The impact of ethnic residential concentration on the process of integration of ethnic minorities into the mainstream society has been increasingly debated among both scholars and policy makers across Europe. This thesis seeks to contribute to this debate by addressing the effect of ethnic residential concentration on the political participation of Black Africans in Britain. The study pursues three main objectives: investigating the marginalising or mobilising impact of co-ethnic residential concentration on political participation; disentangling the processes underpinning this relationship by focusing on the effect of ethnic-based social networks, represented here by voluntary organisations, religious institutions and informal social networks; exploring the influence of the immigration-related heterogeneity that characterises the Black African community on the relationship between residential concentration, ethnic social networks and political participation. A mixed-method approach is adopted. The quantitative enquiry focuses on the Black African community as a whole and relies on secondary data drawn from the 2010 Ethnic Minority British Electoral Survey. The qualitative enquiry is based on primary data collected through face-to-face interviews and participant observation among Ghanaians and Somalis in London. The quantitative analysis shows that, among Black Africans, residential concentration has a mobilising effect on voter turnout but a marginalising effect on non-electoral participation. Ethnic social networks do not seem to mediate this relationship. Residential concentration is significantly, and positively, correlated to individual participation in ethnic places of worship and embeddedness in ethnic informal networks but not to involvement in ethnic organisations. In turn, the latter positively influences non-electoral engagement whereas ethnic places of worship and informal networks are not related to political engagement. The qualitative findings suggest that residential concentration is more relevant for the creation of and participation in ethnic organisations among Somalis than among Ghanaians. However, this relationship is likely to be influenced by other contextual factors such as institutional support, ethnic diversity and tribal homogeneity. Somali organisations also seem to play a more active political role than Ghanaian groups with regard to both electoral and non-electoral engagement. The two communities appear to be more similar when considering the relationship between ethnic religious institutions and informal connections with co-ethnics. These networks are not necessarily dependent on ethnic residential clustering and their effect on political engagement is primarily linked to informal political discussion. Overall, the results suggest that the relationship between residential concentration, ethnic social networks and political participation of Black Africans varies considerably between the two national groups researched, primarily due to their immigration-related characteristics, as well as across modes of political engagement (i.e. electoral, non-electoral) and local contexts.

Engagement in networking is described as a facilitator for an individual's career progression. Research has shown how men tend to benefit from informal networking, and difficulties appearing for women to penetrate these male informal networks. Formal networks have thereby arisen as a countermeasure, and more precisely, women-only-networks, which have been argued to serve as a means for women in their career. However, there is limited knowledge of the experienced role women-only-networks provide for female career progression. Through qualitative research with an inductive approach, top-position women in the financial industry were interviewed. The study’s results show how women-only-networks work as a facilitator for women's career progression, both through soft values such as providing women with a community of relatedness, as well as career enhancing resources such as recruitment possibilities. Further, the results display how women-only-networks serve a collective purpose for women as they facilitate change of existing gender structures in the industry. The overall conclusion is hence that women-only-networks have an equal worth in themselves for female career progression as mens’ informal networks have for male career progression.

No description available.

This thesis concerns Social Network Analysis as a mechanism for exploring Community Dynamics. To be able to use the Social Network methodologies, relationships existing between the modeling entities are required. In this thesis, we use two different kinds of relationships: e-mails exchanged and co-authorship of papers. The e-mails exchanged, as an indicator of information exchange in an organization, is used to facilitate the emergence of structure within the organization. In this thesis we demonstrate the effectiveness of using e-mail communication patterns for crisis detection in a hierarchically set organization. We compare the performance of a Social Network based Classifier with some of the traditional classifiers from the data mining framework for inferring this hierarchy. A generic framework for studying dynamic group transformations is presented and the co-authorship of papers, as an indicator of collaboration in an academic institution, is used to study the community behavioral patterns evolving over time. Enron e-mail corpus and the IISc Co-authorship Dataset are utilized for illustrative purposes.

