Socially Competent Leadership - predictors, impacts and skilling in engineering

Earlier management studies have found a relationship between managerial qualities and subordinate impacts, but the effect of managers‘ social competence on leader perceptions has not been solidly established. To fill the related research gap, the present work embarks on a quantitative empirical effort to identify predictors of successful leadership. In particular, this study investigates relationships between perceived leader behavior and three selfreport instruments used to measure managerial capability: 1) the WOPI Work Personality Inventory, 2) Raven‘s general intelligence scale, and 3) the Emotive Communication Scale (ECS). This work complements previous research by resorting to both self-reports and other-reports: the results acquired from the managerial sample are compared to subordinate perceptions as measured through the ECS other-report and the WOPI360 multi-source appraisal. The quantitative research is comprised of a sample of 8o superiors and 354 subordinates operating in eight Finnish organizations. The strongest predictive value emerged from the ECS self- and other-reports and certain personality dimensions. In contrast, supervisors‘ logical intelligence did not correlate with leadership perceived as socially competent by subordinates. 16 of the superiors rated as most socially competent by their subordinates were selected for case analysis. Their qualitative narratives evidence the role of life history and post-traumatic growth in developing managerial skills. The results contribute to leadership theory in four ways. First, the ECS self-report devised for this research offers a reliable scale for predicting socially competent leader ability. Second, the work identifies dimensions of personality and emotive skills that can be considered predictors of managerial ability and benefited from in leader recruitment and career planning. Third, the Emotive Communication Model delineated on the basis of the empirical data allows for a systematic design and planning of communication and leadership education. Fourth, this workfurthers understanding of personal growth strategies and the role of life history in leader development and training. Finally, this research advances educational leadership by conceptualizing and operationalizing effective managerial communications. The Emotive Communication Model devised directs the pedagogic attention in engineering to assertion, emotional availability and inspiration skills. The proposed methodology addresses classroom management strategies drawing from problem-based learning, student empowerment, collaborative learning, and so-called socially competent teachership founded on teacher immediacy and perceived caring, all constituting strategies moving away from student compliance and teacher modelling. The ultimate educational objective embraces the development of individual engineers and organizational leaders that not only possess traditional analytical and technical expertise and substantive knowledge but are intelligent also creatively, practically, and socially.

Integrating professional education, research and extensionin irrigated agriculture technology centers

With the objective to stimulate the use of irrigation and the electric energy fee reduction during night time program granted by the 2004 Federal law, the Government of the state of Paraná, Brazil launched the Night Irrigation Program - NPI. Beyond this discount, the farmer that adheres to NPI will get additional benefits, as completion of the electric grid without cost, subsidized financing of equipment, technical assistance, support with environmental farm compliance, and the possibility of replacing the entire pump energy matrix. As part of the NPI strategy of action, installation of learning centers for irrigation technology was planned in agricultural schools, thus contributing both to improve technical professional training in agriculture, and for the dissemination of knowledge in irrigated agriculture, in order to increase agricultural productivity.

Aportes del Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas (ABP) en la enseñanza de la Fisiología Animal en un programa de Zootecnia

En partant de quelques difficultés observées autour des aspects de la conceptualisation technoscientifique et de l’intégration de la de la théorie et la pratique dans l’apprentissage de la physiologie animale chez les étudiants du programme de Zootechnie de l’Université Nationale de Colombie, siège Medellín, cette recherche propose une stratégie didactique s’appuyant sur la méthode de l’Apprentissage Basé sur les Problèmes (ABP), appliquée spécifiquement aux sujets de thermorégulation et stress physiologique des animaux domestiques. Dans cette étude de cas on a travaillé avec un échantillon de huit étudiants à qui on a présenté dès la première session un problème didactique pour être résolu à travers le cours. Afin d’évaluer le processus on a réalisé trois enquêtes nommées Épreuves de Niveau de Formulation (NF) réalisées à différents moments de l’essai : l’une avant de commencer avec le sujet (NF 1), l’autre après la troisième classe théorique donnée et avant de faire la pratique sur le terrain (NF 2), et l’autre à la fin du processus (NF 3). Finalement on a réalisé des entretiens individuels avec chaque étudiant afin de connaître sa perception concernant la méthode. L’information obtenue a été soumise à une analyse qualitative et par des correspondances, par le biais du programme QDA Miner à travers de la révision et codification des textes provenants des enquêtes et de l’entretien individuel, complétés à leur tour par des observations sur le terrain, en analysant le changement conceptuel, la relation théorie-pratique et les correspondances entre les variables et les catégories établies. Parmi les principaux résultats obtenus on souligne le fait qu’après avoir appliqué l’ABP dans ce cours de Physiologie Animale le changement conceptuel a été favorisé et le problème formulé a servi comme connecteur entre la théorie et la pratique. En outre, on a observé la fusion des connaissances préalables avec les nouveaux acquis, l’apprentissage significatif, l’amélioration du niveau de formulation et l’augmentation de la scientificité des définitions; également il a mené à la solution viii de problèmes et à surmonter les obstacles épistémologiques comme la pluridisciplinarité et la non-linéarité. Il reste comme recommandation celle d’évaluer cette méthode dans d’autres sujets de la Physiologie Animale, dans d’autres sciences, dans des échantillons d’une taille majeure, ainsi comme approcher le sujet de l’évaluation appliquée directement à cette méthode.

