scholarly journals The inclusion of transversal competences in the training programs for unemployed of Bahía De Cádiz

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-47
Author(s):  
Miguel Blanco Canto ◽  
Lydia Bares López ◽  
Oksana Hrynevych
Keyword(s):  
Training Programs ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Team Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Training Courses ◽  
Employment Programs ◽  
The One ◽  
The Unemployed

Purpose The economic crisis of 2008 has caused a significant increase in the number of unemployed in Spain and a decrease in investments in active training policies. In this context, it is even more necessary to demand improvements in the degree of efficiency of the training programs aimed at unemployed people. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the opinions of a group of experts in labor intermediation on the need to include transversal competences in the training contents of employment courses aimed at the tourism sector to improve the degree of employment of the unemployed. Findings All the experts consulted have indicated the need to enrich the subjects of the training courses by incorporating workshops that favor the implementation of certain transversal competences such as team work, management in stress situations, problem-solving, willingness to learn, self-initiative, verbal communication and mastery of social networks. Research limitations/implications The main limitations are given by the small number of experts in the field. However, their long career and participation in employment programs make their opinions valuable. Practical implications The main practical implication is in the fact that the proposed suggestions about modifications in the contents of the training courses for employment in the tourism sector are perfectly applicable, and according to the expert’s opinions, they would improve the degree of labor insertion of the participants. Social implications The improvement of the degree of employability of the unemployed who participate in the training actions and a greater adaptation to the specific characteristics of the jobs offered by the entrepreneurs of the sector. Originality/value The adaptation of the formative contents of the courses focused on the unemployed can make possible two desirable effects. On the one hand, the improvement of the quality of the tourist resources and on the other hand, increase the degree of employability of the unemployed, and in this way improve the efficiency of training programs.

Training Package for Emergency Medical Teams Deployed to Disaster Stricken Areas: Has ‘TEAMS’ Achieved its Goals?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Moran Bodas ◽  
Kobi Peleg ◽  
Bruria Adini ◽  
Luca Ragazzoni
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Team Work ◽  
Pilot Training ◽  
Perceived Needs ◽  
Training Package ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Field Team ◽  
Medical Teams

Abstract In spite of their good intentions, Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) were relatively disorganized for many years. To enhance the efficient provision of EMT’s field team work, the Training for Emergency Medical Teams and European Medical Corps (TEAMS) project was established. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and quality of the TEAMS training package in 2 pilot training programs in Germany and Turkey. A total of 19 German and 29 Turkish participants completed the TEAMS training package. Participants were asked to complete a set of questionnaires designed to assess self-efficacy, team work, and quality of training. The results suggest an improvement for both teams’ self-efficacy and team work. The self-efficacy scale improved from 3.912 (± 0.655 SD) prior to training to 4.580 (± 0.369 SD) after training (out of 5). Team work improved from 3.085 (± 0.591 SD) to 3.556 (± 0.339 SD) (out of 4). The overall mean score of the quality of the training scale was 4.443 (± 0.671 SD) (out of 5). In conclusion, The TEAMS Training Package for Emergency Medical Teams has been demonstrated to be effective in promoting EMT team work capacities, and it is considered by its users to be a useful and appropriate tool for addressing their perceived needs.

Measuring the quality of the “comply or explain” approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 373-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michail Nerantzidis
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
The Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Athens Stock Exchange ◽  
Recent Financial Crisis ◽  
The One ◽  
Comply Or Explain

