bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Training and capabilities in French firms
Authors: Subramanian Dilip , Zimmermann Bénédicte 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this tri‐sectoral comparative study is to analyze the scope and content of vocational training policies, and their practical implications and outcomes for employers and employees at three French‐based companies, one in the pharmaceutical sector, the second in the consultancy and information technology sector, and the third in the automobile industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a qualitative study and relies on a cross‐fertilization of methods valorizing the triangulation approach: in‐depth informal interviews with different categories of personnel, participant and non‐participant observation, and documentary investigation.FindingsOur results show that though the three companies investigated rank as training friendly organizations both in terms of the level of financial investments and training densities, these statistical regularities mask significant qualitative differences. The focus, goals, opportunities and outcomes of training policies at the three firms share few common attributes. The paper goes on to propose a typology identifying three types of training organisations: skill up‐dating, learning, and capability enhancing.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates that product specificities and the technology associated with it matter less than the system of work organisation and the mode of management in determining the scope and content of training programmes as well as their outcomes in matters of professional development. Whereas researchers have invariably monopolized the term of learning organizations to designate service‐sector corporations, staffed by highly skilled workforces, operating at the core of the knowledge economy, our findings shows that even neo‐taylorist industrial firms can justifiably qualify to be learning organizations. Finally, the paper proposes a comprehensive analytical grid to facilitate further qualitative research in the field of vocational training.
Individual pathways of prior learning accreditation in France
Authors: Lecourt Anne‐Juliette 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze employees’ trajectories within the Accreditation of Prior Experience Learning process (APEL) in France. It seeks to understand how candidates implement this right, the resources and supports required to manage this implementation, and how employer‐employee relationships impact on the end result.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on a new national survey of more than 3,000 employed APEL candidates, most of whom are women working in the care sector.FindingsThe paper argues that individual pathways within this process are influenced more by the socio‐economic issues at stake in a given sector, its certification policies, environmental incentives and employer‐employee joint investments than by individual characteristics. All these elements go to configure a “capability pathway”, comprising individual resources, rights, and environmental, social and individual conversion factors.Practical implicationsA better understanding of employers’ role and the support they provide during the course of the overall process can help increase the efficiency of lifelong learning. Spaces of mediation at candidates’ disposal and real freedom at work, such as exercising one's right to voice and aspiring to development, are determinant.Originality/valueNot much is known about how corporate policies affect individual employee pathways within the framework of the Accreditation of Prior Experience Learning (APEL) process in France. The paper contributes to this literature by using a recent survey econometrically investigating the impact of joint employer‐employee investment.
A capability approach to restructuring processes
Authors: Bonvin Jean‐Michel , Dif‐Pradalier Maël , Moachon Eric 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent and under which conditions restructuring processes allow workers to effectively voice their concerns, with a view to influencing the restructuring logic and transforming its outcomes.Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth case studies with semi‐structured interviews, documentary analysis and a survey, all conducted at firm‐level (taking also into account the impact of the European Workers’ Council when relevant).FindingsBoth settings (be it the Swiss flexible labour law and collective labour agreements or the protective professional status enjoyed by the French workers) do not guarantee the enhancement of workers’ capability set in restructuring processes. Whatever the entitlements and the cognitive and political resources available to the workers, two conditions are crucial to enhancing their capability for work and for voice: workers’ ability to re‐build collectives; and an adequate regulatory framework imposing on employers and shareholders the duty to negotiate.Originality/valueThe paper suggests another way of assessing restructuring processes and outcomes based on the capability approach, and demonstrates its greater relevance compared to economic or managerialist views of restructuring, based on efficiency and profitability.
Institutionalizing performance management in Asia: looking East or West?
Authors: Koike Osamu 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the features and impact of performance management reforms implemented in the bureaucracies of several Asian states.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on government reports, reports of international bodies, and the data produced for various governance indicators, as well as scholarly analysis of performance management and new public management.FindingsAfter the 1997 Asian financial crisis, many Asian countries, including developed and developing, have introduced a variety of performance management systems into their bureaucracies. This has been encouraged by international agencies as part of their “good governance” agendas. Despite this, the goal of achieving efficient and workable public administration has still not been realized in many cases. Anti‐corruption measures are not effective, and efficiency and service delivery in public organization has not significantly improved. However, political leaders must recognize that the building of rational legal bureaucracy in which patronage influence is reduced, creating networked governance, allowing engagement with civil society, and fostering high employee motivation, are the other prerequisites for achieving efficient and accountable government. Only then will performance management contribute to this aim.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is to show that within the context of Asian bureaucracies, performance management is not a panacea to guarantee improvements in public administration. Other requirements are necessary, as indicated above, especially the creation of rational legal bureaucracy.
