Holistic Value Research Articles

Search for the Depths of Education in the Treasury of B. Bitinas’ Pedagogical Thought

Contemporary educational system, which focuses on strengthening of the paradigm of liberal education, encounters problems not only due to rapid changes in political, social, economic and cultural life but also because of the development of educational science itself. Therefore, it is particularly important to penetrate into the treasury of pedagogical thoughts of prominent educational researchers.
 B. Bitinas pedagogical thought embraces a big number of components of educational system analysed in the interdisciplinary context. A particular role is assigned to the philosophy of education, which facilitates linking of the essence of human existence with the spiritual dimension as unique power of the human nature that creates prerequisites for self-governance as well as for creation of authentic relations. Such a methodological approach opens up opportunities of theoretical substantiation of the process of education and its practical realisation.
 The contribution of Professor to determination of axiological fundamentals of education is of utmost significance: the essence of values, criteria, typology and hierarchy. In the background of the aforesaid questions, the principles of setting educational goals that focus on the authentic choice of holistic or hierarchical value system are highlighted. Therefore the value-based pluralism is identified as the main principle of development of axiological education content.
 The contribution of B. Bitinas to the deepening of the structure of the process of education is particularly relevant. The presented structure of educational situation allows to distinguish its components as well as to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the process of education in the specific situation. Educational science is incapable to implement the insight of B. Bitinas into the paradigm of synergetic, which serves as basis for methodology. This is a trend for future research, which is grounded on the Professor’s insights.

Economic evaluation strategies in telehealth: Obtaining a more holistic valuation of telehealth interventions

Telehealth is an emerging area of medical research. Its translation from conception, to research and into practice requires tailored research and economic evaluation methods. Due to their nature telehealth interventions exhibit a number of extra-clinical benefits that are relevant when valuing their costs and outcomes. By incorporating methods to measure societal values such as patient preference and willingness-to-pay, a more holistic value can be placed on the extra-clinical outcomes associated with telehealth and evaluations can represent new interventions more effectively. Cost-benefit analysis is a method by which relevant costs and outcomes in telehealth can be succinctly valued and compared. When health economic methods are conducted using holistic approaches such as cost-benefit analysis they can facilitate the translation of telehealth research into policy and practice.

ARTS BASED INITIATIVES AS A HOLISTIC SOLUTION IN BUSINESS EDUCATION

Global economic changes have caused employers to look for multidisciplinary and value-driven leaders who can provide a holistic development solution for business. Modern business institutions are challenged with a paradigm shift towards programs of integrity in applying student-centered holistic approaches in the acquisition and development of cross-disciplinary using reflective learning. This study explores the holistic effects and arts-based value of practices, integrated into business education for personal and professional students’ development. Methods include a long-term research (3-years) involving focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, and observations that coincided with a theoretical analysis of conventional methods applicable to business education. Results show that arts based initiatives (ABIs) foster integrated development of skills that generate a strong holistic effect of multi- and inter-disciplinary. These are combined with powerful personal development, as ascertained in 360-degree reviews. It is concluded that an individual’s transformation, achieved through ABIs, can impact on team dynamics as well as the organizational strategy and performance, and generates a ‘spill-over effect’ between individual, team, organization, and community, thus ascertaining the value of holistic approach in business education.

Trade credit dynamics during the phases of the business cycle – a value chain perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide evidence of how the business cycle affects net-trade-credit and its components in firms on different tiers of the value chain, including retail, wholesale and two consecutive manufacturing tiers.Design/methodology/approachData were collected by the means of four surveys in the years 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2014, representing different phases of the business cycle, that is, from strong economic growth to a deep recession and on to slow recovery and finally into decline. Descriptive statistics and three ANOVA models were used in the analysis of the data.FindingsThe distinctive profile of each value chain tier appears to have an effect on tier-specific trade credit dynamics. Overall, upstream positioned firms and small firms are likely to experience a decline in the net-trade-credit during uncertain economic times. The type of task interdependence between tiers also appears to affect trade credit dynamics in some tiers of the value chain. Furthermore, initiated by recession, certain trade credit dynamics in the value chain suggest a mechanism that transmits an increased working capital burden from customers to suppliers along the value chain.Research limitations/implicationsResults are based on survey research with a limited amount of respondents and geographical coverage, implying limited generalisability. The use of implicit measures limits the conclusiveness of the research.Originality/valueThe conventional perception of the power-based determination of trade credit policies is complemented with a value chain-related task interdependence perspective. The results of this paper also highlight that a more holistic value chain perceptive on working capital management would be more sustainable in comparison to firm-centric approaches.

