E-customer relationship management readiness in the banking industry: the case of Egypt

This study explores social and technical aspects of the electronic Customer Relationship Management (e-CRM) in Egypt. A pragmatic research approach using mixed methods with a range of stakeholders was employed. A framework is drawn in order to identify the main factors affecting e-CRM readiness in the Egyptian banking industry. In order to better understand the problem at hand, three different structured questionnaires were devised to survey a large number of bank employees and users. Data collected was analysed statistically using SPSS. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with a small number of decision makers at five different banks, which allowed a more penetrating study in Egyptian banking industry. Quantitative method was used through distributing a questionnaire to employees in five banks. Data obtained from the questionnaire was triangulated with data gathered from other sources: interviews with branch managers and observations. Findings of the empirical research were evaluated against the framework suggested in the beginning leading to a final framework that assesses e-CRM readiness in banking industry. Findings revealed that the use of technology, organisational culture, corporate strategy and customer perceptions affect e-CRM readiness while the employees’ perception does not affect e-CRM readiness. The interpretation of the results illustrated that organisational culture and corporate strategy have a strong effect one-CRM readiness, whereas use of technology has a modest effect on it. The investigation was conducted mainly in Alexandria, as the second main city in Egypt. From the data analysis, supported by a review of literature, a revised framework was generated. When results were brought together, similarities and differences between employees, customers and bank managers helped the researcher better understand the problem at hand, derive conclusions and make recommendations to the main stakeholders, which would help promote and enhance the e-CRM in Egypt

Les adaptations à l'agriculture urbaine sur le secteur de l'horticulture et du paysage : adaptations intégrées aux référentiels des titres professionnels du ministère chargé de l'emploi

Le sens du concept « d’Agriculture urbaine » tel qu’il est utilisé dans ce document est celui de cultiver et produire en ville (toits cultivés, balcons, jardins partagés, friches exploitées, agriculture verticale…) des fruits, légumes, plantes aromatiques et médicinales, que ce soit à titre gratuit ou dans un objectif marchand. En effet, si aujourd’hui l’agriculture urbaine est plutôt ancrée dans le secteur non marchand, l’une des évolutions possibles est que son développement aille de pair avec une marchandisation croissante. Quel que soit le devenir des produits de l’agriculture urbaine (récolte personnelle, don, échange, ou commercialisation), il est nécessaire de posséder les compétences permettant d’assurer cette production. Au niveau des titres professionnels du Ministère du Travail, l’enjeu est d’anticiper ces évolutions, d’examiner, lors de révisions régulières, la pertinence de nouvelles compétences rattachées aux titres existants, voire de proposer la création de nouvelles certifications sur proposition des branches professionnelles. Dans le cadre de sa mission de service public, la Direction de l’Ingénierie de l’Agence nationale pour la Formation Professionnelle des Adultes (Afpa), en tant que bureau d’étude du Ministère, est chargée de cette veille sectorielle et de l’analyse du travail

The impact of Gats: a case study of tourism development in Egypt.

