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1 – 10 of 809Preeti S. Rawat, Shiji Lyndon, Manas Ranjan Pradhan, Jackson Jose, Milcah Kollenchira and Grishma Mehta
The different perspectives of diversity have until recently ignored emotional diversity primarily because emotions were discounted as “irrational.” To highlight the need for a…
Abstract
Purpose
The different perspectives of diversity have until recently ignored emotional diversity primarily because emotions were discounted as “irrational.” To highlight the need for a broader integrative view of emotions in the workplace, the question addressed in the study was whether inclusive leadership helped emotionally reactive employees improve their performance and whether these employees displayed potential leadership qualities for future roles.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was qualitative. This cross-sectional study applied qualitative methods to gather the required information. Sixteen business heads across different sectors in India were purposively chosen for in-depth interviews with respondents. The interviews were semi-structured. The approach of theoretical sampling was adopted. From the initial set of questions, the next set of questions was evolved and the itineration was continued until saturation was achieved.
Findings
The results showed that mentoring and empowerment helped emotionally reactive employees improve their performance. On the question of their potential leadership role, the results were mixed.
Research limitations/implications
The follower (protégé) perception, if also taken, can validate whether the person-centered style helped in the performance improvement of the followers. The responses of the leaders were based on their memory and no reports were checked from their office records to corroborate the same.
Practical implications
Researchers have argued that worker behavior and productivity are directly affected by employee affect and emotional states. The study contributes significantly to creating emotionally inclusive workplaces.
Originality/value
The study is focused on the role of diversity of emotions in the workplace impacting productivity. Emotions are vital and affect the workplace significantly. The study focused on what organizations could do to handle emotionally reactive employees at work. The study showed that inclusive leadership through mentoring and empowerment helped in assimilating difficult employees into the mainstream work.
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To assess incoming international students' library and computer experience before coming to the US, and to determine their current library needs.
Abstract
Purpose
To assess incoming international students' library and computer experience before coming to the US, and to determine their current library needs.
Design/methodology/approach
A study was undertaken to assess incoming international students' exposure to libraries, computer literacy skills, and to determine their library needs. Results from a survey conducted in August 2003 include demographic information about incoming students, computer and library use before coming to the US, library concepts that are new to them, and opinions about the library.
Findings
Survey results show that international students arrive in the US with high levels of computer literacy and that most incoming students have used a library in their home country. Findings suggest that international students would benefit from specialized library information competence and orientation programs.
Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted just over 3 weeks after the Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Library opened its doors. Thus, student survey responses were collected during an unsettled period. While students perceive themselves as understanding library terminology, no testing was conducted to confirm this. Further study is needed to determine the extent of their knowledge of library terms and jargon.
Practical implications
Survey results have led to the implementation of library programs that support the information competence, retention and academic success of international students.
Originality/value
Few studies include the international students themselves to determine their library and educational needs. This study offers a current view of the library needs of international students as they perceive them.
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Maria Nnyepi, Maurice R. Bennink, Jose Jackson-Malete, Sumathi Venkatesh, Leapetswe Malete, Lucky Mokgatlhe, Philemon Lyoka, Gabriel M. Anabwani, Jerry Makhanda and Lorraine J. Weatherspoon
Identifying and addressing poor nutritional status in school-aged children is often not prioritized relative to HIV/AIDS treatment. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the…
Abstract
Purpose
Identifying and addressing poor nutritional status in school-aged children is often not prioritized relative to HIV/AIDS treatment. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the benefits of integrating nutrition (assessment and culturally acceptable food supplement intervention) in the treatment strategy for this target group.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a randomized, double blind pre-/post-intervention trial with 201 HIV-positive children (six to 15 years) in Botswana. Eligibility included CD4 cell counts < 700/mm3 (a marker for the severity of HIV infection), documented treatment with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, and no reported evidence of taking supplemental food products with one or more added nutrients in the six-month period prior to the study. The intervention (12 months) consisted of two food supplements for ethical reason, one with a higher protein content, bean (bean-sorghum based) group (n=97) and a cereal (sorghum) group (n=104) both of which contained added energy- and micro- nutrients. Anthropometric and biochemical nutritional status indicators (stunting, wasting, underweight, skinfolds for fat and muscle protein reserves, and hemoglobin levels) were compared within and between the bean and the cereal groups pre- and post-intervention separately for children six to nine years and ten to 15 years.
Findings
Older children (ten to 15 years) fared worse overall compared to those who were younger (six to nine years) children in anthropometric and protein status indicators both at baseline and post-intervention. Among children six to nine years, the mid arm circumference and blood hemoglobin levels improved significantly in both the bean and cereal groups (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Although the BMI for age z-score and the triceps skinfold decreased significantly in the bean group, the post-intervention subscapular skinfold (fat stores) was significantly higher for the bean group compared to the cereal group (p < 0.05). Among children ten to 15 years, both the bean and the cereal groups also showed improvement in mid arm circumference (p < 0.001), but only those in the bean group showed improvement in hemoglobin (p < 0.01) post-intervention.
