This research into school identity studies school agency by focusing on how schools act to self-determine an aspirational international identity. Aspirational identity is conceptualized in Bourdieusian terms as intentional position-taking in the face of constraints, both external – field competition for capital resources – and internal - a subject’s habitus (which, for schools, necessitates critical evaluation of the putative notion of institutional habitus). Schools fundamentally distinct from many organizations in that a school’s identity subsumes a role in the determination of the identity of its students, may construe and pursue the realization of an element to their school identity that is international. Schools may do this by creating an international ethos, in order to internationalize student identity. In this study, to analyse ethos- and identity-internationalizing initiatives in a sufficiently broad, unifying manner, applicable to any type of school, use is made of Bernstein’s notion of the pedagogization of knowledge to inspire an analytical framework developed from the Pedagogic Device. Data from interviews with school leaders in 15 schools in 10 countries, showed ethos internationalizing initiatives to be divisible into three classes: firstly, initiatives pertaining to the medium by which knowledge is transmitted, particularly the language of instruction and the nationality mix of students and teachers; secondly, the knowledge transmitted to students may be deemed to be more or less international in content; thirdly, the knowledge to be transmitted may be prepared for transmission to students in ways that are more or less international by the process that Bernstein calls recontextualization. A potent means of internationalizing school identity and thus ethos was seen to be (international) recontextualization of knowledge by schools themselves, sometimes but not always in conjunction with an external agency. It was found that schools, irrespective of the composition by nationality of their student body, according to varying degrees of agency they display to construe and pursue an international identity for themselves and students, may be classified according to three ‘ideal types’: international identity creators; international identity assemblers; or international identity strengtheners. Some of the international identity strengtheners are shown to exhibit positive habitus to aspire to international identity as they stake more advantageous field positions by operating simultaneously in both national and transnational fields.

Denna fallstudie berör Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) och den interna kommunikationen av CSR inom finanssektorn. De organisationer studien har applicerats på är Swedbank och Nordea där studien belyser kommunikation av CSR från central nivå till lokal och vise versa. Idag blir företag i större utsträckning än tidigare granskade inom områdena samhällsarbete och hållbarhetsfrågor. Swedbank och Nordea är två stora aktörer inom finanssektorn, en sektor som tidigare setts ha en mer indirekt påverkan än direkt, och verkar för att samhället ska fungera genom in- och utlåning. Den externa kommunikationen från organisationerna bygger på att den interna kommunikationen ska fungera och leda till ett utförande av det som utlovas på hemsidor, CSR-rapporter, hållbarhetspolicys etc. För att undersöka detta har en kvalitativ fallstudie genomförts med intervjuer genomförda på central, regional och lokal nivå inom de både organisationerna. De slutsatser studien kan dra är att de båda organisationerna följer ord till handling och har inkorporerat CSR i den dagliga verksamheten. Vi ser skillnader organisationerna emellan i den interna kommunikationen av CSR där Swedbank har kommit en längre bit på vägen än Nordea. Den försiktiga kommunikationen och en otydlig definition av CSR har lett till att Nordeas anställda har en bristande medvetenhet kring organisationens CSR-arbete. Detta skapar en inkonsistens mellan Nordeas ideologi att de anställda ska ha en medvetenhet kring Nordeas CSR arbete och deras faktiska kommunikation internt. Swedbank har även i detta avseende kommit längre, då de har förenklat definitionen av CSR genom att bryta ned begreppet till mer lättförståeliga delar för de anställda. Det kan ännu diskuteras om CSR har blivit en institutionaliserad norm inom finanssektorn.

