Disruption Time Research Articles

Technology Competence, Self-Efficacy, and Attitude Towards Online Distance Learning by Nurse Educators during Disruptive Times: A Concurrent Triangulation

The unprecedented emergence of COVID-19 pandemic affected the world in a multi- dimensional impact on society. The abrupt imposition of online learning was realized accompanied by sudden changes from classroom attendance to home study using online technology. Several studies found out that attitudes towards online distance learning, technological competence, and self-efficacy are significant factors to be considered in an online distance learning by nurse educators teaching in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Moreover, authorities firmly suggested that these variables are believed to be influential to nurse educators in relation to their performances in the new educational system. This study aimed to analyze the path relationships of nurse educators’ technology competency, self- efficacy, and attitude towards online distance learning during disruptive times. Concurrent triangulation method was used particularly path analysis and Hermeneutical inquiry. A total of 97 nurse educators from the three Colleges of Nursing were included and 8 participants for the qualitative inquiry. Results showed that nurse educators have favourable attitude, high technology competence, and have a reasonable amount of self-efficacy. Structural Model Equation (SEM) reveals that technology competence significantly mediates the relationship between attitude towards online distance learning and self-efficacy. Furthermore, seven major metaphoric themes were identified – A chief complaint of Doubt and Uncertainty, Coding for Triage, Stat Mydriatics for Opening the Lens of Eyesight in Viewing the Reality, Heightened Alert of Activation Response for Brain Stimulation, and Precising an Insertion Guided with Confidence Through a Stylet, A Dose of Potentiating Meds for Synergistic Effect, and lastly Activating 9-1-1 for Cyber Rescue. Conclusively, technological competence has a mediating role in relation to self-efficacy and attitude towards online distance learning. This result implies that nurse educators must prioritize technology competence prior to their performance in an online distance learning environment.

The Corporate Honesty Effect and Its Boundary Conditions: B2B Firms’ Communications on Withdrawal from Russia

ABSTRACT Purpose Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and ensuing industrial turmoil as well as the pressure of stakeholder sentiments, numerous U.S-based multinational B2B firms announced about their intent to withdraw from the Russian market. This study aims to probe the veracity of this form of corporate communication, exploring the corporate honesty effect by juxtaposing the stated withdrawal intentions against the actual scale of divestment. Methodology/approach We identify 241 cases of response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict pertaining to U.S-based multinational B2B corporations. This includes 34 cases of no withdrawal (i.e., no communication) and 207 cases of announcements about the firm’s intent to withdraw from Russia. For these cases, we calculate the actual scale of withdrawal (Actual Divestment Index) based on the data from Federal Tax Service of Russia and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. Considering Actual Divestment Index as a fractional measure, we conduct fractional logit regression analysis, where the effect of the withdrawal communication on Actual Divestment Index is interpreted as the corporate honesty effect. Findings Controlling for variables such as firm size, leverage, return on assets, institutional ownership, entry mode, and industry, the analysis reveals that the scope of intended withdrawal – reflected in the stages of no action, non-essential pullout, suspension, partial core, and full core withdrawal – is positively associated with the observed level of divestment. The findings further show that firms with larger corporate resources, higher profitability, and deeper local market exposure exhibit a greater level of corporate honesty. Research implications This study builds on the MFHB framework (Cooper et al., 2023) that differentiates several distinct dimensions of corporate honesty. Our research applies these dimensions to formulate an operational definition of corporate honesty which emphasizes the fidelity to the firm’s communicated intent, situationally activated in response to external pressures and emergent socio-political sentiments, in the context of established domestic/international business relationships. Also, we contribute to the current body of knowledge on corporate honesty by introducing a method of measuring the corporate honesty effect. Practical implications Marketing managers of multinational B2B firms must endeavor to maintain the stakeholder perceptions of corporate legitimacy by constantly monitoring the level of corporate honesty effect, specifically during the time of war-induced disruptions and turmoil in B2B markets. Managers of B2B firms with larger resources, better profitability, and deeper market exposure can leverage their advantageous position to further highlight and promote their actual performance in this aspect to assuage the concerns and negative sentiments of stakeholders. Originality/value/contribution This research contributes to theories of corporate honesty by contextualizing the concept of corporate honesty within the framework of communication-action congruence. This is done in relation to the strategic divestment communications and actions undertaken by B2B multinational firms in a market embroiled in moral turmoil during a geopolitical conflict. Our alternative operationalization of corporate honesty facilitates a quantifiable assessment of this construct, offering an alternative methodology to evaluate the integrity of corporate communications vis-à-vis actual organizational action in crisis contexts. Our findings about the boundary conditions of the corporate honesty effect contributes to a nuanced understanding of the phenomenon within the domain of sociopolitical corporate activism, ethical business practices, and international market dynamics.