Originality/value
Similar significant nutritional status findings and trends were found for both food interventions and age within group pre- vs post-comparisons, except hemoglobin in the older children. Post-intervention hemoglobin levels for the type food supplement was higher for the “bean” vs the “cereal” food in the younger age group. The fact that all children, but especially those who were older were in poor nutritional status supports the need for nutrition intervention in conjunction with ARV treatment in children with HIV/AIDS, perhaps using a scaled up future approach to enhance desired outcomes.
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Jose Candace Jackson, Lorraine Weatherspoon, Maria Nnyepi, Leapetswe Malete, Lucky Mokgatlhe, Philemon Lyoka and Maurice Bennink
The purpose of this paper is to study the quality of porridge made from cereal legume composite flour and to compare with a porridge that it is traditionally eaten.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the quality of porridge made from cereal legume composite flour and to compare with a porridge that it is traditionally eaten.
Design/methodology/approach
The nutritional composition as well as protein, microbiological, and sensory quality of porridge from a sorghum bean composite flour was assessed and compared with sorghum porridge (SP) that is traditionally eaten in Botswana.
Findings
Results indicated that the nutrient composition and the protein quality of the sorghum bean composite porridge were significantly higher than that of the SP. The majority of children and adults rated the sensory attributes of the sorghum composite porridge highly and adult consumers indicated willingness to buy it.
Originality/value
The study demonstrates that using traditionally consumed foods, which are culturally acceptable and low cost, such as sorghum and sugar beans, can improve nutritional and sensory attributes when composited. These composited foods can then be recommended as a sustainable supplementary food source to improve the nutritional status and health of vulnerable populations such as HIV+ children.
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André Gordon and José C. Jackson
The aim of this paper is to study the microbiological profile of the ackee fruit during maturation.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to study the microbiological profile of the ackee fruit during maturation.
Design/methodology/approach
Ackees at ripening stage five, mature but unopened, were allowed to ripen naturally on the trees or on ripening racks used in commercial processing. The microbiological profile of fruits from this stage to that where they had ripened to the point just prior to decay (stage ten) were assessed. Aerobic and anaerobic mesophilic and thermophilic sporeformers and vegetative cells, total coliforms, E. coli, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and molds at each stage were determined using standard methods.
Findings
The number of microorganisms on the tree‐ripened fruits was higher than those ripened on racks. Mesophilic aerobic and anaerobic spore‐forming organisms were present in greater numbers than thermophiles at all stages of maturity. Coliforms, excluding E. coli, were found on the tree‐ripened ackees particularly in the latter stages of ripening. Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts and molds found on both tree and rack‐ripened fruit may be the predominant agents in the microbiological spoilage of ackees during ripening.
Originality/value
This study is the first to assess the microbiological profile of ackees during ripening. It indicated that the relatively low levels of microorganisms of economic or public health significance during both tree‐ and rack‐ripening processes would not affect the commercial sterility of the canned product, even with a moderate thermal process (Fo of 3). It also suggests that controlled rack‐ripening of ackee fruit during commercial processing could improve the microbial quality of the processed product.
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Marta Dischinger and José Marçal Jackson
To discuss and analyze models of urban design practice based on the examination of an accessibility project developed in Florianópolis, a medium‐sized capital city in the South of…
Abstract
Purpose
To discuss and analyze models of urban design practice based on the examination of an accessibility project developed in Florianópolis, a medium‐sized capital city in the South of Brazil.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes a design process of a new problem – how to improve access to public urban spaces for excluded groups, such as visually impaired citizens – and examines its development, successes and failures and the relationships between its participants. A reflective analysis is done in order to reach a relational comprehension of the economic, social and political factors involved.
Findings
Critical examination of the project revealed three important aspects. The first is that at all stages it is fundamental to create channels of communication that give a voice to users. The second is that technical knowledge is not neutral, and incorporating multiple views can bring innovative technical solutions and also the external support that is necessary to solve complex problems. Third, the fragility of public institutions and the weakening of state services caused by neo‐liberal policies is a key determinant for the success of urban design processes.
Originality/value
The analytical effort needed to extend the boundaries beyond our own actions as architects (in a conflicting urban design project), demonstrated the importance of producing knowledge based on a reflective attitude towards practice.
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José Lindoval Aragão Matos and Rui Pedro Lourenço
This paper aims at contributing to the knowledge regarding the use of social software in corporate environments. It analyses, in an exploratory way, the perceptions of social…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims at contributing to the knowledge regarding the use of social software in corporate environments. It analyses, in an exploratory way, the perceptions of social software managers (specifically blogs and wikis) regarding the implementation processes and actual usage of this type of applications within their companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper follows a qualitative approach, with exploratory nature. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect social software manager's perceptions, and the resulting data were subjected to qualitative content analysis, from which several issues emerged and were analyzed.
