Search results

Too often people with complex mental health needs do not find their way out of the mental health system or find satisfactory solutions that enable them to live a full life. In 2015 the Mental Health Department (MHD) of Trieste established the Recovery House pilot project to address this concern. The paper aims to Investigate the project.

The Recovery House was co-created with and for people between 18 and 35 years old with diagnoses of psychosis and other complex mental health conditions. An integral part of the pilot was the organization of the “Recovery Community,” inspired by the Assembly model embraced by Franco Basaglia. The Recovery Community met regularly to both support and learn from the Recovery House and aimed to create a democratic and reflective space where power relationships, self-determination, responsibility and ownership by all the stakeholders, including family members, could be explored together.

Over a period of 31 months, four groups of people have successfully completed their residency at the Recovery House. In total, 89 percent of people who stayed at the Recovery House did so up to six months. After the period of staying at the Recovery House most of them moved to independent living or shared supported accommodation.

This initiative sheds light on the fact that democratic values, approaches and structures can improve both service functioning and the recovery outcomes for people with complex health needs. Further, the Recovery House has had a significant effect on the culture and practice of the MHD in adopting a comprehensive approach to emotional distress.

The purpose of this paper is to address the need of a reengineering of the software development process in a Mexican technology services company. In general, the main risk faced by small- and medium-sized software developers (SMEs) is the inability to meet delivery times or to adjust to project requirements, whether through lack of follow-up on the critical activities of the development process or through an inadequate distribution of workloads among members of the project team.

The methodology used to carry out the reengineering of the software development process is Hammer and Champy, which consists of six stages: introduction to the current situation of the company and the need for change; identification of the business processes; selection of the business process to be redesigned; understanding of the process selected; proposal for reengineering the business process selected; and the results of the comparison between the current situation of the process and the proposed reengineering of the process through the use of Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN 2.0).

Based on the results, the paper shows the importance of the analysis and implementation of the reengineering in a software development company. It describes step-by-step how to apply the methodology of Hammer and Champy in a business process through simulated scenarios, using BPMN 2.0. By carrying out the implementation of the proposed reengineering, the company would therefore save 45.12 percent of costs, 41.17 percent of time, and a better distribution of resources, at the same time guaranteeing the satisfaction of its clients.

The study addresses the current needs of small- and medium-sized software developers, providing a step-by-step guide to the implementation of a process reengineering methodology, performing an analysis and modeling of processes in BPMN 2.0 and providing results through a simulation of the critical process, with the aim to observe the flow of activities and the significant improvements that would be achieved by implementing the reengineering proposal. This simulation schema allows business owners to observe the potential of the changes and to verify the positive impact they would have on the company before beginning to make operational changes in the organization.

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance of Spanish banking entities between 2009 and 2013, a period marked by the reform of the banking system with a large number of mergers and integrations.

First, efficiency is measured applying the data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology and, then, the Malmquist index is calculated to assess its evolution.

The results show that most of the entities have improved their performance from the production approach. However, from the intermediation approach, the efficiency of the sample has deteriorated, which raises questions about the sustainability of the traditional banking business when the current credit restriction strategy is long lasting.

The comparative analysis demonstrates that, after the deep reforms carried out in Spain, the banking entities maintain similar efficiency rankings to those they had at the beginning of the period analysed. This shows that the reform has created new groups that operate adequately, avoiding the closing of institutions. Despite the better rationalisation of the available resources, the outlook for Spanish banks remains unclear in the current macroeconomic context, which does not favour the banking business.

The study contributes to the literature on the Spanish banking system because it adds new empirical evidence about its restructuring and it applies a DEA model to a sample before and after mergers. The authors discuss theoretical and managerial implications and offer suggestions for future research on this field.

This chapter explores how eight children from five Bolivian migrant families living in Madrid perceive their participation within their families. Children understand their participation as taking responsibility for domestic chores and taking care of younger siblings. Children's ideas of participation are associated with their school experience and are about simply having a voice in everyday mundane interactions with adults and peers.

Parents' cultural values, power and authority dominate decisions in the family. These children were born in Spain and practices in their family homes are influenced by their parent's strong cultural ties with Bolivia. The data collected show that the lives of these children and their views of participation need to be understood beyond the binary of the Global North and Global South (Twum-Danso Imoh et al., 2019).

