Aerospace Expeditionary Force Implementation and the Effect on Team Cohesion

A statistical analysis of deployed and deploying airmen was conducted to provide insight and defensible support for Aerospace Expeditionary Force Center commanders to base teaming initiatives and policy decisions. To ensure that the results of this research are applicable across the Air Force, the research examined the effect of the Aerospace Expeditionary Force deployment process, comprised of individual anxiety, group unity, and work-group characteristics, on team cohesion, deployment commitment, and team effectiveness. The sample obtained included 643 airmen who had deployed within a 12-month period or who were scheduled to deploy within the next 3-month period. The results of the study indicate that the Aerospace Expeditionary Force team deployment process has indeed positively affected team cohesion and perceived team effectiveness. These results were found to be positive regardless of whether individuals deployed as teams from the same base or as individuals from separate bases. These findings indicate that it may be satisfactory to deploy individuals by themselves, but that commanders should take all measures necessary to avoid doing so as the deployment commitment and perceived team effectiveness relationship is positively affected by individuals deploying as a team and negatively affected by individuals deploying by themselves

Customer Satisfaction in Farmer-to-consumer Direct Marketing

The importance of direct marketing for high quality farm products has increased during the past few years. This paper analyzes the impact of customer satisfaction and its driving forces for farmer-to-consumer direct marketing and is based on a customer survey among 1,537 customers in 33 organic and conventional on-farm stores in Germany. The results emphasize the role of store atmosphere, customer service and product quality as the main factors which influence customer satisfaction.direct marketing, customer satisfaction, partial least square analysis, service quality, farm products, Consumer/Household Economics, Marketing, Production Economics, Q10, Q13, Q16,

KUNDENZUFRIEDENHEIT IM NATURKOSTFACHHANDEL: DETERMINANTEN UND ERFOLGSWIRKSAMKEIT

Der Beitrag analysiert den Einfluss der Kundenzufriedenheit auf den ökonomischen Erfolg im Naturkostfachhandel. Auf Basis einer Befragung von 885 Kunden und der Analyse der Betriebskennzahlen von 11 Naturkostfachgeschäften zeigt sich, dass die Kundenzufriedenheit ein relevanter Erfolgsfaktor für den Lebensmittelfachhandel ist. In Erweiterung der in der bisherigen Forschungspraxis üblichen isolierten Betrachtung von Kunden- und Betriebsdaten erlaubt deren parallele Erhebung Hinweise auf die tatsächliche Erfolgswirkung. In einer Regression erklären Unterschiede in der Gesamtzufriedenheit rund 45 % der Varianz des ökonomischen Erfolgs der Geschäfte. In einer weiteren Analyse konnten die wichtigsten Einflussfaktoren auf die Kundenzufriedenheit herausgearbeitet werden. Die Qualität der Ware und die Personalkompetenz stehen hier im Vordergrund.Kundenzufriedenheit, Erfolgsfaktoren, Regressionsanalyse, Consumer/Household Economics,

