bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enterprise strategy
Authors: Steyn Benita , Niemann Lynne 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThis paper seeks to explicate the strategic contribution of the corporate communication/ public relations function (PR) to enterprise strategy development at macro‐organisational level with the aim of contributing towards its institutionalisation.Design/methodology/approachThe approach takes the form of a literature review and conceptual analysis, reflective PR paradigm and corporate social performance approach.FindingsEnterprise strategy is the suggested mechanism and a relevant strategy process for incorporating societal and stakeholder expectations, values, norms and standards into the organisation's strategy development processes. Enterprise strategy explicates corporate communication/PR's strategic contribution at the macro‐organisational level. Societal expectations, values, standards and norms are expressed through concepts such as CSR, corporate governance, good corporate citizenship, sustainability, and the Triple Bottom Line; manifest through non‐legislative measures such as the Global Sullivan Principles of CSR, the Global Reporting Initiative, the Social Responsibility Investment Index of the JSE, as well as voluntary codes such as the Cadbury Report (UK) and the King Reports I, II and III in South Africa (SA); and are addressed through legislative measures such as the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act (USA) and the Employment Equity/Broad‐based Black Economic Empowerment/Financial Intelligence Centre Acts (SA).Originality/valueThis article addresses the dearth of literature on enterprise strategy and corporate communication/PR's strategic role at top management level by conceptualising enterprise strategy and explicating corporate communication's strategic contribution within its framework – indicating corporate communication's focus to be on the social (People) and environmental (Planet) pillars of the Triple Bottom Line approach, rather than its financial aspects (Profit).
Communicative leadership
Authors: Hamrefors Sven 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of the research is to describe how communicators may contribute to the external effectiveness of organisations by participating in leadership.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on knowledge created in a knowledge network related to the Swedish PR Association. It was conducted between 2003 and 2009.FindingsThe findings indicate that communicators must develop certain knowledge and skills in order to be efficient in contributing to organisational effectiveness. Four areas of knowledge have been identified: communication through processes; communication through structures; communication through social interaction; and communication to and from the environment. Likewise four areas of skills have been identified: system design; mediating; coaching; and influencing.Originality/valueThe paper suggests that there is a need for development of the role of communicators, if the profession is to be represented in leadership. Instead of only working with traditional communication activities the communicator must also take on the responsibility of building the communicative ability of the organisation in order to develop its total communicative effectiveness.
Personalised networks of influence in public relations
Authors: Valentini Chiara 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to look into Italian PR practitioners' opinions on whether or not specific social networks, the personalised networks of influence, are perceived to be one of the main strategic resources and the degree of relevance they give to such networks. Personalised networks of influence are also tested with Italian journalists.Design/methodology/approachThe data of the study were gleaned from a survey on PR practitioners' and journalists' self‐perceptions and perceptions of each other that was conducted in Italy from March to October 2007. The survey was based both on qualitative data collected through personal interviews with senior PR practitioners and journalists and on quantitative data gathered through an online, close‐ended questionnaire. The study is based on the analysis of the survey data on personal influence.FindingsThe findings show no statistical difference between PR practitioners and journalists. PR practitioners and journalists did not perceive the importance of having personalized networks of influence differently with regard to their professional activities, although they valued more significantly having strong professional skills than personalised networks for their career advancement.Originality/valueThe study offers new insights into the personal influence model and the concept of influence and power in relation to public relations practitioners' career advancement and professional activities.
Transforming mass production contact centres using approaches from manufacturing
Authors: Smith Marisa K. , Ball Peter D. , Bititci Umit S. , van der Meer Robert 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify theories from manufacturing which can be applied to alleviate current issues within contact centre organisations. As contact centres currently adopt a mass production approach to customer service, this paper aims to examine the key issues currently facing contact centres and investigate how manufacturing has overcome some of its issues with the mass production approach.Design/methodology/approachThe research employs a qualitative case study approach using a cross section of different types of contact centre to identify the current issues with contact centres. Interview and direct observation are the chosen methods for data collection and the data are analysed using a series of deductive and emergent codes.FindingsFrom empirically investigating the issues that contact centres are currently facing it would imply that they have the same issues as manufacturing historically faced. Therefore, it can be concluded that if manufacturing can develop from an industry founded on scientific management principles, then so can the contact centre industry.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this paper provide a useful starting point to discuss the ability of theories developed in manufacturing to be adapted into the contact centre context. This paper is a starting point for further work into the applicability of manufacturing theories into the contact centre environment and as such it is deliberately discussed at a high level of abstraction.Practical implicationsMany of the techniques employed in contact centres originate from manufacturing's past but little of the research focuses on how contact centres can learn from manufacturing's future therefore this paper has practical implications in identifying which concepts can be transferred from manufacturing to contact centres.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is that it looks to the future of contact centre operations and discusses which techniques can be transferred from manufacturing to alleviate some of the current issues with contact centres.