This study sought to research and documents the experiences of a group of Mexican undocumented college graduates in the state of Texas. Mexican students were chosen for this study because they are the largest undocumented group residing not only in the United States, but also in the state of Texas. Furthermore, this study revealed perceived and real opportunities Mexican undocumented students have after college graduation. The study focused on college choice as aspirational capital, Latina/o critical race theory (LatCrit) through testimonios as counternarratives, social capital, and cultural wealth to frame a discussion on the post-college experiences of Mexican undocumented college graduates. Furthermore, the study provided a review of legislation and policies addressing the broader immigration context. Overall, this study concluded that for the participants in this study, social capital as well as cultural wealth played important roles in how critical connections and networks operated. After exposure to social capital, participants were able to build their own networks and by tailoring it to their unique needs, were able to help their community by providing access and information about the college admissions process and available options after college graduation. In doing so, they were able to adapt, thrive, and survive within racist and discriminatory societal structures. College choice played a pivotal part in this study, but given the participants’ immigration status, they were left to attend institutions in their home state of Texas. However, given the participants academic acumen, they were able to attend and graduate from the state’s premier public flagship institution. Through their testimonios, activism, and civic engagement the participants shared their experiences as undocumented college students as well as college graduates. In the process, participants dispelled myths about their intellectual abilities and their potential to succeed. Still, their options were limited given their lack of a social security number. This study contributed to the limited literature about opportunities and challenges Mexican undocumented college students face upon degree completion. / text

This is an exploratory study with a purpose to gain an understanding of the middle class that is not situated in the cities in South Africa, whether this middle is served adequately in their areas. A population of middle class consumer who reside in the rural and small towns of South Africa and those who visit these areas was interviewed in in-depth face to face interviews. Expert interviews with retailers that they normally purchase from were also conducted. The study shows evidence of the middle class in the rural and small towns that goes out of their towns to source aspirational goods that are not available in their small towns. This class is aware of current styles and brands as they are exposed to media and they are influenced by those who live in the cities and also get exposure through their travels. It was also found that there is a number of the black middle class that currently resides in the cities however through their family ties in the rural and small town areas, they go back seasonally to be with their families and hence they expect to find the goods that they are accustomed to when they get there. The retailers had concerns with the size of the market in the rural and small towns, being small, however, this market does increase seasonally and models to serve a seasonal market are suggested. The research concludes that there is a middle class in the rural and small town areas of South Africa, this market grows seasonally and ways to service this market can be sought. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This dissertation focuses on the digital presentation of athletification, a process through which non-athletes incorporate an athletic identity into their self-concept. Although many studies have explored consumer behavior driven by team identification and how athletes manage impressions on social media, extant literature has devoted little attention to the symbolic meaning of virtual athletic identity and its impact on consumption from a non-athlete’s perspective. Using a multimethod approach, this dissertation is divided into three standalone essays and examines the following in the context of influencer marketing: 1) the use and role of digital athletic identity in building a digital self-brand; 2) the motivation and consequences of constructing a digital identity; and 3) the impact of a digital athletic identity on consumers. This dissertation contributes to the literature by constructing a theoretical foundation for athletification as a self-branding tool on social media and uncovering its influence on consumers’ attitudes and behaviors. These studies offer insights for social media influencers and marketers attempting to leverage their impacts on consumers. Findings also provide actionable strategies that could improve the promotional messages presented online. / Tourism and Sport

This dissertation investigates the role of architecture in the emergence of community identity with specific reference to the spontaneous surfacing and expansion of informal settlements within the South African context and the need for fundamental public service infrastructure provision. The aim is to understand and illustrate the significance of contextual infrastructure provision as catalyst in the emergence of social and cultural networks. In analysing the current innovative survival strategies induced by the community themselves, a theoretical premise will be established regarding the implications of an "African urbanist" approach to infrastructure and means of applying it in design. The current rate of urbanization within the South African context has resulted in several human settlements expanding organically, attempting to meet the increasing housing demands whilst neglecting the provision of platforms for various interwoven layers of urban fabric and public services. These platforms are integral in the shaping of cultural and community identity. The intent of the proposal is to provide an interface between the public and the built fabric that serves the needs of, as well as enhances the quotidian praxis within the Eastern Mamelodi precinct. The proposal intends to disclose an existing cultural language and identity by establishing physical loci that host and exhibit quotidian social practices unique to Mamelodi. Through theoretical and contextual enquiry the study provides an understanding of the role as well as the necessity of infrastructure architecture manifested into an appropriate solution which will facilitate the corroboration of a unique cultural identity. / Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Architecture / MArch(Prof) / Unrestricted

