Advocacy for Sustainability Communication. Unseen Potential of Queer Communicators in Environmental, Climate Change and Sustainability Science

The story of climate change, of destruction and loss, is well represented in mass media around natural hazards and new scientific data (i.e., the newest IPCC report); in contrast, new concepts of restoration, eco-cultural identities, social change and sustainable development are not picked up in public discourses—similarly to how the voices of NGO communicators, activists or queer communicators are not heard in the media. Additionally, the growth of digital publishing technologies and related audience behavior not only influence public communication processes, but also challenge professional communicators, including journalists and PR professionals to scientists, artists and activists. With a series of explorative interviews in different cultural settings (Central Europe, Australia, New Zealand), we can show that queer communicators have the potential to cultivate a new understanding of sustainability communication as social conversation about sustainability, and thus, overcome the very visible old story about climate change and rather propagate the new story of sustainability and transformation. The interviews show that queer communicator advocacy focuses on mobilizing and initiating dialectic conversations, which includes community building and queering existing norms, thus choosing new pathways for communication for sustainability. The findings and the developed concept of advocacy for sustainability communication are discussed at the end of the paper, including a reflection on the limitations of the explorative character of the analysis and future research potential.

Corona - eine Krise für die Kooperation?

Der Artikel greift vor dem Hintergrund der Theorieperspektive der Synthetischen Humanwissenschaften auf, wie sich Kooperationsbeziehungen von Schüler*innen und Lehrpersonen in ihrer Intensität wie Funktionalität durch die pandemiebedingt plötzlich und signifikant auftretenden Änderungen des Alltags der Institution Schule verändern. Dies wird hinsichtlich der Auswirkungen auf individuelle Entwicklung und Entwicklungspotentiale von Schüler*innen gespiegelt, um daran anknüpfend Ableitungen für Bildungsprozesse zu ziehen. Einzelne Ausschnitte aus explorativ geführten Interviews erweitern den theoretischen Bezugsrahmen durch Aussagen von Praktiker*innen hinsichtlich einer schulischen und professionstheoretischen Perspektive. Abstract The article discuses theoretically how cooperation among students and teachers changed in its intensity and functionality for learning during the significant changes of the institution school due to the Corona-pandemic restrictions. Those changes are to be analysed in their influence on individual development and potentials. Selected explorative interviews with teachers and parents about their perception on the crisis and its caused changes may add a practical perspective from school to the pedagogical theory.

Using patients’ own knowledge of early sensations and symptoms to develop an interactive, individualized e-questionnaire to facilitate early diagnosis of lung cancer

Background One reason for the often late diagnosis of lung cancer (LC) may be that potentially-indicative sensations and symptoms are often diffuse, and may not be considered serious or urgent, making their interpretation complicated. However, with only a few exceptions, efforts to use people’s own in-depth knowledge about prodromal bodily experiences has been a missing link in efforts to facilitate early LC diagnosis. In this study, we describe and discuss facilitators and challenges in our process of developing and initial testing an interactive, self-completion e-questionnaire based on patient descriptions of experienced prodromal sensations and symptoms, to support early identification of lung cancer (LC). Methods E-questionnaire items were derived from in-depth, detailed explorative interviews with individuals undergoing investigation for suspected LC. The descriptors of sensations/symptoms and the background items obtained were the basis for developing an interactive, individualized instrument, PEX-LC, which was refined for usability through think-aloud and other interviews with patients, members of the public, and clinical staff. Results Major challenges in the process of developing PEX-LC related to collaboration among many actors, and design/user interface problems including technical issues. Most problems identified through the think-aloud interviews related to design/user interface problems and technical issues rather than content, for example we re-ordered questions to be in line with patients’ chronological, rather than retrospective, descriptions of their experiences. PEX-LC was developed into a final e-questionnaire on a touch-screen smart tablet with one background module covering sociodemographic characteristics, 10 interactive, individualized modules covering early sensations and symptoms, and a 12th assessing current symptoms. Conclusions Close collaboration with patients throughout the process was intrinsic for developing PEX-LC. Similarly, we recognized the extent to which clinicians and technical experts were also important in this process. Similar endeavors should assure all necessary competence is included in the core research team, to facilitate timely progress. Our experiences developing PEX-LC combined with new empirical research suggest that this individualized, interactive e-questionnaire, developed through systematizing patients’ own formulations of their prodromal symptom experiences, is both feasible for use and has potential value in the intended group.

The Role of Value Facilitation Regarding Cloud Service Provider Profitability in the Cloud Ecosystem

With the increasing maturity of cloud technologies and the growing demand from customers, the cloud computing ecosystem has been expanding continuously with both incumbents and new entrants, whereby it has become more distributed and less transparent. For cloud service providers previously focusing on growth strategies, it is now necessary to shift the attention to providing service efficiently, as well as profitably. Based on 14 explorative interviews with cloud service experts, the relationship between cloud service provider profitability and value facilitation, which stands for the capability to build up resources in advance of future customer engagements, is investigated. The results indicate a positive relationship between cloud service profitability and value facilitation and deliver valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners. In particular, guidelines on how to design profitable cloud service offerings are discussed.

Ist Blockchain das Ende der Banken?

