Independent Consultant Research Articles

Neoliberalism and indigenous knowledge: Māori health research and the cultural politics of New Zealand's “National Science Challenges”

In 2012–13 the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) in New Zealand rapidly implemented a major restructuring of national scientific research funding. The “National Science Challenges” (NSC) initiative aims to promote greater commercial applications of scientific knowledge, reflecting ongoing neoliberal reforms in New Zealand. Using the example of health research, we examine the NSC as a key moment in ongoing indigenous Māori advocacy against neoliberalization. NSC rhetoric and practice through 2013 moved to marginalize participation by Māori researchers, in part through constructing “Māori” and “science” as essentially separate arenas—yet at the same time appeared to recognize and value culturally distinctive forms of Māori knowledge. To contest this “neoliberal multiculturalism,” Māori health researchers reasserted the validity of culturally distinctive knowledge, strategically appropriated NSC rhetoric, and marshalled political resources to protect Māori research infrastructure. By foregrounding scientific knowledge production as an arena of contestation over neoliberal values and priorities, and attending closely to how neoliberalizing tactics can include moves to acknowledge cultural diversity, this analysis poses new questions for social scientific study of global trends toward reconfiguring the production of knowledge about health. Study findings are drawn from textual analysis of MBIE documents about the NSC from 2012 to 2014, materials circulated by Māori researchers in the blogosphere in 2014, and ethnographic interviews conducted in 2013 with 17 Māori health researchers working at 7 sites that included university-based research centers, government agencies, and independent consultancies.

Financial Contribution of Residents When Billing as “Junior Associates” in the “Surgical Firm”

There is an increasing number of proposals to change the way Graduate Medical Education is funded. This study attempts to estimate the potential financial contribution of surgical residents using an alternative funding mechanism similar to that used by law firms, which would allow surgery departments to bill for resident activity as "junior associates." Following 24 residents over a period of 12 weeks, we were able to estimate the annual revenue that they generated from operating room procedures, independent consultations, patient management, and minor procedures using Medicare reimbursement rates. The appropriate first assistant modifier was used to calculate the operating room procedure fees, but full price was used to calculate the revenue for minor procedures, patient management, and consultations done independently. We adjusted for vacation time and academic activities. Including postgraduate year 1 residents, the estimated yearly revenue generated per resident in first assistant operative services was $33,305.67. For minor procedures, patient management, and independent consultations, the estimated yearly revenue per resident was $37,350.66. The total estimated financial contribution per resident per year was $70,656.33. Excluding postgraduate year 1 residents, as most states require completion of the intern year before full licensure, the estimated yearly revenue generated per resident in first assistant operative services was $38,914.56. For minor procedures, patient management, and independent consultations, the estimated yearly revenue per resident was $55,957.33. The total estimated financial contribution per resident per year was $94,871.89. Residents provide a significant service to hospitals. If resident activity was compensated at the level of supervised "junior associates" of a surgery department, more than 75% of the direct educational costs of training could be offset. Furthermore, we believe this value is underestimated. Given the foreseeable changes in Graduate Medical Education funding, it is imperative that alternative approaches for funding be explored.

Linda Q. Everett, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Nurse Leader 15 FAS: Please share about your decision to pursue a nursing career. LQE: Throughout high school, I had my sights set on becoming a history teacher. I was enrolled at The Ohio State University (OSU) as an education major. Over one summer, I joined a group of friends who sought employment at a local hospital as nursing assistants. I was given the “float” position on night shift. Over the next several months, I observed the nurses at work. I witnessed my first labor and delivery mother, battered and bleeding automobile accident victims in the ER [emergency room], and the dying and death of many patients. I developed a deep appreciation and respect for how the nurses responded to each situation. When I asked any nurse, “Why do you do what you do?” she or he responded, “Because I love my work.” That response oddly stuck with me—I had to reflect upon whether my career aspirations would be what I would “love to do.” I wasn’t certain. Long story short, I too fell in love with patient care. I actually enjoyed the work so much that I dropped my plans to attend OSU; instead, I ended up working a full year as a nursing assistant, then attended Riverside-White Cross School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio the following fall. And I have never regretted that decision. FAS: As a nurse leader, what skill sets came naturally to you? Which qualities have you eventually developed throughout your leadership roles? LQE: I have always enjoyed reading and learning. I was an excellent student. I consumed books to the point that I was often accused by my family for being a “professional student.” So, I’d say the thirst for knowledge and lifelong learning has always been one of my innate skills. Listening to others is also a skill I would claim as a strength. I learned early in life from my mother—“Stop waiting to talk and listen to me!” The woman was wise beyond her own admission. A third skill I developed would be the ability to identify talent: assessing strengths and potential in others. This attribute has served me well in my leadership role to attract and hire the right people for the right position at the right time. Leader to Honor Linda Q. Everett, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Phosphate rock costs, prices and resources interaction

