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Advances in business management: The incorporation of sustainability in software engineering projects and the potential impact on project success in the context of Jordanian public Universities
Get PDFThe move towards more sustainable outcomes under the triple bottom line (TBL) theory of
sustainability (economic, environmental, and social) is one of the greatest challenges for
organisations. Projects may have a pivotal role in the achievement of sustainability, as they
are an ideal tool for bringing about change. Over the last decade, there has been growing
attention to the incorporation of sustainability into projects (project sustainability). However,
there are some criticisms regarding this incorporation, and one of the most important
criticisms is that this incorporation may have a negative impact on project success, which is
crucial and directly linked to the success of organisations as a whole. A systematic literature
review revealed that to date, the relationship between project sustainability and project
success has been inadequately researched in both developed and developing countries. There
is an evident lack of research about this relationship in developing countries of the Arab world
in particular. Further, it has been found that most of the few relevant contributions are
conceptual in nature and focus mainly on manufacturing and construction projects. There is
a lack of research which explores this relationship in some important projects such as
information systems and technology (IS&T), services, and telecommunications projects. One
of the most important of IS&T projects is software projects where this research focuses.
Currently, there is no recorded contribution which focuses on the relationship
between project sustainability (PS) and project success in the software industry. This gap in
the literature is the main basis of the current thesis. Therefore, this study aims to make a
novel contribution to the literature by investigating the potential impact of software project
sustainability (SPS) on project success. To achieve this aim, the author has developed a
conceptual framework that helps in the empirical examination of the relationship between
these two concepts. The proposed framework consists of six constructs which have been
developed based on the analysis of the best contributions in the relevant literature. The first
four constructs, which are independent variables (IVs) and represent SPS, are economic
considerations (ECCs), environmental concerns (EVCs), social responsibilities (SRs), and TBLrelated
quality requirements (QRs). These constructs encompass a unique combination of
TBL-related aspects for incorporating sustainability into processes and products of software
projects and form a significant part of the contribution of this thesis. The fifth construct,
project success (PSCS), was positioned as a dependent variable (DV), and the sixth construct,
project complexity, was set as a control variable in the proposed framework. The
development of the framework is affiliated with the triple bottom line (TBL) theory, the
ISO/IEC 25010:2011 product quality model of systems and software, the Sustainability
Checklist of the International Project Management Association (IPMA), the contingency
theory, and the multidimensional model of Shenhar and Dvir (2007) for measuring project
success.
An empirical study was conducted to validate the proposed framework and test the
research hypotheses. A quantitative methodology was applied using a hand-delivered selfadministered
questionnaire as the data collection technique. 172 questionnaires were
distributed randomly, targeting key stakeholders of internal software projects of the ten
Jordanian public universities. Out of the 153 returned questionnaires, 140 were considered
valid, after examining for missing data, suspicious response patterns, data distribution,
outliers, response rate, and non-response bias. This constituted a high response rate of 81.4%.
The final data set was then analysed using the partial least squares structural equation
modelling (PLS-SEM). The conceptual framework was validated as a model by establishing the
internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The results
showed a good level of commitment towards the economic considerations (ECCs), social
responsibilities (SRs), and TBL-related quality requirements (QRs) of SPS in the surveyed
sample, while it was found that the environmental concerns (EVCs) were barely considered.
The analysis revealed a significant relationship between the four constructs of SPS and project
success. The relationship of ECCs, SRs, and QRs to project success was positive, while it was
negative for EVCs. However, it was found that the overall relationship of the four constructs
“combined” with project success is significant and positive. Also, the analysis revealed that
project complexity has no significant effect on the relationship between SPS and project
success. Therefore, it was concluded that SPS can impact project success significantly and
positively, especially if SPS is considered as a net of the four constructs’ relationships with
project success, and not the solo relationship of each.
This study may contribute towards a more sustainable orientation in the software
industry, as it provides empirical evidence of a significant positive relationship between SPS
and project success. This is considered important due to the present contradictions in the
relevant literature regarding the relationship between project sustainability, in general, and
project success. Also, this study gives academics and practitioners a better understanding of
how software projects can be managed sustainably; and it provides them with a validated
model for measuring whether the incorporation of sustainability supports or impedes the
success of these projects. Moreover, software companies – or other relevant organisations –
may use the proposed model as a measurement tool to evaluate environmental and social
impacts of their current products and project management practices. Consequently, these
organisations may pay more attention to incorporating sustainability into their projects.
