Railway efficiency. Metodological aspects

Improving market competitiveness and economic efficiency was the objective behind the demonopolisation and liberalisation of the railway sector in the European Union. Achieving this objective remains important and crucial to the development of a single rail transport market. The transport performance and financial results of the sector under the new, separative organisational structure of railways in the EU is the result of the action of many different actors, private operators and public entities. This significantly complicates the development of uniform and clear comparable performance evaluation indicators for the sector and makes comparative analyses difficult. Moreover, the specific situation of railways in the EU as a tool for implementing environmental and social policy may conflict with the requirements of financial efficiency. The article presents determinants and methods of measuring railway efficiency proposed by researchers and practitioners.

THE IMPACT OF STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CORPORATE VENTURE CAPITAL UNITS

The range of organisational designs and their interplay with the objectives of corporate venture capital (CVC) units has yet to be fully understood. Using primary qualitative data collected from 20 CVC units, the authors show that although strategy does not always consciously drive structural design, there are clear patterns of beneficial organisational structure that support achievement of particular objectives. Furthermore, the authors discuss the implications of objectives and organic, hybrid and mechanistic structures on CVC performance, contributing both to the CVC literature and the practice of corporate venturing.

Frontline Response to High Impact Domestic Violence in France

Since the 2000s, several laws have been enacted by the French parliament to make domestic violence a crime taken more seriously. Among the most important developments, a 2010 bill introduced the protection order in French law; the inter-ministerial mission for the protection of women against violence and the fight against human trafficking (MIPROF) was created in 2013, and a set of conferences between public stakeholders and NGOs took place in 2019 (the "Grenelle des violences conjugales"). In France, policies to combat domestic violence at the local level essentially rely on the setting and diffusion of two types of organisational arrangements. The first type of arrangement is a specialised domestic violence unit that is set up within a larger organisation with a more general mission, such as law enforcement agencies, hospitals, or social services. The second type of arrangement is an inter-organisational structure intended to provide a framework for partnership cooperation against domestic violence, such as social workers embedded in police stations to provide expert assistance to victims when they report domestic violence.

Early Catholicism and the organisational structure of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe

The organisational structure of the United Methodist church shares many features with the early catholic institutions. Increased institutionalisation, that is, authority connected with office, is the clearest sign of Early Catholicism. By the late first century, the titles of bishop (ἐπίσκοπος), elder (πρεσβύτερος) and deacon (διάκονος) denoted specific leadership and service functions in the church. This study stresses the ethical qualifications and diaconal duties of these office bearers, applying it to the duties and responsibilities of United Methodist pastors, district superintendents, bishops and laity. It is argued that candidates for ordination should be aware of their calling to the divine ministry and their calling should be authenticated and recognised without a test of authenticity by the Church. In the Early Catholicism period, qualified leadership was established to preserve faith and combat false teaching. This must also be the case in the United Methodist Church.

Examining the Effects of Individual's Polychronicity and Supervisor's Management Style on Creative Self-Efficacy

<p>This research focuses on the area of individuals' creative self-efficacy studies in the workplace. Creative self-efficacy is the self belief of whether one has the capacity to perform the job creatively. In the literature, it has been established as an important factor affecting individual's creative performance. However, studies on the variables which can affect creative self-efficacy are rare. The objectives of this research are to examine whether individual polychronicity can affect creative self-efficacy; whether supervisors' supportive and non-controlling management style can influence creative self-efficacy; and whether organisational environmental factors (organisational structure, interaction with co-workers, risk-taking orientation, and a trusting and caring atmosphere) can impact creative self-efficacy. This research argues that supervisory management style can affect organisational environmental factors. Paper questionnaires and web-based surveys were conducted among 123 post-experienced students from Victoria Management School, School of Government, School of Information Management, and Centre for Continuing Education in Victoria University of Wellington. The research findings suggest that individual polychronicity, supervisory management style, interaction with co-workers and risk-taking orientation are significantly associated with individuals' creative self-efficacy at workplace. As expected, supervisory management style is significantly correlated with organisational structure, interaction with co-workers, risk-taking orientation, and a trusting and caring atmosphere. The results also show that factors like individualistic/collectivistic culture and the appointment of people in the management/non-management position can affect creative self-efficacy. Theoretically, this research has contribution to the creative self-efficacy and creative performance studies, polychronicity studies and "fit" theory between employees and organisational environment. Practically, organisations that want employees to have high creative self-efficacy may recruit polychronic individuals, provide positive creative environment, and encourage supervisors to have supportive and non-controlling management styles.</p>

