Recent Health‐for‐All policy in Canada is reviewed, with particularreference to Ontario. Canadian health policy has traditionallyemphasised personal health services, and Canadians…
Abstract
Recent Health‐for‐All policy in Canada is reviewed, with particular reference to Ontario. Canadian health policy has traditionally emphasised personal health services, and Canadians are proud of their national insurance programme, which covers the entire population for hospital and physicians′ services. But it is recognised increasingly that the health services must be complemented by a health promotion approach, based in the Health‐for‐All movement of the World Health Organization. The federal government has shown leadership, and several provinces are revising their health policy. Ontario in particular has established an intersectoral Premier′s Council on Health Strategy to oversee this approach, and has adopted health goals.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to examine the governing boards responsible for health care in Nova Scotia to determine the extent to which they facilitate and/or impede efforts to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the governing boards responsible for health care in Nova Scotia to determine the extent to which they facilitate and/or impede efforts to attend to the health needs of African Canadians.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study method was employed. Qualitative interview and documentary data were interpreted by means of a hybrid of methods including discourse analysis, thematic analysis, reflexive ethnography and ethnography.
Findings
Key findings from this study suggest that the complex mandate of DHAs, a lack of processes to assess need and limited data (including a lack of research) to support decision‐making contribute to a limited understanding of the health needs of African Canadians among DHA board members and executive management. Policy options include improving access to, and development of, culturally competent health services, conducting research and improving access to data to facilitate decision‐making, and educating board members and executive management about black culture. DHAs need to explore new and innovative ways to engage and include the black community in decision‐making.
Practical implications
Continued public and political emphasis on the maintenance of the acute care system, limited resources devoted to “population health” and internal and external constraints that serve to limit the capacity for health boards to make independent decisions pose significant challenges for DHAs as they seek to fulfill their legislated mandate to improve the health of their catchment population. Policy options are presented to address issues such as research and information management, education and awareness, representation and building meaningful opportunities for inclusion.
Originality/value
There is a dearth of literature examining the roles and responsibilities of governing boards in attending to the health needs of minority populations.
Details
Keywords
Angela Dettori and Michela Floris
This study aims to explore the main drivers that family businesses possess to strengthen their resilience during the COVID-19 crisis.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the main drivers that family businesses possess to strengthen their resilience during the COVID-19 crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
This study followed a quantitative method analysis through a multiple regression analysis based on a sample of 570 Italian family firms.
Findings
The results showed that job quality and innovation significantly stimulate family firms' resilience during the COVID-19 crisis.
Practical implications
The study has several academic implications. Firstly, the study contributes to family firm research by extending the studies on factors that significantly influence the concept of resilience; secondly, the work contributes to crisis management, offering suggestions to help other firms exceed the COVID-19 crisis.
Originality/value
The present study clarifies the role of family firms' resilience, and it reveals how job quality and innovation play a meaningful role during the COVID-19 crisis.
Details
Keywords
Sascha Kraus, Thomas Clauss, Matthias Breier, Johanna Gast, Alessandro Zardini and Victor Tiberius
Within a very short period of time, the worldwide pandemic triggered by the novel coronavirus has not only claimed numerous lives but also caused severe limitations to daily…
Abstract
Purpose
Within a very short period of time, the worldwide pandemic triggered by the novel coronavirus has not only claimed numerous lives but also caused severe limitations to daily private as well as business life. Just about every company has been affected in one way or another. This first empirical study on the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on family firms allows initial conclusions to be drawn about family firm crisis management.
Design/methodology/approach
Exploratory qualitative research design based on 27 semi-structured interviews with key informants of family firms of all sizes in five Western European countries that are in different stages of the crisis.
Findings
The COVID-19 crisis represents a new type and quality of challenge for companies. These companies are applying measures that can be assigned to three different strategies to adapt to the crisis in the short term and emerge from it stronger in the long run. Our findings show how companies in all industries and of all sizes adapt their business models to changing environmental conditions within a short period of time. Finally, the findings also show that the crisis is bringing about a significant yet unintended cultural change. On the one hand, a stronger solidarity and cohesion within the company was observed, while on the other hand, the crisis has led to a tentative digitalization.
Originality/value
To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first empirical study in the management realm on the impacts of COVID-19 on (family) firms. It provides cross-national evidence of family firms' current reactions to the crisis.
Details
Keywords
Michael I. Harrison and Harm Lieverdink
Despite waves of budget cuts and structural reorganizations, physicians in most of Europe have not been subject to managerial controls like those that have emerged in the United…
Abstract
Despite waves of budget cuts and structural reorganizations, physicians in most of Europe have not been subject to managerial controls like those that have emerged in the United States and to a lesser degree in Britain. This paper examines one of the most dramatic instances in which physicians resisted managerial and governmental control and explains recent changes in this pattern. From 1982 through 1992, Dutch hospital specialists successfully blocked efforts by governmental regulators, insurers, and hospital managers to control the specialists' activities so as to reduce hospital costs, integrate care activities, and assure quality. Gradually the specialists began to lose their budgetary and operational autonomy and signed agreements with hospitals and insurers to integrate the specialists' fees into hospital budgets. These new fiscal arrangements increase the hospital managers' economic control over specialists and create possibilities for the enhancement of other types of managerial control. The organizational and political forces behind these changes are analyzed, along with their implications for future patterns of professional control in the Netherlands and for the integration of professional and managerial functions within Dutch hospitals.
