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Defining and Quantifying an Exponential Increase in General Problem-Solving Ability Within Groups
No full textThe concept of collective super-intelligence has been described by various authors in the field of collective intelligence, some of whom have estimated the qualitative properties of a collective super-intelligence and have attempted to determine the types of problems that a collective super-intelligence might excel at. This work departs from those opinions in leveraging a Human-Centric Functional Modeling approach able to represent the behaviour of complex human-observable systems like individual or collective cognition. With this approach, for the first time models have been developed that allow the impacts of collective intelligence to potentially be predicted or even simulated with far greater accuracy and understood more reliably. This article explores how a collective super-intelligence might be defined and quantified in terms of the general collective intelligence factor (c), and also explores how such a collective super-intelligence might be expected to differentiate itself from current forms of collective intelligence
Digital Transformation: Towards a model for competency-based governance of digital transformation for boards of directors in South Africa
Get PDFThe requirement for directors of boards to attain competencies in relation to governance of digital transformation is evidently increasing at global level. South Africa, as a player within the global economic landscape, cannot afford to have directors who do not understand the requisite competencies required for governance of digital transformation. Whereas many organisations and boards have implemented new corporate governance codes, principles, and standards, as well as new company legislation, frameworks or models on governance of digital transformation are not yet integrated into functional board activities.
This study was hinged upon an interpretivist epistemology, with a case study design used as a strategy for inquiry. Using purposive sampling approach, a total of seven participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Ethical considerations were followed in terms of the institutional requirements and participants were requested to sign consent forms for participating in this study. Implications of participations were clearly articulated to participants and their right to discontinue participation at any time was proffered. In this study, their participation is referred to as “Participant” followed by a number, which does not reflect the order of their participation, but to provide anonymity. Data was analysed through a thematic approach, using the COSTA QDA technique on webQDA software.
The study findings culminated in three main themes as follows:
• There is no standard definition of competence-based models for governance of digital transformation
• Governance of digital transformation is perceived as governance of information technology (IT)
• There is a need for digital transformation competence at board level
Discussion of the meanings attached to these themes resulted in a development of a model entitled MADIBA Model, which is an acronym for six constructs that could be used to guide establishment of a competency model for governance of digital transformation by directors of different boards. Study limitations were mainly due to the fact that only a subjective approach to the inquiry was followed, justified by the fact that the researcher sought to explore in-depth views and perspectives of boards of directors in relation to governance of digital transformation competency model. The study further recommended that there could be another study focusing on pragmatic approaches or even positivistic perspectives, to obtain generalised perspectives on the phenomenon
Mawazo Institute 2021 COVID-19 Follow-Up Survey Report
No full textThis report draws on a survey conducted in 2021 by the Mawazo Institute, a nonprofit research institute based in Nairobi, Kenya. The survey aimed to determine the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa's higher education and research sector in the year after lockdowns and restrictions first began, and thus to provide a more comprehensive follow up to an earlier Mawazo Institute survey conducted in 2020. Full findings, along with an interactive map displaying regional differences in key results, are available at https://mawazoinstitute.org/publications
Exploring the Impacts of Transformational Supervision on Supermarket Store Managers’ Creativity: Evidence from Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom
No full textThe current article is one of the rare studies to specifically focus on the contextual conditions under which the learning-related actions of transformational supervisors’ help retailing supermarkets’ store managers to learn and engage in behaviors that produce creative outcomes. We use a qualitative research approach with the data based on in-depth semi structured interviews with 40 retailing supermarkets’ store managers in Nigeria, South Africa and the UK. Our findings show that transformational supervision significantly boosts store managers’ creativity, facilitated by fostering store managers’ learning orientation, creative role identity (CRI) and creative self-efficacy (CSE), in all three contexts.
