4254 research outputs found
Sort by
Does entrepreneurial intention for innovation at firm-level matter to affect performance?
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to 1) examine the influence of firm-level entrepreneurial attitude toward innovation, subjective norms for innovation, and perceived control over innovation on firms’ intention for innovation; 2) study the influence of firms’ intention for innovation on new product development performance; 3) test the effect of new product development performance on firms’ financial performance. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed theoretical model has been analyzed through structural equation modelling using SmartPLS software and structured questionnaires has been distributed among 244 entrepreneurs in Oman. Findings: By empirically testing the antecedents of the firm-level entrepreneurs’ intention with a focus on existing firms (not their intention for new venture creation), it was found that attitudes toward innovation and perceived behavioral control do predict firm-level entrepreneurs’ intention for innovation. The firm-level entrepreneurs’ intention for innovation was also found to positively affect new product development performance. And new product performance was found to enhance financial performance of firms. Practical implications: The findings of this study interject a better understanding of the new product development performance and financial performance which can be achieved by the firm-level entrepreneurial intention for innovation. Entrepreneurs can effectively convey the relative benefit of SME's innovation by emphasizing how the innovation in the firm can help to increase revenue, profitability, boost sales growth, and strengthen the financial health of the SMEs by developing new products for the market. Originality/value: This research contributes to the understanding the relationship between the entrepreneurs’ behavioural characteristics and the firm level entrepreneurial’ intention and how it affects new product development performance and financial performance.</p
Examining the impact of a Volunteer-Delivered counselling service for people experiencing sight loss: a mixed methods evaluation
No full textPurpose: This article describes a mixed methods evaluation of a volunteer-delivered counselling service for people experiencing sight loss, to identify the outcomes, benefits, and challenges of this model of service provision within rehabilitation services. Materials and method: A mixed methods approach was used, with both outcome and process evaluation components. Outcomes for 817 service users were assessed pre-and-post service use, using standardised (CORE10) measures. Semi-structured interviews and surveys with 22 volunteer counsellors and 4 senior counsellors were conducted, to understand their experiences of the format, content, and delivery of the service. Results: Clients presenting for counselling experienced significant levels of self-reported depression, anxiety, and feelings of bereavement. Analysis showed a significant positive change in clinical outcomes for service users who received volunteer-delivered counselling services. Volunteer counsellors saw the unique and specialist nature of the service as critical for its impact on clients, and reported benefits of volunteering for this service, including developing their skills with this client group. Conclusions: Volunteer-delivered counselling can be effective for people affected by sight loss, providing accessible and much-needed psychological support, which is relevant given current pressures on health and social care services. There are key lessons for future models of this type.Implications for Rehabilitation Vision loss can have a profound negative impact on people’s emotional and mental well-being, with many advocating for counselling and emotional support (CESS) to be included in low vision rehabilitative services. Despite this, access to psychological support is often overlooked in low vision rehabilitation, and access to CESS services is often poor. This study evaluated a volunteer-delivered CESS service, demonstrating that this model of service delivery is effective for this group. There are clear advantages to a volunteer-delivered model for those with sight loss, in terms of widening access, supporting integrated rehabilitative care, and reducing health inequalities.</p
Using a systems perspective to understand hospital falls among patients with dementia
No full textBackgroundFalls are a frequent event among older adults with dementia during their hospital stay. This qualitative study explores the factors contributing to falls in this population using a systems perspective.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 carers of patients with dementia and 20 hospital staff who worked on medical wards. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically using a systems framework.ResultsThe themes generated from this falls research were factors related to the: patient (e.g. their physical health), carer (e.g. their ability to re-call a patient's past medical history), staff (e.g. teamwork), hospital policies (e.g. transfer of patients between wards), the hospital environment (e.g. lack of observation side rooms for infectious patients who are at risk of falls on some wards) and the use of hospital equipment (e.g. walking aid).ConclusionWe recommend that future hospital falls intervention programmes need to be supported by a credible systems approach aiming to improve patient outcomes in relation to falls prevention
Business, Economy, and Society: Tales from the Pandemic Days
No full text‘Business, Economy, and Society: Tales from the Pandemic Days’ provides a timely and focused examination of how firms, particularly SMEs, responded to the vicissitudes of the COVID-19 pandemic. It nicely combines overall economicimplications with firm specific issues. Human resource and technological issues are rightly identified as the central ingredient in resolving firm performance. Throughout, though, the nexus of these two ingredients to success are highlighted – they do not stand alone. This point is made in multiple contexts and with pointed examples of how to best proceed. Perhaps the pandemic inspired changes and adaptations elucidated in ‘Business, Economy, and Society: Tales from the Pandemic Days’ were coming regardless. None-the-less, humanresource management practice and technology adaptation are here and now. The questions asked and answered are which, what and how. As well documented, the answers are conditional on the nature of the business going forward, not looking back
Leg Fidgeting Improves Executive Function following Prolonged Sitting with a Typical Western Meal: A Randomized, Controlled Cross-Over Trial.
