Assurance Practices Research Articles

Quality assurance and patient safety protocols for breast and gynecologic pathology in an Academic Women’s Hospital

Quality assurance and peer-review practices in surgical pathology have been well described in the literature, but the majority of these reports apply to the realm of general surgical pathology. We focused on the peer-review reporting system of a specialty women’s health pathology practice consisting exclusively of breast and gynecologic pathology, with the specific aims of identifying diagnostic discrepancies that affected patient care. The quality measures in this specialty practice are monitored, and the Medical Director reviews all amended/corrected reports. Error types are qualitative, and are categorized according to impact on patient care. QA data of all amended reports from 2012 to 2014 in breast and gynecologic pathology, as a measure of error type and frequency, were reviewed. Of all specimens during this time period, 343 (0.54% of all reports) required amendment due to a QA metric-discovered discrepancy. Breast specimens demonstrated a higher amendment rate than GYN specimens (1.14% of breast specimens versus 0.27% of GYN specimens). The most common error type requiring an amendment for both breast and GYN specimens was a type A, or Minor Disagreement (reports amended for type A discrepancy: 78.7% of total; 81.9% of breast; 72.6% of GYN). Type B, or Moderate Disagreement discrepancies, accounted for 21.3% of all amended cases (reports amended for type B discrepancy: 18.1% of breast; 27.3% of GYN). Of all breast and GYN reports reviewed during the QA evaluation, there were no cases categorized as type C, or Major Disagreements, which would significantly alter patient treatment. When surgical pathology is practiced in a laboratory utilizing comprehensive quality assurance protocols, major diagnostic interpretation errors are infrequent. The practice minimizes error, maximizes patient safety, and maximizes educational opportunities of practicing pathologists in real-time.

Development of a Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Model in Public Child Welfare Systems

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to review the development and implementation of a revised quality assurance and continuous quality improvement (CQI) model for the child welfare system in one Mid-Atlantic state, and the contribution of this new process to measuring the quality of child welfare practices. This revised CQI model in the state includes a broader scope of assessing practice and outcomes, as well as compliance, and engages internal and external partners in the process. This study is the first to describe the state’s revised CQI implementation process and examine preliminary outcomes in a statewide child welfare system. Findings indicate that the revised model was able to identify the factors that contributed to improving outcomes for children and families and to develop a greater understanding of the aggregate data across the state. This study will contribute to the comprehensive understanding of the model and provide implications for future quality assurance practices.

An analysis of safety evidence management with the Structured Assurance Case Metamodel

SACM (Structured Assurance Case Metamodel) is a standard for assurance case specification and exchange. It consists of an argumentation metamodel and an evidence metamodel for justifying that a system satisfies certain requirements. For assurance of safety-critical systems, SACM can be used to manage safety evidence and to specify safety cases. The standard is a promising initiative towards harmonizing and improving system assurance practices, but its suitability for safety evidence management needs to be further studied. To this end, this paper studies how SACM 1.1 supports this activity according to requirements from industry and from prior work. We have analysed the notion of evidence in SACM, its evidence lifecycle, the classes and associations of the evidence metamodel, and the link of this metamodel with the argumentation one. As a result, we have identified several improvement opportunities and extension possibilities in SACM. The notions of evidence and evidence assertion should be clarified, the overlaps between metamodel elements should be reduced, and a wider support to the lifecycle of the artefacts used as safety evidence could be provided. Addressing these aspects will allow SACM to better fit safety evidence management needs and practices, especially beyond the scope of a safety case. The results and the conclusions drawn are especially valuable for practitioners interested in SACM adoption and vendors interested in developing tool support for SACM-based safety evidence management.

Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy (CPQR) and the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) - Driving safety and quality assurance practice in Canada through the development of technical quality control guidelines.

Canadian Partnership for Quality Radiotherapy (CPQR) and the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP) - Driving safety and quality assurance practice in Canada through the development of technical quality control guidelines.

