Measuring the quality of the strategic financial planning information (Q-FPI) in the local government

Having quality information about strategic financial planning is very important for any organization. In the Local Government (LG) it is pivotal, as it is expected to impact strategic decision-making and overall management of local public resources. Yet, empirical research has failed to assess the quality of financial planning information, which must be assured both for management and accountability purposes. By proposing a quality index for strategic financial planning information – the Q-FPI Index – based on programming documents made available on the municipalities’ websites, this research contributes to address this gap. The paper describes the multidimensional conceptual model followed to build the Index, considering the identification of data quality requirements and defining indicators to operationalize them. The Index is then tested through a pilot application, using data from five Portuguese municipalities. The Q-FPI Index constitutes a flexible tool, capable of fostering continuous improvement of local government performance.This study was partially conducted at the Research Center in Political Science [UIDB/CPO/00758/2020], University of Minho and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT -Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P) and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds. It has also been funded by national funds through FCT, Project UIDB/05037/2020

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns in prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019 : a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Ending the global tobacco epidemic is a defining challenge in global health. Timely and comprehensive estimates of the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden are needed to guide tobacco control efforts nationally and globally. Methods We estimated the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden for 204 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2019 as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study. We modelled multiple smoking-related indicators from 3625 nationally representative surveys. We completed systematic reviews and did Bayesian meta-regressions for 36 causally linked health outcomes to estimate non-linear dose-response risk curves for current and former smokers. We used a direct estimation approach to estimate attributable burden, providing more comprehensive estimates of the health effects of smoking than previously available. Findings Globally in 2019, 1.14 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1.13-1.16) individuals were current smokers, who consumed 7.41 trillion (7.11-7.74) cigarette-equivalents of tobacco in 2019. Although prevalence of smoking had decreased significantly since 1990 among both males (27.5% [26. 5-28.5] reduction) and females (37.7% [35.4-39.9] reduction) aged 15 years and older, population growth has led to a significant increase in the total number of smokers from 0.99 billion (0.98-1.00) in 1990. Globally in 2019, smoking tobacco use accounted for 7.69 million (7.16-8.20) deaths and 200 million (185-214) disability-adjusted life-years, and was the leading risk factor for death among males (20.2% [19.3-21.1] of male deaths). 6.68 million [86.9%] of 7.69 million deaths attributable to smoking tobacco use were among current smokers. Interpretation In the absence of intervention, the annual toll of 7.69 million deaths and 200 million disability-adjusted life-years attributable to smoking will increase over the coming decades. Substantial progress in reducing the prevalence of smoking tobacco use has been observed in countries from all regions and at all stages of development, but a large implementation gap remains for tobacco control. Countries have a dear and urgent opportunity to pass strong, evidence-based policies to accelerate reductions in the prevalence of smoking and reap massive health benefits for their citizens. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Organisational excellence in the public sector : with special reference to the Portuguese local government

The primary aim of this thesis is to analyse the key drivers of Organisational Excellence in the Public Sector and integrate them in a comprehensive, reliable and valid performance measurement system. Within the movements for Public Sector reform and modernisation, Total Quality Management (TQM) has increasingly been regarded as a way to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the use of the resources available, deliver better public services, and bring Public Administration closer to its customers and citizens. However, too often the initiatives carried out are not integrated, nor they are part of a systematic and coherent strategy to guide public organisations towards Organisational Excellence (OE). The literature suggests that adopting TQM can lead to superior performance, in spite of the difficulties of statistically demonstrating such link. There is also a prevalent view that TQM principles and core concepts are universally valid, but need to be adapted to each context in particular. In this sense, they are applicable to the Public Sector, although the existence of multiple stakeholders, the need to balance individual customer needs with wider collective purposes and the strong bureaucratic inheritance make their implementation particularly challenging. The exploratory survey conducted in the Portuguese municipalities - which constitute the focus of our study - revealed that TQM is raising considerable interest and diagnosed the main barriers and motivations for TQM implementation. Moreover, it gave support to the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) identified in the literature. Several organisational excellence models were reviewed. It is argued that Kanji's Business Excellence Model (KBEM) adequately covers the CSFs identified and, additionally, provides a sound methodology - based on the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach and the Partial Least Squares (PLS) technique - to estimate the relationships between them and determine their impact on an aggregated measure of OE. To measure OE from the internal stakeholders' perspective, a few adjustments were made on KBEM and new scales developed to assess the Local Government's performance in each CSF. The model was empirically tested and validated using data collected from 85 Portuguese municipalities and the internal OE index calculated. Given the critical role of Leadership (the prime of KBEM), this construct was analysed in detail. The key leadership requirements in an organisation committed to TQM and OE were identified. A model was then developed and used to measure, according to leaders' and staff members' views, Leadership Excellence in the Portuguese municipalities. With the purpose of evaluating OE from the external stakeholders' perspective, a Business Scorecard (KBS) was created. Feedback from citizens - the key external stakeholders of a municipality - was collected in each dimension of the scorecard. Using similar procedures, the model was validated and the scores for each latent variable computed. The OE index thus calculated drew attention to possible gaps between internal and external perceptions and called attention to the need of measuring OE from different angles. The system of performance measurement proposed is grounded in the CSFs identified and assesses performance from a multiple perspective by integrating feedback from the various stakeholders of an organisation. Therefore, it provides a more realistic assessment of performance and is expected to support the Local Government in its quest for Organisational Excellence.</p

