Branka Krivokapic-Skoko

Beyond the qualitative–quantitative distinction: Some innovative methods for business and management research

Abstract Focusing upon a number of increasingly popular approaches to mixed methods research, this paper provides a brief overview of fully integrated research methods that transcend the quantitative–qualitative divide. Introducing a range of sophisticated mixed method designs that have been successfully applied in business and management research, it provides insight into the potential benefits of mixed methods. In addressing integrated mixed methods, and applications in business and management research, the discussion signposts how these methods allow for qualitative analysis that is systematic, formal, rigorous and procedurally replicable. Further, it identifies how integrated mixed methods can make it possible to achieve intensity and richness associated with qualitative research when dealing with more than a handful of cases. As such, the paper has particular relevance to qualitative researchers with an interest in exploring innovative and productive mixed methods.

Immigration and multicultural place-making in rural and regional Australia

There has been comparatively little research on the relationship between immigrants and place in the context of rural and regional Australia. Considering that immigration to regional and rural Australia has been given important national importance we argue that the contemporary research on rural ethnic landscapes should be broadened to discuss the impact of different ethnic groups on the built environment of rural townships. The immigrants settling down in rural areas have transformed rural landscapes through the construction of public and private spaces expressing their cultural heritage. These sites can significantly impact the dynamics of social cohesion and intercultural relations in multicultural rural communities. They can also have a role in attracting and retaining immigrants in non-metropolitan areas. This chapter links the built environment and immigration in rural Australia and explores the potential role of the sites built by rural ethnic minorities in facilitating intra-group and inter-group social encounter, trust and networks. The chapter then outlines the empirical findings from applying these concepts to the sites built and used by non-Anglo-Celtic immigrants to Griffith, a regional city in south-western New South Wales (NSW), and Katanning, a small rural community south-east of Perth in Western Australia (WA).

Indigenous culture and entrepreneurship in small businesses in Australia

ABSTRACT The impact of Indigenous culture on Indigenous entrepreneurs in Australian small to medium-sized enterprises is outlined in this paper. Qualitative interviews with 38 Indigenous entrepreneurs were carried out across urban, regional, rural, and remote locations Australia. This article argues that the relationship between Indigenous culture and Indigenous entrepreneurship is complex and sometimes contradictory. This complexity arises for various reasons including: (1) the great diversity within the Australian Indigenous community; (2) the fact that most Indigenous people have non-Indigenous partners; and (3) the way in which racial discrimination and socio-economic disadvantage has impacted on Indigenous communities and indigenous culture in Australia. Exploring the evolution of Australian Indigenous enterprises and entrepreneurs from the late 1980s to present, this article provides unique insight into the complexity of the social, cultural, and economic dynamics that shape Indigenous entrepreneurship across Australia.

Negative social capital and conflicts: Asian entrepreneurs in New Zealand agriculture (1870s -1920s)

Abstract This paper focuses on negative consequences of social capital formation within ethnic business groups using historical evidence on three distinct farming protests involving ethnic groups in rural New Zealand. The paper begins by analysing some of the key debates relating to the role of ethnic business networks, ethnic social capital and its potential negative consequences. In particular, the paper discusses the recursive effects that the strong ethnic community solidarity can have in causing negative reaction and overt conflict between ethnic and local business groups. Highly organised Asian communities in New Zealand agriculture showed a strong intra group orientation within their businesses, and formed social structures for the intra group mobilisation and distribution of resources. Such ethnic solidarity in business was stereotyped negatively by the host business groups, and in conjunction with some other factors has led towards anti Asian protests in rural New Zealand, such as in Otago during the late 1870s and the early 1890s, and particularly in Pukekohe in the mid 1920s.