The article examines the potential impact of FAR Subpart 3:10, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct on the system for regulating defense procurement integrity. The…
Abstract
The article examines the potential impact of FAR Subpart 3:10, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct on the system for regulating defense procurement integrity. The article argues that the adoption of the new Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct will not change the already heavy emphasis placed on full compliance with criminal and civil statutes directed at protecting procurement integrity. The article also argues that the defense procurement integrity program should devote equal attention to adoption of non-criminal standards of conduct directed at assuring the impartiality and objectivity of contractor employees. Finally, the article argues that in order to rebuild public trust in contractor employees the FAR Council should require contractor employees who perform duties similar to full-time federal employees to comply with a new uniform set of non-criminal standards of conduct rules directed at assuring the impartiality and objectivity of contractor employees.
The aim of this chapter is to study catastrophic pandemics which have occurred in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and their disruptive impact on tourism mobility. A…
Abstract
The aim of this chapter is to study catastrophic pandemics which have occurred in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and their disruptive impact on tourism mobility. A detailed study of past pandemics is conducted starting from the black death or bubonic plague of 1346 to the recent COVID-19 outbreak and effect of these diseases on the tourism and economy of the infected countries. Studies show that influenza pandemics will prove to be the most dangerous in future, and the next outbreak could occur from any of the 16 known HA (haemagglutinin) subtypes. Also, it is found that tourism itself has been responsible for spread of pandemic outbreaks as countries around the world put an enormous emphasis on increased growth of tourist numbers. Among recent pandemics, it was severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that caused the major decrease in international tourist arrivals although for a short term. Such pandemics have a negative effect on tourism destinations by damaging their image and competitiveness, and as a result, leading to disruptions in mobility of tourists, with Asian countries being the most at risk of such disruptions. Therefore, the findings of this study stress the need for pre-crisis management to handle such outbreaks, better traveller tracking system to check infected persons and the need for tourism destinations to diversify their economies to reduce dependency on tourism.
Details
Keywords
TamilSalvi Mari, Jin Liew and Veronica Ng
The study aims to explore factors affecting stilt construction and the possibilities of using innovative materials and construction methods to re-establish the traditional stilt…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore factors affecting stilt construction and the possibilities of using innovative materials and construction methods to re-establish the traditional stilt structures.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a qualitative research method using an in-depth interview with selected architects to document experience and insights of the architects on the challenges and possibilities of using innovative materials and construction methods to re-establish the traditional stilt structures. Purposive sampling was used to determine the respondents for the study. Architects with experience designing stilt houses in architects' architectural practice were selected to take in the study.
Findings
Study revealed that generally architects are keen on using stilt structures. Building materials and costs associated with designing and constructing stilt structures were identified as the key challenges. However, architects suggest using recycled building materials as possible solutions to encourage the construction of stilt structures in Malaysia. The architects also preferred to use hybridized recycled materials for stilt structures as hybridized materials have improved structural properties and functions. Additionally, the study identified “psychological hesitation” or “accessibility” as a factor affecting the construction of stilt buildings.
Research limitations/implications
Throughout this study, some limitations have been dealt with. The first is the limitation of sample size. Contemporary stilt architecture is not very common in Malaysia today, and not many architects have experience in designing stilt houses. Although the method of purposive sampling was used, a larger sample size could have generated a more diverse result. The second limitation is the dearth of research on contemporary stilt houses in Malaysia. As stilt construction is uncommon in Malaysia and the existing material focuses primarily on traditional Malay houses, this has been one of the major challenges. Finally, most of the literature on stilt construction is from Southeast Asia, limited or insufficient studies and literature on local stilt construction would have a greater benefit to the study.
Practical implications
The outcomes from this study would benefit the scholars who have an interest in exploring stilts construction in contemporary architecture as well as innovative construction materials and construction methods. As the study brings forth the challenges and possibilities of restoring the traditional stilt constructions, the study can be used as a reference by designers to garner a deeper understanding of the traditional stilt construction and encourage designers to focus on possible innovations for stilt construction from the aspects of materials and methods in ensuring the traditional element is present in future design and construction.
Originality/value
The study is a response to an obvious dearth body of knowledge in stilt construction in the Malaysian context. The study identifies the key challenges and possible and practical solutions. The findings of this study represent a scholastic effort that can be used as a reference by academics and scholars.