Well rounded Postdoctoral Researchers with initiative, who are not always “tied to the bench” are more successful academically

This article reports the development, application and results of a baseline investigation of contract research staff in 2007 in the Medical School at the University of Sheffield which was carried out in order to develop a specifically tailored training and career development programme and allow for future impact evaluation of the scheme. Postdoctoral researchers reported on their perceived skill levels, academic achievements, career motivations and the current research environment. Results indicated that transferable skills related to communication and awareness of the process of research (i.e. the process of acquisition of funding, commercialisation of research outputs) were lacking. Furthermore, these skills were associated with higher publication outputs, and improved with mobility between institutions at postdoctoral level. This paper also describes how the findings from the baseline evaluation were used to develop a programme to address the lower ranking skills and evaluate the impact of the programme

An Overview of Platforms to Support Online GMB

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in the new reality of remote working and learning, forcing group model building practitioners to make an abrupt shift to online workshops. Like our peers, the Social System Design Lab (SSDL) at Washington University in St. Louis confronted this challenge by exploring what tools existed for adaptation and continued collaboration. The shift has not been easy, but it has revealed new insights that suggest areas to leverage the strengths of online GMB long after the pandemic comes to an end. The purpose of this brief is to review a number of online platforms that group model building practitioners have used since the rise of remote work, and to suggest promising combinations for groups who are hoping to implement their own online system dynamics work

An exploration of stakeholders’ perceptions of the barriers to clinical use of Assistive Technologies in services for upper-limb stroke rehabilitation

Introduction Half of all patients commencing stroke rehabilitation have marked impairment of the hemiplegic arm, with only 14% regaining useful function. Assistive technologies (ATs) have been developed and evaluated yet currently reach only a fraction of patients. The NIHR funded a five year research programme to generate understanding necessary to develop cost-effective stroke services in upper-limb rehabilitation. This stage aims to understand the potential advantages and disadvantages to the clinical use of ATs, and the needs and priorities of stakeholders. Method Participants include people with a stroke (n=40), their carers (n=20), health care professionals (n= 40), budget holders (n=15) and service commissioners (n=15). An interactive exhibition was held at the University of Southampton in October 2009 where stakeholders tested a range of ATs. Focus groups with each stakeholder group will be conducted within three months of the exhibition to discuss personal involvement in AT use, and positive and negative views on the AT presented. Results Results will be categorised in terms of barriers and facilitators to the use of upper-limb technologies addressing issues such as user comfort and acceptability, cost-benefit, evidence of effect and funding provision. Conclusion Getting research implemented in practice is challenging. This novel approach explores the barriers to using new technologies from the perspective of all key stakeholders. These findings will be combined with those of a national survey, and systematic review to inform a clinical trial resulting in a recommended care pathway for upper-limb rehabilitation

Mental Models

A central principle of the systems thinking perspective is that system structures are supported and held in place by our underlying beliefs, mindsets, and goals (See Brief 1.01 - Systems Thinking Iceberg). Therefore, in order to transform and redesign systems we must also transform our mindsets. The purpose of this brief is to introduce the concept of mental models, and to discuss how system dynamics tools can be used to elicit, negotiate, and transform them

Facilitation Team Roles in Online GMB

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in the new reality of remote working and learning, forcing group model building practitioners to make an abrupt shift to online workshops. Like our peers, the Social System Design Lab (SSDL) at Washington University in St. Louis confronted this challenge by exploring what tools existed for adaptation and continued collaboration. The shift has not been easy, but it has revealed new insights that suggest areas to leverage the strengths of online GMB long after the pandemic comes to an end. The purpose of this brief is to compare facilitation team roles in traditional, in-person GMB sessions with those in online GMB sessions, shedding particular light on how the realities of online platforms shift what tools facilitators have at their disposal when engaging a group of participants

Online GMB: Challenges, Opportunities, and Barriers

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in the new reality of remote working and learning, forcing group model building practitioners to make an abrupt shift to online workshops. Like our peers, the Social System Design Lab (SSDL) at Washington University in St. Louis confronted this challenge by exploring what tools existed for adaptation and continued collaboration. The shift has not been easy, but it has revealed new insights that suggest areas to leverage the strengths of online GMB long after the pandemic comes to an end. The purpose of this brief is to provide some general points of comparison between in-person and online group model building and introduce challenges and opportunities that practitioners in the SSDL have faced when translating workshops to online spaces