scholarly journals The impact of workplaces and self-management practices on the productivity of knowledge workers

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miikka Palvalin ◽  
Theo van der Voordt ◽  
Tuuli Jylhä
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Corporate Management ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Productivity ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to explore the impact of workplaces, which support concentration and communication, and self-management practices on individual and team productivity. The underlying hypothesis is that the impact of these variables on the two levels of productivity (individual and team) and the two dimensions of productivity (quantity and quality) may be different. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on survey data from 998 Finnish knowledge workers. Factor analysis was used to test the dimensions of the conceptual model. Insights into the impact of workplaces for concentration and communications and self-management practices on productivity were obtained by multiple-regression analyses. Findings The findings show that self-management practices have a larger impact on the quality and quantity of individual output and the quantity of team output than workplaces for communication and concentration. Improving self-management skills is key to increase all productivity dimensions and in particular the quality of the output. Practical implications This paper contributes to a better understanding of the impact of workplace characteristics and self-management practices on different levels and dimensions of productivity. It offers valuable lessons for managers, as they are able to recognize how productivity can be approached from several perspectives. Different dimensions can be enhanced using different workplace settings. For example, the quantitative output of employees can be increased by adding more space for concentration, while quantitative team productivity can be increased by providing appropriate space for collaboration. An important means to enhance a higher quality of the output is to improve self-management skills. The findings also suggest that collaboration between different disciplines – corporate management, corporate real estate management, human resource management and IT – is needed to optimize individual and team productivity. Originality/value This paper explores work environment experiences of Finnish office workers and connects both workplace appraisal and work practices to perceived productivity support, on individual level and team level. It also adds insights into the different impacts on quantity and quality.

A co-produced self-management programme improves psychosocial outcomes for people living with depression

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Turner ◽  
Alba X. Realpe ◽  
Louise M. Wallace ◽  
Joanna Kosmala-Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Management Programme ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – There is growing interest in self-management support for people living with mental health problems. The purpose of this paper is to describe the evaluation of a co-designed and co-delivered self-management programme (SMP) for people living with depression delivered as part of large scale National Health Service quality improvement programme, which was grounded in the principles of co-production. The authors investigated whether participants became more activated, were less psychologically distressed enjoyed better health status, and quality of life, and improved their self-management skills after attending the seven-week SMP. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a longitudinal study of 114 people living with depression who attended the SMP. Participants completed self-reported measures before attending the SMP and at six months follow up. Findings – Patient activation significantly improved six months after the SMP (baseline M=49.6, SD=12.3, follow up M=57.2, SD=15.0, t(113)=4.83, p < 0.001; d=0.61). Participants’ experience of depression symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 significantly reduced (baseline M=15.5, SD=6.8, follow up M=10.6, SD=6.9, t(106)=7.22, p < 0.001, d=−0.72). Participants’ anxiety and depression as measured by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale also decreased significantly (baseline anxiety: M=13.1, SD=4.2, follow up M=10.2, SD=4.4, t(79)=6.29, p < 0.001, d=−0.69); (baseline depression: M=10.3, SD=4.6, follow up M=7.7, SD=4.5, t(79)=5.32, p < 0.001, d=−0.56). The authors also observed significant improvement in participants’ health status (baseline M=0.5, SD=0.3, follow up M=0.6, SD=0.3, t(97)=−3.86, p < 0.001, d=0.33), and health-related quality of life (baseline M=45.4, SD=20.5, follow up M=60.8, SD=22.8, t(91)=−2.71, p=0.008, d=0.75). About 35 per cent of participant showed substantial improvements of self-management skills. Originality/value – The co-produced depression SMP is innovative in a UK mental health setting. Improvements in activation, depression, anxiety, quality of life and self-management skills suggest that the SMP could make a useful contribution to the recovery services in mental health.

