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Navigating identity shifts and well-being in the entrepreneurial exit process: a comparative study of entrepreneurs nearing retirement
Get PDFEntrepreneurs in their 50s and beyond face significant identity shifts and well-being challenges as they transition out of the businesses they have built. Grounded in Super’s career-development framework and utilizing the Eisenhardt Method for case study analysis, this research explores the entrepreneurial exit process during the maturity and decline stages. With an average business tenure of 11 years, these entrepreneurs encounter emotional and practical hurdles, such as health concerns, financial pressures, and shifting priorities. The study highlights valuing identity diversification and social support in easing the transition, revealing that financial success alone does not guarantee positive post-exit well-being. Gender differences show women prioritize sustainability and family, while men focus on growth and professional identity. These insights underscore the need for early exit planning and holistic support for successful entrepreneurial succession and retirement strategies
Professor Yosif Fadenhecht (1873-1953) and the Bulgarian-Polish intellectual exchanges during the interwar period
No full textIt is little known that thanks to the efforts of the leading Bulgarian scholar Yosif Fadenhecht (1873-1953), whose legacy has now, sadly, been largely buried, the 1933 Polish Code of Obligations, one of the greatest Polish legal achievements, was made available to the Bulgarian audience from early on. Fadenhecht’s fervent interest in Polish law developed following the First Congress of Slavic Jurists in 1933 at which one of the main topics of discussion was the possibility of unification of the laws of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Yugoslavia based on the Polish Code of Obligations of 1933. Fadenhecht spent the next eight years studying and writing about this code. One may argue that his research marked the beginning of a long-term curiosity about Polish law in Bulgaria. This chapter highlights the important contributions of Professor Yosif Fadenhecht to Bulgarian-Polish intellectual exchanges during the Interwar period by situating them in context and by tracing their impact on legal development in Bulgaria
The MDX Living Pavilion: making a collaborative, sustainable learning and wellbeing space on campus
Get PDFThe MDX Living Pavilion project at Middlesex University is a pioneering example of practice-based learning and interdisciplinary collaboration, aimed at fostering innovation in architectural education while addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges. Conceived in 2017 by academic staff, this flagship initiative enabled students to co-create a multifunctional pavilion, blending nature-inspired designs with sustainable and innovative materials. The pavilion serves as a learning, community, and wellbeing space for students, staff, and the local community, while acting as a legacy structure that future cohorts can adapt and evolve. The project’s objectives align with Middlesex University’s strategy, emphasizing real-world learning that connects with global goals: Quality Education (UNSDG 4), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (UNSDG 9), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (UNSDG 11). Integrated within the Architectural Technology course, second- and third-year students undertook the challenge of designing and constructing a functional 60 m² pavilion. This involved theoretical application, technical skill development, and collaboration with stakeholders including the University Estates team, local authorities, industry professionals, and material specialists. This paper outlines the Pavilion Project’s implementation across all stages and highlights its contributions to student learning, professional development, and sustainability. The project’s achievements extend beyond the university, as it was a runner-up in the Guardian’s University Award for Teaching Excellence and a finalist in the London Build Sustainable Construction Award, underscoring its educational and environmental significance
Advancing age is not associated with greater exercise-induced muscle damage: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression
Get PDFObjective: The aim of this paper was to undertake a PRISMA-accordant meta-analysis comparing exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in older and younger adults. Methods: Google Scholar, PubMed and Sport Discus were searched in June 2023 for the terms “ageing” OR “age” OR “middle-aged” OR “old” OR “older” OR “elderly” OR “masters” OR “veteran” AND “muscle damage” OR “exercise-induced muscle damage” OR “exercise-induced muscle injury” OR “contraction-induced injury” OR “muscle soreness” OR “delayed onset muscle soreness” OR “creatine kinase”. From 1092 originally identified titles, 36 studies were included which had an exercise component comparing a younger against an older group. The outcome variables of EIMD were muscle function, muscle soreness, and creatine kinase (CK). A meta-analysis was conducted on change to EIMD after exercise in older vs younger adults using standardised mean difference (SMD) and an inverse-variance random effects model. Results: Change after 24 and 72 hours, and peak change, in muscle function was not different between old and young (SMD range = -0.16 to -0.35). Muscle soreness was greater in younger than older adults for all comparisons (SMD range= -0.34 to -0.62). CK was greater in younger than older adults at 24 hours (SMD= -0.32), as was peak change (SMD= -0.32). A relationship between sex and peak muscle function change was evident for males (SMD= -0.45), but not females (SMD= -0.44). All other meta-regression were non-significant. Conclusion: Advancing age is not associated with greater symptoms of EIMD. Implications: Older adults can pursue regular physical activity without concern for experiencing greater EIMD
Einfluss agiler Softwareentwicklung auf die Kundenzufriedenheit im Business-to-Business-Kontext: Theoretische Konzeption und empirische Evaluierung des Modells
No full textThis dissertation examines the impact of agile software development on customer satisfaction from the perspective of external customers in the German business-to-business (B2B) context. The primary research question is whether and how agile software development influences customer satisfaction in this setting. By integrating theories of service quality and customer satisfaction with principles of agile software development, a novel theoretical model is developed and empirically tested.
