Organizational Approach Research Articles

Implementation of the School as a Learning Organisation Approach in Vocational Education: The Case of Latvia

Context. Recent studies recognise that the use of the School as a Learning Organisation (SLO) approach in educational management is the key factor ensuring a general education institution’s ability to effectively implement the education policy goals and adapt to change as the use of SLO. Although vocational education has different predominant goals and different target groups, likewise general education, it is exposed to dynamic change and new challenges.Purpose. Within the framework of the study, it was researched whether and how SLO can be applied in vocational education as the use of SLO facilitates a high level of professional competence of the management and academic staff, enhances common strategic vision, responsibility and autonomy, diverse collaboration, effective resource management, and the dissemination of knowledge and good practice, which are also important in vocational education.Methods. Using qualitative data analysis, the paper analyses the experience of EU and OECD countries in the implementation of SLO in vocational education and identifies, which dimensions of the SLO model are represented in the policy and practice of vocational education in Latvia. In the focus group interviews with representatives of vocational education institutions of Latvia, the characteristics of the SLO approach in vocational education were studied, challenges were described and solutions proposed for the targeted implementation of the SLO approach in vocational education in Latvia.Results. All 7 dimensions of the SLO can be found in the education policy documents of the EU and OECD countries and Latvia, as well as in the focus group interviews, which shows that there is a gradual progress towards the transformation of vocational education institutions into learning organisations.Conclusions. For education policy makers: Since the features of SLO are only partially visible in vocational education documents in Latvia, the framework should be improved to cover all dimensions of the SLO, and norms and agreements on collective understanding should be harmonised in policy documents. For school representatives: Raise awareness of the staff of vocational education institutions of the essence of the SLO and its role in improving the quality of education and ensure that all dimensions of SLO are understood and addressed appropriately. For entrepreneurs: Help define the diverse, varied manifestations of professions in the sector in order to engage the individual potential of learners as effectively as possible. For researchers: Help find ways to resolve controversies by identifying good practice and research.

A bibliometric study of positive psychological capital: investigating intellectual foundations through co-citation and content analyses

AbstractSince its inception in the early 2000s, the growing popularity of positive psychological capital (i.e., PsyCap) has been accompanied by robust debates. Critics assert that PsyCap research is plagued by suboptimal theoretical foundations, disregard for rigorous methodologies, and cult-like cronyism. Leveraging bibliometric data based on 937 primary documents, 28,428 secondary documents, 9714 sources, and 18,247 authors, we conduct document, source, and author co-citation analyses to examine the intellectual foundations of PsyCap and, thus, the veracity of these critiques. We extend this comprehensive scientific mapping of the PsyCap field with an in-depth content analysis of the 100 most frequently co-cited secondary documents. Results suggest that the PsyCap field is built upon solid theoretical foundations in psychology published in reputable, peer-reviewed journals. The authors of secondary documents consider the typical organizational behavior methodological approaches, emphasizing correlational designs. And, although somewhat insular, the research that underlies the PsyCap field consists of a distribution of contributing authors and journals. Finally, we discuss implications for the practical application of positive psychology tenets and prescriptions for scholars researching PsyCap.

Hybrid organisations embedded in resource-poor contexts: linking organisational capabilities and individual capabilities – a slippery ground?

