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This paper aims to reflect on the outcomes of a community-based video-conferencing intervention for depression, predating the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigates the potential implications of its findings for enhancing adherence to digital mental health interventions. The primary objective is to present considerations for researchers aimed at minimising the intention-behaviour gap frequently encountered in digital mental health interventions.

A randomised control feasibility trial design was used to implement a telehealth model adapted from an established face-to-face community-based intervention for individuals clinically diagnosed with depression. In total, 60 participants were initially recruited in association with a local mental health charity offering traditional talking-based therapies with only eight opting to continue through all phases of the project. Modifications aligning with technological advancements were introduced.

However, the study faced challenges, with low uptake observed after an initial surge in recruitment interest. The behaviour-intention gap highlighted technology as a barrier to service accessibility, exacerbated by participant age. Furthermore, the clinical diagnosis of depression, characterised by low mood and reduced interest in activities, emerged as a potential influencing factor.

The limitations of the research include its pre-pandemic execution, during a nascent stage of technological mental health interventions when participants were less familiar with online developments.

Despite these limitations, this study's reflections offer valuable insights for researchers aiming to design and implement telehealth services. Addressing the intention-behaviour gap necessitates a nuanced understanding of participant demographics, diagnosis and technological familiarity.

The study's relevance extends to post-pandemic society, urging researchers to reassess assumptions about technology availability to ensure engagement. This paper contributes to the mental health research landscape by raising awareness of critical considerations in the design and implementation of digital mental health interventions.

Reflections from a pre-pandemic intervention in line with the developments of a post-pandemic society will allow for research to consider that because the technology is available does not necessarily result in engagement.

A distinction must be drawn between a dismissal on the one hand, and on the other a repudiation of a contract of employment as a result of a breach of a fundamental term of that contract. When such a repudiation has been accepted by the innocent party then a termination of employment takes place. Such termination does not constitute dismissal (see London v. James Laidlaw & Sons Ltd (1974) IRLR 136 and Gannon v. J. C. Firth (1976) IRLR 415 EAT).

The purpose of this paper is to explore multiple Canadian educators' experiences with the Map the System (MTS) competition, designed to foster and grow systems thinking capacity among students exploring complex questions. The challenge has been an opportunity for social innovation programs (from the nascent to the established) across Canadian post-secondaries to engage both with their own communities and with social innovators internationally, connecting social innovation spaces as part of their third mission. Across the organizations, students valued the interdisciplinary and systems thinking qualities, and organizations benefited from the external competition, there remain questions about organizational engagement in social innovation as a deeply transformative process internally.

All Canadian post-secondary institutions who participated in the 2020 MTS competition (17) were invited to a digital roundtable to discuss their experiences. Ten were able to participate, representing a range of post-secondaries (including large research institutions, undergraduate-only universities and colleges). To facilitate discussion, participants met to discuss format and topics; for the roundtable itself, participant educators used a google form to capture their experiences. These were summarized, anonymized and redistributed for validation and clarification. To reflect this collaborative approach, all participant educators are listed as authors on this paper, alphabetically after the organizing authors.

For students participating in MTS, they have built both their interdisciplinary and systems thinking skills, as well as their commitment to achieving meaningful change in their community. But MTS arrived in fertile environments and acted as an accelerant, driving attention, validation and connection. Yet while this might align with post-secondary education’s third mission, educators expressed concerns about sustainability, internal commitment to change and navigating tensions between a challenge approach and collaborative work, and internal work and national competition limitations. This complicates the simple insertion of MTS in a post-secondary’s social innovation-related third mission.

This study was limited to Canadian post-secondaries participating in MTS, and therefore are not representative of either post-secondaries in Canada, or all the MTS participants although Canada is well represented in the challenge itself. Additionally, while the authors believe their approach to treat all participants as authors, and ensured multiple feedback opportunities in private and collectively, this is a deliberate and potentially controversial move away from a traditional study.

More than half of Canadian universities (a subgroup of post-secondaries) had at least one social innovation initiative, but questions have been raised about whether these initiatives are being evaluated internally, or are triggering the kinds of transformative internal work that might be an outcome. Understanding the impact of MTS one example of a social innovation-related initiative can help advance the broader conversation about the place (s) for social innovation in the post-secondary landscape – and where there is still significant work to be done.

As Canada has only participated in MTS for four years, this is the first inter-institution consideration of its related opportunities and obstacles as a vehicle for transformational social innovation. As well, educators talking openly and frankly to educators reinforces the collaborative quality of social innovation across the post-secondary landscape.

This article discusses the use of computer‐mediated communication (CMC) within the library and information world and suggests that participation in “virtual communities” may become an increasingly significant dimension of information work. Participation in “virtual community” can, for instance, be related to the delivery of a variety of services to users within all sectors, to computer‐supported collaborative work within information services, and to both informal and formal activities for professional updating, learning and development. The article identifies some concepts and issues in these areas as a means of introducing the papers in the VINE 109, which each address aspects of the “virtual community” topic.