Implicit followership theories from the perspective of followers

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-596
Author(s):  
Yongyong Yang ◽  
Wendian Shi ◽  
Beina Zhang ◽  
Youming Song ◽  
Dezhen Xu
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Context ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Implicit Attitude ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collegial Relationships ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Implicit Followership Theories

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the structure, implicit attitude and consequences of followers' implicit followership theories in the Chinese cultural context through three studies. Study 1 explores the structure of followers' implicit followership theories. Study 2 examines the implicit attitude of followers towards followers' implicit followership theories. Study 3 verifies the impact of followers' implicit followership theories on the quality of collegial relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe data for study 1 (n = 321) and study 3 (n = 243) were collected through an online self-report questionnaire, and the data for study 2 (n = 30) were collected through the go/no-go association task.FindingsThe structure of followers' implicit followership theories includes two dimensions: positive followership prototypes and negative followership prototypes. Followers' implicit attitudes were more likely to match positive followership prototypes than negative followership prototypes. Positive followership prototypes had a significantly positive impact on the quality of collegial relationships, whereas negative followership prototypes had a significantly negative impact on the quality of collegial relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThe psychology and behaviour of employees can be better understood by exploring followers' implicit followership theories.Practical implicationsEmployees hold a relatively positive implicit attitude towards followers. Therefore, managers should provide positive feedback to improve employees' positive self-cognition so that employees can better serve the organization and better promote its development.Originality/valueThe paper is one of the few studies to explore followers' implicit followership theories in the Chinese cultural context.

CEO characteristics and earnings management: empirical evidence from France

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhouha Bouaziz ◽  
Bassem Salhi ◽  
Anis Jarboui
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Communication ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Ceo Characteristics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of chief executive officer (CEO) characteristics on the earnings management examined by the discretionary accruals. Design/methodology/approach The sample includes 151 French firms listed on the CAC ALL shares index from 2006 to 2015. The paper uses the feasible generalized least square regression technique to test the relationship between CEO characteristics and earnings management. Findings Using discretionary accruals as a proxy for earnings management, the results obtained from the three models (Jones modified 1995; Kothari et al., 2005; Raman and Shahrur, 2008) indicated that there is a positive and significant relationship between CEO duality, CEO nationality and the quality of financial communication. However, no significant relationship was found between CEO board member, CEO turnover and earnings management. Originality/value A literature review finds that fewer studies have investigated the relationship between earnings management practices and personal CEO characteristics in the French context. Furthermore, no study yet has examined the influence of CEO nationality and CEO age on earnings management practices. This study provides empirical data about the impact of CEO’s characteristics on earnings management and how these different characteristics can facilitate the transition to manipulate and influence the quality of financial communication.

Progressive Tinnitus Management Level 3 Skills Education: A 5-Year Clinical Retrospective

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M. Edmonds ◽  
Cheri Ribbe ◽  
Emily J. Thielman ◽  
James A. Henry
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Management Level ◽  
Quality Of Life Indicators ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Skills Education ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether progressive tinnitus management Level 3 skills education workshops conducted at the Bay Pines and Boston Veterans Affairs hospitals result in consistent use of the presented tinnitus management strategies by patients 1–5 years after completing the workshops. Method In fiscal year (FY) 2015, the tinnitus workshop follow-up form was mailed to all veterans who completed the Level 3 workshops between FY 2010 and FY 2014. Data were compiled to determine which, if any, of the skills taught in the workshops were being used 1–5 years after completion of the workshops and the impact on quality-of-life indicators. Results All self-management skills were being utilized up to 5 years postcompletion; therapeutic sound was utilized the most. The majority of patients reported an improved ability to manage reactions to tinnitus and improved quality-of-life indicators. Over 90% of patients from both sites recommended the program to others with tinnitus. Conclusion The self-management skills taught in the progressive tinnitus management Level 3 workshops are sustained over time even when limited resources prevent the full complement of workshops or the involvement of mental health services. The workshops can also be successfully implemented through remote delivery via videoconferencing (telehealth). Supplemental Materials https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5370883

