Evaluation von Managementdiagnostik: Methoden, Konstrukte, Beispiele

Eine Evaluation der Managementdiagnostik sollte neben Kriteriumsvalidierung weitere Strategien beinhalten. Zudem sind Anwenderperspektive und Theorien zu balancieren. Gleichzeitig sollte sie spezifisch auf diesen Zweck zugeschnitten sein. Hierzu wurde der allgemeine Ansatz der "theory driven evaluations" von Chen (1990) angewandt. Methodische Strategien im gesamten diagnostischen Prozess wurden in die Evaluationstypologie eingeordnet und mit sechs Studien umgesetzt. Die ersten drei Studien veranschaulichten eine Ziel-Evaluation. Zunächst wurden Anforderungen an Führungskräfte in 83 Stellenanzeigen ausgewertet. Die zweite Studie begleitete ein Unternehmen bei der Entwicklung eines Kompetenzmodells für Führungskräfte. Ein Problemlösemodell wurde an die Unternehmenssituation adaptiert, mit der Methode der nominalen Gruppen (8 Personalfachleute und 8 Top-Manager). Eine Metaanalyse aggregierte die Beziehung zwischen Persönlichkeitseigenschaften und Führungserfolg. 16 Studien mit 18 Stichproben wurden ausgewertet, die Big-Five-Dimensionen sowie Führungserfolg erfassten. Die Gesamtstichprobe umfasste 10398 TN. Im Sinne einer Treatment-Evaluation wurde eine Potenzialdiagnostik mit 241 Führungskräften im Konzern evaluiert. Dazu wurden Evaluationsstrategien entwickelt und mit statistischen Verfahren umgesetzt. Im Mittelpunkt standen Urteilsmodelle. Ein Beitrag zu einer Impact-Evaluation war eine Auswahl von 68 Nachwuchsführungskräften, wobei Prädiktoren und Kriterien anhand eines Problemlösemodells geordnet und korreliert wurden. Instrumente waren ein Computerszenario und Fragebögen, zur Vorhersage des Berufserfolgs anhand Arbeitsprobe und Vorgesetztenurteilen. Eine literaturgestützten Anforderungsanalyse bildete ein Forschungsmodell für eine normative Outcome-Evaluation. Diese wertete 27 Beiträge der Führungsliteratur mit einer qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse aus. Das Kategoriensystem beruhte auf einem diagnostischen Modell zum komplexen Problemlösen (Gesamtstichprobe 2824 TN)

Lust auf Nachhaltigkeit

Ein Gespräch mit Nicolette Kretz, Leiterin des AUAWIRLEBEN Theaterfestival Bern und des Internationalen Theaterfestivals Bümpliz-Bethlehem out+aboutEin Gespräch mit Nicolette Kretz, Leiterin des AUAWIRLEBEN Theaterfestival Bern und des Internationalen Theaterfestivals Bümpliz-Bethlehem out+aboutEin Gespräch mit Nicolette Kretz, Leiterin des AUAWIRLEBEN Theaterfestival Bern und des Internationalen Theaterfestivals Bümpliz-Bethlehem out+abou

The Role of Host Genetic Signatures on Root–Microbe Interactions in the Rhizosphere and Endosphere

Microbiomes inhabiting plants are crucial for plant productivity and well-being. A plethora of interactions between roots, microbiomes, and soil shapes the self-organization of the microbial community associated with the root system. The rhizosphere (i.e., the soil close to the root surface) and endosphere (i.e., all inner root tissues) are critical interfaces for the exchange of resources between roots and the soil environment. In recent years, next-generation sequencing technologies have enabled systemic studies of root-associated microbiomes in the endosphere and interactions between roots and microbes at the root-soil interfaces. Genetic factors such as species and genotype of host plants are the driving force of microbial community differentiation and composition. In this mini-review, we will survey the role of these factors on plant–microbe interactions by highlighting the results of next-generation genomic and transcriptomic studies in the rhizosphere and endosphere of land plants. Moreover, environmental factors such as geography and soil type shape the microbiome. Relationships between the root-associated microbiome, architectural variations and functional switches within the root system determine the health and fitness of the whole plant system. A detailed understanding of plant–microbe interactions is of fundamental agricultural importance and significance for crop improvement by plant breeding

