The current study builds on previous work that examines the factors that influence whether individuals adopt a multiracial identity. The key contribution of this study to the growing literature is the use of cultural sociological concepts to study multiracial identities from an alternative perspective. In addition to examining how individuals’ personal experiences affect how they racially identify, the current study also examines whether the adoption of a particular racial identity shapes the way individuals behave. Specifically, I explore how racial identification influences whether individuals become involved with a multiracial organization. Data were collected through two qualitative methods, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 34 self-identified multiracial individuals and participatory action research conducted with the multiracial organization Community for Multiracial Action (CMA). The following research questions were addressed in this project: 1) what experiences have led individuals to currently identify as multiracial; 2) what personal factors compel individuals to engage in identity-related behaviors – specifically, why do some individuals decide to join a multiracial organization while others decline; 3) does becoming a part of a multiracial organization reinforce and/or challenge the individuals’ personal identity choices or understandings of multiraciality; and 4) are the behaviors and actions of multiracials, individually and/or collectively, performed in an effort to support a particular self-defined racial identity? Results support previous research which established that personal factors, socialization practices, and social networks, among others, influence racial identity development among multiracial individuals. With respect to the decision to participate in a multiracial organization, results indicate that differential rates of involvement are affected by racial identification. The national organization and the local chapter struggled over defining and projecting a cohesive image of multiraciality which negatively affected the sustainability of the local chapter. Findings from this study can be used to better understand the role of multiracial communities in identity development.

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Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: This study, therefore, is an attempt to provide conceptual tools for understanding and facilitating the processes involved in the phenomenon of defining the roles for positions in new organizations (or new positions in old organizations) and redefining new roles for old positions in the light of changing circumstances. It seeks to answer the question, "What is known about the phenomenon of defining a role?". / 2999-01-01

No / Workplace email is quickly evolving to keep up with those who use it---and perhaps to make way for the next killer application. Has email redefined human communication and interaction? How have organizations and employees incorporated email into their processes? This article aims to answer these questions and start a discussion around issues of email in the workplace. We report the results of a quantitative survey on the role of email in organizations. This survey, which involved administering an email questionnaire to 600 employees of 50 U.K.-based organizations, found email to be extremely pervasive within organizations. It is considered a valuable medium of communication that sits comfortably amidst verbal and written media. The survey also demonstrated that attitudes toward and patterns of email usage are differentiated by gender, as well as by psychological issues such as confidence levels. Also, despite the increase in factors that might hamper the effectiveness and efficiency of email, such as spam and viruses, the survey findings suggest organizations have implemented an infrastructure to manage these issues so they have a limited impact on end users.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Local non-governmental organisations play an important role in the development processes of Zimbabwe. However, they face an uncertain future, as they depend on volatile external donor funding which leaves them financially unsustainable. This research sought to determine whether local non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe were sustainable, and to analyse the main factors that influenced their financial sustainability. Through a mixed methods research design including literature review, secondary data analysis and a survey using a structured questionnaire, this research revealed that local non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe were financially unsustainable. A regression analysis was employed to determine the relationships between the different factors and financial sustainability. The research focused on four factors of financial sustainability of local non-governmental organisations: sound financial management practices, income diversification, own income generation, and good donor relationship management practices. Data used for the research was from 2009 to 2013. The survey of 52 local non-governmental organisations spread throughout Zimbabwe provided primary data for the research. The research confirmed findings of others that local non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe were not financially sustainable and depended on external donor funds. The research revealed that most local non-governmental organisations were funded entirely by external donors, had no reserve funds, were not generating own income, and depended on average on about three donors. This meant that if the external donors pulled out these organisations would cease operations. The research revealed that on average donor dependency ratios for Zimbabwean non-governmental organisations were above 93 percent, while survival ratios were very low with 22 days being the maximum. These results meant that if external donors completely pulled out their funding, local non-governmental organisations would operate for at most 22 days before closing down. The research also revealed that most local non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe were not leveraging their assets to generate income, and most were not engaged in own income generating activities while their funding sources were not diversified enough to be regarded sustainable. The government of Zimbabwe was not funding local non-governmental organisations and local donors were scant. The regression analysis ascertained that sound financial management practices had the largest influence on financial sustainability of local non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe, followed by income diversification, then own income generation and good donor relationship management. The research recommends that international donors should provide local non-governmental organisations with some unrestricted income to support start-up of social entrepreneurship activities and small businesses to ensure the financial sustainability of the programmes they fund. The government of Zimbabwe must view local non-governmental organisations as partners that complement its work and are therefore deserving of government funding. Non-governmental organisations need to change their mind-set, start social entrepreneurship and small business activities, and refrain from just seeing external donors as their main source of funding. Networks of non-governmental organisations must fundraise to train and enhance the capacity of their member organisations in running social enterprises and small businesses, and hire staff with expertise in running profit-making activities to complement their non-profit work.

published_or_final_version / Asian Studies / Master / Master of Arts