Set Of Interviews Research Articles

Do risk events increase supply chain uncertainty? A case study

Supply chain uncertainty has become an important area of research, and it is crucial for many firms, and especially so for global firms. Decision makers find it difficult to make decisions due to lack of transparency in the supply chain and the impact of possible risk events. This paper aims to approach this topic by developing a conceptual model to assist logistics and supply chain managers to improve supply chain effectiveness by analysing risk events. To this end we use a case study based on a set of interviews with agents of a German firm and some of its suppliers from India, China and Europe, which generates insights uncaptured in previous research in the area. The main findings answer questions such as: 1. How to build an agile supply chain strategy with rapid planning and integrated execution in different stages?; 2. How to identify and avoid risk events as they increase the supply chain uncertainty and are multiplied when interrelated risk events occur simultaneously; 3. Can supply chain uncertainty be reduced by determining the degree of flexibility required to mitigate risk effects, reducing supply chain uncertainty and increasing the firm’s dynamic capabilities?.

Exploring the inclusion of beneficiary voices in international development fundraising campaign creation

AbstractCharitable fundraising appeals for international development created for potential donors in the Global North are often, if not always, designed without the inclusion of voices and insights from the intended beneficiaries in the Global South. The implications of these appeals, void of beneficiary input, may serve to proliferate poverty porn and racial stereotypes, promote paternalistic and colonial thinking, and strengthen white savior syndrome. This exploratory paper, through a set of interviews and a focus group with fundraising professionals at international development organizations, examines the need for a beneficiary‐centered Code of Ethics. A framework, based on the four major findings, is proposed that begins with beneficiary input and considerations offer charities an inclusive method for the design of future fundraising appeals and a way to fulfill their responsibility in how the beneficiary is depicted and the societal understanding of their situation.

How to influence total costs of sourcing? A case study of SCOPQ with Six Sigma

Total cost of sourcing is receiving significant attention from firms in general and purchasing managers in particular. Academic research on lean and six sigma programs has evolved rapidly in the last decade. This study focuses on uncovering most effective sourcing initiatives, which aim to decrease total costs addressing quality issues and Supplier Costs of Poor Quality (SCOPQ). This research aims to update the literature on supply chain management by analysing and verifying the proposed Six Sigma framework through a case study. A case study focused on a set of interviews with practitioners based on a firm located in Germany was used that generates uncaptured insights in previous research of this area. The results of the paper highlight the relevance of building cross-functional teams for achieving continuous improvement and implementing suitable, proven, and appropriated tools. Whereas lean is preferred for scopes as part of processes with few interfaces and medium grade of difficulty, Six Sigma is the most suitable methodology for scopes with a high grade of difficulty or problems involving cross-functional processes. SCOPQ is defined as the costs associated with defects and deficiencies originated by suppliers. For instance, they could include the costs for supplier-related incidents like shortages or failure-related costs, production stop costs, rework costs, complaints, etc. This research not only validates the proposed framework through an in-firm case study, but also confirms the relevance of mitigating and avoiding biases, recommends standardizing processes and texts templates, and the regularly training of the employees involved. Besides of the main goal of investigating Six Sigma's role in reducing quality costs, research results demonstrate the advantage of standardized multilingual texts for the complaint process of global players. The study indentified the influence of English collocations into the complaint process because of the majority of the specialized literature is written in English.

A holistic analysis of web-based public key infrastructure failures: comparing experts' perceptions and real-world incidents

Abstract Public key infrastructure (PKI) is the foundation of secure and trusted transactions across the Internet. This paper presents an evaluation of web-based PKI incidents in two parts. We began with a qualitative study where we captured security and policy experts' perceptions of PKI in a set of interviews. We interviewed 18 experts in two conferences who include security academics and practitioners. We describe their perceptions of PKI failures. To evaluate whether perceived failures match real documented failures, we conducted a quantitative analysis of real-world PKI incidents on the web since 2001. Our data comprise reports from Bugzilla, root program operators, academic literature, security blogs, and the popular press. We determined the underlying causes of each and reported the results. We identified a gap between experts' perceptions and real-world PKI incidents. We conclude that there are significant sources of failures of PKI that neither the usability nor traditional computer security community is engaging, nor can arguably engage separately. Specifically, we found incidents illustrate systematic weaknesses of organizational practices that create risks for all who rely upon PKI. More positively, our results also point to organizational and configuration choices that could avoid or mitigate some of these risks. Thus, we also identify immediate mitigation strategies (where feasible).

Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Working Mothers in France.

Beyond its devastating consequences for public health, the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on gender inequalities, labour markets and families. Compared to many European countries, the French approach to lockdown was among the more stringent, although the measures taken by the French government to support employment, to some extent, mitigated the worst effects of the crisis on families. This article analyses the implications of COVID lockdown restrictions on gender equality and well-being for couples with children in France. The study adopted a multidimensional approach to gender inequalities associated with paid work and various dimensions of living conditions, involving gender-differentiated access to personal work spaces in the home, personal leisure time outside the home, and local support networks during the first phase of lockdown (March−June 2020). Drawing on data from the COCONEL survey, carried out by the Institut national d’études démographiques on a quota sample of the French adult population in April/May 2020, the authors controlled for variables including socio-economic status, age, family structure and place of residence. The survey data were complemented by a longitudinal set of in-depth interviews enabling the research team to capture the differential effects of the pandemic within couples. The main findings indicate that, despite the frequency of dual-employment arrangements for heterosexual couple households with dependent children, French mothers were nevertheless more likely to reduce their working time and/or withdraw from the labour market. Within the households surveyed, mothers were less likely than fathers to leave the home during the day, particularly for personal leisure activities. The presence of children in households increased gender inequality in both employment and living conditions across all socio-economic categories. In conclusion, the authors consider whether the pandemic might have a long-term impact on gender norms and inequalities within families, and how the findings about changes in gender inequalities could be used to inform public policy development.

Improving Classroom Observation through Training: A qualitative Study in College of Technology in Oman

Historically, classroom observations have been conducted in educational establishments for different purposes such as evaluation of teachers, promotion, curriculum design, or professional development. In this study, the researchers aimed to improve the effectiveness of the classroom observation process in an English Language Center based in a College of Technology in the Sultanate of Oman. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology and semi-structured interviews as the data collection tool. In the first stage, observers and teachers were interviewed to understand the existing classroom observation process. Based on the initial data, a training program was developed with materials from international good practice projects. Finally, the changes were identified through the second set of interviews with the participants. The major results of this study suggest that the training program contributed positively to the perceived effectiveness of the classroom observation process, reduced anxiety related to this process, and led to more balanced participation from both the observers and the teachers. Moreover, the implementation of the pre-observation conferences started taking place and post-observation meetings included more constructive feedback. This study adds to the literature on the importance of classroom observation training with a practical training program. This practical approach can be adopted in similar contexts with some adaptation to meet the specific needs of educational institutions. The researchers suggest a qualitative research approach to accompany any such future training to measure the effects of the training program.

Getting your House in Order for EU Negotiations: When Domestic Constraints Condition Italy's Performance at the EU Level*

AbstractDespite being one of the founding members of the European Community and the third largest economy in the EU, Italy does not stand out as a particularly influential negotiator when it comes to day‐to‐day EU decision‐making. Why is it that a country with Italy's political weight, economic resources and administrative capacity has such a patchy record in terms of negotiation success? Examining Italy's negotiation of two key EU policies (2008–16) and relying on an original set of interviews with EU officials and Italian politicians, this paper contends that the answer lies in a set of domestic factors that have largely been neglected by negotiation theory: namely, political, administrative and individual domestic constraints.This contribution explains Italy's inconsistent performance in EU negotiations, while also developing a broader theoretical framework accounting for the ways in which domestic factors moderate member states' bargaining power and, ultimately, their likelihood of achieving negotiation success.