Fiscal Policy and Economic Resilience: The Impact of Government Consumption Alongside Oil and Non-Oil Revenues on Saudi Arabia’s GDP during Crises (1969–2022)

This study investigates the impact of Government Consumption (GC) on Saudi Arabia’s GDP during major economic crises from 1969 to 2022, focusing on periods marked by fluctuations in oil and non-oil revenues. By integrating these revenue streams, the research provides a more comprehensive analysis of fiscal policy effectiveness during economic downturns. Using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the study reveals the complex role of Government Consumption (GC) in stabilizing and stimulating the Saudi economy amidst revenue volatility. Key findings indicate that while GC does not significantly influence GDP in the short term, its long-term effectiveness varies across different crises. Specifically, GC has acted as a buffer against immediate economic shocks during certain crises while providing a stimulus for economic recovery in others. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, timely fiscal measures significantly boosted GDP, underscoring the importance of adaptive and proactive fiscal policies. Conversely, the 2014–2016 oil price collapse demonstrated that GC alone was insufficient to counteract economic downturns, emphasizing the need for diversified revenue strategies. These findings underscore the dual role of GC in economic stabilization and recovery. During the COVID-19 pandemic, GC played a crucial role in both mitigating negative economic impacts and supporting recovery efforts, showcasing its effectiveness in times of global disruptions. This demonstrates GC’s capability as an immediate buffer against economic shocks and a stimulus for economic recovery. In contrast, during the 2014–2016 oil price collapse, GC was less effective, indicating the limitations of relying solely on government spending without broader economic diversification. This highlights the necessity of diversified revenue strategies to complement fiscal measures for long-term economic resilience. The robustness of the findings was ensured through various diagnostic tests, including checks for autocorrelation, heteroskedasticity, and stationarity of residuals. The absence of significant autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity, along with the stationarity of differenced variables, confirms the validity of the econometric models used. The study contributes to the discourse on fiscal policy in oil-dependent economies by illustrating the critical role of diversified revenue strategies and adaptive fiscal measures in enhancing economic resilience. Recommendations are offered for policymakers to optimize fiscal strategies, ensuring robust economic recovery and long-term stability in volatile markets. This research highlights the necessity for Saudi Arabia to refine its fiscal policies towards greater economic diversification and stability.

SELF-HEALING MECHANISM BASED ON FAULT MANAGEMENT FOR SMART-GRID DEVELOPMENT ON 20kV SPINDLE NETWORKS TO IMPROVE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM RELIABILITY AT PLN UID JAKARTA-INDONESIA

This study aim is to study for the development of smart grid with the implementation of network automation in the spindle system to improve reliability, revenue and customer experience in the priority areas of PLN UID Jakarta. The addition of new substations has an impact on the reconfiguration changes and the addition of new networks in the context of loading feeders and causing the topology of the distribution network to be increasingly complex and impure spindle systems, in addition to the jammed condition of Jakarta also has an impact on the longer time in investigating disturbances, as well as the limited investment budget of PLN has not supported the installation of new keypoints in all distribution substations. This research was carried out by system modeling in the SCADA Distribution Management System for N-1 contingency and a simulation of the Self-Healing Mechanism test based on static and dynamic data parameters in real-time according to the Load Flow and Load Forecast in the SCADA systems. Evaluation of technical and financial feasibility as a smart feeder design that will be implemented in the spindle system, on the other hand, it is expected to be a Distribution Grid Management design that is feasible to be implemented in the 20kV Spindle system as an alternative to Zero Down Time to accelerate the recovery time of distribution disruptions and improve reliability performance in controlling the operation of the distribution system at PLN UID Jakarta.

