Understanding and representation of organizational training programs and their evaluation

[EN] The evaluation of the organizational training is a necessary strategy to guarantee the quality of the training activities in organizations. This research had as an initial objective the development of the first phase of a project funded by the EIT Raw Materials in the “Call for KAVA Education projects”. It officially started on January 2019. The main aim of this research was to define a training program for workers of a specific industrial sector and to evaluate the impact of the skill acquisition of workers through the training program. This paper presents the initial part of the project, the authors were part of the team at that stage. This phase was helpful to obtain the resulting conceptual model from the analysis of the variables involved in an effective learning process. The research tool used for variable identification were three Group Model Building (GMB) sessions with the partners of the project. The resulting model of this paper was helpful to represent through Systems Thinking the phases of a learning process and its evaluation.Ruiz, M.; Igartua, J.; Mindeguia, M.; Orobengoa, M. (2020). Understanding and representation of organizational training programs and their evaluation. International Journal of Production Management and Engineering. 8(2):99-109. https://doi.org/10.4995/ijpme.2020.122719910982Agnaia, A.A. (1996). Assessment of Management Training Needs and Selection for Training: The Case of Libyan Companies. International Journal of Manpower, 17(3), 31-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437729610119504Al-Khayyat, R. (1998). Training and Development Needs Assessment: A Practical Model for Partner Institutes. Journal of European Industrial Training, 22(1), 18-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090599810197658Alliger, G.M., Tannenbaum, S.I., Bennett, W., Traver, H., Shotland, A. (1997). A Meta- Analysis of the Relations among Training Criteria. Personnel Psychology, 50, 341-58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1997.tb00911.xAlsina, M.I.B., Rodriguez, F.A.C. (2001). Estrategias de evaluación de los aprendizajes centradas en el proceso. Revista española de pedagogía ,25-48.Alvarez, K., Salas, E., Garofano, C.M. (2004). An integrated model of training evaluation and effectiveness. Human resource development Review, 3(4), 385-416. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484304270820Aragón-Sánchez, A., Barba-Aragón, I., Sanz-Valle, R. (2003). Effects of training on business results. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(6), 956-980. https://doi.org/10.1080/0958519032000106164Arnold, R.D., Wade, J.P. (2015). A definition of systems thinking: A systems approach. Procedia Computer Science, 44(2015), 669-678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2015.03.050Bassi, L.J., Ludwig, J., McMurrer, D.P., Van Buren, M. (2002). Profiting from learning: firm-level effects of training investments and market implications. Singapore Management Review, 24(3), 61-80.Bee, F., Bee, R. (1997). Training Needs Analysis and Evaluation. London: Institute of Personnel and Development.Brown, K.G., Gerhardt, M.W. (2002). Formative evaluation: An integrative practice model and case study. Personnel Psychology, 55, 951-983. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2002.tb00137.xBuckley, R., Caple, J. (1991). La formación: Teoría and práctica. Madrid: Díaz de Santos.del Valle, I.D., Castillo, M.Á.S. (2005). Problemas y propuestas de medición de la formación en la empresa/Problems and measuring proposals for company training. Cuadernos de estudios empresariales, 15, 27.Desimone, R.L., Werner, J.M., Harris, D.M. (2002). Human resource development. Cincinnati, OH: South Western.Dickenson, P., Blundell, B. (2000). Transferring Quality Management Experience to the Russian Aerospace Industry. Total Quality Management, 11(3), 319-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/0954412006838Foot, M., Hook, C. (1996). Introducing Human Resource Management. Singapore: Longman.Frazis, H., Gittleman, M., Horrigan, M., Joyce, M. (1998). Results from the 1995 Survey of Employer-Provided Training. Monthly Labor Review, 121(6), 3-13.Gasalla, J.M. (2003). Marketing de la formación de directivos: el nuevo directivo en la cultura del aprendizaje. Madrid: Pirámide.Goldstein, I.L. (1993). Training in Organizations. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.Gray, G.R., Hall, M.E. (1997).Training Practices in State Government Agencies. Public Personnel Management, 26(2), 187-203. https://doi.org/10.1177/009102609702600203Hamblin, A.C. (1974). Evaluation and Control of Training. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.Hannum,W., Hansen, C. (1989). Instructional systems development in large organizations. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.Herrero, P.P. (2000). Evaluación del impacto de la formación de las organizaciones. Educar, (27), 119-133.Holton, E.F. (2000). Large-scale Performance-Driven Training Needs Assessment. Public Personnel Management, 29(2), 249-67. https://doi.org/10.1177/009102600002900207Hoppenbrouwers, S., Rouwette, E. (2012). A dialogue game for analysing group model building: framing collaborative modelling and its facilitation. International Journal of Organisational Design and Engineering, 2(1), 19-40. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJODE.2012.045905Kaufman, R., Keller, J.M. (1994). Levels of Evaluation: Beyond Kirkpatrick. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 5(4), 371-80. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.3920050408Kenney, J., Donnelly, P. (1976). Manpower Training and Development. Londres: Harrap.Kirkpatrick, D. (1997). Revisando las Grandes Ideas. Training & Development Digest, September: 28-36.Kirkpatrick, J.D., Kirkpatrick, W.K. (2016). Kirkpatrick's four levels of training evaluation. Association for Talent Development.Kraiger, K., Ford, J.K., Salas, E. (1993). Application of cognitive, skill-based, and affective theories of learning outcomes to new methods of training evaluation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 311-328. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.78.2.311Legare, T.L. (1999). Defining Training Roles and Responsibilities at Partners Healthcare System. National Productivity Review, 19(1), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/npr.4040190103McGehee, R., Thayere, J. (1961) Training in Business and Industry. New York: John Wiley.Moller, L., Mallin, P. (1996). Evaluation practices of instructional designers and organizational support or barriers. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 9(4), 82-92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1937-8327.1996.tb00740.xNadler, Z., Nadler, L. (2012). Designing training programs. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780080503974Oberman, G. (1996). An Approach for Measuring Safety Training Effectiveness. Occupational Health & Safety, 65(12), 48-58.O'Neill, M. (1998). Cómo enfocar la evaluación de la formación. Info-line (American Society for Training and Development), 1(special issue), 1-18.Phillips, J.J. (2012). Return on investment in training and performance improvement programs. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780080516257Phillips, J.J., Phillips, P.P. (2016). Handbook of training evaluation and measurement methods. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315757230Pineda, P. (1998). El reto de evaluar la formación en la empresa: Herramientas and soluciones. Capital Humano, 111, 32-6.Plant, R.A., Ryan, R.J. (1992).Training Evaluation: A Procedure for Validating an Organizations Investment in Training. Journal of European Industrial Training, 16(10), 22-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090599210021720Sarramona, J., Colom, A, Vázquez, G (1994). Estrategias de formación en la empresa. Narcea.Selmer, J. (2000). A Quantitative Needs Assessment Technique for Cross-Cultural Work Adjustment Training. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 11(3), 269-282. https://doi.org/10.1002/1532-1096(200023)11:3%3C269::AID-HRDQ5%3E3.0.CO;2-6Spitzer, D.R. (1999). Embracing evaluation. Training, 36(6), 42-47.Swanson, R.A. (2005). Evaluation, a state of mind. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 7(1), 16-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422304272078Tannenbaum, S.I., Woods, S.B. (1992). Determining a Strategy for Evaluating Training: Operating within Organizational Constraints. Human Resource Planning, 15(2), 63-82.Wang, G.G., Wilcox, D. (2006). Training evaluation: knowing more than is practiced. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 8(4), 528-539. https://doi.org/10.1177/152342230629300

