Showing papers on "Ideal type published in 1995"

When two cultures meet: New Industrial Relations at Japanco

Abstract: This article addresses the question of the responses of British workers to Japanese management practices through a detailed case study of Japanco, a UK Japanese implant. The argument challenges the abstract ‘ideal type’ view of Japanization, by stressing the pragmatism of Japanese management, and its willingness to adjust to the contingencies of economic pressures and British industrial culture, over time. The introduction, outlining the main themes of the Japanization debate, is followed by a brief profile of Japanco. The main empirical body of the article is divided between an analysis of the start-up characteristics of Japanco, followed by a consideration of developments several years later, based on interviews and questionnaire material. The conclusion suggests that, like Ford of a previous generation, Japanco is being changed by its British industrial culture, just as this has been shaped in recent years by Japanese influence and example.

Parents as consumer-citizens: an investigation into parent governors

Abstract: The study takes as its problematic that parents are increasingly being viewed as consumers and that this conception of parents is too limiting. It goes on to argue that the notion of the consumer should, however, not be discarded altogether, and that the alternative notion of citizenship is in itself insufficient. Based on an appreciation of developments in consumer studies and consumerism, four models of consumer empowerment are outlined. Each model is associated with different types of consumer activity (see below). Building on this, an alternative concept of the consumer-citizen and its constituent dimensions is proposed as an ideal type. The thesis then explores how far a particular group of parents - parent governors - appears to resemble the ideal type: ie how far their views and actions accord with the expectations of the concept. Data from questionnaires completed by parent governors in 1988 and 1992 are used to do this. The study concludes that the consumer-citizen concept is a more accurate and useful analytical tool than the 'consumer' or the 'citizen'. Its empirical findings are generative, rather than firm conclusions. Attention is drawn to limitations in the data collected and to challenges that may be made to the validity of this data, including issues relating to the aggregation of data which was undertaken for the purposes of statistical analysis. The main findings are that the parent governors surveyed are more - likely to resemble a specific variant of the ideal type, le the Incorporated consumer-citizen. In terms of the consumer-citizen dimensions, they are most likely to approve of acting as a member of a political community (representing the school's interests to the local education authority) and checking (evaluating the school's performance), and less likely to see their role as making decisions (doing), though approval of this increased significantly since 1988. Avenues for further work are suggested.

Sport as institutionalized charisma

Abstract: Allen Guttmann has developed an ideal type descriptive of the transformation from medieval leisure to modern sport. His method of type construction and its substantive components are replicas, shap...

Precollegiate international schools: Leach's ?ideal-type? and today's ?reality?

Abstract: International schools were begun to provide precollegiate education to children whose families lived abroad. In 1969 Robert Leach outlined a conceptual framework that would insure the “formation of a spirit of internationalism” throughout the school. The research described in this paper compared Leach's original model with perceptions held in the 1990s by educators, administrators, and board members working in those schools. The survey involved 185 respondents from 87 international schools in 11 countries. Results indicate that the elements Leach identified continue to be integral to international schools today.