Utilizing program evaluation processes for strategic learning in nonprofits : Cases of public and volunteer organizations.

Strategic evaluation is a tool that organizations can use to evaluate and adapt their strategies, and various tools exist in the business world to do so. Yet, most of the tools that are created deal with the financial perspective as an outcome, leaving nonprofit organizations forgotten as they cannot fully use the existing tools to evaluate their programs, knowing that financial performance is, for them, considered an output. The existing framework within the realm of program evaluation presents evaluation as a means to achieve results that other strategic learning methods cannot; yet, efforts from social organizations to utilize evaluation results towards learning and adaptation of their program often fail. This study investigates how nonprofit organizations could use program evaluation processes to promote strategic learning. The study will explore two views on program evaluation: the theory of change and the utilization-focused evaluation approach. The study constructed a tentative conceptual framework based on primary and secondary data sources. The initial framework was designed with the help of existing theoretical re-search and materials, while the final framework was completed thanks to an empirical study with four participating case organizations. The final framework outlines the general program evaluation processes and strategic learning opportunities nonprofits have when evaluating their programs. The case organizations participating in this study are Bloom Finland, the Multicultural Association of Porvoo, Moni-info Seinäjoki, and International House Oulu. The primary data for the empirical study was gathered with semi-structured interviews with eight decision-makers or presiding board members in nonprofit organizations. The study focused on nonprofit organizations within the specific environment of working with internationals in Finland. The study provided controlled variance between public and volunteer organizations as participants. The findings answered the research question and demonstrated that program evaluation processes can be used for strategic learning in the nonprofit context, although the results showed that adaptations are needed. Altogether, the study recognized eight general program evaluation processes, each linked to their subfactors identified as specifics of the nonprofit organizations. The framework interpreted two theoretical perspectives into one conceptual representation and resulted in a tentative framework to provide evaluators and nonprofits with an evaluation method promoting using the results for strategic learning. The framework remains tentative as real-life tests were not part of this study. The study's conclusion is the framework that can be used to observe whether the program is running as intended and if conditions, actions, users, and uses are appropriately matched

Improving wellbeing at work : recommending wellbeing initiatives to implement at Company X

The objective of the thesis was to gather information on wellbeing initiatives that could be implemented at Company X. The purpose of the thesis is to provide the commissioning company with recommendations on how to improve the employees and workplace wellbeing by developing the practices in place and adding new ones. Additionally, the thesis will inform the commissioner about the employees’ thoughts on wellbeing and how well the firm is doing to support it. The thesis presents a theoretical research section in which literature findings were studied to better understand the generalities of wellbeing and the specificities of workplace wellbeing. A second section consists of an empirical study where a business case with a qualitative research was used to analyze Company X employees’ thoughts on wellbeing at work and their working environment through a series of questions answered anonymously. The findings of the qualitative research suggested that the employees are satisfied with their wellbeing at work and the working environment in which they are evolving. The outcomes also demonstrated trust and loyalty to the firm and respondents considered Company X as an organization that well-supports the individuals’ health. However, results proved that improvements to increase work-place wellbeing can be made by installing new initiatives. Thorough analysis of the research results pinpointed potential improvements regarding the physical and social wellbeing, the working environment, and the work-life balance. The conclusions highlighted the undeniable link between the individual worker’s health and the company’s success while providing answers to the research questions. The recommendations given to the commissioner were constructed thanks to a cross-analysis between the literary findings and the results of the qualitative research interviews. The recommended initiatives to implement at Company X office are an after lunch break, modifying the office space, having online team events, having flexible policies to adapt the working hours and finally developing the possibility to choose telework over in-office work and vice-versa. Details regarding specifics of the commissioning company and the information of the research respondents have been removed from this report

Problèmes posés par l'administration des médicaments en cardiologie infantile (exemple de la warfarine)

LILLE2-BU Santé-Recherche (593502101) / SudocSudocFranceF

CO2 content of the air of some Belgian caves: technique and first results

peer reviewedA method of determination of the CO2 of the air is described: the Koepf method. It is based on the electrolysis of the CO2, absorbed in a 0.1 N NaCl solution. Some preliminary results are reported. The CO2 content reaches 2 to 8 times the values for free air, in spacious caves, and up to 19 times in fissures.On décrit une méthode de détermination du CO2 de l'air: la méthode Koepf. Elle est basée sur l'électrolyse du CO2, absorbé dans une solution 0,1 N de NaCl. Quelques résultats préliminaires sont rapportés. La teneur en CO2 atteint 2 à 8 fois celle de l'air libre dans des salles spacieuses et jusqu'à 19 fois dans des fissures

Un instrument électrolytique de terrain pour la mesure du CO2 dans l'air

peer reviewedA technique for determining the CO2 content of cave air is described, based upon an electrolytic titration of CO2 absorbed by a NaCl solution. The apparatus is enclosed in a portable wooden case.The observed range of CO2 content of cave air ranges from that in the free atmosphere to nineteen times more in a fissure. The most frequent values are two to eight times, compared to free air.Description d'une technique de mesure électrolytique de mesure du CO2 de l'air des grottes, basée sur le titrage électrolytique du CO2 absorbé dans une solution de NaCl. L'appareil est transporté dans une valise en bois. La gamme des valeurs observées va de celle de l'air libre à dix-neuf fois plus dans une fissure. Les valeurs les plus fréquentes sont de deux à huit fois celle de l'air libre

Soil fauna and site assessment in beech stands of the Belgian Ardennes

La faune du sol (macrofaune et mésofaune) a été échantillonnée dans treize peuplements de hêtre des Ardennes belges, couvrant une gamme étendue de formes d'humus acides. La composition faunistique est bien corrélée, non seulement avec la forme d'humus, mais aussi avec l'altitude, le groupement phytosociologique, la croissance des arbres, la composition minérale de la litière de feuilles et quelques paramètres édaphiques tels que le pH et le rapport C/N. La nature des mécanismes pouvant expliquer ces relations est discutée, à la lueur des connaissances actuelles. (Résumé d'auteur