Virtualization of Research Data Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic as an Opportunity to Enhance Research Data Support

For Canadian academic libraries, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an unprecedented switch to virtual services. An abrupt halt to in-person activities required almost all libraries to utilize new technologies in order to continue serving patrons. While the Academic Data Centre (ADC) has traditionally offered both physical and online services, with the emergence of the pandemic, the ADC pivoted to exclusively online service provision. Through new initiatives such as remote desktop access to statistical software, embedded virtual spaces for consultation and breakout discussions, online workshops and teaching, and the use of social media--the Academic Data Centre emerged successful in supporting student and faculty data needs. While virtually scaling up data services was essential to avoid disrupting researchers working with data, the shift to online services also presented an unexpected opportunity to reflect meeting the data needs of users and, in turn, strategize innovative future data service delivery. Three themes emerged from our reflection: emphasis on greater accessibility; more flexible instruction; and the benefits for cultivating a data community. As emerge from the pandemic, the ADC expects to further embrace newly implemented technologies and virtual services to further scale and augment research data service support.

When More IS Too Much: Compound Caregiving, Barriers to Services, and Service Support for Older Families of People With Disabilities

Using the theoretical lens of Family Quality of Life, this study evaluated perceptions of older compound caregivers (i.e., caring for more than one family member) regarding their need for services. Quantitative analysis of cross-sectional data collected from 112 caregivers (50 years and older) demonstrated that compound caregivers faced more barriers in accessing services for their families than noncompound caregivers. Although all caregivers shared similar perceptions on the importance, opportunities, initiative, and attainment of service support for their families, compound caregivers had lower stability and satisfaction than noncompound caregivers. Findings highlight the need to develop support programs to equip older caregivers in managing their daily challenges at the individual and family level.

Cereal-Legume Value Chain Analysis: A Case of Smallholder Production in Selected Areas of Malawi

This article analyses the cereal-legume value chain in Malawi through a comprehensive VC Map, a SWOT exercise and a policy analysis. VC participation entails a number of challenges for smallholders. Limited access to land, technology and inputs, inadequate knowledge of market functioning, insufficient access to credit and extension services, combined with more general problems of poor infrastructures, often prevent smallholder farmers from accessing profitable market opportunities. The effectiveness of national policies (e.g., public extension service support, inputs subsidy system) oriented to increase smallholders’ market access is often constrained by inadequate financial capacity, an inefficient public extension services system and limited involvement of privates in the extension services scheme. VC interventions should distinguish between VC-ready farmers, namely those provided with the minimum conditions of external and internal factors, and non-value-chain-ready farmers. Market-based interventions (e.g., enhancing VC coordination) are needed for enhancing market access of value-chain-ready farmers. Conversely, while non-market-based interventions (e.g., investments in basic infrastructure, increasing extension services, credit and inputs access) prove necessary to build the minimum asset thresholds for non-value-chain-ready farmers’ participation in the market. A smallholder-friendly VC development relies on the role played by VC actors and the need to harmonise and improve existing policies to remove inadequacies, conflicts and overlaps in the various institutions charged with implementation.

Improving Quality Using The Kano Model in Overcoming Competition in The Service Industry

The tight competition in the service industry, especially hospitality, has caused hoteliers to strive to improve service quality. Improving the quality of service is carried out in various ways, one of which is increasing the occupancy rate of hotel rooms. This is different from Hotel X. Hotel X is an old hotel located in Langsa which has experienced a decrease in room occupancy from time to time. The decrease was caused by the service from hotel X that was still not satisfactory to customers. The purpose of this study is to identify customer dissatisfaction with the quality of hotel services and provide design proposals to improve service quality. The method used in this study is the Kano model, which is the model used to identify customer satisfaction, through questionnaires given to customers, statistical tests are used to conduct adequacy tests and data uniformity tests for questionnaire data obtained. Excel and SPSS software are used in statistical tests, Minitab 16 software is used in making coefficient diagrams of customer satisfaction levels. Results and Discussion obtained 21 attributes in the must be a category, 8 attributes in the one-dimensional category, 2 in the attractive category, and 2 in the indifferent category, the attributes which are categorized as one dimensional, attractive, and must be are attributes that are prioritized to improve service quality. In conclusion, 31 attributes are included in customer dissatisfaction with hotel X, one of which is the physical condition of the building with a dissatisfaction value of -3,080. There are 18 attributes as proposed designs in improving service quality, five of which are adding and completing service-related equipment, infrastructure improvement, improvement and development of standard operating procedures (SOP), periodic maintenance and replacement of service support equipment, procurement of housekeeping equipment, cleaning of facilities. and infrastructure, installation of signs, warnings, and information.

