Different Kinds Of Benefits Research Articles

Novel 4A Framework for Measuring Outcomes of Technological Implementation in The Healthcare Industry

The healthcare industry is ever-evolving, and advancements in this industry are happening on multiple fronts, i.e. scientific, medical, regulatory etc. This industry has witnessed significant changes concerning technology usage, which has changed the overall complexion. The advent of advanced computing tools, such as AI, ML etc., has significantly augmented the capabilities within the industry and is making this industry future ready. The healthcare industry has been reactive, i.e. it treats individuals after they get the disease; however, with the application of the latest tools, the healthcare industry is becoming more predictive, i.e. it can predict the risk profile. This is the most significant impact advanced tools have brought to this industry. Advanced computing tools are being applied to multiple functions across the industry, such as drug development, patient treatment, diagnosis, insurance reimbursement etc. As there are multitudes of applications projecting different kinds of benefits, it becomes essential that we have a tool or framework which can measure the impact. This study aimed to develop a framework to evaluate the benefits of implementing these advanced computing tools. The primary objective of this technology application should be to impact the primary outcomes, i.e. accessibility, speed and accuracy, patient compliance and affordability. We must have a framework that objectively assesses the impact and provides guidance to all the stakeholders. This paper proposes a novel 4A framework to help all stakeholders assess the effects. The central idea in healthcare is to improve a patient's life. One can do that by making medicines more productive, reducing adverse effects, improving predictability, reducing cost, improving access etc. This paper provides a strategic framework to assess the impact on the suitable parameters. Novel 4A framework measures the effect on these critical parameters, i.e. access, accuracy, affordability and adherence. As this industry touches patient's life, there are multiple concerns and the primary amongst them, especially for the technology applications, are the ones related to legal and ethical. The overall archetype proposed in this research paper takes into account and provides a framework for the impact assessment. The novel 4A framework presented in this article will serve as a tool to evaluate the impact advanced computing tools will have on the healthcare industry.

Assessing prospective teachers’ soft skills curriculum implementation: Effects on teaching practicum success

Soft skills encompassing conscientiousness, lifelong learning, communication, creativity, and teamwork are beneficial to success in work and life. The education policy in Nigeria on teacher education stipulates that students should learn basic soft skills at universities as performance improvement tools for teaching, but for the most part teacher education programmes do not include such skills. The aim of the study reported on here was to assess whether the soft skills curriculum and instruction course has been effectively implemented in university teacher education programmes. This course is theory based designed to inculcate soft skills in would-be teachers within 2 semesters. We used paper questionnaires and performed data analysis by way of partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS software in a non-experimental procedure with a total of 722 prospective teachers. The analysis revealed that prospective teachers gained moderate soft skills, which, in turn, benefited them in classroom control and, ultimately, teaching success in terms of lesson planning, development, and results. It is fair to suggest that the PLS-SEM model shows that participation in the curriculum and instruction course generates different kinds of benefits to teachers at the same time.

Health Benefits of Emission Reduction under 1.5 °C Pathways Far Outweigh Climate-Related Variations in China.

The 1.5 °C pathways initially promoted by the challenges presented by climate change could bring substantial air quality-related benefits. However, since there is a lack of comprehensive assessment on emissions of air pollutants, meteorology, air quality, and heatwave occurrences under different climate goals, how significant the clean air cobenefits compared with the direct climate-related impact is uncertain. In this study, we assess the cobenefits of 1.5 °C pathways for air quality in China by linking multiple shared socioeconomic pathways, ensembling simulations of regional climate-air quality dynamic downscaling and an air pollution and climate-related health assessment model, and compare different kinds of benefits: the health benefits from direct slowing climate (reduced heatwaves) versus the health cobenefits from air quality improvement (the improved air quality from reduced air pollutants versus meteorological changes). The benefit of reduced air pollution emissions associated with sustainable development under 1.5 °C pathways dominated the overall impact, which could avoid 1 589 000 PM2.5-related and 526 000 O3-related deaths in 2050. Correspondingly, the impact of changed meteorology on air quality would avoid additional 8000 PM2.5-related deaths in 2050 under 1.5 °C pathways yet would lead to 22 000 O3-related deaths. Also, the heatwave-related deaths could be avoided by 7000. The substantial anthropogenic emission reduction cobenefits of 1.5 °C pathways in improving air quality significantly exceed the direct climate (heatwave-related) benefits and completely offset the impact of meteorological changes' impact on air pollution under climate change.