Purpose – This paper provides evidence regarding the efficacy of the “comply or explain” approach in Greece and has three objectives: to improve our knowledge of the concept of this accountability mechanism, to elevate auditors’ potential role in the control of corporate governance (CG) statements and to contribute to the discussion about the reform of this principle; a prolonged dialogue that has been started by European Commission in the light of the recent financial crisis. Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken is a content analysis of CG statements and Web sites of a non-probability sample of 144 Greek listed companies on the Athens Stock Exchange for the year 2011. Particularly, 52 variables were evaluated from an audit compliance perspective using a coding scheme. From this procedure, the level of compliance with Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) code, as well as the content of the explanations provided for non-compliance, were rated. Findings – The results show that although the degree of compliance is low (the average governance rating is 35.27 per cent), the evaluation of explanations of non-compliance is even lower (from the 64.73 per cent of the non-compliance, the 40.95 per cent provides no explanation at all). Research limitations/implications – The research limitations are associated with the content analysis methodology, as well as the reliability of CG statements. Practical implications – This study indicates that companies on the one hand tend to avoid the compliance with these recommendation practices, raising questions regarding the effectiveness of the SEV code; while on the other, they are not in line with the spirit of the CG code, as they do not provide adequate explanations. These results assist practitioners and/or policy-makers in perceiving the efficacy of the “comply or explain” approach. Originality/value – While there is a great body of research that has looked into the compliance with best practices, this study is different because it is the first one that rates not only the degree of the compliance with the code’s practices but also the content of the explanations provided for non-compliance. This is particularly interesting because it adds to the body of research by providing a new approach in measuring the quality of the “comply or explain” principle in-depth.

Applying evidence-based HRM: the case of bonuses in the home furnishing industry

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 192-208
Author(s):  
André de Waal ◽  
Maarten Roobol
Keyword(s):  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Work Motivation ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Motivational Factors ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Quality Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Home Furnishing

Purpose – In the home furnishing industry outside contract installers produce higher quality work than in-house installers which is reflected in less revisits to customers to repair mistakes. Many home furnishing retailers are therefore contemplating introducing so that the quality of the work of in-house installers will be linked to financial incentives, thus resembling the situation of contract installers. However, a necessary condition for a successful introduction of bonuses is that in-house installers are motivated by it to deliver better quality work, i.e. cause less revisits. The purpose of this paper is to look into the question whether the introduction of bonuses could be used to increase the quality of work of in-house. Design/methodology/approach – For the research the four steps of the evidence-based HRM framework, as developed by Rousseau and Barends (2011), were used. In steps 1, literature review, the research question was formulated based on work motivation theories (in particular on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, bonuses, and the differences between contract workers and organizational employees). In step 2, systematic gathering of facts, two existing questionnaires were combined to measure the motivation of the two types of installers. Findings – In step 3, evaluation, the differences between the motivational factors and attitude towards bonuses was analysed for both groups of installers. The research results show that although in-house installers are potentially motivated by bonuses, they differ so much from contract installers in their general work motivation that introducing bonuses by no means will be a success. In step 4, ethical considerations, the consequences of the research findings were discussed. Research limitations/implications – The main limitations are the use of a self-constructed questionnaire and the fact that the research was conducted at only one case company, thus rendering the generalization of findings problematic. Practical implications – The practical implication of the study is that management of the case company can now better prepare itself for the issues to be expected when introducing bonuses for the in-house installers. Originality/value – This research adds to the literature on the effects of bonuses on motivation. It also addresses a gap in the literature as there is currently hardly any academic literature on the conditions necessary to introduce bonuses for craftsmen successfully, and on whether this introduction is advantageous for organizations in the first place. In addition, the case company offered the opportunity to research the issue in a comparative way, by looking at the motivational factors influencing in-house installers and contract installers who work in the same conditions, something which to the knowledge of the authors has not been done before. Finally, the sue of an evidence-based HRM framework is quite unique for the human resource management field.

Redesigning initial teacher’s education practices with learning scenarios

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Pedro ◽  
João Piedade ◽  
João Filipe Matos ◽  
Neuza Pedro
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Initial Teacher Education ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Education Practice ◽  
Planning Strategy ◽  
Learning Scenarios ◽  
The One

