Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@@The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration.
TL;DR: Giddens as mentioned in this paper has been in the forefront of developments in social theory for the past decade and outlines the distinctive position he has evolved during that period and offers a full statement of a major new perspective in social thought, a synthesis and elaboration of ideas touched on in previous works but described here for the first time in an integrated and comprehensive form.
Abstract: Anthony Giddens has been in the forefront of developments in social theory for the past decade. In "The Constitution of Society" he outlines the distinctive position he has evolved during that period and offers a full statement of a major new perspective in social thought, a synthesis and elaboration of ideas touched on in previous works but described here for the first time in an integrated and comprehensive form. A particular feature is Giddens' concern to connect abstract problems of theory to an interpretation of the nature of empirical method in the social sciences. In presenting his own ideas, Giddens mounts a critical attack on some of the more orthodox sociological views. "The Constitution of Society" is an invaluable reference book for all those concerned with the basic issues in contemporary social theory.
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TL;DR: It is suggested that user commitment plays a critical role in the volitional acceptance and usage of nonmandatory information and communication systems that escape the conventional behavioral logic of understandingaccept and usage from a normative perspective of compliance with the beliefs of others.
Abstract: In recent years, several organizations have implemented nonmandatory information and communication systems that escape the conventional behavioral logic of understanding acceptance and usage from a normative perspective of compliance with the beliefs of others. Because voluntary systems require users' volitional behavior, researchers have traced recent implementation failures to a lack of user commitment. However, gaps in our understanding of volitional usage behavior and user commitment have made it difficult to advance theory, research, and practice on this issue. To validate a proposed research model, cross-sectional, between-subjects, and within-subjects field data were collected from 714 users at the time of initial adoption and after six months of extended use. The model explained between 44.1 percent and 58.5 percent of the variance in adoption and usage behavior based upon direct effects of user commitment. Findings suggest that user commitment plays a critical role in the volitional acceptance and usage of such systems. Affective commitment--that is, internalization and identification based upon personal norms--exhibits a sustained positive influence on usage behavior. In contrast, continuance commitment--that is, compliance based upon social norms--shows a sustained negative influence from initial adoption to extended use. Theory development based upon Kelman's social influence framework offers new empirical insights about system users' commitment and how it affects volitional usage behavior.
231 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the impact of perceived age norms on the formation of entrepreneurial intentions in the third age segment and found that norms perceived as permissive of enterprising activity in this segment exert a significant positive influence on entrepreneurial intentions even when controlling for the general level of entrepreneurship in the municipalities.
Abstract: This article investigates the impact of perceived age norms on the formation of entrepreneurial intentions in the third age. Age norms refer to those social norms that determine whether establishing and running a business are considered appropriate behavior for a mature individual. An empirical analysis of Finnish individuals finds that norms perceived as permissive of enterprising activity in the third age exert a significant positive influence on entrepreneurial intentions in this segment, even when controlling for the general level of entrepreneurship in the municipalities. This influence is partially mediated by whether the individual has a positive attitude toward entrepreneurship, by how the individual perceives their own ability to start and run a business, by the extent of support from their family and friends they perceive and by the importance of that support to them. Thus, if policy aims to increase enterprising activity in the third-age segment, the portfolio of instruments should include measures that address people’s general awareness of third-age entrepreneurship as a viable, positive and attractive late-career option.
231 citations
Cites background from "Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@..."
...…that have an impact on aspiring entrepreneurs is social norms (Giannetti and Simonov 2004), which constitute common understandings and rules between members of a community that evolve in an interactive process where individuals constantly justify their actions and those of others (Giddens 1984)....
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...One set of social contextual factors that have an impact on aspiring entrepreneurs is social norms (Giannetti and Simonov 2004), which constitute common understandings and rules between members of a community that evolve in an interactive process where individuals constantly justify their actions and those of others ( Giddens 1984 )....
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10 Dec 2007
TL;DR: The authors make an argument for increased attention to the cultural environment in which social movements occur and how that environment shapes collective action, and make a case for the importance of culture in social movements.
