Building a better workforce

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Claire Douglas-Lenders ◽  
Peter Jeffrey Holland ◽  
Belinda Allen
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Transfer Of Knowledge ◽  
Skills Transfer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Learning ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of experiential simulation-based learning of employee self-efficacy. Design/methodology/approach The research approach is an exploratory case study of a group of trainees from the same organisation. Using a quasi-experiment, one group, pre-test-post-test design (Tharenou et al., 2007), a questionnaire with validated scales at Time 1 (T1) prior to training and Time (T2) three months after training were used. All scales had been validated by the researchers and had acceptable levels of reliability. In addition interviews are undertaken with the participants immediately at the end of the programme. Findings The research found strong evidence of the positive impact of the training on skills transfer to the workplace with support from supervisors as key criteria. Research limitations/implications There remains a need for additional studies with larger and more diverse samples and studies which incorporate control groups into their design. Practical implications This study provided support for the transfer of knowledge using simulation-based training and advances our limited knowledge and understanding of simulation-based training as a form of experiential (management) learning and development. Originality/value This is the first study to undertake a longitudinal analysis of the impact on self-efficacy in the workplace and as such adds to the research in this field.

Impact of social media usage on performance of construction businesses (CBs) in Abuja, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luqman Oyekunle Oyewobi ◽  
Olufemi Seth Olorunyomi ◽  
Richard Ajayi Jimoh ◽  
James Olabode Bamidele Rotimi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Interest ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Many construction businesses are currently building and keeping social media pages for their enterprises to be visible to the public to improve their social interaction, promote business interest, build trust and relationships with their targeted audience on social media. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of social mediausage on performance of construction businesses (CBs) in Abuja, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative research approach by identifying constructs that reveal three aspects of organisation’s physiognomies that impact the process of espousing, implementing and using technological innovations in conducting businesses. Well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from 113 purposively sampled building materials’ merchant operating in Dei-Dei Market, Abuja, Nigeria. This study used partial least squares structural equation modelling technique to establish the relationship among the constructs. Findings The results of this study indicated that technology has significant relationship with social media adoption, whereas social media adoption has a very strong positive impact on organisation’s performance (P < 0.001) with respect to improved customer relations and services and enhanced information accessibility. Research limitations/implications This study has implications for CBs that wish to adopt social media to promote their businesses by presenting to them the opportunity to understand the impact of technology, environment and organisational potential in improving business performance. This study is cross-sectional in nature, and this calls for caution in interpreting the results. Originality/value This paper developed and tested a conceptual framework presented to understand the interrelationships amongst the constructs, which would be of great significance to business owners in developing their social interaction and promote business interest via social media. The outcome of this research is beneficial to researchers to further study how the different social media tools could help in influencing business decisions.

scholarly journals Do union-management learning partnerships reduce workplace conflict?

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
North West ◽  
Learning Partnerships ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Management Learning ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a qualitative study of the views of a cross-section of managers and union officials engaged in joint learning projects on the impact more generally on the employee relations climate in those organisations. Design/methodology/approach – Findings are based on an analysis of interview data incorporating the views and experiences of 32 union representatives and managers engaged in promoting learning in a number of case study projects in North West England. Findings – Findings suggest that union-led learning and development has a clear impact on pre-empting potential performance issues for individuals in terms of better equipping them with the skills to achieve expected performance levels, assisting individuals with managing work-related stress and also to prevent discrimination against workers. Collectively, the managing of downsizing in particular through union-led learning support to retrain in order to redeploy effected staff or better prepare them for new employment opportunities was also a significant finding. Research limitations/implications – The research suggests that successful union-management learning partnerships can also have a positive impact on managing conflict in those organisations. However, further research is needed to test these assertions in other union organised sectors. Practical implications – There are implications for management in recognising the “added value” that partnership working with their unions on learning can bring in terms of also both pre-empting and resolving individual and collective disputes in the workplace. Originality/value – The research is one of few studies that focuses on the link between promoting learning through union-management partnerships and managing conflict in organisations and offers a clear insight into how this can be achieved in practice.

