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Study Approach (study + approach)
Kinds of Study Approach Selected AbstractsUsing the Case Study Approach to Challenge Students in an Introductory Business Law CourseJOURNAL OF LEGAL STUDIES EDUCATION, Issue 1 2009Darren Charters [source] Using the Computer to Compare Foreign and Native Language Writing Processes: A Statistical and Case Study ApproachMODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2000Helga Thorson Writing process research has attracted significant attention in English composition studies. However, much less research exists on the relationship between foreign language (FL) and first language (L1) writing processes. This study focuses on whether university students studying a FL (in this case German) at an American university use the same processes and writing strategies in FL and L1 writing in two different genres (letter and article). Using a computerized tracking device, individual writing sessions were analyzed through statistical techniques and individual case studies. Statistical results provided evidence that students wrote less, but revised more, when writing in the FL than in the L1. In their L1, students tended to revise less in the letter genre than when writing an article. The author advocates using the computer for writing process research, given that it is an unobtrusive and efficient method of data collection and because it provides researchers with an easy way to replicate research and to share data. [source] Sustainable entrepreneurship in SMEs: a case study analysisCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2010Cheryl Rodgers Abstract Sustainability is oft thought of as the privilege of the large corporate , with sufficient funds to invest in anything from effective green Public Relations (PR) to improving its carbon footprint. What is perhaps less well-understood and documented is the range of activities undertaken by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including very small entrepreneurial start-ups, some of which base their entire business rationale on sustainable principles. This paper uses a case study approach to explore the modus operandi of ecopreneurship and draws on both primary research and secondary data to develop and explore sustainable entrepreneurship in this sector. Preliminary findings suggest that ecopreneurial SMEs are looking to other goals alongside financial ones and are prepared to go to significant lengths to achieve such goals. Monetary measures are not, of course, entirely absent, but are very strongly conditioned by the ecoconscious nature of the business. In short, sustainability imperatives remain paramount. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Adult Learning Experiences from an Aquarium Visit: The role of Social Interactions in Family GroupsCURATOR THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007Adriana Briseño-Garzón Based on a larger empirical work,1 this paper reports on the nature and character of adult learning within a family group context while visiting the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre (Canada), and the longitudinal effects of such experience in the weeks following the visit. In this study a multiple or collective instrumental case study approach was employed to examine the learning experiences of the adult members of 13 family groups; this approach demonstrates that adults visiting the aquarium as part of a family group are active social learners and not merely facilitators of the experience for younger visitors or caregivers. Our outcomes also indicate that the adult members of the participant family groups learned in a multiplicity of domains including the cognitive, the social, and the affective, as a result of their visit to the Vancouver Aquarium. In addition, we discuss the longitudinal impacts of the aquarium visit and provide valuable insights as to the relevance of these experiences in visitors' everyday lives. [source] Effects of Qi therapy (external Qigong) on symptoms of advanced cancer: a single case studyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 5 2005M.S. LEE phd The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Qi therapy (external Qigong) in the management of symptoms of advanced cancer in a man. We used a single case study design to evaluate the effectiveness of Qi therapy (external Qigong) in a 35-year-old man with advanced cancer (Stage IV) involving metastases in the stomach, lung and bone (Karnofsky performance scale: KPS, 40: requires special care and assistance, disabled). Treatment involved six days of pre-assessment, eight treatment sessions on alternate days over 16 days, and a two-week follow-up phase. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the patient's self-reported symptoms of cancer over the intervention and follow-up periods. Following treatment, VAS scores' analysis revealed beneficial effects on pain, vomiting, dyspnoea, fatigue, anorexia, insomnia, daily activity and psychological calmness. These improvements were maintained over the two-week follow-up phase. After the first Qi therapy session, the patient discontinued medication and could sit by himself; after the fourth session, the patient was able to walk and use the toilet without assistance (improvement in KPS: 70: care for self, unable to perform normal activity or to do active work). Although limited by the single case study approach, our results support previous studies on this topic and provide reasons to conduct controlled clinical trials. [source] From rhetoric to reality: including patient voices in supportive cancer care planningHEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 3 2005Sara K. Tedford Gold PhD Abstract Objective, To explore the extent and manner of patient participation in the planning of regional