Artificial Intelligence Approach to Secure Pension Fund

Pension fund needs to produce a high-income return to face actuarial expectations of different kinds of benefits. An asset allocation management model of a pension fund must consider a large planning horizon because of its long-term obligations. Asset allocation controls the solvency of the fund by suitable investments and contribution policies to secure the pensioner’s future liabilities. Artificial intelligence approaches given by experts and accepted by decision-makers, provide a powerful tool for describing uncertainty. A portfolio optimization model is introduced based on variance minimization at a required return level that secures the fund against insolvency risk. This method uses an artificial Bee ColonyOptimizationApproach to the mean-variance defined by Markowitz so that future returns of the stocks are predicted where the ability of AI to improve predictive and prescriptive financial forecasting processes will change the world of finance management.

Psychosocial After-Care to Increase Quality of Life?

This study examines to what extent individuals who need psychosocial support actually benefit from the following support services: capability-oriented activities, mobile caring and support, psychosocial counselling centre, and assisted living. Furthermore, the impact of these support services on clients' quality of life is investigated. We statistically analysed data (n = 2,099) collected via client satisfaction surveys over five years (2013 to 2017). The clients reported the benefits they experienced regarding various aspects such as living, coping with everyday life, or confidence, as well as their perceived quality of life. The data suggest, that psychosocial after-care can improve and stabilize clients' quality of life. Clients of all types of support services reported similar improvements of their quality of life. However, clients from different types of support services reported different kinds of benefits, and, accordingly, improvements in quality of life were predicted from different kinds of benefits.

The effect of advance payment with discount facility on supply decisions of deteriorating products whose demand is both price and stock dependent

AbstractGenerally, in the business world, it is observed that suppliers give different kinds of benefits to retailers due to advance payment. One of the popular benefits is instant cash discount due to advance payment. If a retailer pays off his total purchase cost before receiving the products, then he receives a certain percentage of cash discount instantly. However, if the retailer pays off a certain fraction of the total purchasing cost, then price discount is given only at the time of receiving the products while paying the remaining amount of the total purchasing cost. Using this concept, this paper formulates, under both cases of advance payment (full or partial), an inventory model for deteriorating products where shortages are allowed and demand function is considered as price and stock dependent. The closed‐form solutions for each case are presented and two numerical examples are solved. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is also performed to show the effects of advance payment with discount facility.

THE ROLE OF ONLINE BRAND COMMUNTIES ON BUILDING BRAND EQUITY AND LOYALTY THROUGH RELATIONAL BENEFITS

From a marketing perspective, companies use social media as a tool to establish relationships with customers. Thus, brand–customer relationships via social media are able to deliver different kinds of benefits for customers. This article conducts empirical research in order to measure the effect of each type of relational benefit on Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE) and customer loyalty. The findings show that social and exploration benefits affect CBBE and loyalty, while monetary and recognition benefits influence loyalty and CBBE, respectively. Results contribute to the existing literature by providing insights to the highly relevant phenomenon of social media across different industries.

Are Indirect Benefits Relevant to Health Care Allocation Decisions?

When allocating scarce healthcare resources, the expected benefits of alternative allocations matter. But, there are different kinds of benefits. Some are direct benefits to the recipient of the resource such as the health improvements of receiving treatment. Others are indirect benefits to third parties such as the economic gains from having a healthier workforce. This article considers whether only the direct benefits of alternative healthcare resource allocations are relevant to allocation decisions, or whether indirect benefits are relevant too. First, we distinguish different conceptions of direct and indirect benefits and argue that only a recipient conception could be morally relevant. We analyze four arguments for thinking that indirect benefits should not count and argue that none is successful in showing that the indirectness of a benefit is a good reason not to count it. We conclude that direct and indirect benefits should be evaluated in the same way.

