There are three volumes in this body of work. In volume one, we lay the foundation for a general theory of organizing. We propose that organizing is a continuous process of ongoing mutual or reciprocal influence between objects (e.g., human actors) in a field, whereby a field is infinite and connects all the objects in it much like electromagnetic fields influence atomic and molecular charged objects or gravity fields influence inanimate objects with mass such as planets and stars. We use field theory to build what we now call the Network Field Model. In this model, human actors are modeled as pointlike objects in the field. Influence between and investments in these point-like human objects are explained as energy exchanges (potential and kinetic) which can be described in terms of three different types of capital: financial (assets), human capital (the individual) and social (two or more humans in a network). This model is predicated on a field theoretical understanding about the world we live in. We use historical and contemporaneous examples of human activity and describe them in terms of the model. In volume two, we demonstrate how to apply the model. In volume 3, we use experimental data to prove the reliability of the model. These three volumes will persistently challenge the reader’s understanding of time, position and what it means to be part of an infinite field. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99709
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OBJECTIVE: This work aims to gain insight into the long-term impact of depression course on social network size and perceived loneliness in older people living in the community. METHODS: Within a large representative sample of older people in the community (Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA)), participants with clinically relevant levels of depressive symptoms (scores >16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) were followed up over a period of 13 years of the LASA study (five waves). General estimating equations were used to estimate the impact of depression course on network size and loneliness and the interaction with gender and age. RESULTS: An unfavorable course of depression was found to be associated with smaller network sizes and higher levels of loneliness over time, especially in men and older participants. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study stress the importance of clinical attention to the negative consequences of chronicity in depressed older people. Clinicians should assess possible erosion of the social network over time and be aware of increased feelings of loneliness in this patient group.
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In a thriving, densely populated and urbanized country like the Netherlands, space is at a premium. With the steady economic growth of the 1990s and the construction and expansion of homes, business parks and infrastructure, the available space and the environment are coming under increasing pressure. Major changes are also taking place on an administrative level in the Netherlands. In some cases, influential new joint ventures are formed between public, private, and social parties (Frieling 2000). The social and administrative dynamic, and the tension that this creates in relation to spatial quality requirements, is turning into a major challenge for spatial policy. Numerous advisory bodies and policymakers are therefore advocating a spatial development policy (WRR 1998) or development planning (VROM 2001, 2002). Development planning is the opposite of admittance planning and provides increased scope for the initiatives and investments of local governments and private and social parties. Instead of passively resisting activities and exhibiting too little flexibility, governments must aim at actively entering into partnerships with other governments, the business sector, and social organizations. Together, they must develop and realize interrelated, creative concepts, projects, and programs (WRR 1998; Healey 2000;Teisman 1997;VROM Council 2001). According to the Netherlands' Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning, and the Environment (VROM 2002), development planning requires: "active intervention by means of investments made by both public and private parties. The State shall then provide policy frameworks for the investments and harmonize them with each other. This provides scope for the initiatives of lower governments, market parties, and social organizations and supports them." Innovation, future orientation, integral concepts, stakeholder planning and new ways of public private financing, and cooperation are some of the relevant characteristics ascribed to development planning. However, the above description shows that development planning may be an interesting concept but it is also very abstract and ambiguous. Moreover, the real question is how development planning works in practice and whether it actually differs from admittance planning. How can such notions as stakeholder planning, future orientation, and innovation be realized in a region? How do spatial investments, innovation, and integral concepts come about? Does development planning really result in spatial and administrative innovation, as one would expect in theory? What is clear, however, is that development planning will have to be tackled by governments and private and social parties on a regional/provincial level. Against this background, the Netherlands Institute for Spatial Research (RPB), established on 1 January 2002, asked the Delft University of Technology to design a simulation game in which the concept of development planning can be tested in a safe environment (Mayer and Veeneman 2002; Mayer et al. 2004).
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A B S T R A C T Background: Approximately 4 years ago a new concept of learning in practice called the ‘Learning and Innovation Network (LIN)’ was introduced in The Netherlands. To develop a definition of the LIN, to identify working elements of the LIN in order to provide a preliminary framework for evaluation, a concept analysis was conducted. Method: For the concept analysis, we adopted the method of Walker and Avant. We searched for relevant publications in the EBSCO host portal, grey literature and snowball searches, as well as Google internet searches and dictionary consults. Results: Compared to other forms of workplace learning, the LIN is in the centre of the research, education and practice triangle. The most important attributes of the LIN are social learning, innovation, daily practice, reflection and co-production. Often described antecedents are societal developments, such as increasing complexity of work, and time and space to learn. Frequently identified consequences are an attractive workplace, advancements of expertise of care professionals, innovations that endorse daily practice, improvement of quality of care and the integration of education and practice. Conclusions: Based on the results of the concept analysis, we describe the LIN as ‘a group of care professionals, students and an education representatives who come together in clinical practice and are all part of a learning and innovation community in nursing. They work together on practice-based projects in which they combine best practices, research evidence and client perspectives in order to innovate and improve quality of care and in which an integration of education, research and practice takes place’. We transferred the outcomes of the concept analysis to an input-throughput-output model that can be used as a preliminary framework for future research.