Data were collected through an online survey, resulting in 444 completed questionnaires from Germany. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM), specifically co-variance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM). The study places a clear focus on the role of the customer and examines the perspectives of software recipients in various B2B sectors.
The results show that agile software development has both direct and indirect effects on customer satisfaction. Process-related satisfaction is most affected, while satisfaction with the final result and overall satisfaction show more moderate effects. In addition, significant relationships were identified between different dimensions of customer satisfaction. Moderating effects of gender and age were also observed, influencing how different demographic groups experience the impact of agile methods.
Practical recommendations include continuous implementation and optimisation of agile methods, regular use of customer satisfaction measurement tools, and staff training. Theoretically, future research should replicate the study with larger or more representative samples, explore additional moderating variables, and validate the model in different countries and industries.
This dissertation provides valuable insights for both academic research and practical applications, and enhances the understanding of how agile software development affects customer satisfaction in the B2B context
Assessing the validity of the LEAF-Q and FAST questionnaires for detecting low energy availability in competitive female netball players
No full textLow energy availability (LEA) occurs when there is insufficient energy to support normal physiological function (Wasserfurth et al., 2020). This occurs when energy intake is lower than energy expenditure relative to fat free mass; typically, an energy balance of <45 kcal/kg FFM/day is considered LEA (Holtzman & Ackerman, 2021). If left undiagnosed, LEA can result in severe performance decrements, and ultimately health issues, including low bone mineral density, menstrual and endocrine dysfunction and eating disorders. It is highly prevalent in female athlete cohorts; the rate of LEA in female football players is 36% (Dasa et al., 2023). Risk of LEA may also be high in sports such as Netball, due to the high percentage of female players, significant body image expectations, social and coach pressures on maintaining leanness, and revealing kit. Due to the complex and global range of resultant symptoms, LEA is very difficult to identify accurately, and a gold-standard diagnostic criterion is yet to be established. Many methods, such as Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning and blood analysis are costly and impractical for most athletic cohorts. Questionnaires may provide a more accessible method of identifying at-risk athletes, but the validity of such approaches has yet to be elucidated, especially within team sports. This study aims to determine the validity of two established questionnaires; Low Energy Availability in Females questionnaire (LEAF-Q) and the Female Athlete Screening Tool (FAST), for determining LEA in competitive female netball players. Early identification of LEA may sustain long-term performance in netball. Female players (aged 18-44 years) who compete in netball leagues, volunteered to participate in this study, which received institutional ethical approval. Participants completed the FAST and LEAF-Q questionnaires, as well as the Nutrition in Sport Knowledge Questionnaire. All participants completed DEXA scans and resting metabolic rate tests. Blood analysis was also completed for triiodothyronine, insulin growth factor and marker of glucose availability, HBA1C. Participants will be split into two groups (low- and high-risk) for LEAF-Q and three groups (low-, subclinical- and clinical-risk) for FAST. A T-test or ANOVA will be used respectively, to compare each variable between groups. Data collection is ongoing
Somatic transformation goes main stream in organisational development and coaching
Get PDFAgainst the backdrop of an unconventional American West setting and its distinctive indigenous culture, my childhood experiences laid the foundation for an extraordinarily nontraditional and daring life journey. My narrative begins by exploring embodied ways of knowing which serendipitously guided me toward the somatic discourse—the body in its living wholeness—within the context of executive leadership coaching. This thesis critically examines lessons learned from skilfully navigating miles and miles of whitewater around the globe as one of the preeminent professional river guides of my era, in parallel to analyzing a diverse portfolio career deemed transdisciplinary in nature.
The River flows elegantly throughout this autoethnographic narrative, offering nuanced interpretations of individual, team, and organisational dynamics. Sometimes a tranquil, beguiling current; at other times a tempestuous Class IV rapid; and occasionally, thundering continuous whitewater. Perpetual motion. Rarely predictable. My odyssey has been informed by a layered education, stratified with academic studies, professional development, and avant-garde experiences, merging into a powerful waterway. The flow gains momentum through the confluence of themes: experiential learning; intercultural relations; community revitalisation; gender dynamics; resilience and generative leadership. The subtle language of the body functions as the vessel carrying my three public works of organisational development endeavors downstream with increasing velocity: (i) Nos Aruba 2025: A national integrated strategic plan for sustainable development through mass participation, demonstrating how embodied practices fused with appreciative inquiry facilitate large-scale societal change; (ii) The Leadership Journey: A community leadership development programme experientially bridging cultural differences through somatic awareness and shared practice; and (iii) K-P Healthcare: Transforming a regional workforce in an integrated nonprofit care and coverage organisation through sustained organisational development interventions, by fusing technical expertise with embodied leadership principles.
