Business Staff Research Articles

Peculiarities of staff motivation at small food industry enterprises

A leading force in successful Human Resource Management is a sound motivation system that can significantly improve the efficiency of employees and companies. However, there are significant differences in the motivation of the small business staff. The article aims to identify the peculiarities of this type of motivation and develop recommendations for their practical application. More specifically, motivation process in small food businesses is identified as a subject of research. Using the methods of theoretical and statistical analysis, the article also focuses on the behavioral approach and pays special attention to individual aspirations, performance, engagement and all those vital moments that shape motivation as a psychological process. Besides, the article has described the impact of socio-economic factors on work activity, set the basic principles for small business staff motivation, outlined the prevailing financial and moral incentives and substantiated the main components of an effective motivational system for small enterprises. Most elements of this system can be applied to any small company, not only the food industry.

Improving clinic attendances for core medical trainees at a busy district general hospital.

Attending clinics is large part of completing the core medical training competencies. The minimum number of clinics required has now increased from 12 to 20 per annum. Core medical trainees (CMTs) often struggle to attend owing to busy medical wards, on-calls and staff shortages. This quality improvement project aimed to improve attendance with simple measures. We collected data to assess the number of CMTs attending clinic during their time off. A clinic rota …

RELEVANSI KURIKULUM EKONOMI SYARIAH IAIN LHOKSEUMAWE TERHADAP SUMBER DAYA MANUSIA PADA LEMBAGA KEUANGAN SYARIAH

This study aims to explain the relevance of the syariah economic curriculum that is applied to the Islamic economics department of the Islamic economics and business faculty of IAIN Lhokseumawe in preparing the human resources needed by the Lhokseumawe Islamic financial institutions and to explain the absorption and absorption of alumni of sharia economic jueusan in the world of work. With the results of the study that the relevance of Islamic economics curriculum to human resources in Islamic financial institutions the criteria are generally the parameters of employee / employee recruitment in Islamic financial institutions in Lhokseumawe City tend to be in soft skills assessment (performance and psychological). The unavailability of professional graduates in the field of sharia economics causes the need for professional staff in sharia business to continue to be met by converting from conventional workers, namely that many graduates of general tertiary institutions can fill formation in Islamic financial institutions, even though those who do not have qualified knowledge in the field of sharia economics . The distribution of Islamic Economics graduates in financial institutions is not optimally absorbed in financial institutions, even in Islamic Commercial Banks, the absorption is 0% at BNI Syariah Bank, Aceh Syariah Bank Samudera Branch and Merdeka Branch, Muamalat Bank, BRI Syariah. 30% absorption is absorbed at Baitul Qirat Afdhal Lhokseumawe Branch. Of the 23 employees 9 of them were graduates of the Shariah Economics of the Lhokseumawe branch. Bank Syariah Mandiri Lhokseumawe Branch of 32 Employees 2 of whom are graduates of the Sharia economy of the Lhokseumawe branch, as well as the FIF Syariah and Baitul Mal absorbed by 2 graduates of Islamic economics.

Care Team Perspectives and Acceptance of Telehealth in Scaling a Home-Based Primary Care Program: Qualitative Study.

BackgroundNovel and sustainable approaches to optimizing home-based primary care (HBPC) programs are needed to meet the medical needs of a growing number of homebound older adults in the United States. Telehealth may be a viable option for scaling HBPC programs.ObjectiveThe purpose of this qualitative study was to gain insight into the perspectives of HBPC staff regarding adopting telehealth technology to increase the reach of HBPC to more homebound patients.MethodsWe collected qualitative data from HBPC staff (ie, physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, care managers, social workers, and medical coordinators) at a practice in the New York metropolitan area through 16 semistructured interviews and three focus groups. Data were analyzed thematically using the template analysis approach with Self-Determination Theory concepts (ie, relatedness, competence, and autonomy) as an analytical lens.ResultsFour broad themes—pros and cons of scaling, technology impact on staff autonomy, technology impact on competence in providing care, and technology impact on the patient-caregiver-provider relationship—and multiple second-level themes emerged from the analysis. Staff acknowledged the need to scale the program without diminishing effective patient-centered care. Participants perceived alerts generated from patients and caregivers using telehealth as potentially increasing burden and necessitating a rapid response from an already busy staff while increasing ambiguity. However, they also noted that telehealth could increase efficiency and enable more informed care provision. Telehealth could enhance the patient-provider relationship by enabling caregivers to be an integral part of the patient’s care team. Staff members raised the concern that patients or caregivers might unnecessarily overutilize the technology, and that some home visits are more appropriate in person rather than via telehealth.ConclusionsThese findings suggest the importance of considering the perspectives of medical professionals regarding telehealth adoption. A proactive approach exploring the benefits and concerns professionals perceive in the adoption of health technology within the HBPC program will hopefully facilitate the optimal integration of telehealth innovations.

Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis of the Effective Behavior Support Self-Assessment Survey.

One evaluation measure available through the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports framework is the Effective Behavior Support Self-Assessment Survey (SAS). Evaluations of the SAS have supported its factor structure. However, the SAS is designed to be completed by school personnel who are nested within other levels of analysis (e.g., schools, grade level, district). There have been no studies examining the SAS from a multilevel perspective. The current study addressed this gap by evaluating the SAS using data from 1,726 respondents across 36 public schools in 3 school districts. Another purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the SAS can be shortened yet remain psychometrically sound to encourage completion of the survey by busy school staff members. Intraclass correlation coefficients indicated substantial dependence in item responses. Factor correlations were substantial across all models tested. Compared with a 2nd-order, hierarchical model and the basic 4-factor model based on the original hypothesized structure of the SAS, the best combination of fit and parsimony was obtained from a reduced set of 24 of the original 46 items organized within a multilevel bifactor structure (e.g., comparative fit index = .979, root-mean-square error of approximation = .019), suggesting that the SAS may be shortened. The bifactor model partitioned item variances to a general implementation fidelity factor and to 1 of the 4 hypothesized factors. These results suggest that the SAS items aim to describe dimensions for measuring implementation status that may be as relevant at the school level as they are at the individual level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Estimating Site Performance (ESP): can trial managers predict recruitment success at trial sites? An exploratory study

BackgroundMulticentre randomised trials provide some of the key evidence underpinning healthcare practice around the world. They are also hard work and generally expensive. Some of this work and expense are devoted to sites that fail to recruit as many participants as expected. Methods to identify sites that will recruit to target would be helpful.MethodsWe asked trial managers at the Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), University of Aberdeen to predict whether a site would recruit to target. Predictions were made after a site initiation visit and were collected on a form comprising a simple ‘Yes/No’ prediction and a reason for the prediction. We did not provide guidance as to what trial managers might want to think about when making predictions.After a minimum of eight months of recruitment at each site for which a prediction had been made, all trial mangers in CHaRT were invited to a group discussion where predictions were presented together with sites’ actual recruitment performance over that period. Individual trial managers reflected on their predictions and there was a general discussion about predicting site recruitment. The prediction reasons from the forms and the content of the group discussion were used to identify features linked to correct predictions of recruitment failure.ResultsTen trial managers made predictions for 56 site visits recruiting to eight trials. Trial managers’ sensitivity was 82% and their specificity was 32%, correctly identifying 65% of sites that would hit their recruitment target and 54% of those that did not. Eight ‘red flags’ for recruitment failure were identified: previous poor site performance; slow approvals process; strong staff/patient preferences; the site recruitment target; the trial protocol and its implementation at the site; lack of staff engagement; lack of research experience among site staff; and busy site staff. We used these red flags to develop a guided prediction form.ConclusionsTrial managers’ unguided recruitment predictions were not bad but were not good enough for decision-making. We have developed a modified prediction form that includes eight flags to consider before making a prediction. We encourage anyone interested in contributing to its evaluation to contact us.

Method for Creating, Updating and Maintaining a Case Library of Service Business Guidance

This article provides a method for creating, updating and maintaining a case library of service business guidance. On the one hand, it uses genetic algorithm to filter and summarize cases that have been processed in the service business area to form a guidance case library. Therefore,service business staff are able to query and refer to similar existing cases when dealing with business in a follow-up; on the other hand, in the follow-up continuous use of new cases, new business in accordance with the new policy to update the guidance case base, the guidance case library always has the latest and most comprehensive cases to meet the needs of various service business.

