Transformational versus transactional leadership styles and project success: A meta-analytic review

Despite the fact that the reliance on project teams and project-based organizations has significantly increased over the past decades, previous meta-analyses paid no attention to the examination of leadership styles in the context of projects. The purpose of this study was to meta-analytically synthesize and investigate the contradictory evidence on the effects of transformational leadership and transactional leadership on project success. The study also examined several project-level and country-level moderators in such effects. The study used 64 effect sizes from 41 primary studies on projects to examine the proposed relationships. The findings suggested that transformational leadership had a stronger effect on project success than transactional leadership. The results further indicated that project-level factors (i.e., project size and project type) moderated the relationships of leadership styles with project success. Moreover, the country-level factors (i.e., power distance, collectivism, and economic status of the country) also moderated some of the relationships. Theoretical and practical implications are provided in the end.     

The impact of Multiple Mini Interviews on the attrition and academic outcomes of midwifery students

BackgroundAdmission to the Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid) in Australia has traditionally been based on academic ranking. The BMid is a high demand course offered to a limited number of students and therefore choosing applicants who complete the degree is important. Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) are used to assess non-cognitive skills and select students into healthcare degrees. One university in Australia has introduced MMIs as part of the application process for the BMid.AimCompare attrition rates and Grade Point Average (GPA) scores between students admitted into the BMid using both academic ranking and MMIs, to those admitted on academic ranking alone.MethodsA basic convergent mixed methods design, using an explanatory unidirectional framework to integrate data. Attrition rates, GPA, and multiple mini interview scores (2013–2019), were linked and compared for before and after the use of MMI’s. Focus groups with students, interviewers, and hospital-based educators, explored stakeholder experiences. Open-ended questions from an applicant survey were added to the qualitative data set, which was analysed thematically.FindingsStudents who enrolled via the MMI’s had significantly lower attrition rates than those enrolled before MMI’s were introduced. GPA scores were significantly higher for students who enrolled via the MMI’s. Integration of data found MMI’s identified students passionate to undertake midwifery, and that success at the interviews increased students’ confidence to successfully complete their studies.ConclusionMMI’s as part of the entry process into the BMid enabled identification of applicants more likely to remain in the course and succeed in their studies.     

ICT in education can improve students’ achievements in rural China: The role of parents,educators and authorities

Based on a quasi-natural experiment of the Three Links Project (TLP) implemented in rural China, we explore the impact of ICT in education on students’ achievements. By using the difference-in-differences (DID) method, we find that TLP implementations result in a 3.4340-point increase in students' test scores and cognitive and noncognitive ability scores increased by 0.1631 and 0.0405 points, respectively. Results of mechanism tests show that this positive effect is explained by the improvement of teachers' efforts and enthusiasm, the increase of parental involvement in education, and positive student responses. Moreover, heterogeneity analysis results suggest that TLP implementations have a greater positive effect on achievements of some disadvantaged students, such as girls, non-only children, and those from relatively low-income families. This study highlights the benefits of ICT in education and reveals the positive role of parents, educators, and authorities in promoting student achievement and human capital accumulation. Furthermore, our findings complement the research field on educational inequity and have some insights for China and other developing countries.     

欧盟就业政策及其对我国再就业政策的启示

近年来，失业阴影不仅笼罩着整个西方世界，发展中国家的就业状况同样不容乐观。本文以新一轮世界经济发展和我国再就业工程现状为背景，在分析欧盟就业状况及其政策思路的基础上，提出了借鉴欧盟有关经验，进一步优化我国再就业政策的建议。