Contingent Arrangements Research Articles

Industrial Solid Waste Management in a Metallurgical Plant: Effects of Environmental Rearrangement and Feedback

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a contingency arrangement (environmental rearrangement and feedback presentation) in a metallurgical company to increase the likelihood of proper disposal and separation of industrial solid waste. Theoretical Framework: The incorrect disposal of solid waste in companies produces a series of environmental damages and significantly hampers the effectiveness of reverse logistics. Method: Two owners and all employees of a metallurgical company in Paraná, Brazil, participated. The procedure consisted of three stages: (1) analysis and detailed description of the current disposal conditions before the intervention; (2) strategic rearrangement of containers for waste disposal location, accompanied by a weekly record of the types of waste discarded during the intervention; and (3) installation of informative signs providing monthly feedback on the quantity of waste discarded. Results and Conclusion: The structural rearrangement of the environment, with the strategic placement of containers in easily accessible locations and the inclusion of signs identifying the types of waste in each of them, coupled with regular feedback on the quantity of waste disposal from the metallurgical plant, resulted in a highly effective management of solid waste in the company. We concluded that the intervention improved the company’s industrial solid waste management and expanded the reverse logistics practice. Implications of the Research: The intervention contributed to local-level management, which could inspire similar changes in the socio-environmental management practices of other organizations. Originality/value: The study contributes to scientific advancement by proposing the contingency arrangement based on Behavior Analysis principles.

Assessment of active shooter preparedness in US hospital systems

Background: Active shooter events are horrific, unfortunate realities in American hospitals. Protecting patients and staff in an active shooter event is made more difficult in the cases of critically ill and otherwise immobile patients. Previous work has proposed theoretical mitigation strategies for active shooter events. This study assesses American hospitals’ current, active preparedness plans.
 Methods: This is a survey-based study with questionnaires distributed to leaders in American healthcare. The survey assessed current active shooter protocols with a particular emphasis on managing critically ill patients. Data were summarized with frequency and percentage.
 Results: The survey was distributed to 294 hospital systems across the United States, and representatives from 60 hospital systems responded. Ninety-eight percent of these hospital systems have an active shooter protocol; 24 percent report a plan to provide care for critically ill patients. Among those hospital systems with a plan for caring for immobile patients, substantial heterogeneity exists in the philosophy and implementation of these protocols. Additionally, 52 percent of hospital systems routinely practice response drills to active shooter events. Notably, hospital systems that had experienced an active shooter event in the past were more likely to practice implementing active shooter protocols.
 Conclusions: While most hospital systems have an active shooter protocol in place, these plans are infrequently practiced and generally do not include contingency arrangements for the sickest, immobile patients. The results from this study highlight a significant opportunity for improvement in American hospital safety procedures.

Evaluation of a Novel Independent Group Contingency in an Alternative School.

We evaluated a novel group contingency arrangement designed to address implementation barriers commonly cited by teachers in alternative education. Barriers include implementer effort, disruption caused by delivering feedback to students, students sabotaging the game, and students maximizing disruption when they know the reinforcement criterion. To address these barriers, we decreased implementer effort using the principles of time sampling, omitted feedback for rule violations, arranged an independent group contingency to address sabotage, and did not disclose reinforcement criteria to students. The intervention produced marked reductions in disruption across four alternative middle- and high-school classes.

Talent management in hospitality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Macao: a contingency approach

PurposeThis study aims to examine talent management (TM) in the hospitality industry in Macao during COVID-19. It deploys a contingency theory perspective (Luthans and Stewart, 1977) to illuminate the heightened uncertainties and challenges talent managers faced during the pandemic and the urgent adaptations to TM practices they embraced in response.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a phenomenological approach, this study analyzed data collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with a representative sample of 20 hotel managers in Macao.FindingsManagers reported four major categories of COVID-19-induced challenges and a corresponding set of contingent TM practices. The four contingent TM practices were found to contribute to the shaping of the next new normal in TM in hospitality and included the following: Contingent TM planning; contingent TM deployment and replacement; talent training and development under contingent arrangements; and changed “talent” attitude and practices in recruitment and retention.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are limited to the geographical and industry context of the study. This study should be refined with larger samples.Practical implicationsThis study provides a useful framework for guiding professionals on how to manage talent during turmoil periods. It also contributes toward understanding the shifting meaning of talent and TM in hospitality.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates the applicability of contingency theory in managing hospitality talent during turbulent times, which extends TM knowledge and enriches the contingency theory. The findings also facilitate our understanding on how contingent TM practices create processes that lead in setting the new normal.

