C. Grill, G. Ahlborg Jr and E. Wikström
Middle managers in health care today are expected to continuously and efficiently decide and act in administration, finance, care quality, and work environment, and strategic…
Abstract
Purpose
Middle managers in health care today are expected to continuously and efficiently decide and act in administration, finance, care quality, and work environment, and strategic communication has become paramount. Since dialogical communication is considered to promote a healthy work environment, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the ways in which health care managers experienced observing subordinates’ dialogue training.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and documents from eight middle managers in a dialogue programme intervention conducted by dialogue trainers. Focus was on fostering and assisting workplace dialogue. Conventional qualitative content analysis was used.
Findings
Managers’ experiences were both enriching and demanding, and consisted of becoming aware of communication, meaning perceiving interaction between subordinates as well as own silent interaction with subordinates and trainer; Discovering communicative actions for leadership, by gaining self-knowledge and recognizing relational leadership models from trainers – such as acting democratically and pedagogically – and converting theory into practice, signifying practising dialogue-promoting conversation behaviour with subordinates, peers, and superiors.
Research limitations/implications
Only eight managers participated in the intervention, but data afforded a basis for further research.
Practical implications
Findings stressed the importance of listening, and of support from superiors, for well-functioning leadership communication at work.
Originality/value
Studies focusing on health care managers’ communication and dialogue are few. This study contributes to knowledge about these activities in managerial leadership.
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Morten L. Kringelbach and Kent C. Berridge
Drive and motivation are central to affective neuroscience. Here, we describe the development of conceptualizations from early behaviorist theories to contemporary theories…
Abstract
Drive and motivation are central to affective neuroscience. Here, we describe the development of conceptualizations from early behaviorist theories to contemporary theories linking motivation closely to reward. Current experimental data suggest key roles of drive and motivation in the wanting, liking, and learning processes underlying the pleasure cycle supporting survival of individuals and species. In particular, the underlying functional neuroanatomy of drive and motivation is now becoming clearer in humans and other mammals, which provides hope for novel more effective interventions for the pervasive problems of drive and motivation in affective and addictive disorders.
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The role of implicit provider bias in mental health care is an important issue that continues to be of concern in the twenty-first century for the Black/African American…
Abstract
The role of implicit provider bias in mental health care is an important issue that continues to be of concern in the twenty-first century for the Black/African American community. Access to mental health and quality care remains elusive as members of this social group lack access to mental health screening, diagnosis, and attention due to institutional and cultural barriers. Supporting the position that implicit and explicit provider bias exists in the mental health profession, this chapter will explore how implicit provider bias is an intractable institutional barrier that prevents Black/African Americans from accessing mental health and quality care. A review of the implications related to mental health outcomes with Black/African American clients will also be explored.
A brief overview of the Black/African American cultural responses to implicit provider bias will be discussed later in this chapter. There will be an exploration of the ways to help identify, address, and eliminate implicit provider bias using evidence-based personal and community engagement strategies that promote mental health wellness within the Black/African American community. Implications for best practices in Black/African American mental health will also be addressed to eradicate the risk of unethical or medical malpractice with Black/African American clients, reduce the mental health disparity experienced by Blacks/African Americans, and create mental health equity for this population.
Mats Eklof and Gunnar Ahlborg Jr
This paper aims to test the effects on aspects of workplace communication relevant to teamwork, and social support, in hospital units, of a dialog training (DT) intervention based…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to test the effects on aspects of workplace communication relevant to teamwork, and social support, in hospital units, of a dialog training (DT) intervention based on knowledge of key quality aspects related to interpersonal work-related communication among healthcare workers.
Design/methodology/approach
A cluster randomized controlled study conducted among approximately 300 Swedish healthcare workers employed at ten hospital units. Workplace communication was measured in the form of participative safety, trust/openness, and social support. Effects were tested at three-month and six-month follow-ups. Repeated measurements were made.
Findings
The results indicated that DT had a positive influence on participative safety and social support from managers. A positive tendency was observed for trust/openness.
Originality/value
Developing and practicing good staff communication in hospital units is an important area for interventions designed to improve job performance and health.
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The purpose of this paper is to identify technological challenges and innovative solutions in each of the food production philosophies in the food service sector, namely…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify technological challenges and innovative solutions in each of the food production philosophies in the food service sector, namely: industrial cuisine, fast food and fresh food.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews industry reports on cooking equipment and preparation techniques. Conceptual links are made with possible future developments as well as operational/strategic advantages they represent.
