The effect of social and economic transitions on the meaning of work

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of social and economic changes, particularly the transition from a collectivistic to an individualistic society, on the meaning of work (MOW) in Israel. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire probing the MOW domains (economic orientation, intrinsic orientation, interpersonal relations, entitlement and obligation norms and job satisfaction) was conducted on a representative sample of the Israeli labor force in 1981 (n=973) and 2006 (n=898). Findings A comparison between the results of the 1981 and 2006 surveys shows a significant increase in economic and intrinsic orientation, and a significant decrease in interpersonal relations orientation, job satisfaction and obligation and entitlement norms. Work centrality remained stable. The demographic factors, especially education, have some impact on the MOW domains. Practical implications The transformation of work values reflects the changes in employees’ expectations and needs. Therefore, organizations are compelled to find new material and non-material reward systems and methods to maintain employee commitment, motivation and satisfaction. Various implications for organizations and management are discussed. Originality/value This cross-sectional study explores how the combination of economic and social changes is reflected in employees’ job satisfaction and other work values. Furthermore, the study examines the impact of the main demographic factors on the MOW and offers suggestions to gain employees loyalty and commitment based on all the findings.

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Foundational competencies for enhancing work engagement in SMEs Malaysia

Journal of Workplace Learning ◽

10.1108/jwl-07-2016-0066 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 165-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aliyu Yelwa Haruna ◽

Govindan Marthandan

Keyword(s):

Work Engagement ◽

Service Sector ◽

Small And Medium Enterprises ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Research Approach ◽

Positive Role ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Additional Support ◽

The Impact

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of foundational competencies on work engagement in the context of the Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) service sector. Design/methodology/approach This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Malaysia, and data were gathered via a survey on 312 employees representing SMEs service sectors. Partial least squares techniques were used in testing the hypothesized linkages. Findings The findings indicated that foundational competencies have a significant positive effect on work engagement. Research limitations/implications Considering the research approach, generalizing the findings of this study must be done with caution. Longitudinal data are recommended, as these could provide additional support to the results. Further studies can as well extend the framework by testing whether job resources play a positive role in enhancing the relationship between foundational competencies and work engagement in Malaysia. Practical implications The findings suggest that foundational competencies positively relate to work engagement. Therefore, training and coaching sessions could be organized by managers/policy makers to enhance these competencies, which will strengthen work engagement and career development of the employee; it may specifically be very helpful for fresh graduates whose careers would have just started. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to examine the effect of American Society of Training and Development foundational competencies on work engagement in SMEs in Malaysia.

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Women's birth beliefs and associated factors in an obstetrics clinic in the Southeastern Anatolian Region of Turkey

Journal of Health Research ◽

10.1108/jhr-07-2019-0166 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 345-351

Author(s):

Figen Alp Yilmaz ◽

Yeter Durgun Ozan

Keyword(s):

Associated Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

University Hospital ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Delivery Mode ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Pregnancy And Delivery ◽

Consultation Services ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe impact of birth beliefs on pregnancy and delivery are universally recognized, but the factors that affect birth beliefs vary across regions depending on individual and cultural characteristics. This study aimed to determine women's birth beliefs and examine their associated factors.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional study was conducted with 548 primiparas in the obstetrics clinic of a university hospital located in the Southeastern Anatolian Region of Turkey from February to June 2019. Descriptive characteristics, form and the Birth Beliefs Scale were used in data collection. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, T-tests and ANOVA analyses were used.FindingsIt was determined that factors such as age group, income level, any problems during pregnancy and preferred delivery mode statistically affected women's birth beliefs.Originality/valueBased on the findings from this study, healthcare personnel should provide training and consultation services to pregnant women starting from the prenatal period to help ensure a positive labor experience.

