The well-being and productivity link: a significant opportunity for research-into-practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Miller
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Implementation Gap ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practice Implementation ◽  
Productivity Gains ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Level Of Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to position well-being as a necessary component of the productivity debate and highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the nature of such a link. It first considers productivity at the national level in order to show how this affects both the climate and the economic policies within which organisations operate. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents an overview of current research and practice in the area. It treats the organisation as the primary level of analysis, and before highlights some of the apparent challenges in conceptualising well-being. Findings The importance of well-being is rising up national and employer agendas. Organisations need people to perform at their best in a sustainable way. The paper argues that an organisation with well-being at its core will reap productivity gains. It supports the view in the literature that improvements at national level can only be made on the back of sophisticated strategies across numerous organisations. However, for this to happen shared actions and understanding of these challenges has first to be created and acted upon across institutions and organisations. There are notable costs of poor well-being to productivity, and identifiable benefits of promoting and supporting employee well-being for productivity. Practical implications There is a clear practice implementation gap. Some organisations are embracing the opportunities to invest in their staff, but those who make employee well-being a business priority and a fundamental part of how the organisation operates are in the minority. There is also an ongoing challenge of measuring the impact of well-being programmes which can inform ROI assessments and enable organisations to demonstrate the business benefits of employee well-being. Originality/value There remain many unanswered questions about both the nature of the link between well-being and productivity and the economic impact of an association. This paper sparks further interest in expanding the understanding of the well-being and productivity link or peripheral issues.

When I am old I shall wear purple: a qualitative study of the effect of group poetry sessions on the well-being of older adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Seymour ◽  
Michael Murray
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Poetry Reading ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose There is increasing evidence that participation in various art forms can be beneficial for health and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of participating in a poetry reading group on a group of older residents of an assisted living facility. Design/methodology/approach Six poetry sessions, each on a different theme, were conducted with a group of volunteer participants. These sessions, those of pre- and post-study focus groups and interviews with the group facilitator and staff contact were audio-recorded. The transcripts of the recordings were then subjected to a thematic analysis. Findings Overall the participants were enthused by the opportunity to participate in the project and the benefits were confirmed by the support staff. In addition, reading poetry on particular themes promoted different types of discussion. Research limitations/implications The number of participants in this study was small and the study was conducted over a short period of time. Practical implications This paper confirms the impact of poetry reading for older people. The challenge is to explore this impact in more detail and over community as well as residential settings. Originality/value This paper is the first empirical report on the value of poetry reading for older people.

Perceived stress and psychological well-being of working mothers during COVID-19: a mediated moderated roles of teleworking and resilience

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vartika Kapoor ◽  
Jaya Yadav ◽  
Lata Bajpai ◽  
Shalini Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Working Mothers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe present study examines the mediating role of teleworking and the moderating role of resilience in explaining the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being of working mothers in India. Conservation of resource theory (COR) is taken to support the present study.Design/methodology/approachThe data of 326 respondents has been collected from working mothers in various sectors of Delhi NCR region of India. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for construct validity, and SPSS Macro Process (Hayes) was used for testing the hypotheses.FindingsThe results of the study found an inverse association between perceived stress and psychological well-being. Teleworking acted as a partial mediator and resilience proved to be a significant moderator for teleworking-well-being relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based at Delhi NCR of India, and future studies may be based on a diverse population within the country to generalize the findings in different cultural and industrial contexts. The present work is based only on the psychological well-being of the working mothers, it can be extended to study the organizational stress for both the genders and other demographic variables.Practical implicationsThe study extends the research on perceived stress and teleworking by empirically testing the association between perceived stress and psychological well-being in the presence of teleworking as a mediating variable. The findings suggest some practical implications for HR managers and OD Practitioners. The organizations must develop a plan to support working mothers by providing flexible working hours and arranging online stress management programs for them.Originality/valueAlthough teleworking is studied previously, there is a scarcity of research examining the impact of teleworking on psychological well-being of working mothers in Asian context. It would help in understanding the process that how teleworking has been stressful for working mothers and also deliberate the role of resilience in the relationship between teleworking and psychological well-being due to perceived stress, as it seems a ray of hope in new normal work situations.

