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Entwicklung eines zukunftsfähigen Bankfilialmodells in der Omnikanalstrategie für das deutsche Retailbanking
No full textThe dissertation deals with the development of a future-proof bank branch model in the omni-channel strategy for German retail banking. The key challenges for retail banking lie in the increased influence of digitalization, new competitors and changing customer needs, which have a direct impact on the bank branch. In Germany alone, the branch network has been reduced by 15% in the last three years.
The remaining number of branches should act as a connection between the physical and digital world, which can be explained by the omni-channel strategy. The specific design of the bank branch in the context of the omni-channel strategy was defined as the field of action for this work. Through the systematic literature analysis, 187 research-specific publications were identified. This was used to derive relevant branch dimensions and evaluation criteria that are relevant for the development of a future-proof bank branch in an omni-channel strategy. The new term “branch dimension” was introduced. The individual components of a bank branch model are referred to as branch dimensions, which can be differentiated from one another in terms of focus and design, depending on the branch model. A total of seven branch dimensions were classified in the present research: target group, branch design, experience, service, advice, products and employees. Furthermore, a set of evaluation criteria was derived, which can be used to evaluate the future viability of the bank branch model developed. The evaluation criteria are categorized into customer, brand, employee and economic efficiency.
These results served as the basis for the qualitative study. For this purpose, 15 expert interviews were conducted and then analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method according to Kuckartz. Subsequently, the results from theory and empirical research were combined. The result is “The Future Omni Branch” as well as specific recommendations for action for each branch dimension, which make it possible to implement the bank branch model in practice in order to position yourself as a branch bank in retail banking in the future. With the development of “The Future Omni Branch”, a significant contribution was made to research and the research gap was closed
"Proofs and Refutations", non-classically and game theoretically
Get PDFLakatos’s seminal work "Proofs and Refutations" depends heavily on counter-examples and refutations. In this work, I argue that the said dependancy goes further than anticipated, rendering Proofs and Refutations a working example of paraconsistent reasoning in mathematical methodology. I also maintain that Proofs and Refutations is an example of paraconsistent reasoning with strategies, making it an example of game theoretical and strategic reasoning in mathematical methodology
From Babel to bridge: the challenges of research co‐production in multilingual spaces
Get PDFThis article discusses emerging findings from a large‐scale study undertaken in 12 diverse areas of England focused on reducing health inequalities for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrant populations. Working with multilingual populations has posed both ethical and practical considerations throughout the design and implementation of this co‐produced participatory research project. Despite our deep‐rooted commitment to working collaboratively with communities of interest and a large team of multilingual academic and community partners who have co‐designed the study, the linguistic complexities of operationalising planned activities have highlighted multiple obstacles. We argue that multilingual research presents significant challenges to researchers and has the potential to jeopardise commitments to inclusivity and co‐production, even for those teams well‐versed in working with refugee and migrant groups. Practical considerations around recruitment in diverse languages, appropriate translations of project documentation, and timely booking of sufficient interpreters repeatedly emerged as challenges, as has gaining informed consent, particularly where literacy and understanding of concepts of research are new to participants. The methodological difficulties involved in achieving linguistic inclusivity are outlined, together with the complexities of interpreting and translating set within a context of negotiating different power relationships between institutions, academic researchers, collaborative partners, community co‐researchers, and participants. Whilst community co‐researchers and organisations create a vital bridge to enable all participants to communicate effectively within an ethical and collaborative space, we interrogate the challenges inherent in such empirical research and propose methodological practices to address these concerns
Limerence, hidden obsession, fixation, and rumination: a scoping review of human behaviour
