Face Mask detection using Mask R-CNN to control the spread of Covid-19

Business executives are developing cutting-edge digital solutions as the virus outbreak spreads. A face mask detection system is one of them, and it can be used to spot people wearing them. Face mask identification software and applications have already been released by a few businesses, and others have promised to do the same for the service. The proposed work examines face mask detection accuracy using CNN networks. Mask wear is now required in many developed and developing countries worldwide when leaving the house or entering public spaces. It will be difficult to maintain touchless access control in buildings while recognising faces wearing masks on any surveillance systems. Masks covering faces has made face detection algorithms and performance difficult. The proposed work detect face mask labeled no mask or mask with detection accuracy. The work train the system to click images of a face and provide labeled data. The work is classified using Convolution Neural Network (CNN), a Deep learning technique, to classify the input image with the help of the classification algorithm MobileNetV2. The trained system shows whether a person in the video frame is wearing a mask or not. © 2023 IEEE.

Executives During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contradictory Trends

This chapter focuses on how the executives have adapted to the pandemic challenge since March 2020. To do so, it develops a comparative analysis of the role of the executives in facing the COVID-19 pandemic in three selected European jurisdictions, namely, Belgium, Germany, and Italy. An underlying assumption in this chapter is that executives, more or less inevitably, are crucial actors in major crises;still, it remains to be seen how these very crises impact on their structure and functioning. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

An opinion paper on requirement for a practitioner's handbook designed for business continuity and resilience in government: a South African context

PurposeThis paper aims to find a suitable structure for a practitioner's handbook that addresses the structural elements of the business continuity (BC) practice.Design/methodology/approachThe case study using the mixed method, quantitative with a questionnaire and conceptual research approach was what has been chosen. The four steps to the research process are outlined: one, choosing the topic, two, collecting relevant literature, three, identifying specific variables and four, generating a structure. The design brought on by years of experience, should be put into an organised system and handbook that can be reused, without having to reinvent the wheel.FindingsA BC handbook should be as relevant to the executives and management as to their employees. By adopting a BC practice in a government department, state-owned entity, agency or municipality. Assurance will be ascertained for reliable, improved service delivery and reputation with much less interruption. Therefore a handbook with a "cradle to the grave” BC approach should outline, with examples of standards, awareness, policy, BC programme plan, BC structures, business impact and risk analysis, strategy, budgets, scorecards, monitoring and evaluation, recovery and BC plans, together with the audit and an International Standards Organization (ISO) 22301 certification process.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was limited to literature, questionnaires and identified variables pertaining to BC management (BCM) in the South African Government.Practical implicationsThe implications of the case study is that out of the variables identified and the relevant literature and standards, a structure for a relevant post-COVID-19 government practitioner's handbook could be made available.Social implicationsThe use of a BCM handbook for government would assist in the continuation of services through manmade and natural disasters. The service to the citizen, including but not limited to water, electricity, sanitation, medical and health services, and the food supply chain are just a few areas that can be positively impacted upon by good BCM. By implication the reliance of government structure are treated most in time of disasters as experienced through the two year period of the COVID-19 pandemic.Originality/valueThe government departments in South Africa do not have or have not implemented BCM due to the lack of clear guidelines. The COVID-19 pandemic however had accelerated the requirement for a top down BCM approach. To ensure that the scope of BCM is not limited, the possibility of having a set handbook for the government practitioner will ensure that service quality remains intact. Such a handbook related to government BCM practice is long outstanding.

Inhalation Vaccine Development

Numerous advantages to inhalation vaccines Vaccines delivered via inhalation enable targeting of the respiratory tract mucosa and generation of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, according to Pierre A. Morgon, executive vice president. [...]inhaled vaccines delivered as liquids using nebulizers can potentially be administered with lower requirement for extensive healthcare infrastructure or as many trained healthcare personnel within an immunization centre (2). Researchers at McMaster University, for instance, have shown inhalation of a tuberculosis vaccine to be more effective than delivery via nasal sprays, because the vaccine penetrates much deeper into the airway (8). Because inhaled vaccines provide local immunity to the respiratory tract, they are seen to be ideal solutions for interrupting the spread of viruses with high transmission rates and the potential to lead to global pandemics (9). Beyond these two approaches, there are inhalation vaccines under development based on attenuated influenza virus, parainfluenza virus (PIV) 5, lentiviruses, Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV);bacterium vectors, nucleic acids (messenger RNA, DNA), and protein subunits (3).

