571 research outputs found
A Requirements-Based Taxonomy of Software Product Line Evolution
Software product lines are, by their very nature, complex software systems.
Due to the interconnectedness of the various products in the product line any form of evolution becomes significantly more complex than in a single system situation. So far most work on product line evolution has focused on specific approaches to supporting special cases of the evolution problem. In this paper, we take a different approach and provide a broad taxonomy of requirements-driven evolution in software product lines. This serves as a basis for the identification of requirements on evolution support
Care for Those Who Care for the Planet: Grant-making for staff development
People are the wealth of an organisation. To thrive, employees need well-being and appreciation. While salary is a crucial part of valorisation, many other aspects of valorisation at work are not linked with financial compensation. Working for a cause that makes sense, Capacity Building, and support in Leadership, Organisational Development and/or Networking are non-financial compensation ways that should be promoted to allow NGO workers to thrive at work and ultimately to have more impact.But all these tools are investments and should be funded. At MAVA, we believe our engagement includes taking care of the partner organisations we work with, by providing them the means to take care of their staff.'Care those who care the planet: Grant making for staff development' is a publication by MAVA. In this paper, we explore the ways of supporting staff development as part of grant-making and how full staff costs of NGOs could be included in budgets and funding. As employees of a donor, we encourage funders to embrace the importance of staff valorisation and caring for those who care for the planet
Cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis: classification and clinical and therapeutic aspects
Cryoglobulinaemia may cause cutaneous vasculitis and glomerulonephritis, potentially leading to end stage renal failure. An important proportion of cryoglobulinaemias are secondary to hepatitis C virus infection. Emerging antiviral treatment options offer a chance for causal therapy of these cases of cryoglobulinaemia. This review summarises the classification and clinical and therapeutic aspects of cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis and glomerulonephritis
The Putative Role of Human Peritoneal Adipocytes in the Fight against Bacteria: Synthesis of the Antimicrobial Active Peptide DEFA1-3
Background: Spontaneous peritonitis is a rather rare event, even in peritoneal dialysis (PD). As defensins are natural antimicrobial peptides, we hypothesized that adipocytes as the major constituents of the omentum could play an important role in protecting against infection by generating defensin (DEFA1-3). Methods: We isolated adipocytes from the omentum majus and conducted qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses. Results: For the first time described, we were able to detect DEFA1-3 mRNA in highly purified isolated omental adipocytes. The expression of DEFA1-3 in adipocytes was confirmed on the protein level by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Our report of DEFA1-3 expression by human omental adipocytes adds to the role of adipocytes in the primary defense against bacterial infection. This may include PD, where the presence of the catheter as a foreign body and the nonphysiological dialysis solution may require constant defense measures to prevent peritonitis, a hypothesis that will require further testing. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base
Benchmarking labour market performance and labour market policies: theoretical foundations and applications
"Over the last few years, 'benchmarking' advanced to a key word in organisational development and change management. Originally, benchmarking was a tool in business studies summarising the process of comparing your own with a similar organisational unit (mostly the competitor) in order to improve the competitive position. Benchmarking must be distinguished from purely analytical methods of comparison: First, performance indicators must be developed which differ from traditional design. Secondly, an organisational unit must be found which can be classified as the 'best performer' concerning the chosen indicators. The comparison then aims at finding options for the improvement of your own organisational unit in different hierarchical levels with the objective to progress in the position of the 'best performer'. It is understandable to investigate whether or not benchmarking procedures are also applicable in non-profit and public organisational units. In this field, one of the principal research areas for new comparable analytical tools and alternative performance measurement can be seen in the international comparison of labour market policies and their performance outcomes especially after the Amsterdam treaty on international harmonised employment policies: Mutual learning turns out to be inevitable in the European situation which is characterised by converging