Individual and group learning in crisis simulations

Simulated crisis scenarios are frequently cited as effective tools for organisational and individual learning. The issue is raised that simulation exercises may concentrate learning outcomes for exercise designers, facilitators and observers (the consultants). In contrast, learning outcomes for players (the clients) may be more difficult to define or measure. The authors wish to challenge the notion of organisational learning as a package to be delivered fait accompli, and offer a rival argument that the role of consultants is to empower organisations to learn for themselves and continue after the consultants have left. The paper reviews contemporary theories of learning and considers the commercial and ethical questions about the relationship between consultants and the teams targeted for training

Learning and training: a reflective account of crisis management in a major UK bank

This paper reports on observational data material collected during crisis management training for a major international UK bank, and presents initial findings. The paper investigates whether simulation exercises provide a useful training method for corporate crisis management. On the assumption that performance could be used as an indicator of learning, learning outcomes are analysed for individual, team and organisational levels by comparing and contrasting performance of players between exercises for a number of key crisis management skills.In crisis, organisational learning takes place along three dimensions: individual, team and organisational. It was found that design and implementation of simulation tools were critical to how the organisation confronted the crisis. The issue is raised that simulation exercises may concentrate learning outcomes for exercise designers, facilitators and observers. In contrast, learning outcomes for players and the organisation may be more difficult to define. Although it was found at the organisational level that the bank had been able to improve the framework for crisis management, at the level of those doing the job, training outcomes remained questionable

Comfortabel autorijden : méér dan lekker zitten

De auto-industrie moet erg innovatief zijn om haar marktsegment te kunnen behouden, om nog maar te zwijgen van uitbreiden. Het is daarom niet echt verrassend dat veel aandacht besteed wordt aan het ontwerpen van zelfs de kleinste details. In deze ontwerpen zien we zien we dat het interieur een grote rol speelt. Dat comfort een rol speelt in interieurontwerp is wel bekend. Maar ook inspelen op emoties bij ontwerpen wordt steeds belangrijker: comfort is meer dan lekker zitten alleen. Emoties hebben een grote invloed op de manier waarop we een product ervaren

In vivo and in vitro activity and mechanism of action of the multidrug cytarabine-L-glycerylyl-fluorodeoxyuridine

Multidrugs have the potential to bypass resistance. We investigated the in vitro activity and resistance circumvention of the multidrug cytarabine-L-fluorodeoxyuridine (AraC-L-5FdU), linked via a glycerophospholipid linkage. Cytotoxicity was determined using sensitive (A2780, FM3A/0) and resistant (AG6000, AraC resistant, deoxycytidine kinase deficient; FM3A/TK-, 5FdU resistant, thymidine kinase deficient) cell lines. Circumvention of nucleoside transporter and activating enzymes was determined using specific inhibitors, HPLC analysis and standard radioactivity assays. AraC-L-5FdU was active (IC50: 0.03 microM in both A2780 and FM3A/0), had some activity in AG6000 (IC50: 0.28 microM), but no activity in FM3A/TK(-) (IC50: 18.3 microM). AraC-nucleotides were not detected in AG6000. 5FdU-nucleotides were detected in all cell lines. AraC-L-5FdU did not inhibit TS in FM3A/TK(-) (5%). Since phosphatase/nucleotidase-inhibition reduced cytotoxicity 7-70-fold, cleavage seems to be outside the cell, presumably to nucleotides, and then to nucleosides. The multidrug was orally active in the HT-29 colon carcinoma xenografts which are resistant toward the single drugs