supportive care networks throughout the province of Ontario. We consider the disconnect between the rhetoric and reality of patient involvement in network planning and co-ordination. Context, In 1997, the Province of Ontario, Canada, established a new, regionalized cancer care system. By transferring responsibility to the regional level and to networks, the architects of the new provincial system hoped to broaden participation in decision making and to enhance the responsiveness of decisions to communities. Research approach, Through a qualitative, multiple case study approach we evaluated the processes of involving patients in network development. In-depth, semi-structured interviews and document analysis were complemented by observations of provincial meetings, regional council and network meetings. Results, The network development processes in the three case study regions reveal a significant gap between intentions to involve patients in health planning and their actual involvement. This gap can be explained by: (i) a lack of clear direction regarding networks and patient participation in these networks; (ii) the dominance of regional cancer centres in network planning activities; and, (iii) the emergence of competing provincial priorities. Discussion, These three trends expose the complexity of the notion of public participation and how it is embedded in social and political contexts. The failed attempt at involving patients in health planning efforts is the result of benign neglect of public participation intents and the social and political contexts in which public and patient participation is meant to occur. [source] The utilization of training program evaluation in corporate universitiesHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2004Christopher F. Bober This study examined the use of training program evaluation results in corporate universities. Specifically, the study attempted to determine which organizational members use evaluation data, and for what purposes, and identify the factors that are related to the use of evaluation results. The study was designed to test the appropriateness of the Cousins and Leithwood (1986) meta-analytic conceptual framework for evaluation utilization. A case study approach was used to collect qualitative data at four corporate universities in the United States. On-site interviews with key personnel and in-depth document review of applicable training program evaluation information were conducted. Results showed a high degree of consensus on evaluation uses and users. Seven of the twelve factors from the Cousins and Leithwood framework were found at all four sites to influence utilization. The findings indicate that factors identified as being influential to evaluation utilization related to implementation dominated over factors related to uses for decision/policy setting. [source] Cultivating problem-solving skills through problem-based approaches to professional developmentHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2002Margaret C. Lohman An extensive literature review was conducted of four problem-based approaches to professional development: (1) case study, (2) goal-based scenario, (3) problem-based learning, and (4) action learning. The review comparatively analyzed the training designs of these four approaches and found key differences in the nature of their case problems and training strategies. Specifically, the analysis found that case problems are ill structured in action learning and problem-based learning, are moderately structured in a goal-based scenario, and are fairly well structured in the case study approach. In addition, it was found that prototypical problems are used to a much greater extent in the problem-based learning and goal-based scenario approaches than they are in the other two approaches. Furthermore, the analysis found that the case study approach uses the most expert-oriented training strategy, the goal-based scenario approach uses a more learner-oriented strategy than the case study approach, and the problem-based learning and action learning approaches use strongly learner-oriented strategies. These design differences suggest that the case study and goal-based scenario approaches are more likely to result in single-loop learning and to foster the ability to solve well-structured problems, whereas the problem-based learning and action learning approaches are more likely to lead to double-loop learning and to promote the ability to solve ill-structured problems. Implications of these findings for the design and research of problem-based approaches to professional development are discussed. [source] Revenue-driven in TB control,three cases in ChinaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, Issue S1 2004Shaokang Zhan Abstract One quarter of all TB cases occur in China, which, during the past 20 years has moved from a planned economy to a socialist market economy. In the health sector, an important proportion of the financing originates from user payment. TB control is not an exception and different programmatic models are in place. This study examines, using a case study approach, three different TB programmes, one supposed to provide free service, one subsidized service and one with full cost recovery. The aim was to better understand the driving forces for programme performance in terms of case detection, case management and patient payments. The study found for all models that control and case management approaches were, to some extent, adapted to generate maximum income to the providers. The drive for income led to fewer cases detected, administration of unnecessary procedures and drugs, and a higher than necessary cost to the patients. The latter possibly leading to exclusion of poor people from the services. If user charges are to stay, TB control programmes need to be designed to take advantage of the financial incentives to improve performance. The referral system needs to be restructured, not to provide disincentives for good practices. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Exploring the relationship between nursing protocols and nursing practice in an Irish intensive care unitINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 4 2005Angela V Flynn RGN BSc(Hons) PGDip(Ed) MSc Nursing practice no longer relies on tradition or ritual; instead, it is based on research and empirical evidence. The emphasis on evidence-based nursing, as well as standardization of nursing practice, has resulted in the production of policies, protocols and guidelines aimed at directing numerous aspects of nursing care. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between these documents and actual nursing practice. To this end, this descriptive study employed a case study approach to examine the experiences of nurses in an Irish intensive care unit with a protocol on endotracheal tube suctioning. Focus group interviews of 17 nurses in six focus groups provided a significant insight into the experiences of these nurses in relation to policies, protocols and guidelines. Analysis of the data afforded some highly relevant findings, including the fact that nurses adapt clinical protocols as they see fit, thus demonstrating the importance that they place on their own professional judgement and autonomy. [source] Performance Impact of the Elimination of Direct Labor Variance Reporting: A Field StudyJOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 4 2002Rajiv D. Banker Using a field study approach, we examine two competing perspectives on direct labor variance reporting: some argue that direct labor variance reporting is costly and cumbersome, and should be eliminated; whereas others contend that without direct labor variance information, managers will not be able to monitor workers effectively, causing workers to shirk and worker productivity to decline. Specifically, we investigate the productivity and quality impacts of eliminating direct labor variance reporting with panel data containing 36 months of data from seven experimental plants that eliminated direct labor variance reporting and 11 control plants that did not. The experimental plants experienced a significant decline in labor productivity compared to the control plants. Also, the experimental plants showed an improvement in product quality, indicating that workers reallocate their efforts to other tasks as a result of the change in the information set available to evaluate them. [source] Development of the Nursing Outcome (NOC) Label: Hyperactivity LevelJOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING, Issue 3 2005Carol L. Caldwell MS TOPIC:,Hyperactivity, a persistent, severe pattern of inattention or impulsivity, places children at risk for impaired functioning in many developmental areas. This behavior is characterized by short attention span, low frustration tolerance, impulsivity, distractibility, and increased physical activity. Responses from multiple sources in the child's environment must be monitored to manage childhood hyperactivity. PURPOSE:,Success at school, in peer relationships, and parent-child interactions is frequently affected by hyperactivity. Using a focus group approach, a Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) label, definition, and indicators were developed for Hyperactivity Level. SOURCES:,Review of the literature allowed for a content analysis approach and conceptualization of hyperactivity at several levels. CONCLUSION:,Twenty three (23) measurable indicators were formulated and refined into conceptually and clinically coherent outcomes. Clinical relevance and utility were presented through a case study approach. [source] Delivering ,Gold Standards' in end-of-life care in care homes: a question of teamwork?JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 12 2009Alistair Hewison Aim., This paper reports findings from a study which investigated the introduction of the Gold Standards Framework for improving end-of-life care into care homes in England. Background., The Gold Standards Framework was developed in primary care to improve the care provided for people at the end-of-life. Following its successful introduction to this setting it was adapted and implemented in care homes. Design., A case study approach was appropriate for this study of a care programme into a ,real life' setting. Method., Fourteen managers participated in an initial telephone interview. Ten of these homes participated in the case study phase and 61 staff participated in individual or group interviews. Seven residents and three relatives participated in face to face interviews. Qualitative data were analysed in line with the template approach. Survey data were also analysed and a validated Teamworking Questionnaire was used. Results., It was found that teamwork is central to the successful introduction of the Gold Standards Framework in Care Homes. Good staffing levels and management support were also perceived to be key factors in homes where the Framework became established. Conclusion., Effective teamwork was necessary for changes in end-of-life care to be achieved in the care homes. If end-of-life care and other improvements in practice are to continue, teamwork will need to be supported and developed. Relevance to clinical practice., Effective teamwork appears to be a pre-requisite for successful implementation of new programmes of care. Organisations wishing to implement such programmes should assess the quality of teamwork and may need to address this first. [source] Stoma coloproctology nurse specialist: a case studyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 6 2007Ursula Chaney DPSN Aims and objectives., The