Management Consultants Research Articles

Evaluation par régression logistique binaire de déterminants de la mortalité néonatale dans la province du Kongo Central

Neonatal mortality disturbs the whole of humanity. Its frequency remains very high throughout the world, but more so in developing countries. The DRC is ranked among the countries with the highest number of neonatal deaths in the world with the ratio of 47 per 1000 live births, (Kalonji DC et al 2018). Indeed, the province of Kongo Central has not remained indifferent to this health problem. With a view to improving newborn health during the neonatal period, the present study is conducted and envisages identifying the determinants of neonatal mortality in Kongo Central Province. For this study, the general population consisted of all newborns in the Province of Kongo Central from 2021 to 2022. A random sample of 117 cases met the inclusion criteria, of which we matched 1 case to 2 controls. After data analysis, we found the following results: the overall neonatal mortality rate was 333 per thousand live births. The logistic regression model identified the following determinants of neonatal mortality: age (OR= 1.16562 IC95 [1.035635 -1.3163]. p=0.0105), age less than 2 years (OR= 2.01966 IC95 [1.021601-4.058]. p=0.0449) and acute fetal distress (OR=2.62027IC95 [1.179464-5.878]. p=0.0181). In order to improve neonatal health, pregnant women should be made aware of the importance of prenatal consultations for early detection and appropriate management of high-risk pregnancies. They should be present at the onset of labor and give birth in the presence of qualified personnel.

Legal Transformation of a Public Tertiary Institution: Turnaround and Public Interest of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)

Abstract Just over a decade ago, public tertiary institutions depended on the government for funding and received instructions on running their day-to-day affairs from the state. Recently, GIMPA a public tertiary institution deployed legal options to gain autonomy to stabilize its financial performance and service delivery. This article updates the progress that has since been made in understanding the reversal of the stressful financial situation of the institute through the lens of the existing legal framework. Further, the paper examined an ambitious organizational structure dwelling on a robust legal framework to redirect management policies, rules, regulations, and functional decisions of a public tertiary institution serving public management and public administration training and consultancy. Termed “legal framework,” this set of legal instruments is cultivated into efficient and effective operations that yield financial stability that ensures growth and is trajected towards national development.

The diagnostic challenge of differentiating Tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis (TMS) from other brain lesions: a case report and literature review on a rare subtype of MS

Introduction and Importance: This case report is a clinical diagnosis walk through of a rare subtype of Multiple sclerosis (MS). It gives an overview of how Tumefactive multiple sclerosis (TMS) is systematically narrowed down as the definitive diagnosis. Case Presentation: Our 29 year old male patient presented to the emergency department. He collapsed after experiencing pain over his right frontotemporal region followed by a seizure witnessed by his family. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain displayed a diffuse enlargement and abnormal T2 weighted and FLAIR hyperintense signals in the diagnostic impressions described by the radiologist of the right temporoparietal region. Clinical Discussion: Liquefactive Multiple Sclerosis, also known as tumefactive multiple sclerosis or Marburg-type multiple sclerosis, is a rare subtype of the neurological disorder that can be difficult to diagnose. Unlike the traditional form of Multiple sclerosis (MS), Tumefactive multiple sclerosis (TMS) can present as a brain tumor and must be diagnosed with a biopsy rather than via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical findings alone. Patients can typically present with headache, cognitive abnormalities, mental confusion, aphasia, apraxia, seizures, and weakness. Here, we discuss the presentation, disease diagnosis process and patient management. Conclusion: The patient was stabilized and discharged with a referral to the neurosurgery and neurology departments for outpatient consultation for future clinical management and treatment of their condition.

