Browsing by Author "Karunaratne, D.R."

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    Organizational Resilience: A Paradox-based Conceptualization
    (Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2021) Karunaratne, D.R.
    The concept of resilience has recently gained significant popularity in organizational research. It is considered to be a very promising concept for explaining how businesses can survive and develop in the face of adversity or instability of the environment. Past literature focuses on various perspectives of organizational resilience and frameworks mainly based on processes, resources, and capabilities. However, a significant amount of these studies have focused on polarized or opposite attributes resulting in contradiction of studies that blurs the conceptualization of organizational resilience. The purpose of this study is to address this gap by critically evaluating the phases or dimensions of the organizational resilience process and its contradictions in order to improve the understanding of this complex and embedded construct. Findings in the study reveal these contradictions which are encountered in different phases of the organizational resilience process are paradoxical tensions. Paradoxical thinking refers to opposite demands that are contradictory or polarized but are interconnected and such tensions should be managed by both/and approach instead of either/or approach. The anticipation phase consists of opposite tensions of opportunities or threats, the concurrent phase consists of tensions of stability or adaptability, and finally, the reactive phase consists of tensions of growth or performance. Therefore, the new framework conceptualizes organizational resilience dimensions to be managed as a paradox to enhance the understanding of the concept of organizational resilience and thereby facilitate its operationalization. The proposed new configuration can add to the business and management literature by enhancing the comprehensive conceptualization of organizational resilience.
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    Perceptions of Sri Lankan medical students on selecting and pursuing medicine as a career
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2017) Karunaratne, D.R.
    INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Although the choice of pursuing medicine as a career has long been a topic of interest, the rapidly changing socioeconomic environment warrants a revisit. This study explored the current factors which influence this choice among medical students. METHODS: A mixed-method study was conducted among first and fourth year students in the Faculties of Medicine of universities of Kelaniya, Colombo and Sri Jayewardenepura. The perceptions of 30 medical students were explored using focus group discussions. The contents were thematically analysed to develop a valid self-administered questionnaire, which was given to 364 medical students. The responses were analysed both descriptively and inferentially. RESULTS: A total of 63.5% respondents were females and 44% were first-year students. The foremost reason for selecting medicine was to help people (mean= 2.28). The least important reason was parental pressure (mean=1.5). A/L marks (mean=2.19), social status of being a doctor (mean=1.74), job guarantee (mean=1.83) and self-interest (mean=1.98) were ranked in between. The regret of choosing medicine as a career was higher among females (p=0.035) and fourth-year students than their counterparts. The reasons appeared to be the stressfully high workload and external political issues in medical education. The interest on postgraduate studies was higher among 1st A/L attempt entrants than 3rd A/L attempt entrants (p=0.011); the interest appeared to grow along the course. CONCLUSION: Choosing medicine still has an altruistic preponderance. However, a regret of selecting medicine appears to grow along the course. The desire to pursue postgraduate studies is more if entered to medical school in the 1st attempt.