Idea Of Services Research Articles

Public service approach to car‐sharing in mid‐sized towns: the example of Belfort (France)

Car-sharing (CS) is an alternative to private cars able to change mobility customs and to participate in the greenhouse gas emission reduction. The administration board of the Belfort bus operator decided in January 2013 to build-up a visible and attractive CS service following a public service idea and integrated into the urban mobility offer, with significantly higher vehicle density and vehicle/inhabitants ratio than in the other French cities. This innovative approach resulted in a remarkably high ratio of nearly 42 members/1000 inhabitants in December 2016. In 2015, the service totalled >2300 clients, 33,000 rentals and 1.5 million kilometres after only 2 years running. These figures confirm the hypothesis that CS can be rapidly developed as a veritable alternative even in mid-sized towns. This article focuses on the design elements of the Belfort CS service as well as first analyses based on 2015 data and problems encountered.

Clement Attlee and the Social Service Idea: Modern Messages for Social Work in England

Clement Attlee is most famous for being the Labour prime minister of the UK after the Second World War. It is less well known that he was a social worker and a social work lecturer on either side of the First World War, before he was elected to parliament in 1922. He had even written a book about it: The Social Worker, published in 1920. This paper describes Attlee’s time as a social worker and social work lecturer, setting his experiences and the book in the context of the times, especially the tensions and overlaps between ‘individualist’ and ‘collectivist’ understandings of society. It outlines Attlee’s vision of social work, and considers the ongoing relevance of his understandings of social work and society. In particular, the paper highlights Attlee’s notion of ‘the social service idea’. This brings together four essential elements of social work—that it should be radical, relationship-based, realistic and reciprocal. Attlee’s social service idea, and his individual example, still offer guidance and inspiration for social work today.

Should You Really Produce What Consumers Like Online? Empirical Evidence for Reciprocal Voting in Open Innovation Contests

In open innovation, firms increasingly rely on online consumer votes to evaluate ideas for new products and services. Votes can represent cost‐effective external information about idea quality that can inform and facilitate a firm's task of evaluating and screening of ideas at the early stages of the innovation process. Challenging this perception, we proposed that consumer votes provided in open innovation contests can be socially biased by reciprocal voting. On the basis of theories related to cooperation and social influence, we argued that both gregarious consumers (those who solicit social ties) and consumers who initiate direct reciprocity (those who vote for others) signal a willingness to cooperate that stimulates reciprocal voting from peers. We empirically investigated consumer voting behavior using a unique dataset with information obtained from actual open innovation contests in which consumers could submit their own ideas and see and vote for the ideas of others. We found that both gregariousness and the initiation of direct reciprocity positively influence votes received. Such cooperation pays off for consumers because firms indeed use votes to inform internal idea evaluations. We also found, however, that the votes an idea receives during an innovation contest cannot significantly explain its later revealed quality. Reciprocity may be an effective form of cooperation among consumers, but it has potentially negative implications for firms' evaluations. Our results also indicated that beyond reciprocity, consumers and firms value different types of ideas, which further differentiates their evaluations. Thus, firms should not only be aware of social biases in votes but also account for the diverging idea preferences of customers.

Universities and Public Libraries Supporting Student Success: An Exploratory Study

As universities seek new ways to engage and support students in their learning, in Australia, students from regional and remote areas pose a challenge for universities given their geographical, social and technological isolation compared with their metropolitan counterparts. Much of the literature that address challenges associated with distance learning focus on teaching, course design and ways of accessing learning materials. Little is known about the provision of learning support services. Public libraries are well placed within their communities to assist university students with their learning needs. The aim of this research was to explore the idea of universities and public library services working together to support regional student success. The University of Southern Queensland provided the context for this study. Semi-structured interviews with representatives from public library services in regional areas of Queensland were conducted to find out what service is currently being provided to students; challenges, opportunities and related issues. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes that told the ‘story’ within the data. Findings suggest there is an opportunity for universities and public libraries to work together to support regional student success, and that this opportunity is worthy of further discussion and exploration.

