Drivers of business model innovation in family firms: A dataset analysis

In recent years, both in the world of research and consulting, the concept of innovation in the business model has been gaining a lot of interest. As a result, an incipient number of scientific and popular publications are being generated, which try to delimit and explain this term, as well as work methodologies for its application in the business world. The family business field can benefit from the application of this approach. But, at the same time, it can also serve as an object of study since its special idiosyncrasy will allow to deepen the analysis of successful business models. To illustrate innovation in business models, data from 112 family firms representative of the regional economy are presented. The companies are also associated with the Murcian Association of Family Businesses (Amefmur). The collaboration with this organization has made it possible to obtain very valuable and representative information thanks to the support provided. The collection of information was carried out through an electronic survey. These data could be especially useful for establishing business recommendations for this type of companies and for analyzing other possible interrelationships of the variables available in the database.

Essential consultants' skills and attitudes (Willing CONSULT): a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Despite multi-professional collaboration via consultation being increasingly important given the variety of disease diagnoses and treatment, the key elements as consultants remain unclear. The study aimed to identify the skills and attitudes that are important for consultants from the residents' perspective so that they can be targeted as priority goals in subsequent educational interventions.

METHODS

We conducted our research in two phases: a preliminary survey (May 1 to 14, 2020) and a main survey (June 1 to 14, 2020). As a preliminary survey, first-year postgraduate residents at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo, Japan, were first asked an open-ended question about the types of skills and attitudes that are important for consultants. After eliminating duplicate answers, there were 19 skills and attitudes in total. In the main survey with residents who completed their residency training at our institute, from 2014 to 2018 and current residents (2019-2020), we first asked them about their demographic characteristics (gender, years of postgraduate education, and type of specialty). Then, they answered how important each skill and attitude are for consultants. All 19 items were scored on a seven-point Likert scale that ranged from 0 (completely disagree) to 6 (totally agree). Cronbach's alpha confirmed the internal consistency of the questionnaire items. Principal component analysis and exploratory factor analysis were performed.

RESULTS

The survey included 107 individuals (61.1 %, 175 potential participants). The median postgraduate years of education was four (interquartile range: 2-5), and 64.5 % were men (n = 69). Seven key elements for consultants were identified and termed Willing CONSULT. These included (1) willingness (willingness to accept consultation requests), (2) contact (easy access to consultants), (3) needs (consideration of consulters' needs), (4) suggestions and support (providing clear recommendations and suggestions, following up on the patients, and supporting the consulters continuously), (5) urgency (considering the situation's urgency and responding appropriately), (6) learning opportunities (providing teaching points), and (7) text (writing medical records).

CONCLUSIONS

We propose Willing CONSULT, which are important skills and attitudes for consultants.

The role of national and international veterinary laboratories

In the field of diagnostic test validation, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Reference Laboratories (RLs) have a pivotal role and provide the international community with impartial advice and support in the selection, development and validation of diagnostic tests, which can be applied to the specialist diseases for which they are designated. National RLs provide an invaluable function in supporting the introduction, ongoing validation and application of validated diagnostic tests in line with international standards. Experienced staff with extensive knowledge of such systems and access to specialist facilities for conducting work are available to monitor changes or advancements in technology. They consider their relevance and value to evolving diagnostic test requirements. Reference Laboratories often have a broad mandate of activity linking research or development programmes and surveillance activities to benefit the continual assessment and, if necessary, improvement of diagnostic tools. Reference Laboratories maintain or have access to unique biological archives (known positive and negative sample populations) and produce international reference standards, both of which are vital in establishing the necessary and detailed validation of any diagnostic test. Reference Laboratories act either singularly or in collaborative partnerships with other RLs or science institutes, but also, when required, and with impartiality, with the commercial sector, to ensure new tests are validated according to OIE standards. They promote and apply formal programmes of quality assurance (including proficiency testing programmes) for newly validated tests, ensuring ongoing monitoring and compliance with standards, or as required set out any limitations or uncertainties. Reference Laboratories publish information on test validation in the scientific literature and on relevant websites, as well as disseminating information at workshops and international conferences. Furthermore, they can offer training in the processes and systems underpinning test validation.

The road to consultancy: an epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

Modern medical and surgical training pathways have developed globally in response to changing expectations and requirements for trainees.

AIMS

To determine the demographic, educational, and training characteristics of consultants in a model 4 teaching hospital, and to evaluate the requirements met by consultant physicians and surgeons prior to their appointment to consultancy.

