THE RATIONALIZATION OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING: IMPLICATIONS OF GROUP SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR POWER, SYMBOLISM AND FACE-VVORK

Current Group Support System (GSS) theory is heavily influenced by a rational model of human behavior, which in turn leads to some fundamental assumptions about what meetings are all about and what can be done to improve them. The purpose of this paper is to examine these fundamental assumptions, but from a perspective other than the more typical one of small-group processes and dynamics. Instead, we draw on organizational theories of power and politics, organizational culture and symbolism, and interactionism to provide new vantage points from which to examine these fundamental GSS objectives. Each of these perspectives represent fundamentally different philosophies on the nature and processes that characterize organizational meetings. From this theoretical triangulation, a much richer picture of organization meetings emerges. In particular, it becomes apparent that the rich shading and nuances of meaning that characterize organizational meetings are not adequately captured by a strictly small-group based, rational model of human behavior. To hope to understand how technology will change the dynamics of decisionmaking, hidden agendas, veiled threats, hidden meanings, the formation and disintegration of alliances, the shifting nattire of power and status, to name but a few, a theory base as rich as these dynamics will be needed

Inoperable Renal Malignant Glomus Tumor, the answers for all the “W’s”?

Glomus tumor, arising from glomus bodies (specialized neurovascular structures involved in thermoregulation), commonly occurs in extremities and rarely in viscera. The spectrum of glomus tumors range from benign tumors to tumors with uncertain malignant potential to tumors of the malignant subtype. A vast majority of visceral glomus tumors are benign. Most common visceral tumors arise in the gastrointestinal tract. Glomus tumors of the kidney are a rare entity of which malignant glomus tumors are exceedingly rare. The index patients in the existing case reports were middle-aged males. We report our experience with malignant glomus tumor of the left kidney in a 60-year-old female, with computed tomography (CT) showing involvement of renal vein and inferior vena cava (IVC). Percutaneous biopsy was performed as imaging did not conform to the appearance of a conventional renal tumor and was reported as malignant glomus tumor after immunohistochemistry. After informed decision, the patient and family elected to proceed with surgery. However, intraoperatively, the left renal mass was found to infiltrate the pancreas, duodenum, aorta, and root of the colonic mesentery due to which surgery was aborted. Biopsy obtained intraoperatively again confirmed diagnosis of left renal malignant glomus tumor. She had an uneventful postoperative recovery. Options of treatment were reviewed by a multidisciplinary board. In light of no proven benefit for systemic therapy, she was referred for supportive care. She was under follow-up and she expired after 7 months due to progressive disease. Our literature review focuses on the clinicopathologic features and the current standard of management of malignant renal glomus tumors

Resistance patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from HIV and Non-HIV patients with lower respiratory tract infections

ABSTRACT: The increase in occurrence of infections due to opportunistic gram-negative bacilli in patients with impaired host defences emphasizes the need for information on the antibiotic susceptibility of the organisms that infects such patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa are becoming increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents, and serious infections caused by these organisms often require immediate attention as they cause treatment failures. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility data are required for successful therapy because acquired resistance to such antimicrobials as β-lactams, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides is so prevalent in P. aeruginosa. The study was carried out in Chennai during the period May 2007 and March 2009. 69 isolates of Pseudomonas were isolated from HIV and 24 isolates were isolated from Non-HIV populations with lower respiratory tract infections. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of all the isolates was studied for 12 antibiotics to find the multi drug resistant (MDR) isolates for which the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were studied according to CLSI (2009).KEYWORDS: Antibiotic resistance; P. Aeruginosa; MDR; HIV; Lower respiratory tract infection; MICInternet Journal of Medical Update 2012 January;7(1):8-1

EFFECTIVENESS OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) IN INDIAN SOFTWARE INDUSTRIES AS INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Total Quality Management (TQM) has become latest management mantra in globalised and drastically changing business environments. Recently the organisations are considering the TQM as magic cure for improving organizational performance, creating learning organisation, modification of the behaviour of both the employees and the management. Several researchers have also looked at the concept of Standardization of Quality (ISO 9000 certification) in relations to the implementation of TQM. Both Primary and Secondary data are used in the analysis. The concept of TQM has evolved from a narrow focus on Statistical Quality Control (SQC) to a broad spectrum of socio-cultural, behavioural and technical issues. Many countries have come up with national Quality Award models to encourage continuous improvement in the processes to achieve business excellence in their companies. Simultaneously emphasis is also laid on the international quality certification so that the companies can become world-class. The most popular quality management standard certification is the ISO: 9000 series by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO). We present our study in this paper

A STUDY ON ORGANISATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AS INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN INDIA

