bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using of Performance Appraisal Methods in Czech and Slovak Organisations
Authors: Urbancová Hana , Stachová Katarina , Stacho Zdenko
Published: August 2018

Purpose: People, their knowledge, abilities and skills are considered to be the most valuable source every organisation can exploit. It is, therefore, necessary to care about their fair remuneration and continuing development, as well as their objective and fair appraisal. Implementing an effective appraisal system in the personnel strategy, satisfying both employers and employees, is an essential part of the success of all competing organisations. The aim is to evaluate the use of employee appraisal methods in the selected Czech and Slovak organisations, and to recommend proposals for improvement on the grounds of such evaluation.Methodology/Approach: The data were obtained in two quantitative researches conducted in the selected organisations in the Czech Republic (n = 402) and the Slovak Republic (n = 339). Univariate analysis, bivariate analysis and analysis of qualitative traits were employed in order to evaluate results.Findings: The results showed that 58.46% of the interviewed Czech organisations and 69.32% of the Slovak organisations had established a formal system of employee appraisal. Most of them were medium-sized enterprises with an HR department, operating in the private sector.Research Limitation/implication: Limits can be seen in to focus on research in two selected countries, but they have comparable from historical, political and the job market perspectives.Originality/Value of paper: The article focused on using of modern performance appraisal methods in practice to build the employer’s good brand and attract knowledge workers.
The Application of Data Envelopment Analysis in Healthcare Performance Evaluation of Rehabilitation Departments in Hungary
Authors: Dénes Rita Veronika , Kecskés Judit , Koltai Tamás , Dénes Zoltán
Published: August 2018

Purpose: Performance evaluation is a general problem both in production and service systems. Generally, operation performance is determined based on input resource utilization and on outputs related data. Performance evaluation is especially complicated when both financial and nonfinancial indicators must be considered in the evaluation of the efficiency of healthcare system. The purpose of this paper is to apply data envelopment analysis (DEA) in order to measure the efficiency of rehabilitation departments curing musculoskeletal diseases.Methodology/Approach: The evaluation of the efficiency of rehabilitation departments includes several parameters. Performance evaluation becomes complicated when several evaluation criteria must be taken into consideration at the same time. In these cases, scoring methods are generally used, which transform performance data into a common scale and an aggregate score is calculated with subjective weights. Using DEA the subjective element of evaluation is eliminated when the weights of inputs and outputs are determined.Findings: The applied DEA model evaluates the performance of rehabilitation departments. The presented analysis highlights the differences between the efficiency of the studied departments, and explores inefficiencies related to economies of scale. The slack values directly show the operational shortcomings in specific areas, and indicate the exact amount of the required changes.Research Limitation/implication: The applied DEA model evaluates the performance of rehabilitation departments. The presented analysis highlights the differences between the efficiency of the studied departments, and explores inefficiencies related to economies of scale. The slack values directly show the operational shortcomings in specific areas, and indicate the exact amount of the required changes.Originality/Value of paper: The originality of the paper lies on the identification of inputs and outputs for the applied DEA model as only nonfinancial indicators were taken into consideration. The analysis involves all rehabilitation departments of the Hungarian healthcare system; consequently, conclusions related to the general state of this area can be drawn.
Governmental Theories – Students’ Responses: Student Strategies Reacting to Changes in Hungarian Higher Education
Authors: Csőke Rita , Tóth Zsuzsanna Eszter
Published: August 2018

