The decentralization of social care in the Netherlands has had a major impact on the professionals working in this field. This dissertation examines this impact by specifically focusing on the... Show moreThe decentralization of social care in the Netherlands has had a major impact on the professionals working in this field. This dissertation examines this impact by specifically focusing on the cognitive uncertainty experiences of social care professionals. It shows that cognitive uncertainty is a multi-faceted concept that covers different domains of the work and can have multiple sources. Contrary to the frequently expressed view in the literature on bureaucracy, this dissertation shows that rules do not reduce cognitive uncertainty. Leadership of team leaders, in contrast, can reduce cognitive uncertainty experiences of professionals.Moreover, leadership plays a key role in managing cognitive uncertainty. When properly managed, cognitive uncertainty can prove highly valuable as it can spur innovation and thus contribute to achieving the goals set in the decentralization of social care in the Netherlands. Show less
This thesis examines how innovation is practiced, imagined, mobilized, and reinterpreted by China’s local developers and its subjects. The Chinese innovation movement is not the same as the ... Show moreThis thesis examines how innovation is practiced, imagined, mobilized, and reinterpreted by China’s local developers and its subjects. The Chinese innovation movement is not the same as the “disruptive innovation” of recent years mainly driven by digital technology in the European and North American contexts. The state plays a very salient role in innovation, investing in the social and economic system to provide a constant demand for innovation to unleash the dynamism of development.The aim of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of the state’s role in socio-economic transformation and its governance model in innovation activities. This thesis discusses the state-market-society relationship not merely from an institutionalist perspective that focuses on the interplay between the state, the market, and society. I discovered that the state creates a range of government institutions to regulate and shape society. Further, in recent years the local state has been an important producer of the emergence of China’s new civil society that drives innovation and entrepreneurship as ways to enhance social mobility. Show less
Patient outcomes have been tremendously improved through neurosurgical innovation for which there are countless examples. However, how neurosurgical innovation occurs generally lacks structure.... Show morePatient outcomes have been tremendously improved through neurosurgical innovation for which there are countless examples. However, how neurosurgical innovation occurs generally lacks structure. This lack results in several ethical and practical problems related to patient safety. In this thesis, a new framework for neurosurgical innovation is proposed. This framework aims to provide an adequate valuation of structured and careful innovation. In recent neurosurgical innovations, related ethical dillema’s and excisiting frameworks for innovation were evaluated to come to this framework.Based on an extensive review of the literature, several recent neurosurgical innovations were not introduced in a structured fashion. This unstructured introduction holds potentially far-reaching consequences for informed consent, patient safety, and knowledge regarding long-term outcomes.Neurosurgical innovation holds several ethical dilemmas. These dilemmas range from the need to innovate in an emergency setting to the learning curve that every novel procedure brings. This thesis describes these dilemmas in detail and discusses potential solutions.Existing frameworks for innovation in medicine, such as the IDEAL Framework and learning health systems, have limited application to neurosurgery because of its unique patient population. Nevertheless, these frameworks form the inspiration for the beforementioned newly suggested framework for neurosurgical innovation. Show less
This dissertation presents the results of the importance of creativity for ICT-students of Dutch universities of applied sciences (in Dutch: hogescholen), and the functioning of training courses... Show moreThis dissertation presents the results of the importance of creativity for ICT-students of Dutch universities of applied sciences (in Dutch: hogescholen), and the functioning of training courses that aim to promote creative abilities is highlighted. The ability to generate new and potentially useful ideas and problem-solving skills as a result of creative thinking is an important driver of human evolution. According to many, creativity is a very valued and sought-after accomplishment for today's society and for the future. In addition, computers, and everything related to them, have become an integral part of society. The ‘computer’ is one of the most important innovations in the history of mankind. Computers have radically changed our lives. It is even hardly conceivable to innovate without ICT. It is therefore logical that ICT-professionals play an extremely prominent role in innovation. This applies in particular to students taking a Bachelor of ICT-course in a Dutch University of Applied Sciences, because they are trained as leading IT-specialists.These phenomena led to two interrelated research questions: (i) ”Is creativity training important for ICT-students at Dutch hogescholen?”; and (ii): “Does creativity training work, as it is integrated in the curriculum of these ICT-students?” Show less
