This doctoral thesis examines the construct of organizational identity of knowledge workers involved in a merger or acquisition, to gain insights into the complex social-behavioural responses of participants to perceptions of imposed integration of social groups. Following a qualitative case study methodology, this study used observation and interview data collection to capture the authentic experiences of participants from the host firm, and from the two acquired groups. The central curiosity guiding this study asked if continuity in subordinate identities, that transition relatively seamlessly from acquired to host organizations, offers the same adaptive or insulating effect against identity threat as superordinate identification. The central thesis proposed that despite the relative consistency between subgroup identities, the involuntary introduction of new members into a work team would continue to arouse perceptions of identity threat and provoke associated efforts to resist assimilation through withholding cohesion-building behaviours. The data were analysed using Atlas-ti to draw out key themes and patterns. The results suggested a relationship between the different integration strategies applied to the two acquisitions, and the participants’ perceptions of the integration. The data also suggested a relationship between levels of identity and reluctance to extend and engage in cohesion-building behaviours among host and adopted participants. Serendipitous findings pointed to potential triggers for the identity-related resistance, that most notably included status and dominance confusion that interfered with perceptions of identity continuity, and resistance to over-inclusion in superordinate and principle identities that lacked salience and distinctiveness. This paper introduced two new concepts to the field of identity research, including principle identity, and resistance to cohesion building behaviors. This paper also examined the perspectives of knowledge workers, as a distinctive cohort, to gain some insights into if and how a merger of like-professionals is experienced uniquely. Finally, the qualitative case study methodology offered an opportunity to examine the macro-economic contexts of the two acquisitions for relevance, and these contexts were found to be significant to a holistic understanding of the experiences of the integrations. / qualitative case study

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

This thesis investigated the role that local environmental factors play in influencing perceptions of crime and safety across three neighbourhoods within the Region of Peel, Ontario. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with local experts to examine their perceptions of crime and safety, and elements of the built and social environment that may influence these perceptions and identified dimensions of social capital that serve as pathways through which broader environmental determinants of crime and safety can become embedded at the local neighbourhood level. Findings of this research revealed that the perceived relationships between the social and built environment and crime are complex and that dimensions of social capital such as informal social ties serve as a mediator between the environment and perceptions about crime and how perceived and actual crime may be reduced by modifying elements of the built and social environment in order to strengthen local dimensions of social capital.

This thesis investigated the role that local environmental factors play in influencing perceptions of crime and safety across three neighbourhoods within the Region of Peel, Ontario. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with local experts to examine their perceptions of crime and safety, and elements of the built and social environment that may influence these perceptions and identified dimensions of social capital that serve as pathways through which broader environmental determinants of crime and safety can become embedded at the local neighbourhood level. Findings of this research revealed that the perceived relationships between the social and built environment and crime are complex and that dimensions of social capital such as informal social ties serve as a mediator between the environment and perceptions about crime and how perceived and actual crime may be reduced by modifying elements of the built and social environment in order to strengthen local dimensions of social capital.

Although different studies have been conducted on various aspects of the National Solidarity Program (NSP) in Afghanistan, research on strengthening solidarity and social cohesion through its participatory approach has received little attention. This research used development communication as a theoretical framework to understand the role of participatory communication in strengthening solidarity and social cohesion in Afghanistan. The study employed a qualitative case study. To this end, the study used semi-structured interviews via email and telephone with 10 participants. Thematic analysis was used to code and categorize the data. The study findings show that the NSP appears to promote participation and increase collectiveness among the Afghan people, which, in turn, seem to strengthen solidarity and social cohesion. Finally, future research areas are discussed in the light of these findings.

This research explores feelings of obligation to volunteer, which lie at the interface of volunteering as simultaneously individual and collective and challenge traditional understandings of volunteering as leisure. The study examined volunteering within the context of communitarianism, particularly how collective outcomes of volunteering are related to feelings of obligation to volunteer. Phase one of this research focused on scale creation of a measure assessing feelings of obligation in the context of volunteerism. Using exploratory factor analyses of data from a student sample, this first phase yielded two measures: an 18-item Obligation to Volunteer as Commitment measure (OVC), encompassing dimensions of reward, affective attachment, flexibility, and side bets; and a 14-item Obligation to Volunteer as Duty measure (OVD), encompassing the dimensions of expectation, burden, and constraint. In phase two, survey research was conducted with 300 volunteers at ten community organizations. These new measures were used to examine relationships between obligation to volunteer and the value orientations of individualism and collectivism, the experience of volunteering as serious leisure, and the community characteristics of sense of community and social cohesion. Both individualism and collectivism were associated with the commitment but not the duty dimension of feelings of obligation, and both value orientations, but particularly individualism, was linked to serious leisure. Serious leisure very closely aligned with the commitment aspect of obligation as well as sense of community and social cohesion, thus emerging as a possible pathway for nurturing sense of community in a culture of individualism. Correlation and hierarchical regression analyses link the commitment aspect of obligation to sense of community and social cohesion. Feelings of duty to volunteer, in contrast, were inversely related to sense of community. Thus, the nature of feelings of obligation related to volunteering as commitment or duty have significant implications for the collective outcomes of volunteering, particularly sense of community. Also notable are the strong theoretical and empirical relationships between the OVC scale and serious leisure, which suggest that the newly-developed commitment scale could be considered a measure of the agreeable obligation that accompanies serious leisure pursuits.