Each public work is carefully examined through the lens of blending—the process of harmonising with self and others to achieve a shared vision and simultaneously valuing individual contributions. This critical introspection reveals deep-seated patterns of interaction that have either facilitated or disrupted successful outcomes in professional relationships. Fresh insights, churned and surfaced like gold nuggets from the riverbed, emerge to offer a unique scholarly contribution to the somatic discourse. Key findings include: the role of personal coherence in establishing social coherence; the relationship between attunement and effective collaboration; and how co-regulation enables sustainable transformation in organisational settings. These findings offer a distinctive scholarly contribution to the somatic discourse within organisational development practice. Through this work, sustainable change at all levels becomes the paramount objective, made possible through embodied leadership practices leading to somatic transformation. New pathways are illuminated for practitioners seeking to integrate somatic intelligence with organisational change initiatives. The implications extend beyond traditional organisational development to suggest a new framework for embodied activism in addressing complex societal challenges
Exploring genetic heterogeneity in type 2 diabetes subtypes
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease. In this study, we aimed to stratify patients with T2D from the Volga-Ural region of Eurasia into distinct subgroups based on clinical characteristics and to investigate the genetic underpinnings of these clusters. Methods: A total of 254 Tatar individuals with T2D and 361 ethnically matched controls were recruited. Clinical clustering was performed using k-means and hierarchical algorithms on five variables: age at diagnosis, body mass index (BMI), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and β-cell function (HOMA-B). Genetic association analysis was conducted using logistic regression under an additive model, adjusted for age and sex, and corrected for multiple comparisons using the Benjamini–Hochberg method. Results: Four distinct T2D subtypes were identified—mild age-related diabetes (MARD, n = 25), mild obesity-related diabetes (MOD, n = 72), severe insulin-resistant diabetes (SIRD, n = 66), and severe insulin-deficient diabetes (SIDD, n = 52)—each with unique clinical and comorbidity profiles. SIDD patients exhibited the highest burden of microvascular complications and lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate. Nine genetic variants showed significant associations with T2D and/or specific subtypes, including loci in genes related to neurotransmission (e.g., HTR1B, CHRM5), appetite regulation (NPY2R), insulin signaling (TCF7L2, PTEN), and other metabolic pathways. Some variants demonstrated subtype-specific associations, underscoring the genetic heterogeneity of T2D. Conclusions: Our findings support the utility of clinical clustering in uncovering biologically and clinically meaningful T2D subtypes and reveal genetic variants that may contribute to this heterogeneity. These insights may inform future precision medicine approaches for T2D diagnosis and management
Implikationen der dynamischen Arbeitswelt auf die Organisationsentwicklung von produzierenden Schweizer Unternehmen. Eine theoretische Betrachtung und empirisch-qualitative Exploration
Get PDFThis dissertation examines the implications of today’s dynamic working environment for the organisational development of manufacturing companies in a country-specific context. It focuses on the mechanical engineering, chemical/pharmaceutical, food and construction supply sectors and examines the top 100 Swiss companies by market capitalisation.
The literature review reveals that companies are increasingly confronted with the problem of how to align their organisational behaviour with the specific challenges of the VUCA world of the future. This carries the risk that tackling a change strategy is deferred, which provokes performance slumps on the way to a more advanced stage of development. Further, the companies’ deductive approach to theory signals an inadequate perception of the challenges related to modern leadership behaviour, competence development and agile organisational forms. It can be assumed that this phenomenon is not only valid for Swiss companies, but rather assumes global proportions.
To ensure future viability, a phenomenon-specific core extension of synergetics is carried out, which is based on the theoretical considerations of generic principles and ambidextry theory. The goal of the inventory is to systematise the paradigm shift in the context of the VUCA world and to expand the companies' reservoir of methods. The empirical-qualitative exploration involves 14 interviews with industry experts. In addition, a focus group is launched for methodological triangulation, which not only increases the validity of the results inductively derived from the material corpus, but also the theoretical saturation of the study.
Finally, the bridge between theory and corporate practice, including the dimensions of leadership, competence and structure, provides a package of measures with six recommendations for action. This multidimensional navigation aid is accompanied by a plea for consideration of a change in values and is addressed to managers of socio-technical systems. Based on the findings, the ability to metamorphose and holistic-circular thinking appear as central competitive advantages of knowledge-intensive companies. The research project suggests that the greatest danger in times of change is not change itself, but rather acting with yesterday's logic
Enhancing student authenticity and engagement through gamification and problem-based learning in higher education
Get PDFThis chapter explores the integration of Gamification and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as innovative approaches to enhance student authenticity and engagement in educational settings, particularly for postgraduate students. The study is grounded in the increasing academic challenges that post-graduate students face, such as information and critical literacy, language barriers, and the need for efficient research skills. The paper discusses the convergence of Gamification and PBL, aiming to address the lack of student engagement and motivation in contemporary higher educational institutions. It presents a theoretical background, drawing from Vygotsky's social development theory and Self-determination theory, to support the fusion of these approaches. Furthermore, the chapter proposes and evaluates several interventions, including Online Game-Based Learning Platforms and Discussion Forums, to enhance student engagement and authenticity