Managing patient flow using time buffers
Authors: Stratton Roy , Knight Alex 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine how and why theory of constraints based time buffer management has contributed to improved patient flow in health and social care applications.Design/methodology/approachThe focus of the research is on the application and implementation of time buffer management by QFI Consulting. Four UK hospital implementations of the QFI Jonah software and methodology were investigated to establish how buffer management was being applied and why the reported benefits were being achieved. This involved collecting service delivery data together with semi‐structured interviews. To support this evaluation, four control functions of time buffer management have been identified as a basis for evaluation of the application designs and their implementation.FindingsCase research evidence shows significant and rapid improvement in length of stay (LOS) following implementation of the approach, amounting to a reduction in LOS of over 20 per cent and significantly improved accident and emergency performance. Sustainability issues were evident however and were traced, at least in part, to lack of adherence to one or more of the functional elements of the system.Research limitations/implicationsThis case research has considered four applications that represent some of the more successful implementations. This research is, therefore, limited by the range of applications considered and is also limited in its ability to evaluate the sustainability of the implementations in the longer term.Practical implicationsThis paper provides clearer theoretical understanding of the improvements experienced by these hospitals, which is critical to expanding the use of traditional manufacturing approaches into complex service environments.Originality/valueThis research has helped conceptualise how time buffer management control functions can be structured to evaluate the design and implementation of novel applications.
Leadership competency for doctors: a framework
Authors: Clark John , Armit Kirsten 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the use of competences in medical education and training and to discuss some existing standards, curricula and competency frameworks used by the medical profession in both the UK and internationally to inform leadership development.Design/methodology/approachThis research reinforces the message delivered by the medical profession and policy makers in recent years that all doctors should attain management and leadership competences in addition to clinical knowledge and skills to be an effective and safe practitioner. In the UK, this message and research has helped inform the development of a Medical Leadership Competency Framework (MLCF) published by The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges[1] and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement[2].FindingsWidespread acceptance of the MLCF is now resulting in the integration of leadership and management competences into all undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.Practical implicationsOther countries with similar histories of low medical engagement in planning, delivery and transformation of services may also benefit from the research undertaken and the MLCFOriginality/valueThe paper shows that the MLCF may well inspire more doctors in the future to seek formal leadership positions.
Establishing an organizational culture to enable quality improvement
Authors: Trerise Barbara 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to describe the intentional and sustained strategy of Providence Health Care to build a culture focused on quality, safety and innovation.Design/methodology/approachProvidence Health Care undertook a number of strategies to build a culture that would enable the organization to live its value of Excellence. Objectives were defined and a framework to achieve those objectives was established. Changes were made to the organizational structure to better support change and improvement. Key leadership and governance structures were established to enable the development of culture, monitor performance, identify improvement priorities, and support teams. These efforts were accompanied by active leadership from the Chief Executive Officer, team and staff development programs and standardization of project management methodologies.FindingsWhile the journey is in progress, significant improvements have been accomplished. Examples are provided to demonstrate the depth and breadth of those improvements. The key lessons learned are that culture building requires patience and a comprehensive effort that is sustained over time and changes in administration.Originality/valueThis paper is of value to organizations interested in building a culture that enables and sustains quality improvement and in the case of a health care organization, one that is integrated from the Board to the bedside.