The aim of this study is to investigate how regional government matters in designing ‘context-specific’ regional innovation policy. To that end, the study develops a Public Administration... Show moreThe aim of this study is to investigate how regional government matters in designing ‘context-specific’ regional innovation policy. To that end, the study develops a Public Administration framework to conceptualise the different roles theoretically and applies this framework to capture these roles empirically in six European regions. The study employs a descriptive, multiple-case study research method comparing six regions, three German and three British regions. Qualitative data have been gathered from an existing dataset through archival records research and documentation analysis. The assumption that regions endowed with regional autonomy are better at contextualized policy design is not confirmed in this study. Instead, among the six case studies a great variety of regional government roles was found irrespective of government system type, and all regions engaged in multiple roles throughout the policy process to succeed at designing their ‘context-specific’ regional innovation policy. Understanding how ‘context-specific’ regional innovation policy comes about requires a differentiated conceptualisation of the role of regional government. This is the overall conclusion of the study. The study generates new insights about ‘context-specific’ regional innovation policy and makes an important contribution to better understanding the role of regional government as a policy-making actor to develop such a policy. Show less
In this thesis the subject of our investigation is the use of the first legal copy of the notarised reporting deed (“de notariële proces-verbaalakte”) as enforceable verdict in the civil... Show moreIn this thesis the subject of our investigation is the use of the first legal copy of the notarised reporting deed (“de notariële proces-verbaalakte”) as enforceable verdict in the civil proceedings before a private court (arbitration or a binding third-party ruling) under Dutch law. Show less
Care for older persons is changing. A new primary health care concept is called ‘person-centred, integrated care’ involving changing roles for General Practitioners (GPs) and other... Show moreCare for older persons is changing. A new primary health care concept is called ‘person-centred, integrated care’ involving changing roles for General Practitioners (GPs) and other professionals. The inclusion of the personal values of the patients in the changing care is essential but vulnerable. This thesis links the process of innovating care and the values of the older persons involved, by studying patient satisfaction as an expression of personal value in two care innovation and implementation projects. Key findings are: The level of patient satisfaction is related to complexity of health problems and is related more to the care organization than to the condition of the patient. Modifiable communicative aspects of GP behavior are related to patient satisfaction. Patients and GPs, show different satisfaction about aspects of care reflecting different values. In a real-life implementation strategy, patient satisfaction and engagement is feasible and valuable. Conclusions are that patient satisfaction can be used in innovating care but must be interpreted with caution. Also older patients need a role in the implementation process in order to assure that their values are expressed in the care innovation. A combination of individual shared decision making, satisfaction investigation and procedural engagement is proposed. Show less
The current thesis explores the evidence base of new techniques in minimally invasive surgery. For this purpose the main objectives of this thesis are: • To present a multidisciplinary... Show moreThe current thesis explores the evidence base of new techniques in minimally invasive surgery. For this purpose the main objectives of this thesis are: • To present a multidisciplinary evidence based guideline for MIS including the main topics in laparoscopic surgery; • To identify the evidence of three new minimally invasive techniques: trocar types for laparoscopy, LESS-hysterectomy and hysteroscopic sterilization; • To evaluate the course of introduction of a new minimally invasive technique (robot-assisted surgery) and the status of the evidence; • To assess whether recent RCTs serve the clinical needs of the MIS approach. Providing the answers to these questions, this thesis provides insight in the evidence of MIS and its limitations. Therewith, it provides guidance to optimize research and evidence based implementation of MIS towards better minimally invasive surgical care. Show less
The study is motivated by the aspiration to understand project governance in organizations pursuing the development of new products and services across multiple knowledge worker teams. In... Show moreThe study is motivated by the aspiration to understand project governance in organizations pursuing the development of new products and services across multiple knowledge worker teams. In particular, the following problem statement guides the study: Is governance of innovation project management necessary or neglected? Taking the example of agile teams, I illustrate how the advancements in team based project management approaches force us to rethink governance of innovation project management. The findings are based on eight studies. The data consists of results from a total of 53 knowledge worker teams across 44 organizations in 8 countries. The two main conclusions drawn from this study are: (1) fundamentally different approaches to governance of innovation projects are a prerequisite for a success of projects developing new products and services, and (2) governance, particularly in heavily top-down influenced fields such as public administration, will benefit from advancements in agile project management methods. Show less
This PHD is the result of a research on the life, artistic development and impact of the French artist, jeweller and glass industrialist Ren_ Lalique (1860-1945. Focused on the Netherlands,... Show moreThis PHD is the result of a research on the life, artistic development and impact of the French artist, jeweller and glass industrialist Ren_ Lalique (1860-1945. Focused on the Netherlands, regarding his clients, retailers and influence, a reconstruction was made of his work in relation to the development of modern industrial luxury in the early 20th century Show less
