491,698 research outputs found

    Application of Incident Command Structure to clinical trial management in the academic setting: principles and lessons learned

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    Background Clinical trial success depends on appropriate management, but practical guidance to trial organisation and planning is lacking. The Incident Command System (ICS) is the ‘gold standard’ management system developed for managing diverse operations in major incident and public health arenas. It enables effective and flexible management through integration of personnel, procedures, resources, and communications within a common hierarchical organisational structure. Conventional ICS organisation consists of five function modules: Command, Planning, Operations, Logistics, and Finance/Administration. Large clinical trials will require a separate Regulatory Administrative arm, and an Information arm, consisting of dedicated data management and information technology staff. We applied ICS principles to organisation and management of the Prehospital Use of Plasma in Traumatic Haemorrhage (PUPTH) trial. This trial was a multidepartmental, multiagency, randomised clinical trial investigating prehospital administration of thawed plasma on mortality and coagulation response in severely injured trauma patients. We describe the ICS system as it would apply to large clinical trials in general, and the benefits, barriers, and lessons learned in utilising ICS principles to reorganise and coordinate the PUPTH trial. Results Without a formal trial management structure, early stages of the trial were characterised by inertia and organisational confusion. Implementing ICS improved organisation, coordination, and communication between multiple agencies and service groups, and greatly streamlined regulatory compliance administration. However, unfamiliarity of clinicians with ICS culture, conflicting resource allocation priorities, and communication bottlenecks were significant barriers. Conclusions ICS is a flexible and powerful organisational tool for managing large complex clinical trials. However, for successful implementation the cultural, psychological, and social environment of trial participants must be accounted for, and personnel need to be educated in the basics of ICS

    Integrated Marketing Communications and Marketing Performances of Small Medium-Sized Enterprises (A Study on Food and Beverages SMEs, Northern Malaysia)

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    The main objective of this study is to examine the influence between integrated marketing communications toward marketing performances. In order to measure that, five dimensions of integrated marketing communications management which were interactivity, mission marketing, organizational infrastructure, strategic consistency and planning and evaluation were used. While, only one marketing performance dimension were used for marketing performances. Data were gathered through questionnaire survey on food and beverages small medium-sized enterprises in Northern Malaysia (Pulau Pinang, Kedah, and Perlis). Correlation and regression analysis were used to examine influence of between integrated marketing communications management toward marketing performance. The results indicated that all dimensions of integrated marketing communications management are not significant influence toward marketing performance. Moreover, the results showed that there is relationship between three dimensions of integrated marketing communications (interactivity, mission marketing, and organizational infrastructure) toward marketing performances. The findings from this study will help the small medium-sized enterprises to seriously look at the importance of integrated marketing communication to boost their marketing performances. It would be a promising topic to study IMC in Malaysian SMEs to find further insights and approaches to implement IMC efficiently. By undertaking this study, we can counter the rapidly changing integrated marketing communications environment effectively

    A Human-in-the-Loop Evaluation of Multi-Sector Planning in Mixed Equipage Airspace (MSP III)

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    A human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation was conducted in May 2010 to determine the feasibility and value 01 conducting multi-sector planning (MSP) operations in a mixed equipage environment. Aircraft were categorized as equipped or unequipped based on the presence or absence of an air-ground data communications (Data Comm) capability for receiving auto-loadable clearances and transfer of communication messages from the air navigation service provider (ANSP). The purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility and possible benefits of introducing multi-sector planning in a mixed equipage context, or whether Data Comm equipage was required for MSP operations. Each test scenario presented one of three different equipage levels to the controllers (10%, 50% or 90% equipped aircraft), so that the operational impact of different equipage levels could be observed. Operational feasibility assessment addressed two related questions: (1) are MSP operations feasible for unequipped aircraft, and (2) are they feasible in a mixed equipage context. Similarly, two categories of potential benefits were explored: (1) system performance improvements (e.g., throughput, workload) associated with MSP at different equipage levels, and (2) the possibility of providing differential service for equipage through MSP operations. Tool requirements (for both planning and controller stations), as well as planning and coordination procedures - within facility (traffic management unit/operational area) and within sector (R-Side/D-Side) - were two other topics addressed in the study. Overall, results suggested that MSP operations were feasible in a mixed equipage environment and that the tools were effective with both equipped and unequipped aircraft. Using the MSP tools, traffic management coordinators were able to manage controller task load, effectively balancing throughput with complexity and controller task load at each of the three equipage levels tested

