Developing Managers and Leaders: Experiences and Lessons from International NGOs

This paper explores the context, practice and lessons related to management and leadership development in a handful of large international NGOs (INGOs) focused on humanitarian and development efforts. The paper is based on eighteen semi-structured interviews with senior managers of human resources or organizational development at INGOs including ActionAid, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Habitat for Humanity, Médecins Sans Frontières, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision. It describes how INGOs (individually and collectively) are addressing the challenge of developing strong managers and leaders, what some promising approaches in management and leadership development currently are, what lessons can be learned from past and ongoing experiences in management and leadership development, what challenges and priorities remain, and whether and how academic institutions might be a resource

COVID-19 vaccine equity for the Global South: Vaccination challenges and opportunities for small and poor countries

The effects of COVID-19 have significantly interrupted countries and the social order across the globe. However, the developing countries which could not manufacture or even buy the most wanted commodity: COVID-19 Vaccine, looked on as the situation got worse even in the wealthy nations. Diplomacy seems a ray of hope among developing countries as wealthy nations have used almost all the vaccines themselves. The goal of this study was to critically analyze the challenges and opportunities around the COVID-19 pandemic, especially vaccine distribution and access, and the role of diplomacy in this process in selected countries in Africa. We used the narrative literature review approach. We examined the cases of Uganda, Ghana, and South Africa on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. We found minimal accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing nations. African and other developing countries have since depended on vaccine donations. Affordability makes it challenging for wealthy countries to lend a hand while ensuring their population and market needs are catered for. We propose that nationals in the Global South must strengthen their diplomatic systems and negotiation skills with wealthy countries while reinforcing public health systems. Developing countries must build alliances to engage with high-income countries as equal partners.O

Opportunistic Access to PAL Channel for Multi-RAT GAA Transmission in Spectrum Access System

© 2017 IEEE. Spectrum Access System (SAS) is a three tier spectrum sharing framework proposed by the FCC. In this framework the aggregate interference of tier-3 General Authorised Access (GAA) users should be below a predetermined threshold anywhere within the tier-2 Priority Access Licensee (PAL) exclusion zone. GAA are expected to use a diverse range of Radio Access Technologies (RATs) with different levels of loading. We propose an optimal transmit power and probability of spectrum utilisation allocation scheme for GAA users that meets the average aggregate interference constraint within the GAA network. Most of the capacity maximisation studies consider the instantaneous aggregated interference from secondary users. In this paper we present an average aggregated interference method to optimise the capacity of GAA users in a single channel. Simulation results suggest that we can significantly increase the capacity of the channel by considering the probability spectrum utilisation of GAA users

Cooperative Second-Generation Breeding and Testing of Coastal Douglas-fir in the US Pacific Northwest

Forest tree improvement got underway in the Pacific Northwest of the USA in the 1950s. Graft incompatibility became evident by the early 1960s and dampened enthusiasm for grafted clonal orchards for this species A different approach, the IFA-PNW �Progressive Tree Improvement System� was launched in 1966. The emphasis here was on forming local cooperatives to share costs, and on progeny testing large numbers of trees using wind-pollinated seed in small testing zones. This phase ran from 1967 till 1993, during which over 26,000 first-generation parents were tested in 109 breeding units (between local cooperatives, the USDI Bureau of Land Management, the USDA Forest Service and WA Department of Natural Resources), with over 3 million progeny test trees planted. A second-generation breeding and testing strategy was developed between 1996 and 1997: Adjacent first-generation testing programs could merge to share genetic material for breeding and testing. Breeding population size for any merged programs should be at least 300 selections. Within a breeding population, breeding groups of 20-30 selections each would be used to manage inbreeding and create multiple populations. The top 10-20 percent of selections within a breeding population could also be assigned an elite population. A minimum of nine breeding groups would be needed within a given testing zone. Each new testing zone was to use all of the families from "local" breeding groups and only the most elite selections from breeding groups originating further away from the testing zone. Each selection would be used in at least two crosses. The committee proposed using three types of tests, each with a specific purpose and design: family-ranking/selection tests; longterm stability tests; and adaptability-screening tests. Breeding and testing is in various stages of completion for seven different programs, which would lead to nine or 10 testing zones. The rule of thumb in choosing selections (first-generation parents, forward selections from open-pollinated progeny tests and from full-sib orchards) crossed to form the second-generation populations has been a 1 in 10 between-family selection intensity. Most selections were based on age-15 height. Where available information on stem sinuosity, forking, ramicorn branches and wood specific gravity were also considered. Between five and six tests have been established per testing zone, with 20 trees planted per family per site in single-tree plots. Trials established to date have contained from 143 to 283 full-sib crosses. All tests are fenced to protect the seedlings from browse. Tests will probably be measured twice, around seven and 12 years from seed (or when the trees are 15 and 30 feet tall respectively).Papers and abstracts from the 27th Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference held at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma on June 24-27, 2003