Before and After Ban the Box: Who Complies with Anti-Discrimination Law?

Ban the Box (BTB) laws are an anti-discrimination policy intended to promote employment for persons with criminal records. However, research on law and organizations shows that firms often fail to comply with legal directives or engage in symbolic compliance that fails to alter day-to-day business practices. We consider whether BTB contributed to attitudinal or behavioral shifts among hiring managers and changes in job applications. We analyze a unique set of in-depth interviews (N = 30) and entry-level job applications (N = 305) collected from the same workplaces in 2008 and 2016, assessing the impact of state BTB legislation. We find: (1) that one in five organizations were noncompliant, with noncompliance twice as likely among employers who discriminated against applicants with criminal records pre-BTB and that widespread lack of knowledge and lack of enforcement of BTB appears to affect noncompliance; (2) organizations maintained considerable continuity in hiring practices and attitudes between 2008 and 2016, regardless of personnel changes and statewide implementation of BTB; and (3) post-BTB, strong warnings about criminal background checks at later stages of the hiring process emerged as an alternative source of gatekeeping. These findings contribute to the law and organizations literature by highlighting the importance of enforcement and limits of law for combating discrimination.

How Generative Mindfulness Can Contribute to Inclusive Workplaces

Humanistic management and mindfulness practices can potentiate one another to foster an inclusive society. By moving beyond a limited instrumental understanding of mindfulness practice to a generative mindfulness that incorporates a recognition of the rich nature of the human mind, awareness of cultural practices, and deeply rooted ethical foundations, managers can create organizational cultures that honor the sacred in every human being. A set of interviews with noted consultants and researchers on mindfulness and leadership suggests convergence on this perspective, as does the experience of a university administrator in developing an anti-racist agenda for a large U.S. university. This article is based on both the personal experience and scholarly research of its authors and suggests ways that humanistic management education can contribute to creating inclusive workplaces through incorporating generative mindfulness in executive development as well as undergraduate programs.

Makers and Keepers: Two Lives, through Photographs

Looking through the pages of family photo albums or the folders of photographic archival fonds can only be described as holding history in your hands. Whether it is in the form of colour or black and white prints, negatives, or slides, these photo-objects carry histories of lives lived that go beyond their frames. Focusing on a set of oral history interviews conducted with two Black women living in Montréal — a community photographer or image “maker” who was most active during the 1970s–1990s and a photo-collector or “keeper” who is currently active in preserving and sharing photographs for her church and wider communities within the city — this article engages with how the interweaving of photography and oral history gives us a rich way to experience the histories of Black social life in Montréal. Photo-led oral history interviews are sites for fruitful and in-depth conversation, providing interviewee and interviewer alike with the possibility of coming into encounter with everyday or minor histories that are too often overlooked. Moreover, this article is driven by a set entwined questions: How does oral testimony open up additional avenues for sharing the events of the past that have been captured through photographic images? What affective and relational qualities do photographs possess and how, in turn, do these qualities transform the space of the oral history interview? And, most urgently, why was photography used by Black Montréalers as a tool and a practice to remember and insist upon their collective presence?

Discourses and Educational Initiatives for Developing Sustainability Competences of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Abstract The adoption of the logic of developing sustainable development (SD) competences in the business environment has grown both in the literature in the area and in business initiative programs. One player that emerges with the aim of assuming leadership in this process is the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). This article aims to answer the following research question: Are the WBCSD’s discourses and initiatives for developing sustainability competences spaces of various translations of corporate sustainability or a place for reaffirming logocentric and definitive discourses on the theme? For this, we analyzed the institutional documents (Vision 2050 and Action 2020) and carried out a series of on-site visits at the Brazilian and Portuguese BCSDs. In addition, we conducted a set of in-depth interviews with the managers and participants in the initiatives for developing sustainability competences (DSC). The data were analyzed according to the categories of Derrida’s deconstruction process. The analysis of the educational initiatives of the Brazilian and Portuguese BCSDs showed that they include the various discourses on corporate sustainability in their formative approach; however, logocentric and definitive thinking about the theme is reaffirmed in that the way the Vision 2050 guidelines are carried out is limited to the application of management tools.