Mexico

The Mexican financial authorities strengthened the financial safety net since the last FSAP and need to continue and accelerate enhancements. Recovery and resolution plans are in place for all commercial banks, systemic banks are required to increase their loss absorbency complementing the critical Basel III reforms that the authorities have advanced, and the authorities progressed preparations for using the bridge bank tool, signed cooperation agreements with all major home jurisdictions of the Mexican systemic banks, clarified the emergency lending facilities including to banks in resolution, and improved the depositor payout process. Yet, accelerated enhancements are necessary, including by further improving the credibility and feasibility of banks’ financial contingency arrangements, removing impediments to banks’ resolvability and the use of the bridge bank and purchase and assumption transaction resolution tools, expanding the resolution regime’s remit to financial holding companies, and reinforcing the resolution and deposit insurance agency’s governance, autonomy, and resources.

Comparing an interdependent and dependent group contingency to increase physical activity in students during recess

AbstractPhysical activity produces important physiological, mental health, academic, and cognitive benefits in children and youth. Despite these advantages, a large proportion of this population does not meet the recommended amount of physical activity. Recent studies have shown that the interdependent (IGC) and dependent (DGC) group contingencies improve physical activity; however, no comparison of the effects of these contingencies on physical activity has been conducted. We used a multielement within a concurrent multiple baseline design across three classes to compare the effectiveness of group contingencies on physical activity. Both group contingencies increased physical activity, with the IGC producing slightly higher overall levels of physical activity at the classwide and individual levels of analyses. We also compared participants' positive and negative statements and found that, regardless of the group contingency in effect, participants emitted higher levels of positive statements about the contingency when they earned the reward than when they did not, suggesting that reward delivery influenced statements more so than the group contingency arrangement. Results are discussed within the context of treatment decisions and future research.

Behavior analysis in college classrooms: A scoping review

AbstractWe conducted a scoping review of interventions that have been implemented classroom‐wide in college classroom settings. We searched nine behavior‐analytic journals from 2000 through 2020. We identified 59 studies that met our inclusion criteria and organized them into 13 categories: acceptance and commitment therapy (n = 1), equivalence‐based instruction (n = 1), SAFMEDS (n = 4), guided notes (n = 4), response cards (n = 5), group contingencies (n = 5), interteaching (n = 6), programmed instruction, PSI, computer‐aided (CA)PSI (n = 7), contingency arrangements (n = 15), feedback (n = 4), online delivery techniques (n = 4), game study sessions (n = 2), and peer‐generated examples (n = 1). The interventions have been used with undergraduate and graduate students across various course topics and modalities. Most interventions produced positive results, commonly assessed via quiz and exam scores. This review presents the scope of interventions, their characteristics, and recommendations for future research.

Consumer-driven strategies towards a resilient and sustainable food system following the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions temporarily disrupted food supply chains around the world and changed the way people shopped for food, highlighting issues with food systems resilience and sustainability. The aim of this study was to explore consumer-driven strategies towards a more resilient and sustainable food system in Australia, learning from experiences during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsDuring May–June 2020, a cross-sectional, online survey was conducted in Tasmania, Australia in a non-random sample of adults aged 18 years and over. The survey collected demographic data and posted the open-ended question: “How could Tasmania’s food system be better prepared for a disaster in the future?” Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the demographic data and thematic analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data.ResultsSurvey respondents (n = 698) were predominantly female (79%), over 55 years of age (48%), university educated (70%) and living with dependents (45%). Seven key themes were identified: (i) balance food exports with local needs; (ii) strengthen local food systems; (iii) increase consumer awareness of food supply chains; (iv) build collaboration and connection in the food system; (v) embed clear contingency arrangements; (vi) support community capacity building and individual self-sufficiency; and (vii) the food system coped well.ConclusionsThe consumer-driven strategies identified indicate multiple opportunities to increase resilience and sustainability in the food system to avoid future supply disruptions. Our findings indicate that considerable popular support for more resilient, local and sustainable food systems may be emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contingent workforce management: a holistic overview

