Emotional Intelligence and Leadership in a South African Financial Services Institution

Abstract BACKGROUND Measuring physical activity and sedentary behavior accurately remains a challenge. When describing the uncertainty of mean values or when making group comparisons, minimising Standard Error of the Mean (SEM) is important. The sample size and the number of repeated observations within each subject influence the size of the SEM. In this study we have investigated how different combinations of sample sizes and repeated observations influence the magnitude of the SEM. METHODS A convenience sample were asked to wear an accelerometer for 28 consecutive days. Based on the within and between subject variances the SEM for the different combinations of sample sizes and number of monitored days was calculated. RESULTS Fifty subjects (67% women, mean±SD age 41±19 years) were included. The analyses showed, independent of which intensity level of physical activity or how measurement protocol was designed, that the largest reductions in SEM was seen as the sample size were increased. The same magnitude in reductions to SEM was not seen for increasing the number of repeated measurement days within each subject. CONCLUSION The most effective way of reducing the SEM is to have a large sample size rather than a long observation period within each individual. Even though the importance of reducing the SEM to increase the power of detecting differences between groups is well-known it is seldom considered when developing appropriate protocols for accelerometer based research. Therefore the results presented herein serves to highlight this fact and have the potential to stimulate debate and challenge current best practice recommendations of accelerometer based physical activity research.

Download Full-text

No one accelerometer-based physical activity data collection protocol can fit all research questions

10.21203/rs.2.11020/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Patrick Bergman ◽

Maria Hagströmer

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sample Size ◽

Large Sample Size ◽

Intensity Level ◽

Sample Sizes ◽

Activity Data ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Mean Values ◽

Repeated Observations ◽

Measurement Protocol

Abstract BACKGROUND Measuring physical activity and sedentary behavior accurately remains a challenge. When describing the uncertainty of mean values or when making group comparisons, minimising Standard Error of the Mean (SEM) is important. The sample size and the number of repeated observations within each subject influence the size of the SEM. In this study we have investigated how different combinations of sample sizes and repeated observations influence the magnitude of the SEM. METHODS A convenience sample were asked to wear an accelerometer for 28 consecutive days. Based on the within and between subject variances the SEM for the different combinations of sample sizes and number of monitored days was calculated. RESULTS Fifty subjects (67% women, mean±SD age 41±19 years) were included. The analyses showed, independent of which intensity level of physical activity or how measurement protocol was designed, that the largest reductions in SEM was seen as the sample size were increased. The same magnitude in reductions to SEM was not seen for increasing the number of repeated measurement days within each subject. CONCLUSION The most effective way of reducing the SEM is to have a large sample size rather than a long observation period within each individual. Even though the importance of reducing the SEM to increase the power of detecting differences between groups is well-known it is seldom considered when developing appropriate protocols for accelerometer based research. Therefore the results presented herein serves to highlight this fact and have the potential to stimulate debate and challenge current best practice recommendations of accelerometer based physical activity research.

Download Full-text

Sustaining the life insurance industry in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

South African Actuarial Journal ◽

10.4314/saaj.v20i1.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 81-107

Author(s):

Lynne Molloy ◽

Linda Ronnie

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Life Insurance ◽

Financial Services ◽

Industrial Revolution ◽

Insurance Industry ◽

Insurance Companies ◽

Senior Leaders ◽

Digital Innovation ◽

Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽

Life Insurance Industry

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) continues to change the ways of doing business across industries, organisations around the world are grappling with the unprecedented challenges imposed by radical and widespread technological change. In the face of this dilemma, the South African life insurance industry has remained remarkably resilient, exhibiting very little adaptation in terms of structural, cultural, or business model innovation. However, the stable environmental conditions that once enabled this position for incumbent organisations are weakening. Transformational change, like that in the adjacent financial services industry, is imminent and adaptation on the part of incumbent insurers will be vital to sustaining relevance. This research examines the organisational beliefs and capabilities of South African insurance companies regarding the 4IR in order to gauge the current challenges within the broader industry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 senior leaders and decisionmakers from across the industry. A qualitative inductive analysis shows the inhibitors and enablers of digital innovation within the organisations. The pervasive lack of trust, agility, and urgency within the sector are cited as inhibitors of digital innovation. Enablers include a continuous learning mindset within the organisation, partnerships within the broader ecosystem, and the role of senior leaders for shaping cultural attitudes and structures. Overall, these findings show a disparity between what insurers know they must do to proactively lead change, enact digital innovation, and remain relevant, and what they are actually executing. Recommendations are provided for addressing this gap. Keywords: Fourth Industrial Revolution; life insurance; strategy; leadership; agility

Download Full-text

No one accelerometer-based physical activity data collection protocol can fit all research questions

10.21203/rs.2.11020/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Patrick Bergman ◽

Maria Hagströmer

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sample Size ◽

Large Sample Size ◽

Intensity Level ◽

Sample Sizes ◽

Activity Data ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Mean Values ◽

Repeated Observations ◽

Measurement Protocol

Abstract BACKGROUND Measuring physical activity and sedentary behavior accurately remains a challenge. When describing the uncertainty of mean values or when making group comparisons, minimising Standard Error of the Mean (SEM) is important. The sample size and the number of repeated observations within each subject influence the size of the SEM. In this study we have investigated how different combinations of sample sizes and repeated observations influence the magnitude of the SEM. METHODS A convenience sample were asked to wear an accelerometer for 28 consecutive days. Based on the within and between subject variances the SEM for the different combinations of sample sizes and number of monitored days was calculated. RESULTS Fifty subjects (67% women, mean±SD age 41±19 years) were included. The analyses showed, independent of which intensity level of physical activity or how measurement protocol was designed, that the largest reductions in SEM was seen as the sample size were increased. The same magnitude in reductions to SEM was not seen for increasing the number of repeated measurement days within each subject. CONCLUSION The most effective way of reducing the SEM is to have a large sample size rather than a long observation period within each individual. Even though the importance of reducing the SEM to increase the power of detecting differences between groups is well-known it is seldom considered when developing appropriate protocols for accelerometer based research. Therefore the results presented herein serves to highlight this fact and have the potential to stimulate debate and challenge current best practice recommendations of accelerometer based physical activity research.