Purpose: By analysing enrolment data for the past few years, this paper searches for the answer to what extent government interventions influence the choices of students entering to higher education.Methodology/Approach: The paper analyses statistical data of higher education applications and admissions for the 2010-2016 interval.Findings: The analyses presented in this paper strengthen the fact that a significant number of students is ready to undertake financial burdens (i.e. pay tuition fee) in order to achieve their own goals or to disclose government restrictions and obligations, surprisingly even in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics sciences) education. Despite the governmental interventions, economic faculties are still the most popular ones, while the politically favoured STEM faculties have not become more favourable due to the state subsidies.Research Limitation/implication: Quality management activities of higher education institutions should strongly focus on and reflect to potential students and their needs, since it is primarily the students’ choice to enrol to a specific institution’s specific faculty, and if yes, to which.Originality/Value of paper: According to the best of our knowledge this is the first analysis which has incorporated enrolment limit scores in the process of evaluation. Compared to the descriptive analyses available in Hungary, our research results have resulted in a more complex conclusion on the same basis.
Cultural Change of Applying User Involvement for Improving Healthcare Quality: A Review of the Impact on Attitudes, Values and Assumptions among Healthcare Professionals and Users
Authors: Boström Jonas , Hillborg Helene , Lilja Johan
Published: August 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to provide a review of the impact on culture (attitudes, values and assumptions) among both healthcare professionals, as well as users, when involving users for improving quality in healthcare.Methodology/Approach: The paper is based on an extensive, narrative literature review considering studies that included professional’s and users experiences of user involvement in quality improvement. The included articles were analyzed using an interpretive, along with a deductive, approach according to a theoretical framework.Findings: The results indicate that there is currently limited research focusing on the impact of user involvement in quality improvement processes regarding professionals’ and users’ attitudes, values and/or assumptions. The articles identified during the study provides situations and statements, during the process of development, which can be interpreted as change in the culture. Although few articles specifically draw conclusions on user involvement as a “tool” for cultural change, the authors interpret several findings which strengthens that theory.Research Limitation/implication: Research published in other databases could have been missed. The authors have tried to avoid this by using a snowball method reading references in identified articles.Originality/Value of paper: The review provides a platform for both future research and the development of current practice within the area. There have been literature reviews showing obstacles and enablers when using patients, users and relatives in quality improvement work, but few which investigates cultural change.
Innovation Management: The Need of a Model for Manufacturing Micro - Enterprises
Authors: Peña Ponce Diana Katiuska , Fernández Lorenzo Angie , Fernández Concepción Raúl Ricardo
Published: August 2018

Purpose: Innovation is an important element in enterprise productivity. This study aims to carry out a conceptual analysis on the role of the process of innovation management in the development of manufacturing microenterprises in general.Methodology/Approach: We analyse the main models that exist today, their main components and the possibility of being adapted to the small size of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) which contributes to achieve the development and adoption of an innovative culture under the current conditions of this productive sector in Ecuador.Findings: We identified the complexity of applying innovation management models to any type of company because these models are not multifunctional and there are restrictions for their application.Research Limitation/implication: The current models of innovation management are not adapted to the characteristics and size of the microenterprises, which becomes into difficulties to bring about fundamental changes in the areas of innovation, intuition or inspiration, and, it is necessary to take actions in this regard.Originality/Value of paper: This document is based on the literature review of the process of innovation management. Through this analysis, the authors detected that the smaller companies have more difficulties to carry out innovations than the larger ones.
REMONA Model for Improving Quality of Corporate Informatics Performance Management: How to Cut Cots in Corporate Informatics
Authors: Maryska Milos , Doucek Petr
Published: August 2018

Purpose: This paper studies the introduction or increasing of the ability to manage performance in an organization environment. The paper’s objective is to facilitate the solution of this problem. Its main goal, meanwhile, is to present the REMONA model and the results of its implementation and to spark professional discussion of the concept behind it.Methodology/Approach: A model will be created to demonstrate the use of the created artifacts within two sub-areas in the environment of two international companies (a consulting firm and an automotive firm) while using the proposed methodology. The model and the methodology will be evaluated for their creation in an organization environment and communication in the entire area.Findings: Pilot implementation was performed at two companies. It was proven that the proposed REMONA model makes it easier to process and analyze certain financial tasks that are presently considered crucial. The implementation of REMONA model will mainly find use in service or manufacturing companies.Research Limitation/implication: The REMONA model has only been tested and verified in IT services within service-oriented companies and the automotive industry.Originality/Value of paper: The paper is valuable for IT managers, and especially CIOs – Chief Information Officers – and project managers. They can find here inspiration for cost allocation, planning, and profitability management in IT services. The article also briefly presents practical experiences with the model’s implementation at two international corporations.
CSR in Sustainable Development: Comparative Analysis
Authors: Khayrullina Marina Valentinovna
Published: August 2018

