Project-based Work Research Articles

Postdigital Applied Systems Science Education: Toward an Integral Framework, Curriculum, and Pedagogy

The design of systems to support sustainable wellbeing is contingent upon lifespan education of Homo sapiens and ongoing efforts to cultivate individual and collective intelligence. The Postdigital Applied Systems Science Education (PASSE) framework presented in this paper highlights the need for greater investment in educational infrastructures that support the development of collective intelligence, teamwork, and system design skills. We propose that the implementation of PASSE involves group- and project-based work focused on developing (1) an understanding of systems, (2) an understanding of group dynamics relevant to the management and design of systems, and (3) skill in the application of applied systems science methods that can be used by groups in the management and redesign of systems. To showcase curricular and pedagogical challenges and opportunities, we describe key features of our current delivery of PASSE along with future plans and prospects. Aligned with postdigital perspectives and innovations at the nexus of biology, information, and society, we highlight the potential for ongoing redesign of educational infrastructures and technologies that enhance societal teamwork and system design capabilities that allow us to address increasingly complex societal challenges.

Sustainable Knowledge Sharing Model for IT Agile Projects

In order to overcome work environment challenges and remain competitive in the market, organisations must adapt. An organisation's competitiveness can be improved through knowledge sharing; however, improvement without responsibility can have a negative impact on the sociotechnical environment which people cannot fully comprehend. According to researchers, business involvement in sustainable development goals remains minimal [51]. As a result, a sustainable consciousness is crucial to improve the business. In the project profession, sustainability is a business approach that balances the environmental, social, economic, and political aspects of project-based work to fulfil the demands of stakeholders without jeopardising or overburdening the availability of natural resources for future generations [33]. This study goes a step further and proposes a theoretical design that aims to ensure sustainable development during conceptual knowledge transfer in Agile IT projects.

Comment on “Physics at the Molecular and Cellular Level (P@MCL): A New Curriculum for Introductory Physics”

I recently became acquainted with the work done by Lisa J. Lapidus on new curricular development for courses on Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences (IPLS) (1). While I enjoyed reading the article, I was expecting a description of the assessment modalities of such a physics course that is highly focused on molecular and cellular biology. The author, however, is still developing this aspect. Several afterthoughts left me wondering about the best assessment modes for this course.From my perspective, introductory physics remains the only basic course in the life sciences curriculum where students are taught to apply logic and deduction to the resolution of real-world physics problems, and this is in striking contrast to molecular and cellular biology, where memorization is traditionally emphasized. I agree with the many voices that argue that the learning objectives of IPLS are not about gaining new knowledge but, rather, are about gaining abilities and competencies. The assessments discussed in the paper refer to concept inventories, which are indeed conceptual rather than problem based. However, in my opinion, written problem-based exams are better suited to evaluate competencies acquired in introductory physics courses. During their final exam, students may be given a list of all the formulas they need, but it will not help them succeed if they did not practice beforehand how to apply this knowledge thoughtfully. Clearly, students are strongly motivated by real-world physics problems that touch upon some biomedical aspects, but when it comes to developing physics problems solely with molecular and cellular biology content, I do not see too many possibilities of constructions that would require application of logic and deduction. This situation implies a high probability that the teacher will have to recycle exam questions and, accordingly, disfavors the problem based assessment modality for P@MCL. In other words, the use of problem-based assessment, along with these curriculum adjustments, would “throw the baby out with the bathwater,” because students would simply train in solving a limited number of typical problems. Probably the optimal assessment mode in such a course would be project based (2). This way, the students have several possibilities to showcase their understanding of physics topics and their competencies to tie together physics and biology—in the form of written essays or video capsules. The evaluation of project-based work, however, may require significant effort on the part of the instructor (3).With regards to curricular adjustments for P@MCL, the elimination of topics from the IPLS curriculum should not be simply based, in my opinion, on whether there is or is not a biological equivalent. Still, I was surprised to see the suppression of rotations, electromagnetic induction, and DC circuits (including Kirchhoff's laws). In molecular biology we have a perfect example of conversion of rotational work into the universal cell energy currency, ATP, by ATP synthase. Electroencephalographic measurements are based on electromagnetic induction caused by pulsating currents in nerve fibers. Finally, although it is clear that Kirchhoff's laws are not required to understand how transmembrane potential is generated on the cellular and molecular levels, it should be noted that the equivalent resistor-capacitor circuits describe quite accurately the electric behavior dynamics of various living cells. After all, this is the great achievement for which Hodgkin and Huxley were awarded their Nobel Prize.

