Digital Commons Network^™

Grassroots Emergency Health Risk Communication And Transmedia Public Participation: H1n1 Flu, Travelers From Epicenters, And Cyber Vigilantism, Huiling Ding

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

Grassroots risk reduction tactics took new forms in the era of social media. Chinese netizens mobilized human flesh searches (HFS), or cyber vigilantism, to reduce the risks posed by international travelers who might import the H1N1 flu virus into China. My study suggests that at the beginning of the H1N1 flu epidemic, rigorous transmedia intervention efforts were made to discipline the early irresponsible overseas Chinese who traveled extensively after arriving in China, but much less attention was paid to risks posed by foreign travelers. The grassroots risk tactics employed emotional appeals, valuative judgment, and moral condemnation to criticize the irresponsible …

Editor's Introduction, Nicole St. Germaine

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

Busy physicians, nurses, and hospital administrators do not have the time to conduct focus groups or in-depth interviews with patients. Researchers in the communication fields, such as the authors whose work is featured in this edition of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization, can help fill in these gaps of knowledge and provide insight into some of the best practices and issues that our healthcare professionals need to address to serve these populations more effectively.

Review Of The Craft Of Scientific Communication. Joseph E. Harmon And Alan G. Gross, Chicago: The University Of Chicago, 2010. 225pp., Matthew Mccool

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

Science is a truly global endeavor, one that traffics in the world of abstract theory and practical implications. Bridging the chasm between theory and practice is one thing but communicating it from one mind to the next takes clarity and concision. Harmon and Gross’ latest book, The Craft of Scientific Communication (Chicago: The University of Chicago), helps scientists and laypersons alike do just that.

Review Of The Global M&A Tango: How To Reconcile Cultural Differences In Mergers, Acquisitions, And Strategic Partnerships. Fons Trompenaars And Maarten Nijhoff Asser. New York: Mcgraw Hill, 2011, Harrison Ownbey

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

The cultural clashes and communication failures that often occur during international business mergers and acquisitions (M&As) revolve around rhetoric. However, many business experts facilitating M&As neglect rhetorical issues, which then exponentially compounds other problems. A large majority of mergers and acquisitions fail primarily because of cultural differences. Dutch authors Fons Trompenaars and Maarten Nijhoff Asser offer The Global M&A Tango as a baseline method for realizing new strengths and delivering business benefits by connecting different viewpoints. The book aims to enable M&A executives to create a dialogic foundation for new communication frameworks. It suggests several key processes to help frame …

Review Of Intercultural Rhetoric In The Writing Classroom. Ulla Connor. Ann Arbor, Mi: The University Of Michigan Press, 2011., Dobson Kate

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

For the better part of its life span, intercultural rhetoric research has been dominated by Ulla Connor. This book is a follow-up to her 1996 book Contrastive Rhetoric: Cross-Cultural Aspects of Second-Language Writing, in which she described the developing research methods for the field at the time. Upon the book’s release, some critics warned that the act of comparing the writing style of one person from a particular national culture to that of someone from another national culture may result in stereotypes. This book is the response to these criticisms by way of redefining the field.

How Change Management Is Influenced By Differences In Professional Discourses: A Conceptualizing Study On The Adoption Of An Ict Tool For Service Engineers In A Global Perspective, Jos Pieterse, Jan Ulijn, Thijs Homan

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

This article describes the process of organizational change due to technological evolutions, suggesting that community-specific differences in discourse may have a considerable influence on its success. The questions for this study focus on: 1) how do we define a technically oriented employee who has to cope with organizational change? 2) Which factors determine the reaction to organizational change projects in which these technically oriented employees are involved? And 3) what are the consequences of these specific characters of technically oriented employees for implementing change programs in the most effective manner? First, while the present studies on professional communication do not …

Global Training, Multicultural Course Design, And Delivery: The Impact On Cultural Style Adjustments Of Faculty And Global Training Instructors, Christine R. Day, Crissie M. Frye

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

Globalization is a reality for businesses and institutions of higher education. Furthermore, many U.S. based firms are expanding their businesses beyond domestic markets. These trends indicate that U.S. born individuals are likely to study or work in multicultural environments domestically and abroad. Research suggests that faculty and trainers adapt their teaching style and classroom policies to accommodate multicultural learners. Disconnections may arise, however, regarding the willingness to include these accommodations. The present exploratory study investigates the inclination and extent to which faculty and trainers adjust their teaching style, content, and policies to adapt to multicultural learners, namely, graduate and undergraduate …

Does Language Affect Trust In Global Professional Contexts? Perceptions Of International Business Professionals, Jane Kassis Henderson, Leena Louhiala-Salminen

