New ways of organizing product introductions

The aim of this paper is to describe and reflect on an interactive research approach used to address the challenges on how to improve product introductions, the part of the product realization process associated with the transfer of a product from product development to serial production. In the interactive research approach, research results as well as improvement of practice are given equal importance. The collaboration between researchers and practitioners therefore addresses both the focus and the process of the change. The approach includes four main iterative steps: 1) mapping/diagnosis, 2) feedback of results, 3) participation in development activities, and 4) follow-up/evaluation. The paper reports findings from interactive research in one company within office product industry and one company group, consisting of three company units within the engine industry. Preliminary findings indicate that the participating companies afterwards work in a more structured way with product introductions and that the employees have gained deeper knowledge about product introductions as well as experienced the advantages of working across functional boundaries. Furthermore, the interactive research approach is suitable to run projects from an ergonomics perspective as it focuses on developing both practice and theory, it is human-centered, and it emphasizes broad participation from practitioners.     

“What Would a Loving Mom Do Today?”: Exploring the Meaning of Motherhood in Stories of Prenatal and Postpartum Depression

Prenatal depression (PD) and postpartum depression (PPD), experienced by up to one-quarter of pregnant women and new mothers, are associated with maternal impairment and disruptions to children’s behavior, development, and health. Women experiencing PD/PPD must cope with negative feelings and detrimental outcomes that stand in contrast with cultural conceptions of how (ideal) mothers feel and act (i.e., the discourse of intensive mothering), thus furthering stigma and negativity surrounding the PD/PPD experience. The present study, couched in relational dialectics theory, aims to explore how women, through naturally occurring online narratives, make sense of motherhood in light of both PD/PPD experiences and cultural expectations/understandings of mothers. Throughout the narrative corpus, the culturally dominant Discourse of (Self-)Sacrificing Blissful Moms (DSBM)—which expands on the discourse of intensive mothering—is de-centered, albeit never fully delegitimated, by the Discourse of Mothers as Whole People (DMWP). Rather than closing down the DSBM, the DMWP works to expand meanings of what “good” mothers can feel and do. This finding holds both cultural/theoretical and practical implications, as discussed by the authors.     

Building Culturally Sensitive Assessments for Transgender Clients: Best Practices for Instrument Development and the Adaptation Process

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on best practices for developing, adapting, and using assessments with transgender clients. The historical context of gender minorities in counseling is discussed, outlining the bias and stigma that has been attached to transgender identities. Due to this historical bias, most assessments use heteronormative language and were not developed for use with gender minorities. As such, we used the guidelines put forth by the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC) to present a guide for developing and adapting assessments for the transgender population. Finally, the authors discuss the clinical application of using a trans-sensitive assessment process for counselor educators and clinicians.     

On a perturbed dual risk model with dependence between inter-gain times and gain sizes

The dual risk model may be used to model the revenue process of a company with constant expense rate and occasional gains. In this paper, we consider a dual risk model with both inter-gain times and expense rates depending on the size of previous gain. Also, we assume the process is perturbed by a Brownian motion. Exact solutions for the Laplace transform and the first moment of the time to ruin with arbitrary gain-size distribution are obtained. Applications with numerical illustrations are provided to examine the impacts of the dependence structure and perturbation.     

Students’, caretakers’ and decision-makers’ perception of support in higher education for students with in-care experience

Students with in-care experiences overcome different life challenges, risks factors and use their strengths to get into higher education. During the study period they face different difficulties, so the state as ‘institutional’ parent should provide support. This paper presents results of a qualitative study that aimed to explore support system to students with in-care experience in Croatia from three perspectives: care leavers with studying experiences, caretakers and professionals who are involved in decision-making and implementing activities on national and local levels. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 23 students, 5 professionals and 11 caretakers in 5 Croatian cities. Three basic themes from all three perspectives are presented: currently available support, difficulties in the support system and guidelines for supporting in-care students. All groups of participants are informed about support that is currently available for students with in-care experiences and describe financial and accommodation support. Perceptions of difficulties in delivering support differ between professionals and students and caretakers. Students also explain reasons for seeking support. Resolving existential issues is the first step in support system building according to students’ and caretakers’ perceptions. Participants suggest different incentive activities, so finally recommendations for forming and delivering support system for in-care students are presented.     