Testing successful Business Model using System Dynamics

[EN] In our increasingly globalised economy, managing continuous change whilst remaining competitive and dynamic has become a central issue for firms in the industrial sector. One of the elements for obtaining this competitiveness is the value creation model of the firm. The most important challenges in firms are characterised by dynamic complexity which makes it difficult to understand factors in their context. Consequently management and decision making is hindered (Antunes et al., 2011). Business models are characterised by complexity and dynamism. Performance of the firm is a complex topic determined by the large amount of variables that can be involved in the system, and the different effects that influence the system in the short and long term. Due to this complexity a systemic view is required, that is, an holistic view of the whole system. Such a systemic view enables managers to make decisions based on evidence rather than intuition and personal experiences, as they understand how the whole system works. Thus, the main aim of this research is to use an empirical tool such as System Dynamics (SD), to support and sustain firms in the identification of new constructs related to their Business Model (BM).Ganzarain, J.; Ruiz, M.; Igartua, J. (2019). Testing successful Business Model using System Dynamics. International Journal of Production Management and Engineering. 7(Número Especial):91-100. https://doi.org/10.4995/ijpme.2019.10807SWORD911007Número EspecialAldrich, H.E. (1999). Organizations Evolving Sage, C.A., Thousand Oaks.Amit, R.C. (2001). Value creation in e-business.Strategic Management Journal, 22. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.187Andreini, D. & Bettinelli, C. (2007). Business Model Innovation: From Systematic Literature Review to Future Research Directions, Springer.Antunes, L.,Respicio, A., Balsa, J., & Coelho, H. (2011). Gaming and Simulations: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications, IGI Global.DeGregorio, G. (1999). Enterprise‐wide Requirements & Decision Management. INCOSE International Symposi-um, 9, 644-650. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2334-5837.1999.tb00221.xDemil, B. & Lecocq, X. 2010. Business model evolution: In search of dynamic consistency. Long Range Plan-ning, 43, 227-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2010.02.004Forrester, J. W. (1997). Industrial dynamics. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 48, 1037-1041. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jors.2600946García, J. M. (2017). Teoría y ejercicios prácticos de Dinámica de Sistemas para Vensim PLE, Spain, Juan Martin García.Giesen, E., Berman, S. J., Bell, R. & Blitz, A. 2007. Paths to success: Three ways to innovate your business mod-el. 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OR: Productivity Press.Schalk, R., Timmerman, V., & Van den heuveL, S. (2013). How strategic considerations influence decision making on e-HRM applications. Human Resource Management Review, 84-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2012.06.008Sterman, J.D. (2000). Business Dynamics: systems thinking and modeling for a complex world. Irwin-McGraw-Hill.Sterman, J. D. (2002). System Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. In Proceedings of the ESD Internal Symposium.Teece, D. J. 2010. Business models, business strategy and innovation. Long Range Planning, 43, 172-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003Warren, K. (2002). Competitive Strategy Dynamics.Weill, P. M., W. T; d'urso; Herman, G;Woerner, S; 2005. Do Some Business Models Perform Better than Others?, A Study of the 1000 Largest US Firms. 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Evaluation HPDC Lubricant Spraying for Improved Cooling and Die Protection

This study tries to find out a better cooling and temperature homogenization as well as better die protection on high-pressure die-casting (HPDC) spray lubrication. Test procedures have been set up to study the Leidenfrost point (LFP), contact angle (CA), film thickness and protection from die soldering of lubricants typically applied into the die surfaces during HPDC process. Five different lubricants have been studied as well as the influence in different controllable process parameters (type of die material, oxidation of the surface, temperature, roughness, droplet diameter, water hardness and lubricant concentration). The increase of the LFP, avoiding film boiling regime, and a reduced CA, improve the cooling and film ability of die surface during spraying. The best chemistry exhibits high LFP, shows an increased thickness of the formed film and is more effective preventing the sticking of the aluminum part to the die surface. Thermogravimetric analysis shows better thermal properties for lubricants with anti-sticking performance. The study performed and the test protocols set up result in a better insight of the involved phenomena and allow selecting the most favorable operating window for HPDC lubrication

Influence of character type and narrative setting on character desing for fictional television

The importance of characters in fictional audiovisual productions has received much emphasis in research on media entertainment. However, despite the centrality of characters, analysis of the factors that influence their design is a topic that has scarcely been approached. The objective of this research study was to analyze the process of designing fictional audiovisual characters. Participants (N = 303) were audiovisual communication students whose task was to create a fictional character while being manipulated experimentally (through instructions) as to the type of character to design (general versus immigrant character) and the fictional setting (hospital versus police station). The dependent variables were related to the attribution of narrative characteristics, socio-demographic characteristics, personality traits and potential for audience identification with the character. The results show that the type of character and narrative setting influenced the occupation assigned to that character: when the character to be designed was an immigrant and the action was to take place in a police station they were most frequently considered criminals. It was also confirmed that the character type to be designed affected the narrative role, role in the plot, educational level and socioeconomic status assigned to the created character. In addition, the immigrant character was assigned a lower identification potential and this, in turn, influenced the personality traits assigned to the character