Get PDFProlonged uninterrupted sitting and a typical Western meal, high in fat and refined sugar, can additively impair cognitive and cerebrovascular functions. However, it is unknown whether interrupting these behaviours, with a simple desk-based activity, can attenuate the impairment. The aim of this study was to determine whether regular leg fidgeting can off-set the detrimental effects of prolonged sitting following the consumption of a typical Western meal, on executive and cerebrovascular function. Using a randomized cross-over design, 13 healthy males consumed a Western meal and completed 180-min of prolonged sitting with leg fidgeting of 1 min on/4 min off (intervention [INT]) and without (control [CON]). Cognitive function was assessed pre and post sitting using the Trail Maker Test (TMT) parts A and B. Common carotid artery (CCA) blood flow, as an index of brain flow, was measured pre and post, and cerebral (FP1) perfusion was measured continuously. For TMT B the CON trial significantly increased (worsened) completion time (mean difference [MD] = 5.2 s, d = 0.38), the number of errors (MD = 3.33, d = 0.68) and cognitive fatigue (MD = 0.73, d = 0.92). Compared to CON, the INT trial significantly improved completion time (MD = 2.3 s, d = 0.97), and prevented declines in cognitive fatigue and a reduction in the number of errors. No significant changes in cerebral perfusion or CCA blood flow were found. Leg fidgeting for 1-min on/4-min off following a meal high in fats and refined sugars attenuated the impairment in executive function. This attenuation in executive function may not be caused by alterations in CCA blood flow or cerebral perfusion
John Blundell's cricket blueprint revisited
No full textMore than 35 years ago, in the infancy of the globalisation and professionalisation of sport, John Blundell published a blueprint for cricket in England and Wales in this journal. His proposals, aimed at giving market forces a greater role, related to player eligibility regulations, the admission of new teams, changing cricket formats and the creation of special games and tours. Most of these proposals were subsequently adopted by the sport's administrators. The consequent benefits derived by the sport, its teams, fans and players have, however, been mixed, and the effects are confounded by the number of changes made and the complex and dynamic nature of the competitive environment
UK-Canada Trade Post Brexit: Leading with Circular Economy Trade
Get PDFThis research explores the viability of and considerations for circular economy international trade, a new international trade concept developed from an established circular economy concept. This work derives insights from literature to initiate a new branch of international trade, augmented by several trade experts’ reviews to ensure the feasibility of the ideas. Academic and practical insights include advice for future trade agreements and suggestions for future international trade research, opening up a new field of circular economy trade. The original 2018 academic research was jointly commissioned by the UK and Canada to consider how to design a trade agreement between the two countries post-Brexit. As of April 1, 2021 and as predicted by our original 2018 work, an agreement, called the Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA), much like the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union is in place to support UK-Canada trade. CETA incorporates some principles of sustainable development. Taking sustainable development aims further by explicitly embedding circular economy trade into the UK-Canada agreement would represent progression of international trade agreements and possibly support a worldwide “race to the top”. According to expert opinion, our nations could engage in circular economy trade because our countries are aligned on internal circular economy policy. Moreover, although traditional views on international trade could remain as barriers, even the World Trade Organization subscribes to this new model. Overall, this research opens up paths for future research opportunities in international trade