Management Support Research Articles

Engaging workers with disabilities in the financial sector: exploring promising practices through key informant interviews and a rapid literature review

PurposeThis study explores the challenges, barriers and opportunities for engaging persons with disabilities in employment in the Canadian financial sector.Design/methodology/approachWe situated this research within a critical disability conceptual framework to add to existing theories of employee engagement. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study of key informant interviews of the experiences of diverse persons with disabilities in the Canadian financial sector.FindingsWe found that the financial sector has the potential to be a leader in the engagement of workers with disabilities. Key challenges include corporate bureaucracy and a focus on aggressive growth that perpetuates ableist norms of individualism, self-reliance and competitive achievement. Key informant interviews indicated that opportunities for engagement can be fostered by committed leadership, inclusive corporate culture, supportive management, and respectful and responsive workplace accommodations.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the literature on opportunities for equity, diversity and inclusion at work through a critical exploration of the challenges and promising practices associated with supporting engagement of persons with disabilities in the Canadian financial sector and beyond.

An Epidemiological Survey of Hand Burn Injuries Admitted to a Large Burn Center in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

Hand form and function play a vital role in daily living, and even minor trauma can significantly impair quality of life. There is a current paucity of data regarding hand burn patient and injury characteristics, particularly in urban areas in the United States. As the field of hand surgery expands, a demographic understanding of patients with severe injury potentially requiring surgical management is imperative. The aim of this study was to define the epidemiological characteristics of burn injuries involving the hand that were admitted to a large New York City burn center. A retrospective review of the electronic health record was conducted to identify all patients admitted to our burn center with burn injury involving the hand from August 2020 to December 2023. Patient demographics, injury etiology and characteristics, and hospital course details were recorded and analyzed. We identified 96 admitted patients with 140 hand burn injuries, with a patient median age of 38 years. Female patients presented to the hospital significantly later after initial injury than male patients and were more likely to suffer from flame-related injury. The median length of stay for initial admission was 17.5 days, with longer length of stay associated with hypertension comorbidity. Patients experiencing homelessness demonstrated higher rates of psychiatric disorder, substance use, and current smoking. Length of follow-up was positively correlated with estimated household income. Compared to the general city population, the patient cohort was made up of a lower percentage of "White alone" and "Asian alone" race categories and higher percentage of persons experiencing homelessness. We report the clinical and social characteristics of burn patients with hand involvement admitted to a large urban burn center. Hand burn injuries have distinct risk factors and morbidity implications, and consideration for higher-risk groups is imperative for optimal prevention, acute management, and long-term support.

Interactive multiobjective evolutionary optimization model for dam management support

Dam management optimization is a complex multiobjective problem, whose current solutions struggle to spread in normal practice. Here, an interactive evolutionary multiobjective optimization method is proposed, which involves stakeholders by using multi-criteria decision analysis to embed a parsimonious elicitation of their preferences and expertise in the optimization process. Specifically: (i) one or more decision-makers are asked to rank a set of representative dam management strategies in order of preference; (ii) the ranking is used to build a preference model; and (iii) the preference model is used in an evolutionary multiobjective optimization algorithm to converge to the part of the Pareto front most preferred by the decision-makers. The inclusion of a user-friendly interaction in the optimization methodology makes the process more understandable for stakeholders and policy-makers, and it allows to address some of the key obstacles to the practical implementation of multiobjective dam management optimization, even when a large number of objectives is considered. The proposed methodology is applied to a case study (Lake Pozzillo, Sicily, Italy) with five objectives, where flood control is in contrast with irrigation water demand and hydropower production. Five simple and easy to implement optimal strategies are obtained by interacting with five decision-makers. The results are compared to the management practice currently used, indicating that the proposed approach can satisfy water demands while greatly improving flood attenuation.

A qualitative study exploring barriers and facilitators in deceased organ donation process among transplant coordinators in India

Although India’s organ donation rate is less than 1 per million population, significant disparities exist between the regions and centres within the country, leading to varying consent rates among different organ donation centres. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the experience of transplant coordinators and their barriers and facilitators in the deceased organ donation process across various organ donation centres in India. A phenomenological study using interviews was conducted among fourteen transplant coordinators purposefully recruited from public and private organ donation centres in India, with experience between six years and more than a decade. Audio recordings were transcribed and analysed using framework analysis. Five themes were identified namely: (1) supportive management policies, (2) infrastructure for the deceased organ donation process, (3) delays in the processing time, (4) active involvement in the identification process, and (5) explaining the concept of brain death. The study identifies that implementation priorities include strengthening teamwork, streamlining processes, optimising infrastructure for sensitive discussions, efficient donor identification, and empathetic handling of donor families’ grief stages. Collaborating with law enforcement, applying successful medico-legal strategies, improving family communication, and clarifying brain death concepts ethically and legally can boost consent rates, fostering informed decisions and possibly achieving self-sufficiency in deceased organ donation.