Användningen av sociala medier har ökat och är en självklar del av livet för många. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur högskolestudenter påverkas av sociala medier och hur de använder sociala medier för att skapa social sammanhållning i klassen och i privatlivet. Vidare studerades eventuella skillnader mellan kvinnor och män samt hur studenterna uppfattade sociala mediers betydelse i allmänhet. Insamling av material gjordes genom kvalitativa intervjuer med en hermeneutisk metodansats. Åtta studenter på Högskolan i Halmstad intervjuades varav fyra män och fyra kvinnor. Materialet tolkades med teorierna tillhörighet av May, Scheffs sociala band och Goffmans frontstage och backstage. Resultaten som framkom visade att deltagarna påverkades av sociala medier, dels på ett negativt sätt då sociala medier kunde bidra till att användare jämför sig med andra men även på ett positivt sätt då sociala medier underlättade kommunikationen både i skolan och i privatlivet samt bidrog till social sammanhållning inom högskoleklassen. / The usage of social media has increased and is a given part of life for many. The purpose of this study was to examine how university students is influenced by social media and how they use social media to create social cohesiveness within the class and in private life. Furthermore, were possible differences between women and men studied and how the students think of social media´s importance in general. The study was conducted through qualitative interviews with a hermetic method approach. Eight students at Halmstad University were interviewed, four males and four women. The material was interpreted using May´s theory belonging, Scheff´s theory social bond and Goffman´s theory frontstage and backstage. The results showed that the participants were influenced by social media, in a negative way as social media could contribute to user´s comparison with others but also in a positive way as social media made it easier to communicate both in school and in private life and contributed to social cohesiveness within the university class.