A Safety & Health Leader's Guide to DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING

The mental health discourse need not involve the creation or invention of a whole new experience or dogma. When workers feel respected, valued, cared for and viewed holistically, rather than as "cogs in a system," the natural outflow will be mental health- "state of someone functioning at a satisfactory level of cognitive, emotional and behavioral adjustment." (U.K. OSH adviser, personal communication, 2022) In a social context, the safety and health team may facilitate a psychosocial hazard identification and risk assessment process, but the follow-up actions are likely to relate to people management systems. [...]this responsibility could sit with line management, human resources or an organizational effectiveness group.

Women's Participation in Firms' Management and Their Impact on Financial Performance: Pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 Period Evidence

At a time when gender equality is a key priority of all international organizations, this paper can be considered a remarkable contribution to the role of women executives in firms' performance. More specifically, this study focuses on the effect of women holding positions of responsibility on firms' performance worldwide. For the purposes of our research, we applied cross-sectional and panel data analysis for all sectors at an international level from 2019, the year preceding the breakout of the pandemic crisis, to 2021, while the indicators used to measure the participation of women in executive positions are classified as ESG indices. The empirical analysis findings end up showing that the participation of women in executive positions positively affects firms' performance over time, while there is no material change observed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period. More specifically, when the percent of women processing job positions of responsibility increases by 10%, then the index of profitability will increase from 1.4% to 1.8%, regardless of the measurement of female participation in executive positions used. The results of this study constitute a remarkable contribution to the promotion of the creative economy, the progress of societies, and sustainable development. The research's outcome can be primarily used by policymakers drawing up policies for achieving gender equality in the labor market and workplaces and by shareholders and firms' managers in order to trust females in executive positions in favor of their firms' financial performance. The current study is unique in that it focuses on the period before and during the COVID-19 period, as a period of high volatility in economic activity worldwide, while the sample includes firms from large and mid-cap companies belonging to developed and emerging markets. The above approach will contribute to providing more credible information related to the role of women executives in firms' performance.

Board gender diversity, firm performance and corporate financial distress risk: international evidence from tourism industry

PurposeThis paper examines contextual factors that affect the association between board gender diversity and firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a global sample of listed firms in the tourism industry in 30 countries from 2015 to 2020.FindingsFirst, firm performance is positively associated with the proportion of female directors on a board. Second, the positive association between firm performance and the proportion of female directors on the board is higher in (1) countries with stronger shareholder rights, (2) countries with stronger securities law regulation stipulating disclosure of board diversity, (3) countries with stronger economic empowerment of women, and (4) during the COVID-19 crisis. Third, corporate financial distress risk is lower in firms with higher proportion of female directors on the board. Fourth, the negative association between corporate financial distress risk and the proportion of female directors on the board is more pronounced in (1) countries with stronger securities law regulations stipulating disclosure of board gender diversity, (2) countries with stronger economic empowerment of women, and (3) during the COVID-19 crisis.Originality/valueThe results indicate that contextual factors (comprising country-level corporate governance structures, economic empowerment of women and economic crisis) can affect the association between board gender diversity and firm performance.

Build resilient enterprises with resilient people: the case of ASK Consulting

PurposeWhile strong risk management and contingency planning are important for building capabilities useful for quick adaptation to foreseeable disruptions, they may not be useful for preparing for black swan-type events or situations that lack sufficient precedent to understand how they impact businesses. The key to creating a resilient organization relies most on resilient human capital, who are capable of withering whatever changes Chance may throw at them and the organization.Design/methodology/approachUsing company data and semi-structured interviews, this paper presents the case study of ASK Consulting, a medium-size entrepreneurial enterprise that learned that human resources are the cornerstone of a resilient organization.FindingsResilient people exhibit three common traits: discipline, open-mindedness to change, and a sense of service to the team rather than themselves. Insights about these traits can be elicited by asking prospective employees three questions during their interview.Practical implicationsThis case provides an illustrative case study and straightforward guidance for identifying whether a job candidate has the traits of a resilient person.Originality/valueMuch of the research into organizational resilience focuses on scenario planning, contingencies, and building organizational capabilities. This provides a much more straightforward and actionable approach that focuses on only one type of resource and is not contingent on the availability of slack time and money to implement.

