Burning out on the job
Career burnout is an increasingly common phenomenon, hardworking diligent individuals push themselves too hard for the sake of ambition and gain, whether personal, corporate, or in the context of a not-for-profit or other endeavour. Researchers in China have looked at mental health as an intermediary variable allowing them to build a model of psychological capital and job burnout in an exploratory study. Mental health plays a critical role they have found in this balance. Burnout they suggest is a symptom of long-term stress and other factors. They suggest that interventions to improve psychological capital might reduce stress and save many individuals from job burnout.
Cai, X. and Ye, L. (2018) ‘The mediating role of mental health in the relationship between psychological capital and job burnout: an exploratory study’, Int. J. Services Technology and Management, Vol. 24, Nos. 1/2/3, pp.119–134.
Upgrading to hybrid
It is possible to upgrade a conventional car with an internal combustion engine to a hybrid vehicle that derives some of its energy some of the time from electricity, according to Italian researchers. The incentive would be to reduce noise and pollution in urban environments but allow drivers to retain the range and power for motorways and extra-urban driving. Writing in the International Journal of Powertrains the team assesses the various options in terms of photovoltaic power supply and the requisite gearing and transmission systems. Such an upgrade would be relevant and have a short-term impact on fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions but more importantly, allow a smooth transition from the current vehicles powered by oil-derived products to a society where electric vehicles powered by sustainably generated electricity become the norm.
Rizzo, G., Naddeo, M. and Pisanti, C. (2018) ‘Upgrading conventional cars to solar hybrid vehicles’, Int. J. Powertrains, Vol. 7, Nos. 1/2/3, pp.249–280
Sustainable tourism
For many people, the sustainability of their trips to far-flung places and exotic sites is not always at the top of their decision-making agenda. However, it is an important consideration that must be addressed if tourism is to become sustainable. One particularly popular destination, the Okavango Delta, of Botswana, often involves tourists staying in lodges and similar resorts, although some visitors to the region choose a more traditional and low-key camping option. Unfortunately, lodges and hotels tend to rely on fossil fuels, diesel, oil, paraffin, for their lighting, heating and cooking, and sustainable power sources, such as solar panels, are rare. New research has looked at this issue in detail and suggests ultimately, that such tourist destinations must be nudged heavily by policymakers to find and implement sustainable power to make the tourist industry there a whole lot “greener”.
Mbaiwa, J.E., Motsholapheko, M.R., Kgathi, D.L. and Monnamorwa, S. (2018) ‘Tourism and energy use in lodges and camps in the Okavango Delta, Botswana’, Int. J. Tourism Policy, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp.1–17.
Mentoring and gender
Just how mentoring relationship affect career satisfaction of young college teachers is an open question and one that has been addressed by researchers in China recently. They have looked specifically at the moderating effect of the type of mentoring relationship and the gender of the mentee. Their survey of some 300 young teachers from eight universities reveals that mentoring relationships do have a significant positive effect on the career satisfaction of young college teachers. Moreover, the type of mentoring relationship and the gender of the mentee, are moderating variables but they do not have a combined moderating effect. The findings suggest that in universities and colleges where resource distribution is not entirely balanced, establishing mentoring relationships can help young female teachers to achieve better career development.
Liu, R., Ye, L. and Guo, M. (2018) ‘Impact of mentoring relationship on career satisfaction of young college teachers – the moderating effect of the type of mentoring relationship and the gender of mentee’, Int. J. Services Technology and Management, Vol. 24, Nos. 1/2/3, pp.62–80.