Professional standards research:job satisfaction and innovation

Job satisfaction is a significant predictor of organisational innovation – especially where employees (including shop-floor workers) experience variety in their jobs and work in a single-status environment. The relationship between job satisfaction and performance has long intrigued work psychologists. The idea that "happy workers are productive workers" underpins many theories of performance, leadership, reward and job design. But contrary to popular belief, the relationship between job satisfaction and performance at individual level has been shown to be relatively weak. Research investigating the link between job satisfaction and creativity (the antecedent to innovation) shows that job dissatisfaction promotes creative outcomes. The logic is that those who are dissatisfied (and have decided to stay with the organisation) are determined to change things and have little to lose in doing so (see JM George & J Zhou, 2002). We were therefore surprised to find in the course of our own research into managerial practices and employee attitudes in manufacturing organisations that job satisfaction was a highly significant predictor of product and technological innovation. These results held even though the research was conducted longitudinally, over two years, while controlling for prior innovation. In other words, job satisfaction was a stronger predictor of innovation than any pre-existing orientation organisations had towards working innovatively. Using prior innovation as a control variable, as well as a longitudinal research design, strengthened our case against the argument that people are satisfied because they belong to a highly innovative organisation. We found that the relationship between job satisfaction and innovation was stronger still where organisations showed that they were committed to promoting job variety, especially at shop-floor level. We developed precise instruments to measure innovation, taking into account the magnitude of the innovation both in terms of the number of people involved in its implementation, and how new and different it was. Using this instrument, we are able to give each organisation in our sample a "score" from one to seven for innovation in areas ranging from administration to production technology. We found that much innovation is incremental, involving relatively minor improvements, rather than major change. To achieve sustained innovation, organisations have to draw on the skills and knowledge of employees at all levels. We also measured job satisfaction at organisational level, constructing a mean "job satisfaction" score for all organisations in our sample, and drawing only on those companies whose employees tended to respond in a similar manner to the questions they were asked. We argue that where most of the workforce experience job satisfaction, employees are more likely to collaborate, to share ideas and aim for high standards because people are keen to sustain their positive feelings. Job variety and single-status arrangements further strengthen the relationship between satisfaction and performance. This makes sense; where employees experience variety, they are exposed to new and different ideas and, provided they feel positive about their jobs, are likely to be willing to try to apply these ideas to improve their jobs. Similarly, staff working in single-status environments where hierarchical barriers are reduced are likely to feel trusted and valued by management and there is evidence (see G Jones & J George, 1998) that people work collaboratively and constructively with those they trust. Our study suggests that there is a strong business case for promoting employee job satisfaction. Managers and HR practitioners need to ensure their strategies and practices support and sustain job satisfaction among their workforces to encourage constructive, collaborative and creative working. It is more important than ever for organisations to respond rapidly to demands of the external environment. This study shows the positive association between organisational-level job satisfaction and innovation. So if a happy workforce is the key to unlocking innovation and organisations want to thrive in the global economy, it is vital that managers and HR practitioners pay close attention to employee perceptions of the work environment. In a world where the most innovative survive it could make all the difference.

Formal professional relationships between general practitioners and specialists: possible associations with patient health and pharmacy costs

This article investigates whether the strength of formal professional relationships between general practitioners (GPs) and specialists (SPs) affects either the health status of patients or their pharmacy costs. To this end, it measures the strength of formal professional relationships between GPs and SPs through the number of shared patients and proxies the patient health status by the number of comorbidities diagnosed and treated. In strong GP–SP relationships, the patient health status is expected to be high, due to efficient care coordination, and the pharmacy costs low, due to effective use of resources. To test these hypotheses and compare the characteristics of the strongest GP–SP connections with those of the weakest, this article concentrates on diabetes—a chronic condition where patient care coordination is likely important. Diabetes generates the largest shared patient cohort in Hungary, with the highest traffic of specialist medication prescriptions. This article finds that stronger ties result in lower pharmacy costs, but not in higher patient health statuses. Key points for decision makers • The number of shared patients may be used to measure the strength of formal professional relationships between general practitioners and specialists. • A large number of shared patients indicates a strong, collaborative tie between general practitioners and specialists, whereas a low number indicates a weak, fragmented tie. • Tie strength does not affect patient health—strong, collaborative ties between general practitioners and specialists do not involve better patient health than weak, fragmented ties. • Tie strength does affect pharmacy costs—strong, collaborative ties between general practitioners and specialists involve significantly lower pharmacy costs than weak, fragmented ties. • Pharmacy costs may be reduced by lowering patient care fragmentation through channelling a general practitioner’s patients to a small number of specialists and increasing collaboration between general practitioner and specialists. • Limited patient choice is financially more beneficial than complete freedom of choice, and no more detrimental to patient health.

