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This article examines the networking that takes place within formally organized internal (organization‐based) and external (industry‐based) women engineers' networks. Drawing upon 48 interviews with women engineers, across a number of industries and seniority levels, mostly in the UK, the article contributes to the scarce empirical literature examining formal women's networking in engineering, in terms of its role in individual support and collective change. By adopting Allen's (1998, 1999) definition of feminist power and shifting the focus of analysis from merely instrumental to other types of networking activities, the study contributes empirically and theoretically to understanding how internal and external women's networking has the potential to help female engineers to stay in and change the profession. Despite the critiques that formal women's networks lack power and the ability to make a positive difference for women, when feminist conceptualizations of power are adopted, women's networking within these networks can be considered to empower them in a variety of ways. Our data identifies that wider networking within external women's networks can be particularly useful as a force for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we examine the career development and progression of Early Career Academics in the discipline of political science in the UK. The primary focus is to explore whether and to what extent career development is gendered. With data from a survey of Early Career Academics as well as semi-structured interviews, the article shares personal experiences of professional development, exposing the challenges women in the profession face, including the gendered aspects of networking and mentoring, as well as broader issues of isolation, exclusion, and discrimination. These challenges are compounded by the structural contexts of UK Higher Education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental planning agenda is shaped by a range of top‐down policies and directives, both nationally and internationally. Simultaneously, several local, often community‐led, initiatives seek to enhance their local environments. This article seeks to understand both synergies and dissonance between top‐down and bottom‐up actions within the environmental conservation and management domain of sustainable development. Four case studies of local voluntary initiatives in Lincolnshire (UK) are used as the basis to examine how the activities and stated goals of the groups align with wider policy goals and engage with formal planning systems. The analysis draws from the neo‐endogenous development theory to offer recommendations about how to recognise and empower local initiatives within a multi‐level governance approach to delivering sustainable development. Conclusions also suggest that the principles of neo‐endogenous development can be applied more widely to capture greater value from community‐led activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite-based platforms are currently the only feasible way of achieving intercontinental range for quantum communication, enabling thus the future global quantum internet. Recent demonstrations by the Chinese spacecraft Micius have spurred an international space race and enormous interest in the development of both scientific and commercial systems. Research efforts so far have concentrated upon in-orbit demonstrations involving a single satellite and one or two ground stations. Ultimately satellite quantum key distribution should enable secure network communication between multiple nodes, which requires efficient scheduling of communication with the set of ground stations. Here we present a study of how satellite quantum key distribution can service many ground stations taking into account realistic constraints such as geography, operational hours, and most importantly, weather conditions. The objective is to maximise the number of keys a set of ground stations located in the United Kingdom could share while simultaneously reflecting the communication needs of each node and its relevance in the network. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear optimisation program and solved to a desired optimality gap using a state of the art solver. The approach is presented using a simulation run throughout six years to investigate the total number of keys that can be sent to ground stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores gender relations in the City of London advertising industry. It argues that the gender imbalance in the highest ranking positions and the stifled career progression of women in the industry are a result of social, structural and institutional factors rather than individual choice, lack of ‘talent’ or the absence of mentors or appropriate role models. We discuss the organisation and spatiality of the advertising industry in London, significance of social networking within and beyond the firm, and problematise the notion that female childbearing and caring are the primary determinants of women’s truncated career trajectories in advertising. The research reveals that whilst age, gender and domestic divisions of labour combine to reinforce occupational sexual divisions of labour in the advertising industry in London, these inequality regimes are amplified by the industry’s precariousness, informality and requirements for flexibility. Attempting to explain away gendered divisions of labour solely on the basis of women’s role in social reproduction deflects attention away from other key determinants of inequality, most notably the pace of advertising work and the geographical concentration of the industry within London. These are further accentuated by deep-rooted forms of homophily and homosociality – those unspeakable inequalities that call into question the dominant post-feminist rhetoric that ‘all the battles have been won’. We analyse the ways in which homosociality has been crucial in maintaining insidious sexism which has made it very difficult for female creatives to obtain the most prestigious roles at work. Taken together, the organisation and geography of the sector, the rhetoric of buzz and egalitarianism, the ‘motherhood myth’ and the homophilic practices at work within advertising combine to create deep and enduring gendered inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies of migrants provide us with an understanding of their social relations beyond work; however, workplace networking practices among migrants, particularly as they are mediated by their jobs and their working environment, has not been addressed as a substantive subject. Drawing on two studies of Poles, working in hospitality and food production, which utilized interviews, participant observation, netnography and a survey, this paper examines how occupational and organizational factors, including the nature of work and the characteristics of the workplace, impact upon migrants' intra- and inter-group relations. Furthermore, the data are used