Two theories were applied: the information processing and Skinner’s reinforcement theory. A method for estimating causal links without random assignment was employed. There were two institutions: an experimental one and a normal one. Using judicious sampling methods, 43 participants from the two chosen schools were included in the study. The questionnaires were completed by 23 parents from the intervention school. Information was gathered using the Bangor Dyslexia Test (BDT), pre- and post-tests, and a literacy assessment exam. There was a statistically significant difference between the reading scores of boys and girls with dyslexia, according to the results of the independent samples t-test. When examining reading skill alone as a component of reading ability, female students’ results (M=26.7; SD=7.7) were significantly higher than those of male students (M=13.0; SD=6.7), t (21) = 4.563, p =.000 <.001. This suggests that gender plays a significant role in improving reading ability through mnemonic intervention, with female students outperforming male students. According to the study, the Department of Education (DBE) should create early assessments for male learners with dyslexia in their early school years.

This review explores Steven Umbrello’s work on Technology Ethics, an interdisciplinary examination of the complex relationship between technology and society. The book critically examines foundational concepts such as technological instrumentalism, determinism, social construction, and interactional perspectives, highlighting the dynamic interplay between values, design, and ethics. Umbrello’s advocacy for value-sensitive design and responsible innovation as practical frameworks for addressing emerging challenges, including AI and sociotechnical systems, is a key takeaway. While the book provides a solid foundation, it raises further unresolved questions about agency in increasingly autonomous technologies and the methodological challenges associated with empirically studying interactional perspectives. This review underscores the book’s practical value for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers grappling with technological innovations’ ethical and societal implications.

In the South African local government domain, municipalities’ ability to execute legislative and executive powers is vested in municipal councils (section 151(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996). Given the importance of a municipal council from a functionality perspective, any suspension of executive or legislative decision-making powers can impede the realization of municipal councils’ constitutional purpose, specifically, the objective to provide democratic and accountable governance to local communities. In recent years, local coalition governments have been seen more frequently, partly due to the number of hang councils in South Africa. Governance suffers because of the resulting volatility caused by political standoffs. The departing premise hereto is that the realization of a democratic and accountable government depends on the degree of functionality of every municipal council. Conversely, in councils, volatility can adversely compromise democratic and accountable governance. During recent years, coalition governments in local government have been seen more frequently, partly due to the number of hung councils in South Africa. This article builds on the legal insight provided in the case of the Premier, Gauteng and Others v Democratic Alliance and Others; All Tshwane Councillors who are Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters and Another v Democratic Alliance and Others; African National Congress v Democratic Alliance and Others [2021] ZACC 34. The authors considered using governance mechanisms to provide better support and guidance to ensure the continuation of democratic and accountable government practices, where fractured coalitions have caused governance fallouts in municipal councils.

This paper aims to illustrate the research path and methodological aspects of the study of sexual normativity with reference to a specific population of the LGBTQ+ universe, namely binary and non-binary transgender people in the Italian context through the analysis and historical reconstructions of the path of gender affirmation, in daily life and in the narrative proposed by the main old media. The decision to orient the focus of the analysis on transnormativity is related to the observation of an important research gap present in the scholarly literature, which has so far analyzed the processes of the construction of sexual normativity in mainstream society - and, as a result, has produced several studies and theorizing on heteronormativity and the male homosexual population (or homonormativity) - while conspicuously leaving out noncisgenderist sexual identities (transgender, genderfluid, agender, etc.). Following up on these premises, specifically, the following research questions were set: what are the reference gender models that guide and direct the identity construction of transgender people? And what are those of binary and non-binary people? how do these models reflect aspects attributable to mainstream sexual normativity (mainly heteronormativity and cisgenderism) furthermore, what differences are evident among these reference models in relation to various socio-demographic and identity aspects (how do they vary according to age, educational qualification, gender identity status, and sexual orientation). In order to try to answer the questions of the research design, a survey was conducted, using a biographical approach, through the administration of semi-structured interviews with privileged witnesses working in the field of gender reaffirmation pathways in the medical, clinical and legal fields, in order to reconstruct the chronological and cultural stages of the construction of transnormativity from the enactment of State Law 164/1982 to the present day. In contrast to this perspective, new, increasingly fluid, complex, and differentiated demands are emerging, which have generated debate on the one hand and tension both with mainstream society and within the LGBTQ+ community on the other. This further fragmentation of cis-heteronormative criteria could, for some, pose a threat to the achievements and social positions acquired through years of struggle, demands and construction of their own sexual normativity.

This article presents research on the dialogue between second-generation Muslim parents and children in the Italian context regarding gender identity, sexual identity, and gender education. Through the testimonies of young people (18-30 years of age), the nature of intergenerational dialogue and parental position toward the relational transformations that their children are experiencing is analysed within the Italian cultural context. For this purpose, 28 semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2021 with boys and girls aged 18–30 years and belonging to Italian Islamic associations. Moreover, 24 young people were divided into 4 focus groups to conduct an in-depth exploration of gender perspectives on these topics; these young people are active members of the Giovani Musulmani d’Italia (Association of Young Italian Muslims). A strongly taboo dialogue emerges from the data; however, this does not hinder young people’s search for greater openness to different forms of relationality and sexuality, both in their current lives and their future families.

