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1 – 10 of 600Morris Foster, Susan Whittle, Stuart Smith and Peter Hyde
Describes a research study implementing TQM in the employment services using it on an organisation‐wide basis, for internal as well as external customers. Suggests a customer…
Abstract
Describes a research study implementing TQM in the employment services using it on an organisation‐wide basis, for internal as well as external customers. Suggests a customer profile model. Asserts that the implementation has produced astonishing results and that, by recognising service providers as experts with intimate knowledge of their customers, TQM enables them to contribute directly to the improvement of the quality of their service provision.
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Almost all Government Departments are currently involved in major information technology (IT) projects. All have set objectives, but the true impact on the Departments is often…
Abstract
Almost all Government Departments are currently involved in major information technology (IT) projects. All have set objectives, but the true impact on the Departments is often unclear. The different IT systems being introduced are considered, along with the issues they raise. The implications of their introduction are examined, and an assessment, of how these implications can best be managed, is made.
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Jason von Meding, Lukumon Oyedele and John Bruen
This paper sets out in the context of three strands of knowledge; disaster management, strategic management and project management and builds upon the authors’ (2009) theory for…
Abstract
This paper sets out in the context of three strands of knowledge; disaster management, strategic management and project management and builds upon the authors’ (2009) theory for the delivery of post-disaster reconstruction (PDR) projects. With the expected increase in the magnitude and frequency of natural disasters in coming years, more people than ever will be faced with PDR scenarios. In many cases, non-government organisations (NGOs) are in a position to make interventions to improve conditions for people facing the impacts of disasters and it is essential that responding agencies deploy appropriate configurations of competencies to mitigate project barriers. Using a mixed-methods approach, a study incorporated four case studies in post-tsunami Sri Lanka and four case studies in post-cyclone Sidr Bangladesh. Exploratory interviews with expert NGO participants were combined with direct observations and the collection of quantitative survey data. The mechanisms and phenomena observed within the case studies contributed to the development of a conceptual theoretical framework. The study reveals that NGOs face barriers in seven key areas and that they must deploy certain configurations of organisational and operational competencies in order to effectively develop and implement strategies to address these barriers. The theoretical framework demonstrates how the utilisation of these competencies, deployed in targeted clusters, has the potential to create positive outcomes for beneficiaries as measured by PDR Project Success Indicators (PDRPSIs). If dynamic tools can be developed that effectively model competency and predict success, all organisations involved in disaster response and recovery could benefit. In addition, the knowledge is highly transferable to other sectors and environments.
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Bob Turnbull, Peter Barnwell, Paul Yates, Alan Fairbairn, Brian Waterfield and Mary Waterfield
The conference and exhibition got off to a good start with an official reception by the Mayor of Bournemouth on Tuesday evening where attendees could relax and chat—a pleasant way…
Abstract
The conference and exhibition got off to a good start with an official reception by the Mayor of Bournemouth on Tuesday evening where attendees could relax and chat—a pleasant way to meet old friends and to make new acquaintances.
With the recent outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and on-going concerns about influenza and the use of pathogenic organisms as weapons, the management of…
Abstract
With the recent outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and on-going concerns about influenza and the use of pathogenic organisms as weapons, the management of outbreaks of contagious diseases has recently taken on a new urgency (Barbera et al., 2001). However, the public health law concerning disease outbreaks is still based on the perspectives, and often the words, of the early twentieth century, when most public officials saw little option but to take a very authoritarian approach to the protection of the public's health. Over the past 40 years, the jurisprudence of involuntary non-criminal incarceration, for example for the treatment of tuberculosis or as a result of mental disease, has changed dramatically, as basic concepts of due process have been incorporated into the process of civil commitment (Gostin, Burris, & Lazzarini, 1999). There is, therefore, a pressing need to rethink the approaches traditionally taken to the control of infectious disease outbreaks to address this gap between the old assumptions of plenary power to act in the public's interests and the rights of individuals threatened with state actions (Davis & Kumar, 2003). It is a canard sometimes used to justify authoritarian actions that the public responds to emergencies by losing control and panicking; indeed it is the consensus of social scientists that people in emergency situations tend to be more cooperative and more generous toward others than they may normally be (Smith, 2001; Clarke, 2002). If anything, it is my reading of such experiences as the bomb attacks on London during World War II (Harrisson, 1989) that it is the poorly prepared and under-supported public officials who are most likely to act in unproductive and socially divisive ways during public emergencies.
