4101 research outputs found
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A study of Internet of Things (IoT) and its impacts on global supply chains
No full textThe objective of this research paper is to assess and produce a synthesis of peer and research findings towards a better understanding on the impacts of technology developments such as that of Internet of Things (IoT) in global supply chains. It examines on how they begin to converge as one integrated concept. The basis of the paper will revolve around (IoT) areas impact the Supply chain and in turn the management of the supply chain, it will also look at the growing innovation within (IoT) and large investments being made in the supply chain sector. It could further be argued that (IoT) is merely a repeatable exercise and merely an investment that any competitive market could undertake thus nullifying any genuine competitive advantage. Furthermore, it provides future researchers to explore the criteria that can be assessed by organisations towards the adoption and implementation of IoT services and its readiness
The impact of childminder pre-registration training on the preparation of prospective childminders for registration with OFSTED
No full textThe role of government policy in influencing childcare provision in England has seen prolific changes. The research in childminding practice has been seen to develop and as such, changes in policies to support and influence the provision of childminding as a method of childcare have been established. The introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in 2008 (DCSF), and subsequent changes in 2012 (DfE), 2104 (DfE) and more recently 2017 (DfE) have outlined the requirements of training for those wishing to undertake the childminder registration process with the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted). To establish an understanding of the training pathway that was perceived to best prepare prospective childminders for such registration, this thesis looked at 268 prospective childminders’ experiences of childminder pre-registration training offered by Bolton Local Authority (BLA) between 2009 and 2014. Adopting a theoretical framework of change management gave insight into the steps taken by BLA to modify a classroom-based training pathway, to that of a blended delivery (classroom delivery combined with e-learning) and ultimately a move to a web-based fact sheet: that signposted prospective childminders to independently search for information via the internet. Each amendment to the training pathway was in support of the changes in the EYFS 2008 (DCSF), 2012 (DfE) and 2014 (DfE) requirements. A case-study methodological approach to gathering qualitative and quantitative data, via the use of questionnaires, focus groups and interviews explored the perceptions of three cohorts of prospective childminders and the training they undertook to prepare them for childminder registration. The three cohorts collectively consisted of seven different groups of prospective childminders who undertook their pre-registration training via the training pathway relevant to the EYFS in force at the time. The revision of the EYFS in 2017 is out of scope for the findings of this study. The findings of the thesis derived from a case study of BLA’s responses to the changing political environment within the early years sector. In reviewing the training available, prospective childminders shared their opinions and experiences of the training they received in providing them with the knowledge and understanding of the practical aspects of becoming a childminder, ways in which to implement the EYFS within the home environment, alongside an understanding of the requirements of self-employment and an awareness of how to maintain a sustainable business. All these elements contributed in preparing them for the registration process with Ofsted. This research leads to a recognition that information, guidance and face-to-face training as a way of sharing information to prospective childminders was perceived to be the most conducive to understanding the level of commitment and knowledge required to undertake registration to become a childminde
Acute care service performance during winter: report from the winter SAMBA 2020 national audit of acute care
No full textThe Winter Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit (SAMBA) provides the first comparison of performance within acute medicine against clinical quality indicators during winter, a time of increased pressure and demand on acute services. 105 hospitals participated in Winter SAMBA, collecting data over 24-hours on 30th January 2020. 5626 patients were included. Participating units saw a median of 48 patients (range 13-131). Comparison between Winter SAMBA and SAMBA19 found less patients had an early warning score within 30 minutes during winter (74.3% vs 78.9%) and less were seen by a clinical decision maker within four hours (84.9% vs 87.9%). Unplanned admissions represented a higher proportion of workload (92.5% vs 90.1%). Patients were more likely to have a NEWS2 score of 3 or higher (30.1% vs 25.7%). Performance is poorer in winter, and patients are more unwell, needing prompt treatment. Services should ensure high quality care can be maintained through times of increased pressure, including winter
SOCRATIVE AS A TOOL FOR SUPPORTING THE EXISTING CURRICULUM: A PRELIMINARY QUANTITATIVE EXAMINATION OF STUDENT PERSPECTIVES
No full textCurriculum design and development is a vital higher education (HE) agenda item at both departmental and institutional level. Issues of internationalisation, widening participation, sector competition, oversight as well the increasingly market focused culture of the HE sector have placed a challenge on academics to be reflective, creative and open minded in how they approach curriculum development. A well-documented area of curriculum development involves the increasing use of technology as a pedagogic tool. Through a small scale quantitative study, this paper will seek to examine the impact of technology (Socrative) on the learning experiences of eight business management students at a UK university. Feedback from the respondents indicates that Socrative can have a positive impact on students' comprehension of the curriculum materials. The purpose of this study is to help promote best practice and explore new strategies for technology supported pedagogy in management education