Purpose: To identify global and national trends in the development of CR reporting, the main difficulties in the CSR extension in Russia and suggest ways to improve a policy framework in the sphere of GRI based on the analysis of non-financial reporting by countries and regions of the world.Methodology/Approach: Researching and writing the article one uses a combination of systemic and structural-functional approaches approach. The argumentation of the main provisions and conclusions is based on the application of comparisons, statistical, graph and tabular analysis methods. The information and empirical basis of the study are the legislative and normative acts of the Russian Federation, industries and regions development concepts and programs, data of state statistics bodies, materials of periodicals, conferences, roundtables, seminars, as well as the results of intermediate research carried out by the author personally.Findings: The essential feature of the Russian CSR model is the decisive role of the state in its development. Non-financial reporting in Russia develops with slower rates than in developed countries. The methodological weakness of the reports is reflected in relatively low share of integrated reports, their incomplete compliance with international standards, methodological differences in calculations of the similar indicators. Development of CSR in Russia is connected with further study and adaptation of international best practices including a six-stage model of CSR policy formation.Research Limitation/implication: As a result of the study, the main difficulties in the CSR extension in Russia were identified which are typical for all Russian regions and industries. Regional authorities can conduct an analysis of local difficulties and problems on this basis. The six-stage model of CSR policy formation can be used at any level of govenance with minor modifications. As a complex, these measures will solve the identified problems both at the level of regions and Russia as a whole.Originality/Value of paper: The comparative analysis results of non-financial reporting development are author's and can be used as a basis for further analytical calculations. The findings, difficulties and directions for improving sustainable development policies in Russia in a complex develop theoretical knowledge on sustainable development, form the basis for the development and implementation of new practices within the policy framework.
Understanding Mobile Payment Service Continuous Use Intention: An Expectation - Confirmation Model and Inertia
Authors: Park Moungho , Jun Jaehyeon , Park Heejun
Published: August 2018

Purpose: With significant interest in mobile payment service(MPS), the amount of research on MPS has increased. However, prior studies have focused on users’ first use adoption of MPS. Considering the length of time that has passed since MPSs were first introduced, it has become necessary to investigate usres’ continuous use intentions of MPS. Therefore, in this research, we aim to verify which factors are influensive on continuous use intention of MPS.Methodology/Approach: To achieve purpose, we adopt the expectation-confirmation model(ECM) and inertia. Also, we arranged our research in South Korea where has well developed market of MPS. We applied structural equation model to verify the hypothesis and conducted a survey on consumer who had an experiecne with MPS before.Findings: The findings of this study highlight that importance of perceived usefulness. In this research, percieved usefulness have a significant effect on satisfaction and continuous use intention. Also, our findings emphasize the significant effect of inertia on the continuous use intention of an MPS. These findings have somethig in common with previous researches.Research Limitation/implication: Because young user constitutes the majority of the respondents, generalizing the finding to individuals of all ages is difficult. Further, we only colledcted sample data form MPS usres in South Korea. Consumer perceptions and therir effects on intention may differ from culture to culture. The robustness of these results may be enhanced by replicating the study across various cultures and multiple consumer age groups. Also, because the previous study which is verifying effect of ECM on MPS is scant, theoretical basis seemed not that much robust. On this study, we struggle to build relationship adapting Inforamtion System (IS) context to MPS environment. On the further study, we expect additional reseraches which are using ECM on various IS environment.Originality/Value of paper: This paper is an early research verfiying influencial factors on continuous use intention of MPS. This attempts and research of findings enable to offer timely advice to manager of MPS. Also, we struggle to apply concept of inertia to MPS environment to reflect more actual behavior of consumers.
What Factors Affect to Curation Commerce Website Loyalty Intention: The Mediating Effects of Perceived Deception
Authors: Park Sunghee , Jun Jaehyeon , Park Heejun
Published: August 2018

Purpose: As the importance of information quality has become prominent in the internet commerce, curation techniques are also stands out as well. Therefore, many services on e-commerce applied with curation techniques to satisfy their consumers. However, besides the fact that plenty of advantages from curation commerce, the growth of curation commerce websites have been slowdown. Thus, this paper is to investigate factors influencing curatiaxon commerce websites’ consumer loyalty intentions for enhancing the competitiveness of curation commerce websites.Methodology/Approach: This study sets independent variables regarding provider recommendation and consumer review simultaneously and verifies to see how each factors affect to consumer’s loyalty intention through perceived deception and satisfaction in the curation commerce website. We applied structural equation model to verify the hypothesis and conduted a survey on consumer who had buying expriences in Korean curation commerce website.Findings: The results of this study show what fators significantly affect to loyalty intention. Consumers on curation commerce mostly tend to be affected by other consumers’ review and they only affected by presentation of product among provider recommedations. We conducted an important mediating effect of satisfaction between perceived deception and loyalty intention. Furthermore, because curation commerce is a relatively new concept, this attempt could form the basis for research on cuartion commerce.Research Limitation/implication: This research only collected sample data form curation commerce websites users in Korea and because young consumers onsistute the majority of the respondednts, generalizing the findings to individuals of all ages and nations is difficult.Originality/Value of paper: This paper is the first study applying product recommendation and consumer review simultaneouly as an independent variable. These attempts enable to reflect more specific and practical behavior of consumers. Effect of satisfaction on loyalty and relationship between deception and loyalty are well documented in the offline and online retail context. This study expands and verifies estabilshed  relationship among  the variables on the lastest commerce website.
Improving Information Flow for Decision Making on Product Quality in the Automotive Industry
Authors: Sütőová Andrea
Published: August 2018

