Purpose This paper aims to explore the concept of resilience set within a family business context and considers how familiness and the nature of noneconomic factors, such as relationship dynamics influence performance. This paper provides new insights into the nature and impact of familiness as a mediating device, uncovering the potential for reframing resilience theory and practice. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on a review of the extant literature in the areas of resilience and familiness as a means of developing a deeper understanding of the social-ecological system of the family firm. Findings The study reveals family business as a complex interrelationship between complimentary social-ecological systems. It highlights the complexity of family business and the challenges of the relational nature of familiness and how this presents additional layers of complexity in the decision making process and implementation. Research limitations/implications The paper draws on literature that is dominated by western culture and may partially or not at all reflect the issues associated with organisational resilience in family firms with such backgrounds and their culturally bound social-ecological systems. Originality/value The paper seeks to fill a knowledge gap by exploring the key elements of organisational resilience in the context of familiness. The work calls for further research into the nature of familiness connections mediating the nature of family relational dynamics. It further provides a framework indicating how these elements can shape and subvert day-to-day management events, raising implications for theory and practice and calls for deeper empirical research to be undertaken.

This article seeks to conceptualize interactions surrounding organizational change. Four ideal types of reality(ies) are presented here using the metaphor of language. Actors' representations of experience are presented in order to illustrate these concepts. We argue that types 1 and 2, which are epitomized by dichotomous thought, are unlikely to provide adequate managerial insight in coping with complex change, whereas types 3 and 4, which are typified by 'postdichotomous' thought, hold greater possibilities as frameworks for coping with such social situations. The concept of 'coping', as opposed to 'managing', as a way of 'acting thinkingly' in and around organizational change is explored.

Atopic dermatitis and atopic asthma patients were shown to have elevated IgG anti-IgE levels compared with those of controls. When the pattern of IgG subclass anti-IgE activity was studied, further differences between the three groups became apparent. Adults with atopic dermatitis had elevated IgG1 and IgG4 anti-IgE compared with those of controls but no corresponding increase in the IgG2 or IgG3 subclasses. For Sri Lankan children with atopic asthma and a high incidence of Nematoda infection, elevated anti-IgE was restricted to the IgG1 subclass. While IgG1 anti-IgE proved to be the predominant subclass for both atopic groups, IgG2 anti-IgE was the major subclass among controls.

Purpose -The purpose of this study is firstly to consider how veterans employ talk to shape interpretations of personal and social identify. Secondly, we seek to gain an understanding of how veterans see themselves in a civilian world, their ability to re-conceptualise and realign their perspective on life to support their transition in to a civilian world.Design/methodology/approach -Underpinned by Ricoeur's theory of narrative identity, the work provides a qualitative analysis data from coaching interviews with 5 veterans Originality/value -The paper provides new insights in to the important of narrative identify broadening its potential application with engagement across diverse communities, thereby providing depth and rigour of its conceptual understanding of personal identify. The work further provides insights in to the challenges facing veteran to integrate within a civilian society.

It is recognized that the value of entrepreneurship education and the recruitment of practising entrepreneurs for such learning programmes can be problematic. This raises an important and challenging issue for universities when they are increasingly being asked to develop the leadership and management capabilities of entrepreneurs. In this account of practice, the authors explore the role for business simulation in the development of existing entrepreneurs’ and small business leaders’ strategic decision-making skills. The article describes and reflects on a pilot business simulation course, considering the challenges in the planning, the engagement of entrepreneurs and the delivery of the programme. It provides insights into the value of introducing this form of learning experience and exposes the significant challenges associated with engaging small business leaders.