The research employed the ‘routes of participation’, a playful and creative research method that aimed to empower children to explore their ‘interdependent agency’ (Abebe, 2019) and the meaning of participation within the context of their family lives. We conclude that any successful intervention with children needs to understand the meaning of what children say in relation to the various situations in which they live. Listening to children's voices and paying attention to the language that they use in their everyday lives should continue to be the basis of child-centred research and child-centred practice. The chapter encourages to reflect on the value of culturally grounded playful activities to understand children's agentic experiences and their contribution that they can make to their own lives.

This paper aims to analysis the factors that explain the effectiveness of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication on Facebook by a hospitality company. Taking the affect transfer hypothesis (ATH) model as a basis, the influence of beliefs about the company (attributions and corporate image) is studied and variables related to the receiver (environmental consciousness and identification with the territory) as direct antecedents of the improvement of the attitude towards the company and attitude towards the post, which influence the intention to share the information.

This study developed a quantitative study based on a structured questionnaire targeted at regular Facebook users. Specifically, this study used a stimulus-based method, designing a fictitious post by a leading Spanish hotel chain about an environmental initiative. The post, which was shown to the participants before they answered the questionnaire, provided information about the development of an environmental programme by the hospitality company in the region where the study was carried out. Specifically, this study measured two communication outcomes (the improvement in attitude towards the hospitality company and the user’s intention to share the information) and variables related to the receiver (environmental consciousness and identification with the territory), to the message (information’s usefulness) and to the company (image and attributions) as explanatory variables. This study obtained a final sample of 239 valid surveys respecting the socio-demographic profile of the target population. The hypotheses were tested using a covariance-based structural equations model approach (software EQS 6.1).

This study observed that the ATH model is valid to measure the effectiveness of CSR communication on Facebook. Thus, the intention to share a post about an environmental initiative of the hotel is explained by both the attitude towards the company and the attitude towards the information. Factors related to the company and the environmental consciousness of the individuals exert an indirect influence. This study also found that the attitude towards the post has a double influence in the model, in the sense that it enhances the attitude towards the company and, at the same time, has a direct influence on the intention to share the information.

This study must first mention the use of a non-probabilistic sampling procedure, which could condition the representativeness of the sample obtained. Another limitation of our research is the use of cross-sectional data instead of longitudinal data. This study can also consider as a limitation the specific business and geographical context in which it was developed. In addition, it will be interesting to analyze other types of CSR initiatives, focused on other stakeholders, as well as to consider how the creativity of the post (text, image and/or video) could influence the effectiveness of the communication.

CSR information can reveal a mix of business and social attributions. The first of these, a source of scepticism and distrust, will always appear, but these extrinsic attributions do not have a negative effect in all cases. To reach positive communication outcomes, in terms of an improvement in the attitude towards the hotel and the intention to share the post and viralize the information, it is important to assure that people perceive that the hotel has a real interest in benefiting society with its initiative. To achieve this, it is very important to have a good corporate image. Furthermore, CSR-related posts may catch the attention of and generate interest in environmentally conscious people, so we suggest including CSR information in companies’ brand content strategy on social network sites (SNS) on a regular basis.

Hospitality companies have to make people aware of CSR initiatives. This study suggests including CSR information in companies’ brand content strategy on SNS on a regular basis. These channels let companies create attractive and compelling stories, and if CSR initiatives are framed on them, companies will be able to generate emotional connection with consumers. Furthermore, social platforms are relational channels, so it is advisable to use a friendly tone to connect with the individuals. Their greater or lesser participation and the possible associated comments will give clues to companies about the feelings and perceptions of people regarding CSR, which has great value.

Social networks can be interesting vehicles to convey CSR information, although users’ reactions towards a CSR post on these platforms have not yet been explored. This study tries to cover this gap and to contribute to the hospitality literature by studying the factors that would explain two communication outcomes of a CSR post on Facebook, one internal outcome (the improvement of the attitude towards the brand) and the other external (the intention to share the information). Furthermore, the study is a pioneer in the application of the ATH model to measure the marketing effectiveness of social media in the hotel industry.

Air traffic controllers (ATCOs) play a fundamental role in the safe, orderly and efficient management of air traffic. In the interests of improving safety, it would be beneficial to know what the workload thresholds are that permit ATCOs to carry out their functions safely and efficiently. The purpose of this paper is to present the development of a simulation platform to be able to validate an affective-cognitive performance methodology based on neurophysiological factors applied to ATCOs, to define the said thresholds.