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

A characteristic of trust is that it is more easily built in close-knit communities where common ground and a common language are already established. Building trust is, therefore, a challenge for business professionals who use English as a shared working language in the multilingual environment of multinational companies. In this exploratory article, concepts from trust research and principles from the field of interactional sociolinguistics are used to throw light on the interplay of language and trust. Based on an analysis of survey and interview data from business professionals in globally operating companies in several countries, findings indicate that language related …

State Of The Field: Human Sociality And Our Expanding Circle, Matthew Mccool

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

The first part of this essay provides a brief summary of this journal’s first editorial, which examined eight needed developments and eight critical contexts for global inquiry. The second part addresses our expanding circle of ethics, which starts with kin but has gradually increased to include tribes, states, nations, and even the world. It is our expanding circle of ethics that has led to a heightened awareness of equality, the product of a noble goal with origins in recent social justice movements. The aim of this essay is to assert that the field has a promising future by including both …

Review Of Digital Literacy For Technical Communication: 21st Century Theory And Practice. Edited By Rachel Spilka. New York: Routledge. 2010. 272 Pages., Dave Jones

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

This collection of essays, edited by Rachel Spilka, addresses changes within the field of Technical Communication, and asks what those changes mean for scholars and practitioners. As technical (or professional) communication expands its focus in the 21st century to include tools, skills, and technologies beyond its traditional scope, the collection gathers together well-known technical communication specialists to ask what "literacy" might mean in this new context. Though the introduction at one point says that the anthology wishes to address "any type of literacy affected by technology of all types " (p. 7), the primary focus is clear: digital literacy. The …

Review Of The World Is Flat: A Brief History Of The Twenty-First Century; 1st Rev. And Expanded Ed. New York: Farrar, Straus And Giroux, 2006., Kathryn Northcut

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

There may be no more obvious popular book to review for the first issue of a journal on rhetoric, professional communication, and globalization than Thomas L. Friedman’s The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century. Friedman, bestselling author of The Lexus and the Olive Tree, attempts to demystify globalization and suggest ways that governments and corporations will need to quickly adjust in an increasingly competitive market environment. Consistently as ambitious as the title suggests, Friedman’s book describes much of interest to technical communicators, especially those of us who just can’t travel enough to see things first hand …

Review Of Network Power: The Social Dynamics Of Globalization. David Singh Grewal. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008., William Carney

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

The debate over globalization is often portrayed in both the mainstream media and some segments of academia as one that features two extremes. On one side are the “neoliberals” with a positive yet almost deterministic view of globalization. For them, the growth of an interconnected web of business, nonprofit, and governmental relations will ultimately improve living standards all over the world and the reach of this web has become all but inevitable. On the other side are those who see a nefarious side to globalization. They fear the extinction of cultural differences and ways of life for people powerless to …

In Case You Missed It: Selected Scholarship From The Discipline, Gerald Savage, David Alan Sapp

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

We all tell our undergraduate and graduate students how important it is to keep current in the field. In our professional lives as writers and communicators, that means keeping track of trends in industry and technology; as academics, it means keeping up on our reading—the latest books, recent articles in journals, the proceedings of our major conferences—so that we can contribute to disciplinary conversations, teach our classes with integrity, and advance our own research agendas effectively. As part of this process, we show our appreciation to those who contribute to the knowledge of our field and participate in the process …

Intercultural Rhetoric In The Technical Communication Curriculum: A Review Of The Literature, Jennifer Bracken Scott

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

Although many scholars in technical, professional, and business communication have argued for the inclusion of intercultural rhetoric and communication in technical communication curricula, several key tensions have emerged from this effort. These tensions center upon the competencies most necessary for graduates of our programs, as well as approaches for understanding and teaching intercultural communication. This literature review presents a discussion and critique of literature in the field based on articles collected from several major journals as well as book sections in the areas of technical, professional, and business communication; it also offers recommendations for further research and development in this …

Rethinking The Problem Of Linguistic Categorization For Global Search Engines, Matthew Mccool

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

The fields of social psychology and neuroscience have known for several decades that culture affects the way people carve up the world. This perceptual difference is often, but not always, aligned with similar differences in linguistics categories. If correct, this problem of linguistic categorization may have considerable impact on search algorithms. This paper examines the relationship between culture and linguistic categorization for global search engines. A total of 43 American and Chinese participants completed two classification tests, one derived from social psychology and neuroscience and the other based on a common classification problem for full-text searching. These data suggest that …

A Meta-Analysis Of The Cultural Propositions About Conflict Management Styles In Face-Negotiation Theory, Peter Cardon, Ephraim Okoro

