The difficulties non-native-English-speaking students encounter within the field of international education was explored though ethnographic research I conducted on a private Australian accounting college in China. This institute functions within a system and structure of education that has been designed elsewhere – generally for a native-English-speaking learner – under practices of standardization rather than specificity of context. Conflict experienced within everyday practices surrounding discourses of linguistic competences are uprooted to reveal how non-native-English-speaking students are positioned within this field. This positioning requires individuals to follow and recognize a system of learning, acceptable forms of knowledge, and a privileged way of communicating. When previously formed subject positions are individually and/or institutionally deemed in contradiction with this field, conflict within everyday practices arises. While counter-discourses were found within the use of native-languages, they were primarily negatively sanctioned within educational practices leading to further forms of standardization. / Graduate

O presente trabalho tem como principal objetivo estudar a influência da consultoria em iniciativas de Fuzzy Front End (FFE). Para tanto, conceituam-se os principais constructos que sustentam a análise, quais sejam: FFE, Nebulosidade, Modelo de Gestão de FFE e Modelo de Tomada de Decisão. Com o intuito de entender melhor o fenômeno em questão, o FFE, avalia-se, através de revisão bibliográfica, quais sãos os principais elementos capacitadores em gestão de FFE para os processos de inovação de produtos em empresas. Nesse sentido, foi elaborado um modelo de gestão FFE, com base em modelo preexistente, aprimorado com modelos de tomada de decisão. Foram empregados a metodologia de Estudo de Caso e o método de Extended Case Method, aplicado a consultorias que executam iniciativas de FFE em empresas clientes. A questão de pesquisa a ser respondida foi: Qual a influência das consultorias em iniciativas de FFE de empresas clientes? Foi construído também um modelo de geração de ideia para entender a gênese do surgimento da ideia em iniciativas de FFE. Da mesma forma, foi realizado o mapeamento do FFE dentro da ciência da administração, mostrando que o FFE deve ser entendido como o motor de geração e seleção de ideias para quaisquer tipos de mudança, e, para isso, recorreu-se à Teoria da Decisão, a fim de fazer a integração do FFE com os demais temas de ciências. Como resultado, este trabalho traz uma visão do FFE, verificando a aplicabilidade prática dos elementos capacitadores levantados na revisão da literatura; um modelo de gestão da dinâmica de interação e geração de competência entre consultorias e empresas clientes; bem como o reconhecimento do valor gerado pelas consultorias em iniciativas de FFE. / The main objective of this work is to study the influence of consulting on Fuzzy Front End initiatives (FFE). For this, the main constructs that support the analysis are: FFE, Fuzziness, FFE Management Model, Decision Making Model and Consulting. In order to better understand the phenomenon in question, the FFE, it is evaluated, through a bibliographic review, which are the main enablers in FFE management for the processes of product innovation in companies. In this sense, an FFE management model was elaborated, based on a preexisting model, improved with decision-making models. We used the Case Study methodology and the Extended Case Method, applied to consultancies that execute FFE initiatives in client companies. The research question is: What is the influence of consulting companies in FFE of client\'s enterprises? A model of idea generation was also designed to understand the genesis of the idea\'s emergence in FFE initiatives. In the same way, the mapping of the FFE within the science of administration was carried out, showing that the FFE should be understood as the engine of generation and selection of ideas for any type of change, and for this, we used Decision Theory, In order to integrate the FFE with other science subjects. As a result, this work brings a complete view of the FFE, verifying the practical applicability of the enablers in the literature; A management model of interaction dynamics and competence generation between consultancies and client companies; as well as the recognition of the value generated by consultancies in FFE initiatives.

