Clarification Of Responsibilities Research Articles

Precipitating or prohibiting factor: Coaches’ perceptions of their role and actions in anti-doping

Coaches are frequently cited as potentially precipitating or preventing athletes’ engagement in doping. However, little is known about coaches’ perspectives. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine coaches’ perceptions of their role and actions in athletes’ anti-doping behaviour. Twenty-three coaches (M = 17, F = 6) working with performance athletes in Scotland participated in semi-structured interviews where topics related to doping and anti-doping were discussed. Thematic analysis, guided by Schön’s role frame and reflective conversation concepts, was used to develop themes. Analysis led to the development of four internal role frame themes: clean sport value, approach to preparation and performance, responsibility to athletes and knowledge; and five boundary role frame themes: Scottish/British sporting culture, potential for benefit, prevalence of doping and testing, clarity of responsibilities and consequences, and beyond coaches’ control. The coaches’ role frame supported an anti-doping stance, but, it also presented a risk and was insufficient to ensure action. Analysis of coaches’ reflective conversations revealed the issues set by the coaches differed and influenced subsequent actions and evaluations.

Using the Systems-Practice Framework to Understand Food Allergen Management Practices at College Catering Operations: A Qualitative Study

BackgroundThe number of individuals with food allergies or intolerances attending catered university residential colleges is increasing, and safe dining options are required to minimize the risk of allergic reactions and food-induced death. ObjectiveThis qualitative research study sought to advance professional knowledge of the factors affecting allergen management practices, particularly pertaining to college foodservices. DesignThree catered residential colleges affiliated with a major university in New Zealand were selected as research sites. The study used an ethnographic approach and systems-practice theory as a framework for data collection and organizing results. Data collection techniques included document analyses (3 hours per site), observations (6 to 8 hours per site), focus groups with foodservice workers (30 to 45 minutes per site, n=16), and interviews with foodservice managers (45 to 90 minutes per interview, n=5). Notes and transcripts were coded through the process of thematic analysis using NVivo for Mac software, version 11.1.1, to identify factors affecting allergen management practices. ResultsThe main factors affecting allergen management practices at college foodservices included information provided by residents about dietary requirements; communication between residents and foodservice staff; systems for allergen management; attitude of foodservice staff; and college size. ConclusionsDetailed dietary information, effective communication with residents, sufficient resources, clarification of responsibilities, and thorough systems are required for staff to perform safe allergen management practices. Ultimately, successful implementation was predominantly determined by staff attitude. Foodservice managers are advised to identify motivators and address barriers of staff attitudes toward allergen management practices to promote successful implementation.

Management of Highway Projects in Egypt through Identifying Factors Influencing Quality Performance

While project management success focuses upon the processes and the successful accomplishments of cost and time objectives, product success deals with the quality of the final product. Recently, quality of the constructed highway has been considered highly important reason for the pavement response and its design life. The main objective of this paper is to improve the management of highway projects in Egypt by determining the most important factors influencing the quality performance of this industry. In total, 39 factors that may influence the quality of highway projects have been defined through a detailed literature review. The factors are tabulated in a questionnaire form, which is sent out to 13 owners of divided highways, 27 owners of regional roads, and 15 consultants. The analysis of the respondents’ perspectives using fuzzy triangle approach shows that the most important factors affecting the quality are availability of experienced staff in the owner’s and contractor’s teams during the project execution; efficiency of the owner’s inspection team; clarity of responsibilities and roles for each owner, consultant, and contractor; pavement which is not designed according to the regional conditions (e.g., soil type, temperature, and traffic volume); and asphalt quality and type used in the construction process.

Research on Coordinated Development Evaluation Index System of Power Grid Enterprise

Power grid enterprise’s sustainable development is very important to China’s power industry sustainabledevelopment. The basic requirement is that power grid enterprises should first realize coordinated development.This paper gives the definition of power grid enterprise’s sustainable development, and the whole index systemis considered from internal and external aspects. The internal aspect includes the consistent target ofdepartments’ goals and the overall enterprise’s goal, employees’ satisfaction, clarity of responsibilities, smoothcommunication and harmony culture, and the external environment includes the political, economic, social andenvironmental development. The evaluation index system is a hierarchical evaluation system. It can give a goodreference for power grid enterprise to realize sustainable development.

Who is responsible for what? Clarity of responsibilities in multilevel states: The case of Spain

There is a theoretical disagreement between the classical normative positive view on decentralisation, which states that the fragmentation of power shifts policy more closely into line with citizens' preferences, and a more recent critical view that states that decen- tralisation blurs attribution of responsibility. This disagreement can only be resolved by refining the understanding of specific institutional designs. The theoretical claim in this article is that the relation between multilevel governance and clarity of responsibilities is contingent upon the type of decentralisation in place.To test this proposition, individual data from an asymmetrically decentralised system - the Spanish State of Autonomies - are used. Results show that the relationship between decentralisation and clarity of responsibility has a u-shape. Responsibility attribution is clearer in regions with high and low levels of decen- tralisation, where one level of government clearly predominates over the other, than in regions with a more intertwined distribution of powers.

Imperatives for regular collection inventories: A New Zealand university library's experience

This paper describes three imperatives for collection inventory work at the University of Canterbury (UC) Library. Learning experiences from UC Library's first full inventory in 2005 were used to develop a regular and sustainable method of conducting future inventories. The first need for inventory arose as a result of an organized crime ring that targeted valuable books in libraries throughout New Zealand. Findings from library customer surveys in 2003 and 2005 gave rise to a second imperative which was to take prompt, proactive action regarding items missing from the shelves. As UC Library begins moving items to offsite storage, a third imperative arose for correctly accounting for what UC Library actually holds. As pressure comes on staffing resources this additional and significant collection management task has had to be achieved without extra staff. Good communication, clarity of responsibilities and breaking down the work into manageable amounts all became vital to the overall success of managing inventory work.