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An exploration of sensory processing patterns and their association with demographic factors in healthy adults

Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.1108/ijot-12-2018-0025 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 3-16

Author(s):

Tawanda Machingura ◽

Gurjeet Kaur ◽

Chris Lloyd ◽

Sharon Mickan ◽

David Shum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Education ◽

Sensory Processing ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Sensory Processing Patterns

Purpose Previous research has provided limited evidence on whether and how demographic factors associate with sensory processing patterns (SPP) in adults. This paper aims to examine relationships between SPPs and sociodemographic factors of age, sex, education and ethnicity in healthy adults. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 71 adult participants was recruited from the community, using convenience sampling. Each participant completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales – short version (DASS-21). Demographic information on age, sex, education and ethnicity was collected. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings SPPs, as measured by the AASP, were significantly correlated to demographic factors of age and education after controlling for emotional distress using the DASS-21. A statistically significant multivariate effect was found across the four dependent variables (low registration, seeking, sensitivity and avoiding) for the age category, F = 6.922, p = 0.009, ηp2 = 0.145, in the presence of a covariate DASS. The education category showed significance only in the seeking domain (p = 0.008, ηp2 = 0.10) after controlling for DASS. There was no significant correlation between SPPs and gender or ethnicity. Results also indicated that mean scores of participants in this study were “similar to most people” as standardised in the AASP. Research limitations/implications This was a cross-sectional study with limitations including that the study used a relatively small sample and was based on self-reported healthy participants. Practical implications SPPs may correlate with healthy adults’ age and to a lesser extent education. This suggests that it might be helpful to consider such demographic factors when interpreting SPPs in clinical populations, although further research in larger samples is needed to reach firmer conclusions about possible implications of demographic variables. Originality/value The findings in this paper add to the growing evidence that suggest that SPPs vary with sociodemographic factors.

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Social enterprises and organizational learning in South Africa

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies ◽

10.1108/jeee-02-2017-0010 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 117-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Boris Urban ◽

Elena Gaffurini

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Organizational Learning ◽

Social Innovation ◽

Emerging Market ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Social Enterprises ◽

African Countries ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between different dimensions of organizational learning capabilities (OLC) and levels of social innovation in social enterprises. Design/methodology/approach The empirical strategy adopted is a cross-sectional study based on primary survey data. Following a survey of social enterprises in South Africa, statistically analysis is conducted using regression analyses to test the study hypotheses. Findings The findings show that the OLC dimensions of knowledge conversion, risk management, organizational dialogue and participative decision-making all have a significant and positive relationship with social innovation. Research limitations/implications In many emerging economies, the notion of organizational learning appears to have considerable potential relevance, particularly as African countries are moving toward knowledge-based economies. By focusing on OLC, it is anticipated that social enterprises can configure and leverage the different factors in ways that enable them to overcome the constraints of the complex and unpredictable environments and increase their levels of social innovation. Originality/value The paper provides a pioneering empirical investigation into the impact that OLC has on levels of social innovation, in an under-researched emerging market context.

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Resiliency and mental health of school teachers in Okinawa

Journal of Health Research ◽

10.1108/jhr-11-2019-0248 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Paul Ratanasiripong ◽

Takashi China ◽

Nop T Ratanasiripong ◽

Shiho Toyama

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Teaching Profession ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

School Teachers ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the mental health issues among teachers globally and to investigate the significant factors that specifically impact the mental health of school teachers in Okinawa, Japan.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional study examined depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem and resiliency among 174 teachers from seven schools in Okinawa, Japan. The study questionnaire consisted of four parts, including demographic data, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale (DASS-42), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), and Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale (CD-RISC). Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of mental health variables.FindingsOf the 174 teachers, 111 were females (64%) and 60 were males (35%). Average age of participants was 41.65 (SD = 10.07). Average number of years being a teacher was 15.50 (SD = 9.88). There was a significant gender difference in the level of self-esteem. Significant differences in anxiety were found among varying grade levels taught. Regression analyses indicated that resiliency and self-esteem significantly predicted depression, anxiety and stress among school teachers in Okinawa.Originality/valueThis is the first study among school teachers in Okinawa that examined the impact of resiliency and self-esteem on their mental health. To reduce psychological distress common within the teaching profession, social and environmental support should be provided within the school to better foster the successful promotion of teacher resiliency and self-esteem.