employment policies as well as by nationally diverging capacities to cope with the labour market problems. This discussion paper tests the possibilities of applying benchmarking procedures to the international comparison of labour market policies (LMP) and policy outcomes. We conclude that benchmarking can be performed and should be tested in the monitoring of labour market policies. We indicate both the chances as well as the risks of benchmarking: On the one hand, the introduction of benchmarking could lead to the development and improvement of processes and indicators in LMP evaluation. On the other hand, we clearly point out the danger occurring if the strategies of the 'best performers' are used as a blueprints in different institutional contexts. Following the analysis of benchmarking, we also open a methodological discussion about the performance of employment systems. We then demonstrate alternative performance indicators for policy outcomes. We suggest a procedure enabling the simultaneous measurement of even contrasting or conflicting policy goals. As appropriate example, we perform a routine of processing indicators for different policy goals in one single measure with the aggregation to a surface measure." (author's abstract)"Benchmarking" avancierte in den vergangenen Jahren zu einem SchlĂŒsselbegriff in der Organisationsentwicklung und im Management. Anders als bei rein analytischen Vergleichen werden beim Benchmarking zunĂ€chst Leistungsindikatoren entwickelt, die sich von traditionellen QualitĂ€tsindikatoren unterscheiden. Zweitens wird eine vergleichbare Organisationseinheit gewĂ€hlt, die bezĂŒglich der gewĂ€hlten Indikatoren als "bestpraktizierende" eingestuft wird. Der Vergleich, der ĂŒber verschiedene Hierarchieebenen verfolgt wird, soll den Raum fĂŒr Verbesserungen in der eigenen Organisationseinheit aufzeigen, um selbst in die Position des "Bestpraktizierenden" aufzurĂŒcken. Die Autoren prĂŒfen die Anwendbarkeit von Benchmarking im internationalen Vergleich von Arbeitsmarktpolitik. Sie kommen zu dem SchluĂ, daĂ Benchmarking angewandt werden kann und sich im Monitoring der Arbeitsmarktpolitik bewĂ€hren sollte. Verwiesen wird sowohl auf die Chancen, die in der Weiterentwicklung methodischer Bewertungsverfahren liegen, als auch auf die Risiken des Benchmarking, die darin liegen, in unterschiedlichen institutionellen Kontexten "beste Praktiken" wie Blaupausen anzuwenden. In einer methodischen Diskussion werden die LeistungsfĂ€higkeit von BeschĂ€ftigungssystemen analysiert und alternative Indikatoren der Messung von Politikergebnissen entwickelt. Es wird ein integratives Verfahren dergestalt vorgeschlagen, konfligierende Ziele von Arbeitsmarktpolitik gleichzeitig zu messen und zu bewerten. Die Aufbereitung verschiedener MaĂzahlen der Arbeitsmarktperformanz zu einem komplexen MaĂ wird exemplarisch anhand eines FlĂ€chenmaĂes verdeutlicht. (HH
Learning to Let Go : Decision-making for foundations
Building on over 25 years of grant and decision-making at MAVA, this publication sheds lights on three distinct decision-making models implemented by the foundation over the last decades. It looks at the roles of board members and staff as well as the centre of gravity for decision-making. Based on the experience of the foundation, the authors provide pros and cons for each of the models. While there is no single answer to the best decision-making model question, the authors explain that collaborative processes, adaptive management, speed and trust are important factors for increasing impact and that the decision-making process needs to be build for that purpose. This report is part of a series of learning products developed by MAVA (due to close down in 2022) to reflect on and share the foundation's learnings about institution processes and ways of working, with the aim of inspiring donor strategies and best practices. Other learning products are available in this virtual library and here: https://mava-foundation.org/learning/
Benn und das fĂŒnfte Jahrhundert
âIrrationalismâ, a fatally anti-modern devotion to the Dionysiac, has often been identified as a main component of the notorious âtyranny of Greece over Germanyâ. In its later shape as Nietzsche-imitation, it seems perfectly embodied in Gottfried Benn.s poetry of the twenties, as the very precondition of this poet.s political aberration in 1933 â when, by virtue of a turn towards Apolline measure, the German predicament might still have found a less gruesome issue (such was at least the hope of Thomas Mann). In view of this, it should be observed in the first place that Benn.s 1933 credo is in fact a resolutely anti-Dionysiac statement of the âDoric universeâ; against this background, then, an exegesis of the lyric cycle V. Jahrhundert may be attempted. Tensions become visible, bordering on paradox: the absence of âDoricâ references in the poems leads to a reflection on Benn.s response to Schillerian classicism, engaging the idea of âplayâ no less than the artistic shape of the cyclical work itself. As it turns out, for an adequate perception of this poetry marked by âhallucination and constructionâ to come about, one must be aware of Benn.s relationship