Gregory A. Aarons, Rachel A. Askew, Amy E. Green, Alexis J. Yalon, Kendal Reeder and Lawrence A. Palinkas
The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify the types of adaptations made by service providers (i.e. practitioners) during a large-scale US statewide implementation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify the types of adaptations made by service providers (i.e. practitioners) during a large-scale US statewide implementation of SafeCare®, an evidence-based intervention to reduce child neglect; and second, to place adaptations within a taxonomy of types of adaptations.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 138 SafeCare providers and supervisors. Grounded theory methods were used to identify themes, specific types of adaptations and factors associated with adaptation.
Findings
Adaptations were made to both peripheral and core elements of the evidence-based practice (EBP). The taxonomy of adaptations included two broad categories of process and content. Process adaptations included presentation of materials, dosage/intensity of sessions, order of presentation, addressing urgent concerns before focusing on the EBP and supplementing information to model materials. Content adaptations included excluding parts of the EBP and overemphasizing certain aspects of the EBP. Adaptations were motivated by client factors such as the age of the target child, provider factors such as a providers’ level of self-efficacy with the EBP and concerns over client/provider rapport. Client factors were paramount in motivating adaptations of all kinds.
Research limitations/implications
The present findings highlight the need to examine ways in which adaptations affect EBP implementation and sustainment, client engagement in treatment, and client outcomes.
Practical implications
Implementers and EBP developers and trainers should build flexibility into their models while safeguarding core intervention elements that drive positive client outcomes.
Originality/value
This study is unique in examining and enumerating both process and content types of adaptations in a large-scale child neglect implementation study. In addition, such adaptations may be generalizable to other types of EBPs.
Details
Keywords
Lara M. Gunderson, Cathleen E. Willging, Elise M. Trott Jaramillo, Amy E. Green, Danielle L. Fettes, Debra B. Hecht and Gregory A. Aarons
Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) for human services unfold within complicated social and organizational circumstances and are influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of…
Abstract
Purpose
Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) for human services unfold within complicated social and organizational circumstances and are influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of diverse stakeholders situated within these environments. Coaching is commonly regarded as an effective strategy to support service providers in delivering EBIs and attaining high levels of fidelity over time. The purpose of this paper is to address a lacuna in research examining the factors influencing coaching, an important EBI support component.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment framework to consider inner- and outer-context factors that affect coaching over time. This case study of coaching draws from a larger qualitative data set from three iterative investigations of implementation and sustainment of a home visitation program, SafeCare®. SafeCare is an EBI designed to reduce child neglect.
Findings
The authors elaborate on six major categories of findings derived from an iterative data coding and analysis process: perceptions of “good” and “bad” coaches by system sustainment status; coach as peer; in-house coaching capacity; intervention developer requirements vs other outer-context needs; outer-context support; and inner-context support.
Practical implications
Coaching is considered a key component for effective implementation of EBIs in public-sector systems, yet is under-studied. Understanding inner- and outer-context factors illuminates the ways they affect the capacity of coaches to support service delivery.
Originality/value
This paper demonstrates that coaching can accomplish more than provision of EBI fidelity support. Stakeholders characterized coaches as operating as boundary spanners who link inner and outer contexts to enable EBI implementation and sustainment.
Details
Keywords
Amy E. Green, Guy Cafri and Gregory Aarons
The concerns that implementing a new structured innovation with increased oversight may lead to reduced job autonomy and poorer work attitudes. These concerns have been cited as a…
Abstract
Purpose
The concerns that implementing a new structured innovation with increased oversight may lead to reduced job autonomy and poorer work attitudes. These concerns have been cited as a barrier to evidence-based treatment (EBT) implementation. However, previous research found lower turnover among child welfare providers implementing an EBT with fidelity monitoring compared to those administering services as usual (SAU). The authors hypothesized that changes in job autonomy, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment would be no worse among providers in EBT conditions and fidelity monitoring conditions compared to SAU and no monitoring conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 208 service providers over four waves at six month intervals as part of a 2 (EBT vs SAU) by 2 (fidelity monitoring vs no monitoring) hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. Superiority testing was conducted to determine whether there were significant differences over time on the outcomes as a function of experimental condition. Non-inferiority testing examined whether the EBT condition is not inferior to SAU and monitoring not inferior to no monitoring on the outcomes.
