Fostering exploration and exploitation behavior in management teams to enhance organizational performance: the LearnOvation leadership development program

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http:// creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcodePurpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact and effectiveness of the LearnOvation leadership development program in the welfare services sector in Sweden. Design/methodology/approach – LearnOvation was based on ambidexterity theory for the program content and the research study design. A mixed-method design was applied, using questionnaires among staff (n 5 523) and written evaluations with the management teams (n 5 60). Findings – Quantitative analysis of the questionnaires indicated little change in managers’ and staffs’ innovation behaviors, though employee exploration behaviors were strongly and positively correlated with their innovation behaviors. Qualitative leader-written evaluations reported increased understanding of innovation management and the use of exploration and exploitation activities to involve staff in the implementation of creative ideas within the organization. Practical implications – The authors argue that innovating is about creating a fertile ground for exploration and exploitation processes of learning that support staff’s willingness to meet goals, as well as their capability to explore new ideas and experiment in new ways of working. Leadership development activities that engage the entire management team can build the necessary capacity and power to lead innovation processes in highly structured welfare services and free the employees’ innovativeness, potentially leading to improved services and employee satisfaction. Originality/value – With the goal of enhancing the innovation capacity in daily practice, this study adds to the scarcity of research in welfare services on how to actually support management’s work on leading successful implementation of creative ideas.publishedVersio

Genetic and antigenic characterization of complete genomes of Type 1 Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome viruses (PRRSV) isolated in Denmark over a period of 10 years

AbstractPorcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV) is considered one of the most devastating swine diseases worldwide. PRRS viruses are divided into two major genotypes, Type 1 and Type 2, with pronounced diversity between and within the genotypes. In Denmark more than 50% of the herds are infected with Type 1 and/or Type 2 PRRSV. The main objective of this study was to examine the genetic diversity and drift of Type 1 viruses in a population with limited introduction of new animals and semen. A total of 43 ORF5 and 42 ORF7 nucleotide sequences were obtained from viruses collected from 2003 to February 2013. Phylogenetic analysis of ORF5 nucleotide sequences showed that the Danish isolates formed two major clusters within the subtype 1. The nucleotide identity to the subtype 1 protogenotype Lelystad virus (LV) spanned 84.9–98.8% for ORF5 and 90.7–100% for ORF7. Among the Danish viruses the pairwise nucleotide identities in ORF5 and ORF7 were 81.2–100% and 88.9–100%, respectively. Sequencing of the complete genomes, including the 5′- and 3′-end nucleotides, of 8 Danish PRRSV Type 1 showed that the genome lengths differed from 14,876 to 15,098 nucleotides and the pairwise nucleotide identity among the Danish viruses was 86.5–97.3% and the identity to LV was 88.7–97.9%. The study strongly indicated that there have been at least two independent introductions of Type 1 PRRSV in Denmark and analysis of the full genomes revealed a significant drift in several regions of the virus

Perceived needs and satisfaction with care in people with multiple sclerosis: A two-year prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Considering the costs of multiple sclerosis (MS), it is crucial that the health-related services supplied are in accordance with needs as they are perceived by people with MS (PwMS). Satisfaction with care is related to quality of care and can provide health care providers with the means for improvement. The aim was to explore the perceived needs and satisfaction with care amongst PwMS over a two-year period, also taking sex and disease severity into consideration.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample consisted of 219 outpatients at a MS specialist clinic. Data on perceived needs and satisfaction with care were collected every six months using a questionnaire which included various dimensions of care. The data was analysed for the whole sample and on an individual level, as well as in subgroups with regard to sex and disease severity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no statistically significant variations in the proportion of PwMS with perceived needs concerning different health-related services during the study period. However, individual variations were found with regard to both perceived needs and satisfaction with care. Few PwMS perceived a continuous need for a specific service. However, the majority perceived a need for rehabilitation, assistive devices, transportation service for the disabled, psychosocial support/counselling and information on social insurance/vocational rehabilitation at least sometimes. Severe MS was associated with a greater perceived need for almost all the services studied and women experienced a need for psychosocial support/counselling to a greater extent than men. In relation to the different categories of health care staff, PwMS were most satisfied with nurses with regard to all dimensions of care. They were least satisfied with the availability of psychosocial support/counselling; and information about social insurance/vocational rehabilitation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite the large proportion of individuals with mild disease severity in our sample, a considerable number of needs were identified of which many, on an individual level, varied over time. Key services demanded by PwMS were identified. Also the level of satisfaction with care varied and areas with a potential for improvement were identified such as the availability of rehabilitation services including an increase in the supply of psychosocial support and counselling.</p