Resilient health care performance in the real world: fixing problems that never happened

BackgroundStaff in health systems everywhere have exhibited flexibility and a capacity for improvisations during, and in response to, the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking to other examples of such resilient behaviours outside of those induced by the pandemic is instructive for those involved with researching or understanding change, or making health systems improvements.MethodsHere, we synthesise and then assess the value of eight case studies of in situ resilient performance from Canada, Sweden, Japan, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Norway, the United States and Brazil. The cases are divided into four categories: responsiveness to a crisis; adaptiveness over time; local adoption in accommodating to a top down, national policy change; and the consequential outcomes of an intervention.ResultsThe cases illuminate the resourcefulness of translational and social researchers in examining such behaviours and practices. More than that, they also foreground the ingenuity and adaptive capacity of staff on-the-ground who continually anticipate, respond and adapt to make systems work and provide continuous care in the face of many challenges, including resource deficiencies, policy misalignments, and new technologies, policies and procedures that need to be integrated into local workflows. Front line clinicians make care systems work, pre-empting issues and sorting out problems before they occur or as they arise.ConclusionsA key lesson amongst a range of findings is that, rather than focusing on shiny new tools of change (checklists, frameworks, policy mandates), it is much more insightful and satisfying to deeply apprehend care at the sharp end, where clinicians deliver care to patients, understanding how everyday work is executed. This, rather than the Health Ministry, the Boardroom, or the Management Consultant’s office, is where and how change is being enabled, and where street level actors solve problems, thwart issues in advance, and constantly avoid pitfalls.

Put policies, procedures in place to address board disputes

Its natural—and common—for nonprofit boards to confront conflict in their ranks. Whether it's disputes between board members, boards and staff, or the executive director and board chair, these situations should be expected, and addressed by policies and procedures that the board and organizational founders put in place from the get‐go, according to Jeremy Barlow of board management consultancy BoardEffect.

Altered Sensory Processing in People Attending Specialist Orthopaedic Consultation for Management of Persistent Shoulder Pain: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to compare sensory processing measures in people attending specialist orthopaedic consultation for management of persistent shoulder pain with control participants. The secondary objective was to compare the groups' sociodemographic, clinical, general health and lifestyle, and psychological characteristics. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional. METHODS: Participants with shoulder pain for ≥3 months, who attended a public hospital orthopaedic department (n = 119), and community participants without shoulder pain (n = 44) underwent a standardized quantitative sensory testing protocol, measuring pressure pain threshold, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation. Sociodemographic, clinical, general health and lifestyle, and psychological characteristics were also collected. RESULTS: Participants with shoulder pain had significantly lower pressure pain thresholds at all sites (ie, local and widespread mechanical hyperalgesia) and significantly decreased conditioned pain modulation effect (ie, descending inhibition of nociception) than control participants. There was no significant difference between groups for temporal summation. Participants with shoulder pain had decreased general health and function, less healthy lifestyles, and poorer psychological health compared with controls. CONCLUSION: People referred to specialist orthopaedic care for management of persistent shoulder pain had clinical signs of altered sensory processing and poor health outcomes. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024;54(10):1-10. Epub 25 July 2024. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12512.

컨설팅전문기업 경영컨설턴트의 직무자율성, 직무재창조, 개인-직무적합성 및 조직몰입의 구조적 관계

The purpose of this study was to investigate the structural relationship between job autonomy, job crafting, person-job fit, and organizational commitment of management consultants of consulting companies. The instrument consisted of measurement tools used in previous studies and modified to fit the job context of management consultants. The responses of 352 management consultants in consulting companies were utilized in the analysis. Reliability analysis, descriptive statistics analysis, correlation analysis, and multicollinearity analysis were conducted using SPSS 29.0 for Windows. Additionally, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were performed using the lavaan package in R. The results of the study are as follows. First, a structural relationship model was derived for predicting the causal relationship between job autonomy, job crafting, person-job fit, and organizational commitment of management consultants in consulting companies. Second, the person-job fit of management consultants was shown to have a direct and positive effect on organizational commitment. Job autonomy and job crafting did not significantly affect organizational commitment. Third, the job autonomy of management consultants was found to have a statistically significant effect on organizational commitment through job crafting and person-job fit. Job autonomy has a significant positive effect on organizational commitment with person-job fit as a single mediation and a significant positive effect on organizational commitment with job crafting and person-job fit as dual mediation. Based on these results, suggestions for enhancing the level of organizational commitment of management consultants and implications for follow-up research were presented.