Training troubleshooting skills with an anchored instruction module in an authentic computer based simulation environment

To improve the application and transfer of troubleshooting skills when diagnosing faults in complex automated production units, we developed and implemented an “anchored instruction“ learning module in the context of a computer based simulation environment. The effects of the instructional module were evaluated in a quasi-experimental evaluation study. During the study 42 mechatronic apprentices were trained in two parallel experimental groups with and without the anchored instruction module. We assessed success related training outcomes using measures of performance in several different transfer tasks. It could be shown that participants who trained with the anchored instruction module improved performance and strategic behavior especially in similar and new tasks in the learning environment.Keywords: simulation based training, fault diagnosis, training evaluation, situated learning, anchored instructio

The potential of collaborative learning as a tool for forensic students: Application to signature examination

Transferring theoretical knowledge to practical skills remains a big challenge in forensic science, especially in questioned documents. The examination of handwriting and signatures requires years of practice to develop the necessary skills. While students (and to some extent the general population) often have the impression that it is easy to differentiate handwriting from different persons, in practice, particularly when dealing with simulated signatures, there is a high risk of reaching a wrong conclusion when questioned document experts do not use a systematic approach and/or are not sufficiently experienced (see for example the famous French Dreyfus case). Thus, a novel teaching approach, based on collaborative learning, has been introduced in a theoretical handwriting class to improve the students’ theoretical knowledge, and additionally make them aware of the limitations of their practical skills and give them tools to improve them in their future practice. Through five activities, the students took the roles of victims, forgers, teachers and experts and created their own learning materials (i.e. signatures and mock casework). During those interactive activities, they learned to describe their signature’s characteristics, intra-variability and complexity, and thus evaluate their own signature’s vulnerability (as potential victims). They learned techniques to simulate signatures and detect the resulting forgeries’ characteristics (in the role of forgers). In the role of teachers, they prepared mock casework scenarios and gave feedback to their colleague’s examination of the produced material. As experts, they carried out signature examination as they would in a proficiency test and were exposed to the difficulties an actual expert may encounter in practice. The evaluation of this novel teaching scenario was very positive, as students learned more extensively the possibilities and limitations of signature comparison. They were more active and motivated in their learning experiences. The teaching team also had an improved experience. Some students complained of an increased workload and imprecise instructions. Improvements were tested and are discussed in this paper

Vorwort

Mit »Spielwiesen des Globalen« liegt der zweite Band der Reihe itw : im dialog – Forschungen zum Gegenwartstheater vor. Das vom Institut für Theaterwissenschaft der Universität Bern (ITW) initiierte Format »itw : im dialog« will die bislang punktuell betriebene nationale und internationale Forschung zum Gegenwartstheater bündeln und neue Forschungsperspektiven eröffnen. Mit wissenschaftlichen Symposien und praxisorientierten Workshops, welche seit 2014 am ITW stattfinden, wird der Dialog zwischen Wissenschaft, Kunst und interessierter Öffentlichkeit gefördert. Die Bände der Reihe itw : im dialog – Forschungen zum Gegenwartstheater erscheinen zeitnah zu den Symposien, um einerseits die Befunde umgehend in den akademischen Diskurs zum Gegenwartstheater einzuspeisen und andererseits diese Debatten, Anregungen und Erkenntnisse auch einem breiten Publikum zugänglich zu machen. Anhand der theatertheoretischen sowie theaterhistorischen Reflexionen, welche zum Teil auf Inszenierungsanalysen der im Rahmen des AUAWIRLEBEN Theaterfestival Bern besuchten Vorstellungen fußen, sowie der Gespräche mit Künstlerinnen und Künstlern wird der Austausch zwischen Theorie und Praxis nachhaltig intensiviert.