Primary health care facility performance assessment in Armenia
Authors: Harutyunyan Tsovinar , Demirchyan Anahit , Thompson Michael , Petrosyan Varduhi 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to focus on the performance of select facilities in Lori and Shirak provinces in Armenia in Spring 2008. This is in response to the deterioration of the primary healthcare sector in Armenia.Design/methodology/approachThe performance assessment focused on the status of several performance indicators, both current and as recalled for 2006. The interviewer‐administered questionnaire addressed access to care, provider relations with community and clients, environment, management, and primary and secondary prevention at the facilities. For each domain, a summative score that ranged from 0 to 3 was computed and a mean score for each facility derived.FindingsThe project has had significant positive impact on facilities' performance. Access to care scores increased from 2.0 in 2006 to 2.5 in 2008; provider relations with community improved from 1.1 to 1.4; environment scores improved from 1.3 to 1.9, facility management improved from 1.4 to 1.7; and prevention efforts increased from 1.3 to 1.9. The overall mean facility score increased from 1.4 to 1.8. Although the scores for small rural clinics increased, their scores were lower than the scores for other facility types.Originality/valueIn the chronic absence of administrative surveillance data, this paper provides valuable information on the status of primary healthcare services in Armenian provinces. It demonstrates the value of interviewer‐administered performance assessments in obtaining data across project sites when internal monitoring of progress is unavailable.
Communication challenges in implementing health sector decentralisation at district level in Ghana
Authors: Kojo Sakyi E. 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine how internal communication of reform objectives to health workforces and stakeholders has influenced the implementation of Ghana's health sector decentralisation at district level.Design/methodology/approachData collection involved in‐depth interviews with district public health officials, private health providers, local government officials and health‐related non‐government organisations which had been working in the district for at least two years.FindingsThe study's findings showed that communication (the sharing of information) about reform objectives were centralised among the top hierarchy of the District Health Management Teams; and the process of transferring reform information to district health workforces and stakeholders was through a top‐downward approach. This vertical style of communication resulted in limited information getting through to district health workforces tasked with the implementation. This impacted negatively on reform implementation.Originality/valueThe paper reveals that there is a connection between the level of comprehension of the objectives for decentralisation reform both by the health workforce and stakeholders, particularly the expected new roles they are supposed to play. A lack of effective transfer of information affects commitment and ownership of the decentralisation reform at district level; contributing significantly to the poor implementation of the reform programme.
The development of regulation of acute hospitals in England: leadership challenges
Authors: Snelling Iain 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify some of the issues that will shape the future of regulation in England, with a focus on acute hospitals.Design/methodology/approachThis is a discussion paper identifying recent policy developments, with a commentary drawing on theory and evidence.FindingsFrom April 2010, there will be a new system for the regulation of health care and adult social care in England. The new system is a significant development. The Care Quality Commission, the new regulator, has had to create a new organisation from three predecessors, and will be implementing new systems for registering providers and monitoring compliance against new regulations. With an election only months away, the levels of public and political scrutiny are high. The development of the new system should be informed by a research and evaluation agenda. Leaders in both the regulator and the regulated organisations will need to develop their own processes of enquiry to support the development of the new system.Originality/valueThere is no attempt at originality but the paper provides information of value to those involved with health and social care in the UK.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Association between 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, somatic muscle weakness and falls risk in end‐stage renal failure
Authors: Boudville N , Inderjeeth C , Elder GJ , Glendenning P 
Published: May 2010

SummaryObjective  Suboptimal levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) are common in haemodialysis patients (Chronic Kidney disease‐5D: CKD‐5D) and may be associated with reduced muscle strength and increased falls risk. We tested the hypothesis that 25OHD levels may be independently associated with falls risk in CKD‐5D.Background  Supplementation with calcium and cholecalciferol reduces hip and other nonvertebral fractures in elderly individuals, and this effect may in part be attributable to reduction in falls frequency. The relationship between 25OHD and falls risk has not been investigated in CKD‐5D.Design and Patients  This is a cross‐sectional study of 25 CKD‐5D patients with predialysis 25OHD, 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) measurement. Falls risk was assessed by quadriceps muscle strength, FallsScreen© test (FST), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed ‘up and go’ (TUG) test, Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Falls Efficacy Scale (FES).Results  Mean age was 69·8 ± 12·1 years, and median time on dialysis was 3·1 years. Median 25OHD level was 55·3 nmol/l (range 20·8–125·8 nmol/l). Muscle strength was significantly positively correlated with 25OHD (P = 0·024) but not with 1,25(OH)2D (P = 0·477) or PTH (P = 0·461). Statistically significant correlation between 25OHD levels and FST (P = 0·028) plus MBI (P = 0·0046) was noted. No significant correlation was detected between falls risk and 1,25(OH)2D or PTH.Conclusions  Suboptimal levels of 25OHD in CKD‐5D are associated with reduced quadriceps muscle strength and increased falls risk. 25OHD may be more important than the active renal metabolite 1,25(OH)2D for muscle strength with implications for vitamin D choice and goals of supplementation. Further investigation is required to examine effectiveness of calciferol supplementation on the incidence of falls in CKD‐5D.