The influence of a mindfulness-based intervention on job satisfaction and work-related stress and anxiety

Abstract Workplace mindfulness is a recognised tool for enhancing health and well-being of university staff and may result in better task performance and satisfaction in the workplace. The study examined the beneficial effects of mindfulness meditation on job satisfaction, mindful awareness and anxiety levels in university personnel. Mixed methods with a quasi-experiment and in-depth interviews were used. Fifteen participants engaged in a mindfulness meditation approach and five volunteers were interviewed. The findings showed a significant increase in awareness, with staying focused (t(14) = –3.09, p = .00), noticing feelings of physical tension (t(14) = –4.00, p = .00), being aware of running automatically (t(14) = –3.55, p = .00) and not being preoccupied with the future or the past (t(14) = –2.69, p = .01), respectively. Mindfulness was also effective in reducing sleep disturbance. Qualitative results demonstrated the mindfulness approach contributed to calmness and relaxation, and increased ability to handle difficult matters in the workplace. Apart from helping participants to better manage emotions, the mindfulness intervention could promote better relationships towards family members and reduce blood pressure to normal levels. Therefore, mindfulness meditation should be promoted across academic settings to enhance job performance and satisfaction and reduce work-related stress.

Applying QCA and Cross-impact Analysis to the Study on ICT Adoption and Use by Croatian SMEs

QCA reduces complexity and richness of each individual case through the process of Boolean minimization. This poses a challenge for future development of QCA as a case study method. We address this challenge and propose complementing QCA with cross-impact analysis. This latter method provides an in-depth, holistic analysis of a single case by focusing on the set of factors that are an essential part of each case, and focuses on capturing and analyzing interactions between these factors. That is, after deriving causal explanations, researchers can return to the cases and capture their complexity and interactions. Application of both methods is demonstrated in this paper in the context of ICT adoption and use in Croatian SMEs. While QCA provides a macro overview of a number of cases and identifies seven key factors that influence SMEs’ adoption of ICT, cross-impact analysis has a case-based focus that provides additional insights into SMEs actual experiences and challenges with ICT use. The alignment between the two methods produces important implications for the future development of QCA towards in-depth case analysis and exploring the complexity of each case.

From Crisp to Fuzzy-Sets QCA in Exploring Causal Configurations: Examples from the New Zealand Context

ABSTRACT This article outlines illustrative applications in the use of QCA and its fuzzy-set variant in three examples of business promotion in New Zealand in the establishment of ethnic business networks, new land-based ventures, and the success and failure of end-user innovation. The three studies offer insights into the genesis of ideas, assembly of business support, and development and dissemination of designs, prototypes, and products. The focus of the article is the methodological power of QCA to present empirically-derived Boolean equations that describe configurations of particular outcomes across multi-level analyses of the business groups and networks, industries, and individual businesses.

Italian Immigrants and the Built Environment in Rural Australia

Non-Anglo-Celtic immigrants have transformed Australian rural landscape through the construction of public and private spaces expressing their cultural heritage. These sites can also significantly impact the dynamics of social cohesion and intercultural relations in multicultural rural communities. This chapter links heritage and multiculturalism in rural settings and explores the potential role of the sites built by rural ethnic minorities in facilitating intra- and intergroup social networks. The chapter is divided into two parts. The first part briefly explores the literature on immigration and heritage, place, belonging and social cohesion, and the relationship between social capital and the built environment. The second part outlines preliminary empirical findings from Griffith in New South Wales. Using the concepts of intercultural dialogue and bonding and bridging social capital, the chapter explores the role of the places built by Italian immigrants in facilitating social networks and improved relations within and between Griffiths ethnic communities.

Ethnic Minorities and the Built Environment in Rural and Regional Australia: Sites of Segregation or Inter-Cultural Exchange?

Australia has one of the highest proportions of migrants of any country in the world. One aspect of this migration that is still poorly understood is the impact of different ethnic groups on the built environment of Australian cities and towns. Recent arrivals often seek to create a home by modifying their new landscape, transforming public spaces by building monuments, religious buildings, social clubs and community centres. These sites have often been overlooked in studies of Australia’s built environment heritage. However, they often hold enormous significance not only for migrant communities but also in reflecting contestation over space and the contribution of migrants to the Australian political economy. Crucially, in a time of increasing concern over inter-cultural relations in Australia, these places can also be sites of inter-cultural exchange. Based on preliminary fieldwork in Griffith in New South Wales, the paper will explore the social, political and economic significance of one place built by non-Anglo-Celtic migrants to Australia: the Griffith Italian Museum and Cultural Centre. Using the concepts of inter-cultural dialogue and bonding and bridging social capital, the paper explores the role of the Museum in facilitating social networks and improved relations within and between Griffith’s ethnic communities.