Cooperatives are special because the members not only own the cooperative, but also patronize it. CEO’s decision has an impact on the overall members’ interests. Understanding how CEOs differ from members regarding their evaluations on cooperative performance and what causes the differences, is valuable for CEOs to best serve the members. This paper evaluates the difference between CEO and member evaluation regarding their cooperatives, and further examines the role of governance in predicting the evaluations and differences in evaluations, based on a set of first-hand data containing Chinese agricultural cooperatives (240 CEOs and 543 members). Cooperative performance is measured by three indicators: member profitability, social influence in the local community, and overall performance. The results show that members have higher scores than CEOs regarding member profitability and overall performance, while CEOs have a higher evaluation regarding social influence. “This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in 'The Social Science Journal' on 27 Jan. 2020 available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1016/j.soscij.2019.01.006. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiao-peng-20466772/
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This study examined if a macro-, meso-, and micro outcome measurement instrument that constitutes the evaluation stage of a Dutch forensic psychiatric outcome monitor, the Hoeven Outcome Monitor (HOM), can provide a first step towards a more evidence based groundwork in forensic mental health. General, serious, very serious, special, and tbs meriting recidivism during treatment, after treatment, and overall were charted for forensic psychiatric patients discharged from a Dutch forensic psychiatric centre between 1999 and 2008 (N = 164). Re-conviction data were obtained from the official Criminal Records System, and the mean follow-up time was 116.2 months. First, the results showed that the macro-measurements provide comparative outcome measures to generate insight into the overall effectiveness of forensic psychiatric treatment. Second, the meso-measurements yielded clinically relevant treatment outcome data for all discharged patients to generate a complete view of treatment effectiveness. Finally, the micro-measurements allowed access to detailed patient and treatment effectiveness assessments that provides the empirical foundation to conduct aetiological research into the prediction and control of high-risk behaviour. Thus, an outcome measurement instrument in line with Evidence Based Medicine and best practice guidelines was designed that provides an empirically sound evaluation framework for treatment effectiveness, and an impetus for the development of effective interventions to generate an evidence based groundwork in forensic mental health.
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Background: The Nurses in the Lead (NitL) programme consists of a systematic approach and training to 1) empower community nurses in implementing evidence, targeted at encouraging functional activities of older adults, and 2) train community nurses in enabling team members to change their practice. This article aims to describe the process evaluation of NitL. Methods: A mixed-methods formative process evaluation with a predominantly qualitative approach was conducted. Qualitative data were collected by interviews with community nurses (n = 7), focus groups with team members (n = 31), and reviewing seven implementation plans and 28 patient records. Quantitative data were collected among community nurses and team members (N = 90) using a questionnaire to assess barriers in encouraging functional activities and attendance lists. Data analysis was carried out through descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results: NitL was largely executed according to plan. Points of attention were the use and value of the background theory within the training, completion of implementation plans, and reporting in patient records by community nurses. Inhibiting factors for showing leadership and encouraging functional activities were a lack of time and a high complexity of care; facilitating factors were structure and clear communication within teams. Nurses considered the systematic approach useful and the training educational for their role. Most team members considered NitL practical and were satisfied with the coaching provided by community nurses. To optimise NitL, community nurses recommended providing the training first and extending the training. The team members recommended continuing clinical lessons, which were an implementation strategy from the community nurses. Conclusions: NitL was largely executed as planned, and appears worthy of further application in community care practice. However, adaptations are recommended to make NitL more promising in practice in empowering community nurse leadership in implementing evidence.
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Due to the existing pressure for a more rational use of the water, many public managers and industries have to re-think/adapt their processes towards a more circular approach. Such pressure is even more critical in the Rio Doce region, Minas Gerais, due to the large environmental accident occurred in 2015. Cenibra (pulp mill) is an example of such industries due to the fact that it is situated in the river basin and that it has a water demanding process. The current proposal is meant as an academic and engineering study to propose possible solutions to decrease the total water consumption of the mill and, thus, decrease the total stress on the Rio Doce basin. The work will be divided in three working packages, namely: (i) evaluation (modelling) of the mill process and water balance (ii) application and operation of a pilot scale wastewater treatment plant (iii) analysis of the impacts caused by the improvement of the process. The second work package will also be conducted (in parallel) with a lab scale setup in The Netherlands to allow fast adjustments and broaden evaluation of the setup/process performance. The actions will focus on reducing the mill total water consumption in 20%.
