Mid Day Meal Scheme: Understanding Critical Issues with Reference to Ahmedabad City

Problems of illiteracy, malnutrition, anaemia, vitamin-A and iodine deficiency are very common among children in India. In 2001 Supreme Court of India ruled that state governments must provide mid-day meal (MDM) to children of government assisted primary schools. The 2007-2008 budget of the central government has allocated about Rs. 73 billion for the MDM scheme. Therefore, it becomes imperative that a comprehensive evaluation of the programme be undertaken to judge its efficacy. We studied the implementation of the scheme, made field visits to schools to document food preparation and delivery, and collected meal samples to test them in laboratory for nutritional contents and food safety. Study seems to indicate that the implementation of the scheme may be wanting on the grounds of nutrition and food safety. For example, protein and iodine content is not sufficiently provided by the meals. Raw food samples contained uric acid levels higher than stipulated by food laws. Traces of aflatoxins were also found. Food safety may be improved by employing food safety systems such as HACCP, contracting out meal preparation and distribution to reputed private parties, and offering packaged foods which also provide variety. Offering nutrition bars and fruits such as banana not only will ensure delivery of hygienic food but it will enhance the nutrition delivery of the MDM scheme.

Implementation of additive manufacturing in the healthcare supply chain for circular economy goals: Paradoxical tensions and solutions from an Industry 5.0 perspective

This study addresses the paradoxical tensions that arise during additive manufacturing (AM) implementation for circular economy goals in the healthcare sector. Using the lens of paradox theory, this study identifies four competing priorities that stakeholders may encounter while adopting AM. Focus group discussions among 12 industry experts from the healthcare supply chain were conducted to verify the paradoxes. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with 10 industry experts to derive the solutions to manage these tensions from an Industry 5.0 perspective to achieve the full benefits of AM. This study expands paradox theory into the AM literature and provides a novel ‘both/and’ perspective (i.e. a pluralistic rather than a dualistic perspective) to look at emerging tensions encountered while implementing AM in the healthcare sector. This perspective will help decision-makers realise that these tensions can be managed over time to turn them into creative, rather than destructive, forces

Measuring readiness to implement systems that create, mobilise and diffuse knowledge

This thesis focuses on pre-conditions for organisations to implement knowledge management systems (KMS). Prior research suggests knowledge management (KM) is a capability and, as such, organisations need to know if they are ready to embark on KM initiatives that develop this capability. The findings of my research contend that measuring readiness is a prerequisite for implementing KMS holistically. I argue that effective KMS integrates the creation, mobilisation and diffusion stages of the knowledge life-cycle. Therefore, a system for gauging organisational readiness for KMS necessitates understanding the organisation’s inclination to create, mobilise and diffuse knowledge. Drawing from Socio-Technical Systems (STS) Theory, this study uses three dimensions, Infrastructure, Knowledge Structure and Knowledge Culture, to gauge each stage of the knowledge life-cycle. This study develops an instrument – the Knowledge Implementation Assessment Tool (KIAT) – to assess an organisation’s readiness for KMS. An organisation’s readiness can be said to increase as the measure on each dimension increases. In addition, this study found that structurally diverse Communities For Performance are needed to leverage Communities Of Practice in delivering direct business results, and that the implementation of KMS must be governed within and by cross-functional business processes. The knowledge-based theory of the firm and the knowledge life-cycle theory provide a conceptual understanding that managing the creation, mobilisation and diffusion of knowledge can yield competitive advantage. Based on these theories, an in-depth case study was conducted in Schlumberger’s technical service delivery process. The study analysed the implementation and the use of InTouch, Schlumberger’s KMS. The case study was conducted using an Abductive research strategy. The Means-End Chain approach and its laddering technique were used to collect and analyse data to establish 35 attributes vital for the implementation of an effective KMS – one that brings beneficial results. These attributes form the basis for creating the readiness assessment instrument – KIAT. A KMS implementation affects the social and technical aspects of an organisation. This study categorised the attributes along the three STS dimensions. The basis of the categorisation was the fit between each attribute and an STS dimension. The result is an assessment instrument to measure organisational readiness. The instrument, KIAT, consists of 50 factors to measure organisational readiness along the three STS dimensions for the creation, mobilisation and diffusion of knowledge. KIAT is operationalised in three organisational cases in different industries and processes. This allowed the instrument to be refined and led to the development of procedures to apply KIAT. The cases suggest that KIAT provides useful insights to discover or confirm KMS readiness where a cross-functional business process is the unit of analysis. The research contributes to research methodology in the KM field, as it is the first to use the Means-End Chain approach into knowledge management research by representing a hierarchy of organisational goals in a knowledge management initiative. For practitioners, my research makes two contributions. One, the KIAT readiness assessment instrument to diagnose their organisational readiness and take informed decisions. Two, the understanding of Communities For Performance. This study points the way for further research. This includes directions to explore the relationship between the levels of readiness and the effectiveness of KMS implementation, the relationship between organisations’ experience and their readiness, and the relationship between the dynamics of the KIAT Factors and organisational learning.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan (Studi Pada Karyawan Tetap Service Center Panasonic Surabaya)

Research entitled “The Influence Leadership Style on Employee Performance” conducted on permanent employees at Service Center Panasonic Surabaya aims to explain at influence of leadership style partially on employee performance. The research method used is explanatory research, collecting data using questionnaires distributed to all permanent employees of Panasonic Service Center Surabaya which amounted to 48 respondents. Data analysis used in this research is descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression using SPSS 18 for windows. The results showed Democratic Leadership Style had the most significant effect on employee performance compared Authoritarian Leadership Style and Laissez-Faire Leadership Style