Protest Cycles and Political Process: American Peace Movements in the Nuclear Age

Since the dawn of the nuclear age small groups of activists have consistently protested both the content of United States national security policy, and the process by which it is made. Only occasionally, however, has concern about nuclear weapons spread beyond these relatively marginal groups, generated substantial public support, and reached mainstream political institutions. In this paper, I use histories of peace protest and analyses of the inside of these social movements and theoretical work on protest cycles to explain cycles of movement engagement and quiescence in terms of their relation to external political context, or the "structure of political opportunity." I begin with a brief review of the relevant literature on the origins of movements, noting parallels in the study of interest groups. Building on recent literature on political opportunity structure, I suggest a theoretical framework for understanding the lifecycle of a social movement that emphasizes the interaction between activist choices and political context, proposing a six-stage process through which challenging movements develop. Using this theoretical framework I examine the four cases of relatively broad antinuclear weapons mobilization in postwar America. I conclude with a discussion of movement cycles and their relation to political alignment, public policy, and institutional politics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68552/2/10.1177_106591299304600302.pd

Upplevelsen och förekomsten av fenomen i arbetsplatsrelaterade konflikter : Två delstudier

På arbetsplatsen sker mänsklig interaktion och det är oundvikligt att konflikter uppstår. Syftet var att utifrån individers upplevelse av en arbetsplatsrelaterad konflikt se på vilka faktorer som påverkar och förekomsten av dessa. En intervjustudie med åtta deltagare och en enkätundersökning med 40 deltagare genomfördes. Studie 1 visade att upplevelsen av asymmetri i konflikten förekom och att kommunikation, socialt stöd och stöd i åsikt upplevdes vara viktigt. Socialt stöd upplevdes ha en modererande effekt på negativa reaktioner av konflikten och praktisk stöd efterfrågades. Studie 2 visade att socialt stöd och stöd i åsikt fanns och att kommunikationen fungerade. Reaktionerna skiljde sig åt beroende på vem motparten i konflikten var. I studierna framkom att de som känt sig mobbade i samband med konflikten upplevde fler negativa reaktioner. Upplevelserna och reaktionerna av en konflikt skiljer sig mellan individer men aspekterna av arbetsplatsrelaterade konflikter tycks dock vara sammanflätade, varför helheten av upplevelsen bör beaktas

TRANSFER AV ÖPPNA FÄRDIGHETER I HIGH-COMMITMENT CALL-CENTERFÖRETAG

High-commitment call-centers kännetecknas av investeringar i HR-praktiker såsom utbildning, vilka kräver transfer till arbetet för att generera avkastning på investeringen. Studien ämnade undersöka hur demografiska profiler relaterar till transfereffekter, self-efficacy och prestation. Den ämnade även undersöka vikten av antal utbildningstillfällen för self-efficacy och prestation samt faktorer som hindrar/faciliterar transfer. En multi-methods sequential explanatory design användes, där två studier genom-fördes på ett svenskt call-center som utförde en utbildningsinsats. I studie 1 samlades data in med en enkät (n = 51) och i studie 2 genomfördes intervjuer (n = 6). I studie 1 identifierades tre kluster med skilda demo-grafiska bakgrunder, bl.a. ålder och utbildningsnivå. En signifikant skillnad i transfer återfanns dem emellan. Neutral transfer återfanns och self-efficacy var högst hos deltagare som slutfört utbildningen. I studie 2 framkom att det upplevdes viktigt att utbildningens nytta var tydlig och att ett neutralt transferklimat rådde. Studierna antyder att hänsyn bör tas till det övergripande transfersystemet tillsammans med individen för att bäst facilitera transfer

”Och… vad väcker det i dig?” En korrelationsstudie; alexitymi, kvalitet i nära relationer och generell hälsa i en allmänpsykiatrisk population