Identidade visual corporativa: análise de sua relação com a performance da micro e pequena empresa

The aim of this paper is to verify how MSEs managers identify the work of graphic design on the performance of your company, evaluated from its Corporate Visual Identity (CVI). The applied research, of a qualitative nature, was developed from bibliographic research, semi‐structured interviews and documental research. The investigation used a multiple case study, through a literal replication, by making a comparative analysis of different cases. were analyzed seven (7) MSEs, from commerce and service sectors, located in the cities of Vitoria, Vila Velha, Serra and Cariacica, from the Espirito Santo state. The data collected in the interviews were analyzed using Content Analysis, based on the steps described by Bardin (1977) and Laville (1999). Thus, it was possible to prove that most of the managers of the investigated MSEs identifies that the IVC has great importance for your business, managing to understand their meaning, their role in the company and its positive contribution to performance, providing different kinds of benefits to the company. Furthermore, it was concluded that the better the design management operated by the MSE, better the results obtained in their performance and better the use of the benefits generated by the application of design by the company.

Proposal for a Modified Cost-optimal Approach by Introducing Benefits Evaluation

The recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive introduced the concept of nearly-zero energy building and encouraged setting the nearly-zero energy target with a view to cost-optimal level - the energy performance that leads to the lowest cost during the building estimated economic lifecycle. To searching this regard, the cost-optimal methodology based on the global cost was defined providing a tool to assess different nearly-zero energy scenarios. Nowadays, the cost-optimal analysis is used as a decision-making tool between different energy design alternatives mostly on a theoretical level; but it has spread little among the professional field. The aim of this paper is to give a more holistic and all-comprehensive approach to the cost-optimal methodology. This paper proposes and applies a modified approach of the cost-optimal evaluation, which will lead to the achievement of more interesting results for all the actors involved, including investors and final users. This study highlights the usefulness of including not only costs but also benefits that can derive from each energy design scenario. Choosing different energy efficiency solutions, the related benefits evaluation could turn the tables. Different kinds of benefits could be considered as the increase of the real estate market value, the enhancement of the indoor comfort, the reduction of CO2 emissions and others. Thus, a proposal of how quantifying these qualitative benefits in monetary terms is shown to introduce them in the global cost formula. Actually, benefits conversion into monetary values is the most challenging issue. Precisely, this paper shows a list of benefits that can affect the choice of different envelope and HVAC system solutions, pointing out their influence on the global cost evaluation. Certainly, introducing benefits in the global cost formula means using a more holistic and complete approach, while the already complex degree of the cost-optimal methodology – due to the numerous input data –increases. To validate the reviewed global cost formula, it will be necessary to apply it to various case studies.

Exploring Visitor Experiences, Activities and Benefits at Three Religious Tourism Sites

AbstractThis research examines and compares the experiences of visitors (N = 534) to three different Christian religious heritage sites: Canterbury Cathedral, the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and the Glastonbury Abbey Christian pilgrimage festival. Employing the activity, setting, experience and benefit framework, the findings indicate that the three religious sites attract visitors who seek different kinds of experiences and report different kinds of benefits. Results indicate that restorative experiences and benefits often overshadow the spiritual or cognitive benefits that many believe to be the primary outcomes of religious tourism. These results challenge traditional ideas about what it means to be a visitor at historical religious sites. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Lavish Corporate Hospitality: The Lawful and Unlawful Interaction of Public Officials and Private Sector Actors — Law and the Court Praxis in Finland

Public officials can be offered hospitality, excursions, seminars or different kinds of benefits by the business sector. These kinds of benefits can be seen to be a customary practice or the management of public relations. Finnish law does not give any clear-cut answers when a certain benefit can be seen as lawful (as a gift) or unlawful (as a bribe). The aim of this research is to clarify, based on the Finnish Criminal Code, by Finnish case law, as well as soft law instruments, the thin line between unlawful and lawful benefits in this business–public sector interaction. The article also discusses the concept of the management of public relations which the Finnish courts have mentioned as the factor that can justify the benefits given to the public officials by business sector.