Research Progress in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Fetal Ventriculomegaly

Fetal ventriculomegaly is a central nervous system disorder commonly seen in prenatal imaging, and the prognosis ranges from normal health to severe dysfunction. Currently, fetal predictive markers associated with postpartum individual neurodevelopmental function are still not available, which increases the difficulty of prenatal diagnosis and clinical management. Constant advancements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology have brought better accuracy and reliability of MRI applied in the diagnosis, prognosis assessment, and etiology investigation of ventriculomegaly. MRI plays a critical role in prognostic management and prenatal consultation. Nevertheless, due to the potential safety hazards and economic and technical constraints of MRI, it is not the first choice for prenatal imaging diagnosis. Moreover, there are different opinions regarding the measurement results and grading criteria of ultrasound and MRI. At present, it is accepted that three-dimensional volume may provide reliable information for prognosis. However, accurate segmentation and measurement of brain structure remain serious challenges, and no consensus on the MRI measurement of lateral ventricle volume has been reached. In this paper, based on the latest research reports from China and around the world, we reviewed the progress in applying MRI in the prenatal diagnosis and treatment of ventriculomegaly. This review offers a theoretical foundation for further exploration of the role of lateral ventricle volume measurement in disease diagnosis and management. We suggest that researchers combine two-dimensional width with three-dimensional volume in the future to identify the optimal cutoff value for prognostic prediction of fetal ventriculomegaly.

Reducing therapeutic inertia in type 2 diabetes.

Therapeutic inertia describes a failure to establish appropriate treatment targets and escalate treatment to achieve those targets. This inertia can be measured, and evidence of this inertia is present in approximately one-third of diabetes management consultations. This inertia describes a failure in the system to produce change, rather than assigning fault to the physician or patient. This article discusses the importance of reducing therapeutic inertia in type 2 diabetes and focusing on reducing overall cardiovascular risk. This article discusses approaches to reducing treatment inertia in type 2 diabetes (ie identify the problem, get permission, set goals, measure progress and alter treatment to reach those goals). The treat-to-target methodology, the STABLE (Smoking cessation, Target organ involvement, HbA1c, Blood pressure, Lipid profile, Energy balance) acronym and practical approaches are described.

Development trends in the management consulting industry in dental medical organizations

The evolution of healthcare industry management corresponds to management trends in the global economy. Reforming medicine within the framework of the concepts of sustainable development, value-oriented approach, person-centeredness, as well as challenges due to the pandemic provide a number of relevant tasks and subjects for management consulting. A comparison of the market volumes of domestic and foreign medical management consulting shows a significant difference in the demand for this field of activity. It is necessary to explore the objective and subjective reasons for the restrictions on the development of domestic management consulting. The purpose of the study is to identify problems of management consulting in dental practice. The authors set the task of reviewing foreign and domestic sources of scientific literature and analytical reporting on the management consulting market, clarifying the main economic trends in domestic and foreign consulting services in healthcare, and identifying indicators and performance factors for management consulting in dental institutions. The methodology of content analysis of scientific information made it possible to draw conclusions about the state of the industry and formulate recommendations for its scaling. The results of the study confirmed the relevance of management consulting for the management and staff of dental organizations and the need for the development of the industry. The challenges of modern management increase the need to attract experts and professional management consultants to dental organizations.

Impact of AI-assisted CXR analysis in detecting incidental lung nodules and lung cancers in non-respiratory outpatient clinics.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for chest X-ray (CXR) analysis is becoming increasingly prevalent in medical environments. This study aimed to determine whether AI in CXR can unexpectedly detect lung nodule detection and influence patient diagnosis and management in non-respiratory outpatient clinics. In this retrospective study, patients over 18 years of age, who underwent CXR at Yongin Severance Hospital outpatient clinics between March 2021 and January 2023 and were identified to have lung nodules through AI software, were included. Commercially available AI-based lesion detection software (Lunit INSIGHT CXR) was used to detect lung nodules. Out Of 56,802 radiographic procedures, 40,191 were from non-respiratory departments, with AI detecting lung nodules in 1,754 cases (4.4%). Excluding 139 patients with known lung lesions, 1,615 patients were included in the final analysis. Out of these, 30.7% (495/1,615) underwent respiratory consultation and 31.7% underwent chest CT scans (512/1,615). As a result of the CT scans, 71.5% (366 cases) were found to have true nodules. Among these, the final diagnoses included 36 lung cancers (7.0%, 36/512), 141 lung nodules requiring follow-up (27.5%, 141/512), 114 active pulmonary infections (22.3%, 114/512), and 75 old inflammatory sequelae (14.6%, 75/512). The mean AI nodule score for lung cancer was significantly higher than that for other nodules (56.72 vs. 33.44, p < 0.001). Additionally, active pulmonary infection had a higher consolidation score, and old inflammatory sequelae had the highest fibrosis score, demonstrating differences in the AI analysis among the final diagnosis groups. This study indicates that AI-detected incidental nodule abnormalities on CXR in non-respiratory outpatient clinics result in a substantial number of clinically significant diagnoses, emphasizing AI's role in detecting lung nodules and need for further evaluation and specialist consultation for proper diagnosis and management.