M. Tech. (Department of Marketing, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology / In the case of cosmetic products, which convey both psychological and symbolic benefits to consumers, it is imperative for marketers to expand the scope of product trial as it presents a novel strategy for signalling the success of new products. In lieu of this, considerable attention should be accorded to the ubiquitous role of influential consumers who are instrumental in influencing the behaviour of other consumers through exemplary conduct and/or interpersonal word-of-mouth (WOM) communication. In this vein, this study sought to examine the influence of selected factors on market maven tendency and the ultimate trial of new cosmetic products by female consumers in the southern Gauteng. This presents the need to examine empirically the role of market mavens who play an indispensable role in filling the omitted information gaps existing within the market. Particularly, this research is in response to calls for unremitting replications of the work seeking to establish the nomological variables that are antecedent to the market mavenism construct. The study drew from the confluence of the Two-step flow theory and the Stimulus Organism Response (SOR) theory, which provided theoretical lenses in understanding how various stimuli could possibly influence the maven tendency (organism) and the ultimate trial of new cosmetic products (response) by those mavens situated in the southern Gauteng region of South Africa. In view of achieving the overarching objective of this study, a sample survey was conducted in 2018 using a sample of female market mavens that were selected on referral basis, after applying the snowball sampling technique. In the cross-sectional based sample survey, a self-administered questionnaire was utilised. Drawing from the responses, a trichotomisation was developed, enabling the researcher to categorise the participants by including those individuals reporting either low (n=86), moderate (n=141) or high (n=248) maven tendency scores. Resultantly, the findings from a cross-section of 475 female mavens were admissible for statistical analysis. Drawing from the statistical analysis, the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) procedure steered the extraction of six components that are salient towards calibrating the tendency towards market mavenship among female consumers of cosmetic products. The scale items along these six components yielded acceptable internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged between 0.792 and 0.876), whereas the results of the descriptive statistics revealed mean score rankings above 4.0 across the six components, thereby signalling agreeability among the participants with regard to the determinants of market maven tendency. Likewise, weak to moderate correlation coefficients that were positive and statistically significant (p <0.01) were also established in this work (ranging between +0.297 and +0.639). This inferred the existence oflinear and direct relationships among the variables examined in this work. Based on this, it was possible to conduct a structural equation modelling procedure. Prior to testing the hypothesised relationships, model fit of the measurement model was evaluated. Moreover, analysis of the statistical accuracy measures in terms of the reliability and validity of the measurement model pointed to the existence of a six-variable structure of new product trial, comprising consumer innovativeness, aspirational attractiveness, social norms influence, advertising efficacy, market maven tendency and new cosmetic products’ trial. Correspondingly, the direction and prediction among these constructs was tested by specifying a structural model. The structural model yielded adequate fit indices. In terms of prediction, the four constructs, namely consumer innovativeness (ß=+0.441; Z=9.292; p<0.01), social norms influence (ß=+0.339; Z=7.272; p<0.01), advertising efficacy (ß=+0.293; Z=6.607; p<0.01) and aspirational attractiveness (ß=+0.182; Z=4.099; p<0.01) were proven to have positive and statistically significant predictive influence on market maven tendency, in that order. Together, the four stimuli are presumed to explain approximately 43 percent of the variance in the tendency towards market mavenship among the responding female consumers. Market maven tendency was confirmed as a predictor of new product trial in this research (ß=+0.478; Z=8.448; p<0.01). This latter path proved that the tendency towards market maven behaviour explains approximately 23 percent on the variance in new product trial among female mavens. These maiden findings suggest that it is possible to anchor the construct of market maven tendency along a broader behavioural science theory, comprising selected stimulus elements. In particular, the results derived in this study demonstrate the three-fold orientation of the female maven in terms of innate (consumer innovativeness), context-based (social norms influence and advertising efficacy) as well as the desired or sought-after (aspirational attractiveness) stimuli that influence market maven tendency. In addition, the study confirmed that new product trial could act as an invaluable tool for raising awareness about the features and benefits of new cosmetic products. Based on these results, it is recommended that marketing managers capitalise on the contribution of market mavens as auxiliary dispensers of new beauty product information.