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to identify improvement possibilities in the data processing and information flow relating to product quality in the processes of automotive component production, which might result in the acceleration of decision making on product quality and reduction of defects and related costs. The expected results of the proposed improvement are presented in the paper.Methodology/Approach: Modelling and simulations of the component production processes with the current and proposed state of information flow were made in the QPR software to test the effect of the changes in the information flows. Subsequently, the results of the simulations of both process models were compared from the perspective of quality.Findings: Results of the simulations showed the positive effect of the proposed changes reflecting in the lower number of defects compared to the current state. Based on the accurate and timely received information on product quality, needed interventions to the process can be realized to reduce the defects.Research Limitation/implication: The limitation of the paper is the exact estimation of benefits after the improvement implementation. The expected benefits were defined on the base of test operation.Originality/Value of paper: The originality of the paper is in the applicability of the proposed solution in organisations operating in the automotive industry or other data-driven manufacturing organisations calling for timely and accurate information access to achieve a high level of quality, effectiveness and efficiency in the production processes.
Electronic Auctions: Role of Visibility Settings in Transparency Analysis
Authors: Dráb Radovan , Delina Radoslav , Štofa Tomáš
Published: August 2018

Purpose: Main objective of the paper is to assess whether the auctions issuers have changed their preferences regarding the auction transparency described through the visibility settings, and to asses which and to what extent had the other auction parameters impact on the auction transparency and also to assess the effect of the transparency onto the achieved auction savings.Methodology/Approach: The paper analyses sample records of 5,000 electronic auctions of SR and CR auction issuers on the time frame of 2009-2016, using methods of higher statistics. An composite index for transparency analysis has been developed and assessed. Two standalone regression models were applied to analyse the papers hypotheses regarding the transparency and auctions’ savings.Findings: The size of the auction described does not have a significant effect on the transparency settings, but the auction complexity does. The most saving generating visibility settings is the visible order of the participants and the visibility of the other measurements settings for the auctions. Increasing the auction complexity can decrease the generated saving by an average 9.3%.Research Limitation/implication: Research was based on real secondary data from one electronic auction provider. The results are limited to the features enabled on this electronic platform. Results show that the application of visibility setting in auctions can generate additional benefits like savings, but also has to be applied carefully when assessing the transparency.Originality/Value of paper: The analysis and results based on real secondary data are scare in the current research area, therefore is this article a valued contribution.
The Effect of E-WOM and Perceived Value on the Purchase Decision of Foods by Using the Go-Food Application as Mediated by Trust
Authors: Handi Handi , Hendratono Tonny , Purwanto Edi , Ihalauw John J.O.I.
Published: August 2018

Purpose: This study examined the effect of electronic word of mouth and perceived value on purchase decisions of foods when using the Go-Food Application, which is a purchase decision mediated by trust. The increasing the number of Go-Food Application users makes this study a timely survey.Methodology/Approach: This research explored how the Go-Food Application is able to obtain more consumers compared to similar mobile apps. This research is quantitative in nature by testing the hypotheses. The sample size used was 175 respondents from a non-probability sampling with a convenience sampling technique. The analysis uses a SEM model analyzed using the AMOS program 24.Findings: The results based on Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) shows that each variable is valid and reliable, and the result of Goodness of Fit shows all variables fit the data. The result of hypotheses testing show: (1) electronic word of mouth affects significantly and positively on trust; (2) perceived value affects significantly and positively on trust; (3) electronic word of mouth affects significantly and positively on purchase decision; (4) perceived value affects significantly and positively on purchase decision; (5) trust affects significantly and positively on purchase decision.Research Limitation/implication: The respondents were only those who live in Jakarta and those who use Go-Food application owned by Go-Jek Indonesia Ltd., exclude its other application such as Go-Car, Go-Mart, Go-Send, Go-Box, Go-Pulsa, Go-Massage, Go-Clean.Originality/Value of paper: Trust proved as mediation variable between of electronic word of mouth and perceived value and purchase decision by using Go-Food application. So this research has distribution to Go-Jek Indonesia Ltd. to maintain the costumer trust to get sustainable competitive advantage.
The Usage of Video Tutorials, Personal Support and Written Instructions for Knowledge Acquisition and Refreshment
Authors: Worlitz Jane , Stabler Anne , Woll Ralf
Published: August 2018

