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1 – 10 of over 7000Victoria Harte and Jim Stewart
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the proposal that curriculum designed for and about enterprise education can be sustained via a cyclical model of evaluation. Such an…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the proposal that curriculum designed for and about enterprise education can be sustained via a cyclical model of evaluation. Such an approach takes into consideration an important aspect of enterprise education which is “context”, a significant aspect overtly linked to the differing subject disciplines offering such curriculum.
Design/methodology/approach
The design of this research project was driven by the authors’ suggestion that to evaluate the impact of enterprise education pedagogy different factors to those that are currently prescribed need to be taken into consideration. Current evaluation practice is to take a global, generic approach, often utilising quantitative techniques, but the authors argue that evaluation of enterprise education should consider local, contextual factors only – key contextual factors being subject discipline, along with the lecturer's own context, teaching and learning materials and implicit and explicit notions of enterprise education. The research utilised two different modules and approaches to evaluation: first, a questionnaire designed using module materials such as learning descriptor and module outcomes which produced quantitative data that could be linked directly to the module learning and teaching inputs as well as lecturer's approach; and second, a focus group‐type approach undertaken with students on a completely separate and distinct module returning qualitative data, The former module was explicitly enterprise education and the latter module had a very implicit nature in relation to enterprise education. The students for the latter module were not aware of the enterprise connotation of the module.
Findings
The authors’ notion that contextual evaluation has real value was upheld in each case. Both lecturers used the data collected to improve and make productive changes to their module content and teaching and learning materials for the following cohorts of students.
Practical implications
It is the authors’ belief that contextual evaluation offers enterprise education pedagogy the opportunity to be evaluated in a more useful and practical forum, with results not only illustrating the impact on students but also on the module content and how this has been instrumental in the students’ progress.
Originality/value
Those wishing to embed and sustain enterprise education by keeping the topic up to date on an annual basis will find this case study useful and, upon request, may have access to the evaluation methods used by the authors.
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Evandro Alencar Rigon, Carla Merkle Westphall, Daniel Ricardo dos Santos and Carlos Becker Westphall
This paper aims at presenting a cyclical evaluation model of information security (IS) maturity. The lack of a security evaluation method might expose organizations to several…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims at presenting a cyclical evaluation model of information security (IS) maturity. The lack of a security evaluation method might expose organizations to several risky situations.
Design/methodology/approach
This model was developed through the definition of a set of steps to be followed to obtain periodical evaluation of maturity and continuous improvement of controls.
Findings
This model, based on controls present in ISO/IEC 27002, provides a means to measure the current situation of IS management through the use of a maturity model and provides a subsidy to take appropriate and feasible improvement actions, based on risks. A case study is performed, and the results indicate that the method is efficient for evaluating the current state of IS, to support IS management, risks identification and business and internal control processes.
Research limitations/implications
It is possible that modifications to the process may be needed where there is less understanding of security requirements, such as in a less mature organization.
Originality/value
This paper presents a generic model applicable to all kinds of organizations. The main contribution of this paper is the use of a maturity scale allied to the cyclical process of evaluation, providing the generation of immediate indicators for the management of IS.
Cyclical fluctuations in the level and rate of growth of economic activity have long been a feature of the British economy. The ability to forecast “turning points” (peaks and…
Abstract
Cyclical fluctuations in the level and rate of growth of economic activity have long been a feature of the British economy. The ability to forecast “turning points” (peaks and troughs) in business activity is of crucial importance for changes in companies' stockholding policy, hiring policy, capital budgeting, and many other aspects of corporate appraisal.
Denise Rodríguez, Hendrik Van Landeghem, Virginia Lasio and Dirk Buyens
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the situational and dispositional determinants of job satisfaction in environments created by implementing employee-supportive lean.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the situational and dispositional determinants of job satisfaction in environments created by implementing employee-supportive lean.
Design/methodology/approach
The research uses a questionnaire to measure the determinants of job satisfaction (perceived job demands, perceived job autonomy and core self-evaluations) and job satisfaction. Afterwards, the paper proposes a conceptual framework and uses hierarchical multiple regression to test the relationships among perceived job demands, perceived job autonomy, core self-evaluations and job satisfaction. Additionally, the study describes the implementation of employee-supportive lean in four small companies using an action research approach.
Findings
The findings reveal that perceived job demands has a negative impact on job satisfaction. In addition, the authors find that perceived job autonomy and core self-evaluations have a positive impact on job satisfaction. Finally, the results show that core self-evaluations buffer the impact of perceived job demands on job satisfaction.
Originality/value
The present research underscores the importance of work and personal characteristics for employees’ job satisfaction in an environment created by implementing employee-supportive lean.