PurposeThe construction of learning scenarios is a way to plan for teaching activities, promoting the development of skills related to problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. Using learning scenarios as a lesson planning strategy becomes a powerful tool in initial teacher education. On the one hand, it mobilizes teaching-related scientific concepts, and on the other hand, it offers opportunities to think on innovative pedagogic approaches involving strategies and capacities essential for the future teacher. Research shows that teacher education programs within real school contexts enriched with digital technologies represent an important factor in increasing the quality of teachers’ preparation and their future professional practice. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe authors present the analysis of practice of design and implementation of learning scenarios in teachers’ initial education courses developed with students of teaching master degrees. Activity theory is used in the analysis of a case study of a student-teacher in Computer Science.FindingsThe results have been analyzed, contributing to the specification of the principles underlying the learning scenarios in initial teacher education.Research limitations/implicationsResults show the affordances and possibilities of using learning scenarios as structuring resources for the initial teacher education practice.Originality/valueTherefore, the use of learning scenarios brings a set of potentialities to teacher training given its prospective nature.

Evaluation of integrated antenatal care implementation in primary health care

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Hakiem Afrizal ◽  
Achmad Nizar Hidayanto ◽  
Putu Wuri Handayani ◽  
Besral Besral ◽  
Evi Martha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Functional Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Primary Health

PurposeThis study was aimed to evaluate the implementation of an integrated antenatal care (ANC) scheme through a retrospective document study using a checklist for measuring the adequacy of the cohort ANC register documented by midwives in an urban area and to describe the barriers for the midwives during the ANC record process.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory descriptive study using a sequential mixed method was utilised where a quantitative method was employed by collecting secondary data of 150 entries of the cohort ANC register and followed by in-depth interviews among midwives and community health workers.FindingsThe results show that the cohort registry indicators for integrated care such as laboratory and management were poorly recorded. Several barriers were found and categorised during the implementation of the integrated ANC, namely (1) governance and strategy, (2) process of care, (3) organisation and management support.Research limitations/implicationsThe contribution of this present research is that it provides empirical data of the integrated ANC implementation in primary health care (PHC) which has the responsibility to deliver an integrated level of care for ANC using a cohort registry for pregnancy registration monitoring which facilitates the continuity and quality of care.Practical implicationsPractical implication of the finding is that functional integration such as the clinical information system to facilitate an efficient and effective approach during the implementation of integrated ANC in primary care should be considered to support the clinical, professional, organisational, system and normative integration.Originality/valueSince only limited studies have been conducted to assess the quality of the cohort ANC registry and to investigate the barriers against integrated ANC implementation in Indonesia, the research findings are valuable information for the national and local governments to improve the ANC service in Indonesia.

The impact of followers’ conflict behaviors on teams’ transformational leadership, team member exchange and engagement

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Kai Jie Aw ◽  
Oluremi Bolanle Ayoko
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Team Work ◽  
Team Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conflict Behaviors ◽  
Team Member Exchange ◽  
Member Exchange ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Although how leaders shape their followers’ behaviors and outcomes is core to the leadership literature, empirical research exploring how followers might impact their leaders’ behaviors is just emerging. Using a follower-centric approach, this study aims to examine the link between followers’ conflict behaviors, transformational leadership (TL) and the quality of team member exchange (TMX). Additionally, the authors hypothesized and tested the moderating role of TMX quality in the relationship between TL and teams’ work engagement. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative data were collected randomly from 261 employees in 41 teams to examine the connection between followers’ conflict behaviors, TL and TMX and team engagement. Findings Using bottom-up/bootstrapping approach, results showed followers’ problem-solving conflict behaviors were positively linked with team leaders’ TL behaviors while improving TMX quality. Additionally, TL was connected with high levels of team work engagement and this connection was enhanced by TMX quality. Implications of the results are discussed. Research limitations/implications Although this conceptual model revealed followers as impacting TL and TMX, there is also a possibility that TL and TMX quality may be able to impact employees’ conflict behaviors. Additionally, the current study adopted a cross-sectional research design which does not allow for an assessment of cause and effect. Therefore, caution should be taken in interpreting the results. Finally, the authors studied employees from a single national culture. Yet, they know that national culture may influence the relationship between TL and conflict at the individual and team levels. Overall, the present research showed that individual followers’ conflict behaviors were associated with TL behaviors and TMX quality. Practical implications On a practical note, managers would be more successful in managing conflict in teams if they would observe their followers’ conflict behaviors and act as role models in displaying problem solving conflict behaviors – an approach that has been identified in this study to assist in eliciting transformational behaviors from the leader. Furthermore, training is indicated. Organizations should consider training leaders in TL given that our result shows that TL has a direct positive connection with employee’s work engagement. Specifically, the followers’ conflict behaviors should now be incorporated into the leadership (e.g. transformational) training programs. Finally, managers who need to boost team work engagement should consider increasing the quality of the TMX in the team. Social implications The leaders behavioral style may partly be dependent on the followers’ conflict management behaviors. Originality/value Thus far, research on leadership have been leader-centric, and while the authors are aware that followers have an important role in shaping the leaders’ behaviors, research in this area has until recently ignored how followers might impact their leaders’ style, processes and the quality of employee interactions, especially at the team level. The authors found for the first time that problem-solving conflict behaviors were connected with team leaders’ TL style and TMX quality.

