Ronit Lis-Hacohen

Gender in Shared Navigation: Men to Mars, Women to Venus?

ABSTRACT This study examined gender differences in perceptions and adoption of a shared digital navigation system, Waze. The study was exploratory within the qualitative methodology paradigm and employed semi-structured interviews. The 37 Israeli drivers, 20 women and 17 men aged 22–63 who used, Waze, for at least six months, were interviewed on their driving experiences and perceptions. Findings suggest that the motives can be divided into three categories: (1) Functionality: easy navigation to destinations and receiving real-time updates. This category was the most prevalently mentioned, with no evident differences between men and women. (2) Secondary advantages: this group includes motives related to the drivers’ wellbeing and financial benefits. The findings indicated that women are motivated to a greater extent than men by these advantages. (3) Innovation: this motive was mentioned by the fewest number of participants, and findings indicated that men were motivated by innovation to a greater extent than women.

First Sector: Education

This chapter presents the MERge model in the context of educational activities conducted under the responsibility of a local council of a rural village. This case illustrates the model by the synergy between three entities: (a) a mayor with a well-defined vision; (b) a council that believes that the local authority should provide its residents with the best services, where education is one of the top three priorities; and (c) one of the council members who is in charge of the education committee of the city council.

Academia: Administrative Staff–Research

This chapter examines the meta-profession of research from the perspective of the administrative staff of an academic institution. This role is usually called a lab manager or a chief engineer/scientists and is usually carried out by a scientist or an engineer, whose role is to be in charge of the ongoing work that takes place in the lab.

Academia: Faculty Members–Research

This chapter examines the faculty member role from the research perspective. It, in fact, focuses on the main role of faculty members—carrying out research that adds new knowledge to the society in general and the academic community in particular.

Implications of the MERge Model for Academic and Beyond–Academic Education

So far, we illustrate the suitability of the MERge model for the public sector, industry, and the academia. Based on our arguments related to the suitability of the MERge model for these sectors, the question that should be asked is: how can practitioners in these sectors be prepared for the implementation of the MERge model? To answer this question, in this chapter, we present possible implications of the MERge model for academic and industrial training.

Academia: Administrative Staff–Education

So far in this Brief, we referred several times to the frequent changes that take place in the world. This type of dynamic atmosphere requires quick response to new demands and needs. In higher education, these dynamic changes are expressed in several ways which are described, illustrated and analyzed from the perspective of the MERge mode

How to Use This Brief

One of the main purposes of the Brief is to provide the readers with applicable and practical professional tools. Therefore, we have built this Brief as a user guide for any practitioner who holds the role of a manager, an educator, or a researcher. We hope it will help professionals improve their professional work in terms of quality, efficiency, and achievement of their professional goal.

Academia: Administrative Staff (Management)

In this chapter, we present a case study of an administrative project in the academia. The project management role in this case requires strong educational and research background, as well as managerial capabilities, strategic, and global perspectives. Therefore, high-level management representative, a professor from the university, was the project supervisor, and Julie, who had extensive experience in project management, as well as familiarity with the wide context in which the project takes place, was assigned to be the project manager.

The MERge Toolkit for Managers, Educators, and Researchers

In this Brief, we presented and illustrated the model for professional development in the following sectors: industry, academia, and the first sector. In this chapter, we provide a practical toolkit for the implementation of the MERge model in your organization.

First Sector: Research

In Chap. 8 of this Brief, we explored connections between research and innovation in the industry. We mentioned two primary research tasks that are carried out in the industry: development of new products and carrying out applied research in scientific or technological fields, which may facilitate future product development. Research and development (R&D) departments are responsible for these tasks and are usually managed by a chief scientist officer (CSO). In this chapter, we explore the CSO position in the first sector.