Traditional Ways Of Working Research Articles

The Higher-Order-Logic Formath

We introduce a new formalization of Higher-Order-Logic (abbreviated Hol), which we baptized Formath, an acronym for FORMAl MATHematics. We discuss the syntax, semantics, deduction-rules, axioms and principles of extension, after which we prove soundness and consistency. The semantics are comparable to other systems for Hol, such as Hol-4 and Hol-Light, but other parts differ from the traditional way of working, for example the deduction-rules and axioms. We discuss these differences in large extent. We also talk about porting theorems to the Formath library, provide examples and discuss the applications.

Weaning from sedation: don’t ignore the score

The use of sedation and analgesia in critically ill children is necessary for clinical management but can result in undesirable side effects such as physical dependence, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Weaning from sedation aims to prevent such unpleasant effects. Regular scoring of signs and symptoms of withdrawal is an essential part of the weaning regime, allowing the clinician to assess whether reduced doses are causing withdrawal symptoms. However, there are wide variations in whether and how scoring systems are used. This variation may be the result of high workload, other external pressures, traditional ways of working or other factors. Strategies such as an easily accessible scoring flow chart, a poster display, improved staff induction or other measures could help to improve safety and quality in sedation management.

An audit of waiting times at a specialist psychotherapy service

Aims and MethodReferrals to a specialist psychotherapy service were audited to measure the average waiting time for a first appointment and the proportion of patients waiting longer than 13 weeks. Recommendations for improving service delivery were made, an action plan implemented and the audit repeated.ResultsIn 2003, an initial audit of 355 referrals was completed using data from 2002. This found a mean waiting time to first appointment of 11.5 weeks with 30% of patients waiting longer than 13 weeks. In 2004, following implementation of the action plan, a re-audit of 200 patients found that the mean waiting time from receipt of referral to first appointment had reduced to 6.7 weeks with only 2.3% waiting more than 13 weeks.Clinical ImplicationsAudit can improve the efficiency of service delivery in a specialist psychotherapy service. However, this may require that psychotherapists review traditional ways of working. Also, it is important that they feel personally involved in the audit process.

A computer support tool for the early stages of architectural design

Even in the current computer age, there are still many important application areas, such as early architectural design, where traditional tools like sketching on paper continue to be preferred by many professionals over computer-based tools. There is a growing awareness that there are often very good grounds for this preference. Hence, instead of trying to replace such traditional ways of working, it is now often considered more opportune to try and preserve the strengths of these traditional ways of working, while at the same time improving them by providing access to new media. This is one of the main objectives of the augmented reality approach that we adopt here. In this paper, we specifically discuss the realization of a tool for early architectural design on an existing augmented reality system, called the Visual Interaction Platform. We describe the development process, the resulting tool and its performance for elementary tasks such as positioning and overdrawing. We also identify directions for future research and applications.

Network Structures: Working Differently and Changing Expectations

There is a growing need for innovative methods of dealing with complex, social problems. New types of collaborative efforts have emerged as a result of the inability of more traditional bureaucratic hierarchical arrangements such as departmental programs to resolve these problems. Network structures are one such arrangement that is at the forefront of this movement. Although collaboration through network structures establishes an innovative response to dealing with social issues, there remains an expectation that outcomes and processes are based on traditional ways of working. It is necessary for practitioners and policy makers alike to begin to understand the realities of what can be expected from network structures in order to maximize the benefits of these unique mechanisms.

Retail managers: their work stressors and coping strategies

This article considers the factors causing stress to retail managers and their coping strategies. The findings from a series of group discussions add to existing knowledge of causes of managerial stress. While some findings corroborate previous research into executive stress, other findings are of particular relevance within the retail sector. Most notably these were the nature and pace of change within the industry, new technological developments, quantitative work overload, staff shortages, customer demands and attitudes, threat of violence, the service orientated environment and the general organisational structure and climate. Problem focused and palliative coping strategies are adopted by individuals and organisations to cope with these pressures. Recommendations are provided to ensure retail companies avoid future threats of litigation and loss of productivity because of stress related illness. These may include re-examining traditional ways of working, instigating written policies on stress and employing occupational health advisors.

Bridging the Gaps: The Role of Occupational Therapy and Opportunities for its Development

The increased focus on employment for people with mental health problems is reflected in a renewed interest in work among service users and professionals (Grove, 1999), which in turn has led to the development of innovative models of service. These aim to meet the needs of individuals by offering choice and promoting integration into mainstream work options (for example, supported employment and IPS – Individual Placement and Support). Evidence from overseas (particularly the USA) and emerging from UK projects is that these approaches have been more successful in getting people back to work than the more traditional ways of working in segregated, sheltered settings (Crowther et al, 2001). Occupational therapy and employment

Putting the yin and yang into performance contracting

Energy performance contracting is not common in Asia, where fast economic growth in many parts of the region during the last two decades has taken precedence over people’s concern for energy saving. Explores how one particular group of facility managers introduced the concept of energy performance contracting in a context where bureaucratic tradition had always rewarded control rather than relationship development. Considers the roles and expectations of key players – the energy savings contractor, and the contracting organisation, who had both new style facility management and traditional maintenance staff working on the project. Discusses the issues that nearly derailed the project and how these were eventually overcome. Suggests there is a need for ongoing communication between all partners involved in energy performance contracting, both to overcome barriers to traditional ways of working and also to develop an appreciation for the differing objectives of each partner involved in the contract.

