Age, retirement and health as factors in volunteering in later life

Volunteering in later life attracts attention because its benefits older volunteers, voluntary associations, and society. Unfortunately, researchers and practitioners struggle with the complexity of predicting who volunteers. The authors ask whether a rough identification of older volunteers solely based on age is possible. The authors answer this question by means of structural equation modeling, analyzing international survey data. The findings show that the direct effect of age on the time older people spend volunteering is negligible. Moreover, the age patterns in volunteering created by retirement and declining health are weak. Those findings make age an unsuitable indicator for volunteering in later life. The authors recommend that voluntary organizations and policy makers use personal characteristics, such as health status, when defining their target groups for programs that encourage volunteering. In addition, researchers should not use an age group when referring to the third age, meaning the active and productive part of old age

“There is no carnival without samba”: Revealing barriers hampering biodiversity-based R&D and eco-design in Brazil

Considering the unique relevance of Brazilian biodiversity, this research aims to investigate the main barriers to biodiversity-based R & D and eco-design development in a leading national company which has been commended for its innovation and sustainability. The methodology for this research was based on on-location visits, in-depth interviews, and consensus building among R & D, sustainability, and quality managers. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was adopted through interpretive structural modelling (ISM), a method that assists decision makers to transform complex models with unclear data into structural models. Some of the most influential barriers to biodiversity-based eco-design initiatives are “lack of legal incentive”, “not enough demand from the market”, and “not enough available knowledge/scientific data.” The most relevant barrier was “no legal incentive” from government. Consequently, managers should concentrate their efforts in tackling those barriers that may affect other barriers known as ‘key barriers’. Government should work decisively toward promoting a framework of legal incentives for bio-based eco-design; otherwise, metaphorically, “there is not carnival without the samba singer who pushes the rhythm”. The results given here reveal the barriers for bio-based eco-design in a Brazilian leading company, and this is the first work combining ISM to barriers to biodiversity R & D and eco-design

Integrando sustentabilidade ambiental e gestão de portfólio de projetos: estudo de caso em uma empresa de energia

Resumo: Apesar de existirem muitos trabalhos sobre sustentabilidade ambiental, por um lado, e sobre gestão de portfólio de projetos, por outro, não há pesquisas que analisem esses temas de maneira integrada. Assim, as duas áreas seguem separadas e com apenas raras interfaces teórico-empíricas. Seguindo uma estratégia de estudo de caso em uma das maiores firmas europeias de energia, que se destaca mundialmente na produção de energias renováveis, este artigo tem como principal objetivo analisar e compreender as práticas adotadas para a integração das duas componentes, sustentabilidade ambiental e gestão de portfólio. Entre os principais resultados obtidos observou-se que os aspectos ambientais e sociais são indissociáveis nos principais projetos da empresa. A boa comunicação com stakeholders e, especialmente, com as comunidades locais e as diretamente afetadas pelos projetos também foi destacada como prática de gestão que pode ser empregada para melhorar o desempenho de projetos. Notou-se também que a lógica para a análise e aprovação de projetos na empresa, admissão de projetos para o portfólio empresarial também se pauta pelas análises das externalidades ambientais e sociais previstas pelos próprios projetos

Transcendental-Phenomenological Proof and Descriptive Metaphysics

Following P.F. Strawson's reading of Kant, the majority of the literature on transcendental arguments seeks to divorce such arguments from their original Kantian context. This thesis is concerned with Mark Sacks's recent defence of transcendental arguments, which takes a different approach. A critique is given of Sacks's work and extensions and modifications of his approach are recommended. It is proposed that certain difficulties encountered by Kant's transcendentally-ideal approach can be overcome with Hegelian solutions

