Narrow Results

Research in social work today is extensive and diverse, which is why it is justified to illuminate the concept of "research-based social work." Since different connotations — that is linguistic meanings — can be attached to the concept, it needs linguistic clarification. In this paper, the concept is outlined from a linguistic point of view by specifying its intensions. In conclusion, research-based social work is proving to be a key concept in modern social work, for which the meanings associated with the concept vary under different contexts. A kind of universal view of the concept is to understand it to refer to the acquisition and application of research-based information and the adherence to a style of working in accordance with scientific conventions to ensure the quality of good practice in social work.

Nowadays, the traditional roles and specialisms of the different disciplines of professionals such as architects, engineers and surveyors in construction industry are becoming less clear-cut. The concept of educating separate disciplines of construction professional may not be apt any more in the so-called "international" practice system. With the unique socio-economic legacy in China, professional practice and qualifying system in the construction industry is rather different in comparison with the international context. This uniqueness creates an ideal opportunity for China to look for its own new model of training and development of construction professionals instead of merely copying the "international" mode. Based on a survey carried out in Hong Kong, this paper aims to investigate the phenomenon of disintegrating professional boundaries in the "international" practice system which serves as a reflection on the development of construction professionals in China. The investigation shows that construction professionals should critically re-examine their professional skills in their traditional domains. Multi-disciplinary and integrative-professional approach in the curricula of education is called for in the "international" practice. The traditional education curriculum may not be sustainable in today's "international" construction industry. At this juncture, China can make use of the opportunity to establish a new model for itself.

Clients in industrialized and developing countries complain about the poor performance of the construction industry. In Singapore, construction performs poorly when compared with other economic sectors in terms of quality, productivity and safety. The review of the industry under the Construction 21 initiative found that its performance lags behind those of its counterparts in industrialized countries. It offered recommendations to restructure the industry's practices and procedures, and thereby, enhance performance on projects.

This paper reports on a study to assess the motivators and enablers of efforts to improve the level of professionalism in Singapore's construction industry, and the quality and maintainability of built items. A questionnaire-based survey of companies was conducted. Various statistical techniques were applied. Lessons for developing countries are drawn. Appropriate initiatives identified include overcoming enhancing skills and professionalism, and adopting appropriate procurement arrangements.

This article aims to provide a critical synthesis of the major trends and approaches to the professional development (PD) of English language academic staff in Saudi Arabian tertiary education. It explains how the context in which teachers' development occurs shapes the way it is conceptualised and realised. Despite the increasing importance and appreciation of PD, the review indicates a minimal research conducted in this area, but one that is dominated by an essentialist view of what PD is all about. The in-service, one-sizefits- all model, which aims to impart knowledge wholesale to academics through training and workshops, maybe the only and/or dominant model available to them. This reflects a narrow understanding of teachers' PD, which is underpinned by the technical-rational views of the academic professionalism. It concludes by presenting a socio-cultural conceptualisation of PD that can promote teachers' continuous learning in the Saudi higher education (HE) context.

The purpose of this study is to identify the reasons why healthcare professionals neglect to reach their cost performance goals. It has been pointed out that healthcare professionals often ignore goals (e.g., cost targets), despite the clear need for effective performance management, especially in healthcare organizations.

To identify the factors behind this behavior, this study applies social and psychological perspectives to conduct a survey of 150 nurses belonging to a hospital.

In accordance with Baron and Kenny(1986)’s mediation analysis, the result shows that nurses’ perceptions of occupational professionalism, especially occupational perception toward their expertise, have a significantly negative effect. Second, unlike the results of previous studies, the effect of the degree of autonomy,which is one of the important factors, is found to be limited. The result indicates that the perception of one’s career consciousness itself has a significantly negative effect.

This study suggests that giving positive cognitions of having acceptable discretion to nursing and other healthcare professionals is one of the necessary conditions for the effective functioning of cost management systems.

The connectivity and relationality between knowledge, religion, mobility, and professionalisation in today’s globalised economy is just as remarkable as the active and formative role that Muslim women from different regions of Asia play in this field. Taking this observation as anchoring point, this chapter addresses the nexus between religion, knowledge, and professionalisation. Deploying a gender lens that draws attention to women from Asia as mobile agents connecting multiple fields of work, knowledge and piety through entrepreneurial activities online, we introduce “Muslim professionalism” as a new analytical concept to emphasise the co-constitutive relationship between individual and societal Islamisation and global capitalist development. The text also contours the methodological and conceptual scope of a new and cross-cutting research field that links new area studies approaches with mobility, gender, and religious studies. Grasping Muslim professionalism empirically, the chapter illustrates how Muslim women create and shape new fields of entrepreneurship across geographical borders and social boundaries. Being mobile (physically and virtually) is a crucial facilitator for and enabler of women’s professional agency. In conceptual terms, “Muslim professionalism”, as a lived reality, draws attention to the multiple border-crossing settings in the women’s professional everyday life that transcend the nation-state, gender norms, institutionalised social orders, as well as the academically constructed boundaries of Asia and the Middle East. The latter region shapes the centre curve of the loop that stretches from South, East, Southeast, to Central Asia.

This chapter contributes to our understanding of how professionals from beginner to expert levels can be prepared for future change. To this aim, we draw upon insights from decades-long research about the development of professional expertise. We discuss the development of a sound knowledge base and situational awareness, and how deliberate practice significantly contributes to this. Also, we pay attention to the professionals in changing times by analyzing which forces come into play and the role education and organizations can play to prepare for and/or support change. In conclusion, we distinguish the expert in terms of excellence and the expert in terms of professionalism. We argue that more attention should be given to the preparedness for change on different levels to help professional domains to cope with continuous changes in the future.