aim of this paper is to provide insight into the role of a Stoma Coloproctology Nurse Specialist. This paper presents the findings of an in-depth case study of a stoma coloproctology nurse specialist employed in one health board area in Northern Ireland. This case study was part of a larger study exploring innovative nursing and midwifery roles in Northern Ireland. Background., Specialist nursing roles have evolved and developed in response to changing health care needs, patient expectations, changes in professional regulation and government initiatives. Design., A case study approach was adopted. Method., Semi-structured interviews with the post holder (PH), her line manager and the human resource manager were undertaken. Non-participant observation of the PH's practice was also carried out. Analysis was undertaken on secondary data such as job specification, annual reports and other documentation relating to the post. Results., Findings illustrate the PH's function and the impact of the role on patient care. Examples of innovative practices relating to providing care, support and guidance for patients and their families were identified; however, limitations to her role were also identified. Conclusions., The PH provides an invaluable service to patients, demonstrating a positive impact on care. However, the findings suggest the importance of establishing clear role boundaries, which may lead to professional growth and practice development. Relevance to clinical practice., Although this study provides a valuable insight into the role of a Stoma Coloproctology Nurse Specialist a number of challenges exist, as the CNS role requires policy and appropriate educational preparation to practice at an advanced level. Further research investigating the development of the CNS role in the clinical setting and its relationship to members of the multi-professional team would be beneficial. [source] Cognitive therapy integrated with life review techniques: an eclectic treatment approach for affective symptoms in older adultsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 1 2004William J. Puentes DNSc Background., An important aspect of nursing theory development has been the adaptation of theory from other disciplines within the metaparadigm of nursing. This eclectic approach to theory development enhances the broad humanistic theory base on which effective, professional nursing practice is based. Aims and objectives., The aim of this article is to describe the process of integrating two distinct psychotherapeutic approaches into one coherent mental health nursing intervention for the treatment of affective symptoms in older adults. Guidelines for using this integration process in psychiatric mental health nursing clinical practice are presented and illustrated through the case study approach. Methods., A case study is presented describing a clinical situation in which life review techniques were used to enhance the outcomes of a cognitive therapy experience for older adults enrolled in outpatient psychotherapy treatment for acute adjustment disorder with an affective component. Conclusions and relevance to clinical practice., The advanced practice psychiatric mental health nurse who approaches psychotherapeutic interventions with older adult clients from an eclectic approach can achieve successful outcomes by having a clear understanding of (i) the dynamics of the various psychotherapeutic approaches, (i) the skill level of the practitioner, (iii) the psychosocial sophistication of the client, and (iv) the pathology being treated. In addition, active involvement by the client in a treatment process that matches his/her psychosocial skill and coping resource level will contribute to effective resolution of pathology. A cognitive therapy approach supplemented by life review techniques is an excellent example of an effective, eclectic treatment approach of affective disorders in older adults. [source] Considering a multisite study?JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2002How to take the leap, have a soft landing Although most policymakers agree that a fundamental goal of the mental health system is to provide integrated community-based services, there is little empirical evidence with which to plan such a system. Studies in the community mental health literature have not used a standard set of evaluation methods. One way of addressing this gap is through a multisite program evaluation in which multiple sites and programs evaluate the same outcomes using the same instruments and time frame. The proposition of introducing the same study design in different settings and programs is deceptively straightforward. The difficulty is not in the conceptualization but in the implementation. This article examines the factors that act as implementation barriers, how are they magnified in a multisite study design, and how they can be successfully addressed. In discussing the issue of study design, this article considers processes used to address six major types of barriers to conducting collaborative studies identified by Lancaster or Lancaster's six Cs,contribution, communication, compatibility, consensus, credit, and commitment. A case study approach is used to examine implementation of a multisite community mental health evaluation of services and supports (case management, self-help initiatives, crisis interventions) represented by six independent evaluations of 15 community health programs. A principal finding was that one of the main vehicles to a successful multisite project is participation. It is only through participation that Lancaster's six Cs can be addressed. Key factors in large, geographically dispersed, and diverse groups include the use of advisory committees, explicit criteria and opportunities for participation, reliance on all modes of communication, and valuing informal interactions. The article concludes that whereas modern technology has assisted in making complicated research designs feasible, the operationalization of timeless virtues such as mutual respect and trust, flexibility, and commitment make them successful. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Beneath the Surface: A Story of Leadership, Recruitment, and the Hidden Dimensions of Strategic Workplace DesignJOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN, Issue 1 2000Sheila Danko M.I.D. ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to explore issues related to workplace design and corporate leadership in the 21st century, specifically the strategic leadership initiatives needed to recruit, retain, and motivate talented employees. The research design uses a qualitative research method called narrative or life stories in combination with a traditional case study approach. Cases selected had to be strategic, inspiring/aspiring, authentic, and multivocal. Both design process and design product were examined as well as the impact of design on the individual and the organization. Interview data were collected on site, audio taped, and transcribed verbatim to ensure accuracy. Focused narratives were then generated from the case study interview data. The transcripts were reviewed to identify major issues, recurring themes, and categories of analysis. The raw interview data were then sifted through Labov's six-part framework for organizing and interpreting narratives. The process of evolving the raw interview transcripts into a meaningful story followed Lieblich, Tuval-Mashiach, and Zilber's (1998) holistic-content approach. A story entitled "Beneath the Surface" forms the basis of the results and discussion section, and presents a true account of how workplace design impacted the interview process through the eyes of a young executive recruit. The story revealed that the design of space factored heavily into the new recruit's decision-making process and ultimate acceptance of the position, and that the impacts of the workplace design extended beyond the initial recruitment to have longer-term implications for corporate competitiveness. The narrative also revealed that the chief administrative officer (CAO) and new director of organizational development viewed design as a strategic tool, and that the managing partner used design elements strategically to communicate her divisions' values and social mission. The story reveals strategic implications of both design process and product for six strategic leadership initiatives thought to impact overall quality of work life, and to enhance recruitment and retention: differentiating quality of life as a competitive edge, aligning individual values with corporate values, building a sense of community, nurturing professional growth and knowledge transfer, communicating social mission, and leaving a legacy of social change. Design was shown to play a supportive role for each of the above leadership initiatives. [source] Genomics and Cardiovascular DiseaseJOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP, Issue 4 2005Lorraine Frazier Purpose: To describe genetic knowledge and discovery in the area of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to discuss how these new advances will influence the clinical care of affected people. Organizing Framework: A selective review of the literature is presented on the disease mechanism of both the Mendelian and multifactorial genetic cardiovascular conditions. A case study approach is used to illustrate how the genetic paradigm affects the healthcare experience of a family affected with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Findings: The current state of CVD treatment remains complex. An understanding of genomic concepts and a genome-based approach is necessary to determine: (a) the risk of CVD susceptibility beyond traditional risk factors; (b) early detection of illness; (c) response to treatment; and (d) molecular taxonomy of the disease. Conclusions: The results of genetic research, education, and teaching will lead to a new understanding of genes and pathways, resulting in powerful new therapeutic approaches to CVD. The challenge is to translate genetic discoveries into clinical practice that ultimately leads to preventing CVD and reducing mortality. [source] Exploring the use of multiple analogical models when teaching and learning chemical equilibriumJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 10 2005Allan G. Harrison This study describes the multiple analogical models used to introduce and teach Grade 12 chemical equilibrium. We examine the teacher's reasons for using models, explain each model's development during the lessons, and analyze the understandings students derived from the models. A case study approach was used and the data were drawn from the observation of three consecutive Grade 12 lessons on chemical equilibrium, pre- and post-lesson interviews, and delayed student interviews. The key analogical models used in teaching were: the "school dance"; the "sugar in a teacup"; the "pot of curry"; and the "busy highway." The lesson and interview data were subject to multiple, independent analyses and yielded the following outcomes: The teacher planned to use the students' prior knowledge wherever possible and he responded to student questions with stories and extended and enriched analogies. He planned to discuss where each analogy broke down but did not. The students enjoyed the teaching but built variable mental models of equilibrium and some of their analogical mappings were unreliable. A female student disliked masculine analogies, other students tended to see elements of the multiple models in isolation, and some did not recognize all the analogical mappings embedded in the