Purpose This paper aims to illustrate a simple, holistic overview of contingent workforce management. Design/methodology/approach This paper’s viewpoint outlines benefits and challenges that employers and employees encounter with contingent work arrangements and highlights relevant human resource (HR) practices to effectively manage contingent workforce. Findings Benefits to employers are cost-effective hiring solutions, filling-up skill requirements, increasing numerical flexibility and diversity and broadened talent pool. Challenges include legal ramifications, hidden costs, confidentiality and security issues, low organisational commitment and productivity. For employees, benefits are working flexibility and financial gain and gaining work experience. Challenges include dependence on economy, irregular work hours, health risks and exploitation and differential treatment by employers. “Value-adding” practices of holistic hiring, onboarding, performance management, workplace training and developing resilient organisational culture can effectively manage contingent workforce. Research limitations/implications This paper provides a broader outline of benefits and challenges, both from employers’ and employees’ perspectives, linked with precarious employment. Further investigations on employers’ and employee’s perspectives based on specific types of contingent work arrangements (e.g. temporary agency workers and gig workers) can give in-depth insights. Originality/value This paper provides a simplified framework of pros and cons of contingent employment, along with practical HR remedies to manage contingent workforce.

Cross-sector pre-registration pharmacist placements in general practice in England: lessons from a national evaluation

Abstract Introduction In 2019/2020, the Pharmacy Integration Fund commissioned delivery of cross-sector pre-registration pharmacist training incorporating 3–6 month placements in general practice (GP). GP placements were managed by Health Education England (HEE) and organised as one (or more) blocks, or as spilt weeks/days across base sector (hospital/community) and GP. Trainees had a pharmacist tutor at base and in GP. Aim to evaluate the implementation of cross-sector pre-registration pharmacy placements in GP in England, and to identify barriers and enablers of a successful placement. Methods A qualitative approach was taken, with case study sites purposively sampled for maximum variation: pharmacy base (hospital/community), number of pre-registration pharmacist trainees in base doing GP placement, length of GP placement, organisation of GP placement and geographical location. With consent, trainees and tutors identified as meeting sampling criteria were emailed invitation letters and participant information sheets. Where the trainee and their tutor(s) agreed to participate, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted January - July 2020. Questions developed from literature(1, 2) and the HEE handbook were tailored to understanding trainees’ and tutors’ views on the implementation of pre-registration pharmacist placements in GP, including benefits, unintended consequences and impacts. Thematic analysis across sites was undertaken with a focus on exploring inter and intra group themes. Results Thirty-four interviews were completed in 11 study sites (5 GP/hospital; 6 GP/community pharmacy). Trainees and tutors considered GP placements had been successful. Contributing factors were: placement planning (induction, contingency arrangements for cover should GP tutor be unavailable); tutors working together (good communication and collaboration); GP tutor support (regular contact, reflection; identifying learning needs; opportunities for learning); integration of GP placements within training year (specific learning/training activities at base during GP placement); and GP tutors having backing of their organisation to supervise effectively. A lack of these impacted negatively. Trainees completed a wide spectrum of activities and gradually moved from administrative to clinical tasks. They built up confidence to undertake patient-facing activities, with more direct supervision at the beginning moving to indirect supervision using debriefing. Thirteen weeks in GP was considered an appropriate minimum duration by all trainees and tutors; those based in community felt that 26 weeks in GP provided more opportunities for clinical and consultation skills learning. Cross-sector experience facilitated a better understanding of patient pathways and the importance of holistic patient care. All trainees considered working in GP in future but highlighted the lack of a cross-sector GP foundation programme. Base tutors felt the time commitment was comparable to single sector placements. Base and GP tutors felt that a clear set of competencies for GP placements and a broader governance framework would ensure standards and consistency. Conclusion This is the first national evaluation of cross-sector pre-registration pharmacists in general practice placements in England. Sampling as case studies enabled data triangulation and generated a multi-faceted understanding on factors impacting GP placements. A key limitation was the volunteer bias associated with recruitment. Key attributes of a successful pre-registration cross-sector training experience are highlighted and can inform policy reforms including change from pre-registration to foundation year training.

Building local capacity to adapt to climate change

ABSTRACT Local governments in cities around the world will not be able to cope with climate change impacts until they enhance their capacity to adapt. Past efforts to build local capacity, however, have often been unsuccessful. Building municipal capacity to formulate and implement climate adaptation plans will, in our view, require a new approach. Special attention will need to be paid to (1) contingent financial arrangements; (2) widespread and continuous stakeholder engagement; and (3) a commitment to experimental problem-solving. Most important, to respond to the scientific and technical uncertainties surrounding climate risks, local governments will have to enhance their ‘adaptive governance’ capabilities. Key policy insights Building local capacity to adapt to climate change is likely to require moving beyond traditional forms of financial and technical assistance so that the uncertainties and complexities of climate change can be addressed. We suggest a new three-pronged approach to municipal capacity building. The first element of this new approach will require structuring financial investments in a more adaptable (i.e. contingent) fashion. The second will involve widespread and continuous stakeholder engagement, both for coalition building and for public learning. The third encourages an experimental approach to problem-solving so that communities can learn-by-doing.

