Collaborative Working Approach Research Articles

European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) on-site inspection forms for forensic pathology, anthropology, odontology, genetics, entomology and toxicology for forensic and medico-legal scene and corpse investigation: the Parma form.

Further to a previous publication by the European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) concerning on-site forensic and medico-legal scene and corpse investigation, this publication provides guidance for forensic medical specialists, pathologists and, where present, coroners' activity at a scene of death inspection and to harmonize the procedures for a correct search, detection, collection, sampling and storage of all elements which may be useful as evidence, and ensure documentation of all these steps. This ECLM's inspection form provides a checklist to be used on-site for the investigation of a corpse present at a crime or suspicious death scene. It permits the collection of all relevant data not only for the pathologist, but also for forensic anthropologists, odontologists, geneticists, entomologists and toxicologists, thus supporting a collaborative work approach. Detailed instructions for the completion of forms are provided.

Service redesign: how a tissue viability specialist lead nurse developed and improved acute wound care through real-world evidence and partnership working

The importance of leadership in service redesign should not be underestimated. Increasing demand for services and cost-effective approaches makes the drive and dedication of a leader towards quality improvement crucial. The lead tissue viability nurse at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust worked in partnership with the wound care industry to redesign the trust's acute wound care service. An audit was carried out and an opportunity to reduce variations in care was identified. To achieve this, the service reduced the number of foam dressings on the formulary, listing only the ALLEVYN (Smith+Nephew, UK) family of wound dressings. As a result, the volume of dressings used reduced by 4.8%, meaning that the service produced less waste and saw a cost reduction of approximately £14 066 over a 6-month period. This article highlights the positive outcomes that can be achieved through streamlining formularies, reducing variations in care and delivering robust care pathways. It also describes the collaborative working approach taken by this service, spearheaded by the lead tissue viability nurse, as an example of innovative practice for other NHS trusts.

Paediatric dental pain and infection during the COVID period

BackgroundDuring the coronavirus pandemic, paediatric patients will still likely present with dental pain and infection.In order to streamline care at King's College Hospital (KCH), Paediatric Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) have developed a collaborative working approach allowing patients to be treated effectively and to streamline patient care in the absence of easy access to general anaesthetic facilities. MethodPresenting complaints, treatment need and the treatment received were recorded for all paediatric patients presenting with dental pain and infection in the “lockdown” period (23rd March- 14th June) during “normal” working hours and “out of hours” to either paediatric dentistry or OMFS. Results420 calls were triaged which converted to 67 patients seen face-to-face for oro-facial pain and infection. 41% of children were treated successfully under Local anaesthetic alone, only 13% required a general anaesthetic (GA) in the “lockdown” period. The vast majority of patients had antibiotics prescribed prior to attendance (80%). ConclusionWe have demonstrated the demographic, presenting complaints and treatment need of patients who presented to KCH during the lockdown period with dental pain and infection. The majority were able to be treated without needing for GA facilities. This paper highlights how a collaborative approach between paediatric dentistry and OMFS can help streamline patient care and is a model which can be adopted by other units in the event of further “lockdowns”.

Apreciaciones sobre la producción de vídeos a través del trabajo colaborativo en estudiantes universitarios

En este artículo, se presenta una actividad didáctica sobre la producción de vídeos bajo el enfoque del trabajo colaborativo realizado por 16 estudiantes de la materia Redes II de la licenciatura en informática perteneciente a la Universidad Veracruzana en el periodo 2015-2016. El objetivo fue conocer las apreciaciones de los estudiantes sobre la producción de vídeos mediante el enfoque del trabajo colaborativo. Para realizar lo anterior, los estudiantes formaron cuatro grupos de cuatro integrantes cada uno, con la finalidad de repartir las consignas a realizar con base en la experiencia interpersonal en el manejo de programas de cómputo en especial el manejo de vídeos. El método empleado fue de tipo mixto, para la parte cuantitativa, se aplicó la encuesta ColabUV con índice de alfa de Cronbach de 0,870. En cuanto a los datos cualitativos se realizó una entrevista de grupo focal para conocer las percepciones de la didáctica de aprendizaje utilizada. Los resultados muestran una aceptación favorable en la producción de vídeos por medio del trabajo colaborativo como parte complementaria del proceso de su aprendizaje.