teaching plan. Most students learned that equilibrium reactions are dynamic, occur in closed systems, and the forward and reverse reactions are balanced. We recommend the use of multiple analogies like these and insist that teachers always show where the analogy breaks down and carefully negotiate the conceptual outcomes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 1135,1159, 2005 [source] A case study of one school system's adoption and implementation of an elementary science programJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 1 2005Michael P. Kelly In this investigation we employed a case study approach with qualitative and quantitative data sources to examine and discover the characteristics of the processes used by a midwestern U.S. school system to adopt and implement a new K,6 science curriculum. Analysis of data yielded several results. Elementary teachers received what they requested, a hands-on science program with texts and kits. Teachers as a group remained in the early stages of the Concerns-Based Adoption Model profile of concerns. Many K,6 teachers remained uncomfortable with teaching science. Teachers' attitudes regarding the new program were positive, and they taught more science. Teachers struggled with science-as-inquiry, with a science program they believe contained too many concepts and too much vocabulary, and with their beliefs that students learned more and loved the new hands-on program. Traditional science teaching remained the norm. Administrative support was positive but insufficient to facilitate full implementation of the new program and more substantial change in teaching. Standardized science achievement test scores did not show an observable pattern of growth. It is concluded that a systematic, ongoing program of professional development is necessary to address teachers' concerns and help the district realize its goal of standards-based K,6 science instruction. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 25,52, 2005 [source] Characteristics of ERP software maintenance: a multiple case studyJOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 6 2001Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah Abstract A multiple case study approach was employed to identify maintenance activities pertaining to enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation, classify them into maintenance categories, and assess their relative frequency at various stages of the ERP maintenance lifecycle. Five maintenance categories (corrective, adaptive, perfective, preventive, user support) were identified from a review of the literature on software maintenance. A new category pertaining to ,communication, coordination and knowledge exchange with external parties' and herein labeled ,external parties' is introduced to highlight the supporting role of external parties in ERP maintenance. This category includes reporting problems to vendors and consultants, tracking their progress towards problem resolution, and coordinating work and relations with vendors, consultants, and external user-organizations. This study also highlights some differences between maintenance trends of ERP versus traditional systems. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Knowledge management in secondary care: a case studyKNOWLEDGE AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT: THE JOURNAL OF CORPORATE TRANSFORMATION, Issue 3 2010Krystin Zigan The purpose of this research is to analyse the knowledge management activities of a university hospital and to examine what impact contextual factors have on these activities. For this research, a case study approach was chosen, encompassing 22 semi-structured interviews with managers and front-line staff from different organisational levels. The findings describe how at the top management level, knowledge management activities were neglected while at departmental level, such activities were purposefully undertaken. This suggests that knowledge management activities can be effectively implemented at departmental level without having the support and strategic objective of the top management of the hospital. The findings further show that factors, such as the effective utilisation of other intangible resources, such as social capital, highly contribute to the effectiveness of knowledge management activities. The paper shows some limitations due to the qualitative nature of the research with regard to sample size and the subjectivity of the interpretations. The paper proposes that knowledge management activities can be implemented in organisations, when having the right attitude of staff who support its implementation. The paper enhances the understanding of the meaning of knowledge management in the context of healthcare organisations. The paper further provides insights into contextual factors that influence the success of knowledge management initiatives. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Policy networks and policy change in organic agriculture: a comparative analysis of the UK and IrelandPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 3 2002Alan Greer This paper takes a comparative case,study approach, located within the literature on policy networks, to organic agriculture policy in the United Kingdom and Ireland since the late 1980s. An examination of policy development for the organic sector focuses primarily on regulatory arrangements. The core of the analysis applies some prominent themes in the policy network literature to the organic sector: the debate about sectoral and sub,sectoral networks, the relationship between networks, context and outcomes, and the role of the state and ideas in promoting policy change. [source] Uro-words making history: Ureter and urethraTHE PROSTATE, Issue 9 2010Franz Josef Marx Abstract PURPOSE We comprehensively review the history of the terms "ureter" and "urethra" from 700 BC to the present. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a case study approach, ancient medical texts were analyzed to clarify the etymology and use of both terms. In addition, selected anatomy textbooks from the 15th to 17th centuries were searched to identify and compare descriptions, illustrations, and various expressions used by contemporary authors to designate the upper and lower parts of the urinary tract. RESULTS The Ancient Greek words "ureter" and "urethra" appear early in Hippocratic and Aristotelian writings. However, both terms designated what we today call the urethra. It was only with increasing anatomical knowledge in Greek medical texts after the 1st century AD that definitions of these words evolved similar to those we employ today. Numerous synonyms were used which served as a basis for translation into Arabic and later Latin during the transfer of ancient knowledge to the cultures of the medieval period. When Greek original texts and their Arabic,Latin version were compared during the Renaissance, this led to terminological confusion which could only be gradually overcome. Around the year 1600, the use of the latinized terms "ureter" and "urethra" became generally accepted. The dissemination of these terms in modern national languages and the emergence of clinical derivatives complete this historical development. CONCLUSIONS The history of the terms "ureter" and "urethra" is exemplary of the difficulties with which the development of a precise urologic terminology had to struggle. The story behind the words also clarifies why even today we still have imprecise or misleading terms. Prostate 70: 952,958, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The South Pacific Stock Exchange: Is it a Market or Status Symbol?AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, Issue 1 2009Rajni Mala Listing on a stock exchange is one of the most significant events in a company's life cycle. Using a case study approach we examine why companies in Fiji list on a stock exchange. The various factors that have been found to motivate companies to list include enhancing their image and reputation, increasing the firm's value and introducing better financial and managerial practices. Importantly, the accessing of new sources of finance has not been a determinant of a company's listing decision. The findings imply that in emerging economies, stock exchange listing can be perceived as a status symbol. [source] Examining ,Tunnel Vision' in Australian PPPs: Rationales, Rhetoric, Risks and ,Rogues'AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 2010Judy Johnston This article examines Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Australia, and particularly those associated with major economic infrastructure development. Methodologically, the article relies on a qualitative case study approach, based on research initially supported by the Australian Research Council (Johnston and Gudergan 2005-2007) and continuing. Of special interest is the failure of the Cross-City Tunnel tollway in Sydney which is used to illustrate critical issues. The article finds that while Australian governments enjoy an international reputation for PPP success, there remains a number of fundamental pitfalls that need to be addressed if future PPPs are to uphold the public interest. Problems created through the unpredictability, especially for business, of the political environment and arrangements in which PPPs take place appear to be particularly significant. [source] Unpacking a Wicked Problem: Enablers/Impediments to Regional EngagementAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 1 2009Michael J. Christie A case study approach is applied to review Local Government Authorities (LGA) regional engagement in the Australian context. We address the question ,What are the key LGA enablers/impediments to regional engagement?' by applying Leydesdorff's (2000) proposition that triple helix type network systems exhibit patterns of complex behaviour if the interaction factors that trigger enablers are reflexively declared. The three strands of the LGA triple helix network system are institutions, industry and government. In this case study the LGA's overall management of its regional stakeholder relationships resulted in impediments that limit strong regional engagement. Importantly, the findings inform practitioners, policy-makers and research audiences of the nature of impediments and, by inference, the nature of enablers in LGA triple helix network systems. [source] The learning credit card: A tool for managing personal development,BRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Nick Rushby This is the report of a five month study, undertaken by Sundridge Park Training Technologies in association with Guildford Educational Services to assess the potential of smart card technology to support learning and the management of learning. The study had two strands,the state of the art of the technology and its potential for supporting, delivering and managing learning. In addition to a study of the literature and extensive discussions with people using smart cards, potential users of smart card and visionaries, the project team developed two illustrative systems using cards to store personal data relating to education and training. The term ,smart card' is often used loosely to describe three different types of card, each of which is similar in general shape and size to a traditional credit card. These are: memory cards, laser cards,and true smart cards incorporating a processor and memory. This study has been concerned with memory cards and smart cards. The focus for smart card applications has been predominantly financial: there are relatively few applications in education or training. A notable