scholarly journals Process redesign for time-based emergency admission targets

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 939-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra G. Leggat ◽  
Richard Gough ◽  
Timothy Bartram ◽  
Pauline Stanton ◽  
Greg J. Bamber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Emergency Admission ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Redesign ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Hospitals have used process redesign to increase the efficiency of the emergency department (ED) to cope with increasing demand. While there are published studies suggesting a positive outcome, recent reviews have reported that it is difficult to conclude that these approaches are effective as a result of substandard research methodology. The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of hospital staff on the impact of a process redesign initiative on quality of care. Design/methodology/approach A retrospective qualitative case study examining a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) initiative in a large metropolitan hospital from 2009 to 2010. Non-probability sampling identified interview subjects who, through their participation in the redesign initiative, had a detailed understanding of the implementation and outcomes of the initiative. Between April 2012 and January 2013 26 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed with thematic content analysis. Findings There were four important findings. First, when asked to comment on the impact of the LSS implementation, without prompting the staff spoke of quality of care. Second, there was little agreement among the participants as to whether the project had been successful. Third, despite the recognition of the need for a coordinated effort across the hospital to improve ED access, the redesign process was not successful in reducing existing divides among clinicians and among managers and clinicians. Finally, staff expressed tension between production processes to move patients more quickly and their duty of care to their patients as individuals. Originality/value One of the first studies to explore the impact of process redesign through in-depth interviews with participating staff, this study adds further evidence that organisations implementing process redesign must ensure the supporting management practices are in place.

The influence of design factors on the financing results of crowdfunding projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 587-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Zhu ◽  
Xingchen Li
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Design Factors ◽  
Success Index

Purpose The money raised for projects on crowdfunding platforms is determined not only by the merit of the projects themselves but also, to a large extent, by the design of the project introduction on the platforms. The purpose of this study is to identify the clear relationships between the financing result and the design factors to give preferable design suggestions to the fund initiators. Design/methodology/approach The data for this study were abstracted with Python from the Jingdong crowdfunding platform on a certain day. In all, 11 hypotheses are put forward in the study with the two main purposes of exploring the function of the quality signaling and level setting. Findings All design factors can impact the money raised for a project. However, the impact differs in certain situations. The level setting can significantly impact the amount of money raised. The quality of signals has a complex impact on the two dimensions. Originality/value Three major contributions are made by this paper. First, the level setting is explored after overcoming the difficulty of scrawling data. Second, the authors create the Success Index and Weighted Gap Index to measure the level of success from comprehensive dimensions and quantify the dispersion of the levels. Third, this study shows a comprehensive theoretical framework which can function as a reference for research in the future.

scholarly journals Personal resources and knowledge workers’ job engagement

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-610
Author(s):  
Ilona Toth ◽  
Sanna Heinänen ◽  
Anna-Maija Nisula
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Personal Resources ◽  
Job Engagement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of personal resources on knowledge workers’ job engagement in the contemporary economy. Work itself and work environments are currently undergoing fundamental changes. As such, the focus of engagement research is shifting to an interest in personal resources and the psychological capital of knowledge workers. Design/methodology/approach This paper proposes a theoretical model based on a modern interpretation of the conservation of resources theory concerning the relationship between personal resources (self-efficacy, organization-based self-esteem and satisfaction with life) in relation to the three dimensions of job engagement (physical, emotional and cognitive). The proposed model is tested with structural equation modelling (LISREL). Findings The results from the analysis of data collected from Finnish university graduates (N = 103) show that the three dimensions of job engagement are strongly influenced by organization-based self-esteem and satisfaction with life but, surprisingly, not by self-efficacy. Practical implications Through understanding the impact of personal resources on knowledge workers’ job engagement, organizations can enhance their human relations management practices and develop better support mechanisms for their knowledge workers. Originality/value This paper provides empirical evidence for the influence of personal resources on knowledge workers’ job engagement. There is a lack of empirical studies on knowledge workers’ job engagement in the contemporary economy. The changing nature of the way work is being carried out in the contemporary economy raises the importance of personal resources as a key resource for knowledge workers’ job engagement.

Effects of use of an eHealth platform e-Vita for COPD patients on disease specific quality of life domains

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Functional State ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Copd Patients ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ehealth Intervention ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Disease Specific