Audit System Informasi Absensi Pada PT Multi Engineering Perkasa Dengan Metode Framework Cobit

Abstrak Perusahaan ini telah memiliki system informasi absensi untuk mencatat kehadiran karyawannya menggunakan mesin sidik jari. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengukur tingkat kematangan untuk mencari permasalahan yangmuncul dalam proses system informasi absensi untuk memberikan rekomendasi kepada perusahaan untuk memperbaiki manajemen TI yangada. Selama penelitian, penulis menggunakan kerangka kerja COBIT 4.1, dengan fokus pada domain ME, yangterdiri dari subdivisi ME1, ME2, ME3 ME4. Hasil Survei Frekuensi Maturitas System Informasi menggunakan proses-proses yangterdapat pada subsektor ME1 yangmemiliki nilai pembulatan sampai dengan 3, subsektor ME2 yangmemiliki nilai pembulatan sampai dengan 3, ME3. subdomain dengan nilai 3 dibulatkan subdomain ME4 dengan nilai 3 dibulatkan. Pada kematangan TI Level 3, perusahaan harus mengevaluasi setiap proses atau prosedur system; solusi perbaikan harus dilakukan secara konsisten sampai system dalam kondisi optimal. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah tingkat kematangan TI saat ini (sebagaimana adanya), dengan rata-rata peringkat 3 (proses yangdisetujui), hanya 2 (proses yangdikelola) kematangan domain pemantauan. Deliver, Service Support domain, kemudian Friends hasil kematangan teknologi informasi untuk memberikan saran perbaikan perusahaan. Perusahaan menerima benchmark kematangan TI berdasarkan COBIT 4.1, serta rekomendasi yangdapat diikuti dalam perusahaan untuk perbaikan di masa mendatang. Abstract The company already has an attendance information system to record the attendance of its employees through the fingerprint machine. The purpose of this study is to measure the level of maturity to look for problems that arise in the process of attendance information system to make recommendations to companies to improve existing IT management. The authors used the COBIT 4.1 framework in their research, focusing on the ME domain, which consists of ME1, ME2, ME3 ME4 subsectors. The results of the study related to the level of maturity of the attendance information system using the processes contained in sub-sector ME1, which has a value of 3 rounded, sub-sector ME2, which has a value of 3 rounded. , ME3 subdomain, which has a value of 3 rounded ME4 subdomain, which has a value of 3 rounded. solutions must be implemented consistently until the system is in optimal condition. The results of this study are the current level of IT maturity (as it stands), with an average of 3 (approved process) rating, ուղղակի 2 (managed process) maturity of the monitoring domain. For Deliver, Service Support domain. , then, as a result of the maturity of information technologies, the company is given suggestions for improvement. The company receives an IT maturity benchmark based on COBIT 4.1, as well as recommendations that may be followed within the company for future improvements.

AI-Powered Virtual Assistants in the Realms of Banking and Financial Services

This chapter aims at providing a framework for analysis on evolutionary trends in finance that have to do with technological progress and especially with artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The starting point can be identified with a survey on how they have modified the business areas involving banking and financial services and on what can be expected – in terms of future strategic shifts and behavioral changes – on both the supply and the demand sides. The next step revolves around a wider and deeper investigation on the role that virtual assistants have started to – and are likely to further – play in the areas under scrutiny: special attention is requested upon the provision of enhanced customer service support, including conversational AI and sound branding; implications encompass developments that are on the cards, based upon digitalization as a must – not just an option – as shown by the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusions allow to emphasize the significance, advancing features and value of this conceptual paper, as it leads to sort out best practices and success stories that are worth disseminating and replicating to benefit not only individuals and enterprises having direct interest in them, but society as a whole.

Health promotion challenges for young adults living with intellectual disability and type 1 diabetes

Background: Self-management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can be challenging for people with intellectual disability. Often, parents provide health support due to lack of appropriate services outside the home. The study aim was to identify barriers and facilitators to T1DM self-management for young adults with intellectual disability and the implications for health promotion. Methods: Five male participants with intellectual disability, aged 17–26 years, and seven parents were interviewed between October 2017 and February 2019. Interview data were descriptively analysed. Findings: Two categories for barriers and facilitators were identified: 1) Diabetes self-management is complex (carbohydrate counting, blood glucose level monitoring, insulin therapy); 2) support for diabetes care (reliance on parents and carers, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, mainstream diabetes service support). Conclusions: Parents are critical for the support of people with intellectual disability and T1DM in the absence of disability staff with appropriate health skills.

Improving multiple exclusion homelessness (MEH) services: frontline worker responses to insecure attachment styles

Purpose This study aims to examine the emotional and cognitive responses of frontline homelessness service support staff to the highly insecure attachment styles (AS) exhibited by people experiencing multiple exclusion homelessness (MEH), that is, a combination of homelessness and other forms of deep social exclusion. Design/methodology/approach Focus groups were conducted with frontline staff (N = 19) in four homelessness support services in Scotland. Hypothetical case vignettes depicting four insecure AS (enmeshed, fearful, withdrawn and angry-dismissive) were used to facilitate discussions. Data is analysed thematically. Findings Service users with AS characterised by high anxiety (enmeshed or fearful) often evoked feelings of compassion in staff. Their openness to accepting help led to more effective interactions between staff and service users. However, the high ambivalence and at times overdependence associated with these AS placed staff at risk of study-related stress and exhaustion. Avoidant service users (withdrawn or angry-dismissive) evoked feelings of frustration in staff. Their high need for self-reliance and defensive attitudes were experienced as hostile and dismissing. This often led to job dissatisfaction and acted as a barrier to staff engagement, leaving this group more likely to “fall through the net” of support. Originality/value Existing literature describes challenges that support staff encounter when attempting to engage with people experiencing MEH, but provides little insight into the causes or consequences of “difficult” interactions. This study suggests that an attachment-informed approach to care can promote more constructive engagement between staff and service users in the homelessness sector.