The thesis focuses on bookfluencers – content creators that create content about books and reading. The study explores how they perceive the gifted books they receive from book publishers and other actors, which they are expected to create content about – often unpaid. The aim of the thesis is to investigate the aspirations behind bookfluencers’ content about gifted books and their experiences of reading them. Furthermore, it explores unpaid labour on social media platforms and attachment to art as an aspiration. How do bookfluencers on social media differ from literary critics in traditional media? The study’s methodology is semi-structured interviews with 10 Swedish bookfluencers. The theoretical framework consists of the concepts of “affective labor” (Hardt, 1999, p. 89; Hardt &amp; Negri, 2004, p. 108), “aspirational labour” (Duffy, 2015, p. 443), “attunement” (Felski, 2020, p. 41) and “work-net” (Felski, 2020, p. 144). The analysis emphasizes on the labour behind creating content about gifted books, how bookfluencers position themselves and their content in relation to literary criticism, and the processes of attunement to books that they are gifted. Main findings are that seeing reading as an aspiration behind content gives bookfluencers a certain power to negotiate, despite collaborators’ demands. Defining themselves as book recommenders rather than literary critics may imply other expectations on their labour. Further, expectations from collaborators can affect bookfluencers’ reading experiences: the need to adapt their content to the book market can be seen as a form of affective labour. In the last section, the thesis discusses different processes that affect the reading experience of a gifted book, and how bookfluencers imagine getting paid for their work in the future. It problematizes how social media platforms do not pay their content creators. Thus, possible future research topics can explore bookfluencers’ relations to social media platforms and book streaming platforms further.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The shaping of students. educational aspirations in their school and neighbourhood context is a complex process of confluence, and largely depends on their context-specific perceptions and conceptualisation. From a sociological perspective, this study focuses on how high-school students at a working-class school in a working-class neighbourhood shape their educational aspirations amidst their particular community dynamics. The study uses the analytical lens of space in order to investigate the underlying relationship between youth development and the youth.s educational aspirations in their neighbourhood context. It emphasises students. life experiences in two spaces, namely their residential space (the neighbourhood) and their institutional space (the school). This is an important focus in order to explore the dynamic relationship between students. spatial living dynamics and how they navigate within these to shape their educational aspirations. The study focuses on how the students experience the neighbourhood and school in relation to their educational aspirations, and how these aspects manifest in the shaping of their aspirations. Also key to the study is the students. prior socialisation processes with regard to their educational aspirations. The study.s primary point of departure is that there is a unique relationship between these students. living contexts and how they construct and position their educational aspirations within these contexts. The study belongs within the qualitative interpretative paradigm, as I attempt to describe and understand how these students consciously draw from practices and interactions in their living contexts to shape their educational aspirations. Qualitative research instruments, such as field notes, participatory and non-participatory observations as well as formal and informal interviews, were used to answer the research question and achieve the research objectives of the thesis. The findings are presented in narrative format according to relevant themes, and are also analysed on a narrative basis. The research shows how the students . based on their own resources, networks and interactions as well as their own agency . position themselves in relation to their educational aspirations in order to shape their aspirations. In this way, the study reveals how the participating students dualistically draw from the practices of both their living spaces . school as well as neighbourhood . in order to give content to their educational aspirations; how they navigate the shaping of their educational aspirations .in parallel., as it were, in line with both the aforementioned living contexts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Studente se opvoedkundige-aspirasievorming in hul skool- en woonbuurtkonteks is 'n komplekse proses van samevloeiing, en hang grootliks van hul konteksspesifieke opvattings en konseptualisering af. Uit 'n sosiologiese perspektief konsentreer hierdie studie op hoe hoërskoolstudente by 'n werkersklasskool in 'n werkersklaswoonbuurt aan hul opvoedkundige aspirasies gestalte gee te midde van hul besondere gemeenskapsdinamiek. Die studie gebruik die analitiese lens van ruimte ten einde ondersoek in te stel na die onderliggende verwantskap tussen jeugwording en die