26729 research outputs found
Sort by
Zum Einfluss von Werten und Interessen auf Faktoren der Teameffektivität im Kontext der neuen Arbeitswelt
No full textThe ‘new world of work’ has driven key changes in corporate practice and demands the engagement of individuals, and highly effective teams more than ever. In this context, the influence of individual values and interests on team effectiveness is examined, and practical implications for team development, leadership and composition are discussed.
Despite the prevalence of teamwork and the importance of team effectiveness, little research has been conducted on the relationship between values and interests, and various factors of team effectiveness. Research has so far mainly focused on characteristics such as age or gender and their impact on team output. This thesis addresses the research gap. The study carried out relates to Germany.
The influence of professionally relevant values and interests on factors of team effectiveness is analysed and given scientific consideration. In doing so, both the average expression of values and interests and their diversity are examined.
To answer the research questions about the relationship between values and interests, and factors of team effectiveness, mixed methods research has been implemented as triangulation. After the theoretical elaboration of the topics, quantitative analysis of data is conducted on values, interests, and factors of team effectiveness for a total of 64 teams within different companies. In addition, qualitative data from five expert interviews are obtained and analysed.
Significant influences - both positive and negative - of individual values and interests on various factors of team effectiveness have been identified. The diversity of values and interests appears to have a positive effect on team effectiveness, but the results are ambiguous.
This thesis shows that the expression and diversity of values and interests within a team are related to central factors of team effectiveness and thus emphasises its economic and scientific relevance. The thesis also opens up corresponding perspectives for corporate practice. Concrete and targetoriented implementation options for improving team leadership, development and composition are presented.
Within this thesis, it is thus possible both to establish clarity about the research questions and to open up concrete optimization options for increasing team effectiveness in the context of the ‘new world of work’
Konzeption eines mehrdimensionalen Human-Capital-Kennzahlen-Dashboards am Fallbeispiel eines Medien- und Technologieunternehmens
Get PDFAs a contribution to applied business studies, the dissertation is situated within human resource management studies. The dissertation addresses the challenges of human capital measurement with the aim of empirically conceptualising a human capital dashboard for an existing media and technology company. These challenges include data analysis methods, where academic procedures are often too complex to be used in business practice. In addition, Human Resources (HR) often occupies a lower position in the corporate hierarchy than other departments such as Controlling or Sales. As a result, HR is not recognised for its contribution to human capital as these achievements are attributed to managers in other departments. In addition, key information (e.g. employee satisfaction indices) may be lacking or require significant effort to quantify (e.g. motivation levels).
Accordingly, based on a review of the literature, the paper explores how human capital can be measured for applied and operational HR management. To this end, the methodological controversy surrounding the Saarbrücker formula is addressed, as well as the description of fourteen other measurement methods. Within a clustering of methods into quarters (monetary/non-monetary and uni-/multidimensional) a research gap can be identified. The hypothesis is that there is no tool (dashboard) that includes quantitative, financial and qualitative data equally. However, meta-analyses have shown that this multidimensionality is critical for success. Thus, the key finding of this work is that the three dimensions must be given equal weight in the applied measurement of human capital.
In terms of creating a multidimensional human capital tool, the findings from the expert interviews in the empirical part of the dissertation are as follows:
• The interaction of data categories forms the basis for measurement.
• Measuring human capital adds value.
• The use of elaborate methods does not lead to any advanced knowledge.
• Human capital can be measured using HR dashboards
Entwicklungstendenzen und Erfolgsfaktoren der digitalen Transformation im deutschen Mittelstand in der Industriegüterbranche – Empirische Studie auf Ebene des strategischen Managements
Get PDFGermany’s medium-sized industrial goods sector is internationally recognised as the backbone and the driving force of the country’s economy. Many companies in this sector operate in the B2B space; are characterised as `hidden champions`; are regionally anchored; are often owner-managed with a high degree of specialisation; and are leaders in the European or world market.