Purpose: The target of this study is to reveal which aids used are the best method for acquiring knowledge. Especially by the use of Quality management tools regarding spreadsheets and statistics software. Therefore video tutorials, personal support and written instructions, as aids, are compared with and without time pressure.Methodology/Approach: Students of the quality management class participated in two tests in order to capture user behavior. In the first part the students (n = 56) were asked about their user behavior regarding aids after a project that lasted several months. In the second part the students (n = 40) were given two aids and captured which aids they are using. The duration period and the quality of the results were also documented. At the end of both tests, the students were asked about their future favorite aids.Findings: The first test revealed that 73% of the students used the video tutorial as an aid for their work. In future situations the students would work with written instructions, as long as there is no time pressure. If time limitation is a factor, they would rather work with video tutorials again. The second test confirmed that using video tutorials allowed for a shorter duration period. 48% were using the video tutorial while 38% used the written instruction. The suitability rating of the aids as well as the quality of the result did not differ. In future situations, the students would work again with video tutorials with or without time pressure.Research Limitation/implication: The usage of video tutorials, personal support and written instructions for the application of Quality management tools with the use of appropriate software has been examined. The results do not show conclusions about the extent to which the aids are used for the mediation of complex issues. Follow-up studies are required for this purpose.Originality/Value of paper: Among these three aids with regard to time pressure, video tutorials as well as the personal support seem to be the most efficient. If time pressure was applied to the test setting, the video tutorial was preferred. In the considered setting the use of video tutorials is recommended.
Methods of Lean Production to Improve Quality in Manufacturing
Authors: Pech Martin , Vaněček Drahoš
Published: August 2018

Purpose: Quality in manufacturing can be improved by using lean production methods. The paper discusses traditional and modern methods of lean production and their use in different enterprises.Methodology/Approach: Through a questionnaire survey and research, 90 industrial enterprises were classified by the size, production scope and their ownership. The research results were analyzed by means of statistical methods to determine the differences in the use of lean production methods.Findings: Regarding the lean production and its different methods, the size of the enterprise is an important factor. The statistics revealed that large enterprises tend to use lean production more. It was also proved that some methods of lean production are not completely common in the Czech Republic. Moreover, some methods are quite new to the majority of the enterprises.Research Limitation/implication: Some questionnaire surveys conducted in different countries (especially in the US) use a different enterprise size classification. As the research results show, there is still a large potential for the introduction of lean production methods in small and middle-sized enterprises that can help enterprises to improve the quality of their production.Originality/Value of paper: The application of lean production methods has been investigated so far, especially in large engineering enterprises. The paper deals with the use of these methods also in small and medium sized enterprises. The authors focused their research also on non-engeneering enterprises in the field of the food industry and production of products for domestic use too.
Empirical Research of the ISO 9001:2015 Transition Process in Portugal: Motivations, Benefits, and Success Factors
Authors: Fonseca Luis Miguel , Domingues José Pedro
Published: August 2018

Purpose: With the transition period for ISO 9001 certified organisations to migrate to the 2015 edition ending 15th September 2018, this investigation aims to evaluate the status of ISO 9001:2015 transition process and provide useful knowledge on the corresponding motivations, benefits, and success factors.Methodology/Approach: An empirical study of more than 300 Portuguese organisations ISO 9001 certified, or in certification process, encompassing a wide range of activities sectors, was carried out.Findings: As of May 2017, 19% of the respondents already have ISO 9001:2015 certification and all the remaining one’s plan to complete the process in time. The principal reported benefits are risk-based thinking, mapping of the organisational context, and stakeholder identification. Simultaneously those were the issues that required more attention and effort to be mastered and implemented. Additionally, there is evidence that ISO 9001:2015 enhances both internal and external organisational issues and generates benefits for all the researched dimensions. Based on the respondents’ responses, organisations who claimed that external motivations were the primary drivers to ISO 9001:2015 implementation systematically rate higher all the benefits when compared with the rating ascribed by those organisations who claimed internal motivations. Moreover, it is possible to conclude that the perceived benefits from ISO 9001:2015 implementation and certification seem to be strongly influenced by two primary dimensions: the (smaller) organisation size and the (lesser) international presence.Research Limitation/implication: Due to ISO 9001:2015 novelty, the results of this investigation should be subject to future confirmation and replicated in other countries to allow a generalisation of the conclusions. Since the survey is based on the perceptions of the organisation’s Managers, there is a potential response bias risk that should be acknowledged.Originality/Value of paper: With more than 1.2 million ISO 9001 certified organisation worldwide, this a highly relevant issue both for organisations, practitioners and academics. Due to ISO 9001:2015 novelty, this investigation aims to fill this research gap.
Impact of Employees’ Attitudes and Leader’s Role on the Innovation Management Linked to Social Responsibility
Authors: Escobar-Sierra Manuela , Bedoya-Villa Mauricio Antonio
Published: August 2018