Large scale adoption of statistical process control (SPC) for volumetric modulated ARC therapy patient-specific quality assurance: A retrospective analysis on 1400 patients

Introduction Statistical Process Control (SPC) is a tool widely used in industrial engineering for monitoring, controlling and, ideally, improving a process through statistical analysis. This technique can be applied to quality assurance (QA) practice in radiotherapy in order to characterize the treatment process variability. Purpose To apply SPC strategy to our routine VMAT pre-treatment verification QA. Materials and methods In the last years, more than 1400 patients were treated with Elekta VMAT at our institution. Plans were re-grouped according to treatment technique and disease sites: (1) 611 high-modulated complex SIB treatments (head-neck, brain, gynecological, ano-rectal; (2) 348 prostate treatments and (3) 445 liver, lung and other metastasis treated with extracranial stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT). Groups 1 and 2–3 plans were optimized with Oncentra Masterplan (dual-arc) and Ergo++ (single arc) TPS. A total of 4030 dose measurements were performed with the PTW Seven29 array/Octavius phantom, both on coronal and sagittal planes. Doses comparison were evaluated using 3%/3 mm γ -analysis. Two metrics were evaluated: (a) points-percentage with g -value less than one (g%) and (b) mean gamma (gmean). Clinical specifications were: g % >90% and g mean Results γ pass-rate values significantly depend on plan complexity. For g %, CL and LCL were 93.9% and 89.4%, 99.1% and 96.6%, and 99.3% and 97.6%, for group 1, 2 and 3 respectively. For gmean, CL and UCL were 0.416 and 0.585, 0.361 and 0.557, and 0.304 and 0.427, for groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In all cases, the control limits are well within the clinical specifications. The Cpl/Cpu capability indices for g % and g mean resulted equal to 0.61 and 1.06 in group 1; 2.59 and 1.12 in group 2; 3.77 and 2.10 in group 3, respectively. g % process for group 1 was not capable at 3%/3 mm, but with 5% – 3 mm specification for g%, CL and LCL resulted 98.3% and 96.2% and Cpl was 2.84. Conclusion SPC is useful to quantifiably demonstrate the QA process conformance to clinical specifications.

Incorporating big data in audits: Identifying inhibitors and a research agenda to address those inhibitors

With corporate investment in Big Data of $34 billion in 2013 growing to $232 billion through 2016 (Gartner 2012), the Big 4 accounting firms are aiming to be at the forefront of Big Data implementations. Notably, they see Big Data as an increasingly essential part of their assurance practice. We argue that while there is a place for Big Data in auditing, its application to auditing is less clear than it is in the other fields, such as marketing and medical research. The objectives of this paper are to: (1) provide a discussion of both the inhibitors of incorporating Big Data into financial statement audits; and (3) present a research agenda to identify approaches to ameliorate those inhibitors.

Evaluation of knowledge, halal quality assurance practices and commitment among food industries in Malaysia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of knowledge, halal dietary quality assurance practices, and commitment among food industries in the implementation of halal in Malaysia. Besides, the study was based on two categories that are considered major contributors in the chain of halal food sector in Malaysia which are the multinational, and small medium enterprise (SME). Design/methodology/approach – Two company’s categories related to halal food and beverage industry which are the multinational, and SME were chosen in this research based on the similarities in terms of functions and needs in the implementation of halal in Malaysia. Furthermore, both categories are the main groups in the halal food sector that support the growth of other categories. The sample of the study was comprised of 241 companies from halal certification holders (MNCs=69; SMEs=172).Cross-sectional study through random sampling and purposive sampling was used where the internal halal committee who have been specifically appointed in the organization were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Personally hand-delivered questionnaires in workplaces was used as a method of data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Findings – Based on the analysis, it was found that the level of knowledge, halal quality assurance practices and commitment to be at a good level. Whereas the results of inference showed that there are significant differences for the three variables studied. Research limitations/implications – In the study there are some limitations, namely; first, the categories studied are focussed solely on halal food industry. Halal now been expanded to other products such as pharmaceutical, logistics, etc. Second, the standards used are the standard and guidelines on the handling of food. Finally, the limitations in obtaining more respondents as most industry in Malaysia is still concerned to provide feedback and view it as the secrecy of the company. Practical implications – First, the implication of the theory and literature studies in which the research prevalence is associated with the ISO quality and quality management, integration of multiple disciplines and concepts is essential as a combination of elements of human capital and strategic management. Second, on behalf of the government or specially-appointed halal certification body, it can give a clear picture of the exposure and promotion related to the deed, procedures, and guidelines have gone through several changes and amendments. In addition, it is also able to evaluate the effectiveness of a number of conditions that are required such as internal halal appointment committee. Third for industry practitioners, focussing in delivering halal standards is not dependent on the system, working patterns, and technologies alone, but should also take into account the element of human capital and organizational responsibility in maintaining halal integrity and enhancing the knowledge and halal dietary management in accordance with the requirements of Islamic law and fatwa. Social implications – On behalf of the users, the confidence is there and in order to produce a halal product, it involves a fairly strict chain and has always been regulated by a special committee whose role are meeting the needs outlined halal standards. Originality/value – The study is the starting point in discussing in detail about the halal knowledge, halal quality assurance, and commitment after the standardization and harmonization of halal certification in early 2012. Furthermore, there are a few revisions on the act, standards, and procedures by the halal certification body, which halal assurance should be implemented and considered still new.

