depth interviews were conducted with 37 consumers who were identified through online observations. These interviews were conducted in three forms: text-based, video-based, and email interviewing. The findings shed light on the nature (i.e. customs and manners) of online complaining on Facebook, consumers’ interactions with other consumers and companies, the role of Facebook in the complaint process, consumers’ objectives for complaining on Facebook, and outcomes of these. A key contribution of this study is the development of two models: ‘Integrated Model of CCB’ which aims to explain the organisation of complaining actions by integrating existing CCB theories and ‘Model of online CCB on Facebook’ which describes the range of online complaining actions on Facebook. On the basis of the findings of this study, research implications and recommendations for the management are suggested.

Egyptian SMEs in the wood and furniture industry in Damietta play a significant role in its economic development and growth. The main purpose of this study is to understand the impact of the degree of internationalisation on the performance of SMEs. The main theory of this study is considered to be one of the classic and traditional theories of internationalisation, namely the Uppsala model of internationalisation. Three complementary theories have been integrated into this work under the umbrella of the Uppsala model of internationalisation, i.e. International entrepreneurship, Resource Based View and Network Theory. The current study relies on a research approach consisting of two main phases. Phase one is the qualitative method of using a focus group, while the second phase is a quantitative research method of using questionnaire. Path Analysis is the main data analysis method supported by Structural Equation Modelling with the Amos software. This study is the first research to focus on the relationship between internationalisation and firm performance in one of the traditional industries, such as wood and furniture, in addition to a unique culture of an emerging economy, such as that of Damietta in Egypt. Moreover, this study suggests that the traditional stage model of internationalisation is still alive and applicable in such industrial and economic settings.

Lüder's Financial Management Reform Process Model (2002) is used to analyse and explain the context of the accounting reform process at the central government of Malta, thus introducing Malta in the field of Comparative International Governmental Accounting Research (CIGAR). Organisational Theory that underlies this model is referred to when discussing its limitations. The qualitative research methodology required a set of interviews with actors involved in the reform process, supported by documentary research. The governmental accounting reform process in Malta is described in two phases: the environment of the first phase is assessed as conducive to change; in the second phase, stronger forces at macro level reduced this conduciveness. The long-winding reforms at central government level in Malta may only be illusory because once the statistical reporting requirements for Eurostat were achieved, the reform concept changed. The findings confirm the centrality of the budget in government accounting. The decision by the Maltese Government to adopt International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) does not appear to be well-informed and appears based on the quest for credibility. The objective of the European Union (EU)'s interest in IPSAS is also questioned since these financial reporting standards do not give budgeting particular importance, and reporting to the EU by member states is already harmonised through the ESA95.

Background: Patient recruitment to trials is problematic; many fail to achieve targets, leaving them underpowered and unable to address their hypothesis. Few solutions have been identified in existing literature. This thesis aimed to: identify factors associated with recruitment; and understand clinicians’ experiences of recruiting patients to a primary care based randomised controlled trial (RCT). This was explored using The Birmingham Atrial Fibrillation Treatment of the Aged (BAFTA) trial as a case study. Methods: Mixed methods were used: a systematic review to identify factors influencing recruitment to primary care based RCTs; quantitative analysis of BAFTA data to identify factors associated with recruitment; and qualitative interviews with General Practitioners involved with BAFTA, to understand their experience of participation. Results: Existing literature demonstrated that influences on recruitment include: study workload; study question; concerns about patients. Recommendations to address these issues are not based on strong empirical evidence. BAFTA identified factors associated with patient recruitment (practice size; GP age; recruitment year); and patterns over time. Interviews identified differences in attitude between high and low recruiters, including risk perception and motivation. Conclusions: This thesis demonstrates how practitioners can influence patient recruitment. Revised recruitment methods need testing in prospective trials.

