Razvoj turizma i slobodnog vremena: u susret Olimpijskim igrama Australia 2000 - razvoj i organizacija koja uči

There have been significant economic, political and technological changes in terms of globalisation, new policies, practices and laws that have impacted on the way organisations operate and offer their services and products. One major impact of globalisation has been the new focus by organisations on their people as the most valuable resource. All businesses are people businesses. People development is at the heart of business success. A company’s HR policy needs to cover every aspect of its operation from what it sells and to whom through to how it organises itself, its capital, equipment, its people, who it employs and where it operates. Over the past ten years managers have acknowledged their role for developing people by taking increased responsibility for improving the skills, knowledge and attitudes (training, education, development) of their people. Managers and employees are changing their relationship to achieve competitive advantage through increased commitment and focus on customers and managing value. This is a description of how one key provider of services to the Olympic Games to be held in Sydney, Australia in the year 2000, has been preparing its staff to optimise this opportunity. The description refers to a three phase change strategy that the organisation is currently implementing over a three year period so that it can maximise its contribution and competitiveness towards the year 2000. I have called the organisation, The Retail Company.Novonastali uvjeti globalizacije stvaraju značajne ekonomske, političke i tehnološke promjene te nova politička kretanja. Praksa i zakonodavstvo utječu na način organizacije, ponudu usluga i proizvoda. Vrlo značajna odrednica globalizacije je usmjeravanje organizacije na svoje kadrove kao najvredniji resurs. Sve poslove realiziraju ljudi, pa je stoga razvoj ljudskih resursa ključ poslovnog uspjeha. Politika ljudskih resursa svakog poduzeća mora obuhvatiti svaki aspekt poslovanja, od toga što prodaje i kome prodaje, do toga kako je organizirano ono samo, njegov kapital, oprema, osoblje, tko su njegovi zaposlenici i gdje oni djeluju. Posljednjih deset godina manageri su spoznali svoju ulogu u razvoju ljudskih resursa, na način preuzimanja odgovornosti za poboljšavanje njihovih vještina, znanja i stavova (praksa, obrazovanje, razvoj). Manageri i zaposlenici mjenjaju svoj odnos da bi ostvarili kompetitivnu prednost na tržištu, na način da usmjeravaju svoju pažnju na kupce i vrijednost koju im nude. U radu se opisuje kako jedan od ključnih pružatelja usluga na Olimpijskim igrama, koje će se održati u Sydneyu, Australia godine 2000. priprema svoje osoblje za taj događaj. Uvođenje nove strategije odvija se u tri faze, a realizirat će se u razdoblju od tri godine, tako da do 2000. organizacija poveća svoju konkurentsku prednost. Organizacija je nazvana "Retail Company"

Effectiveness and Validation of the Italian Translation of the Low Anterior Resection Syndrome Score in an Italian High-Volume University Hospital

Background: The low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score is a validated questionnaire developed in Denmark to measure the severity of bowel dysfunction after low anterior resection. This retrospective study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the LARS score in the Italian language in a population of Italian patients who underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer. The convergent and discriminative validity and the test-retest reliability of the score were investigated. Methods: A cohort of two hundred and five patients treated with low anterior resection were enrolled in an Italian high-volume university hospital between January 2000 and April 2018. The Italian version of the LARS score (tested twice), as translated from English original version, a single question on quality of life and the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire were submitted to patients. Results: A high proportion of patients showed a perfect or moderate fit between the LARS score and QoL categories (convergent validity, p < 0.0005). All differences regarding the items of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) functional scales were statistically significant (p < 0.0005). The LARS score was able to discriminate between groups of patients who received or did not receive preoperative chemoradiotherapy (p < 0.0005) and those who received total or partial mesorectal excision (p < 0.0005). The test-retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.96). Conclusion: The Italian translation of the LARS score is an easy and reliable tool for assessing bowel dysfunction after low anterior resection and its routine use in clinical practice should be recommended

How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice

Participatory Barriers to the Informal Learning of Older Australians using the Internet and Web 2.0 Technologies

This chapter aims to explore the real and perceived barriers that exist for older Australians when engaging with informal eLearning. The chapter has two main areas of focus: first, an examination of some of the challenges faced by older Australians engaging in informal eLearning, and second, an overview of two Australian initiatives designed to break down the barriers between older Australians and technology. The chapter commences with a review of the international literature to define informal learning before considering the intersection that exists between informal learning and online learning. The emerging social issues of the ageing Australian population are then presented to provide context to the main exploration within this chapter – the real and perceived barriers that exist for older Australians as they attempt to engage in eLearning. After discussing two community initiatives and introducing a model for surmounting the identified obstacles, the chapter discusses possible solutions making relevant recommendations and suggesting directions for future research. </jats:p

Promoting Critical Thinking in Virtual Teams

This chapter aims to raise awareness in leaders and practitioners on how critical thinking is embedded within the performance of virtual teams. The increasingly important nexus between critical thinking and team performance is demonstrated within the specific context of the virtual environment. The chapter is interspersed with brief case studies that demonstrate some of the experiences of Australian-based higher education staff in their efforts to incorporate both critical thinking and virtual teamwork into their pedagogy. A framework of success factors and challenges inherent to virtual teams and critical thinking is provided, which covers five influential factors: technology, student characteristics, educator characteristics, social aspects, and team dynamics. The chapter concludes with some directions for future research. </jats:p

E-Marketing as an Antecedent to Online Fraud

We live in a new world of constant technological upgrades and their pervasive intrusions especially in trade and commerce. The new e-commerce world order continues to transform the way business interactions occur in dynamic, complex, and adaptive ways. This has opened up ways for new and sometimes less scrupulous dealings in the online marketplace. Key questions answered in the chapter include: what are the new guidelines and best practices that mitigate the risks for consumers and advertisers? What constitutes online deceptive behavior and internet fraud? What explanatory frameworks and concepts from the academic literature can we use to best inform us about safeguarding the erosion of consumer trust that occurs through fraudulent e-marketing? The chapter explores four Australian case studies (each featuring a nexus between e-marketing and fraudulent online transactions) in order to apply a new theoretical framework based on constructionism to the emerging problem of online scams. The main contribution is the application of the Theory of Reality Construction to e-marketing. This innovative perspective includes social, psychological and intellectual dimensions which may be useful to entrepreneurs, policy makers, students, practitioners, researchers, and educators who seek to gain a deeper appreciation of the darker side that exists in the new era of e-marketing.</jats:p

The Role of Education in Breaking the Nexus between e-Marketing and Online Fraud

The world of marketing has changed through the incorporation of electronic means through which new customers and new markets can be reached. As a result, the world of trade and commerce has been revolutionized, revealing new and sometimes less scrupulous ways of dealing in an online marketplace. The article provides three Australian examples (each featuring a nexus between e-marketing and fraudulent online transactions) in order to gain a deeper appreciation of the darker side that exists to e-marketing. It also explores education and adult learning as means of raising awareness and skills in dealing with harmful e-marketing practices found in occurrences such as Internet fraud.</p