The ecosystem approach, ecosystem services and established forestry policy approaches in the United Kingdom

A series of approaches have been proposed for natural resource management and biodiversity conservation in recent decades. In the important forestry sector, two of the most dominant policy paradigms have been multi-purpose forestry and sustainable forest management. The Convention on Biological Diversity, amongst other transnational commitments, added the ecosystem approach and its related idea of ecosystem services to this succession which is increasingly becoming the basis for natural resource management, including in the United Kingdom (UK). However, this latest addition raises the stimulating question of whether in forestry the ecosystem approach and the associated ecosystem services concept really constitute something fundamentally new, or are merely an extension or re-branding of existing policy approaches. This paper contributes to a lively contemporary debate surrounding the ecosystem approach and ecosystem services, by examining how these two interrelated but distinctly different concepts are currently understood and adopted within UK forestry and in the context of established forestry policy paradigms. For this purpose, I undertook a review of the scholarly literature and legal and policy documents which have been triangulated with a survey of the attitudes, interpretations and opinions of forestry stakeholders through expert interviews. The analysis suggests that in the UK forestry sector, as elsewhere, the frequency of, often broad and ambiguous approaches to natural resource management and biodiversity conservation in general, and forestry policy and management in particular, are causing confusion amongst some stakeholders, who, unsurprisingly frequently conflate concepts seemingly without understanding the details. However, a clear understanding of the differences and similarities of these important concepts, stemming from overlapping but different disciplines, is crucially important for successful policy implementation and sustainable forest management. This article attempts to contribute to such a clarification and to further interdisciplinary understanding.

Let's up the Ante: A Call for Intellectual Activism in Business Schools

This paper is a call to embrace and work towards a specific form of intellectual activism in business schools. Based on the inspiring work of professor Patricia Hill Collins, and other black feminist and post-colonial scholars, intellectual activism is here defined as ‘the myriad ways in which people place the power of their ideas in service to social justice’. This paper calls for and delineates a positive response to the current crisis by identifying key areas of work that scholars in business schools can engage with. This intellectual activist praxis invests the key dimensions of our work: teaching, research activities, and our work as employees and managers in business schools. In a systematizing and pro-positive effort I indicate that such academic praxis has four key features. It is progressive, critical, engaged and concrete. These features are elaborated and then I introduce specific tactics/practices for engagement and offer examples. In summary, intellectual activism in business schools is (i) a form of political work; (ii) a form of ‘building work’; and (iii) not easy.

Long-Term Care Preferences Among Individuals of Advanced Age in Germany: Results of a Population-Based Study

The need for long-term care is expected to increase markedly in the next decades as a result of demographic ageing. Consequently, it is important to know the long-term care preferences. This study investigated the long-term care preferences among older individuals in Germany. Based on a systematic review and expert interviews, a questionnaire was designed to assess long-term care preferences. Data were gathered from a representative telephone survey of the German population (n=1,006; 65 years and above) in 2015. The mean age was 75.2 years (±6.6 years, ranging from 65 to 96 years). While nearly 90% of the individuals preferred home care, other care settings such as nursing care abroad were mostly undesired. In case of home care, most of the individuals preferred care provided by friends/family or formal caregivers, whereas the idea of all-day care services (such as employed private caregivers) was less popular. With respect to home care, additional services such as household assistance, transportation services, and emergency call systems were highly valued by the study participants, whereas continual supervision throughout the day was seen as less important. In case of inpatient care, more than 90% of the individuals preferred a private room, with the inpatient facility located near home or close to relatives' homes. A wide range of activities was appreciated. Given these preferences, it is assumed that there is a gap between expectations (preferences) and reality (utilization) regarding long-term care in Germany. Interventions aimed at minimizing this gap are urgently needed. For example, strategies to raise the awareness of private long-term care provision might be fruitful.

A Blind Spot in Public Broadcasters’ Discovery of the Public: How the Public Values Public Service

Confronted with new technological options, changing usage patterns and rising criticism, public service broadcasters (PSBs) are paying fresh attention to the public as a target for accountability. This article first investigates how PSBs are repositioning themselves through increased responsiveness to and collaboration with the public and assesses the permissibility of such strategies, bearing in mind the traditional ethos and core principles of public service. The second part reacts to the finding that, while there is much talk about the public and the need to reconnect, little is known about the public’s perception regarding the importance of the idea of public service in times of media change. Results of a Swiss representative case study show that people still consider public service highly important in times of the Internet. Unexpectedly, linear regression and structural equation modeling reveal that this assessment is virtually independent of sociodemographics and individual values.