Aangejaagd door hogere klanteisen, het snelle tempo van technologische ontwikkelingen en demografische verschuivingen en daaruit voortvloeiende toenemende personeelstekorten, staan mkb-bedrijven voor de uitdaging om te investeren in adaptiviteit en leervermogen van hun medewerkers. Mkb-bedrijven en hun medewerkers zullen steeds slimmer gebruik moeten maken van nieuwe technologie en zichzelf continu moeten doorontwikkelen. Vooral voor de groep praktisch opgeleide medewerkers ligt er een uitdaging om ze proactief te stimuleren en een cultuur te creëren waarin leren en ontwikkelen een vanzelfsprekend onderdeel is van het werk en waarbij de diversiteit aan menselijk kapitaal optimaal wordt benut (SER, 2021). In zo’n werkomgeving ontstaan steeds meer creatieve samenwerkingsprocessen tussen een verscheidenheid aan mensen binnen de organisatie, tussen bedrijven onderling en met onderwijsinstellingen. Veel mkb-bedrijven onderschrijven de noodzaak van zo’n leercultuur. Echter, deze bedrijven ervaren dat het hen zelf onvoldoende lukt om een leercultuur van de grond te krijgen. Het is lastig voor mkb-bedrijven om inzicht te krijgen in de eigen leercultuur en te achterhalen welke interventies passen om deze cultuur concreet te verbeteren. In dit project onderzoeken we samen met tien mkb-bedrijven hun leercultuur door middel van een gevalideerde leercultuurscan en door het toepassen en monitoren van passende interventies. We monitoren deze interventies op basis van de ‘realistic evaluation’ benadering en trachten daarmee te achterhalen welke interventies in de mkb-praktijk effectief zijn. Op basis van de onderzoeksresultaten ontwikkelen we een toolbox met een set van interventies voor de mkb-praktijk. Om dit te realiseren werken we intensief samen met kennispartners Hogeschool Saxion, Hogeschool Rotterdam en Universiteit Twente. Verder bestaat het consortium uit brancheorganisatie Bouwend Nederland, Stichting OOM (scholingsadviesbureau van sociale partners in de Metaalbewerking), Regio Zwolle – programma Human Capital Agenda, Centre of Expertise TechYourFuture, VNO-NCW en arbeidsmarktregio Zwolle. De effectieve interventies voor een leercultuur leiden tot (praktische) kennisontwikkeling voor mkb-bedrijven, onderwijs en wetenschap.
For the general public harbour and grey seals are the symbol of the Wadden Sea. The Wadden Sea is an ideal environment for seals: sandbanks that fall dry at low tide are important for rest and for suckle pups. However, the total population of harbour seals has first stabilized and later decreased in recent years, while the annual number of pups born has increased, but the mechanisms underlying this mismatch remain unclear. Furthermore, the harbour seal population has declined since 2022, but the cause of this decline is also unknown. The objective of the proposed study is to increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the population trends of harbour seals currently observed in the Dutch Wadden Sea. The study will be carried out by a consortium, involving key players involved in seal conservation and research in the Netherlands. Furthermore, to ensure that the research is embedded in the international context, the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat is a partner in the consortium. The consortium partners have concluded that essential monitoring data on harbour seals is missing and therefore we propose to investigate and report on four themes: (1) mapping of governance, stakeholders and data landscape, (2) identifying mechanisms underlying the observed population numbers, by reviewing available evidence and exploring possible mechanisms, (3) evaluation and improvement of harbour seal monitoring and (4) communication and advice for governance. We will share our findings through reports, scientific papers, infographics, conference presentations, workshops, and proposed monitoring protocols. We will synthesize and communicate our findings targeting four specific groups: (1) the general public (2) the scientific community, (3) educational institutions, and finally (4) the ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), providing them with advice on how to advance research, conservation and management of the harbour seal population in the Dutch Wadden Sea.