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Suzanne M. Rice, Andrew Van Slobbe and Danny Rathgeber
There is increasing evidence in the literature that patient outcome is strongly linked to the quality of nursing care. In practice, the process of measuring the quality of nursing…
Abstract
Purpose
There is increasing evidence in the literature that patient outcome is strongly linked to the quality of nursing care. In practice, the process of measuring the quality of nursing care is complex and multifaceted as it is dependent not only on the skills and practices of the individual nurse, but also on the professional and organisational structure that is practised within. The expert panel concept was developed to address clinical standards and practice at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. The Nursing Expert Panel's purpose was to evaluate nursing practice, identify practice deficits, highlight areas of clinical innovation and excellence, and make recommendations where appropriate to improve patient outcome. The aim of this paper is to investigate this.
Design/methodology/approach
A pilot programme to evaluate eight clinical areas was developed and implemented. The key areas of evaluation included clinical care as well as the managerial and professional practices that support patient care. The Expert Panel, consisting of predominantly nursing staff, was recruited from within the organisation. During the evaluation, the panel collected qualitative and quantitative data using a variety of data collection tools. Data were then analysed and recommendations developed.
Findings
Five common themes of practice deficit were identified during the pilot period and the development of strategies for practice improvement is in progress.
Originality/value
Following successful implementation of the pilot phase, the Nursing Expert Panel process is now being implemented across the organisation. With ongoing evaluation and improvement of the Expert Panel Process, this quality initiative will become the foundation of nursing standards and practice evaluation at this organisation.
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Alexandra Oancă, Franco Bianchini, Juliet Simpson, Enrico Tommarchi and David Wright
Anass Rabii, Saliha Assoul, Khadija Ouazzani Touhami and Ounsa Roudies
This paper aims to clarify the uncertainty reflected in the current state of information security maturity evaluation where it has not enough matured and converged so that a…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to clarify the uncertainty reflected in the current state of information security maturity evaluation where it has not enough matured and converged so that a generic approach or many specfics approaches become the go-to choice. In fact, in the past decade, many secruity maturity models are still being produced and remain unproven regardless of the existence of ISO 21827.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have used the systematic literature review to summarize existing research, help identify gaps in the existing literature and provide background for positioning new research studies.
Findings
The authors highlighted the prevalent influence of the ISO/IEC 27001/27002 standard but raised the necessity for an in-depth investigation of ISO 21827. The authors also made the implementation facet a central topic of our review. The authors found out that, compared to the number of proposed models, implementation experiments are lacking. This could be due to the arduous task of validation and it could also be the reason why specific models are dominant.
Originality/value
While the research literature contains many experience reports and a few case studies on information security maturity evaluation, a systematic review and synthesis of this growing field of research is unavailable as far as the authors know. In fact, the authors only picked-up one bodywork [Maturity models in cyber security A systematic review (2017)] carrying out a literature review on security maturity models between 2012 and 2017, written in Spanish.
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All enterprises, whether multimillion‐dollar corporations or small mom and pop businesses, have their ups and downs over the course of time. In the event of a single business…
Abstract
All enterprises, whether multimillion‐dollar corporations or small mom and pop businesses, have their ups and downs over the course of time. In the event of a single business failure, the effect on the local economy would likely be minimal. In the unfortunate event of multiple business failures or a recession, however, the negative effects on the local economy could be severe. To forecast and predict business fluctuations such as recessions, economists employ economic or cyclical indicators. These are trends based upon statistical data collected regularly on various aspects of the economy (e.g., employment, income, prices, industrial production, and manufacturing inventory).
Lynne Bowker and César Villamizar
This paper aims to explore the benefits of embedding a records manager into a team of university administrators to help them address their information management needs.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the benefits of embedding a records manager into a team of university administrators to help them address their information management needs.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes an experience that was inspired by reports of successful experiences with embedded librarianship. The literature on records management culture and embedded librarianship is reviewed to identify best practices and criteria for success. These criteria are used to design and implement a pilot project where, rather than hiring a consultant, a records manager is embedded into a quality assurance team working at a large university in Canada.
Findings
The project is a success in conventional terms (e.g. active files reduced; duplicates deleted; inactive files archived; naming conventions, version control and access rights applied); however, similar results could have been achieved using a consultant. More interesting are the added benefits achieved through embedding. Added benefits included identifying workflow inefficiencies, identifying terminological inconsistencies, iterative training opportunities and useful knowledge sharing outside the project’s scope. The argument is made that an embedded information professional is better able to appreciate the organizational culture, which in turn facilitates the establishment of trusted relationships and produces an overall added value for the entire team.
Originality/value
There is very little, if any, current literature that explores the value of embedding a records manager into a team, rather than simply hiring a consultant to address information management needs. The outcome of this pilot project will benefit those who are seeking to develop a model for embedding an information professional into their organization to gain an added value.
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