O presente trabalho tem como principal objetivo estudar a influência da consultoria em iniciativas de Fuzzy Front End (FFE). Para tanto, conceituam-se os principais constructos que sustentam a análise, quais sejam: FFE, Nebulosidade, Modelo de Gestão de FFE e Modelo de Tomada de Decisão. Com o intuito de entender melhor o fenômeno em questão, o FFE, avalia-se, através de revisão bibliográfica, quais sãos os principais elementos capacitadores em gestão de FFE para os processos de inovação de produtos em empresas. Nesse sentido, foi elaborado um modelo de gestão FFE, com base em modelo preexistente, aprimorado com modelos de tomada de decisão. Foram empregados a metodologia de Estudo de Caso e o método de Extended Case Method, aplicado a consultorias que executam iniciativas de FFE em empresas clientes. A questão de pesquisa a ser respondida foi: Qual a influência das consultorias em iniciativas de FFE de empresas clientes? Foi construído também um modelo de geração de ideia para entender a gênese do surgimento da ideia em iniciativas de FFE. Da mesma forma, foi realizado o mapeamento do FFE dentro da ciência da administração, mostrando que o FFE deve ser entendido como o motor de geração e seleção de ideias para quaisquer tipos de mudança, e, para isso, recorreu-se à Teoria da Decisão, a fim de fazer a integração do FFE com os demais temas de ciências. Como resultado, este trabalho traz uma visão do FFE, verificando a aplicabilidade prática dos elementos capacitadores levantados na revisão da literatura; um modelo de gestão da dinâmica de interação e geração de competência entre consultorias e empresas clientes; bem como o reconhecimento do valor gerado pelas consultorias em iniciativas de FFE. / The main objective of this work is to study the influence of consulting on Fuzzy Front End initiatives (FFE). For this, the main constructs that support the analysis are: FFE, Fuzziness, FFE Management Model, Decision Making Model and Consulting. In order to better understand the phenomenon in question, the FFE, it is evaluated, through a bibliographic review, which are the main enablers in FFE management for the processes of product innovation in companies. In this sense, an FFE management model was elaborated, based on a preexisting model, improved with decision-making models. We used the Case Study methodology and the Extended Case Method, applied to consultancies that execute FFE initiatives in client companies. The research question is: What is the influence of consulting companies in FFE of client\'s enterprises? A model of idea generation was also designed to understand the genesis of the idea\'s emergence in FFE initiatives. In the same way, the mapping of the FFE within the science of administration was carried out, showing that the FFE should be understood as the engine of generation and selection of ideas for any type of change, and for this, we used Decision Theory, In order to integrate the FFE with other science subjects. As a result, this work brings a complete view of the FFE, verifying the practical applicability of the enablers in the literature; A management model of interaction dynamics and competence generation between consultancies and client companies; as well as the recognition of the value generated by consultancies in FFE initiatives.

<p>The main objective of the thesis is to study how people of African decent experience and deal with everyday discrimination and racism in a context where such racism is to a large degree concealed and/or denied. Everyday racism affecting people with an African background in Sweden is expressed in a number of different, often subtle and obscure, ways. It is experienced in a context of structural inequality between those who are racialized and those who are seen as the norm in society. The mystification that takes place in the public debate highly restricts the opportunities for resistance in an open and articulated manner. This is partly because silence leads to an insecurity about how to understand the racism experienced, for example, should it be defined as “racism” or as a “misunderstanding”? In addition, people who openly resist and protest tend to be discredited as exaggerating or being too sensitive. Consequently, resistance against structural discrimination in Sweden today is difficult. The findings demonstrate that interviewees deal with everyday racism in a variety of ways that can be categorized in to three broad strategies: mystifying the experiences of racism in one’s everyday life, longing for a place or context far away from Swedish racism and finally, keeping racism at a distance, including resisting and protesting within the existing limitations.</p>

The main objective of the thesis is to study how people of African decent experience and deal with everyday discrimination and racism in a context where such racism is to a large degree concealed and/or denied. Everyday racism affecting people with an African background in Sweden is expressed in a number of different, often subtle and obscure, ways. It is experienced in a context of structural inequality between those who are racialized and those who are seen as the norm in society. The mystification that takes place in the public debate highly restricts the opportunities for resistance in an open and articulated manner. This is partly because silence leads to an insecurity about how to understand the racism experienced, for example, should it be defined as “racism” or as a “misunderstanding”? In addition, people who openly resist and protest tend to be discredited as exaggerating or being too sensitive. Consequently, resistance against structural discrimination in Sweden today is difficult. The findings demonstrate that interviewees deal with everyday racism in a variety of ways that can be categorized in to three broad strategies: mystifying the experiences of racism in one’s everyday life, longing for a place or context far away from Swedish racism and finally, keeping racism at a distance, including resisting and protesting within the existing limitations.