Perception on the Achievement of Course Learning Outcomes of an Undergraduate Final Semester Project Virtual Symposium

The Diploma in English for Professional Communication in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) is a new academic programme that requires its students to undertake a final semester project-based work. At the end of project, students are to present the aspects and achievements of their projects. Due to COVID-19 and government-imposed movement restrictions, physical poster presentation sessions had to be replaced by a virtual symposium to fulfil the course learning outcomes. Subsequently, there is a need to examine whether this virtual presentation and industry engagement programme have attained the intended learning outcomes. This study investigated the perceptions on the achievement of learning outcomes by participants and presenters of the online virtual symposium. Data were gleaned from an online survey and recorded 214 responses, comprised of academic staff, project supervisors, invited industry experts, students, and student-presenters. The findings revealed that the ‘Industry on Campus Virtual Symposium’ had managed to achieve the intended course learning outcomes of ‘performs essential methods and procedures’, and ‘initiate entrepreneurial mindsets in performing essential methods and procedures’. The participants also indicated that the virtual symposium had achieved other MQF’s Practical Skills, and Personal and Entrepreneurial Skills attributes/sub-attributes descriptors. This study has shown that virtual symposiums and other innovative platforms can effectively create a synergy between academia and industry in providing positive learning experiences to students and achieve their learning outcomes.

Project Success: What is the Role of Project Team Morale and How It Can Be Boosted?

This research presents and validates a model of project team morale and its influence on project success. We operationally define morale in project-based work as a multi-faceted variable encompassing suggested definitions offered in former studies. Unlike past research, we investigate the mediating effects between these facets of morale and success. A structural equation model is proposed and empirically tested to investigate the interdependencies between the facets of project team morale and how they promote project success. The results show that project team morale explains 25% of the variance in project success. Findings provide project leaders with a tool to enhance project success by influencing employees’ morale, rather than solely focusing on traditional project planning and controlling activities. We provide practical implications for project team leadership and performance.

The influence of project-based learning on student achievement in elementary mathematics education

An effective instructional approach in elementary mathematics education has a significant role in the understanding of mathematical concepts and overall student achievement. We point out the characteristics, significance and effects that may be achieved in mathematics education through the application of project-based learning. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of project-based learning on student achievement in lower elementary mathematics education and examine whether the project-based model was equally acceptable to students with different marks. We arranged quasi-experimental research instruction (experiment with parallel groups), on a sample (N = 147) in order to examine whether an instructional approach based on the principles of project-based work would achieve better effects of learning and student achievement compared to the usual way of learning implemented in mathematics education. Results of the final measurements show that students in the experimental group, who worked according to the model of project-based work, achieved better compared to students who worked in the usual way. With this study we have shown that project-based instruction has significant effects on student achievement in lower elementary mathematics education, and that it can undoubtedly contribute to the methodological empowerment of teachers in their teaching practice.

ATTITUDES OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs) ON STOCK MARKET INVESTMENTS

This study aims to take a look at the investing attitudes of OFWs, This is a form of qualitative research. A convenient sample of forty-one (41) respondents was chosen from OFWs who work at RABIGH PHASE II (RIIPED) ARAMCO PROJECT in Saudi Arabia. All respondents are male since project-based work is limited to male workers only. Subjects included in the sample were selected to meet specific criteria. Based on the findings, the priority expenditure of the respondents particularly of that lesser earner were (1) to give education for their children or sibling; (2) to provide the needs of the family; (3) to improve the quality of their living condition and (4) to think of or put their meager savings into an investment that they prefer or think that would give them an additional income. While some OFW respondents earning huge amounts have different perspectives on where to put their income or salaries to satisfy their lifestyle inflation. Still, they prefer to put it in fixed assets such as real properties, deposited in the banks whether savings or time deposits and lastly investing to generate extra income out of their saving and giving the least priority in stock market investing. Investment depends on how the OFW wants or goal for it. The majority of the OFWs working in the RIIPED have a little background on stock investments. It would be disadvantageous to a certain OFW or individual to engross themselves in investments with the very least technological know-how. OFWs of RIIPED don't know how to start as to how much capital to invest, where to find brokers, and what is the best brokers to contact to enter investing in the stocks market and remarkably a respondent clearly stated not in any way or change give a way to enter in this type of investment. Lacking the knowledge to stock investments or another way to invest would simply mean spending rather than saving.

