Water in the Time of Drought II: Lessons from Droughts around the World

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphaëlle Ortiz ◽  
Anamaría Núñez ◽  
Corinne Cathala ◽  
Ana R. Rios ◽  
Mauro Nalesso
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Institutional Frameworks ◽  
The World ◽  
Relevant Case ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
Successes And Challenges

This technical note is an update to the previous "Water in the Time of Drought: Lessons from Five Droughts Around the World", published in 2018. It explores drought situations and policies in Spain (including the Canary Islands), Chile, Mexico, the dry corridor between Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, Brazil, and South Africa. Each of these countries has recently dealt with droughts and/or developed long-term solutions to manage them. HydroBID, a tool developed by the IDB, will be presented through relevant case studies. After defining drought experiences and institutional frameworks in each country, the brief will explore the successes and challenges of national drought and water management policies. Best practices and lessons learned will be extracted from each case study to help policymakers better prepare for droughts.

Challenges and opportunities for parliamentary libraries during COVID-19: A case study of the National Assembly of Quebec Library

IFLA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 034003522110230
Author(s):  
Carolyne Ménard
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Information Support ◽  
National Assembly ◽  
The World ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Virtual Services

Parliamentary libraries play a crucial role in providing information support to decision-makers around the world. These institutions have faced an unprecedented situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have had to modify their practices considerably to keep serving their users. This article explores how the National Assembly of Quebec Library has responded to this issue and redefined its services during the pandemic. The author presents the challenges and opportunities met while adapting virtual services, redefining document handling and improving team communication, and foresees future obstacles for the institution. This case study shares best practices and the lessons learned in the hope of informing and advising similar institutions facing challenges during this pandemic.

A case study of noise pollution levels during the restrictions period due to COVID-19.

2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (6) ◽  
pp. 206-214
Author(s):  
David Montes-González ◽  
Juan Miguel Barrigón-Morillas ◽  
Ana Cristina Bejarano-Quintas ◽  
Manuel Parejo-Pizarro ◽  
Guillermo Rey-Gozalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Acoustic Measurements ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

The pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) led to the need for drastic control measures around the world to reduce the impact on the health of the population. The confinement of people in their homes resulted in a significant reduction in human activity at every level (economic, social, industrial, etc.), which was reflected in a decrease in environmental pollution levels. Studying the evolution of parameters, such as the level of environmental noise caused by vehicle traffic in urban environments, makes it possible to assess the impact of this type of measure. This paper presents a case study of the acoustic situation in Cáceres (Spain) during the restriction period by means of long-term acoustic measurements at various points of the city.

scholarly journals 2018: A Streaming Video Odyssey

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anali Perry ◽  
Karen Grondin
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Streaming Video ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Implementation Plan ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Environmental Scan ◽  
Training Materials ◽  
Navigation Strategies

In this case study, we reflect on our journey through a major revision of our streaming video reserve guidelines, informed by an environmental scan of comparable library services and current copyright best practices. Once the guidelines were revised, we developed an implementation plan for communicating changes and developing training materials to both instructors and internal library staff. We share our navigation strategies, obstacles faced, lessons learned, and ongoing challenges. Finally, we map out some of our future directions for improving and streamlining our services.  

Managing Vendor Records for Monographic E-Collections at a Medium-Sized Academic Library

2014 ◽  
pp. 22-40
Author(s):  
Aiping Chen-Gaffey
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Record Management ◽  
Digital Collections ◽  
Library Catalog ◽  
Bibliographic Records ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
Management Policies

The rapid growth of electronic resources continues to challenge traditional methods of cataloging library collections, forcing a cataloging department to reevaluate its policies and procedures and implement changes. This chapter presents a case study of integrating vendor-supplied bibliographic records into a library catalog in order to provide timely and accurate catalog access to the library digital collections. The chapter discusses the benefits, issues, and challenges of batch manipulating and loading large record sets for these e-resources supplied by their vendors. It also describes the strategies and tools the bibliographic services staff has employed to solve the identified problems and improve the process. Further, it examines the effectiveness of the current e-record management policies and procedures. The chapter concludes with recommendation of solutions and a quest for future best practices in managing vendor-supplied records for e-resources.

Family Business Governance

2021 ◽  
pp. 24-40
Author(s):  
Reena Agrawal ◽  
Ganga Bhavani
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Substantial Portion ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The World

Corporate governance is a significant tool to build strong and long relationships among various stakeholders in kinds of business organizations. Family businesses are not an exception to this. Like any other businesses, family businesses also need to have governance in place and practice to achieve the business strategies and to have long-term succession. Family-owned businesses are the backbone of many countries' economies in the world contributing substantial portion of GDP. Considering these, it is important to know the best practices of governance in family owned business organizations and the role played by governance to improve the strengths of these businesses. The chapter throws light on family business governance and explores various important practices highlighting their advantages and disadvantages in detail.

