The playful as a psycho-pedagogic method: one experience in preventing youth drug dependence

This participatory action research was based on a experience of educational intervention on La Cruz and Bello Oriente (Manrique-Medellin), a marginal zone in the northeastern part of the Commune 3 in Medellin,. Colombia. In this marginal sector, psychosocial problems seem to be associated to limited educational and employment opportunities, domestic violence, illegal armed forces, sexual abuse, social discrimination, and lack of adequate public services, among others.  All these are also considered as risk factors for drug dependency.  We used a structured interview designed to identify leisure tendencies, use of free time, and tendencies in recreational activities. Data from the interview were triangulated with information collected by observation and in field work and used to build a psycho-pedagogic method based on play and leisure activities. The effects of the use of this educational intervention on the satisfaction of human needs were analyzed in light of the theory of Manfred Max-Neef. Results point out the need for new educational strategies aimed to promote creativity, solidarity, mental, physical and social health, more enthusiasm and motivation and in general, positive attitudes that help prevent drug dependence.

Relationship between innovation and organizational performance in an emergent market

Several writings explore the organizational innovation and relate its effect on the organizational performance. However, few studies, on the one hand, take into account the technical innovation and the management innovation as dimensions of organizational innovation; and on the other hand, they use these dimensions to analyze its effect on the organizational performance.In this paper, the authors analyze the influence of innovation -including the twodimensions mentioned- on organizational performance. Furthermore, the authors examinethe behavior of organizational characteristics as a moderator variable of this relationship. The study was applied to service sector companies. The results indicate that innovationand technical innovation have an influence on the organization performance, while management innovation does not. This strengthens the argument that asserts companies need to improve the low perception they have about the importance of management innovation,for better performances.

Perdurabilidad empresarial. Los hechos del sector servicios

El sector servicios, identificado como el de mayor dinámica competitiva en los mercados globalizados, en las actuales condiciones basa su acción en el conocimiento de su entorno en tanto que sus productos, en general, tienden a ser personalizados, o por lo menos, suponen una gama amplia de escogencia para los consumidores. En este sentido y dados los altos niveles de competencia, se precisa formular una estrategia evolutiva eficiente, a partirdel reconocimiento de la información del entorno. Estos hechos estilizados pretenden mostrar datos del entorno y algunas regularidades, las cuales serán modeladas en el resultado definitivo presentado en el artículo final de este trabajo de investigación.