The capacity of information technology for business model innovation and holistic value creation: a formulative study within the financial services sector in South Africa

This study explores the capacity of information technology for business model innovation and holistic value creation, focusing on the financial services sector of South Africa. Insights from the literature are used to build a preliminary conceptual model of the hypothesised disparity between business model innovation in a complexity vs. Newtonian paradigm. Distinct qualitative and quantitative research phases are conducted to test and validate the conceptual model. Firstly, semantic word clouds are used to synthesise interviews with top finance executives into a holistic conceptual model, combining theory and experience from practice. This model is used to develop a questionnaire to test middle manager respondents' views. Questionnaire data is then used to train an artificial neural network across different cluster segmentations. Findings indicate that the conceptual model appears valid, with the sample displaying the hypothesised disparity between mental modes. Demographic variables are shown to play a role in cluster formation.

Art, Science and History in a Globalized World: the Case of Italy-China

Art and science, over the centuries, though starting from different positions, have very often led to the same conclusions. History, on the other hand, establishes identities that derive from our past and allows for exchanges and unity between people of different nationalities, in both a commercial and scientific context, in a world without borders, in spite of obvious contradictions related to this globalized world. The case of Italy-China bears witness to this in a significant way. A case in point is represented by the scientific collaboration between the Alma Mater University of Bologna and Zhejiang University, as well as that between the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome and Fudan University in Shanghai, Zhejiang University and the Foreign Studies University of Beijing. In the first case, the ongoing research project “Historical anamnesis, preservation and valorization of the statues of the Longxing Buddhist Temple of Qingzhou (China)” is being carried out between the Department of Cultural Heritage Diagnostic Laboratory for Cultural Heritage of the University of Bologna and the Cultural Heritage Institute of Zhejiang University. In the second case, collaboration between the Salesian Pontifical University and the Chinese Universities, covers activities relating to the study of philosophy, pedagogy and Latin language and literature. The paper highlights the importance of drawing value of a cultural, conservative, social, identitary nature within the context of the holistic value of cultural heritage and respecting ethical aspects at a personal and interpersonal level, in particular, by offering young people the opportunity to enter the employment market and of which they are currently experiencing all the problematic fluctuations.

How did the publication of the bookThe Machine That Changed The Worldchange management thinking? Exploring 25 years of lean literature

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to take a critical, analytical approach to explore the growth and spread of Lean through the academic and practitioner community over the last 25 years to understand the impact of the bookThe Machine that Changed the Worldon management thinking.Design/methodology/approach– A comprehensive and systematic review of the extant literature of lean was undertaken and analysed critically to observe patterns and trends that could explain the acceptance of Lean as an operations management philosophy. The review spans from 1987 to 2013. To enable us to effectively manage and understand the diffusion of this literature a database, the Lean Publications Database, was constructed. The number of publications has been adjusted to compensate for growth in the total number of articles published in the same period.Findings– Lean has evolved to be one of the best-known, yet fiercely debated, process improvement methodologies. It emerged during a proliferation of such methodologies in the business and management literature. Lean has developed from a generic description of Toyota Production System (TPS) to a particular type of organisational and management intervention focused on best practice and process improvement methodologies.Research limitations/implications– This paper provides the first comprehensive review of the Lean literature, from the perspective of Lean as the unit of analysis. It covers both sides of the academic debate and categorises the progression of Lean from its origins as a generic description of TPS to a movement that has changed management systems in many and diverse sectors.Practical implications– This paper demonstrates how Lean research, application and thinking has evolved over 25 years from its origins in Japanese auto-manufacturing to a holistic value system that is applicable to all business sectors, both private and public.Originality/value– In most empirical studies on Lean, the unit of analysis is the organisation. In this study, the unit of analysis is the Lean phenomenon itself. This paper examines the impact ofThe Machine that Changed the Worldon management thinking. In addition, it presents a step to developing an underpinning theory by linking Lean to theTheory of Swift, Even Flow. As such it is of interest to academics in the field of operations management and offers a contribution to knowledge. It is also likely to be of interest to policy makers. Considerable amounts of public money have been spent, and continue to be spent, on promoting Lean. Taxpayers and policymakers are likely to be interested in whether that expenditure is justifiable. 25 years of publications have been analysed to provide clarity around this popular approach to organisational improvement.