scholarly journals Design transformations: teaching design through evaluations

Kybernetes ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 1372-1380
Author(s):  
Ann Morrison ◽  
Hendrik Knoche
Keyword(s):  
Real Data ◽  
Evaluation Methods ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
The Other ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Approach To Learning ◽  
The One ◽  
High Engagement ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to synchronize two courses to focus on the students working with learning and applying tools in the one course and acting on understandings gained to produce artefacts in the other. Design/methodology/approach – Working with real users throughout all stages of the design process, the authors structured two courses so findings from the evaluation methods learnt in the one course (their analyses) were directly acted on in the other (their re-designs). The authors fostered a group-spirited learning environment where students presented designs-in-process; explained the findings from focused evaluation methods using tangible representations; identified the relationship from these findings for subsequent re-design rationales; and discussed and critiqued each other's work using multiple feedback, teach-back and discursive strategies. Findings – The authors found that in-depth coverage of material, working with real data and users at all stages of assessment and producing visualizations from evaluations, naturally forced student motivation to act and redesign better solutions. The authors noted improved attendance and students reported high engagement and content appreciation. Research limitations/implications – Ensuring relevance, by adding larger context concerns, expansive critical methods and feedback processes in a cycle of understanding, acting, learning can have useful practical and social implications. This is germane when designing for quality of everyday use in, for example, education, urban environments and mobile applications. Practical implications – The paper includes implications for the development of learning environments where course and semester content is developed in tandem to support integrated learning by acting with project output and teach back “presentations” throughout the course. Originality/value – The paper proposes a unifying tandem approach to learning and applying evaluation tools with real users, teachback and acting to improve redesigns with potential to improve human computer interaction educational standards for learning and design outcomes.

Contribution of stakeholder theory in the management of environmental quality of Algerian firms

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Boubaker ◽  
Mebarek Djebabra ◽  
Saadia Saadi
Keyword(s):  
Stakeholder Theory ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Suggested Approach ◽  
Environmental Behaviour ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The One

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the environmental behaviour of the Algerian firms, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, showing how the involvement of stakeholders may change this behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – In order to set the environmental quality management (EQM), the paper has first been inspired by a mobilisation grid which has allowed the authors to evaluate the degree of dialogue between the stakeholders and the SONATRACH Group which constitutes the case study. Then, the various interviews held at the six sites of this group have allowed to determine the percentage rate of the stakeholders’ mobilisation. Findings – The suggested approach highlights two field studies. First, the aim was to check the mobilisation of the stakeholders of the SONATRACH Group. Then, in order to confirm the importance of mobilising the stakeholders for a better environmental integration, the authors had to evaluate the EQM by measuring the response rate of these stakeholders in percentages. Research limitations/implications – The contribution makes it possible to emphasise the contribution of stakeholder theory in environmental construction based on the mobilisation of stakeholders. Practical implications – In Algeria, some production sites are ranked as polluting. For this research work, the paper has chosen the sites of the SONATRACH multinational. Being conscious of the importance of integrating the environmental dimension, the group has carried out real changes by involving all stakeholders. Originality/value – The objective of this paper is to show the importance of mobilising the stakeholders who play a role in resolving economic and/or environmental issues to help the Algerian firms improve their environmental situation.

