scholarly journals An exploratory study of cohesion among co-located and virtual members of virtual, partially distributed groups

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sandra Harding
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Inductive Reasoning ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Distributed Groups ◽  
Task Cohesion ◽  
Axial Coding

This study provides insight into the factors of cohesion and its development in virtual, partially distributed groups. This qualitative exploratory research design examined how co-located and virtual group participants experienced cohesion. Participants were part of a doctoral cohort. Data was gathered using a demographic survey and individual interviews. Data analysis was accomplished through open, focused, and axial coding using constant comparison and inductive reasoning to identify categories. Findings indicate virtual and co-located participants expressed a sense of cohesion in both task and social areas. Factors of task cohesion include having a shared goal, a commitment to goal achievement and overcoming challenges. Factors of social cohesion include identification with group members, open communication, sharing personal life information and informal socializing which were all components of relationship building. Virtual participants were more focused on factors affecting individual task cohesion (commitment to goal) and individual social cohesion (identification with other members) than those impacting group cohesion. Practitioners should consider using a strengths assessment when forming a new group. They should also provide group dynamics resources and clearly defined group objectives.

scholarly journals A three-fold framework for understanding HRM practices in South-Eastern European SMEs

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandros Psychogios ◽  
Leslie Thomas Szamosi ◽  
Rea Prouska ◽  
Christopher Brewster
Keyword(s):  
Eastern European ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Hrm Practices ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Yugoslav Republic ◽  
Communist Countries ◽  
See Region

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study particular structural and organisational factors affecting the formality of human resource management (HRM) practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South-Eastern European (SEE) post-communist countries, in particular Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in order to understand the antecedents of formalization in such settings. Design/methodology/approach – Adopting a quantitative approach, this study analyses data gathered through a survey of 168 managers of SMEs from throughout the region. Findings – The results show that HRM in SMEs in the SEE region can be understood through a threefold framework which includes: degree of internationalisation of SMEs, sector of SMEs and organisational size of SMEs. These three factors positively affect the level of HRM formalisation in SEE SMEs. These findings are further attributed to the particular political and economic context of the post-communist SEE region. Research limitations/implications – Although specific criteria were set for SME selection, the authors do not suggest that the study reflects a representative picture of the SEE region because the authors used a purposive sampling methodology. Practical implications – This paper provides useful insights into the factors which influence HRM in SMEs in a particular context. The findings can help business owners and managers understand how HRM can be applied in smaller organisations, particularly in post-communist SEE business contexts. Originality/value – HRM in SMEs in this region has hardly been studied at all despite their importance. Therefore, this exploratory research seeks to expand knowledge relating to the application of HRM in SMEs in SEE countries which have their business environments dominated by different dynamics in comparison to Western European ones.

scholarly journals Social Cohesion and Community Resilience During COVID-19 and Pandemics: A Rapid Scoping Review to Inform the United Nations Research Roadmap for COVID-19 Recovery

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142199709
Author(s):  
Rae L. Jewett ◽  
Sarah M. Mah ◽  
Nicholas Howell ◽  
Mandi M. Larsen
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Community Resilience ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Recovery Planning ◽  
The United Nations

Shock events uncover deficits in social cohesion and exacerbate existing social inequalities at the household, community, local, regional, and national levels. National and regional government recovery planning requires careful stakeholder engagement that centers on marginalized people, particularly women and marginalized community leaders. The aim of this rapid scoping review was to inform the United Nations Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery, based on Pillar 5 of the United Nations Framework for the Immediate Socioeconomic Response to COVID-19: Social Cohesion and Community Resilience. We present a summary of key concepts across the literature that helped situate this review. The results include a description of the state of the science and a review of themes identified as being crucial to sustainable and equitable recovery planning by the United Nations. The role of social cohesion during a disaster, particularly its importance for upstream planning and relationship building before a disaster occurs, is not well understood and is a promising area of future research. Understanding the applicability of social cohesion measurement methodologies and outcomes across different communities and geographies, as well as the development of new and relevant instruments and techniques, is urgently needed in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