PurposeThis paper aims to contribute to research on hybrid organisations operating within the information and communication technology for development paradigm to foster socio-economic inclusion through the capacity building of marginalised individual youth to enable their entry and participation in the formal labour market.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative research design, the authors investigated impact sourcing service providers and their beneficiaries to unpack how hybrid organisations fulfil their social mission and to provide a nuanced understanding of their needed capabilities. Data triangulation through document analysis, participant observation and semi-structured interviews were conducted for the empirical findings’ robustness and in-depth analysis.FindingsThis paper illuminates how hybrids strived to build beneficiaries' capabilities through empirically grounded approaches of “standardised” and “individualised” skills development, which were strongly connected to the perceived capabilities among the beneficiaries. Organisations that practiced the “individualised” approach imparted technical knowledge and, depending on individual needs, relevant social skills. Critically, the empirical findings call into question the effectiveness of the scalability model, as the results showed that the creation of standardised, low-skilled and low-paid jobs contradicts the idealised self-help status that employment advocates. In addition, the findings underline the central role of constant experimentation, resilience and organisational learning in revamping capabilities of hybrid organisations. Remarkably, compared to organisations committed to the “standardised” technical competency path, the results underscored the difficulties that organisations taking an “individualised" approach face in developing organisational capabilities for their financial sustainability. Further, organisations engaged in standardised” skills development were found to readapt their business model to the economic value and kept the wording of dual mission as a narrative.Originality/valueThe paper makes a conceptual and empirical contribution bringing together two separately developed literature strands – the organisational capability approach and – the individual capability approach, to enhance a more profound understanding of how both capabilities are connected to each other in the dual-mission orientation of hybrids embedded in resource-poor environments, global value chains, Global South, hybrid organisations, organisational and individual capability building.

Participatory design in telehealth research: Practical case examples.

Participatory design (PD) is a methodology that emphasizes user participation in the design of new technologies to leverage change within organizations and services. PD originated in the computer science field in the 1970s and 1980s when new programs and technologies were developed to empower workers, by involving them in decisions that affected them. PD in health research has been proven to change clinical practice. Genuine user involvement that includes all stakeholders, and robust collaborations across sciences, sectors, and disciplines are basic elements of successful research to change clinical practice and to implement novel technical and organizational approaches. This paper summarizes seven case studies involving the use of PD in telehealth research. All cases presented promoted organizational changes supported by health information and communications technology, and have been implemented at either international, national, regional, or local levels. We describe how PD can be applied in health sciences and used to facilitate organizational changes, new perspectives, and new communications methods. The relevance and suitability of PD as a research design in health science is explained, and recommendations for conducting PD studies in telehealth research are presented. In PD, mutual learning and co-creation is facilitated. Consequently, learning from users, rather than studying them, corroborates our understanding and the emergence of new knowledge.

Clinical Profile of Febrile Neutropenia in Children with Malignancies in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract Introduction: Febrile neutropenia is a dreadful complication associated with malignancies. Knowledge of locally prevalent pathogens and their resistance pattern is of paramount importance in guiding antimicrobial therapy. Aims/Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify the common infectious agent, antibiotic susceptibility of culture positive patients, and outcome Methods: We conducted a single-center prospective observational study. Forty-three children with febrile neutropenia episodes admitted in KKCTH, Chennai, were included in the study. The duration of the study was 1 year. Relevant patient and disease specific details were obtained, results were analyzed, and conclusions were drawn. Results: There were 90 episodes of febrile neutropenia. Overall culture positivity was identified in 37 cases (41.11%). Bacteremia (23.3%) was the most common cause of microbiologically documented infection. Gram-positive organisms (60%) were more commonly documented. Among the gram-positive organisms, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant isolate followed by Streptococcus. Central line–associated bloodstream infections were documented in 13.33%. Chemo-port removal was done in four children. Three had invasive fungal disease. The majority of the gram-negative isolates were resistant strains. Morbidity was significantly more in gram-negative infections. Overall outcome was good though three children succumbed to sepsis. Conclusion: A vigilant management of illness is essential. Chemo-port carries risk of severe infection. Protocol-based management of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) can limit the number of chemo-port removal. Though gram-positive organisms are in the rise, gram-negative organisms are still responsible for significant morbidity. Early initiation of broad-spectrum empirical antibiotics with optimal gram-positive coverage is crucial. Children with suspected fungal infections should be aggressively evaluated and treated. An organized approach is the key in successful management.

Prostate cancer screening? Only evidence-based, risk-adjusted, and organized!

In view of arecent recommendation of the European Commission to conceptualize novel screening approaches for lung, gastric, and prostate cancer, Germany is also invoked to revise its prostate early detection program. This discussion article provides an overview of new findings on prostate cancer screening, which suggest an organized and risk-adapted screening approach. Based on the German risk-adapted screening trial PROBASE, together with recently published data on organized screening programs in Europe, model projects should be established to determine the specific modalities for anew organized and risk-adapted prostate cancer screening program.