However, the sector is currently under significant pressure due to factors related to the rapidly evolving digital landscape—namely, radical changes in customer orientation, value chains, (digital) business models and services. As a result, the competitive situation is shifting, existing value chains and business models are reaching their limits, and any competitive advantages are temporary.
To enter new markets, attract new customer groups, and maintain or expand profit margins—in other words, to continue to thrive and succeed—German medium-sized industrial companies must master digital transformation. However, most of these companies are driving their digital transformations in a scattered and isolated fashion, primarily from an information technology (IT), rather than strategic, point of view and with limited C-suite involvement. As a result, they often struggle to realize value across the three different digital transformation perspectives: internal (value chain), external (customers, suppliers and partners), and business model.
This empirical study serves as a compass to help German medium-sized industrial companies master digital transformation—with their customers, suppliers and value chains—and build and sustain new digital business models. Based on a qualitative research approach with 15 medium-sized German industrial companies, the study addresses the areas of development perspectives, success factors/best practices, expectations and objectives associated with digital transformation in strategic terms.
The study concludes that the most important success factor is C-suite involvement. More specifically, what’s needed is integrated top-down planning and orchestration across the internal, external and business model perspectives in synchronization with the corporate strategy. The analysis of existing digital transformation theories and models in conjunction with the empirical results also illustrates that there is a need for a more comprehensive, integrated strategic alignment between the three perspectives mentioned above. Consequently, while IT can be an enabler of digital transformations, strategy should be the driver
Maternal mental health of surrogate mothers: a longitudinal study
No full textAim and methods: The current study explores the psychological well-being and prenatal bonding of surrogates in comparison to a matched group of expectant mothers in India who had children for international intending parents. Surrogate mothers were interviewed at three time points: during pregnancy, four to six months post-birth, and five years post-birth. Studies in the West have found that surrogates do not suffer long-term psychological harm and often keep in touch with the parents and the surrogate child. Semi-structured interviews and standardized questionnaires were administered to 50 surrogates and 69 expectant mothers during pregnancy, 45 surrogates and 49 expectant mothers 4-6 months post-birth, and 19 surrogates 5 years post-birth.
Results: While overall psychological health did not significantly differ for the surrogates over the three time points, surrogates had higher levels of depression compared to the comparison group of mothers, during pregnancy and post-birth. Low social support during pregnancy and stigma associated with surrogacy from others were found to be predictive of higher depression in surrogates a few months post-birth. Regarding prenatal bonding, surrogates interacted less with and thought less about the fetus but adopted better eating habits and were more likely to avoid unhealthy practices during pregnancy, than expectant mothers. Importantly, attachment with the unborn baby during pregnancy was not significantly associated with greater psychological distress during pregnancy or after relinquishment. Nearly half of the surrogates did not meet the intended parents and only one third met the newborn. None of them met the child at the time of delivery
Experiences, psychological health, and prenatal bonding of surrogate mothers: a longitudinal study
No full textBackground: Globally there is limited information on the long-term psychological health of surrogate mothers. Power differentials between surrogates and intending parents and the commercial aspect of the surrogacy arrangement raise concerns regarding the psychological health of surrogate mothers, specifically in low-income countries. In India, cross-border commercial surrogacy became a 6-billion-dollar industry between 2002-2017.
Aim and methods: The current study explores the psychological well-being and prenatal bonding of surrogates in comparison to a matched group of expectant mothers in India who had children for international intending parents. Surrogate mothers were interviewed at three time points: during pregnancy, four to six months post-birth, and five years post-birth. Studies in the West have found that surrogates do not suffer long-term psychological harm and often keep in touch with the parents and the surrogate child. Semi-structured interviews and standardized questionnaires were administered to 50 surrogates and 69 expectant mothers during pregnancy, 45 surrogates and 49 expectant mothers 4-6 months post-birth, and 19 surrogates 5 years post-birth.