The Effectiveness of Some Chronic Pulmonary Management Units for Patients with COPD and Asthma in Vietnam

Introduction: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases are chronic diseases and have high mortality rates in Vietnam and other countries. The chronic pulmonary disease Management Unit is a management model connecting inpatient and outpatient treatment for asthma and COPD patients. Patients receive long-term management and full consultation to share experiences and be provided with necessary information about the disease. The main purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the unit for patients with COPD and asthma in Vietnam. Material and Methods: A Combined cross-sectional study and retrospective longitudinal study were conducted on 310 COPD and asthma patients at Hai Duong, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen. The questionnaires included 30 questions with two sections including sociodemographic data and using management and treatment services. Results: After 24 months of management and treatment, knowledge of the disease, medicine use, symptoms, range of activities, eating, sleeping status, and disease control of patients were improved better. For ACT score, the points increased by 2.1 points, 3.4 points, and 4 points, respectively. For the CAT score, the point reduced by 3.7 points, 6.4 points, and 9.1 points, respectively. Improved severe breathlessness efficiency index from 0.6% at 6 months to 9.5% after 24 months. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the government needs to invest in facilities, equipment, and human resources to maintain and replicate the model nationwide to help patients receive timely management and treatment, contributing to reducing treatment costs and improving the quality of life for asthma and COPD patients.

A critical review on the impact of project management consultancies on township projects

A critical review on the impact of project management consultancies on township projects

Enhancing Customer Loyalty in the E-Food Industry: Examining Customer Perspectives on Lock-In Strategies

Although management consultancies emphasize customer loyalty as an important factor for the profitability of e-food business models and various lock-in strategies are already being used successfully in foreign e-food markets, there is still a lack of implementation among German e-food providers. To derive how customer loyalty strategies should be designed in the German e-food market, this paper focuses on a qualitative-explorative analysis of which determinants characterize loyalty to an e-food provider from the customer’s perspective. The results of the study partly confirm the determinants for customer loyalty in e-commerce in general that have already been identified in other studies. It becomes clear that the consideration of the individual recurring needs of customers significantly strengthens customer loyalty in the e-food market. In addition, the characteristics of the German e-food market show that lock-in strategies from other European markets cannot be transferred to the German e-food market without conceptual adjustments.

Hybridization of Lean Management Case of a Management Consulting Intervention Research in China

Hybridization of Lean Management Case of a Management Consulting Intervention Research in China

Evaluating the Impact of Home Economics Teachers' Entrepreneurial Activities on Family Economic Stability and Well-Being in Northeast Nigeria

This study examines the impact of entrepreneurial activities of Home Economics teachers on family economic stability and well-being in Northeast Nigeria. Home Economics, as a field, encompasses various disciplines such as nutrition, home management, and consumer education, aiming to improve the quality of life for individuals and families. In Northeast Nigeria, Home Economics teachers often engage in entrepreneurial activities, leveraging their expertise to supplement their income and enhance their families' economic stability. This study evaluates the extent to which these entrepreneurial endeavors contribute to family income, food security, and overall quality of life. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from Home Economics teachers across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states. A sample of 200 teachers was selected through multistage sampling. The study employed both descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data, including paired samples t-tests and W-statistics to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial activities significantly enhance family economic stability and well-being. Teachers engaged in ventures such as catering, textile and fashion businesses, and home management consultancy experienced notable improvements in family income, food security, and overall quality of life. The study underscores the importance of supporting entrepreneurial initiatives among Home Economics teachers to foster economic resilience and social development in the region. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and community leaders to integrate entrepreneurial education within the Home Economics curriculum, thereby promoting sustainable development in Northeast Nigeria.

