Two-phase Data Collection Research Articles

Evaluating the feasibility of upper arm ECG for cardiac monitoring

Abstract Background Ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring is essential for detecting paroxysmal cardiac events and tracking long-term physiological parameters. However, traditional Holter devices are cumbersome, restrict movement, and can cause skin irritation, resulting in sub-optimal patient compliance during extended monitoring periods. Wearable devices utilizing non-conventional form factors are emerging as promising non-intrusive alternatives for ECG monitoring. Purpose To determine the optimal location for single-lead ECG acquisition on the upper arm and assess the feasibility of using dry electrode armbands for cardiac monitoring when coupled with robust ECG processing software. Methods Stationary ECGs from 20 healthy adult participants were recorded across a two-phase data collection protocol and processed with clinically validated ECG software. In the first phase, the average signal amplitudes of wet-electrode ECGs obtained from 30 different configurations across the mid-brachial and proximal-brachial regions of the upper arm were assessed. In the second, the performance of two proprietary dry-electrode armbands, featuring either a single-point or three-point electrode strap, were evaluated on the optimal upper arm configuration using QRS detection and heart rate (HR) metrics. Comparative analysis was performed throughout using data simultaneously acquired on a gold standard Holter device in modified lead III (MLIII) configuration. Performance metrics were calculated relative to manually generated signal annotations. Results Wet-electrode-acquired ECGs from the proximal-brachial region exhibited significantly higher average signal amplitudes (0.12 ± 0.06 mV) compared to those from the mid-brachial region (0.05 ± 0.04 mV) of the upper arm (p < 0.05). The optimal configuration (A-F), positioned at the lateral and medial extents of the proximal-brachial region, demonstrated comparable average signal amplitudes (0.16 ± 0.07 mV, 0.16 ± 0.06 mV, 0.19 ± 0.08 mV) for single-point dry, three-point dry, and wet-electrode setups, respectively. Upon processing with ECG software, data from optimal dry-electrode configurations showed excellent average QRS sensitivity and specificity of 98.2% and 98.9% for the one-point strap, and 98.9% and 99.8% for the three-point strap, respectively. HR metrics from the optimized dry-electrode setups were comparable in accuracy to those derived from the reference Holter device, with the average HR error being similar across the three-point dry electrode strap (0.57% ± 0.28%), one-point dry electrode strap (1.16% ± 1.46%), and Holter device (0.74% ± 1.50%). Conclusion(s) Optimized upper arm single-lead ECG with dry electrodes can yield signals with sufficient amplitude and quality for automated ECG analysis. Coupled with robust ECG signal processing software, the cardiac metrics obtained from the optimized upper arm setups exhibited comparable performance to those derived from medical Holter data.

The same only different: precarious workers’ perceptions of their treatment in COVID-19 times

PurposeOur core aim was to explore the perceptions of precarious workers on the ways in which the pandemic impacted their relationships with their employing organizations and to explore the ways in which they viewed the pandemic as (re)shaping the dynamics of precarious work and the extent to which they saw the pandemic as contributing to substantive improvement in their working lives or whether the pandemic is exacerbating their marginalisation.Design/methodology/approachWe adopted an approach akin to grounded theory in an exploratory research design and utilized in-depth, semi-structured interviews as the most apposite method of data collection. Our research design centred on a two-phase data collection approach, which were intended to gather data at two points. First, during the most difficult part of the pandemic, which we describe as the “Lockdown phase” and second, during the period wherein the pandemic rules were eased but elements of the risks remained; the “New Normal phase”.FindingsThis article reports the findings of a longitudinal study of the reflections and interpretations of precarious workers on the impacts of the pandemic on their relationships with their employing organizations. We supply findings across three periods – pre-the COVID-19 pandemic, during the pandemic lockdown phase and post-lockdowns in the “new normal phase”.Research limitations/implicationsThe first contribution of the study is the importance of “voice” and giving voice to workers in nontraditional, fragmented and marginalised employment. Our study builds on these contributions by exploring the journeys of precarious workers and is particularly valuable in that we explore the perceptions of these workers across the societal, organizational and employment/working turbulence of the pandemic. The second contribution arises from the insights developed through studying the working lives and experiences of precarious workers longitudinally rather than in a single, snapshot fashion. A third contribution centres on how precarious workers felt they were treated by others during both the two phases of the study. The insights here are complex and, in parts, contradictory – reflecting the interpretations and conflicted opinions/deeds of those connected with precarious workers.Originality/valueIt is particularly important for scholars to understand the ways in which the pandemic shaped (or reshaped) the dynamics of precarious work and to understand whether the evolving conceptions of the centrality of such workers as “essential” during the pandemic (Crane and Matten, 2021) contributed to substantive or merely illusory, improvements in their working lives. Thus, we analyse the reflections of precarious workers on changes to their working lives that are linked to the pandemic.

