While blended learning seems to be quite suitable for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), current uptake of this learning method is low. In this paper we propose a research design to examine the requirements for blended learning in SMEs. It is based on a three-round ranking-type Delphi study. Participants for the panels were carefully selected. Our method takes into account that the area...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to conduct a baseline assessment of intimate partner violence (IPV) practices in a pediatric hospital system. METHODS The Delphi Instrument for Hospital-based Domestic Violence Programs was used to assess the structure and components of the hospital system's IPV practices. Through key stakeholder interviews, we also assessed IPV practices in individual ...

A three-questionnaire DELPHI management issues study of technology management problems identiŽes the top 24 technology management problems of advancedtechnology product companies. These problems are ranked in order of importance. Strategic planning for technology products is found to be the dominant problem. A striking theme of the Žndings is the extent to which several of the twentyfour issues...

The purpose of this study is to apply the method of hybrid multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) to select public relations personnel for tourism industry in Taiwan. Fuzzy Delphi method, which can lead to better criteria selection, is used to modify criteria. Considering the interdependence among the selection criteria, analytic network process (ANP) is then used to obtain the weights of the...

We study the effects of firm’s credit condition on (1) labor market performance and (2) the inflation and unemployment relationship, in a new monetarist model. Better credit condition has positive impact on labor market as firms save on financing cost, improve profitability, and thus create more vacancies. Inflation increases the financing cost and thus discourages job creation. On the other ha...

The two versions of the Portuguese language, the one spoken in Portugal and the one spoken in Brazil differ both phonetically and lexically. The paper reports on a menu driven voiced information retrieval system, BomdePapo, which can handle both versions of the language. The system was developed in Delphi during a research project joining teams from the Universidade do Porto, Portugal, and the ...

In Wikipedia, volunteers collaboratively author encyclopedic entries, and therefore managing conflict is a key factor in group success. Behavioral research describes three conflict types: task-related, affective, and process. Affective and process conflict have been consistently found to impede group performance; however, the effect of task conflict is inconsistent. We propose that these inconc...

This paper presents the design issues in the visualization of five distinct store layout types in the context of 3D online retailing and discusses appropriate design decisions. The development of the stores is based on the requirements (layout characteristics) elicited from a three-round Delphi method with 3D expert users and designers which served as the qualitative empirical research vehicle....

Purpose – The viticulture sector represents a conspicuous part of the Catalan agricultural and agro food sector. While wine production in Catalonia has been increasing markedly over the first half of the 2000s, prices that grape producers receive have steadily declined threatening their standard of living. This has raised social and political concerns and calls for a better understanding of its...

As systems become more interconnected the vulnerability to cyber attack also increases. The increased use of information and communication technology (ICT) in developing countries and the dangers associated with interconnectivity grows equally. The lack of an established guideline for information security planning and execution in developing countries further complicates this problem. There is ...