Do these reference requests sound familiar? “I need to know what has happened on this day in history. Can you help me?” Or, “I'm doing a paper on Thornton Wilder. He was born on…
Abstract
Do these reference requests sound familiar? “I need to know what has happened on this day in history. Can you help me?” Or, “I'm doing a paper on Thornton Wilder. He was born on 17 April. Can you tell me who else was born on that day?” Or, “Are any national or regional anniversaries coming up next Friday?” These questions call for a special type of reference work—a book of days. A book of days (or day book) lists important events that have occurred on each day of the year throughout history, and is arranged by month and day. These works often include not only historical, cultural, and literary events, but also the dates of the births and deaths of notable people, commemorative days of saints, and special anniversaries. A book of days, for example, can reveal that historians Will and Ariel Durant were married in New York City Hall on Halloween in 1913, or that Hart Crane and Ernest Hemingway were born on the same day in 1899 (21 July). This article will review some of the more useful books of days that are often found in reference collections—works that are uniquely suited to answer questions about each day of the year.
Shahram Habibzadeh, Hamed Zandian, Hasan Edalatkhah and Mohammad Mehrtak
Education systems throughout the world seek to take the advantage of every presenting opportunity for achieving a standard level of ethical accountability and capability. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Education systems throughout the world seek to take the advantage of every presenting opportunity for achieving a standard level of ethical accountability and capability. The purpose of this paper is to explain the challenges of professional ethics training from the perspective of faculty members at the Ardabil University of Medical Sciences (ARUMS).
Design/methodology/approach
The present qualitative framework analysis held interviews with 21 key faculty members were selected using the purposeful and snowball method to interview from ARUMS in 2016. The duration of each interview varied between 45 and 120 min. The data obtained were analyzed in MAXQDA-10. Codes were extracted using inductive methods.
Findings
Three main themes were extracted from the interviews, namely, educational efficacy, professional interaction and equity in education along with 12 subthemes, namely, teacher’s personal capability, work in the area of expertise, regular class attendance, quality class attendance, inclusion of theoretical bases, the teacher as an ethical role model, respect for the student, encouragement of ethical behaviors, respect for the patient’s rights, fair assessment, attention to differences and positive discrimination.
Practical implications
This study results could help to improve the quality of training and ethical standards in medical education.
Originality/value
To comply with the codes of ethics in research, permission was obtained from the Ethics Committee and the participants were ensured about the confidentiality of their data and their right to withdraw from the study at any stage. Given that this project was a qualitative study, the authors did not have a moral or practical problem in the study. This study was approved with number “IR.ARUMS.FEC.1394.25” at the Ardabil University of Medical Sciences Research Ethics Council. The cooperation of participants in the study was completely voluntary; moreover, the authors obtained written consent from participants for the study.
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Melissa A. Warner and Peter A. Hausdorf
The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the predominant theoretical frameworks used to describe the interaction between work and family roles and present an…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the predominant theoretical frameworks used to describe the interaction between work and family roles and present an integrative model of work‐family enrichment. The goal is to better understand the psychological processes underlying work‐family enrichment and to identify ways in which work‐family enrichment can be increased. A conceptual and testable model depicting the direct and indirect relationships involved in work‐family enrichment is provided.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of past theories describing the work‐family interface is provided, followed by the presentation of a theoretical and testable model depicting the relationships between work‐family enrichment and need theory.
Findings
It is suggested that the basic needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness are presented as important psychological benefits that directly impact affect within a domain and indirectly influence work‐family enrichment and quality of life.
Research limitations/implications
This paper suggests several future directions that researchers can undertake to advance the understanding of positive linkages between work and family. These future directions include: testing the propositions related to need theory through a daily study approach, examining organizational and personal antecedents and consequences associated with work‐family enrichment, and testing the aspects of the presented model to further the new area of research, integrating work‐family enrichment and need theory.
Practical implications
This paper highlights several practical recommendations for individuals and organizations. These include: the need to focus beyond work‐family conflict towards work‐family enrichment, incorporating basic psychological need fulfillment into employees' developmental goals, and for employees to seek psychological benefits to buffer any costs within a role when trying to balance work and family.
Originality/value
This paper addresses several gaps in the previous work‐family literature including: the primary focus on the negative interaction between work and family; the lack of theoretical exploration into how and why multiple roles can lead to work‐family enrichment; and specifically, the integration of need theory as an explanation for work‐family enrichment.
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Christine Healey, Catherine Mills, Vikki Fahey, Cathy Hyde‐Price, Jinesh Shah and Peter Kinderman
The New Ways of Working (NWW) initiative was launched in 2004 to build a more flexible and skilled mental health workforce. This paper explores the journey through inpatient care…
Abstract
The New Ways of Working (NWW) initiative was launched in 2004 to build a more flexible and skilled mental health workforce. This paper explores the journey through inpatient care under a new acute care team (ACT) model, piloted in Mersey Care NHS Trust as part of the redesign of services under the NWW. Fourteen service users were interviewed face‐to‐face, using an interview schedule of open‐ended questions administered by service user and carer interviewers. Service user perspectives on the admission process and inpatient care were reported as predominantly negative. Service user perspectives on the discharge process and aftercare were reported as predominantly positive. The need for clear and unambiguous care pathways, adequate information, good communication, and to have continuity of care and positive relationships with staff emerged as key themes.
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