Experiences of Graduate Students of the First Cohort on Cost-Sharing Policies in Saudi Public Universities: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for Policy and Practice

The study aimed at investigating the experiences of graduate students who experience, for the first-time, cost-sharing policies in Saudi public universities. The study used the explanatory sequential mixed methods approach, involving a two-phase data collection. First, quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire administered to graduate students of education from 24 out of the 29 public universities, where 384 participants responded. Then, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with 28 participants who voluntarily signed up for a follow-up interview. The main findings show that 66.4% of participants support the introduction of cost-sharing in public universities. However, there are no student financial aid mechanisms to guarantee equal opportunity for all candidates. Even though 90.4% of participants pay their due shares on time, students who faced financial hardships were not allowed to register for classes until they paid. Further, except for the contract signed during the admission process, there was no informative and accessible cost-sharing policy document to help potential candidates make the right decision before joining a program. Moreover, the cost-sharing programs are not flexible for working students. Participants’ perceptions on cost-sharing and financial aid mechanisms do not differ based on gender and education level but do strongly significantly differ based on cost-sharing policy support. Based on these findings, the researchers suggest five recommendations for policy and practice for the cost-sharing policy to be effective and equitable for all potential candidates.

Factors influencing ICT implementation in motorcycle goods transport: the mediating role of business efficiency, infrastructure and motorcycle benefits

PurposeThrough the “Going Digital Initiative,” the Ghanaian government has introduced policies that aim at improving the information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure of the country. These ICT policies have benefited numerous sectors of the Ghanaian economy. In logistics management, ICT has impacted drone medical delivery in the healthcare and maritime sectors. However, the importance of ICT is not realized in the motorcycle goods transport (MGT) industry, regardless of its popularity and high economic dependency. Second, all research on motorcycles is focused on diverse social concerns, and no study has attempted to analyze ICT implementation for MGT operations. This is a significant gap in logistics management. Hence, the study aimed to investigate the impact of ICT on Ghana's MGT industry empirically.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a two-phase data collection approach to collect the data. The authors use partial least square structural equation modeling to analyze the study's measurement and structural assessment model.FindingsICT positively impacts MGT and the drivers considered. The drivers positively influence MGT. The study further analyzes novel results on the relationships between the drivers and their mediating roles in enhancing MGT performance.Originality/valueThe study's originality is the extension of ICT adoption and usage in MGT. The lack of literature on the importance of ICT for MGT services makes this study the primary source of literature, and the relationships investigated are unique as the research area is unexplored.

Ball Screw Health Monitoring With Inertial Sensors

In industrial applications, the mechanical wear on ball screw components can lead to a loss of positioning accuracy that reduces the operational reliability and reproducibility of production systems. Existing monitoring solutions are impractical for real industrial settings or are unable to provide quantifiable estimates of the magnitude of degradation. To address this, the proposed method strategically applies a two-phase data collection with inertial sensors to perform both health monitoring and fault magnitude estimation. The first, online phase offers a practical, non-intrusive means of monitoring the ball screw degradation during normal production operations. As deemed necessary by the first phase, the second, offline phase is implemented outside the production routine to physically quantify the detected fault. The combined methods offer a balanced approach that provides detailed information while still considering the requirements of a production environment. To validate the performance of this proposed strategy, a run-to-failure experiment was performed on a linear axis testbed. Validation results indicate that the method is a pragmatic and promising approach for incipient fault detection and absolute backlash error measurement in a linear axis.