Findings
No evidence of superiority was found for any conditions over time on the outcomes. Non-inferiority testing indicates EBT is not inferior to SAU and monitoring is not inferior to no monitoring on the outcomes.
Originality/value
This study provide empirical quantitative data regarding job attitudes and job autonomy perceptions over time following EBT implementation. In light of the current findings, concerns regarding the impact of EBT implementation on provider job perceptions should be minimized.
Details
Keywords
Gregory A. Aarons, Elizabeth A. Miller, Amy E. Green, Jennifer A. Perrott and Richard Bradway
Evidence‐based practices (EBPs) are increasingly being implemented in real‐world settings. While intervention effectiveness is dependent on fidelity, interventions are often…
Abstract
Purpose
Evidence‐based practices (EBPs) are increasingly being implemented in real‐world settings. While intervention effectiveness is dependent on fidelity, interventions are often adapted to service settings according to the needs of stakeholders at multiple levels. This study aims to examine the naturalistic implementation of The Incredible Years (IY) parenting programme in a residential substance abuse treatment programme for pregnant and parenting women.
Design/methodology/approach
The study took place in a residential substance abuse treatment programme serving pregnant and parenting women and their children. Participants included 120 female clients. The primary IY facilitator was a master's level counselling psychologist. In person observations of IY sessions were completed by a trained bachelor's level anthropologist. Ethnographic field notes were collected and then coded in keeping with a priori themes and to identify emergent themes. The Parent Group Leader Checklist was used to evaluate quality and integrity of the IY basic parent programme.
Findings
Quantitative analyses indicate that fidelity varied by type of checklist activity. Specifically, adherence to the IY programme was highest in beginning topic activities, setup, and home activity review, and lowest in role play, vignettes, and wrap‐up activities. Qualitative analyses revealed a number of adaptations in implementation of IY. Adaptations fit into two broad categories: modification of programme delivery and modification of programme content. Within each of these categories modifications included organisation‐driven adaptations, provider‐driven adaptations, and consumer‐driven adaptations.
Practical implications
Changes to evidence‐based practice generally take two forms – adaptations consistent with model intent and theoretical approach and changes that represent drift from core elements of the EBP. The challenge for implementation science is to develop frameworks in which models can be adapted enough to make them viable for the service context (or the service context adapted to fit the model), yet avoid drift and maintain fidelity. Attending to the complexities of adaptation prior to and during implementation in a planned way is likely to help organisations better utilise EBPs to meet their unique needs while maintaining fidelity.
Originality/value
The paper shows that identification of types of intervention adaptations and drift allows for consideration of systematic approaches, frameworks, and processes to increase adherence during EBP implementation in community mental health and substance abuse treatment settings.
Details
Keywords
Dries Couckuyt and Amy Van Looy
The discipline of business process management (BPM) is challenged by investigating how work is performed in organizations while simultaneously recognizing preeminent environmental…
Abstract
Purpose
The discipline of business process management (BPM) is challenged by investigating how work is performed in organizations while simultaneously recognizing preeminent environmental issues. Although organizations have become more open to the ecological impact of business processes through Green BPM, research in this field and guidance for practitioners remains relatively limited. Therefore, this study aims to extend and translate the conventional perspective on business process maturity towards green business process maturity levels.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors bridged product-focussed and process-focussed environmental management practices by surveying ecolabels against theoretical capability areas for business process maturity. Since ecolabels are instruments to develop environmental-friendly products and services, the authors looked at the underlying processes to produce such green outcomes. By surveying 89 ecolabel organizations, the authors had indirectly access to an international set of companies, operating in distinct industries and producing a wide variety of green products and services.
Findings
The authors statistically uncovered a classification of four groups of ecolabels based on the process capabilities, each representing a distinct green business process maturity level. The four levels are “Green BP immaturity”, “Green BPL maturity”, “Green BPM maturity” and “Green BPO maturity” and align with well-established concepts in the business process literature and profession.
Originality/value
Scholars are encouraged to elaborate on the identified maturity levels in order to build and test a green business process maturity model, whereas practitioner-related advice is provided based on possible green business process maturity journeys towards excellence.