The Transformative Value of a Service Experience

The pursuit of upward social transformation through service design and practice demands rigorous thinking about what this kind of change looks like and how it comes about. To advance these two goals, this study conceptualizes transformative value, defined as a social dimension of value creation which illuminates uplifting changes among individuals and collectives in the marketplace. Conceptual development draws on structuration theory and the service-dominant logic to articulate the spheres of transformative value as well as four distinctions between habitual and transformative value. Ethnographic analysis with a nonprofit service, which focuses on mitigating the inequalities of poverty, explores how service providers can facilitate transformative value. Findings highlight the roles of holistic value propositions, an anti-structural servicescape, and communal service practices. Beyond micro-level social impact, findings also reveal the macro-level reach of transformative value by demonstrating how services can contest and transform dominant social structures and stimulate social action. Discussion highlights the implications of transformative value for human agency and ways to design services that promote well-being among vulnerable populations.

Reflections on the value and impact of library and information services. Part 1

Purpose– The purpose of the part 1 of the series of Viewpoint papers is to examine approaches to identifying the value of library and information services, using concepts from the marketing literature, and stressing the importance of co-creating value with the service users.Design/methodology/approach– The literature review examined some of the approaches to considering value and value creation from the marketing literature. Considers approaches such as narrative based marketing, holistic value frameworks, and concepts such as value creation, value-co-creation, value constellations and service dominant logic.Findings– Shows how “marketing a narrative” can be achieved for different types of library and information service. Demonstrates how the Holbrook’s typology, with three sets of value perspectives can be used to obtain a holistic view of the value of a library and information services. Examines how some of the value creation ideas have been, and could be applied to evaluation of library and information services.Originality/value– Uses ideas drawn from the marketing literature to propose novel approaches to assessing the value and impact of library services. These approaches suit current changes in service culture, and emphasise working together with users to co-create value.

Building holistic and agile collection development and assessment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the development of a flexible collections assessment rubric comprised of a suite of tools for more consistently and effectively evaluating and expressing a holistic value of library collections to a variety of constituents, from administrators to faculty and students, with particular emphasis to the use of data already being collected at libraries to “take the temperature” of how responsive collections are in supporting institutional goals. Design/methodology/approach – Using a literature review, internal and external conversations, several collections pilot projects, and a variety of other investigative mechanisms, this paper explores methods for creating a more flexible, holistic collection development and assessment model using both qualitative and quantitative data. Findings – The products of scholarship that academic libraries include in their collections are expanding exponentially and range from journals and monographs in all formats, to databases, data sets, digital text and images, streaming media, visualizations and animations. Content is also being shared in new ways and on a variety of platforms. Yet the framework for evaluating this new landscape of scholarly output is in its infancy. So, how do libraries develop and assess collections in a consistent, holistic, yet agile, manner? Libraries must employ a variety of mechanisms to ensure this goal, while remaining flexible in adapting to the shifting collections environment. Originality/value – In so much as the authors are aware, this is the first paper to examine an agile, holistic approach to collections using both qualitative and quantitative data.

