18 research outputs found
Corporate identity management practices, organizational characteristics, corporate image and brand performance of Kenyan Universities
No full textThesisThe broad objective of the study was to determine the influence of Corporate Identity
Management (CIM) practices, Organizational Characteristics and Corporate Image on Brand
Performance of Kenyan Universities. The specific objectives were to assess the influence of
corporate identity management practices on brand performance of Kenyan universities;
examine the effect of organizational characteristics on brand performance of Kenyan
universities; determine the effect of corporate identity management practices on the corporate
image of Kenyan universities; assess the influence of corporate image on brand performance
of Kenyan universities; establish the influence of corporate image on the relationship
between corporate identity management practices and Kenyan universities brand
performance; determine the influence of organizational characteristics on the relationship
between corporate identity management practices and brand performance of Kenyan
universities lastly examine the joint effect of corporate identity management practices,
organizational characteristics and corporate image on brand performance of all the 53
Kenyan universities. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used. Primary data were
collected from key informants using semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed
using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and regression analysis. The results of the
study revealed a statistically significant relationship between corporate identity management
practices and brand performance which was mediated by Corporate Image and moderated by
Organizational Characteristics. Similarly, the results revealed a statistically significant
relationship between Organizational characteristics and brand performance. The results
showed that CIM practices had a statistically significant relationship on corporate image.
Corporate image also had a statistically significant influence on brand performance. The joint
effect of the corporate identity management practices, organizational characteristics and
corporate image was found to be greater than the effects of individual variables on brand
performance. The study has made contribution to theory, policy and practice in relation to
marketing and specifically on corporate identity management. The study recommends the
need for universities to continuously manage their corporate identity and corporate image for
positioning and differentiation within an increasingly crowded marketplace. The research
was not without limitations. First is the scope of the study that was limited to Kenyan
universities. Second is the reliance on key informants and on quantitative methods alone.
Using quantitative research along with qualitative research such as focus group sessions and
structured interviews could provide richer data and greatly support the research design and
the findings. For future research, the study suggests focus on other sectors other than the
higher education for results collaboration. Studies could also focus on students in the
universities as well as lecturing staff other than key informants
„Obroń mnie przed moim przeciwnikiem” (Łk 18,3). Status wdowy w Opus Lucanum
Full text linkIn the present article I propose a reflection on the status (situation) of widows named in Luke’s Work in order to answer the question: can we find in the above New Testaments texts any suggestion of theoretical or practical violence towards this specific group of women? The article is composed of four parts: the first one pertains to the Greek term of “widow” and its use in Luke’s writings; the second point contains the treatment of texts from the Third Gospel where widows are mentioned: Anna the Prophetess (2:36–37); a fragment of Jesus’ inaugural address in the Nazareth synagogue where Jesus says that “there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time (4:25) but the prophet was sent to “a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon” (4:26); a widow of Nain (7:12); the parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow (18:3–5); Jesus’ statement about the teachers of the law who “devour widows’ houses” (20:47) and the story of the widow’s mite (21:2–3). The third part contains the analysis of two texts from the Acts of the Apostles: the story of the choosing of the Twelve where Luke writes that the Hellenistic Jews complained against the Hebraic Jews claiming that “their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food” (6:1) and the story of Tabitha being raised from the dead where the author mentions the presence of widows who were helped by the Gazelle (9:39–41). The final part of the article is a summary and reveals a widow as the recipient of Jesus’ and Christian community’s mercy. According