Tangible Benefits (tangible + benefit)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Making self-assessment more effective

THE JOURNAL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS, Issue 1 2008
Robert M. Galbraith MD
Abstract Self-assessment has been held out as an important mechanism for lifelong learning and self-improvement for health care professionals. However, there is growing concern that individual learners often interpret the results inaccurately. This idea has led to skepticism that self-assessment in its current form can ever be truly useful for lifelong professional development. We examine the proposal that self-assessment can and should be made more effective. First, relevance should be improved. The process should be tied more explicitly to the individual's actual practice profile, rather than being loosely relevant to broader constructs around the permitted scope of practice (eg, certification or licensure). In addition, self-assessment should include not only knowledge and reasoning but also what is done every day in practice, thereby broadening from competence in simulated settings to performance in real settings. Second, the impact of self-assessment should be substantially strengthened by periodic external validation of self-assessment results, together with goals set as a result and plans for further improvement. This offers to the individual the very tangible benefit of satisfying external mandates (eg, licensure and certification). In addition, impact should be reinforced by linking the results of self-assessment to subsequent learning activities including Continuing Medical Education (CME). Although these enhancements individually may not cure all of what ails self-assessment, they might ensure greater effectiveness for the purposes of lifelong learning. [source]


Product attributes, consumer benefits and public approval of genetically modified foods

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 5 2003
Ferdaus Hossain
Abstract The use of biotechnology in food production has generated considerable debate involving the benefits and risks associated with its use. Consumer acceptance of genetically modified foods is a critical factor that will affect the future of this technology. Using data from a national survey, this study examines how public acceptance of food biotechnology is related to consumers' socioeconomic and value attributes as well as the benefits associated with the use of this technology. Empirical results suggest that consumer acceptance of food biotechnology increases considerably when the use of this technology brings tangible benefits for the public. Consumers with different socioeconomic and demographic attributes have diverging views of food biotechnology only when its use brings specific benefits to them. When the use of genetic technology confers no additional benefit, public attitudes towards genetically modified foods are driven primarily by their scientific knowledge, views of scientists and corporations associated with biotechnology as well as public trust and confidence in government. [source]


Managing the wildlife tourism experience: The importance of tour leaders

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010
Susanna Curtin
Abstract This paper is based on a small ethnographic study of serious wildlife tourists. It focuses on three important aspects of this type of travel. First, the tangible benefits of the tourist experience; second, the importance of the tour leader as the interface between the product and the tourist; and finally, tourist perceptions of their potential environmental and social impacts. The findings reveal participants' environmental sensibilities and the desire to avoid disturbance, the social benefits of organised tours and how the tour leader is critical to both the success of the holiday and the responsible behaviour of the group. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Clients' perceptions of support received from health visitors during home visits

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 7 2005
Caroline Plews BA
Aims and objectives., The current study sought to identify how many mothers from 149 visits carried out by seven health visitors identified support as a feature of the visit, whether this type of support was unique to the health visitor and what support meant to them. These responses were then compared with the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature. Background., Some studies of client perceptions describe support as an element of home visits by health visitors. However, the importance, relevance and impact on the client of this support are not described in detail. Social support theory suggests that there are tangible benefits to people's well-being and their ability to cope with various challenges that may arise from individuals' perceptions of receiving support. Design., Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Methods., Seven volunteer health visitors recruited 149 women into the study. These clients were interviewed by the researcher, usually within one week of the home visit by their health visitor. The discussions were audio-taped and the resulting transcripts analysed using content analysis. Findings., Thirty-seven women identified receiving support which they said was only available from the health visitor. The relevance of this support to the mother and the impact on her well-being varied within the group suggesting differing perceptions of support by clients according to their personal situation. There was a correspondence between the descriptions of support given by the women and the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature. Conclusion., For some interactions between clients and their health visitors the existing theory of social support may provide an explanation of how health visitors contribute to clients' perceived ability to cope and well-being. Relevance to clinical practice., Social support may be defined as a possible outcome of health visiting. This concept will have use within educational programmes to demonstrate to students how health visiting can have an impact on clients' well-being. Similarly, the concept could be used to investigate and record health visiting practice. [source]


Improving the management of concurrent new product development using process modelling and analysis

R & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2001
Badr Haque
This paper focuses on how process modelling and analysis using ,light weight' technology1 supported by focused group discussions and workshops can improve the ,concurrence' and integration within the New Product Development process. This enables managers to improve the management of product design and development through a better understanding of the issues. The paper argues that the traditional changes in human resource management via introduction of multifunctional/collocated teams required by Concurrent New Product Development (CNPD) can be complemented by the introduction of process management, focused on the modelling and analysis of the ,softer' organisational issues. A case study of a domestic appliance manufacturer, developing a new product using a collocated product development team, is described to verify the research. The paper concludes by discussing the issues that emerge from this type of approach to performance improvement in NPD management, such as involvement of all team functions, senior management commitment, standardisation of processes, and training in the process management concept including modelling and analysis techniques. The approach proposed allows one to make both tangible benefits, in terms of cost, delivery (lead times) and quality, and intangible benefits, in terms of communication, people empowerment, motivation, and collaboration. [source]