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Perceived Differences (perceived + difference)
Selected AbstractsU.S. Sourcing from Low-Cost Countries: A Comparative Analysis of Supplier PerformanceJOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2007Kusumal Ruamsook SUMMARY Given the increase in sourcing from low-cost countries (LCCs), it is important to assess relative supplier performance across these regions. This work investigates the comparative performance of LCC suppliers on 14 operational indicators of international sourcing and supply chain performance. Using survey methods, the study addresses these two questions: (1) How do the LCC regions of Asia, the Western Hemisphere and Europe compare in terms of the 14 operational indicators?; and (2) How do LCC nations within these three regions compare with regard to the 14 operational indicators? Perceived differences exist among the regions of Asia, the Western Hemisphere and Europe, as well as among the LCC nations of these three regions. However, no one region outperforms the others, and no one nation outperforms the others, on all 14 operational indicators investigated. Accordingly, this study also identifies the key areas of comparative advantage and disadvantage that each LCC region and each LCC nation presents in its relationship with U.S. buying firms. [source] Culturally diverse patient,nurse interactions on acute care wardsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 6 2006Jane Cioffi RN PhD The nurse,patient interaction is central to providing nursing care. This qualitative study explores nurses' and culturally diverse patients' experiences within nurse,patient relationships in acute care wards. Eight nurses and their respective patients volunteered to join the study and were interviewed. The three themes identified in relationships between nurses and culturally diverse patients were shared tension, perceived difference and held awareness. It is concluded from the study that relationships between nurses and culturally diverse patients in acute care wards during short episodes of hospitalization are not easy for nurses and need to receive deeper consideration as to how they can be developed more effectively. It is recommended that educational support be provided to develop more effective interactions between nurses and patients with research being carried out to investigate factors that can strengthen culturally diverse patient,nurse interactions in acute care settings. [source] The process of software maintenance: a comparison of object-oriented and third-generation development languagesJOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 1 2007Michael A. Eierman Abstract We suggest that there is a lack of empirical evidence for claims that object-oriented software has an advantage in terms of software maintenance. We use a model of software maintenance that suggests that the maintenance task and programming language have an impact on the maintenance process and, in turn, use the maintenance process to explore the impact of the programming language on the maintenance process. A field study design, using students, examined the perceived difference in process employed by students using an object-oriented language and those using a third-generation language. We found a difference in the perceived process used by the two groups of students. Students using the object-oriented language perceived that they performed more planning and diagnosis activities during the maintenance process and students using a third-generation language perceived that they performed more knowledge building activities. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] COMPETITIVE PRIORITIES: INVESTIGATING THE NEED FOR TRADE-OFFS IN OPERATIONS STRATEGYPRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2002KENNETH K. BOYER A heated debate continues over the need for trade-offs in operations strategy. Some researchers call for plants to focus on a single manufacturing capability and devote their limited resources accordingly, while others claim that advanced manufacturing technology (amt) enables concurrent improvements in quality, cost, flexibility, and delivery. Yet there is little empirical evidence for or against the trade-off model. In response, this study addresses the question: "To what extent do manufacturing plants view competitive priorities as trade-offs?" We employ survey data collected from managers and operators in 110 plants that have recently implemented AMT. Our findings suggest that trade-offs remain. However, perceived differences in competitive priorities are subtle and may vary across levels of the plant hierarchy. [source] Perceptions of Transitional Care Needs and Experiences in Pediatric Heart Transplant RecipientsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2009S. J. Anthony Survival following pediatric heart transplantation (HTx) continues to improve. The transition from pediatric to adult care is becoming a pivotal stage in the ongoing medical management of this population. Published data support enhanced outcomes for adolescent patients with increased attention to transitional care. The purpose of this study was to explore the ,transition experience' of adolescent HTx recipients and families. All teens (12,18 years) and parents at a single-center HTx program were invited to participate in semistructured interviews. Qualitative, phenomenological methodology was used to build theoretical knowledge and