Engagement and temporary teams: considerations for value engineering study teams and facilitators

The purpose of the current research is to contribute to the VE community’s understanding of how the dynamics of temporary teams may influence participant engagement, by answering the question, “what factors impact individual team member engagement on a VE study team?” In today’s business environment, the traditional permanent work team is no longer a reality for many employees (Jacobssen & Hallgren, 2016). Even those who do maintain membership in a permanent team are often tasked with serving on additional committees, task forces and decision-making teams to aid their organization in developing new products or navigating change. Value Engineering (VE) study teams present a unique scenario in which small, in-person teams of technical subject matter experts must solve complex problems in just a few days, having had no previous interaction. These teams can be classified as “temporary.” To understand what factors contribute to a participant’s engagement during a VE study, ten, semi-structured interviews were conducted with VE study team members. Themes from the interview data aligned with the literature’s framing of intellectual, social and affective engagement (Soane et al., 2012). Technical expertise, direct engagement by the facilitator, clear roles, prioritization of teambuilding, and viability of the project, were among the factors cited as impacting team member engagement. Recommendations were made related to prioritizing pre-study activities, creating a VE team member cadre for continued team member development, and setting the tone for engagement. These findings and recommendations may be applied to temporary team settings other than VE teams as well, in terms of the importance of context setting, early team member interaction, psychological membership and psychological safety for team success

Parent-teacher interactions: A study of the dynamics of social influence

The focus of this study was to explore the nature of parent-teacher interactions and to find evidence of social influence strategies used within their interactions. The literature showed that schools, internationally, nationally, and locally, have implemented parental involvement programs advocated by their respective governments. These programs are designed to encourage parents to interact more with the school and the teachers, forming parent-teacher partnerships to enhance student achievement levels. However, in practice, previous research has also signalled that there are underlying tensions in these parent-teacher partnerships that impact on parent-teacher interactions. This study sought to identify factors that parents and teachers describe as impacting on their interactions. Four low fee, independent, Protestant, metropolitan Perth primary schools participated in the study. Sixty-seven parents and teachers shared their lived experiences of positive and less than satisfactory parent-teacher interactions. Data were collected through the use of individual in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus group sessions. Reading and interpreting these transcripts aided in uncovering patterns of meaning, given by parents and teachers, into the nature of their interactions and their use of social influence strategies. The key finding from this study revealed that the nature of parent-teacher interactions was either collaborative or non-collaborative. The research concluded that parents and teachers held similar views on what practices made their interactions collaborative; however, they had different perspectives on what constituted non-collaborative practices. Secondly, six social influence strategies: authorities/experts, discussion, evidence, passive resistance, pressure, and relational were identified as being used by both parents and teachers during these interactions. These social influence strategies were used to persuade, manipulate, coerce, and/or negate the other person into sharing, adopting, obtaining or ignoring a person’s perspective. The outcomes of parents and teachers using social influence strategies were to obtain a course of action, level of care, and/or support for the student. Finally, these social influence strategies were utilised during various contexts and purposes for parent-teacher interactions. The findings revealed that parents and teachers had a preference for using the discussion, evidence, and relational strategies during their interactions, irrespective of the context or purpose. Overall, this research identified that five social influence strategies resulted in satisfactory experiences of parent-teacher interactions affording positive outcomes for students. Conversely, one social influence strategy, passive resistance, resulted in less than satisfactory experiences of parent-teacher interactions deriving less than satisfactory outcomes for students. Based on the findings from this research, a number of recommendations are suggested that include professional learning opportunities for teachers (and members of the school’s leadership team) on: the collaborative and non-collaborative practices of parents and teachers; the use and occasions for social influence strategies being implemented during particular parent-teacher interactions; and, customer service and public relations skills (in particular for early career teachers). These recommendations are viewed, in light of the findings identified in this present study, as enhancing parent-teacher communication, parent-teacher relationships and parental involvement in schools. In addition, these recommendations support the Australian Institute for Teacher and School Leadership’s National Professional Standards for Teachers which aims to improve teacher quality and positively enhance student achievement levels in our Australian schools

Auditing the socio-environmental determinants of motivation towards physically activity or sedentariness in work-aged adults: a qualitative study