Unfolding scientific expertise and security in the changing governance of Ecosystem Services

Within the past few decades, the idea of global Ecosystem Services (ES) has moved center stage in environmental and sustainability debates. The academic and policy discourse behind Ecosystem Service protection appears to have changed from a more ecological focus on habitat restoration to a predominantly economic one revolving around human well-being. The aim of this paper is to unfold the coupling between scientific expertise and security in the changing governance of ES. We employ a ‘securitization’ lens to advance our understanding of the recent change in the governance of ecosystems, as we reflect on the role of scientific expertise at the boundary between science and security. Empirically, we analyze how scientific experts, as securitizing actors, frame the degradation and loss of ES as an existential threat to human security thereby justifying measures to reverse these trends. In order to trace how the voices of scientific experts shape policies to govern ES we apply bibliometric analysis and an opinion-based survey to first identify who produces the scientific knowledge published, and then follow how key scientific experts link to policy-making arenas and use security framings. Lastly, we discuss the implications of the shifting discourse surrounding ES, and we reflect on our own positionality and approach, as we string together our findings to contribute to the debate about environmental expertise and governance, and the authority of scientific knowledge.

Building Qatar severe respiratory failure ECMO program

Building Qatar severe respiratory failure ECMO program

On Doing Academic Work: Critical Performativity as Intellectual Activism

This paper is an invitation to embrace intellectual activism in academic work in general and in business schools in particular. Based on the work of Patricia Hill Collins intellectual activism is defined as ‘the myriad ways in which people place the power of their ideas in service to social justice’. Intellectual activism is a particular type of critical performativity that allows us to answer the challenges of the hegemonic crisis we are undergoing by changing the terms of our academic praxis in business schools. Intellectual activist praxis outlined here invests the key dimensions of the way we do academic work. In a systematizing effort I indicate that such academic praxis has four key features. It is progressive, critical, engaged and concrete. I elaborate these features and then I introduce specific tactics/practices for engagement offering examples. In summary I suggest that intellectual activism in business schools is i. a form of political work; ii. a form of ‘building work’; and iii. not easy. I argue that given our current historic juncture intellectual activism is extremely urgent. I exhort you all to examine its meaning and discern ways in which you can work to advance social/economic and epistemic justice in your daily academic praxis.

Integrating stakeholders' perspectives to develop tourism business strategies: the case study of a wine route

Gli autori esaminano il punto di vista degli stakeholder nello sviluppo turistico della Strada del vino dell’Etna, considerando un set piu ampio di organizzazioni interessate alla gestione dell’area come destinazione turistica e al potenziamento del turismo locale. Il requisito fondamentale di una gestione efficace per lo sviluppo del turismo del vino e il coinvolgimento degli stakeholder nel generare nuove idee riguardo ai prodotti e ai servizi. La valutazione allargata della Strada del vino dell’Etna come destinazione turistica ha agevolato l’interazione dei vari stakeholders attraverso meccanismi di coordinamento e di consultazione, allo scopo di definire un piano di sviluppo turistico, fornendo interessanti elementi di approfondimento a questo riguardo. A tale scopo, e stata implementata la Strategic Orientation Round (SOR) analysis, un approccio qualitativo, con il fine di accrescere la consapevolezza e promuovere azioni secondo le priorita individuate dagli stakeholder, attraverso interviste e gruppi di lavoro.

Sandbox deployment model for services in modeling and simulation as a service

Modeling and simulation as a service (MSaaS) is based on the idea of simulation services deployed in any host device under demand. These services can be anything from a small plug-in to a full-scale system. The users and devices requesting the simulation can be placed anywhere. The whole MSaaS concept is based on modeling and simulation services that comply with simulation standards, are compliant with a certain level of security (multilevel security), and can interoperate and interact with other services or with the host device, in a seamless way. This article centers on the election of the deployment model of the services, already finished, inside the MSaaS model. That is, choosing the best way in which the services will be made available for the final user in a systemic and institutionalized way. The selection of the proper development model is one of the most critical activities in MSaaS that can determine the final success of the whole initiative. Starting from a finished model, the election of the best deployment model is discussed by considering how to control and guarantee the services in terms of quality of the software, security, and quality of the features.