Get PDFThis systematic scoping review explores the behavioural state of limerence and the relationship it has with rumination as part of a precursory phase to stalking, for the purpose of identifying a trajectory in harmful human behaviour. The review also considers how limerence impacts those who experience it, as well as factors which serve as accelerants to this cognitive state. It examines cognitive disorders identifiable on the DSM-5, such as obsessive–compulsive disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and erotomania, and applies them to studies which conceptualise limerence as an obsessive behaviour. At present, there is extraordinarily limited literature focusing on this state of unrequited and intense human emotion towards another person—a phenomenon characterised by limited by self-awareness and restraint, yet also a state that involves obsession and fixation, sharing cognitive characteristics and behaviours intrinsically tied to stalking behaviours. This review argues that behaviours exhibited in a state of limerence can serve as the building blocks upon which more harmful, externally focused stalking behaviours could develop. This review identified that the emerging literature on limerence offers new and important insights into the psychology of obsessive desire as a precursor to other, more proximal forms of violence which warrant greater attention, as they do not fit into existing psychological classifications of obsession because these behaviours are motivated by a lack of reciprocation and rejection. The objective is not to label individuals experiencing limerence as deviant but, rather, to better understand how fixation and obsessive desire can be maintained in the absence of approach behaviours
Surgical site infections and the use of forced-air warming devices during surgical procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textForced-air warming (FAW) is effective in preventing hypothermia, yet its impact on surgical site infections (SSI) remains debated. This systematic review synthesizes available evidence on the impact of FAW devices on SSI incidence among surgical patients. We searched CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, and CENTRAL databases. Fourteen included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomized controlled trials, and observational studies comparing FAW devices to other warming methods or no warming in adult patients undergoing elective or emergency surgeries. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool was used for quality assessment, and a narrative synthesise and meta-analysis was performed. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis did not show a significant increase in SSI risk with FAW use. However, heterogeneity in study designs and small sample sizes limit the generalizability of findings. Future research should focus on larger, multicenter RCTs in diverse surgical settings and documenting patient characteristics and anaesthetic methods
Assessment of aerobic fitness and repeated sprint ability in elite male soccer: a systematic review of test protocols used in practice and research
Get PDFBackground
Soccer requires players to cover distances around 10-12 km, with numerous consecutive sprints throughout the 90-minute game. As such, aerobic fitness and repeated sprint ability (RSA) are crucial physical qualities for the modern soccer player to cope with the demands of the game. Nevertheless, a comprehensive and systematic search in aerobic fitness and RSA assessment procedures in elite soccer has yet to be conducted.
Objective
The aims of this systematic review were to: (1) identify the tests and outcome variables used to assess aerobic fitness and RSA of elite male soccer players, (2) provide normative values for the most common tests of aerobic fitness and RSA across different playing levels, and (3) report the reliability values of these aerobic fitness and RSA tests.
Methods
A systematic review of the academic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science and OVID for studies published until August 2023 was conducted, following the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they: 1) were original research studies, published in a peer-reviewed journal, and written in English language; 2) had the primary aim of assessing aerobic fitness and/or RSA; 3) players were male and older than 17 years of age (i.e., mean age of the group), and 4) their playing level was defined as “professional”, “international” or “elite”.
Results
For aerobic fitness testing, 124 studies and 35 different tests were identified. Of those, 26 tests (74%) were field-based, whereas only nine (26%) were laboratory-based tests. The incremental treadmill test to exhaustion was the most commonly used aerobic fitness assessment method (56 studies, 45%), with VO2max (ml/kg/min) being the most prevalent outcome variable (49 studies, 87%). The YYIR1 and YYIR2 were also commonly used tests, identified in 22 (18%) and 10 (8%) studies, respectively. The most frequently reported outcome variable in both tests was distance in meters, reported in 20 studies (91%) for YYIR1 and in all 10 studies (100%) for YYIR2. For RSA testing, 27 studies and 18 different tests were identified. Substantial variability in the identified RSA testing protocols was observed in terms of direction (linear vs. multidirectional), sprint repetitions (6-15), sprint distance (20-40 m), type of recovery (active vs. passive), and recovery duration (10-30 s). The 6 x 40 m shuttle sprint protocol with a 180° change of direction and 20 s passive recovery was the most common RSA test, employed in eight studies (29%).
