Value Processingin Organizations - Individual Perceptions in Three Case Companies

Values and value processes are said to be needed in every organization nowadays, as the world is changing and companies have to have something to "keep it together". Organizational values, which are approvedand used by the personnel, could be the key. Every organization has values. But what is the real value of values? The greatest and most crucial challenge is the feasibility of the value process. The main point in this thesis is tostudy how organizational members at different hierarchical levels perceive values and value processes in their organizations. This includes themes such as how values are disseminated, the targets of value processing, factors that affect the process, problems that occur during the value implementation and improvements that could be made when organizational values are implemented. These subjects are studied from the perspective of organizational members (both managers and employees); individuals in the organizations. The aim is to get the insider-perspective on value processing, from multiple hierarchical levels. In this research I study three different organizations (forest industry, bank and retail cooperative) and their value processes. The data is gathered from companies interviewing personnel in the head office and at the local level. The individuals areseen as members of organizations, and the cultural aspect is topical throughout the whole study. Values and cultures are seen as the 'actuality of reality' of organizations, interpreted by organizational members. The three case companies were chosen because they represented different lines of business and they all implemented value processing differently. Sincethe emphasis in this study is at the local level, the similar size of the local units was also an important factor. Values are in 'fashion' -but what does the fashion tell us about the real corporate practices? In annual reports companies emphasize the importance and power of official values. But what is the real 'point' of values? Values are publicly respected and advertised, but still it seems that the words do not meet the deeds. There is a clear conflict between theoretical, official and substantive organizational values: in the value processing from words to real action. This contradiction in value processing is studied through individual perceptions in this study. I study the kinds of perceptions organizationalmembers have when values are processed from the head office to the local level: the official value process is studied from the individual's perspective. Value management has been studied more during the 1990's. The emphasis has usually been on managers: how they consider the values in organizations and what effects it has on the management. Recent literature has emphasized values as tools for improving company performance. The value implementation as a process has been studied through 'good' and 'bad' examples, as if one successful value process could be copied to all organizations. Each company is different with different cultures and personnel, so no all-powerful way of processing values exists. In this study, the organizational members' perceptions at different hierarchical levels are emphasized. Still, managers are also interviewed; this is done since managerial roles in value dissemination are crucial. Organizational values cannot be well disseminated without management; this has been proved in several earlier studies (e.g. Kunda 1992, Martin 1992, Parker 2000). Recent literature has not sufficiently emphasized the individual's (organizational member's) role in value processing. Organizations consist of differentindividuals with personal values, at all hierarchical levels. The aim in this study is to let the individual take the floor. Very often the value process is described starting from the value definition and ending at dissemination, and the real results are left without attention. I wish to contribute to this area. Values are published officially in annual reports etc. as a 'goal' just like profits. Still, the results/implementationof value processing is rarely followed, at least in official reports. This is a very interesting point: why do companies espouse values, if there is no real control or feedback after the processing? In this study, the personnel in three different companies is asked to give an answer. In the empirical findings, there are several results which bring new aspects to the research area of organizational values. The targets of value processing, factors effecting value processing, the management's roles and the problems in value implementation are presented through the individual's perspective. The individual's perceptions in value processing are a recurring theme throughout the whole study. A comparison between the three companies with diverse value processes makes the research complete

Ferran VII "el cruel": la repressió dels Liberals a la Lleida de la Dècada Ominosa

En este estudio se pretende analizar la represión efectuada por el gobierno absolutista de Fernando VII durante su segunda reinstauración, la historiográficamente llamada Década Ominosa, hacia los liberales a Lleida. Mientras que los realistas solicitaron premios y prerrogativas por los servicios prestados en defensa de la Religión y la Monarquía las autoridades absolutistas implantaron de nuevo la censura, prohibieron cualquier vestigio legislativo liberal, depuraron los antiguos funcionarios constitucionales, a los milicianos nacionales, a los miembros de la Junta Patriótica y a los políticos liberales en general. Por tanto, el indulto y el perdón general del año 1824 fue insuficiente, sobretodo en la medida que permitió represaliar de manera arbitraria a cualquier individuo relacionado con cualquier espacio de poder durante el Trienio Liberal. Finalmente cabe destacar la exoneración de los derechos civiles y los oficios que sufrieron figuras liberales tan relevantes como los escribanos Marià Hostalrich o Francesc Xavier Soldevila.