Discourses and Educational Initiatives for Developing Sustainability Competences of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Abstract The adoption of the logic of developing sustainable development (SD) competences in the business environment has grown both in the literature in the area and in business initiative programs. One player that emerges with the aim of assuming leadership in this process is the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). This article aims to answer the following research question: Are the WBCSD’s discourses and initiatives for developing sustainability competences spaces of various translations of corporate sustainability or a place for reaffirming logocentric and definitive discourses on the theme? For this, we analyzed the institutional documents (Vision 2050 and Action 2020) and carried out a series of on-site visits at the Brazilian and Portuguese BCSDs. In addition, we conducted a set of in-depth interviews with the managers and participants in the initiatives for developing sustainability competences (DSC). The data were analyzed according to the categories of Derrida’s deconstruction process. The analysis of the educational initiatives of the Brazilian and Portuguese BCSDs showed that they include the various discourses on corporate sustainability in their formative approach; however, logocentric and definitive thinking about the theme is reaffirmed in that the way the Vision 2050 guidelines are carried out is limited to the application of management tools.

That word “abuse” is a big problem for us: South Sudanese parents’ positioning and agency vis-à-vis parenting conflicts in Australia

This study explores South-Sudanese parents’ accounts of parenting conflicts in Australia through oral narratives collected in an interview setting. The paper takes a historical perspective looking back to the early years of settlement, focussing on the way participants positioned themselves and voiced their parental agency (and lack of it). The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of cultural conceptions of good parenting and intergenerational conflicts in culturally and linguistically diverse migrant communities. The study provides empirical evidence for the utility of positioning theory in unpacking identity positionings vis-à-vis moral duties and rights and social forces as entextualised in storylines (Slocum-Bradley, 2009). The results of this study demonstrate that South Sudanese parents felt disempowered in their parenting role and feared the consequences for their children's future. The study has implications for education and parenting in intercultural contexts and the study of identity work in oral narratives.

Spanish contact influence in a Finnish heritage community in Misiones, Argentina

AbstractThis study examines contact outcomes in Finnish spoken in a heritage community in Misiones province, Argentina, in the 1970s. The data show limited morphosyntactic differences from dialectal varieties of Finnish, and most of the Spanish influence is lexical loans or sporadic codeswitches that have an emphatic function. The results show that beyond established lexical loans, both fluent and less fluent speakers avoid mixing and comment on it when it occurs. Translation and word search strategies show evidence of the speakers’ awareness about language mixing in the interview setting in which data were collected.

Improving Energy Efficiency: The Significance of Normativity

Abstract The failure of the global community to effectively address many large-scale environmental challenges calls into question the existing regulatory approaches. A large number of these challenges are diffuse issues which have, over the years been targeted by significant and sizable regulatory frameworks and yet the challenges persist—energy efficiency is one such issue and is the focus of this article. Increasing monitoring or enforcement to achieve improvements in regulatory compliance is too expensive in the context of diffuse problems due to the scale and costs such activities would entail. We suggest a focus on the fit between regulatory frameworks and norm creation may identify more fruitful routes to regulatory reform. Drawing on the ‘interactional account of law’ as a framework, this research uses new empirical data from a survey and a set of interviews to investigate the failure of energy efficiency regulatory frameworks at achieving energy efficient norms of behaviour in industry. We look at Canada and the UK as our case studies and our emphasis is on industry actors as they represent a significant and yet understudied area of society. We find that though existing regulatory structures seem adequate to generate general shared understandings around obligations to engage in energy efficiency actions, more specific shared practice around actually engaging in these actions remains elusive, resulting in a failure to engender norms of behaviour. These failures, we suggest, link directly to an inadequate fit between the regulatory tools and Fuller’s criteria for the internal morality of law.