Procurement reform in the Philippines: the impact of elite capture and informal bureaucracy
Authors: Seth Jones David 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to examine features and impact of recent reforms introduced by the Philippines government to deal with the longstanding shortcomings in its procurement system.Design/methodology/approachThe research for the paper is based on reports by international organizations, official documents of the Philippines government, surveys by international and domestic organizations, interviews with relevant officials and media reports.FindingsThe findings show that the reforms have focused on fostering competition, increasing transparency, standardizing procedures, enhancing end‐product quality and contractor reliability, ensuring proper planning and budgeting, combatting corruption, and strengthening accountability. These reforms were intended to create a procurement system more in line with international best practices. However the paper shows that the impact has been less than promised. This is due to limitations of certain provisions of the reforms and weaknesses in both implementation and in the accountability of the procuring entities. A key factor in undermining the reforms is widespread corruption, which continues to affect many aspects of the procurement system. The article identifies two important and related reasons for such failings: elite capture of the government and bureaucracy by a powerful network of business leaders from well‐established landed families, who have close links with the political establishment; and second, a long‐established culture of informal influence in the Philippine state bureaucracy (what may be termed the informal bureaucracy), which has been used to maximum effect by the elite network of business leaders. As a result, this network has been able to influence the reforms to serve its own interests and ensure its continued dominance of the procurement market.Originality/valueThe value of the paper is to show how administrative reforms, no matter how well formulated they are, may be readily undermined in the process of implementation by elite groups able to influence government bureaucracy through an informal culture.
Experiential learning for developing managers: a practical model
Authors: Frost Dean E. , Wallingford Valerie 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to create a practical system for assessing the need for developmental opportunities for management development while functioning on the job and to assist managers in selecting from those opportunities. This includes assessment strategies, discussion of developmental patterns, and potential gains in organizational commitment and managerial performance.Design/methodology/approachA model is proposed for connecting previously established management competencies to developmental opportunities in the manager's current task and group environments.FindingsSelf‐assessment instruments are presented for general management competencies and for task structure with notes on how managers, their supervisors and/or mentors might complete those ratings, in order to then use the proposed action model for learning/development.Practical limitationsThe potential impact of managerial coaching processes or diversity in organizational cultural contexts on the use of this model are noted.Social implicationsImproved managerial competencies and organizational performance may be obtained from following this model along with increased organizational commitment by the managers.Originality/valueThis paper presents a new model for self‐assessment of managerial development needs, discusses how those can be linked with on‐the‐job tasks within an existing job placement and organization. While the literature documents the value of developmental opportunities, no system exists for the assessment or selection of a developmental plan within an existing job title or organization. The proposed model fills a large conceptual gap in mapping a manager's personal career goals onto the organization's career paths or management development system objectives.
Communication is the key: improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities
Authors: Lewer Alix , Harding Celia 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to introduce the open communication tool (OCT) as described in “From ‘What do you do?’ to ‘a leap of faith’: developing more efficient indirect intervention for adults with learning disabilities”.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data from a study identifying barriers to effective intervention was used to create a model of working practice.FindingsThis paper introduces a model of addressing intervention which could be used by the broader multidisciplinary team to increase successful intervention outcomes and pinpoint concerns about care providers who do not enhance communication effectively.Originality/valueThe authors suggest that a more consistent and robust approach to delivering indirect intervention could be used to bridge communication gaps between healthcare providers and commissioners/monitoring bodies of services for people with learning disabilities.
From physiology to space use: energy reserves and androgenization explain home‐range size variation in a woodland rodent
Authors: Godsall Ben , Coulson Tim , Malo Aurelio F. 
Published: June 2013

Summary

This study tested the relationships between both individual‐level and predation‐risk factors and the size of two home‐range regions (HRR), defined as areas of different intensities of use.
We have expanded on previous home‐range studies by testing the effects of two previously ignored individual‐level factors: androgenization and energy reserves (body fat).