Avaliação de citrandarins e outros híbridos de trifoliata como porta-enxertos para citros em São Paulo

Laranjeiras Valência enxertadas em citrandarins e outros híbridos de trifoliata foram plantadas em 1988, em Itirapina (SP), num Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo textura arenosa e conduzidas sem irrigação. O citrandarin Sunki x English (1.628), sem diferir estatisticamente de Cleópatra x Rubidoux (1.660), Cleópatra x English (710), Cleópatra x Swingle (715) e do trangpur Cravo x Carrizo (717), induziu a maior produção de frutos nas cinco primeiras colheitas do experimento (1991-1995), sendo que os três primeiros foram os mais produtivos nas três últimas colheitas. Os citranges Troyer e Carrizo foram significativamente inferiores aos citrandarins Sunki x English (1.628), Cleópatra x Rubidoux (1.660) e Cleópatra x English (710) em todos os anos, exceto 1994. Nenhuma das plantas apresentou sintomas de suscetibilidade à tristeza ou ao declínio. Os seedlings dos porta-enxertos diferiram quanto à área lesionada pela inoculação com Phytophthora parasitica. Os citrandarins Cleópatra x Swingle (1.587), Cleópatra x Trifoliata (1.574), Cleópatra x Rubidoux (1.600), Clementina x Trifoliata (1.615) e o limão Cravo x citrange Carrizo (717) foram significativamente mais resistentes que Cleópatra x Christian (712), Sunki x English (1.628), Cleópatra x Swingle (715) e Cleópatra x English (710).

Comparison of the consumption of antidepressants in the immigrant and native populations in a Spanish health region: an observational study

BACKGROUND: Health professionals and organizations in developed countries adapt slowly to the increase of ethnically diverse populations attending health care centres. Several studies report that attention to immigrant mental health comes up with barriers in access, diagnosis and therapeutics, threatening equity. This study analyzes differences in exposure to antidepressant drugs between the immigrant and the native population of a Spanish health region. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of the dispensation of antidepressant drugs to the population aged 15 years or older attending the public primary health centres of a health region, 232,717 autochthonous and 33,361 immigrants, during 2008. Data were obtained from computerized medical records and pharmaceutical records of medications dispensed in pharmacies. Age, sex, country of origin, visits, date of entry in the regional health system, generic drugs and active ingredients were considered. Statistical analysis expressed the percentage of persons exposed to antidepressants stratified by age, gender, and country of origin and prevalence ratios of antidepressant exposition were calculated. RESULTS: Antidepressants were dispensed to 11% of native population and 2.6% of immigrants. Depending on age, native women were prescribed antidepressants between 1.9 and 2.7 times more than immigrant women, and native men 2.5 and 3.1 times more than their immigrant counterparts. Among immigrant females, the highest rate was found in the Latin Americans (6.6%) and the lowest in the sub-Saharans (1.4%). Among males, the highest use was also found in the Latin Americans (1.6%) and the lowest in the sub-Saharans (0.7%). The percentage of immigrants prescribed antidepressants increased significantly in relation to the number of years registered with the local health system. Significant differences were found for the new antidepressants, prescribed 8% more in the native population than in immigrants, both in men and in women. CONCLUSIONS: All the immigrants, regardless of the country of origin, had lower antidepressant consumption than the native population of the same age and sex. Latin American women presented the highest levels of consumption, and the sub-Saharan men the lowest. The prescription profiles also differed, since immigrants consumed more generics and fewer recently commercialized active ingredients.