Recent Development of Physical Hydrogen Storage: Insights into Global Outlook and Future Applications.

Transition of global energy market towards an environment-friendly sustainable society requires a profound transformation from fossil fuel to zero carbon emission fuel. To cope with this goal production ofrenewable energy is accelerating worldwide. Research in renewable energy from production and storage to practical utilization requires an organized approach. One of the best renewable energy carrier is the hydrogen, due to its clean combustion and abundance. Nonetheless, its storage is a critical challenge to its success. Hydrogen must be stored long after being produced and transported to a storage site. Physical hydrogen storage is vital among hydrogen storage modes, and its shortcoming needs to overcome for its successful and economic benefits. This review intends to discuss the techniques and applications of physical hydrogen storage in the state of compressed gas, liquefied hydrogen gas, and cold/cryo compressed gas concerning their working principle, chemical and physical properties, influencing factors for physical hydrogen storage, and transportation, economics, and global outlook. Insights of several probable physical hydrogen storage (PHS) systems are highlighted. The outcomes of this review envisioned that the PHS still necessitates technological advancements despite having remarkable success. The Liquid Hydrogen Gas storage marks better sustainability than Compressed and Cryo Compressed Gas. The physical hydrogen storage method can store hydrogen in tanks in any state (liquid or gas) under 20 K for the liquid state and ambient temperature for the gaseous state The Bibliographic analysis depicts that the research in hydrogen rising with time and mostly the research in conducted in USA with 231 articles. Prospects and challenges with lessons learned and the limitation opens the door to further research, which would be helpful for efficient and long-term physical hydrogen storage.

Prospects of organizational and legal provision of energy security of Ukraine in the conditions of modern geopolitical processes

The scientific article is devoted to one of the important objects of national security – energy security. The organizational and legal approaches to the regulation of energy security are singled out and certain aspects of state regulation of energy efficiency are outlined, taking into account modern geopolitical processes. The definition of energy security is formulated, its global nature is indicated, which determines its provision through the joint efforts of all countries of the world, taking into account the internal characteristics and needs of the industry. It was emphasized that energy security as an object of state policy in the conditions of armed aggression against Ukraine requires proper legal regulation and continuous coordinated state management influence in order to ensure the energy independence of the country and the stable operation of energy infrastructure facilities. The analysis of the legal provision of energy security in Ukraine allowed us to come to the conclusion about the ramifications of the legislation in the specified area, the lack of optimization and systematization of energy legislation, its conflict and tolerance for the monopoly position of energy market participants. In the conditions of the war in Ukraine, the main direction of legislative regulation of the energy market is the introduction of tax benefits, temporary special taxation regimes. It was concluded that the introduction of the Institute of the Authorized President of Ukraine on Energy Safety, the development of the Institute of Public Control in the specified field is considered a promising direction for improving the national institutional mechanism for ensuring energy security. Arguments are also given that the institutional and legal mechanisms for ensuring energy security should provide for: permanent strategic planning of the development of the energy sector; coordination of energy policy with other areas of state policy; elimination of illegal administrative influence on energy market participants; taking measures to improve energy efficiency; creation of conditions for the development of technological innovations in the field of functioning of the energy infrastructure; increasing the effectiveness of preventing cyber threats; taking measures to reduce the level of corruption and the influence of the political will of elites on the energy market of Ukraine, state deregulation and demonopolization of the energy resources market.

The Role of Focal Leaders in Collective Leadership Behavior: A Historiometric Analysis of Socialized and Personalized Leaders

The increasing adoption of collectivistic leadership approaches in organizations has sparked a growing interest in understanding factors influencing their emergence and effectiveness. In their collective leadership framework, Friedrich and colleagues (2009) underscore the pivotal role of focal leaders in sharing aspects of the leadership role and facilitating conditions for the emergence of informal leadership. Despite the imperative of power sharing in this process, no study to date has explored the relationship between power orientation and collective leadership behaviors. To address this gap, we conducted a historiometric leader analysis to compare collective leadership behavior between focal leaders with socialized and personalized orientations. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for additional empirical work investigating the relationships between collective leadership behaviors and outcomes, especially among leaders with different power orientations. Consequently, we conducted a series of correlations for each leader type to gain insight into these relationships. Our results indicate that personalized leaders exhibit less engagement in collective leadership behaviors compared to socialized leaders, and these behaviors successfully discriminate between the two power orientations. Additionally, we observed that personalized leaders who demonstrated greater engagement in collective leadership behaviors achieved more positive and fewer negative outcomes. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Impact Assessment of Patient Experience Capacity-Building Program Using Kirkpatrick Model for Program Evaluation at a Regional Healthcare System.