This article gives the author's views and opinions as someone who has spent his working life analyzing the international phosphate sector as an independent consultant. His career spanned two price hike events in the mid-1970's and in 2008, both of which sparked considerable popular and academic interest concerning adequacy of phosphate rock resources, the impact of rising mining costs and the ability of mankind to feed future populations. An analysis of phosphate rock production costs derived from two major industry studies performed in 1983 and 2013 shows that in nominal terms, global average cash production costs increased by 27% to $38 per tonne fob mine in the 30year period. In real terms, the global average cost of production has fallen. Despite the lack of upward pressure from increasing costs, phosphate rock market prices have shown two major spikes in the 30years to 2013, with periods of less volatility in between. These price spike events can be seen to be related to the escalating investment cost required by new mine capacity, and as such can be expected to be repeated in future. As such, phosphate rock price volatility is likely to have more impact on food prices than rising phosphate rock production costs. However, as mining costs rise, recycling of P will also become increasingly driven by economics rather than legislation.

Interview with 2016 SPE President Nathan Meehan

President's interview Nathan Meehan is senior executive adviser at Baker Hughes, where he advises executive management on reservoir and geoscience issues. Previously, he served as the president of CMG Petroleum Consulting, an independent consultancy; vice president of engineering at Occidental Petroleum; and general manager of exploration and production at Union Pacific Resources. Meehan earned a BSc in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology, an MSc in petroleum engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and a PhD in petroleum engineering from Stanford University. What goals would you like to accomplish during your term? I would like to focus during the next year on helping SPE accomplish five interrelated goals. Making sure that SPE stays relevant and useful to our members and the industry we serve Encouraging more interdisciplinary and inter-industry collaboration Focusing on the “public benefit” aspect of SPE’s mission Recruiting and mentoring the next generation of oil and gas professionals Expanding and improving the way we communicate These accomplishments will support SPE’s mission: To collect, disseminate, and exchange technical knowledge concerning the exploration, development and production of oil and gas resources, and related technologies for the public benefit, and to provide opportunities for professionals to enhance their technical and professional competence. On top of the ongoing challenges we face as an industry, we now have to contend with low prices. Yet, we still have to deliver the huge volumes of oil and gas that are needed each day by the 7.2 billion people who inhabit our planet. And, we have to do it more safely, more economically, more quickly, and more sustainably. We cannot compete—or in some cases, even survive— doing business as usual. We need disruptive technologies and processes. But change is difficult to accept. This is where SPE can play a pivotal role. Innovation comes about by thinking differently and creatively, by connecting seemingly unrelated ideas, and putting them together in unrelated ways to produce something novel or original. This requires collaboration among diverse and disparate groups of people. One of my colleagues likes to describe SPE as a network of bridges that connects people, companies, and ideas to enable the collaboration that fuels innovation. That network of bridges is never more important than during difficult periods such as the one we are currently experiencing. By reaching out to other disciplines and other industries, SPE not only helps fuel collaboration and innovation, but also fulfills its mission of staying relevant.

Whither the Aborigine

Whither the Aborigine

Responding Effectively to Women Experiencing Severe Abuse: Identifying Key Components of a British Advocacy Intervention.

This article presents key findings from a multisite evaluation of Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) services--a form of intervention targeted specifically at women experiencing severe domestic abuse. Results highlight the complex lives of women accessing these services and the efforts of IDVAs to connect women with multiple community resources. Women remaining engaged with services reported positive safety outcomes. Frequency of contact with an IDVA and the number of community resources accessed were positively associated with the odds of achieving safety. These findings suggest this intervention is a promising strategy for tackling severe and complex cases of domestic abuse.