Results: While overall psychological health did not significantly differ for the surrogates over the three time points, surrogates had higher levels of depression compared to the comparison group of mothers, during pregnancy and post-birth. Low social support during pregnancy and stigma associated with surrogacy from others were found to be predictive of higher depression in surrogates a few months post-birth. Regarding prenatal bonding, surrogates interacted less with and thought less about the fetus but adopted better eating habits and were more likely to avoid unhealthy practices during pregnancy, than expectant mothers. Importantly, attachment with the unborn baby during pregnancy was not significantly associated with greater psychological distress during pregnancy or after relinquishment. Nearly half of the surrogates did not meet the intended parents and only one third met the newborn. None of them met the child at the time of delivery.
Impact: This is the first study of the psychological well-being of surrogates in low-income countries. Both quantitative and qualitative findings have important policy implications for low-income countries where surrogacy industry remains unregulated
Linking environmental and human health in English urban development decision-making: the human health literacy of environmental policy
Get PDFIn this paper we provide an overview of the UK environmental regulatory framework for subnational policy and planning in devolved English urban areas based on a systematic coding of key legislation and policies against a matrix of sustainability attributes relevant for human health. Our findings suggest that while various elements of sustainability at different scales are addressed to differing degrees, we need to move beyond the ‘three-legged stool’ of sustainability to assess linked environmental and societal health impacts. Assessing policy using a multifaceted lens of sustainability such as the one we propose can help to uncover health-development dependencies and the incentives and governance required to enhance these at different scales (planetary, regional, neighbourhood and building). We propose a coordinative role for spatial planning to integrate responses to socio-environmental health priorities for sustainable development and make recommendations for dynamic decision-making on environmental and human health impacts in urban development settings. Doing so can help promote just (equitable) transitions, decoupled from a pervasive ecological modernization discourse that frames the political economy of planning at both the national and local levels
Public Art: Electronic Sheep tapestries exhibition, London
No full textExhibition Catalogue for PUBLIC ART: ELECTRONIC SHEEP Tapestries Exhibition, 15 — 31 May at Middlesex University Grove Atrium, London.
In addition to the Tapestries on show there are 3 Art Films — a Knitted Film I and II — collaborations with Electronic Sheep and artist Cliona Harmey and a Knitted Film III — an Electronic Sheep collaboration with Film Maker and Middlesex alumna Nancy Singh
Photomontage and collective action
No full textLoraine Leeson is a visual artist particularly known for her community-based cultural activism in which photomontage has played as major role. She will talk about the transition from her image/text and film/video work in the 1970s to montaged posters produced with health workers’ unions, then the 1980s photo-murals of the Docklands Community Poster Project. Following this, how the creation of collective narrative produced through fragmented imagery served to bring voices of the least heard into the public domain, an approach that continues through her arts-based research at Middlesex University. Her recent book Art:Process:Change - Inside a Socially Situated Practice, Routledge 2018, outlines the methodologies of her practice.
http://cspace.org.u
The validation and refinement of a contextually-responsive suicide prevention gatekeeper training program designed to identify and support people from asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds: a mixed-method design
No full textIntroduction
Globally, at least 700,000 people die by suicide each year. Rates of suicide mortality fluctuate geographically, with low-and middle-income countries representing 77% of the world's suicides. Suicide-related behaviours and individual risk factors vary between ethnicities and across cultural affiliations. To make matters more complex, additional differences are apparent when people undergo geographical relocation. People forcibly displaced by violence and conflict, such as those from asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds, are likely to encounter stressors that can increase their risk of suicide. Despite rapidly increasing rates of conflict-induced migration, there is a scarcity of research into evidenced-based suicide prevention strategies to support people from these groups.
Current Investigation
This research proposes that a contextually-responsive gatekeeper training (GKT) program named Suicide Intervention First Aid (SIFA), is be an appropriate strategy to enhance the identification and support for people from asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds.