As Características da Função e seu Impacto nos Níveis de Satisfação do Funcionário de Contato: um estudo em uma grande empresa de telecomunicações

Standardization of answers and cost reductionefforts have provided a specific relevance to callcenters in the commercial strategy of many servicecompanies.The aim of this research is to analyze to what extentjob characteristics, as identified by Hackman andOldham (1980), are essential determinants forthe level of satisfaction of the contact employeein a call center.Indeed, literature clearly suggests that jobcharacteristics have a huge influence on employees´work performance, their level of satisfaction,and, as a consequence, on the quality of servicesprovided to the customers.In order to answer these questions, we haveperformed a case study, based on a questionnairesurvey.Findings reveal that employees feel that theirjobs are highly structured and that they arebeing closely monitored, what might worsentheir performance regarding the contact with thecustomer, mainly in what concerns customization,flexibility and adequate answer in a single contact.In order to increase frontline employees’performance, a proposal that enhances jobautonomy and values intrinsic satisfaction is made.The research suggests the need to change theway companies view contact employee’s job, ina call center context, not always perceived anddesigned as strategic or determinant for customers’satisfaction, which calls for additional institutionalinvestment in the redesign of such job.La estandarización de las respuestas y la reducciónde costos han aportado una gran relevancia a loscall centers con respecto a la estrategia de negociode muchas empresas de servicios.El propósito de esta investigación es analizaren qué medida las características de la función,identificadas por Hackman y Oldham (1980),son los principales factores determinantes delos niveles de satisfacción de los empleados decontacto en el call center.De hecho, la literatura sugiere claramente quelas características de la función tienen una graninfluencia en cómo los empleados realizansu trabajo, en su nivel de satisfacción y, enconsecuencia, en la calidad del servicio prestadoal cliente.Se ha realizado un estudio de caso, con el apoyode un conjunto de datos recogidos medianteencuesta.Los resultados muestran que los empleadossienten que su trabajo está muy estructuradoe altamente vigilado, lo que puede degradarel rendimiento con respecto al contacto conel cliente, particularmente con respecto a lapersonalización deseada y a la respuesta en unsolo contacto.Para aumentar la satisfacción de los empleados decontacto, se presenta una solución propuesta querefuerza el componente de la autonomía y valorala satisfacción intrínseca asociada a la función.En resumen, podemos destacar la importancia decambiar el modo en que las empresas contemplanla función de los empleados de contacto, en elcontexto del call center, no siempre percibido niconcebido como estratégico, proponiendo unamayor inversión en el rediseño de la función dela organización. A padronização das respostas e a redução doscustos deram grande relevância aos call centersno que se refere à estratégia comercial de muitasempresas de serviços.O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar até que pontoas características da função, tal como foramidentificadas por Hackman e Oldham (1980), sãodeterminantes essenciais dos níveis de satisfaçãodo funcionário de contato no call center.Efetivamente, a literatura sugere claramente queas características da função têm grande influênciano modo como os funcionários desempenhamseu trabalho, no seu nível de satisfação e,consequentemente, na qualidade de serviçoprestada ao cliente.Procedemos à realização de um estudo de caso,apoiado em um conjunto de dados coletados pormeio de questionário.Os resultados revelam que os funcionários sentemseu trabalho como sendo altamente estruturadoe intensamente monitorado, podendo prejudicaro desempenho no que se refere ao contatocom o cliente, sobretudo em relação à desejadapersonalização, flexibilidade e resposta em umsó contato.De modo a aumentar a satisfação dos funcionáriosde contato, é apresentada uma proposta quereforça a componente de autonomia e valoriza asatisfação intrínseca associada à função.Em síntese, salientamos a importância de alteraro modo como as empresas encaram a funçãodos funcionários de contato, em contexto de callcenter, nem sempre percebida e concebida comoestratégica, propondo um maior investimentoorganizacional no redesenho da função