A pesquisa apresenta o fenômeno da rotatividade, composta por evasão, trocas e outras saídas, em 193 assentamentos do Rio Grande do Sul, com ênfase na evasão de lotes. Esta é entendida como a saída do Programa de Reforma Agrária e foi correlacionada com 16 variáveis: a) crédito instalaçãomodalidade apoio; b) crédito instalação-modalidade materiais de construção; c)PRONAF A; d)percentual de lotes sem água; e) sem luz; f) sem casa; g) qualidade das estradas internas; h) estradas externas; i) qualidade dos solos; j) tipo de prestadora da assistência técnica, l) executor do assentamento, m) ano de implantação; n) tipo de público; o) a região de implantação; p) religião do evadido; e q) seu estado civil. Estas variáveis e a evasão foram obtidas com dados secundários no INCRA e no GRAC, o órgão de terras estadual. As duas últimas variáveis foram testadas somente em dois estudos de casos, realizados na forma de etnografias. Isto foi necessário para dar conta da hipótese central, de que a evasão é facilitada em situações de baixa coesão social, haja vista que quase todas as variáveis se referem à dimensão material da questão, notadamente problemas de crédito e infra-estrutura. Para a compreensão dos processos que levam à coesão social nos assentamentos, lançamos mão do aporte teórico da sociologia da crítica, com contribuições pontuais de outros autores, tais como Bourdieu, Elias, Wolf e Martins, entre outros, além da antropologia, principalmente através da noção de reciprocidade, neste caso, com o aporte essencial de Sabourin e Caillé. Os resultados obtidos revelam uma estimativa da média de evasão nos assentamentos de 22 %, porém com diferenças regionais grandes, onde, na metade norte do Estado, encontramos algo em torno de 10%, e na metade sul, quase 30%. Não obtivemos correlação de nenhuma variável da chamada dimensão material com a evasão, ao passo que verificamos a centralidade das relações de reciprocidade, em especial o parentesco, na forma da família extensa e do compadrio e das relações com os vizinhos, “gaúchos” e fazendeiros, na construção da coesão social e no estancamento da evasão. Esta se dá concomitante à contenção de conflitos, onde a Assembléia de Deus, Igreja Pentecostal, assume posição preponderante nos casos estudados. Os evangélicos, assim como os casados, tendem a uma menor rotatividade e evasão, pois caminham para um maior fortalecimento de laços sociais, quando comparados com os solteiros e os católicos. Por último, discutimos o papel dos mediadores, principalmente a assistência técnica, os técnicos dos órgãos de terra e as lideranças do MST, num ambiente de disputas e acordos entre projetos corporativos, por nós denominados: projeto tradicional-camponês, projeto socialista-coletivista e projeto empresarial, além das estratégias não corporáveis, que podem levar ao rentismo e à evasão propriamente. / The research presents the rotating phenomenon, composed by escape, exchange and others exits, in 193 settlements of Rio Grande do Sul, with emphasis in parcels escape. It is understood like the land reform escape and was correlated with 16 factors: a) install credit- support modality, b) install credit – construction materials modality, c) PRONAF A, d) percentage of parcels without water, e) without light parcels, f) percentage of parcels without house, g) internal road quality, h) external road quality, i) soil quality, j) technical assistance kind l) settlement executor, m) implant year, n) public type o) implant region, p) escaped religion, q) escaped civil state. These factors and the escape were got in secondary dates of INCRA and GRAC, the state land institution. The two last factors were tested only in ethnographic cases. It was necessary to respond the central hypothesis, where the escape is facilitated in low social cohesion situations, because almost all factors refers to the question material dimension, in particular, infra-structure and credit problems. To social cohesion process understanding, we made use the criticism sociology theoretic support, with other authors punctuals contributions, like Bourdieu, Elias, Wolf and Martins, among others; beyond the anthropology, mainly throw the reciprocity notion, in this case with the Sabourin and Caillé essential support. The results reveal a 22% settlement escape average estimative, however, with great regional differences, where, in state half northern, we found nearly 10%, and in half southern, almost 30%. We did not get correlation of no material dimension factors with escape, but we verified the reciprocity relations centrality, in special, the kinship, in extend family and “compadrio” form, and the neighbor relationship, “gaúchos” and farmers, in the social cohesion construction and in the escape stopping. It occur concomitant the contention conflict, where God Assembly, a Pentecostal Church, assumes a preponderant position in the studied cases. The evangelicals, just like the married, tend to low escape and rotation, because they lead to higher social laces strengthening, in comparison with catholic and singles. Finally, we discussed the mediator paper, mainly the technical assistance, land institutions technical and MST leaders, in a corporation projects struggle ambient, we denominated: peasant–traditional project, collectivist-socialist project and enterprise project, beyond the no corporeal strategies, that can lead to rental and escape.