The Costs, Benefits and Challenges of Contingency Work in Human Service Agencies

Increasingly, professionally trained human service workers are employed on a contingency basis. This article reports findings from an exploratory qualitative study in which contingent direct service staff and permanent agency administrators were interviewed to ascertain their views on contingency work arrangements in the human services. Two broad research questions guided this inquiry: (1) what are the rationales for contingency employment from the perspectives of the staff who obtain it and the agencies that utilize it; and (2) what are the effects of contingency employment on the contingent workers and the agency? Findings are placed in the broader context of neoliberalism and its impact on the human service sector with focus on the fiscal factors that drive contingency arrangements and the fragmenting of human service work environments as a result.

Does Contingency Work in Human Service Agencies Compromise Practice and Practice Ethics?: An Exploratory Study

ABSTRACTThe use of contingency workers has increased in the human service sector though the consequences of this labour arrangement have not been examined. This article reports findings from an exploratory study in which 15 human service workers employed on a contingency basis were interviewed regarding their choices and the consequences of their jobs. Two broad research questions guide discussion and analysis: (1) how do current contingent workers describe or assess their employment situations, and (2) given this information, how might contingency status impact practice ethics. Results suggest that because of the precarious nature of contingency work, practice ethics are compromised. Respondents reported that they do not have access to regular supervision or are not attached to their co-workers or agencies, which means that they are not able to readily consult with others when ethical challenges arise. Discussion focuses on the broader implications that contingency arrangements have not just for ethical decision-making, but for the development of the workers, the agencies, and the human service sector.

Coordinated approaches to large-scale movements of people: contributions of the Paris Agreement and the Global Compacts for migration and on refugees

It is not yet clear how climate change will affect the structural constraints and spatial and social complexity that affect population movements in the future. Today, countries of origin, transit, and destination have reached a juncture. The UNFCCC Paris Agreement adds value to decisions these countries face by helping them explore possible scenarios for impacts that include large movements of people that could be associated with a rise in global average temperatures between 1.5 and 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. Climate policy and mainstream migration and refugee policy are developing recommendations by the end of 2018 that, together, will provide new contours for governing human mobility in the twenty-first century. This paper compares work on human mobility under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and how climate change features in the initial drafts of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). The international community can choose not to include such future considerations, missing opportunities to avert risks of involuntary movements of people as climate change impacts intensify. Alternatively, the international community can help countries to preempt risks arising from governance gaps and climate impacts, incorporate climate and mobility considerations in planning, and establish contingency arrangements for large-scale movements of people. A measure of efficacy in coordinating responses to large-scale movements of people will be the degree to which both state and non-state actors take up the recommendations of the Task Force on Displacement, how the Global Compact for Migration is negotiated, and the degree to which states utilize the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework as climate and other dynamics unfold in future years.

Emergency planning and business continuity: why blood services must plan for both. How the EBA working group (WG) is assisting blood services

BackgroundIn 2016, the Executive of the European Blood Alliance (EBA) decided to explore whether there was sufficient interest amongst member countries on whether they saw value in the re‐establishment of a Working Group on contingency planning. A survey of members was carried out and as there was sufficient interest a Working Group (WG) was established. The question then was how could the work of the WG add value to member countries in their contingency planning process? We set out to establish this.MethodMembers of the WG decided that there were three areas where the WG should concentrate on and these were as follows: (1) share lessons learnt during past contingencies and response to major disasters, (2) exchange contingency plans and (3) test run of contingency plans. As a first step, it was decided that we would share our existing contingency plans and when these were shared the WG undertook to carry out a gap analysis. It became evident that the state of contingency planning varied across countries. It is vitally important that each BTS ensures that their critical functions of manufacturing, testing and supply management have contingency arrangements in place whether that is within the country or with an international partner. However, having them in place is not enough they must be tested on a regular basis to ensure that they work. It was important that the WG formulated formal terms of reference to inform its work and also to set out clear deliverables. Draft Terms of Reference (ToR) were drawn up and sent to the Board of the EBA for approval in line with the normal procedure for WGs. These have been approved by the Board and are as follows: To share and leverage the knowledge of EBA members so all can move towards best practice (e.g. ISO 22301) To share experience, documentation, risk and other relevant materials and identify common training needs and opportunities. To identify opportunities for mutual aid in business continuity and emergency planning processes, consumables and the provision of services and products and develop these into agreed heads of agreement in bilateral or multilateral mutual aid arrangements. To create routes and mechanisms of communication on business continuity and emergency planning issues between EBA members, and to maintain a forum for discussion on these matters (e.g. EBA newsletter, EBAse). To engage in and lead the conversation on business continuity and emergency planning with the Commission and Competent Authorities to ensure a workable and consistent approach across EBA member states. OutcomeThe work of the group will deliver a better understanding of contingency planning with tangible examples and case studies which demonstrate how these plans have been activated and the lessons learnt from the events that required their activation. Some of the lessons learnt to date are that (1) there can never be too much communication on the contingency arrangements and there must be deputies in place for the main functional leads in the plan because inevitably the event occurs at a weekend where the nominated people are not always available, (2) the carrying out of a desktop exercise can be very useful and can expose any shortcomings in the contingency plan in a safe environment and (3) communication between the BTS and their contingency partner must ensure that any changes by either party are communicated so that any impact is worked through. The work of the WG is continuing.