The patient experience (PX) is central to improving the quality of healthcare services. We launched a PX capacity- and capability-building program at the Armed Forces Hospitals Taif Region, which is integral to our regional healthcare cluster transformation plans and is an initial step toward developing a culture of improvement in human experience in healthcare. A multidisciplinary PX committee recruited five frontline interprofessional PX heads, one from each of our regional healthcare hospitals. The Kirkpatrick model for program evaluation was used to assess the impact on four key levels: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. A pre-program competency assessment was conducted to evaluate the level of expertise across various PX competencies, and a program curriculum was developed accordingly. Participants underwent an intensive workshop-based PX capacity-building training program. A post-program competency assessment was performed along with a post-program survey. The PX-related activities led by interprofessional frontline PX heads at their respective hospitals' post-programs were tracked. The impact on the regional PX mean score across various settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings, was measured using Press Ganey PX surveys. Our work is reported in accordance with the SQUIRE-EDU guidelines of the EQUATOR network. The PX capacity-building program led to a significant improvement in participants' expertise across various PX competencies. Significant improvements beyond the strategic targets were observed in the PX mean score in inpatient departments pre-program (83.31) vs. post-program (86.34), with a p-value of < 0.001 across the regional healthcare system. The PX capacity-building program is a first step toward major cultural change amid the healthcare cluster transformation in our regional healthcare system. The Kirkpatrick model helps evaluate the impact of PX capacity- and capability-building training programs comprehensively through an organizational approach. Sustainable improvements in PX over a long period through a capacity-building program alone remain challenging.

Acute cholangitis: a state-of-the-art review.

Acute cholangitis is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the intra and/or extrahepatic bile ducts. It remains the second and third cause of community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacteremia, respectively, and is associated with mortality rates of up to 15%, despite advances in broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy and improved access to emergency biliary tract decompression procedures. Even though not much has changed in recent years in terms of diagnosis or treatment, new data have emerged regarding multidrug-resistant bacteria that serve as etiologic agents of cholangitis. Moreover, different approaches in antibiotic regimes depending on severity grading and bile sample cultures as well as novel minimally invasive endoscopic procedures that can help when consecrated treatments such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) fail, cannot be performed, or are unavailable have been proposed. This state-of-the-art review aims to offer a complete and updated assessment of the epidemiology, novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods, complications, and prognostic variables of acute cholangitis. The authors will review the prognostic implications of unusual complications, the relevance of regular bile samples and antibiograms, and their new role in guiding antibiotic therapy and limiting antibiotic resistance to present an organized and comprehensive approach to the care of acute cholangitis.

An Innovative Organizational Approach: Motivation by Values through Organizational Valubility

An Innovative Organizational Approach: Motivation by Values through Organizational Valubility

TO THE CONCEPT OF INSURANCE INDEMNITY UNDER MOTOR TPL CONTRACTS

The present study is devoted to the issue of defining the concept of insurance compensation under contracts of compulsory motor third party liability insurance (hereinafter - CMTPL) in the system of related concepts of CMTPL using the formal-legal method of research. The article considers various approaches of insurance organisations to the concept of insurance indemnity in the context of legal relations in the field of CMTPL insurance, as well as examines the practical problems faced by both professional participants of the insurance services market - insurers, and persons who apply to them, whose property, in particular vehicles, has suffered as a result of damage caused to them by the perpetrators of road accidents. The paper analyses both regulatory legal acts in the field of CMTPL insurance and the practice of insurance organisations in carrying out their obligations under CMTPL insurance contracts in terms of insurance indemnities and related concepts: ‘insurance payments', “organisation of vehicle repair”, “insurance amounts”, etc. The paper concludes that it is necessary to establish legally the definition of the concept of insurance indemnity, to include in the content of this concept the organisation or payment for repairs within the insurance sum, and to justify the need to increase the terms of insurance indemnity in the form of repairs under CMTPL insurance contracts from thirty to forty-five days.