Spatial distribution of suspected and confirmed cholera cases in Mwanza City, Northern Tanzania.

Cholera, which is caused by Vibrio cholerae, persists as a devastating acute diarrheal disease. Despite availability of information on socio-cultural, agent and hosts risk factors, the disease continues to claim lives of people in Tanzania. The present study explores spatial patterns of cholera cases during a 2015-16 outbreak in Mwanza, Tanzania using a geographical information system (GIS) to identify concentrations of cholera cases. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ilemela and Nyamagana Districts, Mwanza City. The two-phase data collection included: 1) retrospectively reviewing and capturing 852 suspected cholera cases from clinical files during the outbreak between August, 2015, and April, 2016, and 2) mapping of residence of suspected and confirmed cholera cases using global positioning systems (GPS). A majority of cholera patients were from Ilemela District (546, 64.1%), were males (506, 59.4%) and their median age was 27 (19-36) years. Of the 452 (55.1%) laboratory tests, 352 (77.9%) were confirmed to have Vibrio cholerae infection. Seven patients (0.80%) died. Cholera cases clustered in certain areas of Mwanza City. Sangabuye, Bugogwa and Igoma Wards had the largest number of confirmed cholera cases, while Luchelele Ward had no reported cholera cases. Concentrations may reflect health-seeking behavior as much as disease distribution. Topographical terrain, untreated water, physical and built environment, and health-seeking behaviors play a role in cholera epidemic in Mwanza City. The spatial analysis suggests patterns of health-seeking behavior more than patterns of disease. Maps similar to those generated in this study would be an important future resource for identifying an impending cholera outbreak in real-time to coordinate community members, community leaders and health personnel for guiding targeted education, outreach, and interventions.

“So how do we balance all of these needs?”: how the concept of AI technology impacts digital archival expertise

PurposeThis study aims to explore the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in archival practice by presenting the thoughts and opinions of working archival practitioners. It contributes to the extant literature with a fresh perspective, expanding the discussion on AI adoption by investigating how it influences the perceptions of digital archival expertise.Design/methodology/approachIn this study a two-phase data collection consisting of four online focus groups was held to gather the opinions of international archives and digital preservation professionals (n = 16), that participated on a volunteer basis. The qualitative analysis of the transcripts was performed using template analysis, a style of thematic analysis.FindingsFour main themes were identified: fitting AI into day to day practice; the responsible use of (AI) technology; managing expectations (about AI adoption) and bias associated with the use of AI. The analysis suggests that AI adoption combined with hindsight about digitisation as a disruptive technology might provide archival practitioners with a framework for re-defining, advocating and outlining digital archival expertise.Research limitations/implicationsThe volunteer basis of this study meant that the sample was not representative or generalisable.Originality/valueAlthough the results of this research are not generalisable, they shed light on the challenges prospected by the implementation of AI in the archives and for the digital curation professionals dealing with this change. The evolution of the characterisation of digital archival expertise is a topic reserved for future research.