guided the data collection and analysis. The study population included 14 patients (7 males) with a mean age of 15.7 ± 1.8 years (11.7,17.8 years) and at a mean of 4.1 ± 3.3 years post-HTx (0.3,9.2 years) at the time of study participation. Major themes identified included: (i) adolescent disinterest and apathy regarding transition to adult care versus parental anxiety about their child's eventual departure from the pediatric transplant center, (ii) perceived differences in pediatric versus adult care and (iii) identification of strategies described as helpful in facilitating the transition. Understanding the experiences and perceptions of adolescent HTx recipients and their parents is crucial to planning effective transitional care and necessary for evidenced-based practice. [source] Evidence supports adjuvant radiotherapy in selected patients with rectal cancerANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 3 2004Peter Gibbs Background: Much recent data have been published on the risk of local recurrence (LR) following curative surgery for rectal cancer and the impact of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT). With improvements in surgical technique apparently reducing the risk of LR, the relevance of older data upon which the current recommendations for adjuvant RT are based has been questioned. Methods: A focused review was undertaken of the published literature on the risk of LR following surgery for rectal cancer and the impact of adjuvant radiation. In particular the authors attempt to define how accurately the risk for an individual patient can be predicted, trends in reported LR rates over the time period of randomized trials, and the relevance of changing surgical and RT techniques. Results: Many of the perceived differences in published results can be explained by variations in study entry criteria, length of follow up and data recording. Comparisons between studies are most accurate when defined subsets of patients, such as those with stage III disease, followed for the same period of time, are considered. In parallel with improvements in surgical technique, which may have reduced the risk of LR, modifications to RT delivery have resulted in recent series not reporting an increased mortality in those patients treated with modern RT techniques. Conclusion: All of the available evidence supports the use of adjuvant RT in selected patients with rectal cancer. Ongoing studies will better define individual patient risk and the risk,benefit ratio of adjuvant RT. [source] Report on the implementation and evaluation of an interprofessional learning programme for inter-agency child protection teamsCHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 3 2009Alison Watkin Abstract Effective collaborative working between the different professions and agencies working to safeguard children is essential. Lack of knowledge of others' roles, perceived differences in status and expertise, and negative stereotypes are examples of why this can be difficult to achieve. A facilitated interprofessional learning (IPL) programme was implemented to assess if such an intervention could overcome some of the barriers to effective interprofessional and inter-agency team working. Six teams based in primary and secondary care trusts took part with participants from health, education, police and social services. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from individual participants using a pre-validated team climate inventory and reflective statements. Findings from this study demonstrate statistically significant changes in five out of six categories in the inventory. Reflective statements suggested that overall the programme offered a positive learning experience at both an individual and team level. The importance of outside facilitation to maintain the team's momentum was acknowledged, as was the difficulty of maintaining a good level of activity once the programme had ended. Nevertheless, the IPL programme provided a timely opportunity to reflect upon the interprofessional and inter-agency team working needed within Children's Trusts and the implications for staff involved with regard to skills development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Color difference formulas: An unsatisfactory state of affairsCOLOR RESEARCH & APPLICATION, Issue 4 2008Rolf G. Kuehni Abstract Color difference formulas are of considerable importance in production control of colored materials, as they offer a kind of quantitative numerical method to predict perceived differences. Current formulas are based on various sets of empirical difference perception data established with different kinds of materials, under different evaluation conditions, and with different observer panels. The best current formulas predict the average of these perceptual data only with an accuracy of about 65%, a PF/3 value of about 35 (zero being optimal). This article argues that this is an unsatisfactory state of affairs and proposes the development of new uniformly established perceptual data and a new formula/system that predicts the visual results, statistically verified to represent the world-average observer, with an accuracy of 95%, a PF/3 value (or appropriate improved measure) of 5 or lower. Such a multiyear effort requires a solid experimental plan and a consortium supported by Government and industry to achieve its goal. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 324,329, 2008. [source] | ||||||||||