Does the impact of open innovation depend on contextual factors? A case of the Korean biopharmaceutical industry.

Investments in the strategic development of the biopharmaceutical industry are increasing in both developed and developing countries. The biopharmaceutical industry is a technology-intensive industry where securing original technology and intellectual property rights is important. The role of open innovation is becoming more important due to the enormous research and development (R&D) funds and long development period in the early development process, and open innovation (OI) is becoming more important in the corporate world. Many empirical studies have been conducted on the impact on performance. However, the contextual factors that affect the relationship between OI activities and innovation performance have received relatively little attention, and studies from the perspective of developing countries catching up with developed countries are even rarer. Accordingly, this study examined the moderating effects (government R&D support, absorptive capacity, and alliance management capacity) that affect open innovation and innovation performance in the biopharmaceutical industry using data from Korea, one of the most representative latecomer countries in the biopharmaceutical industry. The basic information, OI activities, and patent achievements of Korean biopharmaceutical firms were collected and organized into a database. Samples with missing or incorrect information were excluded, and 527 firms were analyzed. Negative binomial regression analysis was performed considering the characteristics of patent performance, which is the dependent variable, and a time lag of one to two years was assumed considering the time required to generate results. OI in the form of technological cooperation, rather than technology purchasing, has a positive effect on patent performance. Meanwhile, the greater the absorptive capacity and government R&D support, the greater the positive impact of technological cooperation on patent performance. Conversely, the greater the alliance management capacity, the greater the positive impact of technological cooperation. These results indicate that the impact of OI activities on technological innovation performance may vary depending on context.

Determinants of Cloud Computing Adoption Amongst SMEs in the UK Technology Sector

Cloud computing has become a transformative technological model for businesses, offering flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. However, the embracing of cloud solutions amongst small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the UK technology sector, has been varied. This research aims to identify and examine the significant determinants influencing cloud computing adoption among SMEs in this dynamic industry. Grounded in the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the study employed a quantitative methodology, surveying 102 SMEs across software development, IT services, and emerging technologies. The findings revealed that technological factors (IT infrastructure compatibility, technical skills), organizational factors (top management support, financial resources, employee readiness), and environmental factors (competitive pressures, industry practices) significantly influenced cloud adoption decisions. Notably, organizational factors emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by technological factors, while environmental factors had a weaker but significant impact. The regression model states that 59% of the variance in cloud adoption is explained. The study provided insights into the evolving priorities and shifts in factor importance between early and later cloud adopters. Recommendations are offered for SMEs, cloud providers, policymakers, and industry bodies to facilitate successful cloud migration journeys for technology SMEs in the UK. This research contributes to the understanding of the factors driving the adoption of cloud computing.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF AGILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IN WATERFALL PROJECT: A CASE STUDY APPROACH

The evolution of software development methodologies has seen Agile rise in response to the limitations of traditional approaches like Waterfall, characterized by its iterative, collaborative, and adaptable nature. However, integrating Agile within the rigid, structured frameworks of organizations accustomed to Waterfall presents significant challenges. This study addresses how to effectively combine these methodologies to mitigate conflicts and achieve successful project outcomes by identifying and analyzing the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that enable a harmonious integration of Agile into Waterfall environments. Conducted at PT ABC, a firm balancing formal client interactions and contract creation with internal adoption of Scrum, this research uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to systematically prioritize CSFs through literature review, questionnaire development, data collection, and pairwise comparison analysis. The findings reveal that "Communication and Team Environment" is the most influential factor, with a priority vector weight of 0.178, followed by "Project Management and Strategy," "Leadership and Management Support," and "User and Customer Engagement." These factors are pivotal in achieving a balance between control and flexibility in software development projects. The study's implications for PT ABC and other organizations, especially those handling multiple projects and requiring on-site presence while managing other projects, demonstrate how to leverage the strengths of both methodologies for optimal project outcomes. This research provides a model for other organizations striving for similar integrative efforts, showcasing practical strategies to enhance project flexibility and coordination.

