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1 – 8 of 8
Article
Publication date: 19 June 2009

Michael Göller, Florian Steinhardt, Thilo Kerscher, J. Marius Zöllner and Rüdiger Dillmann

The purpose of this paper is to present a navigation system designed for highly dynamic environments which is independent from a metrically exact global map.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a navigation system designed for highly dynamic environments which is independent from a metrically exact global map.

Design/methodology/approach

A navigation system is developed to cope with highly dynamic environments. Here, this refers especially to changes in the environment itself, like the daily deployment or removal of advertisements or special offers in a supermarket. The navigation system is split into a global part, relying on non‐concealable artificial landmarks and a local part containing a behavior‐based control using a dynamic potential field approach. The required information are the definitively static structures and the actual sensor information only.

Findings

The system proved to be useful in environments that change frequently and where the presence of many people complicates the perception of landmarks.

Practical implications

The presented navigation system is robust against changes in the environment and provides reliable collision avoidance capabilities.

Originality/value

It is a useful navigation system for autonomous robots dedicated to frequently changing and populated environments.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 36 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2005

Abstract

Details

Journal of Public Mental Health, vol. 4 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-5729

Abstract

Details

Rewriting Leadership with Narrative Intelligence: How Leaders Can Thrive in Complex, Confusing and Contradictory Times
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78756-776-4

Article
Publication date: 16 November 2015

Ann Dadich, Penny Abbott and Hassan Hosseinzadeh

Evidence-based practice is pivotal to effective patient care. However, its translation into practice remains limited. Given the central role of primary care in many healthcare…

Abstract

Purpose

Evidence-based practice is pivotal to effective patient care. However, its translation into practice remains limited. Given the central role of primary care in many healthcare systems, it is important to identify strategies that bolster clinician-capacity to promote evidence-based care. The purpose of this paper is to identify strategies to increase Practice Nurse capacity to promote evidence-based sexual healthcare within general practice.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 217 Practice Nurses in an Australian state and ten respondent-interviews regarding two resources to promote evidence-based sexual healthcare – namely, a clinical aide and online training.

Findings

The perceived impact of both resources was determined by views on relevance and design – particularly for the clinical aide. Resource-use was influenced by role and responsibilities within the workplace, accessibility, and support from patients and colleagues.

Research limitations/implications

This is the first Australian study to reveal strategies to promote evidence-based sexual healthcare among Practice Nurses. The findings provide a platform for future research on knowledge translation processes, particularly among clinicians who might be disengaged from sexual healthcare.

Practical implications

Given the benefits of evidence-based practices, it is important that managers recognize their role, and the role of their services, in promoting these. Without explicit support for evidence-based care and recognition of the Practice Nurse role in such care, knowledge translation is likely to be limited.

Originality/value

Knowledge translation among Practice Nurses can be facilitated by: resources-deemed informative, relevant, and user-friendly, as well as support from patients, colleagues, and their workplace.

Details

Journal of Health Organization and Management, vol. 29 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7266

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 September 2011

Lyndon Simkin and Sally Dibb

This paper aims to explore how segmentation is often undertaken in practice, highlighting problems commonly encountered. It is based on the deregulated and highly competitive UK…

5070

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how segmentation is often undertaken in practice, highlighting problems commonly encountered. It is based on the deregulated and highly competitive UK market for energy, namely gas and electricity supply. The case is appropriate for modules in marketing strategy, target marketing and marketing management, at MBA, MSc or advanced UG levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The case highlights why this organisation opted for segmentation, how it conducted this project, and the problems faced. These insights are referenced with the segmentation literature.

Findings

With little product differentiation possible, gas and electricity tend to be price‐driven purchases, which increases the importance of effective segmentation and shrewd target segment selection. Both consumer and business segments are cited, but the case focuses more on the business‐to‐business outcomes. The approach adopted for selecting which segments to target is also featured. This case explores the use of market segmentation and the practical difficulties encountered. The solutions to these difficulties are highlighted.

Research limitations/implications

The case could not disclose the company's identity, but provides an insightful explanation of how segmentation may be conducted and the problems encountered. There is bias towards business segments, rather than consumer ones.

Practical implications

Readers will be made aware of the impediments facing effective execution of market segmentation and be well prepared to spot such difficulties in any such projects that they might undertake.

Originality/value

Few cases explore the practical issues encountered during segmentation or the creation of a new target market strategy. These difficulties are addressable, but only if they are anticipated or identified expediently. This paper provides such warnings and guidance.