Dimensions of cybersecurity performance and crisis response in critical infrastructure organisations: an intellectual capital perspective

PurposeThis research addresses the relationships between the current, dynamic organisational cyber risk climate, organisational cybersecurity performance and changes in cybersecurity investments, with an aim to address the hostile epistemic climate for intellectual capital management presented by the dynamics of cybersecurity as a phenomenon.Design/methodology/approachExpanding on the views of digital security and resilience as a knowledge problem, the research looks at cybersecurity as a critical capability within organisations, particularly relevant in critical infrastructure sectors. The problem is studied from the perspective of 400 C-level executives from critical infrastructure sectors across the UK. Data collected at the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a time when critical infrastructure organisations have been under a significant strain due to an increase in cybersecurity incidents, were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling.FindingsThe research found a significant correlation between the board's perception of a change in their cybersecurity risk climate and patterns of both the development of cybersecurity management capabilities and cybersecurity investments. The authors also found that a positive correlation exists between the efforts placed by critical infrastructure organisations in cybersecurity training and the changes in investment in their cybersecurity, particularly in relation to their intellectual capital development efforts.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper that explores the board's perception of cybersecurity in critical infrastructure organisations both from the intellectual capital perspective and in the dynamic cyber risk climate derived from the COVID-19 crisis. The authors' findings expand on the growing perception of cybersecurity as a knowledge problem, and thus inform future research and practice in the domain of intellectual capital management and its role in supporting the cybersecurity and digital resilience of business and society.

Fund style drift and stock price crash risk – analysis of the mediating effect based on corporate financial risk

PurposeThis paper aims to identify the direct impact of fund style drift on the risk of stock price collapse and the intermediary mechanism of financial risk, so as to better protect the interests of minority investors.Design/methodology/approachThis paper takes all the non-financial companies on the Chinese Growth Enterprise Market from 2011 to 2020 as study object and selects securities investment funds of their top ten circulation stocks to study the relationship between fund style drift and stock price crash risk.FindingsFund style drift is likely to add stock price crash risk. Financial risk is positively correlated with stock price crash risk. Fund style drift affects stock price crash risk via the mediating effect of financial risk, and fund style drift and financial risk have a marked impact on the stock price crash risk of non-state enterprises, yet a non-significant impact on that of state-owned enterprises.Originality/valueThis paper links fund style drift with stock price crash risk in an exploratory manner and enriches the study perspectives of relationship between institutional investors' behaviors and stock price crash risk, thus enjoying certain academic value. On the one hand, it furnishes a new approach to the academic frontier issue concerning financial risk and stock price crash risk, and proves that financial risk is positively correlated with stock price crash risk. On the other hand, it regards financial risk as a mediating variable of fund style drift for stock price crash risk and further explores different influencing mechanism of institutional investors' behaviors.

Executive presence: African American female executives' leadership experiences during America's racial awakening and COVID-19

This phenomenological study explored lived experiences of African American female executives in organizations during the racial awakening of May 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used semi-structured interviews to describe experiences that defined the essence of African American female executives' unique challenges in navigating race and gender and their advice for senior executives. The sample size was eleven leaders at or above the Director (managing others) level leading in US organizations. The researcher classified codes into general themes to summarize findings. Findings include four themes identified after coding;amazing grace, do what your soul can handle, climbing glass cliff barriers to navigate their career, and comfort amid racial discomfort trauma. Each African American leader provided senior executives specific advice to advocate for and sponsor female leaders within their organization. This study is significant for a senior executive to obtain viewpoints from African American female executives' leadership experiences circumnavigated the past two years for organizational success. It provides insights for African American women with leadership aspirations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

THE FEDERAL IT CRISIS: ADVOCATING FOR DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE ROBUST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CYBER WORKFORCE

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered the federal government, demonstrating the need for increased attention and resources in combating cybersecurity threats and providing a modern digital government experience to constituents. A severe cyber skills gap within the federal government, coupled with an increasingly aging federal workforce, has left some federal agencies struggling to modernize. This crisis also presents unique opportunities. As the push for a technologically modern federal government grows along with recognition of the importance of federal cybersecurity, a number of possibilities for the modern federal agency have opened up and are on the path to becoming certainties. To take advantage of the opportunities presented by these changes and to best position their respective agencies going forward, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and agency executives should prioritize solutions to attract, train, and retain a technologically savvy workforce. This requires carving out or seeking funding for different information technology (IT) pay scales to compete with private practice, rebranding the federal government to attract young talent, and centering customer experience in the design and development of new programs, websites, and digital services that serve as the bedrock of IT modernization.

