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1 – 10 of over 4000The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework that highlights transhumanism’s ideals of achieving superintelligence, super longevity and super well-being through…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework that highlights transhumanism’s ideals of achieving superintelligence, super longevity and super well-being through human enhancement technologies (HET) and their relations with services marketing principles.
Design/methodology/approach
Framed by the transformative service research (TSR), this conceptual work articulates the 7Ps of the marketing mix with four macro-factors that create tensions at both the marketplace and consumer levels.
Findings
HET has potential for doing good but also tremendous bad; greater attention is needed from services marketing researchers especially in one proprietary research area: bioethics.
Research limitations/implications
The authors contribute to the growing work on TSR investigating how the interplay between service providers and consumers affects the well-being of both. Additionally, the authors call for novel interdisciplinary work in transhuman services research.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first papers in services marketing research to explore the promises and perils of transhumanism ideals and human enhancement technologies.
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This paper aims to gain a detailed understanding of their experience of well-being from the perspective of mental health peer workers.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to gain a detailed understanding of their experience of well-being from the perspective of mental health peer workers.
Design/methodology/approach
An interpretative phenomenological analysis design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with four peer workers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings
Participants described their experience of well-being in terms of a journey over time that followed an unpredictable course. They understood their well-being in terms of their engagement in occupations. An occupational science framework was used to understand the participants’ experience of their well-being in terms of doing, being and becoming.
Originality/value
This paper is among the first to approach the exploration of the experience of well-being for peer workers using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis design.
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Sertan Kabadayi and Rodoula H. Tsiotsou
This paper aims to propose a conceptual framework for service research and introduces the first ServCollab special issue on the topic “Broadening and reinvigorating the service…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a conceptual framework for service research and introduces the first ServCollab special issue on the topic “Broadening and reinvigorating the service discipline to reduce human suffering and improve well-being.”
Design/methodology/approach
Building on previous knowledge and personal reflections, the authors developed the “Triple-A framework for serving humanity with service research,” which identifies three crucial features of conducting ethical service research: authentic, advancing and applicable.
Findings
In terms of the research scope, the Triple-A framework proposes that service research should be authentic in its approach, topics of investigation, research questions and theories/frameworks used. Service scholars should close current research gaps using theories, methods, a team of investigators and data that advance service research. Moreover, service research should be applicable by positively impacting society/planet earth, policymakers, organizations and people. Finally, ethical standards should be met in the application of all three features of service research.
Practical implications
Practical guidelines are provided to service researchers for conducting research useful for theory development and practical application.
Social implications
The proposed framework pushes service research to be original, insightful, imaginative, responsible and relevant by seeking to improve individual and society’s well-being.
Originality/value
The authors propose a novel perspective, the “Triple-A framework for serving humanity with service research,” to guide service scholars in conducting state-of-the-art and methodologically rigorous research.
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This paper examines how human resources (HR) professionals in the UK have supported employee wellbeing during the coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic. It considers the extent to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines how human resources (HR) professionals in the UK have supported employee wellbeing during the coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic. It considers the extent to which HR professionals were prepared for the crisis and their readiness in supporting the wellbeing of their people.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 senior HR professionals working across the public and private sectors in the UK. Using an in-depth interview structure, the research explored how respondents both reacted to and managed the crisis in their respective organisations. Template analysis was used to analyse the data allowing a certain degree of fluidity in the establishment of ordered relationships between the themes.
Findings
This study finds that business continuity plans turned out to be useless during the pandemic because they focussed on data, not people. It highlights the tension between home-working and burn-out as online presenteeism increased due to staff changing their behaviour in response to self-surveillance. The paper emphasises the importance of soft skills and authentic leadership and the tensions in respect of equity.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted with HR professionals in the UK, not internationally. Although the sample did include HR professionals from across the public, private and third sectors, the experience may not be representative of all those working in HR.
Originality/value
This research found that those organisations that had engaged in business continuity planning prior to the pandemic focussed on the retrieval and accessibility of data rather than people. This prioritises staff as a resource rather than emphasising people as an organisation's most valuable asset. Furthermore, the study found that staff worked harder and for longer periods of time as a consequence of self-imposed surveillance. Organisational responses were contradictory as despite implementing well-being strategies to promote physical and mental health, there was little evidence of an effective response to this online presenteeism.
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Peter Jones, David Hillier and Daphne Comfort
The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the challenges in putting government policy on the development of a new generation of primary health care centres into practice, at…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the challenges in putting government policy on the development of a new generation of primary health care centres into practice, at a time when a growing number of property companies are moving into the primary health care market.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper begins by outlining the government policy issues driving the development of primary health care centres, it describes the ways in which these centres are being developed and discusses some of the issues involved in putting government policy into practice.
Findings
The paper reveals that the government's plans to develop a new generation of primary health care centres have provoked considerable controversy and it explores five sets of issues, namely the quality of health care; location and accessibility; economies of scale and cost savings; the changing balance of public and private sector provision; and impacts within the wider urban environment.
Originality/value
The paper provides an accessible review of the debate surrounding the development of primary health care centres and as such it will be of interest to those working in, engaging with, and studying the primary health care property market.
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