O modelo convencional de organização da cadeia de produção e distribuição de alimentos é baseado na dependência cada vez maior do capital financeiro e industrial, no uso de agroquímicos, adubos, fertilizantes industriais e de outras técnicas provenientes da Revolução Verde, na livre circulação de mercadorias nos países e na inserção de intermediários na cadeia de distribuição. Esse modelo representa um movimento de mercantilização da agricultura e prejudica a autonomia dos indivíduos sobre a sua reprodução material e social, fazendo com que a sociedade enfrente um incremento de pobreza, insegurança alimentar, êxodo rural, danos à saúde e ao meio ambiente, assim como uma perda do senso de comunidade e de solidariedade. Além da compreensão do conceito e das formas de expressão do movimento de mercantilização, a lente teórica, que tem origem em Karl Polanyi, possibilita capturar o conceito da pluralidade e da coexistência dos princípios de regulação econômica e também do contramovimento como uma forma de resistência e de resgate da autonomia relativa dos indivíduos. É nesse contexto que a Agricultura Sustentada pela Comunidade (CSA) surge como uma possibilidade de contramovimento ao mercado convencional de alimentos ao adicionar uma qualidade ao ato de alimentar-se pela produção agroecológica e ao reconectar produção e consumo mediante o encurtamento da cadeia de distribuição. O problema que norteou a pesquisa desta dissertação foi compreender quais seriam as formas de contramovimento que se configuram na Agricultura Sustentada pela Comunidade diante da generalização do processo de mercantilização. Por isso, o objetivo geral consistiu em compreender e analisar, em uma experiência real de CSA situada na região sudeste do Brasil, os padrões de troca não mercantil em operação e os fatores que favorecem a autonomia relativa e elevam a coesão social de produtores e consumidores que participam da experiência observada. O método empregado foi a observação participante, utilizando as técnicas da etnografia. Em termos gerais, os resultados encontrados na pesquisa sinalizam que os indivíduos não são passivos diante dos efeitos da mercantilização e articulam-se em movimentos que buscam proteção e ganho de autonomia. Os resultados confirmam a hipótese inicial de que nas atividades de CSA coexistem, com a troca de mercado, outros princípios de regulação da economia, especificamente a reciprocidade, que aparece em diversos momentos, desde as motivações para o engajamento dos indivíduos até a forma em que a própria troca é realizada. Isso porque ao privilegiar nas suas trocas o ato em vez do objeto e do interesse privado, há menção a uma relação mais humana que permite o estabelecimento de amizade, solidariedade, tolerância, fidelidade e comprometimento mútuos, mas, principalmente, possibilita a ampliação da autonomia relativa dos indivíduos e o estabelecimento de um senso de comunidade, que se faz em torno do alimento. Na pesquisa, foram identificados três fatores específicos desta eficácia: a forma de produzir o alimento, oposto ao da agricultura tradicional, o encurtamento da cadeia e as atividades em conjunto mobilizadas pelo grupo de agricultores e consumidores. Desta forma, a Agricultura Sustentada pela Comunidade constitui um contramovimento à mercantilização na agricultura e aparece como uma alternativa eficaz na construção da autonomia daqueles que estão entrelaçados nessa rede de alimentos e na ampliação da coesão social. Os resultados e conclusões apresentados ao longo da dissertação ganham relevância na medida em que contribuem com novas informações e possibilidades de atuação na reversão do êxodo rural, na diminuição da pobreza, na redução de gastos públicos em saúde com uma alimentação mais saudável, assim como na promoção de iniciativas de preservação do meio ambiente. / The conventional model of organization of the production and distribution of food chain is based on the increasing dependence on the financial and industrial capital, the use of agrochemicals, fertilizers, industrial fertilizers and other techniques from the Green Revolution, the free circulation of goods in countries and the inclusion of intermediaries in the distribution chain. This model represents a movement of commodification of agriculture and undermines the autonomy of individuals concerning their material and social reproduction, leading society to a status of poverty, food insecurity, rural exodus, damage to health and environment, as well as to a loss of sense of community and solidarity. In addition to understanding the concept and the ways of expression of the commodification movement, the theoretical approach, based on Karl Polanyi, enables to capture the concept of plurality and coexistence of the principles of economic regulation and also the countermovement as a form of resistance and rescue of the individuals’ autonomy. In this context, the Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) emerges as a possibility of countermovement to the conventional food market to add quality to the act of feeding by the agroecological production and to reconnect production and consumption by shortening the supply chain. The problem that guided the research of this dissertation was to understand what are the forms of countermovement that are present in the Community-Supported Agriculture before the generalization of the commodification process. Therefore, the overall objective was to understand and analyze, in a real experience of CSA located in southeast region of Brazil, the patterns of non-market exchange and the elements that favor the relative autonomy and increase social cohesion among producers and consumers participating in the observed experience. The method used was participant observation, using the techniques of ethnography. In general, the results found in the study show that individuals are not passive before the effects of commodification and they articulate in movements that seek protection and autonomy. The results confirm the initial hypothesis that, in the CSA, activities coexist with the exchange market, such as other principles of regulation of economy, especially reciprocity, which appears at various times, in motivation for engagement and in the way the exchange itself is performed. This happens because, when they prioritize their exchanges act instead of the object and the private interest, they develop a more human relationship that allows the establishment of friendship, solidarity, tolerance, mutual fidelity and commitment and also enable the expansion of autonomy of individuals and establish a sense of community, which is around the food. In this study, we have identified three specific elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the process: the way of producing food, as opposed to traditional agriculture, the shortening of chain and the activities in group promoted by the group of farmers and consumers. Thus, the Community-Supported Agriculture is a countermovement to the commodification in agriculture and an effective alternative in the construction of autonomy of those who are part of this net of food and in the expansion of social cohesion. The results and conclusions presented throughout the dissertation are relevant since they contribute with new information and possibilities of actions to slowdown rural exodus, alleviate poverty, reduce public spending on health with a healthier diet, as well as to promote the development of initiatives to preserve the environment.

