Suchergebnisse

The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of shared leadership in self-directed teams by testing its relationship with teamwork mental models and team performance. Data from 40 intact, naturally occurring teams involved in highly interdependent tasks demonstrated that the distribution of informal leadership and whether or not perceptions of leadership were reciprocated among leaders were related to the degree of similarity and accuracy of team mental models as well as subsequent team performance. Specifically, teams with a coordinated type of shared-leadership perception demonstrated significantly higher levels of team mental model similarity, team mental model accuracy, and team performance than teams with a distribution of leaders that failed to recognize each other as leaders as well as teams with no leaders. However, teams with distributed-coordinated leadership were significantly different than teams with centralized leadership only with respect to team mental model accuracy scores. Finally, this study builds on prior research by demonstrating that the team mental model accuracy contributes more to team performance than team mental model similarity.

In Australia, life without the automobile is no longer imaginable. Further, reliance on cars has done much to restructure the social practices & lifestyles of Australians, including their dietary habits. Based on fieldwork in rural New South Wales & the urban centers of Canberra & Sydney, this chapter considers discourses & practices that constitute Australia's fast & slow food car-centered diets. Jakle & Sculle (1997) argued that "fast food, mass produced, was a response to fast cars, mass produced." At first the car simply transported the diners to restaurants, but with the advent of drive-thru windows at McDonald's & other fast food chain outlets, the car, equipped with cup holders, became the dining room. The Slow Food movement has gained a lesser popularity in Australia, primarily in the form of farmers' markets. The authors visited the Good Living Growers' Market in Sydney. Producers drive long distances & fight heavy traffic to bring their wares to the market & then pay high prices for stalls, as do shoppers for parking places, though public transport is available. Then there is intermediate-pace food -- slow-food cuisine delivered, by car or van, to customers' homes or businesses. Thus, different types of foods & special-use vehicles appear to be rapidly co-evolving commodities in Australia. References. J. Stanton

This article examines the impact of role ambiguity and trust on the transformation of task conflict into relationship conflict. Building on the work of Simons and Peterson (2000) we argue that the work environment—in the form of role ambiguity—provides information with which individuals assess the motivations underlying task conflict. We hypothesize that under high role ambiguity, individuals are less likely to attribute an ulterior motive to those engaging in task conflict because they see the conflict as stemming from the needs of the work itself. In a sample of 141 managerial, professional and administrative employees we find strong support for this hypothesis as well as the additional hypothesis that this effect is stronger under conditions of high trust.

Social work practice is not a highly paid or high-status occupation. The historical roots of social work lie in charity work directed toward social needs and poverty, with much of this work previously women's unpaid work. This set the stage for a norm of unpaid labor in the predominantly female occupation. Women who are mature-aged, lone parents, carers and on low income have continuously been the numerical majority within social work. As such, the unpaid field placement disproportionately affects women. This article provides a gendered analysis of qualitative data obtained from women participants in a national survey of social work students from five Australian universities ( n = 409) following 1000 h of field education placement. Open-ended questions aimed to explore the experiences of financial stress from lengthy unpaid placements on the mental health and well-being of social work students. The findings contribute to a growing body of feminist literature critiquing the current field education model and argue for significant reflection, flexibility, and change. To meet the collective social work goals of social justice and dismantling systemic oppression, a new placement model is needed that is both inclusive and sustainable.

Abstract: Background: Research suggests construction industry workers (CIWs) face increased suicide vulnerability. Aims: The current study synthesizes international evidence examining rates, risk, and drivers of CIW suicide. Method: Comprehensive searches of MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase, Emcare, Web of Science, Scopus, and gray literature were undertaken, identifying studies that discussed, theorized about, or demonstrated risks and/or rates and/or drivers of CIW suicide, without inclusion of other industries. Results: A number of included studies statistically analyzed suicide outcomes in a variety of CIW populations, with the majority reporting increased rate and/or risk, however significant heterogeneity limited comparisons. Twenty-five potential drivers were identified and classified as personal- or industry-related. Disentanglement highlighted the relevance of previously understood personal drivers, need for future focus on industry drivers, and potential interplay between drivers. Limitations: Exclusion of non-English articles as well as inability to extend analysis to fully understand rates and/or risk of CIW suicide and tenuous links between suggested drivers and suicide outcomes. Conclusion: Despite limitations, this paper aids understanding in relation to the suggestion that CIWs are at increased suicide vulnerability. Disentanglement of potential drivers demonstrates the importance of future research focused on industry drivers to assist in prevention strategies.

Abstract. Background: Safety planning involves the co-development of a personalized list of coping strategies to prevent a suicide crisis. Aims: We explored the perspectives of workers regarding safety planning as a suicide prevention strategy for people of refugee background and those seeking asylum in Australia. Method: Participants attended suicide prevention training, specific to refugees and asylum seekers, at which safety planning was a key component. Semistructured, posttraining interviews ( n = 12) were analyzed thematically. Results: Four key themes were identified: safety planning as a co-created, personalized activity for the client; therapeutic benefits of developing a safety plan; barriers to engaging in safety planning; strategies to enhance safety planning engagement. Limitations: First-hand refugee and asylum-seeker experiences were not included. Conclusion: As a relatively low-cost, flexible intervention, safety planning may be valuable and effective for these groups.

Abstract. Background: There are concerning rates of suicidality among asylum seekers and refugees in Australia, and tailored suicide prevention initiatives are needed. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the impact of a tailored suicide prevention education program for people working with asylum seekers and refugees. Method: Attendees of the education program completed self-report questionnaires at pretraining, posttraining, and 4–6 months follow-up. Results: Over 400 workers, volunteers, and students across Australia took part in the education program. A series of linear mixed-effects models revealed significant improvements in outcome measures from pretraining ( n = 247) to posttraining ( n = 231). Improvements were maintained at follow-up ( n = 75). Limitations: Limitations of this research were the lack of a control group and a low follow-up response rate. Conclusion: Findings suggest that a 2 days tailored suicide prevention education program contributes to significant improvements in workers' attitudes toward suicide prevention, and their confidence and competence in assessing and responding to suicidal distress.