EVOTECH® endoscope cleaner and reprocessor (ECR) simulated-use and clinical-use evaluation of cleaning efficacy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objective of this study was to perform simulated-use testing as well as a clinical study to assess the efficacy of the EVOTECH^®Endoscope Cleaner and Reprocessor (ECR) cleaning for flexible colonoscopes, duodenoscopes, gastroscopes and bronchoscopes. The main aim was to determine if the cleaning achieved using the ECR was at least equivalent to that achieved using optimal manual cleaning.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Simulated-use testing consisted of inoculating all scope channels and two surface sites with Artificial Test Soil (ATS) containing 10⁸cfu/mL of <it>Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>and <it>Candida albicans</it>. Duodenoscopes, colonoscopes, and bronchoscopes (all Olympus endoscopes) were included in the simulated use testing. Each endoscope type was tested in triplicate and all channels and two surface sites were sampled for each scope. The clinical study evaluated patient-used duodenoscopes, bronchoscopes, colonoscopes, and gastroscopes (scopes used for emergency procedures were excluded) that had only a bedside flush prior to being processed in the ECR (i.e. no manual cleaning). There were 10 to 15 endoscopes evaluated post-cleaning and to ensure the entire ECR cycle was effective, 5 endoscopes were evaluated post-cleaning and post-high level disinfection. All channels and two external surface locations were sampled to evaluate the residual organic and microbial load. Effective cleaning of endoscope surfaces and channels was deemed to have been achieved if there was < 6.4 μg/cm²of residual protein, < 1.8 μg/cm²of residual hemoglobin and < 4 Log₁₀viable bacteria/cm². Published data indicate that routine manual cleaning can achieve these endpoints so the ECR cleaning efficacy must meet or exceed these to establish that the ECR cleaning cycle could replace manual cleaning</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the clinical study 75 patient-used scopes were evaluated post cleaning and 98.8% of surfaces and 99.7% of lumens met or surpassed the cleaning endpoints set for protein, hemoglobin and bioburden residuals. In the simulated-use study 100% of the Olympus colonoscopes, duodenoscopes and bronchoscopes evaluated met or surpassed the cleaning endpoints set for protein, and bioburden residuals (hemoglobin was not evaluated).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The ECR cleaning cycle provides an effective automated approach that ensures surfaces and channels of flexible endoscopes are adequately cleaned after having only a bedside flush but no manual cleaning. It is crucial to note that endoscopes used for emergency procedures or where reprocessing is delayed for more than one hour MUST still be manually cleaned prior to placing them in the ECR.</p

Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing: The Role of Customer Satisfaction Measurement for Service Innovations

The importance of direct marketing for high quality farm products has increased during the past few years. This paper analyses the impact of customer satisfaction and its driving forces for farmer- to-consumer direct marketing and is based on a customer survey in 33 organic and conventional on-farm stores in Germany. The results emphasise the role of store atmosphere and customer service as the main influencing factors on customer satisfaction

WELL-BEING AS A FOOD TREND: INFLUENCE OF THE WELLNESS LIFESTYLE ON WELLFOOD PURCHASE

Wellfood, which communicates well-being and health, is an important and crucial trend in the food industry. However, there is little scientific research about this topic. Neither a clear definition exists, nor has the consumer behaviour of wellfood been very well investigated. Firstly, a definition for wellfood is proposed in this paper. Based on the different wellness models, wellness lifestyle dimensions were developed in order to examine the impact of wellness lifestyle on wellfood purchasing. The study shows that the wellness lifestyles behind the two types of wellfood are different. People who prefer natural wellfood, e.g. whole grain bread, are more active and support their well-being through physical activities. However, people, who buy functional wellfood like probiotic drinks try to achieve well-being passive and pamper themselves more.wellness, wellfood, well-being, health, lifestyle, consumer behaviour, food purchases, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy, M31, R20,

KUNDENZUFRIEDENHEIT IM NATURKOSTFACHHANDEL: DETERMINANTEN UND ERFOLGSWIRKSAMKEIT

Der Beitrag analysiert den Einfluss der Kundenzufriedenheit auf den ökonomischen Erfolg im Naturkostfachhandel. Auf Basis einer Befragung von 885 Kunden und der Analyse der Betriebskennzahlen von 11 Naturkostfachgeschäften zeigt sich, dass die Kundenzufriedenheit ein relevanter Erfolgsfaktor für den Lebensmittelfachhandel ist. In Erweiterung der in der bisherigen Forschungspraxis üblichen isolierten Betrachtung von Kunden- und Betriebsdaten erlaubt deren parallele Erhebung Hinweise auf die tatsächliche Erfolgswirkung. In einer Regression erklären Unterschiede in der Gesamtzufriedenheit rund 45 % der Varianz des ökonomischen Erfolgs der Geschäfte. In einer weiteren Analyse konnten die wichtigsten Einflussfaktoren auf die Kundenzufriedenheit herausgearbeitet werden. Die Qualität der Ware und die Personalkompetenz stehen hier im Vordergrund

Customer Satisfaction in Farmer-to-consumer Direct Marketing

The importance of direct marketing for high quality farm products has increased during the past few years. This paper analyzes the impact of customer satisfaction and its driving forces for farmer-to-consumer direct marketing and is based on a customer survey among 1,537 customers in 33 organic and conventional on-farm stores in Germany. The results emphasize the role of store atmosphere, customer service and product quality as the main factors which influence customer satisfaction