Análisis ecocardiográfico de la función sistólica del ventrículo izquierdo por médicos no cardiólogos con un dispositivo de bolsillo

Se realizó un estudio transversal, se incluyeron 3 residentes no cardiólogos y se les dio formación básica en ecocardiografía (horas teóricas 22, horas prácticas 65), con recomendaciones de la Sociedad Americana de Ecocardiografia y aportes del aprendizaje basado en problemas, con el desarrollo de competencia técnicas y diagnósticas necesarias, se realizó el análisis de concordancia entre residentes y ecocardiografistas expertos, se recolectaron 122 pacientes hospitalizados que cumplieran con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, se les realizo un ecocardiograma convencional por el experto y una valoración ecocardiográfica por el residente, se evaluó la ventana acústica, contractilidad, función del ventrículo izquierdo y derrame pericárdico. La hipótesis planteada fue obtener una concordancia moderada. Resultados: Se analizó la concordancia entre observadores para la contractilidad miocárdica (Kappa: 0,57 p=0,000), función sistólica del ventrículo izquierdo (Kappa 0,54 p=0.000) siendo esta moderada por estar entre 0,40 – 0,60 y con una alta significancia estadística, para la calidad de la ventana acústica (Kappa: 0,22 p= 0.000) y presencia de derrame pericárdico (Kappa: 0,26 p= 0.000) se encontró una escasa concordancia ubicándose entre 0,20 – 0,40. Se estableció una sensibilidad de 90%, especificidad de 67%, un valor predictivo positivo de 80% y un valor predictivo negativo de 85% para el diagnóstico de disfunción sistólica del ventrículo izquierdo realizado por los residentes.

Collaboration between infection control and occupational health in three continents: a success story with international impact

Globalization has been accompanied by the rapid spread of infectious diseases, and further strain on working conditions for health workers globally. Post-SARS, Canadian occupational health and infection control researchers got together to study how to better protect health workers, and found that training was indeed perceived as key to a positive safety culture. This led to developing information and communication technology (ICT) tools. The research conducted also showed the need for better workplace inspections, so a workplace audit tool was also developed to supplement worker questionnaires and the ICT. When invited to join Ecuadorean colleagues to promote occupational health and infection control, these tools were collectively adapted and improved, including face-to-face as well as on-line problem-based learning scenarios. The South African government then invited the team to work with local colleagues to improve occupational health and infection control, resulting in an improved web-based health information system to track incidents, exposures, and occupational injury and diseases. As the H1N1 pandemic struck, the online infection control course was adapted and translated into Spanish, as was a novel skill-building learning tool that permits health workers to practice selecting personal protective equipment. This tool was originally developed in collaboration with the countries from the Caribbean region and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Research from these experiences led to strengthened focus on building capacity of health and safety committees, and new modules are thus being created, informed by that work. The products developed have been widely heralded as innovative and interactive, leading to their inclusion into “toolkits” used internationally. The tools used in Canada were substantially improved from the collaborative adaptation process for South and Central America and South Africa. This international collaboration between occupational health and infection control researchers led to the improvement of the research framework and development of tools, guidelines and information systems. Furthermore, the research and knowledge-transfer experience highlighted the value of partnership amongst Northern and Southern researchers in terms of sharing resources, experiences and knowledge.

The use of computer-based learning tools for teaching and clinical purposes: Interactive computing strategy for Iraq

Medical universities and teaching hospitals in Iraq are facing a lack of professional staff due to the ongoing violence that forces them to flee the country. The professionals are now distributed outside the country which reduces the chances for the staff and students to be physically in one place to continue the teaching and limits the efficiency of the consultations in hospitals. A survey was done among students and professional staff in Iraq to find the problems in the learning and clinical systems and how Information and Communication Technology could improve it. The survey has shown that 86% of the participants use the Internet as a learning resource and 25% for clinical purposes while less than 11% of them uses it for collaboration between different institutions. A web-based collaborative tool is proposed to improve the teaching and clinical system. The tool helps the users to collaborate remotely to increase the quality of the learning system as well as it can be used for remote medical consultation in hospitals.