Details
Keywords
Utilizing the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework, this study examines how stimuli such as green sustainability efforts and brand image affect organisms namely brand experience…
Abstract
Purpose
Utilizing the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework, this study examines how stimuli such as green sustainability efforts and brand image affect organisms namely brand experience and brand trust, leading to brand-related outcomes such as brand affinity, brand satisfaction and purchase intention in the soft drink industry in Singapore.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was administered to a total of 243 members of several Singapore-based Facebook groups. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results show the positive effects of green sustainability efforts on brand image, brand experience and brand trust. Brand experience affects brand satisfaction, brand affinity and purchase intention, whereas brand trust affects brand satisfaction and purchase intention. Moreover, the mediating roles of brand experience and brand trust are verified.
Practical implications
To build strong consumer-brand relationships, managers can elevate brand experience and brand trust through the implementation of green sustainability efforts.
Originality/value
This study adds to the body of green sustainability literature by verifying the mediating effect of brand experience and brand trust in the relationship between green sustainability efforts and brand-related outcomes. The study clarifies the direct and indirect antecedents of brand affinity, brand satisfaction and purchase intention.
Details
Keywords
Dries Couckuyt and Amy Van Looy
Green Business Process Management (BPM) focusses on the ecological impact of business processes. Although it is an emerging field, different attitudes exist towards the…
Abstract
Purpose
Green Business Process Management (BPM) focusses on the ecological impact of business processes. Although it is an emerging field, different attitudes exist towards the discipline’s name, the objectives and the approaches to realise them. By means of a systematic literature review, the purpose of this paper is to arrive at a common understanding of the discipline for successful development.
Design/methodology/approach
The review methodology relies on a hermeneutic framework which integrates the search, analysis and interpretation of the literature. The sample is used in a text analysis to find an appropriate definition (RQ1), a bibliometric analysis to give insights in current Green BPM contributions (RQ2) and a content analysis to present differences with conventional BPM (RQ3).
Findings
Green BPM follows a similar development as conventional BPM, namely from a more technical perspective to also including the managerial perspective. More research is required that goes beyond the traditional business process lifecycle.
Originality/value
The research questions generated a comprehensive overview about application domains and research topics, which in turn can deliver benefits for both research and practitioner-related communities. Researchers identify future research avenues, while practitioners find appropriate Green BPM techniques for their domain.
Details
Keywords
Yaw A. Debrah and Ian G. Smith
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on…
Abstract
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on work and employment in contemporary organizations. Covers the human resource management implications of organizational responses to globalization. Examines the theoretical, methodological, empirical and comparative issues pertaining to competitiveness and the management of human resources, the impact of organisational strategies and international production on the workplace, the organization of labour markets, human resource development, cultural change in organisations, trade union responses, and trans‐national corporations. Cites many case studies showing how globalization has brought a lot of opportunities together with much change both to the employee and the employer. Considers the threats to existing cultures, structures and systems.
Details
Keywords
Presents a special issue, enlisting the help of the author’s students and colleagues, focusing on age, sex, colour and disability discrimination in America. Breaks the evidence…
Abstract
Presents a special issue, enlisting the help of the author’s students and colleagues, focusing on age, sex, colour and disability discrimination in America. Breaks the evidence down into manageable chunks, covering: age discrimination in the workplace; discrimination against African‐Americans; sex discrimination in the workplace; same sex sexual harassment; how to investigate and prove disability discrimination; sexual harassment in the military; when the main US job‐discrimination law applies to small companies; how to investigate and prove racial discrimination; developments concerning race discrimination in the workplace; developments concerning the Equal Pay Act; developments concerning discrimination against workers with HIV or AIDS; developments concerning discrimination based on refusal of family care leave; developments concerning discrimination against gay or lesbian employees; developments concerning discrimination based on colour; how to investigate and prove discrimination concerning based on colour; developments concerning the Equal Pay Act; using statistics in employment discrimination cases; race discrimination in the workplace; developments concerning gender discrimination in the workplace; discrimination in Japanese organizations in America; discrimination in the entertainment industry; discrimination in the utility industry; understanding and effectively managing national origin discrimination; how to investigate and prove hiring discrimination based on colour; and, finally, how to investigate sexual harassment in the workplace.