Empirical evidence of an integrative knowledge competence framework for ERP systems implementation in UK industries

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems can greatly improve business productivity and better serve customers by creating values through integrating business processes and sharing current information. Knowledge Management (KM) is crucial for ERP systems implementation, but is particularly demanding task. This paper discusses ERP systems implementation in UK manufacturing and service sector organisations, focusing on empirical evidence of an innovative KM approach for improving knowledge competence for ERP success. Qualitative research was conducted, using semi-structured interviews with ERP experts. Data analysis used a combination of thematic and comparative analysis. The findings suggest that the integrative knowledge competence framework can provide ERP practitioners with useful guidance on what the key knowledge determinants are and how the relationships between knowledge components should be best managed to achieve ERP systems implementation success in real life business situations

Fake news on Social Media: the Impact on Society

AbstractFake news (FN) on social media (SM) rose to prominence in 2016 during the United States of America presidential election, leading people to question science, true news (TN), and societal norms. FN is increasingly affecting societal values, changing opinions on critical issues and topics as well as redefining facts, truths, and beliefs. To understand the degree to which FN has changed society and the meaning of FN, this study proposes a novel conceptual framework derived from the literature on FN, SM, and societal acceptance theory. The conceptual framework is developed into a meta-framework that analyzes survey data from 356 respondents. This study explored fuzzy set-theoretic comparative analysis; the outcomes of this research suggest that societies are split on differentiating TN from FN. The results also show splits in societal values. Overall, this study provides a new perspective on how FN on SM is disintegrating societies and replacing TN with FN.</jats:p

GPs' decision-making when prescribing medicines for breastfeeding women: Content analysis of a survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many breastfeeding women seek medical care from general practitioners (GPs) for various health problems and GPs may consider prescribing medicines in these consultations. Prescribing medicines to a breastfeeding mother may lead to untimely cessation of breastfeeding or a breastfeeding mother may be denied medicines due to the possible risk to her infant, both of which may lead to unwanted consequences. Information on factors governing GPs' decision-making and their views in such situations is limited.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>GPs providing shared maternity care at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne were surveyed using an anonymous postal survey to determine their knowledge, attitudes and practices on medicines and breastfeeding, in 2007/2008 (n = 640). Content analysis of their response to a question concerning decision-making about the use of medicine for a breastfeeding woman was conducted. A thematic network was constructed with basic, organising and global themes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>335 (52%) GPs responded to the survey, and 253 (76%) provided information on the last time they had to decide about the use of medicine for a breastfeeding woman. Conditions reported were mastitis (24%), other infections (24%) and depressive disorders (21%). The global theme that emerged was "<it>complexity of managing risk in prescribing for breastfeeding women"</it>. The organising themes were: <it>certainty around decision-making; uncertainty around decision-making; need for drug information to be available, consistent and reliable; joint decision-making; the vulnerable "third party" </it>and <it>infant feeding decision</it>. Decision-making is a spectrum from a straight forward decision, such as treatment of mastitis, to a complicated one requiring multiple inputs and consideration. GPs use more information seeking and collaboration in decision-making when they perceive the problem to be more complex, for example, in postnatal depression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>GPs feel that prescribing medicines for breastfeeding women is a contentious issue. They manage the risk of prescribing by gathering information and assessing the possible effects on the breastfed infant. Without evidence-based information, they sometimes recommend cessation of breastfeeding unnecessarily.</p