Design of Credit Bond Default Risk Measurement Model Based on Spatio-Temporal Attention Network and Genetic Algorithm Driven by Digital Economy

With the rapid advancement of the digital economy, the financial market confronts unprecedented complexity and interconnectivity, rendering the precise prediction of credit bond default risk particularly crucial. This paper introduces a novel credit bond default risk measurement model (GST-GRU) predicated on a spatio-temporal attention network and genetic algorithm, designed to enhance the accuracy and robustness of risk prediction. Initially, data preprocessing is undertaken, encompassing time series data cleaning, completion of missing values for historical financial information and bond default statuses, and extraction of spatial discrete information through independent vector coding. Subsequently, a spatio-temporal attention mechanism is employed to amplify feature information in both domains, while the GRU network captures the long-term dependencies within the time series data. Thereafter, model parameters are refined using a genetic algorithm to ensure global optimality. Experimental results demonstrate that the GST–GRU model markedly improves prediction accuracy across multiple public and self-constructed datasets, surpassing traditional models. This research furnishes robust technical support for risk management in the financial market, fosters the evolution of credit bond default risk prediction technology, and lays the groundwork for the intelligence and automation of future financial systems.

Sistema Financiero Popular y Solidario: Visión Económica y Social

Ecuador’s Popular and Solidarity Financial System (SFPS) aims to balance social and economic goals through savings and credit cooperatives. While the SFPS promotes financial inclusion and sustainability, it faces challenges in risk management and fulfilling its social mission. Supported by the 2008 Constitution, cooperatives have grown significantly but often prioritize financial stability over social objectives. Studies emphasize the need for comprehensive audits and enhanced training in managerial and technological skills. Initiatives like community tourism and solidarity circuits demonstrate the SFPS's potential to revitalize local economies, requiring state support and efficient management for sustainability. Integrating emerging technologies is crucial to improve operational efficiency and close financial inclusion gaps, especially in rural communities and marginalized groups. The SFPS must continuously innovate to remain competitive in a global and digital environment.

Self-Management Support (SMS) in Transition: The Case of Osteoporosis Management Support in a Chinese Hospital

AbstractSelf-management has become increasingly important with the growing population living with chronic conditions. Self-Management Support (SMS) provided in healthcare systems is essential for its success. While prior research mainly focuses on Western countries, this paper presents a study of SMS practices for osteoporosis management as part of a Whole Course Management (WCM) program recently implemented in the healthcare system in China, which features a new role called case manager in the hospital dedicated to SMS and related coordination. Based on interviews with 22 participants, including one case manager, two physicians, three nurses, seven patients, and nine caregivers, we highlight the importance of the role of case manager in promoting awareness of osteoporosis and self-management, integrated care coordination, and emotional support. At the same time, it also reveals challenges and promising directions to make SMS more effective, mainly in terms of self-management education, active patient involvement, and coordination among the care network. We ended by reflecting on our findings and discussing implications for SMS and the design of ICTs.

FAKTOR – FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PENGGUNAAN SISTEM INFORMASI AKUNTANSI

The objective of this research is to analysis the influence of top management support and formalization of development of systems information on using accounting information systems. Population in this study are 46 of Hospitality Service Company in Semarang City. The respondents are the employee in Hospitality Service Company that work in accounting and finance department. The sampling method use convenience sampling methods. Data analysis that used for this research is structural test using SmartPLS. The result of this research found that top management support has positif effect on use of accounting information systems. However formalization of development of systems information has not effect on use of accounting information systems.

Evidence Supporting Conservative Scar Management Interventions Following Burn Injury: a review article.

Conservative management for hypertrophic scars (HSc) and scar contractures is of utmost importance to optimally reintegrate burn survivors into society. Many conservative treatment interventions have been described in the literature for the management of HSc. Recent advancements in the literature pertaining to post-burn scarring and HSc formation, have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms that support or refute the use of common rehabilitation treatment modalities after burn injury. This is particularly relevant for recent advancements in the fields of mechanotransduction and neurogenic inflammation resulting in the need for rehabilitation clinicians to reflect upon commonly employed treatment interventions. The aim of this review article is to summarize and clinically apply the evidence that supports or refutes the use of common conservative treatment interventions for scar management employed after burn injury. The following treatments are discussed and mechanotransduction and neurogenic inflammation concepts are highlighted: 1) edema management (compression, positioning/elevation, pumping exercises, retrograde massage, manual edema mobilization), 2) pressure therapy (including custom fabricated pressure garments, inserts, face masks, and other low-load long duration orthotic devices), 3) gels or gel sheets, 4) combined pressure therapy and gels, 5) serial casting, 6) scar massage, and 7) passive stretching. This review supports the following statements: 1) Compression for edema reduction should be initiated 48-72 hrs post-injury and continued for wounds that require longer than 21 days to heal until scar maturation; 2) Elevation, pumping exercises and retrograde massage/MEM should be used in combination with other edema management techniques; 3) Custom fabricated pressure garments should be applied once the edema is stabilized and adequate healing has occurred. Garments should be monitored on a regular basis to ensure that optional pressure, >15mm Hg, is maintained, adding inserts when necessary. The wearing time should be >16 hrs/day; 4) Gels for post-burn scar management should extend beyond the scar; 5) Serial casting should be applied when contractures interfere with function; 6) Forceful scar massage should be avoided early in the wound healing process or when the scar is inflamed or breaks down; 7) Other treatment modalities should be prioritized over passive stretching for scar management.

Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction presenting as a life threatening acute medical emergency: A case study

Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction can present clinically as one of the few endocrinological emergencies found in daily clinical practice. The HPA axis primarily deals with stress response, energy metabolism, immune function and neuropsychiatric function. Unfortunately the clinical presentation of HPA axis dysfunction is non-specific and often progresses insidiously resulting in late diagnosis, or in severe cases present with acute circulatory collapse. Here we present a case where a 60 year-old lady who presented with shock, altered mental status, bradycardia and hypoglycemia, was found to have HPA axis dysfunction and was managed effectively with glucocorticoids along with other supportive management.

Analisis Yuridis terhadap Implementasi Undang-Undang Nomor 8 Tahun 2015 dalam Strategi KPU Meningkatkan Partisipasi Pemilih Muda pada Pilkada Serentak

This study examines the implementation of Law Number 8 of 2015 within the context of the General Election Commission's (KPU) strategy to increase young voter participation in simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada). Employing a normative juridical research method with a statutory approach, this analysis investigates the legal basis and KPU's strategies in efforts to enhance young voter engagement. The research findings indicate that Law No. 8/2015 and PKPU No. 8/2017 provide a comprehensive legal basis for the KPU to implement strategies for increasing young voter participation through various programs such as school-based socialization, social media campaigns, and collaborations with youth organizations and educational institutions. Factors influencing the effectiveness of these strategies include internal aspects such as human resources, knowledge management, and financial support, as well as external factors such as public political awareness, effective communication, and public response. This research concludes that while the legal framework is adequate, more detailed regulations regarding young voters are still needed, and the strategies implemented by the KPU are in line with existing laws.

Challenges and Ongoing Actions to Address the Mpox Emergency in Africa.

This review examines key events, challenges, and responses to the mpox public health emergency following the Africa CDC's declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Concern on August 13, 2024. In response to the crisis, over 3.6 million vaccine doses and more than $150 million in funding have been mobilized globally, with contributions from the United States, European Union, and Japan. However, challenges persist, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a humanitarian crisis in Kinshasa has complicated mpox diagnostics and treatment. In response, the Africa CDC has deployed its One Continental Incident Management Support team, with a focus on decentralizing diagnostics and enhancing sample movement through additional PCR equipment, funded by the Pandemic Fund and USAID. To reinforce laboratory diagnostics, surveillance, and case management, the Africa CDC has adopted a comprehensive "One Team, One Plan, One Budget, One M&E" approach and has deployed 72 epidemiologists to improve data integration. Collaborative efforts with WHO, GAVI, and UNICEF aim to expedite vaccine distribution, with a target of 10 million doses by 2025, alongside enhanced vaccine safety monitoring.

Factors Favoring the Adoption of Green Finance by Financial Institutions In Dakar: An Exploratory Study

As with any organization, financial institutions, particularly in Dakar, play a crucial role in low-income and emerging economies by mobilizing capital and investing in climate change mitigation. Drawing on neo-institutional theory, this exploratory study aims to understand and identify the factors that may influence the adoption of green finance by banks in Dakar. To achieve this, interviews were conducted with five (5) bank CEOs and three (3) solar energy stakeholders (bank clients), and the data were analyzed using thematic categorical content analysis. The findings, based on the interviewees’ responses, reveal that top management support, proactive institutional strategies, capacity building, incentive policies, market share development, allocation of funds to green projects, and the digitization of banking services are likely to influence the adoption of green finance by banks in Dakar. Furthermore, the direct involvement of monetary and regulatory authorities, through the development of specific regulations that encourage financial institutions to adopt green finance, is essential.

Association between tumor location and toxicity outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases.

