Culture change

About: Culture change is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1531 publications have been published within this topic receiving 41922 citations. The topic is also known as: cultural change & culture changes.

Turning Good Policies into Good Practice: Why is it so difficult?

Abstract: Many engineering employers have introduced policies to improve the retention and progression of women engineers. However, a recent EU project reveals that the uptake and the impact of such policies is generally limited and often uneven; having a good set of policies on paper does not necessarily translate into good practice on the ground. We explore the reasons why highlighting first of all organisational failings in the effective implementation of such policies and in employers’ commitment to gender change; and second, attitudinal barriers of awareness and attitudes to gender politics. This analysis adds weight to arguments that engineering organisations need to undergo major ‘culture change’ if good gender equality and diversity policies are to be turned into good practice.

Building capacity for dialogue facilitation in public engagement around research

Abstract: This paper shares our experiences and reflections on a training programme which seeks to build capacity, across the public research sector in Scotland, for developing and facilitating dialogic approaches to public engagement. We came to an interest in dialogue and deliberation by different routes, but got the opportunity to collaborate on this thanks to institutional funding for culture change around public engagement in the sector. The analytical framework from which we developed the training focuses especially on the micro-politics of communication patterns in deliberative and dialogic engagement processes. The training programme thus sought both to raise awareness of the principles and practices of dialogue, and to build skills in the demanding craft of facilitation. Our training approach has two key features: it integrates theory and practice; and it endeavours to make the general themes of dialogue and deliberation relevant to the specific context of public engagement activities in universities and research institutes. Feedback from participants over four years indicates that this approach is working: awareness and skills are growing in quite concrete ways. In addition, there are encouraging signs of shifts and reflection over the ‘expert culture’ in this community of practice.

Implementing the Eden Alternative in Australia

Abstract: SUMMARY Many Aged Care facilities in Australia are continuing to operate in a traditional medical model, with elders being dependant, living in large institutions and living a life of mere existence. It is Australia's challenge to change the culture of ageing and the perceptions held by the community that elders are powerless and feeble. Australia needs to turn Aged Care facilities into homes, making them attractive for residents, families and staff and to create a life worth living. In recent times some Aged Care providers have begun to research and implement new practices and philosophies such as the Eden Alternative(tm) and culture change, believing that they can create an environment filled with animals, plants and children. Australia has seen the positive results and data from the USA, and some homes in Australia are now beginning to gather base data and some comparative data, which in preliminary fashion indicate positive outcomes for staff and residents. Australia has to continue on the culture cha...

Supporting future scholars of engaged research

Abstract: Researchers in the UK are taking on new roles and responsibilities to meet the requirements of an expanded agenda for generating and evidencing social and economic impacts from research. Within this wider context, culture change programmes have identified learning as an important driver of change. Here we outline a professional development programme designed to train postgraduate researchers studying environmental sciences in core engagement, influence and impact, governance and organization skills for research. We argue that training is an important step in further catalysing progressive culture change. However, our research- and experience-informed critical reflections in supporting researchers suggest that there is still significant work to be done: (1) to offer consistent messages to researchers at all grades about social impacts from research and (2) to ensure that engagement is seen as an aspirational activity, embedded within research.

Developing a Customer-focused Culture in the Speculative House-building Industry

Abstract: The UK house-building industry has often been criticized for the quality of its products. Its business drivers are less focused on the needs of customers compared with much of the manufacturing sector. A recent survey revealed considerable dissatisfaction among buyers of newly built homes, particularly with the after-sales service provided by vendors. However, this cannot be viewed in isolation from the general business culture that prevails. This paper examines existing practices in the industry that act as barriers to a change in culture and discusses the steps that are being taken in a major house-building company to overcome them. Work on implementation of the policy through a balanced set of performance measures as the drivers for change and a participative programme for its deployment is presented. The objective is the development of a customer-focused culture that views service and product quality as contributing to future sales and profitability, instead of simply in terms of costs.