From our findings, we have developed a model that symbolize the role of transformational supervisors in fostering store managers’ creativity, which provides a baseline for supermarkets in (re)evaluating the significance of their leadership styles on follower creativity
Human-Centric Functional Modeling and Defining Metrics for the Function and Level of Consciousness
No full textHuman-Centric Functional Modeling provides a methodology for defining the properties of systems. This short paper explores its application to defining a representation of, and metrics for, both impaired consciousness as well as the heightened levels of consciousness sometimes referred to as “enlightenment” in various traditions
Evaluation of Quality Control in Clinical Chemistry Using Sigma Metrics
No full textIntroduction: Six sigma improves the quality of outputs by analyzing and abolishing the source of defects and reducing variability in the manufacturing industry. It can be used as a self -assessment tool for laboratories when making their quality control frequency and strategy. Clinical laboratories tests with low sigma values (< 3σ) indicate that the analytical quality of the lab needs to be improved.
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate clinical chemistry laboratory performance using six sigma metrics to improve quality.
Materials and methods: Five parameters from renal and liver function tests were studied over a period of 6 months (Dec 2016-May2017). Data from IQC and EQA participation was used. The analytes were plasma creatinine, aspartate transaminase(AST), alanine transaminase(ALT), total serum protein, total and direct bilirubin.
Sigma metrics was calculated using total allowable error as per CLIA recommendations. Bias was calculated from HUQAS EQA participation while coefficient of variation was calculated from IQC data collected during the above mentioned months.
Results: Clinical chemistry had sigma metrics below 3, the highest sigma value was 2.01 while the lowest sigma value was 0.85.
Conclusion: Clinical chemistry analytes had sigma levels less than 3, method performance improvement with stringent internal quality control and correct setting of control limits need to be applied. Application of sigma metrics in addition to daily internal quality control can identify analytical deficits and improvement in clinical laboratorie
On the theory of problems and their solution spaces
No full textWe introduce and develop the logic of existence of solution to problems. We use this theory to answer the question of Florentin Smarandache in logic. We answer this question in the negative
Variability in the age of schooling contributes to the link between literacy and numeracy in Côte d’Ivoire (Draft)
No full textSupplemental Materials: https://osf.io/wgsud/Literacy and numeracy are correlated throughout development, however our understanding of this relation is limited. We explored the predictors of literacy and numeracy covariance (i.e., shared fluency between literacy and numeracy) in children (N=1167, girls=563) in rural Côte d’Ivoire, with specific focus on how developmental timing of instruction may relate to covariance. Many Ivorian children experience late enrollment and grade repetition, leading to variation in age-for-grade; participants were between grades 1 to 6 but their ages ranged from 5 to 15 (M=9.19, SD=2.07). Phonological awareness, numerical magnitude, ordinality, working memory, and inhibitory control were cognitive predictors of covariance. Age-for-grade was negatively related to covariance suggesting that covariance is related to timing of instruction
How fair is gender-fair language? Insights from gender ratio estimations in French
No full textHeated societal debates in various countries concern the use of gender-fair language, meant to replace the generic use of grammatically masculine forms. Advocates and opponents of gender-fair language disagree on – among other things – the question of whether masculine forms leave women underrepresented in people’s minds. We investigated the influence of linguistic form on the mental representations of gender in French. Participants read a short text about a professional gathering and estimated the percentages of men and women present at the gathering. Results showed higher estimates of the percentage of women in response to two gender-fair forms relative to the masculine form. Comparisons with normed data on people’s perception of real-world gender ratios additionally showed that the gender-fair forms removed or reduced a male bias for neutral- and female-stereotyped professions, respectively, yet induced a female bias for male-stereotyped professions. Thus, gender-fair language increases the prominence of women in the mind, but has varying effects on consistency, i.e., the match with default perceptions of real-world gender ratios
Epigenetic Modification In Relation To Some Common Cancers
No full textEpigenetic modification is a process that regulates DNA sequences without altering the original structure of the DNA sequences. The distortion of DNA by epigenetic modification can turn gene expression off or on. Several scientific pieces of evidence have shown that the regular occurrence of a genetic mutation governed by epigenetic changes can subsequently usher in the onset of many diseases, including Cancer. DNA methylation and histone modifications, such as acetylation, methylation, and ubiquitination, which are well known to influence gene expression, are among the most frequent epigenetic changes. In this review, we ostensibly review epigenetic modifications and their relation to cancer development. We observed that many epigenetic changes in gene expression are actively linked to Cancer, and it remains one of the most potential areas in cancer research. Many epigenetic mutations are repeatedly detected in cancer research, and reversing these mutations in cancer cells can lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches and cancer biomarkers