Details

Marketing Intelligence & Planning, vol. 29 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-4503

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 April 2012

Qingxiao Yu, Can Yuan, Z. Fu and Yanzheng Zhao

Recently, service robots have been widely used in various fields. The purpose of this paper is to design a restaurant service robot which could be applicable to provide basic…

1609

Abstract

Purpose

Recently, service robots have been widely used in various fields. The purpose of this paper is to design a restaurant service robot which could be applicable to provide basic service, such as ordering, fetching and sending food, settlement and so on, for the customers in the robot restaurant.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on characteristics of wheeled mobile robots, the service robot with two manipulators is designed. Constrained by the DOF, the final positioning accuracy within ±3 cm must be guaranteed to successfully grasp the plate. Segmented positioning method is applied considering the positioning costs and accuracy requirement in the different stages, and the shape‐based matching tracking method is adopted to navigate the robot to the object.

Findings

Experiments indicate that the service robot could successfully grasp the plate, from wherever is its initial position; and the proposed algorithms could estimate the robot pose well and accurately evaluate the localization performance.

Research limitations/implications

At present, the service robot could only work in an indoor environment where there is steady illumination.

Practical implications

The service robot is applicable to provide basic service for the customers in the robot restaurant.

Originality/value

The paper gives us a concept of a restaurant service robot and its localization and navigation algorithms. The service robot could provide its real‐time coordinates and arrive at the object with ±2 cm positioning precision, from wherever is its initial position.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 39 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 23 June 2023

Luke van der Laan, Gail Ormsby, Lee Fergusson and Peter McIlveen

The purpose of the study was to specify the perceived outdated nature and lack of definitional clarity associated with the concept of work and further to outline that the nature…

4285

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to specify the perceived outdated nature and lack of definitional clarity associated with the concept of work and further to outline that the nature of work has dramatically changed in the 21st century, while definitions of work referenced in research remain those that were dominant in the previous century. Lastly, the study aimed to propose an updated conceptualisation and definition of work to aid future research.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping literature review was adopted as the methodology guiding the study. A scoping review is particularly suited to identifying the conceptual boundaries on a given multi-disciplinary topic and is used to map the key concepts underpinning a research area as well as to clarify working definitions.

Findings

Nine main themes underpinning the concept of work were extracted from the extant literature. These were assimilated with contemporary literature across multiple disciplines. Contexts of work as they relate to dimensions of work and workspace are developed and visualised. A proposed contemporary definition of work is presented.

Research limitations/implications

The aim of the study was to address the problem with current and future research continuing to refer to traditional conceptualisations of work, while the nature of work has dramatically changed. The findings are preliminary and intended to stimulate further discourse towards a greater consensus of a definition. The implications of proposing an updated definition of work is that it is intended to better inform future research reflective of its multi-disciplinary and significantly changed nature.

Practical implications

The implications to practice are the main impetus of this study. The authors found that research associated with work was being confounded by traditional and outdated interpretations, excluding alternative forms of work or not recognising its multi-dimensionality. It is proposed by the paper that an updated conceptualisation of the nature of work in this era, as it is reflected across disciplines and practice, would positively contribute to the understanding, management and conceptualisation of work in practice.

Originality/value

A systematic literature review across disciplines of the definition of work will reveal the outdated nature and disparate interpretation of the concept of work. An inclusive, multi-disciplinary and contemporary definition of work has not been suggested. This scoping review was conducted to address this problem and gap in the literature. Further, this paper presents a multi-dimensional and spatial conceptualisation of work that is proposed to better inform future research and practice associated with work.

Details

Journal of Work-Applied Management, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2205-2062

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 November 2020

Yoonhee Park, Heajung Woo, Mi-Rae Oh and Sunyoung Park

The purpose of this study is to review the definition, perspective, measurement and context of workplace learning and explored workplace learning to identify its role in…

1355

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to review the definition, perspective, measurement and context of workplace learning and explored workplace learning to identify its role in quantitative research.

Design/methodology/approach

Through an integrative review of the literature, the following four roles that workplace learning has played in these studies were identified: workplace learning as an antecedent, a mediator, a moderator and an outcome.

Findings

This paper synthesized results for workplace learning in 45 studies. A total of 88 variables related to workplace learning were identified after four overlapped variables (autonomy, social support, work engagement and workload) in multiples areas were excluded from a total of 92 variables (56 antecedents, 8 mediators, 7 moderators and 21 outcomes).

Research limitations/implications

Because this study identified four roles of workplace learning (as antecedent, mediator, moderator and outcome), this study did not focus on the process of learning in the workplace. Additional study is needed to investigate how workplace learning can lead to outcomes and how this process can link workplace learning and its consequences.

Originality/value

This paper synthesized the antecedents, mediators, moderators and outcomes for workplace learning by integrating the findings in this study. This provided a comprehensive framework that could be used by researchers to continue the empirical research on this topic to develop the dynamics between individual, group, job and organizational variables on the one hand and workplace learning on the other.

Details

Industrial and Commercial Training, vol. 53 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0019-7858

Keywords

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