Enter the ‘Polibation Officer’

The rise of public protection to the top of the international law and order agenda in recent years has had a major impact upon criminal justice policy. The increasing focus of the concept of dangerousness upon a specific and narrow band of offenders has facilitated a punitive penal agenda which has served a useful political purpose in many countries. In the UK the public protection issue dominated the last years of John Major's Conservative Government and was used repeatedly by Home Secretary Michael Howard to create distance between the Government and the Opposition. The Labour Party, in not resisting the agenda, merely served to encourage its escalation, a situation only becoming challenged well over a year into office. This paper examines the effect of the public protection debate on agency practice and focuses on the police and probation services in particular. It considers a merging of aims and objectives between the two services within the public protection field, a merger which has severely challenged traditional ways of working and cherished values. The strength of the political climate, and the need to avoid being blamed for potential calamity, has meant that this developing merger has been relatively trouble-free and unopposed. To a certain extent it has perhaps gone further than even the Government intended and certainly leaves the door ajar for a considerably revamped probation service to emerge.

The global impact of telematics for health-care professionals

SummaryTelematics is an implementation tool of the global information society. All the constituents of society, as individuals or as groups, are involved and within a few years, everybody should take into account this fourth revolution which follows the industrial revolution (revolution number three). In the health field, all are involved: citizens; patients; general practitioners; specialists; health-care (HC) local, regional and national authorities and managers; researchers etc. During the past two centuries, the paradigm was focused on HC matters, hospitals, HC professionals etc. Due to the financial impossibility of increasing the proportion of the Gross National Product (GNP) which is dedicated to HC and simultaneously offering the very best health possible to every citizen, we have to change the paradigm from HC to health, from patient to citizen, from hospital to home etc. Telematics could be the tool necessary to do this. These tools do exist now, taking into account the European dimension, standardisation, interoperability, price, data-protection regulation etc. The assessment of the various services now available demonstrates their cost efficiency, in terms of time, money, quality, accessibility etc. But, for the moment, few user-groups, especially few HC professional groups, are fully convinced of the necessity to urgently integrate these tools, not only to cover citizens' needs, as demonstrated by the traditional way of working, but also to anticipate the implementation of the new health paradigm. It is a serious challenge because, if the HC professionals do not themselves manage this transient situation, they could find situations are imposed by external financial, administrative or other technical regulations. The two key necessities are: a global strategy, proposed, by national authorities with in-line resources, and an urgent plan, on a large scale, for education and training of the professionals concerned.

Learning Disability: An Alternative Frame of Reference

This article outlines some of the criticisms of traditional ways of working in services to people with learning disabilities and presents some alternatives. It suggests that occupational therapists adopt a frame of reference which combines a competency-based model of occupational therapy with a redefinition of independence. O'Brien's Five Accomplishments are used to provide a service quality monitoring tool and a values base for practice. The principle of partial participation is utilised and an emphasis is placed on the value of employment and the use of systematic instruction to achieve it.

Equality in a child and adolescent psychiatry multidisciplinary team

The multidisciplinary team and its functioning have been much debated. Such teams have been encouraged as a basis for good clinical practice. However, exactly how these teams should function has gone through various phases. With the advent of family therapy, some teams have experienced a process of crisis and the dismantling of more traditional ways of working. This has brought about a lot of disillusionment within teams and also a challenge to medical authority in the team. Unfortunately, it seems that family therapy as a treatment approach has been confused with the organisation of a multidisciplinary team. Considerable stress has been produced in the process as each professional has vied for a position and role in the team.

The anthropology of aesthetics

Writing this review of the recent work done on the anthropology of aesthetics, I have found myself doubly surprised. On the one hand, when I sat down to review all that I had read or heard about in the last ten years or so [ 1 ], I was surprised at how much has actual? ly been written, what great theoretical ad? vances have been made, what a wealth of use? ful ethnography is now available, and how subtle the thought has become. If the anthro? pology of aesthetics was once relegated to the last chapter of anthropology textbooks and there treated as an afterthought, it is quite clear that a substantial number of respected scholars no longer think of it as a kind of frivolity and that some even think of it as ab? solutely central to our enterprise. On the other hand, when I stood up from my review and looked beyond the piles of books and journals heaped around my desk, I was also surprised (perhaps foolishly so) at what has not yet been done, at the gaps in the ethno? graphic data, at the theoretical blinders, at the cultural biases. Here, then, is a record of my mingled pleasure and distress, and of the vari? able body of work which has provoked these reactions. While I am begging the question of what I understand by "aesthetic," since that and re? lated terms such as "art" or "literature" are part of the matter under discussion, neverthe? less I should at the outset state that the main subjects of this essay are the verbal and visual arts, mainly narrative, poetry, sculpture, and painting and drawing. This is hardly because I think that other expressions such as music or dance are less important or their study less likely to contribute to theoretical knowledge, but because most of the work by anthropolo? gists has been done on verbal and visual ex? pressions, narrowly defined. Indeed, the ne? glect (which will be discussed later in this es? say) of other loci of the aesthetic is one of the deep problems in current anthropology. Let us start, then, at the most general level, that of definition and universal theory. Since anthropology's forte has been ethnography, induction, and the embedding of middle-range theory in a body of descriptive detail, it is interesting but hardly surprising that there are relatively few attempts at extensive theorizing about aesthetics. Within the period under con? sideration, Macquet's Introduction to Aesthe? tic Anthropology [2] remains one of the best general introductions. While Macquet is limit? ed by his desire to establish a subject matter and find a way of looking at that subject mat? ter within the constraints both of anthropol? ogy's traditional way of working and of tradi? tional Western notions of "art," he does the valuable and necessary service of firmly distin? guishing "the aesthetic quality" (which he finds to be universal to humanity) from "art" (which is specific to certain kinds of culture and certain historically specific societies) and of further distinguishing between "art by in? tention" and "art by metamorphosis." Macquet's work is brief, general, sensible; it doesn't break new ground, but it gives one a Toni Flores is an Associate Professor of Women's Studies and American Studies at William Smith & Hobart Colleges, New York.