Examining the Effects of Individual's Polychronicity and Supervisor's Management Style on Creative Self-Efficacy

<p>This research focuses on the area of individuals' creative self-efficacy studies in the workplace. Creative self-efficacy is the self belief of whether one has the capacity to perform the job creatively. In the literature, it has been established as an important factor affecting individual's creative performance. However, studies on the variables which can affect creative self-efficacy are rare. The objectives of this research are to examine whether individual polychronicity can affect creative self-efficacy; whether supervisors' supportive and non-controlling management style can influence creative self-efficacy; and whether organisational environmental factors (organisational structure, interaction with co-workers, risk-taking orientation, and a trusting and caring atmosphere) can impact creative self-efficacy. This research argues that supervisory management style can affect organisational environmental factors. Paper questionnaires and web-based surveys were conducted among 123 post-experienced students from Victoria Management School, School of Government, School of Information Management, and Centre for Continuing Education in Victoria University of Wellington. The research findings suggest that individual polychronicity, supervisory management style, interaction with co-workers and risk-taking orientation are significantly associated with individuals' creative self-efficacy at workplace. As expected, supervisory management style is significantly correlated with organisational structure, interaction with co-workers, risk-taking orientation, and a trusting and caring atmosphere. The results also show that factors like individualistic/collectivistic culture and the appointment of people in the management/non-management position can affect creative self-efficacy. Theoretically, this research has contribution to the creative self-efficacy and creative performance studies, polychronicity studies and "fit" theory between employees and organisational environment. Practically, organisations that want employees to have high creative self-efficacy may recruit polychronic individuals, provide positive creative environment, and encourage supervisors to have supportive and non-controlling management styles.</p>

Social Support, Self-Regulation, and Psychological Skill Use in E-Athletes

The aims of the present study were twofold. First, to investigate self-reported social support, self-regulation, and psychological skill use in esports athletes (e-athletes) compared to traditional athletes. Second, to determine if self-reported social support, self-regulation, and psychological skill use influenced e-athlete in-game rank. An online survey was used to collect data from an international sample of e-athletes (n = 1,444). The e-athletes reported less social support, self-regulation, and psychological skill use than reported by traditional athletes in previous studies. E-athletes with higher scores in social support, self-regulation, and psychological skill use was associated with higher in-game rank. The lack of an organisational structure in esports may be a contributing factor as to why e-athletes score lower than traditional athletes on social support, self-regulation, and psychological skill use. Future research is warranted to explore the development of esports programs aiming to promote athletes’ social support, self-regulation, and use of psychological skills to enhance in-game performance and well-being.

Knowledge management enablers affecting patient care: The perspective of registered nurses in South West Nigeria

Background: The productivity of healthcare institutions is impacted by the nursing workforce and plays a vital role in the provision of effective and efficient patient care. Knowledge management plays a vital role in nursing practice. This study seeks to extend the frontier of knowledge by addressing the paucity of literature on knowledge management in nursing care delivery in Nigeria.Objectives: The study empirically identified crucial knowledge management enablers from extant literature and investigated their influence on patient care in clinical nursing.Method: A cross-sectional survey design using a stratified sampling method was employed. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from 196 registered nurses in a selected teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. A total of 186 valid responses were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM).Result: The result of this study indicated that there is a direct and significant relationship between information technology (IT) and patient care. Organisational structure and organisational culture did not directly affect patient care. However, together with IT support, the knowledge management enablers were found to significantly affect patient care in clinical nursing.Conclusion: There is a need for nursing management to develop a flexible organisational structure and knowledge friendly culture including the implementation of functional technical infrastructure, to leverage knowledge management effectiveness in patient care in teaching hospitals in order to facilitate and strengthen service delivery by nurses.