Suchergebnisse

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore how employees perceive their organisation's efforts to address the management of stress in their workplaces and to examine differences based on demographic variables of organisational location and size. A convenience sample of 85 people at an international disability management conference completed a Management of Stress in the Workplace Questionnaire. Results of this survey indicated that employees were not positive about their organisations efforts to manage stress in either prevention or rehabilitation activities. Employees from smaller organisations rated their workplace environments more positively than larger organisations. A perceived high incidence of stress in an organisation was negatively related to perceptions about the work environment. Lower perceived levels of stress-related compensation claims were associated with higher ratings of prevention and higher workplace environment ratings. Effective disability management programs need to address a range of individual, organisational and system factors that cause and exacerbate stress injuries. In addition to the provision of a range of prevention and rehabilitation services, it is important that organisations look at ways to improve workplace culture and, by association, job satisfaction and workplace morale.

In April 1967, an Arctic Research Group was formed within McMaster University's Department of Geography, with the object of undertaking closely integrated studies in all aspects of physical geography. As an introductory venture, a party of 3 professors, 2 graduate students, a photographic technician, and a seventeen-year-old Hamilton schoolboy who had been awarded a summer scholarship at McMaster arrived at Resolute on 29 June to undertake a 5-week program of research in coastal geomorphology, pedology, and sub-surface microclimatology. .

To curb global warming man has to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) created to the atmosphere by human activities, and it cannot neglect the efforts of corporate communities. Indeed, companiesa direct emissions are dwarfed by supply chain GHGs from an industry sector. No matter to prepare for future environmental regulations or to improve competitive advantages, companies are realizing that they have to reduce and mitigate GHGs from the supply chain perspective. Emission trading (also called cap and trade) is one of market-based instruments to reduce GHGs released from industrial areas. The Paris agreement in 2015 has announced that emission trading plays an essential role in forming part of international climate action to achieve national emission reduction targets. Moreover, due to offering flexibility in choosing compliance levers to the targeted firms or industries emission trading is considered by forward-thinking communities as one effective measure to manage supply chain GHGs. With optimization models, literatures have quantified the impacts of emission trading on the supply chain performance by incorporating the emission cost. Their results show that emission trading is cost-effective to reduce supply chain GHGs. However, rare work addresses how emission trading could be employed in the context of supply chain and what problems would the implementation processes encounter from business and political perspectives. To fill in this research gap, this paper presents one conceptual study as well as one case study. Firstly, it proposes the concept a supply chain emission tradinga to describe the application of emission trading in the context of supply chain and provides three programs to realize the application: supply chain permit trading program, supply chain credit trading program, and supply chain offset trading program. Secondly, this paper conducts one case study so as to quantify and compare the cost-effectiveness of each program. At last, this paper discusses the challenges and opportunities related to implementing each program, and it demonstrates supply chain knowledge management concerning GHGs reduction under emission trading. The results of this paper indicate that supply chain permit trading program is the most cost-effective one among the three to reduce the same amount of supply chain GHGs. Supply chain credit and offset programs are including additionally the cost of administration for emission reduction projects. All three programs allow the transfers of emission reduction units within the supply chain. Supply chain permit trading program emphasizes the supply chain collaboration in meeting the supply chain GHGs reduction target while the other two programs assign the focal company in the supply chain to be responsible for the supply chain GHGs. Implementing supply chain permit trading program is challenged by including the Scope 3 emissions of the focal company into emission trading scheme (ETS) and requires one cost/benefit allocation method among supply chain partners. The other two programs are comparatively easier to be implemented since they can directly employ the experiences of ETS and credit projects. This paper is believed to be one leading edge in proposing one conceptual initiative connecting supply chain GHGs management to the emission trading policy, and in addressing supply chain GHGs management with emission trading from both quantitative and qualitative aspects. It provides insights for both business managers and policy-makers that are concerned with reducing supply chain GHGs.