Executive compensation among Australian mining and non-mining firms: Risk taking, long and short-term incentives

How firms determine the pay of their executive employees is a vital research area. In the Australian context, mining firms form a large portion of listed companies. These miners tend to have more volatile earnings, operate with less certainty and higher risk in relation to capital investment. We look at a sample of ASX listed miners and non-miners from 2005 to 2013. We note that miners pay their CEOs less (AUD 1m vs AUD 1.5m for non-miners) overall. However, we also note that miners tend to use enhanced contingent long-term remuneration arrangements to significantly boost the pay-performance relationship compared to non-miners particularly during the pre-GFC period. Curiously, non-miners tend to have more generous short-term contingent arrangements linking executive pay and performance. The GFC, as an event, has adversely impacted these arrangements, lessening the generosity of pay-performance among miners, while enhancing these arrangements among non-miners. Overall, the results of the study provide support for optimal contracting theory and do not generally support the managerial power approach for both mining and non-mining firms.

The Gig Economy and Contingent Work: An Occupational Health Assessment.

"The gig economy describes forms of contingent work arrangements that require digital platforms, representing an evolution in contingent work, both in moving up the educational scale and in increased visibility. It has engaged many workers who are highly educated and might previously have been in traditional employer-employee relationships, and appears to increase their vulnerability to wage theft, independent contractor misclassification, job insecurity, and lack of occupational health protections. As occupational health physicians, our need to develop, evaluate, and implement interventions to address the needs of workers in non-traditional employment relationships is growing."

The Effect of Seasonal Flood on Agricultural and Industrial Land Values in Malaysia: A Hedonic Pricing Model (HPM) Approach

Flood disasters have raised critical issues for landowners as they might affect land values. The argument of possible decline in the value of land located in flood-liable areas has been discussed in previous literature. However, existing studies on flood impact in Malaysia are few and do not focus on land property as a main issue of study. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the effect of flood on agricultural and industrial land property values in Malaysia by using the Hedonic Pricing Model (HPM). The results of this study suggest that flood duration significantly reduced the value of agricultural and industrial land property. The results from this study has benefits for landowners in terms of understanding the effect of flood duration on agricultural and industrial land values and factors responsible for decreasing land value. This will help the landowners to make contingency arrangement on the property assets to ensure that loss due to flood is minimized.

Contingent Commissions and the Management of the Independent Agency

AbstractInsurance agencies continue to exist as an important distribution mechanism because they give their contracting insurers advantages in risk selection and enable insurance applicants to transfer complex risks. While independent agencies are compensated by upfront commissions, a key component of their profitability is tied to contingent commissions. A contingency arrangement represents ex post compensation normally tied to underwriting profitability, volume, and annual growth. We report two actual contingency contracts in the context of a decision process for choosing among contingency offerings by insurers. We incorporate both uncertainty and correlation among key variables to arrive at values for competing contracts, then use a downside risk approach that helps agency owners select the better contract. The approach offered in this article is scalable to a selection problem for any number of contingency arrangements.

BRICS states new development bank: challenges and controversies for the global political economy system

The BRICS states, as rising economic and political powers, have agreed to create a new development bank (NDB) and a contingent reserve arrangement (CRA) in order to safeguard their national interests in the global political economy. Their policies aim to raise doubt the dominance of the USA in the global economic system and change the status quo. This article reviews the historical framework and the specific characteristics of the newly founded BRICS financial institutions. The article seeks to highlight the reasoning behind the strategic choices of those states. Moreover, the analysis of their objectives through the foundation of NDB and CRA will provide useful insights on the competition with the traditional western economic institutions, such as the IMF and the World Bank.