Donkey and smuggler optimization algorithm: A collaborative working approach to path finding

AbstractSwarm Intelligence is a metaheuristic optimization approach that has become very predominant over the last few decades. These algorithms are inspired by animals' physical behaviors and their evolutionary perceptions. The simplicity of these algorithms allows researchers to simulate different natural phenomena to solve various real-world problems. This paper suggests a novel algorithm called Donkey and Smuggler Optimization Algorithm (DSO). The DSO is inspired by the searching behavior of donkeys. The algorithm imitates transportation behavior such as searching and selecting routes for movement by donkeys in the actual world. Two modes are established for implementing the search behavior and route-selection in this algorithm. These are the Smuggler and Donkeys. In the Smuggler mode, all the possible paths are discovered and the shortest path is then found. In the Donkeys mode, several donkey behaviors are utilized such as Run, Face & Suicide, and Face & Support. Real world data and applications are used to test the algorithm. The experimental results consisted of two parts, firstly, we used the standard benchmark test functions to evaluate the performance of the algorithm in respect to the most popular and the state of the art algorithms. Secondly, the DSO is adapted and implemented on three real-world applications namely; traveling salesman problem, packet routing, and ambulance routing. The experimental results of DSO on these real-world problems are very promising. The results exhibit that the suggested DSO is appropriate to tackle other unfamiliar search spaces and complex problems.Highlights Donkey and Smuggler Optimization Algorithm (DSO) is a novel optimization algorithm. The DSO is inspired by Donkeys' behaviors. It has been evaluated against other algorithms. DSO solves different problems such as TSP, packet routing, and ambulance routing. The outcomes on the tests exhibit a greater manipulation of DSO. The outcomes prove that DSO has a greater searching ability.

From Research to Action—Impactful Intervention Arenas

More than half the world’s population lives in cities and two thirds of 425 million people with diabetes live in cities. That makes cities a focal point for tackling diabetes. As part of Cities Changing Diabetes (CCD) five diverse cities (Copenhagen, Houston, Mexico City, Shanghai, Tianjin) have implemented actions based on 740 individual interviews with people with type 2 diabetes or at increased risk of developing it. Based on participants’ perspectives on socio-cultural barriers to live a healthy life action plans were created relevant to the local diabetes challenge and city context and tailor-made interventions were designed. CCD is a partnership between Novo Nordisk A/S, University College London, and Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen aiming to map the diabetes challenge, understand risk and vulnerability to type 2 diabetes, and design interventions tailor-made to the respective city context. In the cities the program is driven by local partnerships in a collaborative working approach bringing together city governments, academics, businesses, city planners, patient organizations, faith-based organizations, and other non-governmental organizations. The research insights led to four arenas for impactful interventions: Health promoting policies by incorporating awareness and understanding of type 2 diabetes into local policies to address the diabetes challenge and improve overall health. Urban planning by integrating health-promoting aspects such as walkability and bikeability in urban planning to increase the ability to live a healthy life. Community involvement by strengthening communities around citizens vulnerable to diabetes to build resilience, improve diabetes care and quality of life. Health system strengthening by building capacity into the local healthcare system to help vulnerable citizens to access it. In conclusion, insights from the research have directly guided development of city-specific tailor-made interventions within four arenas. Disclosure A. Napier: Consultant; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. N. Lund: Employee; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. M. Bagger: Employee; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Spouse/Partner; Novo Nordisk A/S. B.B. Jensen: None.

Manchester in Partnership

In 2016, the University of Manchester (UoM) and the University of Manchester Students’ Union (UMSU) embarked on a more strategic, collaborative working approach to engage students in a broader range of enrichment opportunities. Having worked closely together for a number of years on prescribed activities, such as student induction and co-leading support for Resident Associations, student committees, a more meaningful partnership was perceived to increase transformational impact through engaging students in modes of activity championed recently under the banner of students as partners, researchers and change agents. With the Teaching and Learning Support Office (TLSO), a REACT project was designed to narrow the gap between staff and students through a more collaborative relationship. To that end, our project ‘Manchester in Partnership’ worked on two themes, the first looking at engaging students as researchers to identify engagement patterns with the MyManchester online student portal and the second focusing on creating a series of staff and student discussion seminars about the learning experience. This project has ignited further work engaging students as researchers, student review teams as well as further work around institutional dialogue, the student charter and student representation models. This case study will outline the journey from an isolated REACT project to a broader range of activities highlighting underpinning rationale, implementation, intended impact and benefits already realised.

BIM-based Code Checking for Construction Health and Safety

Rule-based Code Checking validates the design phase comparing Building Information Models against current codes and regulations translated into parametric rules. The proposed paper fits into a wider project for implementing design verification and validation within a BIM environment. The design of construction site layouts and safety plans is an essential part of an effective integrated process but it is traditionally carried out by means of error-prone and inefficient manual observation and, moreover, building designers and health and safety (H&S) coordinators still lack a collaborative working approach. The digitization of the construction site allows virtual inspections and information-based analysis of construction phases. Moreover, interoperable BIM tools allow the semi-automatic review of design compliance against normative texts, improving accuracy and reliability of the validation process. The research project aims to define an H&S BIM-based design and validation workflow, specifying the minimum level of requirements and mandatory informative content for the submission of construction site layouts and safety plans. The paper is focused on the translation into a parametric rule-set of the Italian construction sites’ H&S normative text (D.Lgs. 81/2008). A semantic analysis was used in order to translate it into computable parameters to be implemented into checking rules. Object tables have been created for each construction site element regulated by the D.Lgs. 81/2008. Based on those tables, meant as guideline for the design phase, a BIM library for the construction site has been created and a model checking tool has been used for creating rules to check and validate BIM objects and mutual relations. The customized rule-set includes legal references and information requirements specifications. Such an approach aims at including the design of construction safety plans within digital

SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRATION BARRIERS IN CONSTRUCTION: VIEWS FROM TWO SOUTH AFRICAN PROJECTS

The fragmented state of the construction industry is a global phenomenon visible in South African construction. The number of parties to a construction project has been on the upward trend in recent times. This increase in the number of members of a typical construction supply chain is invariably accompanied by an increase in management complexity. To counter the pitfalls of such complexities, the discipline has witnessed the proliferation of supply chain management (SCM) concepts of which integration is a notable aspect. Based on a succinct conceptual framework that was derived from the construction SCM literature, this paper reports on barriers to supply chain integration. A questionnaire was distributed among the participants of two South African projects. The responses indicate that lack of integration is partly responsible for performance-related failures in the form of rework and defects. Moreover, poor payment mechanisms between contractors, their subcontractors, and suppliers tend to work against nurturing long-term relationships on a project and business basis. The conclusion is that there is major scope for promoting a collaborative working approach between supply chain partners in South African construction.

Improving the Automation of Security Information Management: A Collaborative Approach

Many preventive security measures purport to protect networks from cyber intrusions. These adopted measures can generate a large amount of information that should be stored and analyzed to enable responses to detected attacks. Security information and event managers (SIEMs) are indispensable for collecting all of a system's security-related information in a central repository. This can then provide trend analysis and lead analysts to adopt appropriate actions. A collaborative work approach lets SIEMs of different trusted domains share alarms and their countermeasures. By sharing alarms and adopted measures in domains with similar profiles, the authors hope to enhance a global view of the security and facilitate decision making for security-domain administrators.

Planning and implementation of effective collaboration in construction projects

PurposeThe twenty‐first century is now seen as the time for the construction industry to embrace new ways of working if it is to continue to be competitive and meet the needs of its ever demanding clients. Collaborative working is considered by many to be essential if design and construction teams are to consider the whole lifecycle of the construction process. Much of the recent work undertaken on collaborative working has focused on the delivery of technological solutions with a focus on web (extranets), CAD (visualisation), and knowledge management technologies. However, it is now recognised that good collaboration does not result from the implementation of information technology solutions alone, the organisational and people issues, which are not readily solved by pure technical systems, need also to be resolved. This paper aims to address this issue.Design/methodology/approachWork discussed in this paper brings together the benefits provided by technology, with organisational issues, and people issues, in developing a framework to implement effective collaboration. The research uses a literature search, semi‐structured interviews and a questionnaire to gain the industry's requirements for effective collaboration in the construction sector. From these requirements a develop‐test‐refine approach was taken to develop the methodology for effective collaborative working for construction.FindingsThe findings reported in this paper are a summary of the results from the semi‐structured interviews and questionnaire used to gain the industry's requirements. They show that a focus on the “softer” issues (business process and an organisations' people) rather than a technology focus is needed to plan and implement collaborative working more effectively in projects. An initial approach is discussed in this paper concerning a structured approach to be developed further in the research to highlight to the industry the issues associated with the planning and implementation of effective collaborative working in projects.Originality/valueThis paper uses a socio‐technical approach to the planning and implementation of effective collaborative working in construction. It combines technology with the people and business aspects of collaborative working to provide an approach which can enable stakeholders in a project to benefit fully from having a collaborative working approach to their projects.

Comparison of language used and patterns of communication in interprofessional and multidisciplinary teams

Can the language used and the patterns of communication differentiate a multidisciplinary team from an interprofessional team? This research question arose from an unexpected outcome of a study that investigated clinical reasoning of health professional team members in the elder care wards of two different hospitals. The issue at stake was the apparent disparity in the way in which the two teams communicated. To further explore this, the original transcribed interview data was analysed from a symbolic interactionist perspective in order that the language and communication patterns between the two teams could be identified and compared. Differences appeared to parallel the distinctions between multidisciplinary and interprofessional teams as reported in the literature. Our observations were that an interprofessional team was characterized by its use of inclusive language, continual sharing of information between team members and a collaborative working approach. In the multidisciplinary team, the members worked in parallel, drawing information from one another but did not have a common understanding of issues that could influence intervention. The implications of these communication differences for team members, team leaders and future research are then discussed.