Food allergy and anaphylaxis — dealing with uncertainty

Reducing the growing burden of food allergy requires a chronic disease management model, clarification of responsibilities, and better communication of both risks and uncertainties.

Evaluation of responses of an air medical helicopter program during a comprehensive emergency response drill

Introduction Participation of air medical service programs in emergency response drills can reveal important information regarding preparedness. This article reviews one program's participation in a drill, the evaluation methods used to assess the program's response, and the findings of the drill evaluation. Methods A comprehensive evaluation method was developed and completed for the drill. The responses that would be required by LIFE STAR Communications, the entity charged with communication and coordination of LIFE STAR, Hartford Hospital's air medical helicopter program, were evaluated. Results Deficiencies revealed during the drill included requests from emergency responders that were not covered by current policies. Conclusions The evaluation of LIFE STAR Communications during a drill revealed specific problems that would have gone unrecognized without participation in the emergency preparedness exercise. Air medical services should participate and be evaluated in drills to enhance preparedness through the clarification of responsibilities and the practice of protocol and policy directives.

Continuity of care on admission to hospital: an audit of Airedale NHS Trust's transfer policy.

Describes an audit of interprofession communications among hospital, community health and social services concerning hospital admission. Information from 150 patient admissions (50 from each of three general practices after a target date) was gathered from both community and hospital sources. The results were used to audit the transfer policy operated by Airedale NHS Trust. The audit design incorporated an element of research, the results of which were used to inform the interpretation of the audit results and to suggest appropriate recommendations for change. Recommendations included the introduction of a pre-admissions checklist, specific changes to the nursing documentation, measures to improve the speed of information transfer, and the clarification of responsibilities for initiating contact across the hospital-community interface when patients with existing contacts in community services are admitted to hospital. Concludes that the introduction of supplementary research to an otherwise traditional audit cycle strengthened the resulting recommendations.

Policy Barriers To 50% Diversion Of Municipal Solid Waste

A number of policy barriers must be addressed by the governments in Europe and North America which have adopted objectives of diverting from disposal something like 50% of the solid waste stream by means of reduction, re-use and recycling. These include: the need for clarification of responsibilities of all levels of government and of private sector product manufacturers and waste disposers; putting in place incentives for source separation; ensuring markets for recyclables; and allocating the increased cost of waste management. This paper reports on findings of a research project undertaken in 1991-92 on steps being taken by different jurisdictions to overcome such barriers.

Policy Barriers To 50% Diversion of Municipal Solid Waste

A number of policy barriers must be addressed by the governments in Europe and North America which have adopted objectives of diverting from disposal something like 50% of the solid waste stream by means of reduction, re-use and recycling. These include: the need for clarification of responsibilities of all levels of government and of private sector product manufacturers and waste disposers; putting in place incentives for source separation; ensuring markets for recyclables; and allocating the increased cost of waste management. This paper reports on findings of a research project undertaken in 1991-92 on steps being taken by different jurisdictions to overcome such barriers.

Psychological stress experienced by health care personnel.

Health care personnel consider the challenge of their work to be the principal reason for job satisfaction. Problems of work organization and the small number of personnel cause quantitative overload that has been perceived as problematic by various professional groups in health care units. Role ambiguity and role conflicts are also experienced frequently. Social contacts between patients and personnel, as well as social contacts among the personnel themselves, are sometimes thought to be very problematic. The increase in violent behavior towards health care personnel is a central stressor of their work. The way that work characteristics and strain are experienced, however, is affected by the profession and, especially, by the workplace. Psychological stress reactions are relatively common among health care personnel. The effects of work reorganization, the clarification of responsibilities, increased supplementary training and professional supervision, and the application of directions for the prevention of violence on the stress and strain of health care professionals should be studied as a means to diminish stress and increase well-being and productivity.

Team Approach to Treatment of the Posttraumatic Stiff Hand

Posttraumatic hand stiffness is a common but complex problem treated in many general clinics and in hand treatment centers. Although much information is available regarding various treatment procedures, the use of a team approach to evaluate and treat hand stiffness has not been examined thoroughly in the Journal. The problems of the patient with a stiff hand include both physical and psychological components that must be addressed in a structured manner. The clinical picture of posttraumatic hand stiffness involves edema, immobility, pain, and the inability to incorporate the affected extremity into daily activities. In this case report, we review the purpose and philosophy of the team approach to hand therapy and the clarification of responsibilities for physical therapy and occupational therapy intervention.

Interdepartmental management in External Affairs

Abstract. This paper examines the interdepartmental role of the Department of External Affairs in the structures and processes of foreign policy planning and management. Possible use of American or British models by Canadian policymakers is considered. The functioning of the cabinet committee system has not been entirely predictable. Indicative planning does not appear to have been conspicuously less successful than in the United States or the United Kingdom. The interdepartmental committee on external relations has evolved from experimental innovation to low‐level routine. Support staff integration was originally intended to lead on to comprehensive foreign service unification, but resistance has caused indefinite postponement. Personnel exchanges between departments have not proceeded entirely reciprocally. The country program system has been reduced to a simpler, less ambitious format. Interdepartmental coordination requires some further clarification of responsibilities and greater conformity with existing directives. The perception that External Affairs is really a central agency is assessed. The paper concludes that, while many minor interdepartmental differences may be caused by inadequate coordination, cabinet does not always take clear decisions on conflicting departmental options.