Identities in Flex: How Management Consultants Construct Their Identity Roles

Identities in Flex: How Management Consultants Construct Their Identity Roles

The Impact of Exchange Rate Dynamics on FDI in Nigeria – Insights for Management Consultants

The Impact of Exchange Rate Dynamics on FDI in Nigeria – Insights for Management Consultants

An integrated evaluation framework for Environmental, Social, and Governance-driven social media performance through Multi-criteria Decision-Analysis

Social media is crucial in providing data for networking with individuals, companies, or industries. This study deals with the topic of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). These can be seen as a set of standards which impacts a corporation’s structure and performance. Twenty years ago, when ESG started to gain notoriety, ESG initiatives were labeled as a tool to ensure ‘ethical’ and/or ‘responsible’ investing. This study collects data from LinkedIn company profiles on the industry, the staff, the number of followers, and the state where the company has its headquarters. In addition, the media’s take on pending legislation on ESG was assessed. Based on data from 537 companies, indicators were created, either normalized, the median, or ranked, and analyzed with the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The current work provides information on this variation of ESG activity within the different states in the USA. Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was applied by weighing four criteria. The overall assessment was presented depending on the combined weighted performance score of the four criteria. The results showed that 36% of the companies active within the ESG landscape represent the “Financial Services” and “Management Consulting” industries. 65% of the investigated sample represented companies with up to 10 employees. Moreover, eight states perform well on both median of staff and followers (in alphabetical order: Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin). Lastly, through the MCDA method, it was also observed that there are not many variations when different weights are applied to the four criteria: i.e., “the normalized number of companies by state,” “the median of the followers of the company per state,” “the median of the staff of the company per state,” and the “sentiment of the legislation.” Finally, the top five highly ranked states considering ESG visibility on LinkedIn through their companies are Ohio, Michigan, Delaware, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. The results indicate that companies can more proactively advertise themselves as compliant with current ESG principles. This methodology can also be applied to other topics and regions to assess online activity in line with existing indicators.

Assessment of infrastructure, behaviours, and user satisfaction of guardian waiting shelters for secondary level hospitals in southern Malawi.

Guardian Waiting Shelters (GWSs) are an essential component of the Malawi's health care system as they serve as a temporary home for patient guardians while taking care of their relatives admitted to the hospital, and expectant mothers. Although GWSs play a crucial role in Malawi's healthcare system, past studies have primarily concentrated on maternity waiting homes, neglecting the role and importance of GWSs. The study examines GWS management structures and conditions, as well as guardian satisfaction and perception of health risks related to GWS use. In this explanatory sequential mixed methods design, we assessed 12 GWSs from southern region of Malawi. Qualitative data included interviews (n = 149) and focus group discussions with patient guardians (n = 72), interviews with GWS caretakers (n = 5), representatives from Hospital Management (n = 12) and Hospital Advisory Committees (n = 11). Lack of guidelines and standards for GWSs resulted in creating a customized facility checklist to quantitatively assess infrastructure present at GWSs (n = 12). Descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis were utilized for data analysis, and a problem tree analysis was used to triangulate and summarize the findings. A total of 249 participants participated in the study. Each GWS had an average of 100 users daily, primarily adult females (71%). No one was accountable for GWS operation and maintenance due to the lack of a management hierarchy. GWS infrastructure conditions were poor, with inadequate functional sleeping rooms, insufficient access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. Notably, 50% of the GWSs lacked water access, and a quarter had non-functional toilets. Guardians felt unsafe and at risk of disease transmission when staying within GWS. Study findings highlight lack of clear, consistent GWS ownership as a root cause of challenges in GWSs. Clear policy and operational standards must be established for effective management and smooth functioning of GWSs.