Finally, it can be argued that the findings of this study, along with the methodological
approach used, constitute a valuable contribution to knowledge and provide a good basis for
relevant works in future. It is hoped this research will contribute to the sustainability and
success of organisations and society at large
Review of "Numeracy as Social Practice: Global and Local Perspectives" edited by Keiko Yasukawa, Alan Rogers, Kara Jackson and Brian Street.
Get PDFYasukawa, K., Rogers, A., Jackson, K. and Street, B. (Eds) (2018) Numeracy as Social Practice: Global and
Local Perspectives, Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-28445-6.
This edited collection of chapters, part of Routledge’s Rethinking Development series, examines the uses
of numeracy in a wide variety of contexts in countries around the world, and the educational approaches
which reflect – or in many cases, fail to reflect – those real-life numeracy activities. Educators and
researchers with a commitment to social justice and global development will find this book a valuable
resource for building a broader vision of what numeracy means
‘Being part of something much bigger than self': the community play as a model of implicit and explicit political theatre practice.
Get PDFThis article focuses on the community play, as conceived by Ann Jellicoe, as a form of political theatre-making. Examining two community play productions: Drummer Hodge (2014) and Love on the Dole (2016), I explore how the form’s theatrical conventions combine with the play’s content to generate political action. Discussing how the community play has been under-theorised in applied theatre literature, I argue that the form can bring together the more celebratory aspects of community that are present in applied theatre discourses, with explicit political motivations to create political practice in the context of twenty-first century austerity
Dataset for: The moderation effect of resilience on social and emotional outcomes of bullying based on retrospective experiences of bullying
No full textDataset for article to be published in "Social Development" Journal,© John Wiley & Sons Lt
Advance care planning in patients referred to hospital for acute medical care: Results of a national day of care survey.
Get PDFAdvance care planning (ACP) is a voluntary process of discussion about future care between an individual and their care provider. ACP is a key focus of national policy as a means to improve patient centered care at the end-of-life. Despite a wide held belief that ACP is beneficial, uptake is sporadic with considerable variation depending on age, ethnicity, location and disease group. This study looked to establish the prevalence of ACP on initial presentation to hospital with a medical emergency within The Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit (SAMBA18). 123 acute hospitals from across the UK collected data during a day of care survey. The presence of ACP and the presence of 'Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation' orders were recorded separately. Among 6072 patients presenting with an acute medical emergency, 290 patients (4.8%) had an ACP that was available for the admitting medical team. The prevalence of ACP increased incrementally with age, in patients less than 80 years old the prevalence was 2·9% (95% CI 2·7-3·1) compared with 9·5% (95% CI 9·1-10·0%) in patients aged over 80. In the patients aged over 90 the prevalence of ACP was 12·6% (95% CI 9·8-16·0). ACP was present in 23·3% (95% CI 21.8-24.8%) of patients admitted from institutional care compared with 3·5% (95% CI 3·3-3·7) of patients admitted from home. The prevalence of ACP was 7.1% (95% CI 6·6-7·6) amongst patients re-admitted to the hospital within the previous 30 days. Very few patients have an ACP that is available to admitting medical teams during an unscheduled hospital admission. Even among patients with advanced age, and who have recently been in hospital, the prevalence of available ACP remains low, in spite of national guidance. Further interventions are needed to ensure that patients' wishes for care are known by providers of acute medical care. [Abstract copyright: © 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Evaluation of bandwidth resource allocation using dynamic LSP and LDP in MPLS for wireless networks
Get PDFFairness in bandwidth resource allocation is of high significance to the advancement in mobile and wireless technologies. It is likely that starvation of bandwidth due to some scheduling scheme would not be an appropriate option for the future development in the communication systems. However, there is need to consider an implementation that would lead to good network performance and avoid unguaranteed bandwidth delivery. This paper will be focusing on the evaluating performance of Bandwidth Allocation using Dynamic Label Switching Paths (LSPs) Tunnelling and Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) signaling in MPLS network. This will make provision for bandwidth allocation and reservation possible. An appropriate bandwidth allocation would have positive impact on throughput as well as the delay. It is an extension of the existing network model designed using network simulator. The results of an IP (Internet Protocol) Network without MPLS enabled is compared with MPLS model network. Furthermore, implementation of dynamic and static LSPs models are presented. In addition, there are models of bandwidth estimation, bandwidth allocation, delay and jitter. Therefore, performance metrics used in this respect are throughput, end-to-end delay and packet delay variation of the multimedia services (Voice and Video conferencing). These confirmed that the modified models have been improved as compared with the baseline.