Entrepreneurial Work-Integrated Learning

2021 ◽  
pp. 119-136
Author(s):  
Alon Eisenstein ◽  
Neta Raz
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Job Security ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Gen Y ◽  
The World ◽  
Work Integrated Learning

After decades of decreasing long-term job security and ongoing global economic crises, attention on and interest in entrepreneurship have significantly increased among Gen Y and Gen Z students in higher education institutions around the world. The pedagogical potential of work-integrated learning (WIL) and the increased offering of entrepreneurship programs in higher education intersect in a field referred to as entrepreneurial WIL (EWIL). This field, where WIL pedagogy is applied to deliver the learning outcomes of entrepreneurship education, is discussed here. The unique features and associated challenges that EWIL presents, particularly when compared with traditional forms of WIL experiences, are also examined, from the framework of a case study conducted on an internship-based course offered in a Canadian university. This chapter contributes to an understanding of the various factors that should be considered when developing novel EWIL programs in higher education institutions.

The Significant Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Supply Chains

2022 ◽  
pp. 185-202
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Consumer Demand ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
The Other ◽  
Operational Decisions ◽  
Demand And Supply ◽  
The World ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
The Impact

As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the world, the existence of disruptions in demand and supply have become more severe, conducted by containment measures taken by countries and affecting different sectors around the world. Although businesses and workplaces are restarting activities in some countries, with containment measures gradually being lifted, overall consumer demand is expected to remain low, also determined by the loss of jobs and income. Therefore, the scale of the impact on supply chains exceeded anything most companies had anticipated. This study aims to understand how companies were affected and identify some lessons learned about their vulnerabilities and the possible ways to address them in the long term. On the other hand, it is intended to reveal some of the impacts of COVID-19 and make some practical suggestions that can help in political and operational decisions to strengthen and build additional resilience in supply chains in the future.

The Context, Design, and Impact of System-Wide Assessments to Enhance Effectiveness in the Higher Colleges of Technology of the United Arab Emirates

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Marshall “Mark” Drummond ◽  
Matthew A. Robby
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
Colleges Of Technology ◽  
The World ◽  
Effective Assessment

This paper examines the use of System-wide Assessments, an innovative initiative to enhance the accountability, quality, and effectiveness within the Higher Colleges of Technology of the United Arab Emirates. The authors review the historic and contemporary influences on college/university assessments and the key forces or factors which have shaped development and need of Outcome Assessments. The paper summarizes the literature on the best practices for assessment and promoting changes. The paper describes the objectives, structures, and processes involved with random use of System-wide Assessments among the 17 Federal colleges. A survey of 80 Deans and Chairs reports the perceptions and ratings of the process and impact of System-wide assessments. The lessons learned are described and inform recommendations for key components of an effective assessment system to promote accountability and improvement in higher education. Findings have significance for leaders of institutions of higher learning throughout the Middle East and the world.

scholarly journals The Interdependence of Autonomous Human-Machine Teams: The Entropy of Teams, But Not Individuals, Advances Science

Entropy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. F. Lawless
Keyword(s):  
Team Performance ◽  
Federal Agencies ◽  
Methodological Individualism ◽  
Interdependence Theory ◽  
The World ◽  
Human Autonomy ◽  
High Level ◽  
Intelligence Approach

Key concepts: We review interdependence theory measured by entropic forces, findings in support, and several examples from the field to advance a science of autonomous human-machine teams (A-HMTs) with artificial intelligence (AI). While theory is needed for the advent of autonomous HMTs, social theory is predicated on methodological individualism, a statistical and qualitative science that neither generalizes to human teams nor HMTs. Maximum interdependence in human teams is associated with the performance of the best teams when compared to independent individuals; our research confirmed that the top global oil firms maximize interdependence by minimizing redundant workers, replicated for the top militaries in the world, adding that impaired interdependence is associated with proportionately less freedom, increased corruption, and poorer team performance. We advanced theory by confirming that the maximum interdependence in teams requires intelligence to overcome obstacles to maximum entropy production (MEP; e.g., navigating obstacles while abiding by military rules of engagement requires intelligence). Approach: With a case study, we model as harmonic the long-term oscillations driven by two federal agencies in conflict over closing two high-level radioactive waste tanks, ending when citizens recommended closing the tanks. Results: While contradicting rational consensus theory, our quasi-Nash equilibrium model generates the information for neutrals to decide; it suggests that HMTs should adopt how harmonic oscillations in free societies regulate human autonomy to improve decisions and social welfare.

Rwanda

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Buss ◽  
Jerusa Ali
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Transitional Justice ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Social Outcomes ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Women's Participation ◽  
Female Politicians

Since the end of the genocide and civil war in Rwanda, various measures have been implemented to facilitate women’s political participation. This chapter looks to post-conflict Rwanda as a case study in the successes and limitations in efforts to increase women’s participation in public life. The chapter details the desired outcomes of increased political participation by women before turning to the Rwandan example. It argues that while the increased presence of women in public life has resulted in some positive economic, political, and social outcomes, the power of female politicians is largely limited and has not resulted in sustainable or equitable long-term policies. The chapter concludes that while Rwanda has formally adopted many of the international best practices of transitional justice, its overall gains in women’s participation are more uneven, contradictory, and nonlinear than is often recognized.

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