    Energy Efficient Route Planning Using VANET

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    One of the key challenges in conducting dynamic route planning is the process of collecting and disseminating instantaneous travel data in real time. Recent studies are evaluating VANET (Vehicular Ad Hoc Network) and its associated WAVE (Wireless Access in Vehicular Environment) standards to facilitate this process. In these studies, travel data accumulated from vehicle OBUs (on board unit) are shared with other vehicles over DSRC (dedicated short- range communication) medium using centralized or distributed approach. In most studies, data collection and dissemination process are not scalable enough for high density traffic environment. Specifically, with a centralized approach, if traffic management center (TMC) or Road Side Unit (RSU) performs route planning for vehicles, there will be many bidirectional communications between the centralized entity and vehicles, leading to higher channel congestion in heavy traffic areas. With a distributed approach, information shared by other vehicles might not be useful or pertinent for some vehicles, leading to wastage of channel bandwidth. Methods used for data collection also need to be intelligent to count in nontraditional circumstances to achieve accuracy. In this thesis, we have proposed a three tiered architecture for data collection, analysis and dissemination. In addition, 1) we demonstrated the concept of queuing delay at intersection for travel time calculation and developed a hybrid metric that considers average travel time and occupancy rate, 2) we offload the computation of route planning to vehicle OBUs and 3) we developed an algorithm that determines the area of propagation for data that needs to be disseminated. We evaluated the performance of our approach progressively using VEINS, SUMO and OMNET++ simulators

    Meeting the Public Health Workforce’s Training Priorities in Georgia and the Southeast

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    Background: The mission of the Region IV Public Health Training Center (R-IV PHTC) is to build knowledge and skills in the public health workforce in the eight states of HHS Region IV by providing competency-based training. Workforce training needs are changing quickly and dramatically in light of new developments in public health practice and science, emerging diseases, changes in the health care environment, and the growing emphasis on inter-professional practice. Additionally, a 2014 survey conducted by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) found that at least 38% of the current public health workforce plans to retire by 2020. Therefore, it is increasingly crucial to prepare upcoming managers for leadership positions and to train entry-level workers to assume more advanced roles. Methods: To address current and emerging training needs in Georgia and the southeast, the R-IV PHTC continually identifies emerging priorities and effective training approaches. It explores training needs through a review of formal needs assessments, key stakeholder interviews, surveys of targeted audiences, informal partner communications, and training evaluation data. An interactive component of the GPHA session allowed participants to identify and discuss their own professional training needs. Results: Workforce development needs assessments data across several southeastern states identified recurring training needs for professionals in Tiers 1, 2 and 3 of the Council on Linkages Core Competency domains for Analytical/Assessment Skills and Financial Planning/Management. In Georgia, top competency training needs gathered from a variety of assessment methods included Cultural Competency, Communication, Financial Planning/Management, Public Health Science, and Leadership/Systems Thinking. Participants in the workshop’s interactive component expressed highest personal need for training in Financial Planning/Management, Analytical/Assessment Skills, and Policy Development/Program Planning. However, for others in their organizations, they identified a priority need for leadership training. Conclusions: The R-IV PHTC assesses training needs and provides training resources to respond to current and emerging public health workforce development needs in Georgia and the southeast

    Network planning for third-generation mobile radio systems

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    Strategic Communications and Corporate Branding: a Study of Jebsen & Jessen Indonesia Group

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    Corporate communications hold a vital function to maintain the company's positive image and reputation in front of stakeholders. A corporate communications practitioner must be able to handle a variety of communication processes in an organization, including to determine the right strategy to reach its communications goal. The purpose of this research is to analyze the corporate communications strategy of Jebsen & Jessen Indonesia Group to create its corporate branding and reflect it with public relations strategic planning process. The researcher gathered the primary data from in-depth interview with key informant and combine it with secondary data from other relevant data. Afterwards, it was verified by triangulation to strengthen the credibility of data and continue with analysis process. This research concluded that Jebsen & Jessen Indonesia Group has implemented its corporate branding strategy accordingly to public relations strategic planning process. Some of the targets have been achieved in one year period, however there have been suggestions to improve the future corporate branding strategy formation

    Evaluating the quality of project planning: a model and field results

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    Faulty planning will result in project failure, whereas high-quality project planning increases the project's chances of success. The paper reports on the successful development and implementation of a model aimed at evaluating the quality of project planning. The model is based on both the abilities required of the project manager and the organizational support required for a proper project management infrastructure. The model was validated and applied by 282 project managers in nine organizations, where strong and weak planning processes were identified and analysed
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