Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (Te Ara Pakihi, Te Ōhanga Me Te Ture)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10292/10756
The Faculty of Business, Economics and Law - Te Ara Pakihi, Te Ōhanga Me Te Ture is committed to conducting research that matters. Research that matters is both research of high academic quality and impact, and research of relevance and value for business, the professions, government and society. The Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, comprises The Business School - Te Kura Kaipakihi and The Law School - Te Kura Ture.

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Browsing Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (Te Ara Pakihi, Te Ōhanga Me Te Ture) by Author "Ali, I"

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    Potential Barriers Students Face When Completing a Tertiary Qualification: The Lived Experiences of a Particular Minority Community Studying at a Western University
    (Global Research and Development Services (GRDS), 2015-12-19) Ali, I; Narayan, A
    Globally, there is growing focus by governments and tertiary education institutions to increase the participation, retention and success rates of students from disadvantaged communities. Concerted efforts are being made to ensure the disadvantaged students gain tertiary qualifications and join various professions where they are under-represented. However, despite various government and university initiatives, students from disadvantaged communities are still facing numerous barriers that is impacting on their participation and completion of a university qualification. This study investigates potential learning barriers through the lived experiences of students from a particular minority group. The objective of the study is to propose strategies that will enhance students’ success and completion rates of university qualifications. The study recognises that student perceptions through their lived experiences are beneficial to educators. Hence, data was collected via a survey questionnaire and focus group meetings. This research has the potential to make a significant contribution to the design and implementation of actionable strategies to help achieve better outcomes for the minority grouping of students struggling to complete a university qualification. It is anticipated that this research will help implement teaching and learning strategies that positively impacts students’ participation and completion of a university qualification. This will in turn help inform government tertiary education policy for the benefit of the wider community.
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    Potential Barriers Towards Achieving Greater Diversity: The Case of Pasifika Underrepresentation in Accounting
    (Emerald Publishing Limited, 2022-01-01) Fukofuka, P; Ali, I
    Purpose: This paper aims to provide a commentary on how the accelerated utilisation of online learning in accounting education could further impede Pasifika students from completing an accounting qualification, thus perpetuating Pasifika underrepresentation in accounting. Design/methodology/approach: This commentary is based on the authors’ experiences and informal conversations with teaching colleagues and support staff. This paper uses Bourdieu’s (1977, 1990) theory of practice with a focus on his notion of symbolic violence to evaluate the challenges faced by Pasifika students in the learning of accounting. Findings: The social world is inherently unfair, and this can be seen in the inequality that persists in various settings, one of which is in the accounting field. Acquiring an accounting degree requires studying accounting content, which is taught and assessed in a particular way. Unfortunately for the Pasifika learner, learning and assessment in accounting education are according to the demands and rules of the accounting field. These demands and rules, with the increased utilisation of online learning, are at odds with the Pasifika student’s habitus. Thus, Pasifika accounting students are likely to be disadvantaged by the increased utilisation of online learning. This could potentially exacerbate their underachievement in accounting education and prolong Pasifika underrepresentation in the accounting profession. Practical implications: This paper contributes to teaching practice by bringing to the fore the potential of online learning as an additional impediment for Pasifika students in accounting education. This will help inform policymakers, tertiary institutions, accounting accreditation bodies, educators and support staff and could result in the formulation of suitable strategies to better support Pasifika students in online learning. Originality/value: This paper is original and provides a critical analysis of how some groups in society will be disadvantaged by the increased utilisation of online learning in accounting education, thus further hindering the slow progress in achieving greater diversity in the accounting profession.
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    Students’ perceptions on using blogs for reflective learning in higher educational contexts
    (The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA), 2013-07-05) Ali, I; Byard, K; Julich, S; Kommunuri, J
    Increasingly, blogs are being used by educators in higher education for teaching and learning as they have numerous pedagogical benefits. This study describes and analyses the use of blogs as a private journal or e-portfolio for an assessment in a first year bachelor of business programme. Three hundred and fifty students answered an online questionnaire exploring their perceptions of blogs as an assessment tool, in particular ease of use and impact on learning and skills development. Students found numerous benefits of using blogs such as ease of submitting work, increased ownership of learning, and being able to check and improve their work on a regular basis. They also reported that the use of blogs provided flexibility in completing tasks, helped get feedback from lecturers, and increased the quality and quantity of their work. However, there was a lack of consensus on whether blog use improved writing ability of students, increased dialogue between students and lecturers or increased student interest in learning. The challenge for those contemplating using blogs for similar purposes is to ensure that students are provided with sufficient instructions, and constructive, timely feedback.
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    Towards a Model for Measuring Prominence of Web-based Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures
    (2015-12-07) Chong, S; Ali, I
    Purpose The purpose of the paper is to explore whether industry affiliation still has a significant impact on the prominence of web-based CSR disclosures given the potential benefits for all companies to use the internet as a channel for stakeholder communication. Design/methodology/approach To measure the prominence of web-based CSR disclosures, a four-dimensional model is constructed using the locations, sources, accessibility and extent of CSR disclosures. The sample for the study were 65 companies listed on the NZX with market capitalisation of over NZD 150 million. Findings The findings of the paper show, firstly, that listed companies in New Zealand are utilising their websites for communicating CSR information to stakeholders, regardless of their industry affiliation and the size of their market capitalisation. However, industry affiliation still has a significant impact on the prominence of web-based CSR disclosures in New Zealand, with ‘sensitive’ industries namely mining & construction, energy and transport industries, registering above average score for all four dimensions of the prominence measurement. Interestingly, several ‘less sensitive’ industries such as the financial services, and media & telecommunications, are found to demonstrate growing emphasis by making their CSR disclosures more prominent via their corporate websites. Practical implications Companies need to recognise that web-based CSR disclosures are increasingly becoming not only an important method for companies to communicate with their stakeholders, but also a significant platform for them to strategically manage their image and identity. Originality/value The paper complements earlier descriptive studies on CSR disclosures by constructing a model to measure prominence of web-based CSR disclosures.
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    Using Blogs to Develop and Determine Graduate Competencies in an Undergraduate Business Subject
    (2019-11-29) Deneen, C; Ali, I; Byard, K; Kommunuri, J
    Graduate competencies are increasingly in demand from professional sectors, but with insufficient response from professional degree programs. This study examines the use of blogs as assessment in a first-year Bachelor of Business program. Three hundred and nine students responded to an online questionnaire exploring their perceptions of blog as a learning and assessment tool. Of particular focus were students' perceptions on ease of use, benefit and impact on the recognised graduate competency of writing skills. A regression model was applied to data analys in association between perception of improvement in the quality and quantity of the students' work (Q&Q) and several other variables. Results suggest a significant and complex relationship between participants' perception of the flexibility and benefit of the blog and three areas relevant to writing skills: self-reported improvement in writing, increased ownership of learning, and development of reflective skills. Implications for further research and practice are discussed.
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