The process followed in setting up the simulation platform is explained, with particular emphasis on the design of the program of exercises. The tools designed to obtain additional information on the actions of ATCOs and how their workload will be evaluated are also explained.

To establish the desired methodology, a series of exercises has been designed to be simulated. This paper describes the project development framework and validates it, taking preliminary results as a reference. The validation of the framework justifies further study to extend the preliminary results.

This paper describes the first part of the project only, i.e. the definition of the problem and a proposed methodology to arrive at a workable solution. Further work will concentrate on carrying out a program of simulations and subsequent detailed analysis of the data obtained, based on the conclusions drawn from the preliminary results presented.

The methodology will be an important tool from the point of view of safety and the work carried out by ATCOs. This first phase is crucial as it provides a solid foundation for later stages.

The purpose of this paper is to understand the profile of use of gerontechnology in Spanish older adults considering their age group (60–70; 71–80 and over 80 years) and to discern whether groups of subjects with similar characteristics can be established to ascertain which factors are behind the profile of frequent gerontechnology use.

A quantitative study is presented to understand the profile of use of gerontechnology in Spanish older adults. The sample comprised 497 participants (aged between 60 and 94 years).

The results show that, even though most participants consider technology to be useful in their daily lives, there is still a lack of knowledge on how to use it, especially among older subjects. This highlights the importance of promoting technological cocreation initiatives such as senior living labs.

Other researchers are encouraged to include the voices of older adults using gerontechnology in further studies.

If we want to increase the acceptance of technology by older adults, we must first let them take part in the design of the technologies they will use.

This research provides promising data that should merit attention to contribute to the well-being and quality of life of older adults in a society where currently technology is a key part in every sphere of our daily life.

The value of this research lies in the implications of “aging in place” studies today.

The USA outpaces most other countries in the world in the rates at which it incarcerates its citizens. The one million women held in US jails and prisons on any day in the USA face many physical health challenges, yet interventional work to address physical health in carceral settings is rare. This study’s purpose was to summarize the literature on programs and interventions implemented with women in US carceral settings (jail or prison) that primarily addressed a physical health issue or need.

A scoping review was conducted. The authors searched databases, reference lists, individual journals and websites for physical health program descriptions/evaluations and research studies, 2000–2020, that included women and were set in the USA.

The authors identified 19 articles and a range of problem areas, designs, settings and samples, interventions/programs, outcomes and uses of theory. The authors identified two cross-cutting themes: the carceral setting as opportunity and challenges of ethics and logistics.

Much potential remains for researchers to have an impact on health disparities by addressing physical health needs of women during incarceration.

Interventional and programmatic work to address physical health needs of women during incarceration is sparse and diversely focused. This review uniquely summarizes the existing work in a small and overlooked but important area of research and usefully highlights gaps in that literature.

The aim of the paper is to compare consumer acceptance, sensory analysis and volatile compounds of caiman meat with regard to surubí fish and chicken meat.

Caiman tail, chicken thigh and surubí meats' cuts were cooked in a pan with little oil and salt. The affective tests of acceptance (9-points hedonic scale) and preference ranking were evaluated by 80 consumers. Sensory analysis carried out by eight trained panelists described attributes' intensities on an unstructured linear scale (0–150 mm). Volatile compounds were analysed by solid-phase micro-extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry GC–MS.

Caiman meat had good acceptance values of 6–7 (“like slightly” to “like moderately”), being similarly preferred to surubí but less than chicken. The ratings of bitterness, hardness, fibrous appearance, fibrous texture and cohesiveness were higher and raw colour, characteristic flavour and oiliness were lower in caiman's meat than in the others. Caiman meat had lower juiciness than chicken but similar to surubí. Caiman showed lower levels of aldehydes than chicken, lower level of hydrocarbons and higher levels of acids and esters than the other meats. Alcohols, mainly found in caiman and chicken meat, were positively associated to aroma acceptance. Hydrocarbons, mainly found in surubí meat, were positively associated with the characteristic flavour and negatively correlated with aroma acceptance. Volatile composition of meats was related to their sensory attributes and consumer acceptance.

Given that caiman meat showed similar acceptance and preference to that of surubí, it could be considered a good quality meat, helping promote current programmes of sustainable use of natural resources.