This study focusses on the literature survey and identifying the research gap to frame the objectives of the study, formulate the hypotheses and pursue the research study. In todays globalize economy; competition is becoming even more intense. Many companies are trying very hard not only to satisfy their customer’s needs, but where possible, excel them. This can only be achieved through cost reduction, improvement in product performance, increased customer satisfaction and a constant effort towards world class organizations. In order for companies to survive and grow in the future, it is essential that they deliver high quality goods and services. Those that can deliver quality are the ones that will prosper in the next century (Ross, 1994) (1). Companies actually compete on three major issues; Quality, Price and Delivery. However, companies choosing the low cost approach may find themselves losing premium business to competitors while retaining the low-margin business in the long term (Victor, 1995).(2)  Many companies have become aware of the need to make quality as the competitive marketing strategy in a global market. Large companies for instance, have started to implement total quality initiative in their products and services. The increasing acceptance of Total Quality Management (TQM) as a philosophy of management and a way of company life has taken place for almost three decades. Many companies understand that TQM is necessary for them to remain competitive, retaining their market share and to be able to respond to changing competitive demand in today business world. Based on some studies (Ross, 1994,(1) Ghobahdian, (1995) (3), Ahire et al., (1996)(4),Gulbro et al., (2000)(5), not all companies are able to implement TQM successfully. This is because it requires a different implementation approach to cater for the varying needs of the industries in order for effective implementation. Software industries have been slow in adopting TQM when compared to manufacturing companies which necessitated to pursue this thesis. Their involvement has focused primarily on ISO 9000 certification, and very few had advanced beyond that (Yusof, 2000) (6). Therefore, the identification of critical success factors for successful implementation as well as the problems faced by Software Industries  in implementing TQM are  an important area to be understood. The value of this research is one of the primary steps towards reaching the needs of Indian Software Industries that are trying to implement TQM in their business. With a better understanding of this issues, it can be a groundwork for the development of an appropriate TQM framework for practical implementation by the Software Industries

A STUDY ON EXPECTATION OF STAKE HOLDERS, TQM AND ORGANIZATIONS’ EFFECTIVENESS USING VARIOUS STATISTICAL MODELS

This paper deals with expectation of stake holders with regard to TQM in enhancing organization’s effectiveness. Before the data is analysed for verification of hypothesis, it has been thought pertinent to analyze the characteristics of the respondents chosen for the study. This is intended to create a picture of the representative respondents and in order to develop a reference frame for further analysis

ASSESSMENT OF TQM NEED - PERCEPTION OF MANAGERS AND SENIOR EXECUTIVES – AN APPROACH

TQM implementation in Software industry has been acknowledged in general as one of the important activity which is playing a significant role. All categories of staff admit the fact that, in view of the changing software industry scenario, implementation of TQM is a must, in order to enable the software industry to meet the challenges. The TQM implementation in Software industry has been able to contribute significantly in this direction, dispelling the doubts regarding effectiveness.  However, during the empirical study conducted, the employees felt that the system has not been able to achieve the optimum level in fulfilling the objectives due to some of the shortcomings which are in its operation.  No doubt the present system has most of the ingredients of a modern outlook, but it has not achieved to some extent the desired results in the areas of planning, coordination and enforcement of this policies.  Some of the problems observed during the study are as under, of which factors for   effective implementation of TQM are the foremost and important one. In this paper, the need for effective implementation of TQM, the problems encountered during the implementation and ways to overcome are analysed in detail

A computational genomics pipeline for prokaryotic sequencing projects

Motivation: New sequencing technologies have accelerated research on prokaryotic genomes and have made genome sequencing operations outside major genome sequencing centers routine. However, no off-the-shelf solution exists for the combined assembly, gene prediction, genome annotation and data presentation necessary to interpret sequencing data. The resulting requirement to invest significant resources into custom informatics support for genome sequencing projects remains a major impediment to the accessibility of high-throughput sequence data

Trivial and normative? Online fieldwork within YouTube’s beauty community

In this article, I discuss methodological understandings around qualitative research and online ethnographic practice to bring forward a reflexive account on the particularities of doing fieldwork on YouTube. I draw from a multiyear ethnographic examination of YouTube’s beauty community that sought to understand online popularity framed by local norms and practices and shed light into the local significance of knowledge, expertise, and self-development. I argue for an epistemological perspective that acknowledges the diversity of viable, conceivable fieldwork experiences while distancing from prescriptive modes of argumentation. I propose seeing fieldwork in and through its richness and predicaments, persistently naturalistic while interpretive. I approach online popularity, fandom, and even YouTube itself from a perspective that tolerates ambivalence, contradictions, and embraces the complexity of social worlds and human interaction