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
Research ethics in Sub-Saharan Africa: graduate business students’ attitudes and beliefs
No full textIn this article, we outline the results of a narrative exploration of beliefs and attitudes towards research ethics among graduate students in two South-Central African countries, Zambia and Malawi. The participants were mid-career professionals in Africa, studying graduate business programs delivered in-country, but in partnership with a British University. By understanding the cultural underpinnings of African ethical philosophy, we aim to reconcile research practices in the region with the ethical compliance requirements and processes explicit in Western graduate research. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 11 students to ascertain their views on ethics generally, the influences that contribute to their ethical perspective, and in particular the relationship between these and the processes and procedures taught in their course. Participants indicated several factors were important to their beliefs and attitudes regarding research ethics including close social groups which impacted ethical beliefs, traditional historical ethics re-enforced through storytelling, religion, location (urban or rural), and beliefs about professionalism
'Wisdom that walks in bodily form' Nietzsche's travels with Epicurus Nature, Health and Ethics
No full textIt is winter 1876 in Sorrento, the air bright and taut. Nietzsche’s pen is poised for a new direction in his philosophy but first he pauses ‘like a wanderer pauses, to take in the vast and dangerous land through which [his] mind [has] hitherto travelled’ (GM P: 2). This ‘pause’ on the path marks the beginning of the aphoristic style of writing that will characterize Nietzsche’s ‘middle period’; from this point on, thought-as-travel will be less a metaphor than the material practice of thinking outside. As Nietzsche’s connection to university philosophy atrophies, walking becomes thinking. Writing from Sorrento to Reinhart von Seydlitz, Nietzsche imbues his strolling with allegorical significance
The impact of domestic violence on mothers and children
No full textOver the last few decades, domestic violence (DV) has been an intense area that profoundly affects numerous life domains for the people involved. Evidence suggests that children and women who experience DV are at increased risk of adverse mental and physical health difficulties. In addition, women and children's health are strongly linked, particularly in the presence of DV. However there is little knowledge about the impact of DV on both women and children. This study, therefore, sought to bring forth knowledge on the topic, examine and explore the effects and impact of DV on mothers and children. A literature review is used to gain a broader understanding on DV. This project also used a library-based approach using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodology to critically evaluate the findings. Furthermore, within this study a thematic analysis is used for pinpointing, examining and interpreting various aspects within a research topic. The findings indicated that DV had an impact on both women and children. Studies demonstrated that children may become resilient to the exposure of DV however, many studies showed consistent results that children internalise and externalise behaviour. Moreover, the findings of several studies presented women to experience mental difficulties and parental practice problems during and after DV. Furthermore research indicated that DV can impact all races however, stated that BME, Latinos and Hispanic women have higher levels of experiencing DV compared to white women. Finally, these findings have a potential to increase awareness on DV and its impact on women and children and the importance of healthcare professionals acknowledging the signs of DV
From support worker to district nurse team manager: a narrative
No full textAs the general population ages, so too does the nursing workforce. A recent Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI) report (2019a) stated that 1 in 10 qualified district nurse positions have been lost in the past 10 years—without a trained workforce to replace those who retire. Workforce planning is central to ensure safe and effective care in the community setting. This article aims to provide a narrative account of one student who started her career at the University of Bolton as a trainee assistant practitioner and over time achieved her present position as a district nurse team manager. The account will include her journey from support worker to assistant practitioner, studying at the University of Bolton as a trainee assistant practitioner on a ‘work, earn and learn’ programme. It details the support she received from mentors in the trust, alongside her onward journey to registered nurse and specialist nurse practitioner qualifications
Value creation through cloud SAAS applications : Business IT alignment in service industries
No full textAlthough the business IT alignment phenomenon has garnered much attention in the fiercely competitive modern service industry, aligning business and IT strategies still presents a challenge in enterprise. Despite the selection dilemma enterprises face when deciding on the most effective business-IT alignment approach, the proliferation of cloud computing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is attracting many service enterprises to create business value. This paper provides insight into how cloud SaaS applications can be a source of value creation for enterprises operating in the service sector. Using a case study approach and semi-structured interviews, the findings aimed to determine how aligning IT strategy and business strategy can lead to value creation. On-demand self-service, rapid elasticity and measured service were among the most persuasive dimensions of business-IT alignment, while vendor-lock-in, incompatibility issues and potential security and privacy issues were among the most dissuasive dimensions of business-IT alignment. Future research could explore other cloud service models, such as Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) applications that support business-IT alignment to reveal how and why other cloud service applications can succeed or fail