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Impact of knowledge sharing, learning adaptability and organizational commitment on absorptive capacity in pharmaceutical firms based in Pakistan

Journal of Knowledge Management ◽

10.1108/jkm-04-2017-0132 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 44-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Muhammad Rafique ◽

Shafqat Hameed ◽

Mujtaba Hassan Agha

Keyword(s):

Organizational Commitment ◽

Absorptive Capacity ◽

Middle Managers ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Knowledge Process ◽

Content Type ◽

Independent Variables ◽

Pharmaceutical Firms ◽

The Impact

Purpose Absorptive capacity being an emerging field of research has been studied in different perspectives both in technological aspects and soft issues. Although an original study of absorptive capacity placed employees as playing pivoting role in the development of absorptive capacity (Cohen and Levinthal, 1990), unfortunately, there are limited studies on behavior of employees toward this emerging construct. This study aims to explore the impact of employees’ behavior in the development of absorptive capacity. Specifically, impact of knowledge sharing, learning adaptability and organizational commitment on absorptive capacity has been evaluated in this study. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional study was conducted at the pharmaceutical firms of Pakistan. The data were collected through random sampling from middle managers as a unit of analysis of this study. The rationale of the unit of analysis is that the maximum information is handled/accessed by the middle managers in the perspective of Pakistan. The data were collected from 170 respondents on a five-point Likert scale with the response rate of 66.7 per cent. Data were collected from different genders and different age groups with different qualification levels. Findings All independent variables showed significant positive correlations with overall absorptive capacity (ACAP). At the same time, different relationships of all independent variables were found in different ways with different significant levels. The results showed that different strategies may be adopted to manage the external knowledge for competition in turbulent environment. For example, organizational commitment may be incorporated at strategy formulation only, whereas the Adaptability at both routine and strategy formulation stage. As all independent variables showed no correlation with Acquisition it is concluded that Acquisition is purely a routine function, and instead of coordination, the routine processes must be emphasized. Research limitations/implications This study focused on the data from the middle managers of the pharmaceutical firms only. The results may not be generalized to the sectors. Another limitation is that the respondents of the study were middle managers. It was made intentional to see the impact of management aspects other than organizational mechanisms, as discussed by Cohen and Levinthal (1990) and Jansen et al. (2005) in their studies. The results on the basis of the data collected from other entities of the organization may differ. This is a cross-sectional study, and a longitudinal study may give different results. Practical implications Absorptive capacity has the capability to absorb new knowledge and plays an important role in the development of organizational processes to compete in the turbulent environment. It is dependent not only on technological infrastructure but also on the employees’ behaviors and attitudes. This study gives insights about the knowledge process activities and employment of human resource at each phase of absorptive capacity in relation to their behaviors toward knowledge process. Social implications Development of organizational process with knowledge management plays an important role in the capacity building, which ultimately enhances social paradigm of activities. Originality/value Pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan acquire technologies from foreign countries and have very limited research and development of their own. As technology is upgraded by the foreign companies as a continuous improvement process, local firms of Pakistan are required to absorb the new knowledge with the same pace. The study highlights importance of human capital in the development of this capability.