TURNING MARKETING CLASSROOMS AND A STUDENT ORGANIZATION INTO AN ENGINE OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

ABSTRACT To assist marketing students during their college experience we developed, over the course of 10 years, an innovative approach to teaching that connects classroom education, career finding, and job-skill development. We linked two required courses, one student organization, and many companies together to create the Underground Agency. The Agency is made up of project-based work in two courses. Select students from these courses then work on projects for external clients organized through the marketing club, where student volunteers finish projects under the supervision of client/company volunteers. What makes this approach unique relative to existing methods of experiential learning is the fundamental shift in students’ and instructors’ mindsets: the classroom is transformed into a career-related job setting complete with onboarding, training, and recruitment. Student and client impact are significant as measured by the Gallup Big Six, NACE Work Competencies, and Career Management Skills. Faculty who embraces experiential learning will find this to be the next step in advancing their impact on students, employers, and curriculum.

Who owns and cares about the data? A method for identifying and gathering information for business research investigations

Information overload has always been a challenge for businesspeople as well as professionals from other types of organizations. And today with search algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) such an ever-present part of daily life and media consumption, the challenges in learning how to filter information for oneself for effective processing, interpretation and analysis have only increased. This article presents several frameworks that were created for instructing students to assist with addressing this. They were tested and refined over four years in a core MBA course focused on decision making and project-based work. They include ways to conceptualize the broad areas of information available for business decision making as well as how to identify information by thinking about who is producing it, why they are producing it and who their key customers are. Other frameworks presented deal with ways to identify pertinent information and how to process and work with it as part of a research investigation. These frameworks are presented as tools that can be used by business school instructors, but certainly have a broader application as useful guidelines for anyone hoping to be a better collector and processor of relevant information for decision making and project work.

Ways of modernization of informational training for university students

The article substantiates the need for informatization of education in general, and higher professional education in particular, requiring the modernization of forms, methods and content of information training of students in the light of the implementation of the program “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation”. The article presents the ways of improving the informational training of university students. The research methods are as follows: analysis of literature, documents, and electronic resources; observation, questioning of participants in the educational process, methods of mathematical statistics. The analysis shows that the project-based method of training, monitoring and control of the content of electronic resources, the integrated use of distant learning systems, online software for collaborative work, the implementation of artificial intelligence technology in education will allow to form the media literacy of future specialists that meets the modern requirements of the economy and society. The study was conducted on the basis of S.A. Yesenin Ryazan State University in various areas and profiles of education. One of the types of project activities based on modern digital technologies is a hackathon. The goal of such a project is to develop and create a media product in a given professional field. This can be a website, an application, or an interactive software. A team of students is working on a socially significant task. Preparing students for the project-based work by using modern digital technologies has shown its effectiveness for being included in the “Startup as a Degree” Program. The final qualification work prepared in this format may represent a project that is in demand in the field of professional activity. The experimental work of the study was carried out by dividing students into a control group and an experimental group. The range, difference, and significance of changes in the level of informational training in the control and experimental groups were evaluated by the Fischer – Yates criterion. The analysis of individual and collective projects developed by the students, the qualitative analysis of the students’ answers from the both groups to the questions of questionnaires and tests showed that the students of the experimental group revealed a higher level of readiness for professional activity, self-study, self-education, which indicates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Emerging Platform Work in the Context of the Regulatory Loophole (The Uber Fiasco in Hungary)

The study examines the essential features of the so-called platform-based work, which is rapidly evolving into a major, potentially game-changing force in the labor market. From low-skilled, low-paid services (such as passenger transport) to highly skilled and high-paying project-based work (such as the development of artificial intelligence algorithms), a broad range of tasks can be carried out through a variety of digital platforms. Our paper discusses the platform-based content, working conditions, employment status, and advocacy problems. Terminological and methodological problems are dealt with in-depth in the course of the literature review, together with the 'gray areas' of work and employment regulation. To examine some of the complex dynamics of this fast-evolving arena, we focus on the unsuccessful market entry of the digital platform company Uber in Hungary 2016 and the relationship to institutional-regulatory platform-based work standards. Dilemmas relevant to the enforcement of labor law regarding platform-based work are also paid special attention to the study. Employing a digital workforce is a significant challenge not only for labor law regulation but also for stakeholder advocacy.