This thesis aims at examining processes in capitalist food production through a case study of Vion’s Halls factory in Broxburn, Scotland, which closed in 2012. The researcher uses his position as a former employee to receive interviews with former workers at the factory to gain knowledge about what happened in the factory and how that relates to bigger developments in the economy. Concepts such as buyers-driven supply chains, absolute and relative value production and flexible accumulation are guiding the interviews, using parts of the extended case method. Through this theoretical approach, the intention is to reach a better understanding of the local process and its interplay with broader developments and at the same time hopes to contribute to the theoretical field. No solid conclusion about the relationship of power in the supply chain could be gained from the interviews even if, in line with other studies, it indicates a move toward a buyers-driven supply chain with production for the retailers’ labels instead of its own brand. This was not followed by changes in the form of production with more flexibility and adaptations to rapidly changing markets, as was the case in the clothing industry. Instead, the Fordist method of standardized mass production appears to be utilized. A picture emerges of how Vion tries to counteract falling profits by intensifying the work process and extending the hours of production. This was made partly through aggressive management and the employment of skilled agency workers, getting more produced with fewer workers and without any substantial investments in new machines or technology.

Abstract The central concern of this study is the nature of informal economic activities among urban traders in Harare, Zimbabwe. The study focuses on a particular flea market and describes the precarious lives of a sample of informal traders. It is shown that, as through much of Africa, the market is a social as well as an economic nexus. It is not only the site of economic production and exchange constituting the survivalist activities that are increasingly important in the collapsing Zimbabwe economy, but also the site of diverse social relations. The thesis also shows that the formal and informal are part of the same deeply segmented economy and not two distinct, separate economies. The extended case study method is used to describe and analyse the nature of informal trading activities among traders dealing in four types of goods commonly found at the flea market: clothes and shoes, DVDs and video games, arts and crafts, and second-hand books. Primary and secondary sources, interviews with policy experts, researchers and activists, a total of 70 semi-structured interviews with traders and participant observation, over a period of one and a half years were used to obtain data on the nature of the informal economy in the current Zimbabwe crisis, and to profile these traders. The thesis describes the daily lives of the traders, their social characteristics and work histories, and the social relations of trust and reciprocity which enable them to source their goods. It is shown that the majority of the traders live an extremely precarious existence marked by low, unstable incomes. However, they should not be viewed as passive victims of the economic crisis, as they demonstrate qualities of resourcefulness and innovation. Nor are they totally excluded from global circuits of production and exchange. Global connections are identified and shown to be relevant to the sourcing and sale of goods. These connections suggest an alternative way of conceptualising globalisation.

No description available.

This project entails a critical examination of the race/culture divide in human services from the vantage point of middle women non-professional grassroots advocates who emerged in the 1990s to address inequities that minoritized immigrants experience with main stream human services in Canada. The race/culture divide denotes critical race theorists' critique of a focus on cultural difference that obscures racism. Shaped by critical race theory and critical research methods, and drawing on interviews and participant observation involving 25 middle women, my findings reveal that the middle women's articulations of barriers and gaps as systemic inequities are at odds with main stream services' tendencies to focus on cultural challenges. This tension results in the discursive production of a cultural niche, a gendered space of exploitation of a culturally defined Middle Woman, who is thus rendered perpetually immigrant. The study illuminates how the Middle Woman navigates a complex and perilous tension between jeopardizing relationships with main stream organizations and simultaneously resisting what she experiences as disrespectful, unacceptable, unethical and overtly racist interfaces with human services. Although the middle women recounted numerous, visceral and detailed culturalist-racist interfaces in systemically racialized human service systems, they were equivocal about naming racism until I raised it directly. They gave meaning to "in Canada" experiences through their particular pre-migration realities in a process of continuous comparison between "back home" and "here," positioning them differentially in relation to Canada, and therefore also to the possibility of naming racism in Canada. The middle women engage in a continuous process of discerning racism, always weighing it against other explanations for inequitable treatment. The project thus draws attention to the toll that navigating the race/culture divide takes in embodying the sensed and draining the spirit. It draws attention to the process through which I, as a white researcher, came to see the workings of our racialized society. My research contributes to the literature on the race/culture divide and whiteness studies, and has implications for research on racism, dialogue about cultural competence and anti-racist practice, and conceptualizing settlement and responsive human services.