The primary purpose is to investigate specific human resources issues that challenge managerial level employees of the Cypriot hospitality industry. In particular the study, aims to examine: the motivational factors that directly impact on hospitality managers; burnout among hospitality managers; and the factors most likely to cause managers to either change employers or change industry segments entirely.

The research design included both an extensive literature review of secondary data sources relevant with the topics under investigation and a quantitative primary data collection tool; a survey questionnaire. The sample consisted of 200 randomly selected individuals currently holding managerial level positions in 5‐, 4‐ and 3‐star hotels operating in Cyprus, in order to address our research questions. The data was analyzed utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistics.

The findings on motivation tend to echo those which relate to the content motivation theories whose focus is on what it is about the individual. Furthermore, the findings affirm earlier research which suggests that motivational factors are likely to change as demographics change. In addition, the findings indicate that hospitality managers experience low levels of accomplishment, irrespective of age, while those with high levels of customer contact are at greater risk of experiencing burnout.

As far as turnover and leakage issues are concerned, the local hospitality industry could do well by reviewing its manager retention practices.

An investigation of this type has not been undertaken in Cyprus before. Consequently it is creating new knowledge in the Cypriot hospitality industry, and which could be utilized by the stakeholders in their future human resource strategies.

With rapid industrialization and population growth in the urban and rural areas in India, the demand for public transport has risen sharply. In the fast changing scenario in the public transit sector, the role of a bus depot manager (DM) has also undergone substantial transformation. This paper aims to identify and gauge the organizational and individual training needs of DMs, necessary to design and delivery of effective training.

Primary data were collected by visiting three bus depots, nine in‐depth interviews with the top management team, 15 in‐depth interviews with DMs, performance data of 15 DMs and a survey of 114 DMs, using open ended questions. After primary analysis a ranking order instrument was designed and administered to 114 DMs.

The results explored current and future training requirements for the role of bus DMs based on their preference and priority. Seven differentiating competencies and ten priority training areas were identified using “priority index”. Further suggestions have been made for enhancing training effectiveness.

The paper provides practical insights into how to conduct training needs analysis for bus DMs using differentiating competencies and priority index. Training managers may use such tools to identify training gaps in different roles while designing effective training strategies. It provides insights into the role of bus DMs, current and future role requirements, seven differentiating competencies and training gaps in the role of a DM.

The findings are presented based on one single role in one organization only, i.e. DMs of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC). Replication studies should examine different roles across different functions.

This paper investigates how to identify training needs for depot managers using differentiating competencies and priority index. It provides inferences on how to align business objectives, individual performance and training needs. The tools used are ready‐to‐use and replicable for different roles in medium and large MNCs.

Presents the main findings of the study recently conducted by the author: “On‐the‐job training: a tool for professionalism and productivity” (a case study of Botswana National Library Service), which was carried out in order to explore and identify on‐the‐job training (OJT) needs for library staff. The instrument used was an open‐ended questionnaire followed by interviews to eliminate ambiguities. Questionnaires were coded after data collection. This procedure was found to be more appropriate as participants were free to express opinions without being influenced by available choices. Data were analysed by using the MINI TAB computer program. A total of 64 library users and 64 library staff (31 professionals and 33 diploma holders) were surveyed. The main OJT training needs were identified as: information technology, job orientation, customer service/public relations, marketing/publicity, refresher courses and managerial skills.

The need to maintain up-to-date technological skills despite an aging workforce makes it imperative that organizations increasingly focus on retraining older employees. This article develops an adult career model based on the acquisition of technological skills and gradual skill obsolescence. The model suggests the importance of retraining and provides practical implications to the development of retraining programs. Suggestions for future research are also offered.

This research aimed to find whether information about a product can give rise to negative perceptions even in inert situations (nocebo effects), and to understand how price levels impact such judgments.

In all experiments, participants were exposed to negative product information in the form of potential side-effects. In an initial study, a higher non-discounted versus a discounted price frame was presented for a health drink after customers were exposed to negative aspects. Then, in experiment 1, price (high vs low) and exposure to information (no information vs negative information) was manipulated for skin creams where participants physically evaluated the cream. In experiment 2, price was manipulated at three levels (low, high, discounted) orthogonally with product information (no negative information vs with negative information) to get a more nuanced understanding.

In the initial study, after exposure to negative information, the non-discounted group had more positive ratings for the drink. Study 1 showed that reading about negative information resulted in a nocebo effect on perception of dryness (side-effect). Moreover, when no information was presented, perception of dryness by low and high price groups were similar but in the face of negative information, perception of dryness by low-price group was more pronounced compared to a high-price group. Study 2 conceptually replicated the effect and also confirmed that not only discounts (commonly linked with product quality), but absolute price levels also show a similar effect.

Nocebo effects have been rarely documented in consumer research. This research showed how simply reading generically about potential side effects gives rise to nocebo effects. In addition, even though marketers might find it tempting to lower prices when there is negative information about certain product categories, such an action could backfire.

To the best of our knowledge, the link between observable nocebo effects and its link with pricing actions is a novel research thread. We were able to show a nocebo effect on product perception after reading about negative information and also find that a higher price can mitigate the nocebo effect to some extent.