Does multitasking computer self-efficacy mitigate the impact of social media affordances on overload and fatigue among professionals?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
A.K.M. Najmul Islam ◽  
Eoin Whelan ◽  
Stoney Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Computer Self Efficacy

PurposeThis paper investigates the moderating role of multitasking computer self-efficacy on the relationship between social media affordances and social media overload as well as its moderation between social media overload and social media fatigue.Design/methodology/approachThe authors hypothesize that social media affordances will have a positive impact on social media overload (i.e. information and communication overload). They also hypothesize that social media overload will affect social media fatigue. In addition, they hypothesize that multitasking computer self-efficacy will attenuate the effect of social media affordances on both information overload and communication overload. Similarly, they also hypothesize that multitasking computer self-efficacy will attenuate the effects of both information overload and communication overload on fatigue. The authors test this model by collecting two-wave data from 220 professionals using PLS techniques.FindingsSocial media affordances have significant impacts on information overload, but not on communication overload. In turn, information overload and communication overload significantly affect social media fatigue. Multitasking computer self-efficacy was found to attenuate the effect of social media affordances on both information overload and communication overload. Furthermore, the study results suggest that multitasking computer self-efficacy attenuates the effect of information overload and reinforces the effect of communication overload on social media fatigue.Originality/valueMost prior literature focused on students rather than on professionals. There is a lack of research that investigates how the affordances of social media relate to social media overload and fatigue. Furthermore, research that investigates mitigating mechanisms of social media fatigue has been rare. This paper fills these important research gaps.

The status of electronic teaching within South African LIS Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 317-337
Author(s):  
Mabel K. Majanja
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
World View ◽  
Technical Support ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeTo determine the perceived self-efficacy of South African LIS academics in e-teaching as a co-requisite to imparting relevant ICT knowledge and skills to LIS students.Design/methodology/approachThe study was underpinned by the pragmatic world view, which allows a researcher to choose a combination of methods, techniques and procedures that best meets the needs and purposes of the study. Based on the purpose and objectives of the study, and the type of data needed, a quantitative approach, employing the descriptive survey design was used. An online questionnaire with both structured and unstructured questions was distributed to 79 LIS academics in 8 universities and attracted a 68.4% response rate. Structured responses were computed directly as quantitative data, while the unstructured answers were aggregated under themes and analysed quantitatively.FindingsThe findings show that LIS academics in South Africa have not been left behind in the trends regarding e-teaching, and most of them feel quite confident about their self-efficacy in e-teaching. A variety of Learning Management Systems and e-tools are in use and relevant policies and technical support available. Most LIS academics, to re-/up-skill themselves, employ diverse heutagogical strategies. However, the e-teaching support in terms of resources and technical support are inadequate because some universities are deficient in their provision of ICTs and e-learning guidelines.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the study is that this was a time-bound study that focused merely on the basic level investigation A further in-depth probing of the real (as opposed to self) levels of e-teaching efficacy and how heutagogy can be explored or advocated is necessary.Practical implicationsThe implications of the results are that (1) South African LIS academics are well fairly well prepares to face the impact of COVID-19, which has forced universities to turn to virtual/online education (2) Heutagogical approach should be explored as a method of further improving the capabilities of e-teachers, in order to (3) pass forward a positive impact on LIS graduates by preparing them to be agile for a modern work environment. (4) universities have to provide sufficient resources to support academics in their endeavour to continually improve their teaching.Social implicationsTopical in the face of the novel coronavirus.Originality/valueOptimal

