Balancing Cultures

Balancing Cultures
Author: Jerry Takigawa
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2021-04
Genre:
ISBN: 9780578833927

"Balancing Cultures" is a personal narrative project that reflects the institutional racism and xenophobia endemic in America today. The discovery of old family photographs compelled me to express the impact on my family that resulted from their incarceration in WWII American concentration camps. The stories contained in this narrative humanize the historical record. If silence sanctions, communication is resistance. I am giving voice to the story my family kept hidden. The process of researching and creating these images greatly informed my understanding of what happened in the past--and of human rights abuses today.These images are a reminder of injustices that result from hysteria, racism, and economic exploitation. As a third generation Japanese American born after the camps, I was spared bitterness by the gift of my family's silence about these injustices. But their silence betrayed the gravity of the legacy I inherited. For the first time I felt the shame, anger, and fear they experienced. The title, "Balancing Cultures," derives from my personal struggle to reconcile Japanese and American cultural attributes. Growing up, I was admonished to "be American"--concurrently, Japanese values were instilled. This project seeks to balance this contradiction.Decades have passed since Executive Order 9066 was enacted. Many Americans are only now learning of this tragedy. There is no scientific basis for race; race and racism are social constructs. "Balancing Cultures" recalls a dark chapter in American history--censored in part by the Japanese precept of "gaman" (enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity) and the fear that if their voices were too loud, it might happen again. I raise my voice today because it is happening again.

Just Culture

Just Culture
Author: Professor Sidney Dekker
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Total Pages: 201
Release: 2012-10-01
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1409487024

Building on the success of the 2007 original, Dekker revises, enhances and expands his view of just culture for this second edition, additionally tackling the key issue of how justice is created inside organizations. The goal remains the same: to create an environment where learning and accountability are fairly and constructively balanced. The First Edition of Sidney Dekker’s Just Culture brought accident accountability and criminalization to a broader audience. It made people question, perhaps for the first time, the nature of personal culpability when organizational accidents occur. Having raised this awareness the author then discovered that while many organizations saw the fairness and value of creating a just culture they really struggled when it came to developing it: What should they do? How should they and their managers respond to incidents, errors, failures that happen on their watch? In this Second Edition, Dekker expands his view of just culture, additionally tackling the key issue of how justice is created inside organizations. The new book is structured quite differently. Chapter One asks, ‘what is the right thing to do?’ - the basic moral question underpinning the issue. Ensuing chapters demonstrate how determining the ‘right thing’ really depends on one’s viewpoint, and that there is not one ‘true story’ but several. This naturally leads into the key issue of how justice is established inside organizations and the practical efforts needed to sustain it. The following chapters place just culture and criminalization in a societal context. Finally, the author reflects upon why we tend to blame individual people for systemic failures when in fact we bear collective responsibility. The changes to the text allow the author to explain the core elements of a just culture which he delineated so successfully in the First Edition and to explain how his original ideas have evolved. Dekker also introduces new material on ethics and on caring for the’ second victim’ (the professional at the centre of the incident). Consequently, we have a natural evolution of the author’s ideas. Those familiar with the earlier book and those for whom a just culture is still an aspiration will find much wisdom and practical advice here.

The High Engagement Work Culture

The High Engagement Work Culture
Author: D. Bowles
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 127
Release: 2012-05-31
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1137028076

The 2008 crisis set off a systemic panic which almost engulfed the world's financial system. Through a lens of sustainability this book examines how organisations can explore a new business culture today. Drawing from real-life examples and new ideas Bowles and Cooper discuss how organisations can move from 'me' to 'we'.

Balancing Acts

Balancing Acts
Author: Natasha Kumar Warikoo
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2011-02-09
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0520262107