Supporting positive patient experiences for rare disease care during disruptive times: findings from a national study

Supporting positive patient experiences for rare disease care during disruptive times: findings from a national study

Communication Matters: Loneliness in Senior Living Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The purpose of this study was to investigate individuals residing in senior living communities (SLCs) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. One reason those living in SLCs often choose these communities is to have a readily available social network. Necessary social distancing disrupted this socialization, thus, possibly increasing perceptions of loneliness in residents of SLCs. This study examined relationships among loneliness, perceived provider communication about the pandemic and related restrictions, as well as individual characteristics. In December 2020, a survey was administered to older adults residing in a network of SLCs in Nebraska. Utilizing data from 657 residents aged 60 and older, ordinary least squares regression models were used to examine associations between 2 distinct measures of perceived provider communication and feelings of loneliness during the pandemic. The analysis also considered whether these associations varied as a function of education. The respondents were, on average, 84 years of age, primarily female (72%), and living independently (87%) in the SLC. The linear regression results revealed that 53% of respondents were very lonely during the pandemic. However, provider communication that was rated as helpful to residents' understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with lower perceived loneliness. There was not a similar association for provider communication regarding services and amenities, and the association was not present for those with the highest level of education. Provider communication in times of disruption from normal activities, such as with the COVID-19 pandemic, is important to perceptions of loneliness among those living in SLCs, particularly for those with lower educational attainment. SLCs are communities that individuals select to reside in, and through communication, providers may have the opportunity to positively affect resident experiences, especially in times of stress.

Guest editorial: Quality 4.0 and Kaizen during disruptive times: addressing the triple helix actors’ COVID-19 pandemic challenges

Guest editorial: Quality 4.0 and Kaizen during disruptive times: addressing the triple helix actors’ COVID-19 pandemic challenges

Bouncing back: HR professionals' experiences during times of disruption

PurposeThis study investigates human resource (HR) professionals' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe study involves in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 37 HR professionals purposefully selected based on their prior involvement in managing pandemic-related challenges.FindingsThe findings reveal that HR professionals faced intensified organizational demands, leading to expanded job roles, increased workload, a change in pace and emotional pressures. However, participants exhibited resilience by drawing from and creating various job resources to cope with these demands. Our findings also show that despite HR professionals being central to creating workplace support and wellness initiatives, their well-being needs were often overlooked as they prioritized supporting others.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes to research on the experiences of HR professionals during the pandemic and to job-demands resources (JD-R) theory by incorporating context-specific demands, resources and coping strategies specific to HR professionals.Practical implicationsLessons learned for organizations and HR professionals are discussed in relation to creating conditions of organizational support and resource availability for HR professionals.Originality/valueThis study extends research on the mental health and well-being of HR professionals during the pandemic by providing a novel lens on linkages between job demands, job resources and self-regulation strategies.

Distance education and parents’ mental health: the role of resilience, parent-child communication and relationships

According to a UNESCO survey, 173 countries had closed schools and other educational facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. As online distance learning became a new normal in disruptive times, researchers began to examine its psychological impact on parents and children. Drawing on Buzzanell’s (2010, 2018) communication theory of resilience, this study examined the relationships between Chinese parents’ resilience, their attitudes toward distance learning, parent-child communication and relationship, and psychological wellbeing. Participants were 101 Chinese parents who had children that did distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings showed that parents’ resilience and attitudes toward distance learning had a positive, indirect effect on their psychological wellbeing through the mediation of parent-child communication and relationships. The study provides empirical support for the CTR theory as a fruitful lens for explaining family communication patterns and relationships, as well as psychological wellbeing during disruptive times. The study yielded important practical insights into how individuals can cope with the negative impact brought forth by unexpected and destructive events.