Technology-Based New Service Idea Generation for Smart Spaces: Application of 5G Mobile Communication Technology

Innovative technology has made it possible to dramatically change the social and economic environment. In particular, 5G mobile communication technology that radically improves the performance of current technology can renew urban infrastructure, public services, and citizens’ lives for the implementation of smart spaces. Although new services need to be generated by such innovative technology, existing technology-based approaches have mostly relied on the intuition of experts rather than a systematic approach. Thus, this paper aims to present a method and process by which technology-based new ideas using 5G mobile communication technology are generated to realize a connected environment by focusing on technological functions as well as customer value. First, the relationships among technology, value, and service are defined through morphology analysis. Second, service opportunities are identified by developing a transformed buyer-utility map in the smart space environment. After mapping the established services, candidate cells for a new service were identified as vacant cells in the map with the removal of technically unnecessary candidates based upon the pre-defined relationship. Third, a new service idea is generated by modifying/extending candidates concretely through an ERRC (Eliminate, Reduce, Raise, Create) framework. Value factors are determined in advance and shown in the As-Is value curve representing the current status. The current level in the curve is then compared at an industrial level and value factors are chosen to newly modify or create. As a result, the To-Be curve is established and leads to a new service idea. It can be regarded as a useful tool for mobile carriers to plan new business models for smart spaces with adequate technology and market feasibility.

Methodology and Tool Support for Adaptive Idea Exploitation in Open Innovation

The lack of efficiency and transparency regarding cross-company collaboration in the field of open innovation often leads to cost intensive and unsuccessful products and services. This is because traditional approaches fail to cope with emerging requirements in innovation projects, e.g., the vertical and horizontal integration of strategic partners within and across the company’s value network. However, to maintain their competitive advantage, companies seek a constant and sustainable development of their product and service portfolio. In this context, knowledge work plays an important role in the collaborative development of innovative product and service ideas. For that reason, knowledge workers need systematic support regarding both methodological and operational challenges. The concept of Adaptive Case Management emerged from the necessity to support knowledge workers in unpredictable and highly creative working environments, especially in the field of Business Process Management. Therefore, the contribution shows, both from a conceptual and technological point of view, how to combine those approaches to support knowledge workers in dynamic innovation projects. To test the validity of the concept, a software prototype serves as the foundation for interviews with experts of the innovation department of a large international industrial company.

Exploration of cloud computing practices in university libraries in Kenya

Purpose Modern technological solutions are rapidly changing the information landscape in library and information establishments. One such innovative solution that is gaining momentum in information centers is cloud computing. The purpose of this paper is to explore and compare opportunities and challenges of “cloud computing paradigm” in handling and supporting delivery of information services in university libraries in the face of the present hard economic situation and limited financial budgets. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on current academic literature, document analysis, several editorials and articles on the potential and challenges of cloud computing paradigm in university library and information centers. Findings Cloud computing is proving as the best management practice of salvaging information services in university libraries due to numerous competing challenges and issues in institutions of higher education. University libraries in developing countries face many challenges of inadequate information infrastructure, limited financial budgets, manpower issues and rapid changes in technological systems. In the context of hard economic times, cloud computing is critical in adding value as well as advancing the goals and objectives of modern university libraries. Cloud computing is the “best technology practice” that is poised to play crucial roles in enhancing quality provision and delivery of information services in university library and information centers. There are many competing challenges and claims, but potential benefits count more. Research limitations/implications The study is based on the ideas of cloud services conceptualized from reading academic literature, document analysis, several editorials, articles and professional work experience. The paper identifies that cloud computing paradigm is useful in achieving the goals and objectives of university libraries in this hard economic situation facing institutions of higher learning. Practical implications The paper provides practical insights that cloud computing is the “must have technology” for modern university library and information centers already burdened with the demand to develop effective and efficient technological solutions due to subsequent changing needs of the digital information environment. This study is useful for university libraries, information professionals, information communication technology professionals and university management. Social implications Cloud computing paradigm provides university libraries with the business opportunity to use comprehensive technological solutions with reduced capital expenditure and safe methods of data storage. This eases the inconveniences normally caused by the need to develop and own such comprehensive technological solutions. Originality/value This research looks at the potential of the emerging trend of “cloud computing paradigm” in enhancing quality provision and delivery of information services in university library and information centers in the context of limited financial budgets. Cloud computing has been gaining momentum in Kenya, especially in business organizations as compared to library and information establishments.

