Exploration of implementation practices of Montessori education in mainland China

This descriptive research work highlights the implementation practices of Montessori education in mainland China and the concerns over Montessori education’s localization in mainland China. Localization can be understood as the adaptive process Montessori education undergoes in order to fit within Chinese culture. Two hundred and ten in-service Montessori teachers and administrators in China were surveyed to discover information concerning implementation practices in the following areas: mixed-aged classrooms, whether classrooms were co-teaching, student-to-teacher ratios, and morning and afternoon work cycles. The study found that the majority of classrooms were mixed-aged, reflecting high-fidelity Montessori practices. However, it also found that classrooms are co-teaching, have lower student–teacher ratios, and shortened work cycles, reflecting a departure from high-fidelity Montessori implementation. While localization should be considered to safeguard Montessori education’s sustainability, Chinese Montessori educators should also reflect on these findings as high implementation fidelity has been linked to better student outcomes.

PROJECT BUNDLING IN TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION

Project bundling is a process through which a single contract is awarded for the continued development of multiple bridges or roadways, i.e., their preservation, rehabilitation, or replacement. One question that past studies on project bundling have not answered is that of how to quantify its benefits on engineering projects. This paper shows the extent to which project bundling enables optimal use of resources and promotes quicker project completion. It also explains how project bundling effectively leverages these efficiencies by simplifying project delivery and exploiting alternative and traditional contracting approaches. Indeed, because the process of bundling individual projects into larger “umbrella” contracts simplifies design, contracting, and construction, it enables organizations to leverage economies of scale for significantly increased efficiency. This process also encourages more partnering during project delivery, execution, and project completion. In addition to discussing the efficiency of bundling, this paper also identifies implementation strategies and scenarios for project bundling that can be applied by counties, municipalities, districts, or states. These implementation practices can also be layered to allow any combination of project types, beyond the combinations most common to current bundling contracts. Ultimately, this research shows that overall contract cost can be significantly reduced through carefully designed strategic project bundling.

Building primary healthcare personnels’ support for a patient portal while alleviating eHealth-related stress: Survey study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Healthcare personnel’s engagement in patient portal implementation is necessary in embedding the use of the portal in everyday practices of a healthcare organization. While portal implementation may raise personnel’s positive expectations of the benefits in patient care, it is often also stressful for them due to increased workloads and disruptions in clinical workflows. An understanding of social and technical factors that build personnel’s support for patient portal implementation and alleviate their eHealth-related stress is therefore needed to realize the full potential of portals. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the influence of managerial implementation practices, information technology (IT) usability, and personnel’s eHealth competences on support for patient portal implementation and eHealth-related stress among primary healthcare personnel. METHODS The data were collected through a survey of 919 members of the personnel at two health organizations in Finland. Linear and logistic regression models were fitted to study the associations between the variables. RESULTS The adoption of appropriate implementation practices and usability of the technology can build personnel’s support for a patient portal and alleviate their stress. Personnel’s support is manifested in their promotion of the portal to patients. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare managers are encouraged to consider the good implementation practices as a prerequisite for meaningful and sustainable use of patient portals.

Strategy Implementation Practices and Performance of Private Hospitals in Nairobi City County

Purpose: Given the importance of effective strategy implementation, this study therefore sought to assess the influence of strategy implementation practices on performance of private hospitals in Nairobi County. This study was guided by the following specific objectives: to establish the effect of management commitment on performance of private hospitals in Nairobi County; to assess the effect of organizational culture on performance of private hospitals in Nairobi County. Methodology: The study was guided by Higgin’s 8S’framework and supported by dynamic capabilities theory. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The unit of analysis was private hospitals in Nairobi County. There are 55 private hospitals in Nairobi County. The unit of observation was top managers in each of the 55 private hospitals in Nairobi County. This study was a census of 55 private hospitals in Nairobi. The study collected primary data using semi-structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were self-administered to the respondents by the researcher. Collected data was analyzed using quantitative techniques. SPSS (version 22) was applied in analyzing quantitative data where descriptive statistics including means, frequencies, percentages and standard deviations were computed. The study also computed inferential data analysis by use of Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Displaying of the information was done in table and figures. Findings: The study found that management commitment positively and significantly influences performance of private hospitals; organizational culture positively and significantly influences performance of private hospitals. Unique contribution to theory, policy, and practice: The study therefore recommends private hospitals to ensure that it is committed fully in all the activities/practices done by the organization. This can be achieved by ensuring it provides its employees with strategic direction and objectives. Also, it is important to ensure thee is effective communication at all levels and in all directions. The study recommends private hospitals to ensure they have a favourable culture that facilitates enhanced performance. They have to ensure the environment is supportive, it ensures there is knowledge sharing and that work ethics exist. Also, when implementing strategy, care should be taken to assess the strategy and ensure that culture link compatibility; this is because, if the planned strategy is in line with existing culture, strategy implementation becomes easier.

INOVASI MEDIA PENILAIAN BAHASA ARAB MENGGUNAKAN POWER POINT

The process stages of innovation evaluation using power points is begun by mudarris’ complaint about an inefficient assessment process because it uses an inappropriate instrument, until in 2018 a grading of assessment questions was formed. By continuing to be pursued, evaluated and developed, now the design of power point applications that can be used as an instrument in the implementation of assessments in Arabic learning of female students with implementation practices as follows; students listen to istima’ audio, then conclude about what they can understand from the audio they have listened, then students write words that they can remember from what they have listened before, read the qiro'ah texts that have been available on the power point, and finally answer some questions about qawaid. The results of this innovation design can be declared worthy of being a good instrument because it meets the criteria. In addition, the results of this design were also very successful in covering the implementation of the assessment when assessing the skills of the four language skills (maharah), and also the ability of understanding qawaid that students have.

INOVASI MEDIA PENILAIAN BAHASA ARAB MENGGUNAKAN POWER POINT

The process stages of innovation evaluation using power points is begun by mudarris’ complaint about an inefficient assessment process because it uses an inappropriate instrument, until in 2018 a grading of assessment questions was formed. By continuing to be pursued, evaluated and developed, now the design of power point applications that can be used as an instrument in the implementation of assessments in Arabic learning of female students with implementation practices as follows; students listen to istima’ audio, then conclude about what they can understand from the audio they have listened, then students write words that they can remember from what they have listened before, read the qiro'ah texts that have been available on the power point, and finally answer some questions about qawaid. The results of this innovation design can be declared worthy of being a good instrument because it meets the criteria. In addition, the results of this design were also very successful in covering the implementation of the assessment when assessing the skills of the four language skills (maharah), and also the ability of understanding qawaid that students have.