COVID-19 IMPACT ON DEBT CHOICES OF HEALTHCARE COMPANIES: EVIDENCE FROM INDONESIA

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a huge global impact since its emergence in December 2019. This research explores the various impacts of the pandemic on the Indonesian economy, with a particular focus on the healthcare sector from 2019 to 2022. This research aims to determine the impact of COVID-19 on debt choices in the health sector listed on the IDX. The research timeline encompasses the years 2019 through 2022, designating the period from 2019 to 2021 as the active COVID-19 timeframe, with 2022 denoted as a post-COVID-19 phase. Debt choice is represented by the debt-to-equity ratio (DER). Then, this research uses panel data, which is secondary data. This research uses Repeated Measure ANCOVA, which is regressed using the STATA 14.2 application. This research concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic affects the debt choices of healthcare companies. The findings support the idea that the pandemic has a marked impact on the debt choices of healthcare firms in Indonesia, emphasizing the need for adaptability in financial strategies during times of significant global disruption.

Daughterwork in times of social upheaval

This paper focuses on adult daughters’ experiences of daughtering and role changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relationship between daughters and their parents is a topic of importance given its importance in families and potential to impact wellbeing. The pandemic presented a disruption to women’s lives in multiple domains, creating a need for rapid change and adaptation, though daughters’ experiences have been missing from our recent cultural conversation of the invisible load women shoulder. The overarching research questions for this project is: How do participants describe their daughtering experiences and relational communication strategies during and after a time of social, familial, and career disruption? Using in-depth, semi-structured interviews of women who identified change to their daughtering, professional, and family lives, this paper discusses the ways a crisis can provide opportunities for flexible daughtering and meaningful connection as well as a time to reflect on one’s most important relationships.

Exploring Affordances of Online and Offline Strategies for Continuity of Learning in Secondary Schools during Pandemics: Lessons from Uganda's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread school closures, disrupting learning in institutions worldwide. This study examined the online and offline strategies implemented in Uganda's secondary schools during the pandemic and draws lessons from the country's response. This study was conducted in two schools in Kampala District, the research employed a qualitative multiple case study approach, gathering data through interviews, observations, and focus group discussions. The findings revealed that both online and offline strategies played significant roles in facilitating home-based learning. Printed learning materials, such as textbooks and workbooks, were valued by teachers and students for providing a sense of continuity in their studies. However, limitations such as the lack of immediate clarification and two-way communication were identified. Logistical challenges in distributing the materials also posed difficulties, particularly for students in remote areas. Radio broadcasts emerged as a pivotal offline strategy for reaching students without internet access. Parents and students appreciated the insightful educational content delivered through radio programs, even in remote areas. However, accessibility concerns and the lack of interactivity were highlighted as limitations. These findings are not only pertinent for Uganda but also contribute to the global conversation on resilient educational systems in times of unforeseen disruptions. It is crucial to address the limitations of online and offline strategies to ensure equitable access and effective learning experiences for all students, especially those in remote areas

Efficient recovery of beta-mannanase fused with LysM3014 domain in Escherichia coliby glass bead based-cell disruption method

Toward the development of whole cell biocatalysts via non-GMO strategy, in this study, three cell disruption methods (sonication, freezingand thawing and bead-shaking) have been evaluatedto recover efficiently fusion protein LysM3014-ManB containing a beta-mannanase (ManB) from Bacillus lichenifomisfused with a single LysM3014 domain derived from a putative extracellulartransglycosylase Lp_3014 of Lactobacillus plantarumWCFS1. The results showed that the highest volumetric activity of fusion protein (~46651 U/lfermentation) was obtained when shaking the recombinant E. coliwith glass bead. Moreover, the enzymatic activity of LysM3014-ManB increased approximately 1.4 folds(~66000 U/lfermentation)under the optimum conditions of glass bead-based cell disruption (falcon 50 ml, glass bead ratio of 1.0 g/mland disruption time of 8 min). The study indicates that shaking the cells with glass bead is likely to be the simplest and the most efficient cell disruption methodin comparison with other disruption methods.