Are firms with women executives better at surviving a crisis? Evidence from South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: This study aims to examine whether investors react differently to the crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic based on chief executive officer (CEO) gender. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on a sample of publicly listed companies in Korea. The study uses the ordinary least squares regression and propensity score matching approach to address the research question. The dependent variable used in the regressions is the cumulative abnormal returns over 30, 60 and 90 days after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Korea. Findings: The results show that cumulative abnormal returns over 30, 60 and 90 days after the first COVID-19 case are less negative for firms led by women CEOs compared to firms led by men CEOs. This is consistent with the prediction that investors favor firms with women CEOs in times of high uncertainty. Originality/value: This study adds to the growing literature on the stock market during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides empirical evidence that the effect of the pandemic on stock market performance differs by management characteristics such as CEO gender. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The perception of communications executives in companies: The role and challenges of internal communication

The Covid-19 pandemic has tested the role of internal communication (IC) in managing adaptation to change and digitalisation in companies, in the context of a sudden switch to implementing remote working, the reorientation and temporary interruption of activity and mass redundancies. With the aim of analysing the effect of Covid-19 on the assessment of corporate communication managers regarding the business environment and the challenges faced by IC departments in Spain, a statistical analysis compares data collected in 2018 and 2020 (N=118 and N=69 respectively) on the perceptions of members of Dircom (Asociación de Directivos de Comunicación) [Association of Communication Executives]. In addition, a systematic analysis of the 2020 open questions is carried out. The results highlight an improvement in the perception that investment in IC is sufficient during the pandemic, although it remains among the worst rated aspects of the business context. Managing digital and media developments, linking IC with corporate strategy and strengthening the role of communication in decision-making are the greatest perceived challenges, with no changes due to Covid-19. On the other hand, the majority of the respondents believe that Covid-19 is having a positive influence on IC, showing its importance for the proper functioning of the business during the pandemic, with an increase in its actions. More than half of the respondents appreciate that IC has driven business values and changes in the way these departments operate;two-thirds have learned lessons for their business;and almost three-quarters perceive that the incorporation of audiovisual and on-line media will continue.Alternate :La pandemia de COVID-19 ha puesto a prueba el rol de la comunicación interna (CI) en la gestión de la adaptación al cambio y a la digitalización de las empresas, en una situación repentina de implantación del teletrabajo, reorientación e interrupción temporal de la actividad y despidos masivos. Con el objetivo de analizar el efecto de la COVID-19 sobre la evaluación que los gestores de comunicación de las empresas hacen del entorno empresarial y de los desafíos que afrontan los departamentos de CI en España, un análisis estadístico compara los datos recogidos en 2018 y 2020 (N = 118 y 69, respectivamente) sobre las percepciones de los socios de Dircom (Asociación de Directivos de Comunicación). Además, se realiza un análisis sistemático de las preguntas abiertas de 2020. Entre los resultados destaca la percepción que la inversión en CI mejora durante la pandemia, aunque continúa entre los aspectos peor valorados del entorno empresarial. Manejar la evolución digital y de los medios, unir la CI con la estrategia corporativa y fortalecer el rol de la comunicación en la toma de decisiones son los mayores retos percibidos, sin modificaciones por la COVID-19. Por otro lado, la mayoría valora que la COVID-19 influye positivamente sobre la CI, que muestra su importancia para el buen funcionamiento empresarial durante la pandemia con un incremento de sus actuaciones. Más de la mitad de los participantes aprecian que la CI ha impulsado valores empresariales y cambios en el funcionamiento de estos departamentos;dos tercios han extraído enseñanzas para su actividad;y casi tres cuartas partes perciben que la incorporación de medios audiovisuales y en línea perdurará.Alternate :La pandèmia de COVID-19 ha posat a prova el rol de la comunicació interna (CI) en la gestió de l'adaptació al canvi i a la digitalització de les empreses, en una situació sobtada d'implantació del teletreball, reorientació i interrupció temporal de l'activitat i acomiadaments massius. Amb l'objectiu d'analitzar l'efecte de la COVID-19 sobre l'avaluació que els gestors de comunicació de les empreses fan de l'entorn empresarial i dels desafiaments que afronten els departaments de CI a Espanya, una anàlisi estadística compara les dades recollides el 2018 i el 2020 (N = 118 i 69, respectivament) sobre les percepc ons dels socis e Dircom (Associació de Directius de Comunicació). A més, es fa una anàlisi sistemàtica de les preguntes obertes de 2020. Entre els resultats destaca la percepció que la inversió en CI millora durant la pandèmia, si bé continua entre els aspectes pitjor valorats de l'entorn empresarial. Manejar l'evolució digital i dels mitjans, unir la CI amb l'estratègia corporativa i enfortir el rol de la comunicació en la presa de decisions són els principals reptes percebuts, sense modificacions per la COVID-19. D'altra banda, la majoria valora que la COVID-19 influeix positivament sobre la CI, que mostra la seva importància per al bon funcionament empresarial durant la pandèmia amb un increment de les seves actuacions. Més de la meitat dels participants aprecien que la CI ha impulsat valors empresarials i canvis en el funcionament d'aquests departaments;dos terços n'han extret ensenyaments per a la seva activitat;i quasi tres quartes parts perceben que la incorporació de mitjans audiovisuals i en línia perdurarà.