This working paper presents the preliminary findings from the pilot-project'Early Warning Indicators for Preventive Policy' at the Stockholm International PeaceResearch Institute which was launched in late 2002. The pilot phase of the projectwill run for twelve month and is funded by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The project combines a monthly survey that retrieves events data from expertswith country framework data and Internet technology, thus breaking new ground inthe field of conflict early warning research. Processing both survey and statisticaldata using a well-designed statistical conflict forecasting model allows for thecreation of indexes that reflect negative national and regional developments in thesocial, political and economic sectors. The results are made available on the Internetin the form of country-specific and regional reports, with the possibility for users tocustomise the system for their own needs. ; Working paper

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JDAL-07-2019-0012 ; Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insight on high-interest areas of research in defenserelated logistics and supply chain management and opportunities for advancing theory and practice in this domain. Design/methodology/approach – A panel of experts provided their insight to several questions oriented toward examining research opportunities and gaps in defense logistics research at the 2018 Academic Research Symposium of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals annual conference on September 30, 2018. Findings – Three overarching themes emerged from the panel discussion for advancing theory and practice in defense logistics and supply chain management, which are developing a central repository, creating publication opportunities and integrating research practice and knowledge with the greater academic community. Originality/value – Logistics and supply chain research is critical for advancing knowledge and practice in the military, as well as industrial settings. The intention in this manuscript is to provide scholars and practitioners in both settings greater awareness and potential avenues for developing synergies and processes for advancing logistics and supply chain research.

The distribution of water between co-riparian regions in the Indus Basin has been an extremely contentious issue since at least the early 20th century. The reliability of water measurements, in particular, has caused much controversy at multiple scales. This hydropolitical tension has catalysed a key social group – the hydraulic bureaucracy or 'hydrocracy' – to enact strategies of depoliticisation. These strategies aim to suppress political contest by calling on external expertise and/or technology to assure the objectivity of water measurement data. This paper draws on archival data and interviews with water engineers to argue that technocratic depoliticisation operates in distinct but related ways at different scales. Further, I argue that to analyse the technocratic desire for a data state – a state that governs primarily or exclusively by number and calculation – a multi-scalar theoretical framework that connects the politics of technocracy, territory and nationalism is needed. The paper develops such a framework by situating hydrocrats and their strategies in the broader context of state formation. This framework is offered as a way for critical scholars of resources, development and expertise to engage with depoliticisation and repoliticisation of resource governance as complex geographic processes. The information, practices and views in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). © 2016 Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)

A comprehensive database on domestic support is key for any meaningful agri-food policy computable general equilibrium (CGE) analysis. In the GTAP database - the main data source used for global CGE analysis - domestic support levels are calculated from the OECD Producer Support Estimate (PSE). The current representation of domestic support in the GTAP database does not capture all agricultural support. Unilateral change in the GTAP accounting convention would lead to data discrepancies with other countries/regions (e.g., existing work on EU support). Altogether, the PSE, the Consumer Support Estimate (CSE) and General Services Support Estimate (GSSE) cover most support specific to agriculture, even if they appear incomplete with some inconsistent regional and commodity coverage. Furthermore expanding agricultural support in the GTAP database does have some implication for output and price results when conducting policy analysis. There is a need to agree on a systematic approach to represent different types of policy instruments (without relying on a subjective allocation) and to avoid double accounting (e.g., with the information already accounted for by the countries' Input Output Tables). This paper aims to determine the importance of embracing domestic support going beyond the PSE. It proposes an alternative representation of domestic support and quantifies effects induced by such changes. This research work might be seen as the first step towards a more comprehensive representation of the changing nature and magnitude of agricultural domestic support into the GTAP database.