IMPLEMENTASI KETENTUAN RESTRUKTURISASI KREDIT TERHADAP DEBITUR WANPRESTASI PADA KREDIT PERBANKAN

The high percentage of non-performance loan (NPL) may bring adverse impact to creditor (banks), the banking sector in general, and also to the economic and financial of the country. To overcome these conditions, Bank of Indonesia issued a policy regarding restructuring. Restructuring is an effort undertaken in the activities of credit to borrowers who have difficulty to meet its obligations. Banks engaged in lending has a restructuring program has been set on the credit policy of each bank, but still there are banks that ignore and do not do this loan restructuring seek in accordance with the procedure. This study is an empirical study that examines the juridical on the implementation of the rules concerning the restructuring of the debtor defaults on bank loans as well as obstacles in implementing the debt restructuring. This research is a descriptive research. Data sourced from primary data and secondary data. Data collection techniques used is literature study and interview techniques. Analysis conducted qualitative and descriptive analysis presented. Implementation of the provisions of the rescue loan restructuring and settlement of non-performing loans on bank credit has not been optimally applied to all borrowers who are having trouble paying even though they have the opportunity to carry out the payment. Inhibiting factors, among others, the rules concerning debt restructuring are scattered in various policy rules, regulations often change with a relatively large number of rules, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of this policy, an independent financial consultant is often overlooked involvement in debt restructuring, which is not good faith to implement agreement, the lack of information and initiatives in the debtor filed debt restructuring, customers who do not cooperative and giving false information about the source of income.

Experiences with and Outcomes of Two Interventions to Maximize Engagement of Chronically Ill Adolescents During Hospital Consultations: A Mixed Methods Study

Improving patient-provider communication during hospital consultations is advocated to enhance self-management planning and transition readiness of adolescents with chronic conditions. This longitudinal mixed methods study evaluates the implementation and the outcomes of independent split-visit consultations and individual transition plans by 22 hospital teams participating in the Dutch Action Program 'On Your Own Feet Ahead!'. The interventions raised awareness in adolescents and professionals, improved adolescents' display of independent behaviors and led to more discussions about non-medical issues. Successful implementation required a team-based approach and clear explanation to parents and adolescents. Pediatric nurses played a pivotal role in improving transitional care.

The sustainable future of the Scottish textiles sector: challenges and opportunities of introducing a circular economy model

Zero Waste Scotland introduced the concept of the circular economy to the Scottish textiles sector at events throughout 2013 to 2014. In April 2014, it commissioned research by independent consultants to examine the academic and industrial textile landscapes in Scotland, including developments in technical textiles and research into innovation in textile design and examples of circular economy models. The research identified a number of initiatives, including projects producing an alternative to denim and one developing cavity wall insulation from processed natural fibres. It made recommendations to Zero Waste Scotland about shaping the future landscape of textile innovation in Scotland and also offered examples of the circular economy from Scandinavia that might be applicable. The implementation of the circular economy into Scotland’s textile sector, underpinned by the aforementioned initiatives, can learn too from its textile and fibre heritage. Zero Waste Scotland is implementing an action plan which will offer support to the textile industry exploring ‘closed loop’ manufacturing, as well as funds for fashion designers to explore concepts such as zero-waste pattern design, luxury apparel from alternative textiles such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate and natural fibres such as nettle. A master class skills programme, delivered by leading UK and international experts, will bring together industry, academia, and higher education professionals to engage in learning and information exchanges about the circular economy. This paper presents Zero Waste Scotland’s role and the research findings.

MEDFASH (Medical Foundation for HIV & Sexual Health)

MEDFASH (Medical Foundation for HIV & Sexual Health) is an independent charity dedicated to quality in sexual healthcare including HIV. We began in 1987 when individuals within the British Medical...

Impact of global health governance on country health systems: the case of HIV initiatives in Nigeria.

BackgroundThree global health initiatives (GHIs) – the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the World Bank Multi–Country HIV/AIDS Program – finance most HIV services in Nigeria. Critics assert that GHIs burden fragile health systems in resource–poor countries and that health system limitations in these countries constrain the achievement of the objectives of GHIs. This study analyzed interactions between HIV GHIs and the Nigerian Health System and explored how the impact of the GHIs could be optimized.MethodsA country case study was conducted using qualitative methods, including: semi–structured interviews, direct observation, and archival review. Semi–structured interviews were held with key informants selected to reach a broad range of stakeholders including policymakers, program managers, service providers, representatives of donor agencies and their implementing partners; the WHO country office in Nigeria; independent consultants; and civil society organizations involved in HIV work. The fieldwork was conducted between June and August 2013.FindingsHIV GHIs have had a mixed impact on the health system. They have enhanced availability of and access to HIV services, improved quality of services, and strengthened health information systems and the role of non–state actors in health care. On the negative end, HIV donor funding has increased dependency on foreign aid, widened disparities in access to HIV services, done little to address the sustainability of the services, crowded out non–HIV health services, and led to the development of a parallel supply management system. They have also not invested significantly in the production of new health workers and have not addressed maldistribution problems, but have rather contributed to internal brain drain by luring health workers from the public sector to non–governmental organizations and have increased workload for existing health workers. There is poor policy direction, strategic planning and coordination, and regulation of externally–financed HIV programs by the government and this poses a great limitation to the optimal use of HIV–specific foreign aid in Nigeria.ConclusionsA few reforms are necessary to improve the strengthening effect of GHIs and to minimize their negative and unintended consequences. This will require stronger leadership from the Nigerian government with regards to better coordination of externally–financed health programs. Also, donors need to play a greater role in addressing the negative consequences of foreign aid. The findings highlight important unintended consequences and system–wide impacts that get little attention in traditional program evaluation.