Background: Integrated disease management with self-management for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is effective to improve clinical outcomes. eHealth can improve patients’ involvement to be able to accept and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Eventhough there is mixed evidence of the impact of eHealth on quality of life (QoL) in different settings. Aim: The primary aim of the e-Vita-COPD-study was to investigate the effect of use of eHealth patient platforms on disease specific QoL of COPD patients. Methods: We evaluated the impact of an eHealth platform on disease specific QoL measured with the clinical COPD questionnaire (CCQ), including subscales of symptoms, functional state and mental state. Interrupted time series (ITS) design was used to collect CCQ data at multiple time points. Multilevel linear regression modelling was used to compare trends in CCQ before and after the eHealth intervention. Results: Of 742 invited COPD patients, 244 signed informed consent. For the analyses, we only included patients who actually used the eHealth platform (n = 123). The decrease of CCQ-symptoms was 0,20% before the intervention and 0,27% after the intervention; this difference was statistically significant (P=0.027). The decrease of CCQ-mental was 0,97% before the intervention and after the intervention there was an increase of 0,017%; this difference was statistically significant (P=0,01). No significant difference was found in the slopes of CCQ (P=0,12) and CCQ-function (P=0,11) before and after the intervention. Conclusion: The e-Vita eHealth platform had a potential beneficial impact on the CCQ-symptoms of COPD patients, but not on functional state. The CCQ-mental state remained stable after the intervention, but this was a deterioration compared to the improving situation before the start of the eHealth platform. In conclusion, this study shows that after the introduction of the COPD platform, patients experienced fewer symptoms, but their mental state deteriorated slightly at the same time. Therefore, health care providers should be aware that, although symptoms improve, there might be a slight increase in anxiety and depression after introducing an eHealth intervention to support self-management.

scholarly journals Processes, Challenges and Optimisation of Rum Production from Molasses—A Contemporary Review

Fermentation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Tinashe Mangwanda ◽  
Joel B. Johnson ◽  
Janice S. Mani ◽  
Steve Jackson ◽  
Shaneel Chandra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Yeast Strains ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Production Industry ◽  
Stringent Quality

The rum industry is currently worth USD 16 billion, with production concentrated in tropical countries of the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific regions. The primary feedstock for rum production is sugar cane molasses, a by-product of sugar refineries. The main variables known to affect rum quality include the composition of the molasses, the length of fermentation, and the type of barrels and length of time used for aging the rum. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the impact of these variables on rum quality, and to highlight current challenges and opportunities in the production of rum from molasses. In order to achieve this, we review the relevant contemporary scientific literature on these topics. The major contemporary challenges in the rum production industry include minimising the effects of variability in feedstock quality, ensuring the fermentation process runs to completion, preventing microbial contamination, and the selection and maintenance of yeast strains providing optimum ethanol production. Stringent quality management practices are required to ensure consistency in the quality and organoleptic properties of the rum from batch to batch. Further research is required to fully understand the influences of many of these variables on the final quality of the rum produced.

Do disclosure and transparency affect bank’s financial performance?

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1344-1361
Author(s):  
Isaiah Oino
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Loan Portfolios ◽  
Cent Level ◽  
Transparency And Disclosure ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of transparency and disclosure on the financial performance of financial institutions. The emphasis is on assessing transparency and disclosure; auditing and compliance; risk management as indicators of corporate governance; and understanding how these parameters affect bank profitability, liquidity and the quality of loan portfolios. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 20 financial institutions was selected, with ten respondents from each, yielding a total sample size of 200. Principal component analysis (PCA), with inbuilt ability to check for composite reliability, was used to obtain composite indices for the corporate governance indicators as well as the indicators of financial performance, based on a set of questions framed for each institution. Findings The analysis demonstrates that greater disclosure and transparency, improved auditing and compliance and better risk management positively affect the financial performance of financial institutions. In terms of significance, the results show that as the level of disclosure and transparency in managerial affairs increases, the performance of financial institutions – as measured in terms of the quality of loan portfolios, liquidity and profitability – increases by 0.3046, with the effect being statistically significant at the 1 per cent level. Furthermore, as the level of auditing and the degree of compliance with banking regulations increases, the financial performance of banks improves by 0.3309. Research limitations/implications This paper did not consider time series because corporate governance does not change periodically. Practical implications This paper demonstrates the importance of disclosure and transparency in managerial affairs because the performance of financial institutions, as measured in terms of loan portfolios, liquidity and profitability, increases by 0.4 when transparency and disclosure improve, with this effect being statistically significant at the 1 per cent level. Originality/value The use of primary data in assessing the impact of corporate governance on financial performance, instead of secondary data, is the primary novelty of this study. Moreover, PCA is used to assess the weight of the various parameters.

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