Implementation of Internal Quality Assurance in Polytechnics: Evidence from Ghana

Quality assurance in higher education has become a global issue. There has been a growing interest of governments around the world that higher education institutions in their countries need to provide quality education to their students. This study investigated the implementation of internal quality assurance in two purposively selected Ghanaian Polytechnics. Qualitative methodology was employed using in-depth interviews based on a case study research design. The participants indicated that the internal quality assurance systems and practices in place in the Polytechnics included areas such as the availability of internal quality assurance policy, teaching and learning processes, curriculum design, evaluation and review, research performance, extension activities, student assessment practices, student-lecturer assessment and student support services. Infrastructure challenges, funding and budget constraints, human capacity constraints and lack of quality culture were found to militate against the implementation of quality assurance in the Polytechnics. It was recommended that Ghanaian Polytechnics should have clear policies and associated procedures for the assurance of quality and standards of their programmes and awards. They should commit themselves explicitly to the development of quality culture and quality awareness. Also, the necessary learning facilities, resources and support systems should be provided by the Polytechnics to ensure quality of teaching and learning. The products, environments, programmes and services provided by the Polytechnics should be accessible and usable, to the greatest extent possible, by all categories of students. Assistive devices should be provided for persons with disabilities where needed. Building internal capacity for quality assurance was also recommended.

Failure modes and effects analysis in image-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy: Quality control optimization to reduce errors in treatment volume

PurposeAnalyze the inputs which cause treatment to the wrong volume in high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRB), with emphasis on imaging role during implant, planning, and treatment verification. The end purpose is to compare our current practice to the findings of the study and apply changes where necessary. Methods and MaterialsFailure mode and effects analysis was used to study the failure pathways for treating the wrong volume in HDRB. The role of imaging and personnel was emphasized, and subcategories were formed. A quality assurance procedure is proposed for each high-scoring failure mode (FM). ResultsForty FMs were found that lead to treating the wrong volume. Of these, 73% were human failures, 20% were machine failures, and 7% were procedural/guideline failures. The use of imaging was found to resolve 85% of the FMs. We also noted that imaging processes were under used in current practice of HDRB especially in pretreatment verification. Twelve FMs (30%) scored the highest, and for each one of them, we propose clinical/practical solutions that could be applied to reduce the risk by increasing detectability. ConclusionsThis work resulted in two conclusions: the role of imaging in improving failure detection and the emphasized role of human-based failures. The majority of FMs are human failures, and imaging increased the ability to detect 85% of all FMs. We proposed quality assurance practices for each high-scoring FM and have implemented some of them in our own practice.

New developments in transnational education and the challenges for higher education professional staff

Transnational education (TNE) is a fast moving area. The growth of TNE provision across the higher education (HE) sector has meant professional staff have developed considerable experience and knowledge in this field. However, the development of online and distance learning provision combined with the changing TNE landscape has given rise to new and innovative partnership types and models, creating new market opportunities, and inevitably more competition. New market entrants offer customised content, routes to qualifications, learning and tuition solutions, which present new partnership opportunities for universities. However, organisational practices for due diligence, stakeholder management, quality assurance, financial investment, decision-making and commercial and legal support can require significant adaptation and management. Professional staff must consider new ways to evaluate potential opportunities and risks in TNE where these involve multiple agencies and third parties. This article provides an insight into how these changes in the TNE environment impact professional staff in HE.