to his friend, Carl Einstein.Als Hauptmerkmal der tyranny of Greece over Germany in ihrer spĂ€teren AusprĂ€gung als Nietzsche-Nachfolge gilt oft der âIrrationalismusâ einer verhĂ€ngnisvoll antimodernen Hingabe an das Dionysische, wie sie auch der Dichter Gottfried Benn in der rauschhaft-ichfeindlichen Poesie der zwanziger Jahre, prĂ€zise als Bedingung seines politischen Irrgangs von 1933, beispielhaft zu verkörpern scheint: mit einem Bekenntnis zur Vernunft apollinischen MaĂes hĂ€tte sich demnach vielleicht (so hoffte es Thomas Mann) die deutsche FatalitĂ€t in andere Bahnen lenken lassen. DemgegenĂŒber ist zunĂ€chst festzuhalten, daĂ Benn 1933 vielmehr ein ausgesprochen anti-dionysisches Credo der âdorischen Weltâ aufstellt; vor dessen Hintergrund wird alsdann der lyrische Zyklus V. Jahrhundert ausgelegt. Paradox anmutende Spannungen bleiben nicht aus: an die Beobachtung des völligen Fehlens âdorischerâ BezĂŒge in der Dichtung knĂŒpft sich eine ErwĂ€gung von Benns Antwort auf die Schillersche Klassik, im Gedanken des âSpielsâ nicht anders als in der Gestalt des zyklischen Werkes selbst. Zu fordern fĂŒr das VerstĂ€ndnis dieser Poesie von âHalluzination und Konstruktionâ bliebe eine zulĂ€ngliche Analyse von Benns VerhĂ€ltnis zu seinem Freund Carl Einstein.On considĂšre souvent quâĂ la racine de la notoire tyranny of Greece over Germany, sous sa forme ultĂ©rieure de nietzschĂ©anisme anti-moderniste, se trouve cet « irrationnalisme » qui se laisse aller au pur et simple dionysiaque : comme lâincarnerait de maniĂšre exemplaire, en prĂ©alable de son erreur politique de 1933, la poĂ©sie nihiliste de Gottfried Benn ; Ă lâopposĂ© de quoi, une foi en la raison et la mesure apolliniennes, selon lâespoir dâun Thomas Mann, aurait Ă©tĂ© apte Ă modifier la voie fatale que devait prendre lâesprit allemand. Quant Ă cela, il convient cependant de prĂ©ciser dâabord que Benn, en 1933, Ă©rige un credo rĂ©solument anti-dionysiaque, prĂ©conisant le « monde dorique » ; câest ce constat qui pourvoit ensuite lâarriĂšre-plan dâun regard sur le cycle lyrique V.Jahrhundert. Sây manifestent des tensions paradoxales : lâabsence totale de rĂ©fĂ©rences « doriques » dans ces poĂšmes permettra ainsi de prendre la mesure de la rĂ©ponse bennienne au classique schillerien, en ce qui regarde la pensĂ©e du « jeu » tout autant que la constitution poĂ©tique de lâĆuvre cyclique elle-mĂȘme. Reste enfin le postulat, pour la comprĂ©hension de cette poĂ©sie faite de « hallucination et construction », dâune analyse suffisante du rapport entre Benn et son ami Carl Einstein
Effizienzmobilisierung der Arbeitsverwaltung: Leistungsvergleich und Lernen von guten Praktiken (Benchmarking)
Die ArbeitsĂ€mter im Bundesgebiet West unterscheiden sich betrĂ€chtlich hinsichtlich ihrer Effizienz. Dies zeigen Berechnungen mit dem Ansatz der technischen Effizienzanalyse. Effizienz wurde auf zwei Niveaus berechnet: AktivitĂ€t, z. B. Zahl der Vermittlungen und Zahl der Teilnehmer in MaĂnahmen, bezogen auf den Personaleinsatz, und EffektivitĂ€t, z. B. Verbleib und Eingliederung in nicht subventionierte BeschĂ€ftigung. Die Umschlagsgeschwindigkeit der Arbeitslosigkeit (gemessen an den Zu- und Abgangsraten), der Auslastungsgrad (Arbeitsbelastung) und die ArbeitsamtgröĂe sind wichtige Einflussfaktoren fĂŒr die Leistungsunterschiede. Fallstudien in acht ArbeitsĂ€mtern ergeben, dass die Flut und Details von Rechtsvorschriften und der andauernde Aktionismus in der deutschen Arbeitsmarktpolitik es den ArbeitsĂ€mtern erschweren, ihre Potenziale wirksam zu entfalten. Lernen von guten Beispielen und nachhaltige Leistungssteigerungen sind unter diesen Bedingungen kaum möglich. Die Fallstudien zeigen u.a. eine mangelhafte Arbeitgeberorientierung in der Arbeitsvermittlung und Defizite bei der Förderung der beruflichen Weiterbildung auf. Die EinfĂŒhrung des Organisationsmodells Arbeitsamt 2000 bringt deutliche Umstellungsprobleme hervor. -- A DEA-based technical efficiency analysis shows strong differences in the relative efficiency of West German employment offices. Efficiency was examined in two dimensions: first, activity, defined in terms of the number of placements and program entrants in relation to staff inputs; second, effectiveness, defined in terms of transitions of program participants and the unemployed into regular employment. The dynamics of the local labor market (measured by the inflow and outflow rates), the workload, and the size of the employment offices are important determinants of performance differences. Case studies in eight employment offices showed that excessive bureaucratic regulation of PES offices and constant changes in German labor market policies prevent local employment offices from developing their full potential. Learning from good practice and sustainable improvements in efficiency and effectiveness are difficult to achieve under these circumstances. There is, moreover, strong evidence for major shortcomings in providing placement services to employers as well as in the implementation of further training. The new reform model for employment offices Arbeitsamt 2000, has caused considerable disruption and management problems in its introductory phase.