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We present a novel architecture for an AI system that allows a priori knowledge to combine with deep learning. In traditional neural networks, all available data is pooled at the input layer. Our alternative neural network is constructed so that partial representations (invariants) are learned in the intermediate layers, which can then be combined with a priori knowledge or with other predictive analyses of the same data. This leads to smaller training datasets due to more efficient learning. In addition, because this architecture allows inclusion of a priori knowledge and interpretable predictive models, the interpretability of the entire system increases while the data can still be used in a black box neural network. Our system makes use of networks of neurons rather than single neurons to enable the representation of approximations (invariants) of the output.
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More and more municipalities are, fortunately, working on play-friendly public spaces. However, many policy visions and investments are still based on assumptions made by municipal officials or suppliers of play equipment.
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With a growing economy and being an increasingly popular investment destination, both domestic and foreign business activity in Kenya has surged over the past years. In addition, the country has a relatively young population and many of the country’s economic sectors offer business opportunities. Despite these developments, the country has faced challenges on various dimensions of social-economic development. Against this background, corporate social responsibility (CSR), defined as firms’ roles and responsibilities in contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable economy, may play an important role in combating social and ecological challenges and strengthening Kenyan business at the same time. Dutch and Kenyan governments and businesses have taken the initiative to develop a knowledge centre for sustainable and inclusive business in Kenya (KSIB-K). This initiative sprung from a Dutch trade mission to Kenya in 2013. The Dutch CSR knowledge centre, MVO Nederland, was invited to contribute in this trade mission with the objective to disseminate knowledge and expertise on CSR and participate in a multi-stakeholder dialogue on CSR in the Kenyan flower sector. After a series of roundtables talks on CSR and sustainability in which Kenyan and Dutch organizations participated, the plan was conceived to develop KSIB-K and, as an integral part of it, build a local CSR business network. Among the goals of the KSIB-K are building CSR skills in Kenyan firms, propagating a holistic view of CSR that goes beyond philanthropic conceptions of the subject, CSR best practice and knowledge sharing, and stimulating doing responsible business both within Kenya and between Kenya and its business partners, including the Netherlands. While individual Kenyan companies may lack the resources, skills, willingness and experience to engage in responsible business, a CSR business network could bundle these and existing initiatives to create a movement of inclusive and sustainable business that benefits companies and society alike. This chapter will focus on the short history of the initiative to develop KSIB-K and the Kenyan CSR business network, place it within the current ‘state of CSR thinking and practice’ in Kenya and its role in international business and sketch its roadmap for the years to come. This chapter will also pay attention to the role of governments in encouraging responsible business, activities that will be deployed to stimulate Kenyan business to develop CSR knowledge and skills, and possible risks associated with developing such a new CSR business network.
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Demographic changes, such as the ageing of society and the decline of the birth rate, are gradually leading to the loss of valuable knowledge and experience in the Dutch Labour market. This necessitates an explicit focus on workers' sustainable employment so that they can add value to the organisation throughout their career. This study looks into the way in which the workers' motivation might affect their investments into their own sustainable employment. It was conducted in a major industrial service provider, Sitech Services. The conclusion is that intrinsic motivation plays an important role in both younger and older employees, and that the younger workers undertake more action in order to give physical form to their sustainable employment than their older colleagues.
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Ever since the introduction of an ‘IT productivity paradox’ by Robert Solow, the business value of information technology (IT) has been the topic of many debates by practitioners as well as by academics. In these discussions a distinction can be made between the variance approach, investigating what the relationship between IT investments and organisational performance is, and the process approach, investigating on how this relationship works. Following the process approach, this paper describes a useful framework for assessing the organisational impact of IT. Secondly the paper considers the relation between IT impact and organisational performance and reviews the IT investment evaluation methods. The paper concludes with a proposal for a multivariable value assessment sheet, based on insights derived from the balanced scorecard theory.
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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find determinants about risk resilience and develop a new risk resilience approach for (agricultural) enterprises. This approach creates the ability to respond resiliently to major environmental challenges and changes in the short term and adjust the management of the organization, and to learn and transform to adapt to the new environment in the long term while creating multiple value creation. Design/methodology: The authors present a new risk resilience approach for multiple value creation of (agricultural) enterprises, which consists of a main process starting with strategy design, followed by an environmental analysis, stakeholder collaboration, implement ESG goals, defining risk expose & response options, and report, learn & evaluate. In each step the organizational perspective, as well as the value chain/area perspective is considered and aligned. The authors have used focus groups and analysed literature from and outside the field of finance and accounting, to design this new approach. Findings: Researchers propose a new risk resilience approach for (agricultural) enterprises, based on a narrative about transforming to multiple value creation, founded determinants of risk resilience, competitive advantage and agricultural resilience. Originality and value: This study contributes by conceptualizing risk resilience for (agricultural) enterprises, by looking through a lens of multiple value creation in a dynamic context and based on insights from different fields, actual ESG knowledge, and determinants for risk resilience, competitive advantage and agricultural resilience.
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