Diagnostic laboratory for bleeding disorders ensures efficient management of haemorrhagic disorders

Haemorrhagic disorders like Postpartum haemorrhage and Dengue haemorrhagic fever are life threatening and requires an active and efficient transfusion service that could provide the most appropriate blood product which could be effective in managing them. This would essentially require prompt identification of the coagulopathy so that the best available product can be given to the bleeding patient to correct the identified haemostatic defect which will help control the bleeding. This would only be possible if the transfusion service has a laboratory to correctly detect the haemostatic defect and that too with an accuracy and precision which is ensured by a good laboratory quality assurance practices. These same processes are necessary for the transfusion services to ensure the quality of the blood products manufactured by them and that it contains adequate amounts of haemostasis factors which will be good to be effective in the management of haemorrhagic disorders. These issues are discussed in detail individually in the management of postpartum haemorrhage and Dengue haemorrhagic fever including when these can help in the use of rFVIIa in Dengue haemorrhagic fever. The requirements to ensure good-quality blood products are made available for the management of these disorders and the same have also been described.

Stakeholders’ interest in sustainability assurance process

PurposeThis paper aims to critically analyse the content of the assurance statements of corporate sustainability reports to examine the degree to which assurance statements enhance and uphold organisational transparency and accountability to stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachThis framework of content analysis draws on a research instrument developed by O’Dwyer and Owen (2005), as well as the most recent assurance guidelines (Global Reporting Initiative) and standards AA1000AS, 2008 and ISAE 3000.FindingsDue to the lack of stakeholders’ engagement in the assurance process, due to the scope limitation placed on the assurance engagement and due to the reluctance of the assuror to address the assurance statements to the stakeholders groups, sustainability assurance practice cannot be considered as the accountability enabler. With persistent focus on internal systems, process, data generation and data capture, assurance practice is serving more as an internal control tool than as a social accounting/auditing instrument.Research limitations/implicationsA single country context is studied. However, to the extent that assurances are conducted using common sets of assurance standards and guidelines, there is external validity of the findings.Practical implicationsDespite the institutional initiatives by the global and local institutions regarding social and environmental sustainability reporting and assurance, the assurance practice has not yet emerged as a tool of social accountability.Originality/valueThis study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date empirical assessment of the degree to which the sustainability assurance practice encompasses the issue of stakeholders’ interests and forms the potential basis for policy implications to the assurance practice and to the assurance standard setting process.

The past, the present and the future of accounting for human rights

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to discuss a number of important recent developments in the area of business and human rights and considers the impact of these developments for accounting, assurance and reporting. Following the UN endorsement of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (the Guiding Principles) in June 2011, initiatives related to their implementation have advanced at a rapid pace. Despite the centrality of accounting, assurance and reporting to some of the key initiates – accounting research has, hitherto, lagged behind this growing momentum. In order to address this lacunae, this paper develops an agenda for future research in the area of accounting and human rights. In doing so, the paper provides an overview of the important contributions advanced by the other papers in this special issue ofAccounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ).Design/methodology/approach– This paper draws together and identifies key issues and themes related to the rapidly evolving research and policy domain of business and human rights and considers the relevance of these issues to accounting research.Findings– The paper highlights the wide-ranging impact the Guiding Principles and other developments in business and human rights have for accounting practice and draws attention to potential areas of research for accounting scholars. In particular, the paper highlights the emergence of business and human rights due diligence requirements, including their management and reporting. Further, the paper draws attention to the development of business and human rights reporting and assurance practice – which, while still in its infancy, has gathered considerable momentum and support.Research limitations/implications– The paper provides important insights into emerging issues and developments in business and human rights that have clear relevance to accounting research and practice.Originality/value– This paper, and the other contributions to this special issue ofAAAJ, provide a basis and a research agenda for accounting scholars seeking to undertake research in this significant and emerging field.

Announcement—guidance document for acquiring reliable data in ecological restoration projects

The Laurentian Great Lakes are undergoing intensive ecological restoration in Canada and the United States. In the United States, an interagency committee was formed to facilitate implementation of quality practices for federally funded restoration projects in the Great Lakes basin. The Committee's responsibilities include developing a guidance document that will provide a common approach to the application of quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) practices for restoration projects. The document will serve as a “how‐to” guide for ensuring data quality during each aspect of ecological restoration projects. In addition, the document will provide suggestions on linking QA/QC data with the routine project data and hints on creating detailed supporting documentation. Finally, the document will advocate integrating all components of the project, including QA/QC applications, into an overarching decision‐support framework. The guidance document is expected to be released by the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office in 2017.