Drinks and Drinking Habits of the Bondo Highlanders

During my college days, an interesting phenomenon caught my attention. On the one hand, there was a growing popularity of booze. Boozing amongst the peers was seen as modern, liberal, progressive. On the other hand, back home parents viewed drinking liquor as a social evil, undesirable influence of western culture, associated mostly with social discrepant. Parents often were haunted by the horror of their children giving in to boozing there by ruining their reputation and future. The question thus arises, are these only two available perspectives on booze and social drinking or do we have any other value system around the same prevalent in a society? Is social drinking a sign of the modern liberal society? Is it a foreign influence hazardous for Indian culture? Do we have an alternative story on the culture of drinks from within Indian community? I found that there are historical documentations on drinking, habits in royal courts, merchant guilds, etc. However, it was among the tribes of India that, I found the most extensive cultural practices, and a holistic value system on indigenous drinks and drinking habits. In this paper, I would like to describe the role and use of indigenous drinks in the life cycle and various ceremonies of one of the identified Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, called the Bondo Highlanders.

Critical Heritage in Cross-Cultural Perspectives. Interdisciplinarity, Internationalization and Social Media in Cultural Heritage: Some Case Studies

Initially the holistic value of art work and the synergy between art and science have been highlighted. The second part is dedicated to dealing with some emblematic case studies, which represent the result of historical-artistic and technical-experimental competences.

The Intrinsic Moral Value of the Human Embryo: Holistic Anthropology and the Use of Human Embryos in Research

Using human embryos in research remains a controversial issue, especially in Christian bioethics. Although the official Catholic stance rejects human embryonic stem cell research, Christian thinkers T. Peters, K. Lebacqz and G. Bennett support it. They endorse the 14-day Rule and argue that ex vivo embryos lack moral worth. I examine and challenge the 14-day Rule and location argument (in vivo/ex vivo). I develop a theory of holistic anthropology and intrinsic moral value for human embryos. I conclude that intrinsic moral value is not equal to full moral value, and therefore use of embryos in biomedical research is morally permissible.

Film cities and competitive advantage: Development factors in South African film

Abstract The post-apartheid film industry is a contested space. This study examines the nature of competitiveness, the idea of film precincts and film and media cities, through the prism of Michael Porter’s Diamond Model for competitive advantage. Issues of globalization, cultural policy and sector development are discussed with regard to linking micro with macro developments in production, distribution and audience development in South Africa. The study examines micro-macro relations within holistic value chain circuits that connect production (small and large scale) with exhibition (in the form of an employment-generating, national roll out of modular-based mini-cinema complexes). Overall, this article delineates the broad parameters of an on-going research project.

Early Stakeholder Involvement in the Project Definition Phase: Case Renovation

Relational project delivery methods (RPDMs) have been widely offered as a solution to increasing holistic project value creation. Furthermore, early stakeholder involvement has been emphasized as one of the cornerstones of RPDM. The purpose of this paper is to examine who the stakeholders are that should be involved early in the project definition phase. This paper discusses the process and nature of the project definition phase in RPDM, with the main focus on early stakeholder involvement. The results are derived from the analysis of the literature and an empirical study (interviews). The stakeholders, their roles in the renovation project, and at which stage they should each be involved in the project definition process are determined. The findings show that projects cover different levels of stakeholders, whose requirements and purposes must be considered and managed. Early involvement allows room for creative solutions and the intensive exchange of ideas. Thus, it leads to procedures that run in phases, which in turn change the project’s value creation to holistic value cocreation. This article facilitates and contributes to early stakeholder involvement and the creation of integrated teams by identifying and consolidating the different levels, roles, responsibilities, and objectives of the stakeholders.

Genre et socialisation de l’enfant : pour une approche plurifactorielle de la construction de l’identité sexuée

This theorical article addresses the child's active role in the construction of gender identity and more broadly in the process of gender's socialization. First, we will consider the holistic value of the concept of gender identity (identité sexuée) in the study of gender development and secondly, from a critical review of the existing theoretical models, we will provide a dynamic and dialectic approach of the various factors (biological, social, cognitive and affective) at work in the construction of child's gender identity.