The doctoral thesis examines Queensland's music industry in terms of concepts derived from cluster and network theories in the context of literature discussing creative industries. To this end, the thesis is conceived as one case study incorporating quantitative surveys, convergent interviews and document analyses as its units of investigation. This is necessary because it is the industry as a whole that is the object of theorizing (in terms of Porter and network theory). The 357 firms surveyed represent the creative content producers, distributors and suppliers that comprise Queensland's music industry. The sample for the survey was randomly selected from a universe of 10977 individuals and/or organisations involved in the following sectors of Queensland's music business: music publishing, record companies and distributors, recorded music retailing, other performing arts/music and theatre productions, music composition, and music performance. The data was analysed to understand and describe the nature of firms in the industry and investigate cluster and network dynamics in the operation of the industry. Twenty convergent interviews were also undertaken to further elaborate the qualitative dimensions of cluster and network dynamics in the industry, with particular attention to understanding how the factor input conditions of Porter's cluster model work in practice in the industry, as well as elucidating network effects not adequately addressed by Porter's theory. Policy and industry documents relating to Queensland's music industry were used to contextualise the findings. The conclusions articulate how Queensland's music industry operates as a cluster, and how innovation and creativity are facilitated. The thesis finds Porter's model insufficient to describe some key aspects of this industry's operation. Face-to-face communication, trust and informal networks combine explicit and tacit knowledge to bring about innovation. Thus the industry should be conceived of as a cluster of networks. Furthermore, the findings problematise the notion of distance in cluster and network theories. Traditionally, distance has been conceived in geographic terms; the findings suggest that in the music industry, distance must be understood as cognitive and cultural as well as geographic. The findings provide a detailed set of theoretical modifications to cluster and network theories. Implications are discussed for industry development and policy in Queensland's music industry.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-09-08T14:02:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 iaramarquesdonascimento.pdf: 1878275 bytes, checksum: 03d9a85935e82490d257ad7a17cb5672 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-10-04T12:28:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 iaramarquesdonascimento.pdf: 1878275 bytes, checksum: 03d9a85935e82490d257ad7a17cb5672 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-10-04T12:28:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 iaramarquesdonascimento.pdf: 1878275 bytes, checksum: 03d9a85935e82490d257ad7a17cb5672 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-04T12:28:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 iaramarquesdonascimento.pdf: 1878275 bytes, checksum: 03d9a85935e82490d257ad7a17cb5672 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-25 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A proposta da dissertação é compreender a importância da comunicação interna nos processos de construção e reconstrução de sentidos e significados adequados as necessidades das organizações, levando em consideração os objetivos estratégicos da mesma. Observa-se a pertinência da hipótese de que a comunicação interna é capaz de colocar em circulação e articular sentidos que fomentam a realidade organizacional. Este processo é observado a partir da percepção dos funcionários da Viação Progresso em relação à construção da identidade organizacional. Parte-se do pressuposto teórico de que os processos comunicacionais constituem-se por meio de relacionamentos e interações, sendo percebidos enquanto fenômenos simbólicos e discursivos. Neste sentido, trabalha-se com o interacionismo simbólico, o construtivismo e o pensamento complexo, e leva-se em conta elementos como participação e cultura organizacional para a articulação dos processos. No percurso, são destacadas as redes formais de comunicação, com as interações face a face, e as redes informais, com as redes sociais de comunicação informal, mais especificamente a rádio peão. Por meio das metodologias de análise de conteúdo e da utilização de pressupostos da análise de discurso e texto, busca-se compreender a percepção dos funcionários sobre a comunicação interna e elabora-se uma possibilidade de leitura da mesma enquanto processo relacional e discursivo. / The purpose of this dissertation is to understand the importance of internal communication in the processes of construction and reconstruction of meanings appropriate to the needs of organizations, taking into account the strategic objectives of same. It is observed the relevance of the hypothesis that internal communication is able to put into circulation and articulate meanings that promotes the organizational reality. This process is seen from the perception of employees Viação Progresso relating to the construction of organizational identity. It started from the theoretical assumption that communication processes are constituted through relationships and interactions, and perceived as symbolic and discursive phenomena. In this sense, it works with symbolic interactionism, constructivism and complex thought, and takes into account factors such as participation and organizational culture to articulate the processes. On the way, is highlighted the formal networks of communication, with face to face interactions, and informal networks, with social networks of informal communication, specifically the rádio peão. Through the methodologies of content analysis and use of assumptions of discourse analysis and text, seeks to understand the perception of employees on the internal communication and prepare a chance to read the same process as relational and discursive.