Knowledge translation on dementia: a cluster randomized trial to compare a blended learning approach with a "classical" advanced training in GP quality circles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thus far important findings regarding the dementia syndrome have been implemented into patients' medical care only inadequately. A professional training accounting for both, general practitioners' (GP) needs and learning preferences as well as care-relevant aspects could be a major step towards improving medical care. In the WIDA-study, entitled "Knowledge translation on dementia in general practice" two different training concepts are developed, implemented and evaluated. Both concepts are building on an evidence-based, GP-related dementia guideline and communicate the guideline's essential insights.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Both development and implementation emphasize a procedure that is well-accepted in practice and, thus, can achieve a high degree of external validity. This is particularly guaranteed through the preparation of training material and the fact that general practitioners' quality circles (QC) are addressed. The evaluation of the two training concepts is carried out by comparing two groups of GPs to which several quality circles have been randomly assigned. The primary outcome is the GPs' knowledge gain. Secondary outcomes are designed to indicate the training's potential effects on the GPs' practical actions. In the first training concept (study arm A) GPs participate in a structured case discussion prepared for by internet-based learning material ("blended-learning" approach). The second training concept (study arm B) relies on frontal medical training in the form of a slide presentation and follow-up discussion ("classical" approach).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This paper presents the outline of a cluster-randomized trial which has been peer reviewed and support by a national funding organization – Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) – and is approved by an ethics commission. The data collection has started in August 2006 and the results will be published independently of the study's outcome.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials [ISRCTN36550981]</p

Work Life Balance up in the Air – Does Gender Make a Difference between Female and Male International Business Travelers?

Managing work-life balance (WLB) has become an issue for both employees and HR departments since WLB tensions may reduce performance, overall job satisfaction and finally, increase the fluctuation rate. Having a balance between job and non-work is a particular challenge for international business travelers, but research on this topic is still in its very infancy. The aim of this article and its underlying qualitative study was to discover factors that influence WLB of those employees, and to explore potential differences among male and female. The results clearly show a big difference in the perception of factors influencing WLB depending on the family situation. This highlights the need of HR departments to offer individually tailored support for the different groups of international business travelers.Das Managen der Work-Life Balance (WLB) ist für immer mehr Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer als auch Personalabteilungen ein Thema geworden, da ein Ungleichgewicht zwischen Arbeit und 'Nicht-Arbeit' nicht nur Leistung sowie die allgemeine Jobzufriedenheit reduzieren, sondern letztendlich auch zu höheren Fluktuationsraten führen kann. Diese Balance zu halten, ist besonders für internationale Geschäftsreisende eine Herausforderung. Dennoch befindet sich die Forschung zu diesem Thema noch stark in den Kinderschuhen. Ziel dieses Artikels und der zugrundeliegenden qualitativen Studie ist es, die WLB dieser Gruppe von Arbeitnehmern sowie potenzielle Unterschiede zwischen weiblichen und männlichen Vielfliegern zu erörtern. Die Resultate zeigen, dass die Einflussfaktoren auf die WLB in Abhängigkeit von der Familiensituation unterschiedlich wahrgenommen werden. Diese Ergebnisse betonen den Bedarf nach Unterstützungsmaßnahmen seitens der Personalabteilungen, welche für die einzelnen Gruppen von internationalen Geschäftsreisenden maßgeschneidert sind

Early childhood educators’ competences for supporting children’s academic language skills in Germany

This study investigates early childhood educators’ language training competence that is required to support children's linguistic development. Hundred and forty-four early-years-professionals in Germany completed a computer-based assessment. We first tested knowledge of linguistic topics (e.g. morpho-syntax, developmental stages). Second, we probed their ability to make relevant linguistic observations in videotaped child–educator interactions. Third, we asked them to select adequate language interventions for the observed child. The participants’ knowledge and observing ability scores were slightly above 50% but they scored low in selecting effective interventions. More detailed analyses indicate that those with a higher level of secondary education outperformed low-educated early-years-professionals. Only those with intensive specialist training were better equipped to choose appropriate intervention methods. We discuss the results in light of the current German and (inter-) national practice of early childhood educators’ professional training and suggest a greater emphasis on linguistics and language awareness in their education