Increasing the impact of management development programs

Purpose Reflective practice makes an important contribution to the ultimate success of any management development program. Greater emphasis on reflection demands that both program participants and action learning facilitators take appropriate responsibility needed to increase the overall effectiveness of the process. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Reflective practice makes an important contribution to the ultimate success of any management development program. Greater emphasis on reflection demands that both program participants and action learning facilitators take appropriate responsibility needed to increase the overall effectiveness of the process. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Comparison between online and traditional teaching-learning among non-clinical medical students

Background: Medical institutes remained on complete shut down during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic while Information Technology (IT) bridged the teaching learning between the students and teachers. The study objectives were to determine the opportunities and obstacles of teaching learning process and overall effectiveness of online classes over traditional classes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to December 2020 between students and teachers of Khulna city Medical College, Khulna, Bangladesh. An online questionnaire was developed using google form containing four sections about different aspects of IT and teaching learning process. Results: Around 87% (160 vs 48) students and teachers responded to the questionnaire. The most preferred online teaching learning platform for students and teachers was zoom (84.4% vs 83.4%) and the favored devices were smart phone (96.2% vs 87.5%) followed by laptop computer (90.6% vs 83.3%). The majority felt connected to each other (82.5% vs 62.5%) and could work faster and effectively (75% vs 66.7%). Conversely, students (65.6%) felt online learning was more enjoyable than teachers (29.2%), where significant difference was found; (p= 0.006). Poor network (98.1% vs 79.1%) and affordability of mobile data (81.2% vs 66.7%) were the two main barriers among them. On-line teaching-learning neither increased student- teacher interaction (51.9% vs 66.7%), nor had better scope of asking question (52.5% vs 70.8%) and there was less scope of explaining details (52.5% vs 66.7%). Oral assessment was the most preferable (89.4% vs 83.3%), but the practical assessment (78.1% vs 83.3%) was the least preferable method for assessing students’ knowledge and skill online. Overall effectiveness of online classes over traditional classes was scored around 50% (±10%) by students and teachers (58.1% vs 62.5%). Conclusion: Despite having barriers like poor network, data affordability and limited computer and net usability, online classes played a pivotal role to continue the academic activities in a medical college during Corona pandemic. BIRDEM Med J 2022; 12(1): 45-50

PTEBL Teaching Method Combined with Caesar (Trauma Patient Simulator) Versus Traditional Teaching Method in The Training of Outstanding Doctoral Candidates in STB Skills: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The “Stop The Bleed” (STB) campaign has achieved remarkable results since it launched in 2016, but there is no report on the application of a STB course combined with a trauma patient simulator. This study proposes the “problem-, team-, and evidence-based learning” (PTEBL) teaching method combined with Caesar (trauma patient simulator) based on the STB course, and compares its effect with the traditional teaching method in outstanding doctoral candidates training of hemostasis skills.Method: Seventy-eight outstanding doctoral candidates program students (five-years and eight-years) were selected as the research subjects and were randomly divided into a control group (traditional teaching method, n=34) and an experimental group (PTEBL teaching method combined with Caesar, n=44). Their confidence of hemostasis skills and willingness to rescue were investigated before and after the course in both groups.Result: Students’ self-confidence of STB skills and willingness to rescue in both groups were improved after the class. Compared with the control group, students in the experimental group were more confident in compressing with bandages and compressing with a tourniquet after a class (compressing with bandages: control group 3.9±0.8 vs. experimental group 4.3±0.7, P=0.014; compressing with a tourniquet: control group 3.9±0.4 vs. experimental group 4.5±0.8, P=0.001) More students in the experimental group than the control group thought that the use of Caesar for scenario simulation could improve learning (control group 55.9% vs. experimental group 81.8%, P=0.024), and showed higher teacher-student interaction (control group 85.3% vs. experimental group 97.7%, P=0.042) The overall effectiveness of the teaching was better in the experimental group than the control group (control group 85.3% vs. experimental group 97.7%, P=0.042). There was a significant positive correlation between teacher-students interaction and overall effectiveness of teaching (R=1.000; 95%CI, 1.000-1.000; P<0.001).Conclusion: The PTEBL teaching method combined with Caesar can effectively improve students' mastery of STB skills, and overcome the shortcomings of traditional teaching methods, which has a certain promotional value in the training of outstanding doctoral candidates in STB skills.

COMPARISON OF LAND-BASED TEST SETUPS FOR A BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Two land-based setups were tested at different locations using the same combined treatment technologies, to assess the effect of different control and treated tanks condition as well as overall effectiveness of a ballast water treatment system. The test procedure included a five day storage period of organisms in the control and treated tanks as specifically advised in the type approval procedure for shipboard and land-based tests described in the IMO Guideline ‘G8’. The configurations and materials of control and treated tanks used in each test location were different resulting in invalid test results at one testing location.