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Teacher identity in crisis
No full textThe chapter uses Weinreich's (2003) Identity Structure Analysis (ISA) to explicate the nature of the teacher identity in crisis. It explores how through a combination approach, ISA and mentoring can help develop and enhance professional identity by providing insights into issues, conflicts and concerns that trainee teachers can work through with the help of a mentor. The chapter builds on previous work that considered how the combined approach can help trainee teachers develop their professional identity during their training. In its consideration of a combined ISA and mentoring approach to identity crisis, the chapter also explores the psychology of stress and how knowledge of professional identity can be applied to mediate the negative effects of high stress in the workplace. This is also discussed in terms of professional development programmes and mentoring schemes which aim to increase the retention of qualified teachers, currently experiencing a crisis within the United Kingdom, suggesting that the use of ISA can provide more structure and impact
Development of the META model in relation to compassion in nursing
Get PDFIntroduction
Compassion is an important part of nursing practice and the way in which care is
delivered to patients. A number of high profile reports have highlighted the
consequences of the failure to demonstrate compassionate care, with others calling
for the introduction of compassion into nurse training.
Background
The recent reports into compassion recommend a need to create education
programmes for nursing students so that they can continue to show compassionate
care in practice. However, while the general literature explains the background to
compassion and various ways in which this virtue can be demonstrated, it is not clear
what type of training has been developed for nursing students or how effective such
programmes are at teaching compassion.
Aims and objectives
The aim of the study was to develop a model of learning that would help nursing
students understand and demonstrate the practical and emotional elements of
compassion in practice. An additional aim was that the Measure Explore Try Apply
(META) model would help bridge the gap between education and practice by preparing
nursing students for compassion in the workplace. The main objectives were; (1) to
investigate the characteristics of compassion in nursing, how compassion is taught
and measured, (2) explore and validate these findings further with a series of
stakeholder groups, (3) use the results of the study to create a compassion strengths
model for nurses’ compassion, (4) using the compassion strengths model as a
foundation develop a psychometric scale and online learning intervention to measure
and teach compassion strengths, and (5) validate both interventions with a cohort of
nursing students, and assess them for their individual and combined effectiveness in
relation to the META model.
Methods
A systematic review of the literature highlighted a dearth of empirical research to
support the identification of teaching and measurement of the characteristics of a
compassionate nurse. As the study aimed to develop a new psychometric
questionnaire, and an online scenario based learning course to help teach nursing
students about compassion, a mixed methods approach underpinned by pragmatism
was used. A variety of methods were included in the design of the studies. Directed
content, and thematic analysis were used to explore the qualitative data. In addition,
classic scale development statistics and confirmatory factor analysis methods were
used to analyse the quantitative data.
Findings
Two major findings from this study were the development of the META model and
Compassion Strengths model to support nursing students in the understanding and
demonstration of compassion in practice. The Compassion Strengths model suggests
that compassion is a multifaceted concept comprised of eight strengths, (1) Character, (2) Self-care, (3) Communication, (4) Connection, (5) Engagement, (6) Competence,
(7) Interpersonal skills, and (8) Empathy, which are key factors in the development of
a compassionate nurse. The META model proposes that nursing students can first
Measure themselves on their own unique compassion strengths. Next, using the
online course they can access and Explore information about each of the compassion
strengths to increase their knowledge and understanding of compassion. Then, Try
out what they have learned through a series of reflective scenarios. Last, students can
take what they have learned and Apply it to their practice. Nursing students who
engaged in the META model using the compassion strengths as a framework,
developed a new understanding of how to demonstrate compassion that they were
able to implement into their clinical practice with patients.
Conclusion
The META model, and Compassion Strengths model are two novel approaches to
teaching compassion in nursing. While nursing curricula undoubtedly cover some of
the compassion strengths included in this research, this study provides further
empirical evidence for their importance and ways in which they can be implemented
into nurse education and practice using the META model. The findings can be used to
explore new avenues in the pursuit of producing nursing students with the strengths
of compassion along their educational journey. The META model adds a unique
contribution to knowledge. It is a novel approach to teaching that can be used as a
learning tool to help students improve on specific compassion skills and help track
progress over time.
The results of this will not only have a positive impact on their own health and
wellbeing, but that of their patients too. While this study explored the impact of both
models on nursing students, the research could be applied to other healthcare
students and professionals