Validity of a Model Based on Transaction Costs in Identifying the Benefits of IOS: The Electronic Data Interchange Case

Company competitiveness often depends on key relationships with other companies and information technologies play a critical role in supporting these relationships. Nevertheless, tools to analyse the impact of technology on businesses are in short supply. This article presents the results of research performed in companies in the mass consumer industry aimed at verifying the validity of a proposed model based on transaction costs, to be used for impact evaluation of inter-organizational systems in companies. The model, which takes into account different kinds of benefits, is applied in an exploratory way to the identification of benefits from using electronic data interchange systems as an e-commerce tool to support business to business relationships. Verification of the proposed model confirms its usefulness for the identification of benefits, mainly for those occurring at the inter-organizative level.

Privacy online: perspectives on privacy and self-disclosure in the social Web

Communications and personal information that are posted online are usually accessible to a vast number of people. Yet when personal data exist online, they may be searched, reproduced and mined by advertisers, merchants, service providers or even stalkers. Many users know what may happen to their information, while at the same time they act as though their data are private or intimate. They expect their privacy will not be infringed while they willingly share personal information with the world via social network sites, blogs, and in online communities.The chapters collected by Trepte and Reinecke address questions arising from this disparity that has often been referred to as the privacy paradox. Works by renowned researchers from various disciplines including psychology, communication, sociology, and information science, offer new theoretical models on the functioning of online intimacy and public accessibility, and propose novel ideas on the how and why of online privacy. The contributing authors offer intriguing solutions for some of the most pressing issues and problems in the field of online privacy. They investigate how users abandon privacy to enhance social capital and to generate different kinds of benefits. They argue that trust and authenticity characterize the uses of social network sites. They explore how privacy needs affect users virtual identities. Ethical issues of privacy online are discussed as well as its gratifications and users concerns. The contributors of this volume focus on the privacy needs and behaviors of a variety of different groups of social media users such as young adults, older users, and genders. They also examine privacy in the context of particular online services such as social network sites, mobile internet access, online journalism, blogs, and micro-blogs.In sum, this book offers researchers and students working on issues related to internet communication not only a thorough and up-to-date treatment of online privacy and the social web. It also presents a glimpse of the future by exploring emergent issues concerning new technological applications and by suggesting theory-based research agendas that can guide inquiry beyond the current forms of social technologies.

Incentive effects and the income tax treatment of employer-provided workplace benefits

Employers often provide their employees with different kinds of benefits in the workplace to create comfortable working conditions. In order to avoid distortions of the wage-benefit ratio in employee compensation, economic theory suggests that fringe benefits should be subject to income taxation at a value placed on them by employees. This article shows that this approach does not apply to workplace benefits. Since the goal of these benefits is to reduce the employees’ disutility from work, treating them simply as wage substitutes disregards their incentive effects. Therefore, the rules for taxing workplace benefits are derived from an agency model. It is shown that in contrast to the standard economic approach, cost can be a more efficient tax base than willingness to pay, even though this results in higher tax payments. Moreover, with non-distortionary tax rates it is always better to tax the employer rather than the employee.

How do actors shape social networks during the process of new product development?