Service technologies in academic libraries (case study of I. S. Turgenev Orel State University Scientific Library)

Innovative technologies for providing the scope of library information services are discussed. Users satisfaction with the products/services quality within the services strategy of Orel State University Scientific Library was monitored. The study goals were to investigate into the new format of staff operation, to refine criteria and evaluation indicators, and to specify services and practices.The quality features were measured and compared to the ideal model of library and information services. It is found that the service dominant idea is consonant with the staff’s and users’ orientation toward open, secure, friendly working environment. The author remarks to the staff's business activity, increasing the Library’s rates in the external environment. She proves that the service technologies make the efficient instrument of the humanistic mission rather than obtaining of the maximum extrabudgetary funding.The author proposes several key management solutions, i.e. stimulation of staff’s culture; development of corporate professional cooperation in information exchange; generation of inhouse intellectual content; intensification of user awareness forms; methodological support; monitoring; promotion of the existing resources and dissemination of information products.The obtained empirical data make the foundation for increasing effectiveness of services.

Determinants of satisfaction and turnover of staff in hotel enterprises

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the existing relationship between Quality of Life at Work (QWL) and personal quality of life, identifying factors that determinate the satisfaction and the employees’ turnover in hotel business. The high turnover of staff in the hotel business is a reality and eventually it is related to the payment offered by the sector, however, it is not only dependent on this aspect. The methodological approach included structured questionnaire, semi-structured interview and Likert-type scale structured questionnaire. The identified factors were related to the working environment and payment, which affect the employees’ satisfaction, the commitment to the contracting company, the quality of the work performed and also the staff turnover. The results showed that the hotels which offered better working conditions brought positive changes to their working environment, improved the quality of the selling product and the employees’ quality of life, increased customers’ satisfaction, reduced the staff turnover and raised the company profit.

MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS

The development of mobile technologies and Internet connectivity has a beneficial effect on the creation of diverse mobile applications related to different spheres of life. The time when people used their phones only for making phone calls passed away and nowadays every one of us has a small computer in his pocket that provides unlimited opportunities for training, business and entertainment. The purpose of this work is to present some of the most commonly used mobile applications that are designed to facilitate business communication, financial operations, staff and customer management. The main mobile technologies, operating systems and features of mobile applications are described. A survey about the usage of mobile technologies and applications is conducted and the results are presented.

Development, Evaluation, and Implementation of a New 3D Printed Tongue Depressor Dispenser.

The purpose of this technical report was two-fold. First was to describe the concept, development and initial implementation of a three-dimensional (3D) printing network focussed on manufacturing simulators and simple devices necessary to the functioning of rural hospital and clinics. Second was to describe the design, fabrication and user-based evaluation of a cost-effective tongue depressor dispenser.The initial successful setup and implementation of the 3D printing network were modelled using four of the five implementation constructs derived from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).The 3D printing of the tongue depressor dispenser was found to be an effective and economic initiative. Without considering the initial design costs, the materials costs were estimated at $6 Canadian per dispenser. After installation of the dispenser in a busy emergency department, hospital leadership and staff viewed it as a safer option to the current dispense, and more affordable.

Fighting Against Money Laundering

This paper argues for the formation of a new deterrence concept which is useful for banks and state policymakers to fight against elite money laundering. The paper offers insights to enhance our understanding of the nexus of corruption, local business and money laundering scandals. These insights are synthesised from contemporary thinking and current research findings by adopting conspiracy theory. The evidence shows that fraud schemes involving corruption syndicates have become intractable, either because of influence peddling or high-profile people implicated in corruption scandals, making it difficult for anti-corruption provisions to be implemented. Therefore, it is clearly necessary to provide a cautionary note and to consider the analysis of structural forces that reveal the logic of criminal forms and conduct. The paper also points out that the establishment of money laundering laws and the creation of anti-money laundering agencies (strict law enforcement) can effectively deter predatory activities of financial intermediaries in facilitating money laundering practices. In an aggregative analysis of the underlying economic model of crime, the findings of the study provide significant support for a number of the postulates of the conspiracy theory of crime. These include the deterrence effect in respect of perpetrators such as unscrupulous local business staff, corruptors and launderers.