5S impact on safety climate of manufacturing workers

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siddarth Srinivasan ◽  
Laura Hughes Ikuma ◽  
Mahmoud Shakouri ◽  
Isabelina Nahmens ◽  
Craig Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Safety Climate ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Test Study ◽  
Management Commitment ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – 5S is a commonly used Lean tool that focusses on creating an organized work environment, but the effects of 5S on safety climate are not as well studied. The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of a 5S event on safety climate. Design/methodology/approach – This pre-test post-test study examines the effect of implementing 5S on safety climate of the packaging area of a manufacturing plant. Two groups of employees (case and control groups) completed a safety climate questionnaire (Safety Climate Assessment Toolkit) prior to the 5S event, one month after, and two months after. Findings – Total safety climate significantly improved for the case group but remained unchanged for the control group over the study period. Specifically, management commitment and involvement dimensions of safety climate improved for the case group. Practical implications – These results show that two important aspects of safety climate (management commitment and involvement) can be significantly, positively influenced by successful 5S events, which may translate to improved safety overall. Originality/value – Prior literature on 5S speculates a positive impact of 5S on safety and safety climate, but this assertion is not well supported with empirical evidence. This study provides quantitative measurement of positive safety climate changes that resulted from a successful 5S event. The results provide additional incentive for management to continue 5S and other Lean activities with the possibility of also improving safety.

The impact of country of origin on consumers' pricing judgments in ecommerce settings

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emi Moriuchi
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Lower Price ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Willingness To Purchase ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of country-of-origin (COO) cues and pricing perspective based on the third-party seller's name, intermediary, on consumers' purchasing decisions on e-commerce sites. A model was proposed to investigate consumers' perception toward sellers' online reputation, the mediating role of trust between the reputation of third-party sellers and attitude toward e-commerce as an intermediary, and attitude toward third-party sellers. In addition, this study also looks at the pricing threshold of consumers who are willing to buy from a third-party seller that has a negative COO cue, which is an area that has received limited attention in e-commerce studies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for an experimental study using survey data gathered from general American consumers. Two studies were conducted. One hundred seventy surveys were gathered for study 1, and 171 surveys were gathered for study 2. The two studies had two product snippets which showed an Amazon product page with a list of third-party sellers. For study 2, all variables were kept the same – reviews and ratings for both products and sellers, delivery time, descriptions, e-commerce as an intermediary and brand of a bag – except for the price.FindingsThe findings showed that consumers' perceived reputation of a third-party seller has a positive impact on their attitude toward the seller and toward the e-commerce intermediary. In addition, the role of a positive COO influences attitudes and intentions. However, this influence is moderated by price when price is noticeably higher when compared to an alternative option provided by a seller from a country with a lower COO evaluation. This study suggests that the benefits of a positive COO diminish when a seller with a lower COO evaluation is able to provide a lower price for the product. In study 1, the results show that positive COO trumps negative COO. In study 2, the result shows that consumers lean toward a lower-price product and disregard their evaluation toward the COO. Furthermore, in study 2, results show that in order for the pricing to offset the negative COO attributes of a third-party seller, the price needs to be within 22–30% lower than the American seller's product pricing.Research limitations/implicationsWith the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability for the other markets (e.g. Asian consumer market). Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.Originality/valueThis study highlights the implications of COO cues such as sellers' names and how they impact consumers' willingness to purchase a product. The second study investigates consumers' willingness to purchase when the pricing for a product sold by a negative COO seller versus a positive COO seller is different in an e-commerce environment. In addition, the second study determines that the role of trust has more impact on consumers' attitude toward a third-party seller than it has on their attitude toward the e-commerce intermediary.

Determinants of job satisfaction in a lean environment

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Rodríguez ◽  
Hendrik Van Landeghem ◽  
Virginia Lasio ◽  
Dirk Buyens
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Job Autonomy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Action Research Approach ◽  
Core Self ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the situational and dispositional determinants of job satisfaction in environments created by implementing employee-supportive lean. Design/methodology/approach The research uses a questionnaire to measure the determinants of job satisfaction (perceived job demands, perceived job autonomy and core self-evaluations) and job satisfaction. Afterwards, the paper proposes a conceptual framework and uses hierarchical multiple regression to test the relationships among perceived job demands, perceived job autonomy, core self-evaluations and job satisfaction. Additionally, the study describes the implementation of employee-supportive lean in four small companies using an action research approach. Findings The findings reveal that perceived job demands has a negative impact on job satisfaction. In addition, the authors find that perceived job autonomy and core self-evaluations have a positive impact on job satisfaction. Finally, the results show that core self-evaluations buffer the impact of perceived job demands on job satisfaction. Originality/value The present research underscores the importance of work and personal characteristics for employees’ job satisfaction in an environment created by implementing employee-supportive lean.

