Learning motivation and performance excellence in adolescents with high intellectual potential: what really matters?

In this paper we have examined the phenomenon of stress-induced analgesia. We have described the procedures used to measure analgesia and have suggested that the tests can be designed not only to indicate changes in pain threshold but also to allow for the determination of the capacity to execute adaptive behavior. Aside from enabling the analysis of responses, tests that induce reflexive as well as nonreflexive behavior may have the capacity to separate the more complex aspects of pain such as the possible presence of two components of pain, sensory/discriminative and motivational/affective. These components may be of fundamental importance for any attempt to understand the biological significance of SIA. Our examination of the neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems has revealed that they are affected by the same manipulations that induce SIA. These amines and perhaps peptides play an integral role in learning, motivation, and performance. We conclude that the functional advantage of a reduction of pain during stressful situations is significant because it allows the animal to react in threatening and perhaps critical situations as if there were no pain. Once the pain system is inhibited, other systems modulate and mediate adaptive responses that expedite the survival of the animal.

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Receiving a national quality award three times

The TQM Journal ◽

10.1108/tqm-10-2010-0027 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 63-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Paulo A. Cauchick Miguel

Keyword(s):

Driving Force ◽

Financial Analysis ◽

Management Practice ◽

Performance Excellence ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Content Type ◽

National Quality ◽

Quality Award ◽

And Performance ◽

National Quality Award

Purpose – In recent decades, a framework for management performance has proven to be an important management practice for achieving organisational performance excellence. In this sense, the purpose of this paper is to analyse how a specific company manages to achieve performance excellence through the attainment of the Brazilian National Quality Award. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopts a case-based approach using a single unit of analysis that might be considered a revealing case. The company studied is one of the largest companies in the information and financial analysis sector in Latin America and is part of a major worldwide corporation. Semi-structured interviews with senior managers and document analysis were used for data collection, with content and inductive analysis performed a posteriori. Findings – The main results outline the approach adopted by the company for each performance excellence award criterion and highlight some of the relevant organisational practices, especially those related to the nature of the company’s businesses. The findings show that the top management has been an essential driving force in transforming the managers at all levels into agents of improvement at the studied company. Additional key points are the deployment of the company’s “shared values” throughout the company and the implementation of a medium- and long-term comprehensive strategic plan focused on the award criteria. The company’s strategic system has been a driving force of its success. Research limitations/implications – For a more extensive empirical validation, further replications using other samples are needed to ensure the external validity of these findings. Originality/value – This paper is one of the few published studies discussing business excellence in emerging economies, which is not observed very often in developing markets. In addition, the paper focuses on promoting a culture of quality, a less common phenomenon in the economies of developing countries than in those of developed nations. Finally, this paper may be useful for practitioners and academics interested in the subject of quality and performance excellence.

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The effect of body-movement teaching, learning motivation and performance

Meditari Accountancy Research ◽

10.1108/medar-02-2015-0006 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 414-437 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Satoshi Sugahara ◽

Hisayo Sugao ◽

Steven Dellaportas ◽

Takahiro Masaoka

Keyword(s):

Body Movement ◽

Learning Motivation ◽

Control Group ◽

Content Type ◽

Entry Level ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

And Performance ◽

Teaching Learning ◽

The Impact ◽

Experimental Group

Purpose This research applies a quasi-experimental research method to investigate the impact of an innovative resource titled “Accounting Exercise” (teaching intervention using physical movement and lyrics) on learning motivation and performance on a group of students enrolled in a first-year undergraduate accounting course in Japan. Design/methodology/approach Five classes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (two classes) or a control group (three classes). In the experimental group, 90 students participated in a 15-min “Accounting Exercise” at the commencement of lectures over three consecutive weeks. The remaining 133 students assigned to the control group did not participate in the Accounting Exercise. Findings The findings indicate that the Accounting Exercise provided stimuli in maintaining students’ learning motivation. This finding is important for entry-level students where learning motivation has the potential to influence students’ future decisions on major areas of study and career choices. Originality/value This finding is important for entry-level students where future career options are decided. This effect is also believed to contribute to reducing the declining numbers of students in accounting majors.

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