Findings
According to managers' perceptions, social software applications are helping companies regarding, in particular, knowledge management, project management, and internal communication issues. On the other hand, it seems clear that companies (and managers) need to adopt participation incentives, establish usage rules, implement monitoring and evaluation instruments, and broaden the scope of usage beyond core business areas.
Research limitations/implications
The analysis reflects the managers' perceptions expressed in semi-structured interviews made on a limited number of companies where most application users have technological academic formation or experience. Further research efforts should overcome these limitations by including a wide variety of companies (from other activity sectors), with a wider diversity of application user profiles. Also, input from application users should be taken into account in the analysis, as well as some quantitative indicators (regarding actual usage, for instance).
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the knowledge regarding the use of social software, namely blogs and wikis, in corporate environments, an area where further research is needed. The analysis and reported findings can be of value to managers responsible for social software implementation processes within corporations, helping them to reflect upon the issues that emerged.
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This paper aims to review the evolution of a nation-wide Document Delivery Service in Korea over the past decade, focusing on how the service has been reconfigured to sustain and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the evolution of a nation-wide Document Delivery Service in Korea over the past decade, focusing on how the service has been reconfigured to sustain and fortify its position as a central channel for accessing information in the era of abundant digital resources.
Design/methodology/approach
The impacts of policy changes and technical improvements introduced incrementally over the years on the advance of the service are analyzed. The overall statistics over the period of 14 years are first presented to show the changing trends of the service, and the transaction log of the period of nine years is analyzed in detail to examine the impact of policy implementation and technical advancement on the quantity and quality of the service.
Findings
The transaction log analysis has uncovered the two main themes or directions of changes that have contributed to its robustness. First, changes introduced to streamline the service process both on the request end (unmediated requests) and on the delivery end (electronic delivery) have brought a sizable improvement on the speed of the service. Second, efforts to incorporate various resource-sharing activities into a unified service framework have led to an enhanced efficiency of the service as well as an increase in volume.
Originality/value
The empirical data demonstrating how managerial and technological changes have contributed to sustain the value of the service can be valuable benchmarking data for other services facing the same challenges.
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Catherine Sandoval and Patrick Lanthier
This chapter analyzes the link between the digital divide, infrastructure regulation, and disaster planning and relief through a case study of the flood in San Jose, California…
Abstract
This chapter analyzes the link between the digital divide, infrastructure regulation, and disaster planning and relief through a case study of the flood in San Jose, California triggered by the Anderson dam’s overtopping in February 2017 and an examination of communication failures during the 2018 wildfire in Paradise, California. This chapter theorizes that regulatory decisions construct social and disaster vulnerability. Rooted in the Whole Community approach to disaster planning and relief espoused by the United Nations and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, this chapter calls for leadership to end the digital divide. It highlights the imperative of understanding community information needs and argues for linking strategies to close the digital divide with infrastructure and emergency planning. As the Internet’s integration into society increases, the digital divide diminishes access to societal resources including disaster aid, and exacerbates wildfire, flood, pandemic, and other risks. To mitigate climate change, climate-induced disaster, protect access to social services and the economy, and safeguard democracy, it argues for digital inclusion strategies as a centerpiece of community-centered infrastructure regulation and disaster relief.
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The aim of this article is to provide Dr Bailey Jackson's perspective on institutional and systemic barriers to full inclusion of diverse faculty in higher education through the…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this article is to provide Dr Bailey Jackson's perspective on institutional and systemic barriers to full inclusion of diverse faculty in higher education through the lens of the multicultural organizational development (MCOD) model. Dr Jackson is renowned for his work on social justice, diversity and multiculturalism.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a personal interview with Dr Bailey Jackson. This interview provides insight on institutional level change efforts through the MCOD framework, a perspective on why institutions get stuck on the way to becoming healthy multicultural institutions, and the effect on moving the needle on faculty diversity in institutions of higher education.
Findings
The institutional obstacles and barriers tend to be centered around misalignment with the mission, vision and core values, and how those are formulated to include diversity and inclusion. Faculty diversity is only one component in dealing with the health of any organization or the academy as a whole. If institutions focus on diversity faculty in an unhealthy system, they will encounter limitations on how much the institution will develop on the MCOD continuum. The health of the overall system is going to affect the approach to faculty diversity.
Practical implications
Dr Jackson provides insight on his work with the MCOD framework and specifically the overall health of the institution as critical to faculty diversity initiatives. Questions to help institutions begin to assess themselves and identify changes required to move toward Multicultural within the context of faculty diversity are provided.
Originality/value
Through a series of questions, insight from Dr Jackson on why institutions get stuck in moving the needle on faculty diversity through the lens of the MCOD framework is gained.
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