to consider how migrants 'work' (ie, utilize and exploit) the dynamics of the work(place) to facilitate their networking. We distinguish between task, spatial and related temporal dimensions affecting their interactions, arguing that such a conceptual lens is necessary for understanding migrants' networking strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research reported on in this article explores the use of social media for work-related or professional purposes. In particular, it focuses on the perceptions and use of social media by academics in the UK. The purpose of the research was to explore the potential social media has to facilitate the changing landscape of higher education and support the individual academic in their role. Of particular interest is how specific social media tools are being used to enhance networking opportunities and contribute to career progression. The use of social media was explored in detail through interviews and a survey. Typical activities that are currently being undertaken were identified and user group profiles developed that articulate different levels of engagement with these tools and the motivations that each group of users have for using social media. The study found that, with increasing levels of activity, the number of motivations for using social media increase, as does the perceived number of successful outcomes, including contributions towards career progression. The main barriers to using social media were identified as a lack of time and skills to undertake these activities, as well as a negative perception of social media. Recommendations for increasing participation are to provide practical training, including the sharing of good practice, and to initiate dialogues within institutions regarding the potential career progression opportunities that social media may afford. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many changes and challenges have been faced during the past 18 months in both organisational and clinical practice. This month, Karen Jenkins gives an update on how the Association of Nephrology Nurses has been supporting its members and the wider renal community [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The film industry offers an exemplary case study for examining the recruitment processes to which the 'socialized worker' (Gill and Pratt, 2008) is subject. Even among the creative industries, film is exceptional in its reliance on networking andword of mouth as its primary - and in many cases only - tool for recruitment and for identifying the 'right' candidate for the job (Blair, 2000a). Increasingly there is evidence that reliance on personal networks and informal employment practices has different outcomes for men and women (Grugulis and Stoyanova, 2012). Hiring on short-term contracts in a context of ambiguity, risk and uncertainty, necessitates reliance on social networks and informal subjective criteria, with outcomes that reinforce the status quo (Bielby and Bielby, 1999). Fenstermaker, West and Zimmerman argue that to overcome gender inequality 'we will need to understand the mechanisms by which it is sustained in institutional social arrangements' (Fenstermaker et al., 2002: 38). This article will unpack how recruitment procedures that rely on 'connections' and 'affinities of habitus' (Bourdieu, 1984: 151) can contribute to the way that gender inequality is sustained for screenwriters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on women managers’ perceptions of mentoring and networking with respect to their career development in Saudi Arabia (SA) and the UK. This qualitative study used interviews to generate data, and we interviewed 44 women working as managers in public sector organizations in SA and the UK. The findings revealed that women in SA and the UK have different concepts of both mentoring and networking, and this relates to the cultures in the two countries. Women in SA associated mentoring and networking with their family members rather than their professional networks. In contrast, the women in the UK conceptualized mentoring and networking as something that took place, either formally or informally, in the workplace or through their wider professional networks. Both groups of women experienced challenges in their careers and received different forms of support from their professional groups and family members. Our comparative study provides a novel insight into women’s experiences from two very different perspectives and cultures; this will contribute to research and practice in this area. In particular, the findings illustrate the importance for human resource practitioners and talent managers of understanding the cultural context of their management and leadership development interventions. The paper concludes with an agenda for further research and also identifies the implications for human resource development practitioners which include adapting their strategies and practices to enable organizations to gain full value from their talent pool and realize women’s potential to hold top positions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In-migrants played an important role within port-city merchant communities, but the contribution of German-born merchants to Liverpool's development in the nineteenth century has been largely ignored. This article has four interrelated objectives. First, it establishes the size and composition of the German merchant community in terms of the place of birth, occupational classification, length of residence, and relative wealth of German-born merchants. Secondly, it measures the degree of acculturation and integration based on a range of indicators including choice of bride, child- and house-naming practices, the employment of fellow nationals, and the acquisition of British citizenship. Thirdly, it analyses their role within Liverpool society, focusing on their involvement in the city's associational networks, their participation in voluntary and charitable associations, and their entertainment profile. Finally it assesses how the growth of German nationalism after 1871 and the institutional role of the German Protestant Church reinforced ethnic identity, influenced decisions relating to citizenship and settlement, and affected business networking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the Teacher Education Research Network (TERN) initiative, which piloted a model for research capacity building in teacher education in the North West of England with the aim of providing early and mid career researchers from seven regional universities with opportunities for professional learning and development. It explores the intricate dynamics of the learning journeys undertaken by the participants and critically examines the structural, social and cultural factors involved in the navigation of the complex ecologies in which they were embedded as teacher educators and how this impacted on their learning. It concludes that initiatives such as TERN can result in academic learning and professional development, but