Lean towards learning: connecting Lean Thinking and human resource management in UK higher education

From its origins in the automotive industry,Lean Thinking is increasingly being seen as a solution to problems of efficiency and quality in other industries and sectors. In recent years attempts have been made to transfer Lean principles and practice to the higher education sector, with indications of mixed consequences and debate over its suitability. This paper contributes to the debate by drawing evidence from 34 interviews conducted across two UK universities that have implemented Lean in some of their activities, and we pay particular attention to the role of the human resource function in facilitating its introduction. The findings suggest that there are problems in understanding, communicating and transferring Lean Thinking in the higher education context; despite human resource systems being vital facets of Lean, human resource professionals are excluded from participation; and as a consequence the depth and breadth of Lean application in the two institutions is very limited

A description of the advertising and direct marketing decision processes of the New Zealand marketing managers

A critical component of the marketing mix for most organisations is the development and execution of an effective communications strategy. Yet managers often have little guidance in advertising and promotional decisions other than past practice within their own organisations, or rules of thumb formed over years of training and experience. The New Zealand Advertising and Direct Marketing Project was initiated as a baseline study with the objective of better understanding the beliefs, opinions and practices of marketing managers in respect of marketing communications within their orgainsations. A sample of about 200 large companies known to have reasonably significant advertising budgets was surveyed late in 1991. A usable sample of 91 actual responses forms the basis of a generally descriptive survey which examines: what managers believe about advertising and its effects, how the advertising function is organised, the setting and allocating of budgets, rules of thumb which guide advertising practice, measures of advertising effectiveness, and general issues to do with the future of advertising and direct marketing. The results provide an interesting benchmark against which practitioners can assess their own particular beliefs and practices, as well as a good overview of management practice for marketing students and educators. Where appropriate, the results are broken down into four predominant industry categories: fastmoving consumer goods, consumer durables, financial services, and business to business marketers

Carbon for nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and wheat varies according to cultivar and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with most crops, potentially improving their nutrient assimilation and growth. The effects of cultivar and atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) on wheat–AMF carbon‐for‐nutrient exchange remain critical knowledge gaps in the exploitation of AMF for future sustainable agricultural practices within the context of global climate change. We used stable and radioisotope tracers (15N, 33P, 14C) to quantify AMF‐mediated nutrient uptake and fungal acquisition of plant carbon in three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. We grew plants under current ambient (440 ppm) and projected future atmospheric CO2 concentrations (800 ppm). We found significant 15N transfer from fungus to plant in all cultivars, and cultivar‐specific differences in total N content. There was a trend for reduced N uptake under elevated atmospheric [CO2]. Similarly, 33P uptake via AMF was affected by cultivar and atmospheric [CO2]. Total P uptake varied significantly among wheat cultivars and was greater at the future than current atmospheric [CO2]. We found limited evidence of cultivar or atmospheric [CO2] effects on plant‐fixed carbon transfer to the mycorrhizal fungi. Our results suggest that AMF will continue to provide a route for nutrient uptake by wheat in the future, despite predicted rises in atmospheric [CO2]. Consideration should therefore be paid to cultivar‐specific AMF receptivity and function in the development of climate smart germplasm for the future