Theoretical and legal aspects of the reform of the system of administrative services in Kiev

The article discusses the theoretical foundations-legal reforming the system of administrative services, useful innovations, problems arising from the reform of the system of administrative services in Kiev. Also, it states on ways to optimize the practical implementation of the provision of administrative services. And the service is considered an ideology, as a theoretical basis of administrative services.Analysis of the subject of reforming the system of administrative services in the Kiev is critical, because right now there are changes in the Ukrainian state, which can be described as a transition from the forms of management powers to the service. Consideration of this subject is an example of Kiev, because the capital is rapidly reforming the system of administrative services. Problems concerning the provision of administrative services actively considered Ukrainian scientific opinion on the Constitution of Ukraine on June 28, 1996. In Ukraine, in recent years, are increasingly term "administrative services" because the category of "administrative services" currently has more substantial burden in economic sciences. Recently, much was made of normative legal and institutional measures to reform the system of administrative services. It should be noted that changes in the system contributed to facilitating citizens' access to administrative services and the convenience of receiving them. The main focus of reforming the system of administrative services in the Kiev has become their availability to the public, as well as quality service ЦНАП that does not always correspond to the declared standards. Understanding and application service ideas based on the development system is an important factor for the further development of the system of administrative services. Administrative services, as well as any services in the private sphere should meet the challenges of our time and be of high quality (provided in the terms and amount claimed for the particular services). If the impetus for the evolution and improvement of services in the private sphere is their competitiveness in the market, in the case of administrative services, which result from the exercise of authority is not a factor of market competition that encourages development. Thus the quality of administrative services depends on the decisions of individuals who have authority and of public control.

The mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between high-performance work practices and job outcomes of employees in Nigeria

PurposeThis paper aims to examine work engagement as a mediator of the effects of selective staffing, job security, teamwork and career opportunities as the indicators of high-performance work practices on absence intentions, service recovery and creative performances.Design/methodology/approachData came from 287 frontline employee–supervisor dyads in the international chain hotels in Nigeria. The direct and mediating effects were assessed using structural equation modeling. The Sobel test was also used to test the significance of each mediating effect.FindingsThe results demonstrate that the simultaneous implementation of selective staffing, job security, teamwork and career opportunities fosters work engagement that in turn leads to reduced absence intentions and results in service recovery and creative performances at elevated levels.Practical implicationsThe presence of selective staffing, job security, teamwork and career opportunities enables management to hire individuals high in work engagement. Management should obtain significant feedback about new service ideas and suggestions for novel customer problems through workshops in which employees effectively participate. Management may also let employees with poor performance leave the organization rather than wasting organizational resources to retain them.Originality/valueLittle is known about the underlying mechanism through which high-performance work practices are linked to organizationally relevant and valued attitudinal and behavioral outcomes.

The application and effectiveness evaluation of microteaching model on the health education for trauma orthopedic patients who received external fixation treatment

Objective To explore the application and effectiveness of microteaching model on the health education for trauma orthopedic patients who received external fixation treatment. Methods A total of 64 patients in our department who received external fixation treatment from January 2013 to January 2015 were randomly divided into the observation group and control group, 32 cases in each group.The control group carried out the conventional way for nursing and health education before discharge.While the observation group adopted the microteaching model for related nursing and health guidance.The mastering of the relative knowledge about external fixation, complications after operation, limb function activity, and the satisfaction for nursing job were compared between the two groups. Results The mastering of the relative knowledge about external fixation, limb function activity, the incidence rates of complications and satisfaction for the nursing work of the observation group were better than that of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusions Microteaching model applied in the health education for patients with external fixation surgery can make the patients better master the relevant knowledge about external fixation health education and has a positive and promoting role for preventing the complications after surgery and promoting patients' healthy recovery and at the same time, it can improve the satisfaction for nursing, reflecting the people-oriented service idea. Key words: Microteaching; The orthopedic trauma; External fixation; Health education

Влияние социальных факторов на формирование кадрового потенциала государственной службы

The article analyzes the social factors that influence the efficiency of formation of personnel potential of public service. The analysis is based on data from a series of studies conducted among civil servants, as well as in universities among students of specialized training areas and specialties. The main objective was to identify the motives of choice of areas of training or specialty, as well as to learn about formed ideas of the civil service and the degree of its attractiveness as a potential employer. Surveys conducted among civil servants show a high degree of dissatisfaction with the expectations of the data that is the indirect cause of the loss of motivation and incentives for professional and personal development, deterioration of the quality of work, as well as the transition to the commercial structures. A comprehensive approach to address the challenges in the field of formation of personnel potential of public service is necesary, taking into account the effect of both internal and external social factors.