1,198 research outputs found
On Resilient Behaviors in Computational Systems and Environments
The present article introduces a reference framework for discussing
resilience of computational systems. Rather than a property that may or may not
be exhibited by a system, resilience is interpreted here as the emerging result
of a dynamic process. Said process represents the dynamic interplay between the
behaviors exercised by a system and those of the environment it is set to
operate in. As a result of this interpretation, coherent definitions of several
aspects of resilience can be derived and proposed, including elasticity, change
tolerance, and antifragility. Definitions are also provided for measures of the
risk of unresilience as well as for the optimal match of a given resilient
design with respect to the current environmental conditions. Finally, a
resilience strategy based on our model is exemplified through a simple
scenario.Comment: The final publication is available at Springer via
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40860-015-0002-6 The paper considerably extends
the results of two conference papers that are available at http://ow.ly/KWfkj
and http://ow.ly/KWfgO. Text and formalism in those papers has been used or
adapted in the herewith submitted pape
Photography as an act of collaboration
The camera is usually considered to be a passive tool under the control of the operator. This definition implicitly constrains how we use the medium, as well as how we look at â and what we see in â its interpretations of scenes, objects, events and âmomentsâ. This text will suggest another way of thinking about â and using â the photographic medium. Based on the evidence of photographic practice (mine and othersâ), I will suggest that, as a result of the ways in which the medium interprets, juxtaposes and renders the elements in front of the lens, the camera is capable of depicting scenes, events and moments that did not exist and could not have existed until brought into being by the act of photographing them. Accordingly, I will propose that the affective power of many photographs is inseparable from their âphotographicnessâ â and that the photographic medium should therefore be considered as an active collaborator in the creation of uniquely photographic images
How older people enact care involvement during transition from hospital to home: A systematic review and model
Background
Current models of patientâenacted involvement do not capture the nuanced dynamic and interactional nature of involvement in care. This is important for the development of flexible interventions that can support patients to âreachâinâ to complex healthâcare systems.
Objective
To develop a dynamic and interactional model of patientâenacted involvement in care.
Search strategy
Electronic search strategy run in five databases and adapted to run in an Internet search engine supplemented with searching of reference lists and forward citations.
Inclusion criteria
Qualitative empirical published reports of older people's experiences of care transitions from hospital to home.
Data extraction and synthesis
Reported findings meeting our definition of involvement in care initially coded into an existing framework. Progression from deductive to inductive coding leads to the development of a new framework and thereafter a model representing changing states of involvement.
Main results
Patients and caregivers occupy and move through multiple states of involvement in response to perceived interactions with healthâcare professionals as they attempt to resolve healthâ and wellâbeingârelated goals. âNonâinvolvementâ, âinformationâactingâ, âchallenging and chasingâ and âautonomousâactingâ were the main states of involvement. Feeling uninvolved as a consequence of perceived exclusion leads patients to act autonomously, creating the potential to cause harm.
Discussion and conclusion
The model suggests that involvement is highly challenging for older people during care transitions. Going forward, interventions which seek to support patient involvement should attempt to address the dynamic states of involvement and their mediating factors
Leadership, the logic of sufficiency and the sustainability of education
The notion of sufficiency has not yet entered mainstream educational thinking, and it still has to make its mark upon educational leadership. However, a number of related concepts â particularly those of sustainability and complexity theory â are beginning to be noticed. This article examines these two concepts and uses them to critique the quasi-economic notion of efficiency, before arguing that the concept of sufficiency arises naturally from this discussion. This concept, originally derived from environmental thinking, has both metaphorical and practical impact for educational organizations and their leadership. An examination of three possible meanings suggests that while an embrace of an imperative concept of sufficiency seems increasingly necessary, its adoption would probably lead to a number of other problems, as it challenges some fundamental societal values and assumptions. Nevertheless, the article argues that these need to be addressed for the sake of both sustainable leadership and a sustainable planet
The cognitive-affective-conative model of destination image: a confirmatory analysis
Destination image influences tourist behaviour before, during and after travel, as it is an important instrument which contributes to touristsâ loyalty. Although Gartner (1993) advocates that the cognitive, affective and conative dimensions of destination image are hierarchically interrelated, there is no empirical evidence to support the complete model. This study aims to test the hierarchical nature of the relationship between the dimensions of destination image. The results of structural equation modelling confirm Gartnerâs theoretical model, validating the theory that the influence of the cognitive component on the conative dimension is higher when mediated by the affective component, raising managerial implications
Quality gap of educational services in viewpoints of students in Hormozgan University of medical sciences
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Higher education is growing fast and every day it becomes more and more exposed to globalization processes. The aim of this study was to determine the quality gap of educational services by using a modified SERVQUAL instrument among students in Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was carried out at Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences in 2007. In this study, a total of 300 students were selected randomly and asked to complete a questionnaire that was designed according to SERVQUAL methods. This questionnaire measured students' perceptions and expectations in five dimensions of service that consists of assurance, responsiveness, empathy, reliability and tangibles. The quality gap of educational services was determined based on differences between students' perceptions and expectations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results demonstrated that in each of the five SERVQUAL dimensions, there was a negative quality gap. The least and the most negative quality gap means were in the reliability (-0.71) and responsiveness (-1.14) dimensions respectively. Also, there were significant differences between perceptions and expectations of students in all of the five SERVQUAL dimensions (p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Negative quality gaps mean students' expectations exceed their perceptions. Thus, improvements are needed across all five dimensions.</p
A Complexity Architecture for Information Technologies: a Three-Year Didactic Experiment
One medium-term strategy for helping in the management of complexity is the introduction of a conceptual complexity component in the very centre of university curricula. In very few areas is the growth of complexity as evident as in the information technologies (ITs), the focus of the work presented in the current paper. We have therefore developed an integrated way of tackling the specific field of information technologies by means of an approach,to complexity. The content of this paper describes the guidelines of our research effort, placing an emphasis on informatics. Concepts of complexity based on the system metaphor have been substantially drawn upon in this exercise and are thus presented in some detail.
Also described is a didactic experiment conducted by the author and designed to provide a new and integrating approach to University curricula for future professionals. The students' "discovery" of complexity is the focal point of the experiment. The findings of this effort are encouraging and call for the continuation and expansion of this experiment
Third party consultation: a method for the study and resolution of conflict
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66597/2/10.1177_002200277201600105.pd
A Conflict Model for Strategists and Managers
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67210/2/10.1177_000276427201500604.pd
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