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Practical Framework (practical + framework)
Selected AbstractsPartnership Synergy: A Practical Framework for Studying and Strengthening the Collaborative AdvantageTHE MILBANK QUARTERLY, Issue 2 2001Roz D. Lasker The substantial interest and investment in health partnerships in the United States is based on the assumption that collaboration is more effective in achieving health and health system goals than efforts carried out by single agents. A clear conceptualization of the mechanism that accounts for the collaborative advantage, and a way to measure it are needed to test this assumption and to strengthen the capacity of partnerships to realize the full potential of collaboration. The mechanism that gives collaboration its unique advantage is synergy. A framework for operationalizing and assessing partnership synergy, and for identifying its likely determinants, can be used to address critical policy, evaluation, and management issues related to collaboration. [source] Real-time cartoon animation of smokeCOMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL WORLDS (PREV: JNL OF VISUALISATION & COMPUTER ANIMATION), Issue 3-4 2005Haitao He Abstract In this paper, we present a practical framework to generate cartoon style animations of smoke, which consists of two components: a smoke simulator and a rendering system. In the simulation stage, the smoke is modelled as a set of smoothed particles and the physical parameters such as velocity and force are defined on particles directly. The smoke is rendered in flicker-free cartoon style with two-tone shading and silhouettes. Both the simulation and rendering are intuitive and easy to implement. In the most moderate scale scene, an impressive cartoon animation is generated with about a thousand particles at real-time frame rate. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Priorities and paradigms: directions in threatened species recoveryCONSERVATION LETTERS, Issue 3 2009Sue V. Briggs Abstract Recovering threatened species is a key challenge for conservation managers, policy makers, and researchers. This article describes a practical framework for assigning priorities for recovery of threatened species according to cost-effectiveness of recovery strategies for species groups. The framework has the following steps: (1) determine the conservation goal,persistence in the wild of the largest number of threatened species with the funds available; (2) assign threatened species to species recovery groups according to their characteristics and threats,small-population species that require actions at sites and declining-population species that require actions across landscapes; (3) identify the recovery strategies and their component actions for the species groups; (4) cost the recovery strategies for the species groups; (5) determine the cost-effectiveness of the recovery strategies for the species groups,the number of species recovered divided by the cost of the strategies; (6) assign priorities to the recovery strategies according to their cost-effectiveness; (7) allocate funds to the recovery strategies that maximize the number of threatened species recovered for the funds available; and (8) undertake the funded recovery strategies and actions. The framework is illustrated with an example. [source] Capital Allocation and Risk Performance Measurement In a Financial InstitutionFINANCIAL MARKETS, INSTITUTIONS & INSTRUMENTS, Issue 5 2000Stuart M. Turnbull This paper provides an analytical and practical framework, consistent with maximizing the wealth of existing shareholders, to address the following questions: What are the costs associated with economic capital? What is the tradeoff between the probability of default and the costs of economic capital? How do we take into account the time profile of economic capital when assessing the performance of a business? What is the appropriate measure of profitability, keeping the probability of default constant? It is shown that the capital budgeting decision depends not only on the covariance of the return of a project with the market portfolio, but also on the covariance with the bank's existing assets. This dependency arises from the simple fact that the economic capital is not additive. [source] Developing an assessment tool for evaluating community involvementHEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 1 2005Jane South BA RGN MA Abstract Background, Current UK policy has resulted in greater requirements for public and patient participation in health service planning and decision making. Organizations and services need to be able to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of their community involvement processes, but there are few appropriate evaluation tools or sets of indicators available. This paper reports on work within Bradford Health Action Zone to develop a self-assessment tool for organizations on community involvement. Methods, A multi-agency working group developed the tool. A literature search was undertaken and evaluation resources were reviewed. A set of benchmarks for community involvement in regeneration was utilized in developing the assessment areas. A range of individuals with expertise on community involvement practice and performance management was consulted. The tool was then piloted in two primary care trusts prior to final modifications. Results, The process resulted in the production of Well Connected , a self-assessment tool on community involvement designed for organizations to assess their progress and identify areas for improvement. A scoring system assesses evidence of a strategic approach to community involvement, good practice throughout the organization, and a range of opportunities and support. Feedback from the pilots revealed that the tool had facilitated assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of organizational practices. Conclusion, The paper discusses some of the methodological challenges pertaining to the measurement of community involvement. Notwithstanding those challenges, it is argued that Well Connected provides a robust and practical framework that health organizations and their partners can use to assess practice. [source] Developing evidence-based librarianship: practical steps for implementation,HEALTH INFORMATION & LIBRARIES JOURNAL, Issue 2 2002Ellen Crumley Evidence-based librarianship (EBL) is a relatively new concept for librarians. This paper lays out a practical framework for the implementation of EBL. A new way of thinking about research in librarianship is introduced using the well-built question process and the assignment of librarian research questions to one of six domains specific to librarianship. As a profession, librarianship tends to reflect more qualitative, social sciences/humanities in its research methods and study types which tend to be less rigorous and more prone to bias. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) do not have to be placed at the top of an evidence ,hierarchy' for librarianship. Instead, a more encompassing model reflecting librarianship as a whole and the kind of research likely to be done by librarians is proposed. ,Evidence' from a number of disciplines including health sciences, business and education can be utilized by librarians and applied to their practice. However, access to and availability of librarianship literature needs to be further studied. While using other disciplines (e.g. EBHC) as a model for EBL has been explored in the literature, the authors develop models unique to librarianship. While research has always been a minor focus in the profession, moving research into practice is becoming more important and librarians need to consider the issues surrounding research in order to move EBL forward. [source] Multi-loop control synthesis for unstable systems and its application: An approach based on µ interaction measureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROBUST AND NONLINEAR CONTROL, Issue 15 2009Adarsha Swarnakar Abstract This paper presents a new practical framework for multi-loop controller design in which controllers are designed independently, i.e. a controller in one loop is designed without exploiting information of other controllers. The method is based on the (block) diagonal approximation of a system that is different from its (block) diagonal elements. The focus of this work is on unstable systems and the approximated systems are obtained by minimizing an upper bound of a scaled ,, norm for the error systems. This extends the applicability of conventional µ-interaction measure to a more general scenario. The proposed approach is applied to a numerical example and to a simulated industrial boiler system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Toward dynamic assessment of reading: applying metacognitive awareness guidance to reading assessment tasksJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN READING, Issue 3 2002Eva Guterman This paper focuses on research that aimed to provide a theoretical,practical framework to link literacy assessment practice with learning theory. An experimental study was designed with reference to three theoretical axes: ,metacognitive awareness' theory, ,schema' theory and the Vygotskian ,zone of proximal fevelopment'. The study tested the effect of using written metacognitive awareness guidance (MCAG) as a tool for activating and engaging learners'Habits of Mind while processing authentic reading assessment tasks taken from Israeli kits of assessment tasks (Guterman, 2000). The study on 300 Grade,4 pupils used three modalities: a control group, which received no treatment; a placebo group, which received content instructions (CI); and a treatment group, which was given written MCAG. The findings confirmed that applying metacognitive awareness guidance to reading assessment tasks makes a difference in the learners' level of performance and achievement on those tasks, and also increases learners' chances of internalising the guidance components. [source] Towards framework for knowledge management implementationKNOWLEDGE AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT: THE JOURNAL OF CORPORATE TRANSFORMATION, Issue 4 2005Ravi Shankar The implementation of knowledge management (KM) in an organization involves the integration of knowledge from the domains of strategy, structure, processes, and technology. These domains are generally underpinned,when assimilating roadmaps for holistic KM implementation,with standard KM models in the literature. The pioneering models manifesting the holistic ,growth' of knowledge in an organization are generally used to underpin the knowledge-based segregation of organizational structure. However, some authors take a critical view of such theoretical models, and instead suggest the knowledge process-based models manifesting the ,circulation' of knowledge as being a more practical approach to KM implementation. This paper takes the implementation-oriented approach further, and modifies and integrates the fundamental aspects of KM advocated in these models resulting in the creation of an integrated KM model that renders a practical framework for the broad knowledge processes across the organization. The essence of the proposed integrated model are the knowledge activities permeating an organization, which are categorized in terms of the cyclic knowledge processes of creation, organization, dissemination, and use of knowledge. These processes traverse the segregated structure of an enterprise. It is suggested that a modified knowledge-based segregation of enterprise into individual and group, organization, customer interface, and global enterprise be developed based on the cyclic knowledge processes. Further, based on the proposed integrated model, an implementation framework is outlined manifesting the cyclic circulation of knowledge across the organization. Such a framework can provide a link in the KM roadmaps between the abstract categorizations in KM models and the actual implementations using technologies, organizations, and people. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Learning and organizational effectiveness: A systems perspectivePERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT, Issue 1 2009Nicholas Andreadis The challenge for leaders today is to create and develop the capability of their organization. Leaders must perceive and manage their organization as a dynamic, open system where learning is the core competence underlying innovation, growth, and sustainability. Creating a culture of learning is the first work of leadership. This article presents a practical framework in which to consider organizational effectiveness, emphasizing the critical role of systems thinking and learning theory in organizational development. [source] Psychogeriatric Research: A Conceptual Introduction to Aging and Geriatric NeurosciencePSYCHOGERIATRICS, Issue 3 2001Ramón Cacabelos Abstract: Psychogeriatrics (PG) is a multidisciplinary specialty in clinical neuroscience dealing with brain disorders in the elderly population. As any other biomedical field PG has to establish an educational and practical framework in epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and social, ethical, and legal issues associated with brain aging and age-related central nervous system disorders. Understanding the molecular basis of aging will help to characterize and differentiate the fundamentals of pathological aging and psychogeriatric ailments. Modern epidemiology of age-related brain disorders have to incorporate novel diagnostic criteria, biological markers, and genetic epidemiology to its methodological armamentarium to avoid bias. Molecular genetics will help to conceptually redefine many psychogeriatric disorders depending upon its genetic component and those interacting environmental factors leading to the phenotypic expression of given diseases. Genetic testing for monogenic and complex/polygenic/multifactorials disorders has to be included in diagnostic protocols since approximately 60 to 80% of major psychogeriatric disorders are genetically driven. It is also important to distinguish mutational genetics from susceptibility genetics in order to establish novel therapeutic strategies and preventive programmes. Genomics, proteomics, and pharmacogenomics are novel fields from which PG can benefit in the areas of etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Drug development in PG requires updated regulations in developed countries. New pharmacological treatments for aging brain disorders are needed. Pharmacogenomics will become an optimal strategy for drug development, contributing to design a molecular psychopharmacology for the elderly, individualizing drug therapy, optimizing efficacy and safety, and reducing unnecessary costs. [source] Academic enablers and student achievement: Implications for assessment and intervention services in the schoolsPSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 1 2006James Clyde DiPerna Academic enablers have been defined as attitudes and behaviors that facilitate students' participation in, and benefit from, academic instruction in the classroom (J.C. DiPerna & S.N. Elliott, 2000). The purpose of this article is to provide practitioners with an overview of specific academic enablers (motivation, study skills, engagement, and social skills) and their relationships with academic achievement. In addition, a practical framework is provided for considering academic enablers within assessment and intervention practices in the schools. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 43: 7,17, 2006. [source] | |||||||||||||