From the Frontlines: A Qualitative Study of Staff Experiences With Clinical Event Debriefing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan M. Galligan ◽  
Mary Haggerty ◽  
Heather A. Wolfe ◽  
Dawn Debrocco ◽  
Katherine Kellom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Inductive Reasoning ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Clinical Event ◽  
Frontline Staff ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Participant Engagement ◽  
Practice Recommendations ◽  
Staff Experiences

OBJECTIVES Clinical event debriefing (CED) can improve patient care and outcomes, but little is known about CED across inpatient settings, and participant experiences have not been well described. In this qualitative study, we sought to characterize and compare staff experiences with CED in 2 hospital units, with a goal of generating recommendations for a hospital-wide debriefing program. METHODS We conducted 32 semistructured interviews with clinical staff who attended a CED in the previous week. We explored experiences with CED, with a focus on barriers and facilitators. We used content analysis with constant comparative coding to understand priorities identified by participants. We used inductive reasoning to develop a set of CED practice recommendations to match participant priorities. RESULTS Three primary themes emerged related to CED barriers and facilitators. (1) Factors affecting attendance: most respondents voiced a need for frontline staff inclusion in CED, but they also cited competing clinical duties and scheduling conflicts as barriers. (2) Factors affecting participant engagement: respondents described factors that influence participant engagement in reflective discussion. They described that the CED leader must cultivate a psychologically safe environment in which participants feel empowered to speak up, free from judgment. (3) Factors affecting learning and systems improvement: respondents emphasized that the CED group should generate a plan for improvement with accountable stakeholders. Collectively, these priorities propose several recommendations for CED practice, including frontline staff inclusion. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we propose recommendations for CED that are derived from first-hand participant experiences. Future study will explore implementation of CED practice recommendations.

Factors influencing the smart supply chain innovation performance of commodity distribution enterprises: an investigation from China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weihua Liu ◽  
Jiahui Zhang ◽  
Siyu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Technology Application ◽  
Innovation Ability ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Axial Coding

PurposeThis study explores the influencing factors affecting smart supply chain innovation (SSCI) performance of commodity distribution enterprises, and proposes the corresponding framework from the perspective of the application of technology to improve the SSCI performance and make up the research gap in this field.Design/methodology/approachA multi-case study method is adopted in this study. Four distribution commodity distribution enterprises A, B, C and D in China are chosen as case enterprises. The interviews with senior management team members are used to collect data. The combination of open coding and axial coding are used to process the data. By testing the reliability and validity, the theoretical framework is summarized.FindingsFirst, we find that the technology application cost inhibits SSCI and that the level of technology suitable for enterprise development will promote SSCI. Second, SSCI in structure, management and services can improve the performance and innovation ability of enterprises. Third, the quality of multi-channel integration and degree of customization around customer demand can significantly modify the above effects.Originality/valueCompared with previous studies, this study reveals for the first time the correlation between the SSCI performance and technology application, SSCI in structure, management and service, providing new ideas for relevant researches on SSCI, and providing new theoretical support for managers' decision-making related to SSCI.

scholarly journals The conceptualisation of patient-centred care: A case study of diabetes management in public facilities in southern Malawi

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Makwero ◽  
Adamson Muula ◽  
Felix C. Anyawu ◽  
Jude Igumbor
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Major Elements ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Patient Centred Care ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Relational Framework

Background: Patient-centred care (PCC) is one of the pillars of Malawi’s quality of care policy initiatives. The role of PCC in facilitating quality service delivery is well documented, and its importance may heighten in chronic disease management. Yet, PCC conceptualisation is known to be context specific.Aim: The study aimed to understand the conceptualisation of PCC amongst patients, healthcare providers (HCP) and policy makers in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) management.Setting: This study was conducted in DM clinics in Southern Malawi.Methods: Our qualitative exploratory research study design used in-depth and focus group interviews. We interviewed patients with DM, HCPs and policy makers. The study used framework analysis guided by Mead and Bower’s work.Results: Patient-centred care conceptualisations from groups of participants showed convergence. However, they differed in emphasis in some elements. The prominent themes emerging from the participants’ conceptualisation of PCC included the following: meeting individual needs, goals and expectations, accessing medication, supporting relationship building, patient involvement, information sharing, holistic care, timeliness and being realistic.Conclusion: Patient-centred care conceptualisation in Malawi goes beyond the patient–HCP relational framework to include the technical aspects of care. Contrary to the global view, accessing medication and timeliness are major elements in PCC conceptualisation in Malawi. Whilst PCC conceptualisation is contextual, meeting expectations and needs of patients is fundamental.