Impact of an ABCDE team triage process combined with public guidance on the division of work in an emergency department

Objective. To study the effects of applying an emergency department (ED) triage system, combined with extensive publicity in local media about the “right” use of emergency services, on the division of work between ED nurses and general practitioners (GPs). Design. An observational and quasi-experimental study based on before–after comparisons. Setting. Implementation of the ABCDE triage system in a Finnish combined ED where secondary care is adjacent, and in a traditional primary care ED where secondary care is located elsewhere. Subjects. GPs and nurses from two different primary care EDs. Main outcome measures. Numbers of monthly visits to different professional groups before and after intervention in the studied primary care EDs and numbers of monthly visits to doctors in the local secondary care ED. Results. The beginning of the triage process increased temporarily the number of independent consultations and patient record entries by ED nurses in both types of studied primary care EDs and reduced the number of patient visits to a doctor compared with previous years but had no effect on doctor visits in the adjacent secondary care ED. No further decrease in the number of nurse or GP visits was observed by inhibiting the entrance of non-urgent patients. Conclusion. The ABCDE triage system combined with public guidance may reduce non-urgent patient visits to doctors in different kinds of primary care EDs without increasing visits in the secondary care ED. However, the additional work to implement the ABCDE system is mainly directed to nurses, which may pose a challenge for staffing.

Changing the Equation: Refracturing Shale Oil Wells

Refracturing Revolution As shale operators look for ways to survive amid the current downturn in oil prices, accelerating the refracturing of older horizontal wells is turning into one of the most attractive options. In years past, when oil prices were significantly higher, the more accepted proposition was to drill and complete new wells to increase production, book new reserves, and hold onto leases. However, since late last year, the equation has been turned on its head. In many oil-rich plays, companies are realizing that refracturing is the more budget-friendly way to achieve cash flow. Compared with the USD 8 million to USD 16 million needed for a new well, most refracture jobs are reported to cost from USD 1 million to USD 3 million. In a well where all of the sunk costs have been recovered, the extra production and incremental reserves from refracturing can net several million dollars of added profit. Tim Leshchyshyn, founder of FracKnowledge, said the current low-price market environment has become the biggest driver for companies to reinvest in their old oil wells. One operator that his company tracks is so sold on the idea that it is considering refracturing 500 to 1,000 wells this year. “Refracturing is what everybody is banking on,” he said. “It is the thing they are trying to get figured out because there are going to be a lot of wells to do.” As operators and service companies climb their way up the learning curve, they are trying to determine which wells to refracture, which ones to bypass, and which plays it will work best in. Only a few unconventional producers have published the results of their refracturing programs in oil-rich plays, and many others do not acknowledge having such programs at all. But there are years’ worth of case studies from gas-rich plays such as the Marcellus, Haynesville, and the Barnett, the birthplace of unconventional shale development, that indicate refracturing can be successfully applied in the oil-rich plays as well. Mike Vincent, an independent consultant, is seeing unprecedented demand from operating companies for his courses on how, why, and where to do refracturing. While eager to learn all they can about refracturing, many of his clients are reluctant to discuss the topic publicly. “I think there are multiple reasons why there is radio silence right now,” Vincent said. Companies still unsure of the success rate of refracturing may be trying to avoid overselling its potential to investors. Others are certain that it works quite well, Vincent said, but are staying quiet for competitive reasons, which includes the desire to buy out other operators’ offset wells and refracture them.

Jensen, Carsten. The Right and the welfare state. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014. 155 pp. ISBN 978‐0‐19‐967841‐9.