A gyógyszerkiadás és a betegek egészségi állapota a háziorvosi és szakorvosi kapcsolatok függvényében = Formal professional relations between general practitioners and specialists. Possible links with patient health and pharmacy cost

Arra a kérdésre keressük a választ, hogy a szoros háziorvosi-szakorvosi szakmai kapcsolatoknak van-e hatásuk a betegek gyógyszerkiadására, illetve egészségi állapotára. Az orvosok közötti szakmai kapcsolatok szorosságát a közösen gondozott betegek száma alapján határoztuk meg, míg a betegek egészségügyi állapotát a diagnosztizált és kezelt társbetegségek számával mértük. Hipotézisünk egyrészt az volt, hogy a hatékonyabb koordinációnak köszönhetően a szoros kapcsolatban kezelt betegek jobb egészségi állapotúak, másrészt kezelésük az erőforrások hatékonyabb felhasználása miatt kisebb gyógyszerköltséggel jár. E két hipotézist a cukorbetegekre teszteltük. Azért esett erre a krónikus betegségre a választásunk, mert itt a háziorvosok és a szakorvosok együttműködése elsődleges fontosságú. Magyarországon a cukorbetegek esetében a legnagyobb a közösen kezelt betegek populációja, valamint itt a legmagasabb a szakorvosi javaslatra felírt háziorvosi receptek száma. Azt az eredményt kaptuk, hogy a szoros kapcsolatban kezelt betegek nem rendelkeznek sem jobb, sem rosszabb egészségi állapottal, miközben a kapcsolódó gyógyszerkiadásuk szignifikánsan alacsonyabb. ____ The article considers whether strong formal professional relations between GPs and specialists in shared care affect either the health of patients or the pharmacy costs they incur. The strength of such relations is measured by the number of shared patients; patient health is proxied by number of co-morbidities diagnosed and treated. The first hypothesis is that patients treated amid strong GP-specialist relations have better health status than those treated amid weak ones, due to enhanced efficiency of care coordination. The second is that patients treated in such strong relations incur lower pharmacy costs high numbers of shared patients are assumed to promote appropriate, effective use of resources. The article tests these hypotheses and compares the outcomes of the strongest and weakest GP-specialist relations through the example of diabetes, a chronic condition where patient-care coordination is important. Diabetes generates the largest shared patient cohort in Hungary, with the highest number of specialist medication prescriptions. This article finds that stronger ties result in significantly lower pharmacy costs, but not a higher patient health status.

The European Registered Toxicologist (ERT): Current status and prospects for advancement

Following its inception in 1994, the certification of European Registered Toxicologists (ERT) by EUROTOX has been recognized as ensuring professional competence as well as scientific integrity and credibility. Criteria and procedures for registration are contained in the ERT "Guidelines for Registration 2012". The register of ERT currently has over 1900 members. In order to continue the harmonisation of requirements and processes between national registering bodies as a prerequisite for official recognition of the ERT title as a standard, and to take account of recent developments in toxicology, an update of the ERT Guidelines has been prepared in a series of workshops by the EUROTOX subcommittees for education and registration, in consultation with representatives of national toxicology societies and registers. The update includes details of topics and learning outcomes for theoretical training, and how these can be assessed. The importance of continuing professional development as the cornerstone of re-registration is emphasised. To help with the process of harmonisation, it is necessary to collate and share best practices of registration conditions and procedures across Europe. Importantly, this information can also be used to audit compliance with the EUROTOX standards. As recognition of professionals in toxicology, including specialist qualifications, is becoming more important than ever, we believe that this can best be achieved based on the steps for harmonisation outlined here together with the proposed new Guidelines.