Methods
A mixed-method approach was incorporated into an action research framework to validate and refine SIFA training as a contextually relevant intervention to support people from asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds. The GKT constructs – knowledge about suicide in multicultural contexts, attitudes towards suicide and suicide prevention, and self-efficacy to intervene were measured quantitatively, adopting a pre- and post-training procedure similar to those used in previous GKT evaluations. Statistical comparisons were made between three identical self-report surveys completed across three consecutive time points – pre-training, immediately post-training, and three months following training – referred to as time-point zero (T0), time-point one (T1), and time-point two (T2). In addition, focus group discussions were used to retrieve participants’ feedback regarding areas of SIFA that were most helpful and how the program could be modified to enhance suicide prevention efforts in this particular socio-cultural context. Lastly, during the T2 follow-up, additional open-ended questions were included to retrieve information concerning participants’ post-training intervention experiences, including which areas of SIFA they feel prepared them effectively and how SIFA could have better prepared them to intervene.
Results
A total of 28 participants took part in the study. Quantitative analysis indicated SIFA's capacity to exert a significant favourable influence on knowledge about suicide and self-efficacy to intervene, which remained above baseline scores three months after training. Thematic analysis performed on focus group transcripts and narrative follow-up survey items identified three main themes: ‘The Acquisition of Knowledge’, ‘Perceived Ability to Make a Difference’, and ‘Factors Promoting and Impeding Suicide Prevention Behaviour’. The results illustrate that the program was appropriate for its target socio-cultural context and demonstrated the application of SIFA content and resources in real-life suicide prevention efforts. Further, the findings provided insight into how SIFA could be modified to support knowledge and self-efficacy further. Most prominently, perhaps, was the identification that gatekeepers who provide support in these contexts may be prone to compassion fatigue. This led to the assertion that future GKT should include evidence-based information on mitigating compassion fatigue's adverse impact on help-giving behaviours
An Obscure Camera
No full textAn Obscure Camera (interactive installation)
An investigation that references and develops the Victorian camera obscura, revisiting the form for a contemporary 21st-century context of AI and surveillance culture.
The research seeks to highlight the implications of choices made by AI when analysing movement and person-recognition in live video feeds. It is focused on the AI algorithms created by companies such as Ultralytics (Ultralytics 2024), employed by a vast range of bodies, from commercial through to governmental, to recognise, track and follow the human figure in public places. Although these tracking systems are in part understood on an objective level – where images are analysed and indexed against pre-existing visual data sets to make decisions – there is little or no understanding of their actions as an immediate and physical act in the same way that we, on a subjective human level, intuitively understand such interactions as ‘approaching’, ‘meeting’, ‘embracing’, ‘following’, ‘running after’ or ‘away from’ others.
An Obscure Camera address these subjective interactions on a phenomenological level, by focusing on a participant’s physical action, placing an emphasis on their tactile-kinesthetic awarenesses (Sheets-Johnstone 2011). Through custom scripted spatial sensing and interactive technology, the research aims to accents the agency of the participant (Sandiland 2022). In this situation, viewers can choose to embody the following and tracking of an AI algorithm through their physical movement in and around an installation space, bringing home the profundity of their movements through physically immediate action. In contrast to the minimal actions of clicking a mouse or pressing a key, the participant in Obscure Camera embodies the act of surveillance. In this way they are confronted first-hand with the ethical and social implications of the way we are tracked and followed by corporations and organisations of power.
The piece represents an exploration into the underlying sociopolitical implications of contemporary interactive technologies including motion tracking, AI image recognition, and LiDAR scanning, as employed in earlier works by Sandiland (Remote Dancing(2004-9), Trip Hazard(2013), Border Control(2022)). The installation develops Sandiland's ideas of public agency through physical action and embodiment, the central tenet of his PhD, Accenting Agency, Duets in Interactive Installation (2022)