AN ACTION RESEARCH ON IMPROVING READING PERFORMANCE OF NON-ENGLISH MAJORED FRESHMEN AT FPT UNIVERSITY, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM / NGHIÊN CỨU HOẠT ĐỘNG HỌC TẬP TRONG LỚP VỀ VIỆC NÂNG CAO HIỆU QUẢ ĐỌC HIỂU CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ NHẤT KHÔNG CHUYÊN NGỮ TIẾNG ANH TẠI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC FPT, THÀNH PHỐ HỒ CHÍ MINH, VIỆTNAM

A mixed-methods design (Creswell & Creswell, 2018) was adopted in this action research to examine the effects of reading strategy instruction with four reading strategies - previewing the text, predictions, text-structure awareness, inferencing - on reading performance of non-English majored freshmen in English preparation classes of a private university in Vietnam. Thirty-six students in pre-intermediate English proficiency level participated in the study. Over six weeks, these students received the four reading strategies instruction explicitly in accordance with CALLA model. Via the explanatory sequential design, a type of mixed methods research involves two-phase data collection (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). The results of the pre-post-tests and 11 closed-ended response items in the paper-based questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively while 6 interviews were analyzed qualitatively to provide further explanations of the quantitative results. The study has found that four reading strategies might serve as techniques to improve reading comprehension then result in better reading performance, reading speed and higher frequency of reading strategies use.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0561/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Level of satisfaction and sexual and reproductive health needs of deaf persons in Ghana: a sequential explanatory mixed method study

BackgroundThe intersection between deafness and culture in sub-Saharan African contexts such as Ghana has culminated in restricted access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. While some attention has been given to the barriers faced by deaf persons in accessing SRH services, discussion of their needs and satisfaction with SRH services is at an embryonic stage. This lends support to the use of sequential mixed-method study design to assess the level of satisfaction and SRH needs of deaf persons.MethodsThis study was guided by explanatory sequential mixed-method study design. Thus, a two-phase data collection approach was adopted. In Phase I, a 32-item questionnaire with 16 items each for satisfaction regarding SRH services and SRH needs, was used for data collection from 288 deaf persons recruited from 3 of the 16 regions in Ghana. The data were subjected to the following computations: means, t-tests, analysis of variance, correlations, and multiple regression. In Phase II, a semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from 60 participants who were drawn from the earlier pool. The interviews were subjected to thematic analysis.ResultsThe results showed of correlation and multiple analyses showed a small relationship and significant contribution of needs in the variance of satisfaction. Also, there was a convergence between both the qualitative and quantitative data as participants confirmed the lack of consideration given to the needs of deaf persons regarding SRH service provisions.ConclusionDeaf persons who took part in this study were unsatisfied with SRH services due to barriers such as sign language interpreters and inaccessible information. Consequently, they expressed the need for preferred mode of communication and expedition of awareness creation on SRH. The study findings warrant the need for policymakers to inculcate the needs of deaf person in SRH services to improve access and thus, enhance satisfaction. For instance, recommendations such as the training of health professionals in the use of sign language could be considered in future SRH policy and other implications, are discussed.

Responding to Visitor Density Pre and Post COVID-19 Outbreak: The Impact of Personality Type on Perceived Crowdedness, Feeling of Being Comfortable, and Anticipated Experience

The study set out to determine whether tourists’ response to human density at destinations changed after the COVID-19 outbreak and, thus, gain insight into whether tourist flows will be sustained in the post-COVID-19 environment. An experimental design with the photo-elicitation technique embedded into an online survey was employed. The two-phase data collection allowed an examination of respondents’ reactions to the same experimental stimuli (images depicting different levels of density) before and after the outbreak. The effect of COVID-19 on the relationship between density and the outcome variables of perceptions of crowdedness, the feeling of being comfortable, and the anticipated experience was small and registered at the medium density level only. The effects of personality profiles on those relationships depend on the tourist density level. The personality profile also moderates the effect of COVID-19 on study variables, mostly at the medium-density level. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Stepping up, stepping out: the elderly customer long-term health-care experience

PurposeDemand for long-term care services increases with population aging. This study aims to develop a conceptual model of elderly customers’ health-care experiences to explore the antecedents, mechanisms and outcomes of social participation in long-term care service organizations.Design/methodology/approachUsing a two-phase data collection approach, this study collects data from 238 elderly customers in a long-term care service organization. The final data are analyzed through structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results show that care management efforts (i.e. customer education, perceived organization support, role modeling, perceived other customer support and diversity of activity) influence elderly customers’ psychological states (i.e. self-efficacy and sense of community), leading to increased social participation. In addition, high levels of social participation evoke positive service satisfaction and quality of life, both of which alleviate switching intention.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first conclusive service studies focused on the role of elderly customers’ social participation in their long-term care experience. The findings contribute to health-care service marketing and transformative service research, and expand understanding of elderly customers’ health-care experience, especially in long-term care service settings.

