Search results for "flexibility"
showing 10 items of 466 documents
Balancing ‘flexibility’ and ‘employability’: The changing role of general studies in the Finnish and Swedish VET curricula of the 1990s and 2010s
2019
This article analyses and compares the evolving role of general subjects in the curricula of initial upper secondary vocational education and training (VET) in Finland and Sweden during the 1990s and 2010s. The research illustrates how Bernstein’s concept of ‘pedagogic code’ supports comparative studies on principles guiding changes to curricula and how the role of general studies in VET has been redefined. The findings show that while a principle of ‘market relevance’ has been central to VET over the decades since the 1990s, it has been subject to varying interpretations. The shifts in interpretations have guided the organisation of VET in these two countries in different directions, incl…
Effect of Hamstring Tightness and Fatigue on Dynamic Stability and Agility in Physically Active Young Men
2023
Hamstring extensibility has been defined as a factor to diminished dynamic stability and therefore increased risk of injury. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of hamstring tightness and fatigue on dynamic stability and agility. Nineteen participants were divided between the normal extensibility group (NEG) (n = 9, 82.2° ± 12.4°) and hamstrings tightness group (HTG) (n = 10, 64° ± 4.9°) using the passive straight leg raise test. To analyse dynamic stability and agility, they performed the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) and Dynamic Postural Stability Index (DPSI), and hexagon agility test, respectively, before and after a fatigue …
Analysis of the Relationship Between Context and Solution Plan in Modelling Tasks Involving Estimations
2021
In this chapter we analyse students’ written solution plan of a sequence of modelling tasks involving estimations. Our research objective is to statistically analyse whether there is a relation between the solution plan and the characteristics of the context of the real estimation task. From previous work, we have identified some task variables that are directly related to the context. In this study we have designed a sequence of modelling tasks and we have analysed the productions of N = 224 Spanish pre-service primary school teachers. The results show that there is a relationship between the variables of the task and the solution plan used by the students in each case. From the results of…
Evaluating the extent of patient-centred care in a selection of ESC guidelines
2019
AIMS: Patient-centred care (PCC) is the cornerstone for healthcare professionals to promote high quality care for patients with cardiovascular conditions. It is defined as 'Providing care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient preferences, needs and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions'. PCC can improve patient outcomes and allow patients and healthcare professionals to manage care collaboratively using best available evidence. However, there is no clear understanding how extensively guidelines incorporate PCC recommendations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incorporation of PCC into a selection of guidelines published by the E…
The Economics of Monetary Union: The Theory of Optimum Currency Areas
2013
In the 1960s, the theory of Optimum Currency Areas (OCAs) emerged as a by-product of the theoretical debate between fixed and flexible exchange rates. The OCAs approach singles out an economic characteristic to define an economic domain where there is exchange rate fixity erga intra, while there is exchange rate flexibility erga extra. In an optimum currency area, exchange rates fixity prevails internally without any type of internal or external disequilibrium. Each single characteristic ensures that floating or regular adjustments in nominal exchange rates are neither necessary, efficient nor desirable for stabilisation purposes. The literature proposes several economic criteria: factor mo…
Bayesian Unification of Gradient and Bandit-based Learning for Accelerated Global Optimisation
2017
Bandit based optimisation has a remarkable advantage over gradient based approaches due to their global perspective, which eliminates the danger of getting stuck at local optima. However, for continuous optimisation problems or problems with a large number of actions, bandit based approaches can be hindered by slow learning. Gradient based approaches, on the other hand, navigate quickly in high-dimensional continuous spaces through local optimisation, following the gradient in fine grained steps. Yet, apart from being susceptible to local optima, these schemes are less suited for online learning due to their reliance on extensive trial-and-error before the optimum can be identified. In this…
Defining and measuring the network flexibility of humanitarian supply chains: insights from the 2015 Nepal earthquake
2019
International audience; The efficient and effective response to disasters critically depends on humanitarian supply chains (HSCs). HSCs need to be flexible to adapt to uncertainties in needs, infrastructure conditions, and behavior of other organizations. The concept of ‘network flexibility’ is, however, not clearly defined. The lack of an unanimous definition has led to a lack of consistent understanding and comparisons. This paper makes a threefold contribution: first, it defines the concept of network flexibility for HSC in the context of sudden onset disasters. Second, it proposes a framework to measure network flexibility in HSCs. Third, we apply our framework to the 2015 Nepal earthqu…
PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTING TO MARKET CHANGES
2007
Abstract This paper describes those situations when a company, an organization, in its search for minimum costs, including those involved by investment, and production flexibility, manages to adapt to those changes that ensure survival on the market. Economies of scale are an attraction for any firm and thus globalized, huge firms emerge, conquering continuously developing markets. However, smaller firms face market changes that are usually dangerous in terms of sustainability. The paper highlights those market components that provide information on adapting production through flexibility.
Success factors of Polish family businesses
2017
This article presents the results of a study carried out among family businesses operating in Poland. It is intended to supplement previously generated knowledge in the area of the operation of family businesses in the specific socio-economic and legal conditions in Poland. The objective was to collate the opinions of entrepreneurs regarding the need for visibility of the family and the family business status in business relations and the marketing activities of enterprises. The data were collected using in-depth interviews with the Polish family business owners. This paper outlines the conclusion of the study with respect to success factors such as: the trust among the family members, flex…
Revamping Research on Unrelated Diversification Strategy: Perspectives, Opportunities and Challenges for Future Inquiry
2015
With the aim of achieving an advanced understanding of current research on unrelated diversification and providing fruitful groundwork to foster active interchange between disciplinary traditions, this paper detects articles from two relevant research streams; i.e., strategic management and financial economics. We first provide a brief overview of management thinking on unrelated diversification strategy. Then, we present a conceptual map that offers a comprehensive appreciation of unrelated diversification strategy antecedents (i.e., environmental and institutional, organizational value-enhancing, and managerial drivers), implementation process (i.e., managerial complexity, misallocation o…