The Healthcare Knowledge Management Primer explores and explains the nature of essential KM (knowledge management) principles in healtcare settings in an introductory and easy to understand fashion. Accessibility and usability in this manner will be of use to both students and professionals wishing to learn more about the key aspects of the KM field as it pertains to effecting superior healthcare delivery

Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this empirical study is to examine the role of two contingency factors, i.e. uncertainty and competitiveness in relation to physical asset management (PAM) practices as well as to maintenance key performance indicators. The research is based on a premise that PAM, which was defined by risk management practices, performance assessment practices, life cycle management practices, and policy & strategy practices, has become an indispensable element of strategic thinking of asset owners as well as maintenance and asset managers. The purpose of this study is to advance the understanding of how organizations that face high or low level of uncertainty and competitiveness respond in terms of PAM deployment.
Methodology/Approach: This study employed a data set based on a large-scale survey among organizations in six European countries (i.e. Slovenia, Poland, Greece, Sweden, Turkey and Slovakia). Data were collected from 138 organizations located in the above-mentioned countries to conduct the study.
Findings: The results show that organizations that are faced with high level of uncertainty and competitiveness are more engaged in the deployment of PAM practices. Moreover, results show that when organizations are facing high levels of competitiveness they are using KPIs to a greater extent than organizations under low levels of competitiveness.
Originality/value: From a theoretical perspective, this study contributes to the contingency theory by providing empirical evidence whether a context-dependent approach to PAM is needed. The findings also provide insights for managers on how to respond to the competitive pressure as well as how to customize PAM practices in order to adapt to the changes in dynamic organizational environment.

A letter report issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Since GAO reported on Department of Defense (DOD) contractor overpayments in 1994, additional reports have been issued highlighting billions of dollars of overpayments to Defense contractors. In December 2001, Congress amended Title 31 of the United States Code to require a federal agency with contracts totaling over $500 million in a fiscal year to have a cost-effective program for identifying payment errors and for recovering amounts erroneously paid to contractors. DOD contractors' responses to GAO's survey indicate that they have millions of dollars of overpayments on their records and that they are continuing to refund overpayments-- about $488 million in fiscal year 2001. DOD has taken actions to address problems with contractor overpayments. In addition to its contract audit functions and as part of a broad based program to assist the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) is auditing at least 190 large DOD contractors to identify overpayments and ensure that contractors have adequate internal controls for prompt identification and reporting of overpayments. Although DOD has several initiatives to reduce overpayments, it still does not yet have basic administrative control over contractor debt and underpayments because its procedures and practices do not fully meet federal accounting standards and federal financial system requirements for the recording of accounts receivable and liabilities. As a result, DOD managers do not have important information for effective financial management, such as ensuring that contractor debt is promptly collected."

Purpose: The main objective of this article was to provide evidence concerning the level of Quality Management (QM) in Zimbabwe. Submitted evidence regarding QM in Zimbabwe will help organizations that want to implement QM systems. The results can guide government agents in making informed decisions towards QM systems implementation since very few organizations are officially quality certified. Research Methodology: The survey followed online search query on quality management in zimbabwe from journal articles, proceedings and institutional repository. 51 publications were selected and excel file was used to capture data and analyse. Results: The results expose that there was high interest in QM in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The results showed industries lack of capacity and resources, lack of skills and expertise, poor communication with stakeholders, poor raw materials, changing customer preferences, lack of top management commitment and costs of QM systems as key barriers to QM implementation. Limitations: The study limitation was survey of few studies retrieved through Bindura University online library and open access journal articles, proceedings papers and dissertations/thesis available on institutional repository. Keywords: Zimbabwe, Quality Management (QM), Drivers, Barriers, Benefits

This paper introduces models and techniques for synthesizing multiple qualitative studies on a topic. Qualitative research synthesis is a diverse set of methods for combining the data or the results of multiple studies on a topic to generate new knowledge, theory and applications. Use of qualitative research synthesis is rapidly expanding across disciplines. Aggregative and interpretive models of qualitative research synthesis are defined and distinguished. Several interpretive models are detailed. Their strengths are identified, and their limitations and areas of methodological ambiguity are critically examined. The steps of qualitative research synthesis are discussed and challenges specific to doing qualitative synthesis are identified and explored.