Trajectories of socio-ecological systems: Does social capital matter? A case study in the tropical Andes

Between natural and social systems there are two-way interactions, which determine the path of change in the Socio-Ecological System. For example, the type of land use decisions that society makes could lead to the deterioration of the biophysical system and its ecological functioning, causing effects on social well-being. Conceptual and simulation models of socio-ecological systems allow an understanding of such interactions and the development of trajectories. In this manuscript we explore the link between three lines of research that overlap but have been studied separately (i) Governance, (ii) Socio-ecological systems, and (iii) social capital. This paper analyzes the dynamics of social capital and its influence on governance and Land Use and Land Cover Changes in a basin of the Colombian Andes. To this end, we develop a Systems Dynamics model (SD). This research contributes to the (i) understanding of how the institutions, their policies, the actors, and the interactions generated between them in a territory influence the management of natural resources, which is indispensable to supporting the decision-making process; and (ii) operationalization of the social capital elements on the SES model through an integrated analysis with consideration of feedback mechanisms between natural and social system. With this model, a scenario evaluation is developed to analyze the effect of different approaches of the social capital organization on land cover in the basin case study.

A survey-based study: assessing inpatient attending perspectives on teaching learners, feeling valued, and symptoms of burnout

BackgroundPhysician burnout is rising, especially among academic physicians facing pressures to increase their clinical workload, lead administrative tasks and committees, and be active in research. There is a concern this could have downstream effects on learners’ experiences and academic physician’s ability to teach learners on the team.MethodsA 29-question RedCap survey was electronically distributed to 54 attending physicians within an academic learning health system who oversaw the General Medicine inpatient teaching services during the 2022–2023 academic year. The aims were to assess this cohort of attending physicians’ experiences, attitudes, and perceptions on their ability to effectively teach learners on the team, feeling valued, contributors to work-life balance and symptoms of burnout, Fisher’s Exact Tests were used for data analysis.ResultsResponse rate was 56%. Attendings splitting time 50% inpatient / 50% outpatient felt that team size and type of admissions model affected their ability to effectively teach learners (p = 0.022 and p = 0.049). Attendings with protected administrative time felt that non-patient care obligations affected their ability to effectively teach the learners (p = 0.019). Male attendings and attendings with ≤ 5 years of General Medicine inpatient teaching experience felt less valued by residency leadership (p = 0.019 and p = 0.026). 80% of attendings experienced emotional exhaustion, and those with > 10 weeks on a General Medicine inpatient teaching service were more likely to experience emotional exhaustion (p = 0.041). Attendings with > 10 weeks on a General Medicine inpatient teaching service and those who were a primary caregiver were more likely to experience depersonalization (p = 0.012 and p = 0.031). 57% of attendings had reduced personal achievement.ConclusionsInstitutions should seek an individual and organizational approach to professional fulfillment. Special attention to these certain groups is warranted to understand how they can be better supported. Further research, such as with focus groups, is needed to address these challenges.

Peer Exchange for Improving Accuracy of the Engineer’s Estimate for Highway Improvement Projects

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation hosted a peer exchange in 2021 to discuss topics related to improving procedures for developing the engineer’s estimate. The goal was to improve accuracy of engineers’ estimates by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, lessons learned, and opportunities for the development of state-to-state relationships for continued improvements. Before the peer exchange, invited State Highway Agencies (SHAs) were asked to fill out an online survey to obtain preliminary information about their estimating procedures and practices, organizational approach, measurements of estimating accuracy and bidding history. Representatives from 16 SHAs responded to the survey and representatives from 11 SHAs and the Federal Highway Agency participated in the peer exchange. This article presents the results of the survey and a summary of the discussions during the peer exchange so that other SHAs can learn from them. The peer exchange provided a summary of the state of practice of the SHAs in preparing the engineer’s estimate and identified the following list of most impactful factors for differences between the engineer’s estimate and bidding results: low bid competition, geographic location, outdated data used in historical bid-based estimating, shortage of skilled workers and time, and market volatility. Discussions during the peer exchange uncovered how individual SHAs are approaching and dealing with these factors and those results are presented in the article. Other SHAs will benefit from the summaries of other SHAs’ current practices and the action items Wisconsin Department of Transportation identified resulting from the peer exchange.