II Encontro de Tróia 2011 – Qualidade, Investigação e Desenvolvimento

Objectivos:1- Conhecimento pessoal mútuo e troca de experiências; 2- Conhecimento dos trabalhos realizados, das áreas de interesse e das linhas de investigação em que estão envolvidos e/ou interessados; 3- Reflexão sobre a intervenção organizada

Effects of a psychoeducational program for chronic pain management Efectos de un programa psicoeducativo en el control del dolor crónico Efeitos de um programa psicoeducativo no controle da dor crônica

AIMS: to evaluate the impact of an eight-week psychoeducational program focused on pain intensity, disability and depressive symptoms of patients with chronic pain. METHOD: 79 patients with chronic pain of different etiologies composed the sample. Patients were assessed before, at the end of the intervention and six months after the intervention. The program was developed by a nurse using cognitive-behavioral strategies and was conducted by a multidisciplinary team. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare repeated measures. RESULTS: the participants' mean age was 53 years old, most were female (91%), with an average of 9.5 years of schooling and an average pain duration of 9.9 years. Significant reduction in pain intensity (p<0.001), disability (p<0.001) and depressive symptoms (p<0.001) was found at the end of the program. CONCLUSIONS: the psychoeducational program was effective in reducing pain intensity, reducing disability and in controlling depressive symptoms in this sample.<br>OBJETIVOS: evaluar el impacto de un Programa psicoeducativo de ocho semanas en la intensidad del dolor, incapacidad y síntomas depresivos de pacientes con dolor crónico. MÉTODO: 79 pacientes con dolor crónico de diferentes etiologías compusieron la muestra. Los participantes fueron evaluados antes y al final del Programa y seis meses después. El Programa fue desarrollado por una enfermera, utilizó estrategias cognoscitivo-comportamentales y fue aplicado por un equipo multidisciplinar. La prueba no paramétrico de Wilcoxon fue utilizado para comparar medidas repetidas. RESULTADOS: la mayoría de los participantes eran del sexo femenino (91%), con edad media de 53 años, escolaridad media de 9,5 años y duración media del dolor de 9,9 años. Al final del Programa se observó reducción significativa en la intensidad del dolor (p<0.001), incapacidad (p<0.001) y síntomas depresivos (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONES:el Programa psicoeducativo fue efectivo en el control del dolor, en la reducción de la incapacidad y en el control de los síntomas depresivos en la muestra estudiada.<br>OBJETIVOS: avaliar o impacto de um programa programa psicoeducativo de oito semanas na intensidade da dor, incapacidade e sintomas depressivos de pacientes com dor crônica. MÉTODO: 79 setenta e nove pacientes com dor crônica de diferentes etiologias compuseram a amostra. Os participantes foram avaliados antes e ao final do pPrograma e seis meses após. O pPrograma foi desenvolvido por uma enfermeira, utilizou utilizaram-se estratégias cognitivo-comportamentais, e foi aplicadaso por equipe multidisciplinar. O teste não paramétrico de Wilcoxon foi utilizado para comparar medidas repetidas. RESULTADOS: as maioria doas participantes eram do sexo feminino (91%), com idade média de 53 anos, escolaridade média de 9,5 anos e duração média da dor de 9,9 anos. Ao final do Programa, se observou-se redução significativa na intensidade da dor (p<0,001), incapacidade (p<0,001) e sintomas depressivos (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: o pPrograma psicoeducativo foi efetivo no controle da dor, na redução da incapacidade e no controle dos sintomas depressivos na amostra estudada