The evolution of the occupational status in Spain: An intergenerational approach

The relationship between the socio-economic status of parents and children is referred by the literature as intergenerational social mobility. The scope of this mobility encompasses different aspects such as educational attainment, income, wealth, prestige and occupational status. In particular, intergenerational occupational mobility is an interesting topic in the economic literature because it is positively associated with the economic achievement and the professional success. Low mobility implies that human capital, skills and talent can be misallocated. As a consequence, the workers’ efforts, their motivation and productivity could be negatively affected, which would have adverse effects on the economy growth and its competitiveness. This paper attempts to carry out the study of the evolution of intergenerational social mobility in Spain during the 21st century. The methodology applied involves to associate the National Classification of Occupations (CNO-94) with the New International Socio-economic Index of Occupational Status (ISEI-08), in order to establish a socio-economic hierarchy. Afterwards, once the occupational ranking is defined, we use statistic and econometric methods to assess the occupational transitions between fathers and children and to analyse the covariates’ effects on these transitions, including as explanatory variable the children’s educational attainment. Data used corresponds to the 2005 and 2011 Living Condition Survey (INE, 2005, 2011). The results of the study are displayed by distinguishing children according to their birth cohort.

Socio-economic status, growth, physical activity and fitness: the Madeira growth study

Within a country social conditions change over time and these conditions vary from country to country. The associations between these conditions, somatic growth, physical activity and fitness reflect these changes. Aim: The study documented variation in somatic growth, physical activity and fitness associated with socio-economic status (SES). Subjects and methods: The study involved 507 subjects (256 boys and 251 girls) from the Madeira Growth Study, a mixed longitudinal study of five cohorts (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age) followed at yearly intervals over 3 years (1996–1998). A total of 1493 observations were made. Anthropometric measurements included lengths, body mass, skeletal breadths, girths and skinfolds. Physical activity and SES were collected via questionnaire and interview. Physical fitness was assessed using the Eurofit test battery. Variation in somatic growth, physical activity and physical fitness by SES (high, average and low) was tested with analysis of variance. Results: Significant differences between SES groups were observed for height, body mass and skinfolds. Boys and girls from high SES groups were taller, heavier and fatter (subscapular and triceps skinfolds) than their peers from average and low SES groups. At some age intervals, the high SES group had larger skeletal breadths (girls) and girths (boys and girls) than low SES. Small SES differences were observed for physical activity (sport and leisure-time indices). SES was significantly associated with physical fitness. At some age levels, boys from the low SES group performed better for muscular and aerobic endurance whereas girls from the high SES group performed better for power. Conclusion: Considerable variation in somatic growth and physical fitness in association with SES has been demonstrated, but little association was found for physical activity.

Socio-economic status, growth, physical activity and fitness: the Madeira growth study

Within a country social conditions change over time and these conditions vary from country to country. The associations between these conditions, somatic growth, physical activity and fitness reflect these changes. Aim: The study documented variation in somatic growth, physical activity and fitness associated with socio-economic status (SES). Subjects and methods: The study involved 507 subjects (256 boys and 251 girls) from the Madeira Growth Study, a mixed longitudinal study of five cohorts (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age) followed at yearly intervals over 3 years (1996–1998). A total of 1493 observations were made. Anthropometric measurements included lengths, body mass, skeletal breadths, girths and skinfolds. Physical activity and SES were collected via questionnaire and interview. Physical fitness was assessed using the Eurofit test battery. Variation in somatic growth, physical activity and physical fitness by SES (high, average and low) was tested with analysis of variance. Results: Significant differences between SES groups were observed for height, body mass and skinfolds. Boys and girls from high SES groups were taller, heavier and fatter (subscapular and triceps skinfolds) than their peers from average and low SES groups. At some age intervals, the high SES group had larger skeletal breadths (girls) and girths (boys and girls) than low SES. Small SES differences were observed for physical activity (sport and leisure-time indices). SES was significantly associated with physical fitness. At some age levels, boys from the low SES group performed better for muscular and aerobic endurance whereas girls from the high SES group performed better for power. Conclusion: Considerable variation in somatic growth and physical fitness in association with SES has been demonstrated, but little association was found for physical activity.

SAP-Related Education - Status-Quo and Experience

Integrating Enterprise Systems solutions in the curriculum of not only universities but all types of institutes of higher learning has been a major challenge for nearly ten years. Enterprise Systems education is surprisingly well documented in a number of papers on Information Systems education. However, most publications in this area report on the individual experiences of an institution or an academic. This paper focuses on the most popular Enterprise System - SAP - and summarizes the outcomes of a global survey on the status quo of SAP-related education. Based on feedback of 305 lecturers and more than 700 students, it reports on the main factors of Enterprise Systems education including, critical success factors, alternative hosting models, and students’ perceptions. The results show among others an overall increasing interest in advanced SAP solutions and international collaboration, and a high satisfaction with the concept of using Application Hosting Centers.