Abstract: That the study of social movements and collective action in the US took a ‘‘cultural turn’’ beginning in the 1980s is not news. One can chart culture’s popularity in the recent scholarly literature (e.g., Larana et al. 1994; Darnovsky et al. 1995; Johnston and Klandermans 1995), but in 2003 development is approaching two decades old. Even as the ‘‘resource mobilization’’ approach was establishing itself as the dominant theoretical lens for studying socialmovements (e.g., Jenkins1983;Zald andMcCarthy 1987), and ‘‘political process’’ models were amending the conception of ‘‘structure’’ in movements (e.g.,McAdam1982;Morris 1984), scholarsweredevelopingand refining approaches to understanding culture and social movements. Several chapters in this volume report on the fruits of this engagement – or perhaps ‘‘re-engagement’’ – with culture and collective action. The topics covered include such concepts as ‘‘framing,’’ and ‘‘collective identity,’’ or the study of the roles of emotions inmovement actions and the resulting cultural consequences from activism. This chapter contributes to the consideration of culture by making an argument for increased attention to the ‘‘cultural environment’’ in which movements occur and how that environment shapes collective action. This involves a de-centering of the individual social movement as the level of analysis, and increased attention to how the availability of legitimated cultural resources channels and often constrains movement activity. I begin with a review of the general cultural turn in the study of social movements.
230 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors set out the current theoretical landscape of social enterprise governance and proposed an alternative theory that considers the influence of institutional pressures upon governance arrangements, and suggested a deeper analysis of institutional factors upon governance structure.
Abstract: This paper aims to set out the current theoretical landscape of social enterprise governance. It considers the two theories of governance currently advocated in the social enterprise literature - stakeholder and stewardship theories. Furthermore, it asserts the utility of neoinstitutional theory in analysis of social enterprise governance. The methodology employed was critical review and application of the prevailing governance theory in a social enterprise context. The prevailing institutional theory offers a great deal in explaining the governance dynamic in these organisations. The influence that values, symbols and cultural norms have upon organisation structure are not fully encompassed in social enterprise governance theory. Rather, it has been adapted and diluted to fit different explanations of governance, such as stakeholder and stewardship theory. Institutional theory offers an alternative lens with which to analyse social enterprise governance. This paper advocates institutional analysis of governance as an alternative method of mapping social enterprise governance, testing existing concepts such as isomorphism within the third sector, and new conceptual research. The paper consolidates the governance theory currently attributed to social enterprise governance, and puts forward an alternative theory that considers the influence of institutional pressures upon governance arrangements. It adds to the governance literature by suggesting a deeper analysis of institutional factors upon governance structure. It also adds to the growing literature that focuses on the governance of social enterprise as a distinct form of organisation in the third sector.
230 citations
Cites background from "Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@..."
...In this way, institutional analysis of governance differs from the stewardship approach and infers structuration: prompting examination of the dualism of the power of cultural values that influence governance practice and how those who control this power seek legitimation over its use ( Giddens, 1984...
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TL;DR: The authors analyse the reasons for failure, and suggest that the project failed because of institutional forces which inhibited dramatic changes in work habits.
Abstract: Discusses the use of information technology to facilitate communication and collaboration. In this action research project a groupware product called Lotus NotesTM was implemented to facilitate communication and collaboration amongst the senior management team. Although there was a real need for change, and the project received strong support from senior management on the basis that it would enable radical changes in coordination within the workgroup, these radical changes did not occur. The authors analyse the reasons for failure, and suggest that the project failed because of institutional forces which inhibited dramatic changes in work habits.
229 citations
Cites background from "Locating the 17th Book of Giddens@@..."
...‘‘man actively shapes the world he lives in at the same time as it shapes him’’ ( Giddens, 1984 )....
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...It aims to explain how Trying to improve communication 321 `̀ man actively shapes the world he lives in at the same time as it shapes him'' (Giddens, 1984)....
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