in view of the internal and external pressures confronting education departments today it also raises pertinent issues with regard to the sustainability of such projects. As such the paper makes a strong contribution to the growing international literature on academic learning and professional development within a research capacity-building context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth and popularity of the microblogging service Twitter has been one of the most recent phenomena of the Internet, which opens up opportunities for businesses in general and publishers in particular to do marketing in a dialogue- and consumer-oriented way. This survey analysed UK trade publishers' use of Twitter with the specific objective of finding out what influence a publisher's size has on its Twitter adoption, patterns of use and the content of its Tweets. Overall, the results suggest that a publisher's size primarily affects its general Twitter use, while being less influential regarding its patterns of use and the tweeted content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The importance of networks in effecting the outcomes of change processes is well-established in the literature. Whilst extant literature focuses predominantly on the structural properties of networks, our purpose is to explore the dynamics of network emergence that give rise to the outcomes of process improvement interventions. Through the use of actor-network theory (ANT), the purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics in the implementation of a process improvement methodology in the complex organisational setting of a UK National Health Service Trust. The paper illustrates the utility of ANT in articulating the dynamic nature of networks underpinning socio-technical change, and our analysis provides insights for the management process change initiatives. Design/methodology/approach -- This is a rich qualitative study in the Pathology Unit of a UK National Health Service Trust, using ANT as the theoretical lens for tracking the emergence and transformation of networks of individuals over the course of a management intervention to promote "Lean thinking" for process performance improvements. Findings -- ANT is useful for explicitly tracking how organisational players shift their positions and network allegiances over time, and for identifying objects and actions that are effective in engaging individuals in networks which enable transition to a Lean process. It is important to attend to the dynamics of the process of change and devise appropriate timely interventions enabling actors to shift their own positions towards a desired outcome. Research limitations/implications -- The paper makes the case for using theoretical frameworks developed outside the operations management to develop insights for designing process interventions. Originality/value -- By understanding the role of shifting networks managers can use timely interventions during the process implementation to facilitate the transition to Lean processes, e.g. using demonstrable senior leadership commitment and visual communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Networking and collaboration in educational settings have become increasingly important in terms of supporting innovation and policy developments in many educational systems. However, to date, the role and action of the middle tier remains an under-researched area, especially in the United Kingdom. This paper draws on findings from a study of district level (local authorities (LAs)) capacity to broker and facilitate school-based networks within a context of complex multiple agendas. The study, funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Innovations Unit and the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) involved 19 LAs over a two-year period. The authors worked as second order action researchers supporting local authority staff develop a range of strategies to broker and facilitate school-to-school networks. This paper draws on Habermassian notions of a critical theorem to describe the construction and use of a new theoretical framework outlining the strategies adopted by the middle tier officers within the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the developing literature on complementarities in organizational design. We test for the existence of complementarities in the use of external networking between stages of the innovation process in a sample of UK and German manufacturing plants. Our evidence suggests some differences between the UK and Germany in terms of the optimal combination of innovation activities in which to implement external networking. Broadly, there is more evidence of complementarities in the case of Germany, with the exception of the product engineering stage. By contrast, the UK exhibits generally strong evidence of substitutability in external networking in different stages, except between the identification of new products and product design and development stages. These findings suggest that previous studies indicating strong complementarity between internal and external knowledge sources have provided only part of the picture of the strategic dilemmas facing firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is a growing body of research into the cultural and creative industries, little work has focused specifically upon on the geography of design and its role in regional economies. The relative neglect of the geography of the UK design industry is surprising given recent assertions about the sector's role in national economic competitiveness; its contribution to product innovation; and its importance as an urban regeneration resource. This paper explicitly considers the extent to which existing conceptualizations of agglomeration and creativity provide insights into the realm of design. Our discussion reflects upon recent surveys of the design sector and analyses current design organization membership data, both of which reveal an overwhelming concentration of design activities in London and the South East. Our analysis of the strategies, organization and practices of agencies in London reveals that a number of the key features associated with cultural industries in general are significantly less discernible within design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the survey which examines the weaknesses and strengths of small firm networks made by interfirm cooperation policies in Great Britain. The study revealed that the business networks have faced a number of problems leading in the cooperation being low. In addition, it has limited the number of firms that have gained from participation as well as the overall effect on firm performance and development. While the study did indicate that participation for a small number of firms translated into substantial benefits, it was proposed that policies intended at formal network initiatives should be abandoned.