Implementation of Additive Manufacturing in the Healthcare Supply Chain for Circular Economy Goals: Paradoxical Tensions and Solutions from an Industry 5.0 Perspective

Data Availability: The original dataset is available on request.This study addresses the paradoxical tensions that arise during additive manufacturing (AM) implementation for circular economy goals in the healthcare sector. Using the lens of paradox theory, this study identifies four competing priorities that stakeholders may encounter while adopting AM. Focus group discussions among 12 industry experts from the healthcare supply chain were conducted to verify the paradoxes. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with 10 industry experts to derive the solutions to manage these tensions from an Industry 5.0 perspective to achieve the full benefits of AM. This study expands paradox theory into the AM literature and provides a novel ‘both/and’ perspective (i.e. a pluralistic rather than a dualistic perspective) to look at emerging tensions encountered while implementing AM in the healthcare sector. This perspective will help decision-makers realise that these tensions can be managed over time to turn them into creative, rather than destructive, forces

Identifying inequities in maternal and child health through risk stratification to inform health systems strengthening in Northern Togo

ObjectiveIn Togo, substantial progress in maternal and child health is needed to reach global development goals. To better inform clinic and community-based health services, this study identifies factors associated with maternal and child health care utilization in the Kara region of Northern Togo. Methods We conducted a population-representative household survey of four health clinic catchment areas of 1,075 women of reproductive age in 2015. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model individual and structural factors associated with utilization of four maternal and child health services. Key outcomes were: facility-based delivery, maternal postnatal health check by a health professional within the first six weeks of birth, childhood vaccination, and receipt of malaria medication for febrile children under age five within 72 hours of symptom onset. Results 83 percent of women who gave birth in the last 2 years delivered at a health facility. In adjusted models, the strongest predictor of facility delivery in the rural catchment areas was proximity to a health center, with women living under three kilometers having 3.7 (95% CI 1.7, 7.9) times the odds of a facility birth. Only 11 percent of women received a health check by a health provider at any time in the postnatal period. Postnatal health checks were less likely for women in the poorest households and for women who resided in rural areas. Children of polygamous mothers had half the odds of receiving malaria medication for fever within 72 hours of symptom onset, while children with increased household wealth status had increased odds of childhood vaccination and receiving treatment for malaria. Conclusion Our analysis highlights the importance of risk stratification analysis to inform the delivery and scope of maternal and child health programs needed to reach those with the least access to care

State-of-the-art in product service-systems

A Product Service-System (PSS) is an integrated combination of products and services. This western concept embraces a service-led competitive strategy, environmental sustainability, and the basis to differentiate from competitors who simply offer lower priced products. This paper aims to report the state-of-the-art of PSS research by presenting a clinical review of literature currently available on this topic. The literature is classified and the major outcomes of each study are addressed and analysed. On this basis, this paper defines the PSS concept, reports on its origin and features, gives examples of applications along with potential benefits and barriers to adoption, summarises available tools and methodologies, and identifies future research challenges

A comparison of course-related stressors in undergraduate problem-based learning (PBL) versus non-PBL medical programmes

Background: Medical students report high levels of stress related to their medical training as well as to other personal and financial factors. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there are differences in course-related stressors reported by medical students on undergraduate problem-based learning (PBL) and non-PBL programmes in the UK. Method: A cross-sectional study of second-year medical students in two UK medical schools (one PBL and one non-PBL programme) was conducted. A 16-question self-report questionnaire, derived from the Perceived Medical Student Stress Scale and the Higher Education Stress Inventory, was used to measure course-related stressors. Following univariate analysis of each stressor between groups, multivariate logistic regression was used to determine which stressors were the best predictors of each course type, while controlling for socio-demographic differences between the groups. Results: A total of 280 students responded. Compared to the non-PBL students (N = 197), the PBL students (N = 83) were significantly more likely to agree that: they did not know what the faculty expected of them (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.38, p = 0.03); there were too many small group sessions facilitated only by students resulting in an unclear curriculum (OR = 0.04, p < 0.0001); and that there was a lack of opportunity to explore academic subjects of interest (OR = 0.40, p = 0.02). They were significantly more likely to disagree that: there was a lack of encouragement from teachers (OR = 3.11, p = 0.02); and that the medical course fostered a sense of anonymity and feelings of isolation amongst students (OR = 3.42, p = 0.008). Conclusion: There are significant differences in the perceived course-related stressors affecting medical students on PBL and non-PBL programmes. Course designers and student support services should therefore tailor their work to minimise, or help students cope with, the specific stressors on each course type to ensure optimum learning and wellbeing among our future doctors

Management of traumatic brain injury in the non‐neurosurgical intensive care unit: a narrative review of current evidence

Each year, approximately 70 million people suffer traumatic brain injury, which has a significant physical, psychosocial and economic impact for patients and their families. It is recommended in the UK that all patients with traumatic brain injury and a Glasgow coma scale ≤ 8 should be transferred to a neurosurgical centre. However, many patients, especially those in whom neurosurgery is not required, are not treated in, nor transferred to, a neurosurgical centre. This review aims to provide clinicians who work in non-neurosurgical centres with a summary of contemporary studies relevant to the critical care management of patients with traumatic brain injury. A targeted literature review was undertaken that included guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials and randomised controlled trials (published in English between 1 January 2017 and 1 July 2022). Studies involving key clinical management strategies published before this time, but which have not been updated or repeated, were also eligible for inclusion. Analysis of the topics identified during the review was then summarised. These included: fundamental critical care management approaches (including ventilation strategies, fluid management, seizure control and osmotherapy); use of processed electroencephalogram monitoring; non-invasive assessment of intracranial pressure; prognostication; and rehabilitation techniques. Through this process, we have formulated practical recommendations to guide clinical practice in non-specialist centres