Background: There is a lack of understanding of work aged adults’ (30-60 years old) perspectives on the motivation of physical activity versus sedentariness. This study aims to: (1) identify which socio-environmental factors motivate physical activity and/or sedentary behavior, in adults aged 30-60 years; and (2) explore how these motivators interact and combine. Method: Fifteen work-aged adults who were able to engage in physical activity (Mean age = 43.9 years; SD 9.6, range 31-59) participated in semi-structured interviews. Inductive content analysis was used to generate an inventory of socio-environmental factors and their specific influences on motivation towards physical activity or sedentariness. Results: Key socio-environmental agents found to influence motivation included: Spouse/partner, parents, children, siblings, whole family, grandchildren, friends, work-mates, neighbors, strangers, team-mates and class-mates, instructors, health care professionals, employers, gyms and health companies, governments, media and social media, cultural norms, and the physical environment. Mechanisms fell into five broad themes of socio-environmental motivation for both physical activity and sedentariness: (1) competence and progress; (2) informational influences, (3) emotional influences, (4) pragmatics and logistics, and (5) relationships. Similar socio-environmental factors were frequently reported as able to motivate both activity and sedentariness. Likewise, individual categories of influence could also motivate both behaviors, depending on context. Conclusion: The findings of this paper ‘unpack’ theoretical concepts into specific and targeted behavioral recommendations. The data suggested no simple solutions for promoting physical activity or reducing sedentariness, but rather complex and interacting systems surrounding work-aged adults. Findings also suggest that health professionals should be encouraged to support adults’ health by examining the socio-environmental motivational influences, or 'motivational atmosphere

Perceptions of multi-disciplinary team members regarding psycho-social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency in Oshakati, Namibia

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW)Child crime (juvenile delinquency) has become a norm in many societies and the world at large. Crime is prevalent in all age groups and is said to be on the increase among children under the age of eighteen. Juvenile delinquency also increases in Namibia. The study was informed by Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory as the factors contributing to the phenomenon are the social relationships and individual's environment. The research question asked by the researcher was: What are the psycho-social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency in Oshakati, Namibia? The research goal, based on the research question, was to achieve an in –depth understanding of the psycho-social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency in Oshakati, Namibia, from the perspectives of the multi-disciplinary team working with the involved youth in this area. The research objectives to attain the goal were: to explore the social factors and psychological factors contributing to juvenile delinquents and, to provide recommendations that could be included in treatment and prevention of the phenomenon. The study adopted an explanatory, descriptive, qualitative approach using the case study strategy of inquiry, where multiple data collection methods and sources were used. The population was the multi-disciplinary team working with the juvenile delinquents in Oshakati, Namibia and eight participants were purposefully selected, including teachers, police officers, social workers and youth workers. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews and document analysis was done in order to involve multiple sources of data. Six themes were identified, which the influence of the internal family environment with reference to lack of parental guidance; lack of parental control and supervision due to parents being absent; the external family environment and delinquency in relation to the social environment with special reference to the effects of bars and social clubs in informal settlements; lack of community support; the school factors; lack of recreational and educational facilities and poverty; adolescence and peer pressure/ peer acceptance and the influence of the media

Assessment of factors affecting Utilization of Safe Male Circumcision among Males aged 15 to 49 years Living in Buremba Town Council, Kazo District. A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: According to the Ministry of Health 2016, the prevalence of safe male circumcision was 0.43. This study assessed the factors affecting the utilization of safe male circumcision among males aged 15-49 years living in the Buremba Town Council, Kazo District. Methodology:  A descriptive cross-sectional study design involving the quantitative method of data collection was used in the study carried out in Buremba Town Council. The researcher utilized convenience sampling on 120 respondents from December 2021 to March 2022. The data collection process was for 6 days using self-administered questionnaires which were filled, cleaned, and later analyzed using tables. Results: The study established that 50.83% of the respondents expressed personal fear of pain and the major misconception about SMC was a reduction in sexual performance as reported by 42.5% of respondents. More so, a higher percentage of 94.74% of the circumcised respondents expressed satisfaction with the SMC service provided and 23.33% of the respondents did not recommend SMC to their sons or friends. Conclusion:  The major factors affecting the utilization of SMC among males living in Buremba Town Council were mostly knowledge related factors such as knowing the importance of safe male circumcision, misconceptions such as reduction in sexual performance, and personal fears such as pain whereas social-economic factors like cultural influence had the least effect on the study. Recommendations:  The parents in Buremba Town Council should adopt early childhood SMC to rule out factors like personal fears and misconceptions that increase with age. The health team of Buremba Town Council should continue male circumcision camps targeting specific age groups such as students in schools around to increase the benefits of SMC like reduced HIV/AIDs risks in the area.  Conclusion:  There are factors affecting SMC. These need to be considered when offering the services.

Addressing Childhood Adversity and Social Determinants inPediatric Primary Care:Recommendations for New Hampshire

Research has clearly demonstrated the significant short- and long-term impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the social determinants of health (SDOH) on child health and well-being.1 Identifying and addressing ACEs and SDOH will require a coordinated and systems-based approach. Pediatric primary care* plays a critical role in this system, and there is a growing emphasis on these issues that may be impacting a family. As awareness of ACEs and SDOH grows, so too does the response effort within the State of New Hampshire. Efforts to address ACEs and the SDOH have been initiated by a variety of stakeholders, including non-profit organizations, community-based providers, and school districts. In late 2017, the Endowment for Health and SPARK NH funded the NH Pediatric Improvement Partnership (NHPIP) to develop a set of recommendations to address identifying and responding to ACEs and SDOH in NH primary care settings caring for children. Methods included conducting a review of literature and Key Informant Interviews (KII). Themes from these were identified and the findings are summarized in this report