Incidència de les lesions en el futbol. Primera divisió. Temporada 1999-2000

El futbol constitueix al nostre país, igual com en d’altres Estats del nostre entorn, un fenomen que transcendeix allò merament esportiu per esdevenir un referent social que desperta passions i que té el seu consegüent reflex als mitjans de comunicació social. No és, doncs, estrany, que de forma diària la premsa esportiva d’àmbit nacional proporcioni informació constant sobre la matèria, incloent-hi allò que concerneix a les lesions que afecten els jugadors, car consideren que és un fet noticiable en la mesura en què això pugui influir en les expectatives dels diferents equips. La informació esmentada, adequadament recollida, sistematitzada i analitzada és susceptible de proporcionar valuoses dades sobre la incidència de les lesions en aquesta modalitat esportiva. Aquest és, precisament, l’objectiu del nostre estudi, sense una altra pretensió que la de proporcionar unes pautes a prendre en consideració per part dels professionals, perquè el seu esforç se centri en l’optimització del rendiment, la planificació de la temporada, l’establiment de programes de prevenció i, al capdavall, en la minimització del risc de lesions.

Vicent Martines, El «Tirant» poliglota. Estudi sobre el «Tirant lo Blanch» a partir de les seues traduccions espanyola, italiana i francesa deIs segles XVI-XVIII

Ressenya de l'obra: Vicent MARTINES, El «Tirant» poliglota. Estudi sobre el «Tirant lo Blanch» a partir de les seues traduccions espanyola, italiana ifrancesa dels segles XVI-XVIII. Barcelona: Curial Edicions Catalanes. Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat, 1997. Col. "Textos i Estudis de Cultura Catalana", 55. 206 p.

Valuing equity-linked death benefits in jump diffusion models

The paper is motivated by the valuation problem of guaranteed minimum death benefits in various equity-linked products. At the time of death, a benefit payment is due. It may depend not only on the price of a stock or stock fund at that time, but also on prior prices. The problem is to calculate the expected discounted value of the benefit payment. Because the distribution of the time of death can be approximated by a combination of exponential distributions, it suffices to solve the problem for an exponentially distributed time of death. The stock price process is assumed to be the exponential of a Brownian motion plus an independent compound Poisson process whose upward and downward jumps are modeled by combinations (or mixtures) of exponential distributions. Results for exponential stopping of a Lévy process are used to derive a series of closed-form formulas for call, put, lookback, and barrier options, dynamic fund protection, and dynamic withdrawal benefit with guarantee. We also discuss how barrier options can be used to model lapses and surrenders.

Distribuição do sistema radicular do pessegueiro 'Okinawa' propagado por sementes e por estacas herbáceas

Objetivou-se estudar a distribuição do sistema radicular do pessegueiro 'Okinawa' propagado por sementes e por estacas herbáceas, em condições de campo. As plantas, enxertadas com a cv. Aurora-1, foram conduzidas no espaçamento de 6,0 x 1,0 m, em Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo eutrófico de textura arenosa média ("Fazenda São Benedito"), no Município de Taiaçu (SP). Foram realizados todos os tratos culturais recomendados para a cultura do pessegueiro na região, incluindo a irrigação por microaspersores. Aos 34 meses após o transplantio das mudas, foram avaliadas 3 plantas de cada método de propagação, demarcando-se 36 monólitos (0,5 x 0,5 x 0,4 m) ao redor de cada planta, com auxílio de barras de ferro (0,6 m) e fitas plásticas. O solo foi removido com jatos de água (3,5 kgf.cm-2 de pressão e 4.615 L.h-1 de vazão) até a profundidade de 0,4 m. Não houve diferenças entre o 'Okinawa' propagado por sementes e por estacas herbáceas na massa fresca e seca de raízes, e ambos os métodos de propagação proporcionam semelhante distribuição das raízes finas (Æ < 2,8 mm) e grossas (Æ > 2,8 mm) ao redor da planta. O crescimento das raízes finas, no sentido transversal à linha de plantio, foi além da projeção da copa e também além do 1 metro e meio avaliado, e o crescimento de raízes grossas foi além de 0,4 m de profundidade, permitindo às plantas adequada ancoragem, em ambos os tratamentos.

The international multidisciplinary consensus conference on multimodality monitoring in neurocritical care: evidentiary tables : a statement for healthcare professionals from the neurocritical care society and the European society of intensive care medicine.