Toxicities associated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are important when considering treatment and supportive management for patients with brain metastases. We herein assessed the association between brain metastasis location and risk of toxicity after SRS. We conducted a retrospective institutional review of patients treated with SRS for brain metastases between 2008 and 2023. Outcomes included radiation necrosis, seizure, local failure, and overall survival (OS). We reviewed 215 patients treated to 605 metastases (median diameter 10mm, IQR 5-17 mm), in the frontal (34%), cerebellar (19%), parietal (16%), temporal (13%), and occipital (13%) regions. Median follow-up was 16 months (IQR 7-36). New-onset seizures developed in 11% (19/174) of patients without prior seizure and was higher in patients with motor or sensory cortex lesions (12/48, 25%) on multivariate analysis (MVA, P = 0.02). SRS-related grade ≥ 2 symptomatic radionecrosis occurred in 6% (33/605) of lesions and correlated with larger metastasis volume (P < 0.001) and renal cell carcinoma histology (P < 0.05), while supratentorial location was nearly significant (MVA, P = 0.06). Median OS across all patients was 16 months (95% CI 12-20). Patients with symptomatic radiation necrosis had a longer median survival compared to those who did not (43 vs. 14 months, P = 0.002), which remained significant alongside Karnofsky performance status and extracranial disease on MVA. Brain metastasis location in the motor or sensory cortex is associated with increased risk of new-onset seizure following SRS and may warrant consideration of steroid and/or anti-epileptic prophylaxis. Symptomatic radiation necrosis is uncommon in the cerebellum and may be increasing with improvements in survival.

A registry study on nonsyndromic craniosynostosis: Long-term associations with academic achievement

To assess the association between nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (NSC) and academic achievement. Registry data were analyzed on demographic background, presence of craniosynostosis and other comorbidities, grades, and results on national standardized tests (NSTs) across primary and upper secondary school, as well as the presence of academic degrees. The analysis used regression modeling on a sample of N=1110 individuals with NSC and a matched cohort of N=10,654 individuals. There was a significant negative association between NSC and NST scores in third grade for both mathematics (aOR 0.76, 95% CI 0.60-0.99, p=.020) and Swedish (aOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.54-0.89, p=.004). The association seemed to primarily be carried by females with NSC (aORs for the interaction term 0.26-0.45, all ps <.05). Further, a slightly stronger negative association was observed in individuals with psychiatric comorbidities (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22-0.90, p=.025 for mathematics; aOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.98, p=.045 for Swedish). No statistically significant association was found between NSC and NST scores or grades in later school years, or with academic degrees. There is evidence for a limited temporary negative association between NSC and academic achievement. A stronger negative association between NSC and academic achievement seems to be present in girls, and for individuals with psychiatric comorbidities. This has important implications for clinical management and provision of support in educational contexts.

FACTORS INFLUENCING CLOUD COMPUTING ADOPTION : TECHNOLOGY, ORGANIZATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENT (TOE) FRAMEWORK APPROACH

The latest technology that must be applied to prepare for modernity is based on information technology. This technology is not only used by large companies (enterprises) but can also be utilized by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). One of the utilization of technology is cloud computing by Micro and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which is increasingly widespread. This is reasonable because cloud computing technology provides benefits with a simpler process and relatively low costs. In line with this, this study aims to determine the factors that influence the adoption of cloud computing in MSMEs. An integrated model was developed based on the Technology, Organization, and Environment (TOE) framework. This research data was obtained through a structured survey questionnaire given to 150 MSME owners/managers in the Soloraya Region. The results obtained through SEM-PLS analysis show that factors such as organizational readiness and competitor pressure have a significant effect on cloud computing adoption in MSMEs in the Soloraya Region. However, factors of relative advantage, complexity, and top management support were found to have no significant effect on cloud computing adoption. This research provides a theoretical contribution to the expansion of the TOE Framework.

Engaging Low-Wage Workers in Health and Well-Being Survey Research: Strategies From 5 Occupational Studies.

Without perspectives of low-wage workers in studies of worker health and well-being, researchers cannot comprehensively assess occupational health and health equity impacts of workplace exposures and interventions. Researchers and practitioners have noted particular challenges in engaging low-wage workers in worksite-based health survey research, yet little scholarship has described strategies for improving their engagement and response rates. To fill this gap, we present case examples from 5 occupational studies conducted between 2020 and 2024 in industries including health care, food service, and fulfillment centers. For each case, we describe how we identified barriers to worker engagement in surveys, explain specific strategies we used to address those barriers, and assess the effectiveness of these actions. Then, summarizing across case examples, we offer practical recommendations to researchers surveying low-wage populations, highlighting that high-touch recruitment, building trust with workers and managers, and obtaining manager support to take surveys during work time (for worksite-based studies) are critical for obtaining reliable, representative data. Our work contributes to broader discussions on improving survey response rates in vulnerable worker populations and aims to support future researchers undertaking similar efforts. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 14, 2024:e1-e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307875).