Applied Epidemiology in the ACT

This thesis presents four projects along with additional public health experience to meet the competency requirements of the Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology, undertaken at ACT Health in Canberra, working in the Communicable Disease Control section from February 2018 to December 2019. I undertook a cohort study following a cluster of gastrointestinal illness after a restaurant dinner. Bacillus cereus was identified as the likely cause. We identified inadequate hygiene practices and undocumented heating and cooling procedures which were rectified following our investigations. I presented this outbreak to the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health and to OzFoodNet at a face-to-face meeting. This outbreak was also published in the Communicable Disease Intelligence Journal in September, 2019. My data analysis project involved a descriptive review of 2009-2018 gonococcal notifications and antibiotic susceptibility test results. This study found that although notification rates have increased 5-fold since 2009, antibiotic resistance has not increased in the ACT. A key finding was a considerable difference in the proportion of notifications receiving a test of culture between sexual health specialists and GPs. I recommended ongoing education of GPs, particularly because heterosexual females have seen the largest rate rise in notifications since 2014 and they are primarily seen by GPs rather than sexual health specialists. This project was presented orally at the PHAA CDCC conference in Canberra in November 2019. For my epidemiological study I designed and implemented a 12-month study to estimate antenatal pertussis and influenza vaccination uptake in the ACT, and to describe key determinants of uptake. In my chapter I present an analysis of the first 6-months of study data. We found the highest self-reported uptake of antenatal vaccination currently reported in the Australian literature, 95% for pertussis and 74% for influenza. We found that those earning more are more likely to receive influenza vaccines and receive it for free in their workplace. I recommend addressing this access and affordability issue. This study was presented orally at the New Zealand Immunisation conference in September 2019 and as a poster presentation at the PHAA CDCC conference in Canberra in November 2019. My surveillance project involved developing a surveillance and response plan to control and manage the threat of antimicrobial resistance of N. gonorrhoea and shigella. Recommendations were made including: what data should be collected, how to capture the data using a new database system (REDCap), response guidelines upon identification of a multi-drug resistant case, and routine reporting. I also gained significant public health experience in contributing to the public health response for a number of small foodborne outbreaks, as well as measles, hepatitis A, typhoid and many Salmonella and Campylobacter investigations. This thesis presents my experiences and documents my competency to fulfil the requirements of the MAE and my contribution to frontline communicable disease control in the ACT and Australia

The informal land market in Cebu City, the Philippines; accessibility, settlement development and residential segregation.

The main aim of the thesis is to explore the nature of informal land development in Cebu City, the Philippines, and to evaluate the impacts on shelter, particularly among the urban poor. More specific objectives are to examine who gains access to informal land, how the process of informal land alienation and turnover occurs, and which actors are involved in informal land delivery. The research uses primary data from 243 household interviews conducted in 5 informal settlements in urban Cebu to assess how informal land sales influence the socio-economic composition of settlements. The research also examines whether there is evidence of residential segregation among informal settlements according to income and the implications of this for urban settlement and levels of poverty. The research also draws on detailed interviews with 25 land agents to explore their roles in these processes. Similar to other studies the research acknowledges that informal lands are undergoing significant commercialisation, mainly because of the demand imposed on informal plots by high land prices in the formal market. This has made titled property unaffordable to the urban poor and a less attractive option to middle income groups. The research particularly highlights how the behaviour of middle income buyers in the informal land market creates bottlenecks in the supply of plots (by buying large plots for occupation, leaving purchased plots vacant and also accelerating plot prices through speculation, for example). In addition, since poorer residents are vulnerable to "crisis selling" of land and generally have a lower perception of plot value, they do not always receive a fair price for their plots, which reduces their ability to repurchase land at a later date. The research concludes that these processes exacebate residential segregation between households on the basis of income and has led to great disparities in settlement densities, infrastructure and service availability. The latter are vital issues for urban policy, social development and poverty considerations

The influence of nitrogen source on the nutrition of arbuscular mycorrhizal plants

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a symbiosis with 70% of land plants and may contribute significantly to plant phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) acquisition in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. AMF mainly acquire N as simple, inorganic molecules such as ammonium and nitrate, but whether AMF display a preference for either source, or can increase plant N content is uncertain. Furthermore, soil nutrient availability, especially that of N, may determine the extent to which a fungus engages in nutrient-for-C trade with plants; further experimental validation of this suggestion is warranted. Experiments ranging from Petri plate microcosms to field trials were carried out to address these questions. Plant N uptake via AMF was traced using stable isotope 15N, having been added to hyphal-only compartments which allow access to AMF, while excluding plant roots. AMF species Glomus aggregatum and Rhizophagus irregularis were used individually to inoculate plants allowing comparisons between AMF isolates, while N uptake preferences were tested by providing 15N as ammonium, nitrate or ammonium nitrate. R. irregularis contribution to plant nutrient uptake was sufficient to increase host biomass in chapter 2, but limited evidence of AMF preference for nitrate or ammonium-N was seen in any experiment. N acquisition by AMF was highest in a Petri microcosm experiment when supplied as ammonium nitrate. Functional diversity among AMF species was observed in terms of plant growth and nutrient uptake, and carbon acquisition from the plant: G. aggregatum was less beneficial to plant partners than R. irregularis. Experimental field-trial data suggests that soil nutrient levels influence both the community structure of AMF and the extent to which they engage in N-for-C trade with plant partners. These findings highlight the complexities and potential significance of the AM route for N uptake both in simplified experimental systems and full-scale commercial crop field trial plants