Looking forward: How anticipated workload change influences the present workload-emotional strain relationship.

Many workers experience ebbs and flows of workload in concert with busy seasons, changing project demands, and changes to the way tasks are completed. The present study examined how anticipating workload changes influences emotional strain resulting from current workload. We extend conservation of resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989) by hypothesizing that anticipated changes in workload may be viewed as a future opportunity to recover from current workload (in the case of anticipated workload decrease) or as a threat of loss of resources (in the case of anticipated workload increase), and that anticipated changes in workload would moderate the current workload-emotional strain relationship. Using a sample of employees engaged in project-based work, we found that anticipation of a workload increase exacerbated the current workload-emotional strain relationship and anticipation of a workload decrease buffered this relationship. The results suggest that stressor-strain relations may be influenced by anticipated change in stressor conditions. In other words, employees are more likely to tolerate stressful circumstances if they see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel." Implications for occupational stress research and practice are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

How the introduction of self-assessment rubrics helped students and teachers in a project laboratory course

Using scientific abilities rubrics is an efficient way of assessing students' experimental project-based work.

Who Owns and Cares about the Data? A Method for Identifying and Gathering Information for Research Investigations

Information overload has always been a challenge for business-people as well as professionals from other types of organizations. And today with search algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) such an ever-present part of daily life and media consumption, the challenges in learning how to filter information for oneself for effective processing, interpretation and analysis have only increased. Several frameworks are presented that were created for instructing students to assist with addressing this. They were tested and refined over four years in a core MBA course focused on decision making and project-based work. They include ways to conceptualize the broad areas of information available for business decision making as well as how to identify information by thinking about who is producing it, why they are producing it and who their key customers are. Other frameworks presented deal with ways to identify pertinent information and how to process and work with it as part of a research investigation. These frameworks are presented as tools that can be used by business school instructors, but certainly have a broader application as useful guidelines for anyone hoping to be a better collector and processor of relevant information for decision making and project work.

Human resource management policies in project-based organizationswith project work churn

Human resource management policies in project-based organizationswith project work churn

Project-Based Work and Sustainable Development—A Comparative Case Study of Cultural Animation Projects

Currently, a growing interest in the issues related to sustainable development can be observed, with the role of culture in stimulating this development increasing simultaneously. Nevertheless, the function and meanings of culture for sustainable development, as well as culture in the context of sustainable development, have so far remained under-emphasised and under-theorised. For this reason, in this paper we will look at practical examples of culture and sustainable development combined. The undertaken research problem explores the project-based work in the field of cultural animation, and its impact on the pursuit of the objectives of sustainable development at the local level. Two case studies of Polish organisations involved in cultural animation activities have been analysed herein. Based on the research results, we showed that cultural animation is an important tool for enabling local communities to achieve sustainable development. What is also important is the fact that cultural animation activities often take the form of project-based work, which significantly affects the methodology and extent of their implementation. Therefore, in this article we also point to the relationship between the management of animation projects and the idea of sustainable development, emphasising both advantages and disadvantages thereof.

Exploring the opportunity for a hybrid methodology in project management: a focus group approach

Nowadays, project-based work is no longer a challenge for a today company. Optimizing the workforce, better managing the results, delivering in time, quality and budget (the triple constrains [1]) are just a few of the advantages. Still, to re-organize an entire company into a project-based organization requires a lot of efforts and energy across its departments and teams. However, some companies step forward and change the project management methodologies multiple times. That brings another wave of changes, stress and reorganizations combined with a complex organizational phenomenon, which requires far more effort than just to replace the current tools and technologies with new ones [2]. Thus, the main purpose of this paper is to reflect and present the results of the workshop called “Going Agile – the journey”, which was held on Project Management Forum 2019, a Conference organized inside of Continental Automotive Romania for all project managers working in the company. Based on the focus group technique there was identified the main struggles associated with the adoption of Agile methodology within Automotive Industry, the similarities with the plan-driven methodologies and willingness to advance the agility in company’s daily working life.

Evaluation study on social work intervention after an explosion disaster in China

Since the “5.12” 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, disaster social work has been developing gradually in mainland China. This study evaluated a university-led, project-based social work intervention following the “8.12” 2015 Tianjin explosion disaster. Document analysis, participant observation, and in-depth individual interview methods were used. Three types of interviewees ( N = 14) recruited via purposive sampling participated in semistructured interviews. According to the evaluative framework of trauma-informed social work for the old population, the social work intervention achieved the connectedness dimension of recovery of target population and partially satisfied the meaning, hope and empowerment demand. Nevertheless, the safety, identity and continuity dimensions of recovery were lack and the meaning dimension was weak. Discussion and implications for future disaster social work were summarized.