Value Creation through Synergies of Cooperation – The Development of a New Business Model

The construction industry is characterized by highly fragmented processes with many stakeholders and interfaces. Usually initial investment cost is the main decision criterion for awarding a contract without taking the lifecycle costs into consideration. Also in the selection process for subcontractors a fierce price battle is fought. No effort to optimize a building in a sustainable way, seizing synergies through cooperation across trades and stages of the building's life cycle is taking place. Our research focuses on the development of a new cooperative business model for life cycle service provision with the objective of delivering sustainable holistic value maximization according to the concept of eco-efficiency. Through a temporal integration cooperation enables companies to consider the requirements and know-how of later stages of a building's lifecycle, like production and operation, already in the early design stages. Thereby customers' expectations can be met superiorly. Furthermore it becomes possible to create synergies through technical integration by interdisciplinary cooperation and sharing of know-how across trades.

Embedding collaboration through standards – part 1

PurposeThis paper aims to expand the debate around the catalysts required to develop, promote, implement and maintain effective collaborative practice.Design/methodology/approachA review of the benefits of business collaboration and partnering, with special reference to the world's first national standard, BS 11000, to address collaborative business relationships.FindingsCollaborative working is not simply about cutting cost. It offers an alternative and enhanced capability to build new value propositions beyond the capabilities of an individual organisation. The concept of the supply chain is giving way to the concept of a more holistic value chain, value networks and ecosystems. Amid all the changes, one factor remains constant: relationships are a core ingredient for successful business. Staying competitive requires organisations to look beyond their traditional structures and develop both the skills and the processes to meet today's business challenges. It is impractical to rely on individuals and osmosis to deliver collaborative working behaviours. Collaboration must be embedded in the governance and processes of the organisation and reinforced in every aspect of the business through policy, process and systems. The world's first national standard: BS 11000 (collaborative business relationship management) provides a consistent model around which organisations can build more sustainable relationships.Originality/valueThis paper explores the interdependence between operational practices and the behaviours that underpin performance and outcomes.

The Value of the Air Bridge to the Islands

The viability of Scotland's remote island communities remains threatened by long-term out-migration and associated demographic imbalances. This problem persists because the socio-economic position of some communities does not necessarily offer the opportunities and hence quality of life people seek. EU, public sector and community action remains focussed onaddressing these issues. Integral to that effort is the contribution of air transport to the accessibility of opportunities. However, some nominally ‘lifeline’ air services rely on public subsidy and therefore, with pressure to cut public sector expenditure, a question for debate remains: should the air bridge to the islands continue, if so why and in what form? This paper contributes to the debate, using findings from an exploratory case study of lifeline air services for Barra and Vatersay in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Employing data from both a self-completion postal questionnaire and interviews with members of the islands' communities the study found the air service to be integral to the islands' identity, perceived as important to the quality of island lifebut subject to political, operational and economic challenges and threats. The paper proposes research exploring the holistic value of the service and the feasibility of innovations to mitigate those challenges and threats.

Exploring Value Compasses of Leaders in Organizations: Introducing Nine Spiritual Anchors

This article aims to develop an integral framework for analyzing and capturing diverse forms of value compasses of leaders in organizations. Building on the concept of “career anchors” (Schein, Career anchors: discovering your real values, Jossey-Bass Pfeiffer, San Francisco, 1990), the concept of “spiritual anchors” is introduced, patterns of deeply held spiritual motives, values and attitudes that provide direction, meaning, wholeness, and connectedness to a person’s life or work. Based on qualitative interviews conducted with 32 managers in Turkey, a taxonomy of spiritual anchors is developed, each of which can be thought of as the spiritual DNA of a person or a fractal of that person’s holistic value system. Each of the spiritual anchors refers to a unique way of perceiving and practicing spirituality. The article introduces nine spiritual anchors as the underlying basis of leadership values and team roles in organizations: perfection, compassion, passion, inspiration, investigation, dedication, appreciation, determination, and cooperation. The model based on spiritual anchors is a multidimensional and holistic model of leadership values and individual differences, and it provides professionals and managers with “a big picture” of spirituality, values, and leadership dimensions in organizations.