The MBA: a learning system in need of rethinking?

Since 1989 the Open University has offered a distance learning MBA, designed to draw upon, and be applied to students’ professional practice. It is based upon the ‘reflective practitioner model’, and we believe we successfully combine practical relevance with academic rigour. In 2007 we realised that despite this, many students are not behaving as we assume, and instead learning in an instrumental way, with no ‘re-thinking of practice’ as intended. During 2008 we looked at why this was happening, with a view to influencing redesign of the MBA. The proposed workshop uses this project as a starting point for a more general collaborative reflection on how educators can best help managers to use concepts and theory to challenge and inform their work practice

A study on the production and properties of secretory IgA with particular reference to recovery from and resistance to viral infections

Summary available: p. [4-5

Ventricular Tachycardia Precipitated by Short-long-short Sequence in a Patient with Implantable-cardioverter Defibrillator

Abrupt changes in heart rate, particularly short-long-short sequences in the ventricular cycle length (CL), might precede initiation of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF). These changes may be facilitated or caused by pacing activity in patients with pacemakers or implantable-cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). We describe a patient with two episodes of acquired VT precipitated by short-long-short sequences and diagnosed from the ICD recordings. In such cases, the knowledge of the device parameters is extremely important for a correct diagnosis and management

Decrease in health-related quality of life associated with awareness of hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs in Scotland

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can significantly reduce health-related quality of life (QoL), but it is not clear if reduction is associated with the infection or with being aware of one's infection status. Understanding the impact of a HCV diagnosis on QoL is essential to inform decision-making regarding screening/testing and treatment. Using a cross-sectional design, we assessed QoL in 2898 people who inject drugs (PWID), surveyed in Scotland during 2010 using EQ-5D. Multifactorial regression compared self-reported QoL between PWID who were (i) chronically HCV-infected and aware of their infected status, (ii) chronically HCV-infected but unaware, and (iii) not chronically infected. Median time since onset of injecting was 10years; not chronically infected PWID were younger and had shorter injecting careers than chronically infected PWID. Median EQ-5D was highest for the not chronically infected and the chronic/unaware groups (0.73) compared with the chronic/aware group (0.66). After adjustment for demographic and behavioural co-factors, QoL was significantly reduced in chronic/aware compared with chronic/unaware PWID (adjusted B=-0.09, p=0.005); there was no evidence for a difference in QoL between not chronically infected and chronic/unaware PWID (adjusted B=-0.03, p=0.13). Awareness of one's chronic HCV status was associated with reduced health-related QoL, but there was no evidence for further reduction attributable to chronic infection itself after adjusting for important covariate differences

The emergence of cultural policy in Zimbabwe 1984-1997

The thesis re-presents the lived experience of cultural animation and policy production in postcolonial Zimbabwe, seeking to place these observations and theories in the domain of Cultural Policy Studies. The nation was in transition from oracy to literacy and from colonial control to socialist independence. Cultural workers in Bulawayo were very productive after Independence without apparently being aware of any policies. How, then, did things get done? The initial premise was that people living in oral cultures were always able to discuss plans and implement decisions, and that endogenous and exogenous influences (theorised as memes) were incorporated experimentally in a cultural bricolage. Part One introduces the pre-policy context of cultural change in precolonial and postcolonial situations, theorises cultural change at a micro level in terms of memetics and explains the methodology of multiple case studies. Part Two looks for origins of cultural concepts in 19th century white-authored journals and 20th century revolutionary texts and presents a critical analysis of formal documents controlling cultural policy since Independence. The importance of plurilingualism, translation and literacy in interactions between social actors is examined. Part Three provides empirical evidence to refine the original proposition in a detailed synchronic study of local cultural praxis. Discourse analysis of conflict and consensus operating at grassroots level is followed by accounts of the increasing management capacity of some groups as they become professional performers in international arenas. Contrasting instances of individual and communal animation are found in the development of institutions. Part Four discusses the role of dynamic oral policies in cultural action both in a pre-policy situation and in the implementation of documented policy in a democratising polity. The thesis also has potential for its theoretical findings to be applied in different national contexts of development and beyond cultural policy to other spheres where an increasing volume of policy initiatives challenges the people charged with their implementation

The Administration of Urban Society in Scotland, 1800-50, With Reference to the Growth of Civic Government in Glasgow and Its Suburbs

