Giving voice to the silent: a framework for understanding stakeholders’ participation in socially-oriented initiatives, community-based actions and humanitarian operations projects

Under the umbrella of compassionate operations management theory (Sarkis, in Int J Prod Econ 139(2):359–365, 2012) and stakeholder theory, the aim of this article is to propose a comprehensive framework to unlock stakeholders’ voice in socially-oriented projects (for example, social responsibility, community and humanitarian projects). The framework developed in this work aims to assist managers to measure the level of engagement of stakeholders during socially-oriented projects’ execution. It may allow better accountability, transparency and stakeholder satisfaction. For this purpose, the study seeks to explore key concepts and ideas about participatory management in socially-oriented projects, and Freeman’s (Strategic Management: a stakeholder approach. Pitman, Boston, 1984) stakeholder theory, in addition to essential principles of the AA1000 framework. It is therefore a piece of conceptual research based on the proposal of a framework. This framework could in the near future be applied to organizations that need to expand their level of awareness of stakeholders’ satisfaction during the execution of organizational social responsibility and humanitarian project management they finance. It makes possible to understand the level of involvement of stakeholders. It is expected that the contributions made will be useful for researchers to propose new studies to improve the indicators presented here, as well as allow future studies to apply these indicators in social projects and in humanitarian initiatives. © 2017, The Author(s)

Correlates of Perceived Risk of Developing Cancer Among African-Americans in South Los Angeles

BACKGROUND: There are differences in cancer-risk perception among racial/ethnic groups that may affect health risk behaviors. METHODS: Using a community partnered-participatory research approach, we conducted a survey on cancer screening, risk behaviors, and related knowledge/attitudes within 11 churches in South Los Angeles with predominantly African-American parishioners. This analysis examines correlates of perceived risk of developing cancer among 755African American adults. RESULTS: Almost 15% of participants indicated higher perceived risk for cancer compared to the average man/woman of the same age, 38% indicated same risk, whereas 48% perceived lower risk. Sixty-nine individuals (9%) reported a cancer history and 63% reported at least one blood relative with cancer. Controlling for demographic characteristics and healthcare access, participants who reported higher risk of cancer had higher level of cancer-related knowledge; were current and ex-smokers; had poorer health status; had a blood relative with cancer; had a cancer history; and had discussed their risk of cancer with their doctor. The bivariate association between high perceived cancer risk and lack of exercise and obesity disappeared after adjusting for demographic characteristics and perceived health status. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a substantial proportion of African Americans in South Los Angeles may underestimate their cancer risk. Additionally, lack of exercise and obesity are not recognized as independent cancer risk factors as much as smoking and personal and family history of cancer. Next steps will be to inform participating churches about our findings and explore their interest in taking steps to reduce health risk behaviors among their parishioners