METHOD

A single-centre study conducted by prospectively distributing written questionnaires. Data was collected and analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS.

RESULTS

This questionnaire was offered to 166 consultants, 110 of whom responded (66.0%). The vast majority were Irish (91.8%) and 70.9% male. The mean age to appointment was 35.7 ± 2.6 years. Radiology was the specialty with the youngest mean age at appointment: 34.4 ± 2.6 years, while surgery had the oldest: 36.7 ± 2.7 (P = 0.035). Overall, 80.9% trained via Higher Specialist Training (HST) schemes (89/110) and 68.2% completed a higher degree (75/110). Geriatric medicine and dermatology had the highest rate of completed higher degrees (100.0%, 3/3 and 3/3 respectively), followed by surgeons (92.3%; 24/26) and cardiologists (71.4%; 5/7). The overall duration of HST varied greatly; the mean surgical, medical and anaesthesiology durations were 6.7 ± 1.8 years, 6.6 ± 1.7 years, and 5.3 ± 2.0 years. A total of 75.4% of consultants completed fellowship (83/110).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights variations in postgraduate Irish medical training pathways and discrepancies in training requirements expected in each specialty. The establishment of a modern guideline for young trainees working towards consultancy may be imperative in ensuring trainees have insight into training requirements expected in their specialty.

Research design: the methodology for interdisciplinary research framework

Many of today’s global scientific challenges require the joint involvement of researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds (social sciences, environmental sciences, climatology, medicine, etc.). Such interdisciplinary research teams face many challenges resulting from differences in training and scientific culture. Interdisciplinary education programs are required to train truly interdisciplinary scientists with respect to the critical factor skills and competences. For that purpose this paper presents the Methodology for Interdisciplinary Research (MIR) framework. The MIR framework was developed to help cross disciplinary borders, especially those between the natural sciences and the social sciences. The framework has been specifically constructed to facilitate the design of interdisciplinary scientific research, and can be applied in an educational program, as a reference for monitoring the phases of interdisciplinary research, and as a tool to design such research in a process approach. It is suitable for research projects of different sizes and levels of complexity, and it allows for a range of methods’ combinations (case study, mixed methods, etc.). The different phases of designing interdisciplinary research in the MIR framework are described and illustrated by real-life applications in teaching and research. We further discuss the framework’s utility in research design in landscape architecture, mixed methods research, and provide an outlook to the framework’s potential in inclusive interdisciplinary research, and last but not least, research integrity.

The Ethics of Doing Ethics

Ethicists have investigated ethical problems in other disciplines, but there has not been much discussion of the ethics of their own activities. Research in ethics has many ethical problems in common with other areas of research, and it also has problems of its own. The researcher's integrity is more precarious than in most other disciplines, and therefore even stronger procedural checks are needed to protect it. The promotion of some standpoints in ethical issues may be socially harmful, and even our decisions as to which issues we label as "ethical" may have unintended and potentially harmful social consequences. It can be argued that ethicists have an obligation to make positive contributions to society, but the practical implications of such an obligation are not easily identified. This article provides an overview of ethical issues that arise in research into ethics and in the application of such research. It ends with a list of ten practical proposals for how these issues should be dealt with.

Relationships between spiritual quotient and marital satisfaction level of men, women and couples referred to consultancy centers of bandar abbas

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between Spiritual Quotient parameters including understanding, life origin, and spiritual life and marital satisfaction of couples in Bandar Abbas City.

METHODS

It is descriptive correlational study. 150 couples referred to consultancy centers of Bandar Abbas City were selected by accessible sampling method. We utilized Spiritual Quotient Questionnaire and Marriage Satisfaction Questionnaire (ENRICH) which both have high reliability and validity levels. We calculated men, women and couples' scores in the questionnaires.

RESULTS

According to the findings; among all parameters of Spiritual Quotient, spiritual life had the strongest correlation with spiritual quotient (r=0.282 and r=0.277 for men and women; P<0.01 for both). Meanwhile, there were not any significant relationship between couples' understanding and origin of life and their marital satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Overall, we can conclude that training according to cultural conditions as well as promoting couples' spiritual quotient can be utilized to improve the quality of marital life of couples.-More studies should be conducted for further evaluation of the relationship between SQ and marital satisfaction. The results can be used for helping couples in increasing their marital satisfaction.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

None.