jongmense se opvoedkundige aspirasies in hul woonbuurtkonteks. Die klem val op studente se lewenservarings in twee ruimtes, naamlik hul omgewingsruimte (die woonbuurt) en hul institusionele ruimte (die skool). Dit is 'n belangrike fokuspunt ten einde die dinamiese verwantskap te ondersoek tussen studente se ruimtelike leefdinamiek en hoe hulle daarin hul weg baan ten einde aan hul opvoedkundige aspirasies gestalte te gee. Die studie konsentreer op hoe die studente die woonbuurt en skool met betrekking tot hul opvoedkundige aspirasies beleef, en hoe hierdie aspekte in hul aspirasievormingsprosesse na vore kom. Nog 'n belangrike faktor in die studie is die studente se vorige sosialiseringsprosesse met betrekking tot hul opvoedkundige aspirasies. Die hoofuitgangspunt van die studie is dat daar 'n unieke verwantskap bestaan tussen hierdie studente se leefkontekste en hoe hulle hul opvoedkundige aspirasies daarin konstrueer en plaas. Die studie hoort tuis binne die kwalitatief-vertolkende paradigma, aangesien ek probeer beskryf en verstaan hoe hierdie studente op beredeneerde wyse uit praktyke en wisselwerkings in hul leefkontekste put om hul opvoedkundige aspirasies te vorm. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsinstrumente soos veldnotas, deelnemende en niedeelnemende waarnemings sowel as formele en informele onderhoude is gebruik om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord en die navorsingsdoelwitte van die tesis te bereik. Die bevindings word in 'n narratiewe vorm aan die hand van tersaaklike temas aangebied en ook op 'n narratiewe grondslag ontleed. Die navorsing toon hoe die studente hulle - op grond van hul eie bronne, netwerke en wisselwerking sowel as hul eie agentskap - in verhouding tot hul opvoedkundige aspirasies plaas ten einde daaraan gestalte te gee. Sodoende onthul die studie hoe die deelnemerstudente op dualistiese wyse uit die praktyke van albei hul leefruimtes - skool en woonbuurt - put om hul opvoedkundige aspirasies te vorm; hoe hulle hul opvoedkundige-aspirasievorming as't ware 'parallel' in pas met albei voormelde twee leefkontekste navigeer.

This thesis examined the institutionalisation of ethics within Australian organisations. A particular focus is the role of the strategic apex, or executive level of the organisation, in establishing the environment in which an ethical culture can develop. The literature review examined both organisational theory and existing approaches to developing organisational ethical culture using formal mechanisms such as written policies, procedures, training and development and reinforcement strategies. This revealed the polarisation of ethics literature between compliance and integrity based approaches. This is seen to be consistent with only two forms of organizations, the mechanistic and organic structures. This was identified as a major flaw in ethics literature as it does not inform organisations about appropriate ethical design for organisations that fall in between this continuum. The review of organisational theory concluded that components of organisational structure are used to discuss organisational moral responsibility and are also the components of the compliance and integrity approaches to organisational ethics. A tentative hypothesis was established that organisational ethics systems would be more effective if they are in fit with an organisation's structure. The study utilised a qualitative case based research method, argued as appropriate given the focus being strategic alignment of organisational structure and ethics frameworks. Thus was also recognised as having limitations, specifically not addressing the behavioural impact of such strategies in a significant way. The study examined the ethical frameworks of three large organisations. This included: an analysis of background to the ethics strategy, the design process, who was given responsibility for design and implementation of the framework. The major characteristics of the program was considered, how it was encultured throughout the organisation and consideration of any evaluation mechanism. This was contrasted against the organization's structural characteristics to establish whether the ethical framework was in fit with the structure of the organization. The analysis and discussion identified that senior management support was evident in all three case studies and crucial to the development of an ethical culture. Extensive written policies (codes of ethics and conduct) were identified in all three cases; however, the extent of appropriate support systems determined the degree to which these policies were effective. There was a general lack of understanding of ethical systems within the organisation with little expertise evident by those responsible for the programs in terms of appropriate strategies for enculturation. Ineffective strategies were mainly due to lack of appropriate support mechanisms (communication, training, reinforcement and reward and review) or inconsistency between support mechanisms and other organisational policies A major conclusion of the thesis is that the strategies used for enculturation of ethics, are basic organisational design variables. As such ethical frameworks need to be informed by organisational theory so as to design systems that achieve fit which leads to greater effectiveness.