Development of employees’ resilience in technologically turbulent environments: probing the mechanisms of consonance–dissonance and crisis leadership

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of technological turbulence on employee resilience based on cognitive dissonance theory and through a process of consonance and dissonance. First, the study investigates employee openness to represent cognitive consonance and then resistance to change to represent cognitive dissonance processes. Such processes mediate the relationship between technological turbulence and employee resilience. Second, this study proposes that the above associations will be moderated by crisis leadership efficacy.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses multi-source data from service employees and their immediate superiors in hospitality, including a two-phase data collection process. Moreover, the study conducts a two-step structural equation modeling.FindingsThis study finds that employee openness and resistance to change mediate the association between technological turbulence and employee resilience. Furthermore, results reveal that crisis leadership efficacy strengthens the relationships (direct and indirect, through openness and resistance to change) between technological turbulence and employee resilience. The study discusses the implications for theory and practice for tourism scholars and practitioners.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides empirical evidence showing the importance of employee resilience and the underlying mechanisms in responding to technological turbulence in the hospitality industry.Originality/valueResilience research in the hospitality and service context is timely and necessary to cope up with the changing market and turbulences. This study extends the extant literature that mainly examined the crisis and dynamic conditions. The study contributes to crisis management, marketing and leadership literature concerning technological turbulence and employee resilience in the hospitality context.

Machine Learning Applications of Two-Phase Flow Data in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Reactant Channels

Multiphase flow is a primary concern in many energy conversion and storage technologies including fuel cells and flow batteries which utilize intricate flow-field patterns to facilitate reactant and byproduct transport. Due to complex physics and the limitations of numerical methods, new techniques of collecting and evaluating two-phase behavior in these reactant channels are needed. This paper demonstrates a novel method for two-phase data collection, processing, and its use in a machine learning algorithm. Decision tree (DT) regressions were used to correlate liquid distributions in reactant channels with the two-phase flow pressure drop along the channel. A transparent 3.0 mm × 2.4 mm rectangular channel was used to simulate the two-phase flow conditions of a polymer-electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) reactant channel by injecting water through a gas-diffusion layer (GDL) while air was flowed through the channel. A synchronized camera and pressure transducer setup collected images at 5 Hz of the liquid distribution and the two-phase flow pressure drop. By training using the liquid distributions as inputs and the corresponding pressure drop data as outputs, the DT models achieved pressure drop prediction accuracies in most cases exceeding 90%. Applications for flow-field design and liquid saturation estimation based on pressure are discussed.

Economic, organizational, and environmental capabilities for business sustainability competence: Findings from case studies in the fashion business

Business sustainability has received considerable attention in academia and industry. Accordingly, we use a multiple-case design to study the outcomes of business sustainability capability implementation. Using a two-phase data collection approach and resource-based view, we developed a conceptual model to illustrate the importance of business sustainability capability and business sustainability competence and their influence on firm performance. On the bases of the results from a case analysis of three Fortune 500 corporations in the fashion and textile industries, we show how three business sustainability capabilities (i.e., organizational, environmental, and economic competencies) affect business sustainability competence and consequently firm performance. Using in-depth case studies, we develop a set of propositions on how business sustainability competence associates with firm performance. This study was conducted over three years and demonstrates the importance of business sustainability capabilities by confirming the impact of economic competence in the context of market-driven competence and innovation, organizational competence in the context of managerial competence and social well-being, and environmental competence in the context of application of the five Rs (i.e., re-imagine, redesign, reuse, recycle, and reduce). This study thus provides valuable insights into how business sustainability capability and business sustainability competence enhance firm performance in the global fashion business.