Location data were collected for wild individuals of Apodemus sylvaticus using the novel method of implanted PIT tags and mobile recording stations. A total of 68 home ranges were estimated using kernel density estimation. Home ranges were split into two regions (HRR): the ‘core’, representing the most intensively used areas, and ‘periphery’ regions. Body mass, body fat, sex, anogenital distance (AGD) (a proxy for androgenization) and the proportion of HRR, covered by antipredatory features (shrubs and fallen trees), were tested for their relationship with the size of core and periphery HRRs. Models were constructed for each HRR for three seasons: nonbreeding season (NBS), early and late breeding seasons (LBSs), to account for seasonal variation in behaviour associated with changes in food abundance and reproductive cycles.
Body fat had a negative relationship with periphery size and an interaction with sex on core size in the early breeding season (EBS). Body mass also had a significant interaction with sex on core size in the EBS. Androgenization has a strong effect on home range size in both sexes: AGD had a positive relationship with both HRRs for males in the LBS and females in the NBS. Males had larger peripheries than females in both early and LBSs. Habitat features that reduce predation risk explain HRR size throughout the breeding period.
This study emphasizes the importance of embracing natural complexity to gain insight into the drivers of space use behaviour; the consideration of individual and ecological factors, the recognition of the species‐specific selective pressures that seasonal change presents for each sex and the identification of biologically meaningful home range areas will help advance the field.
Options for managing chrysomelid leaf beetles in Australian eucalypt plantations: reducing the chemical footprint
Authors: Elek Jane , Wardlaw Tim 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

In Australia, eucalypt plantations require management to prevent economic damage by native chrysomelid leaf beetles, generally by aerially spraying a broad‐spectrum insecticide. These beetles also pose a serious threat to plantations in other countries.
Various alternatives, both ‘landscape’ and ‘control’ options, for managing leaf beetles were reviewed and evaluated by a panel of experts. Options were scored on effectiveness, feasibility for use, impact on the environment, perceived social acceptability (including by certification bodies) and perceived cost.
None of the options were scored as well as broad‐spectrum insecticide for effectiveness, feasibility and perceived cost, although virtually all of the other options scored better for environmental and social outcomes.
The highest ranked options were the ‘landscape’ option of tree improvement to reduce susceptibility to insect attack, and the ‘control’ option of attract‐and‐kill traps. The next three ranks were two ‘landscape’ options aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of natural enemy populations by conserving their overwintering sites and their alternative food and hosts, and then silvicultural management.
The best strategy for an Integrated Pest Management programme would be a combination of ‘landscape’ options to reduce the frequency of pest outbreaks and, if outbreaks occur, spraying with biological insecticides until attract‐and‐kill traps become available, possibly in combination with repellent sprays in a push–pull strategy. If control measures fail to prevent damaging defoliation, plantations could be fertilized to encourage recovery.
Because most of the alternative options are not yet available, many research directions were identified, with the highest priorities being to develop plantation stock that is less susceptible to defoliation and to develop attractants for leaf beetles.
Genital psoriasis among Indians: A prospective cross‐sectional study
Authors: Mahajan Rahul , Kumaran Muthu Sendhil , Narang Tarun , Handa Sanjeev , Dogra Sunil 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThere are limited epidemiological data on genital involvement in psoriasis. In this prospective study, 852 psoriasis patients were screened of whom 100 had genital psoriasis lesions, with a prevalence rate of 11.7%. The mean duration of genital involvement was 19.3 ± 40.9 months. In 4% of the patients, genital psoriasis was the initial presentation of disease. The commonest site of genital involvement was the scrotum followed by glans and labia, corona and prepuce. There was no significant correlation between the severity of genital involvement and overall disease severity and body mass index. Morphologically, the commonest presentation was erythematous scaly plaques followed by thin non‐scaly plaques and certain rare patterns such as pseudo‐candidal balanitis, pseudo‐circinate balanitis, annular psoriasis and pustular psoriasis.