scholarly journals The impact of national social capital on business creation rates in the formal vs informal sectors

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1739-1768
Author(s):  
Mai Thi Thanh Thai ◽  
Ekaterina Turkina ◽  
Amon Simba
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
National Level ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Entrepreneurship Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Creation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Business Formation

PurposeThrough utilizing social capital as an overarching concept, the purpose of this article is to investigate cross-country rates of business formation in the formal vs informal sectors. Plus, empirically assess the impact of social capital constructs on the national rates of entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a regression-oriented methodology, partial least squares (PLS), the study used a sample comprising 50 nations. National rates of registered and nonregistered business creation were utilized as endogenous variables. To determine the indigenous variables, constructs of social capital were measured which is consistent with the World Value Survey (WWS).FindingsThe results of this study show that in the formal and the informal sectors, social networking enables business creation with varying levels of impact. It establishes that institutional trust has a negative effect on informal business creation and a positive effect on business registration; interpersonal trust drives entrepreneurship in the informal sector but has less impact on business registration; norms of trustworthiness are related to business registration than informal business creation.Practical implicationsThe findings of this research have theoretical and practical implications. They stimulate academic debate on the application of social capital constructs at the national level. The indications that social capital promotes business formation in both the informal and formal sectors can influence entrepreneurship policy development in many countries.Originality/valueThe originality of the results of this study lies in how it conceptualizes social capital as having direct impact on business creation in the informal vs formal sector. Thus, the findings elevated the conceptualization of social capital to the national level thereby enhancing knowledge on the entrepreneurship process as well as developmental economics.

Theorising the impact of COVID-19 on the fraud victimisation of older persons

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Cross
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand how COVID-19 may alter the vulnerability levels of older persons, and how this may change their potential for fraud victimisation. This is particularly focused on the government’s use of isolation, restrictions on activity and physical distancing to combat the virus. Design/methodology/approach In the absence of statistics, this paper examines what is currently known about older persons and fraud, as well as the recent knowledge of COVID-19-related fraud. On this basis, the paper hypothesises the conceivable changes to vulnerability that potentially expose older persons to fraud. Findings This paper argues that COVID-19 has not seen “new” fraudulent approaches, rather offenders have used COVID-19 as a context to their existing schemes. Further, the current response to COVID-19 can substantially increase the number of older persons experiencing levels of vulnerability, and therefore increase their fraud risk. Research limitations/implications The current paper applies existing knowledge into the current circumstances of COVID-19 and lays the foundations for empirical work to be conducted in this area. Practical implications This paper provides an impetus to target the well-being and connectivity of older persons, (regardless of the COVID-19 context), to reduce their vulnerability to fraud victimisation. Social implications This paper highlights the importance of connectivity for older persons, and the need to focus on overcoming social isolation and loneliness. Originality/value This paper is the first to hypothesise the effects of COVID-19 and its associated government responses to the overall vulnerability of older persons, with a focus on the potential for fraud victimisation.

How ethical leadership stimulates academics’ retention in universities

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1348-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saima Ahmad ◽  
Syed Muhammad Fazal-E-Hasan ◽  
Ahmad Kaleem
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Leadership ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Intention To Leave ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intentions To Leave ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between ethical leadership and academics’ retention in universities. It draws on the conservation of resources theory to deepen the understanding of a process underlying this relationship whereby academics are more likely to stay in universities through the practice of ethical leadership. Specifically, it advances academics’ job-related affective well-being as a potential mediating mechanism, fostered by ethical leadership, which lowers their intention to leave. Design/methodology/approach This study is conducted through a cross-sectional survey of 303 academics in Australian universities. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis procedures are deployed to analyse academics’ data. The research hypotheses are tested through a bootstrapped regression analysis of academics’ perceived ethical leadership, affective well-being and intention to leave. Findings The findings lend support to the hypothesised relations, indicating a significant role of ethical leadership on enhanced intentions of academics to stay in universities by directly conserving their job-related affective well-being. Research limitations/implications This paper contributes to knowledge of the relationship between ethical leadership and academics’ retention by identifying job-related affective well-being as an underlying mechanism in the university sector. Practical implications This paper has practical implications for higher educational institutes seeking to retain their academic staff. Its findings show that the practice of ethical leadership in universities matters, because it lowers academics’ intentions to leave by nurturing their well-being at work. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the impact of ethical leadership on academics’ well-being and intentions to leave in the context of universities in Australia. It is one of the first studies to explore the mediating role of affective well-being in the ethical leadership and leadership and intention to leave relationship.