The current study assessed the efficacy of the mnemonic instruction (MI) in enhancing reading abilities among grade three learners with reading disability in two government schools (grade R to 7) in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Skinner’s reinforcement and the Information Processing theories were employed. A research method used to estimate causal relationships without random assignment was used. One of the two schools was an intervention and the other one was a control one. 43 participants were included in the study from the two selected schools using purposive sampling technique. 23 parents (from the intervention school) participated in the questionnaires. The Bangor Dyslexia Test (BDT), pre- and post- tests, and a reading comprehension test were the tools used to collect data. The results revealed that there were statically substantial differences between the assessment scores administered before and after treatment for the experimental group, t (22) = -10.753; p <.001, suggesting that mnemonic instruction is highly effective in enhancing reading abilities among primary school LWD. This investigation advocates that the Department of Basic Education should revise the policy that reading is tested from grade one, instead of from grade three, that those who are not able to read do not proceed until and unless they are able to read, and to train teachers on how to use various approaches to enhance reading abilities, including mnemonic techniques.

Since the fall of their socialist centralized systems, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have experienced considerable changes to their socioeconomic policies. The Republic of Albania has encountered several noteworthy challenges since 1992, and initially, eradicating gender inequality was not given much emphasis. Gender equality is an essential element that needs to be incorporated into the legal frameworks of all candidate countries aspiring to join the EU, in addition to being a fundamental right and a shared vision of EU institutions. In developing nations, social exclusion can be either active or passive. Because females are excluded from many facets of society, such as the workforce, education, access to the legal system, the realization of their property rights, and so forth, women’s demands and interests are frequently disregarded. Following the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Republic of Albania has developed a number of laws, policies, and action plans pertaining to gender equality, in addition to measures addressing issues such as human trafficking, domestic abuse, closing the representational gap in politics and the economy, and other matters. This essay looks at Albania’s methodology for evaluating European standards and, where necessary, adapts them to regional political and cultural norms. Ensuring that the body of legislation is in accord with the culture in which it functions is a better strategy to enforce laws than merely making models, rules, and regulations. This is a comprehensive effort to assess and contrast specific in pursuing full EU integration. This is an overall attempt to evaluate and compare some of the strategies and actions Albanian representatives and society have taken to address the gender factor in the democratization process and institution-building while pursuing full EU integration.

Emerging markets are once again gaining the upper hand. According to the World Bank, current market trends indicate that emerging economies will account for more than 70% of global economic output by 2050. With the economic enigmas and the return of emerging economies, three billion new people have suddenly integrated into the global economy, all at once: one and a half billion Chinese, one billion Indians, and half a billion people from the former Soviet bloc. How then can the strategy that predominates in the internationalization of a company be identified? In this study we will define the necessary internal organization of a company and its activities and establish what changes must be made in the internal structure of employees regarding quantity, qualification, training and facilities for machines, technology, processes, and quality control. Before starting to promote the company internationally, it is advisable to check whether the brand can be used or whether it should be changed. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had profoundly affected international trade, investment and travel. The pandemic has slowed the physical movement of people, goods and services, which is also the slowbalization thesis, and this now deserves careful consideration. The goal of this paper is to examine the objective of internationalization and the international development of companies. In this study are introduced the theoretical basis and a discussion on how exporting companies need nowadays to ask the right questions and how the analysis of the economic management can help internationalize their business. The second part of the study includes the results and conclusions.

The article asserts the need for organizations to adopt intentional and transformative Global Inclusion, Diversity, Belonging, Equity, and Access (GIDBEA) practices, to ensure their future readiness. The research developed reaffirms the benefits of GIDBEA strategies in identifying gap areas and navigating crises, by providing insights on how to successfully embed a ‘new different’ GIDBEA strategy into organizational frameworks. By drawing trends across the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic and other previous health and economic crises, it is indicated what is described as the “normality of disruption” and the need to move away from the idea of a ‘new normal’ to a new different. The new different acknowledges that the ‘normal’ or the status quo was often challenging for many. The impact and importance of the disruptions that individuals, communities, nations, etc., all have and will face together, is also recognized. The new different emphasizes organizational transformation through co-creation, sustainability, adaptivity, resilience, and design thinking. By implementing a design thinking model, GIDBEA proactively engages mistakes while promoting innovation through dissent and disruption. As a result, disruptions are not considered episodic crises but as recurring, expected, and presenting opportunities. Furthermore, it is argued that GIDBEA expertise is essential for remaining agile, innovative, and providing strategic organizational architecture to prepare and innovate for these disruptions. However, it is necessary to consider that GIDBEA practice can be limited due to the failure of organizations and leaders to frame it as an asset and develop strategic plans to leverage it in the same way they do other critical functional business units. Therefore, unless prioritized and conducted intentionally, GIDBEA work will not achieve its promised bonuses and transformative potential. The article offers readers insights and tools to assess existing GIDBEA within their organization. Using metaphors of “construction” and “architecture,” it illustrates how reimaging organizational architectures and constructing initiatives focused on GIDBEA are fundamental to resiliency, organizational sustainability, and the ability to thrive through shifting landscapes.

The dislocation of the pandemic caused social convulsions around the world. Well meaning members of the middle and rule class seem to have rediscovered humans – essential workers, employees, members of under-represented minorities, and children. In our rush to atone our sins and redress imbalances, we are not stopping to define words nor, as the pragmatists would want us to, think through what our moral precepts mean in practice. Teams that do not take the time to establish ground rules and common definitions often get a faster start, but don’t always have the most impact.