Integrating methods for developing sustainability indicators that can facilitate learning and action

Bossel's (2001) systems-based approach for deriving comprehensive indicator sets provides one of the most holistic frameworks for developing sustainability indicators. It ensures that indicators cover all important aspects of system viability, performance, and sustainability, and recognizes that a system cannot be assessed in isolation from the systems upon which it depends and which in turn depend upon it. In this reply, we show how Bossel's approach is part of a wider convergence toward integrating participatory and reductionist approaches to measure progress toward sustainable development. However, we also show that further integration of these approaches may be able to improve the accuracy and reliability of indicators to better stimulate community learning and action. Only through active community involvement can indicators facilitate progress toward sustainable development goals. To engage communities effectively in the application of indicators, these communities must be actively involved in developing, and even in proposing, indicators. The accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity of the indicators derived from local communities can be ensured through an iterative process of empirical and community evaluation. Communities are unlikely to invest in measuring sustainability indicators unless monitoring provides immediate and clear benefits. However, in the context of goals, targets, and/or baselines, sustainability indicators can more effectively contribute to a process of development that matches local priorities and engages the interests of local people.

Efficient tree construction for the multicast problem

A new heuristic for the Steiner Minimal Tree problem is presented here. The method described is based on the detection of particular sets of nodes in networks, the “Hot Spot” sets, which are used to obtain better approximations of the optimal solutions. An algorithm is also proposed which is capable of improving the solutions obtained by classical heuristics, by means of a stirring process of the nodes in solution trees. Classical heuristics and an enumerative method are used CIS comparison terms in the experimental analysis which demonstrates the goodness of the heuristic discussed in this paper.

Efficient tree construction for the multicast problem

A new heuristic for the Steiner minimal tree problem is presented. The method described is based on the detection of particular sets of nodes in networks, the “hot spot” sets, which are used to obtain better approximations of the optimal solutions. An algorithm is also proposed which is capable of improving the solutions obtained by classical heuristics, by means of a stirring process of the nodes in solution trees. Classical heuristics and an enumerative method are used as comparison terms in the experimental analysis which demonstrates the capability of the heuristic discussed

Informal communication networks and the diffusion of innovations in UK construction projects: A research design

The UK industry has been criticised for being slow to adopt construction process innovations. Research shows that the idiosyncrasies of participants, their roles in the system and the contextual differences between sections of the industry make this a highly complex problem. There is considerable evidence that informal social networks play a key role in diffusion of innovations. The aim is to identify informal communication networks of project participants and the role these play in the diffusion of construction innovations. The characteristics of this network will be analysed in order to understand how they can be used to accelerate innovation diffusion within and between projects. Social Network Analysis is used to determine informal communication routes. Control and experiment case study projects are used within two different organizations. This allows informal communication routes concerning innovations to be mapped, whilst testing if the informal routes can facilitate diffusion. Analysis will focus upon understanding the combination of informal strong and weak ties, and how these impede or facilitate the diffusion of the innovation. Initial work suggests the presence of an informal communication network. Actors within this informal network, and the organization's management are unaware of its' existence and their informal roles within it. Thus, the network remains an untapped medium regarding innovation diffusion. It is proposed that successful innovation diffusion is dependent upon understanding informal strong and weak ties, at project, organization and industry level.

The impact of Group Intelligence software on enquiry-based learning

Despite the increasing use of groupware technologies in education, there is little evidence of their impact, especially within an enquiry-based learning (EBL) context. In this paper, we examine the use of a commercial standard Group Intelligence software called GroupSystems®ThinkTank. To date, ThinkTank has been adopted mainly in the USA and supports teams in generating ideas, categorising, prioritising, voting and multi-criteria decision-making and automatically generates a report at the end of each session. The software was used by students carrying out an EBL project, set by employers, for a full academic year. The criteria for assessing the impact of ThinkTank on student learning were those of creativity, participation, productivity, engagement and understanding. Data was collected throughout the year using a combination of interviews and questionnaires, and written feedback from employers. The overall findings show an increase in levels of productivity and creativity, evidence of a deeper understanding of their work but some variation in attitudes towards participation in the early stages of the project.