Human baroreflex rhythms persist during handgrip and muscle ischaemia
Authors: Eckberg D. L. , Cooke W. H. , Diedrich A. , Levine B. D. , Pawelczyk J. A. , Buckey J. C. , Ertl A. C. , Biaggioni I. , Cox J. F. , Robertson D. , Baisch F. J. , Blomqvist C. G. , Kuusela T. A. , Tahvanainen K. U. O. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAimTo determine whether physiological, rhythmic fluctuations of vagal baroreflex gain persist during exercise, post‐exercise ischaemia and recovery.MethodsWe studied responses of six supine healthy men and one woman to a stereotyped protocol comprising rest, handgrip exercise at 40% maximum capacity to exhaustion, post‐exercise forearm ischaemia and recovery. We measured electrocardiographic R‐R intervals, photoplethysmographic finger arterial pressures and peroneal nerve muscle sympathetic activity. We derived vagal baroreflex gains from a sliding (25‐s window moved by 2‐s steps) systolic pressure–R‐R interval transfer function at 0.04–0.15 Hz.ResultsVagal baroreflex gain oscillated at low, nearly constant frequencies throughout the protocol (at approx. 0.06 Hz – a period of about 18 s); however, during exercise, most oscillations were at low‐gain levels, and during ischaemia and recovery, most oscillations were at high‐gain levels.ConclusionsVagal baroreflex rhythms are not abolished by exercise, and they are not overwhelmed after exercise during ischaemia and recovery.
Economic evaluation of an integrated care programme for patients with hand dermatitis
Authors: van Gils Robin F. , Bosmans Judith E. , Boot Cécile R. L. , Rustemeyer Thomas , van Mechelen Willem , van der Valk Pieter G. M. , Anema Johannes R. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryBackgroundHand dermatitis has a large impact on society as a whole.ObjectivesTo evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of integrated, multidisciplinary care as compared with usual care (UC) for patients with moderate to severe chronic hand dermatitis after 52 weeks.MethodsPatients (n = 196) visiting the dermatology department at one of the participating hospitals for hand dermatitis were randomized to integrated care (IC) or UC. IC was provided by a multidisciplinary team, and integrated clinical and occupational care to optimize treatment of hand dermatitis. Effect outcomes were clinical assessment of hand dermatitis with the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI), and disease‐specific quality of life, work performance and quality‐adjusted life‐years with the EQ‐5D. Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated. The ICER indicates the additional investment needed to gain one unit of effect.ResultsThe HECSI difference between both groups after 52 weeks was 8.7 (standard error 5.3, 95% confidence interval −1.8–18.9). No differences were found on secondary outcome measures. Mean total costs with IC (€3613; SD 798) were significantly higher than with UC (€1576, SD 430). The ICER for improvement in HECSI score was − 247. IC was not considered to be cost‐effective as compared with UC. The probability that IC was cost‐effective was 90% at a ceiling ratio of €1500 per additional point improvement in HECSI score.ConclusionIntegrated care was neither cost‐effective, nor effective after 12 months follow‐up, in contrast to our findings after 6 months. Decision makers should decide whether the clinical benefits of integrated care on the short term outweigh the higher costs compared to usual care.
Contact sensitization to calocephalin, a sesquiterpene lactone of the guaianolide type from cushion bush (Leucophyta brownii, Compositae)
Authors: Paulsen Evy , Christensen Lars P. , Hindsén Monica , Andersen Klaus E. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryBackgroundCushion bush [Leucophyta brownii Cass. = Calocephalus brownii (Cass.) F. Muell.] is an Australian Compositae shrub that has been introduced into Scandinavia as a pot plant. The first case of sensitization occurred in a gardener, and the main allergen was identified as the guaianolide calocephalin.ObjectiveTo present the identification of the main allergen, and to assess the prevalence of sensitization to calocephalin in Compositae‐allergic patients.Materials and methodsCalocephalin was isolated from a dichloromethane extract of aerial parts of cushion bush. Calocephalin 0.1% ethanol was included in the plant series in Malmö, Sweden, and Odense, Denmark.ResultsNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of calocephalin resulted in a revision of its chemical structure to 4α‐acetoxy‐1α,2α‐epoxy‐5α,10αH‐guai‐11(13)‐en‐12,8β‐olide. The prevalence of patch test positivity was up to 28% in aimed patch testing. Despite strongly positive patch test reactions, the relevance was unknown in the majority of cases, and only 1 person was occupationally sensitized.ConclusionCalocephalin is a potent contact allergen, but, as cushion bush is a low‐maintenance pot plant, primary sensitization is most likely to occur through occupational exposure. Positive reactions in Compositae‐sensitive persons probably occur because of cross‐reactivity, and patients should be warned about contact with cushion bush plants.