Salicylic acid treatment via the rooting medium interferes with stomatal response, CO2 fixation rate and carbohydrate metabolism in tomato, and decreases harmful effects of subsequent salt stress
Authors: Poór P. , Gémes K. , Horváth F. , Szepesi Á. , Simon M. L. , Tari I. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractSalicylic acid (SA) applied at 10−3 m in hydroponic culture decreased stomatal conductance (gs), maximal CO2 fixation rate (Amax) and initial slopes of the CO2 (A/Ci) and light response (A/PPFD) curves, carboxylation efficiency of Rubisco (CE) and photosynthetic quantum efficiency (Q), resulting in the death of tomato plants. However, plants could acclimate to lower concentrations of SA (10−7−10−4 m) and, after 3 weeks, returned to control levels of gs, photosynthetic performance and soluble sugar content. In response to high salinity (100 mm NaCl), the pre‐treated plants exhibited higher Amax as a function of internal CO2 concentration (Ci) or photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), and higher CE and Q values than salt‐treated controls, suggesting more effective photosynthesis after SA treatment. Growth in 10−7 or 10−4 m SA‐containing solution led to accumulation of soluble sugars in both leaf and root tissues, which remained higher in both plant parts during salt stress at 10−4 m SA. The activity of hexokinase (HXK) with glucose, but not fructose, as substrate was reduced by SA treatment in leaf and root samples, leading to accumulation of glucose and fructose in leaf tissues. HXK activity decreased further under high salinity in both plant organs. The accumulation of soluble sugars and sucrose in roots of plants growing in the presence of 10−4 m SA contributed to osmotic adjustment and improved tolerance to subsequent salt stress. Apart from its putative role in delaying senescence, decreased HXK activity may divert hexoses from catabolic reactions to osmotic adaptation.
Expression and Activity of Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Uterus of Bitches After Spontaneous and Induced Abortion
Authors: Kanca H , Walter I , Miller I , Schäfer‐Somi S , Izgur H. , Aslan S 
Published: May 2010

ContentsAim of this study was to determine the intrauterine activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‐2 and ‐9 after cessation of the local effect of progesterone. For this purpose, pregnancy was terminated in 10 bitches at mid‐gestation with the progesterone receptor antagonist aglepristone (10 mg/kg body weight, sc, Alizine®; Virbac, France) at two subsequent days (group IRA = induced resorption/abortion). The IRA group was divided into two subgroups (Group I, n = 5, days 25–35 of pregnancy; group II, n = 5, days 36–45). Five further bitches were introduced with beginning abortion (group SRA = spontaneous resorption/abortion). Seven healthy bitches between day 25 and 45 of gestation served as controls. After ovariohysterectomy at the end of abortion and between days 25 and 45 of gestation, respectively, the distribution and activity of collagenases were investigated by immunohistochemistry and gelatin zymography. At placental sites, MMP‐2 activity in the endometrium was significantly lower in IRA groups than in the SRA group (33.7 ± 11.8% and 39.3 ± 5.4% vs 52.2 ± 10.2%, p < 0.05); however, MMP‐2 expression was lowest in the control group (control: 21.4 ± 6.3%; p < 0.01) and similarly in the myometrium (controls: 13.1 ± 2.5%; p < 0.05). MMP‐9 activity was also lower in the endometrium and myometrium of the control group in comparison to SRA and IRA groups (11.8 ± 3.2%; p < 0.01 and 28.4 ± 32.8%; p < 0.05). At interplacental sites, the amount of active collagenases in the myometrium was significantly lower in the control group. It is concluded that the blockade of the biological progesterone effect was associated with an increase in activity of both collagenases.