Conclusions
This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the testing methods used to assess aerobic fitness and RSA in elite male soccer players. A total of 35 different aerobic fitness tests and 18 RSA tests were identified, highlighting the diversity in methodologies used. The most prevalent aerobic test was the incremental treadmill testing to exhaustion, with a median VO2max value of 58 ml/kg/min. Field-based tests were preferred due to their practicality, cost-efficiency, and ability to assess multiple athletes simultaneously. A substantial variability in RSA testing protocols was identified in terms sprint directions, distances, repetitions, and recovery types. Future research should focus on establishing the diagnostic accuracy of the most commonly used aerobic fitness tests to inform their utility in practice and bridge the gap between current testing practices and optimal fitness evaluation
Die Reduktion des Absentismus durch Workplace Counselling in kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen in Deutschland
Get PDFIn small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany, workplace counselling has hardly been established to date. While larger companies have already recognised the numerous advantages of the intervention, the focus in smaller companies is often on day-to-day business. The reasons why the programme is not introduced are a lack of resources and a shortage of professional knowledge on the subject.
Compared to larger companies, however, SMEs suffer far more from the absence of staff due to illness, as their employees cannot easily be replaced. An international scientific study has demonstrated that workplace counselling leads to a reduction in absenteeism. This doctoral thesis aims therefore to investigate that correlation in German SMEs and to present the results in a manner that can be understood and implemented by SMEs.
The methods chosen for data collection are the grounded theory and expert interviews. The experts interviewed were employees and entrepreneurs of SMEs together with psychotherapists and psychologists. A preliminary study was conducted with 3 participants and 21 people completed the expert interviews used for data analysis.
The interviews revealed a number of aspects that are activated by workplace counselling in SMEs and lead to a reduction in absenteeism. These are the emotional support provided by the therapist, the improvement of psychological well-being, assistance in overcoming problems, a more positive perception of the company and the enhancement of individual skills. Nevertheless, the experts also mentioned the possibility that workplace counselling has no effect on absenteeism.
The study also revealed a number of other factors that influence workplace counselling in SMEs. These are the individual skills of a person and external conditions that have an impact on the effectiveness of the intervention, such as the skills of the therapist. It also emerged that workplace counselling creates a health-promoting working environment, which could have a positive effect on the participation in the intervention. All of these aspects provide opportunities for further scientific work
Chorale Prelude on an English Hymn
No full textRecording of piece for string orchestra, made by the Curve Ensemble and released on the Bigo & Twigetti label
Nursing's relationship to feminism: what is nursing's response to the global backlash against women's rights and access to abortion?
Get PDFAuswirkungen der neuen Regulierungsmaßnahmen der Finalisierung von Basel III auf die Kreditvergabe österreichischer Banken an KMU – eine multiperspektivische Betrachtung aus Sicht der Banken und KMU
No full textThis dissertation examines the effects of the new regulatory measures concerning the finali-sation of Basel III in Austria, including a multi-perspective view (SMEs and banks). The study was conducted using a parallel mixed-methods design. Within the quantitative approach, the researcher conducted eight individual case studies involving two universal banks and six re-gional banks. Based on these case studies, a correlation and regression analysis were carried out. The qualitative study was conducted using expert interviews. Based on this mixed-meth-ods design, the dissertation provides two different points of view.
The experts did not identify any risks for lending to small and medium-sized enterprises during the interviews conducted at the beginning of 2022. In particular, the banks' experts empha-sised that they were able to restore SMEs' confidence in banks through the close monitoring of the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the quantitative research revealed that regional banks, in particular, will face challenges in providing lending. Since regional banks are the pri-mary partners of SMEs, this could pose a challenge for these types of enterprises as well, for example, in securing interim financing.
The dissertation provides a deep insight into how various banks in Austria have developed their equity capital over the last 13 years and how experts perceive the finalisation of Basel III. Furthermore, it describes how banks, as well as owners and managing directors, can pro-actively take measures to prevent a lack of liquidity resulting from a negative loan commit-ment.
In the future, SMEs will probably only be granted loans from banks if they can proactively disclose their most important key figures in accordance with the principal-agent theory, main-tain a strong business model, and build the necessary trust with their banks. However, since the framework is (partially) in place (1st of January 2025), the ECB has abandoned its zero-interest rate policy, the economy in Austria is in a recession, and higher costs meet lower margins, it is to be feared that banks' lending conditions for SMEs will deteriorate significantly in the future