CLINICAL QUALITY STRATEGY FACILITATES EFFECTIVE QUALITY SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION FOR PREVENTION OF HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) can develop either as a direct result of healthcare intervention such as medical or surgical treatment or from being in contact with a healthcare setting. The need of hour is getting the right approach of personnel in clinical community towards infection prevention, patient safety and clean environment. An established quality system enables an organisation to achieve this goal set out in its quality strategy. Objective: This study was carried out with the objective to assess clinical quality strategies facilitation to implement quality systems compliance to national standards, policies, laws, legislations and regulations related to hospital associated infections in hospital settings. Methodology: Audit tools, check lists and protocols based on the process were carried out in the high risk areas, and the surveillance was done by using a targeted quality assurance plan. Process compliance was verified with national standards. Results: Compliance was 65 % in the process of area of disinfection, hand-washing, use of isolation rooms for infected patients, reminders to limit catheter use, use of gloves and gowns, sterilization, biological waste management, training on awareness of policies, laws and legislation. The quality system was not practiced effectively at hospital level for the mentioned categories. The survey showed that hospitals do not have adequate Antimicrobial Programs. Resource availability is also an additional problem faced in the hospitals Conclusions: We emphasize by implementing quality assurance practices, which focus on systems and processes, as per the laid down policies, uses existing data to analyze service delivery processes, can improve the quality of service related to HAI. Key words: healthcare associated infections, quality strategy, quality standards, quality assurance, and continuous quality improvement. Normal 0 21 false false false RO X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Can medical record reviewers reliably identify errors and adverse events in the ED?

BackgroundChart review has been the mainstay of medical quality assurance practices since its introduction more than a century ago. The validity of chart review, however, has been vitiated by a lack of methodological rigor. ObjectivesBy measuring the degree of interrater agreement among a 13-member review board of emergency physicians, we sought to validate the reliability of a chart review–based quality assurance process using computerized screening based on explicit case parameters. MethodsAll patients presenting to an urban, tertiary care academic medical center emergency department (annual volume of 57,000 patients) between November 2012 and November 2013 were screened electronically. Cases were programmatically flagged for review according to explicit criteria: return within 72hours, procedural evaluation, floor-to-ICU transfer within 24hours of admission, death within 24hours of admission, physician complaints, and patient complaints. Each case was reviewed independently by a 13-member emergency department quality assurance committee all of whom were board certified in emergency medicine and trained in the use of the tool. None of the reviewers were involved in the care of the specific patients reviewed by them. Reviewers used a previously validated 8-point Likert scale to rate the (1) coordination of patient care, (2) presence and severity of adverse events, (3) degree of medical error, and (4) quality of medical judgment. Agreement among reviewers was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for each parameter. ResultsAgreement and the degree of significance for each parameter were as follows: coordination of patient care (ICC=0.67; P<.001), presence and severity of adverse events (ICC=0.52; P=.001), degree of medical error (ICC=0.72; P<.001), and quality of medical judgment (ICC=0.67; P<.001). ConclusionAgreement in the chart review process can be achieved among physician-reviewers. The degree of agreement attainable is comparable to or superior to that of similar studies reported to date. These results highlight the potential for the use of computerized screening, explicit criteria, and training of expert reviewers to improve the reliability and validity of chart review–based quality assurance.

Changes in Patterns of Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy Verification and Quality Assurance in the UK