Quantification of the impact of partial replacement of traditional cooking fuels by biogas on global warming: Evidence from Vietnam

Biogas production in small-scale plants is considered to be an appropriate technology for energy supply to rural households. It is being beneficial to the environment through replacement of traditionally used cooking fuels (fuelwood and liquified petroleum gas) and so possibly resulting in the reduction of global warming potential . The problem of biogas loss due to leakage or intentional release results in direct methane emissions, threatening to neutralize the environmental benefits of biogas use. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of partial replacement of traditional cooking fuels by biogas from two most prevalent sizes of biogas plants (BGPs) (6 m 3 and 9 m 3 ). The two-phase data collection performed in central Vietnam included semi-structured interviews with biogas plant owners, masons and biogas facilitators. The quantification of Global Warming Potential (GWP) from small-scale biogas plants accounted for four different scenarios: 1. Original scenario (before biogas implementation), 2. Current state scenario (after biogas implementation with reported 40% loss of biogas), 3. Zero-loss scenario (after biogas implementation without biogas loss) and 4. Optimal scenario (the exclusive use of biogas). Currently, biogas covers over 60% majority of cooking energy mix of surveyed households. Households’ consumption of traditional fuels (fuelwood and liquified petroleum gas) was reduced on average by 58% for fuelwood and 65% for LPG. In comparison of Original and Current state scenario , GWP was reduced on average by 11%, suggesting that in the current state, reduction of GWP due to biogas use is under its potential. Two potential scenarios (Zero-loss and Optimal) resulted in the significant GWP reduction, however their achievement is rather theoretical. The break-even point of biogas loss was determined at 53–55%. The findings illustrate the unfulfilled potential of GWP reduction by using biogas and emphasize the problem of significant biogas loss, compromising the environmental benefit of biogas plants. • Proper operation of biogas plants reduces greenhouse gases emissions. • Methane emissions from biogas loss are higher than those from its combustion. • Biogas covers 60% of households’ cooking needs. • Biogas losses compromised environmental benefit of global warming potential.

Academic Agency: The Impact of Underlying Dispositions that Affect Teachers' Sense of Responsibility to Educate all Children in a Middle Grades Mathematics Classroom

Based on the novel framework of Academic Agency, this study explored how a teacher's sense of efficacy, commitment, and knowledge influenced their overall sense of responsibility in instructing all children in the science of mathematics. This study employed a two-phase data collection process in which surveys, classroom interviews, and observations were used to examine practicing teacher's beliefs regarding efficacy, commitment, content knowledge, and responsibility. Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression were employed as analysis tools to identify the direction and strength of the relationships existing between variables. Findings suggest that there is a positive correlation between a teacher's sense of efficacy and their overall sense of responsibility and also a teacher's sense of efficacy and of mathematics teaching efficacy. The second phase of the study, participant interviews, and observations provided a more detailed look at how four purposefully selected educators enacted their articulated beliefs. Hour-long semi-structured interviews were conducted along with classroom observation. The qualitative data collected from the four individuals were analyzed using NVivo software. Based on recorded coding structures, individuals were placed into four predetermined categories ranging from Custodial Emphasis to Focused Academic Agent. Findings suggest that a sense of responsibility may be a factor in educational decisions.

Strategic HRM and organisational performance: does turnover intention matter?

PurposeApplying the job-demand resources model and the psychological contract theory, this paper aims to examine the mediating influence of employee turnover intentions (ETI) on the relationship between strategic human resource management (SHRM) and perceived organisational performance (POP).Design/methodology/approachWith a two-phase data-collection method, 200 complete responses were collected through an online questionnaire survey. This study applied a structural equation modelling to examine the multivariate associations and provided comprehensive outcomes for the proposed hypothesised model.FindingsThis study suggests that SHRM has direct significant effects on both ETI and POP; partial mediational effect on POP via ETI; and ETI has negative effect on POP.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests that organisations aiming higher POP should encourage SHRM and improve their strategic approaches of HRM. The implications of the study results can help organisations to recognise the adverse effects of ETI and effective SHRM outcomes.Originality/valueDespite the significant relationship between HRM and organisational performance, limited empirical research has been conducted on the mediational influence of ETI. This paper examines the unique meditational role of ETI on the relationship between SHRM and POP, which has not been utterly observed from employee perspective.