Publikum im Gegenwartstheater

Podiumsdiskussion mit Doris Kolesch (Freie Universität Berlin), Nicolette Kretz (AUAWIRLEBEN Theaterfestival Bern und Internationales Theaterfestival Bümpliz-Bethlehem out+about), Mathias Prinz (machina eX) und Dagmar Walser (Moderation)Podiumsdiskussion mit Doris Kolesch (Freie Universität Berlin), Nicolette Kretz (AUAWIRLEBEN Theaterfestival Bern und Internationales Theaterfestival Bümpliz-Bethlehem out+about), Mathias Prinz (machina eX) und Dagmar Walser (Moderation)Podiumsdiskussion mit Doris Kolesch (Freie Universität Berlin), Nicolette Kretz (AUAWIRLEBEN Theaterfestival Bern und Internationales Theaterfestival Bümpliz-Bethlehem out+about), Mathias Prinz (machina eX) und Dagmar Walser (Moderation

Plasticity of Lateral Root Branching in Maize

Extensively branched root systems can efficiently capture soil resources by increasing their absorbing surface in soil. Lateral roots are the roots formed from pericycle cells of other roots that can be of any type. As a consequence, lateral roots provide a higher surface to volume ratio and are important for water and nutrients acquisition. Discoveries from recent studies have started to shed light on how plant root systems respond to environmental changes in order to improve capture of soil resources. In this Mini Review, we will mainly focus on the spatial distribution of lateral roots of maize and their developmental plasticity in response to the availability of water and nutrients

ENHANCED GRAVITROPISM 2 coordinates molecular adaptations to gravistimulation in the elongation zone of barley roots

Root gravitropism includes gravity perception in the root cap, signal transduction between root cap and elongation zone, and curvature response in the elongation zone. The barley (Hordeum vulgare) mutant enhanced gravitropism 2 (egt2) displays a hypergravitropic root phenotype. We compared the transcriptomic reprogramming of the root cap, the meristem, and the elongation zone of wild-type (WT) and egt2 seminal roots upon gravistimulation in a time-course experiment and identified direct interaction partners of EGT2 by yeast-two-hybrid screening and bimolecular fluorescence complementation validation. We demonstrated that the elongation zone is subjected to most transcriptomic changes after gravistimulation. Here, 33% of graviregulated genes are also transcriptionally controlled by EGT2, suggesting a central role of this gene in controlling the molecular networks associated with gravitropic bending. Gene co-expression analyses suggested a role of EGT2 in cell wall and reactive oxygen species-related processes, in which direct interaction partners of EGT2 regulated by EGT2 and gravity might be involved. Taken together, this study demonstrated the central role of EGT2 and its interaction partners in the networks controlling root zone-specific transcriptomic reprogramming of barley roots upon gravistimulation. These findings can contribute to the development of novel root idiotypes leading to improved crop performance

Association analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes with root traits in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings

Background: Root growth and development is not only critical for nitrogen acquisition in plants, but also to anchor the plant in the soil. Several genes involved in maize root development have been isolated. Identification of SNPs associated with root traits would enable the selection of maize lines with better root architecture that might help to improve N uptake, and consequently plant growth particularly under N deficient conditions. Results: In the present study, an association study (AS) panel consisting of 74 maize inbred lines was screened for seedling root traits in 6, 10, and 14-day-old seedlings. Allele resequencing of candidate root genes Rtcl, Rth3, Rum1, and Rul1 was also carried out in the same AS panel lines. All four candidate genes displayed different levels of nucleotide diversity, haplotype diversity and linkage disequilibrium. Nucleotide diversity was highest in the Rtcl gene (π=0.021), intermediate in Rum1 (π=0.011), lowest in Rth3 (π=0.007) and Rul1 (π=0.005) gene. When coding and non-coding regions within the genes were compared, nucleotide diversity varied across the genes. Gene based association analyses were carried out between individual polymorphisms in candidate genes, and root traits measured in 6, 10, and 14-day-old maize seedlings. Association analyses revealed several polymorphisms within the Rtcl, Rth3, Rum1, and Rul1 genes associated with seedling root traits. These significantly associated SNPs also affected putative functional sequence motifs, mostly transcription factor binding sites, and major domains in the genes. Conclusion: Several nucleotide polymorphisms in Rtcl, Rth3, Rum1, and Rul1 were significantly (P\u3c0.05) associated with seedling root traits in maize suggesting that all four tested genes are involved in the maize root development. Thus considerable allelic variation present in these root genes can be exploited for improving maize root characteristics. Target nucleotide polymorphisms for functional marker development were identified which might find application in marker-based selection strategies in breeding programs