The Future City Index: An Application of Computerized Text-Based Analysis to the Measurement of Community-Level Futures-Orientation

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-238
Author(s):  
Mina McBride ◽  
Kimberly Daniels ◽  
Andy Hines
Keyword(s):  
Word Frequency ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Careful Study ◽  
Valuable Source ◽  
Word Use ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
The Future ◽  
Strategic Foresight ◽  
Futures Orientation

Most of the data created and made available by today’s communication platforms are generated organically without regard to potential insights that could be gained by careful study making such platforms a valuable source of data that may prove to have more validity than self-reports. Word-frequency computerized text-based analysis has been employed to discover the characteristics, traits, and sentiments of populations. The Future City Index (FCI) is an application of this methodology that has implications and relevance for strategic foresight practitioners, policymakers, industry, and urban planners. Currently in development, the FCI ranks cities according to the frequency of meaningful futures-oriented language in daily word use within a determined geographic location.

Possible Influence of Geographic Location and Colony Counts on Guidelines for Diagnosis of Streptococcal Infections in Rheumatic Fever

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 636-636
Author(s):  
Norman Lewak
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatic Fever ◽  
Medical Practice ◽  
Streptococcal Infection ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Streptococcal Infections ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Future

In their "Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Streptococcal Infection" (Pediatrics, 48:573, 1971), Honikman and Massell did not specify whether the guidelines should vary by geographic location. Taking into consideration the economic factors mentioned by the authors, should the same guidelines apply to different areas of the country which have markedly different incidences of rheumatic fever? We are all aware that the public is (rightfully) taking a close look at the quality of medical practice. Practice audits appear to be a certainty in the future.

A Three-Level Evaluation Process of Cultural Readiness for Strategic Foresight Projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-350
Author(s):  
Mateus Panizzon ◽  
Paulo Fernando Pinto Barcellos
Keyword(s):  
Future Orientation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Hypothetical Scenario ◽  
The Future ◽  
Strategic Foresight

A critical issue in Strategic Foresight approaches is the expected effect on the organizational and individual behavior change, as understanding, mapping, and influencing the desired future is a function of the group’s effort to adopt a more disruptive or conservative scenario in a long-term thinking and planning context. As a learning process, a Strategic Foresight experience, due to the nature of new knowledge co-creation, can foster mindset changes. However, at the same time, a Foresight project deals with the existing group assumptions due to national and organizational cultures, which can be more (or less) oriented to long-term or disruptive thinking, as well as the established managerial mentality about the future orientation in strategic thinking. These cultural assumptions can exert positive or negative influence in a Foresight mindset, and should be assessed and understood previously, as the overall cultural readiness can affect the performance of a Foresight project in general. Also, the analysis of the cultural aspect as an evaluation process can generate new learning, when compared a pre-assessment with a post-assessment. Thus, the posed question is, “How to assess cultural dimensions before and after Foresight projects?” Based on Hofstede National Cultural model, Cameron and Quinn Competing Values model, and Amsteus Managerial Foresight model, this article proposes to discuss the applicability of a three-level (national, organizational, and individual) evaluation process to assess the cultural environment readiness for Strategic Foresight projects and the influence of a Foresight project on participants’ perception of the future through a two-phase approach. This research contributes to Strategic Foresight methods by proposing a research agenda about the cultural perspective in Foresight assessment. Managerial contributions about the pre-assessment interpretations of the proposed three-level process to better understand the cultural profile of the participant group are also discussed in a hypothetical scenario application.

Empowering the Elderly: Gerontological Health Promotion in Latin America

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-95
Author(s):  
Barry Checkoway
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Older People ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Social Resources ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
The Future

ABSTRACTOlder people are increasing in number and proportion of the population in Latin America and, as they do their health needs and social resources are becoming more apparent. In response, gerontologiacal health promotion is emerging as a new field emphasizing the community as a unit of health and the participation of older people in the process. Recognizing the need for more empirical research on the topic, this paper identifies initiatives that promote the health of perople in Costa Rica, Chile, and Argentina, by enabling them to plan programmes, develop services, and advocate change at the community level. It analyzes some of their common themes, and discusses general prospects for the future.

scholarly journals Is There a Chance to Limit Transport in Slovenia in the Light of the Climate Change? Top Down Approach for Personal Vehicles

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 499-503
Author(s):  
Marko Kovač ◽  
◽  
Matjaž Česen ◽  
Andreja Urbančič ◽  
Stane Merše
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Large Reduction ◽  
Sustainable Transport ◽  
Renewable Electricity ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Greenhouse Gasses

Slovenia is a quite transport intensive country. Due to its geographic location it attracts a lot of transit traffic, however even bigger issue might be mostly car-oriented development of traffic in the last 50 and more years. The motorisation rate is still increasing, however even smaller cities are facing long congestions. Slovenian National Energy and Climate Plan anticipates large reduction of greenhouse gasses either through switch to sustainable transport or relying on alternative fuels as renewable electricity or synthetic gasses. The paper demonstrates the somewhat ambitious plan dissected to the local community level while taking local specialties into the account.

Pakistan’s Economy and Regional Challenges

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishrat Husain
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Macroeconomic Policies ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Future Potential ◽  
Trade And Investment

Pakistan was one of the top 10 fastest growing developing countries between 1960 and 1990 recording an annual average growth rate of 6 per cent. The structure of the economy was also transformed during this period with the share of agriculture coming down from 50 per cent to 20 per cent. The subsequent 25 years have, however, brought about a significant decline in growth rates and in more recent seven years, it has lagged behind other South Asian countries. A combination of political instability and disruption of evolving democratic process, lack of continuity in policies and poor governance have contributed to this outcome. Pakistan has also not utilized its geographic location to take advantage of intra-regional trade and investment. Many promising opportunities were lost due to lingering tension with India. The future potential can only be realized if Pakistan is able to position itself for meeting the future challenges of integration into the regional and global economy, reaping demographic dividends because of youthful population and moving up the ladder of technology. The realization of these goals will depend upon sound macroeconomic policies, strong institutional and governance framework, investment in infrastructure and human development and political stability.

Multilevel Factors Associated With Pregnancy-Related Health Behaviors in Indonesia: Evidence From the 2007, 2012, and 2017 Indonesian Demographic Health Surveys

2019 ◽  
pp. 101053951987234
Author(s):  
Muhammad Hardhantyo ◽  
Ying-Chih Chuang
Keyword(s):  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Pregnancy Intentions ◽  
Explanatory Factors

Indonesia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among Southeast Asia countries. Mothers’ pregnancy-related behaviors were proven to be the major determinants of maternal mortality. This study attempted to measure individual- and community-level factors that contribute to pregnancy-related health behaviors among Indonesian women. This study used representative nationwide survey samples among women aged 15 to 49 years from the Indonesian Demographic Health Survey in the years 2007 (N = 15 314), 2012 (N = 15 197), and 2017 (N = 15 300). Generalized linear mixed models were constructed to simultaneously analyze relationships of pregnancy-related health behaviors with other individual- and community-level explanatory factors. We found that women’s educational level, household wealth index, insurance status, access to health facilities, geographic location, general health condition, pregnancy intentions, and community-level socioeconomic status were significantly associated with different outcome behaviors. The findings of this study suggest that future policies should focus on both individual- and community-level factors to improve women’s pregnancy-related behaviors.

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