to Luke, a widow is a symbol of hospitality, trust in God, faith, sacrifice and unconditional commitment to God.The analyzed fragments allow to state unequivocally that in Opus Lucanum we do not find any suggestion whatsoever of violence against women. What is more, the presented texts oblige Jesus’ followers to a specific kind of merciful gentleness towards distressed women, with widows being undoubtedly thought as such. The texts warn explicitly against any form of oppression and unfair use of widows’ weak social position. They stigmatize all instances of this type of behaviour, such as devouring widows’ houses by the Pharisees (20:47), lack of interest in widows’ plight and refusal to help them, as in the case of the unjust judge (18:4), or any form of neglect in charitable acts (Acts 6:1). The Acts of the Apostles, which show the first years of the existence of the community of Jesus’ disciples, recommend in particular a specific kind of “structural” care of widows, which was even more markedly stressed by St Paul’s tradition, especially in pastoral epistles.W niniejszym artykule proponuję refleksję nad statusem (sytuacją) wdów wymienionych w Dziele Łukaszowym, aby odpowiedzieć na pytanie: czy w powyższych tekstach nowotestamentowych możemy odnaleźć jakąkolwiek sugestię teoretycznej czy praktycznej przemocy wobec tej szczególnej grupy kobiet? Niniejsza prezentacja składa się z czterech części: pierwsza dotyczy samego terminu greckiego „wdowa” i jego użycia w pismach Łukaszowych; drugi punkt zawiera omówienie tekstów z Trzeciej Ewangelii, gdzie wymienione są wdowy: prorokini Anna (2,36–37); fragment mowy inauguracyjnej Jezusa w synagodze w Nazarecie, kiedy wspomina, że „wiele wdów było w Izraelu w czasach Eliasza (4,25), ale prorok został posłany do „wdowy w Sarepcie Sydońskiej” (4,26); wdowa z Nain (7,12); przypowieść o sędzi i wdowie (18,3.5); wypowiedź Jezusa o nauczycielach Pisma, którzy „objadają domy wdów” (20,47) oraz opowiadanie o wdowim groszu (21,2.3). W trzeciej części poddane zostają analizie dwa teksty z Dziejów Apostolskich: opowiadania o wyborze Dwunastu, kiedy Łukasz pisze, że Helleniści zaczęli narzekać na Hebrajczyków, twierdząc, że „ich wdowy są niesprawiedliwie traktowane podczas codziennej posługi” (6,1) oraz opowiadanie o wskrzeszeniu Tabity, kiedy autor wspomina o obecności wdów, którym pomagała Gazela (9,39.41). Końcowa część artykułu stanowi podsumowanie i ukazuje wdowę jako adresata miłosierdzia Jezusa i wspólnoty chrześcijańskiej. Według Łukasza wdowa jest także symbolem gościnności, ufności Bogu, zawierzenia, poświęcenia, całkowitego oddania Bogu.Analizowane fragmenty pozwalają stwierdzić jednoznacznie, że w Opus Lucanum nie znajdujemy jakiejkolwiek sugestii przemocy wobec wdów. Co więcej, prezentowane teksty zobowiązują wyznawców Jezusa do swoistego rodzaju miłosiernej łagodności wobec potrzebujących kobiet, jakimi są niewątpliwie wdowy. Jednoznacznie przestrzegają przed jakąkolwiek formą ucisku i wykorzystywania ich słabej społecznie pozycji. Piętnują wszelkie tego typu zachowania, jak objadanie domów wdów przez faryzeuszy (20,47) oraz brak zainteresowania ich trudnym losem i odmowa pomocy, jak w przypadku niesprawiedliwego sędziego (18,4), czy jakąkolwiek formę zaniedbywania posługi charytatywnej (Dz 6,1). Zwłaszcza Dzieje Apostolskie, które ukazują pierwsze lata życia wspólnoty uczniów Jezusa, zalecają jednoznacznie nawet swoistego rodzaju „strukturalną” opieką nad wdowami, co zostanie jeszcze bardziej wyakcentowane przez tradycję Pawłową, zwłaszcza w listach pasterskich
Corporate Visual Identity Systems and Brand Performance Of Kenyan Universities
Full text linkThere is a heightened interest towards corporate identity with organisations realising that it is indispensable if they wish to create a competitive advantage in the global environment in which they are operating in. Globalization of the higher education sector implies that Kenyan universities need to market themselves in a climate of competition that is not only local but global. They have to attract high quality students and academic staff at an international level hence competition is no longer limited within national borders.Faced with competition, universities are developing strategies for competitiveness and survival such as management of corporate visual identity systems in order to positively impact on their corporate image and performance.This study investigated the relationship between corporate visual identity systems (CVIS) and brand performance of Kenyan Universities. Data were collected from the universities’ corporate affairs or public relations managers or their equivalent as the key informants using a semi structured questionnaire. The results of the study revealed direct effect of corporate visual identity systems on brand performance to be statistically significant. The beta coefficient was 0.447 and this was highly statistically significant (p-value=.000).This variable explained 41.1% of the variation in brandperformance. The empirical finding supports the notion that corporate visual identity systems drive brand performance. Consequently, by investing in brand marketing activities that span all the corporate visual identity facets, universities should experience enhanced brand performance..The study has made contribution to theory, policy andpractice in corporate visual identity systems specifically in the higher education sector. The study was limited to Kenyan universities. Replication of the study with all universities being included could serve as a useful reference for future research. Future studies could also focus on other sectors other than the higher education sector.Key Words: Corporate Visual Identity Systems , Organizations, Brand Performanc
Corporate Image and Brand Performance of Kenyan Universities
Full text linkThe highly competitive arena of the higher education sector implies the need for a goodcorporate image. Corporate image is recognized in the literature to have a positiveimpact on customer loyalty and is also a great way of differentiating an organizationfrom its competitors as well stimulating consumers purchase. The higher educationsectors’ products and services are increasingly similar today hence the need for theinstitutions to devise strategies to differentiate their products. Literature acknowledgesthe role of corporate image as an asset which could give an organization a chance todifferentiate itself with hope of maximizing its market share, acquiring new customersretaining existing ones, as well as counteracting the competitors’ actions in order toensure success and improved performance. Organizations in the service industry are in business of creating outstanding service experiences for their customers. The management of corporate image however, is not an easy one especially in the serviceindustry given the intangibility nature of services. An organization’s propermanagement of its corporate image, can add value to a firm in a variety ways.Conversely, a negative image can destroy an organization’s reputation and isolate theircustomers. Empirical study results on corporate image and brand performancerelationship however report mixed findings hence the need for the current study. Thisstudy investigated the relationship between corporate image and brand performance ofKenyan Universities. Data for the study were collected using a semi structuredquestionnaire. The study focused on key informants mainly universities’ corporateaffairs or public relations managers or their equivalent. The study findings indicate thatthe relationship between corporate image and brand performance is statistically significant. It explained 45.1% of variation (=.451). The standardized regressioncoefficient (β) value of the computed (composite index) scores of corporate image was.672 with a t-test value of 5.290 and a significance level of p-value=.000. The findings ofthe study support the notion that corporate image impacts brand performance. Thistherefore implies that an organization that invests in brand marketing activities relating to corporate image should experience enhanced brand performance. The study’scontribution to the higher education sector is in terms of addition to the body ofknowledge. It also provides policy and managerial implications. The study only coveredKenyan universities. A similar study could also be carried out in the future focusing o
Building audiences: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts
Full text linkBuilding Audiences examines the barriers to and the strategies for increasing audiences in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts sector. This research investigates the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of current and potential audiences.
What is in the report?
The findings reveal the key barriers facing audience attendance include:
uncertainty about how to behave at cultural events and fear of offending
lack of awareness with audiences not actively seeking information about Indigenous arts
and outdated perceptions of the sector – that it is only perceived as ‘serious or educational’.
Building Audiences also considered several strategies to build audiences for Indigenous arts:
providing skills development, advice and resourcing to Indigenous practitioners within the arts sector;
increasing representation of Indigenous artists in the main programing of arts companies by including more Indigenous people in decision making roles;
promoting relationships between Indigenous arts and non-Indigenous companies to present their work to wider audiences;
introducing children and young people to Indigenous arts through schools and extracurricular activities;
allowing audiences to feel comfortable engaging by creating accessible experiences;
implementing long-term strategies to change negative perceptions of Indigenous arts.