AimsBetween 2012 and 2014 the number of patients treated in the UK with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques increased significantly. One reason for this was the radiotherapy innovation fund for the centres in England. Before the announcement of the fund, a survey of radiotherapy centres was carried out in 2012 which collected data on IMRT uptake, obstacles to implementation, equipment used, delivery techniques and verification methods. A repeat survey was carried out in 2014 to identify key changes to IMRT quality assurance and verification practices. Materials and methodsAn online questionnaire was sent out to all 65 UK radiotherapy centres in the summer of 2012 and again in the summer of 2014. Questions covered background and equipment, machine tolerance and quality assurance, machine-based verification, software-based verification and future plans. ResultsThere have been significant changes in the delivery techniques used for IMRT, with more than twice as many centres reporting the use of volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques in 2014 compared with 2012. This has been combined with an increase in Monte Carlo-based algorithms in treatment planning systems. In 2012 all centres reported the need to carry out machine-based measurements for IMRT plan verification, dropping to 93% in 2014. Nineteen per cent of centres now report making only one measurement per month for prostate plans and 8% of breast plans never have physical measurements. Most centres use detector arrays for quality assurance measurement (86% in 2012 and 91% in 2014), but a significant number still use film and/or ionisation chambers (51% and 41%). In the analysis of these measurements there has been an increase in the use of tighter criteria. There has been a significant increase in the use of software for verification from 63% in 2012 to 95% in 2014. All centres reported that they needed further resources in order to efficiently achieve the quality assurance required for the number of patients planned to be treated in their centre. ConclusionsThe increased numbers of patients being treated with IMRT has meant that there have been significant changes in the way that quality assurance is carried out. These have been mainly in the reduction of measurements and the increase in software-based verification. However, quality assurance is still a significant burden and still has an effect on the numbers of patients who can be treated with IMRT.

Identification of beer spoilage microorganisms using the MALDI Biotyper platform.

Beer spoilage microorganisms present a major risk for the brewing industry and can lead to cost-intensive recall of contaminated products and damage to brand reputation. The applicability of molecular profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in combination with Biotyper software was investigated for the identification of beer spoilage microorganisms from routine brewery quality control samples. Reference mass spectrum profiles for three of the most common bacterial beer spoilage microorganisms (Lactobacillus lindneri, Lactobacillus brevis and Pediococcus damnosus), four commercially available brewing yeast strains (top- and bottom-fermenting) and Dekkera/Brettanomyces bruxellensis wild yeast were established, incorporated into the Biotyper reference library and validated by successful identification after inoculation into beer. Each bacterial species could be accurately identified and distinguished from one another and from over 5600 other microorganisms present in the Biotyper database. In addition, wild yeast contaminations were rapidly detected and distinguished from top- and bottom-fermenting brewing strains. The applicability and integration of mass spectrometry profiling using the Biotyper platform into existing brewery quality assurance practices within industry were assessed by analysing routine microbiology control samples from a local brewery, where contaminating microorganisms could be reliably identified. Brewery-isolated microorganisms not present in the Biotyper database were further analysed for identification using LC-MS/MS methods. This renders the Biotyper platform a promising candidate for biological quality control testing within the brewing industry as a more rapid, high-throughput and cost-effective technology that can be tailored for the detection of brewery-specific spoilage organisms from the local environment.

An ethico-aesthetic paradigm as an alternative discourse to the quality assurance discourse

This article analyses the discourse and practices of quality assurance and quality control through the lens of neo-liberal governing as expressed in economic rationalities such as new public management, total quality management, public choice and human capital. As an alternative to this form of governing, an ethico-aesthetic paradigm is enacted, inspired by Spinoza’s concept of ‘affect’ and Félix Guattari’s and Gilles Deleuze’s ‘ontology of immanence’. This opens up to a reconstruction of the pragmatic scene of didactics as it border-crosses the discourse and practices of ‘action at a distance’, manipulating the classroom space from outside of the situation by measurements and procedures constructed by others. Moreover, it opens up to another construction of the human subject – a processual and event-centred construction of human subjectivity – which also opens up to leakages, movement, creativity and hope in the present.

Factor Analysis to Explore the Indicators of Quality Assurance Mechanism on Higher Educational Institutions in Pakistan

The study aims to gauge the effectiveness of Quality Assurance Mechanism (QAM) and its impact on quality of education in Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan. In this study, a comprehensive survey was conducted, through a well-structured questionnaire, to collect essential data from the respondents. A total of 300 teachers of 5 private and 5 public sector universities were participated in the study. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability value is found to be almost 0.80 for all construct of the instrument in this study. An independent t- test was carried out to reveal the significant difference among private and public sector universities in terms of quality of education. The p-value (significance value) of this test in each construct indicates that there is significant difference among private and public sector universities regarding quality assurance practices. Furthermore, the multivariate statistical tool “Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)” was used to explore the underlying pattern of the public and private sector universities data. Finally, four factors emerged in the data whose eigen value are greater than one. Factors emerges in public sector universities data represents teacher’s satisfaction and combination of budget allocation and funding while factors that emerges on private sector universities are the combination of globalization, ranking and adequate funding.