Purpose: The innovation management linked to social responsibility is considered a strategy of organizational growth promoted by the creativity of employees framed in economic, ethical and legal issues. This study analyses socially responsible innovation management base on employee’s attitudes and leader’s role, from a case study of a company in the Colombian automotive sector.Methodology/Approach: We began with the review of theories about innovation and social responsibility. Then we collected data through creative techniques, surveys to classify the leader’s role, attitudes scale, participant observation and interviews. To finally analyse data with multiple linear regression and other techniques, such as decision trees.Findings: Finally, the initial concept of socially responsible innovation and its management is complemented by five self-determined employees’ attitudes, and one behavior and three perceptions of the leader.Research Limitation/implication: The choice of the single case study as a research strategy determines the practical scope of the research as analytical. In this sense, the need to replicate the study and analyse the impact of other personal and organizational factors is highlighted.Originality/Value of paper: It is important to summarise the value of our paper, in relation to the following aspects: the opportunity that represents for companies the correct socially responsible innovation management, the importance of the Enterprise–University integration and, finally, the relevance of hybrid models in this case, a multiple linear regression and decision trees.
Analysis of Data on Staff Turnover Using Association Rules and Predictive Techniques
Authors: Girmanova Lenka , Gašparová Zuzana
Published: August 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an analysis and evaluation of data on employee turnover based on deep data mining using association rules and decision trees in a specific organisation.Methodology/Approach: For the analysis, we chose deep data mining methods, primarily a search for association rules using the Apriori algorithm in the R programming language. For the sake of supplementation and comparison of results, data were also analysed using the predictive decision trees method, applying the C5.0, rpart and ctree algorithms in the R program.Findings: The results of the analyses showed that observing the basic principles of correct communication from the beginning of an employment relationship,               or during hiring, is justified. Communication and regular conversations between a superior and employees can help identify problems earlier, address them and reduce the number of people leaving the company. The results of the analysis helped the organisation to set measures to reduce the number of an employee leaving.Research Limitation/implication: A limiting factor in performing such analyses is the availability of quality data in the required quantity. Our most significant advantage when performing our analysis was that quality data were available. To create the final structure of the required data set, we used data from the organisation’s internal information systems.Originality/Value of paper: This contribution offers a new approach to analysing data on employee turnover, whose essence is that we need to find the most interesting and frequent correlations in a significant amount of data.
Organizational Excellence: Approaches, Models and Their Use at Czech Organizations
Authors: Nenadál Jaroslav , Vykydal David , Waloszek David
Published: August 2018

Purpose: The paper brings a set of original information related to analysis and description of the current state in the area of excellence models implementation in Czech organisations. It defines these terms, analyses results of special research in Czech organisations and proposes a comprehensive and generic framework how to achieve the organisational excellence. The principal goal of this paper is to present the main possibilities, benefits, limitations and risks related to the practical use of excellence models in Czech organisations.Methodology/Approach: Brainstorming conferences, field research and relevant data analysis, seminars with quality professionals and other managers, comparative literature analysis and interviews were used to reach the principal goal.Findings: The organisational excellence concept is now widely discussed and implemented throughout the world. Unlike, the real situation in most Czech organizations is rather else. Level of knowledge and overall people awareness related to this concept and various excellence models is very low. This finding supports the assumption that is necessary to change company culture towards never-ending excellence effort in Czech organisations by way of systematic knowledge (including best practices) sharing among all levels of organizations staff.Research Limitation/implication: Special research activities focused on analysis and description of current state in area of excellence models implementation, which was performed on a sample of 321 Czech organisations (with more than 20% response rate). Such level of response rate was seriously influenced by the fact that practical use of various excellence models in Czech organisations is rather limited in present days. However, we can suppose the obtained results should be valid or interesting also for another organization, not only in the Czech Republic.Originality/Value of paper: The paper brings an original set of information from special market research as well as the development of a creative and generic framework of the organisational excellence tailored to Czech organisations.
Hitting the road? Tips for sourcing and insuring vans
Authors: Bernstein Adam
Published: August 2018

A van may be a useful investment for a home, but there are many different options to consider for obtaining and insuring a vehicle. Adam Bernstein talks about the various choices and explores which ones would suit a care home best.
How to … stay cool during a long-lasting heatwave
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: August 2018

This year we are experiencing one of the hottest summers on record. While the summery weather can be nice for some, it can pose a real threat to the health and wellbeing of residents. Adrian Ashurst gives tips on how to stay cool.
Revisiting the use of ‘counselling’ as a means of preparing prospective parents to meet the emerging psychosocial needs of families that have used gamete donation
Authors: Crawshaw Marilyn , Daniels Ken
Published: August 2018

