Search results for "Informal"

The Polish School of Argumentation: A Manifesto

2014

Building on our diverse research traditions in the study of reasoning, language and communication, the Polish School of Argumentation integrates various disciplines and institutions across Poland in which scholars are dedicated to understanding the phenomenon of the force of argument. Our primary goal is to craft a methodological programme and establish organisational infrastructure: this is the first key step in facilitating and fostering our research movement, which joins people with a common research focus, complementary skills and an enthusiasm to work together. This statement—the Manifesto—lays the foundations for the research programme of the Polish School of Argumentation.

A Glimpse at Media Education in Italy

2014

Microfinanza e microcredito: principali caratteristiche modelli operativi e diffusione in Italia

2016

l contributo, mediante un richiamo di recenti studi prodotti a livello istituzionale e dalla letteratura economica, evidenzia che il dibattito sui temi della microfinanza e del microcredito non è ancora riuscito a formulare una definizione unica e condivisa di questi due strumenti finanziari. Sono illustrate le principali differenze dello strumento microcredito rispetto al credito ordinario, i punti di forza e le criticità della cosiddetta “finanza informale” e del prestito di gruppo. A conclusione, con riferimento all’Italia, sono espresse alcune considerazioni sulle principali caratteristiche della offerta e della domanda di microcredito.

Bad News and Quality Reputation among Users of Public Services

2018

This manuexamines whether the effect of anchoring bias is greater when citizens evaluate the quality of a public service after receiving negative initial information about service performance than after receiving positive information. It also tests whether there are differences in this anchoring bias by comparing formal (report) vs. informal (rumor) communication. Two field experiments were conducted with the participation of passengers of a commuter public train transportation organization (Experiment 1, N = 105) and users of a public university administrative service (Experiment 2, N = 172). The first experiment confirmed the bias produced by the negative initial information, whereas this…

Communication challenges facing management teams

2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore what kinds of communication challenges management teams (MTs) experience and to suggest ideas for developing competent communication practices.Design/methodology/approach– Working according to the principles of qualitative research, a total of seven MT members from seven different international companies were interviewed. The thematic in-depth interviews were analyzed by first looking at all references of communication challenges, and then grouping them into six different dimensions.Findings– Most of the communication challenges facing MTs are related to the teams’ meetings, where issues of leadership, decision making and participation may we…

Revisiting the Nordic long-term care model for older people - still equal?

2022

With the extensive long-term care services for older people, the Nordic countries have been labelled ‘caring states’ as reported (Leira, Welfare state and working mothers: the Scandinavian experience, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1992). The emphasis on services and not cash benefits ensures the Nordics a central place in the public service model (Anttonen and Sipilä, J Eur Soc Policy 6:87–100, 1996). The main feature of this ideal model is public social care services, such as home care and residential care services, which can cover the need for personal and medical care, as well as assistance with household chores. These services are provided within a formally and professionally b…

Obstacles Facing Smaller Business in Developing Countries

2003

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a central role in economic growth and poverty alleviation in developing countries and transition economies. Yet small and medium-scale enterprise may suffer from a number of disadvantages compared with larger firms. Market imperfections, notably those caused by underdeveloped financial and legal systems, typically constrain small firms and severely limit their ability to grow. Economies of scale and entry cost favor large firms, and large entrepreneurs usually wield more political influence. Thus government rules and regulations may also be biased in favor of large firms. To the extent that market and government failures are more prevalent in develop…

Innovating European Long-Term Care Policies through the Socio-Economic Support of Families: A Lesson from Practices

2022

LTC and socio-economic deprivation of families are two relevant issues in international debate. The economic or time investment made by families in caregiving has an impact on the socio-economic status of family members in terms of economic means and social inclusion. This study analyzes the practices that are supported by home LTC, examining their characteristics, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, drivers, and barriers, as well as identifying social innovation aspects. The study provides a qualitative interpretative comparison of 22 practices from eight countries, representing the four LTC care models existing in Europe. Cross-studies aid in the development of sustainable policies. …

Emerging Tiger? The Paradoxes of the Philippine Economy

2017

The Republic of the Philippines is an exception in the East and Southeast Asia realm. One of the richest countries of the region at the end of World War II, its rankings have slipped, and its growth rates have been weak for several decades. We examine the main causes of the mediocre economic performance of the country since the 1950s. Many analysts have pointed out an excessive bureaucracy, high levels of corruption and the lack of industrial investment in a country dominated by landed interests. After the high debt incurred during the Marcos administration, Philippine leaders have made every effort to improve the debt situation, choosing to pay back loans, but under investing in infrastruc…

Education, Work and Life

2018

In this chapter, I will study the relationship between education and working life from a few viewpoints. First, I will examine how everyday working life has changed and how education has to change. Second, I will depict how the practices of both education and the working world can and should be researched in terms of the theory of practice architectures. Third, I will come back to reflect on the relationships between work, education and life. The work that people do has increasingly been immaterialized. Working life has been detached from material production which is more and more automated and robotically driven. According to a Swiss professor Schwab (2015, 2016), we have already moved int…