Recruiting and retaining children and families' social workers. The potential of work discussion groups

Current difficulties with the recruitment and retention of children and families' social workers have been formally acknowledged. However, although initiatives which focus on remuneration and career progression are clearly welcome, research and evidence from practice highlights how social workers themselves place high value on the availability of good quality supervision. Yet, questions remain about whether first-line managers have the time or are even in the best position to offer this support. This article draws on the experience and evaluation of one particular model of supervision — 'work discussion groups' —and explores its impact with residential social work staff and teachers as well as the potential for further developments of this kind

A Critical Review of Empirical Research Examining SMEs Adoption from Selected Journals

International audienceThe purpose of this paper is to review the literature on empirical research examined Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs) from selected journals. This has been achieved by reviewing the most examined constructs to identify the key significant factors in the literature. The selected research papers for reviewing are accessed from only high-ranking journals. The review addressed technology adoption in the context of SMEs. The paper attempts to review the studies based on technology-organisation-environment (TOE) framework to identify the relevant set of variables for technology adoption in SMEs. The most significant factors found to be relative advantage and compatibility from the technological context, top management support and size from the organizational context, and external pressure from the Environmental context. This review intended to guide future researchers to improve the predictive power of their examined models