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka förekomsten och graden av alexitymi och dess samband med kvalitet i nära relationer och psykisk ohälsa i en allmänpsykiatrisk population. Studien genomfördes på en allmänpsykiatrisk mottagning för vuxna under två veckors tid med ett konsekutivt urval där patienterna vid ett ordinarie besök ombads besvara ett enkätmaterial. Statistikprogrammet SPSS användes för att bearbeta det vid ett mättillfälle insamlade materialet, bestående av svar från formulären TAS-20, som mäter alexitymi, RSQ-30, som mäter anknytningsstil och GHQ-12 som mäter generell hälsa. Resultaten visade att kvinnor och män skattade likartat på alexitymi och att det inte fanns något signifikant samband mellan alexitymi och ålder. Av 46 deltagare skattade 21 sig som alexityma. Det fanns ett signifikant samband, (p=0,003), mellan hög grad av alexitymi och anknytningsstilen Fearful. Kunskap om patientens grad av alexitymi och anknytningsstil kan möjligen vara en värdefull variabel att som terapeut ha aktualiserad inför och under ett behandlingsarbete.The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and degree of alexitymia and its correlation with quality in close relationships and health distress in a general outpatient population. The study was performed in a general outpatient care unit for two weeks with a consecutive selection where the patients, during an ordinary visit, was asked to participate and complete questionnaires assessing their general health (GHQ-12), attachment style (RSQ-30) and levels of alexitymia (TAS-20). The data used was collected at one occasion and the statistical analysis was made using SPSS. The results showed that men and women evaluated themselves equaly on alexitymia and there was no significant correlation between alexitymia and age. 21out of the 46 participants met the criteria for 4 alexitymia. There was a significant correlation, (p=0,003), between alexitymia and Fearful attachment style. As a therapist, understanding of patients' degrees of alexitymia and attachment styles may be valuable factors to consider before and during treatment

Comparing co-production in public, for-profit, and non-profit organizations : A survey of homes for the elderly in Sweden

This article contributes to research on co-production in non-profit organizations. By comparing co-production in public, for-profit, and non-profit organizations, similarities and differences between types of organizations are identified. The empirical material is delimited to homes for the elderly in Sweden, collected by a questionnaire, and combined with secondary data. In terms of main results, most analyses revealed neither any differences in the co-production of welfare between types of organizations nor correlations with size of the homes. However, the differences that were identified indicate that managers and residents in non-profit homes value and participate in co-production to a higher degree than managers and residents in public and for-profit homes. These results support assumptions and results from previous research, including the finding that co-production in different types of organizations varies, and that co-production could be more widespread in non-profit organizations

Developing Iron Ore Pellets Using Novel Binders for H2-Based Direct Reduction

The transformation from traditional iron- and steelmaking technologies to green H2-based new technologies will require an improvement in the quality and purity of iron ore burden materials. Iron ore pellets are essential inputs for producing direct reduced iron (DRI), but the conventional binders, used in iron ore pelletizing, introduce gangue oxides to the DRI and consequently increase the slag generation and energy consumption in the steelmaking unit. Partial and/or full replacement of the traditional binders with novel organic binders would significantly contribute to improving the process efficiency, particularly in the next-generation H2-based direct reduction technology. This study illustrates the feasibility of pelletizing magnetite iron ore concentrate using four organic binders: KemPel, Alcotac CS, Alcotac FE16, and CMC, in comparison to bentonite as a reference. The study explores the influence of binder type, binder dosage, and moisture content on the characteristics and properties of the pellets. The efficiency of binders was characterized by the moisture content, drop number test, cold compression strength, and H2 reduction of pellets. For dry pellets, CMS was superior among other binders including bentonite in developing dry strength. After firing, the pellets produced by the partial replacement of bentonite with 0.1 wt.% KemPel demonstrate a performance nearly identical to the reference pellets. While the complete replacement of bentonite with organic binder shows a lower performance of fired pellets compared to the reference, it may still be suitable for use in DR shaft furnaces. The cold-bonded pellets demonstrate a superior reduction rate compared to fired pellets.Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-08-14 (joosat);Licens fulltext: CC BY License</p