Recent studies on new-idea generation and development have highlighted the role played by network structure in the genesis of new combinations or the process of selecting ideas. However, less attention has been paid to the factors that entice actors to shape social networks during the process of the development of new ideas. This research was conducted in an RD (2) to enhance credibility; (3) to exercise oneOs influence; and (4) to gain access to knowledge through people or objects. We demonstrate that different types of ties or network structures are relied upon to reap different kinds of benefits. This may partially explain network evolution as an idea progresses through different development stages. a

Third-party logistics providers offering form postponement services: value propositions and organisational approaches

In today's global supply chains, third-party logistics providers (3PLs) can play an important role in implementing the principle of form postponement (FP). This proposes that activities creating product variety and the associated production mix decisions are deferred along a product family manufacturing and distribution process as long as possible. While both FP and third-party logistics have increasingly drawn the attention of the academic community over the last few years, less research has been carried out on FP supported by 3PLs. The present paper empirically investigates how 3PLs can deliver value to companies offering product variety by providing FP services, defined as the carrying out of variety-creating activities on behalf of these companies close to the target markets. Our findings indicate that, through an FP service, a 3PL can give its customers two different kinds of benefits: either improved performance in serving the customer's existing markets or entry into new geographical markets. Further, our results show that through the choice of the organisational solution for FP service provision, the 3PL can increase FP value by mitigating a number of disadvantages that the customer might incur in the case of in-house implementation of FP. Challenges that the 3PL needs to overcome to actually provide these potential benefits are also identified. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of our findings for both practice and research on FP.

Computer misuse in the workplace

Many information security specialists believe that promoting good end-user behaviour and restricting inappropriate end-user behaviour are vital for effective information security. Because of the importance of security-related end-user behaviour, it is important to have a systematic viewpoint on the different kinds of benefits for managers, auditors, information technologists and others with an interest in assessing and/or influencing end-user behaviour.

Determinants of Economic and Social Outcomes from a Life-Wide Learning Perspective in Canada

The notion that the knowledge and skills embodied in individuals contribute to the creation of economic and social benefits is not a new concept. But in practice little is known about the extent and relative influence of how different learning activities contribute to the formation of one's knowledge and skills, and in turn their relative influence in generating different kinds of benefits. Studies either focus on one form of learning or the other, and for the most part they tend to focus on indicators of formal education. To improve the understanding of how education and learning lead to the creation of economic and social benefits, a comprehensive approach drawing on all the potential sources of knowledge and skills should be applied. Accordingly, the primary objective of the present article is to measure the relative influence of engaging in various learning activities--Aspanning the 'life-wide' spectrum of learning--Aon economic and social benefits. The study presents a conceptual framework and uses data from the Canadian Adult Literacy Survey to estimate corresponding structural models. The findings provide support for the hypotheses formulated; namely, that the relationship between formal education and economic and social outcomes is complex, with confounding effects. The results indicate that different types of learning activities taken for different reasons lead to different kinds of benefits. The latter finding suggests a potential trade-off between attaining economic and social benefits through different types of learning activities that are taken for either job-related or personal interest-related reasons. The article concludes that further in-depth analyses are required to improve the understanding of the complex relationship between various learning activities and the benefits they generate.

DO NON-BREEDING, ADULT LONG-TOED SALAMANDERS RESPOND TO CONSPECIFICS AS FRIENDS OR AS FOES?

The majority of studies of amphibian sociobiology focuses on breeding individuals. However, adults certainly interact when not breeding and may do so subtly and in natural habitats that are inaccessible to direct observation. We conducted three laboratory experiments to explore social interactions among non-breeding, adult long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum columbianum), which reside in terrestrial burrows in nature. In substrate discrimination tests, salamanders preferred areas that bore chemical cues indicative of occupancy by a conspecific relative to clean areas (Experiment 1). However, only females discriminated occupant sex, preferring to associate with chemical cues derived from males (Experiment 2). When provided with a partner, salamanders spent more time in cohabitation in an artificial burrow than residing alone (Experiment 3). Our data suggest that, in nature, non-breeding adults may be social rather than territorial; conspecifics may aggregate rather than exclude one another. However, males and females may experience different kinds of benefits and costs to sociality outside of the breeding season, perhaps as a function of sex differences in energetic requirements for future reproduction.