NPG–TRIS Thermal Storage System. Quantification of the Limiting Processes: Sublimation and Water’s Adsorption

The NPG–TRIS binary system (NPG = (CH3)2C(CH2OH)2 = 2,2-dimetyl-1,3-propanodiol; TRIS = NH2C(CH2OH)3 = 2-Amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol) was intensively investigated as a thermal energy storage system, due to the reversibility of its phase transitions and their associated energy. An adapted methodology was applied to precisely quantify its sublimation tendency. Relevant thermochemical data were revisited and evaluated using some specific experimental procedures. We also determined that the widely accepted requirement of working in an inert atmosphere to avoid deviations due to hygroscopicity is not necessary. Nevertheless, to take advantage of the energetic properties of the NPG–TRIS system, closed containers will be required to avoid NPG losses, due to its quantitatively determined high sublimation tendency.This study was financially supported by the Basque Government (IT1301-19, IT1364-19) and through the Elkartek18 R&D program, by the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (GIU19/019), and by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (PID2019-106644GB-I00

Large differences in gene expression responses to drought and heat stress between elite barley cultivar scarlett and a spanish landrace

23 Pags.- 6 Tabls.- 8 Figs. Copyright © 2017 Cantalapiedra, García-Pereira, Gracia, Igartua, Casas and Contreras-Moreira. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forms is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Drought causes important losses in crop production every season. Improvement for drought tolerance could take advantage of the diversity held in germplasm collections, much of which has not been incorporated yet into modern breeding. Spanish landraces constitute a promising resource for barley breeding, as they were widely grown until last century and still show good yielding ability under stress. Here, we study the transcriptome expression landscape in two genotypes, an outstanding Spanish landrace-derived inbred line (SBCC073) and a modern cultivar (Scarlett). Gene expression of adult plants after prolonged stresses, either drought or drought combined with heat, was monitored. Transcriptome of mature leaves presented little changes under severe drought, whereas abundant gene expression changes were observed under combined mild drought and heat. Developing inflorescences of SBCC073 exhibited mostly unaltered gene expression, whereas numerous changes were found in the same tissues for Scarlett. Genotypic differences in physiological traits and gene expression patterns confirmed the different behavior of landrace SBCC073 and cultivar Scarlett under abiotic stress, suggesting that they responded to stress following different strategies. A comparison with related studies in barley, addressing gene expression responses to drought, revealed common biological processes, but moderate agreement regarding individual differentially expressed transcripts. Special emphasis was put in the search of co-expressed genes and underlying common regulatory motifs. Overall, 11 transcription factors were identified, and one of them matched cis-regulatory motifs discovered upstream of co-expressed genes involved in those responses.This work was funded by DGA - Obra Social La Caixa [grant number GA-LC-059-2011] and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [projects AGL2010-21929, RFP-2012-00015-00-00 AGL2013-48756-R and AGL2016-80967-R]. Carlos P. Cantalapiedra is funded by [grant BES-2011-045905 linked to project AGL2010-21929].Peer reviewe

A cluster of nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat genes resides in a barley powdery mildew resistance quantitative trait loci on 7HL

Powdery mildew causes severe yield losses in barley production worldwide. Although many resistance genes have been described, only a few have already been cloned. A strong QTL (quantitative trait locus) conferring resistance to a wide array of powdery mildew isolates was identified in a Spanish barley landrace on the long arm of chromosome 7H. Previous studies narrowed down the QTL position, but were unable to identify candidate genes or physically locate the resistance. In this study, the exome of three recombinant lines from a high-resolution mapping population was sequenced and analyzed, narrowing the position of the resistance down to a single physical contig. Closer inspection of the region revealed a cluster of closely related NBS-LRR (nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat containing protein) genes. Large differences were found between the resistant lines and the reference genome of cultivar Morex, in the form of PAV (presence-absence variation) in the composition of the NBS-LRR cluster. Finally, a template-guided assembly was performed and subsequent expression analysis revealed that one of the new assembled candidate genes is transcribed. In summary, the results suggest that NBS-LRR genes, absent from the reference and the susceptible genotypes, could be functional and responsible for the powdery mildew resistance. The procedure followed is an example of the use of NGS (next-generation sequencing) tools to tackle the challenges of gene cloning when the target gene is absent from the reference genome