Entrepreneurial intentions: the role of family factors, personality traits and self-efficacy

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Farrukh ◽  
Azeem Ahmad Khan ◽  
Muhammad Shahid Khan ◽  
Sara Ravan Ramzani ◽  
Bakare Soladoye Akeem Soladoye
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Family Background ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of family background, big five personality traits and self-efficacy on entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) of business students in private universities in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected with the help of structured questionnaires, 500 questionnaires were distributed among the students and 306 useable questionnaires were received and analyzed. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the relationship among the study variables. SmartPLS was utilized to run the analysis. Findings The findings revealed a strong relationship between the exogenous and endogenous variables. The variance accounted by the independent variables was 74.3 percent in the EIs of the students. Family background was found to have a positive impact on the EIs of students. The findings also showed a positive relationship between self-efficacy and EIs. Consciousness, extroversion and openness to experience are positively linked with EIs while neuroticism and agreeableness did not show any relationship. Originality/value The study’s findings attract the attention of the academicians to take note of the factors examined while training the students the art of entrepreneurship. This is because this study has revealed that if these factors are not present the intention of the students to start a business venture may prove to be weak. Entrepreneurial activities are one of the biggest ways to reduce unemployment, thus, it is suggested that academicians should develop psychological plans and training to motivate the students to convert their intentions into actions.

The impact of placements on students’ self-efficacy

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Placement ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between work placements and employability, through an analysis of the impact of a work placement on students’ self-efficacy. Design/methodology/approach – The basis of this paper is a large-scale work-based learning module at the University of Birmingham, the “Professional Development Module”. Students completed questionnaires both before and after they undertaken their placements and the results from the questionnaires were compared. These results were then combined with the results of semi-structured interviews undertaken with students. Findings – The paper's findings support the view that a work placement has a positive impact on students’ self-efficacy, especially in relation to their confidence in making applications and/or attending interviews, and in articulating their skills and strengths. Research limitations/implications – While the relatively small sample size means that the paper's conclusions must remain provisional, it highlights the need for careers practitioners to encourage students to engage in critical self-reflection. The paper suggests that it is important for careers practitioners and researchers to engage in more collaborative projects in order for a fully rounded picture of the relationship between placements and employability to emerge. The paper shows that more research is needed into the relative impact of short- and long-term placements. Originality/value – The paper demonstrates the value of assessing students’ views both before and after their work placements so that these views can be compared directly.

Classroom interdisciplinary diversity and entrepreneurial intentions

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 832-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Padilla-Angulo ◽  
René Díaz-Pichardo ◽  
Patricia Sánchez-Medina ◽  
Lovanirina Ramboarison-Lalao
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of classroom interdisciplinary diversity, a type of classroom diversity that has been under-examined by previous literature, on the formation of university students’ entrepreneurial intentions (EI). Design/methodology/approach Based on Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour and the interactionist model of creative behaviour by Woodman et al. (1993), this paper provides empirical evidence demonstrating that classroom interdisciplinary diversity is important in the formation of university students’ EI at early educational stages using a cross-sectional study design and survey data on first-year business school students and partial least squares analysis. Findings Classroom interdisciplinary diversity is important in the formation of university students’ EI through its positive impact on entrepreneurial perceived behavioural control (PBC) (self-efficacy), a key antecedent of EI. Practical implications The results have important implications for educational practice as well as for both public and private organisations willing to promote entrepreneurial activity, in particular, the positive effects of combining people with different profiles and career fields of interest on entrepreneurial PBC (self-efficacy). Originality/value This study contributes to the scant literature on early university experiences in entrepreneurship education and their influence on EI. It studies the impact of an under-examined dimension of diversity (classroom interdisciplinary diversity) on the formation of students’ EI.

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