A pesquisa apresenta o fenômeno da rotatividade, composta por evasão, trocas e outras saídas, em 193 assentamentos do Rio Grande do Sul, com ênfase na evasão de lotes. Esta é entendida como a saída do Programa de Reforma Agrária e foi correlacionada com 16 variáveis: a) crédito instalaçãomodalidade apoio; b) crédito instalação-modalidade materiais de construção; c)PRONAF A; d)percentual de lotes sem água; e) sem luz; f) sem casa; g) qualidade das estradas internas; h) estradas externas; i) qualidade dos solos; j) tipo de prestadora da assistência técnica, l) executor do assentamento, m) ano de implantação; n) tipo de público; o) a região de implantação; p) religião do evadido; e q) seu estado civil. Estas variáveis e a evasão foram obtidas com dados secundários no INCRA e no GRAC, o órgão de terras estadual. As duas últimas variáveis foram testadas somente em dois estudos de casos, realizados na forma de etnografias. Isto foi necessário para dar conta da hipótese central, de que a evasão é facilitada em situações de baixa coesão social, haja vista que quase todas as variáveis se referem à dimensão material da questão, notadamente problemas de crédito e infra-estrutura. Para a compreensão dos processos que levam à coesão social nos assentamentos, lançamos mão do aporte teórico da sociologia da crítica, com contribuições pontuais de outros autores, tais como Bourdieu, Elias, Wolf e Martins, entre outros, além da antropologia, principalmente através da noção de reciprocidade, neste caso, com o aporte essencial de Sabourin e Caillé. Os resultados obtidos revelam uma estimativa da média de evasão nos assentamentos de 22 %, porém com diferenças regionais grandes, onde, na metade norte do Estado, encontramos algo em torno de 10%, e na metade sul, quase 30%. Não obtivemos correlação de nenhuma variável da chamada dimensão material com a evasão, ao passo que verificamos a centralidade das relações de reciprocidade, em especial o parentesco, na forma da família extensa e do compadrio e das relações com os vizinhos, “gaúchos” e fazendeiros, na construção da coesão social e no estancamento da evasão. Esta se dá concomitante à contenção de conflitos, onde a Assembléia de Deus, Igreja Pentecostal, assume posição preponderante nos casos estudados. Os evangélicos, assim como os casados, tendem a uma menor rotatividade e evasão, pois caminham para um maior fortalecimento de laços sociais, quando comparados com os solteiros e os católicos. Por último, discutimos o papel dos mediadores, principalmente a assistência técnica, os técnicos dos órgãos de terra e as lideranças do MST, num ambiente de disputas e acordos entre projetos corporativos, por nós denominados: projeto tradicional-camponês, projeto socialista-coletivista e projeto empresarial, além das estratégias não corporáveis, que podem levar ao rentismo e à evasão propriamente. / The research presents the rotating phenomenon, composed by escape, exchange and others exits, in 193 settlements of Rio Grande do Sul, with emphasis in parcels escape. It is understood like the land reform escape and was correlated with 16 factors: a) install credit- support modality, b) install credit – construction materials modality, c) PRONAF A, d) percentage of parcels without water, e) without light parcels, f) percentage of parcels without house, g) internal road quality, h) external road quality, i) soil quality, j) technical assistance kind l) settlement executor, m) implant year, n) public type o) implant region, p) escaped religion, q) escaped civil state. These factors and the escape were got in secondary dates of INCRA and GRAC, the state land institution. The two last factors were tested only in ethnographic cases. It was necessary to respond the central hypothesis, where the escape is facilitated in low social cohesion situations, because almost all factors refers to the question material dimension, in particular, infra-structure and credit problems. To social cohesion process understanding, we made use the criticism sociology theoretic support, with other authors punctuals contributions, like Bourdieu, Elias, Wolf and Martins, among others; beyond the anthropology, mainly throw the reciprocity notion, in this case with the Sabourin and Caillé essential support. The results reveal a 22% settlement escape average estimative, however, with great regional differences, where, in state half northern, we found nearly 10%, and in half southern, almost 30%. We did not get correlation of no material dimension factors with escape, but we verified the reciprocity relations centrality, in special, the kinship, in extend family and “compadrio” form, and the neighbor relationship, “gaúchos” and farmers, in the social cohesion construction and in the escape stopping. It occur concomitant the contention conflict, where God Assembly, a Pentecostal Church, assumes a preponderant position in the studied cases. The evangelicals, just like the married, tend to low escape and rotation, because they lead to higher social laces strengthening, in comparison with catholic and singles. Finally, we discussed the mediator paper, mainly the technical assistance, land institutions technical and MST leaders, in a corporation projects struggle ambient, we denominated: peasant–traditional project, collectivist-socialist project and enterprise project, beyond the no corporeal strategies, that can lead to rental and escape.