Towards substantive and productive oral language skills and practices in children from birth to 8-year education contexts in times of extreme disruption

Towards substantive and productive oral language skills and practices in children from birth to 8-year education contexts in times of extreme disruption

Exploring the role of Dynamic Presencing in a group coaching training context for fostering transformative leadership development in disruptive times.

With the growing array of challenges humanity has been experiencing since the global pandemic, knowledge workers at all levels of organizations are experiencing a noted increase in the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) conditions of their work and lives. This has brought about significant changes in ways of working and associated ways of being that have become more fragmented and virtual. Disruptive change continues to unfold on many levels of society, from the organizational to the individual level, with multiple and often unintended consequences. This article outlines how the body of work of Dynamic Presencing in a group coaching context facilitates responsive forms of personal development as well as a deeper transformation of one's leadership identity in the face of such change, which in turn serves as an approach that can be useful in navigating VUCA conditions that are becoming increasingly prevalent. The transformative process of Dynamic Presencing develops core inner leadership capabilities with a noted increase in the quality of internal and interpersonal forms of self-,presence-, and presencing-awareness. Overall, Dynamic Presencing serves as a critical enabler of presencing mastery, which instills deeper confidence and resourcefulness in working with the VUCA conditions of our global world by deepening our presencing process and refining our methods for inner leadership development in turbulent times.

A new ViT-Based augmentation framework for wafer map defect classification to enhance the resilience of semiconductor supply chains

Wafer map defect classification plays a crucial role in sustaining the semiconductor supply chain during industrial disruptions by ensuring continuity, resilience, and efficiency while aligning with sustainability principles. Up to 30 percent of production costs is lost to chip testing and yield losses for semiconductor manufacturing supply chain. In the semiconductor practice, wafer map defects recognition plays a linchpin role in the front-end-of-line stage. Defect pattern recognition can directly pinpoint the assignable causes and provide the domain experts with actionable insights. However, various wafer defect types occur differently from each other, which makes the collected wafer map dataset to be highly imbalanced in defect classes. In the face of data imbalance, the classification model usually cannot provide satisfactory classification performance. In this aspect, this paper intends to investigate the wafer defect map classification problem by using Vision Transformer (ViT) as an alternative data augmentation approach. The primary purpose is to alleviate the class-imbalance issue and then the performance of a deep learning-based convolutional neural network for wafer defect classification can be effectively improved. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed data augmentation method by using ViT proves to be a potential generative model for improving wafer map defect classification, particularly robust on the individual minority class. In a word, the proposed augmentation framework for wafer map defect classification facilitates a more targeted and efficient approach to quality control, resource utilization, and production optimization in maintaining a sustainable semiconductor supply chain, particularly in times of industrial disruption.

Heterogeneous trajectories of perceived stress and their associations with active leisure: a longitudinal study during the first year of COVID-19.

There is a plethora of literature on the dynamics of mental health indicators throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, yet research is scarce on the potential heterogeneity in the development of perceived stress. Furthermore, there is a paucity of longitudinal research on whether active leisure engagement, which typically is beneficial in reducing stress, might have similar benefits during times of major disruption. Here we aimed to extend previous work by exploring the dynamics of change in stress and coping, and the associations with active leisure engagement over the first year of COVID-19. Data from 439 adults (Mage = 45, SD = 13) in Estonia who participated in a longitudinal online study were analyzed. The participants were assessed at three timepoints: April-May 2020; November-December 2020; and April-May 2021. Mean stress and coping levels were stable over time. However, latent profile analysis identified four distinct trajectories of change in stress and coping, involving resilient, stressed, recovering, and deteriorating trends. Participants belonging to the positively developing stress trajectories reported higher active leisure engagement than those belonging to the negatively developing stress trajectories. These findings highlight the importance of adopting person-centered approaches to understand the diverse experiences of stress, as well as suggest the promotion of active leisure as a potentially beneficial coping resource, in future crises.