Utilization of Information Technology of Negros Oriental State University towards Total Quality Management

This study aimed to identify the extent with which Information Technology (IT), used to support Total Quality Management (TQM) at Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), and the effect of IT in implementing TQM. The study used the descriptive correlation method which utilized the questionnaire in determining the IT utilization on TQM Implementation at NORSU. The findings indicated that majority of the respondents were in their early adulthood and were male-dominated. Majority of the respondents were college students who were from the College of Business Administration and staff from the different campuses. The findings also revealed that IT resources in the institution were mostly used in all aspects of NORSU operation. On the other hand, the extent of IT usage on the eight (8) dimensions of TQM showed that IT was intensively used in almost all of the dimensions of TQM. Findings further showed significant relationship in the usage of IT resources and the eight (8) dimensions of TQM. Thus, the utilization of IT had an impact on the dimensions and applications of TQM. IT was found to support TQM in the operation of the institution. Recommendations were on the utilization of IT on TQM in business strategies to improve the quality performance of NORSU employees.

Women's views and experiences of having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period

ObjectiveTo explore women's views and experiences of having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period in an Irish maternity hospital setting. DesignA qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was used to explore women's views and experiences. Data were analysed using Thematic Analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006). SettingA voluntary maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland which had access to a perinatal mental health team. ParticipantsIn total 8 women who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and participated in this study. The women were interviewed in the early postpartum period. FindingsThe study offers important insights into how women feel about having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period. Women reported pregnancy was an emotional time, feeling expected to be happy, and women with significant mental health histories preferred not to be referred to available services unless they asked for help. Women reported barriers to disclosure including stigma/shame, lack of time. Screening tools were viewed with mixed opinions. In getting help, the baby was a motivator for some women, attitudes of healthcare professionals and lack of time affected this. Key ConclusionsWomen appreciated all methods of enquiry about their mental health and being given time to discuss concerns with healthcare professionals. Perceived busy staff workloads was a barrier in asking for help, as was lack of continuity of care. Screening tools were viewed as a tick box exercise, but also as a ‘modality’ to assist detection of women at risk. Mental health enquiry focused on depression and anxiety, with little or no enquiry about less common disorders. Women with significant histories were less likely to engage or accept referral to perinatal mental health services, preferring to access help if they felt they needed to. Implications for practiceHCPs should enquire regularly about women's emotional wellbeing at every antenatal and postnatal contact, offering support where required. Detailed enquiry about mental health should encompass the broad spectrum of perinatal mental health problems, including but not limited to depression and anxiety. Screening tools can assist in the identification of women at risk of developing perinatal mental health problems. A specialist mental health midwife should link with high-risk women at the first antenatal booking visit and provide information on early intervention and access to services.

Real or bogus: Predicting susceptibility to phishing with economic experiments

We present a lab-in-the-field experiment to demonstrate how individual behavior in the lab predicts their ability to identify phishing attempts. Using the business and finance staff members from a large public university in the U.S., we find that participants who are intolerant of risk, more curious, and less trusting commit significantly more errors when evaluating interfaces. We also replicate prior results on demographic correlates of phishing vulnerability, including age, gender, and education level. Our results suggest that behavioral characteristics such as intolerance of risk, curiosity, and trust can be used to predict individual ability to identify phishing interfaces.

The legal process following business failure

Care homes may fail for all manner of reasons. While there is sense in trying to keep a business alive and staff employed, failures can be unpleasant for all involved. In this article, Adam Bernstein discusses what can be done when the company fails

Managing software requirements changes through change specification and classification

Software requirements changes are often inevitable due to the changing nature of running a business and operating the Information Technology (IT) system which supports the business. As such, managing software requirements changes is an important part of software development. Past research has shown that failing to manage software requirements changes effectively is a main contributor to project failure. One of the difficulties in managing requirements changes is the lack of effective methods for communicating changes from the business to the IT professionals. In this paper, we present an approach to managing requirements change by improving the change communication and elicitation through a method of change specification and a method of classification. Change specification provides a way such that communication ambiguities can be avoided between business and IT staff. The change classification mechanism identifies the type of the changes to be made and preliminary identification of the actions to be taken. We illustrate the usefulness of the methods by applying them to a case study of course management system.

