A framework of key enabling drivers for innovation: Perceptions of community engagement scholarship of science fairs

ABSTRACT The focus of the article is to identify the main drivers for creating an innovative thinking environment, within the context of a community engagement project. Utilising reflexive practice with an analytical auto-ethnography approach, drivers of innovative thinking were identified from the field and experiences utilising existing theory in an educator, learner and community framework for driving innovation. The theoretical underpinnings of the three pillars used as the foundations for this framework were selected from literature in the people, place and process/purpose domains. Specifically, these were: Community Engagement Scholarship (people); creative Transdisciplinary Spaces (place) and Enabling Knowledge with common team vision (process/purpose). Certain pedagogical pathways were identified as critical enablers for driving innovation in this context: pedagogy, teaching strategies, mentoring, application-inquiry-based, safe spaces, critical thinking across disciplines, common vision, communication and collaboration. A framework of critical pedagogical pathways was proposed to drive creativity and innovation

The future African workplace: The use of collaborative robots in manufacturing

Orientation: Industry 4.0 promotes technological innovations and human–robot collaboration (HRC). Human–robot interaction (HRI) and HRC on the manufacturing assembly line have been implemented in numerous advanced production environments worldwide. Collaborative robots (Cobots) are increasingly being used as collaborators with humans in factory production and assembly environments. Research purpose: The purpose of the research is to investigate the current use and future implementation of Cobots worldwide and its specific impact on the African workforce. Motivation for the study: Exploring the gap that exists between the international implementation of Cobots and the potential implementation and impact on the African manufacturing and assembly environment and specifically on the African workforce. Research design, approach and method: The study features a qualitative research design. An open-ended question survey was conducted amongst leading manufacturing companies in South Africa in order to determine the status and future implementation of Cobot practices. Thematic analysis and content analysis were conducted using AtlasTi. Main findings: The findings indicate that the African businesses were aware of the international business trends, regarding Cobot implementation, and the possible impact of Cobots on the African work force. Factors specifically highlighted in this study are fear of retrenchment, human–Cobot trust and the African culture. Practical implications and value-add: This study provides valuable background on the international status of Cobot implementation and the possible impact on the African workforce. The study highlights the importance of building employee trust, providing the relevant training and addressing the fear of retrenchment amongst employees

Measuring the paradox of self-stigma: psychometric properties of a brief scale.

Exposure to public stigma can lead to stereotype endorsement and resignation, which are constructs related to self-stigma. This latter phenomenon has well-documented deleterious consequences for people living with mental illness. Paradoxically, it can also lead to the empowering reactions of righteous anger and coming out proud. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a brief tool to measure stereotype endorsement, righteous anger, and non-disclosure across different groups of stigmatized persons. This process was conducted in collaboration with users. Using focus groups with mental health professionals and people living with mental illness, 72 items were developed to measure various aspects of self-stigma. The Paradox of Self-Stigma scale (PaSS-24) containing 24 items and three subscores (stereotype endorsement, non-disclosure, and righteous anger) resulted from a calibration phase using factor analysis. This structure was cross-validated on an independent sample. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity were also evaluated. 202 patients were assessed. The PaSS-24 demonstrated good internal validity. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity estimates were also good. The PaSS-24 is a short but psychometrically rigorous tool designed to measure self-stigma and related constructs in French language, developed in collaboration with users. The development and validation of the PaSS-24 represent a first step towards implementing and evaluating programs aimed at reducing negative consequences of self-stigma

The digital future of internal staffing: A vision for transformational electronic human resource management

status: Published onlin