Download Full-text

A Meta Analytic Review of the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness

Restaurant Business ◽

10.26643/rb.v118i9.7972 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 118 (9) ◽

pp. 118-126

Author(s):

Augusty P. A ◽

Jain Mathew

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Direct Relationship ◽

Effective Leadership ◽

Leadership Effectiveness ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Review Of Literature ◽

Analytic Review ◽

The Relationship

The study evaluates the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness through a Systematic Review of Literature. The relationship has been evaluated in two steps. First, a Systematic review of literature was done to provide a theoretical framework to link the dimensions of Emotional Intelligence to the elements of effective leadership. Meta-analysis was then used to consolidate empirical evidence of the relationship. The studies for the meta-analysis were sourced from Pro Quest and EBSCO and the correlation coefficients of the studies were analysed. Only articles that presented the direct relationship between the variables were included in the study. The results of the analysis revealed a strong, statistically significant relationship between emotional intelligence and effective leadership. The findings of the study provide evidence for the proposition that Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness are interrelated.

Download Full-text

Self-Care Instruments to Measure Nutrition Practices in Children and Parents: Psychometric Analysis

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072242 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2242

Author(s):

Lisa R. Pawloski ◽

Jean B. Moore ◽

Patricia Treffinger ◽

Heibatollah Baghi ◽

Kathleen Gaffney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Self Care ◽

Principal Component ◽

Nutrition Intervention ◽

Validity And Reliability ◽

Measurement Instruments ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Nutrition Behavior ◽

Nutrition Practices ◽

Children And Parents ◽

Orem's Theory

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the psychometric properties of English and Spanish instruments that measure the nutrition behavior and practices of children and their parents. Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory was used in this methodological study. A convenience sample of 333 children and 262 mothers participated from two schools in Washington, D.C. and two schools in Santiago, Chile. Principal component analysis indicated three component per instrument corresponding to Orem’s Theory of operations demonstrating construct validity of the instrument. The study findings showed evidence for validity and reliability of the English and Spanish versions and indicated that the instruments appropriately represented Orem’s operations. The results have implications for the development of health behavior measurement instruments that are valid, reliable, designed for children, culturally appropriate, and efficient. Measuring the nutrition behavior of children and parents is critical for determining the effectiveness of nutrition intervention programs. Furthermore, instruments are needed so that researchers can compare corresponding child and parent behaviors or compare behaviors across cultures.

Download Full-text

Feasibility of Race by Sex Intersectionality Research on Suicidality in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study

Children ◽

10.3390/children8060437 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 437

Author(s):

Shervin Assari ◽

Shanika Boyce ◽

Mohsen Bazargan

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Development ◽

Sample Size ◽

Child Behavior Checklist ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Self Report ◽

Large Sample Size ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cronbach Alpha ◽

Rich Data ◽

Suicidal Ideas

Intersectional research on childhood suicidality requires studies with a reliable and valid measure of suicidality, as well as a large sample size that shows some variability of suicidality across sex by race intersectional groups. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the feasibility of intersectionality research on childhood suicidality in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. We specifically explored the reliability and validity of the measure, sample size, and variability of suicidality across sex by race intersectional groups. Methods: We used cross-sectional data (wave 1) from the ABCD study, which sampled 9013 non-Hispanic white (NHW) or non-Hispanic black (NHB) children between the ages of 9 and 10 between years 2016 and 2018. Four intersectional groups were built based on race and sex: NHW males (n = 3554), NHW females (n = 3158), NHB males (n = 1164), and NHB females (n = 1137). Outcome measure was the count of suicidality symptoms, reflecting all positive history and symptoms of suicidal ideas, plans, and attempts. To validate our measure, we tested the correlation between our suicidality measure and depression and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) sub-scores. Cronbach alpha was calculated for reliability across each intersectional group. We also compared groups for suicidality. Results: We observed some suicidality history in observed 3.2% (n = 101) of NHW females, 4.9% (n = 175) of NHW males, 5.4% (n = 61) of NHB females, and 5.8% (n = 68) of NHB males. Our measure’s reliability was acceptable in all race by sex groups (Cronbach alpha higher than .70+ in all intersectional groups). Our measure was valid in all intersectional groups, documented by a positive correlation with depression and CBCL sub-scores. We could successfully model suicidality across sex by race groups, using multivariable models. Conclusion: Given the high sample size, reliability, and validity of the suicidality measure, variability of suicidality, it is feasible to investigate correlates of suicidality across race by sex intersections in the ABCD study. We also found evidence of higher suicidality in NHB than NHW children in the ABCD study. The ABCD rich data in domains of social context, self-report, schools, parenting, psychopathology, personality, and brain imaging provides a unique opportunity to study intersectional differences in neural circuits associated with youth suicidality.

Download Full-text