Development of a Cold Agglutinin Disease-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome Symptom Measure

IntroductionCold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune hemolytic anemia in which red blood cells are bound by cold agglutinin autoantibodies. In addition to cold-induced symptoms, patients with CAD experience symptoms of chronic anemia and hemolysis including fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath (Swiecicki PL et al. Blood 2013;122(7):1114-21). The objectives of this study were to identify disease-related symptoms and impacts most important to patients with CAD, and to evaluate whether existing patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are appropriate to assess relevant CAD concepts.MethodsAs part of a larger study, qualitative concept elicitation (CE) interviews were conducted to better understand the disease burden of CAD from the patient perspective. The results from the first set of interviews were reported by Su J et al. Blood 2020;136(1):29-30. Based on the identified symptoms and impacts, standard survey methodological principles were used to develop a draft item pool to address concepts of interest. Items were refined and evaluated during the second set of interviews, which included 3 rounds of 60-minute phone interviews with patients with CAD using a semi-structured interview guide that included a CE section and cognitive debriefing. Pooled results from both sets of interviews were used to develop a conceptual model of the symptoms and impacts of CAD. Physician advisors were also invited to review the concepts identified in the interviews and to select those that they believed were most relevant as part of an advisory board.A PubMed review of literature published between 2010-2020 was also conducted to identify existing PRO measures used in the assessment of symptoms, impacts, and/or quality of life and patient experiences in adults with CAD or similar disease areas. Identified PRO measures were assessed to determine the extent to which they captured CAD-specific concepts identified in the CE interviews.ResultsIn total, 37 participants diagnosed with primary or secondary CAD took part in the interviews (Set 1, n=16; Set 2, n=21). Overall, the mean age of participants was 67.2 years (range: 35-87), and the majority were female (73%).The most frequently reported symptom of CAD was reactions to cold environments (n=36; 97%), e.g., cold or numb feet/hands, and skin discoloration. Other reported symptoms included fatigue (n=35; 95%), shortness of breath (n=28; 76%), and trouble with thinking/concentration (n=21; 57%). The most frequently reported unfavorable impact of CAD was on day-to-day activities (n=32; 87%). Other negative impacts included effects on enjoyable activities (n=29; 78%) e.g., gardening, physical health/activities (n=28; 76%), social/leisure life (n=26; 70%); and mood/emotions (n=24; 65%). Most participants (n=30; 81%) reported they had made lifestyle/behavioral changes to help limit their CAD symptoms, such as wearing extra clothing in places that were likely to be cold. A conceptual model of the symptoms and impacts of CAD was developed based on these data (Figure 1). Physician advisors (n=7) agreed that the patient-reported symptoms and impacts identified during the interviews were relevant concepts to CAD.Following a literature review, no existing PRO measure was found to adequately address concepts deemed critical to CAD from the patient perspective. Owing to the lack of an existing fit-for-purpose measure, 14 concepts were identified from the interviews to develop an initial draft item pool. During the cognitive debriefing in the second set of interviews, participants (n=21: Round 1 n=8; Round 2 n=7; Round 3 n=6) evaluated these concepts. After 3 rounds of interviews, the new item set yielded 11 items relating to: fatigue; cold sensitivity; dyspnea; wearing extra clothing; limited physical, social, and enjoyable activities; difficulty with usual activities; mood; frustration; and anxiety/stress. Participants reported these items were comprehensive of their experiences with CAD, easy to understand, and would be relevant to gaining a better understanding of individuals' experiences with CAD.ConclusionThese results support the need for a novel PRO measure(s) that adequately addresses concepts critical to the measurement of CAD symptoms and impacts from the patient perspective. [Display omitted] DisclosuresJoly: Sanofi: Current Employment. Dasmahapatra: Sanofi: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Su: Sanofi: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months; Astellas US LLC: Current Employment. DiBenedetti: RTI Health Solutions: Current Employment, Other: Employee of RTI Health Solutions, funded by Sanofi Genzyme to conduct the original work which this abstract is based on. Kosa: RTI Health Solutions: Current Employment. Hill: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Grifols: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy; ReAlta: Consultancy; Alexion: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Argenx: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Conditions for networked co-production through digital participatory platforms in urban planning