This study aims to consider the problems associated with the low response of citizens to the adoption of e-government in developing Arab countries, with a predominant focus on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study has validated the UTAUT in Saudi Arabia and has extend the theory by including further variable such as the trust, compatibility, awareness and the service quality which proposed to influence citizens adoption of e-government in Saudi Arabia. As the adoption consider as an efficient method to evaluate the success of the implementation. It is necessary for this new innovation to be tailored to citizens’ wishes, and taking into account the religious, cultural, traditional and other beliefs to ensure the widespread adoption of this innovation. The finding reveals that performance expectancy is the strong predictor of the intention to use e-government followed by the trust of the internet. On the other hand, intention to use behaviour, computer self-efficacy and availability of resources found to be significant predictors of the usage behaviour.

The main aim of this research is to examine and contextualise how employees stereotype ‘leader roles’ and ‘female roles’ to determine if there is a mismatch between these roles. It also aims to understand how the possible incongruity between leader role and female role stereotypes may lead to prejudicial evaluations towards female leaders by the application of the role congruity theory of prejudice toward female leaders. Given that there is an under-representation of women in leadership and decision-making positions in the hotel sector in Jordan, this thesis seeks to extend this theory by scrutinising how other relevant factors may empower or forbid female leaders in this sector. Therefore, a related aim of this thesis is to investigate how gender equality practices and leadership development programmes can empower the emergence of effective female leaders. Drawing on a survey of 26 hotels ranked as 4-star and 5-star operating in four geographic locations in Jordan (i.e. Amman, Aqaba, Dead Sea and Petra), 392 employees participated in this study. The results indicate consistency between people’s perceptions of the female role and the leader role, whereas in this sector, the findings show that females are able to emerge as effective leaders. Moreover, gender equality practices and leadership development programmes were found to be significantly linked with the emergence and effectiveness of female leaders. Given that the quantitative results did not justify the massive gender gap in the hotel sector, a qualitative analysis of open-ended questions was used to develop an in-depth understanding of relevant societal and organisational factors that may constitute the gender gap in practice. The analysis suggests that tribal and Bedouin traditions and stereotypes are embedded with religious interpretations and practices, and also embedded within the regulatory legal framework, contributing to the overwhelming gap between genders.

Muslim women in Britain are the only religious group of women more likely to be economically inactive than active, this has been the case since the onset of large-scale migration of Muslim women to Britain from the 1960s. This thesis aims to examine and explain the persistent presence of Muslim women in the looking after home category of economic inactivity, over time and generation. A new system of state benefit payments is being rolled out across the UK; Universal Credit is likely to lead to changes in household economies and the ways in which Muslim women engage with the labour market. Qualitative research into economic inactivity has remained remarkably static over the years. This contrasts with the contemporary and vibrant field of quantitative studies of ethnic and religious inequalities in the labour market. This study applies a systematic mixed methods research approach, where both qualitative and quantitative paradigms are given equal weight at all stages. The quantitative component of the study involved multivariate analysis of the EMBES 2010 dataset. This analysis fed into the design of a qualitative phase of research which was undertaken over a period of nine months in an area of high Pakistani density. The study of labour market outcomes for Muslim women is made complex because of the layering of disadvantage and discrimination based on migrant status, gender, and social class as well as race, ethnicity and religion. This thesis attempts to engage with this complexity to describe and understand the interplay of structural and socio-cultural factors that lead to high levels of economic inactivity in the looking after home category. Evidence is found for both inter and intragenerational shifts and changes. Recently-arrived first generation women are the most marginalised within families, co-ethnic communities and labour markets - both in the mainstream and in the enclave.

This research examines the management control system (MCS) of a non-Big4 local Egyptian member firm (EMF) with the objectives of understanding and explaining how EMF's MCS is shaped by its idiosyncratic features as an accounting firm, as well as, its membership of a global network (NonA). The research situates accounting firms within the broader context of professional service firms, whose unique features, coupled with accounting firms' cost/quality conflict dilemma, require a control package approach. MCS is construed as a package of bureaucratic and clan controls. The research is theoretically informed by Ouchi's (1979, 1980) control typology, Malmi and Brown's (2008) notion of a package. A case study approach is used relying on interviews, documentation and observations in an interpretative qualitative research design.