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

Among the most influential intercultural communication theories is Ting-Toomey's face-negotiation theory. The theory has undergone a number of refinements over the past two decades and has emerged as one of the most cited theories in intercultural business communication research. The theory posits that face or “identity respect and other-identity consideration” is maintained and negotiated in communications and interactions of members of all cultures; however, it is perceived and enacted differently across cultures as a function of the cultural dimensions of individualism-collectivism, power distance, and low-context/high-context orientation. Our study is a meta-analysis of all research during the past two decades about …

Editor's Introduction To The First Edition: Eight Needed Developments And Eight Critical Contexts For Global Inquiry, Barry Thatcher

Journal of Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization

In this introduction, I articulate critical gaps, needed developments, and opportunities for rhetoric and professional communication in global contexts. My tone is intentionally provocative and personal, laying out my positions and concerns based on almost 20 years of experience working in both rhetoric/professional communication and intercultural/global studies. In this introduction, I also demonstrate the power (and beauty) of intercultural and global inquiry to expose unexamined assumptions and problems in current theory, research, and practice in rhetoric and professional communication. The first section introduces eight needed developments for global theory, research, and practice, based on current approaches in rhetoric and professional …

Agile And Lean Six Sigma Integration: A Leadership Framework, Alessandro Laureani

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

Submitting final version of the paper attached.

Agile and Lean Six Sigma integration: a Leadership framework

Author: Alessandro Laureani, Independent Lean Six Sigma Scholar, Ireland

E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +353 87 914 4532

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how Agile methodologies and Lean Six Sigma can coexist and propose a Leadership framework to successfully merge Agile methodologies with Lean Six Sigma practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper builds on the author’s doctoral thesis on Leadership for Lean Six Sigma, and integrate Agile practices based on the author’s experience in the software development industry.

Findings

Agile methodologies, that came to …

Lss Implementation In Micro Enterprises: Adoption Of Tools To Support Competitiveness, Seamus O'Reilly, Dermot Freeman, Lawrence Dooley

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

LSS Implementation in Micro Enterprises:

Adoption of tools to support competitiveness

Seamus O’Reilly^a ([email protected]), Dermot Freeman^b ([email protected])

and Lawrence Dooley^a ([email protected])

^aCork University Business School, Ireland. ^bDermot Freeman & Associates, Ireland

Purpose

This study seeks to contribute to an emerging literature addressing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) implementation in the micro enterprise context. Specifically, it explores what LSS tools address business opportunities and challenges identified by micro enterprises.

Methodology

This study adopts a purposive sampling approach. Thirty micro enterprise who had availed of a lean start programme launched by a …

Lss4.0 - Creating Opportunities From Existing Limitations, Tanawadee Pongboonchai-Empl

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

Abstract

Purpose: This research explores Lean Six Sigma (LSS) limitations identified in previous studies and underpins the need to integrate Lean Six Sigma with Industry 4.0. Furthermore, this paper presents a use case for an opportunity offered by data-driven tools.

Method/Approach: Expert Interviews were conducted with senior Lean Six Sigma practitioners and academics in Europe. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis and NVivo software.

Findings: This paper reveals limitations experienced by practitioners and their causal relationships. Additionally, new limitations have emerged, reinforcing the urgency to inject data-driven technologies into the traditional LSS Framework. Associated with this is the …

Replicating Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Education, Martinus J. Buijvoets, Bob Walrave, Jukka-Matti Turtiainen, Gregory H. Watson

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

Purpose – This paper describes the intricates and possibilities of replicating a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) education model from a pilot program to other universities—employing ‘replication as strategy’—based on a validated ‘business model.’

Study design/methodology/approach – This work is grounded in a case study on the ESTIEM LSSGB educational method and draws on the replication literature. Specifically: (1) replication as strategy (Winter and Szulanski, 2001) to replicate stimulating learning environments, and (2) replicating sets of teaching practices (Baden-Fuller and Winter, 2007). These theories are practiced using data obtained from various sources: Participant-observer data, interview data, and secondary case …

Six Sigma, Sustainability, And It Management: A Research Review And Discussion Of Future Directions, Manal Alduraibi, Timothy Winders, Chad Laux

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

Abstract

Purpose- Six Sigma is based upon quality improvement by finding the root cause and refining processes to the precision of process outcomes. The purpose of this research was to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to explore the Six Sigma techniques and information technology (IT) management concepts to identify the IT management principle's impact on the sustainability of Six Sigma project efforts and identify the gaps that are essential to be addressed through further research. This research also discusses the principles of IT management upon the influence on Six Sigma projects, and subsequent contribution to organizational economic sustainability. An …

The Application Of Measures Of Lean Production For Services, Willem Salentijn, Jiju Antony, Chad Laux

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

This paper gives insights on how to measure the degree of lean for services and explores existing instruments, proposing adaptions on an existing instrument, developed for production.