Colour of food as a vector for children’s well-being

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-679
Author(s):  
Pascale Ezan ◽  
Gaelle Pantin-Sohier ◽  
Caroline Lancelot-Miltgen
Keyword(s):  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Product Packaging ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Children’S Behaviour ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A product colour plays an important role in consumers’ preferences. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact of the three-dimensional character of colour (brightness, saturation and vividness) on children’s behaviour towards a food product and as a source of well-being. Design/methodology/approach Two experiments were conducted. Study 1 was conducted with 62 children and used four visuals of syrup presenting two colours (red/green) and two variations of vividness (vivid/dim). Study 2 was conducted with 70 children and used four pictures of stewed apples and four pictures of pouches to test the influence of each dimension of colour on children’s preferences for the product and the product packaging. Findings Results show that the three-dimensional character of colour plays an important role in children’s gustatory inferences and well-being. Research limitations/implications The study is restricted to one food product (in each study) habitually consumed by children. Other products could be investigated to show how colour can contribute to children’s well-being. Practical implications The paper addresses the issue of well-being as a potential brand-positioning element. Social implications The paper suggests new avenues to use the brightness/saturation or vividness of a product or packaging colour as a potential element to arouse positive sensations that generate children’s well-being even when the product is not a preferred one. Originality/value This works initiates creative thinking concerning the impact of a product colour on children consumers.

scholarly journals Spanish and Swedish eldercare managers’ influence on employees

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 294-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Nordin ◽  
Marina Romeo ◽  
Montserrat Yepes-Baldó ◽  
Kristina Westerberg
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Validity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Turnover Intent ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Type ◽  
Perception Of Quality ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Hierarchical and flat organizational types are predominant in Spain and Sweden, respectively. To study how managers’ commitment and work overcommitment (WOC) affect employee well-being, and job perception in these different countries can shed insight on how to improve eldercare organization. The purpose of this paper was to study the association between eldercare employee exposure to managers’ commitment and WOC, and employee mental well-being and job perception and how these associations differed between Spain and Sweden. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire with validated questions on commitment, WOC, mental well-being and job perception, operationalized as the perception of quality of care and turnover intent, was sent out to eldercare managers and employees in Spain and Sweden. t-Tests, χ2 and linear regression were applied to study the associations and differences between the countries. Findings Interaction analyses revealed that Spanish employees’ mental well-being and job perception were influenced by their managers’ commitment and WOC in that manager commitment improved and WOC impaired well-being and job perception. However, the Swedish eldercare employees were not influenced by their managers on these parameters. Practical implications The impact of managerial commitment and WOC differed between employees in Spain and Sweden, possibly because the preconditions for leadership varied due to differences in organizational type. Originality/value This study compares the managers’ impact on employee health and job perception in two countries with different organizational prerequisites. Moreover, managers’ commitment and WOC were estimated by the managers themselves and did not rely on the employees’ perception, which improved ecological validity.