ZusammenfassungBlockchain verspricht, Intermediäre wie Banken überflüssig zu machen und durch dezentrale Peer-to-Peer-Netzwerke zu ersetzen. Dieser Beitrag stellt die Frage nach der Realisierbarkeit dieser Ankündigung sowie danach, welche gesellschaftlichen Implikationen damit verbunden sind. Eine historisch informierte theoretische Analyse zeigt, dass die Erzeugung von Kreditgeld durch Banken ein für kapitalistische Gesellschaften existenzieller Vorgang ist. Die Fiktion des Geldwerts bedarf ihrerseits glaubwürdiger Intermediäre, die dauerhaft in der Lage sind, die zeitliche und räumliche Stabilität des Geldes zu inszenieren. Explorative Interviews mit Akteuren im Finanzsektor in Kombination mit einer inhaltsanalytischen Auswertung von einschlägigen Blogs, White Papers und Artikeln der Wirtschaftspresse lassen vermuten, dass Blockchain Intermediäre keineswegs ausschaltet, sondern diejenigen mächtiger werden lässt, die in der Lage sind, die Technologie ihren Bedürfnissen entsprechend umzugestalten.

Beschleunigter Patienteneinschluss bei Bildgebungsstudien

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In den letzten Jahren werden zunehmend klinische Bildgebungsstudien initiiert. Die zeitnahe Umsetzung der damit verbundenen administrativen Vorgänge wirkt sich positiv auf den Rekrutierungsstart und die Studienkosten aus. Ziel war es, wesentliche Aspekte zum administrativen Management von Bildgebungsstudien zu identifizieren und nutzbar zu machen. Methodik Hierfür wurde beispielhaft das Setup der prospektiv-nuklearmedizinischen Prüfung „[68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 bei Hochrisiko-Prostatakrebs“ fokussiert. Durch qualitativ-explorative Interviews mit Verwaltungsexperten und der Studienleitung konnten administrative Aspekte und Kriterien, die für den Studienstart wesentlich waren, retrospektiv erhoben und mittels gängiger Prozessmanagementmethoden aufbereitet werden. Ergebnisse Für die Teilprozesse (i) Beschaffung von Studienmaterialien/-dienstleistungen, (ii) Probanden-/Strahlenhaftpflichtversicherung und (iii) Studienverträge werden Checkboxen vorgelegt. Diese können Experten in der Klinikadministration sowie Studienleiter und PIs zur operationalen Vorbereitung/Initiierung künftig weiterer (Bildgebungs-)Studien nutzen. Schlussfolgerung Durch EDV-gestützte Verwaltungsworkflows und in der Studienkoordination versierte Mitarbeiter können der Rekrutierungsstart und nachfolgende Patienteneinschlüsse bei klinischen Studien beschleunigt und damit Kosten gesenkt werden. Für Bildgebungsstudien ist dies besonders wichtig, da diese wegen der Anwendung radioaktiver Stoffe bzw. Strahlung am Menschen besonders komplex und daher bei Verwaltungsvorgängen teils viele weitere Fachabteilungen in der Organisation wie Strahlenschutz, Medizinphysik/-technik oder Qualitätsmanagement zu involvieren sind.

The Diverging Understandings of Quality by Coffee Chain Actors—Insights from Colombian Producers and Austrian Roasters

This paper addresses the understandings of quality recognized by diverse actors along the coffee chain with focus on specialty coffee producers. In the specialty coffee niche, the assessment of (physical) quality acts as a coordination device among chain actors that enables the identification of divergences on how quality is practiced. This paper aims to uncover how quality attributes (e.g., physical, symbolic) are understood (perceived) by value chain actors and are interwoven with quality conventions (e.g., market, green). Explorative interviews were carried out with Colombian producers located in selected coffee regions. A cupping exercise (tasting of coffee) was organized with producers. Afterwards, another informal cupping was done with roasters in Vienna, Austria. By coupling the concepts of quality attributes and conventions, the paper proposes a theoretical framework that connects quality attributes, conventions and the links to value addition (i.e., from parchment coffee to roasted coffee). Results show that the understandings of quality produce risky battles and ruptures among producers to follow certain conventions. The divergences, risky battles and ruptures in the understandings of quality acknowledged by producers are not only based on “roaster-driven” quality definitions penetrating the producers’ community, or the (individual) knowledge gained by producers, but also on the regulatory framework pursued by producers in a country with a strong coffee federation aiming to legitimize and safeguard the product’s reputation. To what extent is sound experimentation allowed, and direct exchange and interaction between producers, buyers and roasters desirable? Specialty coffee represents a differentiation alternative for small producers located in remote rural areas. Therefore, a transparent and inclusive dialogue between chain actors is required to reduce the divergences in the understandings of quality to balance the value appropriation along the chain.

Work–life balance for native and migrant scholars in German academia: meanings and practices

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address notions and practices relating to work–life balance for native German scholars and researchers who have migrated from the former Soviet Union (FSU). Issues will be explored from a cultural perspective, identifying culturally based interpretations of work–life balance. Design/methodology/approach Foregrounded in a diversity approach, this empirical study draws upon explorative interviews to discuss work–life balance in German academia. To overcome monocultural observations, 25 German scholars and 11 researchers originating from the FSU were interviewed, all of whom are highly skilled female scholars. Findings Findings demonstrate that individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds can perceive huge differences in identical working conditions. The study links meanings of work–life balance with individual practices and identifies key components of work–life balance within this population. It also discusses the decisions that scholars make about starting families or remaining childless for the sake of their careers. Originality/value This study is the first of its kind in Germany, and represents a strong implication for policies and their evaluation. It identifies the crucial role played by culturally rooted notions relating to work–life balance practices.