scholarly journals Receiving and Action Oriented Attitude of the Youth Towards Mobile Marketing: A Transitional Economy Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Mustapha Iddrisu ◽  
Akolaa Andrews Adugudaa ◽  
Albert Martins
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Attitudes ◽  
Transitional Economy ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Mobile Marketing ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Marketing Activities ◽  
Structured Questionnaire ◽  
Marketing Messages

The advancement in technology is influencing the ways in which organizations conduct business and marketing activities. Mobile Marketing has become one of the most widespread media to communicate with potential and existing customers mainly in the form of text advertisements through the internet. This study is aimed at finding out the receiving and action-oriented attitudes of the youth towards mobile marketing, particularly the rate at which the youth use mobile marketing to determine the propensity to be influenced in their actions. The study also investigated the factors affecting consumer attitudes and their relationship with mobile marketing. The study employed descriptive and exploratory research methodology design and the data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Four hundred (400) questionnaires were administered to young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years in Accra and Three hundred and fifty 350 were used. We found a high rate of youth’s preference for mobile marketing messages and a relationship between youth attitude and mobile marketing messages and/or the youth’s attitude being influenced by mobile marketing messages. Finally, it revealed that there is a relationship between the youth’s receiving and action-oriented attitude and consumer factors that influence the use of mobile marketing.

scholarly journals Using a Personal-Disclosure Mutual-Sharing Approach to Deliver a Team-Based Mindfulness Meditation Program to Enhance Cohesion

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
Piotr A. Piasecki ◽  
Todd M. Loughead ◽  
Kyle F. Paradis ◽  
Krista J. Munroe-Chandler
Keyword(s):  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Task Cohesion ◽  
Viable Approach ◽  
Building Program ◽  
Personal Disclosure

In an effort to increase perceptions of cohesion among intercollegiate soccer players, a team-based mindfulness meditation program was undertaken. This team-building program was delivered by using a personal-disclosure mutual-sharing approach. A total of 31 female intercollegiate soccer players from two teams participated. Assigned to the intervention condition was a Canadian intercollegiate team (U Sports), while the control condition was an American intercollegiate team (NCAA, Division II). The participants completed a measure of cohesion (Group Environment Questionnaire) pre- and postintervention. Controlling for the preintervention scores, the 8-week team-based mindfulness meditation program resulted in significantly higher perceptions of social cohesion for the intervention group compared with the control group at postintervention. However, there were no significant differences in task cohesion between the intervention and control groups at postintervention. Using personal disclosure, mutual sharing seems a viable approach by which to deliver a team-based mindfulness meditation program to enhance a team’s social cohesion.

The team cohesion-performance relationship: A meta-analysis exploring measurement approaches and the changing team landscape

2021 ◽  
pp. 204138662110411
Author(s):  
Rebecca Grossman ◽  
Kevin Nolan ◽  
Zachary Rosch ◽  
David Mazer ◽  
Eduardo Salas
Keyword(s):  
Team Performance ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Team Cohesion ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Predictive Capacity ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Optimal Measurement ◽  
Task Cohesion ◽  
Team Characteristics

