Under what conditions is end-user training (EUT) as part of the implementation of a business process management (BPM) system successful? This question is addressed in this paper. Based on the literature on EUT and implementation success, we first argue that user involvement with, and attitude towards, a BPM system, both have a conditional effect on the relationship between EUT and the implementation success of the system. Secondly, we investigated this expectation empirically, by measuring the practice of EUT as perceived by end-users. Using a mixed method approach, survey data was collected from 143 end-users of a BPM system in a large Dutch social insurance organisation, and by 49 additional semi-structured interviews. Regression analysis of the survey data shows that attitude variables indeed have a significant moderating influence on implementation success. In addition, the interviews revealed that specific attention must be paid to the arrangements for EUT when deploying BPM systems in this type of organisations. Arguments are given for a more comprehensive way of measuring and optimising EUT during the implementation of information systems/information technology in organisations.
ABSTRACT Purpose: To gain insight into determinants of physical activity in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury or lower limb amputation, from the perspective of both wheelchair users and rehabilitation professionals. Methods: Seven focus groups were conducted: five with wheelchair users (n=25) and two with rehabilitation professionals (n¼11). The transcripts were analysed using a sequential coding strategy, in which the reported determinants of physical activity were categorized using the Physical Activity for people with a Disability (PAD) model. Results: Reported personal determinants of physical activity were age, general health status, stage of life, demotivation due to difficulty burning calories, available time and energy, balance in daily life, attitude, and history of a physically active lifestyle. Reported environmental determinants were professional guidance, inconvenient exercise times, accessibility of facilities, costs, transportation difficulties, equipment difficulties, and social support. Conclusions: Important, changeable determinants of physical activity that might be influenced in future lifestyle interventions for wheelchair users are: balance in daily life leading to more time and energy to exercise, attitude towards physical activity, professional guidance, accessibility of facilities (providing information on how and where to find accessible facilities), and social support (learning how to get this)
We present a number of methodological recommendations concerning the online evaluation of avatars for text-to-sign translation, focusing on the structure, format and length of the questionnaire, as well as methods for eliciting and faithfully transcribing responses.
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Due to societal developments, like the introduction of the ‘civil society’, policy stimulating longer living at home and the separation of housing and care, the housing situation of older citizens is a relevant and pressing issue for housing-, governance- and care organizations. The current situation of living with care already benefits from technological advancement. The wide application of technology especially in care homes brings the emergence of a new source of information that becomes invaluable in order to understand how the smart urban environment affects the health of older people. The goal of this proposal is to develop an approach for designing smart neighborhoods, in order to assist and engage older adults living there. This approach will be applied to a neighborhood in Aalst-Waalre which will be developed into a living lab. The research will involve: (1) Insight into social-spatial factors underlying a smart neighborhood; (2) Identifying governance and organizational context; (3) Identifying needs and preferences of the (future) inhabitant; (4) Matching needs & preferences to potential socio-techno-spatial solutions. A mixed methods approach fusing quantitative and qualitative methods towards understanding the impacts of smart environment will be investigated. After 12 months, employing several concepts of urban computing, such as pattern recognition and predictive modelling , using the focus groups from the different organizations as well as primary end-users, and exploring how physiological data can be embedded in data-driven strategies for the enhancement of active ageing in this neighborhood will result in design solutions and strategies for a more care-friendly neighborhood.
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a pattern of alcohol use that involves having trouble controlling drinking behaviour, even when it causes health issues (addiction) or problems functioning in daily (social and professional) life. Moreover, festivals are a common place where large crowds of festival-goers experience challenges refusing or controlling alcohol and substance use. Studies have shown that interventions at festivals are still very problematic. ARise is the first project that wants to help prevent AUD at festivals using Augmented Reality (AR) as a tool to help people, particular festival visitors, to say no to alcohol (and other substances). ARise is based on the on the first Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy (ARET) in the world that we developed for clinical treatment of AUD. It is an AR smartphone driven application in which (potential) visitors are confronted with virtual humans that will try to seduce the user to accept an alcoholic beverage. These virtual humans are projected in the real physical context (of a festival), using innovative AR glasses. Using intuitive phone, voice and gesture interactions, it allows users to personalize the safe experience by choosing different drinks and virtual humans with different looks and levels of realism. ARET has been successfully developed and tested on (former) AUD patients within a clinical setting. Research with patients and healthcare specialists revealed the wish to further develop ARET as a prevention tool to reach people before being diagnosed with AUD and to extend the application for other substances (smoking and pills). In this project, festival visitors will experience ARise and provide feedback on the following topics: (a) experience, (b) awareness and confidence to refuse alcohol drinks, (c) intention to use ARise, (d) usability & efficiency (the level of realism needed), and (e) ideas on how to extend ARise with new substances.
The research for alternatives to substitute cement in concrete increased in the last years to reduce the environmental impact. Geopolymers or alkali-activated materials are one of the options. The proposed project aims to obtain a wet cell based on a geopolymer with alginate and natural fibres. The wet cell will be a final prototype composed of panels for wet construction areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. There is a lack of biobased solutions for wet areas currently in the market. And the present project, together with companies of suppliers and users from the market, aims to provide a solution for a wet cell using biobased materials. The natural fibres added to the geopolymer will substitute a portion of sand and gravel, producing a lighter product than concrete. Also, the fibres increase the thermal and acoustic insulation. Natural fibres should be pretreated to increase the bond with other materials in the mixture. The chemical used in the alkali-activated materials is the same to pretreat the fibres. Also, alginates extracted from seaweeds can be used as binders, and alkali is used in the extraction process. One of the objectives is to develop the method and technique to produce geopolymer with alginates and pretreat the fibre simultaneously during the mixture. After defining the optimum mixture for the geopolymer, panels will be produced, and in the end, a wet cell will be constructed with the geopolymer panels.