Reflections on customers’ primary role in markets

Technology developments have transformed the business landscape by accelerating connectivity, transparency and unpredictability. We argue that the most dramatic consequence is not the possibilities created for companies but rather the challenges that emerge as a result of customer behaviour undergoing fundamental changes. Technology transformation has paved the way for empowered customers who are increasingly influencing businesses and markets, and the challenge for practitioners and researchers alike is to make sense of the role of these customers in such business environments. These developments have yielded a need to revise companies’ business models and to innovate new offerings. In scholarly research on marketing, this need has become evident and, beyond suggesting new concepts, completely new marketing management perspectives have been proposed, and each has its own core assumptions and focus. Broader views have emerged, and these stress the applicability of these perspectives not only to the top-level management of businesses but also to any non-commercial organisation.In this article, we reflect on the customer-dominant logic (CDL) of marketing, which stresses the customer's primary role in business. As such, CDL differs from approaches that focus on the provider's perspective. The CDL approach is an expression of the research ideals and goals that are based on the Nordic School of Service Management. We argue that CDL is well aligned with emerging challenges in most markets, both established and nascent, and that it is more managerially relevant than many other perspectives. This is also in line with the recent calls for a soul of relevance for European management research (Chia, 2014; Hernes, 2014).     

Transitions Between Compensated Work Disability,Joblessness, and Self-Sufficiency: A Cohort Study 1997–2010 of Those Jobless in 1995

Associations between unemployment, work, and disability have been researched in many studies. The findings are often based on cross-sectional data and single outcomes. The present study analysed multiple outcomes over a period of 15 years among long-term unemployed individuals. Based on all individuals aged 20–40 living in Sweden in 1995, prospective cohort analyses were conducted. Individual annual labour market proximity 1995–2010 was estimated and categorised into three mutually exclusive categories: “Jobless”, “Self-sufficient” (i.e. main income from work), or “Disabled”. Individuals in the category “Jobless” (n = 638,622) in 1995 constituted the study population. Using autoregressive multinomial logistic regression, transitions between the three states during 1997–2010 were analysed. Socio-economic factors, previous inpatient care, and national unemployment rates in different time periods were included in the regression models. Among those “Jobless” in 1995, 17 % were also “Jobless” in 2010, while 10 % were “Disabled” and 61 % “Self-sufficient”. The transitions were stable over time periods for transitions into “Self-sufficient” and “Disabled” but less so for “Jobless”. Previous state was the best predictor of subsequent state. “Jobless” individuals with previous morbidity had a higher transition probability into “Disabled” and a lower transition probability into “Self-sufficient”. The transition rates into “Self-sufficient” were higher in periods with lower unemployment levels. The study supports the interpretation that return to work was affected both by the individuals’ previous health status and by the national unemployment level. Transition from being “Jobless” into “Disability” may be influenced by previous ill health and by negative health effects of being “Jobless”.     

Context-driven gero-infusion: lessons learned from a curriculum development institute cohort

This article describes and compares the successes and challenges experienced by three social work programs in the United States working to infuse geriatric competencies into foundation Master of Social Work (MSW) courses, including field education. Adhering to the Planned Change Model each project utilized a range of approaches and strategies that emerged in each setting’s unique organizational and community context. This article examines and analyzes three context-driven accounts of curricular infusion for gerontological social work and lessons learned in this effort to establish gerontology as part of the implicit curriculum in social work programs in universities diverse in mission, size, programming priorities, and student population. Given the experiences of these programs, following the Planned Change Model, maintaining the context as being central to the process, anticipating common challenges, and preparing to engage strategies to overcome challenges are offered as recommendations for successful infusion and sustainment of the efforts.     

20世纪90年代以来的格鲁吉亚经济状况研究 ——以欧盟、俄罗斯及国际金融组织关系为视点的分析

文章以格鲁吉亚与欧盟、俄罗斯及国际金融组织的关系为视点，梳理并探讨了格鲁吉亚在后苏联时代（尤其是“玫瑰革命”以后）的经济发展状况。笔者在肯定该国经济进步的同时，对其未来发展走向与存在的问题进行了剖析。这项研究有益于研究者全面深入了解格鲁吉亚的经济现状与未来发展，并为“一带一路”倡议落地提供依据。