Findings
Innovation in food preparation commands multi‐disciplinary approaches stemming from engineering and food science. Industrial cuisine would benefit from automation, units with intensive heating, robust food product design and shelf‐life extension; fast food from reduced oil absorption by food, better cooking oils, automation and short frying time; and fresh food from rapid cooking, visually appealing serving units and analytical instrumentation for testing raw produce. Future innovations may originate in the field of robotics, food engineering and laboratory equipment design including miniaturisation and portability of units. Sophistication in product development can be achieved through application of the principles of molecular gastronomy in combination with computer modelling.
Practical implications
Managers can conceptualise their operations in terms of the philosophies presented in the paper. Technological innovation is critical to sustain competitiveness (cost leadership and differentiation). The list of underpinning disciplines in food production can be used by educators wishing to enhance their programs with fundamentals supporting innovation.
Originality/value
Food preparation philosophies are presented in the light of impacts on food sensory and microbiological quality, nutritional value and operational efficiencies. The possibilities for future innovation stemming from developments in other technologically advanced fields are identified.
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Mark M. Gultek, Tim H. Dodd and Raymond M. Guydosh
Restaurants represent a significant sales potential tor the wine industry and wineries attempt to develop this market in various ways. The two industries can effectively…
Abstract
Restaurants represent a significant sales potential tor the wine industry and wineries attempt to develop this market in various ways. The two industries can effectively complement each other through combining their efforts. Wine producers can benefit from direct selling to restaurants because the process of direct selling can help wineries, especially newly developing local wineries, promote their wines and establish brand recognition. This research explores restaurateurs' attitudes toward local wines based on the investigation of the wine product attributes and types of restaurants that offer better opportunities for local wines. Findings indicated that attitudes of restaurateurs have a significant impact on purchases of local wine. Independently owned restaurants were also found to provide better opportunities for local wineries.
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Ralf Tilch, Ali Tabbal, Ming Zhu, Friedhelm Decker and Rainald Löhner
This paper seeks to reduce the time it takes to perform external aerodynamic simulations without compromising accuracy. At present, cleaning up CAD data sets, in particular for…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to reduce the time it takes to perform external aerodynamic simulations without compromising accuracy. At present, cleaning up CAD data sets, in particular for undercarriage parts, takes several man‐weeks.
Design/methodology/approach
Body‐fitted and embedded mesh techniques are combined to obtain accurate external aerodynamic solutions for realistic car geometries with minimal user intervention. The key idea is to mesh with typical body‐fitted RANS grids the external shape of the vehicle, which is smooth and requires detailed physical modeling. The underhood and undercarriage are treated as embedded surfaces. The flow in this region is massively separated, requiring LES runs and isotropic grids. This makes it a suitable candidate for embedded grids.
Findings
Comparisons with body‐fitted and experimental data for a typical car show that this approach can yield drag predictions with an error less than 5 percent.
Practical implications
The present approach reduces turnaround times for complete car geometries to one to two days, without compromising accuracy.
Originality/value
To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time such an approach has been tried and validated for external aerodynamics.
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The Bureau of Economics in the Federal Trade Commission has a three-part role in the Agency and the strength of its functions changed over time depending on the preferences and…
Abstract
The Bureau of Economics in the Federal Trade Commission has a three-part role in the Agency and the strength of its functions changed over time depending on the preferences and ideology of the FTC’s leaders, developments in the field of economics, and the tenor of the times. The over-riding current role is to provide well considered, unbiased economic advice regarding antitrust and consumer protection law enforcement cases to the legal staff and the Commission. The second role, which long ago was primary, is to provide reports on investigations of various industries to the public and public officials. This role was more recently called research or “policy R&D”. A third role is to advocate for competition and markets both domestically and internationally. As a practical matter, the provision of economic advice to the FTC and to the legal staff has required that the economists wear “two hats,” helping the legal staff investigate cases and provide evidence to support law enforcement cases while also providing advice to the legal bureaus and to the Commission on which cases to pursue (thus providing “a second set of eyes” to evaluate cases). There is sometimes a tension in those functions because building a case is not the same as evaluating a case. Economists and the Bureau of Economics have provided such services to the FTC for over 100 years proving that a sub-organization can survive while playing roles that sometimes conflict. Such a life is not, however, always easy or fun.