Team cohesion is an important antecedent of team performance, but our understanding of this relationship is mired by inconsistencies in how cohesion has been conceptualized and measured. The nature of teams is also changing, and the effect of this change is unclear. By meta-analyzing the cohesion-performance relationship ( k = 195, n = 12,023), examining measurement moderators, and distinguishing modern and traditional team characteristics, we uncovered various insights. First, the cohesion-performance relationship varies based on degree of proximity. More proximal measures –task cohesion, referent-shift, and behaviorally-focused– show stronger relationships compared to social cohesion, direct consensus, and attitudinally-focused, which are more distal. Differences are more pronounced when performance metrics are also distal. Second, group pride is more predictive than expected. Third, the cohesion-performance relationship and predictive capacity of different measures are changing in modern contexts, but findings pertaining to optimal measurement approaches largely generalized. Lastly, important nuances across modern characteristics warrant attention in research and practice. Plain Language Summary Team cohesion is an important antecedent of team performance, but our understanding of this relationship is mired by inconsistencies in how cohesion has been conceptualized and measured. The nature of teams has also changed over time, and the effect of this change is unclear. By meta-analyzing the cohesion-performance relationship ( k = 195, n = 12,023), examining measurement moderators, and distinguishing between modern and traditional team characteristics, we uncovered various insights for both research and practice. First, the cohesion-performance relationship varies based on degree of proximity. Measures that are more proximal to what a team does – those assessing task cohesion, utilizing referent shift items, and capturing behavioral manifestations of cohesion – show stronger relationships with performance compared to those assessing social cohesion, utilizing direct consensus items, and capturing attitudinal manifestations of cohesion, which are more distal. These differences are more pronounced when performance metrics are also more distal. Second, despite being understudied, the group pride-performance relationship was stronger than expected. Third, modern team characteristics are changing both the overall cohesion-performance relationship and the predictive capacity of different measurement approaches, but findings pertaining to the most optimal measurement approaches largely generalized in that these approaches were less susceptible to the influence of modern characteristics. However, in some contexts, distal cohesion metrics are just as predictive as their more proximal counterparts. Lastly, there are important nuances across different characteristics of modern teams that warrant additional research attention and should be considered in practice. Overall, findings greatly advance science and practice pertaining to the team cohesion-performance relationship.

Sustaining community choirs for diverse older adults after completion of the Community of Voices trial: A multi-stakeholder, multi-site qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa A. Allison ◽  
Julene K. Johnson ◽  
Anita L Stewart ◽  
Elena Portacolone ◽  
Michaela Simpson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Senior Center ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
Additional Funding ◽  
Axial Coding ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Trial Participants

Abstract Background The growing and increasingly diverse U.S. aging population needs sustainable, evidence-based interventions to maintain health and independence in the community. Through a three-way collaboration between a university research partner, an aging services partner and a community music partner, we developed and tested a senior center-based choir intervention for ethnically diverse older adults that decreased loneliness and increased engagement. We now report on the key factors affecting sustainment, defined by continuation of the choirs after the completion of the trial and ongoing participation of older adults. Methods Of the twelve choirs in the study, five were provided with additional funding to sustain the choirs for an additional six months, without technical support from the researchers. During this sustainment period, semi-structured individual and focus group interviews were conducted with key stakeholders (trial participants who continued in the choirs, music professionals, and administrators). We explored facilitators and barriers to continued participation in the choirs and sustainment of the choirs themselves by the senior centers and music professionals. Transcripts were open coded using ATLAS.ti by two researchers not involved in the original CRT, followed by axial coding by a third researcher. Differences were reconciled by discussion. Results Salient themes emerged at all levels. Intrapersonal: a sense of well-being and positive emotion facilitated choir participation, and sustainment of the choirs, but major health issues and negative emotions led trial participants to discontinue the choirs at the end of the trial. Interpersonal: a sense of social connection and support facilitated sustainment, but negative social interactions and competing obligations, particularly participants’ family responsibilities, created barriers. Structural/organizational: organizational features such as comfortable rehearsal space or clear scheduling, facilitated sustainment, but structural issues with parking and transportation created barriers. Administrators emphasized funding as crucial to sustainment. To date, all of the choirs from the original CRT have been sustained and the community partners are actively disseminating the intervention outside of the research setting. Conclusions Senior center-based choirs are readily sustainable. A conceptual model is provided to guide the implementation of future choirs and other community-based social interventions. Trial registration: The original trial was registered under ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT01869179. Registered 9 January 2013, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01869179

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