Exploring Science Centers' Educational and Organizational Approaches Through the Lens of Science Center Educators: Instructional Design Considerations

Exploring Science Centers' Educational and Organizational Approaches Through the Lens of Science Center Educators: Instructional Design Considerations

Creating elite encounters: The ‘campaign’ as approach for interviewing corporate elites

Qualitative research in economic geography recognizes the value of accessing business elite perspectives, yet identifying, approaching and interviewing elites present researchers with a set of challenges. Both practical and ethical, these challenges can be particularly acute for research involving ‘contentious’ firms and sectors – those facing increased societal scrutiny due to histories of labour exploitation, bribery and pollution and where there are often strong asymmetries in social power. This paper proposes a systematic approach for managing these challenges and successfully conducting interviews with business elites that we term an interview ‘campaign’. We propose the interview campaign as a strategic, organized and nimble approach designed to achieve a specific goal – an elite encounter. We show how instrumentalism and strategic ambiguity are central to the campaign, and how both can be harnessed to navigate an environment characterized by uncertainty, serendipity and structured relations of power. Our ‘campaign approach’ systematically breaks down a complex process into manageable parts without losing sight of the whole, via clear goals, strategic planning and critical reflection. The need for evidence-based research on corporate strategic action in relation to a wide range of contemporary economic phenomena suggests the campaign approach may have value across many areas of economic geography, business studies and beyond. The paper draws upon established social science literatures on elite interviewing and political campaigning, and on our own experience conducting interviews with senior executives in the oil and gas industry.

The Innovative Implications of Smart Working in a Post-pandemic Era: A Model of Smart Working Satisfaction in Public Sector Organizations

New technological imperatives have changed the configuration of work, shifting it toward flexible and high-performance logics. Added to this was the global health emergency that paralyzed most work activities, with dramatic impacts on employment. During and after the emergency, organizations have realized that digital transformation has the potential to increase productivity, and Smart Working (SW) is part of this transformation process. The variable this analysis focuses on is Smart Working Satisfaction (SWS) in Italian public organizations, with the aim of identifying trends and solutions to improve human well-being and labor productivity. Accordingly, the research aims to answer the following questions: (a) What factors influence SWS? (b) What effects on satisfaction does a flexible form of work generate? (c) How does SWS manifest itself? A survey of 1,252 civil servants tapped the level of satisfaction of agile workers. The study aims to shift the focus of the scientific literature on SWS toward a new organizational approach to work. This research seeks not only to fill a theoretical gap related to SWS but also to demonstrate how the diffusion of new flexible working logics enhances workers’ sense of affiliation.

Precursors of falls from height in two main contractor companies in the Chilean construction sector and their subcontractors: Shared vision and preventive prioritization.

Risk factors that can result in serious injuries or deaths are frequently not understood or prevented because of the traditional way in which organizations approach safety. This is especially true for falls from heights in the construction sector, which remain a leading safety hazard in construction globally. A theoretical framework derived from a thorough review of international evidence provided the foundation for the conduct of 50 structured focus groups with a total of 209 participants representing construction workers and supervisors in two main Chilean construction contractor companies and their subcontractors. A total of 627 precursors (risk factors), 56 taxonomies (work tasks/activities), and 622 defenses (prevention actions) were identified. These were classified in three macro dimensions and 13 subdimensions in total, providing a comprehensive framework for the origin, manifestation, and neutralization of such precursors. The findings provide a useful framework for understanding of the most critical risks to which workers are exposed and actions to prevent them. This framework should form the basis for the development of practical safety programs and tools such as management and training checklists, and data analysis for early warning signs.