La tesi ha l’obiettivo di analizzare il cambiamento organizzativo in una prospettiva di social network analysis, sfruttando dati longitudinali raccolti a seguito della modifica della struttura organizzativa in un Policlinico Universitario italiano. Il manoscritto è organizzativo in tre paper. Il primo paper si focalizza sul tema del rapporto tra network formali e network informali, analizzando come la modifica del primo comporti una corrispondente variazione nel secondo. Il paper dimostra come, in assenza di strutture organizzative ben formalizzate, gli individui tendono ad allacciare nuovi legami con colleghi che appartengono alla stessa specializzazione. Il secondo paper, invece, attingendo prettamente alla letteratura di comportamento organizzativo, analizza il tema della dinamicità del network, fornendo evidenze in relazione alla stabilità del network stesso a seguito del cambiamento. Particolare attenzione, è inoltre, dedicata alle dinamiche intra – team e al ruolo di quest’ultime nell’accettazione o meno del cambiamento. Infine, il terzo paper sviluppa il tema della network density e di come quest’ultima possa essere correlato al cambiamento organizzativo, in termini di reazione al cambiamento. Inoltre, si dimostra come la formalizzazione abbia un impatto positivo sulla densità del network, specie in contesti organizzativi caratterizzati da una bassa gerarchia e coordinamento orizzontale. / This thesis aims to analyze organizational change in a social network analysis perspective, exploiting longitudinal data collected after a modification of the organizational structure in an Italian Teaching Hospital The manuscript is organized into three papers. The first paper focuses on the theme of the relationship between formal networks and informal networks, analyzing how the modification of the first involves a corresponding variation in the second. The paper demonstrates how, in the absence of formalized organizational structures, individuals tend to establish new ties with colleagues who belong to the same specialization. The second paper, drawing purely from the organizational behavior literature, analyzes the issue of the network dynamics , providing evidence and antecedents for network stability in response to organizational change. Particular attention is also given to the intra - team dynamics and the impact of individual perception of collective properties in driving employees in accepting or not the organizational change. Finally, the third paper develops the theme of network density and how the latter can be related to organizational change, in terms of reaction to change. Furthermore, it is shown how formalization has a positive impact on network density, especially in organizational contexts characterized by a low hierarchy and horizontal coordination.

The overall purpose of this dissertation is to provide an empirical study of the post-Cold War EastAsian security setting, with the aim of understanding why there is an East Asian peace. The EastAsian peace exists in a region with a history of militarised conflicts, home to many of the world'slongest ongoing militarised problems and a number of unresolved critical flashpoints. Thus, thepost-Cold War East Asian inter-state peace is a paradox. Despite being a region predicted to be ripefor conflict, there have not only been less wars than expected, but the region also shows severalsigns of a development towards a more durable peace. The dominant research paradigm –neorealism – has painted a gloomy picture of post-Cold War East Asia, with perpetual conflictsdominating the predictions. Other mainstream international relations theories, too, fail to accountfully for the relative peace. One of the greatest problems for mainstream theories, is accounting forpeace given East Asia's lack of security organisations or other formalised conflict managementmechanisms. Given this paradox/problem, this dissertation sets out to ask "Why is there a relativepeace in the East Asian security setting despite an absence of security organisations or otherformalised mechanisms to prevent existing conflicts from escalating into violence?" In order to answer this question, the case of East Asian peace is approached by comparingthree embedded case studies within the region: the Taiwan issue, the South China Sea, and theKorean nuclear conflict. It explores the full range of informal and formal processes plus the ConflictPrevention and Peacebuilding Mechanisms (CPPBMs) that have been important for the creation ofa continuing relative peace in East Asia between 1990 and 2008. The study furthermore focuses onChina's role in the three cases, on an empirical basis consisting of interviews conducted with keypersons during more than 1.5 years fieldwork in China. The three cases show that informal processes exist, and that they have furthermore beenimportant for peace, both by preventing conflicts from escalating into war, and by buildingconditions for a stable longer-term peace. Their impact on the persistence of peace has been tracedto a range of different CPPBMs. Returning to the level of the East Asian case, a common feature ofmany of the identified processes is that they can be understood as aspects or manifestations of theEast Asian regionalisation process. Specifically, elite interactions (personal networks, track twodiplomacy), back-channel negotiations, economic interdependence and integration, and functionalcooperation have together with (China's acceptance of) multilateralism and institutionalisation (ofpeaceful relations) been of high importance for the relative peace. Whereas formalised conflictmanagement mechanisms and the U.S. presence have also contributed to peace, this dissertationshows their contribution to be much more limited.

Ever since the military takeover of 1952, the post-monarchic political system of Egypt has been dependent upon a variety of mechanisms and structures to establish and further consolidate its powerbase. Among those, an intertwined web of what could be described as ‘patronage politics’ emerged as one of the main foundations of these tools and was utilized by the regime to establish the fundamentals of its rule. Throughout the post-1952 era, political patrons and respective clients were existent in Egyptian politics, shaping, to a great extent, the policies implemented by Egypt's rulers at the apex of the political system, as well as the tactics orchestrated by the populace within the middle and lower echelons of the polity. This study aims at analyzing the factors that ensured the durability of patronage networks within the Egyptian polity, primarily focusing on the sort of social structural reconfiguration that has been taking place in the popular communities of Egypt in the beginning of the 21st Century. Dissecting the area of Misr Al Qadima as an exemplar case study of Cairo’s popular quarters, the research mainly focuses on examining the role of the lesser notables, those middle patrons and clients that exist on the lower levels of the Egyptian polity within the ranks of the National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood. Henceforth, the sociopolitical agency of these lesser notabilities shall constitute the prime concern of the writing and, in doing so; this research also attempts to draw some linkage between the micro-level features of the popular polities of Cairo and the macro-level realities of the Egyptian polity at large, in the contemporary period.

No description available.