Purpose — This paper aims to explore the pattern and significance of cross-organizational ties in an emergent professional field, web production in UK higher education. Design/methodology/approach — The research is based on in-depth interviews with 21 practitioners and analysis of activity in cross-organizational spaces, such as an online community and a series of annual practitioner conferences on the web in HE (1997). Findings — The cross-organizational spaces have support and symbolic roles as well as informational ones. They have overlapping but different membership and agendas. Key factors that govern individual participation and so the shape of cross-organizational spaces are differential involvement in technical innovation, degree of organizational embedding or marginality, differences in organizational position and role, orientation towards centralization or decentralization and orientation towards marketing or IT. There is some sense of occupational community among web managers, but within that also diversity and a significant fracture line between marketing and IT perspectives on the role. This may explain the lack of formal professionalization. As a more natural boundary practice between organizations than marketing, IT has more public visibility, possibly influencing the course jurisdictional struggles over who should control the web. Originality/value — Most studies of knowledge sharing have focussed on the factors which influence it within an organization, yet cross-organizational sharing is also of importance, even for established professions as the boundaries of organizations become more open. For new occupations cross-organizational ties may be a critical resource, and not only for sharing information or support, but for making sense of what the job is about at the deepest level. The research is also original in analysing a relatively little researched occupational group, those producing web sites for a living. It will be relevant to those interested in online and people centered information seeking, in professionalization and occupational identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to put forward a theoretical model grounded in the literature that identifies a number of antecedent conditions associated with network commitment. Design/methodology/approach – Based upon empirical data gathered from formal healthcare networks in the UK, findings are presented that suggest different forms of commitment within networks may have opposite effects on network performance. Findings – This paper argues that commitment may play a significant role specifically associated with determining performance outcomes in networks. In so doing a theoretical model is put forward drawn from the literature to suggest possible antecedent conditions associated with commitment at the inter-organisational level Originality/value – To date few studies have been undertaken to examine the antecedents of commitment within networks. More importantly, the recognition of commitment as a multi-dimensional construct within networks has yet to have informed understanding of the role commitment may play at the inter-organisational level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two major developments have been associated with the reorientation of United Kingdom health and social care policy and provision in recent years, placing a new emphasis on: quality and ‘outcome’ measures; and service user (and public and patient) involvement. These issues have become central to health and social care, representing expressions of the shift in political and ideological interest in public policy. However, these two strands of development have tended to be treated as discrete discourses and have developed separately in policy. Nevertheless, it can hardly be assumed that what policy makers, service planners, providers and purchasers would value and prioritise as good quality would necessarily coincide with what service users would want. Developing effective partnership working needs to go beyond considerations of organisations and professional groupings, and fully involve service users as one of the key stakeholders. This paper describes the findings of three projects undertaken by Shaping Our Lives. These studies confirmed that service-user concepts of outcomes and quality may differ significantly from those currently employed; moreover, service users are able to offer a complex and sophisticated model of what outcome measures might look like if they were centrally involved in their definition and application. Nevertheless, service users currently have little impact in defining and influencing quality outcomes. The projects also highlight the importance of networking and knowledge sharing for service users and user organisations in their ability to influence policy definitions of quality, and a number of the barriers and obstacles which undermine this process. The paper concludes with two proposals which, considered together, offer the basis for taking forward effective and inclusive partnerships and developing measures for quality consistent with the rights and preferences of service users themselves. They are an essential complement to broader efforts and strategies to develop effective partnerships in health and social care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promise of a reinvigorated local government that many believed was imminent following the UK election of New Labour in 1997 was not immediately realized. Central government has made clear that local authorities have opportunities to enhance their role only if they meet its expectations. The messages emanating from central government have been complicated and at times contradictory. Local authorities must develop innovative ways of working in a multi-agency context, while also meeting central government's prescriptive results-based agenda. The opportunities and threats arising from the tensions evident in central government's policies towards local authorities have profound implications for UK intergovernmental management. Taking account of parallel developments in some other European countries, and applying associated developing theory, this article examines how far English local authorities are adapting to a networking environment and the extent to which they nonetheless operate within an 'action space' defined and predetermined by central government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleri Wood describes the importance of using Twitter to communicate with the renal community, Association of Nephrology Nurses' bimonthly Twitter chats and how you can get involved [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has been reviewing how it engages with senior nurses across the UK. As part of a new approach to engagement, it was decided to establish a UK-wide network for nurses at executive level across all sectors of care provision. In this article, the author, who was appointed RCN Executive Nurse Network manager in November 2011, explains who the network is for, what it offers, how it will work and how it will be developed over the coming year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]