Economic activity is becoming not only more internationalised, but, more significantly, it is becoming increasingly globalised. Globalisation is always regarded as a product of the liberalisation that has been the hallmark of economic policy throughout the world during the past two decades. Globalisation and liberalisation feed off each other and the former has certainly set in motion forces working to accelerate liberalisation. Both globalisation and liberalisation have increased the potential for international trade to further establish itself as an engine of growth and an important mechanism for integrating countries into the global economy. Tourism is not only the dominant service in world trade, it has also become one of the most important industries in the world and its economic impacts are vital for many countries. The tourism industry has long supported the idea of services agreements and has become a major force of the globalisation of international trade, particularly in services. The significance of tourism as a source of income and employment and as a major factor in the balance of payments for many countries has been attracting increasing attention. Governments, private sector entities, regional and local authorities, and others with an interest in international trade and economic development have recognised the role to be played by tourism. If the barriers to worldwide travel were eliminated or reduced substantially, international trade in tourism services is likely to increase dramatically. The globalisation of production and the liberalisation of trade offer opportunities for all countries and enable developing countries to play a more active role in the world economy. However, these newfound opportunities do not come without a price and this is to be found in the increasing complexity associated with interdependence including instability and marginalisation. Therefore, the net result is one of trade off between economic gains and costs. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only international body dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the trading nations of the world. Its main functions, as defined in article III of the Agreement, are to facilitate the implementation, administration and operation of the Uruguay Round Agreements (GATT, GATS, TRIPS, act) and to provide a forum for negotiations among members. The WTO's overriding objective is to help trade flow smoothly, freely, fairly and predictably. There is no doubt that the WTO and the GATS have assisted the growth of international trade in goods and services. However, the success of such instruments relies upon markets behaving in a Ricardian manner incorporating the fluidity and transparency that form the substance of those markets. The purpose of this research is, through analysis, to gain insight into the impacts of liberalisation brought about by the GATS on tourism development in Egypt and to explore stakeholders' perceptions of tourism liberalisation. This research aims to analyse the terms, codes and practice of the WTO and the GATS and their implications for the tourism sector. This examination is intended to enhance understanding of how the General Agreement is intended to work and how it may help governments exploit the system to their own advantage, especially in the developing countries. The research has five broad objectives. The first is to evaluate the level of openness in Egypt's trade in services in general and tourism in particular. The second is to examine and display the main features of Egypt's GATS commitments. Third, is to explore whether the macroeconomic environment offers the necessary conditions for tourism liberalisation and for private business development (foreign and local alike). Fourth, to determine whether the institutional climate is amenable to the growth and competitiveness of private firms. Finally, to evaluate the potential impacts of GATS on tourism development in Egypt. This research also has the objective of developing policy options that embrace and reflect all the major relevant concepts of tourism liberalisation. There are likely to be transitional impacts of trade liberalisation through WTO and GATS. The World Bank (2000) states that globalisation and liberalisation do not benefit everyone equally. Developing countries and the least developing countries are always the least able to take advantage of the opportunities that GATS presents, and globalisation and liberalisation may lead to an increase in inequality in these countries. The future of tourism development in Egypt, as well as the ability of Egypt to integrate successfully into the global trading system will depend upon its ability to strengthen its capacity to produce internationally competitive services and upon the extent of liberalisation in the services sectors in general and the tourism sector in particular. In today's globalised market, a country competes with every other destination in the type and price of tourism it offers. The main findings of this research indicate that if Egypt is to be successful in competing in the international tourism market, standards of excellence must be introduced for its products, particularly for infrastructure and accommodation and services. Management and administration of the sector must improve. Governments must shift to policies that encourage tourism. For example, the sector cannot develop without improvements in public health and personal safety in tourist areas. Air policies that support ease of access and traffic growth are also critical. Governments must also invest in expanded human resource development and institutional capacity building, and improve environmental mitigation and protection. The value to the final consumer is determined by the quality of all these components of the tourism package. Given its cross-sectoral nature, tourism will only develop in a sustainable manner if it is integrated into the country's overall policies and economic and physical planning mechanisms and if linkages are created across the many sectors spanned by tourism. Partial policy measures will be inadequate to address vested interests, underlying economic relationships and generic social or physical constraints. The creation of highly competitive products through good management of natural and built tourist assets is most likely to convince the international industry to promote one country over another in the global market place. Countries can influence these external industry managers through an effective and continuing promotion and marketing campaign, but will be successful only if there is a highquality, competitive product to sell that competes in value and not just price. It is hoped that these findings, which offer an understanding of the impacts of GATS and WTO on tourism development, may help address national and regional tourism development policy-making and strategies in developing countries

Comparison of Informational Needs among Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Women Undergoing Different Surgical Treatment Modalities

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for women worldwide. Almost all women with breast cancer will have some type of surgery in the course of their treatment either breast conservation surgery or modified radical mastectomy. Informational needs for such types of patients are critical step in providing high quality care. Aim: Comparing the informational needs among newly diagnosed breast cancer women with different surgical treatment modalities. Sample: A purposeful sample of 100 adult women with breast cancer undergoing surgery divided into two equal groups according to type of surgery. Design: Comparative descriptive design was utilized. Setting: This study was conducted at National Cancer Institute affiliated to Cairo University. Tools: Structured Interview Questionnaire and The Arabic translated version of Toronto Informational Needs Questionnaire of Breast Cancer, scored with likert scale as low, moderate and high important informational needs. The study findings revealed that newly diagnosed women with breast cancer undergoing surgery either breast conservation surgery or modified radical mastectomy were different in regard to age, marital status, residence, education, income and type of breast cancer. Although both groups had informational needs in different rates related to disease, investigative tests and treatment; they expressed that the highest informational needs was related to physical information, while the least important was related to psychosocial needs. Conclusion: information related to physical, disease, investigative tests and treatment are important needs for newly diagnosed breast cancer women regardless their type of surgery. Key words: newly diagnosed , breast cancer women, informational needs, different surgical treatment modalities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Impact of moderate versus mild aerobic exercise training on inflammatory cytokines in obese type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized clinical trial

Background: Recently some plasma biomarkers of inflammation have been recognized as important cardiovascular risk factors. There is little information about the effects of aerobic exercise training on these biomarkers and the risk of metabolic complications in obese type 2 diabetes patients.Objective: To compare the impact of moderate versus mild aerobic exercise training on the inflammatory cytokines in obese type 2 diabetic patients.Methods: Fifty obese type 2 diabetic patients of both sexes with body mass index (BMI) varying from 31 to 36 kg/m2, non smokers, free from respiratory, kidney, liver, metabolic and neurological disorders, participated in this study. Their age ranged from 40 to 55 years. The subjects were included into two equal groups; the first group (A) received moderate aerobic exercise training. The second group (B) received mild aerobic exercise training, three times / week for 3 months.Results: The mean values of leptin, TNF- alpha, IL2, IL4, IL6, HOMA-IR and HBA1c were significantly decreased in group (A) and group (B). Also, there were significant differences between both groups after treatment.Conclusion: Moderate aerobic exercise training modulates inflammatory cytokines more than mild aerobic exercise training in obese type 2 diabetic patients.Keywords: Aerobic exercise, inflammatory cytokines, obesity, non-insulin dependent diabetesAfrican Health Sciences Vol 13 Issue 4 December 201