Exploring the nexus between microlevel and contextual influencers on women leaders' paradox mindset

Purpose>Women leaders struggle with the persistent paradoxical expectations. Literature suggests that a paradox mindset helps to leverage these tensions. This study aims to understand the nexus between the microfoundations of individual women leaders' experiences, their responses and the organisational context, which enables or hinders their paradox mindset.Design/methodology/approach>This study adopted a qualitative approach by conducting semistructured interviews with 14 women, all senior leaders in corporate South Africa.Findings>The results reveal the interaction in the nexus between, firstly, women leaders' authenticity and awareness as key anchors that enable them to adopt a paradox mindset and, secondly, the organisation's role in creating hindrances or opportunities to leverage tensions. Women leaders in our sample applied one of two strategies: they either adapted to the environment or curated a subenvironment. This study shows that, if done authentically, through her own agency, a woman can influence interactions that make it easier to manage tensions within her environment, especially those created by negative performance evaluation because of unconscious institutional gender bias.Research limitations/implications>The extent to which the findings of this research can be generalised is constrained by the selected research context.Originality/value>This research contributes to the literature on paradox theory by revealing organisational contextual influencers, such as institutional bias in negative performance evaluation, which hinders a woman leader's opportunity to be hired or promoted. These organisational influences also interact with women leaders' ability to embrace paradox and internally leverage agentic and communal tensions.

The Physician Leader's Guide to Thriving in Dyads, Triads, and Other Multidisciplinary Team-Based Management Models

[...]the dyad leadership model was pioneered by the Mayo Clinic in 1908.34 However, several more recent trends and developments have prompted healdicare organizations to adopt team-based management models. Hospital and health system combinations have increased significantly in the past decade, and experts predict a surge in healdicare M&A activity as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down.6 Following a merger or acquisition, the hard work of organizational integration is typically led by an array of multidisciplinary teams composed of clinical leaders, executives, and administrative managers. The quality movement in healthcare. Since the 1999 publication of To Err is Human,7 the healdicare industry's focus on quality and patient safety has deepened significantly. Benefits include more effective change management, greater transparency in decision-making, reduced variability in patient care, and increased physician engagement.10 In addition, team-based leadership models lead to improved patient outcomes, which may result in better performance under value-based payment models for improved quality and reduced cost of medical care.11 However, team-based management models also present challenges.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AMID DISRUPTION: NORWICH UNIVERSITY'S HONORS PROGRAM AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM PROJECT

This article incorporates a case-study approach that examines how faculty and students in a first-year honors seminar at Norwich University navigated the disruption of the COVID-19 crisis. It delineates the revision of an undergraduate research project in partnership with the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. The authors describe steps professors and students took to ensure successful collaboration and completion of this project, including assignment modifications, the development of a collaborative virtual learning process, assessment of project management, and tools and research strategies employed. Student reflections and pedagogical measures support the challenges and solutions outlined. The article concludes with recommended course design measures to ensure consistent learning outcomes that support positive and productive research and teaching experiences amid programmatic disruption.

A Practical Roadmap for Introducing Agility to Certified Public Accounting Firms: Certified Public Accountant

Fueled by competition, technological changes, and the impact of COVID-19, the landscape for certified public accounting firms is more competitive and dynamic than ever. Organizational agility has become an important feature in empowering firms to turn these potential challenges into opportunities to thrive. This article provides guidance about how an accounting firm can use firm-centric teams to introduce agility into the organization. Based on one firm's case study and academic theory, the authors highlight four distinct phases that firms can follow, from the initial phase of team formation until the final phase of self-governance.

A STUDY ON BUSINESS MARKETING PARADIGMS AND TACTICS IN THE MODERN MARKET

The goal of this study is to suggest a radical shift in the way we think about extending the marketing paradigm. Since the writers believe that there is not enough of a balance between consumer and brand thinking, this is both theoretically and practically required. Despite the fact that the marketing paradigm centers on the clientele, the marketing technique considers the two sides of the market, the demand and the supply. Due to rising costs and increased competition, business owners are scratching their heads to come up with innovative marketing strategies. Although they get some insight into the historical alterations in marketing theory and practice, this information is less helpful in terms of understanding the marketing paradigm adjustments that will be necessary to thrive in the VUCA world. The purpose of this essay is to analyze and evaluate recent marketing trends and to suggest the introduction of a new marketing paradigm.