Tackling the crunch mode: the rise of an enterprise union in South Korea's game industry

PurposeThe present study seeks to trace the unionization process of a global top 10 video game company (Company N) in which workers formed the first enterprise union in South Korea's game sector. Drawing upon the analytical framework of Kelly's (1998) mobilization theory, the authors investigated what motivated workers to form a union and what factors facilitated unionization.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a qualitative research method on a single case study basis. The authors collected 41 in-depth interviews with game developers, full-time union staff from the case company and union leaders in their affiliated union, as well as game journalists, labour attorneys, and human resource professionals in the video game industry. The authors had their original data supplemented and triangulated by archival data including union letters and other documents and media reports. They analysed the data using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS).FindingsThere are three key findings. First, in the game sector, a high barrier against unionization exists, arising from industry characteristics such as a project-based work system, high mobility, reputation-based hiring, meritocracy, and a continuous influx of game-loving young developers. Hence, although the time was ripe for worker activism, latent grievances failed to be converted into real collective mobilization, resulting in non-organized workplaces for the past decades. Second, the mandatory labour-management negotiations arising from a legal change acted as a key catalyst for unionization at Company N. The newly elected three employee representatives came to identify and develop their own collective interests through the direct experience of negotiations, which greatly augmented their negative emotions and improved their legal consciousness. These three representatives could identify numerous deep-rooted problems, attribute these problems to their employer, and realize that they are ordinary salaried workers different from their employer. Going through the three-month negotiation and post-negotiation period, a set of ordinary game developers transformed themselves into natural union leaders who started a union in the game industry, which was traditionally non-organized. Third, various layers of external factors, such as a sister union, the upper umbrella union, the changed socio-political atmosphere following the candlelight protests for presidential impeachment, and the improved union image facilitated the unionization at Company N.Practical implicationsThis study offers practical implications to governments, union activists, and employers in the game sector and more broadly in the tech industry, where labour-management conflicts are escalating across the globe.Originality/valueOur study of a rare unionization event in the difficult game sector offers a nuanced understanding of mobilization and its process. Theoretically, by introducing the dynamic process of natural leader emergence and spontaneous union formation in a young industry where neither pre-existing leadership nor extant union influence exists, this study suggests that the mobilization process is more complex and variegated than suggested by Kelly's study and subsequent studies. Therefore, this study can advance the current discussion of mobilization mechanisms in the field of industrial relations. Our study also contributes to current research by introducing collective mobilization in a new context, i.e. the young, dynamic game industry in a non-Western country, which is a context that has been under-studied thus far.

Mentoring and skill development in e-Internships

PurposeMany employers experiment with virtual working modes for project-based work. Virtual internships are one such mode that is gaining increasing popularity worldwide, particularly e-internships that require remote working with employers. However, little is known about the extent to which e-internships present learning opportunities to such e-interns.Design/methodology/approachThe current study examined mentoring experiences among a cross-sectional sample of 158 e-interns working for different companies. Data were collected using an online survey in two data collection rounds.FindingsThe length of the e-internships did not increase mentoring satisfaction, but the likelihood of e-interns having a mentor was higher the longer the e-internships. Mentoring was offered irrespective of working hours per week. Mentoring increased reported skill development, particularly in relation to their communication skills and their ability to think strategically about problems. In addition, mentored e-interns were more likely to have opportunities to cooperate with and help others. They likewise had opportunities to share information, knowledge and experiences.Research limitations/implicationsThe study recruited interns from various countries. Potentially relevant cultural differences were not explored as part of this study.Practical implicationsThe results demonstrate that the benefits of mentoring observed in relation to traditional internships can be fostered in e-internships. E-internships represent an opportunity for managers and employees, regardless of company size, to become mentors. E-internships thus represent another work-integrated as well as work-applied learning and skill development opportunity that creates additional options for many interns and organisations alike.Originality/valueThe evidence suggests that mentoring is becoming a regularly available feature for virtual and temporary workers such as e-interns, many of which are hired for short-term projects. As remote working has become a standard practice, e-internships are on the rise – and worthy of further study in order to promote best practices.