A variety of technologies have been developed to assist decision-making during the management of patients with acute brain injury who require intensive care. A large body of research has been generated describing these various technologies. The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) in collaboration with the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), and the Latin America Brain Injury Consortium (LABIC) organized an international, multidisciplinary consensus conference to perform a systematic review of the published literature to help develop evidence-based practice recommendations on bedside physiologic monitoring. This supplement contains a Consensus Summary Statement with recommendations and individual topic reviews on physiologic processes important in the care of acute brain injury. In this article we provide the evidentiary tables for select topics including systemic hemodynamics, intracranial pressure, brain and systemic oxygenation, EEG, brain metabolism, biomarkers, processes of care and monitoring in emerging economies to provide the clinician ready access to evidence that supports recommendations about neuromonitoring.

Incidencia lesional en el fútbol. Primera división. Temporada 1999-2000

El fútbol constituye en nuestro país, al igual que en otros Estados de nuestro entorno, un fenómeno que trasciende de lo meramente deportivo para convertirse en un referente social que despierta pasiones y que tiene su consiguiente reflejo en los medios de comunicación social. No es pues de extrañar que de forma diaria la prensa deportiva de ámbito nacional proporcione información constante sobre la materia, incluyendo lo concerniente a las lesiones que aquejan a los jugadores considerándolo hecho noticiable en la medida que ello pueda afectar a las expectativas de los diferentes equipos. Dicha información, debidamente recogida, sistematizada y analizada, es susceptible de proporcionar valiosos datos sobre la incidencia lesional en esta modalidad deportiva. Éste es precisamente el objetivo de nuestro estudio, sin otra pretensión que la de proporcionar unas pautas a tomar en consideración por los profesionales cuyo esfuerzo se centre en la optimización del rendimiento, en la planificación de la temporada, en el establecimiento de programas de prevención y, en definitiva, en la minimización del riesgo lesional.

Características hidráulicas y geomorfológicas de ríos de montaña (I)

Con este artículo se inicia una serie de tres que pretenden ser una breve síntesis del estado del conocimiento acerca de la hidráulica y la geomorfología fluvial que se desarrollan en ríos de montaña constituidos por material granular no cohesivo.

In this issue.

A new issue, once again a bouquet of attractive papers. First of all the paper by Droit-Dupré et al. (10.1007/s00428-015-1724-9). The group studied colonic adenocarcinomas, not otherwise specified, by immunohistochemistry for the expression of markers of intestinal epithelial cell differentiation. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified a major cluster of two thirds of the case series, expressing cytokeratin 20, CDX2 and MUC2 and invariably mismatch repair competent, which they called crypt-like. In stage III colon cancer, the crypt-like cluster had a better prognosis. The paper is a relatively simple example of what is happening in cancer classification beyond morphology: multiparameter differentiation and (epi)genomic markers defining new subtypes of cancer with potential clinical significance in clinical decision making.

Genome-wide association study of kidney function decline in individuals of European descent.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified multiple loci associated with cross-sectional eGFR, but a systematic genetic analysis of kidney function decline over time is missing. Here we conducted a GWAS meta-analysis among 63,558 participants of European descent, initially from 16 cohorts with serial kidney function measurements within the CKDGen Consortium, followed by independent replication among additional participants from 13 cohorts. In stage 1 GWAS meta-analysis, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at MEOX2, GALNT11, IL1RAP, NPPA, HPCAL1, and CDH23 showed the strongest associations for at least one trait, in addition to the known UMOD locus, which showed genome-wide significance with an annual change in eGFR. In stage 2 meta-analysis, the significant association at UMOD was replicated. Associations at GALNT11 with Rapid Decline (annual eGFR decline of 3 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) or more), and CDH23 with eGFR change among those with CKD showed significant suggestive evidence of replication. Combined stage 1 and 2 meta-analyses showed significance for UMOD, GALNT11, and CDH23. Morpholino knockdowns of galnt11 and cdh23 in zebrafish embryos each had signs of severe edema 72 h after gentamicin treatment compared with controls, but no gross morphological renal abnormalities before gentamicin administration. Thus, our results suggest a role in the deterioration of kidney function for the loci GALNT11 and CDH23, and show that the UMOD locus is significantly associated with kidney function decline.Kidney International advance online publication, 10 December 2014; doi:10.1038/ki.2014.361.