Normalized Statistical Algorithm for Afaan Oromo Word Sense Disambiguation

Language is the main means of communication used by human. In various situations, the same word can mean differently based on the usage of the word in a particular sentence which is challenging for a computer to understand as level of human. Word Sense Disambiguation (WSD), which aims to identify correct sense of a given ambiguity word, is a long-standing problem in natural language processing (NLP). As the major aim of WSD is to accurately understand the sense of a word in particular context, can be used for the correct labeling of words in natural language applications. In this paper, I propose a normalized statistical algorithm that performs the task of WSD for Afaan Oromo language despite morphological analysis The propose algorithm has the power to discriminate ambiguous word’s sense without windows size consideration, without predefined rule and without utilize annotated dataset for training which minimize a challenge of under resource languages. The proposed system tested on 249 sentences with precision, recall, and F-measure. The overall effectiveness of the system is 80.76% in F-measure, which implies that the proposed system is promising on Afaan Oromo that is one of under resource languages spoken in East Africa. The algorithm can be extended for semantic text similarity without modification or with a bit modification. Furthermore, the forwarded direction can improve the performance of the proposed algorithm.

Filtration efficiency and differential pressure of fabrics used in non-medical masks based on SARS COVID-19 particle size

Non-medical fabric masks, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, are available in various fabrics. There is limited research on the overall effectiveness of fabrics used to make masks. The purpose of this study was to assess fabrics commonly used in non-medical masks against their ability to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 based on the size and throughput of aerosols and particles (<1[Formula: see text]m). Seven different fabrics were evaluated on filtration efficiency (FE), differential pressure (dP), and filtration quality (Q factor). Results indicate <16% FE against particles the size of COVID-19, dP <0.51 in w.c., and Q factor <0.004 Pa−1. FE results are lower than previously reported research with dP and Q factors within international guidelines. Using non-medical fabric masks as the sole mitigation strategy is not effective. It is critical to combine non-medical fabric masks with physical distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 further.

The Microsite

This paper deals with the analysis of microsites as a low-cost marketing communication tool used to effectively address prospective applicants for admissions to higher education institutions. The paper contains the analysis of the microsite www.ustav44.cz, which has been created to promote the Department of Marketing Communications at Tomas Bata University in Zlín. Specifically, it has been created to promote the degree course in Marketing Communications. The authors of the paper describe the individual stages of the microsite design as well as its implementation and launch, including a subsequent analysis of its functionality and overall effectiveness within a selected target group. Based on the survey results, a proposal outlining how to improve particular user elements of this microsite and how to improve the microsite as a whole has been developed. The final part of this paper contains general instructions and basic tips that may help readers create a microsite of a similar type.

Evaluation of Smoke Free Area Policy in Enrekang Regency

Public policy evaluation is a process of activities that are planned to assess the overall effectiveness of the program and it is deemed necessary to make changes to policies that have been carried out in order to achieve objectives. The objectives of this study are (i) How is the performance of the smoke-free area policy in Bone-bone village, Baraka sub-district, Enrekang district? (ii) What is the determinant factor in implementing the smoke-free area policy in Bone-bone village, Baraka sub-district, Enrekang district? This type of research is a descriptive study with a qualitative research design. Data collection techniques are carried out through observation, interviews and documentation. The data analysis technique used consists of data condensation, data presentation and drawing conclusions.The results of this study indicate that (i) the performance of the smoke-free area policy in Bone-bone village, Baraka sub- district, Enrekang district is quite effective, judged by the policy evaluation indicators by William N Dunn including effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy, leveling, responsiveness, and leveling. (ii) the determinant factors of the application of smoke-free areas, namely the existence of a leader or agent, a religious community, and the existence of sanctions.

The 15 Minute Case Conceptualization

Once understood as useful but optional, case conceptualization is now considered essential and one of the most important of all clinical skills and competencies. As clinicians look for resources to assist in learning and mastering this competency, they must choose among different case conceptualization approaches. They would do well to give serious consideration to those that are both clinically effective and clinician friendly. A truly clinically effective approach explains and guides treatment, and most importantly, predicts challenges and obstacles that are likely to arise over the course of treatment. Most approaches emphasize the functions of explanation and guiding treatment, but seldom include third function which help anticipates likely challenges, which if not proactively addressed are likely to result in therapy interference or premature termination. This function is essential in determining the course and overall effectiveness of therapy. A truly clinician-friendly approach is one that is quick to use and easy to master, and very few approaches can make this claim. The 15 Minute Case Conceptualization is the only approach that is both highly effective and clinician friendly. Research confirms that such case conceptualizations can be completed in only 15 minutes. It is an evidence-based, step-by-step approach that therapists and other mental health professionals need and want.

Pedagogical Potential of Mental Practice in Teaching Brass Instruments at University

At any level of musical education, it is very important to improve one’s musicianship skills, which can only be achieved through consistent training and playing their musical instrument. Physical training is a very important part of the learning process; however, its combination with mental practice has been proved to be much more effective. Although such an approach is important at all levels of musical education, the paper addresses it in the context of higher education. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the pedagogical potential of mental practice in the process of teaching music in higher education. The research was implemented in two stages. First, a survey was conducted to gather information about the respondents’ habits when learning musical pieces. At this stage, the study involved 68 brass students from different universities around the world between the ages of 19 and 25. The second stage of the research comprised the development of the program of mental practice (PMP) with structured observation as a method and 7 participants from Latvian and Norwegian higher music education institutions. The obtained results allow to conclude that the inclusion of mental practice in the practicing routine significantly improves the overall level of concentration and stability both in the process of training and during performances. Mental practice also provides an opportunity to increase the duration of training as well as enhances the overall effectiveness of practicing and concentration during performances.