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Comparing health status, disability, and access to care in older and younger inmates in the New South Wales corrections system

International Journal of Prisoner Health ◽

10.1108/ijph-04-2018-0017 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 153-161

Author(s):

Courtney Field ◽

Vicki Archer

Keyword(s):

Access To Care ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

South Wales ◽

Aging Prisoners ◽

Older Inmates ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare the rates of chronic illness, disability and access to care between older and younger inmates who took part in a large epidemiological study in New South Wales, Australia. Design/methodology/approach Data are presented from a cross-sectional study based on a sample of inmates from correctional sites in NSW. The inclusion of results here was guided by the literature with regard to their relevance to older people, and older inmates in particular. Findings Results indicate that a higher proportion of older inmates suffer a range of chronic illnesses, with prevalence often many times higher than that of younger inmates. Older inmates are more likely to be classified as disabled and have a disability which impacts their mobility. Older inmates also reported accessing medical services in prison more recently than younger inmates and were more likely to have seen both nurses and general practitioners. Practical implications Older inmates appear to be considerably more resource intensive than younger inmates. The increasing proportion of inmates who are classified as older thus poses a pressing challenge to those working in the carceral space and, in particular, those responsible for providing healthcare to incarcerated people. Originality/value The impact of aging prisoners on resource demand has yet to be effectively measured. This study provides an important first step towards that goal.

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Job satisfaction in a group of patients with tinnitus

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-213598 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Katarzyna Bieńkowska ◽

Elżbieta Gos ◽

Justyna Kutyba ◽

Joanna Rajchel ◽

Piotr Henryk Skarżyński ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Work Performance ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Normal Hearing ◽

Future Research ◽

Satisfaction Scale ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Work Related ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is an auditory impression without any external auditory stimulus. It may cause negative symptoms (anxiety, insomnia, depression) significantly affecting work performance and job satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the job satisfaction in tinnitus sufferers. METHODS: Cross- sectional study were conducted and 51 individuals (23–70 years) were recruited. Participants completed two questionnaires: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Job Satisfaction Scale. RESULTS: People affected by tinnitus report higher job satisfaction than healthy people. Job satisfaction was significantly related to age: r = 0.31; p < 0.05 in all tinnitus patients. There was a correlation between job satisfaction and tinnitus severity but only in people with normal hearing (–0.69; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that job satisfaction is affected by the level of tinnitus annoyance (from both its emotional and functional aspects), but only in people with normal hearing. In future research it is recommended that additional factors be investigated, both work and non-work related, to thoroughly explore the impact of tinnitus on job satisfaction.

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Food packaging design and consumer perception of the product quality, safety, healthiness and preference

Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.1108/nfs-02-2020-0039 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christelle Bou-Mitri ◽

Marilyn Abdessater ◽

Hani Zgheib ◽

Zeina Akiki

Keyword(s):

Food Packaging ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Claims ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Economic Implications ◽

Content Type ◽

Packaging Design ◽

Positive Effects ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of the packaging design on consumers’ perception of the food quality, safety, healthiness and preference to buy. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study recruited a convenience sample of 547 Lebanese adults with a median age of 30 years old and 54% being females, between November and December 2016, using an interviewer-based questionnaire. Findings As identified by the participants, packaging should “protect the food” (54.9%) and be safe (52%). Most participants especially those who reported that protecting the food is the most important packaging functionality tended to select the vacuum package [OR (95% CI) = 2.19 (1.32; 3.66); p = 0.002] for having the highest quality, being the healthiest and the more frequently bought (24.3, 30.2 and 29.1% respectively). Regarding the juice, most of the participants thought that the glass bottles have the highest quality, were the safest, the healthiest and the most frequently bought (64.9, 37.4, 68.4 and 52.9%, respectively). Those who reported that safety is the most important characteristic for food packaging, have selected transparent as the most attractive color to use [OR (95% CI) = 2.10 (1.25; 3.55); p-value = 0.005]. Among the consumers, 87% considered that nutrition and health claims were among the most important informative cues. Around 73.1% (n = 399) were willing to pay more for a better packaging with 59.4% willing to pay 3% more. Originality/value This market research identifies the packaging characteristics and features which have positive effects on consumer attitudes. Therefore, it will help manufacturers track consumers’ trends and interests, and accordingly impact their business decisions in responding adequately in their package design. The social behavior will increase the product sale and its market success leading to direct economic implications.

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