Evaluierung und Arbeitsmarktpolitik: Eine analytischer Bezugsrahmen am Beispiel des arbeitsmarktpolitischen Rahmenprogramms in Berlin
Die vorliegende Studie entwickelt einen analytischen Bezugsrahmen fĂŒr eine idealtypische Evaluierung der Arbeitsmarktpolitik. Zur Illustration dient das Arbeitsmarktpolitische Rahmenprogramm der Berliner Landesregierung. Dabei standen die vom EuropĂ€ischen Sozialfonds kofinanzierten Qualifizierungsprogramme im Vordergrund. In einem Bezugsrahmen wird noch keine eigentliche Evaluierung vorgenommen. Es werden lediglich die zentralen Fragen entwickelt, die wichtigen Begriffe (wie Mitnahme, VerdrĂ€ngung, Substitution, tangible und intangible Kosten) definiert, die möglichen Methoden und Verfahren diskutiert sowie die entsprechenden Datenvoraussetzungen fĂŒr eine umfassende Evaluierung genannt. Da und dort werden jedoch einzelne Schritte beispielhaft ausgefĂŒhrt, und an manchen Stellen werden Vermutungen geĂ€uĂert, um die Art der erwarteten Informationen oder Argumente zu verdeutlichen. Theoretische oder praktische Beispiele sowie Literaturhinweise geben Anregungen zur weiteren Vertiefung und Anwendung. Es werden fĂŒnf Etappen eines vollstĂ€ndigen Evaluierungsprozesses der Arbeitsmarktpolitik unterschieden und ausgefĂŒhrt: (1) Kontextanalyse, (2) Problemanalyse, (3) Monitoring, (4) Wirkungsanalyse und (5) Nutzen-Kosten- Analyse. -- The present study develops an analytical framework for a model evaluation of labour market policy. The Labour Market Policy Framework Programme of the Berlin government serves for illustration. Special attention is given to training programmes co-financed by the European Social Fund. Strictly speaking, an analytical framework is not yet an evaluation. It only develops the central questions, defines important terms (such as deadweight, displacement, substitution, tangible and intangible costs), discusses possible methods and procedures and names the data requirements for a complete evaluation. Some steps are exemplified and concrete assumptions are sometimes formulated to clarify the kind of informations or arguments expected. Theoretical and practical examples as well as bibliographical references are provided to stimulate further research and application. Five steps of a complete evaluation process are distinguished: (1) context analysis, (2) problem analysis, (3) monitoring, (4) impact analysis and (5) cost-benefit-analysis.
Benchmarking labour market performance and labour market policies: Theoretical foundations and applications
Over the last few years, benchmarking advanced to a key word in organisational development and change management. Originally, benchmarking was a tool in business studies summarising the process of comparing your own with a similar organisational unit (mostly the competitor) in order to improve the competitive position. Benchmarking must be distinguished from purely analytical methods of comparison: First, performance indicators must be developed which differ from traditional design. Secondly, an organisational unit must be found which can be classified as the best performer concerning the chosen indicators. The comparison then aims at finding options for the improvement of your own organisational unit in different hierarchical levels with the objective to progress in the position of the best performer. -- Benchmarking avancierte in den vergangenen Jahren zu einem SchlĂŒsselbegriff in der Organisationsentwicklung und im Management. Es benennt in seiner disziplinĂ€ren Heimat, der Betriebswirtschaftslehre, den Vergleich der eigenen mit einer anderen Organisationseinheit zum Ziel der Verbesserung der eigenen Wettbewerbsposition. Benchmarking unterschiedet sich daher von rein analytischen Vergleichen auf zwei Arten: Erstens werden zunĂ€chst Leistungsindikatoren entwickelt, die sich von traditionellen QualitĂ€tsindikatoren unterscheiden. Zweitens wird eine vergleichbare Organisationseinheit gewĂ€hlt, die bezĂŒglich der gewĂ€hlten Indikatoren als bestpraktizierende eingestuft wird. Der Vergleich, der ĂŒber verschiedene Hierarchieebenen verfolgt wird, soll den Raum fĂŒr Verbesserungen der eigenen Organisationseinheit aufzeigen, um selbst in die Position des Bestpraktizierenden aufzurĂŒcken.
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