exception is the large scale project at the University of Bologna which uses smart cards to manage the progress and achievements of a large number of students in the Department of Electronics. The two illustrative systems provided valuable experience of using memory cards and smart cards in quasi-real education and training applications. They highlighted the problems of limited memory capacities and confirmed the high level of user acceptance reported by other trials. We can expect considerable advances in the technology of both memory cards and smart cards over the next months and years. The memory capacities of both types of cards will increase many-fold and the unit costs will fall as large quantities of cards are produced for financial applications. Education and training applications will benefit from this expanding market. The major surprise from the study was the level of interest in the work and the enthusiasm expressed by almost all of those who came to hear of it. The general level of awareness of smart card technology was found to be low. However, the requirement for a system which will enable individuals to manage and own their learning on an extended timescale was generally recognised. Some of the possible applications for smart cards and memory cards in education and training had emerged before the official start of the study and it is clear that the technology is potentially pervasive. The project team and those consulted identified a wide range of possible applications both in education and in training. These focussed on assessment, personal course planning and management, identification of relevant learning opportunities, and the ownership of learning. It was felt that, over the next few years, smart cards are very likely to be in common use as credit cards for financial applications. Therefore, their use for education and training should be planned now. The recommendations from the study are that: More detailed studies are needed to find out how smart cards and memory cards could be used by different organisations in a fully operational system; Standards should be established for smart card applications in education and training, similar to those governing financial applications; Applications should be developed after the standards have been established. To be convincing, these should take a case study approach with small pilot studies in a variety of contexts and must follow real needs rather than attempt to drive them; The case studies would then form the basis for a campaign to increase awareness of smart cards and their potential for education and training, together with a programme for building an infrastructure to support the proposed systems. The public sector should fund the task of developing standards and providing interfaces with existing educational systems and projects to demonstrate the feasibility of various applications. Since educational standards have a European dimension, the European Community may be a source of support for work in the area of standards. At the same time, private sector funding should be sought for skill development and career development systems in industry and in education. The Training Agency itself should consider the application of smart card technology to the control and management of the Youth Training Scheme (YTS). [source] Web search strategies and approaches to studyingJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Nigel Ford This paper reports results from a project, which sought to investigate the relationship between study approaches and Web-based information seeking. Factor analyses were applied to data from over 500 queries submitting in response to three different search tasks to identify clusters of variables associated with three Web-based search strategies: Boolean, best-match, and combined. A consistent pattern emerged across the nine analyses in relation to a number of study approach variables. Boolean searching was consistently associated with a reproductive (as opposed to meaning-oriented) approach, anxiety (in the form of fear of failure), and high levels of active interest. Best-match was associated with the converse of all these measures. Combined searching was differentiated from both Boolean and best-match by being associated with poor time management. There was also some evidence of changes in strategy in relation to task complexity. A model is introduced which seeks to explain these results. This project was exploratory in nature, and the pattern of findings are proposed as prima facie evidence to support the notion that study approaches can influence choice of search strategies. The results are considered essentially as hypotheses for further systematic study, for which suggestions are made. [source] Fast surfers, broad scanners and deep divers as users of information technology , Relating information preferences to personality traitsPROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2003Jannica Heinström This paper will discuss the influence of personality traits and approaches to studying on students' information-seeking behavior, with a specific focus on their use of information technology. The results were obtained in a study of 305 university students who completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory measuring personality, the ASSIST test measuring approaches to studying and a questionnaire regarding information seeking behavior. Three information-seeking patterns emerged from the analyses; Fast surfers, Broad scanners and Deep divers. These patterns could be related to different personality traits and study approaches. The influence of personality and study approaches on information-seeking behavior points to the importance of customizing information services to meet individual needs. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||