"Balancing Acts is a must-read for social scientists, policy experts, and educators interested in addressing the achievement gap between minority and majority students. This unique comparative study of multi-racial schools in the US and the UK considers through a new lens the impact of peer status on educational achievement for whites, Indians, and blacks. Never has expertise on the second-generation, racial and ethnic boundaries, youth culture, cultural consumption, and education been so skillfully brought together. And best of all, this signal contribution offers practical and sensible policy recommendations for addressing some of the causes of low educational performance."—Michele Lamont, author of The Dignity of Working Men: Morality and the Boundaries of Race, Class, and Immigration "This important comparative study skillfully unpacks the concept of culture and demonstrates with considerable cogency the role played by youth culture in shaping immigrant children's uneven educational achievement. Balancing Acts rightly highlights children's agency in negotiating the pressures of different identities and offers several most valuable recommendations."—Bhikhu Parekh, House of Lords, author of Rethinking Multiculturalism "This important study breaks new empirical ground and brings much needed conceptual clarity to the sociological study of culture, identity, and the schooling of the children of immigrants in the two defining global cities of our era. It achieves a marvelous balance—between London and New York, between institutions, social structures, and human agency, and between various immigrant-origin groups on both sides of the Atlantic. It is a must read for anyone interested in learning what the best of sociological research has to offer to us to elucidate one of the most relevant issues of our times."—Marcelo M. Suárez-Orozco, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ “If this book doesn’t convince us that adolescents’ taste in music and style of dress have more to do with their quest for peer status than their attitudes toward school and achievement, I’m not sure what will. The second-generation immigrant youth in Balancing Acts add to the chorus of compelling young voices forcing us to reconsider how we think about the impact of youth cultures on student achievement. Warikoo’s careful attention to the meanings young people attach to contemporary urban music and style should be required reading for anyone interested in the world of adolescents.”-Karolyn Tyson, Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "Warikoo does an excellent job describing peer culture and its complex role in the everyday lives of teenagers in London and New York City. This book is essential reading for educators, scholars, and, of course, students."—Margaret M. Chin, author of Sewing Women: Immigrants and the New York City Garment Industry "This provocative and timely book offers a refreshing perspective on the relationship of second-generation immigrants and youth culture. Warikoo makes a bold argument regarding peer culture, status and academic achievement that is sure to take current discourse into a whole new direction."—Gilberto Q. Conchas, author of The Color of Success

Balancing Acts

Balancing Acts
Author: Natasha Kumar Warikoo
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 488
Release: 2011-02-09
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0520947797

In this timely examination of children of immigrants in New York and London, Natasha Kumar Warikoo asks, Is there a link between rap/hip-hop-influenced youth culture and motivation to succeed in school? Warikoo challenges teachers, administrators, and parents to look beneath the outward manifestations of youth culture -- the clothing, music, and tough talk -- to better understand the internal struggle faced by many minority students as they try to fit in with peers while working to lay the groundwork for successful lives. Using ethnographic, survey, and interview data in two racially diverse, low-achieving high schools, Warikoo analyzes seemingly oppositional styles, tastes in music, and school behaviors and finds that most teens try to find a balance between success with peers and success in school.

Restoring the Balance

Restoring the Balance
Author: Gail Guthrie Valaskakis
Publisher: Univ. of Manitoba Press
Total Pages: 379
Release: 2009
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0887553613

First Nations peoples believe the eagle flies with a female wing and a male wing, showing the importance of balance between the feminine and the masculine in all aspects of individual and community experiences. Centuries of colonization, however, have devalued the traditional roles of First Nations women, causing a great gender imbalance that limits the abilities of men, women, and their communities in achieving self-actualization.Restoring the Balance brings to light the work First Nations women have performed, and continue to perform, in cultural continuity and community development. It illustrates the challenges and successes they have had in the areas of law, politics, education, community healing, language, and art, while suggesting significant options for sustained improvement of individual, family, and community well-being. Written by fifteen Aboriginal scholars, activists, and community leaders, Restoring the Balance combines life histories and biographical accounts with historical and critical analyses grounded in traditional thought and approaches. It is a powerful and important book.

HowExpert Guide to Rock Balancing

HowExpert Guide to Rock Balancing
Author: HowExpert
Publisher: HowExpert
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2024-09-07
Genre: Crafts & Hobbies
ISBN:

If you're ready to master the art of rock balancing, find inner peace, and connect with nature, HowExpert Guide to Rock Balancing is the ideal resource for you. This comprehensive guide covers everything from the basics of stone stacking to creating meaningful cairns that stand the test of time. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned balancer, this book will help elevate your skills and deepen your connection to the meditative practice of rock balancing. Introduction - Learn the fundamentals of stone stacking, how to find balance in nature, and the spiritual and environmental importance of rock balancing. Part 1: Perfecting Stone Stacking - Chapter 1: The Basics of Stone Stacking – Master balance, gravity, and choosing the right stones for stable stacks. - Chapter 2: Advanced Stone Stacking Techniques – Refine your skills with precision techniques, layering, and overcoming common challenges. - Chapter 3: Integrating Creativity into Stone Stacking – Balance colors, textures, and incorporate unique materials to express your creativity. Part 2: Achieving Balanced Stones - Chapter 4: The Art of Balance – Cultivate mindfulness as you experiment with both symmetrical and asymmetrical formations. - Chapter 5: Tools and Techniques for Stability – Use natural elements and advanced methods to stabilize larger stones with ease. - Chapter 6: The Physics of Rock Balancing – Understand the science behind weight distribution, friction, and engineering principles to improve your balancing. Part 3: Creating Cairns - Chapter 7: The Cultural Significance of Cairns – Explore the historical roles of cairns as trail markers, ritual symbols, and their modern environmental impact. - Chapter 8: Building and Preserving Cairns – Learn how to build durable cairns while balancing artistic expression with ethical considerations. - Chapter 9: Rock Balancing as a Cultural Dialogue – Engage with rock balancing as a universal language and a way to share stories through stones. Part 4: The Mindful Practice of Rock Balancing - Chapter 10: Rock Balancing as Meditation – Integrate rock balancing into your daily routine as a meditative practice, both solo and in groups. - Chapter 11: Connecting with Nature Through Rock Balancing – Practice eco-friendly techniques, choose meaningful locations, and document your work. - Chapter 12: The Therapeutic Benefits of Rock Balancing – Discover the mental health benefits, including stress relief and clarity, and how rock balancing can be used therapeutically. Part 5: The Future of Rock Balancing - Chapter 13: Trends and Innovations in Rock Balancing – Stay current with trends, from competitions to technological advancements and environmental activism. - Chapter 14: Rock Balancing Resources – Access valuable resources such as books, guides, and workshops to continue developing your practice. - Chapter 15: The Legacy of Rock Balancing – Reflect on the influence of rock balancing in modern art and inspire future generations to carry on this ancient practice. Conclusion - Reflect on the deep connection between balance in rock stacking and life, and join the global community dedicated to this timeless practice. Appendices - Explore a glossary of terms, recommended tools, additional resources, and notable rock balancing sites worldwide. Take your rock balancing skills to the next level with HowExpert Guide to Rock Balancing. Whether you pursue it for mindfulness, creativity, or artistic expression, this guide provides all the tools you need. Start your journey today and experience the peace, balance, and creativity that rock balancing brings to life. Grab your copy now and begin mastering the art of stone stacking! HowExpert publishes how to guides on all topics from A to Z.

Understanding Change

Understanding Change
Author: Linda Holbeche
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 471
Release: 2007-06-07
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1136351957

Change is now so commonplace that people no longer talk in terms of the "whitewater epoch". Every sector of the economies of the developed world has experienced huge swathes of change in the last decade of the twentieth century alone. Increased global competition, aided and abetted by technological advances, has led many organizations to seek to re-invent themselves in the hope of being able to survive and thrive. In mature sectors in particular, where the pace of consolidation is accelerating, organizations have had little option but to grow through acquisition or be absorbed. Whether the change is labelled "continuous process improvement", "restructuring", "downsizing" or re-engineering", to employees, change usually brings with it added pressures, job insecurity and a consequent loss of commitment to the organization. Understanding Change: theory, implementation and success argues that strategic change in the new millennium will be geared increasingly to achieving sustainable high performance, rather than just short-term gains. Most theorists now agree that the real challenge of change lies in gaining employees" willingness to commit to the change effort. Change leaders at every level need to be able to understand the elements at work in any change process, and to use judgement about the style of leadership required to give the change effort the best chance of success. Understanding Change: theory, implementation and success provides an overview of change and organizational theory, leading in particular to the author"s definition of the "input" elements of the high performance organisation, based on extensive research into UK and international organisations. It also contains a section looking at the management of change, with case studies illustrating approaches to managing change which are conducive to achieving sustainable high performance. In her companion book, The High Performance Organization- creating dynamic stability, the author explores some of the "how to"s" of building an organizational culture which is supportive of high performance in today"s challenging environment.

The Culture Map

The Culture Map
Author: Erin Meyer
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2014-05-27
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1610392590

An international business expert helps you understand and navigate cultural differences in this insightful and practical guide, perfect for both your work and personal life. Americans precede anything negative with three nice comments; French, Dutch, Israelis, and Germans get straight to the point; Latin Americans and Asians are steeped in hierarchy; Scandinavians think the best boss is just one of the crowd. It's no surprise that when they try and talk to each other, chaos breaks out. In The Culture Map, INSEAD professor Erin Meyer is your guide through this subtle, sometimes treacherous terrain in which people from starkly different backgrounds are expected to work harmoniously together. She provides a field-tested model for decoding how cultural differences impact international business, and combines a smart analytical framework with practical, actionable advice.