Third party reproduction is an increasingly important part of family building but also challenges societal understanding of family and ‘kin’ relationships as being primarily hetero-normative and based on genetic connection. At the same time, understanding of the longer-term psycho-social implications of gamete donation is changing as knowledge grows. Research, professional and personal experiences demonstrate that a range of meanings can be triggered regarding relationships, identity and health matters that challenge normative views. This raises questions of how best to assist those contemplating this route to parenthood. With knowledge gained from research and practice over many years, we argue this requires a shift from focusing on assessment/evaluation of prospective parents and/or therapeutic work to a psycho-educational partnership approach offering help with managing relationships, thoughts and feelings and building strategies for healthy family functioning alongside sharing knowledge from research and experiences. Such approaches can also be appropriate for later professional interventions.
Intrauterine Deaths in North-Eastern Hungary with National and International Comparison
Authors: Jashanjeet Singh , Gábor Juhász , Zoltán Tóth , Róbert Póka
Published: August 2018

Objective:
Demographic analysis of intrauterine deaths in North-Eastern Hungary with national and international comparison.

Materials and Methods:
The authors collected data from the National Bureau of Statistics’ 1996-2014 database to assess frequency, gestational age, maternal age and education for six counties of the region. 722 individual cases were analyzed. A regional survey was initiated to collect more detailed data on living environment in the region between 2010 and 2014 through community midwifery services records.

Results:
Data over 20 years showed most intrauterine deaths (Perinatal mortality, Late fetal death, Stillbirth] occurred between 24th and 36th weeks of which 35% occurred in the North-Eastern region of Hungary. The causes of intrauterine deaths were placental abruption, cord accident, placental insufficiency, malformations and intrauterine infection. Detailed analysis regarding attendance at either the Obstetricians or the community midwifery services, the patient’s medical history and the patients’ compliance were reported, compliance in 1% completely lacked. Gravidity and multiparity were associated risk factors. A significant proportion was associated with teenage pregnancy, low maternal education, smoking risks, unemployment, dependence on social support, unhygienic environment and smaller accommodations. Lack of cooperation during antenatal care was significant.

Conclusion:
Frequency and distribution of intrauterine deaths in North-Eastern Hungary show a similar picture as those of socio-economic indices. The unfavorable trend came to an end in 2015, however the national statistics did not show any improvement. The solution to the problem seems to be independent of the service provision, therefore, socio-economic development of affected counties is warranted, and financial incentives and/or government aid provided during pregnancy may improve future perinatal outcomes.
Molecular and Cell Biological Considerations in the Initiation and Development of Sporadic Non-Hereditary Solid Cancers
Authors: Niculescu Vladimir F.
Published: August 2018

This paper reviews the state of cancer research in the post-mutation era. It presents cancer as a highly complex disease viewed differently by scientists from various research fields. Histopathologists considered cancer as a disease of cell differentiation, cancer cell biologists overestimated the causal role of accumulated DNA mutations. More recently molecular biologists have focused on driver genes and driver mutations, regulatory gene networks and deregulation of the genomic balance between unicellular and multicellular gene sets (UG/MG balance). From a developmental biological standpoint, there is a clear analogy between the reproductive life cycles of cancer and protists. The key player of both analogous life cycles is the polyploid cyst, the atavistic cyst-like structure aCLS (PGCC). In the analogy to protists, we assume that the first aCLS initiating cancer originates from a mitoticly blocked cell (cell of origin of cancer, protoprecursor) that escapes death entering an atavistic reproductive process of polyploidisation and depolyploidisation; it forms the atavistic cyst-like structure aCLS and numerous daughter cells (microcells). The microcell progeny develops a multi-lined cell lineage containing stem cells as well as somatic and reproductive cells and clones. Subsequent aCLSs are formed sequentially by committed daughter cells or occasionally by stressed somatic cells. Accordingly, cancer initiation occurs by genomic changes leading to the amitotic cell state and reactivation of an atavistic life cycle. In humans, atavistic life cycles and hyperpolyploidisation (n >16) are mostly repressed by stable gene regulatory networks – but not in cancer. The permanent UG/MG gene conflict and robust ancient surveillance mechanisms trigger a cascade of molecular lesions leading to genomic heterogeneity and aberrant cancer cell states.
Dissociative Amnesia – A Challenge to Therapy
Authors: Staniloiu Angelica , Markowitsch Hans J.
Published: August 2018