An exploration-enhanced elephant herding optimization

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 3029-3046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Islam A. ElShaarawy ◽  
Essam H. Houssein ◽  
Fatma Helmy Ismail ◽  
Aboul Ella Hassanien
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Algorithms ◽  
Convergence Rate ◽  
Search Space ◽  
Exploration And Exploitation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Discrepancy Measure ◽  
The One ◽  
Star Discrepancy ◽  
Exploration Phase

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose an enhanced elephant herding optimization (EEHO) algorithm by improving the exploration phase to overcome the fast-unjustified convergence toward the origin of the native EHO. The exploration and exploitation of the proposed EEHO are achieved by updating both clan and separation operators. Design/methodology/approach The original EHO shows fast unjustified convergence toward the origin specifically, a constant function is used as a benchmark for inspecting the biased convergence of evolutionary algorithms. Furthermore, the star discrepancy measure is adopted to quantify the quality of the exploration phase of evolutionary algorithms in general. Findings In experiments, EEHO has shown a better performance of convergence rate compared with the original EHO. Reasons behind this performance are: EEHO proposes a more exploitative search method than the one used in EHO and the balanced control of exploration and exploitation based on fixing clan updating operator and separating operator. Operator γ is added to EEHO assists to escape from local optima, which commonly exist in the search space. The proposed EEHO controls the convergence rate and the random walk independently. Eventually, the quantitative and qualitative results revealed that the proposed EEHO outperforms the original EHO. Research limitations/implications Therefore, the pros and cons are reported as follows: pros of EEHO compared to EHO – 1) unbiased exploration of the whole search space thanks to the proposed update operator that fixed the unjustified convergence of the EHO toward the origin and the proposed separating operator that fixed the tendency of EHO to introduce new elephants at the boundary of the search space; and 2) the ability to control exploration–exploitation trade-off by independently controverting the convergence rate and the random walk using different parameters – cons EEHO compared to EHO: 1) suitable values for three parameters (rather than two only) have to be found to use EEHO. Originality/value As the original EHO shows fast unjustified convergence toward the origin specifically, the search method adopted in EEHO is more exploitative than the one used in EHO because of the balanced control of exploration and exploitation based on fixing clan updating operator and separating operator. Further, the star discrepancy measure is adopted to quantify the quality of exploration phase of evolutionary algorithms in general. Operator γ that added EEHO allows the successive local and global searching (exploration and exploitation) and helps escaping from local minima that commonly exist in the search space.

The impact of reverse logistics onto green supply chain competitiveness evidence from Serbian consumers

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1003-1021
Author(s):  
Slobodan Aćimović ◽  
Veljko Mijušković ◽  
Vesna Rajić
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Reverse Logistics ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Green Supply Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Return ◽  
Logistics Process ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain what determines the influence of reverse logistics onto green supply chain competitiveness and to find out if that influence is always uniform.Design/methodology/approachThe paper contains an empirical research conducted using a survey-based study, which encompassed a sample size of 228 participants and final consumers that have experience in buying/using products derived from the reverse logistics process.FindingsThe results indicate that the influence of reverse logistics onto green supply chain competitiveness is dependent on the product return option and is mainly negative with Serbian consumers, since the perceived quality of each of the three return options is considered to be inferior compared to new products.Practical implicationThe study's empirical results show the there is a generally negative perception among consumers regarding the perceived quality of each of the three product return options, thus directly questioning the general justification of using reverse logistics in Serbian business practice. That is a sign for Serbian managers to enhance their efforts to raise future awareness of the green initiatives importance among business partners, but also final consumers.Originality/valueThe study`s contribution is twofold: first, it helps to additionally test the established and known methodology created by Hazen et al. (2011), thus contributing to the practical dimension of international comparability concerning consumer perceptions. Second, the study adds to research by addressing the gap in practical surveys regarding the reverse logistics practices.

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