Entrepreneurship gaps framework model: An early-stage business diagnostic tool

Background: In South Africa, entrepreneurship literature demonstrates that three out of four businesses collapse within 3 years of their inception. A plethora of research effort identifies factors such as the lack of finance and access to markets as the leading causes for the high attrition rates amongst emerging businesses. This study finds the narrative to be limiting and inadequate as it does not address the possible gap between entrepreneurs’ expectations and their realities of managing their businesses. Aim: To present the entrepreneurship gaps framework (EGF), an early-stage business diagnostic tool that seeks to assess entrepreneurs’ preparedness. Setting: This study focused on emerging entrepreneurs operating within the limits of developing economies. The framework can be used by emerging entrepreneurs, capacity development institutions and lenders. Methods: A descriptive research design supported by a mixed-method research approach was employed. This was coupled by a two-phase data collection procedure which took place within Limpopo province with 215 participants. Explorative data analysis based on discrete choice models was further implemented. Results: Findings on the EGF illustrated the ability of the framework to act as a more comprehensive diagnostic mechanism that improves early-stage entrepreneurship survival. Conclusion: Entrepreneurship gaps framework is a decision-making tool that can be used by lenders and capacity development institutions to evaluate the emerging entrepreneur with respect to specific areas of business. This results in the necessary support for improving entrepreneur preparedness being provided to entrepreneurs. Secondly, entrepreneurs are likely to benefit from the EGF, if used as a self-diagnostic tool to measure their business preparedness and experience.

Career and work attitudes of blue-collar workers, and the impact of a natural disaster chance event on the relationships between intention to quit and actual quit behaviour

Despite being part of a highly visible and important occupational group, blue-collar workers have, to date, been under-represented in careers research. We explore the relevance and applicability of new career concepts to blue-collar employees, specifically, bus drivers. Based on a survey of 112 bus drivers, we test a model specifying the relationship between career attitude, perceived organizational support, psychological contract, and job satisfaction, as well as intention to quit. Employing a two-phase data collection process, we also test relationships between intentions and actual quit behaviour. Our results support the validity of career theories for blue-collar workers but with notable exceptions, such as lack of relationships between protean career and intention to quit. Contrary to intention-behaviour theory we find that actual quit behaviour was not related to intention to quit, which we attribute to a significant external chance event, a devastating earthquake, which took place during the study period. In addition, we identify relationships that appear to be unique to blue-collar workers.

Management competencies required in the transition from a technician to a supervisor

Orientation: Technicians are frequently promoted to supervisory positions based on their technical abilities, with scant attention focused on developing management competencies. This oversight often poses significant challenges. The effective transition from technician to supervisor is important in any organisation.Research objective: The primary objective is to identify and verify the competencies that are required for a technician and a supervisory position; the secondary objective is to identify the gap that must be filled with relevant training interventions to enable technicians to make an effective transition to a supervisory position.Motivation for this study: The identification of the management competencies required for a technician who makes a career change to a supervisor position.Research method: The sequential mixed method approach was used to enable the twophase data collection process: phase one was the quantitative phase and phase two was the qualitative phase. Main findings: The overall findings confirm that there are indeed management competencies that technicians require training and development on before being promoted to a supervisory position.Implication: Organisations need to identify the key competencies for a technician and a supervisor and implement development or training interventions that are essential to successfully transition an employee from the level of a technician to the level of a supervisor.Contribution: Organisations need to implement essential development or training interventions focused on developing management competencies and put in place support interventions such as coaching, job shadowing, mentoring and networking.