Filling in the gaps: a service ecosystem perspective on purchase groups as interstitial markets

PurposeGiven the continuing need to study service marketing adaptations that emerged in the wake of Covid-19, this paper aims to look at the formation and evolution of purchase groups (PGs) that arose in Indian gated communities during the pandemic and have continued functioning in the post-pandemic marketplace. Not only did these groups act as much-needed interstitial markets during a time of significant external disruption, but they also served as sites of value co-creation, with consumers collaborating with each other and with service providers.Design/methodology/approachUsing a phenomenological research approach, the authors conducted 22 in-depth interviews with Indian consumers and small service providers to gather accounts of how PGs started and evolved with time. Subsequent data coding and analyses are conducted with NVivo 12.FindingsUsing the service ecosystem perspective, the authors illustrate seven distinct themes that capture the nuances of the formation and evolution of PGs. These consist of entrepreneurality, collectivity, and fluidity at the service ecosystem level, hybridity and transactionality at the servicescape level, and mutuality and permeability at the service encounter level.Originality/valueThis study provides an empirical and theoretically grounded account of a long-term service marketing adaptation that has persisted in the post-pandemic marketplace. This helps us address recent calls for such research while also adding to the work on value co-creation in collective consumption contexts and extant discourse on service ecosystems.

Examining the effects of attention and concentration levels on reaction time in fencing

Background and Study Aim. Attention and concentration, fundamental psychological skills, are crucial in situations where the opponent moves rapidly and incessantly. Reaction time is also of paramount importance in winning a game in fencing, which requires both offensive and defensive actions. Understanding the factors that affect reaction time is essential for improving performance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of disruptions in attention and concentration on reaction time in fencing. Material and Methods. Thirty-four healthy male and female fencers participated in two testing sessions. In the initial session, participants filled out a personal information form and took the d2 Attention Test to determine their attention levels. They also completed items representing the concentration disruption subscale of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) to measure concentration levels. In the second session, participants underwent the Favero Electronic Fencing Target (EFT-1) test to measure their reaction times. To analyze the obtained data, SPSS 20 was used. The Pearson correlation coefficient between attention, concentration disruption, and participants' reaction times was calculated. Then, linear regression analysis was employed to test whether attention and concentration scores could predict the reaction times. Results. The findings indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between E (r = .603, p < .01), E% (r = .628, p < .01), E1 (r = .584, p < .01), E2 (r = .533, p < .01), and reaction time. Additionally, a significant negative relationship was revealed between concentration performance and reaction times (r = -.456, p < .01). A significant positive correlation was observed between fencers' concentration disruption and reaction times (r = .416, p < .05). Conclusions. Our study results emphasize the importance of attention and concentration in disciplines that require quick reactions. These cognitive factors need to be considered in the development of sports performance.

Research, interrupted: Addressing practical and methodological challenges under turbulent conditions

The COVID-19 pandemic caused tremendous upheaval in schooling. In addition to devasting effects on students, these disruptions had consequences for researchers conducting studies on education programs and policies. Given the likelihood of future large-scale disruptions, it is important for researchers to plan resilient studies and think critically about adaptations when such turbulence arises. In this article, we utilize qualitative analysis of interviews with research study leaders to illuminate practical and methodological challenges, as well as promising practices that arose during the pandemic period. We find that researchers made pivots to address practical challenges and protect the feasibility of their studies. We also find that researchers took precautions, where possible, to understand and bolster internal validity. However, these pivots frequently surfaced additional threats to construct and external validity. We conclude with recommendations for future studies conducted in times of prolonged unplanned school closures or other large-scale disruptions.