The psychiatric disease of dissociative amnesia is described and illustrated with case reports. It is emphasized that dissociative amnesia has a stress or trauma-related etiology and that affected individuals, contrary to the still dominant clinical belief, are frequently more severely and enduringly affected. That means, most of them show severe retrograde amnesia for their biography, usually accompanied by changes in their personality and sometimes also by alterations in other cognitive and emotive domains. As many patients show the phenomenon of “la belle indifference”, their motivation for therapy or treatment of their amnesia is reduced. Patients also seem to a high degree to possess immature, unstable personality features. Nevertheless, a number of quite divergent, though largely not evidence-based, therapeutic approaches exist and are described. They are divided into (a) psychopharmacological and somatic treatments, (b) psychotherapeutic interventions, and (c) neuropsychological rehabilitation. Furthermore, detailed treatment strategies are provided.
Avaliação do Programa de Educação Profissional (PEP): Estudo de caso em Minas Gerais, Brasil
Authors: Horsth Tarrara Alves , Mendes Wesley de Almeida , Magalhães Fernanda Gabriela Gandra Pimenta , Olher Bruno Silva
Published: August 2018

A inclusão de jovens e adultos no mercado de trabalho ainda é uma dificuldade em países em desenvolvimento, que exige atenção contínua do Estado, que por intermédio de políticas públicas educacionais podem auxiliar o desenvolvimento humano e o desenvolvimento econômico regional. A educação pode realizar um movimento cíclico no desenvolvimento, propulsionando a melhoria das condições sociais e indicadores de renda. Em prol de tais melhorias, o governo de Minas Gerais, criou o Programa de Educação Profissional (PEP), objetivando facilitar o acesso de jovens e adultos aos cursos técnicos profissionalizantes, propiciando, melhor preparação o mercado de trabalho. Assim, o objetivo deste artigo verificar se o PEP influenciou ou não no acesso de jovens ao mercado de trabalho em Minas Gerais, entendendo este como um dos eixos do desenvolvimento humano. A fim de alcançar o objetivo proposto, foram realizadas análises documentais sobre a política pública em questão, e testes estatísticos que verificaram as variações nos índices de empregabilidade de jovens. Conclui-se, que o referido programa contribuiu para melhoria do ambiente em questão, não sendo o único fator, mas ainda assim, sendo um programa importante para a população deste estado.
Seven school-related disasters: Lessons for policymakers and school personnel
Authors: Stough Laura M. , Kang Donghyun , Lee Sungyoon
Published: August 2018

Students are highly dependent on the emergency planning and evacuation decisions made by policymakers and school personnel when disasters occur. The purpose of this study was to examine selected cases of school-related disasters, highlighting how factors of the school context intersected with natural hazards and subsequently affected schoolchildren. Purposeful maximal sampling was used to select school-related disaster cases for their geographical diversity, different instructional contexts, and types of initiating hazards. Among these, seven cases with broad considerations pertaining to educational policy and safe school environments were selected. A within-case analysis was conducted of each case, followed by a cross-case thematic analysis. Six overarching factors were found in the thematic synthesis of the findings. First, school safety practices apply anytime children are under the supervision of school personnel, making knowledge of emergency procedures across multiple types of school settings essential. Second, elements that place schoolchildren at risk also place school personnel at risk. Third, teachers and school administrators need to be well-trained and knowledgeable enough to make independent decisions in emergency situations. Fourth, children must know emergency procedures so they may take independent action, given teachers are also at-risk during disasters. Fifth, most school disasters can be prevented through safe school construction. Finally, it is the responsibility of policymakers to ensure schools are safe learning environments for children. By participating in and advocating for a culture of preparedness, educational policymakers can better protect schoolchildren, as well as school personnel, in disaster situations.
Pyrrhonian Argumentation: Therapy, Dialectic, and Inquiry
Authors: Machuca Diego E.
Published: August 2018

The Pyrrhonist’s argumentative practice is characterized by at least four features. First, he makes a therapeutic use of arguments: he employs arguments that differ in their persuasiveness in order to cure his dogmatic patients of the distinct degrees of conceit and rashness that afflict them. Secondly, his arguments are for the most part dialectical: when offering an argument to oppose it to another argument advanced by a given dogmatist, he accepts in propria persona neither the truth of its premises and conclusion nor the validity of its logical form. Thirdly, he avails himself of arguments in his own open-minded inquiry into the truth about a wide range of topics. Fourthly, Pyrrhonian argumentation is oppositional inasmuch as it typically works by producing oppositions among arguments that appear to the Pyrrhonist to be equipollent. In this article, I focus on the first three features with the aim of both shedding some light on them and determining whether they are in tension or coherently relate to each other.