International Social Security ReviewVolume 68, Issue 2 p. 105-108 Book Review Jensen, Carsten. The Right and the welfare state. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2014. 155 pp. ISBN 978-0-19-967841-9. Hedva Sarfati, Hedva Sarfati Independent consultant on labour market and welfare reforms Geneva, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this author Hedva Sarfati, Hedva Sarfati Independent consultant on labour market and welfare reforms Geneva, SwitzerlandSearch for more papers by this author First published: 16 July 2015 https://doi.org/10.1111/issr.12068Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume68, Issue2April‐June 2015Pages 105-108 RelatedInformation

Directors’ defence of reliance on professional advisers under Anglo-Australian law

This paper analyses the issue of whether directors may use reliance on professional advice as a defence to a claim for breach of duty to exercise care, skill and diligence under common law or companies legislation in England and Australia. While England and Australia share the same common law tradition and have similar statutory provisions on the standard of care of directors, an English court generally regards a director as acting reasonably when he seeks advice from a qualified and independent professional adviser in a specialist matter within his expertise. In the absence of any conflict of interest, reliance is only unreasonable if the circumstances are so plain and obvious that no prudent person will rely on the advice. In contrast, recent Australian cases, particularly ASIC v Healey, ASIC v MacDonald and ASIC v Fortescue, restrict the circumstances in which directors can rely on professional advisers, even in specialist matters. This paper argues that the difference in approach between the two jurisdictions can be explained on two grounds. First, the Australian cases can be distinguished from the English cases because the former are special situations dealing with matters involving non-delegable duties of care imposed by legislation. Second, the potential outcomes of the breach of the duty of care differ in England and Australia, and this difference has a much deeper, substantive influence on the content of the standard of care. Contrary to academic suggestion, it is suggested that the Australian developments may not always be appropriate in determining the scope of the defence of reliance on professional advice in England.

A Business Development Process Model for Independent Consulting Firms

The prevalence of small consulting firms and independent consultants in various fields is continually increasing, but does just having an industry expertise or business specialization guarantee success when managing your own consulting firm? This research uses a mixed- methods approach comprising of in-depth interviews of 12 expert consultants and a survey with a sample size 168 to understand effective business development processes for building a successful independent consultant practice. Through analysis of the research results, a process model evolved which highlighted five propositions which are intended to help independent consultants of all types launch and grow successful consulting businesses. These propositions are: 1) Lead generation activities that independent consultants typically undertake, typically yield the lowest results; 2) Selling follow-on work to existing and former clients is the best source of lead generation; 3) Successful independent consultants create a profile of their perfect client and target those clients who fit their expertise and business model; 4) Successful independent consultants learn what works for their business and are able to define their core capabilities through a continual, iterative process; 5) Successful independent consultants need sufficient resources to survive the lean times, and they need to be persistent through several, long learning iterations. Interviews with experts confirmed and expanded these findings.

Interpretation of aged sorption studies for pesticides and their use in European Union regulatory leaching assessments.

First-tier regulatory exposure assessments for pesticides assume that pesticide sorption is instantaneous and fully reversible. In European Union (EU) regulatory guidance, an increase in sorption over time ("aged sorption") can be considered at the higher tier to refine predicted environmental concentrations in groundwater. Research commissioned by the UK Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD), funded by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), formed the basis of a draft regulatory guidance document proposing 1) a protocol on how to measure aged sorption of parent compounds in laboratory studies, 2) procedures to fit kinetic models to the experimental data, 3) criteria to test the reliability of the parameters, and 4) procedures for use of the parameters in the groundwater exposure assessment. The draft guidance was revised after feedback from stakeholders and testing of the guidance was performed against real data sets by an independent consultancy. The Chemicals Regulation Directorate submitted the revised document to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for scrutiny. This article gives an overview of the draft guidance and explains the reasoning behind the recommendations made.

Career: As a Chemist Working as Independent Consultant in China

Career: As a Chemist Working as Independent Consultant in China

МЕТОДОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ АСПЕКТЫ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ НАЛОГОВЫМИ ПОТОКАМИ КОМПАНИИ В ФОРМЕ НАЛОГОВОГО КОНТРОЛЛИНГА

The article considers the company’s tax controlling as a component element of strategic management of finance and financial controlling. It describes its composition, structure, objective in accordance with organizational and methodological basic of building a general system of financial controlling. The company’s tax controlling system is presented as a multi-functional, integrating and coordinating model of tax flow management. The system offered includes the concept, methodological and methodic basis of tax management, as well as two functional blocks and their elements: the block of tax management (tax planning and budgeting, coordination, motivation and control of tax plans and budgets performance); the block of information and service provision of the management process (tax management accounting, analysis and recording). Organization and introduction of the offered tax controlling system, it blocks and elements is considered as one of the tasks of the company’s financial and tax manager or an independent tax advisor. The system offered must become one of the stages of forming in Russia systems of tax controlling and tax consultancy with expanded rights and responsibilities of tax controllers and advisors.