Hydrotherapy versus Laxative for Treatment of Postoperative Constipation among Orthopedic Patients

Constipation is a common health problem that orthopedic patients may experience during the recovery phase. There are a wide-range of treatment methods to alleviate all symptoms of constipation and to regulate bowel habit back to baseline. Its treatment includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapy. Aim of the study: to compare between two treatment approaches (pharmacological in the form of laxative and non-pharmacological in the form of hydrotherapy) to relieve postoperative constipation for orthopedic patients.  Design; quasi-experimental design was used. Setting: This study was conducted at departments of orthopedic surgery, at a general governmental Hospital in Cairo, Sample: A purposive sample of 100 male and female adult patients  second day post orthopedic surgery (fixation and traction), divided into two equal groups (50 each), was recruited in this study. Tools: data were collected utilizing the following tools: 1) The Structured Interview Questionnaire, including socio-demographic and related medical data. 2) The Constipation Assessment Scale, developed by (McMillan and Williams, 1989). Results: the study findings revealed that all patients under the study their age ranged between 20 to 40 years, the majority were males. Findings revealed a statistical significant difference between the two groups in intestinal movement and constipation assessment symptoms. The laxative group expresses more intestinal movement and constipation symptoms complain more than hydrotherapy group after implementing the treatment measure. Recommendations; Further research is warranted to conduct studies in nursing to relieve patient's constipation for different types of hospitalized patient and in different hospital settings to apply evidenced based nursing practice. Key wards: constipation, intestinal sound, bowel movement, orthopedic patient, postoperative, hydrotherapy, laxative, pharmacological therapy approaches, non-pharmacological therapy approaches

Etude Anatomoclinique et épidémiologique Série de 362 cas

Le cancer du sein est le cancer le plus fréquent et représente la deuxième cause de décès par cancer dans le monde. Une classification moléculaire de ce cancer a été établie par Sorlie et Perou (2001) puis récemment par la conférence de Consensus de Saint Gallen dans sa version publiée en 2011 qui ont mieux caractériser ce néoplasie. Ils ont défini 5 sous types de pronostic et de réponse thérapeutique différents : luminal A, luminal B, normal, Her- 2, et basal. La classification moléculaire du cancer du sein va permettre d’entrevoir une nouvelle ère dans la prise en charge des cancers du sein, avec une approche plus individualisée, patiente par patiente. Nous avons mené une étude rétrospective descriptive étalée sur une période allant du 01 Janvier 2016 au 30 JUIN 2017 (362 cas) au service d’Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques CHU DOUERA -Alger-. Le but est de classer le cancer du sein selon le profil d’expression de différents marqueurs immunohistochimiques des cellules tumorales et de les corréler avec les données cliniques et ultérieurement évolutives. Les protéines étudiées sont : les récepteurs aux oestrogènes et aux Progestatifs, Her2, le Ki 67. Parmi les 362 tumeurs analysées, 56 (15,5%) étaient classées de type luminal A, 182 (50,3%) de type luminal B Her2 -, 18 (5%) de type luminal B Her2+ 19(5,2%) de type Her-2, et 87(24%) de type basal. Dans notre série d’étude, l’âge moyen au moment du diagnostic de 362 cas était de 49 ans. Comme dans la littérature, le phénotype luminal (RH+, Her2-) occupe dans notre série le premier rang en termes de fréquence avec un pourcentage de 50,3 % pour le sous type luminal B et 15,5% pour le sous type luminal A. Conformément à ces données, la majorité́ des carcinomes de ce type était de type infiltrant NOS.Cette étude a confirmé́ le caractère agressif des tumeurs basales et Her-2 en comparaison avec les tumeurs luminales, qui se distinguent par des caractères morphologiques et cliniques de mauvais pronostic

WHY MENTAL PREPARATION IS SO IMPORTANT ON DIRECTING OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE?

Our research work has fixed as objective, to apprehend the report of mental preparation for athletic performance from a study of a population of Algerian athletes. Sports performance defined by Platonov, V.N (1984.) as being “the maximum possibilities of an individual in a discipline at a given moment in its development" involves several other determinants. And this definition has the interest to introduce "the concept of threshold or level of performance", which are quantifiable, as defined by time, distance, power. In contrast, the physical appearance which is much easier to quantify and evaluate, it seemed more that random to define this 'process' that unites a sports result in the specific field of the individual mind. And for this, we are interested in our study, this pane, in the matter of the psychological variables that differentiate individuals between them and to, "everything that distinguishes the champions of other normal individuals: differential psychology.'' Durand, M. (1987). And we asked why mental preparation is so important in the realization of the sports performance? What are its methods, how to determine its effectiveness? The intervention of the psychologist through a descriptive language full observation taken upstream, and has designed to try to understand that which is expressed, by his actions, emotions and attitudes in a stressful environment and in its "moments of great solitude." In other words, we are trying to assign to this mental factor 'discriminating quality' so coveted by the athlete and his coach.  Article visualizations