The project was commissioned by the Australia Council for the Arts and funding partners include Australia Council for the Arts; Faculty of Business and Law and Institute of Koorie Education, Deakin University; Melbourne Business School, The University of Melbourne
Author Correction: Disruption of the beclin 1–BCL2 autophagy regulatory complex promotes longevity in mice
No full textA phenomenological investigation of coexisting values in healthcare
Full text link2018 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Health care delivery in the United States has a storied history that has led the American public to expect that their Health Care Practitioners (HCPs) will pursue personal and professional values such as benevolence, equality and capability. A progressive set of events that dates back to the implementation of national health insurance for the elderly and the more recent emergence of events surrounding the implementation of the market-based solution in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have led healthcare organization to become increasingly concerned with the pursuit of market values (e.g. competition; productivity). A review of relevant literature on the coexistence of personal, professional and market values in health care pointed toward a number of potential consequences that might emanate from this coexisting values phenomenon. The HCPs who practice at the nexus of this phenomenon are those who most directly experience such consequences and the aim of this study was to qualitatively explore and illuminate the lived experience of a selection of doctors and nurses. Through an application of a co-constructive approach to inquiry it was found that those HCPs who participated in the study experience professional opportunities to express their personal value preferences, while also experiencing a paradoxical tension when it comes to leaving their patients feeling satisfied with their care experience. It was also found that the HCPs interpret their interactions with the pharmaceutical industry in a variety of ways, and that a HCPs exposure to market values is influenced by their practice area and the type health system they are working in. The vast majority of study participants practice within the same health care organization (system), and it was further found that these HCPs benefit from a quality of leadership and organizational support that enables the pursuit of their care value priorities. Study finding also point to the potential for adverse consequences (e.g. demoralization; burnout) in instances where HCPs are unable to fully realize their personal and professional value priorities. Study implications feature suggestions for practice, theory development and future research, and suggestions for those who might endeavor comparable qualitative research
Status of Industrial Back Junction n-type Si Solar Cell Development
No full textAbstractHere we present the latest results of our double side contacted, all screen printed n-type mono silicon solar cell development. N-type Czochralski (n-Cz) silicon solar cell results are compared to those of standard p-type Cz (p-Cz) silicon and n-type epitaxial (np+ epi) wafers, produced by Crystal Solar, having an integrated epitaxial boron doped p+-silicon layer. The np+ epi and p-Cz wafers are processed applying the Hanwha Q CELLS Q.ANTUM technology process flow to make PERC cells in our production line including process adaptations to mono wafers while the n-Cz wafers are processed with an extended Q.ANTUM sequence including additional processing steps like cleaning steps and a BBr3 tube furnace diffusion to create the rear side boron p+-silicon layer. We achieve conversion efficiencies up to 21.8% for the n-type Cz silicon back junction solar cell with open circuit voltage values of 671mV. The p-type Cz silicon solar cell shows non-stabilized efficiencies up to 21.2%. The n-type epitaxial solar cells have efficiencies up to 21.7% with fill factor values of up to 82.1% due to the high rear side conductivity of the integrated epitaxial boron doped p+-silicon layer. The latter solar cell results demonstrate a new path to industrial solar cells with efficiencies >22% by combination of simple and robust solar cell processing and epitaxial wafer growth with built-in doping layers
The pipeline project: Pre-publication independent replications of a single laboratory's research pipeline
Full text linkThis crowdsourced project introduces a collaborative approach to improving the reproducibility of scientific research, in which findings are replicated in qualified independent laboratories before (rather than after) they are published. Our goal is to establish a non-adversarial replication process with highly informative final results. To illustrate the Pre-Publication Independent Replication (PPIR) approach, 25 research groups conducted replications of all ten moral judgment effects which the last author and his collaborators had "in the pipeline" as of August 2014. Six findings replicated according to all replication criteria, one finding replicated but with a significantly smaller effect size than the original, one finding replicated consistently in the original culture but not outside of it, and two findings failed to find support. In total, 40% of the original findings failed at least one major replication criterion. Potential ways to implement and incentivize pre-publication independent replication on a large scale are discussed