Deliberate And Emergent Strategies Of Lean Implementation In Higher Education (He) – A Multiparadigmatic Approach., Justyna Maciąg

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

Strategies of Lean implementation in HE

by Justyna Maciąg

The purpose of this paper is to report on strategies that have been spontaneously emerging in the implementation of Lean management in HE institutions. The paper presents qualitative research on the implementation of the Lean concept in HE institutions worldwide and Poland.

Sustaining Continuous Improvement In Public Sector Services Through Double Loop Learning, Chris Buckell Msc, Mairi Macintyre Assoc. Prof.

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

Abstract

Purpose: Public Service Organisations (PSOs) are facing continuing funding challenges and increased pressure to maintain and improve service delivery with fewer resources. One response, with the promise of improving efficiency rather than cutting services, has been to implement Continuous Improvement (CI) but success has been sporadic and unpredictable. The well documented and pervasive CI methodologies in PSOs, including Lean and Six Sigma, have general agreement across practitioners and scholars alike, thus the reasons behind their potted success must lie elsewhere, in the culture or the environment perhaps? This work explores the wider contextual issues of CI implementation with the …

From Letters To Logistics - The Enabling Role Of A Lean Transformation Programme In A National Postal Service: The Case Of An Post, Ireland, Seamus O'Reilly, Leadiing Edge Group, An Post

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

From Letters to Logistics - The enabling role of a lean transformation programme

in a national postal service: The case of An Post, Ireland

Seamus O’Reilly (Cork University Business School), David Murray (An Post) and Joe Aherne (Leading Edge Group)

Abstract

Purpose

This paper investigates the role of a lean transformation programme in supporting the transition of a national postal (mail) service from a traditional letter delivery service to a competitive parcel delivery service.

Methodology

Given the objective an intrinsic case study (Stake, 2005) approach was adopted, as this specific case was of interest. To support this approach the researchers …

Improve Outcomes In Lean Six Sigma With Servant Leadership, David W. Hoffa, Chad Laux, Manal Alduraibi

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

1. Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore lean leadership within Lean Six Sigma (LSS). The objective of this paper was to explore how LSS program success might be improved by focusing Black Belt efforts on mentoring Green Belts with a servant leadership model. The importance of Green Belt projects is typically overlooked in the literature. The effects of prioritizing the development of Green Belts and building a culture of continuous improvement over the traditional Black Belt project focus is explored.

2. Design/Methodology/Approach

The methodology of this paper is inspired by the authors’ field experiences in managing LSS …

Six Sigma And Lean Approach For Enhanced Process Value Chain, Maryam Zulfiqar

International Conference on Lean Six Sigma

Abstract

This research highlight the different aspects of implementing lean and six-sigma approach, their contrasting features and integration in manufacturing organizations. Qualitative research method has been used to conduct this research as the defined period of time for the research was limited. This method was pertinent for the deep analysis of literature and case studies of concerned approaches. It helped to conduct the research in a subjective manner. The use of secondary data saved time from preparing the questionnaires or surveys also the ethical approval from the University of the West of Scotland was not required. Descriptive feature of qualitative …

More Than Mechanisms: Shifting Ideologies For Asset-Based Learning In Engineering Education, Brian E. Gravel, Eli Tucker-Raymond, Aditi Wagh, Susan Klimczak, Naeem Wilson

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Learning spaces, the practices in which people engage, and the representations they use are ideological. Ideologies are coherent constellations of values, beliefs, and practices that impose order on how disciplines like engineering operate. Historically, engineering spaces have been dominated by a relatively technocratic, rationalistic, and exclusionary ideology, but more recent attention to asset-based approaches to engineering education offers transformative promise. Asset-based ideologies can reshape images of legitimized engineering practice, recasting engineering education to disrupt dominant exclusionary ideologies. This paper describes an assets-based learning space, SETC, that recaptures the imagination of engineering for technological and social change. Drawing from extensive ethnographic …

Engineering Care: How Two Young Women Of Color Establish Positional Identities In A Robotics Space, Nyissia Charmaine Spruill, Colin Hennessy Elliott, Daniela Della Volpe, Keidy Alcantara

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

This paper examines video data of a high school robotics team to explore practices that empower youth from underrepresented groups in engineering to disrupt traditional boundaries around what engineering is and who is considered competent to participate in its practice. We analyze in-the-moment positioning work with a focus on care and maintenance practices to understand how two young Women of Color author and negotiate positional identities as part of disciplinary practices. We argue that they co-author programming positional identities by crafting a local relational space, or a comfort space, through resonating acts of care for each other’s development. A more …