The lost generation of entrepreneurs? The impact of COVID-19 on the availability of risk capital in Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Croteau ◽  
Kenneth A. Grant ◽  
Claudio Rojas ◽  
Hadeer Abdelhamid
Keyword(s):  
New Ventures ◽  
National Level ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Risk Capital ◽  
Lost Generation ◽  
Potential Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Angel Investors

Purpose Canada has lagged in access to capital for high-potential, growth-oriented new ventures, but has made considerable strides in the past decade. This study aims to examine the evolving state of the market for risk capital in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a critical assessment of government policy from the perspective of angel investors and diverse communities of entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach A thematic analysis was conducted of seven COVID-19 roundtable discussions hosted by the National Angel Capital Organization that included 51 global and national-level business and political leaders. The analysis extracted the most salient details from the discussions, distilling them into timely and actionable insights for policymakers. Findings The analysis suggests that the government’s economic policy response to the COVID-19 crisis fails to address the sudden liquidity problems faced by new ventures. Entrepreneurs and angel investors have remained resilient, rallied as a community and demonstrated an extraordinary level of trust. Traditionally under-represented communities of entrepreneurs are more affected by the crisis than others. Practical implications The findings and recommendations are of relevance to policymakers interested in post-COVID-19 economic policies to address the unique challenges faced by start-ups and ensure their full contribution to economic recovery. Originality/value The paper presents several policy recommendations and proposes a novel framework to describe the impacts of the pandemic on different categories of start-ups.

Building a culture of co-creation at Mahindra

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkat Ramaswamy ◽  
Naveen Chopra
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Transformational Change ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Initial Program ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This case shows how a set of six steps that captured the essence of implementing co-creation thinking to promote transformational change were applied in a complex corporate manufacturing operation in India. Design/methodology/approach – This case describes how the co-creation paradigm of value creation was applied step by step in the quality function across the five operating sites of Mahindra's Automotive Division, a subsidiary of the conglomerate Mahindra Group. The case also looks at the results as the initial experiment expanded. Findings – By enlisting employees and a range of other stakeholders the firm was able to greatly improve product quality. The success of the initial program caused executives in other units of the firm to become co-creation of value process champions. Practical implications – The six-step process is: 1. Identify key stakeholders and increase their willingness to engage. 2. Set up platforms purposefully designed to engage individuals more co-creatively, with environments of interactions configured around people's “lived” experiences. 3. Identify and support new co-creation champions. 4. Expand the circle of stakeholders and joint value creation opportunities. 5. Deepen the impact and enable the viral spread of “win more-win more” value creation in the enterprise ecosystem. 6. Engage stakeholders across private, public, and social sectors to expand wealth, welfare and well-being for the benefit of all. Originality/value – Co-authored by a leading authority on the theory of co-creation of value and a senior executive at a large corporation, this case will be useful to practicing managers in all industries.

scholarly journals Should banks be averse to elections? A GMM analysis of recent elections in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (47) ◽  
pp. 47-65
Author(s):  
Mohammed Yaw Broni ◽  
Mosharrof Hosen ◽  
Hardi Nyagsi Mohammed ◽  
Ganiyatu Tiamiyu
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Efficiency ◽  
Financial Conditions ◽  
Business Entities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Actions of incumbent politicians and firms’ managers during election years have been cited as sources of many problems that afflict economies and business entities. Given the controversies surrounding the impact of elections on firms’ soundness, this paper poses a question of whether banks should be averse to elections. Specifically, this study aims to investigate the impact of elections on the profitability and efficiency of banks. Design/methodology/approach Based on the authors’ knowledge, this is maiden analysis in this context for Ghana where relatively advanced appropriate GMM technique has been used on annual data from 2012 to 2016. Findings This study reveals that banks make higher returns in election years. Additionally, the authors report that government’s economic policies in election years are detrimental to management efficiency, though insignificant. Practical implications From an emerging economy perspective, this study would guide policymakers in designing policies that respond to, or minimize, the impact of elections on bank performance. The result of this analysis would also substantiate the market reaction to the changes in the economic, political and financial conditions. Originality/value This analysis suggests that firms’ performances in an election year depend on policies and political institutions in place. The authors argue that Ghana, with its exemplary democratic credentials and strong institutions, living alongside a high perception of corruption, is different. The contribution to literature is, first, by limiting this work to the banking sector of Ghana and, second, by incorporating the behaviors of incumbent governments and individuals in the regression specification model.

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