ABSTRACT Contemporary urban development is increasingly characterized by collaboration and co-production between ‘experts’ and the ‘public’ in urban planning processes. Recently, local planning actors have adopted digital participatory platforms (DPPs) which are specifically built for networked engagement and collaboration purposes. However, the knowledge on embedding DPPs in wider planning dialogues is still limited and scattered. The aim of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the organizational conditions for the successful adoption and implementation of such networked co-production. Through a set of semi-structured interviews with representatives from public agencies and platform companies, we have analysed how organizational conditions for networked co-production manifest themselves in seven cases of DPP implementation. The analysis shows that these conditions are co-constitutive and co-evolutive rather than concurrent or sequential, with strong links between the compatibility of public agencies, attitudes to co-production, organizational cultures and incentives for co-production. The results critically emphasize the need to adopt holistic approaches to networked co-production, allowing for extensive experimentation and ‘learning by doing’.

Investigating Human Scale Spatial Experience

Spatial experience, or how humans experience a given space, has been a pivotal topic especially in urban-scale environments. On the human scale, HCI researchers have mostly investigated personal meanings or aesthetic and embodied experiences. In this paper, we investigate the human scale as an ensemble of individual spatial features. Through large-scale online questionnaires we first collected a rich set of spatial features that people generally use to characterize their surroundings. Second, we conducted a set of field interviews to develop a more nuanced understanding of the feature identified as most important: perceived safety. Our combined quantitative and qualitative analysis contributes to spatial understanding as a form of context information and presents a timely investigation into the perceived safety of human scale spaces. By connecting our results to the broader scientific literature, we contribute to the field of HCI spatial understanding.

Expert-analytical Support of Foreign Policy Activities

The article presents the final results of the project studying the system of expert and analytical support for foreign policy decisions. The project is devoted to conducting a survey and a set of interviews with employees of government bodies (leaders and chief specialists) who are involved in the process of preparing and making foreign policy decisions. The article contains the officials’ assessment of the main challenges when interacting with the scientific and expert community, as well as a "desired image" of such interaction.The study was held in two stages (stage I in February-October 2020, stage II-in January-August 2021) in the form of a survey with a set of follow-up interviews for a more detailed interpretation of the data obtained. The interviewees included 24 employees of federal executive bodies (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Rossotrudnichestvo; departments of international cooperation of line ministries, agencies and services); offices of the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (departments providing international and inter-parliamentary cooperation). All participants of the study are in positions of the "managers" category or are part of the group of "chief specialists", that is, they have experience in decision-making process and/or in elaborating them. The survey and interviews were anonymous. The research is within structural-functional, institutional and regulatory approaches. The authors note that informational materials with low level of generalization and lacking recommendations and forecasts will never replace genuine analytics and expertise. Given the development of artificial intelligence, generalizing information will be automatized. As a result, expertise has to be of better quality.

Repeated Recall of Repeated Events: Accuracy and Consistency

In both casual conversations and interview settings, people may be required to provide details of instances that were similar to other experiences. When this happens repeatedly, consistency across reports is often taken as a proxy for credibility. However, processes of schema formation and interference due to similarity make recall and accurate source attribution of details to specific instances challenging. We investigated the accuracy and consistency of recall in these contexts in a re-analysis of five studies. Confusions of details were widespread (1) across instances—participants frequently attributed the origin of details to incorrect instances, but also (2) across repeated retrieval attempts—participants frequently changed parts of their reports. There was, however, a clear pattern of primacy and recency effects: Recall of the first and final instances was more accurate and consistent than recall of the middle instances. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying these effects as well as their practical implications.