Sexual Recovery Following Prostate Cancer: Recommendations From 2Established Canadian Sexual Rehabilitation Clinics.

Supportive sexual health care is much-needed adjuvant care to oncologic management for men with prostate cancer (PCa). To inspire the initiation of biopsychosocial sexual health programming where it does not exist and to inform program enhancement in existing sexual rehabilitation clinics (SRCs). This article reviews the combined 30-year experience of 2 well-established Canadian SRCs for men and their partners after PCa treatments, interwoven with empirical evidence. To comprehensively review the biopsychosocial approach to sexual health assessment of men with PCa and their partners to direct the practicalities of running a successful and sustainable SRC. A full description of the biomedical and psychosocial approaches, inclusive of comprehensive sexual function, the penile rehabilitation controversy, and other medical and relationship issues affecting sexual adjustment, is provided to highlight the relevance of proper assessment and follow-through for sexual adaptation and adjustment. 10 recommendations for a successful SRC are discussed, including the principles behind developing a sustainable business plan, staff acquisition and training, budget, integration of treatment and research priorities, respectful and multidisciplinary approaches to care, and suggestions of visit formats, protocols, and questionnaires. We recommend a phased approach of an SRC into usual care with the option to provide accessible and equitable care to patients not within proximal access of treating institutions. Sexual rehabilitation after treatment for PCa requires a complex treatment process. Providing sustainable sexual rehabilitation programming under the financially strained environment of the Canadian medical system is a challenge; therefore, to provide Canadian patients and their partners with comprehensive cancer care, they deserve a biopsychosocial approach combined with a creative and systematic implementation strategy. Elliott S, Matthew A. Sexual Recovery Following Prostate Cancer: Recommendations From 2Established Canadian Sexual Rehabilitation Clinics. Sex Med Rev 2018;6:279-294.

Turning Point: In the Company of Revolutionaries: Reviving Radical Innovation 20 Years after the Contemporary Era of Cross-Sector Partnering Began

This article provides a personal reflection on 20 years of practice and research on cross-sector partnering for sustainable development. It coincides with the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first book on the subject, In the Company of Partners (Murphy and Bendell, 1997). The approach by staff in both business and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) on partnering in the mid 1990s is summarised, including the emphasis on purposeful experimentation. How the same approach might lead to more adventurous partnerships today between start-ups and grassroots networks is discussed. The beginning of such collaborations on changing economic fundamentals, such as monetary systems, is highlighted.

HearCARE: Hearing and Communication Assistance for Resident Engagement.

Impaired hearing is related to poor health outcomes, including compromised cognitive function, in aging individuals. Hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition after arthritis and heart disease in older adults and the fourth most detrimental condition related to quality of life in older adults. Only 18% of aging adults who have impactful hearing loss actually use custom-fit amplification. Therefore, the majority of aging individuals entering senior living facilities will have untreated hearing loss. Older adults move to senior communities to maintain or increase their social engagement, to receive care from qualified staff, and to ultimately enhance their quality of life. We know that the majority of individuals over 65 years of age have significant hearing loss, which leaves them with complex listening needs due to low incidence of hearing aid use, group communication situations that are common for social activities, interactive dining environments, and the need for telephone use to connect with loved ones. Busy staff and family members may not be aware of the impact of decreased hearing on quality of life, as well as caregiver burden. HearCARE (Hearing and Communication Assistance for Resident Engagement) is an initiative to provide communication assistance on a day-to-day basis in senior living facilities in a cost-effective manner. This innovative model for delivering audiology services and communication assistance in senior living communities employing communication facilitators who are trained and supervised by an audiologist will be described. Data related to the communication facilitator training, daily activities, interactions with the audiologist, use of devices, and impact on residents, staff, and families will be described.