The early nineteenth century was a period of great change in Scotland, as industrialisation and urbanisation presented many challenges to the existing administrative structures. Within Glasgow, and across the country, the lack of Government intervention meant that Local Acts had to be obtained from Parliament to allow them to develop their role within the community. Conflicts arose over many aspects of the Acts, but concerns over finance remained prominent. Inhabitants wanted to gain the benefits of the new Police Establishments without contributing financially. An examination of the Glasgow, Anderston, Calton and Gorbals Police Commissioners show how local solutions were adopted for problems which were widespread across the country at this time. While the effect of this legislation and the men who implemented it have provided the main focus of this thesis, consideration has also been given to the background and ideas behind these new developments. In particular, the influence of the Enlightenment and Evangelicalism has been explored to show where the concept of Civic duty came from and how it was effectively exploited. Perceptions of rising crime have also been examined to show how the authorities reacted to meet the concerns of the population. In order to ensure a more balanced view of Glasgow's achievements, comparisons have been made with the contemporary situation in England and Wales, as well as a more in-depth examination of developments in Edinburgh

Timeshare Owners’ Perceptions of and Preferred Ways of Participating in Tourism Planning

Purpose To explore the impact of prostate cancer treatment on: (a) the experience of symptoms (i.e. sexual, urinary, and bowel), and (b) perceived health state of men with prostate cancer one month following their radiation treatment. Methods A prospective pre-test–post-test descriptive survey was conducted on a convenience sample of 73 men with prostate cancer who were recruited from a Regional Cancer Centre in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Participants receiving radiation treatment (brachy therapy, high dose radiation [HDR] and external beam radiation [EBR], or EBR alone) completed a questionnaire that elicited information pertaining to quality of life (QOL), symptom experiences, and perceived health state prior to, and one month after completion of their radiation treatment. Results Post-treatment scores showed increased problems with urinary bother (ppp=0.002) and function (p=0.001), and sexual function (p Discussion Our findings suggest that prostate cancer treatment presents a challenge with regard to symptom experiences and perceived health state in men with prostate cancer. Therefore, strategies for patient education to assist men to cope with their symptoms and to provide them with support in the initial weeks following treatment are discussed

Prevalence and determinants of hepatitis C virus infection among female drug injecting sex workers in Glasgow

Background: Few studies of the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have focussed on women who work as street sex workers to finance their drug use. Methods: The investigators report the survey findings of such a population in Glasgow. All women attending the health and social care drop-in centre, situated in Glasgow's "Red Light Area", during a four-week period in 1999 were invited to participate in a survey involving theprovision of a saliva sample for anonymous HCV testing and the self-completion of a questionnaire seeking demographic, sexual and injecting practice data. Of the 223 women who attended, 51% agreed to participate. Of the 98 women who provided a sufficient saliva sample, 64% (95% CI: 54%-74%) tested HCV antibody positive; 98% of those who tested positive had ever injected drugs. Adjusting for the 85% sensitivity of the saliva test, the HCV antibody prevalence among IDU sex workers sampled was 81%; a rate which is considerably higher than those recorded, contemporaneously, among Glasgow IDUs generally. Two factors were independently associated with HCV antibody positivity in saliva: ever shared needles and syringes (adjusted OR 5.7, 95% CI 2-16) and number of times imprisoned (adjusted OR 7.3, 95% CI 1.4-39, for more than five times compared to zero times). Women who engage in street sex work to finance their drug habit are a particularly desperate, chaotic and vulnerable population. This study demonstrates that their HCV infection risk may be greater than that for other IDUs. Those responsible for designing interventions to prevent HCV infection among IDUs should consider the special needs of this group

Implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in a major construction contracting organization in Hong Kong

Purpose &ndash; The purpose of this paper is to summarize the scope, methodology and main findings of a doctoral thesis about the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in a major construction contracting organization in Hong Kong. This research is taken from a leadership and power and project management (PM) perspective.Design/methodology/approach &ndash; The project adopted a case study approach in which the candidate was an employee/observer, who was embedded as a member of the business transformation team taking an action learning approach to study the ERP adoption. The research used the soft system methodology to identify gaps in the observed maturity level which exists in the organization. Data was gathered using public and private documentation, semi-structured interviews, observation and was validated through review of evidence with participants.Findings &ndash; The results identified the importance of leadership and cultural issues in implementation of the business strategy. This research includes a contribution in two spheres: PM and construction procurement. The first implication for PM theory was to illustrate how knowledge has been efficiently managed within a construction organization by using information communication technology (ICT). It can be represented by the ladder of ICT&gt;ERP&gt;KM&gt;PM. The second implication was to pave the way for the use of partnering strategies in PM practice. It can be represented by the ladder of National Culture&gt;Organizational Culture&gt;Leadership&gt;Partnering Strategy&gt;PM.Practical implications &ndash; This model could be adapted to other large and complex organisational contexts. The research project also has implications as opening up a PM perspective on business transformation.Originality/value &ndash; The contribution of this research is proving the success of adopting KM in a construction company by using an ERP system. The importance of culture in the traditionally collectivistic construction industry, and the issues senior management should take into account when formulating business strategies.<br /